Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1141) (1927 08 12)
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No. 8 MAKE 3 we roe cee ~ m4 A puff of wind lurched the yacht. The girl foll into the lake. “I’ll try to save her!” Hal yelled to his friends. Then he dove down from the cliff and disappeared in the water. It was a dangerous foat.
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Issued. Weekly—Subscription price, Dee. 4%, a No. 1141 NEW YORK, AUGUST 12, 1927 $4.00 per year Canadian, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. Copyright, 1927, by Westbury Publishing Co., Inc., 140 Cedar Street, New York, N. Y. 1911, at the Post-Oftice at New York, N Y¥., Hintered as Second Class Matter under the Act of March 3%, 1879 Price 8 Cents. Hal, the Hustier - OR, THE FEAT THAT MADE HIM FAMOUS By A SELF-MADE MAN. CHAPTER I.—Introduces Hal the Hustler. | _ “Gee! That’s a big pile of seaweed you’ve hauled from the shore today, Hal,” said Fred “Ticknor. “Who’s been helping. you?” “No one,” replied Hal Harper, a good-looking, _ stalwart boy of eighteen, as he kept on empty- ing the farm cart of its load of seaweed, which was highly prized by the farmers in that vicinity as a fertilizer. < “Do you mean to say that you’ve done all that work yourself?” “T have.” “By gracious! You're a hustler for fair.” “A fellow has got to hustle to get along in this : world.” : ; “I don’t wonder they call you Hal the Hustler in the village. I always said you could do as much work as any two boys I know; but I’ll bet there aren’t any two boys around here who could ~ get that pile of seaweed up here from the beach i ns) ane same time as you’ve done it all by your- self. “Yes, they could, if they put their minds down to it. I haven’t monkeyed away any of my time looking at the water, and wishing I was out on it, instead of driving the team to and fro and loading and unloading the weed, The storm of the day before yesterday landed an unusual amount of seaweed on the beach. I gathered it _ into piles yesterday afternoon, and made up my mind, to get it all in today. Well, that is the last Joad.” / “That shore line of yours is pretty valuable in some respects, ain’t it?” said Fred. “Yes, it’s a good thing to have.” “By the way, Hal, do you know there’s a rev- enue cutter at anchor in Coveport harbor?” “No. I didn’t hear anything about it, did she come?” ; “Barly this afternoon. It’s a wonder you didn’t gee her, for you were down on the beach off and on all day.” “T did notice a small, rakish-looking steamer coming up the coast about two o’clock, when I was loading up the cart.on the beach, but I had no idea she was a revenue cutter. When I re- turned for another load she wasn’t in sight.” “She must have put into the harbor while you ‘were away from the shore.’ eee “Well, there isn’t anything extraordinary in a When a Sas ash ions 3 Oba revenue cutter putting into Coveport. It isn the first time such a thing has happened.” “No; but they say so much Canadian whisky and fine French cognac has been introduced into this State duty free-that the Government is going “to make a determined effort to stamp the busi- ness out.” “They’ve been trying to do that for some time, but haven’t been very successful.” “My father said, at the supper table tonight that it is now generally suspected that the smug- glers have a rendezvous somewhere in this vicin- ity.” 3 | “It is possible they have,” replied Hal, pitching hel the last of the weed on the big heap near the arn. Then he sprang out of the cart with his pitch- fork in his hand. “T should think the revenue officers would be able to find it out.” ‘ “You man gamble on it they’ve been trying to, but they hayen’t made a single arrest that I have heard of,” replied Hal, starting to lead the horse and cart up to the door of the barn. Fred followed. ; “The liquor couldn’t very well be landed and disposed of without the smugglers had accom- plices somewhere along shore,” he said, “Of course. That’s what they’ve got.” “They must be pretty slick individuals, then.” “They have to be'slick to avoid discovery,” an- swered Hal, proceeding to take the stout horse out of the shafts, “TI can’t see how they manage to sell the stuff without being found out, especially as it’s against —_ the law to sell liquor in this State.” peak “I know you can’t,” laughed Hal, leading the __ horse into the barn. “If you could understand how it’s done others could understand, too, and then the game would be up.” ie “But doesn’t it stand to reason that somebody __ would: be likely to give them away in order to — get the reward the Government would pay after selling at auction the confiscated liquor?” said Fred, following Hal into the barn. ee “There are evidently no traitors in the busi- — ness,” replied Hal, dumping a mess of oats in the animal’s manger. ne “Between the coast guard and the revenue men who have been watching the coast for weeks it \ kes RIS a he
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2 HAL, THE would seem almost impossible for the smugglers to land their cargo.” “Oh, there are scores of creeks and coves, not speaking of the big estuaries, with their numer- ous islands, where a landing could be made on a dark night successfully, after the shore people in league with the smugglers had made sure that -none of the revenue officers was around.” “But my father says that it is known for a fact. that most of the smuggling is done in this neighborhood,” said Fred. ° “T have heard so, too; but I hardly thought it could be a fact, for it seems to me that it would show lack of strategy on the smugglers’ part to confine their operations to any one locality,” re- plied Hal, getting ready to close the barn for the night, “particularly when they have such an ex- tensive line of shore to pick and choose from.” “They may have some special reason for keep- ing in this neighborhood,” said Fred. “The fact -that the cutter has anchored in the bay would show that the Government has its eye on this “part of the shore.” “Wouldn’t that show lack of strategy on the “part of the Government?” “How?” “Why, the presence of the cutter here would ‘cause the smugglers to lie low as long as she re- mained in the neighborhood, don’t you think?” “That’s right. The idea never occurred to me,” said Fred, following his companion to the house. “However, it would have one good effect.” “What’s that?” “Tt would put a stop to the smuggling.” “Yor the time being. It would probably begin again as soon as the cutter departed. What the “Government ought to do is to keep the cutter at n distance from the suspected locality, and then send a number of officers here in disguise to watch on the sly. As long as the shore accom- plices are able to spot the revenue men, and keep ‘track of their movements, the smugglers possess ‘a big advantage. It is an easy matter for those in with the smugglers to keep the illicit traders informed by telegraph of the situation at any particular point, as long as the Government shows its hand,” said Hal, filling a basin with water “and proceeding to wash his face and hands, pre- paratory to going into the house for his supper. It. was now dark, although a starlit sky ren- dered large objects in the immediate vicinity dim- ‘ly visible. Hal was practically through for the ~ day, though there were a few chores to be done after supper. The farm, which was the property of his mother, consisted of about sixty acres of fairly good land, the management of which de- volved on Hal, who was assisted by a hired hand “named Jonas Kingsley. Jonas was considered as one of the family, as he had worked on the place for many years, lorig before Hal’s father died. * He was honest and faithful, and was, therefore, considered invaluable. What he didn’t know about farming was hardly worth eonsidering. He had instructed Hal in all the fine points of the business, so that the boy was fully capable of looking after. his mother’s interests. Neverthe- less, Hal’s heart was not wrapped up: in a bucolic life. He had other ambitions which he stifled for the present for his mother’s sake. : ‘ He longed for a wider sphere of action than _ that associated with a tiller of the soil. There ig thy atest ad ys ce Tiree ea | Sk SALE SS. -boy said to himself, looking at the little round — hp 8 Tex" HUSTLER Br was really little money in farming in New Eng-— land. <A living, with a little set aside each year for the future, was the best that the occupation — afforded. Hal subseribed for a number of high- — class papers and magazines, and a close. study of "= these kept him, to some extent, in touch with the busy world. The boy. dreamed of making his for- tune some day in some line that had no connec- tion whatever with farming. He was ambitious — to make his mark in life in a pronounced way, _ and he possessed all the qualities that lead to success. He always worked with such a vim, and accomplished more than was expected of him, that he was regarded as the boss hustler of the — county. Every one who knew him spoke of him — as Hal the hustler, and many predicted that some gay ne would become an important factor in the world. a “Come in, Fred, and watch me eat,” said Hal, after he had finished his toilet. “If you hadn’t already had your supper I would ask you to share mine. ; Fred accompanied him into the big’ kitchen, — which did duty as a general living-room, and said “good-evening” to Mrs. Harper, who was taking Hal’s supper out of the oven and placing it on the table. Hal’s sister, Mary, was tidying up the room, and she and Fred exchanged greetings, © apparently delighted to see each other. In fact, Fred thought a whole lot of Mary, and the girl — seemed to reciprocate the feeling. Fred talked more with Mary than he: did with Hal, and the subject of the smugglers was not renewed. When Hal finished his supper Fred said he guessed it was time for him to go. He lived in Coveport, — which was about a mile away by the road. His - father was cashier of the village bank, and owned stock in it, consequently, the Ticknors were looked upon as persons of some importance in the place. Fred attended the high school in the neighboring town of Solon, riding to and fro on horseback, — and his parents expected to send him to Bowdoin © College. He was a nice, gentlemanly boy, and a warm friend of Hal’s. After the departure of — Fred, Hal attended to sundry chores that had been left undone by Jonas Kingsley, who had gone to the village to call on a sick friend. He noticed that the wind had changed around to the southeast, and that the heretofore bright sky was clouding over at a rapid rate. . ee “Looks as if another storm was brewing yon- der,” Hal said to himself, glancing toward the — east and south. “That means another Rarvest of ‘seaweed for us. Well; I can dispose of: all ; that comes our way. I dare say I’ll be able to spare Farmer Brown a few loads this spring, — He’s been after me for the last month about it, — and I should like to oblige him.” , He finished his work and entered the house, b which time the wind was moaning through the — patch of woods that stood between the meadows ~ and the shore, and hearing to the house the low cadence of the surf on the beach, half a mile dis- tant. Hal’s room was onthe second story at— the back of the house, maw the ocean. When he turned in the rain was beating against the : window panes, and the prospect outside was as- ; 3 t Re Beta black as ink. The wind had increased and was — whistling around the eaves of the building, - “This is a night: when a fire feels good,” the — ae Sty . HEY PRL. oi Shoes
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es t : ‘stove which heated his room, as he undressed. ay Bh exe the ‘water, but I don’t think I’d care to be peach. I-don’t envy them their job. “every dollar of their wages. “would be a. good night for the smugglers to land _@ cargo of liquor in some sheltered cove, where 7 out yonder tonight. The wind is blowing dead ashore, and that makes the coast.a lee shore. The coast patrol will have a nice time of it on the They earn Seems to me this they could run a small sloop in and lie snug till the wind changed in the morning. If they could ‘get rid of their stuff under cover of darkness and the gale they need not. fear discovery when day- light came and showed them:up. There's just such a cove on the northeast boundary line of our property. A skipper who knew the lay of the coast hereabouts as well as I do ought ‘to be able ‘to. run a small fore-and-after in there in ’most any kind of weather.” ~ : Hal jumped into bed and cuddled down under the clothes with a feeling of great satisfaction. “I must look at. my rabbit traps first thing in the morning before I do anything else,” he thought. “I ought. to find several fat prizes awaiting me. If I like one dish more than an- other it is stewed rabbit.” , Lulled to repose by the wind and rain, he soon fell asleep, and his last thoughts were about the rabbits that he hoped would be snared. Hal was a sound sleeper, and rarely ever woke up before is usual hour for turning out in the morning. omething, however, aroused him this night, and he sat up in bed and listened. The wind was howling worse than ever, and the rain was pelt- ing the glass. “What in thunder was it awoke me?” he mut- tered sleepily. He was about to he t sound of a cannon broke upon his ear. lie down again when the The wind pore it in from the sea and flung it against the house. The window sashes rattled loudly from the concussion. ; : ‘ “What in creation does that mean?” Hal asked himself in a puzzle dvoice. . ‘Tt seemed a most extraordinary circumstance to mis boy: At that moment another report came pooming over the water, shaking the window as before. Hal jumped out.of his bed.and looked at ‘the little clock. The hour was half-past three. He peered cut of the window, but the darkness ‘was so intense that his. face was reflected in the ebony panes. There were no further reports and he went to bed again, wondering what the mean- ine of it all was. CHAPTER IL—The Stranger on the Shore. HAL,.THE HUSTLER. ee ‘Gided to inspect his rabbit traps-that morning, he was not to be deterred by the unpromising out- “look of the weather. The. gale’ appeared to have blown itself out, and he believed it. would soon clear up. At any rate, he hurried into his clothes, putting on a thick. pea jacket and donning, a soft, wide-brimmed hat. Going down to the kitchen, he opened up. the draughts in the stove, shook it down and put on more coal. Then he fetched a tin pail of water, did a few other, things, and finally started for ~ the woods. . The long grass in the fields was soak- ing wet, and what little he could see of the hill- side, that rose at.one point abruptly into the cliffs ~~ surrounding the little cove forming the north- easterly boundary of the farm,.seemed to steam in the cold light. of the morning. He found the first trap, empty, and the second also. The other eight, which he had set overnight, were all among the low sand hills along the shore. As he tramped toward them, peering through the driz- zling rain and mist, he suddenly came upon a man in the dim mysterious loneliness of dawn. . At first he seemed a dark blot. in the sea fog, but as the drifting mist alternately revealed and ob- scured his burly figure, Hal felt it prudent to stop where he was until he had ascertained the identity of the man. He appeared to be a. stran- ger, and therefore, could have no business on the shore at daybreak. To the left.it lay silent and deserted for miles, skirted by precipitous: cliffs. that extended eastward from the cove. To the right it wound around a jutting point and wid- ened into the bay of Coveport. It was all of a two-mile walk to the village along the shore, while Ms was only a mile by road from the end of the ane. No inhabitant, of that locality would choose the beach route under such weather conditions when he could have taken the road. One thing that aroused Hal’s suspicions was that the man acted strangely. He seemed afraid of something or - somebody, for he glanced continually about him, and always in the direction of the village. Hai dodged behind a rock close at hand and continued to. watch the stranger, for such the boy was. sat- isfied that he was. As the light grew a bit strong- er, Hal noticed that his clothes looked damp and sodden, as if he’d been in the water. All at once he stooped and grasped something that lay in the sand at his feet. As he hoisted it on his shoulder Hal saw it was an oblong box, of dark wood, clamped with brass at the corners. With another look in the direction of Coveport, he strode noise- _ : lessly away toward the cove and the cliffs, van- ishing in the mist. ee “T wonder who the thunder that chap.is?” Hal asked himself, as he looked in the direction taken __ by the man. “He centainly doesn’t belong around here. What could have brought him to this lone- some stretch of béach, and why is he going to- — ward the deserted cove instead of to the village?” Those were questions the boy couldn’t answer. “He looks as if he’d come out of the sea not a
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1 ae HAL, THE HUSTLER from the wreck. If that idea is-correct he would ‘seem to be the sole survivor. Assuming then that he is unacquainted with the shore would account for his going toward the cove instead of toward the harbor, since he probably teok that course at random, not being aware that there was a vil- '-lage close by in the other direction.” Having summed the matter up to his own sat- isfaction, Hal thought it was his duty to follow - the stranger and direct him to Coveport. At any rate his rabbit traps lay in that direction, so he ' wouldn’t be going much, if anything, out of his way in rendering the man a service. With that _ purpose in view he started toward the cove. The mist was thinning out and it was brighter. Three steps took him to the spot the stranger had just vacated, and Hal, who was blessed with an ob- -. serving eye, saw something dark lying on the sand. Paes) ae and picked it up. It was a small pocketbook, flat: and thin, damp with sea water. “The man must have lost that, ” thought Hal. “T’}1 give it to him when I come up with him.” He dropped it into his pocket and proceeded: Although Hal hustled in order to overtake the stranger he saw no sign of him. “He must have left the shore and cut across. the fields,” thought the boy when he saw the cliffy entrance to the cove looming up ahead through the mist, “otherwise I ought to have overtaken him before this. Well, if he’s. done that he’s bound to strike the road, and then if he keeps on eastward he’ll see Caleb Caulder’s farmhouse, and he can crave Caleb’s hospitality. Well I'll go as _ far as the rocks and if I don’t meet him [ll turn back and look after my traps.” _.. Hal-went as close to the entrance of the cove as the high: tide permitted. The stranger was no- - where in sight. “7 “That settles it. Back I go,” said Hal. He returned along the sand hills and presently ‘something jumped in the sand in front of him— something brown and furry, but all draggled and rubbed the wrong way. He knelt on one knee, opened the jaws of the trap, dealt swiftly and ‘mercifully with the poor little creature, and - passed on to the next. By the time he had visit- ed all the traps, and had two rabbits to show for Be his early morning’s exertions, it was broad day- light. The rain had stopped altogether, the clouds were breaking up, the mist was almost gone, and he could see the shore quite distinctly as far as the point. Almost on the western boundary line of his mother’s property he made out a dark ob- ject that looked like the wreck of a small craft. With the rabbits in his hand he started toward it, convinced now that his speculations concern- _ ing the stranger were correct. As he approached he saw several men standing about it, and one outlined on top of the bows. In a tew minutes he was able to make them out clearer. One of them wore the undress uniform of a naval offi- cer in the American navy, while the others were attired alike as naval seamen. Hal’s approach was observed, and when he came up he was ac- ~ costed by the “officer. - #You’re out early, young man,’ he said. “Been rabbiting, Isee. Do you live near. here?” “Yes, sir. This wreck is on the edge of our rm, | which extends eastward a as is far‘as the cove,” “I suppose you picked up those rabbits in yon- # der woods?” “No, sir; I got them from the traps I set ie terday evening along the low sand hills at the back*of the beach.” “How long have you been on the shore?” “Nearly an hour, I should think.’ “You haven’t seen any one on the beach, have > you? 997 < “Yes, sir. I saw one burly-looking man, evi- dently a stranger in this locality, on the beach — when I first came down. He looked as if he had been in water, and I came to the conclusion that some vessel had been wrecked in last night’s gale and that he was, perhaps, the only survivor.” The officer looked interested at this bit of ins. formation. : “Which way was he heading?” Ss “For the cove; but he didn’t go there, for ie ES tide is too high for any one to make his way — around the rocks, so I suppose he must have gone Ss across the fields to the road.” 2% “Thank you for the information, young man. It is what I wanted. Come, my men, follow me. Will you kindly show us how we can reach the road from here?” - “Certainly,” replied Hal, as they started off. “What is your name?” asked the officer. “Hal Harper. Did the man come ashore from this wreck?” “He did. We believe he is one of the smug- | glers we are after. His companions were og ‘ ably lost when the sloop came ashore, since as say he was alone.” “One of the smugglers!” ejaculated Hal, in — surprise. “Is that so? Then you belong to” the — revenue cutter that came into Coveport yesterday afternoon.” Ex “T am one of her oiticete: ay - “And that firig I heard this morning about three o’clock—can you explain that?” : “I can. We received information that a smug- gling vessel would be off this neighborhood last night, and after dark we steamed out, keeping’ i off and on, on the lookout for her. We caught © sight of a sloop in the vicinity of that island out — yonder called the Chimney, and suspecting she was our game, chased her. We fired our heavy — for’ard gun as a signal for her to heave to, but — she paid no attention. Then we threw a shell — across her bows. It had no effect. We fired ~ several times after that, but owing to the heavy seas running and the mist we failed to hit her. She steered away from the Chimney and headed straight for the beach. We followed her in as near as we dared go, and saw her go ashore and break up partially. The surf looked too heavy — for a boat to face, so we hauled off and returned _ to Coveport. I was then ordered to bring a boat’s ~ ; 2 4 4 crew down by way of the beach. We arrived in time to see a man, similar in appearance to the one you have described to me, jump from the bows of the wreck on to the beach with a small box on his shoulder, and disappear: in the fi We gave him chase, but failed to see him again “The man I saw had a small brown box wi brass corner pieces,” said Hal. “Tam satisfied he is the same man,” replied th lieutenant. “He is doubtless aiming to reach the shelter afforded by the hor
