Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 221) (1909 12 24)
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on THE REASURE OF By A SELF MALE NW. i It was evident that both of the castaway sailors would injure them if “Get off of Lone Reef!” yelled the man with the upraised club. “Ther treasure is ours; you’ll get no part of it!” The two boys halted. they advanced.
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Fame and Fortune Weckly STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Issued 1 pitt Subscription $2.50 per year. p. of Congress, Washington, D. C., Ae et | No. 221. _—_— ee, Entered according to Act o by Frank Tousey, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 24, 1909. Congress, in the year 1909, in the Fi pucy of the Librarian lisher, 24-Union Square, New York, t PRICE 5 CENTS. ADRIFT IN THE SEA OR, CHAPTER: I. DISINHERITED. ay Salers everybody is here,” said Lawyer Ephraim Croker, in thin, rasping tones, gazing around the plain little parlor, with its old-fashioned horsehair-stuffed furni- ture, faded and well-worn carpet, what-nots filled with Bee- gaws, and the walls ornamented with cheaply -framed pic- tures—mostly family portraits, “so I will proceed to read’ the last will and testament of the late Ann i aba Steb- bins, spinster.” **The legal gentleman dipped one hand into a small grip that stood on the marble-topped table at which he was seated in the center of the teem, and le out an oblong legal document. ) Before him were grouped Jack Gale, the nephew of the “deceased ; Tom White, the gardener; Molly, the cook; Sally, the housemaid, and Jimmy Jones, whose position in the household was somewhat indefinite, though he .was recognized as a sort of boy of all work. _ Every one except Jack, who was a bright, good-looking lad of eighteen years, with a frank and open countenance, looked with awe at the folded paper, which rustled and| -eracked from stiffness as the lawyer unfolded 2 with great deliberation. Mr. Croker, who was a ‘distant elie of the testatrix, seemed in no rush to disclose the contents of the will. noved. his cers and nigee them slowl ith his handkerchief, while looked. roind _ THE TREASURE OF LONE REEF By A. SELF-MADE MAN He was a middle-aged, crabbed-looking man, short in stature, and dressed in a seedy suit of black. “a Immediately after the death of Miss Stebbins he ap- peared at the house and took charge of everything. He made such niggardly arrangements with the under- taker that Jack Gale, who had been very fond of his aunt, — aa resented his methods, and was backed up by the servants, who, from long service, had grown attached to their late inistress. The lawyer defended his actions by stating that-it was the deceased’s wish that her funeral be as plain as possible, : and, as executor of the will, he felt bound to carry out | her desires to the letter. At any rate, he carried his point, naib to ie area tion of the household. é Mr. Croker, after polishing his glasses, blew his nose with a teninpetlikee sound, readjusted his spectacles, na took up. the paper again. “Hem!” he said, with another glance around, and iia proceeded to read the usual preamble with which all wills drawn by a Jawyer commence. i After that he continued as follows: “Firstly, I give and bequeath to Mary. “That’s me,” ejaculated the cook expectantly. ‘Don’t interrupt me, please,” said the lawyer in a severe {| tone. “I give and bequeath to Mary Brown, my cook, who has served me faithfully for twenty years——” “And nine months,” interjected’ Mary eagerly. i] “The sum of one hundred dolla sold a : eae es : et
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ee ee | ADRIFT IN THE SBA. “Of course you have,” said Sally, while the cook nodded. “The family Bible, hoping he will read it daily and} take its lessons to heart, thereby growing up to be a worthy] son of his father,” concluded the lawyer, beginning to re-} fold the document. “Ts that all?” cried the astonished Sally. “That is all,” replied Mr. Croker calmly. “Then all I’ve got to say is it’s an outrage,” said the girl indignantly, “Take care, young womens said the Jawyer Paes “T don’t care, I’ve a right to speak my mind. The idea} of Miss Stebbins leavin’ you, an outsider, everythin’, and] her own nephew nothin’ but a Bible. It’s—it’s shameful, | scandalous Hs “So it is,” agreed the cook. “I don’t believe she ever } made that will.” | “Neither do I,” cried Sally. “It’s a fica 3 “How dare you insinuate such a thing!” ejaculated Mr. Croker angrily. ' “T’ll say what I please. ‘My tongue’s my own,” retorted | the housemaid. “Be careful. I could bring an action against you, young woman.” as ; : ~ “What do you mean by that?” she snapped. | - “T could bring you fat court and make you take back your words.” “| “Td like to see you do it, you old dried-up apology for a. man,” cried the angry girl. “Remember, young woman, that this place belongs to. me, and if you wish to retain your place——” “J wouldn’t work for you five minutes. Give me my fifty dollars, and I'll go this very day.” Mr. Croker made no reply, but putting the will in his! grip, snapped the lock, took up his hat and left the house. | - During the heated discussion between the housemaid and the lawyer, Jack Gale never made a move, or seemed aware of what was going on. He sat with his eyes bent upon the carpet, and he cecnseal to be thinking. With. the departure of Mr. Croker, Sally aroused him by saying: “T’m sorry for you, Jack: I think your aunt pa ‘you in the most “That. will-do, Sally. I have no fault to find with my. aunt. She had the right to tearniies prepay to who- ever she chose.” “But ss ought to have jet yon the house, or, at leas, her money.” 4 “She didn’t, so what’s the use of talking scat ite? “JT don’t believe she ever made that will,” said Molly, Shes her head in a pDsitive way. “Tt must be a forgery.” “Mr. Croker is a lawyer, and he menial ‘dare produce a spurious will.” _ “Why wouldn’t he dare ‘Go ie? fae earl of it bei done many times.” x “Its a State prison isin and a bape would ‘soaked harder than anybody else, on account of the he tole: when admfttted to the bar, and h 7 tee? siege as she had been led to en a much larger one, and the others appeared surprised, especially Jack, who re- membered his aunt had told him she intended to leave the cook five hundred dollars.” “Did you say one hundred dollars, Mr. Croker 2” Ae ventured to ask. _“T said one hundred dollars,” replied the lawyer, frown- ing upon him. “Are you sure there isn’t eee tied ?? persisted the boy. “My aunt told me “No mistake whatever. Bhi don’t interrupt,” said _ Mr. Croker sharply. “Secondly, to Sarah Popple——” The housemaid uttered a slight’ giggle. “The sum of fifty dollars in gold coin.” “Oh!” cried the disappointed girl. “Phirdly, to my gardener, Thomas White, the sum of twenty-five dollars in gold coin,” went on’ the lawyer. The man accepted the announcement quite stolidly. _. “Fourthly, to James Jones, my boy about the house, ten “dollars i in gold coin.” Jimmy grinned, for even ten dollars looked consider- able to him, * “Fifth and lastly I give and (uo Maa to my beloved second cousin th ; “Who is that?” cried Sally impulsively. “Will you be quiet, young woman?” cried’ Mr. Croker _tartly. “My beloved second cousin, Ephraim Croker——” An astonished exclamation from the cook and the house- | _ maid once more interrupted the lawyer. “My house and the grounds appertaining thereto.” _ The four servants looked at Jack, who merely stared at the lawyer. _ “All my household furniture——” “All the furniture?” cried Molly. ee _ “Pictures, books, ornaments, plate ” sae “What? The plate, too!” gasped Sally. _ “Wearing apparel——” S Why, Miss Stebbins promised me her-——” exclaimed Sally. _ » “Will you be quiet 2” said the sary é “And she promised me her. ” put in the cook. ~ “Money,” continued Mr. Croker, “in the house, in the bank, and everything of which I die possessed.” 3 Why, your name isn’t mentioned at all, Jack, ” cried Sally i in amazement. “J don’t believe Miss Stebbins ever ‘toate that will,” as- ed Molly. “Why, you were her favorite, Jack. You d with her, and I know she thought the world of . She never would have treated you so pie eas ~“T hayen’t finished yet,” said Mr. Croker, i in an unruf- fled tone. “Here’s a codicil to read.” : as lahat eried pally “What's that?” he nome rf “Te Ps hein ie oayenhe ” said § seaseetiatly “May- your name is mentioned in it, Jack.” - give and bequeath to my beloved nephew——” ii ou, ane. screamed the housemaid. “You're . Maybe it’s the 1 money.” se ad q
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g “JT don’t think Mr. Croker has courage enough to take the chances of going to San Quentin.” ' “T wouldn’t trust him. The way you were left out of the will isn’t the only queer thing about it. Molly only got a measly hundred dollars, and you told her your- self that Miss Stebbins said she intended to give her five times as much.” _ “That’s true. She did tell me so. And you ought to have got more, too... You have been with my aunt nearly ten years,ever since you were a little girl.” “Doesn’t that prove that that ain’t her will?” cried Sally ; tiumphanily. _ “No. The will, however, anon ee proved in court. The “two witnesses who were present when my aunt signed it will be called upon to swear. that they saw her put her signature to it.’” _ “Who are the witnesses ?” _ “Mr, Croker didn’t mention their names.” > _ “Maybe he was afraid to.” : “T. don’t think so. Why should he be?” “Tf there is anything wrong about the will “T don’t believe there is anything wrong about it.” _ “Aren't you goin’ to make a fuss about gettin’ nothin’ : Pbut the Bible?” “Tt wouldn’t do me any good.” a. “Then yowre goin’ to let “that old bald- headed 1 Miinpiiny take everythin’ ?”” “T don’t see how I can, prevent at coming into posses- ‘sion of what he is entitled to under my aunt’s will.” — _ “What are you goin’ to do, then? It would be just like hat old lawyer to turn you out of the house.” _“T have’ no intention of staying here, even if Mr. Croker invited me to do so.” kus S “Where will you go??? “Most likely to San’ Francisco, where I’ll look for some- thing to do, and make my own way ahead in the world.” “You always expected to be your aunt’s heir. be dreadfully disappointed.” ‘T am disappointed ; but what can I do? She has left me to do but dig out.” ‘Ti’s ashame. A downright, burnin’ shaine, x ‘T thank you for your sympathy, Sally, and I know Test of you feel the same wey, for we've’ ims been ood friends.” The cook and the eye: nodded, whild Ji immy J ones st stared. : “Don * throw up your eiiuetion hiss Sally, if the law- ybody else’s. like home to you than anywhere else. He'll doubtless ) his residence here while the will i is being probated. he will do with | the property after his rights are rmed is, of course, a problem at present. es You must | er possessions to Mr. Croker, oe there is nothing left |; - is willing to keep you, for his money is ‘as good as } You’re used to the place, and it: saath be |.” en. are yon thinking of Spe Tess asked the gardener. * CHAPTER II. JACK SECURES A POSITION. ¢ The house which had been Jack Gale’s home for sev- ADRIFT IN THE SEA, : 2 eae eral years was in the suburbs of a quiet little village im — es Napa County,. California, about fifteen miles from the near- est branch of the Southerm Pacifie Railroad. Jack, having made up his mind to make a start for him- self in the world, now that his expectations from his aunt had ended in. smoke, lost no time in packing his belongings. in his trunk. © He took the liberty of taking possession of his legacy, the family. Bible, and he proposed to regard it as one of his* ee choicest possessions. He stowed it carefully away with his other traps aud when he retired that night everything was ready ton his’) immediate departure. i After breakfast next morning he called on-Mr. Croker’ at his office, and told him that he was about to leave the neighborhood for good. eae “Where are you going?” asked the lawyer in some sur- prise, not unmixed with satisfaction, for he had figured that he -would be obliged, for appearances’ sake, to keep Jack at the house during the months that must elapse until the estate. was finally settled. “San Francisco. es “What do you expect to do there?” “Make my living, for I have to depend on my own ek 2 ertions. now.” “T suppose you'll need some money to pay your way 2 and keep you till you get a position, I can let you have — fifty dollars.” “T have some mdney, but, on the whole, I'll accept your offer and regard it as a loan’ to he repaid when r. can | afford to do. so.” The lawyer was so pleased to have him go sik that, though he regarded fifty dollars as a considerable amount of money, he was willing to take the chances of never see- ing it again. Accordingly, he went to his safe, counted out the Atty jand handed it to the boy. : ' “Shall T give you an I. 0. U.-for this, sir?” baa Ja Mr. Croker did not regard his note as worth much, he thought he might as well have it, since the boy gested it. a - So he wrote out a ee payable on 1 demand, and Jacl signed it. “ Now, good-by, hiya) “Ate you going right away?” wal “I am, TI shall have the gardener, Tom White, drin me to the station with my trunk after lunch.” ; “Good-by, Jack,” said the Lim —- pe him. “I wish you luck.” — ; sach are as would make the lawyer's, ey a : = ; | Stebbins’ ci will. look like thirty cents, heh
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cone Boa ADRIFT IN THE SEA. tinue on to San Francisco via Oakland and the ferry boat. across the bay. He was not a stranger to the Golden. City of the West, having spent many years of his early life there, so he knew just what he would do when he reached the ferry house at the foot of Market Street. He reached San Francisco a little after five, and not bothering with his trunk, he took a car and rode as far as the junction of Montgomery Street where he got off and walked to the Russ House. Here he registered for the night, and after breakfast next morning he looked over the boarding houses adver- tised in the Morning Call. _ Picking out several he started ona tour of inspection. ~ He wanted a cheap and cosy place, where only one or _ two boarders were taken, and after an hour’s tramp he _ found just what he wanted on Tehama Street. _. A motherly woman received him. She occupied a small frame house with her son and two daughters, and she had accommodation for only one arder. She named a moderate price, and as the room, though + small, looked comfortable, Jack closed with her at once, paid a deposit and started for the office of the Pacific _ Transfer Company: to arrange for the delivery of his trunk at his new home. > Jack ate his lunch at: the hotel, as he was entitled to it, and then taking his grip went back to his boarding ve “place, paid the rest of the sum due for his first week and — possession of his room. “Thanks, boy, you saved me from being run down. Come to my office and I will make it all right with you.” Jack accompanied him readily enough. He had no intention of accepting pay for the service he had rendered the gentleman, but he thought the rescued man might be able to get him a situation somewhere in the vicinity of his own place of business. They walked along Battery Street, with its frowning warehouses and shipping establishments, in silence, the gen tleman, apparently, having something of moment on his) mind. Finally he entered a narrow doorway where a pair of stairs led upward and curtly told Jack to follow him. The boy noticed a well-worn sign over the door, which read “Geo. Sharpley.& Company.” At the head of the stairs, to the left, was a door, on which the same name appeared, with the word “Office” under it. The gentleman entered and Jack followed. The boy saw he was in a counting-room, with a sina space railed off for callers. Half a dozen or more clerks were at work over tall desks strung along,‘back to back, against the window.” The room looked dingy and musty, for the building was one of the early solid structures of San Francisco, and an air of business permeated the atmosphere. Jack’s conductor walked straight to the door of a room: marked “Private,” and strode in as though he was the | boss of the place, as, in fact, he was.. “Sit down,” he said, pointing to a chair beside an old He spent the rest of the day walking about the city, and | fashioned mahogany desks, and Jack took his seat while ie up landmarks once familiar to him. {the gentleman hung up his hat and overcoat. _ When he returned home for dinner, he found his trunk |’ A cheap clock hung against the partition, and the hands in his room. pointed to the hour of half-past four. He was called to dinner about six, and was then in-| ‘Although it still wanted two hours of sunset, that lumi-} troduced to his landlady’s son and daughters. nary was veiled by the incoming fog from the ocean, He found the family, as a whole, a congenial one, and} and a sort of twilight prevailed in the room. : they, on their part, took quite a fancy to him. The gentleman lighted the plain gas jet over his desk, _ Their name was Mason, the boy’s Fred, and the girls’, | sat down and looked at the boy. Fanny and Clara. “What is your name, young man?” he inguied NS They were persons of some refinement, who had come| “Jack Gale,” replied the lad. down in the world when the husband and father died and| “You have done me a great favor—indeed, it’s quite left nothing but a small life insurance: possible you may have dared my life—what can I do for} se Jack was up early next morning and had several plates you in return? If you will accept a sum of money I will picked out of the paper to sta to for a job when break- | be pleased to hand you any reasonable amount.” fast was ready. } ' » “No, sir; I don’t want any money for what I did, ne | ‘Several days passed, however, before Jack caught on, | you may be able to do me a favor.” ; j and then he secured what seemed to be an uncommonly “Name it, and if within my power it shall be granted.’ ” . good position by accident. “T am looking for a situation, sir. _ Maybe you can mit " He was standing on the corner of Battery and Sacra- | me in the way of one?” | mento Streets late in the afternoon, after having exhausted| The gentleman eine him over -shasply before reply- | his chances for the day, when he saw a good-looking, well- | ing. any He Bi: | dressed man of perhaps thirty years start to cross ihe What kind of a néaition ie you want?” Pea. treet toward him. _ “Anything where I can make myself useful and be ‘He had reached the center of the ‘thoroughfare when a| promoted when I deserve advancement.” — anes . pidly-driven hack. famed the corner and bore down on] “Write a sentence on that pad and sign your ni an Bi him, 7 your usual a said the gentleman, hating 1 pen. ee deck pe eee in an ‘offhand way: oy ae sn eee see ‘his ss but hele eat tz The hoy. sprang. forward, seized him by the arm and} ne ot, the. wheels of the Saint pe tet : en woke e peril he had ese: nt aan eee ie
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ADRIFT IN THE SBA. ; ate Then he studied the boy’s face searchingly. “Do you think you would like to learn the shipping busi- CHAPTER III. - ness ?’’ he asked. scart “Yes, sir; I think I would.” LOCKED IN. po: My éfiies boy left last week, and the position is Oe ; ~ You may have it.” : The Masons congratulated Jack on getting such a fine “Thank, you sir,” replied Jack joyfully. job, and he rose considetably i in their estimation, for they “As to wages, when we take on a boy they are merely | judged he must be a smart young fellow. nominal for the first six months. You live with your par-| He reported promptly at eight o’clock next morning at ~ ; ents, I presume ?” pa. the shipping house on Battery Street, and was introduced i No, sir. I have no parents. I am out in the world on} by the bookkeeper to one or two of the clerks. _ my own hook.” He was placed at a desk and givén some invoices to A peculiar light flashed in the gentleman’s eyes, and he make out. gave Jack another steady look. The clerk under whom he was doing the work forms There was something in his eyes that did not favor-| him apt and correct, and told the head bookkeeper that he — 4 ably impress the boy. seemed to be a great improvement on his predecessor. ONS you living by yourself ?” Jack was soon on speaking terms with everybody in ae “Yes, sir.” room, and his polite ways and attractive, unassuming man- “Born and brought up in the city?” | abi secured the good opinion of all hands, “Yes, sir; but for the last two years I have been living| \ He learned that the firm of Geo. Sharpley & Co, was one : _ with my aunt in Napa County. She died a few days ago,|f the oldest in the city, ig and her death threw me on my own resources, so I came| “Whe original members were dead and buried in er), be Bock to Frisco to get a new start.” Mountain Cemetery, and the sole boss was Philip Sharpley A look of satisfaction flashed across the gentleman’s we gentleman, he had saved from being run down by the face. | hac i 4 “Very well,” he said. “In consideration of the fact that The house owned several ships in the Australian trade you have to pay your own way, and also because I am in- and carried charters on other vessels. 4 debted to you for saving me SE hack, I will make Three of the vessels were barques wholly devoted to # an. exception in your case on the wage question. You bringing coal from Sidney. 198 ; shall have ten dollars a week for the first six months.| The house had always borne a good: reputation and 3 After that you will be raised by ae and = enjoyed the confidence of shippers. Beis’ your talents warrant.” Jack liked his job first rate and felt as happy as a lark. Bea “bank you, sir.” His disappointment over the loss of a handsome legacy “Come with me,” said the genileman, rising, from his late aunt faded away, and he flattered himself He led Jack into the counting-room to the desk of his| that he never would miss it. head bookkeeper. He wrote a letter to Sally Popple, the honsemaid, ac- — - “My. Jackson, this is our new office boy. His name is quainting her with his good Iuck, and in due ‘time re j ; ; ; : ceived a reply from her conveying the congratulations and e sa His wages will be ten dollars a week till further hast vidhes of hersel £ Meliy,’tha took)-and: Toi White, the 7 “Ten dollars, sir?” ejaculated ie bookkeeper in some pear Jones, she said, had been discharged by. Mr ‘surprise. Croker when h ae vt uh ihe abd ie PASE BRT Tes when he hoya into the house, but otherwise thin i were going on as usual, c Sharply. “He will report for work in the morning. Tell} gho filled out fae pages with village gossip that sl ee ae hours, and explain what will be expected of thought would interest Jack, and signed heneele “Ta ith- fully. yours, Sally Popple. Hg The sauna turned on “his Lg: and: walked back to! One of the first errands Jack was sent upon was to Baco : his private\ room. & Co., printers, on Clay Strect, to find out if the illuminat ‘i : 4 __. The bookkeeper made a note of J ack’s name on a pad. jed cards advertising the fact that. the ship Morning | ory _ “Where do you live?” he asked. was ready to receive freight for Melbourne, Australia, rer _ The boy gave him his address, ) ready. as Show me a specimen of your handwriting i in your eus- He found they had just been finished and. carrie tomary style,” he said, handing Jack his pen. j back to the office. ; - The boy dashed off a sentence to which he: signed his} Then he was put to work ne them to a th ; “name, as he had done in the private office, pers of the city. : ee Stoo Pa a ee hand,” fin the aera “I For a couple of weeks things went as merry asa ‘bell with Jack, and then he received a jolt “ breath away. Nan afternoon about half-past five Mr i pig th his eo ais shee. on, ap ae
