Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 293) (1911 05 12)
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IMPORTING COMPANY Just as Will got down on his knees, the man gave his boot-blacking kit a tremendous: kick. It flew through the air and Will’s money dropped out of it. The street. gamins made a rush for the coins.
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1 roe e ee eee ae ee i ee LES . auc and Fort Weekly | STOR IES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Isnued Ween wihesripliois $2. i Librarian of Congress Washs i ae” No,.208-6 7- At From Bootblack to Merchant a ORAPTER: I. OUR HERO MAKES HIs BOW. “Come here, you young seulpin!” roared Bill Hooley, from oe foot of a rickety flight of stairs, pounding the peiy fist, to give more emphasis to the com- mand, . Will oe. iced in attire, but good-looking and ma nly for his age, dropped. the book he was reading, sprang } hastily, on his feet, and darted to the opem door of a " oe ded Shae BR he ele a pages a able of his bn coming, Bill,’ 2” fe Rast ~ “Then. shake yourself, @ye hear? T’ve got no time to 8 a on you, iy, pay the man in hoarse, , umpleasant tones. Will knew hat Bill was not his father, nor did the man : ever ay sletin such Precis! but the boy stood in hastlod enpalis stairs, and sade saw the burly forma of the ruffian: standing below with a candlestick in his hand, for it was growing dhsk outside, and the short hall, ‘being lighted only by a very dirty pane of glass over the i / front door, was particularly dark and dingy : at that hour, The illumination of the candle threw the man’ s face into i ‘eliek against. the shadows behind, and Will thought it even looked more forbidding than it did then. Indeed, as the boy came nearer he remarked that an wnu- ‘sual pallor rested on it and that it bore an added oes of | " flereeness. ea ‘ NEW YORK, MAY 12, 1911. re, ast according to Act of Congress, in the year 1911, it ad saiiee of the ., by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New Y PRICE 5 CENTS. & ss By A SELF-MADE MAN “You're forte early, Bill,” ventured Will, in’ his cus- he conciliatory tone. S’pose I am, what’s that to you?” roared the man. “Nothing. You. don’t usually-——” “Never mind what I don’t usually do. Go and get sup- per at once, and get a hustle on, or I’ll smash you. I’m in no humor for any nonsense, mark that!” . ~ Bill never was in a humor for any nensense from Will. He took it from companions who frequently made the. house their own for various lengths of time; but they were. all birds of a feather, though none of them ever had much on Bill. He was feared to some extent even by those who were hail-fellow-well-met with him, for he was mighty handy with his sledge-hammer fists; and when he was drunk and particularly ugly he was liable to use a knife, as more than’ one rascal knew to his cost. Will knew that Bill had sent several of his friends to the hospital, but the police never found out who had done the stabbing. The wounded men wouldn’t peach, and the witnesses . ’| didn’t dare, even if they felt disposed to do so, which, as a — it they Haws. Will hurried into the kitchen and baited the fire. Then he put on the kettle to boil water for the coffee. While that was under way he began peeling several po- tatoes, which he intended to slice up and fry raw. By the time the potatoes were in the pan and salted, the water was bubbling, and the boy made the eater, and oe. the pot on the fire to boil. Bill in the meantime was stalking around his own room on the floor above. : What he was doing Will had no idea, but he thought ~' something unusual was up, for Bill didn’t often’ spend | ie
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2 So much time in his sleeping Ba. except Shee he steel ‘in for the night, which was seldom before two or three in the morning, when he slept through till noon to make up lost time. After the potatoes were done Will proceeded to fry some ham and eggs. WILL, THE W AIF. ——— “Soe that ydit do, or it'll be worse for you.” Will took the letter and looked at the name and address on it, He knew where the place was, for he had been there be- fore several times on errands for Bill. It was a common locality on the east side of Third aye- When supper was ready he went to the foot of the staits | ntte below the Harlem: river. and called to Bill. ‘ : That worthy came down, and drawing his chair up to the table, helped himself to the food; but he did not seem to be as hungry as usual. He scowled at his plate and the food as though tigy had done him an injury, and he eowder at Will occasionally by way of variety. Clearly he was in very bad hhurtoy, and will didiv’t like his looks. “He was sure something had gone wrong with Bill, and he was afraid to say a word lest the man should open on him. — The meal was eaten in silence, and when it was over Bill pushed back his chair, pulled out his pipe, filled it & written on it, and none me pares he gives you. Under- and began to smoke, while the boy started to clean up. “Drop them things: and attend to me, d’ye hear?” said ‘Bill after the lapse of five minutes. Will obeyed. “Tm going away, youngster, and I don’t know when I'll be back.” “Going away! Where to?” “None of your blamed business,” “cowled Bill. That settled Will, and he shut up. Bill puffed away in silence, and ue boy waited for him to make the next move. After a few moments he went into the front room and peered out into the darkness of the stieet, which was little better than a road, for that section of upper New York was not thickly ‘populated yet, though ee was Boing on in many places. ~The streets had been cut through, and gas lamps, which ~ twinkled in the gloom, put up, but thete was little travel _ in the neighborhood, particularly at that hour. Bill acted unusvally strange and nervous. THe wasn’t at all like his customary self,exepet in his gen- eral deportment toward Will, which was always about the same—a browbeating way, as though it was his'purpose to keep the lad in a state of perpettal subserviency and terror. Tasted of returning to the kitchen the ruffian went up to his room. Will took that as a signal to go on with his work. ‘Fifteen minutes pice the man returned to the kitchen with an envelope