Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1132) (1927 06 10)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
No. 1132 NEW YORK, JUNE 10, 1927 Price 8 Cents A BOY OF THE CURB, OR [HE SECRET OF A TREASURY. NOTE:s Ba oe # Ses Ay Sa SHE ee | ® i H 4 : i i As the disguised odges, bearing Tom in his arms, issued from the doorway of the building, followed by his pal, and made for the cab, Beryl rushed forward and grasped a@ passing broker by the arm. “Save him!” she cried.
Page 2
FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY | : _ Issued Weekly—Subscription price, $4.00 per year Canadian, og Westbury Publishing Co., Inc., 140 Cedar Street, New York, N. Y¥. Foreign, $5.00. Copyright, 1927, -b Entered as Second Class ‘Matter 2 Dee. $, 1911, at the Post-Uftice at New York, N_ Y¥., under the Act of March 3, 1879 , No, 1182 r A Boy of NEW YORK, JUNE 10, 1927 Price 8 Cents. the Curb OR, THE SECRET OF A TREASURY NOTE By A SELF-MADE MAN 5 CHAPTER I.—Im the Quicksand. \ “Help! Help! Help!” The terrified cry in a boy’s voice rang out on _the afternoon air. ~ Tom Gessler, who was leisurely rowin in Mill Creek, an inlet of Long Islan theard it and paused to listen. Help, oh, help!” came the cry again, more in- - sistent than ever. “Somebody is surely in trouble on that island, and that somebody seems to be a boy,” thought Tom. “I must go to his assistance, as there doesn’t appear to be any one else around.” He grasped his oars with a firmer grip and be- -. gan to pull as hard as he could for the island, only a hundred feet away. Tom Gessler was a _- Wall Street messenger, and worked for a curb __ broker named Ainsworth, whose office was in the Aristook Building. He was strong, active and good-looking, and being liberal and good-natured, was very ppalss among his friends and acquaint- ances. e lived in a boarding-house on a side street off Herald Square, for Tom was an orphan, -~ “and the only relative he had in the world was a married sister, the wife of a carpenter, who lived in the village of Rye, up in Westchester County. ' His sister sent him an invitation to spend the _. Fourth of July with her, and as the Fourth fell on a Monday he made his appearance in Rye on the Saturday afternoon previous, and proceeded to make himself at home, for it wasn’t his first Visit to the village. Tom hung around the house on the morning cf _ the Fourth, and then, after an early dinner, he started out to enjoy himself in a quiet fashion. He went down to Rye Neck, and borrowing a boat from a friend of his brother-in-law, whose prop- - erty abutted on Mill Creek, he proceeded to row down to Hen Island, a long, narrow slice of land at the mouth of the creek. It was from this is- land the cry for help came, and Tom was close to it when he heard it. ; : “Help! Help! I’m sinking!” came the voice again in terror-stricken accents. : ' “He must be in the water on the other side f ot out over his depth ght a cramp,” thought a boat Sound, * 9 iere and run across to him.” _.The cry was continued every few moments, and - the boy, whoever he was, seemed to be in dire s ; : segs ee ol eg!) Oe pee straits. Tom ran his skiff ashore; secured the painter to a convenient tree, and giving a shout to let the lad know that help was on the way to him, dashed into’the bushes and cut across the ~ narrow neck of land. It didn’t take Tom long to cover the space, and the boy’s shouts easily guided his steps. In a few minutes he came in sight of the lad, who was not in the water after all, but nearly up to his waist in a little nook of shimmering white sand. Tom stopped and stared. As far as he could see the boy did not appear to be in any danger but still he could not understand why he was standing half-buried in the sandy cove. But as he looked he was a bit startled to notice that the patch of ieebeerg sand in which the boy was standing was not like any other sand he had ever seen before. It was actually moving as if en- dowed with life. - “Say, don’t stand there looking at me,” said the boy, anxiously. “Get something and help me’ out of this.” : ; “ “Why don’t you pull out yourself?” asked om. “Because I can’t” “Why can’t you?” “Because this is a bed of quicksand.” , “The dickens!” exclaimed Tom. “That alters the case.” \ He had never seen any quicksand before, but he had read about people who had nearly lost. their lives in the treacherous stuff. : “You wait and I’l] run over to my boat and get a rope,” he said. “You want to hurry, then, for I’m getting in | deeper every moment. The blamed thing is swal- lowing me up. See how it is moving. I can feel it all the way down to my feet. as tightly as a wise.” “T’ll be back in a minute,” replied Tom, start- ing back on the run. : He hauled his boat out of the water on to the © beach, detached the painter and hurried back to the boy, who had sunk two or three inches more. Throwing him one end of the rope, which the boy seized and wound around his hands, Tom threw the other end over his shouder and turning around ~ started to drag the stranger out. was a failure. He couldn’t move the boy an inch. The lad’s struggles to second the efforts of his would-be rescuer only served to sink him deeper into the quicksand. : ae » oa ae - 3 a =e: It’s holding me The attempt
Page 3
“You'll never be able to get me out,” he said ~- with blanched face. . Oh, yes, I will,” replied Tom encouragingly. “J don’t see how you’re going to do it.” - Tom laid the rope down and ran over to a big dead log he saw sticking out of the bushes. It took all his strength to pull it out; then he rolled it down to the edge of the quicksand and shoved it out to the imprisoned boy. Walking cautiously out on it he reached down and took the lad’s ex- tended hand. ; pai then, together,” he said, and began to pull. “Tt ain’t’ no use,” groaned the other. “You ain’t budging me a bit—only pulling. my arm out of the socket.” fortunate lad. ea ed, looked around and found another log. -my life, old man. “What do you do?” Tom stopped and looked perplexed. The case was more serious than he had figured on. He ‘wondered how he was going to extricate the un- He stepped back on to hard raddling the two logs, he bent down, and get- ging a firm hold on the boy under. his armpits, told him to throw his arms around his shoulders. “Got a good grip?” he asked-him. “Yes,” was the reply. “Then here goes. on’t struggle at all.” Tom then exerted all his strength. At first it looked as if this attempt would also end in fail- ure, but Tom kept on, and after a few minutes the sand began reluctantly to yield up its victim. Slowly but surely Tom lifted him out, pausing after each tug to recover his energies for a fresh effort. After getting the boy out as far as his knees the task became easier, and at last he got ‘him out altogether and rushed him ashore. | By that time the two logs sunk more than half their depth out of sight, and the moving ‘sand continued to engulf them in place of its living victim. “Good Lord! I thought I was a goner for sure that time,” cried the rescued one, mopping his perspiring face, which looked white and drawn after the scare he had sustained. “You saved I ran into that sand without noticing what it was. Shake!” ' They shook hands. “T guess you did have a pretty narrow escape,” said Tom. “It was like pulling a tree up by the roots to get you out. hat’s your name?” - “Jack Robinson. What's yours?” “Tom Gessler. You live around here, I sup- “pose?” - “Nothing surer. I live on that farm over yon- ' der opposite the Neck, You Jook like a stranger in this locality. Am I right?” , “You are. I came up from New York to pass the Fourth with my sister, who lives in Rye, I’m going back on the first train in the morning.” “Im sorry for that. I’d like to have you come over to the farm and stay with me a few days, Pop and marm would give you a royal welcome j _ for saving my life.” “Sorry I can’t accept, but I ain’t my own boss.” “You work in the city?” “T do—in Wall Street.” “Wall Street!” cried Jack. “Among the bulls elves A BOY OF THE CURB - my life?” “Run errands and carry messages for a curb — broker.” i ae “Kind of easy job, ain’t it?” Pits “The only thing easy about it are the hours— nine to half-past three or four. It’s a case of hustle when you’re on duty.” yet: “?Tain’t like working from daylight to dark on a farm.” a “Hardly. That’s real hard work, I should — imagine.” une “Tl bet you. I used to go to school during the | fall, winter and spring, but I’m through with — that now. My old man lets me off Saturday af- — ternoon to play ball, as he says all work and no — play makes Jack a dull boy. He’s level-headed, — don’t you think?” grinned Jack, whose color had a a returned. ie “Yes, he treats you all right.” “T don’t like farm work, just the same. There’s nothing in it. I’d like to get a job in W Street the worst way. Think there’s any chance for me?” | aos re. “T could talk them into it. Maybe your folk would take me to board.’ E “{ haven’t got any folks. I’m an orphan and live in a nea cet You might come and room with me. e could take a spare back room together for the price each of us would have to pay for a small hall room apiece.” : “Gee! That would suit me first-rate. you get a vacation, don’t you?” “Yes. Some time next month.” : “Well, come up and stop at our lace, and you could talk it over with my folks. They’re bound | to take a shine to you for pulling me out of the quicksand, and if they thought I was going to room with you in the city they mightn’t kick up against my leaving the farm for Wall Street.” — “T can’t promise what I’ll do when the time comes, but I may pay you a visit.” seer “You must. It won’t cost you a red cent.” + “Oh, I wouldn’t want to board with your folks for a whole week without paying.” es r “They wouldn’t take a cent. Ain’t you saved “That’s all right. It was my duty to try and get you out of your dangerous predicament. Any- oe would have done as much as that for you. “No matter what anybody else would have done, you did it, and the credit is yours. But it plaguey hot out here in the sun. Come over my stockade.” : é “Your what?” “Stockade and hut. this island.” “T'm with Pent mt i Tom picke > his boat's painter and followed his new acquaintance. Gy Say It’s the shadiest place on CHAPTER II.—Tom Resenta an Insult, — Jack led Tom to a small hut fashioned out of the planks of some vessel, the roof being ma water-tight by a pleco af old canyas, It waa surrounded by a regular stockade, six feet hig and built of the same material, with an opening — facing the Sound, iit pie “What do you call this?” asked Tom, viewing, the habitation. with its strange eollection of rud hots
Page 4
ake ly made furniture and other articles, in some ~ astonishment. “This is where I used’to play Robinson Cru- soe,” replied Jack with a grin. _ “Robinson Crusoe!” ejaculated Tom. me “You see, when I was going to school I fell in ‘love with the adventures of my half namesake, - Robinson Crusoe. One day after a storm I came over here and found a sloop cast away on an uninhabited island. I waded out to the wreck and boarded her from the stern, though I could shave stepped aboard at the bows without getting -my feet wet. I found a carpenter’s chest and isher things on board. I started in at once and built a raft of the timber, and then floated every- thing ashore on it.” “What a lot of trouble you took for nothing.” “JT know it, but think of the fun I had. It took me two wecks, after school, to build that’ hut and - put up the stockade, That bunk I saved from the sloop, with the blankets and other stuff. I 'made the table and the chair, put up the shelves, ' built the cupboard and so forth. There’s the ‘carpenter’s chest just as I fetched it ashore. The ‘next blow that came up carried the rest of the “wreck away, or I’d have used up every bit of her _ “in time.” “You must have had a great time here, Tom. “T did. I bought that cheap telescope and used to sit at the door of the stockade and scan the - horizon for a sail.” “T should think you’d have seen lots of them _ without a telescope.” “T did, and it spoiled my fun till I made up my mind that I didn’t really see anything but the water and the sky.” : ~ “You have a good imagination.” “When I wasn’t looking seaward I was tramp- “ing the shore with an old fowling-piece over my shoulder looking for a strange footprint in the _sands or the arrival of a band of savages, or the appearance of my man Friday; and when I wasn’t doing that I would sit down and read a _ chapter or two of Robinson Crusoe over again.” “Were you always alone? Didn’t you fetch over any of your friends?” “No; that would have spoiled the whole thing. _ They’d have kept coming after that, and I never could have imagined myself a_ shipwrecked mariner.” -“T suppose you’ve got over that nonsense now?” “Yes, but still I come here occasionally just for old time’s sake.” “How came you to get into that quicksand?” _ “J walked into it. As long as I’ve been coming over to Hen Island——” “Hen Island!’ “That’s the name of this place. Though I’ve been here maybe a hundred times I never knew that bed of quicksand was there.” “Ts that so?” “That’s so. I don’t believe anybody around here ows hing about it, either, for I never heard _any one speak of it. I walked into it, and when I _ tried to get out I found I couldn’t.. The more I _ tried to, the osha I sank. Then I got frightened an began to yell for help.” “It’s lucky for you I was cruising around in my ‘boat and heard you.” . _ “Bet your life it is. I’d have been a dead one ” said i. fe. wg Se % A BOY OF THE CURB ale Aa? a = “A sign ought to be put on the shore close to the quicksand, warning people of its presence, or — somebody else may walk into it some time, and if alone he may not be so fortunate as you were,” said Tom. “That’s a good idea. I’ll put a sign up myself the next time I come here.” __ : The boys got quite chummy during the couple of hours they remained on the island, and then Jack suggested that his new friend come over to the farm meet his father and mother, and take supper there. : “Tl row you around the island to where you left your own boat,” said Jack. “Come along.” Jack led the way to a large rock, in the shadow of which his skiff was tied. Both got into her and Tom, takin pulled alone the shores of the island. When they reached the place where Tom had left his boat, high and dry on the beach, Tom helped him shove her into the water. Then the boys rowed leisurely up the creek to a landing stage on the Robinson farm, where they disembarked and tied their boats. Jack took Tom to the farmhouse and introduced him to his father and mother, who were seated on the veranda.. They were both much concerned over their son’s narrow escape from the treacher- ous quicksand, and thanked Tom for the service he had rendered Jack. Tom remained at the farm until after supper, then he and Jack rowed up the creek in their boats to the landing of the man Tom had borrowed the skiff of. aoa Here the boys parted, Jack begging Tom not.to forget to look up a job in Wall Street for him, and above all not to forget that he must spend his vacation at the Robinson farm. : é Next morning Tom reached his office in Wall Street at about half-past nine. His boss, Henry Ainsworth, was away in the country with his family and was not expected in town that week unless something turned up that required his presence. Mr. Huntley, the cashier and head bookkeeper; his nephew, Tobias Story, and another clerk, named Hickey, who constituted the counting-room force, independent of Dicky King, the pretty stenographer, were at their desks when Tom arrived. Hardly had he taken his seat when the cashier called him over and handed him a couple of notes: to deliver. me Tom put’on his hat and hurried out. f ; At the second office he went to he had to wait — to see the broker, who had just come to his office — and was engaged with his cashier. ; While he was reading a morning paper two traders came in to see the broker, and they had to wait, too. ‘ They began talking aboutsa syndicate which had been formed by a number of wealthy brokers who had come back from their summer homes on pur- pose to corner D. & H. stock while business was _ dull and most of the brokers were out of town. &z ‘As soon as they had secured a sufficient quan- _ tity of the shares they intended to begin booming the stock and thus give the Street an unexpected sensation. ie Tom overheard all they said and he made a ~ note of it. eee i i on + og te te = up the oars,
Page 5
eS ” He was always on the alert to pick up a tip, for, unknown to his employer, he was playing the “market in a small way whenever the prospects of a rise looked good. He had started in with $50 at __ a little bank on Nassau Street that accepted small orders of from five shares upward, and had been successful enough to accumulate $2,300, which he had locked up in a near-by safe- -deposit vault. When Tom got back to the office he looked up D. & H. and found it was ruling at 70, which was rather low. ; - Accordingly, when he went to lunch, he stopped ~~ at the safe-deposit company, took out $2,000, neta taking it around to the little bank staked it up ~ on 200 shares of D. & H. _ ‘This was the largest deal Tom had ever been in, and as it took nearly all his money he was natur- ally anxious about its success. Business not being very brisk, he had lots of opportunity during the next three days to watch the office ticker, which he availed himself of. Tobias Story, who put on a lot of airs in the es me because his uncle was the cashier, noticed _ Tom watched the tape at intervals, and it struck Bee, cea that the messenger was interested in some. - deal. As it was contrary to regulations for employees _to speculate, he walked outside and proceeded to ‘call Tom down. ; “What are you looking at the ticker so much for?” he asked in an offensive tone. _. . “What business is that of yours?” replied Tom, who didn’t like Story for a cent. “Don’t talk to me that way,” answered the clerk angrily. _ “Then don’t be so inquisitive. I’m attending to “my business, and you’d better attend to yours.” - “¥ou’re wasting your time around that ticker. Go and sit down where you belong and wait till - you’re called on.” _ “When were you appointed my boss? I take ee ee only from Mr. Ainsworth and Mr. Hunt- ec Story glared at him. “T guess you’re speculating in some stock, which fs against the rules,” he said. “Ts that so? I guess you do some speculating rourself.. I saw you go into the little bank on assau Street the other day,” retorted Tom coolly. Story got red in the face. “T only went in there to see a friend of mine,” he replied. “A friend of mine told me he saw you make a -deal there twice.” “He’s a liar if he said that,” replied Story furiously, “[’q sooner take his cote than yours, for I know you don’t always tell the truth.” _ “How dare you say*that?’’. “Because it’s the truth. An hour after I saw - ¥ou go into the little bank I ape tell Hickey - that you had bought ten shares A. & €, at 95 “and expected it would go to par, when you meant to sell out.” _*You’ re a little sneak!” roared Story. ! sone smashed the clerk.in the-eye, and he went staggering back against a chair, over which he Seippeg. a1 and: fell to the floor with a crash. A BOY OF THE ‘CURB CHAPTER III.—The Scrap in the Office. ; There was no one in the waiting-room at the 3 time, but the noise drew the attention of the — cashier, Hickey and Miss King to the scrap. “Here, here, what are you two about out there gba Rm Huntley, peering out through his win- ow ; Tom sat down without answering, while Story ee picked himself up. “Vl get square with you for that, ” snarled Story, shaking his fist at,Tom. E “Now is as good_a time as any,” replied Tom. — 3 “Yah, you sneak!” said Story, moving toward the counting-room door, Tom jumped up and rushed at him, but Story; i who was a rank coward, dodged into the fenced- off enclosure and slammed the brass gate in the messenger’s face. ‘a Huntley called his nephew to his desk and 7 asked him what the trouble was about. Story made up some excuse on the spur of the moment, rae. laying the blame on Tom. “Did he hit you in the eye?” asked his uncle noticing the young man’s damaged optic. x3 “Yes, he did,” replied Story sulkily.. “He origi to be fired out of the office.” “Come here, Gessler,” called the cashier. Tom entered the counting room. 3 Ne “What do you mean by striking Story in the _ eye?” asked Huntley angrily. si “He insuulted me.’ “Insfilted you?” : “Yes, he called me a sneak, and I won't stand that from anybody.” ig “Well, you are a sneak,” replied Story, feeling brave in the presence of his. uncle. yea? Quick as a flash Tom whacked him in the other — eye, and followed it up with a blow in the jaw.. hen Huntley grabbed him and hauled him away — from his nephew. oj “Get out of here and take your seat outside. — TVll report your conduct to Mr. Ainsyoud ca soon as he comes to the office.” He shoved Tom toward the door.. At that mo- ment Story, wild with rage, pees up a red-ink bottle and flung it at Tom’s head. His aim was not very good, and the bottle struck his uncle! on the shoulder a glancing blow, spattering him with the red fluid. Had the bottle hit Tom, as. Story intended, the young messenger would have been badly hurt. At it was it whizzed so close to the boy’s ear that he felt the wind of it. Tom, recoeniains. his narrow escape, was. mad clear. through. He turned around and went for Story like a cyclone. The clerk grabbed up a ruler to defend himself. with, but Tom brushed it aside with his left arm and smashed Story in the mouth with his right fist. They clinched and’ went down to ‘the floor, — where Tom proceeded to pummel the clerk good and hard. It took both the cashier and Hickey ~ to pull the messenger off Story, who was now a * wreck. They led Tom to the door and pushed : him into the waiting-room. $s In the midst of the rumpus two customer: a“ came in and seemed much astonished at the he of affairs. r r them, chile Hickey aes. Story. to-go int BOE little washroom es Re paie: damages a
Page 6