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ie 2 ADRIFT IN THE SEA. EEeEeEeEeaoaoaoaaaooaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaooooooooaouooooeelelsswmos—"__—0—_—_ eee oe side, and his coachman had been waiting for him for a full half-hour. ° He paused at the railing, and, beckoning Jack over, hand- ed him a sealed envelope. “Take this to Captain Brant, of the Morning Glory. I Suppose you know the vessel lies at Greenwich Dock ?” ees, Bin.) “You have seen Captain Brant here, and know him by sight?” “Yes; sir.” “This note is important, and you must hand it to the captain himself, If he isn’t aboard either hunt him up or wait for him. Understand?” “T do,” replied Jack. Philip Sharpley walked ant and Jack prepared to go on. hig errand, He told the head bookkeeper where he was bound, and ~ that individual nodded, Five minutes later the boy was on the street, ' Greenwich Dock was at the foot of Battery Street, and there wasn’t the least danger of Jack going astray even in the mist that now rendered objects rather indistinct in the street. He walked fast and soon reached his destination. The dock was deserted at that hour, as the longshore- on the stroke of five. __ The watchman sat on a stool'in the ddoridy of his little house at the head of the dock smoking, Beparerty not bothered by the foggy atmosphere. Jack found a narrow stage that led to the poop of the vessel, and mounting this, reached the waist of the ship by way of a short flight of steps. There was no one on deck, as far as he could see, so he nt went to the doorway of the passage communicating with the cabin. * There were several doors off this passage, one of which - ‘was open. A light streamed through it, and Jack heard the rattle of dishes. _ He looked in and saw it was. the ship’s pantry. » “Ts Captain Brant on board?” he asked the steward. “You'll find him in the cabin,” was the reply. The cabin door was at the end of the passage, so Jack opened it and walked in. _ The skipper and his two mates were seated at the table, ing supper. ‘ Captain Brant was a short, burly man, with black whisk- ers, a bronzed face, and dark, piercing eyes. His manner was easy and good-tempered ; but there was ething in the. exptession of his countenance that Jack not like, t “Hello!” he exclaimed, when he caught sight of the vis- apa ' “Who have we hére’ ae aT k, advancing with the enyelope in his hand. ‘A note oc me, eh?” » men who were loading the Morning Glory had quit work.| have brought a note for you, Captain Brant,” said | t re it open and a it eave wath an air “of ae 2 ie _ Uployer. : “Sit down and have some supper,” he said to Jack, as he placed the letter in his pocket. “Thank you, sir; but ’m going straight home.” “You might as well eat with us, now you are here. Be-— sides, I have to write a reply to the note you brought, which | you will have*to deliver to Mr. Sharpley. Steward,” he shouted in fog-horn tones, ' That person stuck his head in at the door. “Set a plate for this young man and wait upon him,” said the skipper. “Take the chair at the foot of the Lal my lad. By the way, what is your name?” “Jack Gale,” replied the boy, as he took the seat in a diffident way. He would have preferred to take his supper at his board- ing place, as he. felt like a cat in a strange garret in the © cabin of the Morning Glory. “You are employed in the shipping office, I continued Captain Brant.. “Yes, sir.” » “You know where Mr. Sharpley lives, don’t you?” “Somewhere on Rincon Hill. I dare say I can find his — house.” | “That’s at the other end of town, quite a distance from . here. Where do you live?” Jack told him. — “How long have you worked for Mr. Sharpley ?” “Not quite three weeks.” The captain looked a bit surprised. -“He seems to have a good deal of confidence in you.” — Jack wondered what he meant, and then presumed it — had reference to the letter he had brought. “T sha’n’t give him any reason to’change his opinion,” — he replied, as the steward set some food and a cup of — tea before him. | -The skipper nodded approvingly. . In a few minutes Captain Brant retired to his stateroom — to write his reply and the mates went to their rooms, leay- — ing Jack to finish his supper by himself. | By the time the boy was done the skipper returned with — the letter, | “Give this letter to Mr. Sharpley sag no one else,” he — said, putting a strong accent on, the last three words. “Bet- — ter walle up to the Plaza and hire a hack. You will reach your destination quicker. Here is some money for your expenses,” and he handed Jack a $5 gold piece. | The fog was as thick as bean soup when the boy walked out on deck. ; He had to feel his way carefully to the staging, which — was provided with a guide rope on one side. He left the dock and walked up Battery Strect as far: as Washington, up which he turned toward the Plaza, other- wise known as Portsmouth ‘Square. a In the days of the gel fever this was the liveliest part of the town. Before hiring a hack Jack stopped at a drug store and — consulted the city directory,” in which” he readily ined 2 Mr. Sharpley’s home address, After that, it was plain sailing for him. rene In the course of an hour he reached his destination, aig A servant answered his ae ae he are toh ae em- suppose,”
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ADRIFT IN THE SBA. Loree t eR “T think he went out immediately after supper,” she said. . “Wait a minute and I’ll find ont.” She went away and in a few minutes came back with word that Mr. Sharpley had gone out to keep an engage- ment at his club. -“What club is it? I have an important message to de- liver to him and I must find him,” said Jack. The servant had to retire again to find out the name of her master’s club, as she didn’t know. | “Tt’s the California, on —— Street,” she said, “when she got back. — _, So Jack returned to the hack and told the driver’ to _ take him to the California Club, thereby retracing a con- _ siderable part of their route. _ Arrived at the brilliantly lighted entrance to the club, Jack paid the driver and dismissed him. An attache stopped him in the vestibule. “‘What’s your business here, young man?” he asked. , “YT want to see Mr. Sharpley,” said Jack. “What’s your business with Mr. Sharpley?” “T have an important letter to give him.” “Take a seat and I will see if I can find him.” Jack sat down-and the attache walked away. He was gone some time and the boy was growing im- - patient, when, happening to look down the corridor, he saw Mr. Sharpley and another gentleman cross to a stair- Bey and walk ups : Jack hesitated whether to rush after them or not, for ae experience with the attache indicated that outsiders | were not permitted to wander around the building. “T’ve only got to hand him this note, and then Vil leave,” he told himself. “There can’t be any aati in that. ies : ‘Anxious to return home, he made a ae ae the cor- ridor and rushed up the stairs he had seen Mr, Sharpley and his companion ascend. When he reached the landing above he caught .a fleet- ee Do A ae ee i eee ee oe ing glimpse of the two gentlemen entering a room at the end of it. Jack lost no time in following them. — He knocked at the door, but as he got no answer he ventured to open the door. _ The room, dimly lighted by a single gas jet turned low, P empty / Two doors led off the apartment. * Jack took the right-handed one at hazard, opened it a walked in. He found himself in a small, boxlike room, dimly lighted like the other, and fitted up with a ighly-potished round table and four chairs. ~The place was unoceupied. Jack, seeing he had taken the wrong door, ‘was about -zetreat wwhen he heard his employer’s voice quite dis- tinetly. through the partition, say: _ “Pardon 1 me one moment, Dudley, befate we go into this ter let me make sure that the coast is clear. We must have no listeners for \ we have a y perilos game to play.” / ‘ 54 yaa es | either to me or the master of the ship: The ins ae was so ‘etagpered by what he* ina heard aa he stood rooted to the spot. A moment later he heard the key turned in’ the lock of the room he was in and fremoved. “Gosh!” he ejaculated. “I’m shut-in here and can’t get out.” rs * CHAPTER IV. JACK OVERHEARS A ‘CROOKED PLOT. his he stood close to the partition, wondering what he _ was going to do, he heard the door of the Ady OIE ae partment slam to, and Mr. Sharpley say: zs “Now we may talk freely without fear of sntcadeapaeel ihe “Tam glad to hear it,” returned the man named Dud- ig ley. “Let’s get down to business.. As Iam your partnerin — this enterprise I want to know if we can thoroughly de- pend on Captain Brant. Sending a ship to sea to be lost is one thing, but having the job executed in a way that / will insure success and, at the same. time, stifle suspicion, is another.” ar “I have perfect confidence in him, He goes into this a job with the full knowledge that the three of us ink Pe es swim together.” “But if he should bungle the thing” “Don’t -worry about. it. This won’t be his first age in that line. Do you recall the loss of the Shenandoah?” “T do. It was the first ship you sent to sea after your father’s death. Was Brant master of that’ vessel?” of “THe was. We pulled together and divided $60,000 profit between us after I took out the appraised value of the vessel.” Sa “Quite a’ tidy sum. I should think the captain woul have retired on his share.” . “Such was his intention, but he put his coin in a cer- tain mining stock that was booming at the time. The bot- tom fell out of it and he lost every cent of his. investment.” “Well, you didn’t have any better luck, for you ble yours in trying to beat the tiger at his own game.” et “T was a fool, and that’s why I am making this second venture to recoup my losses’ at cards, We are both in the same boat, so'to give you a lift I have taken oe i with me this time.” - “For which L ought to be truly thankful,” laughed D J- ley. *But to return to the Shenandoah. She foundere at sea, I believe, with the assistance of Captain Brant: “Yes, but close to the Stiletto Islands, so that no were lost. ids Brant aise the affair ae der Titers ?” “Naturally. But not a taint of suspicion attached : companies paid up promptly, and that was the end inatter.”> . | _ “While the ‘truth of we matter was Ae loaded
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cg ee A eee been interested in the scheme yourself,” - Sharpley. ““Then what has: been done so well before may be done as well or better again, eh,*Sharpley ?” ss Precisely. a “But why have you selected. the Morning Glory for this enterprise? I was on board of her yesterday, and upon -my word she looks like a new vessel.” “That’s because you couldn’t see under the paint. She’s nothing but a rotten hulk I bought wp cheap. I had her patched up and then thoroughly repainted. Then I had her examined and secured a very fair rating for her. We are now loading up with a general cargo, but her lower hold is filled to the hatches with the bales and cases for _- which you are down as the consignor.” ao ALG pay viduae do they consist of?” asked Dudley curiously. “The, bales are filled with old rags and entered on the bills of lading as high-grade silks.” \ gia Very. clever, indeed, And the cases?” _ “Aye filled with old newspapers, books, and scrap iron, and entered as the best class of woolen goods, fine china _ ware, and expensive cut glass: All of which you are ship- ping to my agent in Melbourne to be sold on commission.” _ “And which never will reach their destination?” ha, ii Of course not. It wouldn’t be healthy for you if they i( ? _ “T should imagine not.” _ “Now you understand your position in the matter?” ! “Quite clearly.” “And you ave ready to sign the documents that make you a partner in the enterprise ?” Yes Iam teady to take the risk for ator of the laug a Philip =a “He does, for the success of: the scheme largely depoacs on his management. But you understand that before the B of the ship and the expenses connected with her refitting ?” ee fair enough, and I agree to it.” |: “Ts there anything more you ae to learn?” ah ‘Nothing. My chief anxiety was connected with Captain : fectly satisfied with the situation.” “Then here are the dscuments that require your signa- r to attest the fact that you are the shipper of” the larger part of the merchandise in the main hold. To- morrow you must call on Wright & Warly, the marine in- eA ests, copies of which are in that bundle. You will , charge of them and exhibit them to the i insurance men he other shippers have, of course, insured their consign- en ts, or ‘made attanpemdits. to that effeet, so that when ay ae clears the ‘Heads’ the underwriters will ADRIFT IN THE Beant. Now that I see he may be depended on I am per- ce,agents, and insure them for seventy-five per cent. ir supposed value, which is stated in the different] vidence that you have really shipped the goods in ques- I have already insured the vessel to the full limit. dj raseed at the encounter. et SEA. “She will probably haul ont into the stream late to- morrow aftérnoon, and the day after, if nothing prevents, shell put to sea.” “Good. The sooner the better.” Dudley, having signed the papers that Philip Sharpley _ placed before him, took up the package of duplicates and placed them in his pocket. “T believe there is nothing else to detain us in this room?” he said. “No, Everything is fixed up between us. We will go downstairs to the café and drink success to our enterprise.” “And wish the Morning Glory a quick passage—to the bottom of the Pacific,” laughed Dudley, rising from the table. Jack, who had heard every word of the conversation, and was quite staggered by its import, realized that the two men were about to leave the adjoining room, and he wondered how long he would be obliged to stay locked in where he was, and what explanation he could give to ac- count for his being in such a situation when somebody un- locked the door and discovered him there. Philip Sharpley and his companion, Dudley, walked ‘na : the large room outside and were about to step out into the corridor when the former recollected that he had the key of the little room adjoining the one where they had earried on their conversation in his pocket. He stepped back, shoved the key into the lock and turned it. He did not open the door, as he was satisfied no one was there, for he had looked in before he and. Dudley me entered the neighboring room. Had he taken the precaution to lock the door in the first place, instead of afterward, Jack would not have got in the room, and thus have been in a position to learn facts that stamped his employer as a man without principle, and showed that he had not only been guilty of a grave crime — against the marine underwriters of San Francisco by send- sea to be lost, as in the case of the ship, Shenandoah, but vision is made I am to be reimbursed for the actual cost! ing a rotten ship loaded with a worthless cargo in part to — that he was about to repeat the offence with the Morning — Glory. When Jack heard the key rattle in the lock he fully @x- pected to see the door open and either his boss or Dudley look in, which would mean discovery and a strenuous sit- uation. ( On the spur of the moment he secdhien up and mrnee out | the gas, | Fortunately for the boy, what he feared did not happen, and presently he heard the two men leave the outer room. gentlemen time enough to go downstairs, he lett, the Tittle > an Trying the door, Jack found it unlocked, and giving iss room and walked out into the corridor and almost into — the arms of the attache who stopped him at the front door. ‘The employe stared at him in i and then with displeasure. r AGE: . “Wow dare you come up Dhehe young Wee: ‘ahd what were you doing in that room?” “Looking for Mr. Sharpley,” ees Jack, a it q : ;
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Bea ec “You've got a cheek to tell me that. I know my busi- ness. It’s my opinion that you didn’t want to see Mr. _ Sharpley at all. I suspect that you are a young sneak thief, - and I’m going to take you to the office and turn you over: to the superintendent.” “All right. Do it if you want to. here with a letter for Mr. Sharpley, for there is the letter,” and Jack held the envelope up so the man could read the superscription. “That letter may be a fake one. At any rate, ’m not going to take any chances. You can settle the matter with the superintendent.” “The letter isn’t a fake one. that as soon as he opens it. _ friend.” “How do you know he’s in the oats? And if he is, why Mr, Sharpley will know He’s in the café now with a are you looking for him up here?” asked the attache, sus-| piciously. “We came up here with another tefl and I fol- lowed him, but he went back downstairs before I had the chance to give him the letter,” explained the boy. “Your explanation is rathér a lame one, young man, go -yow'll come with me.” The attache gripped him by the arm, led him downstairs and into the small office of the superintendent of the club. That man, however, was not there. At that moment Mr. Sharpley and his friend, Dudley, - came along the corridor from the café, and the attache saw them. _ | “Here’s Mr. Sharpley now,” he said. that. story of yours is str aight goods.” ‘Still maintaining his grip on the lad’s arm he marched 4 him outside. “Mr. Sharpley, will you step here a moment, please?” he _ said respectfully. The shipowner stopped, ee rad and immediately recognized Jack. “Hello, Gale, you here? Are you looking for me?” he asked pleasantly. “We'll see whether Cah Sp es Mb «Yes, sir; Dve brought a reply to your letter from Cap-. tain Brant, ) answered Jack, holding out the envelope. ie Yc know this boy, then?” said the attache, releasing ‘ his hold on Jack. « “Certainly. He's my office boy. # out of one of the rooms on the second floor of the back ~~ of him, sir.”, | 7 _ “One of the rooms on the second floor 1 exclaimed Mr. Dudley; with a slight start, and pausing in the act of opening the letter. “Which room, may I ask?” “The one connecting with the two private card rooms.” _ Mr. Sharpley looked searchingly at Jack. “What were you doing there, Gale?” fusion. ADRIFT IN THE SEA. Loe e% 9 T can prove I came “Then it’s all right, I suppose, I found him coming ‘corridor, and as he had no right to be there I took charge eye. “If you saw and followed me, why didn’t you give me the letter then?” “Because when I reached the upper corridor you had disappeared.” - “And what did you do then?” “T tried to find you.” “And in doing so you entered the room this man saw you come out of, eh?” oe “Yes, sir,” admitted Jack. “How long ago was that?” ' “4 little while ago.” ; “When-did you meet this NG coming out of that room » : he asked the attache. eg “About five minutes /ago, sir.” ats “How long were you-in that room, Gale?” asked the ship _ owner sharply. ; ae Jack looked clearly embarrassed. ea “T wasn’t in it long,” he said. i “You just walked in, and, not seeing me there, Cia oe walked out again, is that it?” ' Riete “«T looked into one of the small rooms,” eet “Which one?” Ma. “The one on the. right hand.” eats “You found it empty ?” = “Yes, sir.” ry ea ee “Why didn’t you try the other?” “T couldn’t, sir.” “Why not?” | “Because,” hesitated Jack, finding Macon a sieht ss fix, “I couldn’t get out of the little room after I went in.” “Why couldn’t you?” Wipers “Somebody turned the key on me, just after I wane in, ‘ blurted Jack. SAoghe “Then you were in that little room until after somebody. turned the key again so that you could walk out?” © “Yes, sir,” admitted the boy, with a guilty og feelin that he had let the cat out of the bag. The two gentlemen looked at each other. The same thought was in the mind of each—had ‘th boy overheard their conversation ? Re 3 them both. ‘ia! > ‘i a CHAPTER V. . ‘ bie | ; REMOVING A DANGEROUS SNAG. . The emergency soba the shipowner to do some ea 5 thinking, Having decided what he would do, he tore open ‘the’ . |ter Jack had brought him, read its contents re then put it in his pocket. “Come with us, Gale,” he said; “I may need yous i) ; | ices.” “Looking for oe sir,” epee Jack, showing some con- Jack followed him, wondering if his employer ¥ | question him further about, his praerenhe in | card room. ‘ way to the front door Mr. Sh
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BE uh4aG -modation of club members, the horses blanketed, and ee even in my office, would start a train of speculation drivers napping inside out of the fog. Mr. Sharpley roused up one of fhe jehus and he tumbled. out of his comfortable quarters and touched his hat respect- Eo tully. ‘The shipowner gave him directions in a low tone, and then told Dudley and Jack to get in, following after them. The driver took the blankets off the horses, mounted to his seat and started down the street. He turned into Montgomery Street, went as far as Pacific, turned down that ill-lighted and not oversweet thoroughfare till he reached Battery Strect, and then drove straight through the dense fog to Greenwich Dock. * Leaving Dudley and Jack in the vehicle, Mr. Sharpley ~ walked aboard the Morning Glory, and found the skipper and his second mate playing cards in the cabin, with a - glass partly filled with a suspicious-looking compound at _ the elbow of each. The unexpected appearance of Mr. Sharpley occasioned - the captain much surprise, and brought the game to an abrupt halt. _ “T would like to see you in your stateroom a few minutes, - Captain Brant,” said the shipowner. “Certainly, Mr. Sharpley,” said the skipper, in his most affable tones. _ He led the way into his private quarters, and carefully ut the door. Turnihg up the kerosene lamp, he pointed to the: only chair in the room and sat down on ‘his bunk himself: - “T fear we haye run against a snag, Captain Brant,” said Mr. Sharpley, opening the interview. “A snag!” ejaculated the skipper. “I’m sorry to hear We have only a small quantity of freight to put aboard morrow morning, and then we'll be nearly, chock-a-block. 1 think I mentioned the: fact in my note, and told you that. I would be ready to haul out in the stream about ur o’elock in the afterngon. Yi “The snag to which I’ have referred is the bey who brought you my note this afternoon.” , /“What about him?” “Yon returned an answer to my note by him, which wes etek beg therein lies the trouble. ye <a ae ‘ oe . He went ie my Fatsg to deliver it, but T had just | left for my club to keep an engagement with Mr. Dudley, | on ho is with us in this Sere Seca so he found his way c aaa mar i gone up to the evita tad room to conclude eir arrangements with reference to the Morning Glory, an how the boy had followed them there, and during the vhole of their conversation had been locked by accident the adjoining ‘card room. ey haven’t questioned him about the matter, as it is a ~ rather delicate subject, but I. fear he heard enongih of what |. between us to put him wise to the game.” ae stroked his Whigs and, said nothing. | ADRIFT IN THE SEA. |step in the fog, and. eo down between the ae and one that in the end would spell ruin. If he went still further, and carried his story to one of the marine underwriters, an investigation would assuredly follow that could not fail to end in the exposure of the game, and the ruin of the three of us. Do you comprehend the situation ?” “T would be a fool if I didn’t. What’s to be done?” “We must take the bull by the horns, Brant. We can’t afford to take any chances with the boy. He must be muzzled at once, and the only way of doing that, to my way of thinking, is for you to take charge of him. You must carry him to sea and then make sure that he never gets back to ’Frisco to give us away.” “Tl do it. Once under my thumb T’ll guarantee that he'll never get the chance to split on us,” said the skip- per in a savage tone, “You ought to have brought him — down here to-night.” . “T did,” replied Mr. Sharpley. “Where is he?” “Tn a hack on the wharf in charge of Dudley.” “Good. We'll get him aboard, and I’ll stow him down between the double bulkheads under the lazarette, the space you had built so I could reach the ship’s skin with an auger when the time. comes for her to spring a leak. Ill keep ~ him there till we’re clear of the land, and then make him turn to and earn his grub as cabin boy and steward’s helper.” “Do what you please with him, only see to it that tie never returns to put a hitch in our calculations.” “Tl sew'his mouth up, never fear,” replied the skip- per with emphasis. “THe must be got aboard by stratagem. Itiwould never do for him to suspect our intentions, for he’d raise an outery that would alarm the watchman and lead to an — investigation.” “Send him aboard for an imaginary package and leave! the rest to me.” . “A good idea; but how about the second mate?” . “Don’t worry ‘about him. He'll learn nothing. Wait a ; minute till I go to my medicine chest. A dash of chloro- — form on a rag will put the boy to sleep. Ill meet him ; as hé comes over the side, and when T lay him down near the. companionway he’ll be dead to the world for several hours to come.” Mr. Sharpley walked out of the stateroom, and thence on deck, aecompanied by the skipper. - 4 They bade each other Pipes at the head of lie stage. The shipowner returned to the hack while Captain. Brant, like an evil spirit in the fog, awaited his victim. . = “Gale,” said Mr. Sharpley, opening the hack door, “go _ aboard and fetch a large package the captain will hand you in the cabin. Be careful that you don’t make a mis- — dock.” % “T'll look out, sir. The fog won’t bother me any.” e & : Thus Speaking. the unsuspecting boy hopped ont of the |hack and went to meet his fate. Five minutes: Saat see away, and ihn: the | owne: ordered: the