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_ in this vicinrty. We must try and cut him off if ‘we can.” . Hal led the party by the shortest possible route ' to the road, and there bade the officer good-by as he-and his men started eastward at a rapid pace. al - Hal reached home much later than he intended, and found that his mother and sister had break- fast almost ready. He hung the brace of rabbits on a nail outside the kitchen door. __. “J didn’t intend to. be away so long, mother,” he said, when he walked into the kitchen; “but I-met with quite an adventure on the beach, and that detained me.” ae oe ai “Tell us about it,” said his sister, her curiosity aroused. “First of all tell me, did either of you hear any cannon shots early this morning in the -di- rection of the ocean?” he said. - Neither of them had heard anything of- the kind. aaah “Well, I was awakened by them, and at the time wondered what they meant. I know all about it now. The revenue cutter, which arrived in Coveport yesterday afternoon, discovered: a sloop _ close to the Chimney early this morning, and failing to overhaul her chased her ashore. She lies a wreck on the western edge of our property. - One of the presumed smugglers escaped, but the others are supposed* to have lost their lives. I saw the chap io the eastward of the woods when I first reached the beach, and noted that he was a stranger in these parts. I didn’t fancy his looks, what little I saw of them, and did not discover myself to him. He had a small brass- hound box with him, and after he had vanished in the midst I didn’t see him again; but I’ll warrant T’d know him if I ever saw him again.” Hal then described his meeting with the-naval officer and his boat’s crew, and how the former nad told him about the attempt made by the cutter to capture the suspected smuggler. - “He was anxious to overtake the man I saw on the beach, so I guided him and his. party. to the road, where I left them a few minutes CHAPTER III.—A Discovery. ago,” concluded the boy. _ By the time he had finished his story breakfast was ready, and the hired man was called in to take his usual place at the table. During the meal Hal told him the. story he had already re- lated to his mother and sister. ; : ' “Smugglers, eh?” said Kingsley. “There’s been a lot of talk about them of late. People say they’ve landed a number of cargoes within the last. six months, but I doubt it. They may have landed one, perhaps two, but I guess that’s the sum total of their enterprise. I don’t see how they could have done much, for I know there have been several revenue men here for some weeks on the watch, and it would have been next to impossible for them to run a cargo on the coast hereabouts without discovery. You can see yourself how sharp the Government people are when they nailed that sloop, according to your account, this morning, and it was a fine night for the smugglers. You can take my word for it, Hal, that this smuggling business is greatly. exaggerated.” = | HAL, THE HUSTiWR <9 ee The news of the running ashore of the alleged — smuggler by the cutter was soon known to nearly every inhabitant of Coveport, and, of course, that was the main topic discussed in the village that morning. Naturally, Fred. Ticknor heard about’ - it, and seized upon it as a good excuse to come over to the Harper farm, as soon as he returned from Solon that afternoon. Of course, he judged that by that time his friend knew as much or more on the subject than he could tell him, but the opportunity to see Mary Harper so soon again was not to be neglected. He was not aware of the part Hal had played in connection with the matter, and was surprised when he heard his friend’s story. “So you actually met one of the smugglers?” he said, in a tone of some eagerness. “ey that the cutter chased ashore,” replied Hal. “Whether he’s a smuggler, and the sloop was engaged in that business isn’t established to my knowledge beyond a reasonable doubt. If the sloop really was a smuggler, if seems to me all evidence against her has been swallowed up by the sea. As for the man I saw on the shore, if he has been, or should be, captured, it will be. up to the Government to produce evidence against him before he can be punished as a smuggler.” “But the lieutenant in command of the cutter received word that a fast sloop called the La Reine des Mers left a certain Canadian port yes-— terday morning with a cargo of brandy and whisky aboard, and that, though she had cleared for Boston, she really intended to land the liquor - somewhere along the coast. of this state near: Chimney Island last night if conditions were fa- vorable. Well, a craft answering her description was discovered off the Chimney, as you know, and refused to lay to when signaled to do so. That, of itself, is suspicious enough to stamp her char- acter in my mind. Well, she went ashore and one man escaped from her. His connection with the chased sloop ought to be enough to show that he’s one of the smugglers,” said Fred, nodding his head in a way that intimated he didn’t think there could be any doubt on the subject.- “All right, let it go at that. There is no use of our continuing the argument until we hear something more about the matter from an author- - itative source. Go in now and talk to sis. I’ve ran across the sole survivor of the sloop — got a job to do,” replied Hal, turning away and walking over to the barn. - On the following morning the cutter left Cove-. port and sailed back the way she had come, and— it was known that her commanding officer had _ not captured the man Hal saw on the shore. As the Government sleuths, who had been hanging around the neighborhood for some time, -were seen to'take a westbound train at Solon over the Washington County Railroad, it was judged that — es the revenue officials believed that the destruction of the sloop marked the end of the liquor smug- gling, for the present at least. The loss of the sloop and the escape of the sole survivor interested the inhabitants of Cove- port and vicinity for at least a week, and then they began to talk about other things. Even Fred Ticknor, who had been much worked up on the subject, ceased to refer to it any more, and — some other excuse-to call at the Harper arm. ; y Hal was about the only one who still thought —
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about the smuggling incident. For several days after that eventful morning he haunted the beach around flood tide. He was looking for evidence to establish the sloop as a smuggler. She was al- eged to have been loaded with both barrels and ases of liquor. The barrels were understood to contain whisky, and the cases bottles of import- ed French cognac. In his opinion, one or more of the barrels ought to come ashore through the action of the waves, and perhaps some of the bot- _ tles, as many of the cases would have heen hro- ken through the wreck. While these things could not be expected to float near the surface, still it ‘was by no means unreasonable to expect them to be rolled up by the tide. “The only things that did come ashore were pieces of the wreck. ‘ One afternoon Hal found her stern board ‘on aa’ the beach, and on this he traced her name in’ - faded white letters, La Reine des Mers—which is French for Queen of the Seas, a rather high- sounding title for so small a craft. Next morn- ing a life-buoy, with the same name painted in * small black letters on.it, came ashore while Hal was on the spot. Not the ghost of a barrel or a bottle, even an empty broken one, showed up. Nothing but plain wreckage in the shape of planks and cordage, and Hal laid claim to and ‘carted them all away on the ground that ‘they - landed on his mother’s property, which gave her _a legal right to take possession of the flotsam. No F one disputed his claim, so he hung the life-buoy in the barn, where it became an, object of inter- est. to chance visitors, and used the stern board to repair the roof of the chicken ‘house. Strange to say, Hal had forgotten all about, the thin . brown pocketbook which lay neglected in the pocket of his pea jacket. ‘He hadn’t used the jacket since the morning he went after the rabbits and discovered the man 8 on the shore. The. succeeding mornings were fine bs and clear, and Hal wore a lighter jacket. He only wore the péa jacket in bad weather, and sometimes when he’ went fishing. On the Satur- day afternoon following the wreck of the La Reine des Mers, Fred rode over to the Harper farm. and found Hal preparing to go out to the vicinity of Chimney Island to fish. Hal frequently took Saturday afternoon off in this manner, as ‘a kind of recreation that he was fond of indul- ging in, and Fred invariably accompanied him as a companion and general assistant, for Ticknor liked salt water almost as well as Hal himself. After putting his mare in the barn and pass- ing a word or two with Mary Harper, Fred joined his friend, and helped him take a number of . things down to the staunch, weather-beaten cat- boat belonging to Hal, which was anchored in a small sheltered ereck near where the wreck had gone ashore. : The afternoon was cloudy and the wind blew strong offshore. The ocean was alive with white “caps, but not what a sailor would call rough. It was really an ideal day for an experienced ' fisherman to pick up a load of the finny tribe on the ground they haunted, and Hal had the business down as fine as any one who made it ‘their occupation. Later on, when the mackerel ‘got that far east, by which time they would be in fine condition, Hal went out nearly every. day and caught a big load, for they swarmed about Chimney Island, and sold them in Solon HAL, THE HUSTLER. at a big profit, sometimes getting as much. as a —o apiece for the best of them at whole- sale. in that water they could be found around’ the island if nowhere else. ° At present fish were scarce in that Sr hood, but Hal never failed to catch a good for the house, and for. Fred to take fone with him. It didn’t take long for the boys to get afloat, and- with a single reéf in the mainsail the boat was soon heading for the island, which lay about five miles. offshore, and was remark- able for nothing but the tall white shaft of rock, resembling a factory chimney, from which it tool its name. The waters immediately around the island, extending to perhaps half a mile in a circle, were- known to “be exceedingly - périlous for a navigator to venture’ into. even a small- craft with as light a draught as a catboat. There were shoals and sunken rocks everywhere, form- ing the submerged part of the island itself, which would have had an extensive area had all of it as above the surface. : Phere were channels all. throug] a ous ground, but fishermen and Shere mie attempted to follow them in an effort to land on the island, found they led nowhere, like cul de sacs, and not infrequently came to grief in _ their efforts to extricate themselves after they others who had Whatever attraction Chimney: Island had ee for fish, certain it is whenever there were any once got within their influence. Hal was acquaint- ed with the dangers of the locality, and ne ventured nearer than a quart ‘mille OF tee Hearing ui dn quarter of a mile of the that fled toward the Chimney, and n i his boat and his life as well.” Hal nevur tebe the narrow. shave he experienced, and ever after let the mackerel go rath chances again. g er than take desperate On this particular afternoon; Hal anchored the: boat on the edge of the outer shoal ‘he and Fred threw out their lines. Davie. tne Bane hour they had few bites, and four small the sum total they landed during that iis ue “What is the matter with the fish today? It is just. the kind of afternoon they eaght Cee Maybe we’re in a bad spot,” replied Hal. “This is tiresome,” remarked Fred at length yi “We'll pull up the anchor and go further to. ie Sel _ This they did, but with no better results, Dur- ing the second hour they altered their positien three times, and they succeeded in capturing only’ _ one more fish, though he was a big fe " i a bet they’re all in near the island,” ou red. “That shows remarkable intelligence on thei part, for they’re out of danger haps oe eae can get at them,” laughed Fred. “It's a shame we can’t go closer in.” . ‘We can, but as the tide is low it would be risky to attempt it.’% cs “Yd like to make a landing on that island.” “Oh, there’s nothing to see.” — “There’s the chimney and the twins.” “You can see them from here.” “T’d like to get a close view of them.” “People, like children and cats, always yearn for what is just out of their reach.” “Thanks, Do you compare me to a child or a.cat?” - and usually kept furt) at. Once he took chances after a ehenl of cian i Te.
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_ Present company always excepted. By the way, if you want to get a closer view of the chimney and the twins get my glass out of tlie cabin ‘and take a peep at them.” 2 “Have you got a glass aboard?” asked Fred, PCeagerly. .“Since when did you get it?” -*T bought it the last time I was at the village.” Fred got the telescope and focussed the chim- ty of the island called the twins. _ “This is a fine glass. You can see bang-up with it. It brings things out as clear as crystal. There are three men on the island.” _. “What!’* cried Hal. ‘Let me see.’ - He took the glass and looked. “By George! So there are. I wonder how they got there? Must have rowed out ina skiff, and . that’s a pretty big row.” - “J should say it was. It’s all- of five miles. Vd rather walk that than row it any day.” - -- Hal continued to.inspect the island. Suddenly he saw a large sailboat shoot out apparently ey eeough a wall of. rock ‘and head to the south- ward. “Look, Fred, look!” he exclaimed. “There’s a good-sized sailboat coming directly from the is- ~~ Tand.” -. “TJ see her, and yet everybody says that noth- ing larger than a rowboat can reach the island. You’ve said so yourself a dozen times.” « “JT know I have. A score of fishermen have tried it.from every point of the compass and failed. So have I tried it after a fashion. There, ‘she’s tacking to the east. Those chaps—I see two men. on board—have evidently discovered a _ channel somehow or they couldn’t have reached ' the island.” i $ - “She has tacked again,” said Ered. “4 short one, for there ske goes to the east- ward once more. Now she’s tacked to the south- “east.” : ' That brought the strange boat within an eighth of a mile of the spot where they were anchored. » As she came around in a semi-circle and headed to the east and north, Hal raised the glass to his eyes again. He caught a clear view of the men in the boat. One was a smooth-faced young man while the other was square-built, with a mustache and imperial. Hal uttered an exclama- tion of surprise as his gaze rested on the burly one. He was the dead image of the stranger he had encountered on the shore the morning that the La Reine des Mers was chased ashore by the revenue cutter. , ie ~ CHAPTER IV—Hal Has Some Ideas. “What’s the matter, Hal?’ asked Fred. “Nothing much,” replied Hal evasively, “only _ I think I have seen one of the chaps in that _. boat before.” : P “Tf you know him you could ask him to give you the bearings of the channel, so we could go to the island ourselves.’’* “T don’t know him. I said I thought I had _ seen him before.” ; > “At any rate, you know in a general way where the channel is—I mean the direction from the island.” e *“T doubt if that would help any. I took note HAL, THE _ ney with it, and then the two rocks on the edge ea A Se F phates of the way in which the boat tacked about, and that showed me that one must know its course well in order +o follow it.” =e “Well, that boat has established the fact that: there is a channel that leads direct to the island.” “There’s nu doubt ‘about that. Come now, the sun is getting low; we must try and eet a couple of messes of fish or we shall have come out: here for nothing,’ replied Hal, turning his at-. ¥ gees oe HUSTLER ; Sp Bape sees tention to his line once more. 7 He pulled it in and found a couple of fish se-: curely hooked. : : “That isn’t so bad,” he said, as he started to take them off the line. © q Fred pulled his line in and found one fish on curely hooked. A eee “By the way, Hal,” he said after a little while, “I saw three men on the island, and only two of them sailed away from it.” mes “How do you know that? The other man. might have been in the cabin,” replied Hal. _ . “That’s so. I didn’t think of that.” - “You want to learn to think if you expect to © get on in this wofld.”’ Ae: '“That’s right. Say, what do you suppose brought those men to the Chimney?” Z “How can { answer that question? I’m not, a mind-reader. They may have gone there to test the channel.” “T hope they’ll publish their knowledge for the ~ benefit of - others.” “They may, and again they may not,” replied . Hal, who couldn’t help thinking about the man’ he had recognized in the boat. There was little. doubt in. his mind that he. was the survivor of the wreck of the La Reine des Mers, and the stranger he had met on the shore, If he really was a smuggler then his presence at. the Chimney might mean a whole ~ lot. He remembered that the revenue officer had said that the cutter discovered the sloop in the _ neighborhood of the island. If this alleged smug- gler was able to find his way to the island on. a sailboat might not the channel be deep and Wide. enough to accommodate a large sloop as well? In that event, perhaps the smugglers had used the island as a sort of storage ep far their — cargoes, subsequently landing their stuff on the — main shore in sections.through the agency of a fishing boat, the owner of which stood in with them. That would, in a manner, account for the a degree of success they had been credited with, _ since a small fishing boat that went out of Coveport in the morning and returned with some fish at night could hardly be suspected of hay- ing any connection with an extensive smuggling trade. The more Hal thought the subject over et! the more the idea, as outlined above, took pos- -— session of his mind. He wags a boy, however, who never went off half-cocked, as the expression is. In other words, he did not intend to go around ie hp what he couldn’t show had some basis on fact. ee c
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ed many difficulties. ~ten-mile round trip. In the next place, it m ae ci HAL, THE To begin with, it was = ‘geht prove a dangerous enterprise, inasmuch that if the island proved to be a smugglers’ nest he b would be apt to find one or more of the rascals on watch there, and if he was discovered on the island he might be handled without gloves m a way that might not be good for his health. The fact that not a barrel or bottle had been washed up on the beach after the wreck of the La Reine des Mers, which had been reported as having cleared from her Canadian port with a cargo of liquor, made Hal suspect that she had landed her freight somewhere before she was sighted by the revenue cutter, and as she was seen close to the Chimney, was it not possible that she had left the liquor on that island? Her attempt at escape could not, in that case, be ascribed to the presence on board of her cargo, but to its absence, for her papers would have shown that she had cleared for Boston with a freight of liquor, and it would have been up to her captain to explain what had become of it en route. All these points vecurred to Hal as he fished away alongside of his companion, re- plying to his talk in an absent kind of way that showed he was in a preoccupied mood. At length Fred noticed his manner. “Say, what the dickens are you dreaming about?” he asked. ~ “Oh; I was just thinking,” replied Hal. “About that channel?” “Not exactly.” “What do you mean by not exactly?” --“T was thinking about the island.” “What about it?” *“T was wondering if it was really worth the trouble of visiting in case one did find out the lay of the channel.” “Why not? It would be a feather in any one’s eap to say he had sailed a boat straight there and back. It would be a feat that would make you famous in Coveport and vicinity.” “That wouldn’t amount to a whole lot. Id like to perform a feat that would make me really famous, so that my name would appear in all the papers as a boy who had accomplished some- __ thing worth while.”’ “That would be fine. It would make ydur for- ‘tane; but the chances of such a thing happen- ing to you are rather slim. You would have to do something of. great importance—like the dig- covery of the North Pole, for instance. That ¥! would make you famous all over the world.” “Oh, one can “get famous without going to such an extreme as that.” ~ _“That’s so. A certain woman got famous some time ago by merely going on a rampage with an ax in the cause of temperance. Now, that’s a very simple thing by which to acquire fame.” “Do you call that fame? I call it notoriety.” “Well, she became famous in a way. She was talked about all over the country and even in Europe.” “T’m not looking for that kind of fame. I ‘would ilke to do something that would reall be a credit to me and at the same time of suf- ficient importance to attract general attention.” “Tf you were a young doctor and discovered a ." “real cure for cancer or consumption that would | be a credit to You and attract general attention 7 j HUSTLER © to you—in fact, you’d become famous beyond a oats as A Ere soe pager Fe m not a youn octor, what’ tniing of that?” ie 5 He Naa “No use. Hello, I’ve Fred hauled in a fine fish. “It’s nearly sunset now, so we'll pull up the anchor and make for the shore,” said Hal. “We’ve jirthets _got another bite,” and - 1 a P caught enough to supply both our tables with some to spare.” “I guess we have, and I’m tired of the sport, anyway,” said Fred, winding up his line, an ex- — ample followed by Hal In less than ten minutes they had the anchor aboard, the mainsail hoisted, and were headed for the beach whence they had come. CHAPTER V—Hal’s Dangerous Feat. Spring was now well along, and there was plenty of work for, Hal to look after on the farm. He and the hired man hustled from: morning till after dark, : “Farming is little better than slavery,” Hal told Fred one evening, when the latter had rid- den over to the Harper farm after his supper. “You've got to work like a nigger, and what do you get out of it? Mighty little in proportion to the amount of energy you put into it.” | “Youre not the first one who has told me that,” replied Fred; “but owing to your: hustling tactics, and good management, I have heard peo- ple say that you are getting better results out) early of this farm, considering its size, than any other ve farmer in the county.’” “['m_ getting all I can out of it,” answered Hal. “I’ve got things down to a regular system. Everything runs along like clockwork. You see ~ one reason why mother is getting better results _ is because our land is in better shape than most of the other farms. I keep it well fertilized with seaweed, and that goes a long way toward mak- ing the crops grow quick and turn out good. I keep our fences and walls in first-class repair} and that makes the farm look neat and shipshape. | Several of my neighbors neglect those things, and their property presents a slip-shod appear- ance, as you may have noticed.” , ee “Of course I’ve noticed it. I'll bet if your mother wanted to sell the farm it would fetch a higher price per acre than any other farming property around here,” said Fred. a “Tt certainly would. It’s a model farm, if I do say. so.” “And: Hustling Hal has made it what it is,” laughed Fred. “Thanks for the compliment, I believe that | what’s worth /doing at all is worth doing well,” — replied Hal. : - “T believe you said you didn’t intend to fol- low farming any longer than you could help,” said Fred. neon “T don’t. There’s.nothing in it—for me.” “What line of business do you think of tackling for your life work?” + ; “T haven’t decided as yet; but it will be some-_ Se to pan out good money.” “Vil wager you'll make it pan out, if hustling. ‘3 will do it”?