A BOY OF THE CURB _“T suppose there’ll be trouble over this,” mut- _ tered Tom to himself, “but I don’t care. I’ve _ been aching for a long time to get a whack at - Story, and I guess I put it all over him in good eee T’ll bet he’ll give me a wide berth after - \this. Five minutes afterward Huntley called Tom up and gave him a note to take to a broker at the Exchange. When he got back Story was at his desk trying to work, but his eyes were in bad _ shape, and his lip was cut in two erst while i is jaw was so sore that he could hardly touch it. As for Tom, he didn’t bear a single sign of the scrap. _. Having nothing better to do he-took up a Wall Street daily and looked over the financial intel- _ ligence, which he made it a point always to kee - abreast of. Story went out about one o’cloc ‘and didn’t show up the rest of the afternoon. ‘Next morning he appeared with a pair of black eyes, to Tom’s great satisfaction and his uncle’s disgust. About eleven o’clock Mr. Ainsworth ap- _ peared. He called his cashier into his private ._ room to find out how things had been going while e was away. After Huntley had made his re- port he told his employer about the scrap be- - tween Tom and his nephew, and laid the blame ’ of it on the messenger. When he returned to his _ desk the broker called Tom in and asked him _ about the trouble. The boy gave him a frank and truthful statement of the case. Story was _ called in and asked to state his side of the matter. _ He did so, throwing the blame on Tom, of course. _ The broker was shrewd enough to see that Story’s -. aecount was highly colored. “Did you throw a well of red ink at Gessler at close quarters?” asked Mr. Ainsworth. “T don’t remember,” replied Story with some hesitation. pis : “He did it, all right,” put in Tom. “If it had - hit me it might have fractured my skull. It was a cowardly thing for him to do, and it made me SO mad that I went for him again hot and heavy.” “Why did you call Gessler a sneak?” asked the broker, looking at Story. “Because he listened to a conversation I ha with Hickey the other day.” ; Tom denied that he had listened to what the two were saying. He said he simply heard a few - words of their talk as he passed by their desks on the way to the washroom. Mr. Ainsworth said that he didn’t want to hear of any more ghting in the office, and then dismissed the atter. Story had counted on Tom getting a - good call down from the boss, and he returned _ to his desk much disappointed. That day D. & H. went up to 72, and Tonr oted the fact on the ticker. Next day it went pe. one point. During the first part of the fol- lowing week the broker employed by the syndicate bid off and on for D. & H. at rising figures, and the traders began to notice that he took in all the stock that was offered to him. The stock Pavent up to 76, and other brokers started to buy, n Thursday it reached 80, and brokers who Foci out of town, hearing about the rise, came - flocking back to the city to see what was on the _tapis. The newspapers reported the rise, of course, and a flock of small speculators came down to n = it. Quite a number of the Curb stock ey sworth’s occasional customers began drop- 0 rise about the same time, and some of . absence. ping in at the office to find out how things werd: going. Although Tom’s boss was a mining broker he bought and sold railroad shares, and all kinds __ of gilt-edged bonds as well. Therefore Tom was d often sent to the New York Stock Exchange with a note to the btoker who did business in the board room for Mr. Ainsworth. : On Friday afternoon about two the boom started in D. & H. in earnest, and it reached 90 by the time the Exchange closed. Next morning ~— it opened at 91, and at eleven was going at 95. With a profit of $5,000 in sight Tom concluded not to take any more risk, for he knew all booms had to have an end, and the end of this one might come so quick as to make his head swim if he was long in the market. He was at the Stock _ Exchange when he saw D. & H. marked up at 95 8-8, and in place of returning right back to the office he went up to the little bank and told _ the margin clerk to sell him out right BWAY,: see As he was coming out of the bank, he came face to face with Mr. Huntley, the cashier. What were you doing in there?” asked the a sharply. es “I went in to see the margin clerk, sir,” re blicd Tom, abit confused, anes - as ‘Then Suppose. you’re speculating in so wy: stock?” said Huntley with he frown a ; _ “I won’t deny it,” replied Tom, boldly, think. ing he might as well be hung for a sheep ag a Sa to ee a Bo Rah expression. : ae “‘Humph! on’t you know that’ i ; regulations ?” ss “Yes, sir.” “Why do you do it, then?” “Because I’m making money at it.” “This isn’t the first time you’ def: chee you've speculated, I “No, sir,” . = “T thought not. My nephew told me he caught you going into this brokerage house several times, and that he believed you were taking flyers on the market.” : tea Paes “He told you that to try and get me in trouble.” Foeg sent “He believed it was his duty to tell me.” “Then I suppose it’s my duty to tell you that I’ve seen him go in there half a dozen times at _ least,’”’ replied Tom. KeNy, “Nonsense! He doesn’t speculate.” “Then you don’t believe me?” H “You mistook somebody else for him.” fy. At that moment Tom saw Story, who had taken advantage of the absence of his uncle from the office to run around to Nassau Street to make _ a deal in D. & H. at the high price it now was. at, having an idea it was sure to go to par at 2 er walking poe gue little bank. ‘nese aay “Loo ere, Mr, Huntley, and you will sce your eee eee ee the litte bank “now. If yon want to know what brought hi ” better follow him in.” . 2 ee The cashier looked and recognized his nephew — as he disappeared through the doorway. He was _ evidently not pleased, for he acted at once on Tom’s suggestion and folowed Story inside, while Tom, with a chuckle, returned to the office. About ten minutes later Story came in with sheepish look on his face. His uncle had pre vented him from making his deal and given - a call-down for leaving the office during -
Page 7
A BOY OF It was fortunate for Story that his uncle caught . him at the little bank, for D. & H. never reached ~~ par. It went to 98 on Monday, and then began to drop back almost as quickly as it went up. When Tom got his check and statement he found that he had made, as he calculated, $5,000 by the deal. This gave his capital a boost to $7,300, and made him feel like a capitalist. CHAPTER IV.—A Pair of Rascals. The cashier said nothing further to Tom about his speculative visits to the little bank, nor did he tell Mr. Ainsworth, since he was afraid that Tom might retaliate on his nephew. The month of July passed away and the first week in August came around. ee Stery got a two weeks’ vacation at this time, and the office got on very well without him. Z Tom hadn’t forgotten his new acquaintance, Jack Robinson, nor his promise to try and find him a Wall Street job, and he wrote Jack to that effect. About noon on the first Saturday in August, while Tom was sitting in his chair with nothing to do but wait for his pay envelope to come his way, the dor opened and in walked Jack Robin- son. Tom jumped up in surprise and walked ‘over to meet him. : “Hello, Jack, glad to see you in town,” he said, shaking him by the hand. “When did you arrive?” : - “T reached the Grand Central Station about twenty minutes ago and came right down here.” * “Sit down and make yourself at home.” : “Thanks. So this is where you work?” “This is the shop.” “Td like a place like this first rate.” “As soon as business begins to pick up again, which won’t he till some time next month, Ill see what I can do for you.” “J hope you will. By the way, you close up soon, don’t you?” “Vos, I’m waiting for the ghost to walk, and then I’m off.” ; “Say, got any place in particular to go this afternoon is =e * No. ~ Why.?” Be “11 like to go to Coney Island, and I want you to go along.” = em “I’m willing. Ever been there? ‘ "Yes, several times.” “How do you want to go, by trolley or boat?” aut “We'll get-there quicker by the trolley, and that will give us more time down there. Besides, we ean leave there any time.” ~ “J see you know the ropes. We'll have our lunch first, then walk to the bridge and take a 4 car,” said Tom. : Seas A few minutes afterward the cashier handed the oung messenger his pay envelope, and the boys left the office. : , In due time Tom and Jack reached the island and proceeded to see the sights. They put in several hours to good advantage, and when it began to grow dark Tom proposed they should take dinner at one of the big hotels at the easterly end of the island. - Jack was game for anything, so off they started lown the ocean walk. THE CURB ) _ Reaching the first hotel they decided to pat-on-. — ize it and went in. ae _They spent the best part of an hour in the | dining-room, and then came out into the glare of); the electric lights feeling pretty good. rag It was a hot evening, and there was a tremen- __ eee crowd at the beach, particularly at the west. end. There was quite a mob of the better class of : people at Manhattan, and somehow or another the boys got separated. ? Tom spent half an hour in a vain search for his — a“ and then sat down in a quiet nook to cool. off. The sky had been clouding up for a couple of hours back, and the ocean prospect looked dark and ominous. Suddenly it began to rain. oe “I guess I’ll have to beat it for shelter,” thought Tom, getting up from his seat and starting for the nearest hotel. Before he had gone many. steps he spied a shed close by and concluded to go in there. ; The building was partly enclosd in front, and was full of empty boxes and barrels. j He took possesion of a box surrounded by three barrels, out of the way of any rain that might blow in at the door. “This is as snug as a fellow wants to be in a shower,” he thought. “I don’t care now if it rains like blue blazes.” ’ He could hear the big drops falling on the roof — of the shed and congratulated himself on the fact that he didn’t have to continue on to. the hotel, . which was some little distance away. S3 At that moment Tom heard hurried footsteps outside and two men of medium statue hastily 3 entered the shed. uo The boy couldn’t distinguish them very well in the darkness, but one appeared to have a mus- b tache, while the other was clean shaven. “We’re in luck Mr. Hodges,” said the smooth-~ faced man. “We’ve got here just in time to escape a wetting.” § roy “Yes, and I only hope luck will continue to run ~ our way,” replied the other. se He took'a cigar from his vest pocket, bit off — the end, struck a match and lighted it. 3 JS The glare of the match enabled Tom to get — a-good view of their countenances. } SS The man addressed as Hodges was well dressed, __ seemed like a prosperous business man. ‘ The other had good clothes on, but the to be ready-made and of a cut worn Siders. . ‘His face was hard and tough, and his air and ~ manners corresponded. 6 e After Hodges tossed the match out into the rain. ~. he looked around, picked out a box, and sat down. His companion followed his example. r “Why shouldn’t it? Haven’t I told you that I’ve — located the girl at last?” eo There was something in his tone and words that — caused Tom to prick up his ears and listen eagerly. . “So you did. Well, tell me the particulars. | Where did you find her?” ; : “Up in Westchester. She’s been adopted by a . farmer and his wife, named Hunter, who live phen two miles from Mamaroneck. They call her eryl.” F' “Are you sure she’s the girl?” 4 seemed y East 7 Sas 5 j oy y ane
Page 8
“Positive. I recognized her by the locket. She wears it about her neck.” “Good! How did you trace her there?” “Why, through the old woman who brought her __ABast twelve years ago—Mother Jinks.” “ *“T feared she was dead and that I never would get ‘hold of the girl. How came the Hunters to get possession of her?” “Mother Jinks sold her to them.” “Sold her, eh?” "Yes. You see, she brought the gir] up to sell flowers around the streets. She’s a blamed pretty little thing, with one of them angel faces that takes hold of a person’s sympathies, It appears this man Hunter happened to meet her, took a fancy to her for some reason, got her to tell him about herself, and % “What could she tell him?” asked Hodges, in an uneasy tone. : “Nothing more than that she was an orphan ~ and didn’t know who her parents were, nor how she came to be with the old woman who made her ~ earn a living for her.” “Ves: of course. I was afraid maybe——” He broke off abruptly and puffed away at his ‘cigar in a nervous way. . ; ~ ®¥ou needn't be afraid, governor. She’s as in- ~ nocent as an unborn babe as to who she really is.” “Go on.” _ “There isn’t much more to tell. Hunter, as I said, took a faney to her, and she kind of cot- ~ toned to him, ’cause he sympathized with her hard Jot. So the long and short of it is, he got her to tell him where she lived, and he called on the - old woman and made her a proposition. He of- fered her $500 to give up all claim to the girl. - Mother Jinks didn’t want to do it at first, as the - girl was a steady income to her, and Hunter's - promise to bring the young one up as his own 3 Daaghier didn’t Yate no weight with the old wo- ‘man. When he showed her the bills—one hundred fives—they made her mouth water. The girl was ooking a bit seedy, and Hunter hinted she might ‘die if she stayed down in the slums. The bunch of fives added to the possibility of losing the girl anyway, fetched the old woman in the end, and she signed a paper, took his money and sold the pirl. She was smart enough to find out where Hunter lived and was going to take the girl. She didn’t know but some day inquiries might be made ‘or her, either by you or somebody else——” “Somebody else, eh? Little fear of that now; and yet——- However, go on.” 3 “Tf such inquiries were made she intended to ‘profit by, it.” : “Then you had to pay her for the information?” “Well, now, governor,-catch old Mother Jinks doing anything for nothing. She wanted $500 _ before she’d say a word.” _ “Five hundred dollars!” ? _ A BOY OF - at the time.of his death. I supposed he died with- : - mine ostensibly in her interest, but really in n THE CURB “He told Mother Jinks that’s what they intended doing, and now she goes by the name of Beryl ~ Hunter.” pra “Well, Jones, you’ve done well. Now that I know where the girl is the next thing-in order will be to get possession of her. She’s a mint of money to me, as things have turned out.” pre “A mint of money, governor? How is it she’s become so valuable all at once?” aes “She owns the Red Jacket mine out in Paradise Nevada.” fe “Oh, she does! Well, I thought you told me that — was a dead prospect—a mine that never panned ~ out nothing to speak of since your brother hopped the twig.” ; “So it is on its face. sere “Then what good is it? How does the fa the girl owns the mine make her veieeEe e bea er all of a sudden?” asked Jones curiously. z “Because she holds the secret of the lost-ore vein—a vein that my brother discovered and de- clared was worth more than a millicn.” Baer eee in eaaer ean te hold the secret when — : as only three years o inks. brought he ee d when Mother Jinks . “She does, in a peculiar way. I only learn i fact a short time ago. My brother eet pg oe and he kept it hidden in a secret drawer of his desk. Two months ago I accidentally discovered the drawer and the diary came to light. From it learned one or two things, that were hereiofore a mystery to me, namely, that my brother suspected my intentions towards him with respect to that mine. To defeat me in case any accident hap- pened to him, he sealed up the rich vein. Then e wrote down its location and placed it in the — locket which his little daughter wore arcund her neck. Fortunately, the locket was not real gold, or > Mother Jinks would have sold it long ago. and sp raed gave gone the secret.” : se at do you want the girl for? If inched the locket for you wouldn't that do as cee es No. I must have the girl. My brother’s will _ made her the owner of the mine. I didn’t know this It’s as dead as a coffin out making a will, so to prevent trouble T ha ee old woman, Mother Jinks, carry the girl off qin iF with her, When I took possession of the mine as next of kin I soon found out that the rich lead I supposed was there appeared to have been a myth, ne So after all I gained nothing by what the world. would call a piece of raseality. Then I started to _ sell the ground for what I could get for it, when up pops a lawyer with my brother’s will, and I was dished again. Then the court took charge of the matter and wanted to know where the girl — was. TI said the old woman in whose charge she was had disappeared with her. The court aps"; pointed me her guardian and told me to find her. Until she was found, or satisfactory proof of hi death produced, the mine could not be sold. / the mine appeared to be a dead one I did n bother myself further with its fate, or the girl either. The unexpected finding of my brother's diary, however, alters the case entirely. The mine — is after all a valuable one, but the place where the rich vein lies is a mystery which the writing ; in the locket will alone unravel. With the girl in my possession as her guardian I can work the own. By the time she is of age I wil Fi
Page 9
most of the silver out of the mine, and the money for it in bank. Before the time comes for me ~ to turn it over to her I shall skip out to foreign € arts with it, and leave her the ground and what’s _ jeft in it. Then, under a new name, I shall enjoy the fruits of my shrewdness, and no one will ever dream I did not come rightfully by it.” “Upon my word, governor, you’re a case,” said Jones, in a tone of admiration. “I thought I was pretty clever; but blame me if I’m in it with you.” “You’ve been clever enough to find the girl, which I probably never would have been able to do, as I had lost all trace of the old woman. Therefore, you will have a fat share of the harvest I expect to reap.” “Of course, governor. I didn’t go into this | scheme for nothing. The agreement is that I’m to have a quarter of whatever you make out of “ the girl.” “And you'll get it, Jones, don’t you worry.” “Oh, I’m not worrying. It’s to your interest to keep your word. Now, I suppose you mean to call on the Hunters, show your documents as the girl’s guardian and claim her. There’ll be a scene, but _ I believe the law is on your side.” “The law will give her to me, but the Hunters, if they have legally adopted my niece, can make~ a fight in court against me, and it will take time and money to beat them. An easier way is to kid- nap her and carry her out West at once, leaving -no clue as to what has become of her. Once she is in my power Ill see to it that she walks a chalk line, and does as I say. While I’ve got my pile out of the mine she can return to the Hunters if she chooses, for I’ll have no further use for her.” fs “It’s rather risky, governor, don’t you think, to , tarry the girl off against her will. She’s likely to -* give us trouble, and the Hunters will put the ~ police on the scent. If we should be caught with the girl in our possession it’s likely to go hard with us. At any rate, you’d be up against it to explain why, as the girl’s guardian, you did such a thing. The longest way round seems to me the - safest course in this case,” said Jones. _ “The longest way round, as you call it, will give me no end of trouble, since the girl won’t want to leave the Hunters, and they won’t want to give her up. No, I am determined to carry-her off at once. We can drug her so as to keep her partly stupefied till we get her out to the mines. Mother Jinks must go along and take charge of her. You must call on the old woman and hire her at a price that’ll satisfy her. In fact, [1 go around with you and fix things up with the old woman,” CHAPTER V.—Tom. Makes a Compact. Tom, seeing that his presence in the shed was discovered, and not knowing what might happen ner ae aks See? en AN, Se fee oe eee A BOY OF THE CURB 4 under the circumstances, jumped up and made a break for the opening. Hodges, however, placed himself in his path and grabbed him. : “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” he demanded. = “I’m a boy, and I came in here out of the rain,” replied Tom. i “What’s your name, and where do you belong?” “My name is Gessler, and I belong in New York.” “You were here when we came in?” | “y was.” ts ae “Then you’ve listened to all our conversation?” “T won’t deny it.” ; There was a pause, and Tom felt the man’s grip tighten on his arm, while he uttered - a smothered imprecation. 2 kk ‘Why didn’t you let us know you were here? “J didn’t think it worth while,” replied Tom doggedly. ‘Oh, you didn’t?” gritted Hodges, in a voice of concentrated anger. “Strike a match, Jones, and let’s take a look at him.” : “Kind of dangerous, governor, isn’t it? He'll see our faces and know us again,” replied the 7 other man. he “I guess he’s seen them already when I lighted my cigar.” ‘ Jones,, after some hesitation, struck a light, and the men looked at Tom. Z “Seems to me-I’ve seen you before,” said Hedges. “You work in Wall Street.” “What if I do?” replied Tom defiantly. “You’re a messenger boy.” Tom made no reply. ‘ = “You’ve listened to a conversation not in- tended for your ears, and any one who does such . | a thing as that is liable to get into trouble, un-. less ” Here Hodges paused and seemed to _ be considering something. “Unless he will prom- ise to keep what he’s heard to himself. Under- ° stand?” ’ : “T heard what you said,” answered Tom. Fie “Tf I give you fifty dollars will you swear to be mum about what you’ve heard us talk about?” “No, I won’t. I’m not going to be a party to your rascality,” replied Tom sturdily. ae “Ha! Then you mean to give us away?” ; “If you'll give up your project of kidnapping that girl you call Beryl Hunter I'll agree to keep ~ my mouth shut about what passed between you ~ here without any payment from you. If you’re really the girl’s uncle and guardian you can go — to law and try to get possession of her. I won’t stand for anything crooked.” j “I reckon the boy is right,” put in Jones, — squeezing Hodge’s arm in a significant way. “I — said you were taking chances in adopting the — kidnaping scheme.” a “Well, young man,” said Hodges, in a concilia- tory tone, “I s’pose V’ll have to agree to your — terms, seeing as you know so much, and it will — probably be better for mein the long run, though I hate to waste the time it’ll take. Now what | guarantee have we that you’ll keep your word?” “Yourself.” eres “What do you mean by that?” Paste: “Tl make it my business to see that you keep your agreement. If you do, then I won't saya word. So you see my silence will depend on your own actions with respect to Beryl Hunter.” * me , . $ E Te, “este”