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| ADRIFT IN pases aS THE SEA. x + ~ ‘When Jack Gale walked up the stage and ae his feet On the ship’s poop deck a stalwart figure rose before him “in the mist. The next instant he was seized by the throat and foreed backward against the low rail, and a rag, saturated with chloroform, was pressed over his hostrils. He put up a desperate struggle against his unknown as- -Sailant, but the man held him in a viselike grip until he became unconscious, Then Captain Brant, fgr it was he, lifted and carried him to the narrow space between the binnacle and the com- -panionway, or after-cabin stairs. — There he laid him down in the fog and left him for the present. Returning to the cabin, the skipper resumed the card game with his second officer. _ Half an hour afterward the second mate retired to his stateroom, leaving the captain | reading the latest edition of the Evening Bulletin. Giving the mate time enough to get to sleep, Captain Brant softly ascended the stairs to the poop, and brought the unconscious boy into the cabin. ‘Lighting a lantern, the skipper gently lifted the trap communicating with the lazarette and hung o lantern to a hook within his reach. Then he lowered the boy down into the sities and closed the trap after him as he followed, _ He removed several boxes ‘from one corner and exposed another trap | door there, known only to himself. ‘the: lantern to a thin line, he lowered it to vessel where it ended at the bulkhead built es ns sternpost. With the boy clasped tightly to him he slowly made his a down a long stationary ladder. A space the width of two yards intervened Boia aad the 4 wo bulkheads, and extended from one side of the vessel to the other. ‘No one aboard but the captain knew of this vacant com- partment, which had been constructed for the purpose of permitting the ae ~ gain access to the vessel’s hold in secret. i 4 if Captain Brant laid the senseless boy on a bit of planking | | ‘that covered the run, and taking up the lantern, climbed back to the lazarette, shut down the trap, replaced the boxes over it, returned to the cabin, and retired to his supper after turning the swinging light low. : When morning dawned the fog still hung over the bay and city. Gradually it thinned out as ie? sun rose in the direc- tion of Mount Diablo, miles away to the east. 7 When the longshoremen: started work at eight o'clock some traces of it clung around the summit of Telegraph ose close by, but it didn’t last long, and soon the city lay basking in the morning sunshine under. an almost pcloudless sky. _. Tt was about this time that J ack Gale began ie move at the bottom of the ship. > Presently he sat up and began to blink “ the darleess which surrounded him. | ~ the rough planking below him. J ataphe, decided to Foie it and try to make his oe TO the , | He was somewhat dazed from the effects of the eee but a As he collected his thoughts he remembered the recep- — tion he had met with on stepping aboard the vessel. Who was the person who attacked him, and in whose grasp he had become unconscious? - ‘He had no suspicions that it was the captain, or that. — Mr. Sharpley was in any way connected with his misad- venture. g “Where in creation am I? Certainly not in the open air,” he said to himself. “I’m in some building, bub Lo don’t see any windows. Maybe I’m in a cellar.” He got on his feet and began to move around. Reaching out his hands he felt one of the bulkheads. “I’m close to one side of the room. I must see how big the place is.” He started to follow the wall. Tay ae After taking two steps his foot shot down into space, and only that he had been making his way cautiously he would have pitched forward on his hands and knees on to the planking nailed to the bottom ribs of the vessel two feet or So below, The fall ‘vouldn’t have been so itiale but when a person takes an unexpected header in the darkness the conse- quences are often very serious. ; “Gee! I just escaped that hole by the skin of my teeth,” v he muttered, the perspiration coming out on his fore: head, for he imagined the hole was of some considerable 2 depth. ff Then he remembered that he had some matches in oe uy pocket. He took one out and lighted it. # As the flame flared up he was astonished to see the other _ side of the room, as he supposed it was, within a yank of ee his face. “I’m in a passage,” was his natural surmise. He flashed the match to the right and left and saw 5 \ / Stepping down, he walked in one direction till the . light of a second match revealed the ribs of a vessel. “Why,” he gasped, “I’m in the hold of a ship.”. e: CHAPTER VI. . IN THE HOLD OF THE MORNING GLORY. The ietaeal inference was that the ship was the Mor ing Glory. Jack did not. possess a very Aer fund of eee i about vessels, so the space divesn the two bulkheads the extreme stern did not strike him as anything unusu What most intatgeied him at that moment was ie therefor. . es The more he thought the seethse over the facie seemed to be from the solution of the enigma. Seeing the ladder running straight up into the 9
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“” ADRIFT IN THE SEA. ta His efforts to force it open met with no SUCCESS, SO he had to give it up. He hung on to the top rungs for a while, and finding that pretty uncomfortable, returned to the bottom of the hold, here he sat down to wait for somebody to come and let him out. Nobody came, however, as time passed, and he grew im- patient and nervous, The only sound he heard was the splashing of the water against the ship’s side some yards above his head. _ “T wonder what time it is?” he asked himself. “It - may be morning for all I know. The Masons are, no _ doubt, wondering what kept - from my dinner and away from my room all night. I should think Mr. Sharpley would have looked into the reason of my failure to re- _ appear on the dock with the bundle he sent me for. Cap- tain Brant would then have investigated. I don’t see how anybody could have put me down here without the cap- tain finding it out. And I don’t see why I was put down : here anyway. J don’t see any sense in it.” _ Jack’s thoughts then reverted to the revelation of his ae ee dae’ rascality, in which Captain Brant appeared to _ be hand-in-glove with him. _. The knowledge placed him in a rather difficult position. _ If he told what he had discovered it would ‘involve his e _ boss in ruin, and that would mean the end of his fine job. If he kept silent on the subject he would to a certain Bist extent ‘be aiding and abetting a piece of villainy. He hated to play the role of an informer, and yet it oh seemed to be his duty to do so, and save the underwriters a gs loss. He tried to argue that the underwriters were nothing to him, while his boss was a whole lot. Still, it was repugnant to his feelings to wink at a criminal act on the ground of self-interest. Mr. Sharpley, instead of being the fine, honorable man he had thought him to be, was a self-confessed swindler of marine insurance companies, so why should he shield him? “Tf I permit the Morning Glory to go to sea, knowing that she is intended to be lost, how will, I ever square my- f with my conscience?” Jack asked himself. “Sup- ty pose one or more of the sailors should lose their lives through her wreck, will I not be Beoottabte in a ; way for their deaths?” . In that event, Jack felt that he would never be able to | forgive himself for his silence. _ By this time it was after ten o’clock and the boy was cling pretty hungry. Becoming sensible of that fact, Jack began to thesis thi morning must have come, and he entertained strong s of a speedy release from the hold. Time slipped by, however, and there were no sounds at} trap above to indicate the end of his confinement. be missing at the office at this rate,” he muttered ie ge pel. _ “Whoever ig me in this hee nat to The possibility that he had hit the keynote of the situa- tion struck him cold with apprehension. In a word, Jack had at last hit wpon the true meaning of his imprisonment in the hold of the Morning Glory. It struck him that Mr. Sharpley, suspecting he had overheard the momentous conversation between himself and his fellow conspirator, Dudley, had made up his mind that the safety of all parties concerned in the: rascality depended on silencing the presumed witness—that is, get- ting him out of the way so that he could not give out the knowledge he had probably acquired. Everything seemed to point to that fact. “Why did he come down to the dock, unless it was to consult with Captain Brant over the situation?” thought Jack, “Why did he bring me along in the hack, unless to keep me under his eye? The bundle he sent me after . may have only been an excuse to get me aboard the ship and into the hands of Captain Brant in an easy way. _ Who other than the captain could have done me up in such a slick way on the poop of the vessel? And who else aboard had any reason for doing it? That would account for my presence here, a prisoner in the hold, and the inference is that I’m to be carried off to sea to prevent me from giving the plot away.” At that juncture there was a sound at the trap Jack looked up and saw the flash of a lantern. “Below, there!” cried a voice that Jack recognized a as the captain’s. “Hello!” cried. the boy, springing to the ladder me commencing to ascend. te The lantern began to descend and with By that time Jack was half way up the ladder. “Hold on there, I am coming up,” shouted “Go back, you young sculpin,” bellowed the skipper. “Why should I go back? I want to get out.” “Yow ll get out when I get ready to let you,” was the — harsh reply. | “Why am I being kept a prisoner down here?” asked Jack, continuing to ascend, but more slowly. “None of your business. Go back, d’ye hear, or ru drop Beracinae on your head that'll hasten your move- ments.” “This is an- outrage. I ought to be at the office by this time if it’s morning, as I guess it is.” , A sardonic chuckle was wafted down to him. . “Yow ll never see the office any more, you young lubber. ae His words struck a chill to the boy’s heart. e : “What do you mean?” he asked. “What I said. You're booked for a trip across » the Pacific” | “Why am 12” ae i 4 vi “That’s my business.” i “T don’t see why you should treat : me this. way, Captain Brant. What have I done to yout” _ ‘Oh, you know me, do you? Youll know 1 me better in a day or two when we get into blue water, I warrant you,” Bhoves, | retorted the skipper, savagely. The lighted lantern and a basket containing some. co) It | provisions. had halted close to the boy’s head. it to. be
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ADRIFT IN THE SHA. 13° derstand? nship the hea and take the grub out of. “The lantern and the basket began to descend again, and ack, with a heavy heart followed them down. Reaching the bottom he removed the ores from the basket and unshipped the lantern. “Ts the basket empty?” roared the captain. “Yes,” replied Jack, in a choked voice. In another moment the basket disappeared in the gloom ‘Overhead, and presently the boy heard the trap close. He was alone once more, but he had a light, which was one consolation. As he was half famished he attacked the pepvelden of Which there was an ample supply. _ It consisted of a dish of cold meat, part of a loaf of bread cut in slices and butter ed, nearly a pound of soda crackers, /4 slice of meat pie, and a jug of water. ~ Jack got away with half of the meat before he remem- hered that the captain said he wouldn’t show up again till ext day. However, there was more than enough bread and crack- pre to last. for twenty-four hours, so he finished up on them, and Ww ashe, the meal down with a long drink of vater. ‘ »This is’ pretty fierce,” he said, gazing in a disheartened in the lantern. “I’m to be carried to sea because I’ve learned too much about the t isn’t my fault that he has made a rascal ave I anything to do with Captain Brant in his schemes. They'll be able to carry now, and cheat the insurance people out of other big sum. They forget, however, that I’m likely ha back some time, and: then Vit make them sweat for t it might be a part of the mee purpose that he uld be so well disposed of that he never would get back 0 San Francisco to bring them to justice. CHAPTER VIL. JACK ‘SHOWS THE STUFF “HE'S MADE or. ale of the arty ouny. . o To vary the monotony he climbed up the ladder and tried | t trap again, but it was as. tight as ever, en he walked up and down his prison, until he was of the exercise and sat down. _ With his back against the forward bulkhead he dropped off E to. wen and remained coy to the world for several | -member T ne my eye on you. ; c aT have a vaeant stateroom in the cabin, an¢ candle in the lantern had burned. away, and he blew thes Night settled down over the city and bay of Sen Frans cisco once more, and the fog came rolling in like escaping steam, from the “Heads,” but the boy had no knowledge of the fact. Day and night, fair weather or foul, were alike in the ‘depths of that gloomy hold, which mipht have suggest ed the deepest dungeon in some old castle. ‘We will not dwell on Jack’s unenviable position during the next thirty-six hours, at the end of which time the Morning Glory sailed from her anchorage, a tug taking her. across the bar outside the “Heads,” when she spread her canvas to a fair breeze and started on her voyage across fe Pacific, southward, toward Australia. J ack felt her get under way and his last faint hope that Be something might happen to favor his release vanished. “I’m booked for the trip,” he muttered, “but it’s a ypc lane that hasn’t a turning.” The ship was off the Farallones, a group of islands abgite twenty-five miles due west of the Golden Gate, at dark, and was bowling along under all plain sail. At that time Jack was asleep. vias At daylight next morning he was awalianed by a grip on his arm, Starting up he fonda himself face to face with Gapenites Brant, who held the lantern in one hand and a cocked. Te- volver i in the other. : “Now, you young sea cook, listen to me. To begin with, — we're at sea, more than a hundred miles. from Prisco: You’re thoroughly in my power, and if I chose to blow your brain out down here no one aboard would be the wiser. D’ye understand ?” . “Yes, ” replied the boy. ; “T s’pose youre tired of staying down here, eh ” oa: tae, “Then it remains with you to say whether you'll stay i here and starve, for I’ve sent you down your last meal, or . come up with me, sign the ship’s articles and turn to and make yourself useful as cabin boy.” “Tl sign the articles and make myself useful. I can't help myself,” replied Jack. “Of course’ you will, but there’s a condition: “da “What is it?” ‘Your presence above has got to. be eS) for so I’m going to give out that you’re a stowaway. You mus Lf iG admit that you are. Do you agree to do so?” . “T suppose I'll have to doas you say.” “You will or stay here and croak, 4 “T agree.” “Yow re sensible. Now if you go back on ‘your ae I hear of you blowing your ‘gab abont anything co with this ship, yow'll go overboard to feed the fishes You're not to 80 fo "aie ‘ “Ty ‘do. ”
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14 “Help the steward, make the beds in the cabin, keep | the place neat and clean, and attend to such other things as you may be called on to do.” “Now that the ship has sailed perhaps habe tell me why I have been kidnapped ?” “T want a cabin boy and I took a fancy to you. That’s the reason,” replied the skipper with a shifty glint in his eye. + Jack made no reply, but he was satisfied that Captain Brant had not told the truth. “Now then, follow me. I’m going to say that I found ‘you stowed away in the lazarétie, See that you don’t try _ to make me out a liar,” said the skipper in a threatening tone, “The lazarette!”? said Jack. ‘What's that?” “The storeroom directly above here and underneath the - eabin. We'll pags through it on. our way.” sn The captain led the way up, and Jack followed him, glad to escape from his prison pen. - - “This is the lazarette,” said Captain Brant, after they - had passed through the trap, which the skipper covered as wy before. “Now up with you into the eabin.”. ‘The morning sun was shining athwart the skylight when Jack made his way into the cabin, and his sudden transi- _ tion to daylight, the first he had seen for two oor made him blink like an owk ' Captain Brant hailed. the steward, and when that per- ‘sonage appeared, tqld him that he had just discovered Mr. 'Sharpley’s office boy stowed away in the lazarette. “He has run away to sea, and as it’s too laté to put him r ashore Pm going to make him work his way. He’s to ‘be cabin boy, and you can make as much use of him as you . want. Take charge of him now and set him to work.” “You can set the table for three to begin with,” said the steward. “By the way, what’s your name?” Jack told him. “Come with me and I'll show. you whére everything is kept.” The boy followed him and the skipper went on deck. The second mate was in charge of the watch, and Cap- tain Brant told him about his finding Jack in the lazarette. This story was subsequently repeated to the chief mate when he came to breakfast later on. / Long before noon every one aboard the chip had heard about the supposed stowaway, and Jack was wise enough 2 to say anything that would throw a doubt on the skip- “per’s statement. As the days passed he attended to his work i ie a faithful way and the captain had no fault to find with him. things considered he had a fairly easy berth, and he began to enjoy the novelty of his situation, almost getting the fate that was in store for the ship. ack had no fault to find with the treatment he received e skipper ‘kept a pretty close watch on bis movements st, but finding that the boy was keeping his part of gain to the letter, his scrutiny relaxed, and ke as- tolerably friendly attitude toward the lad, began to entertain. doubts as to J ack’s know!- to Ik 1 ee ‘soul if they had beem within easy reach of land. to keep her‘afloat, while he crowded on sail for the ORY he was aiming. at. ‘as long as it could be avoided, worked away with ‘strenuous conditions, and that vot 2 was finall, pn ADRIFT IN THE SBA, | EERSTE: ORY TS OES EEE SERS ATR TY TREN a SE EN OIE EK a TR EN ' card room,” he told himself. “I don’t blame him, how- ever, for not taking any chances on it. Ill sound the boy by degrees, and if the indications are that he is ignorant it will save me from a erime, for it was my origina] inten- tion to see that he went down with the ship. Id rather not be responsible for his death if I can avoid it.” Six weeks after leaving San Francisco the ship his to the windward of the Stiletto Islands, in the neighbor- | hood of which the ribs of the Shenandoah lay a aes many fathoms down. Of course Captain Brant had no intention of losing is vessels at the same spot, although it was an ideal one for’ with sear er that he she passed the purpose, as the coincidence would look somewhat sus picious. He had two or three other spots pricked off on the chart | pending catastrophe could be pulled off nearly as well, One of them was an island of the Fiji group—an un inhabited spot within easy reach by boat of a peptone The skipper favored this place, as it would enable all. hands to get away and reach shore and he hoped circum- stances would enable him to carry out his plans there, reputation of the Pacific Ocean, with the belamee 3 in a of the ocean. duration. It was enough, though, to pat Jack on his bach sickness. ; rapidly acquired his sea legs. An end abruptly came to the fine weather Morning Glory ran into a tremendous gale afte: It lasted three day s, and the patched-wp craft came sie of it in bad shape. Indeed, at one time it looked as if she would. founder At any rate when the gale broke the carpenter conned that the water was gaining on the exhausted crew, and he feared she had sprung a plank in her bottom. and noted down in his memorandum book where the im~- settlement. The weather thus far had been fully in aecord with [ There had been some ditty weather, but it was of brief The attack lasted scarcely i devas & south of the line. | without any assistance from the captain. This report would have brought joy to Captain Brant’s He would have hastened to make the fate of the. vessel certain by going down’ between the two bulkheads and ing a few holes in the ship’s skin to help the good work along, Their position on the chart was sek a desirable one, | in the skipper’s estimation, for the ship to give up the ghost, so he kept his men plugging away at the pumps in order The men, having no ‘relish for cutting Io08e i in open: boats though growing more 2s ca more exhausted as the h passedy ; There is a bose to even the ee endur by the crew of the Morning Glory.
