Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1162) (1928 01 06)

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EY. ings, There were big & the open buildin in 6, 1928 upward. % y is way mb up the face of the bu i he began to cl stones, and he got his hands and feet and began to work bh ts between the is angry pursuer, join escape h - Z ,_ 9 2 nw bd -< Z © WB ; S Be

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Insued Weekly—Subscription price, $4.00 per year Canadian, Ya 50; Foreign, $5.00. Cop peright, 1927, by ~ ‘Westbury Publishing Co., Inc., 140 Cedar Street, New York, Y. Entered’ as Second Class Matter Patras Dec. 3, 1911, at the Post-Ottice at New York, N 7S under the Act of March 3, 1sTy | 1162 NEW YORK, JANUARY 6, 1928 Price 8 Cents. — Benson’s New Boy OR, WHOOPING UP THE WALL STREET MARKET By A SELF-MADE MAN. ~ ‘Say, are you Benson’s new boy?” asked a against his new summer trousers, which were of -faced youth, evidently a Wall Street mes- a light color, and left a big green spot that cov- ger, with a grin, confronting a sharp-featured ered the whole of his knee, joy of about his own age and build, who had just “You young rascal, I’ll make you “sweat for come out of an office building on New Street. this,” he cried, es, I’m Benson’s new boy. What of it?” re- “It was an accident,” answered Bill, brushing i the lad addressed rather aggressively, as the dust: from his clothes. aot trouble and was prepared to meet it. Tiga ney ae othin’, only when new things come to New “Ry ” old on, Mr, Bikes interposed. an pane i they have to be initiated,” said the first o.. of the occurrence, a brother broker; “you aker, and he gaye the other a quick shove a third youth, who had been standing back Meare to thank that boy vag ce of swearing at xpectant attitude, sneaked up behind him ; op hi k 3 Serer ee As Rete eae him! Why, the young scamp knocked me down. e result was Benson’s new boy, whose name A e way, was Billy West, turned’a half somer- pee sont pe was an officer at hand I'd wult over the boy behind, and landed on the side- alk on his head and shoulders in a most undig- . “No, you wouldn’t. He saved you from getting wound, and you would have been covered with lly was on his feet and after them in a paint Seon trend to foot. You owe the boy an ng. There was blood in his eye, for he was enough to chew a spike. for saving your skull.” t thing doing when T 1 Ethic fresh Baa He poeta ag mae Broker Bunker tooked at the metallic paint ae, yas a swift runner, and was rapidly over- and then at the big pool of paint near. the en- his aggressors when they vanished around tance where the pot landed. His rage melted er of Exchange Place. He turned the cor- Way as he began to realize that there might be moment later, but the boys were not in ‘Some truth in what Broker Newbury said. Y “Ts that really a fact, Newbury?” he asked. dollar they’ve dodged into the Vander- “You may take my word for it, with the con- whoever he is, did you a great favor by bumping : as pass Gab t Beveand nroker: “your” said Broker Bunker turning to Billy West, bane atcareee oe and ee them rolled who in the excitement of the moment had forgot- a scaffolding above, where two, men were at unknown to him, were looking down on the’ scene epainting the ceiling. The collision was from the turn in the staircase, and chuckling in ed he. would have been stunned by the Saving me from that paint pot.” s well as deluged with its contents. “You’re welcome,” returned Billy. ow that, however, and he sputtered “Are Se a broker’s messenger?” asked Bunker. t , and “the choice. names CV OS, Sir Pm Benson's new Bak ue CHAPTER I.—Benson’s New Boy. - he called Billy made the air sizz in that vicinity. \ To make matters worse the paint-pot rolled — “Eh? What’s the matter with you? Thank . way. The two boys who had worked the that pot of paint on your head. You just escaped — likehed hilariously at the new boy’s dis- it by a hair. I saw the whole thing. If that pot © re and then took to their heels. had hit your head it would have given you a nasty ‘apology for swearing at him, and your thanks lding,” said Billy to himself. firmatory evidence you see before you. That boy, — He dashed te the entrance of rere puuding. take you?” on wreaking vengeance upon the practica : , and came into collision with a short, stout “Well, my lad, Pil take back what I said to i overturned pot of paint which had dropped ten all about the boys he wanted to catch, who, tunate thing for the broker, for had it not high glee. “I’m also much obliged to you for

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wo on my trousers?” _ certainly spry on your feet. _ “Benson’s new boy?” ejaculated the broker, somewhat surprised at the odd reply. “Do you ‘mean Samuel Benson, the broker?” SYS, S12’ “So you’re his new messenger, eh? What’s your name?” “Billy West.” “You look like a wide-awake lad, and you are You didn’t see the paint pot coming, I suppose?” “No, sir; nor I didn’t see you coming either, else I wouldn’t have butted into you,” replied Billy. - _ “It appears to have been a fortunate circum- stance for me. Say, Newbury, how can I: show myself in public with that splash of green paint Billy took advantage of the chance to make his escape to the street, and was presently on his way to Benson’s office, which was. situated at . —— Wall Street. . A typical. New York lad was Billy West. He lived in a double-decker tenement on one of the out the necessity of her going out to work. _ had always worked hard to keep a roof over their thoroughfares off Grand Street, and his mother went out by the day to clean offices—that is, she left her rooms between three and four in the afternoon and got home around eight in the eve- hing. Sets : Billy ate his. dinner usually after getting off from work, and then walked up to his stamping. grounds in the neighborhood where he lived, and ‘filled in time with one of his friends, or his crowd, till he felt like going to bed. Billy was not tough in his manners or talk, though he was as hard -as a knot, physically speaking. : He was just like any other boy of the social- grade in which he mingled—except that he was a bit smarter than most of his associates, and had certain ambitious hopes which he expected to realize before he died. He had but a dim re- membrance of his father who, in his time, was a truck driver, and one of Billy’s ambitions was to make enough money to support his mother ra e heads, and feed and dress her only son respect- ably while, he was attending the public school, __.. Billy appreciated what she had done for him, both and he resolved to make it up to her if the such lived long enough. Mrs. West entertaine _ a high appreciation of education that, though it was a hard struggle, she kept her son at the public school until he graduated from the gram- “mar department, an advantage that most. of his’ associates did not enjoy. Then Billy went out to '-work. He had poor luck with his jobs, for some ' yeason, and did not hold one for any length of time. For that reason his mother found him rather unreliable as a wage earner. that it was not his fault and she believed him. Two weeks prior to the opening of this story, 4 while Billy was again a knight of leisure, his ~ mother asked the boss of an office where she was - doing work if he could get anything for her son to do. This gentleman was acquainted with : -Broker Benson, and knew that the trader’s office - boy had just left. Accordingly he wrote a note the broker asking him to give Billy West a trial is office, and handed it to. the boy’s mother. resented the note at the trader —_ BENSON'S | “ reception room and entered the private offic He claimed 's office early | NEW BOY next morning and was given an opportunity ‘t make good. He had now been ten days onthe jo and, as far as he knew, he was giving satisfactic for no fault had been found with him, ~~ It was nearly three o’clock when, Billy ente the office and presented himself at the cas desk. One of his. duties was to carry the « deposit to the bank, and a glance at told him that he had no time to lose. ~ “Mr. Benson wants to see you in -his room, said the cashier. : ¢ “How about the bank, sir?’ asked Billy. “Never mind about that. Attend on Mr. Ben: son. : Riese > “All vight, sir,” and Billy walked throu t the cloc broker looked up as he walked in. “T’ve been waiting for you, young man,” s the trader, laying his hand on a package. “ the matter with your ear?” a “My ear, sir!” exclaimed the boy in surpri “Your right ear.. There is blood on it.” _ Billy put his hand to his ear and found was quite a cut on it. He had not notice injury, which he knew he must have rec the tumble he was treated to in New Street. “Been having a fight?” asked the broker a verely. “It struck me that you were away a long time on the errand I sent you.” we “No, sir, but I guess there would have a scrap if I caught the chaps who*got . too gay with me.” tes He then explained the monkey-business th had been rung in on him because he was a boy in Wall Street, and wound up by telling he had butted into Broker Bunker at the en to the Vanderpool Building, and saved him getting a pot full of green paint on his Mr. Benson smiled a bit at his story, parti that part which dealt with the overthr » Broker Bunker. ere 7 “T suppose if you meet those boys ‘ag: will try to get square with them?” he advise you to leave them alone. I don to hear of you being mixed up in a fig’ might be arrested, and that would not reflect credit on you.” ras “I won't bother with them, sir, if they le me alone,” replied Billy; “but I’m not used having other boys walk on my neck. An: tries it is likely to hear from me. I) for trouble, but if it comes my way L kn to meet it.” rS “Well, you know my sentiments on the If you expect to remain in this office you m behave like a young gentleman. Now, to take this small package to the office’ B. Raymond, in Brooklyn. The address Be careful of it for it contains securities value. Here is a receipt which you will Raymond to sign. If by any chance not be at his office, wait for him unl gone home. In that case find out wher. and.carry the package to his house. _ not return here after you have fini errand, but be eareful of the receipt, ar it to me in the morning.” ~ Fae “All right, sir. I won’t deliver th anybody but Mr. Raymond. That mean, isn’t Bi hee es : in. v

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5 =Pt§ . , t rok BENSON’S NEW BOY 3 - . “What kind of looking man is he?” “That’s my name. Whazzer matter? Want to _ __“He’s a man about my size, with a-dark com- see me?” on,’ and a black mustache. He has a bald “Yes, sir. I brought! you a valuable package atch on the top of his head.” from Mr. Samuel Benson, stock broker, of No. (ll see that nobody else gets it, sir.” = Wall Street.” st rte: illy walked outside, put on his hat and left “That all? Put it on desk,” replied the gentle- e office. man, closing his eyes. : Peay : “You'll have to sign this receipt, sir,’ said the Ee Z boy, advancing to*the desk. ‘ _. CHAPTER IL—tThe Roll of Bills. “Shine what?” asked the lawyer, opening one 2 eye as-if it was an effort on his part. ~ Billy walked up Nassau Street to the entrance “The receipt for the package.” of the Brooklyn Bridge, where he boarded a car That’s all right. Shine it yourself,” and Mr, that would take him to his destination. It was Raymond shut his eye again and a moment later — about four o’clock when he entered the building emitted a snore. 3 : ‘where William B. Raymond had his office on the Billy felt that the situation was rather em- me third floor. One small eleyator filled the bill for barrassing for him. To sign the receipt himself, - _this building, and Billy had to wait several min- even at the lawyer's request, wouldn’t do at all. tes for the man who had charge of it to bring If the gentleman wasn’t im condition to sign it ~~ wwe down. sition pacar feel hima err Fag ‘the? . ty cNevs F ing in. Package which his employer had told him con- ae SOB ap ier: Pg Mes dra ae tained securities which he had been directed to — walked to the street door and remained be very careful of. If he brought the package here two or three minutes looking up and down Pack to the office he would have to give a very rect. The chap showed by his actions that lucid reason for doing so, To have to por that = ; a. Havens wae Head Grune. ae sie a messenger opened the door and walked # bit the wiser, He’s all alone. Surely he must \ _ arm. One-in. the room, which was fur- employ a clerk,'or an ‘office boy at any rate. May- | with a carpet, half a dozen chairs, a roll- _e both. I wondér where they can be? Neither sk, a copying press, and other office ad- 8 around at any rate. I must wake Mr. Ray- Pe ‘An open door pointed to another room ™ond up and call his attention to the money. — — a Billy walked over and looked in. He 1ben maybe he'll be able to sign for this pack- dO 90k-ease filled wi aw <S, , Be.” ; we a Aaa ee foes ss ee oe = nae Billy. shook the lawyer, gently at first, then “sereen which hid a part ‘of the room harder, but got no response but snores and gut- view. Billy knocked on the door. tural age ek in Brae A AP = a ae 5 Regs ae? said a thick voices ! “Wake up!” shouted Billy in his ear, giving | et ik. 2a aptiiiin The Siien nnd ake a gut: him a rather violent shaking. A spasmodic move- man, answering the description he had ment of the lawyer’s feet sent the chair back- ae ore Raymond, sitting back in. his ward, and landed him in a heap on the floor. He | of a Feng ee baat nore ro ok thie opened his eyes and looked vacantly. around, ap- aotia desk. parently not comprehending what had happened ; Dc, cone F : to him. f ; iy Raymond?” asked Billy, interrogatively, “Let me help you up, sir,” said the young mes- © genignan 5 appearanpe with/some senger, grabbing him by the Ewin oY: ae ah eae at the lawyer “Whazzer matter? Lemme "lone. Come agai * rags Eb n i

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4 | e BENSON'S e He closed his eyes and ‘went right off to sleep again. “Lord! He’s so full that he needs bailing out,” soliloquized Billy. “It is impossible to do any- thing with him. I'll have to take the package ‘ away. But what about that money? I might cover it up on the desk, but suppose somebody should come’ in here and find-it, and get away _ with it, I might be accused of stealing it. That elevator man will remember that he let me out -on this floor, and that I started for this end of the corridor. An investigation would show that I didn’t go into any other office. Besides my - boss knows I came here,’and he might fire me ‘on general suspicion, if he learned, as he doubt- less would, that Mr. Raymond lost a roll of money that was on his desk when I called. Vl have to take charge of the money and hand it to Mr. Benson in the morning, explaining how - it came into my possession.” Re Having made up his mind to do that,-as the only way that seemed most prudent to him, Bally : grabbed up the roll and put it in his pocket. “Tf I should lose that money I’d be in a nice scrape,” he muttered. “I dare say I’d be ar- vested and maybe sent up. It’s a big responsi- bility, but I’ve got to take it. I don’t see any - other way out of it.” : As he was turning away the thought struck him that the lawyer might come to himself after he had gone, discover his loss, perhaps remember _ that Mr. Benson’s messenger had called upon him, and in the end get his address and call at his home and accuse him of stealing the roll of bills. A “J might have some trouble in explaining things . satisfactorily in that case,” thought Billy, figur- ‘jing upon this new difficulty. “I know what I'll do. Yll write a note stating that I have taken the money for fear someone might come in the office and steal it, and leave it for Mr. Raymond ae _ to read when he sobers up. That will be a good. way.” - Billy seized a sheet of paper, wrote the note and put it in an envelope which he addressed to the lawyer. : : ® “TJ ought to mention the amount of the roli so - there may be no doubt about the sum that I’m ' © going to take charge of,” thought the boy as he -- was about to seal the envelope. He pulled out the roll and counted it over care- fully twice. It footed up $3,000. Inserting that figure in the note, he sealed it and left it in a office, closing the door of the inner room, and - afterward taking the precaution to release the spring catch of the outer door so nobody could Bet In, -CHAPTER III.—Millie Sackett. $s Billy rang for the elevator several times, but ‘come down. “ gelf. He ought to be reported to the owner. It is evident I’ll have to walk down. Well, it’s easier to walk down than to walk up; at any mater? Si Peis illy made his way to the. st is soon speeding for ; See ¢ Md Pe “as me telephone to the broker’s house about the matter, © prominent spot on the desk. Then he left the the cage, which was up on the top floor, didn’t “That lobster is running things to suit him- reet, bourded _ rahe be ge NEW BOY : entrance. All the way home his mind was much exercised over the possession of a valuable pac age of securities and $3,000 in bills. He kept one hand in his pocket on the roll to make sure that it didn’t get away from him, while he he: the package in his lap where his eye was alwa on it. He reached the Manhattan end of the _ bridge without incident and then started np Park Row with his hand still in his pocket. : “TJ don’t like this responsibility for a he muttered. “Ill have to stay in the hous evening because I wouldn’t dare leave the mone: or the package alone for anything. Suppos some crook was to take a notion to break in 0 us to-night I’d be in a nice pickle.” Billy never remembered being so uneasy befo “Why in thunder was that lawyer drunk particular afternoon? Why couldn’t he get some other time? Well, I suppose it’s my luck to have things happen this way. I wouldn’t so much if I had been at the office for months, but I’m a new boy there, and th may think I acted with bad judgment. It’s a job, and I’d hate to get fired from it. It’s t best chance I’ve ever had in my life. I do hop T’ll come out all right.” ee ? Lae By the time Billy reached Chatham — where Park-Row melts into the Bowery, came sensible of the fact that he was very He looked longingly into the cheap has he passed, but didn’t dare patronize any « The customers were not of a class that he car to risk himself among with.so much of valu his possession. He kept on up to Grand down which he turned. Then he saw a restaurant where only half a dozen people were eating, and ~ he concluded to venture in. He took a seat a’ vacant table and called for a steak, fried pot and a cup of coffeé. He ate the meal with but when he was ready to pay he had to t: roll of bills out of his pocket to reach his. chan: He did it under cover of the napkin and so sl] that nobody could have got on to him if they been paying any attention to him. Then he pa his check and left the restaurant. When | reached the tenement in which he lived he w hailed by several of his friends, with whom he quite a favorite. te “We’re.going to a show at the Thalia to-night, Billy,” said one. . “You'll come, © you?” } Pee The Thatia Theatre was the famous 0. rechristened. ° “Nix. I’ve got business on hand,” repliec “Business!” cried one of the boys. “You work nights.” “T’ve got some business on hand to- the same. Sorry I can’t go. Id like to first but you'll have to excuse me.” ‘ “Let’s let the show slide till to-morrow said another lad. Fs “Will you go to-morrow night?” asked tl speaker. ; = “J will if nothing happens ‘plied Billy. : pea He left the crowd undecided and he be