Page 10
we A BOY OF THE CURB 2g “Can we depend on you?” “You can as long as you keep your hands off the girl.” “Who do \Wall Street?” “Henry Ainsworth, Aristook Building.” “You’re his messenger?” “Vos,” “That’s all. You can go. See that you don’t go back on us.” Tom was glad to avail himself of the permis- sion and considered himself lucky in getting off so easily. He hurried off toward the west end, where he intended to take a car for home, havin ‘given up all hope of finding Jack in the crow at. the island. Ho had quite a distance to walk, and during it he pondered over what he had heard of the conspiracy against Bery] Hunter. “Jack may know her, for the Hunters live somewhere in his neighborhood,” he thought. “T’ll , ask him when he turns up at my boarding place (yto-night, for he’s going to stay over till Monday ~“ with me. I’ve agreed to say nothing about what _ Looverheard those men talking about on condition that they make no attempt to kidnap the girl. - The question is, are they to be depended on? Did I do right to make that agreement with them? If I hadn’t what would they have done to me? _ They had me at a disadvantage, in a spot that the ‘rain had made lonesome for the time being. The scheme that rascal Hodges appears to be up to is to discover the location of the missing lode in the Red Jacket mine. I never heard of that mine, but that isn’t singular if it’s been a dead one tor the last twelve years. According to his statement the mine is the property of the girl, and his aoe in getting possession of her is to gecure the right to work it ostensibly in her in- terest, but really in his own. I didn’t think em gbout that when I promised those rascals I would . keep my mouth shut. Hodges is bound to have - @ lot of trouble trying to get Beryl Hunter ae f - from her new parents if he goes openly to wor about it. If he wins in the end my word will bar me from exposing his plans so far as I’ve over- heard them, and he will have every chance to carry out his crooked designs. Knowing what I know, {isn’t there some way of checkmating him?” ue Tom cudgelled his brain for an idea. “The key of the situation is the writing in the Jocket. If I could prevent him from getting hold of it I could easily balk him; but how can I do 4? I must think of some way and then act with- out letting him get on to me. I will have to get acquainted with Beryl Hunter. Seeing she has aA that locket so long, it seems funny that she _ has never discovered the secret herself. The fact that the Hunters have taken no action about the mine is.a sure indication that the secret is not known to them, and the girl would surely have told them if she knew.” ag Tom boarded a trolley car and reached the bridge about eleven o'clock. He walked across - @ity Hall Park and down Park Place to the - §ixth Avenue station, where he caught a train Yigth away for uptown. _ When he drew near his boarding-house he saw gome one sitting on the steps. To his surprise the person proved to be Jack Robinson ou work for, and whereabouts in oy “Why, hello, Jack! here?” he asked. “Maybe twenty minutes.” “Too bad we got separated at the island. It’s like hunting for a needle in.a haystack to find a person in the crowd that was down there to-day. I gave the job up when it came on to rain.” ¢ “So did Where were you during the shower?” : oe “In a shed along the beach about half way to West Brighton.” “IT was near the Bowery, as they call it, and . went into one of the shows, where I stayed till it let up, and then I took a car for the bridge.” “Well, let’s go in.” Tom took Jack up to his room. “That’s a small bed for two,” said Jack, with a doubtful look at the narrow article. “Unless the landlady rented the front hall room to-day you can sleep there. I’ll go and see,” said Tom. . He returned in a minute with the news that the room was still vacant. How long have you been “You can use it to-night and to-morrow night, one T’ll make it all right with the landlady,” he said. “I’m willing to pay for it,” said Jack. “No, you'll pay nothing. You’re my guest until Monday morning. The expense won’t cut any ice with me, for I made quite a haul in the stock - market about a month ago, and I’m flush.” “How did you do it?” asked Jack. “And how much did you make?” R “T won’t tell you how much I made, for that’s one of my business secrets I’m not giving away; - but J’ll tell you how I did it.” Tom gave his new friend an outline of the way he and other small speculators dealt in stocks, and Jack was much interested. “I shall want to get in on that myself when I come to Wall Street,’ he said. “You don’t want to get too gay when you come to Wall Street. You'll need all your wages to | pay your way.” “Oh, I can borrow a stake of my old man.” “Well, you don’t want to do it, for the chances are ten to one you’ll blow it in on some stock that will go down when you are playing for it to u ? “Tf the chances are ten to one against a chap how is it you managed to win as often as you say?” “Because I had a sure tip on the market, and the other times I had luck. : “What’s the matter with me having luck, too?” “You might, but the chances are against you. At any rate, you'll have to learn the ropes before you can speculate with common sense, and that will take you some time. Now, I’m up to lots of the tricks of the traders, and I keep posted all the time of what’s going on; but even at that the next deal I make may clean me out down to my socks. Speculation in Wall Street is the greatest game of chance on record. Nine times out of ten the bottom will fall out of the market at the very moment when you are figuring on raking in a wad. By the way, I want to ask you @ question.” : “Ask it.” : ‘ “Do you know a farmer up your way named Hunter?” , x
Page 11
bette He owns a big farm not far from ~purs.”” é “Has he got a daughter named Beryl?” ' Ves; but she isn’t his real daughter, Some distant relative, I believe, that he adopted. She’s - abcut fifteen, and a blamed pretty girl.” “You are acouainted with her, I suppose?” “Sure.” ° “J want you to introduce me to her.” “Yl do it when you come up again. When - did you see her? The last time you were wp? And are you gone on her?” % “I haven’t had the pleasure of ever seeing er. “Then how is it you are interested in her Perhaps your sister has seen her and told you about her. She might have visited some friends in Rye?” “No, my sister doesn’t know anything apout - her to my knowledge.” eee “Then somebcdy else has spoken to you about . her.” oat admit I heard somebody talking about er. _. “And that has made you desirous of meeting pe her?” ; ; “Yes. I’ve a special reason for wishing to _ * knew her. It’s for her interest, not mine.” “That so? What is it?” “Sorry, old man, but I’m not at liberty to tell ? “AN right. I don’t want to poke my oar in where it isn’t wanted. You come up to the farm and I’ll take you around to her house and intro- duce you to her and the Hunters. They’re nice “people, and will treat you white.” “Thanks, Jack. Ill do as much for you when - the chance offers. Now I think you’d better turn gn, for it’s after-twelve. Come, I’ll show you to - the room.” ~ Tom took his friend to the front hall room on the same floor, wished him good-night, and left him. CHAPTER VI.—Tom Makes a Discovery. - Tom usually fell paieep a few minutes after he laid his head on the pillow, but this night was an exception to the rule. His thoughts were busy with Beryl Hunter and the secret of the locket ‘she wore around her neck. He wondeted whether her rascally uncle and his accomplice would hold to their promise and leave her alone until the Jaw had had a say in the matter. - “JT guess they won’t dare monkey with her, for - I told them I’d keep track of any move they made in her direction, and they know, if they don’t keep their part of our compact I'll tell all I know, and if they got the girl out of the city they could be captured out West if not en route there,” he thought. ‘ Finally he came to the conclusion that Beryl Hunter was safe for the present, and soon af- terward he fell asleep. Tom and Jack took in ome of the sights of upper New York next day, and on Monday morning the latter took his leave, Tom promising to come up on the following Satur- day and spend Sunday at the Robinson farm. The ‘Curb market was looking up, and Tom was kept “pretty busy all day Monday. The last message e carried that afternoon was to the office of a “well-known Curb broker. and here, while waiting A BOY OF THE CURB back of it were buying it up in large on the quiet. It was one of the mien ge Cur stocks, and was selling at $382 a share. Thi boomers intended to send it to $60 if they could. — As the owners of the mine, two big millionaires, — were the head and front of the movement, th chances were the project would be a great suc cess, for they were in a position to manipulate the price pretty much as they chose. Tom was very friendly with a well-known Curb brok named Edward Howard. As soon as he got woe that day he called around to Howard’s # of- ce, By “JT want you to do something for me and ie r nothing about it,” said the boy. ii gts “What is the favor?” asked the broker, with a smile. Se “It isn’t exactly a favor. It’s a business matte: on which you will reap a commission.” Saas “Oh, I see. You want me to buy some stock for you that. you have an idea is going to rise, that it?” Vg eTRat site: 3 a “Y’d rather not encourage you in such a risky venture.” eee? “Don’t you worry about that.” - “What's the stock?” : “Montana Copper.” pees “That isn’t so bad. It went, up two points to- day. You know that we brokers have an written law not to buy or sell less than 100 shares of any stock on margin for a customer; — but, seeing it’s you, I’ll strain a point and. put your little deal through. How many shares di you want me to buy for you?” ; “T want 700.” ; “How many?” asked the broker, thinking h had not heard aright. - | eae “Seven hundred, and here is $7,000 in. goo money to cover the margin,” replied Tom. _ Broker Howard fairly gasped. ~ ee “Seven hundred shares! This deal isn’t for you, then, You are acting for somebody else.” “Ym acting for myself. That is my money. I’ve made it in the market, and nobody can say I didn’t come by it honestly.” “You’ve made $7,000 in the market! You astonish me!’ oy “T thought I would, but what do you care? I’r giving you a good order, and the reason I asked you to say nothing is because I didn’t want M Ainsworth to hear about it.” ge “Well, if you’ve made that much money out of the market you ought to be wise enough hold on to it and not take the chances of los “T think I’ve a good thing in Montana Cop per.” 5 “That’s what all the speculators think, or th wouldn’t buy or sell, as the case might be.” “If I let you in on a good thing what percen age of your winnings will you give me?” “What do you call a good thing?” — “A pointer I have on Montana Copper.” “Oh, I see. You’ve picked up what you is a winning tip and you’re playing it.” *“T’ll tell you how I got hold of it, and wh really is. and if you think it’s good 1
Page 12
ete wae tackle saueclt I want a small share of what - . you make.” \ . “That's fair enough,” laughed the broker; “but it’s got to be the real thing or I won’t touch it.” _-. “Tf it wasn’t the goods I wouldn’t touch: it, either.” . “Well, let’s hear what it is.” Tom told him all the particulars of the pointer as he had picked it up. Broker Howard was in- terested. “Tt does look like the real article, Gessler. I’ll look. into it, and if the indications confirm your - statement I’ll get in on it and give you 10 per > cent. of whatever I may happen to win.” “In the meantime take my order and fill it.” The trader took it, and then Tom got up and left. About noon on the following day Tom met Broker Howard down at the Curb. Montana Copper had gone up a point that morning. ‘] bought your shares at 82, Gessler,” said the trader, “and I also went in myself on a Sa of thousand. If the stock is boomed to 50 we'll both make a good thing out of it. I don’t think the _- Hess clique can get it as high of 60. At any ». rate, I wouldn’t advise you to figure on holding PF out for any such price. It’s too risky. If it goes to 50 I shall sell, and I advise you to do the game.” ~ Business carried Tom to the Curb half a dozen or more times that day, and each time he noticed that Montana Copper had gone cite fraction of a point. It closed at 34 5-8, and-Tom calculated that he was already $1,500 head. He was coming from the bank where his boss kept his account 7 / at a few minutes after three when he was sur- prised to see Beryl Hunter’s rascally uncle talk- “ing to a member of the Stock Exchange on the corner of Broad and Wall Streets.. As Tom came along the two men parted company, Hodges going down Broad Street. The young méssenger _ walked up to the broker. “T beg your pardon, sir, but do you mind tell- ing me who that man was you were talking to, a) _and what his business is, if you know?” , “His name is Hiram Hodges, He’s a specula- __. tor, and has an office in one of the buildings near the Curb Exchange,” was the reply. “Thank you, sir,” replied Tom, walking on. Tom was surprised to hear that Hodges was a speculator, and that he had an office on Broad > Street. . Apparently he assumed to be a respectable member of society. About noon next day when he was down at the Curb market he went into _ several of the office buildings, arid in one of them located Hiram Hodges. The directory showed that his office was on the top floor. Tom went up '. there and found that the glass door bearing his __' mame was in the rear of a side corridor. He took the liberty of peeking through the keyhole. He didn’t see any one inside. Then he mechanically turned the knob of the door. To his surprise it ee opened. Holding it open a couple of inches, he ®» listened for some sound to indicate that the room a was occupied, but he*heard nothing. Finally he pushed it open and looked in. There was no one n the room, which was furnished with a rug, a table, and several chairs. A door at the farther end stood ajar, and Tom heard voices in there. _ Prudence would have suggested that he beat an _ immediate retreat. Instead of doing so he dar- ingly advanced to the other door and listened, for ry { : ~ ne “ es ‘ A BOY OF THE CURB 5 aias the voices sounded like Hodges and his accom- plice Jones, and something suggested that they were talking about Beryl Hunter. aba “So you’ve got the girl?” said Hogdes, for it was plainly his voice, to Jones, who had seem- «_ ingly just reached the office. é “Yes, I’ve got her. Mother Jinks and I did the trick very neatly,” replied his accomplice. “Where have you taken-her to?” c “To the Chinese Joss House on Mott Street.’ “Why there?” “Cause it’s the safest roost in town for her, and the Chink priest has promised to keep her prisoner there as long as he’s paid for it.” “Which won’t be long, for I intend’ to take her out of town not later than tomorrow night, That messenger boy is liable to learn of her abduc- tion, and he’s sure to squeal on us at once. Did you bring the locket?” 4 “T did. Here it is.” “You haven’t opened it, have you?” asked Hodges suspiciously. . “No. What is supposed to be in itis of no use _ to me.” = “Of course it isn’t.” , = There was silence in the room for some min- utes, then Hodges exclaimed petulantly: “Why, I can’t open the blamed thing. Looks to me as if it wasn’t intended to open. You took this from her neck, did you?” “That’s what I did.” : “Well, it looks like the one I saw on her when she was_a little child, so I suppose there’s no~ mistake. Perhaps my brother had it soldered up after he put the paper in it.” “Why should he do that? In that case the chances would be all against the paper coming to light. Perhaps it works by a spring,” said Jones. “That must be it,” ; a At that moment there came a knock at the door opening on the corridor. , . Tom, who was standing close to the inner door, 2 looked around in a startled way. acy “See who that is, Jones,” said Hodges. Sy The young messenger realized that he was sure to be detected. At that critical instant he ob- — served another door close to his elbow. Without considering where it led to, he pulled it open and stepped into a comparatively ee: closet. Hold- ing the door on a crack, he heard Jones cross the — main office and open the outer door. Presently he returned with an envelope in his hand and — re-entered the inner office. Tom was on the point — of coming out of the closet when he heard Hodges broker ay: “Y’ve got to go around and see my tet I guess you'd better te about a deal I’m in on. come with me, Jones.” As Tom retreated into the closet again, Hod, tale and Jones came out of the inner room with their _ hats on, crossed to the corridor door and went out, locking it after them. As the sound of their retreating footsteps died away outside Tom woke _ a to the fact that he was a prisoner in Hodges x Office. CHAPTER VII.—The' Treasury Note. __ ae “Gracious!” exclaimed Tom, “I’m trapped for fair. I-won’t be able to get out until that rascal. ly Hodges gets back, and if he should discover — me in here there’s lable to be trouble, No, J
Page 13
12 - guess the trouble will all be on his side, for from _ what I overheard he has broken his agreement pnd had Jones and the old woman kidnap Beryl Hunter from her home and bring her down to the Chinese quarters in Mott Street. That lets me - put of my promise to keep my mouth shut, and now I’ll make it hot for Mr. Hodges and his friend Jones. What a lucky thing for the girl it was that I came up here and found out the facts of the case so soon before Beryl was taken out of town! The old villain has the locket in his ' possession now, and is bound to secure the secret of the lost lode—that is, if I can’t find a way to _ put a spoke in his wheel. I wonder if he carried it away with him or left it in yonder room till he gets back and makes another attemut to open it? It’s up to me to find out. If I can lay my hands on it he’ll never get hold of it again; I’ll gamble on that.” : Quite excited at the idea that the locket might be somewhere in the inner room, Tom went in - there and looked around. The room was carpeted with a small rug, had three chairs, a desk, and some other articles of furniture. The roll-top of the desk had been pulled down, but so careless- ly- that it had not caught, consequently it was not locked. Tom made no bones about shoving it up, a large, cheap affair, the brass showing in spots ‘through its washed surface. He picked it up ‘and examined it closely. It didn’t look like a locket that opened, and he didn’t wonder that Hodges had failed to get at its interior. If it had been made to open, the; hinges had ‘been very carefully concealed, for it looked alike all the way round—just one smooth, rounded edge, without the sign of a seam. Both sides were fancifully carved in a similar design of a rather outlandish fashion, and had a small stone in the senter. The stone was blood-red like a ‘ruby. Altogether it looked as if it might have originated in some far eastern country like In- ec2G3a.: “Well, I’ve got it and I’m going to keep it for Beryl Hunter and tell her that it is supposed to - contain the clue to the lost lode in the mine once - owned by her father, and now her property un- - der his will. The next thing will be to get out of this office,’ thought Tom, closing the desk and taking care to lock it. “I'll have to hide in the closet till Hodges gets back, and as soon as he enters his private room I’ll sneak out by the cor- -ridor door.” He walked into the large room and sat on a chair near the closet so that he would be in a ‘position to jump in there the moment he heard ‘ootsteps coming along the corridor. While wait- ing he amused himself aye to see if by any possibility he could open the locket. All his at- tempts were in vain, and he was beginning to feel tisfied that the ornament had not been made to open, when his thumb nail accidentally slipped and hit one of the red stones with considerable force. The locket shot out of his fingers on to the floor. When he stooped to pick it up he ut- tered an.exclamation of astonishment. The lock- et lay wide open on the edge of the rug. “My goodness!” he ejaculated. “It’s open!” Taking the locket in his hands he looked at the thick and closely folded bit of paper that was tightly stuck in it. - “Why, that looks more like money than any- else,” he breathed ~ Sree : : ia . att and there, right before his eyes, lay the locket— - A BOY OF THE CURB He tried to pick % out with his fingers, but pon Then he got out his penknife aad pried | it out. ; “Tt is money, surely!” nf He opened the folds, which had been pounded ~ down twelve years before to make the Dill fit “ its narrow confines. After considerable trouble he finally spread it out on his knee and saw that — it was a brand-new treasury note of the denom- ination of a single dollar. 45 “Only a dollar!” he exclaimed, turning it over and looking at it on. the other side. “Only a single dollar bill. Why, a $1,000 note could have been put in the locket as well as a dollar one, I don’t see the paper which was to give the clue to the lost lode.” 5 1g He looked around on the floor, thinking it might — have dropped out, but there was no sign of it, — In fact, the locket did well to hold the treasury note without talking of anything else. ieee “T guess this alleged secret of a lost lode is a fake,” thought Tom. “Beryl’s father wrote that — statement in his diary to fool his artful brother, — taking it for granted that he was bound to find. ‘s the diary when he searched his effects. Prob- _ ably the Red Jacket mine never amounted to any- Bs thing, anyway, but the girl’s father, to punish his brother for reasons known to himself, gave ee out that he had discovered a rich lode, and then surrounded its location with mystery.’ I’ll bet ~ that’s the truth of the matter.” fe takers Tom put the locket in one pocket and the bill carefully away in another ae “So Beryl Hunter isn’t a great heiress after all, and Hodges has only gone to a lot of useless trou- _ ble and expense, and made himself liable to arrest and imprisonment by kidnaping her. I’m sor it has turned out this way for her sake, for I — felt sure she was going to be worth a lot of money through that mine. However, it can’t be helped. It won’t worry her any, for she’ll never know the difference.” Sie An hour had passed, and Hodges still remained — away. = “Gee! I'll bet Mr. Huntley is-as mad as a hornet over the length of time I’ve been away from the office. I dare -say he’s had to send Hickey out in my place. I wonder if he thinks I’ve met with an accident? Nothing would tickle Story more than to hear that I had been run down by an auto and sent to the hospital. He — hates me as bad as Old Nick does holy water. Oh, but I did give him a jolly licking, all righ What a pair of eyes he carried around for a — week! e’s a mean lobster, and if he got all — that’s coming to him he wouldn’t be able to work — for a month.” f Tom was growing impatient over Hodges’ long absence. : ue “J wish to thunder he’d come back, so I could slip out. Then before I return to the office I’m going to rescue Beryl Hunter. I’ve been through Chinatown so often that I know the lay of the Joss House first rate. . I ought to be able to find the girl, for the Chink priests will never suspect > my errand. Whereas if the police went hunting for her they would hide her away in some hole where they’d never find her.” Tape Tom looked at his watch and saw that it was after two o’clock. : = “T’ve been here about two hours,” he muttered. “T should think, after getting that locket in hi possession, Hodges would be anxious to re = Yd 4 rae FN, cpoe See SBD de - “Make pov gia ae