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ADRIFT IN THE SEA. | | in lives of those on board, and was the autocrat of his own actions. : Sturgeon, however, was not one of the yielding kind. When he saw that his mates were wavering he yelled: » “To the boats! To the boats! We'll cut loose from the blamed old hooker, and let the skipper save her himself if ; he kin.” ‘He made a dash for the starboard Side; flowed by several of the crew. The captain’s revolver cracked and Sturgeon staggered =~ and fell, But he was_up in a moment, with a streak of blood across his forehead where the bullet had raised a furrow. © With a howl of rage he drew his case knife and started for the steps. The skipper fired again, but aia, him. The deck was now a scene of indescribable confusion. The seamen grabbed marline spikes, and anything that came handy and followed their leader. Pare The captain and the mates fired into the surging mass, ae particularly at Sturgeon, and two of the men fell wounded on the planks. The ringleader escaped in some miraculous way, and had his foot on the lower step of the ladder, when Jack Gale rushéd forward, seized him by the arm that held the knife and stopped his progress, and with him the whole bunch. “Stand back, men, are you crazy?” he cried. “Stand — back! Would you murder the captain and officers? Youd — all be hanged for it when you reached shore, if you ever did. The gale is over and this ship has got to be saved) I'm only a boy, but you'll have to kill me before you pass. up a that ladder. Are you cowards enough to down an unarmed boy? Back, I say; back to your duty, and save the ship!” With flashing eyes and heaving breast Jack stood be- tween the officers and the half-maddened men, any one of whom could have twisted him around their fingers, while Sturgeon could have erushed him: with a blow, and defied SMe: them to pass him. ave persevered a while longer, but the suspicion prevailing 4 t Jat the Morning Glory was little better than a coffin ship, y threw up the sponge when the carpenter reported | ight feet of water, cap’n, and the leak evidently mak- 3 Bae 3 “Right feet of water, and the chain and sucker worn hrough,” cried a brawny member of the crew, who was re- garded as a sort of leader by the others. “My hands are as raw as beef, Ill work no more.” - The others quit with him and gathered about the pumps ‘in a kind of sulky despair, for the sea was still running high, due perhaps to the lessened force of the wind which had previously flattened the surges out, and. the prospect Was not at all cheerful. _ “You’re a nice hand to call yourself a seaman,” roared Captain Brant, glowering down on the man from the break of the.poop. “Instead of setting the men a good example you give up like a lubberly, skulking bully. Get back to work, you lazy rascal. And the rest of you, turn to and ‘ save the ship.” : _ “The ship ain’t worth savin’,” growled the brawny chap, whose name was Sturgeon. “She’s nothin’ but a coffin, as full of holes as a colander.” - “How dare you talk back to me?” shouted the skipper, who perceived that here was the chance to accumulate evi- d dence to show the Board of Underwriters in San Francisco a that every effort was made to save the Morning Glory from foundering. “Get to work, you rascals.” - “T don’t see no use, lads, in wearin’ the flesh off our bones. to do an impossibility. ‘We can’t keep this blamed old tub afloat more’n a few hours longer, She’s bound to ink afore dark,” said Sturgeon, addressing his mates, and parently ignoring the captain’s words and presence alto- ether. “Do you, my lads, any of you? Speak out.” _ “No, sartainly not; and whats more, I won’t,” replied: 2 nother, . There was a chorus of similar negatives from the others, ‘howing that they fully agreed with the ringleader. - Captain Brant turned to his second mate and ordered im to bring up his revolvers, and also his own and the hief mate’s. _ The men heard him and scowled darkly at the poop deck. Jack Gale, who was in the pantry at the time, heard the commotion, and came to the door to’ see what had ised the extra disturbance, - His first impression was that the vessel Was going down ind the men were about to take to the boats. _ He saw that the sailors had quit pumping and were nding near the pumps ldaoking as if they were in a bad or. _ While he was piace them’ file carpenter sounded the yell, and returning to the poop oe eight and a half — 4 ‘CHAPTER VIII. JACK MAKES AN a eene DISCOVERY. Sines was fairly haiigend at the herve of thie” Bore - and he stood and stared at him with a black sg that would have cowed *most any lad. 2 Jack, however, was wound up to a high pitch of excite: . ment, and seemed unconscious of the tanger he had. 80 t recklessly courted. 5 The captain and officers were anaced at the cabin bo. nerve, and hastened to take instant advantage of it. They rushed to the head of the steps and bending d presented three revolvers point blank at the men, with yard of their heads. That cooled the mutineers, and their rush having ow, you Shia he ei back es the pumps, eyery | | Jack of you, or Vl make some of. you turn up your in mighty short order!” roared the skipper, Potting: his is dere at the Beep Aas were practically gone. EN ow, ies rascals, yeti to your duty Pm, thm q ) give way, Sat », gave up the figh
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16 ADRIFT IN THE SHA. . He grabbed Jack, however, and dragged him back with | enough to get within easy rowing distance of the island ht _ him. “Let that boy go!” roared the skipper, covering the ring- leader. With, an imprecation the seaman threw Jack from him and retired to the pumps where all hands resumed work in a half-hearted way. _ Jack, seeing that there was no further call for his ser- vices, retreated to the pantry, where he was praised by the steward who had witnessed his plucky action. “You saved a lot of bloodshed, my lad,” he said. “Those men were wound up for desperate business, and you stepped _ ‘to the front in the nick of time, It’s a: wonder Sturgeon didn’t knife you, though, for he’s a fierce rooster when his _ monkey is up.” “He looks it,” replied Jack, going about his work as if the ship was not in imminent peril of going to the bottont in a short time. “T don’t see how you had the courage to stop that rush,” said the steward in a tone of admiration. ‘“You’re a brave boy, and the skipper will no doubt report you favorably to the owner.” ~ Jack made no eee _ He knew that Captain Brant was not likely to i any cuch thing. _ Following the instructions of the captain, the carpenter went below with a sailor on ‘a tour of inspection, and dis- _ covered the main cause of the inrush of the water. A plank had started below the water line, and the sea _ was pouring in at a great rate. ' He succeeded in patching the break up to a considerable extent, and in plugging other holes. 3 After that the men with two pumps, working in’ reliefs Pi of two, were able to hold their own against the water. In those days steam pumps had not. been generally in- Peiadtided on ships, so that the safety of a vessel that sprang a leak in mid-ocean, or elsewhere, depended eae on, the muscles of the crew. The result was that when the men were worn out the peril of foundering was very great. had gone down somewhat, and the erew had gained half i a ‘foot on the water. ; _. The skipper braced them up occasionally with a stiff ¥ Be of spirits, and no more signs of insubordination ay: peared among them. i The captain and mates agreed among themselves that Jack Gale was a plucky boy, and had saved them no end of trouble, and possibly their lives. The two wounded sailors were removed to NCR bunks dither was fatally hurt, Dut ee was some danger fr m blood poisoning, as the captain was not experienced ugh to probe for and remove the bullets. night and all next day Captain Brant crowded during that time pe watch on deck took | ashe named Sam Ellis. skipper’s orders were against it. By dark the wind had subsided to a fair breeze, the sea| the forecastle, and were attended to by the skipper as} goal times he did not call Bs ack down pice i had picked out as a good one to reach. é The carpenter’s investigations below demonstrated to his” own. satisfaction that the Morning Glory wasn’t the vessel” she had been cracked up to be. : He was surprised that such a craft should be sent! on @ long voyage with a valuable cargo by a shipping house as respectable and well thought of as Geo. Sharpley & Co. In many places her timbers were so rotten that the car penter marveled they had stood the strain of the recent gale as well as they did. “Tt’s a mercy that she didn’t zo plumb to the bottom lik a stone,” he soliloquized. “I wish I was out of her. I hate to think what’s liable to happen if another gale | the last hits us between here and Melbourne.” The carpenter reported the state of affairs to Captain 1 Brant, and the skipper pretended to be much concerned about the condition of the ship. 4 He insisted that the carpenter had magnified the danger, though the man solemnly assured him that’he had not. Tack heard what the carpenter said and he knew that he had truly represented the state of affairs, ; The ship was rotten and he, too, wished he was out of her. Hes Sturgeon hadn’t more than told the truth when he called _ her a coffin ship, though he did not know how bad the vessel really was. q Among the crew was a fine, strapping young felloy He was about a year older than Jack. tis Gale would have liked to get friendly with him, but th 3 Still they got acquainted just the pai” and occasionally swapped a few words, me q Sam hadn’t taken any part in the ihioet mutiny, and he” was an éye-witness of Jack’s courageous act. , The result of that was Jack rose high in his estimation Indeed, Sturgeon and the entire crew, after matters h quieted down, began to feel a lot of respect and admiratio for the cabin boy. True courage is always appreciated, even among rase of a low type, and the erew of the Morning Glory ¥ neither better nor worse than the average sailor, On the second evening following the outbreak Jack on the poop when Sam relieved the man at the wh and the two boys got into conversation, - aes ‘The captain was below in his stateroom, and J ack, ing that he stood in good fayor with the officers, v vi to hang around Sam longer than he Enis wou dared to do. As a consequence by the time Sam’s trick at the was up he and Jack were on a very friendly footing. This feeling continued to increase during the ne: t three days, by which time the: vessel was amin free of water. At bee ee Brant noted that: t the hi us
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\ ' ADRIFT IN ee es dn \ position, he made a mistake in his figuring and pricked \their position at the wrong spot on the chart. \ Captain Brant, assuming that the mate’s work was cor- tect, proceeded to calculate how far the vessel would run by midnight, if the wind maintained its present weight, which was likely. i Fe found and marked off the place where the ship ought to be. : : A clear sea, with Sago Island, an uninhabited bit of land, bearing fifteen miles on the port quarter, and the big island he intended the boats to make for, twenty miles off the starboard bows. é Owing to the mate’s error the skipper’s calculations were bound to be wrong. The ship would be close aboard of Sago Island at mid- night, and all of thirty-five miles N.E. of the large island. The weather began to look threatening at dark, and the ind dropped a bit. Bay aliens Captain Brant came on deck to make his rvations. : cay was still softer, so he calculated a loss of six or eight miles by midnight, which didn’t cut much ice with him, as the barometer showed no signs of a dangerous fall. Returning to the cabin, which was empty, he pulled up the trap communicating with the lazarette, descended and it down after him. ; one was not aware that his movements were observed by Jack Gale. ; at co ‘ack was in his stateroom at the time and something im- _pelled him tg open his door slightly and look out. “Now I wonder what Captain Brant is going into the lazarette for?” he asked himself. ‘Of course he has the right to go there when he chooses, but I don’t see any reason for him going at this hour.” The ‘strenuous efforts made by the skipper to save the ship from foundering directly after the gale had deceived the boy as to his real intentions. _ ; He began to believe that Captain Brant had decided not the vessel after all. a ne conversation with Sam Ellis he asked the lad what the space between the two bulkheads under the lazarette s intended for. : ee told him that there was no such place aboard any hin and Jack was afraid to explain to him that he had had ane experience with such a vacant enclosure on the - Morning Glory. - ether thinking the matter over he came to the con- -sselusion that the space had been built for some secret pur- must be the wrecking of the ship. saw the captain entering the lazarette at such pose, and that h ahs i oe ge te began to have his suspicions that all was atl reat himself he determined to take the risk of peeking down into the storeroom to see what the skipper _ was about. oH e space between the two bulkheads. ge ‘ ; i ht. r uy ‘Phat satisfied him that all was not right. — Ny That argh ulled the trap down after him which left tain Brant’s head and shoulders. ‘ | black as a thunder-gust. THE SEA. a ats After waiting a few minutes Jack descended into the storeroom himself and opened the second trap. Looking down he saw the skipper below flashing the lantern along one side of the vessel, near the bottom. ; Putting down the light, he picked up a big auger and began to bore a hole right through the planking of the vessel, He started a second one before Jack woke up to the real meaning of his work. “He’s letting in the water and means to sink the vessel now,” breathed the startled boy. ‘What shall I do?” He felt that it was his duty to call the attention of everybody on the ship to their danger, but that necessarily would expose the captain as a villain, Well,.why should he shield the skipper under, the cir- cumstances ? First of all he decided to call Sam Ellis. In fact, he would bring him there and let him see with his own eyes what all hands were up against. He left the storeroom in a hurry and made his way to the forecastle where Sam was asleep. ei . “Sam, Sam, rouse up!” he called to his new friend. Sam was awake in a moment. ou “What’s the matter? Is the watch out? Oh, it’s you, Jack! What’s up? asked the young sailor. ee “Get into your clothes, quick, and come out on deck,” replied Jack, in a tone of suppressed excitement, that told — Sam that something unusual was on the tapis. eke Sam obeyed and they were soon on the roof of the fore- castle. ‘ mee. “Now tell me what-is wrong,” said Sam. ee “The captain is boring holes in the stern of the ship to sink her,” said Jack. Nai “Get out, you’re dreaming,” replied Sam, incredulously. — “Come with me and I'll prove it to you.” Bh Ay Jack dragged Sam across the deck and into the cabin. Lifting the trap of the lazarette he said: : “Follow me down.” Sam, full of wonder, did so, rt “Do you see this trap?” asked Jack, flashing a match. Before Sam could answer in the affirmative, the uate As ‘ flew back, an arm and a lantern appeared, and then Cap- a It would be hard to say which party was most taken by surprise—Jack and Sam, or the skipper of the Morning 5 Glory. Ke CHAPTER IX. mare. LOss OF THE MORNING GLORY. As the two boys gazed at the face of the skipper - latter returned their stare and then with a deep imprecatio | rose out of the hole and let the trap fall back into its place. , “What are you doing here?” he demanded, looking ie “T heard a noise down here and came to see what it was,” replied Jack, in some confusion.. jet tabs “Oh, you did,” sneered the captain. “What did you~ bring company with you for? Afraid to venture alone in a re en
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18 ADRIFT IN THE SEA. Jack didn’t know what answer to make to that. “Don’t you know you have no right aft here except when you're called to stand your trick at the wheel?” roared Captain Brant, glaring at Ellis. “Yes, sir,” replied Sam, in an embarrassed ¥ way. “Then why are you down in the lazarette ?” “T came to back up Jack,” he replied. The skipper’s eyes flashed savagely. “Very well,” he hissed, “you'll both remain here till I let you out, and that won’t be soon,” he added with a ' wicked look. He strode to the short steps leading out of the storeroom, pushed up the trap, made his way into the cabin and shut _ the trap down. . Geing into his stateroom he brought outa heavy weight _ and placed it on top of the trap to hold it down. “Now stay there, you young sculpins,” he muttered. “Tt _ is clear you know too much for my good. You shall go _ .to the bottom with the ship. Dead boys tell no tales.” _. The handles of the. pumps were kept in the carpenter’s room. The carpenter, who did not belong to either watch, was asleep. The skipper softly removed them without awakening him and stowed them away under his bunk. ‘Then he walked on deck to await results. The night was dark as the eaves of Krebus, / _ Unknown to any one aboard, and owing to the second mate’s error in his day’s calculations, the ship was heading straight for Sago Island. _ The wind had freshened within. the last half hour and was now blowing a small gale, which sent the vessel tearing along on her course. : i ‘s udging from the looks of the barometer it did not prom- ise to be of long duration, and the raseally captain had no fear that his stanch boats would not easily ride it out. In the meantime how fared matters with Jack and ie down the storeroom ? _ “We're in a’ nice pickle,” said the latter as the akinet ge disappeared up the ladder and closed the trap upon them. _ All hands are in a worse one,” replied Jack. oe, “What do you mean ??’. : “What I tod you in the first Fikes The captain has bored holes itt the stern of the vessel with an auger to let ’ in the water and sink the ship.” _ “That doesn’t sound reasonable, Jack,” repliea Sam. ey don’t care what it sounds like it’s the fact. You saw “Yes. I didn’t know: there was. an entrance to the hold that way.” a poet is. There's a space a couple of ain wide ex- | wants us to escape?” ow some idea of the place, “¢ replied J sey ig rey which he could. not gauge atch flared up and Sam. looked into a dark void, “Then we must get out of here and give the alarm.” “Ti we can.” “What's to prevent us? Follow me.” Sam dashed up the steps and pushed against the trap, but he couldn’t budge it. It was as fast as though it had been battened down. “Great Scott! We're sjoonediy” eried Sam. ship sinks we'll sink with her.” - “Nothing surer,” answered Jack; “and that’s our fate, “Tf the I fear.” Sam, in a state of panic, pounded with all his might on the bottom of the trap, but his efforts availed him nothing. “Good Lord! What does this all mean?” he groaned. “Why is the skipper sending the vessel to the bottom now when he tried his best to save her last week ?” “T couldn’t tell you why he tried to save her, but I ean tell you this much that when the Morning Glory left San _ Francisco it was not intended ae should ever reach her — destination.” “How do you know that?” gasped Sam. “YT tell you in a few words.” Tt took Jack fifteen minutes to tell enythtive connected with his abduction from San Francisco, and Sam listened - to his story with astonishment and consternation. “That’s the worst I ever heard,” he said. “To send a _ rotten ship to sea with a worthless cargo in part to be lost. It’s. an outrage, Why didn’t you blow the yarn to the chiet mate, and the second mate, too?” “T was afraid to open my mouth because Captain Brant kept a strict watch on me. He said if I dared say a word to any one about my abduction I’d go overboard.” “Tf the men knew what they were up against they’ a come aft and murder the skipper,” said Sam. “I wouldn’t feel sorry for him either. He must have had some reason for saving the ship a week back.” ; “T guess he wanted to get near some island where all’ hands could escape to the shore, like they did we the | wrecked the Shenandoah.” ~ “T'll bet you’re right. He was looking but for hiniself -|He doesn’t want to run the chances of an open boat any longer than he can help. Well, we're close to the Fiji group now, and many of the islands have good sized white settlements. It is one of them he’s aiming for.” “That won’t do any good if it is his intention to send us down with the ship.” s “He wouldn’t dare do that. It would be clear murder.” - “He wouldn’t dare? Wouldn’t my testimony, backed up by what we have both seen to-night, queer the job before ? the Board of E Underwriters, and send the three men in the _ plot to State’prison?” : ~“T guess it would.” 4g ‘Under those circumstances do you think Captain Brant “What'shall we do?” : ¥ “Good Lord!” palpitated Sam. “What can we do? is the question.” — : As the boys sat facing each other in the dark, almost — paralyzed by the realization of their terrible situation, the » / eas fetched be pair ne some Coan a with a