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“Ryvery man, they say, is the architect: of his _ own fortune.” . “There are a lot of mighty poor architects, SF inen, for the majority of men never make a ~ fortune.” “What do-you expect to do when you quit school—enter the village bank as a clerk with - the ultimate intention of stepping into your fa- _ ther’s shoes?” “My ambition is to become a big lawyer.” “A big lawyer is good, for they maké most of the money. The woods are full, I’ve heard, of ordinary lawyers, who have to scratch for a living. Well, are you coming in to see Mary? - I’m going to supper.” * During the whole of the foregoing ccnversa- tion Hal had been working away in the barn, : airing « plow, and now he had finished the r job. He was not a boy to stand around and - ghin as long as there was anything to do, and a one can always find something to do on a farm. Fred was accustomed to following him around from place to place in order to keep up a con- »-versation with him, for Hal would go right ahead with whatever work he had in hand without ref- erence to the presence of his friend. “Tomorrow is Saturday,” said Fred, as Hal sat down to the supper table. “What is on the _ program? I mean for the afternoon?” *J’m going over to Lake Placid on business, - $is is coming with me, and you may come, too, | if you’re very good,” replied Hal. “T’m on,” grinned Fred. pee He was always on where Mary Harper was - eoncerned. : “Then get here not later than two. I’m going - to drive over in the light wagon. As there isn’t room for three on the front seat Ill put in another for you and sis.” Fred was on hand the next day at the hour ~ mentioned, and the party of three started for Lake Placid. This was a popular summer resort on a small scale. Many people of means from _ the more important cities of the State owned or rented cottages on the lake shore, and it presented a very gay appearance. There were two hotels at the lake. Hal had learned that their man- agers were down there now, getting things into - ghape for business, and he wanted to make a contract with each of them to supply them with mackerel when the fish got in the market. Dur- ing the previous summer he hal sold the mackerel he caught to the Coveport dealer who, supplied _ the hotels and cottagers. ; The dealer had gone out of the business, so Hal determined to sell direct this year and make an extra profit, out of which he would pay a boy to deliver the fish. The afternoon was fairly - pleasant when, Hal, Fred and Mary Harper. left - the farm in the light wagon, now provided with * two seats. A couple of hours’ drive carried them _ to the lake, by which time the sky had clouded up. It took Hal about half an hour to transact his business, and he got the two contracts he was after. Then he went to the village dealer who - supplied the cottagers, and made an arrangement : with him. All but one of the cottages was closed up tight, as the season was still more than a month away. The solitary cottage that was open ‘was occupied by a Portland banker, who had ome t of his health, and his early on accoun HAL, THE HUSTLER ae family, consisting of his wifé, a-son and a seven- teen-year-old daughter. The road that Hal and his companions had come by led for some distance along the top of a series of cliffs that rose straight out of the waters of the lake. When they started back by — the same route it came on to rain, and so Hal reined in at one of the closed cottages built on the top of the cliffs, and the young people took refuge under the shelter of the piazza overlook- ing the water. Lake Placid was far from being a placid lake that afternoon. A stiff breeze that had almost the weight of a small gale, roughened its surface into waves of no-small size. Skimming along the turbulent surface, like a frightened sea bird, our three young people noticed ‘a trim-built sloop-yacht —— about twenty feet long. She was sailing in to the cliffs, and our friends ran out to the edge of the rocks to watch her. A well-dressed boy, — of about sixteen years, was directing the boat’s course, while beside him sat a girl somewhat older. #7 “They’re pretty nervy young people to go out on the lake in this blow,” said Fred, as the three watched the boat and her occupants with some curiosity. 3 “Dear me, it makes me nervous. to look at them,” ane Mary Harver. “See how far the boat heels over. I would be frightened out of my life if I was in that young lady’s place.” “They ought to have at least two reefs taken’ in their mainsail,” said Hal. “That young fellow is taking grave chances with so much canvas spread. Great Scott! She’s over and the girl’s in the water.” A puff of wind lurched the yacht. The girl fell into the lake. s “T'll try to save her!” Hal yelled to his friends. Then he dove down from the cliff and dis- appeared in the water. It was a dangerous feat, CHAPTER VI.—Hal Saves the Banker’s Daughter. Hal struck the water and disappeared. A mo- ment later he appeared on the agitated surface of the lake and struck out for the imperiled girl who was on the point of sinking a second time. She went under before he got within reaching distance of her, but he kept on, expecting to see her head come up at any moment. : Fred, Mary and a boy from the village gazed down upon him from the top of the cliff. Te! two former had little fear for Hal’s safety, as. they knew he was well able to look out for him- self, even encumbered as he was with his clothes, for he was an expert swimmer. Their anxiety, therefore, was centered on the fate of the girl. She seemed so long in coming to the surface the second time that.they began to fear she had perished. : = a she is at last, and Hal has her,” cried red. ee “Yes, yes; how thankful I am. My brother will save her now,” said Mary. “See, he is head- ing for the boat, which has come about and is shooting toward them. That boy knows how to handle her pretty well, or she would have been Pi }
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. 10 : HAL, THE HUSTLER ‘capsized before this. It.was the unexpected flaw that careened her over that time and threw the girl into the water.” As the yacht came up the boy skilfully threw her up into the wind, reached over and seized Hal’s extended hand. When the boat lost head- way he grabbed the girl, with Hal’s assistance, drew her into the boat. She was quite uncon- scious, and the boy viewed her with. evident anxiety. Then he helped Hal aboard. “T am very grateful to you for saving my sister,” said the young yachtsman, grasping Hal’s hand and shaking it. “I never could have reach- ed her in time, or been able to have got her aboard if I had. What is your name, and do you. live in the a - “My name is Hal Harper, and I do not live in the village. I come from a farm near Coveport, about nine miles from here. You’d better take your sister into the cabin and look after her. I'll ~ attend to your boat, and will land you wherever you direct me to.” ‘Very well,” said the boy. down to the private wharf yonder. that large cottage, just above it.” Hal nodded and took the tiller, while the boy picked up his unconscious sister and carried her into the little cabin. As Hal headed for. the wharf the yacht heeled far over under the heavy press of sail she was carrying. “ '. He could not leave the helm to go and take a reef or two in it; besides, he only had a short run to make, and under his expert guidance the display of canvas didn’t make much. difference any way. As the boat approached the landing stage Hal took a turn or two around the tiller with a sheet so as to hold it long enough to en- able him to let the mainsail down with a run. When the yacht shot up to the little wharf he went forward, let down the jib and sprang ashore, with the forward mooring rope in his hand, and quickly made it fast to an iron ring in the dock. Returning aboard he got the other rope and made that. fast to the second ring. Then he dropped a couple of rope fenders over the yacht’s side to prevent her bumping against the spiles and rub- bing off her paint. He gathered the loose main- sail into place, but made no attempt to furt it properly, leaving that job for the young yachts- man to attend to later on. At that moment a man, who appeared to be a gardener and general assistant-on the place, came running down to the wharf. _ “Hello!” he cried, noticing that Hal was. a stranger. ‘Where is Master Marshall and Miss Kittie?” ; _ “In the cabin,” replied Hal, guessing that he “Take ty. yacht We live in __ referred to the young yachtsman and his sister. “Are you a friend of Master Marshall’s? Why, you’re all‘dripping. Have you been overboard?” “T Jook like it, don’t 1?” smiled Hal. “You do, for a fact. Fell out of the boat, I s’pose, somehow?” “No; Miss Marshall fell overboard and I jumped in from yonder cliff and saved her. That’s why she’s in the cabin with her brother.” As “Ts it possible!” cried the man. “How did it happen?” E : _ “Young Marshall, as you call him, was carry- ing too much sail in this wind, though he ap- ears to be a fairly skilful boatman. A sudden flaw heeled the yacht far over to the leeward and spilled:the young lady into the lake. She hada — narrow escape for her life.” pa Feat ae As Hal spoke the young yachtsman poked. his — head out at the door. Bas in “That you, William?” he said. “My sister has ~ been overboard. Run up to the house and tell the — maid what has happened, and to be ready to at- — tend to her, for I’m going to. carry her right up.” © “Yes, sir,” replied the man respectfully, start- — ing off to obey orders. st “I guess you’d better let me carry your sister, — as we’re both wet. How is she now? Has she come around?” said Hal. _ “Yes, and she is very grateful to you for say- — ing her life, I haven’t introduced myself to you, My name is Frank Marshall. My father isa Portland banker,»and in poor health. That ac- — counts for us being here so early in the year, — as the doctor ordered him to come here for tHe — air. When you get up to the house I’ll lend you clothes to take the place of your damp ones, and you vill, of course, remain with us until your own apparel has been dried and pressed out.” “My sister anda chum of mine are up at that cottage yonder on the top of the cliff, with the — team we came here in. I must send them word ~ to go to the village inn and wait there for me,” — said Hal. , “T will send William. at once to give them any | directions you want to forward,” replied Frank — Marshall. “Now, if you will carry my sister to the house I shall be ever so much obliged to you.” Hal followed Frank into the cabin, which was fitted up in an expensive way, with white and gold paneling, on which. were numerous small water color sketches, Miss Marshall was lying ~ on one of the lockers, with her head propped up by a sofa pillow. She looked pale and weak, but — quite interesting even in her bedraggled state, for _ she was a mighty pretty blonde, with blue eyes, and a face that was perfect in every outline. 2 “Here is Hal-Harper, sister,” said her brother. “He’s..going to carry you up to the house, as I guess he’s better able to do it than I.” ~ Miss Marshall smiled feebly and extended her hand to Hal. ; “T thank you for what you have done for me,” she said, in a grateful tone. “I realize that I~ owe my life to you, and so does my brother. We shall never forget the obligation you have placed — us under, and our parents will be just.as grateful to you as we are.’ Lae “You are welcome, Miss Marshall. I assure — you I am very happy to have been able to do you. a service.” ; pe = “My brother said that you leaped to my rescue from the top of the cliffs. It was very daring on your part to do that, and shows how brave and gallant you are. I am sure very few boys would have taken such a risk for another’s sake.” ox “Well, I saw that something had to be done at. once or you would drown. Your brother had his hands full managing the boat and could not give you his attention soon enough to be of service to you. There was no way for me to run down to~ the shore, so I made the plunge, and don’t feel any the worse for it,” replied Hal. ‘ . saat “Well, you must change your wet garments as soon as you reach the house. My ‘brother P ks vil 4 Be al OR
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take’ you to his room and Jet you have some of ‘his clothes.to wear till:your own are dried,” said oN the girl. ~ «> “L have arranged..all that, Kittie,” said her - . brother. : “Well, Miss Marshall, if you are ready I will -_ ¢arry. you to the house,” said Hal. ; “If you carry me:on to the wharf I think, with your help and brother’s, Ill. be able to walk to the house,” she replied. -* “All right,” answered ‘Hal, who then lifted her jn his arms and carried her on to-the wharf. . _. She was not-so weak as she had thought, and they had little difficulty in getting her to the _ “house, where she was taken in charge by her maid, Her mother and father were in the library, _ and had not been told anything about the accident _ © ‘which had happened to her. Frank rushed Hal to his ‘room, and there the latter wrote a note to _* Fred Ticknor, which Frank got the gardner to -° deliver right away. Then the banker’s son fur- nished Hal with dry clothes, and took his wet apparel downstairs to the laundry, where he gave orders that they be dried and_ pressed. * While Hal was dressing Frank excused himself and hunted up his mother and father, to whom he related the thrilling incident his sister had ‘been through. They were surprised and very much concerned at the story. Mrs. Marshall at “ence went to her daughter’s room, while the banker asked his son for all the details. Et “Who is this young man who saved Kittie’s ~ life?” asked Mr. Marshall. “His name is Hal Harper, and he lives on a -farm near Coveport, about nine miles from here. ’ He’s.a smart fellow, for he swims like a duck, and can manage a sailboat maybe better than I can. As to his pluck, he showed the stuff he’s ~ made of by diving from the top of the cliff the moment Kittie went overboard. She must have been drowned but for his promptness. He’s a fine fellow, and we are under great obligations to him,” said Frank. “ “He shall be suitably rewarded for his gallant action. Is he in the house?” asked the banker. “Yes. He’s in my room changing his- wet clothes for dry apparel I have loaned him.” — pre him here when he has dressed, him- self. “T will, father,” replied Frank, leaving the room. ; _ Fifteen minutes later Hal was piloted to the library by Frank and introduced to the banker. His frank, open countenance and manly appear- ance made a favorable impression on Mr. Mar- shall, who saw right away that he was no com- mon boy. The banker proceeded to thank Hal for the priceless service he had just rendered his _ ~daughter, and assuréd him that the obligation was one he never could forget. “J didn’t do any more than my plain duty, sir,” replied Hal. ; “But my son tells me that you dived from the summit of the cliffs into the lake. That was a -wery risky feat for you to undertake, even to save -another’s life. It shows that you are a boy of nerye. At any rate, my daughter would probably have been drowned but for your plucky conduct. Wi nd ial acknowledgement in return for the fe COE) ak give me great pleasure to make you some. HAL, THE HUSTLER service you have ren banker: il dered my daughter,” said the “If you mean by that that you think of paying me for what I did, I must respectfully refuse to accept anything from you. You have thanked me. So has the young lady herself, as well.as your son. That is all that is necessaary,” replied Hal, with some dignity in his tone and manner. “But, my dear young man, I should not feel — satisfied unless I tendered you some recognition for. the-———” “Tt isn’t necessary, Mr. Marshall. Ihave been Es thanked, and that is all I feel Iam entitled to, or can accept.” Hal spoke in a firm tone, and the banker saw that it was useless further. ; for him to press the matter CHAPTER VII—The Three Red Lights. In a short time Mrs. Marshall and her daughter entered the room, the young lady presenting a — decidedly improved appearance ina pretty gown, with her hair brushed and fixed up, after having — been dried before the hot laundry fire. : Of course, the lad Hal, too, and assure him how very grateful she y of the house had to thank was to him. Frank soon after took Hal to his room to show him his books and sporting outfit, and to have a talk acquaintance. with a view to their better The gardener came up to report that he had found Hal’s sister and friend on the veranda of the cliff cottage, wondering when he would rejoin — them, and he had de They said that they would drive to the village livered the note. inn and remain there until Hal came to take them home. Hal knew they would be perfectly contented in each other’s company, so he did not bother any more about them. . The weather had it was getting close cleared up by the time, but on to sundown, and so Hal told Frank that if his clothes were in shape ta put on, even if not thoroughly dry, he would like - to get inte them and make a start. : ; Oh, we're not going to let you go before sup- per, Hal,” said Frank in a friendly and familiar way. “Your sister and your friend will be well’ * 4 aie c= fet L? half an heur afterward Hal sat down to supper with the banker and his family. ~ Mr. Marshall asked Hal many questions about himself, and his future prospects, all of which the boy answered very frankly. i The banker then hinted that it was in his power to help Hal in anyway that he thought would be to his advantage. “As you do not in might find it to you opening for you in the gentleman, who tially repay the chl _ daughter's rescuer, tend to stick to the farm yo r interest to let me make an my bank at Portland,” s thought. in this way to pa igationyhe was under to ki
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Recta : HAL, THE _ “Thank:you, Mr. Marshall; I will consider your proposition, but I should not like to cut loose ‘from my mother too abruptly, as she depends wholly on me to run the farm as it ought to be ‘run. Our hired man is an old and faithful em- loyee, it is true, and a thoroughly good farmer, Ban still he has his limit, and could not wrestle with muny problems that 1 am familiar with, and which combine to put my mother’s farm on the top of the heap.” “Tt was quite dark by the time Hal got into his own clothes and said good-by to Barker Marshall j and his wife and daughter, after promising to pay them a visit in the near future. : , Frank accompanied him-to the inn, where Hal introduced him to his sister and Fred Ticknor. Fred and Mary had had their dinner as guests of the banker, out of compliment to Hal, and they were ready to start for home as soon as possible. “Vithen will vou be over, Hal?” asked his new friend as the light wagon was brought around to the door of the inn. / “I can hardly say,” replied Hal. “I’m a busy chap these days, and with the coming of summer -I shall be even busier. I’m afraid it will be a couple of weeks at least-before I can find the time aS. - to come out here again. In the meantime it would give me a great deal of pleasure to have you call at our farm and bring your sister. Mary here would be glad to make her acquaintance, and I feel sure the girls would like each other. Shall I - expect to see you both in a few days?” a “Yes, I think you may. Things are dull for us, %, as there is nobody but the village people, whom we do not associate with. I’ll bring my sister ~sover to g gosyour place place in a few days, and I thank you “Don connie it. Come any ti “s we wi give you both a royal welcome,” replied hands with him and then sunting up on the front seat. _“Good-by,” said Frank. _ The others returned the salute, and then ‘Hal dehce off homeward. © _“He’s a nice young fellow,” remarked Fred. “Bet your life he is, and his sister is as pretty as a picture,” replied Hal, with some enthusiasm. _. “Ts she, and you saved her life,” said his sister. “She must look upon you as a hero, especially after that reckless dive you made from the cliffs when you went to her rescue. Really, brother Hal, I am very proud of you, though you did almost 5 frighten me out of my, wits when you took that ‘thrilling header. I was awfully afraid for the 2 moment that you had endangered your own life _ for the fair stranger, but as soon as I saw you come up and strike out I knew you were able to “Took oe, for yourself no matter if the water was rou ~ “T have dived from some high places before into the ocean, but that was. the longest dive I ever : attempted. I never would have risked it except to save a human life, but I came out of it like a bind,” replied Fal. ~) ther will be wondering why we have stayed 80) long away,” said Mary. . “She won't worry, about you, for she knows _ Ill look out for you.’ “And V’d look out for you, too,’ said Fred, sne aking his arm around her waist, a liberty the x lady. did. wt seem to object’ to, , which -en- HUSTLER couraged Fred to let it stay: where he had placed i It was nine o’clock when Hal drove up the lane % and into the yard. is Mary ran into the house to tell her mother © about Hal’s daring feat at the lake, while Fred — remained to help Hal unharness the horse and put ; her in the stable. Jonas had attended to all the chores, so Hal had nothing to do after he put the horse in her stall, watered and fed her. Fred saddled his mare — and then started for home, well pleased with his. aftérnoon’s outing, for he had enjoyed more of Mary’s society than usual. An hour later, as Hal was preparing to turn in he happened to look out of his window in the direction of the cove, and he was surprised to see three’red lights displayed from the highest point of the nearest cliff. - oc? As he looked they went throuzh various anil! : unexplainable motions. First they formed a straight line close together; then they separated; — then two came together with the other apart, and finally they took the shape of a triangle, with the. single light on top. , “What in tance does all that mean?” the boy asked himself, much mystified by the singular — movements of the lights. Even as he spoke the lights vanished, and though he continued to look at the spot where the cliff was they did not reappear. “Those lights looked like signals,’ thought Hal. “They must be signals. Yet, who would go to the top of a bald cliff for such a purpose, and why ~ should he do so? The signals are evidently in- tended for some one out on the water—some ~ vessel, no doubt, Well, what of it? It’s “8g my partoees Why need I interest myself in the. : ‘al turned away from the window and pro- Pin! to undress. But he couldn’t get the nigeet: : out of his mind. Such an odd circumstance had — never occurred before as long as he could - 2S member, and he felt-a strong curiosity concerning the purpose of those signals. He went to the win- dow several times and looked in the direction of the mouth of the cove. He*thought perhaps the signals would be shown again but they were not. Those three blood-red lights bothered him more _ than he cared to admit. Finally he got into bed, Hardly had he laid his head on his pillow ere he © started up as if he had inadvertently touched a red-hot coal. A thought had flashed through his | brain that set his blood dancing with excitement’ and that thought was—smugglers! : ‘ ~ . as CHAPTER VIII.—Hal Goes on a Nocturnal Adventure. In a moment Hal sprang out of bed and pezaie dressing himself with feverish haste. Instead of | his ordinary jacket he donned his thick pea jacket. — alk Five minutes later he was tiptoeing his: way ie down the back staircase with his boots in his — hand. Every time the stairs creaked under his; — weight, as old stairs are apt to do, he stopped Bag and listened, like some guilty bk bie escapil from the Paes of 3 crime, Finally h chec