Page 14
eS 4 aed and put in his time trying to open it. Well, _ when he does get back he’ll find that it has van- - ished in some mysterious way, and perhaps he won’t be mad énough to chew a pound of nails.” ‘The boy chuckled as he pictured the rascal’s consternation and perplexity when he discovered _ that the locket had disappeared from his desk. _ Footsteps had approached the door along the corridor a score of times since Tom had’ been locked in, but they always passed by. Two or _ three times the young messenger was sure he rec- ognized the sound of Hodges’ step; and he had jumped into the closet, only to find that it was a false alarm. Once seme caller came and knocked at the door, but finding the place locked up, had gone away. For want of something else _ to think of, Tom got out the locket and studied it _earefully. It was shut, and he tried for over twenty minutes to open it again, but couldn’t _ strike the central stone on either side just right. "This is the funniest locket I ever saw,” he thought. “If I hadn’t just by accident hit it ' right I’d be ready.to swear that it couldn’t be opened except it was split apart by some imple- ent. I wonder why Beryl’s father that wanted to hide his money from his rascally brother, and for her benefit, why didn’t he put ~ a large bill in it? Maybe he was strapped when he died, and didn’t have any money to speak of to hide. Still, he could hardly have put less than a dollar bill in it. Oh, I guess I ean see “through his object. He knew when his brother found his diary, and read the reference to the ‘secret of the lost lode being hidden in the locket, that the rascal would take the locket away from his daughter and break’ it open, if he couldn’t get at it any other way, in order to secure the - secret. Instead of the secret he would find just __ a measly dollar treasury note, and so be terribly ae disappointed. That was the satisfaction the girl’s father intended to get. That was a dandy——” cS At that moment a key rattled in the lock of the door. Tom this time was taken by surprise, ' and before he could reach the closet the door opened and Hiram Hodges walked in, catching him in the room. ’ % : % CHAPTER VIII—In Chinatown. -To say that Hodges was astonished at finding Tom in his office would but faintly express his feelings. He was simply pats: ES — “You! he exclaimed, with a scowl. “You here! ‘How did you get in?” : “J walked in,” replied the boy coolly, seeing that he had to face the music. : “Walked in, and the door locked! Impossi- 1 i?) / 3 : “Maybe I came through the keyhole,” chuckled ‘om. — *Non’t talk nonsense, I demand an explana- tion of your presence here.’ lf told 6nd walked in. The door was not locked.” abet “J locked the door when I went out, and I und it locked when I came back. You must ave a skeleton key, young man. I shall have to call a policeman and give you in charge unless ou give a full account of your conduct in coming if re while I was out.” Be : All right. Call your policeman. It will save - A BOY OF 6 ut ‘dollar treasury note so carefully in it? If he — B rks gave Tom the opening he was looking for. — THE CURB ° me the trouble of calling one to give you in charge.” : : “Give me in charge! What do you mean?” “T mean you have broken your compact with — me and caused the abduction of Beryl Hunter from her home.” nee “Tt is false!” : oh “Well, if it is Pm willing to stand the conse-, — quences of having been found in your office under circumstances that might be considered suspic- ious.’ “On what ground do you make such an as- sertion?” eee pe “T heard your associate, Jones, tell you that he and a woman called Mother Jinks had kidnapped _ the girl and brought her to this city.” a5 Hodges was rather staggered by this reply, ~ which showed him that Tom had in some way overheard the conversation, or a part of it, that. had taken place in the inner room just before he was called out by the note from his broker. Mat- ters, therefore, looked very serious to him. oe “Where were you when you say you heard that conversation?” he asked. é “T was in this room.” i ‘ “Where were you when I and Jones left the office?” : ete “In this room.” as “Tf you were here we would have seen you.” cone didn’t see me because I was in that — closet.’ Hodges uttered an imprecation. “What brought you up here?” “Curiosity.” wide Figs You are work- — your niece, now “Oh, I found out that your friend Jones had : brought you the’ locket that is supposed to con- ; tain the secret of the lost lode in the Red Jacket __ mine.” ra ‘ iw e “You have been hunting for it while I wag away?” cried Hodges, looking much disturbed. “T admit that I looked for it.” Aid as “Did you find it?” : atte: “That is for you to discover.” ie With an imprecation’ Hodges rushed toward the door of the inner room to look and see if his desk had been tampered with. This move on his’ left the way clear to the corridor door, and the __ boy was quick to take advantage of the fact. He rushed across the room. : & “Stop!” roared Hodges, trying to intercept him. He swung open the door, darted into the corr dor, and rushed for the stairs, not daring to wait for an elevator lest he be overhauled by the rascal. He flew downstairs several flights, and then went to the elevator shaft, where he caug! a cage and completed the descent.. It was thr o’clock when he issued on the street. The Curb Exchange was just closing. Stopping a broker he knew, he asked him how Montana Copp stood. : “It’s up to 35,” was the reply. Tom went on up the street. Instead of
Page 15
A BOY OF to his office he went straight on up Nassau Street. “Yl catch it hot in the morning when I show up,’ he thought; “but who cares? I’m worth over $7,000, with the prospect of making twice as much more. If things break the way I ex- ‘pect I'll resign from the office and devote my time to private speculation. It will pay better than working for a measly nine dollars a week. That will make ‘an opening for Jack.” From Nassau Street Tom. made his way into Park Row, facing City Hall Park, then on past the Brooklyn Bridge entrance into upper Park Row, once known as Chatham Street, which took him to Chatham Square. He was now near his destination, Mott Street, a narrow and crooked thoroughfare that led into the heart of China- town. Fifteen minutes later’ Tom entered a building that adjoined the Joss House. The entrance was narrow and dirty, and the contracted hall dark and tainted with the pe- culiar odor always poparent where the Chinese live and carry on their business. The stairs were narrow and creaked under his tread. He met and passed several Chinks coming down, with their hands thrust under their dark-blue blouses. They looked at him in a stolid way, but with- out any apparent curiosity. He passed open doors revealing rooms more or less tenanted with the Mongolian race, and went on up to the third floor, which was darker and more odorous than the low- er part of the house. On this floor was a door which he knew led into the Joss House next door. ok Locating it, he opened it and found himself in a _ small room where a Chinaman sat before a dimin- -_-utive table, on which was a lamp, which illumi- nated the room or cell, for it had no window, and a set of tablets. The Chink was smoking a pipe and studying the tablets. He looked up when Tom entered. *Whatee want!” he asked. “T want to see the big joss.” ; . "You go. No passee here,” answered the China- man stolidly.” “Why not?” “No passee.” Tom pulled out a dolla» bill. your name before. Are you the boy who saved Jack Robinson from the quicksand on Hen Island on the Fourth of July?” “Ves.” “You work in a broker’s office in Wall Street?” feT do.”’ 5 ik “Then I am sure you will save me,” she said’ eagerly. “How did you find out I was here?” — “By accident. I happened to be in a place where’ _ I overheard a conversation between the man who assisted in carrying you off, with the aid of an old ‘woman, and the rascal who employed him to do the job. I have.a long story to tell_youin con® nection with this outrage, which will explain this
Page 16
i Pre S cotee te reason of it, but it must keep until I have rescued you. I know more about you than you dream of— more even than you know yourself.” _ She looked at him in great surprise. hea not understand what you mean,” SAIC. > 3. é c Tay, > “Qf course you don’t, but you will undefstand when I get the chance to explain®later on. When “were you carried off?” - “Last evening.” “Tell me the circumstancés.” _ Beryl explained that she had been over to a ing home along the road when she was accosted by ‘a man not far from the gate of her own home. The stranger asked her if her name was Beryl Hunter, and when she admitted that it was, he suddenly threw a shawl he had on his arm over her head and held her tightly despite her struggles till she fainted. That was all she remembered - till she found herself a prisoner in that room and saw through the window that it was daylight. “Then you didn’t see a hard-looking old woman - with the man?” : ™ “No,” she replied, shaking her head. “ I Have seen nobody but a Chinaman since I’ve been here. He brouzht me something to eat and drink, but I have not eaten a thing. I have been so fright- ened over my terrible position that I have nothing but cry all day.” ~ “JT don’t wonder that you’ve been all broke up, for it was impossible for you to understand why ~ you were carried off from your home, or what fate as ahead of you. I will be able to make that all clear to you. Have you missed anything?” - “Missed anything? I don’t know what you mean.” . “Tidn’t you wear a locket around your neck?’ : She raised<her hand to her throat, felt of her - neck, and then exclaimed: “Tt is gone!” “It was taken from you by the man who car- ed you off. But I recovered it. Here it is,” and Tom pulled the locket with its chain from his pocket and handed it to her. “Thank you,” she said gratefully. “I have worn that always, ever since I can remember. The ‘old woman J lived with until Mr. Hunter took me away from her after paying her some money told me that it was a present from my real father, but » never would tell me anything about my par- , except that they both died when I was very Pre ts: au refer to the woman known as Mother ks??? “Yes, that was her name. How did you know?” “J will explain what 1 have learned about you after we get away from here.” ; “She was not a nice old woman, and sometimes used to beat me when I did not make enough money selling flowers. I was always afraid of Y, and was very happy when she let me go with 'r. Hunter.” : How long have you lived with the Hunters?” “About five years.” oe. “They edonted you as their daughter and called ou Beryl?” ” one Yes. : “What name did Mother Jinks call you by?” Nellie.” : 1t you had another name, didn’t you? SEE ALE, Dar AE ve Ly? bE SS LG eke aw is A BOY OF THE neighboring farm, visiting a friend, and was walk- . The passage was silent and deserted rr] as Lidsi0 t ad s CURB. “Yes. When I was sent to school she told me ~ to say my names was. Hodges.” Se eae “That’s your right name, for your father’s name _ was Hodges.” $ “How are you able to tell that?” she said, ap- _ parently much surprised at the knowledge he ~ seemed to possess concerning her. ye ates: “I told you I would explain all I know about _ you after we get out of this Chinese den. Isup- pose you know from what you have seen from this window that vou are in New York?” mz “Yes; but I don’t know what part of it.” “You are in Chinatown. You have heard of the place, haven’t you?” . “Yes, but I know nothing about it.” Or “Tt’s a tough place for a nice girl like you to be in, but I’ll get you out and take you back to the — Hunters if it’s possible for me to do it.” Gee “You are very good to come here to save me,” said Beryl gratefully. i “T considered it my duty to do that, Miss Hun- ter, the moment I heard of your abduction and- learned where you were held prisoner.” wae: “Tf you will take me home I shall be grateful ~~ to you as long as I live.” WES “Tf I don’t take you home it will be because I am prevented by hard luck. Now I am going ta see if there is any way that we can get out of this, place.” Ht Tom went to the door and tried it. It was fast, as he expected. While-he was looking at it he heard the shuffling sound of a Chinaman’s shoes coming along the passage. The sound stopned at _ the door. Making a gesture of caution to Beryl, he slipped behind the curtain. He had barely con- — cealed himself when the door opened and a China- — man entered with a tray of food. ; “No eatee, eh?” he said to the girl, noticing the — untouched dishes that stood on a small table. “You. gettee sick you no eatee. You beilly nicee gal— allee same much good lookee. Me takee gleat likee — fol you. Me on lookee out fol nicee pletty Melican — wifee. Takee you pletty quick s’pose me eatchee ” she was. Tom, as she listened to his tal tain, he saw that the Chinaman’s back was pre-. sented to him. He also observed that the door. stood ajar. ‘With a little nerve, backed by good luck, he thought he saw the chance for Beryl an himself to escape. The opportunity Rites be come again, and he determined to avail himself o: it, let the risk be what it might. It was growing dark outside by this time, and Tom had no desire to pass the night cooped up in that room, even with so charming a companion as Bery] Hunter. He glided noiselessly out from behind the curtain, and, throwing one arm about the neck of the un- suspecting Chink, secured a strangle hold on him and bore him to the floor. The Chinaman strug-— gled and tried to call out, but not being so strong as the boy, who was in dead earnest, he was he’ )= less in the young messenger’s grip. Pepe? Beryl looked on with staring eyes while T choked the Mongolian into unconsciousness. ing the fellow’s hands behind his back and ging him, Tom went to the door and looked 0} Pe ae ae a | we Saks weiter Asie at oat \,
Page 17
“Come,” he said, turning to Beryl. ‘Now is our thance to get away.” ‘Taking her by the hand, he led her to the door by which he had entered the place. Opening it slightly, he saw another Celestial seated at the table, smoking and gazing straight ahead of him. Flinging the door open quickly he stepped into the little cell, followed by the girl. The Chinaman looked at them, and then jumped up to bar their exit into the next building, at the same time grab- bing up a small covered drumstick and striking a gong behind him. Tom snatched up the small lamp and fired it at him. He uttered a terrible ery as he fell in a heap on the floor. The boy shoved the table over on him, and then rushed Beryl to the door, but to his consternation he found it locked. « 7 CHAPTER X.—Tom Saves Beryl. “Trapped!” gasped Tom. “This is hard luck. But maybe the key is in the lock. No, it isn’t. What shall we do? I hear several Chinks coming this way along the passage, and that chap in here is making noise enough to wake the dead.” Beryl caught him by the arm and stood trem- ; bling with terror. K, Tom struck a match and looked at the door. He saw that it was held by a heavy bolt. - He shot it back just at two Chinese priests rushed into the cell. The match having expired in the boy’s fingers, the room was dark again, and they could see : nothing, but they could hear the squawking of the 2 chap Tom had bowled over with the lamp, who -* probably thought the ceiling had fallen on him when the young messenger pushed the table over a2 on top of him. e f The legs of the table stood up in the darkness and the priest who was in the lead butted against one of them and then tripped over the kicking lower extremities of the fallen Celestial. He went sprawling on top, of the bottom of the table. = What he didn’t say in Chinese is hardly worth mentioning. < No doubt he swore some, but Tom couldn’t tell, 5 for he didn’t understand the language. ‘The other Chinaman stumbled over his legs and measured his length on the bare floor, striking his forehead and nose against a plank. Tom took advantage of the confusion to open ‘the door and draw the frightened Beryl outside into the third floor corridor of the next building, slamming the door after them. “Come,” he said in an excited tone. “We haven't a moment to lose. We must reach the street be- fore those chaps raise a hornet’s nest about our ears.” They hurried down the three flights as quickly oo could and dashed out on the narrow side- walk, Here they came into the glare of gas jets and the soft refulgence’ of suspended Chinese lan- terns that marked certain shops and chop suey restaurants. : he street was crowded with moving Mon- = laa and the shops and doorways filled with em. ~ There were some white people among them, and 1 A BOY OF THE CURB they regarded Tom and Beryl with greater — curiosity than the Mongolians did.~ Te : Tom held the girl firmly by the hand and pushed on toward Chatham Square. She was much bewildered by the strange sights _ and sounds around them, and clung to the young _ messenger as a drowning man clings to a plank. She felt that she was safe as long as she was ~ with him. Tom did not feel sure how things would terminate till they reached the lower part of the Bowery, with its lights, bustle, and elevated rail- way overhead. ‘ “Now we're all right, Miss Hunter,” he said reassuringly. “We'll take a Third Avenue train uptown.” “Are you going to take me home now?” she asked eagerly. “No. I’m going to take you up to my boarding- — house and turn you over to the landlady. You'll be safe with her. We’ll stop at a telegraph office on the way and I'll wire Mr. Hunter where you - are, and he’ll come after you. I think that will be the best way, for you must be hungry and a good meal will make you feel better. Besides, I want to tell you the story I promised you.” “a “T am willing to do as you wish me to,” re- plied Beryl, looking at him trustfully. “That’s right. I’ll see that nothing happens to you. J’ll look after you just as if you were my sister. You trust me, don’t you?” “Yes, yes,” she replied, chaste to his arm as they ascended the stairs of the Chatham Square elevated station. = As Tom bought a couple of tickets he noted by the station clock that it was eight. ¥ i , “No dinner at the boarding-house to-night for us,” he thought. ‘‘We’ll have to dine at a restau- rant. I’ll have to get Beryl a hat before I take her into one.” A ; They left the train at the Thirty-fourth Street — station, and started west across town. Reaching Sixh Avenue, he took the girl intoa ~ millinery store and bought her an inexpensive but becoming hat. yy Then they went to a restaurant together and both ate a hearty meal, for they were very hun- gry, Beryl not having eaten anything since thea ~ night before. S*: It was half-past nine when they reached Tom’s boarding house. . He took Beryl into the parlor, and then hunted _ up the landlady, to whom he briefly explained the girl’s position, and asked her to keep her for the. night, telling her he had telegraphed for the girl’s _ cat ia father to come after her in the morning. . a th a 11 make good whatever expenses you’re put to, Mrs. Williams,” concluded the boy. “Indeed you needn’t, Mr. Gessler. The fact that the girl has been in trouble is a sufficient reason why I will gladly befriend her till her father comes after her,” said the boarding missus. _ “Thank you, Mrs. Williams. Come now, T’ll in- troduce the young lady to you.” ca He took the landlady to the parlor and made her # acquainted with Beryl. : a “I guess I’d better defer my story till the morn- , ing, Miss Hunter,” said Tom, “as you no doubt — are greatly in need of rest. I’ll see you at break- © fast, and afterward I’ll let you have the story.” So he bade her good-night, receiving a grateful 3 look from her eyes, and went to his own room
Page 18