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\ | ADRIFT IN THE SBA, a Naturally he was somewhat dazed after the shaking up he had received. It wasn’t long before he realized that something had happened to the ship. He could feel that she was no Jonger humming ineoaul the seas, rolling and plunging to the sharp surges, but as stationary as a house ashore. He heard the waves beating against her stern, but with no great force, There could be only one conclusion, and that was the ship was ashore somewhere. . No sounds came from the cabin above. The vessel was as silent as though not a soul was aboard of her. Jack next became conscious of the fact that he was - hemmed in by boxes and bags, part of the contents of the storeroom, and putting out his hands felt the head and up= per body of his friend Sam Ellis lying across him. | Getting his hand in his pocket he pulled out a match and lit it. : The lazarette was a scene of the greatest confusion, and was tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees. ‘Sam, Sam,” he cried, shaking the young sailor, whose — regular breathing showed that he was far from being a dead boy, though: there was no saying what.injuries he had sustained by the mix-up. Sam, however, showed no disposition to move. “Fe’s still unconscious,” muttered Jack. “There’s a bag or two across his legs. I hope none of his bones are broken. The ship instead of going to the bottom has ume ae ashore. That’s lucky for us. I wonder how long we've _ been knocked out, and what the officers and crew are Hp; ee ing?” ee Jack let the burned match drop and ee proceeded to ite extricate himself from the mass of stores that formed a barricade about them, both: "3 As s6on as he gained , his feet he lit another match ae saw a lantern swinging from the ceiling. ' Tt had a fresh candle in it which he lighted. i Then he removed the bags from Sam’s limbs and piled his friend clear of the debris. Sam uttered a sigh and opened his eyes... é ‘* Where am 1?” he asked. es “We're still in the lazarette.” “What in thunder happened?” he inquired, corumbling on his legs, which he began to rub as if they were sore. “The ship has gone ashore.” ; “Gone ashore !” cried Sam, in astonishment. aac “Yes; you don’t feel her moving, do you?” = 8 “Thats so. We must have hit one of the eh group: : Well, that’s better than going to Davy Jones’ ‘Tocke : Gee! My legs are sore.” - ge “Some of the stuff in here fell on you. I jnst pulled you out from that-hole.” “Thanks, old chap. We got a pretty Wade Malang w Were you knocked out, too, or did you escape what I got? -“T was down and out as well as you. I poy, jus Amy senses back.” Leth Bee wonder how long. ago ae thi hing happened?” ‘T could dni’t tell you. . They were both stunned by the shock, and lay as inani- _ mate as the boxes and bundles heaped around them. The Morning Glory had gone ashore on the desolate Sago Island, and the captain was as much surprised by the cat- astrophe as any one else. According to his calculations, based on the day’s observa- tions taken by the mate, there wasn’t any land nearer than ten or fifteen miles of the ship at that moment. ' The shock was so severe and unexpected that the captain and mate barely saved themselves from going overboard. The helmsman was not so fortunate. He was thrown clear over the rail and disappeared into the surges. After striking, the ship careened on her side to some extent, and all the starboard boats were cence to splin- ters. Of course great confusion ensued on board. The watch below rushed out on deck, as the watch on deck were picking themselves out of the starboard scuppers, It soon developed that the vessel was hard and fast ashore, and that there was no immediate danger of her go- ing to pieces. The mates calmed the fears of the men and order was restored. The captain ordered the two port boats to he provisioned, declaring that his reckoning placed them on the edge of the Fiji-group, and that they ought to reach a settlement inside of thirty-six hours at the outside. He could not uederstand how the ship had run foul of _Jand, and held a consultation with his mates on the sub- ject. |” He declared that the second officer must have made a _ miscalculation, iets the catastrophe couldn’t have hap- pened. | It was decided to wait till morning before leaving the vessel as long as the weather was. at bad enough to en- danger the wreck. The men, reassured, turned in as best they’ could for a nap, and so the night passed away and day broke. | The half gale had spent its force by that time, and the sea, though rough, was not bad enough to deter the crew from launching the two boats, which they did soon after - sunrise. Tt was not till the boats were some distance from the wreck that the two boys were missed, and then those in one boat believed they were in the other. -Thié captain alone knew where they were, and though he | - shrank from committing a crime that amounted to murder, he felt that the safety of himself and his fellow plotters depended on the death of the lads, and go he stifled the stings of his conscience, and the boats kept on, a few hun- 5 dred yards apart, headed for the nearest inhabited island, Bai tay miles away. . OnE ON SAGO ISLAND.
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2 aga ; ADRIFT IN THE SBA. The boys made a meal off crackers and canned meat they found in-the storeroom and then took their seats on the poop to consider what they would do about getting away » from the island. : “We may have to wait here some time before a vessel comes close enough to notice our signals and take us off,” said Sam. “But we've got to ee here, for there aren’t any boats . left that will swim,” replied Jack. cured the trap, you remember, so it’s going to be a job to get out. If we had a hatchet we could cut our way out, but IT don’t see anything down here that will help us any.” Sam looked around also, and then he ran up the steps determined to make another effort to force the trap. | He put his shoulder against it and to his surprise it yielded readily. pe Lhe weight which the captain had se on it had been thrown against the side of the cabin, a couple of yards away. “What’s the matter with building a raft?” suggested the _. “Hurrah!” aiid Sam. “The way is open. Come | young sailor. : on. 39 “We might do that; but it won’t sai df “We'll rig a spar for a mast, fix a smaller spar for a yard and put canvas on it. There is plenty sailcloth aboard.” s S’pose we were Sesnmhl in a storm after we'got afloat?” “A raft wouldn’t sink in any storm. It would float like — a chip. We'll rig lines on it so that we needn’t be washed ‘off, and tie the provision boxes down so they can’t get away. We can take our time building it in a substantial way, for ' the weather looks as if it’s likely to hold fine for some time.” Jack fell in with Sam’s plan, and they started to make the raft right away. They found all the tools ikay needed for the work in the, carpenter’s chest, and they fell to with a will. The making of the raft furnished them with cceupation, . too, which kept up their spirits. ’ It was no easy job to prepare the foundation of their un- — wieldy craft, for they had to saw the heavy spars into suit- able lengths and drag them to the water astern. a The sea was still too rough for them to launch their | spars overboard, so they put in the rest of the day prepar- ‘ ing their material. Ta fact they spent the whole of the next day, also this way, and it was not ti!! the second morning, by which time _ the ocean was quite calm, that they beget putting the vat together. Altogether it occupied them a ane working pretty eee ‘4 to complete their craft, and theri they had a solid-looking E affair, with a well- braced mast and yard, to which a goods sized square sail was attached: ce They carpeted the planking with sailcloth, and in| the j ; He sprang out on the slanting floor of the cabin, and _ Jack lost no time in following him. “T believe the old hooker has been deserted by all hands,” said Sam, looking up the companion-way, and then out _ through the passage beyond the cabin, the door of which * was open, affording a limited view of the deck in the sun- light. _ -“Tiet’s make sure,” replied Jack. _. They mounted the companion stairs and gained the poop. _. Asingle glance was sufficient to show that, besides them- __ Selves, there was not a sign of life on bbard. _ “We're alone on the wreck,” said Sam; “and the ship has been cast upon one of the smallest islands in. these seas.” - Jack nodded and locked euriously about. - Theisland was little better than a mass of sterile rock. Through some strange chance the ship had landed wpon the only place where sha could have escaped total destruc- tion—a lane between two spurs of rock, that held her par- tially upright as if in a slightly loosened vise. Only her stern was in the water, and not much of that. “She’s good for many a day heres » said Sam. “The first gale will break up the stern in part, but the waves will | never be able to hurt the rest of her rotten timbers. Look them, how they’re split and bulged out. It’s a wonder she floated after that three days’ gale we went through. If the risco underwriters could see her now they’d have some- ing to think about.” - } _ “Tf we are rescued soon, and get back to ’Frisco there no reason why they shouldn’t send some inspector out re to examine her and investigate the character of the rgo in the lower hold, since you say she’s good to remain re for some time,” replied Jack. “That’s right... The skipper a owner would then fie up against it hard.” — “They deserve to get all that’s coming to them, par- tien arly Captain Brant, for he tried to murder us by’ shut- ing us up in the lazarette, after boring holes in the bottom of the vessel to sink her. I guess’ he didn’t calculate on running her on. this bai or he wouldn’t have tried to ) her.” e must have been out of her course,” replied Bin. ll, oe hungry. . Let’s get something to eat,” said center, near’ the mast, they piled enough cases of canned provisions, bags of crackers, and two kegs of water, totes they calculated would last them a good while. ; They enveloped their provisions. with a i Nee oh sail cloth, to keep them dry. The boxes were so arranged that- tite was room for nee \g to crawl under the sail-cloth and ‘stretch out on a double ; mattress they placed in there. Altogether they were quite proud of the raft when th y viewed it in its era ats — ready: te ee off. from the island. They waited till sunrise next morning and then, swith >| help of a couple of poles, shoved off from shore, where tent wind caught their sail and the rude craft begaa | move through the water ata slow et y| The bo d isfacti es RD a gsiret, was. full of ‘provisions thous most vai it
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\ : eee , se : ADRIFT IN THE SEA. cy ees 2 Sy SSE, FPS IO SA) LE A OR LL rn _. If the wind changed they couldn’t keep to that course, | bound to rain often during that time so that we can is our tor there was no means of guiding the raft. casks with a fresh supply.” They were at the mercy of the wind and tide, and must| This conversation was carried on soon after sunrise one go wherever they were carried. morning. The situation by this time had got to be dreadfully mon- otonous. The first thing they had done was to look for a sail, and | seeing none they sat down to breakfast and began to talk. They had finished their meal and were gazing listlessly across the ocean when Sam suddenly sprang on his fect. “T see something,” he cried. “What do you see?” asked Jack, with interest, ‘It looks like a tree growing out of the water.” “Then we must be drawing near a low island. Where is it? 99) Sam pointed dead ahead and Jack saw the arching leaves a of the tree quite plain. By slow degrees the tree grew more and more distinet PAE their vision, “Tt’s on a low island or reef,” said Sam, after a while. “Tt’s a cocoanut tree.” “Strange that there wouldn’t be more than one tree, k's Avast" be 6 mighty small place,” said Jack. a “Tt probably is.. I’ve seen a cocoanut tree growing out ae of the water, where there was no land to be seen,” “You have?” cried Jack, in some surprise. “Yes. It sprouted on a submerged reef, and made a good landmark for a ship to:give a wide berth.” “How did the seed get there to sprout?” “Just as yonder one did—floated there from some dies tant island where there were lots of the trees.” oe “Strange things. happen in this world, don’t: they?” ane “Bet your life “they do,” nodded Sam. ig In the course of another hour, they saw low-lying land, a part of it covered with vegetation, and what interested them most was a fair sized hut standing not far i ae the tree. ; ee CHAPTER XI. | ‘ THE TWO CASTAWAYS OF LONE REEF. “As we are somewhere near other islands of this group we ought to come in sight of one by to-morrow morning at any rate,” said Sam. “Suppose we do sight an island it won’t do us much good unless it’s dead ahead, or nearly so,” replied Jack. “We can’t alter our course to suit our wishes, That is the great ‘drawback to a raft.” : ; “Oh, well, we are likely to get close enough to one of the big islands to be. seen, by the people on shore, who would ome to our rescue.” _ “But most of the people are natives; and it doesn’t fol- low we shall find them friendly to us. The Fiji Islands were once known for the cannibal instincts of their inhabi- tants. They used to cook and eat every white person who fell into their hands.” “They don’t do that any more; but still they’re not all riendly to strangers. We’ve got a revolver each, with plenty of cartridges, so we ought to be able to protect our- selves, unless we run against a mob.” _ “T hope we'll haze good luck. I’d like to get back to Frisco before, or as soon as, Captain Brant gets there, I want to make it hot for him,” said Jack, “I’m afraid you won’t, for he and the crew have the ad- vantage of boats. They have doubtless reached one of the big islands long before this, but’ their stay on the island will depend on circumstances. The captain knew the loca- tion of the island best suited to his purpose, and was able to steer direct for it. We don’t know the position of any of the islands, and eyen if we did we couldn’t go there unless} “Somebody must have been wrecked on that reef, % aad the drift of the ocean carried us.” - | | Sam; “otherwise the hut wouldn’t be there.” _ The boys talked for some time about their prospects: and| “Whoever it was has probably been rescued or died there, hy then feeling hungry proceeded to sample their provisions. | for I don’t see anyone.” * : That afternoon they saw land to the west, but it was a| “Maybe several persons were w recked. hee, rath it. mg distance off. — is possible they are in the hut, or sitting on the other, sae ; Just before sunset they saw a ship crossing their course, | of it, that’s why we don’t see them.” nut she vanished in the gloom of evening long before they «Tf there are any men there they should he seen re t anywhere near her. before this, and shown themselves in the a of being ; ext morning they sighted another island ahead, but the taken off.” de carried them away from it, we ies eventually passed| “Well, we'll soon know if there is any one on ‘the reef for it miles away. we are drifting straight for it. The only advantage the r _ They drifted past one island while acer slept. will be to us is that it will give us a chance to stretch our + was a fair sized one and inhabited, but they never legs awhile on dry land, which will-be a great relief. We new how close they were to it at one time. will probably be able to secure a supply of shellfish, which Tn the morning it was a mile away astern. |as we’ve matches, we can cook and add variety to our bil ea was the last land they saw for two weeks, dad Sam: cof fare.” so 5 was afraid they had passed away from the Fiji} “That will be fine,” said Jack, licking his lips in anti | were floating aimlessly about on a ora waste pation of the possible treat. oul n't: meet with any islands. n | The wind which had wafted figke craft toward egan t to drop, and their progress became slower, © ear What the drift of the tide wou dca: ay als ai
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22. ADRIFT IN THE SEA. The reef had-evidently been there for a great many years, and was probably of coral formation, for it was plentifully _ sprinkled, with vegetation. Jack wondered why more trees hadn’t taken root there, for it seemed a likely spot for them to grow: “Looks like a poor spot to be wreekted | on,” he said. “It seems to be mighty shy of anything in the eating line. I’m afraid we may find a corpse or two in the hut when we. take a close look into it.” “T shouldn’t be surprised. Shellfish is about the only » likely thing to be found there, and that is poor nourish- ment as a steady diet,” replied Sam. At last the raft floated into a kind of sheltered curve in the reef, and the boys sprang ashore, Sam with a pape in iia hand to secure their craft to the shore. _* The only thing available as a hitching post was the soli- tary cogoanut tree which grew within a couple of yards of - the water. Sam made the line fast to the base of the tree with a sailor’s knot that was sure to hold. While he was doing it Jack cut a few capers on the ground, and let out a wild whoop, expressive of his joy ,at treading the land once more. _ The whoop produced unexpected results. » Two gaimt looking faces suddenly appeared at the door __ of the hut. ae - “Hello!” cried Jack, “there are two men in ‘the hut.” “By George, you’re right ! !” responded Sam. “They're pretty hard-looking chaps. “They put. me in mind of the tramps I used to see in Napa County. ut “Tf they've been long on this reef I don’t wonder they , look like scarecrows,” replied Sam. “T’ll bet they’re glad to see us.” _. “Tf they are they don’t look it.” _ As the boys started to advance the two men sprang from the hut with wild cries, seemingly of rage. One had a club and the other a reyolver in his hand, _. These they waved menacingly as they rushed at the young strangers. “Get, off Lone Reef!” yelled the man with the upraised oho. “The treasure is ours. You'll get no part of it.” OHAPTER XI. THE TREACHEROUS ATTACK. “The: boys were rather staggered by the reception. they aw @ receiving from the castaways of the reef.“ _ They thought the:men must be crazy, made so probably by the suffering tbey had gone through. ow could there be any treasure on that lone reef ? am and Jack, not relishing the belligerent attitude and y they are eo Jack. | lobsters,” replied’ Sam. .they watched the men talking together. “Maybe theyre ‘he reference to a ‘treasiive made by the man with the b seemed to be positive proof of his unsound mind, for k on the faces of the men, backed toward their raft. ese a are clean off Siete nuts,” ” said nares in a] ay looks a it| see us that they'd fall all over themselves with joy.” ae’ Sam. “Sure they ‘aanld: And they’d want us to take them off on the raft. Instead of that here they are ordering us off the reef, and they don’t show the least desire to leave them- selves.” By that time the boys had got back to the raft and stepped on board of it. “Dive into that cabin of ours and fetch out ‘our guns. One of those fellows bas a shooter and if he should take a notion to open fire we want to be ready to. se our- selves.” Jack got the revolvers in a minute. “You forgot to cast off the line,” he said as he handed his friend -his weapon, “I’m not going to hurry off just to oblige those crazy “Phe wind has died away, and we'd have to push along shore with the poles till we caught the current. I don’t see why we should leave anyway. We have as much right on this reef as they have.” “What's the good of having a scrap with two cxany men? We might get hurt.” “Why don’t you go?” deimandea the man with 8 re- volver. “We.don’t want you here.” “How can we when there’s no wind?” replied cum “Where did you come from?” “From an island in that direction where our vessel was wrecked about three weeks ago,” replied Sam, waving his arm toward the northeast. ee “Are you the only ones who escaped 2” “No; everybody got off.” be “Where are they ?” een “T don’t know where they are. They took the boats, leaving us behind, and we had to build this raft to ote away : ourselves.” _ The two men consulted. “That fellow talked sensibly. enough,” said Jack, as. not crazy after all.” q “Tm not sorry they don’t appear anxious to be ee off on the raft. I don’t like their looks, and would hate to have them as passengers. They might take it into their heads to throw us overboard and take possession of the raft themselves,” said Sam. The man with the gun turned around to Sam + again. “Where are you bound for?” he asked. “The first inhabited Jand we can run acrogs;”? answ Sam. “Will your raft bear a matte of small heavy boxes?” ' “Why do you ask that?” “Because if it will we might make a hango‘n with ou “About what?” “To take us and the boxes off this reef.” “What's in the boxes?” “There’s something valuable in them,” the vat aft looking at his companion and receiving a nod. » _ “TL s*pose that’s the treasure your friend spoke a will you: Ags us off with the ® boxes. if w P a php