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exh mother was away attending to her work. He P laced the package under the pillow of his bed, h ut kept the roll of bills in his pocket, stuffing his andkerchief on top of it. Billy wasn’t accustomed to staying in the house, onsequently after reading the afternoon paper arough, from the first page to the last, he tossed on the table, stretched out his arms and yawned. This is dead slow!” he growled. “I’ll have to rm in early for want of something to do. My mother’ll be surprised to see me hanging around the rooms. She’ll think I’m sickening for the = Mumps or something else in that line. I wonder _ What the fellows are doing, and whether they’re going to the show to-night? I'd like to go, bet your boots. There’s a bang-up melodrama at the ‘Thalia. _We were looking at the bills last night. : ere are cowboys in it, and bad men, and Mex- ms. The hero crosses a deep chasm with the jeroine in his arms just as——” His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden ket in the adjoining rooms on that floor, ac- ompanied by a girlish scream. Billy jumped to feet. e old woman is beating Millie again,” he ered. “It makes me mad the way they jump 1at girl’s neck for the least thing. She’s only pdaughter, that’s why they’re always at her. ‘ a wonder she doesn’t run away from them. Neither O’Brien nor his wife is any blood rela- ‘her. After her father’s death her mother ied O’Brien, d O’Brien married his present wife, who everal kids of her own. She and the young nes lead Millie a dog’s life. I guess O’Brien is said to interfere, anyway, for Mrs. O’B. is a rror when she gets her monkey up. She’d “soon bat him in the jaw, too, as look at vo there was comparative silence. Then he heard ‘sob near his door. He walked over and opened he expected, he found Millie Sackett there, softly but bitterly to herself. rouble again, Millie?” he said sympatheti- “It’s a blamed shame. Come in and sit 1 for a few minutes.” daren’t. She’d beat me if I did,” sobbed the ‘She’s doing that all the time; seems to me, on e slightest excuse,” said Billy, drawing the girl de the door, which he left partly open. ‘““What’s e trouble to-night?” my place in the skirt factory to-day ‘work got slack, and Mrs. O’Brien is mad . She says I was discharged because I 3 lazy and good for nothing,” replied the girl. he’s grouchy because you ‘won’t be able to in any more money till you get another job. ‘Mrs. O’B. hasn’t given you enough buy a-decent dress and hat. I notice After a few years her mother ~ en working some time now in that fac- sses up her own kids just the same. - a slave of you for their benefit as . BENSON’S NEW BOY Soe es well as for her own. I really don’t see how you stand for it.” “What can I do? I’ve got to put up with it.” “I know what I’d do, but then I ain’t a girl. I wish I could help you. I’d do it'in a minute.” “T know you would, Billy,” replied Millie grate- fully. “You and your mother are the only friends I have. I wish I lived with you instead of with the O’Briens. They don’t care for me at all, only for the work and money they can get out of me.” “That’s the way it looks,” nodded Billy, “Your step-father put his foot in it when he married the widow Nagles. You got along pretty well before your new step-mother made her appearance and began to rule the roost. his pay envelope to buy some tobacco and maybe a drink or two.” “She did. She blackened one of his eyes and nearly broke his head’ with the rolling pin.” “He has my sympathy,” chuckled Billy. “Hels. only getting what's coming to him for not stand- ing up for you.” At that juncture the door of the O’Brien apart- ments opened and Mrs. O’Brien looked out. She didn’t see Millie, but perceiving the door of the West rooms ajar she judged that the girl was in there. head in. “Oh, it’s there ye are after me tellin’ ye to sta in the hall!” she cried, glaring wickedly at girl. “Come out of that, d’ye hear?’ 3 Millie didn’t dare hold back, and the moment she got within the virago’s reach, Mrs. O’Brien seized her by the hair and dragged her outside. Billy bounded after her. “Here, cut that kind of business out!” he cried angrily. “What do you want to do—kill the girl?” “Mind your own business or I'll give you a bat in the jaw!” cried the woman. z - “Bat me in the jaw? not O’Brien.” I heard that she lam-— basted O’Brien Saturday night because he broke | She came over- and poked her unkempt . Well, I guess not, I’m . Such plain defiance aroused the woman’s wrath. She dropped Millie and made a dash for the boy. Billy dodged her, and finding his retreat into the. room cut off, darted for the stairs, for he suddenly realized that a scrap with the brawny Mrs. O’B. was not desirable. - Unfortunately for Mrs. O’Brien, he slipped and — fell on the cheap, well-worn carpet, which had seen its best days in a better class tenement. .The woman, unable to stop her momentum, tripped over his body and pitched forward with a force that carried her head foremost down the dimly It happened that O’Brien him- lighted staircase. self was just coming up, and before he could avoid the bulky form of his wife, who he did not rec- ognize in the gloom, he was swept off his feet, and husband and wife went rolling down the - flight, arousing the other tenants by their cries and the noise they made in the tumult. ; “CHAPTER IV.—Billy Makes $100. O’Brien and his wife landed at the foot of the stairs in a heap, and their eries brought the ten-— It. was- ants of that floor flocking to the spot. surmised that the tumble was the finale of

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_ serap between them, for it was no secret that the _ domestic life of the O’Briens was a squally one. Mrs. O’Brien was picked up unconscious. Her head was badly cut and she looked so done up that an ambulance, was called. Mr. O’Brien groaned _. dismatly and declared that he was “kilt entirely.” 3 Billy, after picking himself up, joined the ~~ crowd below and explained that the woman had : met with her fall through accident. “She was chasing me because I butted in to save her step-daughter Millie from being dragged into her rooms by the hair of the head. I fell, she tripped over me and pitched down the stairs. As for Mr. O’Brien, he must have been coming up when she went down, and he couldn’t get out of - the way. That’s the whole story.” ‘O’Brien couldn’t get up on his feet. He de- clared that one of his legs was broken, and this - examined him. As for his wife, the surgeon declared that one * of her legs was broken too, also one of her arms and two of her ribs. Both of them were carried off to the hospital, and Billy’s mother got home ~ in time to witness their departure. Billy told ‘her how the,two had met with their trouble. Mil- _ Jie was eréatly frightened over the accident which ‘had happened to her step-parents, but she soon had her hands full with the three small O’Briens, who set up a big toot as soon as they learned that _ their mother had tumbled downstairs, Mrs. West went in to Help her, while Billy, -. forgetting about the valuable package under his pillow and the roll of bills in his pocket, rushed down to the street to tell those of his friends who - were about the particulars of the affair. It was two hours before he remembered that he had left the package unguarded, and he hur- - ried back to his room to make sure it had not been disturbed. He told his mother about the respon- sibility that rested on him, showing her the roll of money, and when they retired for the night ‘they barricaded the outer door, something! they never had done before. Their fears were un- founded, for no thief tried to get in on them that - night, and Billy hailed the return of daylight with great satisfaction. He reached the office on time with the money and the package safe in his pos- session and waited impatiently for Mr. Benson to turn up. The broker appeared at half-past nine— his accustomed time—and Billy followed him into _ his office. ce “J didn’t deliver that package, Mr. Benson,” began the boy. . , _ . “Why not?” asked the broker sharply. ay ~~. “Because I didn’t think it right to do so under the circumstances.” 23 ~ “Wasn’t Mr. Raymond at his office?” Ei TS “Then why didn’t you give him the package?” “Because he’ wasn’t in a condition to receive it.” _-* Mr. Benson looked at his messenger in a sur- ' prised ~way. “What do you mean by that?” _ “He was under the influence of liquor—so much so that I couldn’t get him to sign the receipt. In “fact he dropped off to sleep as soon as I walked 1, and I couldn’t wake him-up.” pease ‘Ts that so? I’m surprised to hear it. You. BENSON’S NEW BOY _ ‘was found to be so when the ambulance surgeon _ with the package. might have got his clerk to sign for it und circumstances,” . ; “His clerk wasn’t there. There was nobod the office but Mr. Raymond.” 7 “Oh, well you did right to bring this pac back. You can take it over again this afternoon [ll telephone Mr. Raymond that I will send to-day. Put it on my desk.” Ngee Billy put the package down, glad to find th: his boss was satisfied with the way he had act and drew out the roll of bills. ay “T wish you would count this money and ta charge of it,” he said. Bi “Hello!” Where did you Pick it up on the street?” ; “No, sir. That money belongs to Mr. mond.” ; “Belongs to Mr. Raymond!” exclaimed Benson, much astonished. Aas “Yes, sir. I saw it lying exposed on his and as I was afraid somebody might co and, finding him helpless, steal it, for i large amount, I took charge of it.” The broker stared at his new messenge “You had a great nerve to do, that, and considering the circumstances, you showed good judgment,” said Mr. Benson, Bill; a hundred per cent. in his estimation. | the \roll and counted it. i “Three thousand dollars,” he said,, that any temptation to you, young man? “No, sir; I’m not a thief,” replied th with emphasis. Eo. 2-7 “J am glad to find. that your principles” sound. Honesty is always the best. policy. don’t think this money would haye don any good had you run away. with it, as boys might have done. Mr. Raymond — have missed it as soon as he sobered up, the fact that you called at his office would - brought you under suspicion.” Ee ee. “That's why I took the money, sir. ppo I had left it there and somebody had stolen wouldn’t I have been suspected just the- The broker admitted that Billy’s p well taken! ~ i “You have a good head to wréstle with em encies, I see,” he replied with a smi doubt Mr. Raymond will-appreciate the you rendered him when I inform him.” “It will hardly be necessary for you to t him. I left a note on his desk stating wh had done.” Fed 5 ; ; wet acted with excellent judgment and ‘ wi Le ed ee His telephone bell rang sharply. P receiver to his ear he said, “Hello!” — get all that mo chased for the account of an estate charge of. : 2 net “The boy didn’t leave the package delicate reasons, which probably he has exp to you. It is also likely he has told’ w did while he was in my office. — all « it a favor if you will ;

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on he has ade to you you pall donsides as con- -fidential, as I would not like to have the matter ome known,” said the lawyer. I right, Mr. Wg ” said the broker. “I’ll of money and the ee ‘ake them over to Mr. Raymond right away, hurry back,” he said. lly got his carfare from the cashier and ted off. In due time he reached the building iting, a lift in the elevator. When he entered ‘the lawyer’ s office he found a clerk at the desk in outer room, and an office boy reading a law_ The boys asked him what he wanted. “want ‘to see Mr. Raymond.” Vhat’s your name?” ‘Billy West. I’m from Mr. Benson, of Wall boy went inside and soon came out’ and red Billy inside. Mr. Raymond looked rather y poe was thoroughly sober. t down,” he said to the young messenger. whe lawyer signed it. re is your money. Please count At and see s all there,” said Billy. “Raymond counted it. much obliged to you, young man, for tak- arge of it,” he said, after ascertaining tnat Im was correct. “You found me, I am com- to admit, and I blush to acknowledge the badly under the influence of liquor. I de- say that the circumstance was a most un- one. I am not accustomed to spirituous and the stuff went to my head. I saw a of friends, off on their siege ee trip ae , and they sent up a lot of champagne. a lot more of it than I should have ae ‘effect was plain to you when you called The money which you took charge of was ‘to me in cash by one of the debtors of the -am administering for the heirs. I can elieve that under the circumstances in ch you saw it lying exposed on my desk I have lost it. In consideration of the obli- feel under to you I beg you to accept bill as a slight token of my apprecia- of your services.” don’t want any pay for doing what I did, lied Billy, showing no eagerness. to take srtheless you are’ entitled to something “substantial than my bare thanks. Take it. | easily afford to give it to you, and I am~ will be ‘able to put it to some good use.” a thrill of satisfaction Billy took the thanked the lawyer and put it in his u tell Mr. Benson of the condition you n yesterday?” asked Mr, Raymond. obliged to in order to account for bring- that package,” replied > Billy. “You see 0 be very careful how I do things. T e a reason for not delivering the pack” according to une orders, and so I fad trut 3 "BENSON'S NEW BOY een in the office about ten days, and ~ “Well, it can’t be ise. He won't ae any- 54 thing about it, and I’m sure you won't either, MORE said the lawyer. “Of course I won’t, sir. Why should 1?” “Well, I won’t detain you any longer, my lad. I. thank you once more for taking care of my. money, and wish you good-day.” ; He shook hands with Billy and the young mes- ; senger took his leave. CHAPTER V V.—Billy’s First Deal and What | Came of It. With a. $100 bill, all his own, in his be Bill felt like a king on his way back to the office. © ““Won’t mother’s eyes bulge when she sees it?” — he said to himself. “She never had as much money as that in her life at one time._ It’s a fine ~ thing to have money. It’s something you can’t get along without in this world. The more you have of it the more you seem to be respected. People take their hats off to a rich man even ifs he hasn’t any brains.-. As a rule, however, aman. has to have brains in order to get rich theses days. At any rate he’s got. to have brains ane Wall Street.” When Billy got. back to the office he reported to Mr. Benson, handed him the receipt for the — package of bonds, and showed him the $100 bill he received from the lawyer. The broker con- gratulated him on the acquisition of so much Z money, and soon after sent him out with a mes- sage to a broker in the Mills Building... Billy was _ kept pretty busy that day. He wasn’t in the of- fice more than a few minutes at a time. About two o’clock he was jogging down Broad Street, ime on his way to the Exchange, when he ran against another messenger, named Bob Brooks, whose ac- quaintance he had made the first day he began Sy, work in Wall. Street. ae “Hello, Billy, how. are things coming?” asked Brooks, grabbing Benson’s new boy by the arm. “All right,” replied Billy. “How do you like your job?” “Virst-rate.” “Find Benson all right, eh?” “Sure. Why not?’ “; “Been hauled over the coals for anything viet?” - “No, and I hope I won’t,” replied Billy. “That’s a pleasure to come,” grinned Brooks. “By the way, got any money?” ee » “Nothing but a hundred-dollar bill, and I don’t a care to break that.” “You’re a plutocrat,” laughed Brooks, who. took Billy’s answer as a joke, for messenger boys, | as a rule, were not so flush as to be able to carry — $100 bills around in their clothes unless the — money belonged to their boss. “If you had ‘a few dollars Vd let you in on a good thing,” con- tinued Brooks in a confidential tone., f “What kind of a good thing?” asked Billy, curiously. “The stock market, of course. a tip that’ s a sure winner.” “What is it?” : “What's the use of telling you if you fase t any money?” - “T said I had 100, didn’t 1?” : ey kag, you, said ae bus that Heestve. m ag I’ve got ~ Ee :

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ey arly middle of the following week, when L. & M. Fecacket 92 and was attracting a lot of atten- a m, it took on a boom and inside of an hour was giling at par. Billy was sent to the Exchange 2 out this time, and he found the floor in an u ae over the stock, _ A big crowd was around the L. & M. pole, and the traders were acting like lunatics. All of _ them wanted to buy some of the stock, but there vas n’t near enough to go around. The competi- ion kept the price booming, and the boys at the uckboard had their hands full chalking up the an ons they came so fast. Billy was tickled to zi ‘as he stood at the rail waiting for the ne ce to deliver his note to his boss, who at that “moment was in the thick of the rumpus. Sud- ly he received a tremendous slap on the back almost took -the breath out of his body. He ng around and saw Bob oe grinning like roung hyena. 0 Says we’re not in it up to our ears, eh?” id to Billy. obody said we weren ’t; but please don’t be ithusiastic again.” : was letting off a little of my steam, that’s Ii,” replied Brooks. __ “Well, don’t use me as a safety valve. I might up and then you’d land outside in the *% you feel like shouting over L. & M.?” can feel good without shouting. How high ov. think it will go?” ‘Ask me something easy. I’m going to sell out oon as I can get a chance to get to the bank. tae such a Hoot as to hold out for ine last ! Mook out from pete Iauphed Brooke. oe Jeft the Exchange L. & M. was 10 whiz! I’m $200 ahead. I must get to the bank somehow or I may get ‘lost in the ,”? he breathed excitedly. hed back to the office as fast as he could and found there was a note for him to take Mills Building. That was away down treet, in the opposite direction from the nance for him to attend to his own busi- 8, which he had no right to expect anyway. hustled down and back, fetching an answer cashier. | y take this n.te up to our printer on Nas- ect,” said that gentleman, heart gave a bound of satisfaction, rould take him right past the little bank. ly take’ me a minute to give in my i he thought as he dashed out ef the is is the only chance I’m likely to get th a closes, oe T’ll freeze on to ’ He was told to hurry, too, so there ¥ down or was thrown down. His! BENSON’S NEW BO\ ¥ ee behind the last man, hoping that nobody would delay matters at the window. It took ten minutes — before he got to the window, and then he ordered ~— his stock sold at the market, which was then — 107%. He felt as if a great load had been taken - off his mind as he ran back to the office as fast as he could. While waiting to be called on again he figured up as near-as he could judge what his profit ought to be. He found he had cleaned/up $250, and was tickled to death. : CHAPTER VI—Billy Surprises His Mother. Billy was itching to tell his mother that he was — worth $350,: which she would consider a small fortune, but he decided to wait till he could flash. the money under her nose. She might be inclined to doubt his word, but the sight of the money would surely convince her. So he said nothing on the subject to her that night except to ask her what she would do with $100 if she had it pre- Bs sented to her. “No such luck, Billy!” she replied, “but if Lhe did get so much I'd put it in the bank against a_ rainy day.” Billy laughed and went next door to call on ; Millie Sackett; who was still runnning the O’Brien household. He found that Mr. O’Brien had re- turned with the aid of a crutch that afternoon. That individual did not regard Billy with much favor, as he had learned from his wife, who was still. laid up, that he was responsible for their . ~ misfortune. Fahtos a “It’s a great. nerye you have to.come in here after what you’ve done,” ‘said O’Brien in a_ A ’ grouchy tone. ae Ss tee do you mean, Mr. O’Brien?” asked see Bi oo “What do I mean? Didn’t you throw me wife down stairs and nearly kill the both of us?” os “No, I didn’t throw her down stairs. DoI look as if I was able to do such a’thing? Mrs. O’Brien __ weighs over 200 pounds. If she told you that I threw her down stairs then she didn’t tell you tae the truth.” ; Be Billy explained the cause of the trouble which xe led to the angry woman tripping over him and losing her balance at the head of the stairs. “Ace Millie if what I say isn’t so. She saw what happened.” ne The girl corroborated his statement. ‘i O’Brien, however, was difficult to convince. = “Sure.me wife ought to know whether she fell At any rate, she intends to have the law on you whin she’s able to. go to court. She says she’s ready to swear that - you intended to kill her, and as she’s ™me wife, — P’'m bound to believe her.” “She'll have a swell time of it pepe to prose- — cute me,” said Billy,not at all disturbed by Mr. O’Brien’s statement be what his wife intended to do. “If she has me arrested, I’ll show her up in court.” “Show her up! What do you méan by that?” in “Tl tell the judge how she treats Millie, and Pll have Millie called to’ prove that oy stateme 97