Pa : Tom was just finishirie his breakfast when the landlady led Beryl into the dining-room and gave _her a seat alongside of him. “Good-morning, Miss Hunter,” said the boy as politely as though she were a princess. “I hope you feel all right this morning.” Beryl smiled and said she did. “T dare say Mr. Hunter will be down after you by the first train if he got my telegram last night,” said Tom. “If he didn’t, and that is quite ossible, for I believe they don’t deliver telegrams in the rural districts except through the mail, why, he’ll be along later. Then, again, it is more than likely he is in the city searching for you with the help of the police. I might have notified police headquarters last night where you could be found in the event that the department had been in- formed about your abduction. Ill call in there on my way downtown so as to make sure of reaching Mr. Hunter as soon as possible.” ’ “You are very good to take so much trouble about me,” said Beryl. “Don’t mention it, Miss Hunter. I am very happy to be of service to you. I hope you won’t forget me altogether after you get home.” “I will never forget’: how kind you have been to me, and I hope you will visit me when you come up to see Jack Robinson, who told me he expected you to spend your vacation with him,” she said earnestly. “JT will certainly visit you. In fact, I arranged with Jack to stop over next Sunday with him, and you'll see me sooner than you expected.” “T shall be very glad to see you on Sunday. You must come over early and dine with us.” “T will if Jack and his folks will let me.” After breakfast they went to the parlor to- gether. ; “Now I will tell you the story I promised you, and you must be prepared to be astonished. I have an idea you'll hear more about yourself than you ever knew.” Beryl made no reply, but looked interested and _ expectant. “All you know about-yourself is that your early life was passed with that old woman named Mother Jinks down somewhere on the east side of this city, isn’t it?” “Yes. She never told me a word about my real father and mother, except that they were dead, but from many things she let out when somewhat under the influence of the gin she was fond of I came to believe that my father and mother lived out West in the mining district somewhere, and that I was born there.” _“T guess that’s right, for from what I heard ” our rascally uncle say : : : “My uncle!” exclaimed Beryl in surprise. “Have Lan uncle?” “You have, and he’s a big rascal, as I said. He is in this city now—has an office down in Broad eet. He is the man who caused you to be ab- _ ducted from your home in Westchester.” ‘ Beryl looked astonished, as well she might “Your father owned a silver mine, or at least the controlling interest in it, I should judge, called ‘the Red Jacket. It was only what is called a rospect, I imagine—that is, it was not developed ae an extent that would enable it.to produce silver ore if there was really any in it that would pay a profit over the cost of getting it out of the ground. A BOY OF THE CURB MW However that may be—and remember I am only — giving’ you my own idea on the subject—your father must have told his brother, Hiram Hodges, your uncle, that he had discovered a rich lode of ore in it, for it appears that his brother laid wires to do your father out of the mine if he could. Be- fore anything happened your father died, but be- fore he died he made his will, leaving the mine to you. ; “To me!” exclaimed the girl. “So I heard your uncle say. Then your uncle, out of the way, so he sent you East in charge of. Mother Jinks, with instructions, which she seems to have carried out to the letter, to keep you in the dark as to your parentage, and bring you up as an unknown orphan.” “She did,” nodded Beryl, intensely interested in Tom’s revelation. being unaware of the will, concluded to get you . “By getting you out of the way your uncle “e expected to take possession of the mina that was _ yours by right and work it to his own advantage. _ He succeeded in doing this for a while, long enough to discover, no doubt to his great dis- appointment, that there was no valuable silver lode apparently in the ground, and that the mine was apparently worthless. He then started to sell but only — the ground for what he could get for it, when. the will made by your father turned up and he was stopped by law from doing so. Therefore, as the case stands at this moment, you are the only rec- ognized owner of the Red Jacket property in Paradise, Nevada.” — “Oh!” ejaculated Baryl, hardly able to realize Tom’s last statement. “Under ordinary circumstances it would only be necessary for Mr. Hunter, as your legal guardian in this State, to investigate the facts, an finding them to be right, to take possession of the prop- erty and hold it in trust for you. Unfortunately, this raseally uncle of yours was legally appointed guardian by a Nevada court, and in that ca acity he holds possession of the property. Now I have stated everything I know about you, but the most astonishing part is to come.” : Tom then told her the facts connected with the locket which had their origin in the finding of her father’s diary by his crooked brother. “And that paper is in this locket?” she said, placing her hand on it. “So your uncle believes, but it happened I ae- cidentally opened that locket myself after I got it in my possession yesterday afternoon, what do you suppose I found in it?” “T couldn’t guess.” “Only a new one-dollar treasury note. I took it out, and here it is.” : With these words Tom took it and handed it to her. “And this is what my “Tt would appear so.” out of his pocket while her eyes suffused with tears. “I shall keep this in remembrance of him as long as I live.” “That’s right. I would,” ariswered Tom. At that moment there was a ring at the front door and the servant presently ushered a hearty- looking, weather-tanned man into the parlor. The moment, Beryl saw him she sprang up. _ “Father! arms. and — : father put in the locket?” ; ‘ ; “Dear, dear father!” she said, kissing the note, Father!” she cried, running into his _ rr Te ange ee
Page 19
=a A BOY - CHAPTER XI—Tom Makes Big Money. After greeting her adopted father with every dence of affection, Beryl introduced Tom to -him, and told him that the boy had rescued her m. the house in Chinatown where her abductor d carried her. Farmer Hunter thanked him for 1e had to go downtown to his business, and that not disappointed. He explained as much of his ‘movements as he thought proper, but the cashier was inclined to doubt much of his story, and gave \im a good raking, telling him he would certainly eport his conduct to Mr. Ainsworth when he came to the office. As Tom had learned that Montana Copper had already gone up another point that morning, he felt as independent as a hog on ice, dhe didn’t give a picayune whether school kept not, which in plain Hnglish means that he up, and that helped to inflate the prices of ther stocks on the list, therefore buyers became plenty. Mr. Ainsworth turned up Saturday morn- ing, but by that time the cashier had got over the rouch he had in for Tom, and he forgot to report to the boss, consequently ‘Tom heard nothing wre of the matter. In the meantime the police re looking for Hiram Hodges, his accomplice ones, and Mother Jinks, for Farmer Hunter, af- y hearing Beryl’s story, decided to prosecute them for the girl’s abducticn. Those three in- ; iduals, however, knowing what they mignt ex- et after Tom’s escape from Hodges’ office, and ‘subsequent rescue of Beryl from the Joss ‘couse in Chinatown, left the city, to remain away the police got tired of looking for them. Hodges was particularly down in the mouth over loss of the locket, and blamed his own stu- ity in leaving it at his office when he went out. 2 was satisfied that Tom Gessler had a skeleton with which he had opened his desk, never aming that it was his own carelessnes in fail- ng to lock the roll top that enabled Tom to get tes it and secure the locket. He was satisfied w that the secret of the lost lode was in Tom’s Pp girl and made her wise, too. Had he known that e young messenger had found only a plain one- dollar treasury note in the locket, and that the secret, if there was one, was as much a secret as er, it would no doubt have made a change in ans he was already figuring on to get back at e boy who, in his opinion, had “done hin up.” fontana Copper closed at 40 on Saturday noon, when the Curb Exchange brokers quit business for the week, and as that put_Tom over $5,000 ahead f the game he took a train for Mamaroneck that fternoon feeling uncommonly frisky. Jack Robin- son was waiting for him at the station with a ig, and greeted him effusively. ou’re al] right. Tom.” he said. after PSA eG ea SAY, | BD ot as Oo Seg oe Site OF THE CURB _ hat he had done for Beryl, and then Tom said~ ssession, and that he had given the paper to the , day. If you do you have my congratulations, for shaking hands with his new friend. “The whole neighborhood is ringing with your praises for the — rescue of Beryl Hunter from that Chinatown den. After making arrangements with me to introduce ~ _ you to the young lady, you turn around and in- | troduce yourself in regular story-book style. Gee! But you’ve got a great nerve to go into that joint — the way you did and get her out. She just thinks” _ you’re the whole thing now. She told mre you were the bravest, finest, handsomest and nicest boy she. had ever met in her life. What do you think of that? She’s dead gone on you. and there isn’t another chap in the neighborhood that stands one, two, three with you. I suppose this will end like all thrilling romances in you marrying her some— she’s a blamed nice girl, and the prettiest one in Westchester.” hee “Do you often make such a long speech without taking a breath?” laughed Tom. A “Not often, unless I’m riled over something, and then I go outside the house and talk to myself till I’m tired.” On the following afternoon Jack took Tom over to the Hunter farm, not to take dinner, for the Robinsons wouldn’t hear of that, but to spend the ~ afternoon and take tea with Beryl and her adopt-- ed parents. He was received with open arms, and — Jack, concluding th»* he could be dispensed with on this oeeasicn, pleaded another engagement, and said he would call for Tom about nine o’clock, © which was quite satisfactory to Beryl, who made _ up her mind to have her hero, as she called him, - all te herself after her parents had made as much ~ of him as they wanted to. Tom put in a very: pleasant afternoon with Beryl, and he found her — even more charming than his fancy had painted ~_ her. In fact, he was quite captivated with her... — She, on her part, was very gracious to him, and ~ _ they got on very well together. He entertained her with his experiences. in Wall Strect, and she — said that: nothing would please her better than to ~ visit the financial district and see how the bulls — and bears carried on there. ify “Well, wait till some time next month, when business gets to humming, and then get your fa- __ ther to bring you down some Saturday morning,” __ said Tom. “Ill take you to the Curb Market, ~ and afterward over to the Stock Exchange. Then, as I’m off about half-past twelve, I’ll take you both to lunch.” ig ies “Thank you for the invitation,” she: replied. “Maybe I’ll surprise you some Saturday when you aren’t looking fcr me.” 3 46 “You won’t catch me napping, Miss Beryl, for as soon as thing's pick up I shall begin to look for you,” he replied. ary Jack turned up a little after eight, and prompt- ly at nine he and Tom said good-by, the latter re-— ceiving a special invitation to call soon again, and left for the Robinson farm. Montana Copper con- tinued to go up during the ensuing week, and the Curb was much excited over it, a tremendous amount of trading being done, considering that the month was an off one for business, On Sat- re urday when the Exchange closed it was up to 52. — Although Broker Howard had advised Tom to sell _ if the stock reached 50, he did not do it, for the prospect looked too good for him to draw out. On Monday morning, however, he heard a vi oe broker say something to Mr. Ainsworth about the es a stock that caused him to alter his mind about hold- SRLAINY IRE aT Bled
Page 20
: A BOY OF THE CURB 49° v ing on any longer. He availed himself of the first chance to call at Broker Howard’s office. The trader ‘was not in, but he left his order for the sale of his shares with the cashier, and fifteen -minutes later the control of the 700 shares passed out of his hands at 55 3-8, giving him a profit of $23 a share, or: about $16,000 altogether. Later on Broker Howard sent for him to call. “ “You made a pretty good thing out of your deal, Gessler,” he said, after the boy was shown dnto his private room. “Sixteen thousand dollars is not to be sneezed at. I have often made less my- self on a deal.” “Ym satisfied,” replied Tom. “You ought to be. But I didn’t send for you to tell you this, but to settle with you for the benefit I got out of your tip. Our arrangement a) =) & ever profit I made. Well, I got in on 2,000 at 82, and sold at 52. Therefore I made a clear $40,- _ 000. Your share of that is $4,000, and here is my check, made out to your order, for that amount.” “Thank you, Mr. Howard; you are a man of your word,” said Tom, taking the check. _ “That’s my chief stock in trade, Gessler. If I _ didn’t keep my word in this business I wouldn’t ‘last long. A man’s word has got to be his bond in Wall Street, and when he can’t meet his en- - gagements he goes to the wall.” “My tip has done pretty well by me, for it has turned me in $20,000. I am now worth $27,300, _ which is pretty good-for a messenger boy to make out of the stock market.” “J should say so. Allow me to congratulate you on your success, and hope that such luck won’t _ turn your head. If I were you I think I’d quit and not run the chance of losing any part of it. One of the greatest things going is to know when to get out of a gambling game, and the stock market is about as big a gamble as I know of,” .. replied the broker. a om thanked him for his advice and took his ‘leave. ; But he.had no idea of following it. ‘ In fact, his:‘mind was made up to quit the mes- _ genger business, hire, an office, or at any rate desk room. in somebody else’s office, and follow Curb speculation as a regular occupation. He waited a couple of weeks, until September - ‘was well advanced, when he tendered his resig- _ nation to Mr. Ainsworth, recommending his friend _ Jack Robinson to fill his shées. The broker liked Tom, and had found him such a 7. - determination, Jack Robinson was sent for, and - Yom broke him into his duties inside of a week. 3 The two boys took a large square back room in - Mrs. Willidm’s boarding-house, and were quite pleased to be together. =. Tom had visited Beryl a second time, and the ~ young people arranged to correspond with each _ other. Nothing further had been heard from Hiram Hodges. He and his two associates in the kidnapping _ affair managed to elude the detectives, and Tor believed they. had gone West. They hadn’t, however, as Tom ere long ii). covered to his disadvantage was that I was to give you 10 ner cent. of what- | CHAPTER XII.—The Trap that Failed. — Shortly after Tom severed his connection with — Broker Ainsworth he found a small room on the sixth floor of a Wall Street building, and renting it up to the following May, he had his name . painted on the frosted glass and furnished it up ir regulation style. 3 He could have saved considerably money hac _ he taken desk room in some trader’s office, but he — felt he would be mere independent if he had hi own headquarters all by himself, F Jack who was as tickled with his job of mes- senger as a child with a new toy, was his firsi visitor. “There’s nothing the matter with the way you're fixed up here, Tom,” he said, with an approving look around the room. “T’ll bet there are worse looking offices in Wall Street than this one.” “Oh, it’ll do all right for me,” replied Tom. “I should think it would. So you’re going tc make a business of speculating ?” “Yes, and I'll take orders from anybody that wants me to buy any stock or bonds for them or commission.” : : “Then you’re going to be a broker as well as — speculator ?” < Pes “Of course, if I can get anybody to patronize me. “Well, I hope you make a success of it.” a “Thanks; it won’t be my fault if I don’t.” : “Say, if Iget the old man to send me $100, will you invest it in some stock for me?” — “I might, if it was a stock I was going in on myself.” ir _ “Then Vl get the age and you can keep it in your safe till you feel like using it. at will pg me ten shares on margin, won’t it?” “ es.” = ‘ “And if the stock should go up ten points I'd double my money?” “Less commission and interest charges, which hines wouldn’t amount to much on such a small deal,” replied Tom. Bee Just then there was a knock at the door, and — Tom told the person to walk in. The door opened and a man of medium height entered the little office. He wore a Prince Albert coat and a soft slouch hat. A dark beard covered the greater — 7 art of his features, while his eyes were concealed be a pair of goggles. ; “Ts Mr. Gessler in?” he asked. , “That’s my name,” replied Tom. “Take @ seat — and let me know how I can serve you.” : As the visitor took a chair, Jack got up, and saying he’d be back in half an hour to go up- town with his friend, walked out of the office. oe “You’re a Curb broker, I bélieve,” said the caller. Veer. “I do business on the Curb,” replied Tom. go “My name is Jacob Thompson. I heard that there was a new broker in this building, and the — elevator man told me that he guessed you were the person, as you were the latest tenant. ~ I have been looking around for somebody to buy quite a number of shares of a certain mining stock for me. For reasons which I will not mention I don’t care to employ any regular trader to ex. ecute the commission for me I think you wi be just the person I want. You are young and not generally known yet as a broker. If you oe -- i 4 ret | Ves A
Page 21
\ 20 will call at my office on Broad Street tomorrow - at half-past eleven sharp I will talk business, _ with you. Here is my card.” “All right, sir,” replied Tom, delighted at the idea of catching a customer so soon. “I’ll be on “ll look for you. Remember, half-past eleven sharp, young man,” said the visitor, rising. “Til be there on the minute.” The caller then took his leave. As he walked out the postman walked in and handed -Tom a letter. Beginning with “Dear Tom,” the girl said that she and her “mother” were coming to New York in the morning to do some shopping, but before visiting the stores they were going to give him a call at his office. “We will probably reach Wall Street about eleven, so look out for us,” Beryl concluded. ‘Tom was delighted at the prospect of a visit 2 from the girl he had rescued from Chinatown, and whom he had come to think a lot of, but he was afraid that his engagement with Jacob Thompson, his prospective customer, would pre- vent him from ‘showing Beryl and her adopted - mother the sights of the financial district, as he had promised them he would do when they hon- ored him with a visit. When-Jack returned he ‘told him that Mrs. Hunter and Beryl were com- ‘ing to the city in the morning, and he expected - -avisit from them. 3 “Sorry I can’t be on hand to see them,” he- = lied Jack; “but business before pleasure, you i Etow. I can’t take any chances with my job, - for I’m new to the office, and Cashier Huntley Rats keeping tab on me right along to see how I ¥ an a “Oh, well, I’ll tell Beryl that you sent your love to her,” laughed Tom. _ “She’s got no use for my love, so don’t waste your breath. You know that you are the only pebble on the beach with her.” - LLet’s change the subject. You know the chap _ with the goggles who came in here just before you went out?” What about him” “His name is Thompson, and he wants me to buy some mining stock for him.” “That so? So you’ve caught a customer al- ready? You’re doing well.” “T’m to call at his office in Broad Street in the morning at eleven-thirty to get the order and my instructions. I guess I’ll make a good’ commis- sion out of him, for he intimated that he wanted considerable stock,” said Tom complacently. - “What commission do you charge for buying mining shares?” “T charge the regular rates, and they depend on the market price of the stock. Prospects _* worth less than 20 cents the charge is one-half a cent a share; stocks worth $1 or under, one cent; from $1 to $20, two cents; $2 to $3, three “and one-half cents; $6 to $5, six and a quarter cents; 5 and over, twelve and one-half cents.” “Then if you bought 1,000 shares of a stock -worth $5 or over for this Thompson you’d make $125, eh?” ease “That’s right. If I bought 5,000 my commission would be five times as much, or $625,” replied Tom. _ *f suppose you could buy the shares inside of n hour or so. That’s what I call making easy money.” “But you mus t remember that I’m not likely to j A BOY OF THE CURB get many orders until I establish a reputation ag’ a trader, and my office rent and other expenses — will go on just the same.” “One order a month at the rate of $625 would pay you pretty well, wouldn’t it?” a “Yes, if I got it. At present I’d be glad to get ~ one order a week at $125.” : Tom shut down his desk, put on his hat, and: said if Jack was ready they’d go uptown. Next morning, at a few minutes of eleven, Beryl walked into his office alone. “Why, where’s your mother?” asked Tom, after -greeting her effusively. “Y’m to meet her at the fountain on the ground floor of”’—mentioning a well-known department store—“at one o’clock,” replied the girl. “She. decided not to come so far downtown, but I wouldn’t disappoint you after writing I would come, so here I am.” “Well, I’m awful glad to see you,” he said. “How. do you like my den?” ~ “It’s a splendid little office. well?” “TJ haven’t done anything yet. You see, a fellow can’t expect to do much at first. I’ve got > my first customer on the string. I’m to call at ~ his office at half-past eleven. It’s down on Broad Street, near the Curb Exchange. I'll take you along with me, and you can watch the Curb brokers while I’m engaged inside. I dare say I - won’t be long.” ; Beryl said she was willing to go with him and wait till he rejoined her. So at twenty minutes past eleven they left the office and walked leisure- . — ly down Broad Stret. Just below the corner of — Exchange Place Tom saw a cab drown up close . to the sidewalk. He noticed it because it was a — shabby-looking vehicle, not at all like the cabs to be seen at all times during business hours in — that vicinity. It was of the variety known as the “night-hawk,” and hardly ever seen around — in the daytime. The driver had a hang-dog look that did not invite confidence, and he had already ~ attracted the attention of one of the Wall Street. ~ detectives, who was watching him from the cor-— ner. The Curb brokers were gathered inside a long roped-in enclosure on the east side of Broad Street, carrying on business in much the same _ fashion as it was done in the big exchanges in- doors. Beryl was much interested in their‘move- ments, and Tom left her standing near the en- trance to the building he was going in, from which point she could easily see all that was he fe ing on. Tom looked on the directory board for Thompson’s name but didn’t see it. He thought ; that funny, if the man had an office in the build- ing. He looked at the card, thinking he had come: ~ into the wrong building, but he had not. The ~ only thing he could do was to ask the man at the © elevator. This he was about to do when he felt his arm seized, and, looking around, saw his pros- pective customer. gin “You are on time, I see,” said the man with — the goggles. x “T looked for your name on the board, but didn’t see it, and I was just going to inquire for you,” replied Tom. ‘ a “My name isn’t up yet, as I’ve only just rented — an office here,” said Thompson. e His explanation seemed reasonable, and Tom naturally accepted it. ioe set “Come with me,” said the man, holding the hoy, by the arm. = ee eth Arg you doing