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: ADRIFT IN THE SEA. 4 oS “We've got plenty of grub.” c “You're lucky.” ei : “We'll fetch what we've got left aboard the raft with us, and you can share with us if you’re short.” “Pm afraid there isn’t room enough onthe raft for a lot more stuff. Still if you want to come se take te and the food, which you ean live on for weve plenty © our own.” : - you up if they get you over at the hut. | The men objec and our hands on our guns. “And the boxes, too.” “T don’t know about the boxes. money ?” Sam grinned, ow ‘ “No matter what they’re full of, they’ve got to go.” - “Td like to see them before making any rash promises. “Come along and we'll show them to gous! ae “T wouldn’t go, Sam,” whispered J ack, ‘They may do Then they'd come back and “do me up, That would be, an easy way to get possession of the raft.” Sam thought so, too. “You come with me. What are they full of— We'll both keep our eyes on them At the first suspicious move on their part we will be ready for them,” he said, “No, Ve only one of you must come,” objected the man with the gun, as the two boys stepped ashore together. — “Why not ‘both of us? He goes where I go,” replied Sam. ae ; The man shook his head. , ; “Well, you go along with him, Sam, and the other man can stay with me,” suggested Jack. . ed to that arrangement, a Phat kept matters at a deadlock, for the young sailor wus ke any chances with the two men at the hut. woaldnrt take any | He and Jack returned to the raft and left the men talk- near the tree, ays finally returned to the hut and sat down id keep their eyes on the raft and its occu- ing together . The castaw where they coul | pants. Jaway and leave them on t 55 Feret. it if we gave them passase- jlive on it we'd take “How about hunting for some shellfish?” suggested oe do it, while you stay on the raft and keep wae ee ie ay It is my opinion they are conniving together for the purpose of getting possession of the raft and sailing away. ‘Their talk about a treasure, and giving us a thou- sand dollars each for taking them to the nearest land, is, pee sems a shame for us to go Be ; mmyrot. It seem ; § ee ee nis reef, but I feel sure we'd re- "You told them if they’d bring their food on board and them,” said Jacek. ve changed my mind. We'd have P Sek, know af did, but I 7 the time, for we couldn’t o sleep with one eye open a trust them a single moment.” Sam, with his revolver ia mess of shellfish among the cor ering a supply in a large pa h al rocks, and was soon busy rd n. itempt to interfere with nee ea jthe lumbering craft was drawn up close to the shore, in his pocket, started to look for purpose, ; he could carry he} RC jear. “Get your gun ready, In this he buried the shellfish, and in the course of . . twenty minutes or so the food was well cooked. After it had cooled enough to handle he carried it on the raft and with the addition of salt the. two boys made a palatable meal. “That was fine for a change,” remarked Jack. “You'd soon get tired of it if you had nothing else,” replied Sam. “T wish a breeze would spring up. The-sun is pretty . hot,” said Jack. eb “Tt is hot, and liable to be hotter still. Seeshow glassy the sea is. Let's get under our sailcloth.” “One of us must keep hig eye on those men.” “Tl do it,” replied Sam. So the boys crawled into their cabin, but found it so hot there that they had to raise the canvas roof as high as they could and leaye the sides open. ’ This was not an easy job as the boxes and bags were § tied down to the raft that they couldn’t shift them. about. They talked for a while, but the heat made them sleepy, and. they had great difficulty in keeping their eyes open. Jack finally fell asleep, and in a little while Sam fell inta a doze, too, An hour passed and all was quiet on the raft. The day waxed hotter and hotter, and the sea became ‘like.a sheet of molten glass, too dazzling for the eye.to rest. upon, als ‘The men had retired to the shelter of their hut, but they — did not fall asleep. em “The boys are asleep. Now is our chance,” said one of them. “We'll creep over to the raft, knock ’em on the — head, and toss *em into the sea for the sharks to feed on. Then we'll be able to get away from this reef with the — treasure.” ; “T’m ready to do it,” replied the other. “Weve been — here two months now and our provisions are getting Jow. — When the grub is all gone there'll be nothin’ but shell-. fish to keep us alive. This is a chance we can’t afford to miss, The boys have food which will help us out until a — ‘ship picks us up.” ~ The first castaway nodded, rection of the raft, “Come along,” he said, cocking his revolver. pees His companion snatched up his elub and followed him ~ outside, Soa Soh aia igh They walked ‘cautiously down to the water’s edge where got up and peered in the di- fee Rs Not a sound came from under the canvas. ~ 0 The men stepped aboard, their weight bearing the raft down a bit, — hse eae Mpneine aalate That little thing saved the boys. The rising of one end of the float causing over on his side, and that awoke him. | ‘Sam to . Then it was he heard the low tones of the two. custiivians outside, and he suspected, that they were up to no good He shook Jack into wakefulness. porter . “The men are on the raft,” he ‘said, in his companion’ but pretend to be asleep. of th that mome
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04 —S= Reassured by noting that the boys eee to. be fast asleep they lifted the canvas further and further until the boys were fully exposed. The fellow with the revolver raised, his gun and was in the act of covering Sam, while the man with the club lifted his weapon to brain Jack, when both boys, without altering their positions, opened their eyes, threw up their arms and fired point blank at their would-be murderers. Both bullets reached their mark, and the castaways, with hoarse cries, fell backward into the sea. CHAPTER XIII. CONCLUSION, “Sam and Jack sprang on their feet and looked over the barrier of boxes as the two bodies hit the water with a splash. The tide, which was on the ebb, rad them away from __. the shore, but in spite of their wounds they began to swim - back’the moment their heads reappeared above the surface, Ate which showed that the chances were they were not fatally hurt. Pi | | “We'll fix you!” roared one of the castaways, after blow- _ ing a stream of water from his mouth. ~The other said nothing, but there was murder in his eye. i Una “Keep away from this raft,” cried Jack, “or we'll plug _ you again.” The men turned and headed for the shore.’ + At that moment there was a commotion in the water, and : the dorsal fins of two sharks shot toward the swimmers ; with the speed of an express train. “Took out ! warned Sam. are two sharks after you.” Both ‘boys took aim at the fins and fired. Bf eens sa _ stop their rush. _ Just as the boys fired again at the monsters one of the castaways threw up his arms with a shriek and was drawn poner the water. A moment later the other uttered a similar ven and dis- iw Foe pesel 3 in the ensanguined water. __ The sight was a horrible one to the two’ boys, but they. 4 had done all they could do to save ee rascals who isa _ for their lives. * “They’re gone,” said Sam, as the water resumed its cus- tomary. placid aspect, + _ “They had a terrible death,” said Jack, with a aiiaes “Well, they deserved it,” replied Sam, coolly. “Those} sharks would have made a meal off us instead of them if 2 hadn’t woke up in time to‘thwart the rascals,” . Jack had to admit that his companion had only told the th, for the actions of the two castaways showed that their} ‘intentions when they came aboard the raft were murderous, - “Let's go and investigate the hut now,” suggested Jack. | “We'll take possession of any food the men have left.” _ n was willing and | 80 pe Bs dacke ashore and per ADRIFT IN THE SHA. “Swim for your lives, There | ee ‘The sharks might have ‘been. hit, but the bullets did a {a sailor’s kit in the chest. dt doubtless its 5 Inside were a large chest, in which the boys found a supply of canned goods and hardtack, two pair of blankets, some rope and blocks, an.axe and other tools, evidently used in the construction of the hut, and a bunch of sail~ cloth against one of the walls. , Pulling the canvas aside the boys found eo iron clamped boxes. “T wonder what? s in ahaa ’” said Sam, as he lifted the end of one with some difficulty. “Maybe the treasure the castaways referred to,” replied Jack. “Those are clearly the boxes they wanted us to take on the raft.” ° “Treasure!” cried Sam, with pictanti eyes. “That means money, I suppose. They’re heavy enough to be filled with gold. Gee! If they’re full of money our for- tunes are made for sure. But how in thunder did it gell here ?”” “They probably saved the boxes from the wreck of their vessel, knowing the value of their contents.” “Tord, here’s luck!” cried Sam, in great glee. “If these chaps had: acted decently they’d have been alive now, and we would have carried them and the boxes off with us. Now all the treasure belongs to us.” { “I'd like to make sure that there is ae in. those boxes,” said Jack. “Can’t we open them some way ?” “Tt’s a pity to smash them. I think we can take the chances from the looks of them that they contain something worth earrying away.” At that moment Jack spied a key near one of the boxes that looked as if it belonged to them. Snatching it up he thrust it into the nearest lock, pee it and threw back the cover. The box was crammed full of. $20 gold pieces. Both boys uttered a shout as their eyes fell on the coin. “We're rich !?? shouted Sam. Jack opened the other box and found a similar amount lof double eagles. The boys could not rest satisfied till they had counted the coin. i Each took a box and began the pleasant job. ae The result of the count showed $40, 000 in-each box. — They replaced the taney and then Jack relocked thé boxes. a “Tf we can get those boxes to "Briseo,” ie said, ‘well T be made for life.” “Bet your life we will;” returned Sau, ina tone of : isfaction. “We'll take them aboard the raft at ens said J “T think we'd Deen sew base up in saileloth first, Sam. “What for?” . “Why, if a ship comes he and tier us off the raft tht iGedalé aboard will suspect the nature of their cone nd ask us how we came by thent.” i. ener suspect fl from the weight, ‘won’ Fi 4 and thread.” 1 aes
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. ADRIFT IN THE SEA. 25 Wiotorcycles Giwen Away Free? — o- REGULAR SELLING PRICE $200.00 -=a OUR CRAND PREMIUM CONTEST BEGAN IN SFIAPPWY DAYS,” No. 73'7 AND iS NOW RUNNING The five readers who send us the largest number of coupons cut from ‘*Happy Days,” beginning with No. 787 and ending with No. 798, will each get an we M. M. MOTORCYCLE -—, ABSOLUTELY FREE? It is a high-grade machine, guaranteed by the manufacturer to be of 3% horse-power, and capable of a speed of 45 miles per hour. SEE CURRENT NUMBERS OF “HAPPY DAYS”? FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION, Don’t miss this chance to get a motorcycle for nothing. ANYBODY CAN ENTER THIS GREAT CONTEST. BEGIN Wow: Get as many coupons as you can and save them until the contest closes. The names and addresse$ of the winners will-be published in the paper, with the number of coupons In case of a tie among those who send us the largest number of maps a case saaly identical in value will be hen to send them to us. they send in. ‘given to each contestant so tied. THIS IS A FAIR AND SQUARE CONTEST G et the Coupons? BEGIN Wows? Then we will notify you in “Happy Days’’ EVERYBODY HAS AN EQUAL GHANGE TO WIN ; Get the ersertion aera a TRY TO WIN A. MOTORCYCLE- Phen they removed them to the raft. » By that time a breeze had | sprung up with the setting of 1e sun, and the raft tugged’at its mooring rope. The boys carried the sea-chest aboard with its small ntity of provisions. ‘They decided not to put to sea till the morning, so they built another fire and added shellfish to their evening's bill of fare. _ After a long and enthusiastic conversation about their future prospects, which looked glowing to them in spite of the fact that they were on a lone reef in the midst of the vast South Pacific Ocean, with no immediate prospects of rescuo, they turned in bau slept till after sunrise. ‘The breeze still held so they took their breakfast ashore, exercised themselves along the length and breadth of the reef, and finally returned to the raft, and releasing the mooring rope, poled themselves clear of Lone Reef. adbvéral days passed, the vast sea and the arching sky yr their only prospect, and then late one afternoon a full gged ship hove into sight, heading directly for the raft. ‘An hour or two later, just as the setting sun brought r sail into bold relief they were seen by the lookout. ; alt an hour afterward they and their two treasure boxes e safe on board the clipper ship Midnight, Captain rong, bound from Sidney to San Francisco. 3 d oe the skipper, and pies mio sige had “This is great luck,” Jack said to Sam that night as bee sat on: the forecastle ‘eck, and looked at the rising of the full moon on the edge of the watery horizon. “Just think of being picked up by a ship bound straight for *Frisco.” Sam anaactn that their good fortune was certainly in as _the ascendant. It was arranged that.Sam should turn in and work his passage’ with the crew, captain did not actually stand in need of his services. Jack bunked with the steward and the heavy boxes were stowed in his room. Two months later, after a quick passage, the Midnight if ‘ came in sight of the low-lying shores of California, and late in the afternoon she was off the “Heads,” waiting for the" ; flood tide to help her across the bar. i Her arrival was reported at the Merchants’ rieealbeie and the newspapers printed it next morning among their at marine intelligence. It was dark when she passed through the Golden Hath: F a and anchored within view of the frowning battlements of — the fort on Alcatraz Island. yp The boys were eager to get ashore with their atondtins’ boxes, but they couldn’t leave the ship that night. — After breakfast the captain prepared to go ashore | report his arrival to the praee, and he agreed KS take wat * | boys and their boxes. | RE hey eat at Pacific Street wharf and | rh while Jack, who was no sailor, © agreed to make himself useful as cabin boy, though the _
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26 ' lighted to have you with us again, = the California Bank, with both boys’ names down as de- positors of the articles, They then went to a cheap hotel in the lower part of Montgomery Street and registered. After dinner Tehama Street to surprise the family and look after his trunk and other belongings which he had unavoidably left there when he was spirited off to sea. His appearance took Mrs. Mason’s breath away, and after she had recovered from her surprise she naturally wanted to know where he had been for the last five months or so, and the cause of his mysterious disappearance. Jack told her the whole story, without reservation, and the recital of his adventures much amazed the good woman. Her sons and daughters were at work-so they didn’t learn about Jack’s return until they came home later on. As the boarder who had taken Jack’s place had just left the boy said he would be glad to come back if Mrs. Mason _ was willing to receive him. “Of course you may come, Mr. Gale. We'll all be de- Your trunk and other things are safe, and I’l] have them moved into the room this afternoon.” “All right. Could you accommodate a friend of mine—a young sailor? He can room with me, and I guess you can find room for him at the table.” - Mrs. Mason said he could come, and Jack then hurried away. ‘He met Sam at cn corner of Montgomery and California aS streets aud they went to the Merchants’ Hxchange together. Here Jack made inquiries about the Board of Under- writers, and was given the address of the secretary. They found that gentleman in his office, and the story Tack told him, backed up in a measure by Sam, opened that _ person’s eyes: pretty wide. He questioned Jack closely, and then made an arrange- ment for him to call at the office next day. Both boys were on hand and found the full Boar d await-" ing their appearance. Jack went over his story again, which: was taken down by a steriographer, and he afterward signed it under-oath. Jack Jearned that the loss of the Morning Glory had been duly reported, and after an investigation, at, which | Captain Brant,and his officers and men were witnesses, eps total amount of the insurance had been paid. He found out that the captain was in town, as Mr. -Sharpley had not engaged him to take out another vessel, which led people in the’ shipping world to think that the _ ship-owner had soured on the captain for losing two of his et A ships. Jack was told to keep out of the way till wanted, as the Underwriters were going to send a steamer to Sago ‘Island to investigate the wreck of the Morning Glory if ib was still there, and they didn’t want Mr. Sharpley, or Captain Brant, to learn of his presence in the city. _ _ The steamer was charteréd and ready for sailing inside of 4 week, and the Underwriters decided that it would be well vs to send both Jack and Sam on the vessel. a a steamer are ‘the boys got their money out ADRIFT IN THE SEA. Jack started for the home of the Masons in| ee te ea Bodog sabi eee | : nd y > . . : The wreck was found sufficiently intact to prove all the points Jack had told the Underwriters, and so on the re- turn of the steamer, Philip Sharpley and Captain Brant were treated to the surprise of their lives. They were arrested and charged with their sintts crimes. In due time they were tried, and Jack was the chief wit- ness against them. i They got fifteen years on each count at San Quentin, and that was almost as good as a lifer for the skipper, who was over fifty. A civil suit against Geo. Sharpley & Co. resulted in the breakup of that house, and the money recovered was divid- ed among the insurance companies interested. : At the end of it all Jack Gale was presented with the sum of $5,000 by the Board of Underwyxiters, and Sam was paid $1,000. Jack, taking Sam with him, paid a visit to the little village in Napa County where he had lived with his aunt, Miss Stebbins. Here another surprise awaited him. Lawyer Croker had just died and willed everything to, Jack. A sealed Selves letter, addressed to Jack, was handed to him by the exeeutor. Z When Jack opened it he found that it was a kind of confession. Lawyer Croker said he had, through ‘artifice, got Miss Stebbins to sign a will specially drawn up to suit himself in place of the one she had told him to make out, : The right will would have made Jack heir to the bulk | of the old spinster’s property and given the aie sao much larger legacies. : q Thus J ack found himself about na: 000 idles thee he ‘| expected. He did not make the lawyer’s confession public, but burned it so that no one would ever learn of his duplicity. He afterward made up to the servants the amount they would have received had the proper will been probated. Jack and Sam went into the ship chandlery business together in San Francisco, and to-day are recognized as solid men of the town. ae They married the two daughters of Mrs. Mason, and now ive on Van Ness Avenue in very handsome irouises, But rich and prosperous as they now are, largely through their own efforts, they privately admit that their good for- tune is really due to their adventures when adrift in the sea, and the treasure they found’on Lone Reef. . THE END. ‘ i uy é Read “THE YOUNG WALL STREET JONAH; OR, THE BOY WHO PUZZLED THE BROKERS,” which will be the next mumber (222) of “Fame and) Porta ne Weekly,” pte SPECIAL NOTICE: All back siabers re this weekl3 are always in print. If you cannot obtain them from. y newsdealer, send the price in money or postage stamp:
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FAME AND: FORTUNE WEEKLY. , oe ay : A gvoup of friends were discussing William Winslow Sher- Fame and Soiiine Weekly man, the old banker, who diea not long ago. “He had the NEW YORK, DECEMBER 2 4, 1909. coolest nerve of any man I know,” said one. Three or four years ago, when Sherman was an old man, and partially crip- pled by reason, of a fall from a horse, he entered his bedroom late at night to.find a masked burglar ransacking it. The thief had a big gun trained on Sherman in a minute. The banker just waved it aside with a tired hand. ‘Put that away,’ he said irritably. ‘Let us discuss the-matter like gentlemen.’ The burglar was so surprised’ he laughed. ‘Now, you could hurt me, if you wanted to, and might get away with some lit: tle knick-knacks, said Sherman. ‘But you might be caught, © and there’s a slight probability that you could dispose of my toilet articles profitably. What would you consider a fair cash proposition to go away? They talked it over im all’ peace. The burglar thought he ought to have $10, but Sher- man, after inquiring into the man’s habits, said $8 was enough. ‘You see,’ he said, ‘you’re a known thief. If this were your first offense I’d pay your price; but now the police _ have your picture you ought to be glad to accept any fair com- promise and run no risk.’ The burglar finally agreed to take : $8. Sherman pulled out a $10 bill. ‘Give me $2 change,’ said he. And he got it before he paid.” TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS ed Single Copies........,.... One Copy Three Months One Copy Six Months. ay One Copy One YVear..........-.0c.s.eeseeeseeneeee aitanes Postage Free. HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P.O. Money Order, Check, o: Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. \e accept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver ' wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envel- ope. Write your name and address plainly. Address letters to SincLam Tovusxy, President , Frank Tousey, P Publisher Gro, a Hastings, Dreasiter 24 Union Sq., New York GOOD STORIES. When lots in Melbourne were first put on the market in Sydney, N. S. W., in 1835, the real estate speculators of that day declared that in ten years Melbourne would soon be a large city. “Yes, a city of kangaroos,” declared a scoffer. It turned out that the discovery of gold near Melbourne a little later advanced $100 plots, in some cases, to a value of from $100,000 to $250,000. JOKES AND JESTS. “Have you a tank in the building?” inquired the inspector from the insurance office. “We hoy,” admitted the janitor. “What’s the capacity?” “Faith, an’ Oi niver hod money enough to foind out.” : This year the Swiss celebrate the centennial anniversary of their struggle for independence, With the intention to gull ourists, they have already manufactured a vast number of antiquities. For instance, a new flag is cunningly “aged” and made to resemble a centenarian by a process which includes fading the colors in the sun, bespattering it with tallow and laying it in the granary, where the hungry mice soon give it the necessary tattered SDPSArAnes, Finally it is subjected gain to the rays of Father Sun, is mounted on a worm-eaten, roken staff, and is then ready He the seeker of centennial ti eee : Mrs. Avenue—My ant woman, it would give us great pleas- ee. ure to help to broaden your life. Do you believe in the club ! for women? Mrs. Tenement—Sure, mum, the old TNE: pin - is easier to handle and yet as good. “No, sir,” said Peckham, “I won’t accept that picture. It doesn’t look like my wife at all.” “Well, you ought to be thankful for that,” replied the artist, “but some men are so easily pleased that it’s difficult to please them.” _M. Cheron, the Under Secretary of State for the French navy, is showing as much solicitude for the sailors as he did previously for the soldiers. Quite recently he obtained a vote from the Government by which every soldier in the French army is now provided with socks at the State’s expense. M. Yheron has been paying a surprise visit to Cherbourg, and mong other things has been looking closely into the wearing ipparel of the soldiers, He was struck by the fact that the vardrobe provided by the State did not include any handker- ch efs, and he at once came to the decision that henceforth t e ‘outAt of every sailor is to include two handkerchiefs. ‘ “That young man stays until an unearthly hour every night, Doris,” said an irate father to his youngest daughter. “What does your mother say about it?” “Well, dad,” replied Doris, as she turned to gO upstairs, “she says men haven’t altered a bit.”- ; j “When I landed in Chicago,” said the self-made man, “I didn’t have a cent in my pocket.” “Huh,” rejoined the ordi- nary person, “when I landed in Chicago I didn’t have even a pocket.” “Why, how’s that?” queried the party of the — prelude. “I was born here,” explained the O. P. dolph Raad, who formerly lived at 110 ‘Luquer Street, Brooklyn, was buried in Greenwood Cemetery recently, the coffin. containing one-half of a loaf of rye bread, the other half of which had been buried with Mrs. Raad four years Batore,, The aged couple were born in Ludenbach, Germany. They ipunchinnd a farm in what is now Flatbush, and as the sity gradually encroached upon their farm land they cut it Young Wife—I want you to promise me one thing. If we Sh would’ avoid trouble, we must live within our means, and, to help me in doing this I want your promise that you will never — run in debt. Young Husband—I will promise, my love; ‘if HW ever get in debt I'll let the other fellows do the running. “Th’ tariff smacks some of se oaas hard,” said Meandering Mick as he toyed with a dangling tatter. Wandering Willie — Tolled his eyes toward his old friend and companion of \ road, “An’ where does it hit you 80 presale he arta er a fresh loaf of bread is’ cut. “On September 7, 1904, Mrs. a 1ad just made the customary wish, and was about to ' , when she dropped ‘dead. The husband cut the loaf If in his ‘abst 's coffin. The other half was preser ved |