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“And I suppose’ you treat her like a fathey, too?” said Billy sarcastically. “Of course I do.” “TI know better, and my mother knows better, and so do the other tenants. I’ll-have a dozen - witnesses besides Millie to prove my words.” - “Oh, you will?” “Y will.” ‘You’ve a dale of assurance to tell me that to me face!” _ “I always say what I mean.’ “Be hivins, if I didn’t. ae a game leg ‘Ya throw you out of me rooms!” a “Then I’ll oblige you by walking out.” me's Do SO,, and don’t come in again, for you’re not welcome.” - *Pon’t worry, Mr. O’Brien. _I won’t bother you,” replied. Billy, wishing Millie good evening - and returning to his own apartment. Soon after the exchange opened next morning the slump came in L. & M. and it dropped back ‘into the nineties amid great excitement, “7 didn’t get out any too quick,” Billy told himself when he heard about the drop in the “market. “A miss is as good as a mile any day. I wonder if Bob Brooks got rid of his shares while the price was above-par.” _- » Later on he met Brooks and Bob told him he , chad sold at 104. “J didn’t get a chance to sell till it was up to - 107%,” said Billy. _ “Ts that the price you got?” ~ “T suppose I did, for I fold the clerk to sell me out at the market, and he said it would he done inside of ten minutes.” “Then you made $25 a share profit.” “That’s the way I figure it.” “And you had ten shares?” “Ves, ? “You did fine.” “T made more than I expected I would Ww hen I went into the deal.” “Tt was a dandy tip, wasn’t it?” “First class. I’m much obliged to you for it. ~ If I hear of anything worth backing I'l] let you ~ know about it.” : : e “That's vight. One good turn deserves an- - other,” laughed Brooks as he walked away. ‘Phat afternoon when they were through forthe » day they both called at the little bank and asked for a settlement. and -the boys left with their pockets well lined with cash. Billy was down on the street talking to several of his cronies when he saw his mother coming home from her afternoon’s work. He fol- Jowed her upstairs to tell her about his good luck. . “Tt?s been a warm day, Billy, and I’m tired out,” said. his mother as she threw herself into.a chair. St wish I could afford to lay off in the hot weather.” “Well, here’s a hundred dollars. You can take a. vacation on that,” said Billy, tossing ten §10 pills into her lap. His mother boked at the money in astonish- _ ment. “Where did you get ‘all that money, Billy?” she Pr a, fingering the bills gingerly. ait canét ‘eo ?- ja, it’s yours now ee id: ’t find it BENSON’S NEW BOY “would take you a long time to earn that m ich. This was promptly rendered, | Sackets. She’s a good little girl. ‘Tt em “No, mother, but that isn’t all of its Here’ . $250 more that I intended to use in Wall Street to make my fortune and make a lady of you,’ said Billy, exhibiting the rest of his’ roll. “My gracious! It can’t be yours.” “Yes, | it is, mother. Now listen and rl tell how I got hold of it.” ' Then he told her how he received $100 from he . Brooklyn lawyer for taking charge of his mon¢ and how he had put the money on L. & M. on the strength of a tip he got that it was to boom in the market. late “And it did boom, mother. ‘Tt went up a little over $25 a share, and as I had control of ten shares, why I made $250. Now you know a about it.” “Then I’m to take charge of this $100 for you said his mother. “No, you’re to take charge of it for yor It’s your money to do with as you choose.’ “And you expect to make more money with » at $250?” she said, looking rather wistfully at roll Billy held in his hand. “T hope to. Wall, Street is the greatest 1 going to make money if you can get hold of information like'I did on L, & M.” “Two hundred and fitty dollars is a lo money, Billy. You must be very careful of At: -“Don’t you worry about that, mother. not letting any coin get away from me if T help it.” ‘ “You are fortunate to get the ood Pp you have. Do you think you will be able t sb ee8 “T guess I’m pretty solid now. I’ve been wi Mr. Benson nearly a month now, and no fault been found with me so far.” “That’s a great satisfaction. Vl put thi in the bank so that we will have something to back on in case anything should go wrong. “All right, mother; do just as you think said Billy. “I hope to be able to give you an hundred or perhaps two to add to it soon. On these. days I expect to be able to buy a nice and then I’ll be able to support you on th: and you won't have to go out cleaning Tae more.’ “Dm afraid it will be a long time bef, make enough money to be able to bu small, cheap ,house, but it’s very good think’ of providing for your mother,” West, pleased by her son’s words. eS “TPs my duty to look out for you. Yor out for me for a good many years, and my turn to think about placing you out need of work or want for the rest. of your said Billy earnestly. is “You're a good son, Billy, and Thingsy prosper with you.” “J wish we could do something ~ shame that she’s under the thumb of a has tyrants like the O’Briens, who hav: whatever in her future. I'll bet thrown her out Brie ago fe Bea for them, Mr. O’Bri nm got h

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BENSON’S vital she intended to make me sweat for it.” Why you didn’t throw her down stairs.” “Of course I didn’t. It wasn’t my fault that she tripped over me. I was trying to get out of = r way.’ ‘ ci “eThen she can’t do anything to you.” “She’s sore enough on me to try, I guess, If ‘she hauls me into court, I’ll tell the judge how ‘She and Mr. O’Brien treat Millie. At any rate, ave Millie to testify that I had nothing to ith her step-mother’s tumble. I suppose the *Briens have a legal right to hold on to Millie and make her work for them, but if it was shown ; urt that they abused her the way they do, I the judge would take her away from ” - feel sorry for her, poor child, but I don’t see t we can do anything for her,” replied Mrs. laybe not now, but some day maybe we can,” Billy, getting up and walking toward the intending to rejoin his friends downstairs. Two weeks later Mrs. O’Brien got out of ‘the spital and returned to the tenement. She looked 3 a wreck of her former self, being so greatly reduced in weight that her old clothes wouldn’t ne within a mile of fitting her. The doctors told her that she had had a narrow squeak ‘ er life, and she certainly gave every evi- dence of the fact. At any rate, she wasn’t the ame woman she was before the accident, and her pirits were much affected. Billy heard of her “return and looked for trouble, but she took no ps against him. Millie resigned her position as ead'of ihe household and started out to look for rork.. She got a position in another skirt factory on Broadway in a few days, and Billy met her *s work there. a job yet, Millie?” he asked. I-went to work today for Einstein & am.” d to hear it. Maybe Mis. O’Brien will let a alone for a -while.”’ “She hasn’t scolded me since she got back.” hat so? You’re lucky.” - ; acts differently to what she used to, She have near as much to say as before. She ly notices me.” ~ : : hat suits you, I guess.” ‘ r. O’Brien doesn’t say much, either. He’s now, and when he comes home he eats er, then sits in a corner by the window smokes his pipe and reads the paper, hardly ing a word, even to his wife.” her remarked that your rooms were very She notices it because there hardly was a at Mvs. O’Brien wasn’t scrapping either x her husband. I’m afraid, however, st. When Mrs. O’B. gets all right und to break out like an old sore é / % stairs when she got home from her first , _the boss!” soliloquized Billy, quite para : mpliment. “I Tm. pretty’ sc sige: Ae an 2 NEW BOY ir anything, she appeared to agree with Billy’s remarks. They talked a few minutes longer and then Millie went upstairs.. On the first of July Mr. Benson’s family moved out to their country house at Nansook, on the north shore of Long — Island. Quite a colony of brokers and men of means had cottages, villas and mansions at this place, which was regarded as one of the loveliest spots within easy riding distance of New York. — . As business was beginning to get dull in Wall — Street, Billy had less running around to do, which suited him first rate, with the thermometer — climbing higher every day. Bob Brooks told him that he would probably get a week’s vacation in August, as nearly all the messengers got it, bub Billy had his doubts about it, as he had only been a short time in the office and was therefore hardly _ entitled to the fayor, The Fourth of July fellon — a Saturday and Mr. Benson was at the office until after the Exchange closed on Friday, Just before he left he called the boy in to his private office. “Billy, you’ve been with me a month now, and’ — I am very well satisfied with you. You have passed the trial stage and you may consider your position a fixture. -I took you on the recom-~ mendation of my friend Deering, who afterward told me that he knew nothing about you, but sent you to me to oblige your mother, who, he says, is _ a very worthy and'industrious woman. Imet him today and he asked me about you. I told him you’ — were proving satisfactory in every way, and he said he was glad to hear it. Now, Billy, to- — morrow is the Fourth, and it’s a holiday, © should be glad to have you come down to my house at Nansook and stay over till Monday morning, I am going to have some fireworks in | the evening, and you can help set them off. Take __ the eight o’clock train in the morning from the Long Island depot, and I’ll send my gardener to the station to méet you and show you the way to theshouse. Ride in the smoker and then he won’t miss you.” Billy was much surprised at the invitation and hardly knew what to say. =f “Y’m much obliged to you, sir, but I don’t think I look swell enough to go to your place. Ilivein — a tenement house on C—— Street, and this is my best suit.” ; 5 “You look all right, Billy, but still a new suit wouldn’t hurt you, I'll give you an order ona furnishing goods store for a ready-made one. You might as well get a straw hat at the same time and a couple of ties. I owe you something, _ anyway, aS I made a couple of thousand dollars Monday through the rapid execution of a message L sent by you. I always like to testify my appre- 3 ciation of services extra well done.” Pes Thus speaking, the broker: dashed off an order to a well-known furnisher on a note heading and handed it to Billy, = Sha “Get whatever you want at the store and it will be all right,” said Benson, “and be sure and comé down in the morning; for I will look for you.” He pushed Billy outside, went over and got some money from his cashier and then left the office. * : “Gee! An invitation to spend the Fourth with lyzed ‘by neh aa pe aa Fe 7 2 2

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42 BENSON'S _ I fell into good luck when I came to Wall Street. Y’ve been here a little over a month, and, besides - petting seven bones a week, I captured $350 cash, That’s going some. Mother will open her eyes when I tell her I am invited tc spend the Fourth ~ and the day after with Mr. Benson at his country house, and won’t she be tickled to see me in a new +r suit, with the latest thing in straw and a fetch- ing necktie? And the fellows up my way will _ think I’m getting to be a dude for fair. They are jealous, anyway, at the swell job I have in Wall Street. Well, say, things seem to be coming my _way all right. a -His thoughts were intruded on by the cashier ~ ealling him to the window and handing him his -- pay envelope. “You can go home now, West. you any longer today, ” he said. ee “Allright, sir,” replied Billy, and he hiked for ‘the street. He went straight to the clothing house and picked out a bang-up blue serge suit, a straw hat _ and a couple of ties. - What else?” asked the clerk. ~“J guess that’s all,” replied Billy. : “Come over to wonder counter. I want to show you our new summer shirts. You won’t want to wear the vest of that suit this month or next, so you'd better take two or three shirts and a belt to go through the straps, of your trousers, then you'll look all right.” “Myr. Benson didn’t tell me to get any shirts,” said Billy. -*“Didn’t he? Well, this order says ‘fit bearer out in good shape,’ and it’s up to us to do it. We know what Mr. Benson means when he gives an é order like that. He wants it carried out.” “Let me see, can’t I sell you something else?” “The salesman handed it to him, and sure : enough it said “a fit-out in good shap e. “AN right. Show up the shirts,” young messenger. ‘ He picked out two, but the salesman said he ought to have at least three, so he took another. “Tf those are your best shoes, I’ll have to take I sha’n’t want said the _ derk, _ shod.” Billy protested that that was rubbing it into the _ boss. “Nonsense! He’s got loads of money. You : “ought to see bill of goods he buys here for him- file doesn’t get his clothes here. I took a letter ae his tailor on Fifth Avenue yesterday after- #No, but he buys the rest of ‘his furnishings pus We don’t sell ready-made clothes to our eye trade as a rule. We-have Wall Street men o buy suits all made up, but they are the ex- aesons. If you worked for one of them you uldn’t. be treated to an order like this. You’re £ cky, for you’ve hired yourself out to one of the most liberal men of the street. Just take a pointer from me, and hold on to the job for all you’re worth.” “I don’t need any pointer for that, ” grinned y. “I’m on “to this job with both feet. % pai ( 8 _ you around to our shoe department,” said the - “We can’t let you go out of-here half NEW BOY ward the shoe department, where he was fitted te a first-class pair before he realized what wa going on.’ : “Let me see, can’t I sell you something else?” said the salesman. “I think you’need a “No, I don’t care for any biscuits!” veplied Billy, edging away. ; didn’t say anything about biscuits. 2 said——” : “J know what you said,” chuckled Billy. “Send this order to my house tonight, sure, for I’ve got to wear the stuff tomorrow. I’m invited te spend the day at my boss’ country house, and i ain’t there I’ll tell him. it’s the fault of th store.’ “The goods will be sent hetabe six. What your name and address?” “William West, Esquire, No. — C—— Street top floor, back.” “You qe in a flat?” mae “No, I don’t. It’s just a plain tenententy with out any French frills. Everybody is his ae janitor, and the gas and electric light collectors never bother us with their bills.” . ; “Now, I had an idea that you lived u Madison Avenue or on cne of the side strec near the park,” smiled the salesman as he wrote down the name and address given by the boy. _ “Well, your idea didn’t pan out. Maybe live up there yourself. You look like a swell in disguise.” “No, I wish I did.’ If genius were thor } appreciated, I would probably be living in lor apartments on Fifth Avenue.” : ‘Well, ’11 gamble on it, you’ve got nerve 1 to entitle . ‘you to live anywhere. I came in to get a suit, a tie and a hat and you’ve f three shirts and a pair of $4 shoes on me. boss ought to raise your wages.” : : ss “You have no call to kick, as you are ahead | is the game through my efforts.” “Ym not kicking. Ill let Mr. Benson des that "s! when he sees your bill.” “We'll take the chances of that. Why wi you let us show you our latest thing in soc Half a dozen would go well with your new sho Then our handkerchiefs——” ; “Say, do you want me to buy the Store? YY can’t hypnotize me into taking anything more. If you want to do anything more for me, just my automobile,” and Billy with a ers stay for the door. i At a few minutes of six that day the dive ; wagon of the furnishing goods store where Be son’s new boy got his outfit drove up to No. - C Street. The driver jumped out with large and a small pasteboard box in his ~ habit of dealing at first-class stores, wagon attracted a whole lot of attentio was a big monogram on each side of the t underneath it were the woxds “No =