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Crossing to the door, he unbolted and unlocked it, and a moment later he stood in. ‘the silent oS a ~ now he could ‘the three red lights flash. a gentle breeze. night air, putting on his boots. Then he crossed 2 yard, vanitad the fence into the field and made'straight for the cliff on which he had seen Twenty minutes before, when. he had_ watched the lights, the night appeared to be quite clear, smell the sea ae ae him. ~ Fe couldn’t see it, for only the advance wisps ar the fog had reached the shore, but while the ‘stars looked bright and cheerful over his head and behind him, not a single star was tobe seen, as far up as an angle of forty-five degrees or more straight ahead of him and on the right, where the great ocean lay in solemn silence, ruffled only by ~ tThere’s a thick fog coming in,” he muttered, as he strode along. “Presently the landscape here- abouts. will be as thick as mud. If there's any- thing going on I won’t be able to see Jit. I shall aechebly have my trouble for nothing- : “Nevertheless, his grit urged him to go on. It was against his very nature to give up any pur- pose he had formed. '- He must see it through, even if it amounted to nothing. ies So he kept on tii! he reached: the foot of the cliff. He intended to mount to the top of it, but ‘something stopped him. 4 ee se conten white glare shooting out from the mouth of the cove, a little way above the -water’s edge, and which pierced the thin wali of mist. yee ; “That’s another signal, or a guiding light,’ he thought. “I must investigate its source.” The only way to do this was to crawl out along the rocks overhanging the sea. ‘A hazardous journey in the darkness and in- oe ‘coming fog, but Hustler Hal never dreamed of cove, which was too narrow to admit glammy fo ved he wus on, the v rae. of an ime am Het hang | : \ covery—something that had stum Peta ue clentha of the Government, Ke His nerves thrilled at the possibility of ac- complishing what others had failed at. "It gave a zest to his nocturnal adventure, ~ ‘Ag he worked his way around the base of the bald cliff, a feat that could. only be accomplished when the tide vee out, as it was at present, the light grew brighter. : ermal he ached a point where he could see it plainly and make out just what it was. Tt was a searchlight, planted somewhere up the cove, and its beams shot straight out in one “direction, like the headlight of a big locomotive at rest. ee ~ Peering around a rock, Hal could see the glar- ing white eye looking out to sea, and he dared go no further, lest his figure be discovered by some ‘watcher in the background. So he waited where ‘he was to see what would happen, for he was sure something was on the tapis. At his feet the sea Swell eddied and gurgled, like the deep breathing of some sleeping sea monster. Around him the closed in thicker every moment, giv- ing a ghostly aspect to the searchlight. _ é Presently he heard the rattle of oars in their rowlocks, A boat was coming in Yrom the sea. "She was coming straight for the mouth of the any craft HAL, THE HUSTLER the morning that the La Reine des Mers was... | Py 13 iarger than a small sloop, and that only at high tides na A rowboat, however, could pass in and out at any time with ease, ; 5 At length the boat appeared within the circle of the light. z It was a large whale boat, manned by six rowers, with a seventh man at;the stern, tiller in ae hand. It was ‘heavily laden with light-colored Z cases, each strongly bound at the ends with thin ~ iron bands. : : As the boat shot into the cove, Hal caught a good view of the faces and figures of the men in her. The six rowers possessed but a momentary interest for him. It was different with the man - at the helm. His face and person was familiar to Hal as the stranger he had met on the shore wrecked on the beach. Even as Hal looked at him, and sized him up as a fierce-looking Frenchman, the searchlight went out, and the boy felt as if lost in the inky dark- ness. : “There is no use of my staying here,” he said to ; himself, “I must either return the way I came, — or keep on into the cove. Well, here’s for the cove. Fred made no mistake when he asserted that the survivor of the sloop was a smuggler. After what — I’ve seen, there seems to be no question about the matter. This is my chance to find out who are the shore accomplices of the illicit traders, and then—well, I’m thinking somebody will be im ~ trouble.” Base) Hal had often walked around: that point at low — tide in the daylight, and he had a pretty clearidea~ of the route in his head. ie He knew that he would soon strike a narrow ~ pe’ of beach that would carry him right into the — heart of the cove. NS The moment he felt the yielding sand under his bse 4 a ew exactly where he was in spite of Fa ee Lao ; 2 “Seas s he advanced he heard voices in conversation, and one of them, by its strong accent, wae oleate = the Frenchman’s. At last he found himself close to the spot where, under the dull glare of several lanterns, the six rowers were taking the cases out ef the rowboat and carrying them off somewhere, | Hal watched the disembarkation of the cargo for a few moments, and then proceeded on, for he>was. anxious to find out where the cases were taken to. ; ‘ = With his customary nerye, he filed in behind | one of the men who had a case on his shoulder. — Up an easy but narrow pathway in-the cliff the | man went, and Hal tracked him by. the sound of ~ his footsteps. : The boy was careful to make as little noise as_ possible himself. oe Up and up the man and his shadower’ went until the top of the cliff was reached, then Hal drew closer to him for fear of losing him in the mist.’ The path led inland for a short distance on a level, and then sloped downward. : The man ; an paused several times to rest, each time putting down the case and sitting on it. —~ On one of these occasions he lighted his pipe and the glow that afterward came from the bowl helped Hal to keep him in sight. : The cliff ended in a field, and across this they went like a pair of wandering spooks. 5 yaa
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% HAL, THE Now Hal saw the flash of lanterns ahead, and ’ presently the outline of a barn. Into the doorway of the barn marched the man with his burden, and Hal had spotted the receiving end of the smuggling enterprise. He knew that this was Caleb Caulder’s farm, the one adjoining his mother’s on the east, so, as the men were taking the cases into Caulder’s barn, it was natural that he should suspect the owner as being hand-and-glove with the liquor smugglers, _ Hal, feeling safe from discovery in the fog and darkness, watched the procession of men as they came and went between the cove and the barn several times. Behind the man bearing the last case came two others. When they came within the dull radiance of the lanterns suspended on either side of the barn door, Hal recognized them as Caleb Caulder and the French smuggler. That removed any lingering doubt the boy might have ‘entertained of Caulder’s connection. with this smuggling business. “Jat ees ze last, mon bon ami,” Hal heard the Frenchman say. “You haf now one dozen and ze half cases of fine cognac in your barn, vich - ees vat you ‘call ‘up to you to deespose of in ze usual way.” “J will see to that, Captain Glorieux, don’t you worry,” Caulder, rubbing his hands together. “What I have done before I can do again.” “Yais. You are ore smart man at ze business. Bet was ze ver’ colt day zat you get left: Eet make me burst wis ze laughter to sink how you half pull ze wool ovaire ze eyes of ze officaire of _ revenue. More zen one, two time you send heem on chase wild goose, and zen when he sall be out_ of ze ways you disembarras yourse’f of ze leetle cargo vich vas all ze time in ze barn right undair hees nose. Monsieur Cauldaire, I take mon cha- peau off to you. You are ze credit to ze trade,” said the French smuggler, with animation. : Caleb Caulder chuckled as if the compliment pleased him greatly. ; “You are pretty clever yourself, Captain Glo- yieux,” he said. “You managed to land your eargo on the island in spite of the revenue cutter.” “Ah, zat cuttaire. Eet ees mon bete noir. Eef I could send heem to ze bottom eet would gif me~ grand pleasure. He cause me ze loss of my ieee ton La Reine des Mers. I vill, haf to get anozzer. Zat vill make a beeg holein my pocket.” “That was bad, but you sayed your cargo, and that is some satisfaction,” remarked Caulder. “Yais. Zat ees somes’ing. You half now ze las’ of ect in dees barn. You will make hase, I hope, to turn heem into ze money I look for.” “Qf course. Ill sell it as fast as prudence will permit.” 3 ‘ “Ver’ good. Now, Monsieur Cauldaire, you haf.a leetle money for me in your strong box, I sink: Ze balance on ze last cargo. Vous com- renez?” e “Oh, yes, I comprong,” laughed Caulder. <71t you will accompany me to the house I will show ou my statement and pay you the money that is ue you.” Me Dat ees vat I like to hear,” replied the French tain. y oe he turned to his six men and ordered them pack to the boat, telling them that he would be ‘with them presently, then locking arms with HUSTLER» Caleb Caulder, the two walked off toward the — farmhouse, which was only a short distance away, though it could not be seen from thé barn, owing ae fog that had, by this time, grown very‘ ick. CHAPTER IX.—In the Hands of the Enemy. “Well, I have made a discovery for fair to - night,” thought Hal, as he watched the farmer . and the smuggling captain disappear in the midst. — “Who would have thought that Caleb Caulder, our neighbor, was the chief accomplice of the liquor smugglers? He is really their-agent, and he disposes of the wet goods that the smugglers. succeed in landing. in the cove. It’s a wonder - that the Government sleuths never discovered his. agency in the matter. It is clear-that they did- n’t, or he would have been in prison by this time. I always thought that Caleb was a pretty foxy — old man, but I never suspected he’d take the | chances he’s doing. Well, he’ll soon be up against it, for it is clearly my duty to inform the Gov- ernment about what I have learned to-night, To my certain knowledge there are eigheen cases of © French cognac in Caulder’s barn at this moment, none of which has passed custom house inspec- — tion. There may be even more. In fact, the — whole of the cargo of the wrecked smuggler sloop might be in the barn, for all I know to the con- trary. If it is, it will be a great haul for the revenue people. After it is confiscated and sold. I will be entitled to one-half of the amount, it fetches at auction. That will pay me pretty well for the time I’ve put in to-night.” : Satisfied that there was nothing further for him to gain by remaining where he was, and eager to get under cover out of the damp fog. Hal started for home. ~ .. 7 Instead of crossing the fields he determined to proceed down Farmer Caulder’s lane and return” by way of the road. Hardly had he gone a dozen ~~ feet before he came into collision witha bulky man, whose presence he had not detected until he was right upon him. The man uttered an ex- clamation and seized Hal by the arm. “Hello! Who are you?” he asked. “Who are you?” returned Hal, rather taken back at the unexpected encounter, : “Answer my question first, young feller,” said the man, sharply. “You don’t belong on this farm, so I want to know what you’re doing here at this time of the night. We don’t allow no trespassers on this property, consequently if you can’t account satisfactorily for being here I shall lock you up and turn you over to the village con-- stable in the morning.” a Hal didn’t care to disclose his identity for more than one reason, so the only thing that re- mained for him to do was to try and give the man the slip. Accordingly, he turned quickly on his captor, struck him in the face with the flat | of his hand, and, jerking his arm free, started on a run in the direction he supposed the lane lay. The fog confused him, however, and he ran to- ward the farmhouse instead of the point he thought he was aiming for. Suddenly\a door opened a few feet in front of him and the light that came through it revealed his flying figure to Caleb Caulder and Captain Glorieux, who were . in the act of coming out. :
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- Y‘faken by surprise and unable to stop. in time, Hal collided with the smuggler captain. The Frenchman was staggered but not overthrown. ~ He was a heavily built man, while the boy was lightweight in comparison. ~ “Sacre!” ejaculated the skipper. “Vat you vd by dees conduct, eh? You mos’ knock my vind out. Who you s’all be, anyway?” - “Hi, hi! Hold on to the chap,” shouted a voice out of the fog behind. Hal recovered from the shock he had sustained and tried to dodge out of the skipper’s. reach. Captain Glorieux, who was accustomed to deal with sudden emergencies, was too quick for him. “His iron grip closed about the boy’s arm, and Hal found himself a prisoner. At that moment the man who had first nabbed the young farmer came rushing up and seized our hero also. “J yan against him out near the barn,” he said, “and asked him to explain why he was trespassing on this place when he fetched mea --erack in the face and got away. Now let’s see _ who he is.” - - -He and the skipper pulled their prisoner up to the door, and as the light from a lamp in the kitchen flashed upon the boy’s face Caleb with an-exclamation of surprise, recognized him. ~ Aha! You know heem, eh?” cried the French- man. “Yes, I’m Hal Harper,” replied our hero, de- - termined to brave the matter out the best way ‘could. “What brings you here at this hour of the “night?” asked Caulder, feeling somewhat uneasy ’ at his young neighbox’s presence on his farm at ‘a time when intruders were decidedly dangerous - to his interests. : : - “T guess I’ve lost my way in the fog,” replied - the-boy, that being the only excuse he could think - of on the spur of the moment. : “Lost your way?” said Caulder, in a doubting ~ tone, for it didn’t seem reasonable to him. that - such a clever boy as-Hal was known to be could get mixed up so near his’ home. “Where have you been?” “J don’t think it is necessary to explain wheré em § z have been,” replied Hal, a bit independently. “IT was trying to find my way to the road when Tran against your man.” “J asked you who. you were, and what you were doing here,” said Caulder’s man. “Instead of - answering me you slapped me in the face and cut off. Why did you do that, Hal Harper? Was it cause you didn’t want me to. learn who you were?” : Caleb Caulder began to feel more uneasy than ‘ever. He didn’t like the situation for a cent. He knew that Hal had the reputation of being __ the smartest boy in the county, and he was afraid that his young neighbor’s suspicious had been aroused concerning what was going on, and he had come over that night to make a quiet investi- gation. If his surmise was correct, and the boy had seen the cases of cognac landed in the cove and then conveyed to his (Caulder’s) barn, the situation was decidedly critical. The foxy old _ farmer felt that he was, perhaps, facing exposure and a long term of imprisonment. The very idea of such a thing gave him quite a shock. What to do he hardly knew; but at any rate Hal must HAL, THE HUSTLER aulder, = tt 2 re = re eS Oe Glorieux, who was as much interested in the matter as he was himself. The Frenchman also seemed to consider the boy’s presence on the farm as suspicious and liable to lead to complications, “Step inside and warm yourself, Harper,” said Caulder, graciously. “You must be chilled to the bone.” “Thanks for the invitation, Mr. Caulder; but I’d prefer to go right home as it must be about midnight,” replied Hal, who suspected that the farmer had some object in asking him into his house. “But I’d like you to step in. to you.” “About what?” “Oh, a little matter of business concerning— ahem! the boundary line between our farms,” said Caleb Caulder, trying to frame up some excuse to get him in. I want to talk. “What’s the matter with the boundary line?” _ “If you will walk into the sitting-room I will explain the matter as soon as I have dismissed. ” my visitor,” meaning the Frenchman. “T guess the business will keep till to-morrow. I'll come over and see you at any hour you state.” “I’d rather: talk it over now while you’re here. _ It will save time.” Hal rather distrusted the “business” that Caleb wanted to see him about. He knew that there was nothing the matter 8 with the boundary line between his mother’s prop- erty ard Caleb Caulder’s, therefore he didn’t take any stock in the farmer’s remarks, and declined to go in and talk it over at that unseemly — hour of the night. Caleb Caulder, finding that he couldn’t get Hal to enter his house, was at his wit’s end; but the Frenchman, who had grown very impatient as the conversation pro- | ceeded, now took a hand in the roceedings. “You vill be so good as to explain vat brought ca you to dees place to-night, mon garcon,’” he said. “What business is that of yours, monsoo? I don’t recognize your right to question my move- ments,” answered Hal, independently. “Aha! You talk zat ways to me—me, Cap- taine Glorieux?” cried the Frenchman angrily. am not ze man to put up wis vat you s’al back talk. Comprenez?” “You seem .to be interested a good deal in me, monsoo. As J haven’t the honor of your acquaintance you will excuse me if.I decline to have anything to say to you,” replied Hal. “By gar! You haf ze sheek to add une insulte “J sink you bettaire take care vat you ae ‘ ca ts to ze injury. You will apologize to me or somes- ing vill happen zat you shall not like.” “I don’t see that I Have said anything to you that calls for an apology, so you will have to get along without one from me. Caulder. to move away. “Not so fast, mon ami,” said i ou will not gripping Hal’s arm once more. go away till I gifs ze word.” “What's that?” cried Hal, in an aggressive tone. _ “I must not go till you give me permission? For unadulterated nerve you certainly. take the bakery. If you think I’m going to pay any atten- og tion to your orders you’ve got another think coming.” ra : Good-night, Mr. Send over in the morning if you want — to see me about anything,” said Hal, starting & + = cs =