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A DESPERATE DEED By Kit Clyde. The scene was an office in Broad Street one morning in the fall of the year. The street door of the office of Markland & ‘Co., money brokers, opened very suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew in, making the clerks shiver, and then a tall man, at- tired in a neat suit of black, wearing a plain caped coat, a high silk hat, patent leather shoes and dog-skin gloves walked - in in a timid, shrinking way. “Ah, good-morning, Roger Clifford. Glad to see you.” “Mr. Markland, I called in reference to the note for one thousand dollars I gave os three months ago, indorsed by my employer.” “Ah,. yes. Do you want to pay it?” “No—not exactly. I wanted to get it extended.” “Well, Mr. Clifford, I am sorry I cannot accommodate you.” “Why not?’ I will pay you the interest—double interest, if “you want it,” nervously said Roger Clifford: “The reason I cannot help you, Mr. Clifford,” said the foxy little broker, interrupting him, “is simply because I sold your note to a friend of mine.” “Good Heayen!” flashed through Roger Clifford’s agonized mind. “The signature of James Stafford, indorsing that note, was a forgery of my own making at the time I became so} : desperate for the want of money to pay my debts of honor. ‘Markland promised to keep the note until I redeemed it, but the old rascal has played me false, and now the purchaser of She) note may go to my employer, show him the note, Stafford 7 will at once discover the forgery I perpetrated, and then he will have me thrown into prison.” “Who is the person who bought it?” “The gentleman told me to say his name was not to be mentioned.” : _ “Can you not do me a favor, Mr. Markland?” .. That depends entirely upon what it is.” . “Ask the purchaser to wait until to-morrow to present the note, and I will meet ‘him here in your office to pay it.” “Oh, I guess he will accommodate you, as he is not. a man’ : - who is ever in much need of eras amounts of money. I will ask him for you.” “Thank you,” said the cashier with a sigh of relief, and - bowing very profoundly to Mr. Markland he left the broker’s Bi office. A moment later he walked into the banker’s office and went to the closet, divested himself of his hat, coat and gloves, iand proceeding to his desk, bent. over his accounts, meantime won-, ‘dering ‘how he was to get out of ‘his financial difficulty. The only conclusion he could arrive at was to borrow the money “from” his employer, and a few hours later he went over to ~ James Stafford’s desk and asked for the amount. The banker aa at the unhappy man pityingly. «© r ¢ _ “See here, Roger,” he said in kind tones, “ you are certainly overstepping yourself, You have been with me for twenty “) >. years now, and I have iimplicitly trusted you in everything. But you are living beyond your income, like a great many other foolish, improvident men, FES must reach the end of your resources at lasts?’ ! i: ‘Moreover, Ly continued James | Stattord, es fear you ee tracted — “dissipated habits. shake and kana and rT oe dat pet the ‘odor of liquors | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. : een Mice te Your eyes are hollow—your | “He suspects me,” thought the unhappy cashier, as a pang of remorse thrilled him, “He is good to me. I ought to be ashamed. But I have the gambling craze on me, and am too weak-natured to throw it off.” During the day Mr. Markland, the broker, came in, and at the first opportunity, in passing Clifford, he whispered: “The man who bought your note will wait until to-morrow noon.” “Good!” muttered Clifford, flashing a grateful glance at ‘the sly little broker. Then Mr. Markland nodded and smiled, and glided out of the door. Thousands upon thousands of dollars came into Clifford’s hands that day for his employer, and he entered it in the books, wishing with an insuperable longing that a portion of it was his own; thea the gold was put into little canvas bags, with the amounts specified on tags, and the greenbacks were counted out and stacked in little heaps, and pinned up with bands of paper, and all of the money was stacked away in the huge, burglar-proof safe; then the business of the day was finished. How longingly Clifford glanced back at the huge safe as he put on his hat and coat to leave the office! ” As he gained the sidewalk, Mr. Stafford was coming down the steps from his office, but the cashier did not notice him, for his attention was suddenly called to a flashy-looking man, who evidently had been waiting for him to come out, This personage was a well-known thief and gambler, whom Roger Clifford had recently met in a resort wherein he had lost all he had at playing cards. “Hello, Clifford—I’ve been waiting for you some time.” “What do you want?” muttered the cashier, reddening. | “Dust! You owe me a hundred, and I’m dead broke.” For an instant it seemed to Clifford that he would. groa a aloud. , It made him ae 9 He was menaced on all sides. — Then an idea flashed across his mind that fairly made him shudder. He took a sudden resolution, though, and in the very desperation of the thought he grasped his companion by the arm, and dragging him down into Broad Street, he said in low, hoarse tones: ; “You come with me, Joe Wilson—I want to talk to you,” A shade of surprise crossed the face of the banker as watched his trusted clerk walking rg i with the flashy-look- ing individual. “ “*A gambler! A weritabtn gambler!” he rmuttered. © company for him!” us There was a buffet.saloon in the basement of a ones on Broad Street, and the cashier hurried his companion in, and they entered one of a row of small compartments at one side. A bottle of wine was ordered, and when they were served and the waiter had gone out, Clifford locked the door and seated himself opposite his curious companion at the smal round, cherry-wood table, on which the bottle and glass “Ni e Stood, gleaming in the light of the gas jet overhead. “Well,” said the gambler, “and now, what are you ap’ ‘to “Wilson, I am driven to desperation for want of money. “Are you? That is too bad,” laughed the gambler, § “There is only one means by pede I can get it,” the cashi : continued rapidly. “And what is that?” ; BS “By a robbery.” ~ “Are you going to commit a , robbery?” 3 “No. I would not — I want you to do ae Pe ah tea “Of course Ir do. | Wel?” 5 Bat I told you. the sompbination,t i open his data
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; ; f FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 29 —" “The safe contains over seventy thousand dollars.” “Jingo! that would be a nice haul.” “If you will do the job to-night, and give me half, I will tell you how the job can be done.” “Tf you mean business, and are not joking, I will do it.” “Mean it? Of course I do,” said Clifford determinedly. “Then it’s a go. Shake.” They shook hands over it, and opening the bottle each took a drink, When they had finished their libations, Clifford continued: “The only difficulty will be for you to get into the build- ing.” “Tg there a watchman there?” “Yes,” “Then I will get in!” Clifford then told him the combination of the safe and several other details. “Another thing,” he said in conclusion. “Besides myself, only Mr. Stafford knows how to open the safe. You must make it appear as if you forced the safe open, or suspicion will fall upon me sure.” “Why?” “Because Stafford knows how hard up I am.” “Very well. You must prepare an alibi.” “T will. I will go to Mr. Stafford’s house.” “That is the best thing in the world.” * “But I must see you to-night, after the job-is done.” “You can do so. Name the locality, and I will be there.” “Meet me on the Brooklyn Bridge at twelve o’clock. I will be strolling along the foot-path, on this side of the New York tower, below the stairs.” “Good. You can go there after you leave Stafford’s house. The robbery will be committed by ten o’clock, in order that the watchman will know the time and report it when he gets free.’ As soon as I get the money I will go directly to the bridge and give your share; then I will skip.” “You are a trump, Wilson! If you are pursued, or any- thing should occur, you will know me by the way I am dressed. I will wear this silk hat, caped coat, and gloves.” They continued their conversation at some length, finished . the bottle of wine, and the cashier left his companion and went home. He was moody and morose over his proposed villainy, could eat no supper, and went out about eight o’clock, after telling his wife he would return late, and made his way to James ‘Stafford’s magnificent home on Fifth Avenue. He was ushered ‘into the parlor, and was informed that the banker had not yet returned home from his place of business. . Mrs. Stafford came in, and seemed to be very much depressed in spirits over her husband's absence. The cashier was careful to call her attention to the time he entered, and made up his mind to remain until his\employer returned. ‘Keeping the alarmed lady engrossed in conversation, the ‘time passed by until the clock struck ten. Then there came ‘a ring at the door bell. A moment later a servant handed in a telegraph dispatch. It was from the banker, apprising his wife that the cab horse ‘he usually hired had become fright- ened and ran away with the vehicle. - He had jumped out, sustained a blow that rendered him ‘unconscious, but fortunately was not injured to any extent, and assured her that the people into whose house he had been vi “carried had taken good care of him. He said he would be & home within a short time. "There was no ‘reason why ‘Clifford should ets any “He therefore ‘bade the laay goodnight, Set ‘retired. . hack carried h ywotown : | a, shee pn ae missing it he laid down a cent at A box office and walked out on the foot-path. The man was haunted by the horrible fear that the thief would play him false. It goaded him to a frightful pitch of excitement. : A glance at his gold chronometer showed him it was after eleven o’clock. He had scarcely replaced his watch in his pocket when there suddenly sounded the rush of feet behind him, and the next instant two figures dashed by. One of the men fell, and the other sprang upon him, when a terrible struggle ensued. A bridge policeman was hurrying toward the scene of the struggle, and as Clifford’s eyes fell upon the man under the other on the walk he saw that it was Joe Wilson, the thief. A pair of handcuffs were snapped upon Wilson’s wrists just then, too. With a groan, as a veritable panic seized him, Clifford sprang over the railing to the cable-car track, climbed over the stone wall and rushed down the horse road. Just then a cab came along, and he saw a bridge policeman cross his path. Wild - with dismay, he paused and flung his arms upon the stone guard-rail under an electric light. And clutching a glove in one hand, he seized his hair with the other in a violent paroxysm of despair. His hat had fallen to the ground. “T am lost!” he groaned in agony. “Lost! Lost! Lost!” Just then James Stafford alighted from the carriage, and reaching out his hand he touched the despairing man on the ~ arm, He was attired exactly like his cashier, and had a stern look of resolution upon his face that seemed to be struggling against the pity that filled his heart to overflowing. “Roger!” he exclaimed in deep, sonorous tones. “Mr. Stafford!” burst from the wretched man’s pale lips as he recoiled in affright and gazed into the grave, accusing eyes of the man who had trusted him. “J know everything, Roger. I saw you join the thief, and I followed you to that saloon. Hidden in the compartment next I might have prevented to yours I overheard the whole plot. the robbery, only I was injured in an accident after I followed you out of that saloon. The horse ran away. But when I was able to leave the house wherein my unconscious body was carried it was too late to prevent the robbery, so I pur- — chased a coat like yours in order to resemble you, and with the policeman in citizen’s clothes, who just captured Wilson, I came here. He mistook me for you, and gave me your share ~ of the booty. Then the officer ran for him, he fled, but now — that he is captured I will recover the rest of the money.” Dy hey Oe “And I,” brokenly said Clifford, wringing his hands, “will — es go to prison.” t “You ought to, for you already had added forgery to your criminality. pecting you had you watched. The result was that I found out about the note you gave Markland & Co., and I bought it © Here is the note with its false — to save you from disgrace. signature—and this is the end of it!” ; f He tore the note into fragments and threw the pieces away. I noticed long ago your want of money, and sus- “And now?” Clifford faintly gasped, as an imploring look ; shone in his dilated eyes. “And now—can you turn over a new leaf and ee . better man in future?” “With God’s help I can!” kana “Then I forgive you, Roger, and ig this will teaek
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' without an instructor. ; These Books Tell You Everything! 4 COMPLETE SET I$ A REGULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA! Wach book consists of sixty-four pages, printed on good paper, in clear type and neatly bound in 3n attractive, illustrated cover. a of the books are also profusely illustrated, and all of the subjects treated upon are explained in such a simple manner that ild can thoroughly understand them. Look over the list as classified and see if you want to know anything about the subj mentioned. THESH BOOKS ARE FOR SALH BY ALL NEWSDBALERS OR WILL BE SENT BY MAIL TO ANY ADDRESS - FROM THIS OFFICE ON RECHIPT OF PRICE, TEN CENTS BACH, OR ANY THREE BOOKS FOR TWENTY-FIVE — GENTS. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONBY. Address FRANK TOUSHY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, N.Y. } MESMERISM. No. 81. HOW TO MHSMBRIZH.—Containing the most ap- roved methods of mesmerism; also how to cure all kinds of iseases by animal magnetism, or, magnetic healing. By Prof. Leo Hugo Koch, A. G, S., author of “How to Hypnotize,” etc. PALMISTRY. No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.—Containing the most ap- proved miethods of reading the lines on the hand, together with - a full explanation of their meaning, Also explaining phrenology, and the key for telling character by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hugo Koch, A. C. 8. Fully illustrated. HYPNOTISM. No. 838. HOW TO HYPNOTIZH.—Containing valuable and in- structive information regarding the science of hypnotism. Also explaining the most approved methods which are employed by the leading hypnotists of the world. By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. SPORTING. No. 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete unting and fishing guide ever. published. It contains full in- structions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fishing, together with descriptions of game and fish. No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL, AND BUILD A BOAT.—-rully illustrated. Every boy should know how to row aud sail a boat. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with in- structions on swimming and riding, Companion sports to boating. . No, 47. HOW TO BRHAK, RIDE AND DRIVE A HORSH.— A complete treatise or the horse. Describing the most useful horses for business, the best horses for the road; also valuable recipes for diseases peculiar to the horse. No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANONS.—A handy book for boys, containing full directions for constructing canoes d the most popular manner of sailing them. Fully illustrated. y QO. Stansfield Hicks. £ FORTUNE TELLING. ; No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND DREAM BOOK.— Containing the great oracle of human destiny; also the true niean- ing of almost any kind of dreams, together with charms, ceremonies, and curious games of cards. A complete book. No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DRWAMS.—Everybody. dreams, #rom the little child to the aged man and woman. ‘his little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky end unlucky days, and ‘‘Napoleon’s Oraculum,” the book of fate. No. 28. HOW TO THLL FORTUNES.—-iveryone is desirous of knowing what his future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You ean tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be convinced. Tell your own fortune. ‘Tell the fortune of your friends. No. 76. HOW TO THLL FORTUNES BY THH HAND.— Containing rules for telling fortunes by the aid of lines of the hand, or the secret of palmistry. ‘Also the secret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, scars, ete. Illustrated. By A. Anderson. ‘ ATHLETIC. ; No. 6. HOW TO BHCOME AN ATHLETH.—Giving full in- struction for the use of dumb bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars and various other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; containing over sixty illustrations. Tivery boy can become strong and healthy by following the instructions contained in this little book. No. 10. HOW TO BOX:—The art of self-defense made easy. Containing over thirty illustrations of guards, blows, and the ditfer- ent positions of a good boxer. Wyery boy should obtain one of these useful and instructive books, as it will teach you how to box No. 25. HOW TO BECOMH A GYMNAST.—Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Hmbracing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. A handy and useful book. ; je ‘No. 34. HOW TO FENO®.—Containing full instruction for fencing and the use of the broadsword; also instruction in archery. - Described with twenty-one practical illustrations, giving the best “positions in fencing. A complete book. ‘ % © ‘TRICKS WITH CARDS. _ No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Containing - explanations of the general principles of sleight-of-hand applicable to card tricks; of card tricks with ordinary cards, and not requiring y — ‘authentic explanation of second sigh also letters of introduction, notes and requests. sleight-of-hand; of tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use ly prepared cards, By Professor Haffner. TUlustrated. aha # te ry - ‘ rat tah a cs is No. 72. HOW TO.DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Em- | bracing all of the latest and most deceptive card tricks, with il- lustrations. By A. Anderson: No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—_ Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed by leading conjurors” and magicians. Arranged for home amusement. Fully illustrated. MAGIC. No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great book of magic apd eard tricks, containing full instruction on alk the leading card tricks. of the day, also the most popular magical illusions as performed by our leading magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book, | as it will both amuse and instruct. : _ No. 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.—Heller’s second sight explained by his former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Wxplaining how the secret dialogues were carried on between the magician and the boy on the stage; also giving all the codes and signals, The only t. No. 43. HOW TO BHCOMEH A MAGICIAN.