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eS BENSON'S NEW BOY 13 deckers he was to deliver the goods at. There were several boys standing around the doorway. _ “Sonny,” he said to one, “does Mr. William West live in this house?” “Who?” ejaculated the lad. “William West.” _ . Billy West lives here, on the top floor, back.” . €That’s right,” said the man, looking at the address on the smaller box. “Say, are them things for him?” “T should judge so as his name is on the boxes.” ~~. *What’s in them?” i “There’s a suit of clothes in the big box. I ~ eouldn’t tell you what’s in this one,” and the man dived into the not over-clean entrance, and began climbing the dark stairs, where the kerosene Jamps had not yet been lighted by the tenants whose duty it was to attend to them. - “Hully gee, fellows!” said the boy to his com- panions, “Billy has been lyin’ in a new suit and other duds. Get on to the store he patronizes. ‘He must be gettin’ swell wages. He’ll be givin’ us the shake pretty soon. He’s been wearin’ his “best clothes ever since he got that job in Wall Street, and now he’s bought himself a new suit for Sunday. I thought they was somethin’ up when he didn’t come down and see us as usual.” ~The other lads were surprised, and for some time nothing else was talked about but Billy West's expanding importance since he went to work in. Wall Street. In the meantime Billy was “upstairs admiring his new suit, his shirts, his ties, his shoes, and his up-to-date straw hat. Finally he made up his mind to dress up and surprise his mother, He donned one of the shirts, put on one ‘of the ties, then the suit without the vest, ‘buckled his belt around his waist, and lastly topped off with the straw. _ I wish we had a. big looking-glass, like they have in the store, so I could. see how I look.” - However, he felt that he looked all to the good, -and he sat down to await his mother’s return. At last she came walking in, tired after her work. 3illy slapped on his hat and stood up. At first she hardly knew him so changed was his appear- nee. ; * _ "Billy West, is it really you?” she exclaimed. “Why, don’t you recognize your own son and heir?” he laughed. _ “My gracious! ‘clothes. How well you look in them. wve been extravagant.” “They didn’t cost me a cent.” “Why, Billy, you don’t mean that!” “I do, This outfit is a present from the boss. He’s invited me to go to his summer house to- morrow’and stay over Sunday. As he wanted me 0 look good he sent me to his furnishing store, d told me to buy what I wanted. Aren’t you roud of me?” ‘I’m always proud of you, Billy. You’re the # . ” yest_son in the world.” — : ‘Thanks for the compliment. Now I’ll get into 7 old duds and go down and-see the boys.’ Every member of his “crowd” had heard about ; new suit and other fixings, and when he made is appearance they began “joshing” him about So you’ve been buying new I’m afraid = 0 told you chaps that I had a new suit?” - Gifferently. The result was they acted a little shy asked Billy, surprised that they were so well in- formed. “Oh, we know all about it. You can’t fool this bunch,” replied one. : Billy was exceedingly curious to find out where they had got their information, but they wouldn’t tell him, and it never struck him that some of them had seen the man bring the boxes up to his place. He had:to take the crowd around to the nearest ice-cream parlor and “blow” them to cream and soda before they would let up on him. Billy left the tenement early next morning to. catch the eight o’clock train over in Brooklyn, and — so none of the crowd’ saw him in his new suit. — When a couple of them knocked on the door of his mother’s room to find out why he didn’t come downstairs, Mrs. West informed them that her son had gone into the country to stay till Monday. ~ The idea of Billy going into the country to spend two days knocked his crowd silly, and they didn’t get over it all day. In the meantime Billy reached Nansook station and was met by Mr. Benson’s gardener, who piloted him to the house— a neat villa, standing well back in its own grounds. The broker was surprised at Billy’s changed appearance. He was as well dressed as any of the gentlemen’s sons in that neighborhood, though his air and talk were considerably dif- ferent. It was apparent that he lacked polish, and the deportment of a young gentleman, There was a knowing look in his eyes, and showed he was well up in worldly wisdom, gained by rubbing’ elbows with the world. Mr. Benson introducet him to his family, consisting of his wife, a son of nearly Billy’s age, and two daughters, one a young lady of nineteen. There was nothing backward about Benson’s new. boy in getting acquainted. He soon made himself popular with Frank Benson and the younger girl. a8 “So you’re pa’s new messenger,” said Daisy Benson. : : “That’s what lam. They call fhe Benson’s new boy in Wall Street,” replied Billy, with a grin, “How rude of them,” said the girl. 2 “It’s just a way the messengers have to keep you from getting a swelled head,” laughed Billy, “They’re a jolly lot, on the whole, though some of them get a little too gay sometimes.” 4 Whereupon Billy narrated his experience with the two lads on New Street. When he told how he had upset the stout broker in the vestibule of the Vanderpool Building, Miss Daisy laughed till the tears came. fe eee “Tt must have been awfully funny,” she said. “Probably it was to a spectator. However, it. saved the gentleman from getting a broken head _ and a ducking of green paint,” and he told them the particulars. : : part A Billy told them a lot of other funny things that - had happened to him outside of Wall Street, in: cluding the tumble Mrs. O’Brien got downstairs — by falling over him. "That was where he made a mistake, for it showed up his low social status. —_ Frank and Daisy were surprised to learn that he lived in a common Hast Side tenement, for his personal appearance led them to think much — of him after that, though they were too: weil- bred to let him see that he had fallen a lot in their estimation. Finally his mother got into the eon. ¥ haeny,

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BENSON’S ates _versation, and he spoke so loyally about her, _ declaring that she was the finest. mother in the as world, that Daisy began to think somewhat better ~ of him. Billy behaved himself pretty well at the lunch table, though it was éasy to see that he wasn’t used to police society. In the presence of the broker, his wife and eldest daughter he was “more carful what he said, and the good common - school education he had helped him out. He could : _ talk intelligently on all the topics of the day, and go got. credit for knowing more than he actually ; did. Frank and Daisy took him out after lunch to show him the sp sehen, Sets but they were care- ful not to call on any of their friends. ‘There was very little in the firecracker line going on in the aristocratic section of Nansook, and Billy thought the place rather slow. In fact, if it wasn’t for the display of bunting on all sides he would have wondered if it really was the glorious Fourth, so quiet were things. _ “If I had a few bombs about me I’d wake this place up,” he thought. “Seems to me these folks around here are lacking in proper enthusiasm.” Then he remembered that Mr. Benson had men- tion about some fireworks he was going to have in the evening, and he guessed the swell people _ preferred to celebrate after dark. When they got ‘back to the house they found some guests from another cottage sitting on, the veranda with the - broker, and his wife and daughter. Billy wasn’t introduced to them, however, but that fact didn’t worry him any. Finding himself alone for a few - minutes he went off and hunted up the gardener, whom he found smoking in a chair at the door of the automobile garage. He got into conversa- tion with him, and was soon hail-fellow-well-met with the man. He didn’t see Frank Benson or _ Daisy again until dinner time. . . It was the finest meal Billy had ever sat down _ to, though it was the ordinary, every-day dinner with the Bensons. He enjoyed it hugely and ate ‘everything that came his way. It was dark when the family and their guests adjourned to the veranda overlooking the front. lawn. In the _eourse of half an hour Mr. Benson sent his son to tell the gardener to bring the fireworks on the scene. The sky was already alight with rockets and other lurid displays, but the greater part of this exhibition was confined to the village proper. Only cottagers who had young people indulged in burnt, powder. - The gardener presently made his appearance with several opened boxes, and the privilege of setting off the roman candles, rockets, colored fires, and such things, was delegated to Frank ‘Benson and Billy. The young messenger. prob- ably had the most fun out of it. At any rate he - ‘was’sorry when the last of the stock was used up. Shortly afterward the family retired for the “night and Billy was shown to a small, well-fur- nished room at the back of the house. : io 2% oF cad Cit ee CHAPTER IX.—Billy Frustrates a Burglary. Billy didn’t feel at all sleepy, and the hotr being ten, was comparatively early for him. He ted himself in a chair beside the window and | ked out on the calm summer night. He won- NEW BOY dered what kind of a time his friends were hav in the city. Although he had been very nicely treated he came to the conclusion that on the — whole he would have enjoyed himself better in New York. eee “Fourth of July only comes once a year, and like to cut. lose when it comes around,” he solilo- quized. ‘‘These wealthy people’ are slow pokes at celebrating. They don’t seem to take any inte: in the day. It would have been like Sunday only for the noise that came from the village. Lord, — if I had a place like this, and plenty of money how V’d make things hum on the Fourth! Td the neighbors see that I was alive, bet you boots.” t Billy sat for half an hour looking around, and watching the fireworks that occasionally ro: from the direction of the village. At — there was no further display and the night be- came absolutely quiet. : : “I don’t like the country for a cent,” he mut-— tered. “Everything is so dead slow. Just, lil : churchyard. I suppose everybody in the house asleep now, and it’s only about half-past ten. don’t feel a bit sleepy. I’d like to get ou move around.” He looked out of the window. He was on third floor, but a huge oak tree grew close besic that part of the house, and Billy saw that it~ would be a simple matter to reach the ground by — swinging out on the stout limb; that. reacher past the window. The temptation was str ‘to avail himself of this mode of getting o the house and taking a walk either to the vill: or the bay. ar =, ernie All that deterred him was the fact that guest of the house it would not be just the r thing for him to make his exit in that 1 ‘fied way. While he was thinking the matter over he saw three figures scale the back fence ne: the garage. One of them came forward a looked up at the house. ‘Then he came close » the building and Billy noticed that he examining the lower windows. Presently he appeared around the side of the house. The men remained at the fence, apparently in yersation. “J wonder what business those chaps ha around here?” thought Billy. “Looks to me they were up to no good.” | Be ae ’ He watched cautiously for the man who gone around the house to reappear. In a | while Billy saw him coming from the other the house. .«He rejoined his companio fence. Presently they sat down on t The minutes passed and they made noma leave. SA ri fee: “There is something up,” breathed Bill; bet those chaps intend to break into this It’s lucky I didn’t go to bed.” : It struck the boy that he ought ,to wal Benson up and tell him of the presence — men, but he hesitated taking such a ste didn’t know which room in the house was pied by the broker. So he decided to wat strangers and see what they would do. . easily give the alarm when they got dov business. He heard a clock strike where in the house, but the men 7 Fifteen minutes later yf ther os -

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BENSON’S me toward the house. When he reached the oak ree he began to climb up. He was “soon: lost among the leaves and branches. He’s coming up here as sure as you live,” ough the bey, diawing back from the window. I wish I had something to give him a warm eception with , doy, 2 Billy looked around the room and finally opened _ door of the closet. Standing in one corner as a double-barreled shotgun The boy grabbed £ soon made out that it was not loaded. * good bluff goes a long way sometimes,” ught, earrying it to the window. that. time the man why was climing the vas on a level with the window which was y within his reach. In another moment he rust his head and shoulders through the open- 3 ‘and looked around the room. Without a “moment’s hesitation Billy thrust the muzzle of un within a few inches of his face and said t!” The fellow started back in consterna- Sie his balance'and fell straight down. He ck a small trellised arbor underneath, and ame-work collapsed with a crash, breaking 1, but giving him a good shaking up. The en at the fence started up in alarm. ‘d like to catch that rocster,” thought Billy, e saw the fellow lying half stunned in the of the arbor. “He’s evidently a crook and sht to be arrested.” Jropping the gun, he crawled out of the win- ow and made his way down through the tree. . tile he was dcing this, the man who had taken ble was pulling himself together and ex- himself from the debris. At that mo- window was opened on the second floor mebody looked out. The two men at the mediately scaled it and disappeared. 4 demoralized companion started to rejoin he Hello! Who are you?” demanded the voice of ; enson from the window. The fellow made no reply, but la ctayer ta At that moment Billy dropped from the id grabbed him by the arm. d on, you’re wanted,” he said. ‘ith an imprecation , the man drew back his 1d knocked the boy down. Then he started Billy was used to knocks and the blow hurt him much He was up in a twink- id after the fellow. He caught him at the ‘The rascal turned, pulled out a revolver, shoved it into the boy’s face. ack or I'll blow the top of your head he said fiercely. ly fell back and the ner vaulted over the , and hurried across the adjoining property eet- beyond, where his companions had preceded him. Billy, however, had caught od ook at his face, and he was sure he'd him if he ever met him again. After the man out of sight the young mes- : walked back to the house. Mr. Benson him with some surprise. af ae pay he asked. are out there, and WED was ee 9 NEW BOY (3 ie eS if he tries to come in at that > ibefore he recovered from his fall, Sat | rh PY where hi my window. He came up the tree. J was on ig him and frightened him with an empty: gun Tez found in the cleset of the room. He lost his bal- — ance and fell to the, ground, ,smashing. some” woodwork underneath. I suppose the - noise ~ aroused you, sir’ “It did. : You astonish me by saying Bsus the —- fellow was a burglar.” j 4 “There were two cther men with him.” se “Indeed. I didn’t see them, Did you get out Ss by way of the tree?” : ' “Yes, sir. YT intended to capture the fellow = bat I didn’t. - succeed. I caught him at the fence; as you e; probably saw, but “he pulled a gun on me, and — I had to let him go.” E “Well, well; it’s fortunate you were here> — to- night, and that the rascal awoke you when he ~ tried to get in at the window. J} will come down- — stairs and let you in at the side door. Go around. — there.” The broker shut the window and presently — came to the door and admitted Billy. Mr. Benson * — was rather surprised to see that the pay, was. fully dressed. see — don’t look as if you had been in bed, 4s he; He sai SES “I haven't been. I wasn’t sleepy when I ee to the rcom and sat down by the window. While _ I was there { saw the three men come into your — gvounds. I watched them, for I judged they had — no business here. One of them went around the house and examined the windows. Then they — sat down py the fence for a long time facing the ~ house. Finally that chap came vver and climbed the tree, thinking it an easy way to get into the house. I shoved the gun at him and told him to get. That settled the business. I guess he thought I was going to shoot,” chuckled Billy. “You've saved the house from being robbed, _ and I’m greatly indebted to you,” said the broker. “That’s ali right, sir. I’m sorry that I hares eatch the fellow.” “You did all that could be expected of you. Tl notify the head constable in the morning that these rascals are in the neighborhood: Now. go to bed.” Billy did, and it wasn’t long before be Was. sound asleep. ‘ ; CHAPTER X—Captured. At the breakfast table Billy was regarded é the rest of the family as quite a hero. “You’te awfully brave,” said Miss Daisy, re garding the boy admiringly. “Oh, I don’t: know. That wasn’t much,” replied. the young messenger. ieee Se “What, to chase that man! He might Rane shot you. bo Z ae “He didn’t shoot me; so it doesn’t matter.” After breakfast Mr. Benson visited the con stable’s house, taking Billy with him. The boy told his story to the village guardian of the~ peace, and that official promised to go on a s hunt after the burglars. Billy passed a quie bbath. During the early afternoon he red around the village and th

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of sg BENSON’S “houses that were used by the wealthy summer residents. , He extended his ramble along the _ Shore, coming at length to the low line of cliffs that lay to the eastward of Nansook. The tide was way out, so that he was able to walk along the hard beach at the base of them, ae which, unknown to him, was covered at high water. As he knew that dinner would not be served till about five, he took his time. The Sound was comparatively calm and the hot sun ‘glistened upon its wavelets. At some little dis- “tance from the shore there wefe a number of eatboats sailing hither and thither with summer boarders from the village. Billy had never been! out of New York before and he rather enjoyed the novelty of his short outing. _. The cliffs wound in end out in an irregular line that trended toward the southeast, and he ' soon lost sight of the bathing ‘houses and small anchored yachts of the rich residents of Nansook. No one lived on the cliffs, their summits béing covered with trees and scrub bushes, giving the vicinity a lonesome look. Turning a point, Billy suddenly came upon a small, sequestered cove. Following the curve of the béach, he entered the cove, which was almost land-locked, and was somewhat surprised to see a small, dirty-looking - sloop in the basin, moored by’a rope to a fallen tree trunk. Smoke was issuing from the chimney _ that pierced the deck forward. Walking around a large rock that stood in his path, he unexpectedly found himself in the pres- ence of two men who were seated on another rock, smoking and talking. They sprang to their feet with exclamations on seeing him, for they had not heard his footsteps on the sand. Billy recognized one of the men as the burglar of the night before, and he naturally concluded that the other chap was one of the men who had been with him. The third fellow probably was not far off. In fact, as he started to retrace his steps, believing it wasn’t healthy for him to in- trude any further into the cove, he caught sight of a head and shoulders rising out of the open hatch in the forward part of the sloop. “Hold on there, young fellow!” cried the man whose face he knew. “What’s your hurry?” “Ym in no hurry, but I’ve gone as far as I want to go,” replied Billy. . ““What brought you in here?” #1 just walked in, that’s all.” © “Come here.” “What for?” ~ “Because I say so.” “What do you want?” “Come here and I’ll tell you.” ; “Ym not curious, so I don’t think I’ll come,” replied Billy, edging away. ty He had the idea that the rascal recognized him and that there might be something doing if he went within the fellow’s reach. : / “T guess you'll come,” said the burglar, yank- ing out his revolver and covering the boy so quickly that Billy didn’t have time to dodge around the rock. j “You wouldn’t dare shoot me for nothing,” said ‘the young messenger. = : “Don’t you be so cock sure about it,” grinned he man. “I’ve mown guns to go off accidental 2-5 Ms etree ea ee : ; oe w : : oN ag ot Fes ee Sf date re ' “Say, Hicks,” he shouted to the man on - NEW BOY like, and that might happen to this one, a feeling nervous today. Fetch him here, Down His companion walked over and grabbed by the arm. : iene “Why don’t you do as the gent says?” h marked. ; Billy made no resistance as he perceived th futility of it. : : sty “I think I’ve seén you before,” said the bur e lar, laying his revolver across his knees, “You’ eg. the chap who lives.in the hc > where I ealled last night and you shoved a shot-gun in m ' face!” ers “You're that burglar, are you?” replied Billy coolly. ‘What do you want with me?” ‘eet “We want your company for a while. § that you’ye butted in here and discovered u wouldn’t be safe for us to let you go and tell w you’ve seen.” ee ‘How long are you going to keep me? — got to get back to dinner at five and it’ll tak more than an hour to find my way to the h “Find. your way?” retorted the burgla castically. “I guess you know your way ro your own stampin’ grounds.” ess! “These ain’t my stamping grounds. I’m a visitor.” . a “Tell that to the marines. You belong at the house. Son of the old man, I guess.” By “You guess wrong. I’m only his office boy.” _“Yes, you look like an office boy in that swe aoe Search him, Downey, and see how he | out.’ : Downey went through Billy’s clothes an search was very unsatisfactory. All he was a dollar bill, some loose change, and a - pa some matches and a return ticket to ork. $ “A dollar and, thirty-six cents,” said Do counting the money. eri. “Hand it over, Downey,” said the burg’ Downey did, after returning the kni matches. : “Here’s a ticket for New York,” said D “Keep it for good luck,” grinned his associ a “chuck a piece of line on shore.” Hicks looked for a piece and threw beach, : “Get it, Downey, and tie this chap’s behind his back,” said the burglar. fn Billy let him do it, for he couldn’t help “You spoiled a nice, profitable little j night, young fellow, and I guess we m ‘back at.you some way,” said the burglar, his pipe in his pocket and getting up. just stow you under hatches aboard th till we decide how we'll pickle you.” _ He and Downey forced Billy to enter a ‘in which they pushed off for the sloop, ° was only a few pu away. They vant boy on deck, took off a hatch cover an him to get down out of sight. To a thrown down, Billy obeyed. The clapped on oyer his head, and th himself alone in the darkness of a littered with boxes and other rubbis! the men roll something weighty on t he knew that he was a. priso chance to make his eseap ig atch te yi,