Page 22
= ) Thompson led Tom to the rear of the building ‘and into a short corridor, where a man was stand- | ing with his back to them. - “Here he is, Jones,” said the man with the roggles. - ; ay e other man swung around suddenly, and then Tom, to his surprise, recognized’ him as -Hodges’ accomplice. Before the boy had time to consider anything, Thompson pinned his arms _ from behind, and Jones, catching his head in a strangle hold, pressed a drugged handkerchief over his face. The drug was so powerful that -Tom lost. consciousness at once. he man with the goggles picked the boy up in his arms and started for the front entrance, followed by his companion. In the meantime Beryl was watching the ususual sights around her. She was quite interested in all she saw. At length she turned ‘around and looked toward the entrance of the skyscraper where Tom had gone in. At that mo- ment the man with the goggles, carrying the young speculator in his arms, approached the en- trance, with Jones close behind him. With a lit- tle cry of surprise Beryl recognized Jones as the man who had kidnapped her, and whom the po- lice were looking for. Then she saw Tom’s head _ hanging over the other man’s arm. Just then Jones leaned forward and said something to the man with the goggles. His action, taken in con- “mection with Tom’s inert and helpless condition, _ made Beryl jump to the conclusion that the two men were kidnaping the boy to get him out of the way. “teen. the disguised Hodges, bearing Tom in his arms, issued from the doorway of the building, followed by his pal,.and made for the cab, Beryl '-rushed forward and grasped a passing broker - by the arm. ; _ “Save him!” she cried. It happened that the trader oat was Tom’s friend, Edward Howard. \ He looked - at the girl, and then at the boy, whom he im- _ mediately recognized. Astonished to see him in * that condition, he stopped Hodges and asked him ' what was the matter with Gessler. _ “e’s had a fit; I’m taking him to the hospital - jn that cab,” replied the rascal glibly. ~ “Don’t believe him!” cried Beryl, in great ex- - citement. “Those two men are kidnaping him!” “Hold on,” said Broker Howard, who began to suspect all was not right. “I know this boy. He - isn’t subject to fits that I know of. Who are you, and how came you to interest yourself in this young fellow?” : __ “My name is Thompson and I have an office jn that building. The boy had the fit in my place. I thought the best thing I could do was . ” = . . “What’s the trouble?” asked the detective who "had been watching the cab, coming up. “Don’t let this man take Tom Gessler away. I’m sure they are kidnaping him, because that -man”—and Beryl pointed at Jones—“ carried me _ away from my. home three weeks ago.” * “fT think you’d better look into this matter, _ Wainwright,” said Broker Howard, who knew - the detective. “It doesn’t seem just right to me.’ ' “What’s your name, young lady?” asked the yi 1 Hunter.” “ ~sBe unter. ; ae you are the young lady who was kid- -maped from her home in Westchester and a brought down to aden in Chinatown, from which ca ia, = ny cae an = E A BOY OF THE CURB ran up to— Tom Gessler saved you, aren’t you?” asked the broker, who had heard all the particulars of the case from Tom. ah “Yes,” she replied, “and that’s the man who” carried me off. He ought to be arrested. I know the police are after him. He is trying to get — away! Somebody stop him!” aca The moment Jones found that Beryl] had iden- — tified him he had begun edging out of the crowd. — He now made a sudden break for it, pushing the — people aside. Te “Stop that man!” cried the detective. Tne flight of Jones satisfied the detective that there was something wrong about the matter. He — immediately whistled for assistance. That re- — vealed his true character to the disguised Hodges, and he realized that. he was in a bad — fix. Dropping the unconscious Tom, he made a sudden dash to follow his associate. The detec- tive was too quick for him, and grabbed him by — the arm. In the struggle that followed his beard and goggles fell off, and he stood revealed ay — Hiram Hodges, the Wall Street speculator, fe CHAPTER XU —Luck Strikes Tom With Both $ eet. - re As a last desperate resort Hodges struck the detective a heavy blow in the face. The officer — staggered back, releasing his hold on the rascal. — Hodges, taking advantage of his chance, darted through the fringe of spectators and ran down Exchange Place, tollowed a moment later by the — detective. Broker Howard picked Tom up, and, followed by Beryl, carried him to the nearest drugstore. The moment Hodges fled the driver of the shabby cab, who had been watching the outcome of the affair closely, drove off at a brisk pace, turning down Broad Street. The proprie- tor of the drugstore examined Tom and said he | had been drugged with a certain preparation — which he named. The boy was carried into the — back part of the store and the druggist pro- ceeded to adopt means which after the lapse of He half an hour brought him to. oe “Flow came you in this condition, Gessler?” asked Broker Howard, who, with Beryl, had watched the efforts of the druggist to bring the — boy around. “Do you know who it was drugged — you, and why?” fee Tom explained the circumstances that led to ~ the condition he had:been found in, and said the man who applied the drugged handkerchief was a fellow named Jones, who was wanted by the po- lice for abducting Beryl Hunter. ot “I now believe the man who enticed me to that — building, under pretense of giving me an order to = buy stock for him, was Hiram Hodges, who em- loyed Jones to carry off Miss Hunter,” added om. “Of course their object was to get revenge on mé, but it seems strange they had the nerve to try and carry me off in broad daylight, and — right in the most crowded part of Broad Street, too.’ ieee save you. A crowd gathered and your abductors sent
Page 23
-you believe to be Hodges, was detained sective who came up, : managed to get away,” replied Broker ' ‘working over ' ter what ha : and described the part Beryl had played in the - said that he felt under grea “his leave. Nor “The man with the beard and goggles, whom by a de- ut he put up a fight and oward. “The officer gave ghase, however, and it is quite possible he was caught before he got very far.” “T hope he was,” said Tom. “Well, I’m much dbliged to you, Mr. Howard, for what you did for me.” “That’s all right, Gessler. Glad to have been able to help you out of.a bad predicament.” “TI feel all right now, so I guess we’d better get out of here. Come, Beryl,” said Tom, getting up from the lounge on which tke druggist had im. He thanked the druggist for his services, and then the three left the store. Broker Howard took his leave at the nearest corner. “As I hayen’t anything particular ‘on hand to claim my attention, V’ll go uptown with you, Beryl,” said Tom, when they were by themselves. “7 shall be glad if you will,” she replied. “TI guess we are syuare now. I saved you after you were abducted, and you saved me from _be- ng kidnaped. One good turn deserves another, shey say, and so when the chance came your way 30 Square yourself you grabbed it. You have my pate Beryl, and I shall think more than ever of you.” At Tom’s request the girl told him how it came about that she interfered in his behalf. After hearing her story he said that he was satisfied that only for her the rascals would probably have succeeded in carrying out their purpose. “You have been face to face with your rascally ancle, for there is no doubt in my mind that the man with the beard and the goggles was he,” concluded Tom. Half an hour later they entered the depart- ment store, and found Mrs. Hunter at the ap- yointed rendezvous waiting for her adopted jJaughter. She greeted Tom cordially, and then ie remarked that he guessed it was time to go so Iunch, and invited them to eat at his expense. They accepted the invitation, and he took them to a well-known restaurant on Sixth Avenue. While waiting to be served Tom told Mrs. Hun- happened to-him in Broad Street, axciting incidént. Naturally the lady was very ~ much astonished, and she seemed to think that _ Beryl had displayed more courage than she had - thought her capable of. At any rate, she com- Tom, and the boy obligations to Beryl or the service she had rendered him. Lunch over, plimented her for ponpsaee | Beryl said she had some shopping to do herself, --and so Tom said he wouldn't detain them, go back to his office. but “But you will come up and see us soon, won't you?” said the girl. “Do you really want me to come very much?” he asked her, as they stood apart. - “Of course I do,” she replied, with a look that showed she meant it. é “Then T’ll be up next Sunday morning. How will that do?” “Very nicely,” she said, with a pleased smile. “ “Now, remember, I will expect to see you.” ‘He asstred her he would be up, and then took That afternoon when Jack dropped in to see him he astonished that lad with the ST ¥ “ of A BOY OF THE CURB een * particulars of what had igs an to him that morning down near the Curb Exchange, and how Beryl Hunter had saved him from being carried off by his enemies. “Gee!” exclaimed Jack. “I suppose the affair is in the afternoon papers.” “J dare say there is some mention of it, but I don’t believe the reporters have got hold of any- thing but the bare fact that same crooked game was thwarted by the opportune appearance of a Wall Street. detective.” “So your first customer turned out be Beryl Hunter’s uncle in disguise?” “That’s how it looks to me.” “And you don’t know whether he was cap- ~ tured by the detective or not?” “No.” “Tf he was arrested the papers will tell it.” “Then we'll see on our way home.” “The other chap got off altogether, “T have little doubt but he did.” “Those fellows had an awful nerve, didn’t they?” “I should say they did; but it is generally the nervy tricks that succeed. If Beryl hadn’t been with me probably they would have succeeded.” 5 5 8 “, had it would have been tough on you. Those fellows would have made it hot for you. You’ve been a stumbling block in their way ever since you overheard their conversation that eve- ning at the island.” s “Yes, I defeated Hodges’ little game to carry Beryl off out West, which, even if it had suc- ceeded, would have been wasted effort on his part, as he would have found out in the end. H S; however, doesn’t know that, and thinks I knoe. ed him out of a big fortune, that’s why he’s got it in for me good and hard.” you say?” “I guess you'll be wary after this of any visitor who sports a beard and a pair of goggles,” laughed Jack. “Y’m not likely to have a second one of the kind. Hodges, if he escaped from the detective, — won’t be such a fool as to assume the same dis- guise twice.” “T shouldn’t think he would,” said Jack. “If I were in his shoes I’d let you alone after this. An-_ other shy at you is likely to land him in jail, anyway.” — The evening papers contained only a brief ac- count of the Broad Street incident. No names wére mentioned, and it was stated that both ras- — "ots F cals made their escap2. Next day Tom entered a small underground restaurant on Beaver Street for his lunch. Broker Howard had recommended him to try it. Thére were tables in the center of the place like any restaurant, but the sides were. divided into small compartments capable of ac- commodating four persons each. Tom preferred to eat by himself when he could, so he picked out = gave his | the last compartment on one side an f order to a waiter. In a little while the waiter set the dishes before him, and he proceeded to get = a : RF away with an excellent steak,’a plate of fried — otatoes, and a cup of coffee.. In the midst of ~ is meal two men entered the compartment next to him. y “Say, Jones,” said one, “we ought to make a good thing out of the tip we got on the Tecumseh — mine. It’s selling today for 9 and 10 cents a share, the price of a prospect, whereas, accord- et) a . = ing to our information, it’s going to turn out one: x y A v
Page 24
aver id ’ _ of the biggest producers of Nevada. The moment the news of the discovery of the lode gets out, and that will be next week, the price will jump right away to a dollar.” i “Nothing surer, Bill. We must start right in » after lunch and begin buying all the stock we ‘can find around these diggings. Dave says 100,- 000 shares of the treasury stock were sold right ‘here in Wall Street.” “That’s quite probable, but all that stock isn’t jin Wall Street now. It must be scattered around ‘among a lot of people. However, there may be fifty or sixty thousand shares in the brokers’ offices. At any rate, I’ve got a list here of “brokers who have some of it, and we’ll call around this afternoon and buy what they have got at the present market price. For every 10 cents we invest Ivexpect we will reap two or three dollars.” + “The man who had the list of brokers who had - the stock on hand read out the names to his com- ~ ‘panion, and ‘Tom put them down on the back of an envelope. Finishing his meal in a hurry, he left the restaurant, and, going to his safe de- ‘posit box, got out a bunch of money. Then he er ‘started out to buy Tecumseh. He went to every - proker on the list he had secured and purchased from 1,000 to 5,000 shares from each. Irom the ‘seven brokers he bought altogether 22,000 shares, ‘paying 10 cents a share for it, or-$2,200. "After that he went down on the Curb and ‘bought 15,000 shares more. He spent another - -hour trying to find more of the stock, but wasn’t ‘very successful. However, he learned that a ‘Jersey City broker had 8,000 shares, and next “morning he went over and got it. He had now 40,000 shares in his possession that had cost him $4,000. “JT guess that’s enough. If it goes up to a dol- Jar a share I’ll. make $36,000. -1f it goes higher my profits will be so much more,” said Tom to himself. . About this time he learned that a certain rail- » ‘road stock named L. & M. was being cornered by ‘a clique that intended to boom it and make a big rake-in. He went around to the little bank on Nassau Street, put up $15,000 and ordered 1,500 shares bought for his account. The stock was bought at 80, and the bank notified him that they were holding it subject to his order. The mar- ket value of his 1,500 shares of L. & M. was “$120,000. Deducting the $15,000 he had to put up, he was up against an interest charge on $105,- 000, which was quite an item, and would have to ~ come out of his profits, presuming, of course, that ‘the price went up, as he looked for. A week _ Tecumseh shares the. news came from Goldfield ” ‘that a very rich lode had been found in the-mine. _ The stock jumped at once to 25 cents a share on the Goldfield Exchange, and the same was offered on the Curb for it, but only a smail quantity of shares exchanged hands at that rate. At the same “time L. & M. began to boom on the Stock Ex- change. At the end of the week Tecumseh had one up to 60-cents a share, and L, & M. was sell- ing at 95. At eleven o’clock Saturday morning A BOY OF THE CURB ‘son farm to sleep when Jack went home himself, -Beryl had made up their minds that they were -around the country when the weather was pleas- , particular treasures. Tom sold his railroad shares for 97 3-8, and made a profit of $25,000 over all expenses. That made him worth $48,000 in cash, while he had the 40, 000 Tecumseh shares, market value $24,000, in hig — pide hg Sica he might be said to be worth — 72,000. : oe CHAPTER ne eta Secret of the Treasury ote. % 3 With nearly $50,000 cash in his safe deposit box, and a bunch of stock in his safe that would proba- bly be worth as much more, Tom felt pretty inde- pendent. He had got into the habit of calling on Beryl once a week now, going over to the Robin- or else taking a late train for New York. These Sunday visits to the girl of his heart, for he and intended for each other, were the particularly bright spots in his life. They walked or rode ant, and when it wasn’t they amused themselves indoors, roe Nothing short of a heavy snowstorm could ha kept Tom away from the Hunter farm on a Sun- day, and Beryl, therefore, always expected him,” Some weeks passed away, and though Tecumseh had gone up to $1.25 a share, Tom still held on to it, for he believed it would go. still higher. He ~ could now say with truth that he was worth $100,-. 000, and so the Hunters regarded him as an el gant catch for their adopted daughter. Up to th time nothing more had been heard of Hodges ani his pal, Jones, nor of Mother Jinks, either. was a Sunday evening in February, and Tom w at the Hunter farm, as usual. He had come up early in the morning, but about noon a heavy snowstorm had set in, and had continued till th roads were filled with drifts. os Mr. Hunter told Tom he’d have to stay all night, as it was next to impossible to drive him to the staion at Mamaroneck, and it was a trip the — farmer didn’t care to undertake, anyway, that & night. Tom was willing to stay, and the spare room was placed at his disposal. He and Beryl were sitting together at the table in the middle of © the room talking soft nonsense. Seeing her play- - ing unconsciously with the locket which hung about her neck recalled to Tom’s mind the one- dollar treasury note he had found in it, and he ~ asked her where she kept it. Fs gs “In a small box in the bureau where I keep my “Do you keep my letters there?” he asked, with ~~ a chuckle. ; i “Of course I do,” she answered, with a pretty blush. oes “To return to the treasury note. Do you kn it has always been a mystery to me whether yo father put that note there to disappoint his r caily brother, or whether he had some other ject in concealing it in the locket,” said To: “T think he put it there because it was the « new bill he had at the time,” she said, “and didn’t put a larger one in it because I was young then that he thought somebody other th myself might open the locket and take it.” “No,” said Tom, shaking his head, “he di think so. That locket is too difficult to op a person to get into it without a great de
Page 25
24 A BOY OF _ trouble, unless they knew the knack, and I dare say only your father had that down fine. Go and get the note and let me look at it,” Beryl ran up to her room and brought it down. - Tom had got an idea that maybe Beryl’s father had made some marks on it referring to the mine which had escaped his eye when he examined it that afternoon in: Hiram Hodges’ office. So he looked the treasury note over very carefully to see - if he could find any, but he couldn’t, not even when he held the note up between him and the lamp. Beryl took it up and tried to see if she could find _ anything herself after Tom explained what he was aiter.. She, too, held it up between her eyes and the lamp, holding it quite close to the hot chimney. Suddenly a most astonishing thing happened. On a one-dollar treasury note there are two white blank spaces about an inch and a half square in the midst of the green design printed on the back. As Beryl held the note close to the lamp chimney. letters began to form as if by some magical process in those spaces. : “Look, Tom, look!” she exclaimed. “I see writ- ing coming out on the, note.” 3 t wasn’t necessary to call his attention to the fact, for he was already staring. at the transfor- mation that was taking place before his eyes. He snatched the note from her fingers at length, and eagerly conned the mysterious words. This is what he read: fr } “To find the hidden vein of ore, which I leave 8 as a legacy to my daughter Nellie, follow. the tun- = nel straight 116 ft, to second offshoot. Thence 19 ft. to cross on face of tunnel. ~ Measure off 68 ft. diag. to dead wall. Dig and vein will be found at depth of 10 ft., at angle of 45 ee i “RICHARD HopGEs, May 5, 189—.” “What does it say?” asked Beryl eagerly, look- ing over his shoulder. ‘It’s the secret of the lost lode, Beryl,” replied Tom, in a voice that trembled with excitement. “Tt tells where a rich vein of silver lies in your mine. You'll be rich after all. The Red Jacket is not a dead and worthless mine, as the mining - world supposes, but a valuable plece of property, maybe worth a million or more. “Let me read the secret for myself!” cried the girl eagerly. E ; Tom picked up the note, which he had laid down, and handed it to her. When /she looked at the white spaces she could see nothing. The secret of the mine had vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared. aunt “Tom, Tom, there is no writing there now!” she cried. “It is gone—gone!” “Gonel” exclaimed the boy. be? Let me see.” He took the note and looked. Beryl] had spoken truly—the Pap ee nae: lr wae and the white spaces were perfectly blank. f PeGood gracious!” he exclaimed. “What kind of prmagicis this?” = 3 | ‘ ca 7 know! I know!” she exclaimed, seizing the note and holding it close to the lamp. ? ~ What do you know?” : z “See, see! The ee is coming back!” she cried, in an animated tone. “Blessed if it isn’t!” he admitted, as he watched the letters and words come out again in the white gpaces. “What makes it?” : “Why, you dear, silly boy, the writing was af “How could that THE CURB | a made with sympathetic ink, which only becomes visible under heat.” 2 Beryl herself had discovered the secret of the treasury note, and thus won a fortune. A week later, Tom and Mr. Hunter, with Beryl, started West for Paradise, Nevada, to establish the girl’s sign to the Red Jacket mine. Richard Hodges’ will was found, which disclosed the fact that his daughter’s name was Nellie, and under that name Mr. Hunter and Tom proceeded to prove Beryl’s identity. After a great deal of able and legal preceeding the court finally accepted Beryl unter, adopted daughter of John Hunter, of Westchester, N. Y., as Nellie Hodges, the daugh- ter and heir of Richard Hodges, deceased. F: Hunter easily had Hiram Hodges’ ardianship set aside on showing that the said Hiram was a fugitive from justices, and got himself appointed instead. During the time Tom was out West, Tecumseh mining stock advanced to $2 a share, and at that figure the boy sold his 40,000 shares, which raised his capital to the sum of $125,000. He and Mr. Hunter set to work in the mine, and by the aid A of the secret of the treasury note they unearthed the lost lode, which proved to be of uncommon richness. Experts were called on to appraise the - mine, as several capitalists had made an offer to purchase it outright. After some haggling over terms, Mr. Hunter, as Beryl’s guardian, sold the property for $900,000, brought the money East, and invested it in gilt-edge securities, which Tom ~ purchased and was paid the usual commission, for the bencfit of his adopted daughter. A couple of years later, when Tom had become a full-fledged Curb broker, he and Nellie Hodges, otherwise | Beryl Hunter, were married at the Hunter home in Westchester. While on their honeymoon, Tom read in a paper that Hiram Hodges had been killed out West by a railroad train, and the news was something of a satisfaction to him, for he had always feared that his young wife’s uncle would wind oP in the State prison, which would have cast the shadow of dis- grace over her family. Tom never heard what be~ came of Jones and Mother Jinks, but for the en- lightenment of the reader we will say both were arrested in Chicago for thieving, and sent to the State prison for a considerable term. And now, — reader, having said all we have to say about the hero of this story, we will drop the curtain on the — Boy of the Curb. Next week’s issue will contain “FROM FOUN- _ DRY BOY TO STEEL PRINCE; OR, THE RISH OF A YOUNG BRIDGE BUILDER.” BG A Detective Make Secret Investigations Earn Big Money. Work home or travel, Fascinating work. Excellent opportu. nity. Experience unnecessary. Partie ulars free. Write: GEORGE R. WAGNER Detective Training Department 2190 Broadway, New York i - = Me ~ Jens ey OP, 7 eS ee