—Containing the grandest assortment of magical illusions ever placed before the public, Also tricks with ecards, incantations, ete. q No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS.—Containing over one hundred highly amusing and instructive tricks with chemicals. By A. Anderson. Handsomely illustrated. ; No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT OF HAND.—Containing over fifty of the latest and best tricks used by magicians. Also contain- ing the secret of second sight. Fully illustrated. By-A. Anderson. No. 70. HOW TO MAKB MAGIC TOYS.—Containing full directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds, By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated, ? No. 738. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH NUMBERS.—Showing — many curious tricks with figures and the magic of numbers. By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated. ' i No. 75. HOW TO BECOME A_CONJUROR. — Containin tricks with Dominos, Dice, Oups and Balls, Hats, ete. Embracing | thirty-six illustrations. By A. Anderson, { No. 78, HOW TO DO THH BLACK ART.—Containing a com plete description of the mysteries of Magic and Sleight of Hand, together with many wonderful experiments. By A. Anderson. Iilustrated, a MECHANICAL, r No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR.—Byvery boy should know how inventions originated. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hydraulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc. The most instructive book published. _ No. 56. HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEDR.—Containing full instructions how ‘to proceed in order to become a locomotive en- gineer; also directions,for building a model locomotive; together with a full deseription of everything an engineer should know. _No., 57. HOW TO MAKE MUS‘OAL INSTRUMENTS —Full directions how to make a Banjo, Violin, Zither, Alolian Harp, Xyl phene and other musical instruments; together with a brief de scription of nearly every musical instrument used in ancient ‘of modern times. Profusely illustrated. By Algernon 8. Fitugerald, for twenty years bandmaster of the Royal Bengal Marines, —s— No. 59. HOW TO MAKE A MAGIC LANTHRN.—Containing a description of the lantern, together with its history and invention Also full directions for its use and for painting slides. Handsomely illustrated. By Jobn Allen. 4 a No, 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS.—Containing complete instructions for performing over sixty Mechanical Tricks: By A. Anderson, Fully illustrated. ” : LETTER WRITING. No. 11. HOW TO WRITH LOVE-LETTERS.—A most com plete little book, containing full directions for writing love-letters and when to use them, giving specimen ietters for a and old No. 12. HOW TO WRITS LETTERS TO LADINS,—Giving complete instructions for writing letters to ladies on all subjects? No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.— Containing full directions for writing to geritlemen on all subjects also giving sample letters for instruction. <i ‘ No. 53. HOW TO WRITE LETTHRS.—A wonderful little book, telling you how to write to your sweetheart, your fat! mother, sister, brother, employer; and, in fact, everybody and any? body you wish to write to. Every young man and every you! lady in the Jand should have this book, ee re No. 74. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY.—Con taining full instructions for writing letters'on almost any also rules for punctustion and composition, with any aay Wek Mb
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$e : THE STAGE. No, 4i. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MUEN’S JOKH BOOK.—Containing a great variety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful iittle book. No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPHAKER.— ontaining a varied assortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch nd Irish. Also end men’s jokes. Just the thing for home amuse- ent and amateur shows. No, 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE ND JOKH BOOK.—Something new and very instructive. Hyery boy should cbtain'this book, as it contains full instructions for or- nizing an amateur minstrel troupe. No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.—TPhis is one of the most original ioke books ever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor. It contains a large collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, etc., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, humorist, and practical joker of the day. Hvery boy who can enjoy a good substantial joke should obtain a copy immediately. No. 79. HOW TO BHCOMD AN ACTOR.—Containing com- plete instructions how to make up for various characters on the stage; together with the duties of the Stege Manager, Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property Man. By a prominent Stage Manager. No. 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK.—Containing the lat- t jokes, anecdotes and funny stories of this world-renowned and ever Roeuey German comedian. Sixty-four pages; handsome Icolored coyer containing a half-tone photo of the author. : HOUSEKEEPING. : No. 16. HOW TO KEEP A WINDOW GARDPN.— Containing ‘ull instructions for constructing a window garden either in town r country, and the most approved methods for raising beautiful owers at home. The most complete book of the kind ever pub- shed. No. 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of the most instructive books ion cooking ever published. It contains recipes for cooking meats, fish, game, and oysters; also pies, puddings, cakes and all kinds of pastry, and a grand collection of recipes by one of our most popular ooks, A ‘No. 37, HOW TO KEEP HOUSE.—It contains information for verybody, boys, girls, men and women; it will teach you how to make almost anything around the house, such as parlor ornaments, brackets, cements, Aeoliam harps, and bird lime for catching birds. ELECTRICAL. No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECTRICITY.—A de- cription of the wonderful uses of electricity and electro magnetism ; together with full instruetions for making Wlectric Toys, Batteries, Rtc. By George Trebel, A. M., M. D. Containing over. fifty iJ- lustrations. ‘ i No. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINDS.—Con- ning full directions for making electrical machines, induction ls, dynamos, and many noyel toys to be worked by electricity, R. A. R. Bennett. Fully illustrated. ; “No. 67. HOW TO DO ELHCTRICAL TRICKS.—Containing a ge collection of instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, gether with illustrations, By A. Anderson. 4 ENTERTAINMENT. : | No. 9. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILOQUIST.—By Harry Kennedy. The secret given away. Hyery intelligent boy reading this book of instructions, by a practical professor (delighting multi- es every night with his wonderfu} imitations), can master the , and create any amount of fun for himself and friends. It is the atest book ever published. and there’s millions (of fun) in it. No. 20. HOW TO ENTHRTAIN AN EVENING PARTY.—A ery valuable little book just published. A complete compendium sames, sports, card diversions, comic recitations, etc. suitable parlor or drawing-room entertainment. It contains more for the honey sine any boo 3 eS interesting plete book. on Di Nstetar ETIQUETTE. ae o. 18. HOW TO DO IT; Ok, BOOK OF HTIQUETTH.—It great life secret, and one that every young man desires to know a 8 There’s happiness in it. : HOW TO BEHAVE.—Containing the rules and etiquette Oy ea socie n ato good advantage at parties, balls, the theatre, e drawing-room. ; : ty and the easiest and most approved methods of ap- No. 31. HOW TO BEVGOME A SPHAKHR.—Containing four teen illustrations, giving the different positions requisite to become a good speaker, reader and elocutjonist. Also containing gems from all the popular authors of prose and poetry, arranged in the momt simple and concis2 manner possible. & No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for conducting de bates, outlines for debates, questions for discussion, ‘And the best sources for procuring infotmation on the quéstions given. SOCIETY. No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.—The arts and wiles of flirtation are fully explained by this little book. Besides the various methods ef handkerchief, fan, glove, parasel, window and hat flirtation, it con- tains.a full list of the language and sentiment. of flowers, which ip interesting to everybody, both old and young. You cannot be happy, without one, No. 4. HOW TO DANCH is the title of a new and handsome little book just issued by Frank Tousey. It contains full instruc tions in the art of dancing, etiquette in the ball-room and at parties, i to dress, and full directions for calling off in all popular square ances, No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A complete guide to love, courtship and marriage, giving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to be observed, with many curious and interesting things not gen- erally ‘known. iy No. 17. HOW TO DRESS.—Containing full instruction in the art of dressing and appearing well at home and abroad, giving the selections of colors, matérial, and how to have them made up. No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL.—One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world, Bverybody wishes to know how to become beautiful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost costless. Read this book and be convinced how to become beautiful. BIRDS AND ANIMALS. No. 7. HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Handsomely illustrated and containing full instructions for the management and training of the canary, ee eee! bobolink, blackbird, | ager ge arrot, ete. No. 35. HOW TO RAISE DOGS; POULTRY, PIGHONS AND RABBITS.—A useful and instructive book. Handsomely illus- trated. By Ira Drofraw. : , No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.—Including hints. on how to catch moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. pied bow to cure skins. Copiously illustrated. By J. Harrington eene, : -No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANIMALS.—A valuable book, giving instructions in collecting, preparing, mounting and preserving birds, animals and insects. No. 54. HOW TO KEHP AND MANAGE PETS.—Giving com- plete information as to the manner and method of raising, keepin taming, breeding, and managing all kinds of pets; also giving ful instructions for making cages, etc. Fully explained by twenty-eight. illustrations, making it the most complete book of the kind ever published, : MISCELLANEOUS. No. 8. HOW TO BECOME A SCIENTIST.—A useful and in- structive book, giving a complete treatise on chemistry; also ex- periments in acoustics, mechanics, mathematics, chemistry, and di- rections for making fireworks, colored fires, and gas balloons. This book cannot be equaled. No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A complete hand-book for making all kinds of eee ice-cream, Syrups,.essences, etc, etc. No. 84. HOW TO BHCOMME AN AUTHOR.—Containing fall information regarding choice of subjects, the use of words and the’ manner of preparing and submitting manuscript. Also containing valuable information as to the neatness, legibility and general com. osition of manuscript, essential to a successful author, By Prince Tag. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN DOCTOR.—A won- derful book, containing useful and practical information in the. treatment of ordinary diseases and ailments common to every tomy Abounding in useful and effective recipes for general com- plaints. : p * No. 55. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND COINS.—Con- taining. valuable information regarding the collecting and arranging of stamps and ‘coins. Handsomely illustrated. No. 58. HOW TO BH A DETHCTIVE.— 3y Old King Brady, the world-known detective. In which he lays down some valuable w church, and and sensible rules for beginners, and also relates some adventures and experiences of) well-known detectives. ee No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER.—Contain- ing useful information regarding the Camera and how to work hae also how to make Photographic Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsomely illustrated. By Captain W. De W.. Abney.
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i } et Ee eZ 8 Wine and Cards. __w© Latest “Secret Service’ Old and Young King Brady, Detectives. — CoLORED COVERS. 32 PAGES. PRich 5 CENTS. 564 The Bradys and the Belt of Gold; or, Lost on the Great White Way. ; 565 The Bradys After the Tong Kings; or, The Red Lady of China- _ town. 566 The Bradys’ Boston Doubles; or, Trapping the Fake Detectives. 567 The Brady’s Bank Book Mystery; or, The Secret of the Torn Page. 668 The Brady’s and the Golden Comet; or, The Case of the Chinese Prince. 569 The Brady's Floating Clue; or, Solving a Morgue Mystery. 570 The Bradys and “Brooklyn Bob”; or, The Boldest Crook in the World. i “Wild West Weekly” =— oS ——— 4 A Magazine Containing Stories, Sketches, etc., of Western Life. CoLORED COVHRS. 32 PAGuES. PRIcB 5 CENTS. 869 Young Wild West’s Crack Cavalry; or, The Shot that Won the Day. . ‘3870 Young Wild West After an Assassin; or, Arietta and the Toughs, 871 Young Wild West’s Shot in the Dark; or, Winning His Weight in Gold. 372 Young Wild West and the Hold-Up Men; or, How Arietta Paid Her Ransom. 8738 Young Wild West’s Arizona Round Up; or, Catching the Cattle Crooks. 374 Young Wild West’s Promise; or, Arietta and the Blue Mask. 875 Young Wild West as Avenger; or, The Vigilantes’ Mistake. “AIL Around Weekly” Containing Stories of All Kinds. COLORED. COVERS. 82 PAGES. PRICE 5 CENTS. 1 Engineer Ned; or, Running the Night Express. 2 “Stand Together;” or, The Young Firemen of Clinton. A Temperance Story. 4 “Phantom,” the Prairie Trapper. 5 The Hidden Treasure; or, Among the Cannibals. 6 Phil Faraday, the Young cai a a ha or, Adventures Africa. (f The Dark Corners of New York; or, The Perils of a District Tele- graph Messenger. 8 The Steps of Doom. A Tale of the Land of the Incas. 9 poe Sixty: or, The Last Run of scan Special. in Savage Issues Be “Pluck and Luck” Containing Stories of Adventure. COLORED COVERS. 32 PAGES. Pricn 5 CENTS. 597 Washington’s Black Chargers; or, The Boys Who Fought for Liberty. By Gen’l Jas. A. Gordon 598 The Ready Reds; or, The Fire sam of Fairfax. Chief Warden. 599 Talking Tom; or, The Luck of a Poor Boy. By Howard Austin. 600 Always on Time; or, The Triumphs of a Boy Engineer. By Jas. C., Merritt. 601 Hal Horton’s Grit; or, A Boy from the Country. By Allyn Draper. 602 In Ebony Land; er, A Yankee Boy in Abyssinia. Arnold, 603,Hal Howe, the Boy Reporter; or, , Great Newspaper. By ex-Fire By Allan A Sharp Lad’s Work for a By Richard R. Montgomery. | “The Liberty Boys of ’76” A Magazine Containing Stories of the American Revolution. CoLoRED CovERs. 32 PaGne. PRICE 5 CENTS, 462 The Liberty Boys’ Secret Cave; or, Hiding from Tryon. 463 The Liberty Boys and the Jailer; or, Digging Out of Captivity. 464 The Liberty Boys’ Trumpet Blast; or, The Battle Cry of Free- dom. 465 The Liberty Boys’ Call to Arms; or, Washington’s Clever Ruse. 466 The Liberty Boys’ Whirlwind Attack; or, A Terrible Surprise to Tarleton. 467 The Liberty Boys Out with Brave Barry; or, The Battle with the “Unicorn.” 468 The Liberty Boys’ Lost Trail; or, The Escape of the Traitor. 469 ie Liberty Boys Beating the Skinners; or, Clearing Out a Bad ot. “Work and Win” Containing the Great Fred Fearnot Stories, COLORED COVERS. 32 PAGES. PRICE 5 CENTS. 1570 Fred Fearnot and the Blackmailer; or, Getting Hven ‘with a . Great Villain. 571 Fred Fearnot’s Match Race; or, Winning the Indoor Marathon. 572 Fred Fearnot and the Railroad King; or, The Man Who Wor-. shiped Money. 573 Fred Fearnot on a Wolf Hunt; or, A Hundred Miles on Snow shoes. 574 Fred Fearnot’s Hockey Team; or, The Greatest Game on, Record. 575 Fred Fearnot’s Ski Jumpers; or, Beating the Champions of the North. 576 Fred Fearnot Held Up; or, Cleaning Out a Tough Gang. 577 Fred Fearnot’s Match Game; or, Winning at Basket Ball. ; ; For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by " : _ PRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, | 24 Union Square, N. Y. IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS ie vee. our Weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from. this office direct. in the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by - meturn mail, POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. erin _ FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.. +s DEAR Sir—Enclosed find. .....cents for which please send me: +++ ,copies of WORK AND WIN, ig se ee ane pay Sus eae cuca iy Bia le eae aati ae = ALL AROUND WEEKLY, een a Ce bearer: ter ae enee “ ocd " “ PLUCK AND LUCK, Nos.. s é “ SECRET SERVICE, Nos.. a FSR, AL aed inh a yeahh ral peau laa ON gr bree a ape a TAME, gee oe eee ROS transi shear Raa nue enn yh Mie oat Aes Cut out and fill siipiecdiaWAwiet bo se ¥ 8 sina igs ices le dee dee om Pete eres ened
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Fame and Fortune Weekly CO STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY By A SELF-MADE MAN LORED COVERS PRICE 5 Ots, ee santa a attra Ne bet tet et pe si-i4] cs can a 5 Lost in the Tropics; or, The Treasure of Turtle Key. 2 Little Hal, the Boy Trader; or, Picking Up Money in “ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY 32 PAGES This Weekly contains interesting stories of smart boys, who win fame and fortune by their ability to take advantage .f passing opportunities. Some of these stories are founded on true incidents in the lives of our most successful self-made men, and show how a boy of pluck, perseverance and brains can become fam- ous and wealthy. : ALREADY PUBLISHED. Among the Tusk Hunters; or, The Boy Who Found a Diamond Mine. A Game Boy; or, From the Slums to Wall Street. A Wat's Legacy; or, How It Made a Poor Boy Rich. , Kighting the Money Kings; or, The Little Speculator ot Wall Street. A Boy With Grit; Ted, the Broker’s Son; or, Street. Story). . i Dick Davrell's Nerve; or, From Engine-House to Manager's Office. Under a Lucky Star; or, The Boy Who Made a Million in Wall Street. i Jack's Fortune; or, The Strangest Legacy in the W orld. Taking Chances; or, Playing for Big Stakes. (A Wall Story.) , or, The Young Salesman Who Made His Mark. Starting Out For Himself (a Wan Street y Len Silent Brokers; or, The Boy Who Broke the Wall Street Syn- dicate. Only a Kactory Boy; or, Winning a Name for Himself. ox & Day brokers; or, The Young Money-Makers of Wall Street. A Young Mechanic; or, Rising to l’ame and Fortune. Banker Barry's Boy; or, Gathering the Dollars in Wall Street. In the Land of Gold; or, The Young Castaways of the Mystic Isle. Kastman & Co,, Stocks and Bonds; or, The Twin Boy Lrokers of Wall Street. The Little Wizard; or, The Success of a Young Inventor. After the Golden Hagles; or, A Lucky Young Wall Street A Lucky Lad; or, The Boy Who Made a Railroad Pay. “i eee to Last; or, Six Months in the Wall Street Money Market. Dick, the Boy Lawyer; or, Winning a Big Fee. Broker Dexter’s New Boy; or, A Young Innocent in Wall Street. rom Mill to Millions; or, The Poor Boy Who Became a Stee’ Broker. Magnate. Three Game Speculators; or, The Wall Street Boys’ Syndicate, A Stroke of Luck; or, The Boy Who Made Money in Oil. Wall Street. On the Gold Coast; or, The Treasure of the Stranded Ship. Lured by the Market; or, A Boy's Big Deal in Wall Street. Trading Tom; or, The Boy Who Bought Everything. Wavored by Fortune;.or, The Youngest Firm in Wall Street. Jack Jasper’s Venture; or, A Canal Route to Llortune. eet aE Money; or, Turning the Tables on the Wall Street rokers. 189 190 | A Castaway's 2 The Little Money A Young Lumber King: or, The Boy Who Worked His Way Up. Ralph. Roy's Riches; or, A Smart Boy's Run on Wall Street Luck. The Hunt for a Pirate's Gold. Iortune; or, The Wall Street Boy Who Saved Maker; or, the Market. Rongh and Ready Dick; or, A Young Express Agent’s Luck. Tipped Off by ‘elegraph ; or, Shaking Up the Wall Street “Bears.” 5 The Boy Builder; or, The Rise of a Young Mason. Marty: the Messenger: or, Capturing Coin in Wall Street. The Stolen Bank Note: or, The Career of a Boy Merchant. Digging Up Dollars; or, The Nerve of a Young “Bull” Operator. A Runaway Boy; or, The Buried Treasure of the Incas. The Old Broker's Heir; or, The Boy Who Won in Wall Street. From Farm to Fortune; or, The Boy Who Made Money in Land. Ragged Rob of Wall Street; or, $50,000 From a Dime. The Boy Railroad Magnate; or, The Contract That Brought a Million. Dandy Dick, The Boss Boy Broker; or, Hustling for Gold in Wall Street. Caught By Cannibals; or, The Treasure of the Land of Fire. 3° The Little Operator; or, Cornering the ‘‘Bears” of Wall Street. 7 Air Line Ed: or, Building a Telegraph Line. A Boy of the. Curb; or, The Secret of a Treasure Note. From Foundry Boy to Stee! King; or, The Rise of a Young Bridge Builder. The Missing Box of Bullion; or, The Boy Who Solved a Wall Street Mystery. Claim No, 7; or, A Fortune From a Gold Mine, Out For Big Money; or, Touching Up the Wall Street Traders. The Boy Ice King; or, Coining Money from the River, Four of a Kind; or, The Combination that Made Wall Street Hum. Bob Brandon, Contractor; or, The Treasure that Led to lame. A Boy From the South; or, Cleaning Out a Wall Street Crowd. Hal the Hustler; or, The Feat That Made Him Famous. A Mad Broker’s Scheme: or,The Corner That Couldn't Be Worked. Dollars From Dust; or, The Boy \\ ho Worked a Silver Mine. Billy: Black, the Broker's Son; or. The \Vorst Boy in Wall Street. Adrift in the Sea; or, The Treasure of Lone Reef. ‘’he Young \\ all Street Jonah; or, ‘Che Boy \Vho Puzzled the Brokers. 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