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oe ae WAS : i 5 Be: ee __ BENSON’S “]’m in a fine scrape,” muttered Billy. “T won- In any case, That will ‘esent chance.” “Grub is ready, Birch,” Billy heard one of the 1 say. “You chaps come and help me carry stuff to the cabin.” . There was a tramping of feet overhead for some minutes, and the sound of men moving round on the other side of the after bulkhead of hold. The walking ceased and conversation ‘began in the cabin. Billy picked his way in the ark over to the bulkhead, and, leaning against ried to hear what the men were talking about. eir words came quite plain to his ear, and he on found that there ‘was a good-sized knot-hole . on either side. eae ‘We've done pretty well along shore this trip, ( owney. “We’ve got enough swag aboard 4 ] up anchor and sail for the city. Id like to see the stuff turned into cash and handle my Cities ; “T’m in favorsof making one more haul,” said icks. “We'd have done that last night if it been for that boy. He must have just place, for he hadn’t turned in when I got up to the window.” : : iat was a tough fall you had, Birch,” said icks. “Tt’s a wonder you didn’t break your js a wonder. That plant frame broke my aaa saved me, Sent thought I was a goner at the time,” replied Birch. tia tue soe to get back at the boy for it?” ed Hicks. Pr es, blame him!” a; low are you'goin’ to serve him out?” We'll leave him on one of them islands near entrance to the East River. He’s not likeily aken off for two or three days.” might starve to death before any one him,” said Downey. “That would be the killin’ him, and I ain’t in favor of such y e ‘ him? Just remember what he done us out conversation then turned on the various they had pulled off along the Long Island north shore and how cleyerly they had outwitted constables by retiring to their sloop, which chored in various out-of-the-way spots - to the galley forward, which was simply a s back from the village or some house in the — NEW BOY 7 , Pa ; of money their plunder would bring them from the “fenee” they patronized. Finally Birch went on deck and the other two carried the dishes on space partitioned off in the bows of the sloop. Billy had been working off and on at the line that bound his wrists together, trying to free himself, and he finally succeeded in geting one hand out of limbo. The other followed asa mat- ter of course. The next thing he did was to strike a match and take a look at’his prison. There was nothing very promising about it. _ There seemed to be only one means of ingress and egress and that was through the hatchway overhead, which was closed by its cover. be “Y’m bottled up here and must stay till they let me out,” he soliloquized. “I wish I knew of — some way to get the best of them.” “ak An hour passed away and from the silence Billy judged the men had gone aShore. He got up — from the box he was sitting on, but in turning: he tripped over some of the rubbish and fell | against the forward bulkhead—the one that diy- . ided the hold from the galley. One of the planks forming the partition gave way and fell upon the- stove. That left an opening through which. Billy managed to squeeze himself, though it was a tight fit. The scuttle through which entrance was had:to the galley was open and the young mes- ‘| — senger, who had been sweltered in the hold, breathed the fresh air eagerly. Then he ventured te poke his head up and take a look. The three rascals were stretched out on the sand above high- water mark. Billy noticed that the basin seemed —_ larger than when he was brought abéard. This. - was caused by the inflow of the tide, which had been rising for some time. The sloop was close in to the rocks at the head of the cove, the tide having pushed her in that direction. Her mooring line was slack and curved down into the water. Billy was sure he could jump on to the rocks, but that would do him no good, as he would be. stuck there by the water which came up all around them. He saw that the burglars were not asleep, _ just resting on their backs: There was no way ~ of evading them while they had their senses about __ them. Billy sat on a box in the galley and con- sidered the situation. Presently he heard the voices of the burglars, and was soon aware that they were coming off to the sloop. } Eas “J hope none of them will look in here, for if they do the jig will be up with me, and I won’t .. get another chance to make my escape,” he — thought. The rascals came on board and then _ went straight to the cabin. aes Billy poked up his head and say that they were ~ not in. sight, and that the boat was tied along- side. His heart gave a jump, for here was a grand opportunity to give his captors the slip, © 4 CHAPTER XI.—Billy Turns the Tables On the Crooks. . ei

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5 ee wae Lee BENSON'S NEW BOY. - ‘which-the men’s voices came up. If they-heard ‘weight rested’ on the roof of the scuttle. . steps on deck they would be able to rush up and if the cabin bulkhead resisted the efforts ~ . catch him before he could untie the boat’s paint- rascals to break it down they could not possibly _ er. However, he had to risk it, and to help’ get out. He ‘congratulated himself -that things _" matters he removed his shoes. seemed to be running his way, and stepping in _ His stocking feet made no sound on the planks the boat rowed to the rock around which wa “as he stepped aft, and the men got no hint of Secured the sloop’s mooring rope. Casting it their late prisoner’s presence on deck. Reaching he tied the end to the after seat of the boat, an ‘the place where the boat was tied, Billy quickly taking his seat on- the middle one, got out the ~ -unhitched the rope and was about to step in oats and- began to pull the vessel’s head aro ‘when a daring idea struck him. He saw that , toward the entrance of the cove. — ie the open scuttle leading into the cabin had a This gave him no great trouble, but when “ eoyer that worked on hinges, which, when let started to pull the sloop out of the basin agai down, could be secured by shoving an iron peg the tide he found that he had his hands fu through the hasp attached to the end. By quick The greatest difficulty he had to contend wit action. he could make prisoners of the three ras- was to get the craft under headway. Once h tals in the cabin. ; succeeded in doing that her momentum wou _ The chance to execute such a brilliant coupe help things along. Billy pulled and pulled wi was too tempting for Billy to let it get by him. great energy. The perspiration oozed dow It would be quite a feather in his cap to capture face for the afternoon was hot. _ the three burglars and recover the plunder they — to his work like a good fellow, spurred on by th had stolen from the different residences along pounding and thumping the burglars were mak- the north shore. It was not improbable that he ing in their futile efforts to get out of the ‘eabin ~ would be recompensed by the owners of the prop- At last he got the sloop moving forward, erty. Retying the boat’s painter with a slip-knot, in a short time towed her clear of the cov: _ Billy crawled over to the cabin. scuttle. Giving ~ ont into the Sound. He turned toward the vi the cover a shove it fell into its place with a distant about a mile, and then found ‘that bang’ that startled the rascals.below and brought sloop made~ better, way across the tide the them to their feet. é against it, but he soon saw that she was. slowly - Before Birch moved up the short ladder to see Sweeping in toward the rock base of the ¢ ‘what had caused the cover to shut, Billy had it where the beach he had tramped nearly fast, and Birch pushed against it in vain. Now hours before was entirely covered by Water, — that he had captured the crooks the problem faced neutralize this he changed his course to a diagon: the boy—what was he to do in order to get them one, and thus pulled the vesel. away from tl jnto the hands of the authorities of the village? shore, but it made his trip longer. .— He knew nothing about sailing even the smallest There wasn’t a cat-boat in sight now, * poat, therefore it was out of the question for was no chance of getting any assistan at to unmoor the sloop, get her out of the cove alternately rested and pulled at the oars. - and s-il her around to the village water front. ing nearer and nearer to-the village wa - To go for assistance, leaving the men shut up in by slow degrees: The crooks had quit the the cabin, would take time, and while he was having either come to the conclusion thé away the rascals might be able to break out. were hopelessly imprisoned, or were con, “If the forward bulkhead was so wobbly as to about some other plan to help themselves out. afford him an avenue of escape from the hold, At last Billv got by the cliffs, and the bath h the after one was likely to yield- to the united wharf, and other evidences of the end strength of three desperate men. With this idea laborious job, hove into view. es in his mind, Billy ran forward and secured the “T’ll bet I’ve lost several pounds of weigh -— galley scuttle, which worked on the same princi- . this thing,” he said to himself. “I. neve ple as the cabin one. The hatch over the hold so hard in my life before; but it’s worth was held down by a barrel, half full of water, « the capture of those burglars is sure tc which the men themselves had placed upon it something ‘of a sensation in the nei after putting the boy down there. While the And to think I’ve done it all by mysel burglars were banging away at the cover of the against three big men. This is where I ‘seuttle, Billy was thinking pretty hard. _ the limelight. I wouldn’t be surprised if - At last a plan came into his mind. He was not count was. printed in the New York fp ‘sure whether he could work it or not, but it was Some of the crowd would see it then, a © worth trying at any rate. The schéme was to cock of the walk in my block. I’m a ee try and tow the sloop out of the cove and along — now since I got my job in Wall Stree’ “lose to the shore to’ the village front by the der what time it is? Must be close to f aid of the rowboat. The sloop seemed light, for hope I won’t miss my dinner. Maybe the She had no cargo aboard; but still it was bound some for me, thinking I’ve got losts?- #22 He resumed rowing again, for he never long at a time lest the sloop lose her | which would make his work all the ihm ¥ Paes — j 3 = 2 oh First, however, ainsail, directly ov h rt. ciate: “the sheets, or ropes, that supported the ‘ends and nearer he drew to the that the boom sagged down until its — number of boatmen were loun . d SRS Ks Sats ; < a

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BENSON’S for dinner patrons. He was noticed pulling she sloop, and the boatmen wondered what was matter with the craft that she could not come nder her canvas, for there was breeze enough ropel her. It was half-past five when the ex- usted boy pulled the boat into the wharf. He mped aboard the sloop, and then with the moor- ing line in his hand stepped on to the wharf. What’s the trouble, young fellow?” asked one boatmen, while the others awaited his re- with. no little curiosity. : You mean why have I towed this Sloop here?” d Billy. . . You look as if you had been having a. h job of it. What’s the matter with her that couldn’t sail her?” “Because I don’t know how.” > ; ‘Don’t know how, eh? Hello, who’s making’ all noise below? You've got that bloom lying yss the cabin scuttle. Why didn’t you hoist the ts, and shove the boom over so that whoever below could get out? T’ll do it seeing that you one up.” 0 you von’t. Leave the boom alone. I placed lat way on purpose.” 3 i “The dickens you did,” cried the boatman -in ry ‘ise. “Why? To keep somebody below for a 2 > lark about it. I’ve got three burglars down \ Three burglars!” chorused the boatmen. es, and I want somebody to notify the con- to come here and get them.” : 3 this a joke?” asked the boatman, suspi- ‘No it isn’t a joke. It’s a fact.” ay, who are, you? One of the boarders here?” - My name is William West, and I’m stop- ng. over the Fourth with my boss, Broker Ben- e boatmen were well acquainted with Mr. m, and the boy’s explanation somewhat al- he complexion of affairs. : ave you really got three burglars in the in of the sloop?” ; id you I had.” . they the chaps the constable and two ties went out hunting for this morning?” another boatman, who had heard some- about three crooks being’ in the neighbor- s,” replied Billy. ie did you manage to capture them?” asked . boatman, evidently astonished that one oy could accomplish such a feat. -j stole a march on them.” Dia 7 fen’t any time to explain now. Will one uu notify, the authorities that the burglars rd this sloop?” of the boatmen seemed desirous of under- the mission, for their absence from the s liable to lose them a job. At that mo- lage boy appeared on the scene, and he | to carry the information to the head ; house. He had no objection to doing NEW BOY Billy said he would, and forthwith narrated — what had happened the preceding night at Mx. Benson’s house, and what had happened to him x ae afternoon when he went promenading the © - cliffs. Sey 2 “So they caught you first?” said the boatman. e “They did, and I guess they wish now they had left me alone.” 2 = “You’re a pretty smart boy, I guess,” said the - Re set “You say Mr. Benson is your boss?” c es.”’ “What do you do at his office?” “T’m his messenger.” Bees “What do you have to do in Wall Street?” = Billy explained. ; “You ought to get rewarded for catching them . burglars.” « : i _ “Maybe so. I am satisfied with the honor of capturing them.” a ee “Tt is quite an honor for a boy, I’ll admit.” <ouiee Fortunately the constable had just returned = from his fruitless hunt for the crooks when the boy reached his house and, gave him Billy’s mes- sage. The officer was just about to sit down to his dinner, but the message caused him to post- ~ “pone his meal. He hurriedly got his two deputies together, and provided with revolvers and hand- ; = cuffs, they started for the wharf. On their arrival © Billy told him about-his capture of the rascals in as few words as possible, and then the officers set about securing their prisoners. ; Aare As the rascals possessed revolvers themsel¥es this might prove a strenuous piece of business, but with the help of the boatmen, whom he , pressed into service, the head constable expected to get over it all right. The beom was hoisted — out of the way, the scuttle cover was thrown up, and the three rascals ordered to come out and | give themselves up. They seemed disposed to re- sist, but three revolvers were pointed down at them and they gave in. They were marched to 2 the lock-up, and the procession attracted some . attention. Billy only wertt part way with them and then turned off toward Mr. Benson's house, eo he arrived to find the family half through inner. CHAPTER XII—Billy’s Deal in 0. & H. “Did you lose your bearings, Billy?” asked Mr. Benson with a smile as his new messenger took __ his place at the table. 34 “No, sir. I had my, hands full bringing those ; three burglars who were around here last night to the constable.” 2 See The broker and his family looked at him with some surprise. ~ A * “Explain yourself, Billy,’ said Mr. Benson. “Tt’s quite a story, sir.” ise: “Then wait till you’ve eaten your dinner,. — said the broker, as the servant placed a_ plate of soup before his young guest. aah aie) Billy tried to catch up with the family by eats © ing fast, but hardly succeeded. However, they waited at the table till he was through, for it — wouldn’t have been the proper thing to leave him alone. After topping off with the dessert _ and coffee, Billy was ready to tell the story o his afternoon’s adventures, and the Benson fam were curious to learn what he had

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20 BENSON’S NEW BOY ‘the three burglars. Billy lost no time in be- ginning his story, and he greatly astonished his ~ audience before he got through. “Upon my word, you are a wonderful boy,” said Mr. Benson, and the others agreed that he certainly was. “And did you recover all the stclen property?” _ “T couldn’tysay, sir. The constable was anxi- - ous to get his prisoners to the lock-up and did not waste any time examining the cabin. He left one of his men in charge of the boat, and said that he would be right back to look up the plunder.” “Tt is probable he will find all the stolen gocds on the sloop. The owners of it, when they learn that they are indebted to you for its recovery, will doubtless make up a purse and present it to “*you,” said the broker. Billy and the family went out on the veranda to enjoy the light breeze that was blowing in fiom the Sound. .It was not yet dark, though the sun had set. Hardly had they got seated when one of the constable’s deputies appeared and told Mr. Benson that. Billy would be ex- _ pected to appear at the examination of the pris- oners before the justice about ten next morning. “r won’t be able to go to New York by the early train, then,” said the boy. “That won’t make any difference, Billy. I guess Mr. Reed can get along without you for a few hours,” said the broker. ; Before the prisoners were brought before the justice the news of their capture was known all over the village. When Mr. Benson and Billy appeared at the little court-room, where the justice presided when the-occasion called for it, they found quite a crowd of spectators. The burglars «were brought in and pleaded ‘‘Not guilty.” Theh Billy was called upon to tell the ‘story of their capture, and when he had finished the villagers looked upon him as something of a hero, for his exploit was considered a phe- nomenal one for a boy. The head constable pro- duced a big pile of valuable plunder, and quite a bunch of money, all of which had been ‘ound in ithe sloop. The owners of it were not yet known, - ‘but it was expected that they would come for- ward and ‘claim their individual property as * goon as the capture of the burglars became gen- erally known. The three rascals were held for trial, and were remanded to the county jail in the meantime. Billy had an early lunch and reached the office in Wall Street at about two o’clock. No- body in the office knew that he had been down to Mr. Benson’s summer house to pass the Fourth but he reported the fact to the cashier to account for not turning up at the proper time. On his first errand out he met Bob Brooks and told him where he had been. é “You must be pretty solid with your boss,” - said Brooks. “Brokers, as a rule, don’t invite _ their messengers to visit at their houses, either in the city or the country. I’ve been working two years for Mr. Parsons and he hasn’t favored “me with an invitation like you got. What kind of time did you have?” ; ~ ““Rather slow for the Fourth, but otherwise bang-up. I had two exciting experiences which - I will tell you about later on if I meet you after ~ office hours, So Jone and Billy walked off. When he returned to C—— Street that after- ' Street, ain’t I, mother?” : he asked her how she was getting alon _ several of the tenants remark that the trouble with either of them since the home from the hospital. - running in luck like myself.” ; _as a hornet to see the way. yo noon he reached his rooms and got into his eve day clothes before any of his friends saw | Later on they wanted to know where he had bei and what kind of time he had. He told the full particulars, and they could hardly beli his statement of the capture of the burg The story, however, appeared in the New papers next morning, and half the Wall S messengers read it. To say that they astonished at the exploit of Benson’s new would be putting it quite mild. Billy ma whole lot of new friends on the strength of — He received a letter from every one of the peo whose property he was the means of restor and most of them contained a check. The tote amount of these checks footed up $500, an gave his mother another $100 to put in the an for herself. It was about this time that son operators decided to take advantage of the slecy market to attempt a corner in O. & H. sg Billy. noticed that a lot of the shares we day after day, and it struck him that the something in the wind. He decided to iny bulk of his capital in 60 shares of it at see how he would come out. He had hardly made the deal before O. & H. began to rise at steady pace. O. & H. reached par befor brokers woke up to the fact that there was thing doing. They came rushing in from 4 summer plates, and for several days there w high old times in Wall Street. The stock boo up to 112, at which price Billy sold out, veal a profit of about $1,300, which made him wi close to $2,000: He said nothing to any but his mother about his success. See “Y’m kind of hoor ing things up in he said gleefully he had imparted the good news to her. “JY don’t understand how you have been a make so much money,’ she said. : “Tt’s my luck.” When a fellow is fort everything comes his way. It was the gr thing that ever happened to me to get t at Benson’s. He’s a fine boss to work f “T should think he was when he pre you with a nice suit of clothes and thos things you got at the store.” isk “Vve been doing my best to please him, he appreciates it.” ‘ Dap That evening he met Millie on the stai new place, - ; “Very well, indeed,” she answered. — “T haven’t heard any racket in your apar yet. I guess the O’Briens haven’t recover the shock of their fall down stairs. Tf seems. different since the accident.” | “Mrs. O’Brien is greatly changed,” girl. “Not only in appearance but She doesn’t fight at all any more O’Brien seems changed, too. I haven't “T’m glad to hear it. They certainly « | you without gloves, particularly Mr. “It is quite a relief to me to be 1 '“T should say so. It used to mak around. I hope you've seen the las