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As he spake Hal endeavored to shake off the ¥renchman’s detaining grasp. His efforts were unsuccessful for the smuggler’s grip tightened and held him like a vise. “In ze house vis you,” said the skipper, giving him a shove that sent him staggering across the threshold. “You, Smithaire,” turning to Caul- der’s hired hand, “go to ze bote. Tell Pierre and Francois zat I vant zem. Zey vill bring une petite line wis zem. Make has’e. Allez!” Smithers hurried away on his mission, while - Captain Glorieux shut the door and gave Hal an- other shove which forced him into the center of the kitchen. _, “Now, mon ami, I talk vis you. Take a share —seet down,” and the captain gave Hal a third push that landed him in a chair beside a table on _ which stood the lamp. “Say, look here, I’m not going to stand this kind of thing,” cried the boy indignantly. “What in thunder do you take me for?” “Attend to me!” cried the smuggler sharply, with a threatening look in his eye. “Now, will you tell vat brought you to dese place dis night?” _ *Didn’t you hear me tell Mr. Caulder that I got - mixed up in the fog?” replied Hal doggedly. “Oui. Vat you s’all say and vat ees ze truth ees two deeferent s’ings, mon ami. You came to ' dese place to see vat you could find out—ees eet not so?” a : “Why, what should I want to find out on Mr. -™ Caulder’s farm at night and in a thick fog?” asked Hal evasively. _ “Zat ees vat I wish to know.” ; “Tl never tell you.” “Non? You no ansaire, eh? Make yourse’f act like ze cochon—peeg—vich nevaire go ze vays you ‘vant heem. You s’ink you can draw de wool - ovaire my eyes, eh? Aha! Mon enfant! You make une grand mistake. You find out bettaire one of dees days. You vill learn zat Captaine - | @lorieux sleep wis one eye open all ze time. Zat he ees always on ze qui vive.” | “Look here, what are you trying to get at? Do -_- you expect. me to stay here all night and listen to you? This isn’t your house. What right have ou to boss things as if you were a great mogul? What have I done to you that you should jump on me like a carload of bricks? I want to go home. If you try to keep me a prisoner against “my will you’ll find there’ll be something doing that you won’t like.” “ Some of Hal’s expressions were as unintelligible to the French skipper as his native language was to, the boy, but he understood the general ‘meaning of Hal’s outburst, and he smiled in a ‘grim and wicked way. He put his hand in his pocket and drew out a revolver, which he cocked. “You see heem, mon ami?” he said, with a sug- __ gestive leer. 4 ; Z a see it. Do you expect to intimidate me with beate, “T s’ink it will mak’ you speak. Now zen, you You vill say vat brought you sas iS a. <i “i vill ansaire, eh? to dese place?” -. “Suppose I won’t say, what then?” + «We will see. I gif you one minute to ansaire,” said the smuggler, sternly. “Eef you do not I vill take eet for ze fact you know too much, and gen I vill feel obliged to shoot you.” HAL, THE HUSTLER Hal looked the Frenchman squarely in the eye, — “You mean that, do you?’ he said. “Oui—yais.” Y Es sae t “Caleb Caulder, do you stand for this kind of business?” asked Hal, turning to the. farmer. _ “Are you going to let this raseal murder me in your house?” Ps t SH ro “Mistaire Cauldaire has nossing to say in dese ~ mattaire,” said the skipper. “Come, ze minute — ees up. Vat brought you to dese place to-night?” — “Well,” replied Hal desperately, “three red lights brought me here.” se Ags “Aha!” cried the Frenchman. “Ve are getting — at ze truth at last. So you seen zem, eh?” nee “T did.” “And zey excite your curiositee?” . . &. “They did.” : : “Zen you mak’ up your mind to look into ze — mattaire. You come ovaire, escalade ze cliff and — take une \leetle peep into ze cove. Dere you see ze light. You s’ink zat varee funee apd you vait. to see vat ees on ze tapis. By ana the you see ze large bote come in ze cove wis some boxes in. — eet. You s’ink zat ees varee funee, too. You’ — count one, two, t’ree, seex men take out ze box each and go way wis heem. Zen you feel zat you ~— ‘would like to know where ze boxes go to, so you walk after zem-.and you find heem out. Ees eet not so, mon ami?” ; ei: ” “Yes, it’s so,” replied Hal, doggedly, for he saw it was useless to deny the facts as outlined by the smuggler. e { , “Ver’ good. Now zat you know dees sings vat you s’ink of doing, eh?” 1 <4 Hal remained silent. \ ; “Bet ees not hard to guess vat a smart young garcon like you makes up hees mind to do. You — say to yourse’f—I haf now ze secret of ze smug- glaire. I vill put ze-officaire of ze revenue oh to dees s’ing. He vill mak’ ze prize of ze boxes, and when zey are confiscate and sold I vill get haf ze monee for giving ze information. ai I not ze good guesser, mon ami?” * ‘ Hal had to confess to himself that the French- ~ man’s deductions were correct. . | “Now since you makes ze butt-in dees beesness eet ees necessaire dat your bouche—mouth—he _ keep close tight. At dees minute you s’all be. my = prisonaire. Eef eet please me dere ees nossing — to prevent me feexing you dees way,” and the skipper raised his cocked revolver significantly. — “Zee you neveaire say nossing no more, and ze secret of ze smugglaire ees safe.” iy Captain Glorieux grinned suggestively at Hal — and waited for him to say something. The boy, — however, had nothing to say. He realized that he »was in a tight box, and he was pluck to the core, and did not propose to show the white © feather before the Frenchman. So he met the captain’s face unflinchingly. “T see zat you are une brave garcon,” said the — smuggler, after a pause. “Het ould be a grand ~ pity to keel you out of ze vay, so I do somes’ing®™ else wis you.” . As he spoke the door opened, and Pierre and ~ Francois entered the room with Smithers. The © - former carried a small coil of light line on his arm. rd The captain turned to his two men and directed ry them in French to tie Hal’s hands behind his back —_ and march him down to the boat, where he would _ follow himself presently. Hal didn’t understand — oh
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ee. ey i . the two sailors also. = “Catch him - shouted Caleb ay 5 ie .~ -. _. the smuggler was saying to the two rough- _ looking sailors, but he knew it must have some reference to himself. For the moment the French- man’s attention was off his prisoner, and Hal determined to take advantage of it and try to make his escape. It was only the ghost of a _ ehance, but the boy was prepared to take any risk in order to get out of his desperate predicament. If he could reach the open air he felt he could easily elude his enemies in the fog; but the cap- tain stood between him and the kitchen door, and To escape that way was impossible. There was another door, however, leading presumedly into a hall or passage, and it was close to where he sat. In a moment Hal made up his mind what he would do and he did it as quick as a flash. , He sprang to his feet and swept the lamp from the table with his left arm. It struck the floor with a crash and the light blazed up for a mo- ment and then went out. As the Frenchman uttered a cry of surprise and raised his revolver, Hal seized the chair and slung it at. him with all his might. It hit the skipper squarely on his broad chest, and sent him staggering backward against the kitchen wall, his finger pressing the trigger of his weapon. There was a flash and a loud report, and the momentary glare showed Hal in the act of passing through the inner doorway into the passage be- yond. % CHAPTER X.—In Which Hal Traps Himself. ick! Don’t let him escape!” aulder, fully alive to the com- plications that he would be involved in if Hal got away and forwarded thé information he had obtained to the revenue people. The burly Smithers was the first to start after the fleeing poy. Hé was followed by Caulder himself, who ‘was in a big funk. Captain Glorieux had re- covered from the shock of the impact of the chair and was /swearing like a trooper in French. “Strike ze light!” he cried. “Quick, or zat garcon will make hees escape.” Pierre flashed a match and looked around the room for a candle. He saw one in a candlestick standing on a shelf. In another-moment he had it lighted and its gleam revealed the wreck of the- lamp on the floor_and the overturned chair near where the skipper stood. ; “Here you, Pierre and Francois. Bose of you get around to ze front of ze hous’ and cut heem off. Allez!” cried Captain Glorieux. The two sailors immediately dashed out of the kitchen. door and started for the front of the building. . The fog was as thick as bean soup, and as there was not a breath of wind stirring it hung dank and heavy all over the landscape. The sailors planted themselves near the front door and waited for Hal to come out. He didn’t come for he was upstairs at the back of the house at that moment. He had rushed up the back stairs near the kitchen door, dashed into the first room he came to, which happened to be the one in which Smithers slept, and right over the kitchen. Hal turned the key in the door to secure himself against the entrance of any of his pursuers, and then felt his way over to the window overlooking the yard. He ur \ HAL, THE HUSTLER - owned a farm about a mile away. He had done raised it softly and. looked out. He could sée nothing but the bank of fog, but he could hear | Captain Glorieux swearing m the room below. Hal judged that he wasn’t much more than fifteen — feet. from the ground, and it was his intention to drop out and try to find his way to the road. “They'll never be able to find me in this fog,” he said to himself. “Once I strike the-Yoad PH | get home in short order.” He got astride of the window sill. r% “This isn’t so much of a drop, but I’d like to. know whether the way is clear or not. I wouldn’t like to fall into a barrel or a box. It would mean the chance of a broken leg as well as capture.” There was no way by which he could tell what, if anything, lay underneath the window. Sud- denly an idea occurred to him which would solve - the problem. There was a bed in the room. He would tie a couple of blankets or sheets together, secure one end in the room, and then slide dowm his improvised rope. ; “That is just the thing,” he muttered in‘a to of satisfaction, and he lost no time in eye it into effect... While he was thus employed Caulder and his hired hand and ally in the smug~ gling business were searching the house for Hal. After looking over the first floor they were sat- — isfied that the boy had not got off through the front door, or by way of a lower window. : : As Captain Glorieux was standing guard at _ the kitchen door, Hal ecouldn’t have retraced his — steps to any advantage, consequently they rea~ soned that. the boy must be still in ‘the house, somewhere upstairs. Caulder had sent his maiden sister, who kept house for him, away on a visit overnight to their married niece, whose husband this to get him out-of the way when he got word from -Captain Glorieux that the balance of the | cargo of the wrecked sloop, which was on Chim- _ ney Island, would be sent into the cove that night ye if weather conditions were favorable. rit After searching the main part of the house without success, lodking under the beds and into all the closets, Caulder proceeded to the attie while Smithers suddenly bethought himself of his’ own room, and thought he’d look there. ye The moment he feund the door locked he was sure Hal had taken refuge in the room. He shouted to Caulder that he had the bird caged, and the farmer hurried down. from the attic. Hal was just getting out of the window, with a couple — of knotted blankets hanging in position to make — a descen easy, when he heard Smithers at the oor. “You’re too late, old fellow,” chuckled Hal. awe, the time you get tn I'll be on my way to the _ road.” ia Thus speaking he swung himself out of the window, slid down the blankets and landed—in the arms of Captain Gloricux, who was waiting for him. The burly smuggler dragged Hal back into the kitchen and shcuted to Caulder. The farmer came in a hurry, and his eyes lighted up with satisfaction when he saw Hal in the skip- per’s grasp. Pierre and Francois soon appuarene and Captain Glorieux ordercd them to tie Hal’s — hands behind his back, and to leave enough of the line slack for one of them to hold oh wo. ‘Khe — two sailors seized the boy and dragged his arms” behind his back. Captain Glorieux stood beak with his arms folded across his breast and viewed —
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e% HAL, THE as D with satisfaction the ineffectual struggle that Hal made against the two sailors. _ “Aha! Mon garcon! You lose your temper at ‘las’, eh? Now look like a shicken go to be roace for _dinnaire. Bring him along wis you,” to the sail- ors. ‘We have lose time too mooch. Bonne nuit, mon ami,” to Caulder. “TI will see you soon again, and in ze meany’iles I vill take goot care of dees — -young feylew.” He marched out into the air, followed by Pierre - and Francois dragging Hal with them, and the party took up their line of march for the cove. CHAPTER XI—A Hostage of Fortune. : , Hal felt like a lamb being led to slaughter as ~ he unwiilingly accompanied his captors across the ~ cove, What Captain Glorieux intended to do with - jieved he was to be carried in the. whale boat across to Chimney Island and perhaps: held a ‘jumped up when Captain Glorieux arid his party approached, and regarded the young prisoner with ‘some surprise. The captain ordered them into the he smuggler chief, giving Hal a slight push. _-He stepped in last and seated himself at the ti tiller. : ~. “Gast off and pull out,” he cried in French, and the boat was soon shooting through the narrow ‘opening, although its beetling sides were lost in ‘the fog. Hal was left tc himself on one of the ‘vacant seats between the rowers and thé French kipper. The men had a long row before them, ut they got down to it with a vim, for the exer- ‘cise warmed their blood and kept the chill off. ‘he boy thought the trip an endless one in that teary waste of fog, which hung close to the al- most pulseless ocean like a wet, impalpable -. -pblanket. Hal noticed that Captain Glorieux con- sulted his watch by matchlight frequently after ‘they had been some time on the water. He was evi lently timing the rowers so as to figure out just where he was. e He was also steering the boat by compass. At ~-Jength the skipper said something in French to the sailors and they reduced the number of strokes ‘per minute one-half. Ten minutes later four of the men stopped rowing, and one of them went ito the bows. After that the boat felt its way ‘along at a slow pace. Suddenly there was a jar ‘and a grinding sound for a moment or two as the ‘boat hit a shallow spot and barely slid over it. ‘That was hint euough that they were in the very midst of the worst part of the perilous stretch f£ navigation which they could not have passed wer only the tide was high. The captain seemed to know his way better after that incident, which te not repeated, and fifteen minutes afterward boat grounded on the sandy beach of the and. The man in the bows pushed her off, huw- “ever, and she continued on parallel with the shvre for a short.distance, then the bowman leaped on ‘the beach with the painter in his hand, and guid- her till a narrow entrance in the rocks was ~ field to the base of the cliff, and thence to the- him he had not the least idea, except that he be-» prisoner there indefinitely. They found the other, - four sailors seated on a big rock near the boat, impatiently awaiting the skipper’s return. They “Now, mon ami, you vill go in ze bote, too,” said » ‘gryay SA USTLER reached.. It was wide enough for a large-sized — sloop, or small schooner, to enter through, and led into a land-locked pool or haven, where the vessel one lie without being seen. from the ocean cut- 2 side. of this pool, and the trip was at an end. “Ashore wis you, mon ami,” said Captai Giorieux, brusquely, to Hal, and the boy rose from his seat and stepped cut of the boat. “Zat ees right. Always obey ordaires and zen nossing happen.” - 2 “T suppose you have brought me to Chimney~ Island?” said. Hal. i : “Yais. Dees ees ze Chimney. You will find heem all right.” ; es The whaleboat soon grounded on the beach © “How long do you intend keeping me a prisoner . here?” : ; . “As long as eet ees necessaree.” nee “That’s rather indefinite.” =~ ' The smuggler shrugged his shoulders, and, tak- ing: Hal by the elbow, led him forward to the — base of the Chimney rock, Running his big, hairy. . hand up and down a certain spot, he finally locat- ed a spring, which he pressed. A section of the — rock swung inward like a door, and the captain - and his prisoner passed into a dark passage. Leav-_ ing the door open for the convenience of his men, . who had the oars and other articles to bring from the boat, Captain Glorieux pushed Hal ahead of him through the passage. After making: two or. three turns it ended in an undergroun the largest of a series uf several. The room was very bright light, which illuminated every corner — of the place. . - ; POs ee In the center of the room a lighted by a kind.of headlight lamp throwing a of which went straight up through the rocky: roof. cavern, : : coal fire was burn. ing cheerfully in a large cookstove, the chimney” ~ Along one side of the place was a double tier of bunks, each furnished with a mattress, a pillow) — and a pair of blankets. There were ten of them- _ in all,- Against the end wall near the stove wasa rudely-built dresser supplied with crockery and glassware, while various pots and pans hung from pegs driven into crevices in the rocks. : center of the room was a rude table, capable of seating a dozen persons, and’on each side of it wére benches long enough to accommodate three meneach. At the head of the table was a common chair, and this, no doubt, was used by the captain when he was on the island. There were many other things in the room, but it is unnecessary to particularize them. » “Welcome, mon garcon, to ze quarters of ze smugglaire,” said the captain, with a wicked kind of grin. “You like heem, eh?” gee -“T guess it doesn’t make any difference whether - I like it or not,” replied Hal. : “Eet ees bettaire zat you like heem, zen you feel mooch more at your ease so Jong as eet ees necessaree zat you stay here. Tonson,’’ said the skipper to a man, the only occupant of the room till Captain Gloricux and Hal entered, who sat on a stcol, nodding before the fire, “vake youse’f up. Get ze move on.” P The man, who was a Canadian named Thomp- son, seemed in no hurry to wake up. The skipper shook him roughly, but he only enone and muttered something not very intel- igible. . “Ah, yah, bete cochon—big peeg. You drink n the % - till you get ze jag on. You mak’ me seek,” cried, —
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_ the captain angrily. Then turning to Hal he ad- ded: “Vat you s’ink of heem.” J don’t think much of: him,” replied the boy. “He ees all to ze vat you call bon—good—when he ees sobaire; but sometime he drink too much for hees good, like ze present moment, zen he _s €es of no use whatevaire. You do not get ze jag ** on yourse’f—non?” ; “TF never drink,” replied Hal. “Vat, nevaire?” “Never.” ; Be “Bon -garcon,” replied the skipper, slapping Hal on the shoulders. “Ah, pardon me zat I keep you tied when eet. ees not necessaree.” j - _ Captain Glorieux took out a knife and cut Hai’s arms: loose: “Zat feels bettaire, eh? Go you now and lay yourse’f: down on zat bunk in ze cornaire. Eet ees mos’ four o’clock, and you haf not yet had _ your rest. You need not hurree to tumble out in ze morning. You vill haf nossing to do but eet and fill in ze time as bes’ you can.” . : “Have I. got to stay down here right along till you get ready to let me go?” f “Non, non. You vill haf ze run of ze island un- “te ~ not s’ink zat you can mak’ your escape. No vessel can come wizin a quarter of a mile of dees place. _ Ket ‘ees impossible, and you vill not swim zat deestance unless you like to drown yourse’f. Zat would be ver’ foolish.” Hal made no reply. yours for ze present. I talk. to time.” gi The skipper pushed Hal taking the smuggler’s action for a command, Hal took off. his pea jacket and his- boots, and*turned you some ozzer in. < At that moment the six sailors came in and, after depositing the oars of the whale boat and other articles in a corner, drew up at the table, while’ one’ of their number brought out a jug of whisky and glasses. _ eee Captain Glorieux joined them without’ cere- mony, and Hal watched them until his eyes grew heavy and he sank into a sound sleep. : CHAPTER XII.—On Chimney Island. Hal did not wake up till the forenoon was well advanced. 5 The first thing he was conscious of was that he had a headache, and, as that was a rare complaint with him, he set it down to the close and stufiy atmosphere of the underground cavern, to which he was unused. : s He was accustomed to plenty of fresh air at all times, and he always kept his room window open, even on the coldest winter’s night. He raised himself on his elbow and looked \ round. Hight of the bunks were occupied _by : alse ers, and two or three of them were snoring udly. : . The bunk next his own was used by Captain Glorieux, and Hal studied his rascally counte- nance some moments in the dull light of the half- - turned down reflector lamp. ; _ -“T must see if I can’t get out of this place. I’m dying for a breath of fresh air,” said Hal, getting v4 & daire ze eye of Tonson so soon as I lief; but do.» “Go, mak’ yourse’f at home in ze bunk. Eet is Hal toward the bunk, and,:” HAL, THE HUSTLER i eye i 2 ey out of the bunk and pulling on his boots. “I won- der what time itis? It must be broad daylight by this time.” Walking around the cavern he found a clock suspended against one of the walls, and the hands pointed to halfpast ten, Hal, after a glance at the — sleepers, walked out into the passage, and fol- lowed it till he came to the end where the door was: ; He struck a match and looked to see how he could open it. He was disappointed to find that it worked on some kind of mechanical principle that defied his’ efforts to open it. “T can’t get out of here till I learn how the old thing works,” he said. “On the outside there ap- pears to be a spring, the pushing of which re- leases it. I suppose there is a similar spring in- . side, but blessed if I can find it.” He gave the job up and returned to the cave, | where he found Captain Glorieux up.and washing his face in a-pail of water. 2 The skipper had noticed the absence of Hal, — eg did not. appear. to be greatly concerned over — it. : : “Aha, mon garcon!” he: exclaimed, with his ~ customary wicked grin, as soon as he spied the boy. “You haf been out for ze morning valk ~ before ze dejeuner—breakfas’— ° : “No,” replied Hal, shortly. “I tried to get out — but couldn’t open the door.” iPS ate “You could not open ze door?” answered the skipper, in a bantering tone. “Vat a pity. You — vill haf to learn ze lectle secret, zen you ~vill know how to go and come vhen you like.” - as “J wish you’d let me out, for I’ve got a head-. ache from the heat and closeness in here.” = “You vash. your face first and feex your hair, zen ve vill see,”-sdaid the captain, standing be- fore a glass-and combing out his mustache and imperial... 2 When he had completed his toilet to his satis. iy NE , faction, he walked over to the bunk where Thomp- | son was sleeping, grabbed him by the arm an pulled him out with little ceremony. : “Vake up, you lazee chien—dog! Eet ees time zat you attend to ze breakfas.’ Get ze hustle on, = or, by gar, I vill make you shump like ze monkey __ on ze hot stove.” best He shook Thompson, who acted as chief cook and bottle washer of the place into: wakefulness, ~and then pushed him toward the stove. ; Thompson never said a word, but went meekly ent his duties, like a man who had no particular spirit. Hal washed up and brushed his hair. f “Come, mon ami, ve vill go out and tase ze _ fresh air. You vill zen feel mooch bettaire.” said Captain Glorieux to Hal. : s The boy followed him with alacrity. He tried to _ discover how the skipper opened the door, but — couldn’t quite make out, though he learned in a general way where the spring was located. ; Hal gulped in the cool breeze with avidity as soon as they stepped into the open air. It was a magnificent spring morning. ~ == The ocean around the island sparkled under the ~- sun’s rays as though set with myriads of bril- liants. : ae The only. sail in sight was a schooner running _ along inshore, about four miles away. Nes