Page 26
pe rea eee eae MCNAKCH No. 4 The Boy Firemen of Fairdale By Gaston Garne (A Serial Story.) ~ . CHAPTER XXII A Thrilling Revelation Weeks passed, and nothing was seen of him. In _ the meantime detectives had been at work under _ the direction of the citizen’s committee. 4 The result of their efforts was not yet known, = David Gordon, who was now the leader of the - opposition against Dugdale, wore a confident smile. In the meantime the town had been almost im- ~ mune from fires. Will Norton had been regular at his duties. : No word had yet been received from Wesley Wade. What success the Californian had met with at Red Creek was not known. . August Dugdale was now able to get out once more. He did not appear on the street save in his carriage. But oes the force of his threats hegan to be felt. The reduction of the capital of the great - machine shops turned hundreds out of employ- - ment and threatened the existence of the concern. The withdrawal of heavy deposits from the local _ banks was »sad blow. A hundred various enter- _ prises in which the millionaire was concerned be- gan to shrink. and this injured the trade of the “merchants. The result was distinctly appreciable. _ A reduction in the working force of the town was instantly made necessary. The working peo- ple out of employment had no raoney to spend. ‘The tradesmen could not sell their goods. The streets were filled with she unemployed. Small business failures resulted, and, in fact, mat- ters began to look desperate. ___ The trains carried many away from the town to find employment elsewhere. Fairdale was having _ a hard experience. Esa - tee thers was no sign of yielding on the part of They were determined the citizen’s committee. to it out. aes other hand, Dugdale was equally as de- termined. He had agents employed in bringing issues eerie designed to cripple the business ig of the place. ‘ Othe fecling bas very bitter. In fact, the mil- -lionaire found himself arrayed against the town. . He wisely kept in his palatial home and so avoided ““the possibility of violence. ; be ill Norton was perhaps one of the most in- terested in the outcome. Every evening at his 4 home a discussion was held with Nellie and Mrs. __ Wade and Mrs. Norton, all deeply interested. % _ “I have hopes that papa will return from the West with good news,” said Nellie. “I feel sure that he will find a way to defeat Dugdale’s dark schemes.’ / ; : : Ses . = FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 25 Nellie and Mrs. Wade, in the sitting-room, But as the days went by things began to grow’ worse in Fairdale. Even the general depression began to affect the boys of Monarch No. 4. Thus matters were when one day what was a ray of sunshine flashed in upon the gloom of the Norton cottage. This was in the shape of a letter. It was directed to Will and was from Mr. Wade. — Thus it read: ; “My Dear Young Friend—No doubt you are all wondering what has become of me. Bet I have heard all about affairs in Fairdale, and I think that August Dugdale has entered upon the finish of his career. JI have been very busy since ar- riving in Red Creek. I have unearthed all the pos- sible evidence regarding the validity of Preston’s claim to the Red Creek mines. I am positive was usurped by Dugdale, can be proved —-~-” _, Will sprang up with a whoop and danced around like a wild Indian.. The others regarded him with amazement. “Oh, mother, mother!” he cried, “just read that! He is positive out title can be proved.” Se Mrs. Norton adjusted her specs, but before she could read Will went on with the letter aloud: “J am warranted in this belief by the discovery - that Wilson Carr, the witness to the deed which was lost, with burdened records of Red Creek County, is alive and in the mountains forty miles above here. I am going to bring him back to Fairdale with me to face Dugdale. We will beat the old scoundrel yet. In regard to my interests, I have not.yet been able-to establish my title. But IT hope to discredit Clifford’s. I hope that Clifford — and his gang are yet somewhere about Fairdale. No doubt they mean to extort ‘more money from Dugdale. Give my love to mother and Nellie. Your friend, “Wesley Wade.” This letter was like a ray of hope to all in the © Norton cottage. Will Norton was wildly hopeful — and happy. ; That was a joyful hour for them all. Will went back to the engine, house to his duties with a happy heart. He could not resist the impulse to tell Jag Craven. The genial assistant foreman listen with interest and then said: : § “I am glad for you, Will. But haven’t you heard the news?” “What news?” ere “Police Captain Daly passed here a few mo- ments ago and said that Clifford had been catght at Dug Creek, fifty miles above here, and that deputies were on their way down here with him.” Will was thrilled. “Clifford caught!” he exclaimed. “How will Dugdale aid him to escape this time? Well, this is a turning of tables!” “Yes,” said Craven, “and what will happen if Clifford chooses to confess and implicates Dug- — dale in that big fire?” : For a moment the young fireman almost felt — chord of sympathy for the epileptic and scheming millionaire, against whom the tide seemed now to | be so strongly setting. But when he thought of — his father’s wrongs his heart hardened. SSR bt <2 Will hurried home that evening to carry the fresh bit of news. He found his mother, with —
Page 27
’ They listened with interest to the news of Clif- _.ford’s arrest. But a greater surprise was in store for them. - Mrs. Norton had a heap of Will’s clothing be- _ side her which she was overhauling and mending. While looking over one of his red fireman’s shirts she gave a sharp cry: “Will, here is something in the pocket of your fireman’s shirt. What is it?” “Hh?” exclaimed Will. Then a swift and start- ling recollection came to him. - “My goodness! I had forgotten all about that. Tt is a paper I found in the fire at the Carter - House. I noticed that it bore my father’s name. I found it in a rats’ nest in the wall.” Mrs. Norton had grown suddenly white, She held the document, soiled and mice-nibbled, up to view. x “You found this in a rats’ nest in the wall of the Carter House?” she asked. ; — Yes,” replied Will. “Well,” cried Mrs. Norton, with shaking tones; “Will Norton, you don’t realize what this means. _ Providence’ has come to bless.us with this discov- ery, for here, my son, is the missing’deed of the Red Creek mine which your father lost years ago.” a SMirs: Norton’s voice, high-pitched and strong _- through the room. Nellie and Mrs, Wade started up as if electrified. As for Will, he stood like one in a dream. : “Mother,” he said, hoarsely, drawing a hand across his brow, “do you mean that?” “Every word of it, my son. I know the paper well. The mystery is explained. God is on our side. Rats stole that paper from your father’s _ qesk and hid it in the walls. At last, my son, at Mee Astle? Sobbing with wildest joy, Mrs. Norton flung herself into Will’s arms. It was a dramatic mo- ment and one which Will Norton never forgot. But while he was striving to realize it all a startling sound smote upon the night air outside. Clang! Clang! Clang! “Fire! Fire!” 2 CHAPTER XXIII. ' The Turning of the Tide - Duty was ever paramount in Will Norton’s breast. In spite of the sudden revelation of for- tune which had burst upon him, he could not stay ‘to discuss it. He gently disengaged himself from his mother’s embrace and said: “T must go! Fortune is with us, mother. I’ll be ‘back soon.” Will was one of the first at the engine-house. In a jiffy the boys were at the line, and soon were on their way to the fire. They made the old hand engine fly over the pavements. Will Norton was startled when he saw where the fire was. : a That part of the town known as the residence ‘section upon a small hill. Here, at a point over- looking the city, August Dugdale had built his ._ mansion. : It was a palatial one, and fitted with all the ‘costly furnishings that money could procure. EShAee C% FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY : se Curious emotions surged over Will Norton as he took in the stene. - Pees Surely fate was turning its hard hand against August Dugdale. With his loss of popularity, the ~ proof of his rascality unearthed, his physical health a wreck, and his mansion in flames, he seemed the victim of a judgment. re When Monarch No, 4, panting with the long run, turned into the broad driveway, Will Norton saw a group of servants and bystanders on the — lawn. . Some of the furniture had been dragged out of ‘ the lower rooms. But none seemed to have cour- age to go back into the house. ? As the firemen now appeared, one of the serv- — ants came rushing up to Wil. . : He was ghostly pale. . “The master is helpless in his bed in the second - story!” he cried. “We couldn’t get up the stairs to help him.” Horror filled the soul of Will Norton. “Mr. Dugdale is up there?” he asked. iV ad? Will turned to see if the hook-and ladder truck had arrived.. It had not. The young fireman, however, did not wait. He turned to Jim Craven and cried: “Dugdale is helpless upstairs there! I am going to get him!” ~ i “You?” cried Craven. “What are you thinking © of? He is your enemy: se ; “TY don’t care!” cried Will. “It is a human life ~ at stake!” ? Without a moment’s hesitation Will ran around — the corner of the house. He saw a strip of lattice leading to the rear porch. 3 Flames were just beginning to lick this. He -. saw that if he went up he must come down some other way. « ; But he did not hesitate. Up the lattice he went like a monkey. When he reached the coping above © he paused a moment. ‘+ Smoke was issuing from the eaves of the house, _ showing that fire was in the partitions. He was risking death to enter the house. +3 But he pulled off his helmet and smashed the _ window-sash with it. Then he dove headfirst in- to the blackness beyond. ; Kneeling and drawing his sleeve across his ° G mouth, Will made his way to the other end of the i i, “r room. The smoke was overpowering. ; a But, as luck had it, he found the door. The next moment he was in the upper hall. And as he reached this point he heard a voice in abject ter- ~~ ror: om “Oh, save me! For the love of heaven, save me! — Don’t let me die this way! Where are you? — Cowards all to leave me here!” Will Norton dashed across the hall and into the — large chamber beyond. In the elegantly draped — owe the light of the flames, he saw August Dug= ale. ig es The millionaire’s face was ghastly with fear. He \y- was vainly striving to get out of his bed, but the ja paralysis of his disease held him. — Be es His gaze became fixed upon Will, and he ceased ,. to struggle. The terror in his eyes increased. “You!” he gasped. “You here? You have come 54 for revenge!” rN ie (To be continued.) ‘ SGT La et Dh rs 9092 OT odin
Page 28
a eer - Fame and Fortune Weekly . NEW YORK, JUNE 10, 1927 » TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS _ Bingle Copies One Copy Three Months One Copy Six Months... ... Postage ree 8 cents pete “ $1.0€ * "2.00 One Copy One Year............... @ “400 Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00 HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. O. Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances - in any other way are at your risk. We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting _ the envelo rite your name and address plainly. Address letters to WESTBURY PUBLISHING CO., Inc. ; 140 Cedar Street, New York City. _ ERED KNIGHT, Pres. and Treas. R. W. MARR, Vice-Pres. and Sec. » INTERESTING ARTICLES KING DISLIKES ANY “BOB” §hingled tails and. shingled heads are in the game class with King George. He doesn’t like horses with bobbed tails any better than he likes _ghort-haired women, and he has been very frank in saying so at recent horse shows. SMILE OF U. S. ACTRESS INSURED FOR ee : $250,000 A $250,000 smile adorns the face of Fay Marbe, an American actress now playing in London. In what is believed to be the first transaction of its _kind, the actress has insured her smile for this ~ amount with a British company. _. The policy provides that the insurance shall be collectible if at any time within the next ten years “Sher smile loses its charm because of accident or illness. The amount of the premium was not dis- closed. DUCHESS VIEWS HABITS OF EAGLES = ; FROM PLANE “The way of an eagle” has recently been inves- tigated first hand by the Duchess of Bedford who has been utilizing a light airplane to fly over the Spanish mountains studying birds and their _ habits. Although cases are frequently recorded of eagles attacking planes the titled naturalist car- d out her experiments without any alarming “incidents. - SUN BATH ALLOWED BY PER-~ esses MEABLE CLOTHING Sunlight treatment will be presently available, not only artificially and inexpensively, but will be “free for all if the claim put forth by Professor A. MM. Low proves justified: This British scientist claims to have devised a method by which ciothing without change of appearance or durability be- comes permeable to ultra violet rays, Clothes from the treated material would mean alth for all men and women, the scientists de- res. His claimed discovery of a free sun bath tment while you walk was made by chance in the course of an X-ray experiment. ie an 7] Whe z FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY yA \ LONDON BANK TREASURES OLD TYPE. POUND NOTES Many London banks possess collections of old banknotes, practically valueless as exchange, but | much sought after by collectors. ’ % The finest examples of old English notes are to ~ be seen at the Institute of Bankers, in Bishops- gate, London, which contains thousands of notes ~ issued during the last two centuries. In this collection are examples from the origi- nal Bank of England £1 and £5 issues, a Bank of Scotland note dated 1731 for £12 Scots (£2 ster- ling), a note for 18 pence Irish (1 shilling ster- ling), which was issued in 1804 by a Cork grocer, Dennis O’F lynn, and a £5 note issued by the Cor- poration of Liverpool in 1794. Other curiosities are notes for 5 shillings and 2 shillings and 6 pence issued by the Birmingham poorhouse and others, issued by a Wednesbury — manufacturer, redeemable in pounds of rod iron, LAUGHS TRY AND DO IT! When in Rome, do as Mussolini does.—Lafa- yette Lyre. COULDN’T BE A CRAZE Winks—“Your friend Jones is one of the finest pianists I ever heard. Why-don’t he go on the stage?” ap Minks—“Wouldn’t pay. His name is too easy to pronounce.” 2 A DELIGHTFUL EFFECT ; Artist—“Those evergreen on the north side of © your house have a delightful effect.” Farmer—“I should say they had. Them trees keep off the wind and save ’bout eight dollars’ worth o’ firewood every winter.” 3 BOUDOIR GENERALSHIP Jane—‘That Mr. Shallopate is at the door. Shall I tell him you are engaged?” Miss Pinkle—*Show him into the parlor, Jane.” “Yes’m.” ‘ “And, Jane, after he lays his box of candy on the mantel, tell him I am out.” HE PASTED HER ONE “My husband examined many diamonds before buying this one for me, and he says it’s the flower of them all.” “You mean flour.” “Tt’s fiaste.” ; a —Cincinnati Cynic. SPLITTING UP THE FAMILY “They say Prefessor Rhetoric’s children speak ~ perfect English.” “Absolutely. They’re all chips off the old in- finitive.”’ —Nebraska Awgwan. NOT SUFFICIENT FUND Monty: Did you hear how a child of six broke — 5: the bank last night? : Carlo: No. How? Berets oa Monty: Pounded it with a hammer till all the — nennies fell out. —Vassar Vagabsnd. |
Page 29
The Story of an Ambuscade _. Were you ever in a fight with Apache Indians? I was in one, and do not in the slightest degree erave for a repetition of the experience. _It took place in August, 1881, when Nana with his band of Mescalero Apaches were raiding and desolating Grant, Dona and Socorro counties in New Mexico. E Before this event the people had enjoyed a few - months respite from the ravages of the old chief _. Victorio, whom the alleged bad faith of the gov- - ernment had driven on the war-path. For two years and a half Victorio had set Colo- nel Hatch and-his colored Ninth cavalry at de- fiance, and civilization and progress were arrested by the scalping knife of the savage chief. “In that period four hundred men, women and children were tortured, outraged and murdered with that fiendish cruelty which stamps the Apache as the most ruthless and merciless of American Indians. _ In an evil day for himself, but a happy one for New Mexico, Victorio ventured to cross the Mex~- _ * iean border into the State of Chihuahua. 2 This Mexican State had no maudlin sympathy - for incarnate fiends such as the Apaches. It puts a price upon an Indian’s scalp the same as upon that of a wolf, and sufficiently large to urge its soldiers to the greatest activity. - It was to the Mexicans under General Luis Ter- rassas that the Territory of New Mexico owed - ts temporary relief from the raids of the _ Apaches. ‘He surprised Victorio and his band in the Cos- - fillos Mountains about eighty-five miles south- west of E] Paso, killed most of the braves, in- eluding Victorio, and took forty-four squaws and _. children prisoners. - Unfortunately, Nana, Victorio’s lieutenant, and about twenty braves made their escape. They were joined by a number of renegades from the Mescalero Apache agency, and, with the advent of the rainy season, which begins in July and ends with September, another Indian war was inaugurated. - Nana was a younger and more active man than Victorio, and the rapidity of his movements para- lyzed the troops. A splendid Indian, he stood five feet and eight ’ jnches,in height, well set, wiry, and noted in the -iribe as a very fleet runner. i : He could out-travel a horse, and keep it for days together. af fis daring raids in two months established a reign of terror throughrout New Mexico. - ‘The trains on the Southern Pacific were guard- ed by troops, stages ceased to run, freighting was stopped, and towns were as thoroughly cut off from supplss as though they were undergoing a regular siege. ; For weeks in Silver City, the seat of Grant ~ .€ounty, the bakers baked bread but once a week, - and the common necessities of life reached famine prices. : _ Such was the state of affairs when, on the eve- ning of August 18, the little command of twenty men from the Ninth Cavalry, with which I had offered” to'’serve- asa volunteer, rode into the % vi f Feats FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY mining camp of Lake Valley to rest for a few hours before taking up the trail of the wily Nana. _Lieutenant George W. Smith, a veteran of the — civil war, and as gallant a soldier as ever drew saber, was in command. Be ee _ There was a very bad feeling existing at the ~~ time between the citizens and the troops. The latter were denounced as worse than use- less, as not caring to fight the Indians, and as hav- ing well earned the sobriquet of “Buffalo” sol- diers, which old Victorio had bestowed upon them a deriison of their futile attempts to vanquish — im. Among the men around Lake Valley who shared this sentiment to an absurd Ss ‘was George Daly, superintendent of the Lake Valley mines, an old Californian and Colorado miner, and a man of the- most desperate courage. ; During the rest at Lake Valley Daly taunted — Lieutenant Smith for not pressing the Apaches strongly. Smith explained that he had but twenty men, while the Indians had fully three times that num- ~~ ber, but he added that if Daly was so anxious to ~ show what he was made of he could raise a party ~~ of citizens and come along himself. : . Daly accepted the challenge, and in a few hours — had collected together and armed some twenty — citizens, mostly miners, to accompany Lieutenant Smith’s command. 3 Daly’s men were not very well mounted, and — were mainly armed with the old Winchester rifle, _ which carries only about three hundred yards. oes The soldiers were armed with the regulation — Springfield carbine. Se: It was not until the morning of the 19th, at —- about one o’clock, that the command left Lake Valiey, citizens and soldiery. ee We had information that the Indians were camped at Borendo Springs, and we hoped to — come up with them before daylight. roa About nine miles south we came upon the place — where the Indians had camped for the night, and _ the trail at once grew hot. a Everything showed that they had only just “struck” camp, and as the “sign” was plone we nee no trouble in “lighting it” almost at a gal- op. Nene: It led on to the mouth of the Gaballon Canyon, on the west slope of the Mimbres Mountains, an about eight miles/southwest of the ranch of a stockman named Brockman. \ Very soon after we entered the canyon the ad- vance guard of five men fell back and reported — Indians ahead about a half mile off. . Lieutenant Smith ordered the guard to moye _ on a short distanee in advance, but they were — evidently getting demoralized in the face of the — enemy, and we had gone but a little way when they again halted and waited for the main ed oe to come up. ce The sergeant in charge said that he wanted > flankers to support him, and clearly did not re- — gard with pleasure the post of honor he occupied. The lieutenant ordered him to again advance, — about four hundred yards, but the guard had not _ gone ten yards when fire was opened on the. party from both sides of the canyon. eet ie The Indians were in ambush all around Usd tas Not a single Apache could be seen, but ever ge ne