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IT hope so too,” replied the girl, but she cid seem to be very confident about it. ‘Billy her that he was getting on first rate in | Street and’ was making extra money. be- his wages, on the side, but he did not tell how much he had made so far nor how le madeit.. — ‘e ‘Pm glad to hear it, Billy. I’m sure you de- e all the good fortune that comes-your way,” “Millie, and there was no doubt that she “meant it. . : he ‘Thanks, Millie. Now run along. I’m going wn to see the boys,” and Billy continued on ; way downstairs. CHAPTER XIII.—A Valuable Find. s ser the boom in O. & H. was over the mar- nt to sleep again and the brokers passed and the other messengers were having a hat easy time of it and were taking ad- e of the fact, for they knew it would not long. One morning as Billy was walking rely.down Broad Street with an envelope in is hand two boys came along and saw !:im. ley. were the same pair who had “initiated” im on New Street, as mentioned in our opening te There’s Benson’s new boy,” remarked the bump into him, accidental like, and Ill his envelope and give him a run down eet,” said the other with a grin of sipated fun... Satine : e street was pretty clear. that day and of- good field for a chase. The boy nated ya ‘was ripe for any kind of mischief. and e aereed to do as his companion suggested. They sneaked up behind Billy, and as Carter gave a thump in the back as he pretended to ble, the other boy, known as Jenkins, hed the envelope and made off like a shct. the envelope go. He saw Jenkins, whom ‘yecognized, making off with it. That was a eh for him. Paying no attention to the boy o had struck him, he darted after Jenkins at that made some of the passersby look I Jenkins had no intention of doing His object was to tantalize . Billy came up with him ‘Italian applé vender’s push cart. Billy fol- but Jenkins was pretty active and man- ed to elude him by keeping the cart between After circling the wagon three times Billy d and so did Jenkins. ; do you mean by snatching that note » demanded Billy. “Hand it over.” and take it away from me,” replied Jen- a grin. 1 catch you I'll make you look two ways ida replied Billy, looking hot and im- ce jerred the of their time out of town with their tamilies. in the act of turning on Carter when - the envelope and — BENSON’S NEW BOY - “Don’t you dare open that!” roared Billy, mak- ing another dive at him. ; At that moment Carter slipped up and wave him a sudden shove which sent him staggering against the vender’s cart. Over went the cart and Billy went sprawling on top of it. “Jenkins roared. with mirth, flung” the envelope in Billy’s face and then he and Car- ter ran off as fast as they could, disappearing up’ Beaver Street, leaving Billy to square things with the furious Italian. It happened that the Italian had seen Carter push Billy, and he knew it wasn’t wholly his fault that the cart was overturned. . Still he judged that the boy was of the same stripe as the others, and he seized him and demanded that he help pick up his fruit and pay for any that was spoiled. A the easiest way out of the trouble Billy agreed to do that. He helped the man. to’ right his cart*and recover his apples: None of the apples were hurt, and no other boys being around at the moment, the Italian lost none of his property, but he wanted ten cents to pay him for the trouble of sorting his ‘stock out again and polishing some of them up.. Billy paid up and then crossed over to the Mills Building, where he was bound. “Those chaps are looking for trouble, and — they’ll get it,’ muttered the young messenger, “I won’t do a thing to that biggest fellow when I - eatch him. He’s too a dressing down.” — ; 5 Billy delivered his message to the cashier of the office he’entered. é -“Take it in to Mr. Hooley. He’s in his office,” - said the cashie¥, handing him back the note. Billy knocked at the door of the private room and was told to enter. He did so. Hooley read the note. ; Z “Wait a moment,” he said, getting up and go- ing outside. s - While he was out Billy happened to look on his desk and saw a memorandum lying there, and he took in the few words on it before he thought that he was reading something not intended for his eyes. This is what he read: “Hooley: Begin.at once and buy all the S. & T. you can get till I tell you to stop. Yours, Daly.” funny altogether and needs Billy recognized Daly as one of the biggest op- - erators in the Street, who had made loads of money in corners and other big financial trans- actions. «In a few minutes Hooley returned and handed Billy a small flat package to take back to his office, and the boy departed. “T believe I’ve got hold of a good tip,” thoug:-t Billy as he hurried along the corridor toward the elevator. “Daly wouldn’t order Hooley to buy a lot of S. & T. unless he expected to make a good- thing of it, and the only way I see he can do that is through a rise in the price. I’l] put Bob Brooks on to this. I owe him for the tip he gave me some time ago and which gave me my first boost.” He met Brooks about half-past twelve at a | , quick-lunch house. “Say, Bob, I’ve got hold of a good tip; and 1 want to let you in on it,” he said. j r “Let’s have it,’ said Brooks expectantly. == “Wait till we get outside,” replied Billy, begin-. ning on his meat stew. -— : Shae Twenty minutes later they were : ip?” asked B on the st: Now vhat’s your : ; r *

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BENSON’S NEW BOY 2 Billy told him about the memorandum he had seen on Broker Hooley’s desk. » “Looks good, doesn’t it?” he sa _ “First ‘class. of this that we can blow in on our “month,” said Brooks: e a haul out vacation next “Tl meet you after busi- ness hours and we'll go up to the little bank to- “All right,” said Billy, who then told him about _ the trick that Jenkins and Carter had played on him. “It cost me a dime and a lot of time, but im going to get square with those fellows. This is the second piece of funny. business they’ve worked off on me.” At that moment they reached Exchange Place ; spotted Jenkins and Carter walking slowly up toward New Street. : “There they are now,” said Billy. _*“Yes. The big fellow is Jenkins and the other ‘ They work for two brokers in the _ Vanderpool Building.” _ “You grab Carter and hold him w it out with the other.” They slipped silently up behind the unsuspect- ing youths, and before either was aware that s trouble in the air they were grabbed _“Y’ve got you at last, you lobster,” said Billy, - “whirling Jenkins around, “You think you can have things ‘all your own way with me, don’t “Leave me alone!” snarled Jenkins. “After Um through with you. Why did you - snatch that envelo pe out of my hand this morn- ' “Well, you had your lark.’ Now you’ve got to lly slapped him on both cheeks twice and then tripped him into the gutter. : . “Pll get square with you for this,” roared Jen- He looked around for something 2 Billy. A muddy-looking bundle of paper lay in the gutter within his reach: He snatched it up and threw it in Billy’s face. 1 } started after him, intending to wipe his face with it. Jenkins, however, was'fast enough on his feet _ to escape into the Vanderpoo! Building, and Billy He was. about to toss the pa- ' pers into the street when it struck him that some- thing was wrapped in the paper. soon saw that there was some- Billy caught it and had to let him go. He examined “Come up witl ten cents or I'll’ smack yi cheeks like I did your friend’s,’ ie He made a bluff to do it and Carter strug to escape from the grasp that Brooks ha on arm. “Let go of him, Bob,” said Billy, grabbing Ca ter himself. “Fish up that coin, and be quick about it.” = . “Vl have you pinched for robbin’? me!” Carter. : E ee Billy whirled him around, seized him by coat collar and trousers and ran him up to entrance of the Vanderpool Building. Z “Now go to work,” he said, giving him that sent him rolling on the floor, after wi rejoined Brooks. oA Ten as they walked down to Broad Street 1 . Showed the Boston City bonds to his comi ni “Five lundred dollars was offered for turn,” he said. : “Ts that a fact?” <. “Sure as you live. Look up yesterd and get the address. It’s a law office on way. No. 115, I think. Take them to th and collar the reward.’ . “Tl do it,” said Billy promptly... “J Jenkins putting me in the way of ma He'd havea fit if he knew that he let s1 slip out of his fingers. I’d like him to hear it. I couldn’t get better revenge on him “Dll see that he heais about it. I know s of his friends and I’ll tell them,” said Broo That afternoon Billy got hold of th which printed the notice referred to by and saw that he really had.the bonds th advertised for. He looked the lawyer’s number up in the telephone book and con: with his office. A clerk answered him : asked if Lawyer Howe was’ in. “No. He'll be here about four o’clock,” reply. Nee be “Tell him I'll be over at that hour wii Boston City bonds he advertised for,” sai “William West. I’m a Wall Street Good-by,” and Billy rang off.. eae At four o’clock he entered Lawyer How on one of the upper floors of 115 Broadw; lawyer was waiting for him. : “Where did you find the bonds?” asked th yer, after Billy had introduced himse the securities on his desk. os Billy explained the odd way in which h got hold of them. The broker smile 5 “You were lucky. That. other lad 1 not looking at what he picked up. — check for that amount, made out i It’s quite a windfall for you.” _ “Thank yot . ri put . plied Bill : ~ =e He

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t CHAPTER XIV.—Billy Creates a.Sensation. ‘Before calling on Lawyer Howe, Billy had visit- ed the little bank with Brooks and put in his or- oks was surprised at the size of his deal. Where did you get all that money, Billy? Been faking it on some deal you never told me about?” _ “Yes, I made $1,300 out of the boom in O. & H. e other day, and I got $500 from the people ree burglars down at Nansook.” . Tey Why didn’t you put me onto O. & H.?” didn’t have any tip. I noticed by the stock rt that a lot of the shares were changing oni , and I had an idea that meant something, so I took a chance on it, and made a profit of $22 - a share on 60 shares.” " went to the lawyer’s. When his mother came in that evening, hot and tired, Billy was waiting to a. / “Mother, you look done up. Working these hot ynoons is too much for you.. What you need a vacation.” ; : “J wish I could afford to take one,” she said, istfully. Mee “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t. Next day is the first of August. Here’s a hundred rs. Take it and go down to Coney Island ard there for a month.” ather save the money.” - ’s all nonsense. You’ve got $200 in the 1e week that followed S. & T. advanced slow- yo Next day the price went up to 95 in an ar taking Wall Street by surprise. The scene 0. & H. boom were repeated, and there ots of excitement and wilted collars in the hange for the rest of the week. Brooks sold son Friday at $17 a share. , eld on till next.day and collared $20 , clearing $4,000. This success raised his pital to $6,300, and he felt like a rich boy. Hé ent down to Coney Island that afternoon to “Sunday with his mother. Of course the bunch of money in the Wall Street mar- told her how much he had cleared her hands in astonishment. —_ est, you’re the luckiest boy in the said. he mother, I’m worth over $6,000 hat’s ‘a fortune.” other, to us.” i iss: are you going to do with it all?” make more money with.” : ‘won't lose any of it.” oe eae | BENSON’S NEW BOY der for 150 shares of S. & T. on margin at 85. - those property I recovered when I captured the They separated at Broadway and then Billy news he had: to tell her was that he had made , _ ledge, apparently 23 book I’ll put in $300 more for you. Then you'll be worth $500,” aan / “T}] Jet you have it when I go away Monday - . morning,” she said. “All yight.” During the week he was served with a notice to appear at the town where the three burglars were to-be tried and testify against them. He obeyed ‘the order, of course, and the crooks were convicted and got long sentences in the State ~ On the Saturday of that week Mr. Ben-_ son came to town, and before he left he told Billy” prison. Five the could take the next week off as a vacation. There wasn’t much doing, so he could get off just Billy thanked his employer, and. as well as not. put the week in at Coney Island with his mother. His vacation ended on the last day of August and with the first of September the brokers began to _ come back to the city with their families, It was fully two weeks later before Wall Street ~ took on its accustomed look. One day Mr. Benson . sent Billy to an office with a message, but when he reached the place the trader was very busy and could not be disturbed. There were three brokers standing together in the room waiting to see him, _ and Billy took up his position near them. They were talking about a syndicate that had been formed to corner M. & N. shares, and the boy heard all about it. Suddenly one of the traders noticed his presence, and asked him in an angry tone if he had been listening to their conversation. Before he could reply the door of the private room opened and the man who had been engaged with the broker came out. Billy took advantage of the chance to run in ' and deliver his note, There was no answer and he came out right away. The trader who had spoken to him was waiting for him and made a grab at his arm. ’ Billy eluded his clutch and ran out of the office. As the floor was up only one flight Billy didn’t stop to take the elevator, but —— The trader didn’t stop, but - ran down the stairs. kept on after him. He was pretty-active and evi- dently had made up his mind to catch the boy and get an explanation from him. There was a tall office building before the boy. his angry pursuer he began to climb up the face of the building. There were big joints between the stones and be got his hands and feet in the openings, and began to work his way upward. A crowd of passers-by stopped and began to watch him, and wonder what he was trying to do. Billy, who had attempted the feat more out of bravado than anything else, kept on ascending, like a fly - ‘ss on a wall, till he reached the broad cornice under the second story windows. Getting up on it he sat down, with his legs swinging in the air and grinned down at his discomfitted pursuer and the inquisitive and curious crowd. The sight nat- urally drew others, and especially all the mes- senger boys who were in that neighborhood. Be- — fore many minutes a tremendous mob was gathered in front of the ‘building all looking up — at the unconcerned Billy. He enjoyed the sensa- tion he was creating hugely. Brokers, clerks and — visitors in the building were soon attracted to the windows, and they wondered what he excitement — was about. Those on the upper floor looked down, ‘but only a few could see the boy sitting on the as contented as-a clam a To escape —

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ee water. Naturally the gathering of such a crowd * prought several policemen to the spot, and they wanted to know what was the matter. No one could tell them. All they could do was to point at the boy. They soon learned that he had ‘elimbed up there. A number of messengers rec- ognized Billy. ““That’s Benson’s new boy,” they told each other, and they began to call out to him. | ' Noticing that the policemen were pushing to- ward the entrance of the building, Billy surmised - that they intended to come up to the second floor and take him in. He decided that he wouldn’t trouble them. They might arrest him for at- ‘tracting crowd and blocking the sidewalk. Such a thing is against the law, and Billy knew it. Accordingly he stood up, made several polite bows -to the crowd, who began to entertain a suspicion of his sanity, and then climbing up a step or two further, made his way into the corner office through the open window, looking as chipper as any boy who felt satisfied with himself. CHAPTER X¥V.—Conclusion. ; The clerks in the office looked at him in sur- - prise as he passed through and out at the door. ‘ fe never said a word, but walked with dignity - and composure. Two policemen were getting out of the elevator, and he turned his face away lest they should recognize him. They hurried into the corner office, and Billy hastened downstairs, and was presently pushing his wav through the crowd. He looked up and saw the two policemen looking out of the corner window. Just then he was joined by Bob Brooks, “What’s the excitement, Billy?” he asked. “A, boy climbed up the face of that building to the ledge of the second story and sat there making - faces at the crowd,” responded Billy. “Where did he go?” “ “He went in at that corner window.” “I see two cops up there.” { “They’re looking for hit.” “J wonder who he was?” “T believe he was Benson’s new boy. “Go on. What are you-giving me?” Bs “The truth. I’ll tell you how it was,” and Billy proceeded to tell Brooks how he was chased out of the office building across the street by an irate proker hot after his scalp, and how he had crawled up the side of the granite corner building to get away from him and cut a lark at the same time. “Gee! You’re a corker, you are. This will be ‘in the papers.” : “What do I care?” 7 @ BENSON’S NEW BOY ‘and furnished it up to suit his mother. . “About a boy who had climbed up the outsi of one of the buildings to get away from an angr; broker.” er. “Mr. Benson is waiting for you. Hurry inside. Billy did so, and before he came out he had tol his story to the broker. Benson laughed heartily — at his messenger’s adventure, but told him he was _ likely to hear more from it, as the police would — up after material to round out his story, and B , chased ot port pee euidige He was ay angry. e called on Benson and complained © about Billy. pea “Oh, I guess the boy didn’t hear anything you and your friends said,” replied Mr, Bensont Boe he did he won’t say anything about it. He’s a good and reliable boy, I assure you. He’s o: been with me about three months, but I have p fect confidence in him.” - ere Billy took advantage of the pointer, however, — and bought 500 shares of M. & N. stock. He also — gave Brooks the hint to get in on it, too..> Thre weeks later Billy sold out at a profifit of a li over $17 a share, making $8,700 altogethe wish we had space to detail more of Billy experiences in Wall Street. He was a live and kept everybody else alive who had any to do with him, without getting down to foolish tricks. He continued to make money Wall Street as time passed and he learne ropes better. He hired a snug little flat u about this time that Mrs. O’Brien unexpectedly came into some property in Ireland, and she a her husband decided to cross the ocean with children and take possession of it. They Millie that she could go and live with Mrs. W who seemed anxious to have her for company, : matters to that effect were soon arranged, greath to Billy’s delight, for he thought a whole lot o Millie. To-day Billy West, (West isn’t his n by the way), is a well-known broker i Street, and is worth quite a comfortable f all made out of the market and his custom The lady who presides over his home was on Millie Sackett. When he gave me the fore facts, with others, to be used in this story, hi me that it made him feel like a boy agai: over his youthful experiences, particular part when he began life,in Wall Street as B new boy. : * ' Next week’s issue will contain “DRIV WORK; OR, A FORTUNE FROM A STRING.” ——$—__ LOVE LU RE DARING, ‘Chis mysterious pi attracts and fascinates, 2