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HAL, - Hal turned his gaze toward the beach near the __ ¢liff entrance to the cove, for that was where his _ mother’s farm lay. eae es a _ At that distance he could see little else than the line of shore. There was no surf that morning as the sea. was comparatively calm. ; _..Above his head loomed Chimney Rock,,. rising close to the water’s edge. “You vould like to escalade zat chimney, mon ami,” grinned Captain Glorieux, “and take. ze bird’s eye look from ze top, eh?” “T guess there’s no way of getting up there.” “A smart garcon like you maybe he find hees vay for ze fun of ze s’ing. Het ees ver’ danger- eux, but vat you care for zat? Eef your pied— foot—sleep you take ze tumble and break your neck; but vat you care for zat? Het ees nossing. You vill be out of ze vay for good. Vhen you get tire of ze island you try heem,” and the skipper grinned more wickedly than ever. “JT am much obliged to you for the suggestion, and will consider it,” replied Hal, sarcastically. Captain Glorieux grinned again, and then he led Hal to where he could look down into the pool or haven where the whale boat lay. “You nevaire know before zat dees place vas here, non?” he said. ‘No. How could I when I never was on the island before?” ; “None of ze people on ze shore know heem eezer, eh?” “JT never heard anyone speak about it. 3 “Bon. Eet ees ze secret of ze smugglaire. No one will know zen till you tell zem; but zat vill not be till I am done wis eet.” - “How long will that be?” asked Hal, a bit enxiously. ee, The captain shrugged his»shoulders. _ “Ret may be soon and eet maybe long time. Eet all depends on how s’ings turm out wis mon bon ami, Cauldaire. Eef ze officaire of zé revenue. catch heem wis ze goods zen I will have to shake Ze beesness and make mys’f vat you call scarce. In zat case I let you go, mon garcon, ozzerwise 3+ 97 ” - “May it be soon,” said Hal, with some emphasis. 5 - “The captain smiled unpleasantly at the boy’s = remark but said nothing. : ' . They walked around the small island, Hal ex- Rs amining the pair of twin rocks near. the chimney with considerable interest. They stood half a dozen feet apart, and were each shaped like half of an old-fashioned coffin, Hal could hardly believe that they were the work of nature, so exactly did each resemble -_ the other, and also because the inner, or straight side, faced each other, so that could they have been pushed together their resemblance to a coffin ‘would have been complete. < 3 The real significance of this resemblance did not strike Hal until later on, when it. proved to be a very important matter. Si _ “J sink ze breakfas’ ees ready by zis time,” said Captain Glorieux at last. “We vill go and eat heem.” - When they got back to the cavern they found the sailors all up and looking hungrily toward the stove, whence came an appetizing odor of fried fish, veal cutlets, and coffee: ov ~ “Tonson, how ees ze breakfas’?” bawled the kipper.in a sharp tone. THE HUSTLER: “All ready and waitin’,” answered Thompson. _.‘Seet yourse’f beside me,” said the captain to 5 fh He ptered a word in French. s if propelled by springs, every sailor mad a rush for the table. cb : ae _ Thompson placed a big dish before the captain; — just in front of a stack of plates, and then pro= ceeded to hand around cups of coffee, beginning with the smuggler chief. _*You will haf some feesh, mom garcon? Eet is right out of ze vataire.. Tonson catch heem.” — _Hal saw no reason why he should refuse to eat simply because he was in hard luck. ° The morning air had given him a fine appetite, — and the fish smelled good. pre Captain Glorieux handed him a liberal allow- ance, then helped -himself, and afterwards the men. The fish was succeeded by the cutlets. There were only two, intended solely for the ~ captain himself. It pleased him, however, to — share the dish with Hal. ; “ “You vill haf a cotelette, mon ami?” he said, — shoving one on Hal’s plate. ay The boy did not refuse it. The sailors seemed to regard the captain’s treatment of Hal with . interest. They left the table one by one, lighted their pipes and strolled out of the cavern. Thomp- son furtively watched the boy from the stove, — where he stood waiting for the captain to leave the table so that he could get his own breakfast. Hal caught his eye once or twice. He had learned — from the captain that he and Thompson were to be the sole occupants of the island after that evening until the skipper returned again. Thomip- — son would receive instructions.to keep an eye on his movements, and he would be held. responsible that the prisoner did not get away. Hal sized the cook and general factotum up as a gZoad- natured fellow and easy to get along with. He» thought he would have no trouble in getting away from the island if he could attract the attention — _of some fisherman and swim out to his boat. It would be.a long swim at the best, and only a boy _ of. Hal’s skill and endurance would chance such — a thing. Breakfast over Hal was’ permitted to — get out into the fresh air again, this time without ‘the skipper as a companion, but he did not doubt — that the sailors, who were smoking on the rocks — in the sun would keep a sharp eye on him. eau raat Fi CHAPTER XIII.—What the Thin Pocketbook Contained, ae The day hung heavy on Hal’s hands, for he — wasn’t in the habit of lolling around and twid- — dling his thumbs. He always found something to — keep his mind occupied of a Sunday at home. It © -was the day when he read his newspapers and magazines, and sometimes a book on some profit- able subject with an eye to the future. Here on the island he had absolutely nothing to do but kill — time. Dinner was served up at five o’clock, and is Hal had a good appetite for it. So had the cap- tain and the sailors. As soon as. it began to grow dark Captain Glorieux and the six sailors began — to make preparations to depart. They intended | to cross over to the cove, leave the whale boat in — charge of ‘Caleb Caulder, go on.to. the town.of | Solon and take a Washington County Railroad ~ train for Calais, on the St. Croix. River, which _ x
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- formed the Canadian boundary line of the prov- ince of New Brunswick. The captain then in- ‘tended to secure a new sloop and try his luck -with another cargo of liquor, for the trade was profitable as long as it was not interfered with by the authorities. At last darkness descended on the seascape and everything was ready for the departure. - “Au plaisir, mon ami” (good-by, my friend), said Captain Glorieux, stepping into the boat. “You will make yourself at home till I return. You will find: Tonson a good fellow, but remem- paire he will sleep viz une eye open.” ; The smuggler favored Hal with one of his - wicked grins and then gave the order to.shove off. Hal “went to the rocks above the pool and sat _ there for some time, thinking of his home, and wondering what were the feelings of his mother . and sister c-°r his mysterious absence. Thomson sat a short wistance away, smoking and ruminat- _ ing over the hard lot of a man-of-all-work in the employ of a gang of smugglers. If he kept an = eye on the boy it wasn’t apparent. Above them poth the stars looked down with uncommon bright- ness, while the Hight ocean breeze swept their his companion in exile. ; : F “You've got orders to watch me while Captain _ *“T reckon,” replied ( @ from his mouth and blowing out a cloud of smoke. way as the case stands.” - “That’s right. Neither can I.” faces. Finally Hal got up and walked over to Glorieux is away, I en ro he said. _.. “What’s the use of watching me? I can’t get “Do you want to?” asked Hal, quickly. ” businegs “J reckon I have.” “How long is that?” ' “Some months.” : “ow many cargoes of liquor have been run?” _ “alfa dozen I guess.” -. “When do you expect the Frenchman back?” - fPunno. He comes when he gets ready.” __ “Ffe’s bound to be caught some day, and then the bunch of you will go to the penitentiary.” “J. yeckon,” replied Thompson, blowing more _ tobacco smoke. a s ~ “Then I don’t see what you expect to gain by sticking to the business.” : i ‘ “T-ain’t doing no smugglin’. I’m only the cook. -- “You are helping the smugglers and will he punished as an accomplice.” “J don’t amount to nothin’. E ithe skipper says.” ap cae “That won’t excuse you in a court of justice. “What are you gettin’ at?” “Help me get away from here and I'll see that ‘you won’t get sent to prison with the skipper and she rest of the gang.’ ; J wouldn’t dare. The skipper would shoot Ret < I’ve got to do as he if you got away with me? Once ot their hands on. Captain iled and couldn’t shoot any- ar Pi: “How could fe revenue officers HAL, THE HUSTLER empson, taking his pipe” 2) “He’d shoot me when he got out.” “That wouldn’t be for years, and long before that you could be earning an honest living where he never would be able to spot you.” ‘ “Tt ain’t no use talkin’. y couldn’t help you if I wanted to. We haven’t got a boat and no row- boats ever come over here. Any kind of larger craft can’t get nearer than a quarter of a mile of the island, and only in some places when the tide is high. It ain’t no use thinkin’ of gettin’ away.” . “The captain has come to the island in a big sloop loaded with cargo. How does he doit?” “He knows a channel that runs through the shoals.” . “So I thought. The entrance to it lies to the east and north, doesn’t it?” ene “What makes you think so?” ¥ “T was out fishing with a friend the other day on the edge of the shoals, and I saw the captain and another man sail away from the island in a catboat. They couldn’t have done it without a perfect knowledge of a clear channel. I noted the direction they sailed, but that wouldn’t enable me or anybody else to find it, for I have no doubt one must go by certain landmarks on the island— the Chimney, for instance, and possibly the twin rocks near it. The five old maids—those rocks out yonder,” and Hal waved his arm in the dark- ness—“probably cut some figure in the matter, for I noticed he pased among them.” “You're purty smart, I guess. Say, why did the skipper bring you here? Did you find out | somethin’ about the landin’ of them cases last night?” “I did. I found out all about them. Then I was caught and made a prisoner of and after- ward brought here to prevent me from giving the information away.” ot “So I thought. It was a bad time for you. You’re lucky that the skipper didn’t shoot you, or toss you overboard on the way over. He must have took a fancy to you. He’s a dangerous man. I’m afraid of him.” ; Thompson smoked on for a while reflectively till his pipe went out, and then he suggested that they go to bed. Hal had no objection to geing to ed, although the hour was early, and so they walked down the rocks and passed into the pas- sage, the door closing after them. As it clanged to and shut them in the thought suddenly struck the boy that if Thompson should happen to drop dead before morning he might be buried alive, as it were, until the Frenchman came back. Of course, such a thing wasn’t likely to hap- —epen, nevertheless, the idea was not a pleasant one. Thompson turned up the lamp, more for Hal’s benefit than his own} and then proceeded to get into his bunk. Hal didn’t feel particularly ~ sleepy, and seeing a week-old Canadian news- ise paper, sat at the table and began to read. e “Turn the lamp down when you’re ready to _ . turn in,” said Thompson. Glorieux had wreck of La and ten minutes later
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- © faction. a : HAL, THE the revenue cutter’s party. He pulled it out ut- tered a slight exclamation on beholding the article, which he had until that moment forgotten all ' -ahout., : “This undoubtedly belongs to the Frenchman,” ' he thought. “TI’ll take the liberty of looking into it, but from the feel and looks I guess there isn’t - much, if anything, ‘in. it.” Removing the wide rubber band he opened the “wallet. There was nothing in it but a soiled piece of paper, folded across. He opened and “spread it out on the table, for he saw that it con- tained a few line of writing. The writing was in English and therefore not likely to have been the product of Captain Glorieux. Hal uttered an exclamation as his eyes mastered the ‘first words. This is what he read: How to Reach Chimney Island at Any Stage Af of the Tide. When C bears WSW ab. 1-2 m keep 8 on p, 2 on s till Twins form coffin. Luff and get 1 on , 3 on s, 1 da. When 1 on p bears SE tack d Ricans 2 on p, 2 on s, with center r ab, two p on p bow till in line with C. Haul w till C bears SW with 2 on p, 8 ons. Short tack to NW till C bears SSW. Short tack to S bringing C on sb. Tack bringing C da. Then all clear. Then followed similar directions “To get out.” _ “By George!” exclaimed Hal, “if this isn’t the sailing directions for the channel that no one in this neighborhood knows anything about. I guess T’m sailor enough to be able to study this thing - out, and once I get the hang of it I’ll be able to sail in and out through the channel as well as Captain Glorieux himself.” ‘ Thus speaking, Hal got down to business, - * an ca ea CHAPTER XIV.—The Important Packet. - Although the directions seemed something of a ‘puzzle on. their face, Hal felt satisfied that he would soon be able to master them. : . “When C bears WSW ab. 1-2 m. That’s easy to begin with,” he breathed. “C undoubtedly means the Chimney, and when it bears west south- west about half a mile keep three on p—three what? Two on s till Twins form coffin. P must mean port, and therefore S means starboard. Till Twins form coffin clearly means when the course af the boat brings the two rocks together so that they look like a single rock in the form of a coffin. The puzzle is, what did the writer mean by keep three on port and two on starboard?” Hal pondered over the enigma for a good ten minutes, and then gave an exclamation of satis- FF | ' “T have it. He meant the five old maids that .” Tie to the north and: east of the island. You must keep three of them on the port side, and two on the starboard till the twin rocks come together. Luff and get one of the old maids on port, three on starboard and one da. What does that mean? Why, dead ahead, of course. Say, this is easy. Pll have it all out in a minute or two.” . He worked away industriously for five or six ‘and the following was the final and sat- a ie Piers offorts: HUSTLER ~ g a ’ “When the Chimney bears west southwest about half a mile away, keep three old maid rocks on : port side and two on starboard till the Twin rocks on the island form a coffin; Then luff and get one old maid on port, three on starboard, and one dead ahead. When one old maid on port bears southeast tack, bringing two old maids on port, two on starboard, with: center one of the. five about two points on the port bow till inline with Chimney. Haul wind till Chimney bears south-— west with two old maids on port and three on Starboard.’ Make short tack to northwest till Chimney bears south southwest. Another ‘short tack to south, bringing Chimney on starboard bow. Tack, bringing Chimney dead ahead. fhen — all clear sailing to island.’ 1 ee _ Having mastered the way to follow the channel in, he easily figured out the direction to follow the channel from the island to the open “water — beyond the shoals. ety He put the writing carefully away in his inner vest pocket, turned into bed and was soon asleep. A week passed rather drearily away to Hal, and Sunday came around again without the sligh chance haying presented itself for him to make his escape. Late in the afternoon a sail was seen approaching the island from the eastward. Hal and Thompson were seated at the base of the Chimney at the time. They watched the sail with interest, for it struck them it might be the/ Frenchman back with a new sloop and another cargo. 3 Se iF Hal and Thompson were seated at the base of the Chimney at the time. a “It’s the skipper,” said Thompson, and Hal agreed with him. The slpop threaded the dan-— gers of the shoals without accident and finally came to anchor in the pool. Captain Glorieux and a dapper little man in black, with red hair — and a foxy face, came ashore. The skipper took — his companion into the undergroun cavern. Thompson.took advantage of the fact to go aboard the sloop to see ‘his friends the sailors, The sun sank and darkness came on. Hal was standing in the shadow of one of the Twin rocks when the Frenchman and the dapper individual — came out on the rocks and walked up to the base — of the Chimney, where they stopped within ear- shot of our hero. Be ‘ “Dees ees ze place ve vill put heem. Zere ees une petit (small) hole in ze rock where he vill be safe as in ze Bank of France. No one vill evaire suspect zat ze papaire vich ees of so much ~ eemportance to ze Department of State of ze » Etats Unis, and vich you haf stole from ze trunk — of ze secretary of ze commission, s’all be hid in — dees hole. When ze time ees ripe, and ze reward visout questions ees certain, ve vill come here and — get heem, and zen ve vill divide ze monee, and — zen I s’all give up ze smuggle of ze brandee and sail for La Belle France, where I vill leeve like zé king so long as possible,” said Captain’ Glori- — eux. ' “Very good, Etienne,” replied the red-headed — man. “Put the bard in there and cover the hole — with a stone. It will be much safer for us than — if it were in any bank, The secret service Lo mart
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HAL, THE off the coast of Maine,” and the little man rubbed his hands with satisfaction. .- “Nevair—nevair in ze world,” exclaimed the skipper. “Zere, go een vis you, mon oie (goose) zat will lay ze golden cufs (eggs)—go een and hatch zem out vhiles ve vait. “How mocch you s’ink ze reward vill be, mon ami?” “Pifty thousand dollars, at least--maybe dou- ‘ble that.” “Feefty t’ousand dollaire! Helas! Ve s’all be vat you call vell feexed.” ' “J should say so. Now let us get abvard again before any of your men get curious about our _fmovements up here.” - “Jere ees nossing to fear from zem. I haf zem broken to ze. harness.” “We will return to St. John in the morning, _ .Etienne.” . .“Yais; as soon as ze daylight will give me ze “bearings of ze channel.” Captain Glorieux and the little man then walked away, leaving Hal very much astonished at what he had overheard. . “Gracious!” ejaculated the boy. “So that little ~ yed-headed man has stolen a paper—a treaty, he ealled it—from the trunk of the secretary of some commission. This paper, it seems, is of consider- able importance to our State Department, and the Frenchman and the red-headed chap expect to get at least $50,000 for.réturning it. That’s a “more profitable game than the smuggling business —provided they can put it through. I think it’s my duty to head them off, if I can, and restore that document to the secretary of the commission, ‘or to the State Department. It is hidden in 2 small hole in the base of the Chimney. I must see if I can find the hole now that I’ve got its general location in my mind, even though it is dark.” . . So Hal went to the spot where Captain Glorieux_ and the little red-headed man had stood talking and began: looking for the hole by matchlight, the glare of which he partially shaded with his hat. - He found a number of holes, but there was nothing in them,-and he was about to give up the job for the time being when his hand acci- dentally dislodged a white stone that lay upon a narrow shelf, and which looked as if it had fallen there. : d ~ As the stone rolled away the light of the ex- piring match in Hal’s fingers showed him a hole running diagonally into Chimney Rock. He put ~ his hand into the hole and felt a thin packet that was secured by a piece of tape and a seal. He pulled it out in a twinkling. The packet was done up in oiled paper in a very careful manner so that if it fell into water its contents would -- not be-wetted. Hal put the precious packet into an inner pocket of his pea jacket, and was turn- ing away from'the Chimney when a heavy hand was suddenly laid on his shoulder, and a fierce voice hissed in his ear: “Aha, mon garcon! I haf caught you, haf I? - You haf made ze discovery of ze packet, and you _ try to play ze thiefs. You s’all be an ungrateful - young rascal. But I feex you, by gar! Dees time I keel you. I gif you one, two minute to say ze little atl and zen you take ze treep to ze -ozzer world.” <= : Se As he spoke the. French smuggler drew his revolver, cocked it and aimed it at Hal’s temple. al tae ey : : — a HUSTLER 23 CHAPTER XV.—The Feat That Made Hal : Famous. f Hal was staggered by the unexpected appear- ance of Captain Glorieux. The smuggler chief had evidently heen wide-awake that evening, had seen the slight flashes of matchlight made by Hal along the base of the Chimney, and suspecting something was wrong, had gone in a stealthy way to investigate the matter. 5 The result was he had caught his prisoner in the-act of removing the important State docu- ment from its hiding place. Hal had no wish to be put out of the way in a sudden and violent manner, and his desperation added strength to his arm when he turned quickly upon the skipper, pushed the revoiver aside, and, tearing himself. from the smuggler’s grasp, dashed away into the darkness. The captain fired his weapon after him but the bullet.went wild. Then he gave chase, with many imprecations. The shot aroused the — - attention of the men aboard the sloop, and they rushed to the vessel’s side to see what was the trouble. : They heard Captain Glorieux shouting and swearing at a great rate, and seemingly running after some one. A second and third pistol shot excited them further. They tumbled into the boat alongside the sloop and hurried ashore. As they yushed to the top of the rocks where the excite- ment was going on, several of them announced their presence by shouting to the skipper in French. Captain Glorieux, who had been unable to find any trace of Hal, joined them and ordered them to get lanterns and search for the boy who, he said, had stolen something of value belonging to him. : The men lost no time in getting lanterns from the cavern; and, under the skipper’s leadership, these were soon twinking all over the small island. Hal, in the meanwhile had hidden himself be- hind a large rock at the base of the Chimney, overlooking the water. “He’s got the whole crew searching for me now with lanterns,” breathed Hal, when he saw the flashing lights dancing about here and there, and heard the ejaculations of the smugglers as they flitted from spot to spot on the little island, each moment drawing closer and closer to the Chimney, where the boy had made his final stand. “ At length Captain Glorieux, impatient -at the non-discovery of the boy, suddenly bethought himself of the rock at the base of the Chimney be- hind which Hal was crouching. He shouted to — his men to close in around the base of the Chim-. nex. Hal heard the captain’s words and saw that his enemies were closing in all around him. He was — trapned, indeed, and his fate seemed sealed. - _ “He'll not have the satisfaction of shooting me,” Hal gritted between his teeth. “I’ll take my chance in the water, for that is my only avenue of escape now, and it’s a mighty slim one.” Ee At that moment Captain Glorieux flashed a lantern around the rock and caught sight of Hal in the gloom. i “So, zere you are, mon garcon,” he said, with a short, malicious laugh. “You t’ought you would mak’ of yourse’f scarce, eh? Hand ovaire ze- packeet or I shoot you like ze'dog.” ae