Page 30
B cactus bush and every boulder seemed to vomit forth fire. ‘Men dropped on every side before the unseen enemy. , ‘At the first volley poox Smith was shot through ~ the lower part of the body and fell from his horse. ~“Help me on my horse!” he cried to the first -gergeant. The latter ran to his assistance and placed him in his saddle. “Dismount, boys, and take to the rocks for your lives!” was his next command. It was immediately obeyed. : Every rock that a man could get cover behind ‘was occupied as fast as the men could hurl them- selves from their saddles. ; Horses and everything besides arms were aban- doned. ‘A I clambered behind the shelter of a huge - poulder on the south side of the canyon where the fire seemed weakest I glarteed below and saw Lieu- tenant Smith and Daly, side by side, make a dash down the canyon, as though to fight their way through the howling Apaches, whose wild, tri- umphant cries of “Hi Ki! Yo!” now filled the air. ~~ They had both stood by the challenge. made at Lake Valley, and had died as only brave men can die. as ; : Two soldiers and one citien while making for cover were shot dead in their tracks. * Two citizens escaped on horseback and brought - the news of the disaster to Lake Valley. The Indians now had it all their own way. f Having secured the government horses and the - ammunition and arms, of those killed, they made lively efforts to dislodge those living from the cover of the rocks. - The slightest exposure brought a leaden mes- senger; yet we were compelled to expose our- selves in order to watch that the red devils did not steal upon us unawares. ; he eA as hei Sf the morning until four in the afternoon, had to “S-endure the most agonizing thirst under a lurid * and semi-tropical sky, a fate I shared in common - with nearly all of my companions. - It was not until after four o’clock that the In- dians left, just as reinforcements could be seen in ‘the far distance. ~ The most horrible incident of the fight was to e compelled to witness the mutilation of our dead comrades. ——- be ret 2 9 BANK NOTES he Bank of England note is about five by eight inches in dimension, and is printed in black ink, n Irish aie water-lined paper, plain white, and ith ragged edges. j : "The hes of the Banque de France are made of white water-lined paper, printed in blue and black, with numerous mythological and allégorical ictures, and running in denomination from the wenty-frane note to the one-thousand franc. ‘South American currency, in most countries, is bout the size and general appearance of United States bills, except that cinnamon, brown, and state blue are the prevailing colors, and the Span- _. ish and Portuguese are the prevailing languages engraved on the face. e sae The German currency is rather artistic. The e printed in green and black, and run in as FF ES RINE Le eee FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY I had lost my canteen, and from ten o’clock in. denominations from five to one thousand marks. The latter bills are printed on silk fibre paper. The Chinese paper currency is in red, and yel- low paper, with gilt lettering and gorgeous little : handdrawn devices. The bills, tothe ordinary financier, might pass for washing bills, but they pi worth good money in the “Flowery King- om. Italian notes are of all sizes, shapes and colors. The smaller bills—five and ten-lire notes—are printed on white paper in pink, blue and carmine __ inks, and ornamented with a finely engraved vig- nette of King Humbert. > : The one-hundred-rouble note of Russia is barred from top to bottom with all the colors of the rainbow blended, as when shown through a prism. In the center, in bold relief, stands a large, finely executed vignette of- the Empress Catherine I. This is in black. The other engrav-— ing is not at all intricate or elaborate, but it is well done in dark and light brown and black inks. _ The Austrian note is printed on light-colored, — thick paper, which shows none of th2 silk fibre marks or geometrical lines used in ordinary paper currency as a protection against counterfeiting. — Each bears upon it a terrible warning to counter- — feiters, threatening imprisonment “to any one who shall make, sell, or have in possession any. ~ counterfeit or facsimile of this bill.” —————?e xt © fae 2 —____ MORE AND PRETTIER BATHROOMS, SLO- gx GAN OF THE HOME OWNER ~ Our grandmothers and _ great-grandmothers suffered terrible handicaps in matters of home sanitation and hygiene because there were so many subjects—and such vital ones—that “just weren’t nice to talk about.” Women of today — are rapidly learning that no subject is too deli-- cate or too intimate to discuss frankly, if it con- cerns the health of their families. One of those subjects is plumbing. eee Two great more pth are being achieved in f modern homes, more ‘bathrooms and more beauti-— ful bathrooms. A family bath, built for utility alone, was the old-fashioned idea, but nowadays — even many of the small houses have more than’ one bath and it is not uncommon to find a bath adjoining each bedroom. And what attractive — places they can be made, with their clean white —_ tile and shining equipment, their syacious show- — ers and built-in china accessories. Even the bath- room curtains are artistic in the modern home. __ Families insist upon having bathroom facilities when they are needed, and in that way they prac- tice regular health habits. In addition, no one need wait to use the bathroom and be late to school or work, in consequence. Small cubby: holes are being made into baths; it is false econ: omy to do without the facilities which can be had so easily. But when a new bathroom is being built, the only sensible plan is to avoid futur unnecessary repairs by making sure that th equipment is of the best. eis The island of Jamaica is 144 miles in length an: 49 miles in width, and contains an area of 4,193 square miles. Its population, according to the cen sus of 1891, was 625,271, when the whites num- bered 14,692; mulattoes, 121,955; negroes, 488, 624. The colored outnumbered the whites 41 to 1.
Page 31
% er if i # of) 30 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY oat Pane & Dove Ve es Hip bor TS fo eee ITEMS OF INTEREST WINDSHIELD WIPER CARE NECESSARY One reason why a windshield wiper becomes defective is due to small particles of tar sticking on the windshield and unless they are removed before the wiper is set in motion they wear tiny holes in the edge of the wiper, allowing rivulets of rainwater to remain on the windshield with each stroke. Car owners are advised to exercise care in removing such particles before operat- ing the wiper. PARIS DOG DOCTOR USES VIOLET RAYS Violet rays and electric dryers are installed ina luxurious dog and cat hospital opened for the ‘pets of the rich in Paris, France. The hospital has an operating room, bathroom, consulting room, private aperers for the animals whose owners can afford them and a “charity ‘ward” for the less aristocratic pets of the poor. “Autographed” photographs of expensive pa- tients hang on the office wall. HAMMOCKS USED TO SAVE ROOM The hammock is being discovered in France. Relief for crowded city apartments is seen in the hammock as a bed. City authorities are consid- ering their use in public institutions. Serious _ periodicals propose the general use of the haf- ‘mock in modest homes and apartments, where each new baby means, eventually, another bed, less room to move about and heavy expense. SING SING dacemah nt SLEEP ON FLOOR OW Some Sing Sing guests had to sleep on the floor, according to prison attaches yesterday, because the count of prisoners reached 1,638, which breaks all previous records for fifteen years. Those put upon the floor were, however, supplied with mat- tresses and bedding. The crowded conditions are due largely to the “tightening up” in the matter of allowing prisoners paroles. The prison popu- lation at Sing Sing is about two hundred’ more en in any of the other three prisons of the tate. “JIXIES,” “TWO-SEATER TAXICABS, TO tt ' CAUSE FARE CUT IN LONDON : The long-promised two-seater taxicabs which, for an initial fare of 18 cents instead of the 25 vents which is now the standard, at last has reached the stage of final tests and will soon ap- pear in the streets of London. These vehicles will be termed “Jixies” as “Jix” is the nickname given to Sic William Joynson-Hicks, the Home Secre- tary, under whose plan these cabs were intro- duced. An interesting point in this connection is that London is the only European city where taxicabs are not permitted by law to have electric start- ers, as Scotland Yard considers the danger of mischievous boys accidentally starting the motors is too great. PAYING $27 7,000,000 LOANS ON 102,709 HOMES : “Those comfortalde, well-meaning individuals and their socialistic imitators who seek to solve housing by doing things for the people directly | or indirectly out of the public treasury might find something worth thinking about in the annual re- port of the Superintendent of Banks relating to savings and loan associations under the State Banking Department,” said Charles O’Connor Hennessy, President of Franklin Society for Home-Building .and Savings, the other day. These associations with over 504,000 members by mutual co-operation in prudent accumulation and investment of savings are very effectively solving the problem for a vast number of fam- ilies without making any fuss about it. : “This report shows that in January 102,709 families were paying off home mortgage debts to these associations, aggregating $277,000,000. These funds came from systematic savings of — 401,299 non-borrowing members.” - GOOD APPEARANCE SELLS AMERICAN CARS ABROAD : American cars are being sold in Germany ~ through the appeal of their attractive appear-— ance. This is sufficiently strong to overcome the 60 to 80 per cent. import duty, says A. C. Tessen, who has been placed in charge of Berlin sales for the General Motors Export Co. Real leather upholstery, nickel trim, quality — fabrics in closed cars, the attention to finish and appointments and four-wheel brakes are called the selling points of American cars. Be is “In 1924,” says Tessen, “the American auto- motive imports into Germany constituted 18.8 — per cent. of the total German auto registration. * The first months of this year showed American imports had increased to 70 per cent. of the total registration.” Tessen, who assumes his General Motors duties on July 1, has been representative _ of the Ford Motor Co. in Copenhagen for some _ time. Before entering the automobile field he was | © general sales representative for the Sheffield (England) industries and represented German shipbuilding firms. DECORATION OF HOME NEEDS CORRECT LIGHTING FIXTURES ~ a _ Proper and sufficient illumination is necessary — in the home, and it is dependent upon three fac- tors, the number and* location of the outlets, the number of lights in each fixture, and the size and — power of the’ lamps. With the moderate cost of — electricity, few homes are ill lighted in these days. But there is another phase which has not re- — ceived sufficient attention. That is the importance of suitable lighting fix- tures in the décorative scheme of the home. A very beautiful fixture may be unattractive, if a placed in an atmospliere to which it is unsuited. Fixtures run in types as much as furniture. For instance, fixtures for the Colonial home should be . _ finished in antique silver, dull gold, pewter or” brass. Early English houses need antique silver, 4 English brass or bronze. The most appropriate finish for the Italian or Spanish home is gold, — touched with colors and softe#ed with antique. — Another point to be renf€mbered is that the — fixtures must be effective in daylight, and not merely when they are illuminat anon aN 33. Dik eh ae ae ‘ eae eee. aN a7 ge a 2 tl
Page 32
TIMELY BRICK CONSTRUCTION DURABLE The man who builds a common brick house pays in advance just a little more for a home that lasts longer and is by the very nature of its construc- ‘tion immuned from fire danger. NIAM-NIAM ENTERS DOG SHOWS. Niam-niam dogs, the latest thing in society pets, come from the Sudan. The London Kennel --' Club has given the Niam-niam unusual recogni- tion by declaring it a pure breed. The newcomer to British dog shows has a short coat of yellow hair, pointed ears, a curly tail and stands about fifteen inches high. HEART OF LATE EMPEROR KARL MAY RS BECOME ROYALIST SHRINE | 3a Ex-Empress Zita of Hungary is considering a Jan to send. the heart of the late Hmperor Karl , Stuplweisenburg for burial near the graves of ' Hungary’s first kings. $i x It is intended to make the tomb containing Karl’s heart a legitimist Mecca where those who ‘still hail the boy Archduke Otto as king may offer prayers for his early return to the thione. CAMELS, REINDEER, BOTH BRING FURS Camels, reindeer teams and airplanes are busy collecting furs from the far reaches of Russia to deck American dowagers and flappers. : ~ Away down south in Russian Turkmeistan where the sands are hot and the railways few an far between, camels—the ships of the desert— pring their cargoes of silvery “baby lamb” furs to the market. Persian lamb skins—the crinkly black Astrakhan—also start on the journey to America on the swaying camels. AGED DANCERS SHORTEN LIFE, IS DOCTOR'S VIEW The views of English doctor at Monte Carlo are causing many elderly dance lovers on the Riviera to stop or pause in their revelry. : This doctor says that the present craze for dancing is taking five years from the lives of per- sons over sixty who indulge, and that scores of @eaths in the British and American colonies in France are traceable to the fad. “Dancing harms no one,” he says, “but the harmful part is that the man or woman over sixty ‘usually insists on a youthful dancing partner. eR "TACK LIGHTHOUSE CREW, EX- eet TAINGUISH BEACON : t Saddleback Light, on a pile of rocks ie eecres six miles from Vinalhaven, ~ Me. nable to account for two recent attacks ae S wenninda during storms, Hundreds of birds © teok part in the attacks, and dozens of elder commonly called sea ducks, dashed them- duel Bed against the friendly beacon and were ,felyes killed. ; ‘In the first attack a drake weighing ten pounds 4broke one of the lenses and put out the light. -: _Disregarding their own safety, the keepers work- ed furiously through the storm to repair the dam- FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY TOPICS = age. Birds struck all around them. An assistant was knocked down by a big drake as he stzpped into the gallery with a flashlight. Another bird ‘broke a plate-glass window and fluttered to the floor and died of its wounds. NO MORE WILL IRISH BACHELORS GAZE ON LINGERIE MANNEQUINS Bachelors in Enniskillen, Ireland, have been robbed of. one of their favorite pastimes—that of attending mannequin parades. There has been no explanation of the ruling. , The news has been whispered about, however, — that in view of the fact that married men are per- mitted to attend the latest fashions in chic lin- gerie are to be displayed, as well as the newest — street creations. Lingerie should not interest bachelors, aver the shopkeepers. is The mannequins, most of whom are from Dub- — lin and London, are peeved at the decree of the store managers. If married men are allowed to see the parades, declare the mannequins, single men should be equally honored. i oie “All men look alike to us,’ ventured Mrs. Vera iy ‘Hutchins, in charge of the mannequin employ- ment agency of County Fermanagh, “and we con- | tend that it is really taking a shingle off the roof of our livelihood, as bachelors as well as men with life mates are interested in smart dress—and _ undress—as a great many of them have no inten- tions of remaining bachelors always.” The married men are allowed to attend the rived Rice on condition that their wives bring them. Sek STRIPES ADD DISTINCTION AND BEAUTY TO PLAIN WALL INTERIORS In many a modern home the one-tone finish ~ gives a background of simplicity-and beauty. But to that finish is often added one touch—striping. And that one touch supplies a decorative note which’ makes the room distinctly different from use usual one-tone finish without the striping ines, -Obtaining the most effective results with stripes depends upon the choice of color for them and the entire wall. If you use paint made of white-lead and flatting oil, your color selection need be limited only by your desires. Striping consists of a narrow banding line or lines applied directly to the side wall. It outlines — all window frames, door frames and other interior — trim and parallels the wood trim and the ceilin, line, the distance away depending on the width of the stripe. ae Choice of color for the striping is important. A color very close to that of the wall color will result in a subduing effect. On the other hand, an intensely contrasting color will add snap and brilliance. Os hee There is practically no end to the number cf — shades and tints you can obtain with this all-— lead, all-color paint mixed and tinted for the job. — That is why this combination of white lead and flatting oil is used so frequently in producing striping and many other beautiful and distinctive wall finishes, re A
Page 33
oo Panic and Fortune Weekly a Fons re Sais ce — Latest Issues — 1084 Ted, the Broker’s Son; or, Starting Out for Himself. 1085 Dick Darrel’s Nerve; or, From Engine- ’ House to Manager’s Office. 1086 Under a Lucky Star; or, The Boy Who Made a Million in Wall Street. 1087 Jack’s Fortune; or, The Strangest Legacy in the World. 1088 Taking Chances; or, Playing for Big Stakes. 1089 Lost in the Tropics; or, The Treasure of Turtle Key. 1090 Ten Silent Brokers; or, The Boy Who broke the Wall Street Syndicate. 1091 Only a Factory Boy; or, Winning a Name ; For Himself. 1092 Fox & Day, Brokers; or The Young Money Makers of Wall Street. 1098 The Little Wizard; or, The Success of a j Young Inventor. 1094 A Young Mechanic; or, Rising to Fame and Fortune. 1095 Banker Barry’s Boy; or, Gathering the Dol- lars in Wall Street. 1096 In the Land of Gold; or, The Young Cast- aways of the Mystic Isle. 1097 Eastman & Co.. Stocks and Bonds; or, The Twin Boy Brokers of Wall Street. 1098 After the Golden Eagles; or, A Lucky Young Wall Street Broker. ' $099 A Lucky Lad; or, The Boy Who Made a Railroad Pay. 1100 Too Good to Last; or, Six Months in the Wall Street Money Market. 1101 Dick, the Boy Lawyer; or, Winning a Big Fee. 1162 Broker Dexter’s New Boy; or, A Young In- nocent in Wall Street. 1103 From Mill to Millions; or, The Poor Boy : Who Became a Steel Magnate. 1104 Three Grand Speculators; or, The Wall Street Boys’ Syndicate. 1105 A Stroke of Luck; or, The Boy Who Made Money in Oil. 1106 Little Hal, the Boy Trader; or, Picking Lip Money in Wall Street. 1107 On the Gold Coast; or, The Treasure of the Stranded Ship. ~ 1108 Lured by the Market; or, A Boy’s Big Deal ~ F in Wall Street. 1109 Trading Tom; or, Everything. 1110 Favored by Fortune; or, The Yi i in Wall Street. series 1111 Jack Jasper’s Venture; or, A Canal Route to Fortune. 1112 After Big Money; or, Turning th on the Wall Street Brokers. e the ee 1113 A Young Lumber King; or, Th ’ Worked His Way Up eee: 1114 Ralph Roy’s Riches; or, AS t Boy’ of Wall Street. ORE ES eee 1115 A Castaway’s Fortune Pirate’s Gold. The Boy Who Bought Street Boy Who Saved the Market. 1117 Rough and Ready Dick; or, A Y Pet press Agent’s Luck. me es 1118 Tipped Off by Telegraph the Wall Street “Bears,’ 1119 The Boy Builder; or, The Rise of a Young Mason. 1120 eye in Wall Street. ; or, The Hunt fora i‘. “1116 The Little Money Maker; or, The Wall A ; OF, Shaking Up . the Messenger; or, Capturing Coin 1121 The Stolen Bank Note; or, The Career of a Boy Merchant. 1122 Digging Up Dollars; or, The Ni Young “Bull” Operator. ates 1123 A Runaway Boy; or, The Buried Treasure of the Incas. 1124:The Old Broker’s Heir; or, The Boy Who Won In Wall Street. ° See 1125 From Farm to Fortune; or, The B Who Made Money In Land. ” Be 1126 Rugged Rob of Wall Street; or $50,000 From : a ; Dime. 1127 The Boy Railroad Magnate; or, The Con- tract That Brought a Million.’ 1128 Dandy Dick, the Boy Boss Broker; or, Hus-- 3 tling for Gold in Wall Street. ‘ 1129 Caught By Cannibals; or The Treasure of 2 the Land of Fire. 1130 The Little Operator; or, Cornering the “Bears” of Wall Street. : 1131 Air Line Ed; or Building a Telegraph Line, pm ae : S$ : For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, cents per copy, ao" _ money or postage stamps. WESTBURY PUBLISHING CO., Inc. | New York