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| Ninety Degrees South or, Lost in the Land of Ice By GASTON GARNE (A Seria! Story.) ‘CHAPTER XIV. The Loss of a Home.. must save his life and Sadie’s at all haz- sprang to the outer door, found it loeked, eized a hammer and in an instant shivered ass in the door to atoms. He quickly made his escape through the aper- , and raced along the passage and to the up- eck, shouting a warning to all who might lin sound of his voice: 1 ae your lives!) The ship will blow up!” hing the saloon-deck, Phil called Sadie’s Be kk loudest voice, and then ran to her value your life!” ; girl came from her room white and trem- when, without waiting,to give a single of explanation, Phil seized her and hurried é!” he cried, “where are you? Make haste !” he cried, setting her on her feet and ing forward. “The vessel may blow up at 9 jw : a tas a companion-ladder amidships, lead- wn to the ice, and Phil hurried Sadie down ‘ollowing close behind. ea 1? he gasped, as he reached the icé and d-the girl’s hand. : soon the ship may be blown up.” ey fairly raced over the ice, Sadie asking ms, but trusted implicitly to her com- engine had not been of the best, the uld have.exploded before now,” mut- , as they reached the rocks. is the matter?” asked Sadie. “Could e done?” spoke there came a tremendous boom- , the blackness was rent by a fierce ‘flame and white vapor, which seemed 5 up straight to the very heavens, and the shaken by a most terrific explosion. ‘moment the sky all around was lighted d by the glare one could see great dark L is the “matter? What has happened?” ie Rd the sound of the explosion had cho from the cliffs. lers have blown up. Wills put on all and closed all the valves. I could ild have lost my life.’ 9 : ee to warn me, to save me?” FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY “There is no knowing’ | thing’ befere the flames reach the cabin. led into the air and falling at a great - em to open them, and if I had re-" and that will b 6 25% “But where is Wills? Has he perished?” “TI don’t know. I have not seen him.” ares “And the man would blow up the ship to kill | you? He must be mad!” aes “I fear he is. He had,all the looks of a maniac, I never saw such an expression on a human face, x and I hove that I never shall again. The man : was like a fiend, and his look haunts me yet.” = ie “Then he may have lostghis life in the explo- sion. Can you tell how much of the vessel still remains?” “No, not yet; it is too dark. I am afraid, how-’ ever, that we will not be able to patch it-up so. as to float it.” “TI wasn’t thinking of that so much as of our being able to live on, it till we can get away from here.” é > ; “Yes, it is quite likely that there is enough of her left to form a shelter, All the midship se¢-. . tion is probably blown out, but it is likely that ~ the after-quariers ar¢ still in good condition.” — “Suppose we go and investigate?” said Sadie: “There must. be some portion of it habitable.” They had taken but a few steps,’ when Phil suddenly stopped, pointed to the wreck and said: “Look ‘there! I am afraid we have no home on beard the brave old ship, after all.” “What’s the matter?” asked Sadie. “Don’t you see the portholes all lighted up?” “Yes, cf course, but what is there in that?’ Before Phil could reply tongue of fiame sprang up from the deck, and in a few moments the wreck could be plainly seen in the firelight. “The flames will sweep right through her from ‘ end to end,” said Phil. “The explosion has scat- jae tered the fire in the furnaces. The -coal will = burn, the woodwork will ignite, and there is F000) eee sufficient for the flame to make fire enough to consume the whole interior of the vessel.” Even as he was speaking they saw flames burst from the-side, amidships, and could see plainly* that the section where the engine-room had been was now a raging furnace. 3 ms Even at the distance they stood they could ag feel the heat, and they could well realize that, with a strong wind and with all the draught ~~ there was, it would soon grow much more intense. 6 “We might get aboard by the after-companion ——- ladders,” said Phil, “and try and save some- There: °° are the instruments, the compass and the charts. We must save them.” 4 “Let’s try, at any rate,” answered Sadie, hur- rying on at the boy’s side. © : There was light enough to show them the way, and the heat increased perceptibly as they hur- ried forward. ¢ puddenly a hee a ie sound was eard, severa es repeated at short int Is. we re ee a gala Sadie, ee “No, it is the glass covering of the ort-holes,” Ge said Phil. “The heat has crated them, See, ‘alas ee flames are rushing out at the portholes now.” It was even so, and as they came in line with the after portholes they saw the flames pouring from them also. eatin Soest peak os _-“I am afraid that our chance of finding shelte in any part, of the wreck are gettin | very slim,’ said Phil. “There'll be nothing but the hull rarped and twisted by t

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Oe Fit, aes : xz nat - SEL pee FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY wy (2 heat that I doubt if it will hold together, and though. I have sworn to get rid of you, ani then there is ancther thing.” mean to do it.” ; 1 Sone “What is that?” asked Sadie, Phil having As the man advanced upon him, Phil spr paused. | ; suddenly forward so as to protect Sadie, se The heat will melt the ice around the hull, the Wills and grappled with him. : water will come in, and ‘it will be only a ques- They- struggled by the fierce glare from he . + tion of time when-she sinks.” burning wreck, being now at a point where they Bn “And é¢an nothing be done?” asked Sadie anx- could see it plainly. ; te iously. For a long time neither appeared to get the es “Tam afraid not,” Said Phil, and at that mo- yantage, but at last Phil felt his strength les _ * ment there was a sharp sound like the report of ing, and knew that unless help came the vill a pistol, followed by three or four similar sounds _ would get the better of him. — Be in quick succession. s Suddenly exerting all his remaining stren “The ice is cracking under the fierce heat, he threw the man from him and staggered — exclaimed the boy. “Quick, we must reach the panting and breathless. bluffs. We do not know what may happen next.” In another moment Wills would have been upo. Even then there was another report, and they him, but in that instant the intense brilliancy : saw the Yee crack not far from them, the water around him was succeeded by a darkness so a Pees Wh une Sa ro that *it made one’s eyeballs ache. hey might cut off from the shore if the Seay yee ae Srackind continued, and. delays were dangerous. or a as SO ar eee ee Phil seized Sadie’s hand and the two raced 4s 6 it might Se possible to see dimly, after across the ice toward the pass between the bluffs eyes became accustomed to the difference! Ks ~~ at full speed, not knowing how soon their retreat It Gad easy. to account fortthe ehuth ere be cut off. a ; .. dazzling light to. pitchy darkness, for the yee uddenly a erack opened right across their only one explanation. : Lote path, but, with an encouraging ery to his com- Pieceaas Hlistaring: farhade-like Wea Pomveacr il Dteparet: to eae Vie lay fire had so melted and cracked the ice all a1 re The crack was not more than three or four feet wide, and was thrown into full view by the that the vessel had suddenly sunk, putting out t , fire, causing volumes of steam to arise and : *flames from the burning vessel. are : ; : “Now!” cried Phil, and they both took the leap, ing the water as if bya submarine volea hand in hand, and landed safely on the opposite There was a_terribie rumbling and shore and raced on as the crack increased to seven S0und, accompanied by the noise of splinte or eight feet in width, and the hissing water and the fall of condensed vapor in a hea spurted in all’ directions. all around them. 2 eos The cracks increased, great-blocks of ice were ° a Enit flew back. quickly and felt his han ground to powder in an instant, the escaping enly grasped by another, the friendly pres “Water hissed and surged and dashed high into of which assured him that it was Sadi the air, the light from the fire, now increasing Come to his help. : _ in brilliance, shining full upon one of the strang- In a few moments he found himsel - est sights that Phil had ever witnessed. dark, warm place, out of the wind, where j They reached the shore none too soon, and sound he heard was his own and Sadie sought a sheltered nook in the pass where they | !ng, and where the darkness was abso could see the light from the fire, but were pro- penetrable. Ra, ~ tected from the wind which they could hear blow- During the absence of Captain Wssex they h ing a gale just beyond. i : frequently gone ashore, and had found-nume1 “The wind has come up since the flames started | openings in the bluffs, some of them being cz and will only increase them,” muttered Phil. of considerable size, and it was in one of 1 hag “We have now no home but the caves.” _he judged, that he now found himself. — _ “Yes, and I'll drive you out of even them,” For a long time he remained in silence. hissed a voice, and Phil saw the evil-minded Wills against the rocky walls, till at length, f: standing not ten feet away and glaring at him hear anything but his own breathin, with a look of the most intense hate. - pered: “Are you here, Sadie?” “Yes, ” : : : “Have you heard or seen anything CHAPTER XV. uy “No, and I do not think he will fin : but I think it is as well to make no The Return of Captain Hssex. oneness crn T will seers Phil sat on the floor, with his bac but did not fall asleep for two hour: ing no sound, he gradually allowed come upon him. | Aes tee Some hours later they went out. the moon was-shining brightly, th: ~ cleared, and there was little or no va Pointing to the light of the fire, Phil said, u ‘Sternins 2bo, 2

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Fame and Fortune Weekly ~NEW YORK, JANUARY 6, 1928 HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. O. y Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances y other way are at your risk. We accept Postage ps the same as cash. When seuding silver wrap Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting velope. Write your name and address plainly, Seca swabs Seen eet Postage Free 38 cents aeeeae He eee 1.00 MY * 2.00 “ “ $00 eee e eens s es letters to ESTBURY PUBLISHING CO., Inc. * 140 Cedar Street, New York City. D) KNIGHT, Pres. and Treas. MARR, Vice-Pres. and Sec. ERESTING ARTICLES - STUART PORTRAIT FOUND ert Stuart’s portrait of Thomas Jefferson, ving remained in possession of some of the Jefferson family since it was 160 years ago, has been bought for an collector at a price said to be the ver paid for any of Stuart’s portraits. news was given out recently by E. C. , art dealer, on a cable message from his t in London, who said he had the picture and “on his way home with it. It was found in 2E WARS ARE LIKELY, LORD ALLENBY E x BELIEVES Tax dangers have not yet disappeared, declared Marshall Lord Allenby at a reunion of the ucks Hussars. The cavalry was threat- extinction, he said, but it had not died ‘ Vhatever the pacifists may say, we are not ne Ge fighting,” Lord Allenby asserted. es anks and airplanes cannot win victory. rt vant to detract from the splendid work of ntry, but they must have cavalry to help OBERS PARIS; FEW GO TO GAY ; PLACES y purse-strings, which have hung’ loose : immediately after the World War, pulled together tightly. me ‘~% a A ipstan Tea FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY , 3 ar was one to end war, and let ‘us’ aye another war there will be countries at usually crowded when the weather drives chents” from outdoor terraces, are almost deserted, while the ordinarily gay Montmartre tourists haunts ~ are so empty that in some cf them orchestras take quarter-hour intermissions between dances. URGE IMMIGRATION CHANGE Before the days of restricted immigration, quota laws and passports, some immigrants arrived in America—without, in this case, passing through Ellis Island. Having established immigration _ precedent here, they left to their kin establishment of the General Society. of Mayflower Descend- ants. “Tf it be advisable to amend the Immigration Act of 1924,” said the society recently in-.an official statement, “to allow the family of an im- migrant or a descendant of a citizen of the United » States to enter the United States,” the society recommends that such a family be given prece- dence in the quota without increasing the quota itself. BUDDHIST PAGODA HIT BY QUAKE IN BURMA... © 3 A widespread earthqueke in Burma of ten sec- onds’ duration is reported in an Exchange Tel- egraph despatch from Bangoon. The central pagoda in Bangoon, an object of veneration by . thousands of Buddhists, was' badly cracked. It is “feared loss of life may have occurred in the out- ser lying districts, (Rangoon is dominated by the great gdlden pile of the Shwe Dagon pagoda, the centre of Bur- mese religious life, the most venerable and the most universally visited of all places of waren in Indo-China. Its peculiar sanctity is due to the fact that it is the only pagoda credited with con- - taining actual relics of Guatama, and the three Buddhas who preceded him in this world, It is 368-feet high and towers above the city on a hill itself 168 feet above the city level. The huge structure. is covered with pure gold and once*in every generation this gold is renewed by “public subscription.) i COMET STILL FAILS TO KEEP ITS DATE HERE fe The mysterious comet due to appear in the Northern Hemisphere after sundown is still be- hind schedule. ; When it failed to show up as expected, ob-| servers thought it might be obscured by the smoky haze over the city. That was not the case. Prof. Frank Schlessinger of the Yale Obser- vatory informed The World that the comet has not: yet arrived. It may be visible, he said, al- <8 though he inclines to the belief that it will’ not appear until later. “The orbit_of the comet was computed from. three days of@observation in the Southern Hemi-| “Three days are. shere,” said Dr. Schlessinger. net enough time for making accurate calcula- ions. It is impossible to say just when it will. appear, but itshould be here in a day or two, and- we are constantly on the lookout for it.’ According te. Dr. Schlessinger the comet wi Scorer, be the brightest since 1910, ies ,Halley’s Comet swept its brilliant tail Sy ae et

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=> _ A Strange Adventure By Colonel Ralph Fenton —_—-- “Lf suppose I am eccentric,” said Dick Claver- ing; “at least, they tell me so; at any rate, there’s ‘a story about that, if you care to hear it.” “Go on—go on!” was the unanimous vote. Dick settled himself comfortably—that is to ‘say, threw himself back in his chair, and one leg over the back of another. ; “It was a queer thing to do,” he began. : ‘What was?” asked Swisher. “That will be made,” said Dick, “but I sup- pose he was eccentric, too.” “You forget that you haven’t told us who he _ was,’’ said’ the president. : “Well, I can’t say | knew him myself,” re- turned Dick, “though I was his distant relation —-he had none but distant relations, in fact, of whom I was most distant. It-was for that reason, - perhaps, or maybe because having never seen me, he disliked me less than the others, that he left me-all his wealth.” : ; ; Dick had a way of beginning a story in the middle and working it both ways, that wasn’t likely to be bettered by asking questions. So, without further interruption, they allowed him to proceed on his own plan. “The cut-off relations, you may be sure,” he con- : tinued, “looked upon my gocd fortune with any- — . thing but equanimity. They considered me a Sup- planter, a sort of testamentary usurper, in short, avho had robbed them of their rights. : “Those nearest in blood tried to break the will. The testator, they said, wasn’t in his right mind when he made it, and proofs were brought up of ‘many queer things he had said and done. But the jury thought a man could be queer without being crazy,.and so found a verdict establishing the disputed document. “Of course I was hated worse than ever by the - disappointed claimants; but their. spite gave me small concern. With a light heart and plenty of money, a man is apt to be on good terms with retro and not to mind much what other people fees thinks ¢ , a “J went to spend a summer in the mountains. At an old-fashioned country seat, half hotel and half farmhouse, I found comfortable quarters and pleasant. companions—among the latter a couple of half-fledged doctors, in whom the pranks and vagaries into which the exuberance of spirits often led me, seemed to excite a lively interest. They were constantly seeking to draw me out, They seemed to think me amusing, to find enter- » tainment in my freaks; and to gratify them I was ever ready with some new, extravagance. , “One evening they invited me to take a ride’ with them to visit a friend in the eighborhood, a ‘brother chip,’ they said, with whom they as- sured me I would be delighted. «It was a long jaunt over a wild mountain . xoad, but we chatted the time away, and at length, as the light began to fall, drew up before a large /Stone pbuilding. ; : Spe This is Dr: | panion “As pan: SS ip Crotchett’s,’ said one of my com- : alighted pee eS S. : g we and ascended the steps, the. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Re Z as doctor came to the door. He received us cord and the ceremony of introduction over, led way in. He was a tall, lank man, with a. shr eunning face, clothed with one of those perp: smiles which it would be a relief to see bro now and then by a frown. ; eee “‘'Show Mr. Clavering up, Leech,’ he sai one of my friends; ‘you know the way, a ; pny a word or two to Say to my brother Pellett - ere.’ Ry “Leech took my arm, and at the end of a hallway on-the third floor, led me into a dim lighted room. I thought it a sfrange place to con duct a guest to, but made no remark. ik “Be seated,’ said Leech. ‘I shall return moment.’ : “So saying, he stepped out and closed the “Though it was summer the night was co that mountain region, and morning and ev fires were customary. Feeling a little chilly afte our long ride, I attempted to draw a chair ; stood near the wall toward a heating appara at one end of the room. gee “Judge to my surprise to find the chair im- movable. My curiosity was excited. I took a sur yey of the apartment. The lamp by which i lighted. hung from the ceiling out of reach. only articles of furniture’ were the sta chair, a small iron bedstead and beddin former fastened to the wall—and a wash similarly secured. I examined the» wind was narrow, and guarded outside: by ‘th bars. ; : “What could be the meaning of all this? gan to feel a tremor coming over me, Be perspiration stood on my forehead... the door, essayed to- open it, but found i from without! I shook it violently, called loud] for Leech, and then made desperate. effor kick down the door; but it was too stro heavy, and inspection revealed the fac was thickly plated with iron. nisi “A vague feeling of terror had drive most frantic, when a slight, grating ; tracted my attention. ws 73 “A portion of the door turned outwa upon a hinge, disclosing a smail, square through which I discerned the face. of chett, with his rigid, sickening smile. _ “What is the meaning of this?’ I dem quite fiercely. ee “Come, come, Mr. Clavering, be caln the doctor, in his smooth, hypocritical citement will do you great harm, you trust you'll soon be better.’ te “ ‘Better! I exclaimed. ‘Why, there’s on. earth the matter with met = “You are scarcely the best judge of that, the quiet response. — pp ee eae “ ‘But I tell you I was never sick in yelled, driven to frenzy by such insolent me “‘Not exactly sick, perhaps,’ returne perturbable doctor, ‘but you have not been q yourself lately, you see—not quite--— é “And he tapped his forehead signi “Then you take me to be crazy?’ I ing into a laugh at the absurdity of the «Well, well, if you only keep quiet, excitement, we hope to bring you a month or so.’ ggasi eS _ “I strove to dash my fist i = 3