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24 “]’}] hand over nothing. Come here and get it _ ¥£ you want it,” cried Hal, desperately. “By gar! You are une brave garcon. C’est ‘bien dommage—eet ees a great peety zat T mus’ keel you, but zere ees no ozzer vays to deal vis such a slippery feylow as you who makes him- ° se’f acquainted with all ze secrets of mon business. Now, zen, say ze prayer. You haf une minute to leeve. i The captain raised his revolver as he ‘spoke. Hal did not wait for him to take aim, but dived hhead-foremost into the sea. Captain Glorieux fired at his vanishing figure, and then shouted excitedly to his men to get a boat and chase the boy. This, in the darkness, was like hunting for a needle in a hayrick. When Hal came to the surface he struck out for the shore, five miles away. With strong and steady strokes he cut his way through the water, and had got nearly a mile from the island before he felt really tired. Then he turned over on his back and. floated awhile to rest his arms, After a while he re- + newed the struggle in the dark waters. So, al- ; ternately swimming and floating, he stuck pluck- fly to his forlorn task until he had actually cov- _ ered four miles of the way. Another mile yet remained, and he was almost. exhausted. But he wouldn’t give up until every ounce of his strength had given out. . §o he kept on and covered another half mile. Suddenly he heard the throbbing of a steamer’s engine in the distance. He saw the shining bright ©. fight from a small oncoming craft, lying low in the water, close to him. He raised himself in the water and shouted “Help! -Help!” Tt was a clear, still night, and his voice reached the lookout on the steamer’s bows. Word was ickly passed aft that there was somebody in e water close by. The steamer was stopped, a boat ordered away, and it was lowered with the 2 precision and quickness of a man-of-war, while a searchlight was turned upon the surface of the sea in the direction whence came the cry- for help. Hal’s head was made out as he feebly beat the ( water in his last efforts to keep himself. afloat, and the boat dashed up alongside of him. As a sailor reached over and grabbed him by the col- Jar the boy gave a gasp and fainted dead away. He was taken into the boat and was soon on the deck of the revenue cutter Enterprise. When he - eame to his senses he found himself in a bunk stripped and the surgeon ministering to him. In a short time he was strong enough to tell his story. When he learned that he was aboard a revenue cutter he asked to see the commander, and that officer made his appearance. To him Hal related his story of all he had gone through since the ' night he was captured in Caleb Caulder’s house. The lieutenant was astonished, particularly at the _boy’s great feat of swimming four miles and a half from the island, not only in the effort to escape the smugglers, but to restore the impor- tant packet, with whose loss the officer was fa- miliar. The revenue cutter put into Coveport at once and the officer telegraphed the facts to Washington. Hal left the packet in his care and hurried home “to his mother and sister, who re- ceived him with great joy. Next morning every paper of note in the country printed the news of _. the recovery of the stolen fisheries treaty between _ the United States and the Dominion of Canada, HAL, THE HUSTLER ie and Hal Harper’s name became known from one end of the country to the other. Everybody read that he had rescued the important document from the French smuggler and his companion, the thief, — and the feat of swimming a distance of nearly five miles to turn it over to the Government made, Hal famous in a day, At daylight next morning, Hal, by means of the directions he had on the paper, guided the revenue cutter close in to Chimney Island, and Captain Glorieux, his new sloop, and all hands, were captured. At the same time another party invaded the Caulder farm and discovered some of the cases of smuggled cognac still in his barn. That was enough to settle Caulder’s goose, and he and Captain Glorieux, with his men, were in due time, sent to the penitentiary in a bunch. _Hal received a reward of $25,000 for his ser- vices in restoring the stolen packet, but the repu- tation he had acquired stele pleased him better than the money. To-day Hal is an important member of the community, and the husband, by the way, of Kit- tie Marshall, the banker’s daughter, but though happy and prosperous through his hustling abili- ties, he never can forget the feat that made him — famous. Read “A MAD BROKER’S SCHEME; OR THE CORNER THAT COULDN'T BE WORKED.” PANAMA CANAL SETS RECORD WITH 5,475 ; TRANSITS IN YEAR The Panama Canal established a new high rec- ord for commercial transits during the fiscal year just ended. The waterway was used by 5,475 ves- sels. The previous record was established during the calendar year of 1926, when the transits to- talled 5,420. Total tolls collected for the fiscal year amounted to $24,228,830, falling short of the record tolls collection in 1924 of $24,290,963. Since the open- ing of the canal in August, 1914, to the close of business on June 30, 1927, a total of 40,377 com- pg ships passed through, paying $166,363,228 in tolls. OR SNUFF 4H ~ TOBACCO ae cae CURED OR New, safe all ' penne bt treatment for overcomin eraving for Ci nuff. garettes, Pipes, Cigars, Chewing or Full treatment sent on trial. If satisfactory pay $1.45 on — delivery. If it fails we gladly REWUND MONEY. i today. WINEHOLT CO., Box T-, WOODBINE, PA. Be A Detective Make Secret Investigations Earn Big Money. Work home or travel. Fascinating work. Excellent opportu- nity. Experience unnecessary. Parties ulars free. Write: GEORGE R. WAGNER Detective Training Department - \ 2190 Broadway, New York | ve: ees: eee ak = * eee
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The Wall Street Hoodoo. — or — The Boy the Brokers Feared By Gaston Garne (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER X— (Continued) “J don’t think there was any extravagance : + it, mother. i ; : ed ‘ive "been wearing the same suit I worked in six days in the week.” sh ee I know that, but I guess you have not got money left now. : : Don't merry about that, mother. I’m having good luck downtown—doing better than ever be- fore in my life. I have been growing, you know, and I want to dress up nicely on Sundays.” She took an apple and proceeded to eat it, for it was very seldom she had a chance to indulge in such luxuries. ; Barwell, her husband, had not been doing so well of late, and he was in an ugly humor in con- sequence. He had been drinking for the past week - er two, which Bob was aware of himself, but had not seen him drunk, or heard of his being so. The two little girls feared him, as did their mother... ~ : ‘i _ he told the children to go back into the kitchen of the flat and eat their fruit, and she would hide the rest for them, to eat the next day after Papa Burwald had gone to work. - Bob spént half an hour or so with his mother, and before leaving slipped a five-dollar bill in her : ing: ; é haere Tet him see it, mother, but use it for . yourself and the girls.” ras why, ‘Robert, Sow in the world do you earn so 3 oney?” : ; Pry workin hard, mother. Many a time I get ‘as much ag twenty-five cents for a shine. Money js nothing to those big brokers down in Wali - Street. Sometimes I earn as much as two dollars and a half a day.” sos, “But, Robert, are you saving it? “Yes, mother, I seldom spend more than ten ; i meal.” ; err jesplletiomar her and went out downstairs. Just as he reached the sidewalk he met Truck- - man Burwald, who was coming in from his work. “Hello, what are you doing here?” the truck- man growled. - : “Doing nothing, sir. _ mother.”. “» “You have, eh? elothes?” ° = ; : . Stpoaght them and paid for them, sir.” | “Been up to let your mother see them? = 22“Yes, sir.” ‘ ; -* Both of them hated each other, and the truck- man, having taken a drink or two, told him to go on and keep away from there, that he didn’t want ‘tto-see him around. Beat sieht, sir, I didn’t come here to see you. _ Didn’t know you would be home so soon.” “Qh, you come around when you think I’m not = é I’ve been up to see Where’d you get those good ” . FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY I needed a Sunday suit badly, . at home, do you? The next time I hear of it I'll kick you clear aross’ the street.” aie Bob saw that he was in an ugly humor so he went up to his own quarters in the next block, wondering how his mother could endure such a brutal husband. dee Still, he had enough pleasant things to think - about: : He believed that he was now in a position where, when an opportunity occurred, he could make a Bs Be big fortune down in Wall Street, and he again considered the question as to whether or not he should give away his blacking-box. But before he fell asleep he had decided that he would still — keep on shining shoes for the opportunity it gave- him to stay down in Wall Street and hear the — brokers talk. = So the next day he earned a couple of dollars ‘ by hard work, doing better, perhaps, than any other bootblack in that locality. The next day he watched the other bootblacks | worrying the Italian, and by noon they had forced _ him to leave the locality. i “Poor fellow!” he murmured. “He doesn’t un-_ derstand English and can’t talk back at the boys. — But I would wager something that if he could get a chance he’d slip a knife-blade into some of them. They are ugly fellows to get into a fight with. Many of them use knives or daggers when pro-. voked.” Two or three evenings later his sister. Dora came up to his room, and told him that Papa Bur- wald had hit their mother. ne “What did he do it for?” he inquired. | ; “Well, I guess it was because -he had. been drinking. He hasn’t been giving’ mother much ee moncy lately, and he didn’t like the supper. Don’t you come down to the house, Robert, because he — ‘would hurt you, and mother would be very angry with me for telling you.” : Bese “All right, dear. You run back home and stay _ with mother.” : Bob’s blood was boiling. He knew the officer on the beat well, and the latter knew that he was_ a very industrious bootblack, so he went down on the street to look for him. ‘ é He found him, and, going up to him, said: “Mr. Johnson, you know my. step-father, Mr. ~ Burwald, don’t you?” = “Yes; I know him by sight. What about him?” — “Well, my sister came up to my room a while ~ ago and told me that he had just knocked mother down, and I’d like to have you pull him in for it,” “Well, what’s the-use of my doing so if your mother won’t appear against him to-morrow. morning? If she will, I’ll pull him in.” “Well, I don’t know whether she will or not. I guess she is afraid to do so; but if you'll lock — him up I may be able to persuade her to admit — the truth of it to you. And Jook here, now, it’s five dollars in your hand right now if you’ll go: down there and either pull him in or talk to him ~ like he ought to be talkéd to. I haven’t got so much money, but I’ve got enough laid up to pro- tect my mother.” » “That’s right, Bob,” said the officer, taking the. money and thrusting it into his pocket. “I like to see a boy stand by his mother. I wouldn’t — take this if it wasn’t that I’m in a tight place; so come along.” id Johnson was a big, muscular feHow, with the ‘ Me ag
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courage of a bulldog, and Bob knew that ie was a match for his stepfather. “They heard the children screaming before they . reached the top of the second flight of stairs, and just as they got there Dora came running out screaming, saying that Papa Burwald was going to kill her mother. Bob and the policeman dashed into the room. There they found Burwald grasping his wife’s arm, and she was crying and begging him to let go of her. “Here! Here!” exclaimed Johnson. “What does this mean? Stop that or I’ll run you in!” Burwald was dumfounded when he turned and found himself facing an officer. . When he saw Bob he instantly understood how the officer came to be there. : Mrs. Burwald sank down ona chair with her - ee face in her hands, sobbing violently. “It’s a case of wife-heating,” said the pert “50 you come along with me, Burwald.” ca CHAPTER XI. How Bob Stood by His Mother. . The burly truckman growled that he wouldn’t On. : “Take him along, Mr. Johnson,” said Bob, and’ Burwald struck out at him “Bob dodged, and the next moment the burly ae prate got a crack over the head from the officer’s ‘locust that stretched him on the floor. Quick as _ @-flash° the officer clapped handcuffs on him. to -- avoid a struggle “with him there in the house. ~ Then Mrs. Burwald sprang up and began begging and pleading that the officer wouldn’t take him awa Bob's face was white as a sheet, and he called ut : “Take him away, Mr. Johnson. I’ll appear in the court against him to-morrow if mother does- - nt. He’s a cowardly brute. He drove me from home four years ago, and I was earning enough - then’to pay my board.” ~ When Burwald found himself handcuffed he be- came as gentle as a dove. “He pleaded with the officer not to lock him up, . that he had been drinking and hardly knew what Es he was doing. ““Robert, Robert!” pleaded Bob’s mother, “don’t disgrace us by having him taken to the police _ station.” “Mother, don’t say a word,” said he. ‘He has already disgraced the whole family by his wife- beating. If you don’t appear against him to- - morrow I will, for the officer and I both saw him ready to thrash you. I’ll employ a lawyer-and do my best to have him sent to the island.” “Then what will become of us, Robert?” “J can take care of you, mother.” When Burwald saw that Robert’s mother could- n’t do anything with him, he savagely threatened to kill him the next time he met him _ *T believe you’d do it,” said Robert. eh swife- beater is capable of murdering even a baby.” -_ -Burwald tried to kick him, but the officer pre- ~ -yented him. . Of course the corridor was crowded with ten- ce auts of the building, from the ground flcor to the a ner . < ie x: anki ip PHEES FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY f ee eas gear ors, The policeman took him to the station and charged him with disorderly conduct and wife- beating. Bob remained at the house to consdle his moth-~* er, but it was a hard job. Yt She didn’t love the man at all. She married - him more for a protector for herself and the chil- dren than anything else. But she was afraid that he would come back, when he got out, and murder her and her children. Bob spent the night there, and instead of going downtown directly after breakfast, he went to | the police court. He couldn’t persuade his mother © to go with him, but he did take Dora along: : here he saw his stepfather arrai y Off ‘ cer Johnson, on the charge of drun sibs 2 and wife-beating. : He, told how Robert had come to him and ac-~ quainted him with what’*was going on at the. house, and that when. he entered the flat he found” the prisoner béating his wife, who was crying and. begging for mercy. “Where is the wife?” the judge asked. | : -“Your honor,” said Bob, “she is too ill. this” morning to appear in court. Besides, she is afraid - to appear against him; but I am here. I saw — him -beating her, so did the officer and my ‘sister_ here. I’ve another charge to make against him. .— He swore, in the presence of the officer, that he. intended to kill me as.soon as he go ot out. I want ~ to have him placed under bond to keep the peace.” Burwald swore that all he did was to slap his” wife’s face. “Your -honor,” said Bob,-“look at his hands, almost as big aS a ten-pound ham. My mother... is a delicate woman, and what’s more, she is a_ good woman and a good mother. I don’t even know what started the trouble, but I guess it a whisky, for he was drunk. But not sO ieunke oS ig that he didn’t know what he was doing.” re The judge then questioned Officer J ohnson, who corroborated everything Bob had said. The judge imposed a fine of twenty dollars, or.’ thirty days on the island. Bob then swore out a warrant against him for — threatening to kill him, and on that the judge? ordered him to give bail for five hundred dollars ; for six months to keep the peace. He couldn’t do it and was locked up again. — Bob returned home in great glee and told his mother what the result of the trial was. : She wrung her hands and said: “Robert, we will be dispossessed, for the rent is due day after to-morrow, and I have no money in the house but that bill you gave me the other ~ evening.” ; ‘Don’t worry about that, mother. I can pay” 4 the rent and do more besides. I have not told you — anything about it, but I’ve got some money in the ~ bank; and now, look here, mother, let me get a +. lawyer and you begin suit against him for digi: : vorce right away.’ a “Robert what in the world ‘do you mean?” : “I mean just what*I say, mother. If you want. ae to get rid of him now is your time, for if you — live with him again after he comes out you will — have to wait for another beating before you can have any grounds for divorce.” 5 “But how are we to live, Robert?” : "(To be continued). 2 Z
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a ae Feats cies Nae ha os aie ~ “NEW YORK, AUGUST 12, 1927 TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. 0. Stamps the same as cash. When sending Silver wrap’ _ the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. _ Address letters to 16 SCOPES ..6 6 0:0 o's. vein oto ~» Postage Free 8 cents Bae Coby Tinree Months. csdcecs, & 3 : One Copy Six Months.... aR = a 2.00 » One Copy One Year...... Mavs sts 4.00 eae Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.60 ‘ _ WESTBURY PUBLISHING CO., Inc. - °440 Cedar Street, New York City. ae ED KNIGHT, Pres. and Treas. nw. MARR, Vice-Pres. and Sec. INTERESTING ARTICLES FIGHTING “GAS” TAX: ‘The 8-cent gasoline tax, ncw imposed on metor- - mobilé Club‘are circulating petitions for a refer- ~ endum. Boi “ VIBRATION HELD RUINOUS TO CAR ‘The most punishment a car can receive is to drive over a.road of constant roughness and at a speed which causes the bumping of the vehile to - match the period of vibration of the springs. Con- - gtant vibrations are worse than occasional enchings. ; asm oh the car and is one of the most severe _ factory tests for machines. — 1G TRAFFIC JAM ON QUEENSBORO wa BRIDGE Crossing of Queensboro Bridge by 100,000 au- Wecune Sai ae day, July 2 and 3, accerding to the police report, emphasizes the necessity and value of the proposed triborough pte Committees of the ‘Queensboro and Brooklyn Chambers of Commerce conferred last week with Elmer F. Andrews, engineer of the Highways and Bridges Bureau, strongly recommending an ex- press highway between Brooklyn and Long Island City to link with the proposed bridge over Hell Gate and the Harlem River into Manhattan and : Bronx. : be BL RS IN FAVOR OF GASOLINE TAXES ; Bteencae of the tax on gasoline as “the most scientific form of motor vehicle taxation” was ex- _ pressed by the commerce and marine commission of the American Bankers’ Association at the an- nual meeting of the assggiation’s executive council in Hot Springs, Ark. Pointing out that the auto- motive industry now ranks first in our national industries, the report states that the motor truck is meeting “a real public need in providing quick, ' flexible service for distances from thirty to sixty miles.” i 2 _ | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Fame and Fortune Weekly 4 sy Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances - : faves, other way are at your risk. We aceept Postage - rité your name and addréss plainly. oe Michigan, has aroused ‘strong feeling in’ Deere, ier the Council and the Detroit Auto- Vibration will work havoe with ev-. SAFE AND SANE CAR DRIVING Just as long as the automobile driver persists in abusing rather than using the ‘safety devices with which his car is equipped, gruesome tales of highway catastrophes will continue to occupy headline space in the daily papers. Impressed with the claims made for his braking system. his. bumpers, his warning signal, along the road he speeds with little thought to the fact that desnite the mechanical excellence of such devices, jntelli- gence is requisite in enabling them to perform their proper functions. : How often, for example, does the driver sound’ his horn mechanically and ‘drive ahead with no further thought to the safety of others, to say nothing of his own good health. Then, when haled into court for violating the rules of safe and sane” driving he is heard to proclaim defensively, “But I blew my horn!” ; {f it so happened that he were obliged to oper- ate his machine without ‘such safety features, the chances are he would take fewer risks. ~ LAUGHS “Papa, what is an agnostic?” “An agnostic, my son, is a person who can’t see beyond his knows.” ‘ —e “Oh, my dear,” said the minister to six-year-old. i Stioghet us . Alice, “so you are the oldest of the family?” Ms 6 no,” said she solemnly, “my father an mother are older’n Iam.” H He—I can’t decide whether to go in for painting or poétry. She—I’d go in for painting if I were you. He—Then you’ve seen some of my painting? She—Oh, no} but I’ve heard some of your poetry? “Many of our girls marry well,” said the man- ager to the new assistant. “A millionaire just married a girl in our fur department. Settled $250,000 on her, too.” “Dear me! And here I am at the bargain counter!” Is “Why do you keep staring at my hat, dear?” asked the caller of the hostess’ little daughter. “Well, mother said it was a perfect fright,” said the youngster, “and I was waitin’ to see if it would scare me, but it don’t.” z “Who knows what the Epistles are?” asked the Sunday-school teacher, of her class of small girls, Dorothy’s hand waved violently. “Well, Dor- othy?” said the teacher. “The Epistles,” said Dorothy, “were the lady Apostles.” j She was descendin ciable when a man behind her tred upon her gown. “You clumsy brute!” she exclaimed, suddenly wheeling around upon him, and then added sweet- ly: “Oh, I beg your pardon; I thought you were my husband.” : iG “What a narrow street that is!” said the visitor being shown about the suburban town by a citizen. “Yes, it’s narrow,” replied the citizen. “And in wretched condition. See the holes in the pave- ment.” where. What is the name of that street “That’s Grant street.” a “Yes, it looks bad.” “And dirty every j A the stairs at a church so | -
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Sa eet. Ra poe ee FAME The Black Satchel ot The news was in everybody’s mouth. It flew fast, as bad news always does. Mercantile pharisees, in all their pride of solvency, stood at the street corners and thanked heaven that they were not as he. “Pride must have a fall,” moralized the moral- gers. “Giles Gregory held his head altogether too high!” “Yl have the rascal arrested!” cried Eben Nab- coin, the money-lender, who had “done a bill” for Mr. Gregory the day before. “What a pity for Mr. Smugg,” everybody said. “He’s such a nice young man, and now he’s thrown out of employment.” “Mr. Smugg, in.whom so much sympathy cen- tered, was Mr. Gregory’s head clerk and busi- ness manager. The hapless merchant’s protest that the blow had fallen unforeseen of course passed for noth- ing with the keen Mr. Nabcoin. That Mr. Greg- ory had gotten him to discount a bill the very day before his failure, to the distrustful mind of Eben was conclusive proof of ‘fraud, and as soon as Fleecem Bros., his attorneys, could prepare the requisite papers, he had the delinquent debtor arrested and sent to jail. “Leaving him there for the present, and his’ ~ motherless daughter, Alice, to grieve over his : misfortune, let us follow for a little Ernest Gray, _ ‘who had long loved Alice as well—well, as well as she loved him. - Alice’s father disapproved the, young man’s suit. He had higher aims for his daughter than a match with one whose position was yet to be won, and Ernest Gray was too proud a youth to press his claim, when pelf, not love, might be thought to be his motive. He had gone to seek his fortune in a distant city, whence, after a time, seeing a chance of bettering his prospects in a ‘ foreign land, with a heart as staunch as the good ship that bore him, he sailed away, hoping to re- turn one day and claim the treasure left behind. “In mid-ocean a great storm arose. Nobly.the stout ship fought against it, and for days held her own. ; : “At last a leak was sprung, which increased at, every motion of the laboring vessel. Passengers and crew took turns at the pumps with the energy of men struggling for life, but still the ' water gained. “Tower the boats!” shouted the gallant captain, when at last it became apparent that the only choice lay between the slender hope thus afforded and going down with the sinking ship. ’ The command was obeyed, and none too soon, for the last off the frail craft barely escaped be- ing drawn into the vortex caused by the doomed vessel as she disappeared beneath the surging billows. “Ernest Gray found himself in the small boat, “with two companions—one of them Caleb Smuggs, ‘who, too, had chanced to be a passenger on the _ jil-fated ship. He alone had thought of saving his effects. He held a black leather satchel in his hand, to which he hung tenaciously through ' the whole exciting turmoil. AND FORTUNE WEEKLY There had been no time to secure water or provisions. The only chance of life lay in the boat outriding the storm and rescue by some passing vessel before death came through star- vation. : wes : : Days and nights passed, but no help came. — Ernest Gray and Caleb Smugg was fast suc- — cumbing to it. SPs ; ia. Ernest was the stronger of the two, and kept his eye steadily on that of the starving wretch, who soon quailed under his look like a. subdued animal. He sank back in the boat, and the pal- lor of death began to settle on his face. Peet, “I have something to tell you before you die,” he gasped. (oe Ernest leaned over him, for his. words were scarcely audible, : The dying man continued in murmuring tones. Intense astonishment was pictured on Ernest’s— face as the poor wretch breahed his last. : _A sail hove in sight at that moment. Ernest signaled it and wwas seen and rescued. a .* The beauty of Alice Gregory had more than once caused a flutter in the little heart that Eben Nabcoin.had. He ventured to tell her so on one — occasion, but the avowal was met with scorn. — Maybe it was* because he felt the flutter still; maybe it was for vengeance sake. At any rate — Eben came one day to see the afflicted daughter of him whom he had cast into prison. ey aE “Tt is in your power to set your father free,” he said.- ; : A gleam of joy for an instant lit up the girl’s — wan features. Then a_ half-terrified expression succeeded. ease “How—how may I do it?” she faltered. ‘ “By becoming my wife,” was the cold, relent- less answer. ~<a “My father, would scorn to accept his liberty , at such a price,” she said, “even if I were base engi’ to offer it.” : spectator came upon the scene unobserved. As Alice turned her back upon the man a loathed her eyes fell upon Ernest Gray. “Oh, Ernest, Ernest, I’m so glad you have come!” she exclaimed. “This man has not only thrown my father into prison, but now adds the — insult of asking me to be his——” ave sould not speak ig MOE : ‘ at,” I presume, is the price asked for your father’s liberty?” said Ernest. i “IT have so put it,” spoke up: sagt oa A 4 7, : wb ead : ay ere is another price you would ac- cept,” replied Ernest, with equal eooeaie sa ee “T have named the only one.” “Not the money due you?” Ernest asked. eo “Oh, if you are able to pay that,” said Eben — with a sarcastic grin. HG “Mr. Gregory is,” Ernest interrupted. In a Eben, with easy SS few words he told the story of his shipwreck, © concluding thus: “With his dying bosath: Cale es Smugg confessed that he“Miad plundered his em- ployer for years, and that it was the sums thus — b abstracted, which he had -artfully concealed by false book-keeping, and not any real losses, which caused Mr. Gregory’s failure. The fruit of his dishonesty Caleb, who was a very prudent: man, carefully hoarded; and in this satchel which he {att ap
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16 oc gave me will be found every cent of the stolen _ money. It belongs to Mr. Gregory, and is more . than enough to pay all he owes and set him ~ going again.” ; ; So Mr. Nabcoin got his money, Giles Gregory his liberty, and Ernest Gray is now the latter’s son-in-law and junior partner. “Well, take that other chair,” said he, “and draw up and have something. Here, just let me ring for another glass and pipe.” After we’d drank a little, and I’d taken a pull or two at the pipe, I suddenly turned to him. “Creigg, I believe I’ve found out something.” “And what may it be?” : ‘J’ve matched a piece of paper,” said I. } ‘-“The deuce you have!” said he, with a little laugh, and still pulling away at his pipe. “Well, For,” he continued, after a moment or two, “I really shouldn’t wonder if you made a stir in the world yet—before you die.” “Stranger things than that have happened,” said I, taking my pipe in my left hand, and, at the same time holding up a bond, from the top edge of which the merest fragment had been torn. “Do you see that?” - “Yes, what of it?” he asked, without taking the trouble to remove his pipe. ; “Why—nothing,” said I, “only I took that, with $67,000 worth more and a number of things be- longing to you, from under the flooring in your - room while you were drunk last night, and the missing fragment of this bond was taken from the hand of Walter Whitelock the morning he was - found dead on the floor of his private room.” -_ Creigg’s careless indifference was all gone now. His face grew as pale as any corpse. - “What—what are you going to do?” he asked. ‘Isn’t that a rather useless question?” said I. “Will you take $10,000 to let me off?” “It’s too late, Mr. Creigg,” said I, “there’s half a dozen officers ’round this room, and *twon’t do to have any fooling.” i Well, in a word, he wilted—gave right up—sub- - mitting peacefully as a lamb. - ‘Told me all about it afterward. : Got into a tight box. Saw his way out of it by robbing Whitelock. Opportunity offered. Fixed _ the window while he was there in the early part of the evening. Got in after the house was quiet. _* Managed to get the safe open, and was just look- ing over the bonds when he was surprised by Whitelock. - : From the time he knew that his employer was in the room to the time he knew he himself was a ie murderer, seemed no more than a sin®le instant.- ; le ready money he had found in the safe and on Whitélock’s person had tided him over his tight place; but the bonds he dared not use, al- 5 oe he had most cunningly altered their num- bers. . ( He might have managed everything, but that fragment fixed him. : . er along as witness. , '- As I have already said, Walker was an Kng- lishman, and had, only. gone back to his native country because he found it hard work to get employment here after the murder. e trial came off in due course, and Creigg , and, to my mind, he richly deserved Tre Pe FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY .an amendment was adopted requiring the pro- — _» Well, we got hinr back here, and brought Walk- RRS: 29 _ $250,000 DRUG CACHE SEIZED IN RAID Captain Henry Scherb and Sergeant Christis of the Narcotic Squad searched the home of Harty | Watkins at 26 Battery Avenue. Brooklyn recently, | and seized 695 ounce bottles which they said con- © tained morphine, and 7,900 bottles believed to con- tain heroin. Captain, Scherb said that the value of the drugs was about $75,000, but that if sold to addicts it would bring at least $250,000 and probably more, depending upon the extent to which it was adulterated with sugar and powder and so increased in bulk. : Watkins and his ‘wife, Mrs. Anna Watkins, were arrested, the latter at the house and the former at a printing office in 441 Pearl Street, where he is employed as a stereotyper. A three- months-old baby was turned over to neighbors to care for when the Watkinses were taken to the Fort Hamilton police station and locked un, Both Watkins and his wife said they knew ncth- ing of the drugs, which were packed in clothing © boxes and ‘wooden cases. They said that last Jan- uary a friend had brought the cases to them and asked them for storage room and that they had put them in a closet beneath the stairs, where the police found them. The police, however; believe the house has been a distributing point for drug peddlers, although no addicts were served there. _ Captain Scherb said that for a long time they : had received reports that drug peddlers had been ~ supplied from a ‘point in Brooklyn, and later they __ heard that the supplies were stored in the Bat- tery Avenue place. None © For more than a week detectives watched thé house, but during that time no one entered except = Watkins and his wife. Nevertheless the police . felt certain that drug peddlers were being sup- plied from the house, and recently they determined 5 ' to search the building. Mrs. Watkins came tothe — ~ door with her baby in her arms when they knock- ed and made no objection when they went in. The police had been apprised of the exact loca- ~ tion of the cases and boxes containing the small vials, and went straight to the stairway. Captain Scherb said the raid was the largest in recent months, and that he confidently expected that oth- er members of the gang would soon be found. De- ‘tectives are investigating on the theory that the narcotics were smuggled into this country by ~ ms members of ships’ crews. y PERMITS ONLY SUBJECTS TO MAKE FILMS That British stories were placed in false atmos- pheres by American film producers was charged in the committee of the House of Commons con- sidering the film bill, when by a vote of 15 to 5 ~ oe - ep X ducer as well as the author of a film produced ~ in this country to be a British subject. Pies ay, & The amendment was offered by Harry D : Laborite and theatrical producer, who complained that Tess in Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Uber- villes” was made to look ‘more or less like a night club queen” by an American producer, while Pe- ter in “Peter Pan” when he was supposed to shou kd King was made to shout for George
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY TIMELY TOPICS 300,000 LISTENERS. IN JAPAN The popularity of radio. as a medium of enter- €ainment in Japan is not far behind other civilized nations. Each owner of a radio receiver is. re- quired to take out a receiving license, at. 2 shil- lings a month, and at. the present time over 800,000 persons hold licenses. : . SKIDDING ON OILED HIGHWAY _ Highway oiling is at hand in many: sections of the country, This type of road surface presents ‘a special hazard. to the motorist. and requires great care in driving if one is to avoid.a. sanger- ous skid. Front-wheel skidding, the most dan- erous. variety, is more common on the oiled ighway than on any other, and it is responsible for many of the serious accidents that occur on ‘such roads. One should proceed at slow speeds ‘en an oiled road, especially at turns and curves. LUA MAOLA AS COMMON HERE AS IN SOUTH SEAS: Most. of the dogs in the Solomon Islands. are called Maola. If the visitor calls out Maola he ‘may expect to be a second Pied Piper. 5 A \ } = 5 “Why?” one asked of R. F. Thomson, English ‘Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Western Pacific, who is visiting in jb “Because Maola means stomach ache, and the - Solomon natives have the curious. belief that if ‘they are suffering from an ailment they can get pid: of it by calling their dogs the name of, the ilimess; Hence, most. of the dogs bear the name Maola. Lua Maola, which means pain in. the _ neck, is a name which is surprisingly prevalent. “1927 RADIO LAW WILL NOT BE. TESTED IN COURT The constitutionality of the radio law of 1927 will not be questioned im court for the present at least. : . Broadcasting station owners who previously: had announced they would take the matter to the - eourt unless a better wave length assignment were given them by the Federal Radio Commis- sion have withdrawn or announced they would withdraw such action. é It is anticipated that a number of stations will appeal to the District Court of Appeals over deci- sions of the Radio Commission, but it is not ex- pected that the law itself will be subjected to. a test as to its constitutionality. _ According to government officials, owners of - radio stations have concluded that another break- down in regulation would work almost irreparable damage to the industry and that present condi- tions, bad as they are, are preferable to another era of complete chaos. a: ‘BRITON TO PEDAL WAY ACROSS voyage from Dover to New York. The boat, which is only 12 feet long, with a beam of 8 feet, will be propelled by a navigator with a pedal mechanism much like bicycles operating the two- bladed propelier. _A “windmill” geared to the shaft ‘will relieve him when the wind is fair. Two persons can be accommodated, although there won’t be/full length sleeping quarters. There’ are six ‘water-tight compartments and four gun metal windows. Old- ham will be able to button himself down when th weather is: bad and keep a lookout from a smal “eonning tower.” He has estimated that the trip. will occupy forty days, and he. is desirous of fi ing some one to share the hazards. with him. HAWK SHOCKS LOWER BROADWAY Enter a new menace—Accipiter Fuscus, the hawk. Not so spectacular from a. police standpoint perhaps as stranglers, wire twisters and ex-mur~ derers, hawk on its initial appearance recently attracted a crowd of nearly 1,000 persons in front of the New York Produce Exchange at Broadway and Beaver Street. : Soaring in wide circles above the buildin. hawk suddenly swooped down and carried o' the one of the hundreds of pigeons which make their | homes.in the skylight above the trading floor. The commotion among the pigeons was hardly greater than that among the persons below. rowds gathered, pointing upward, and within fifteen minutes. the hawk was. back, soaring gracefully — and high above the building. So large was the visitor that several of the onlookers, deceived by the distance, pointed it out as an airplane. 3 \ GIRL, 4, ASTOUNDS MUSICIANS. WITH “ADULT” PIANO PLAYING A. four-year-old child, Dorothy Johnson, whose mother, Mrs. Florence Johnson, recently brought her here from Honolulu for:a musical education, has astounded the teachers of the Chicago Mu-— sical College. e While a class-of mature students gathered for’ a scholarship. competition with the judges behind a curtainyeLittle Dorothy began playing Beeth-_ | oven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”’ Then followed Bach’s — “Prelude in C Major” without the judges. being aware that any but a mature pianist was at the instrument. : When the prizes were awarded, one of the win- — ners—little Dorothy—was. not present. She was summoned. of the judges. Dorothy’s mother is a musi 73 ’
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ITEMS OF INTEREST MAKE CEILING ATTRACTIVE We decorate the four sides of our rooms with colorful papers, paints and fabrics. We put care and thought into the selection of our rugs, but ‘we never cast a single idea toward the celing! “Why shouldn’t the ceiling be attractive? : DRINKING FOUNTAINS FOR DOGS Three little fountains, copies of the famous ‘Benvenuto Cellini fountain at Florence, have been installed in the marble courtyard of the Savoy Hotel to serve as drinking fountains for the pets of the guests. ; ; NEW*CONEY ISLAND IN ENGLAND TO HAVE GONDOLAS AND CANALS If curious folks are in the region of Hampton Court Palace while in England this summer they will see gondolas cruising. amid the same haunts - which the Tudor courtiers frequented in the days > of Henry VIII. A miniature Venice, with eanals and a fleet of gondolas for hire on the taxi system, is rapidly being constructed opposite the famous palace, at a cost of £500,000. According to Colonel Henry Day, M-P., who is head of the ‘syndicate, it will be “a regular Coney Island.” - CREDITS MARATHON CRAWL TO SCOTCH : CRAB The longest sidestep on record was reported recently from a port in Dunbartonshire, Scotland, where a crab was found with a label saying that it had been released in Aberdeen eighteen months ago. If the-label is authentic, the.crab, which measures eight inches across, has crawled several hundred miles around the northwest coast of Scotland. Experts, however, are skeptical, point- ing out that the crustaceans change their shells every year, and that therefore it would be impos- sible for a label to adhere to the crab for eighteen _ months. TELEPHONES ARE BANNED BY ENGLISH ; LANDLORD ~ . Has a landlord the right to prevent his tenants - from having telephones? This unexpected ques- tion has been brought to a showdown here as a result of a challenge flung down by Mrs. Cathe- rine Kent, a Kensington property owner, who has - ordered the telephones disconnected in the block -. of apartments whereof she is Jandlord. + The instructions have been acted on by the -- postoffice authorities, who point out that their agreement provides that permission by the owner must be obtained for provision of maintenance of * the circuit. The tenants who claim the telephone is essential to their business are taking legal ad- vice with a view to a restoration of facilities. ORDER CLOSING PICCADILLY JOLTS ) aa LON A “bombshell” burst in the West Jind of Lon- don recently when Sir Henry Maybury, Director - General of Roads, announced that the whole Cor- “ner would be closed to traffic for. four months from the end of July while a new roadway, res- ervoirs and a new water main are laid. The Mork will be doné section by section, parts of the eos thoroughfare being entirely closed. With the con-~ sent of the King traffic for the first. time in the history_of London will be diverted through Con- stitution Hill and the Mall past Buckingham Pa- lace. The announcement came as a cbmplete sur- prise to hotel proprietors, shopkeepers and the clubs in the world-famed thoroughfare. BARS GAMBLING FOR CHARITY District Attorney Elvin N. Edwards called the police chiefs of Nassau County, L. I., into confer- ence and told them that if they did net enforce the laws against gambling he would present them to the grand jury for failing to do their duty. © Mr. Edwards said that he referred particularly to bazaars and carnivals conducted by fraternal’ and church organizations, where games of chance, — such as wheels of fortune and raffles, are operat- ed. He cited the case of a recent Elks carnival at Lynbrook, where Sheriff William R. Stropson confiscated a wheel of fortune valued at $900. Since then, he said, a committee of Elks had visit- ed him and told him there would be no more gam- bling at their club. ; LARD SUBSTITUTE IN SCIENCE MYSTERY How catalysts, as a part of an unsolved mystery of the world of science, have made possible the a annual production of millions of pounds of lard — substitute was one of the disclosures today in the Institute of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society. Hard fats from oils was but one of the many examples cited when the chemical process = known as catalysis drew attention from one of the largest and most distinguished audiences since the institute opened. A catalyst was described by Dr. Hugh S. Tay- — lor, of Princeton University, as “a material which profoundly affects the rate of chemical] reaction between other materials without being changed itself.” 2 It was likened to promoters of baseball teams or prizefights who bring opponents together “so that they might get into action,” or to “chemical per- sons,” marrying atoms of different substances to make a unit. Several explanations of this chemical mystery were offered. One of the theories was that ex- pressed by Dr. Eric K. Rideal, of Cambridge Uni- versity, England. “Catalysis seems to be an electrical effect,” he said, “and it apparently involves the attraction of the catalytic surface for molecules of the reacting — Dr. Rideal said that catalytic reac- materials.” tions were of so many different types that no gen- eral theory to fit all conditions was yet possible. . Establishment of a single university fitted LO: = do all of the catalystic research work could supply _ knowledge which would save the industries and the nations millions of dollars, in the opinion of Dr. Taylor, who added that continued research was necessary “for there is so much that is un- known about this work.” Dr. Irving Languire, laboratories of the General Electric Company, another speaker on the subject of catalysis. — director of the reseaenie’ : ee
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