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ih 2 but the aperture closed suddenly, and I only skin- ed my knuckles. ‘Next morning breakfast was brought by a rvant, and passed through the opening. ‘ “This man was coarse and brutal-looking, ap- itly of the class not usually money-proof. “There could be no harm in making the trial, “had a considerable sum about me, and be- gan with an offer sufficient, as I thought, to tempt man’s supidity. e rejected it, however, but in such a way to render it evident he was only holding out more. - was too impatient to haggle. mly help me out of this, and 1 will give you have,’ I said, naming the amount. ‘Vl put you in a way of working your own way out,’ he replied; ‘that’s the best I can. do, it it must be a cash-up job.’ ut the means of escape in my hands,’ I an- d, ‘and that moment the money goes into raed With my next meal my new friend brought a nall steel saw anda coil of rope. ee ‘All you have to do,’ he said, ‘is to raise the sash and saw ihrougi a couple of the’ iron bars. m wait till night, and by means of this rope, you may safely reach the ground. It’s the longest I could get, but when you reach the end, you'll have to drop a few feet. Once you’re safe 11 come in and remove the rope and twist up sheet, letting it hang out of the window, at they may think you’ve done all without ith one hand J received my purchase, and » money with the other. ittle tool worked like magic. rs I had sawed nearly through two of the aving barely enough to hold them ih place In a couple set in. ; Id hardly wait for the darkness, but came, it took but a moment to complete , remove the bars, adjust the rope, and y descent. my feet had passed the end, __ about to let go my hold, confiding in the word as to the distance remaining. man may have played me false,’ some- yhispered; ‘he may think my death the best y against the discovery of his bribery.’ ‘been unable, while a prisoner, to look out y window upon the ground, and now all “was black darkness. everal seconds I heard nothing. — came a sound as of some object, far bounding from cliff to cliff. - : ith what speed I could I clambered back into old quarters. | , : oon I heard a step outside.” _ : ouched so as to be hidden by the opening ‘as it swung inwards, springing from my ment, I seized the villain by the throat. fake the least noise, and J’l] strangle you!’ through my clenched teeth. ‘Now give aoney! : en ie; and I will?’ he gasped. ye FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY . ee) _ ov less _potency—principally ae Ui “Tt was handed over. : ; “Springing out of the door, I closed and locked it on my late accomplice. : - “Y rushed down the stairs and along the pas- sage to the front door. “Fortunately it was early in the evening, and I found it open, and a few moments saw me on my Way home, which I reached in.safety.” “But what about the motive of your imprison- ment?” asked Farmer Longilaie. “Oh, it was all a put-up jos beween the doc- tors and disinherited relations, to enable the lat- tex to get control of my estate. The certificate of two doctors, as the law stoad, was enouzh to get a man locked up as a lunatic, and my good fricnds, Leech and Pellett, had done me that— service. But didn’t J make it warm for the whole set by an action for false imprisonment afterwards? To avoid the consequences, they were obliged to leave the country, and I have never heard of them since.” 5 Y g .. THE FUGITIVE AURORA BOREALIS FACES AN INTERNATIONAL QUIZ “A campaign more than resolute is now under way to rob the aurora borealis -of its secrets. For centuries this strange phenomenon has fired the imagination of scientists and of late years. much valuable data have been organized. But a. great deal remains to be learned. The effort has now been made international in scope. At a recent meeting of the International Geodetic and ~ Geographic Union, held in Prague, Czechoslc- vakia, it was decided that the co-operation of all nations should be solicited in the quest of run-- ning these beautiful, mysterious and, in certain respects, these mischievous Northern lights to their Jair. 2x - Mischievous, yes. The present offensive waged by specialists of many lands is not altogether ‘a. matter of scientific curiosity; for in this age of of electrical expansion the Northern Lights rep- resent. frequently an inimical force of greater less, of course, though they can, on oegasion, play very queer and sometimes rather disconcerting pranks. Only the other day it was reported tnat the au- rora borealis had been caught upsetting telegraph — operations in the United States—charging the wires with excess electricity and making it im- possible for a time, over a certain area, to send asp, and the money was re- th

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MANY CITIES HUNT KIDNAPING GANG WITH $700,000 STOLEN DIAMONDS Police of more than a half dozen cities, with re- - vovery of more than $700,000 of stolen diamonds | ‘as their objective, have joined the Chicago au- -_ 4horities in a search for twenty-two men and wo- yen, said to be members of the gang that kid- raped Morris Reismer, St. Paul, Minn., real es- tate dealer recently. ~ ; ; Hight suspects-have been arrested. They and the twenty-two at large are said by police to con- - stitute the most powerful diamond robbery gang in the United States. Simultaneously, it is charged, they carried on kidnaping plots on an extensive scale. In possession of those still at large, police say, is the nearly $700,000 of loot, proceeds of rob- peries in Chicago, New York, Brooklyn, Phila- - cities Q Ss. Reismer according to the story, told after his yelease was lured to Chicago by a message saying n friend was in-treuble, Reismer said. he was taken to an apartment where he was kicked, ~heaten and threatened with death and ordered to raise $75,000. He carried only a check for $5,000. _Eyidently despairing of getting the money, the men released Reismer and he was found last night inca Loop hotel. "WAR ON CANCER: CLINICS IN NEW YORK AND MANY OTHER CITINS AID FIGHT eee ~ ON DISEASE ¢ A Nation-wide campaign of education has been §maugurated by the American Society for the ‘Control of Cancer. With the co-operation of phy- sicians and hospitals, provision has been made for examinations that may reveal the presence of the disease in time to check it and thereby reduce the death rate, which ag TON, more than One in - ten among the grown p pulation of the United States. Mi : ‘Part of the campaign. is the publication of a series of authoritative bulletins, prepared by the society, of which the followin& is one: As a means of extending the benefits of skilful diagnosis and treatment to the greatest number of people, cancer clinics are being established in large centres of population. The public is quick to avail itself of these facilities. ~ The clinics are sometimes brought about in gen- eral hospitals with the resources in equipment 9 _ and personnel which already exist. The Com- ~~ monwealth of Massachusetts, which is the leader among the States of the Union in carrying on an se | eee crusade against cancer, is co-operatin, - with the medical profession to establish cancer ¢linics of this kind in all of its principal cities. Sometimes clinic. form a part of institutes es- pecially devoted to cancer. Among. the places where clinics have been no- fay. successful are New Work, Boston, ‘St, Louis,» modern = $l | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 22 GOOD READING delphia, Detroit, St.Louis, Cleveland and other . ' the lad describe the home. itts- Washington, Atlanta, Detroit, Columbus, | Di rand | i ere methods of diagnosis and treatment had pee ( veloped, it was errcneously supposed that no vision was needed for cancer patients beyond eral hospitals. : Ie, Be examined for cancer at a hospital or by doctor. : iy . LINCOEN’S KINDNESS TOLD BY FO WIDOW ee. A simple episode revealing the tendernes: Abraham Lincoln and his friendship for th C federate general, George Pickett, whom he. as, a boy in. Quincy, IIL, is retold in The State Register by Thomas Rees, its publish Mr. Rees took his story from a letter y by General Pickett’s widow to Charles U. Gore of Greenville, Miss., declining with regret an vitation to attend a Southern States R League celebration at Lincoln’s last. birth niversary. 2 Describing General Pickett as. “one greatest atid bravest generals of the Con acy,” Mr. Rees declared his widow’s lett ae ten in her old age, worthy of the wife’ a’ of a great general and leader of men.” _ The letter, in part, follows: : “The name of Abraham. Lincoln, may occur, recalls a scene from the cld Pickett home at the corner « Leigh Streets inj Richmond on a d April after the surrender of our arm viage passing’ by my home was surro’ guards and followed by a retinue of After it had passed: the eavaleade pa a man alighted from the carriage and c to our house. Hearing his knock 1 9} en door, with my baby in my arms, and sa gaunt and sad-faced man, who asked: “‘T;s this George Pickett’s place?’ “ “Yes, sir, but he is not here’ + “I know that, ma’am, but I just wanted the place. Down in old Quincy, Ill., I hav I am Abra) Ves: coln.’ “‘The President,’ I gasped. “The stranger shook his head. “No, ma’am; just Abraham Lincoln, Pickett’s old -boyhood friend.’ PS “am George Pickett’s wife and th baby.’ Pe “J had never seen Mr, Lincoln, but r the intense love and reverence with w soldier husband always spoke of him. _ “Tt had been long since my baby had man, and being reminded of his own fat reached out his hands to Mr. Lincoln, him in his arms, an expression of alm love glorifying his face.” ; “My baby opened his mouth wide on giving his father’s friend a de Putting the little one back in my i Sy a a eae NG es your fi

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. REPORT ON METEOR SHOWER welve fireballs instead of one streaked across New England sky on the night of October 16, Haryard College Observatory: announced re- »a result*of an investigation of a bright or reported in an Associated Press dispatch m Portland, Me. —. ; , From the twenty-one reports received, it was ved that the shower of the twelve stretched obliquely from Eastport, Me., to western Long land. Hight of them moved northeast by south- vest at ‘about 10 p. m, One was observed passing with its long tail horizon to horizon at Dennysville, Me.; bridge, Mass.; Thompson, Conn., and Daniel- Conn. It ended above the southwest horizon saford, L. I. The observed path was nearly read at these points but half of it was over ulf of Maine, : 2 e air distance traversed by that meteor was +430 miles or more but it was far from a record. ~The meteor of July 20, 1860, went over Lake Michigan and Long Island, while the group of ary 9, 1913. went from Saskatchewan to the ‘outh Atlantic off Cape Palmas. INVESTIGATION HAS MADE BIBLE _ STRONGER, BISHOP MANNING SAYS People need have no fear that scholarly investi- m will weaken the authority of the Bible, Manning asserted recently at a service in thedra] of St. John the Divine. He asserted t whatever uncertainty exists in regard to the ‘ible comes not from knowledge but from igno- fact is that in the full light of modern ge, and welcoming every fact that science nd scholarship have established, the spiritual lessage of the Bible and the Divine revelation ich it contains stand clearer and more real to n eyer before,” said the Bishop. ist read the Bible intelligently. The ith those little pamphlets about the h are sent out by the atheistic societies are so unutterably foolish. They. complete ignorance of the first prin- ; has many things in it which show the stage of spiritual development which it 3, But it is full also of wonderful and SOCIETY’S WORK APPROVED BY COOLIDGE 55 oe. } FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY oe CURRENT NEWS | - to liberty fter eating the bait. These modern bab tet , essage of the President ty 34 “T am very sorry.I shall be unable to show the very real interest I have in the valuable work of the New York Bible Society by attending the 118th annivesary serrvice on the evening of De- cember 4. My wish is that in the future you may be able to increase the very great services you have been yendering for so many years.” - Others heard from included Secretary of State Kellogg, Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, Im- migration Commissioner Benjamin M. Pay. Gov. Jackson of Indiana. Gov. Ritchie of Maryland, Gov. Byrd of Virginia, Senator Copeland, Mayor Walker, Aldermanic President McKee, Alderman. Ruth Pratt. Comptroller Barry and Dr. Elmer Ellsworth Brown of New York University. - AUTUMN GALES PLAY HAVOC : WITH LOBSTER POTS The gales that recently Jashed the New Eng- =) land coast wrought great havoc with th> fishing | gear of the lobstermen. tionally warm days i of November, the lobsters had not crawl d o into greater depths for warmth as they de in late Fall and Winter, so that most of the fisher- men still had their traps set on the kelp-covered rocks near shore. Re It’ is estimated that between 8,0000 and 10,000 pots were sraashed and ruined as they were rolled Because of the excep- October and the early part — and raked over the sharp ledges by the c-ushing — undertow. Such a loss is more serious today than ~ it would have been a few years ago when fisher- men made their traps of syruce and hemlock cut from the nearby forests. They fashioned the bows, frames and runners or bottom pieces, knit- ted and tarred the heads and slatted the pots with laths. An old-fashioned trap of this sort with a head or-opening at each end was valued et about $1. : Today nearly all the lobster pots are turned out of oak pieces at small sawmills. Fishing smacks carry great deckloads of these “knock- down” frames to all sections of the coast, the lob- 4 stermen simply assembling the pots as they are — used. Heads come already knitted and treated with a chemical said to outlast tar. In the matter of treating the heads and traps, however, most of the lobstermen still stick to the old-fashioned tarpet. : ’ The traps of oak are more durable than the cruder :.ome-made variety. Many are now built, with flat instead of semi-circular tops. These are said to rest more firmly on the bottom and are not rolled around so much in heavy seas. Most lobster pots now are the three-header or so-called __ parlor trap style. Instead of an entrance at. either end, one end is slatted up. The other end e $i as has three funnels or heads, easy ways for Mr. Lobster to enter. When it comes to escaping, however, t.e thre. heads and the manner in. which they are placed make this next to impos- sible, a distinct advantage over the old two-head ers from which 1.any crustaceans crawled back traps cost their owners from $2.50 to $3.50 a # -

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1113 A Young Lumber King; or, The Boy Who Worked His Way Up. ; 1114 Ralvh Roy’s Riches; or, A Smart Boy’s Run of Wall Street. 1115 A Castawav’s Fortune; or, The Hunt for a Pir ate’s Gold. ~ 1116 The Little Money Maker; or, The Wall Street Boy Who Saved the Market. 1117 Rough and Ready Dick: or, A Young Ex- ~- « press Agent’s Luck. 1418 Tipped Off by Telegraph; or, Shaking Up the Wall Street “Bears.” 1119 The Boy Builder; or, The Rise of a Young Mason. 1120 Marty. the Messenger; or, in Wail Street. 1121 ee Stolen Bank Note; or, The Career of a Boy Merchant. 1122 Digging Up Dollars; or, The Nerve of a é Young “Bull” Operator. 1123 A Runaway Boy; or, of the Incas. 1124 The Old Broker’s Heir; or, The Boy Who Won In Wall Street. is; Fr ca From Farm to Fortune; or, The Boy Who Made Money In Land, 1126 Rugged Rob of Wall Street; or $50,000 From a Dime. Capturing Coin The Buried Treasure Dy tract That Brought a Million. 1128 Dandy Dick, the Boy Boss Broker; or, Hus- tling for Gold in Wall Street. Se ¥ 1129 Caught By Cannibals; or The Treasure of ; the Land of Fire. . 1130 The Little Operator; or, ; “Bears” of Wall Street. 1181 Air Line Ed; or Building a Telegraph Line. = 1182 A Boy of the Curb; or, The Secret of a 3 Treasury Note. 1133 From Foundry Boy to. Steet ing: or, The Rise of a Young Bridge Builder. “4134 The Missing Box ot Bullion; or, The Boy Who Solved a Wall Street Mystery, 1185 Claim No. 7; or, A Fortune aioe a Gold ine. : 1136 Out for Big Money; or, Woectitia Up the ‘Wail Street Traders. = 7 Cornering the “money, or es ee stamps. Fa ame dud Fortune eWeekly 3 aa Latest Issues — | 1148 1127 The Boy Railroad ae aiagle or, The Con- WESTBURY PUBLISHING CO., Inc. _ 1187 The Boy Ice King; or, Coining re Fr the River. 1138 Four of a Kind; or, The Combination Made Wall Street Hum. 1189 Bob Brandon, Contractor; or The Tree That Led To Fame. yi 1140 A Boy From the South; or, Cleaning | 9 Wall Street Crowd. _ sae 1141 Hal, the Hustler; or, The Feat That M Ma Mim Famous, aes 1142 A Mad Broker’s Scheme; or, The Corner tt Couldn’t Be Worked. 1143 Dollars From Dust; or, The Beye Worked a Silver Mine. “ 1144 Billy*Black, the Broker’s - Sons or Worst Boy in Wall Street. m ; 114@ Adrift In the Sea; or, The Treasure Lone Reef, 1146 The Young Wall Street Jonah; or, Th : Who Puzzled the Brokers. ee Wireless Will; or, The Success of a ¥ - Telegraph Operator. Wall Street Jones; or Trimming the 1 Traders. =: Fred the Faker; or, The Success’ of aY Street Merchant. is The Lad From ’Frisco; or, Push ig i “Big Bonanza.” rai 1147 1149 1150 1151 The Lure of Gold; or, The Tr Coffin Rock. ( 1152 Money Maker Mack; or, Ihe Boy Smashed a Wall Street “Ring.” Missing For a Year; or, Malet in Diamonds. Phil, the Plunger, or; A Nervy Boy of Chance. ~ ae 5 Samson, the Boy Blacksmith; or, From Anvil to Fortune. Bob’s Big Risk; or, The Chance But Once. Stranded in the Gold Fields; or, T _ ure of Van Dieman’s Land. “Old Mystery,” the Broker; or, | Daring Game. 1159 Capitaf, One Dime; or, Boring Wi Tortune. 1160 Up Against a Hot Game; or, T Chums in Wall Street. 1161 A Big Contract; or, The Poor Bo: address on receipt of price, 8 cents p fe)