in his hand, on which was written a name and address not in his own handwriting. “Look here, young un,” he said, “I want you to do an errand for me.” “ Aq] right, Bill.” “You take this letter doen to the man whose name is 9» stand é “Yes, Bill.” ; ae “If you’re gone longer than I think is right PU half ‘ill you when you get: back,” said the ruffian, solvate 2) Sil ile Bill.” , a Nei “Here’s your carfare,” said Bill, handing him a dime. “Now get a move on.” Will put on his hat, which avas in keeping with the rest 'of lis attire, and hurried out of the house. He went straight to the nearest elevated sing ci and got a train bound south. He took his seat in a corner, away from anya, else... There were but few people in the cat, and they paid no attention to ‘him. He got off at the station nearest to his Mestination had hurried in the direction of the East river. He reached a series of squalid tenements. The numbers of most of them were hardly legible, but Will didn’t, have to look for a PE as he knew the houise. The block he sought was alive with men, women children, mostly the har; They filled the doorway, through whieh he pull is. way. The lower hall was narrow, ane lighted by a dim” veg with a dirty reflector. He mounted a narrow ptaiteaee to the ne next floor, and knocked at a door. - he It was opened by a rough-looking man. = (ss Will knew the fellow by sight, and he was the person he was to deliver the note to, The man recognized him at once. oe ae “Come in, young feller,” he said, and the bie entered the. rudely Sartitshed room. “ve brought a letter from Bill,” said Will. “T s*’posed you’d come from him, What does | she want 7 a _“T don’t know. It’s in the letter, I suppose:” ~ The man, whose name was Spiff Paterson, took the note — and read it by the light of a lamp which stood on the t . “Fo !? he exelatmed, “So Bill is tp against it at last “Up against what?” asked Will, outiously. eS gh ~ Paterson looked at him attentively a moment and en said : & ae ee “Didn't he tell you?” is “No. Bill never tells me anything.” =, ee “Then I guess I'd better not, or Bill mightn’t take. til ; kindly. Sit down and look out of the, winder till I got what - Bull wants.” Paterson entered the next room ad oe sat down by: . the open window. | There was a great contrast in the scene from the oe ' he lived, Here it was all life ‘Saal motion—up his way almost complete isolation. q He wondered why Bill selich such an out-of theeway habitation. He didn’t know that Hooley was a squatter, and deste the many years they had lived in the pet Bronx he. Oa le been asked to pay a cent of rent. . eee ery | » +g = es *
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WILL, THE WAIF. / owner. Will was greatly interested in the scene, for he yearned for companionship. We cannot say that he took to the denizens of that neigh- ' borhood, notwithstanding that he had been brought into contact with the questionable associates of Bill Hooley all his life, © _ There was implanted in Will’s nature an instinct that ~ impelled him to lean toward what was right, and fortu- nately the ruffian who controlled his actions never tried to make him follow in his own footsteps. A : “The only interest Bill seemed to have in him was to make 8 servant out of him, and the boy proved so useful in that “respect that the man was satisfied to let him do as he pleased otherwise. Will took to book knowledge like a duck to water. Although he never went to a school, he was taught the - rudiments of an education by the housekeeper that Bill had oo. ‘the ae first came under his aes boy, 1 Ww. 10 ‘was very young hae he got him. » be he came to get Will, and who the boy really was, i Bok” to be a mystery known only to the ruffian. As Will leaned out of the window and took in the sights around him there came a sudden scream from the entrance : of one of th poetete on the other side of the street. ‘The: persons around the doorway parted and a ragged ) girl) with golden’ ringlets, and a face that would have > 8eI ed 8, painter as a model for the Madonna, dashed out, a dark-skinned, lightly-built man of sinister Want. Jong rattan in his hand. aa ee 8 ‘the girl, he began to lay it over het back and ns with what Will thought inhuman severity. ~The girl’s pitiful cries filled the air, but no one offered |: to interfere. © Ae -€Yow'll kill me! You'll kill me!” screamed the girl. , / | Mes sank to the ground, and the man continued to strike | her, Will’s. plood boiled at tis sight. e “He couldn’t stand it. qn eBhe brute means to murder her,” he breathed. . “doesn’t somebody stop him?” : The: people knew better than to butt in. They knew that Flavio Ladrone was a bad man to mon- ey with. : ae carried a knife, which he would use as quick as a “Why Me ie b Ficie neighborhood sympathized in a rough. way | with Palmyra, as she was known, but they thought prudent | to. Confine their sympathy among themselves. udrone, on this occasion, seemed mad with rage, and he Bs tit the irl more than he probably would have done other-| - wise. one pe. certainly would have made a hospital case of it had erference cut him short. — ut from the tenement door josied Will, and dashing} the 1 _Htalian the smashed him in the face with all his £ ‘staggering a yard away. ing him The Be eats was in the courts, and had no acknowledged |’ 2 —- CHAPTER II. A BOY WITH GRIT. The Italian didn’t falls He was thoroughly taken by surprise, for he wast ac- customed to being roughly handled. He stood for a moment or two and glared at the boy, who had not only come between him and his victim, butt : had struck him as well. A hundred eyewitnesses were pookane on, and they held - their breath. They expected nothing short of a cunaee the moment the man started to act, "They recognized Will as.a stranger, and they ae that nobody but a stranger would have had the temerity to do what the lad had Sons, Palmyra looked up at Will as he stood with flashing eyes and heaving breast almost over her, his fists clenched, aes his whole attitude that of a young champion. “Hooray |”? shouted a bunch of kids, giving vent to thai admiration for his performance. ~The shout woke Ladrone up. With a foreign oath he tushed at the boy, and struck at him with ‘the rattan. Will dodged and escaped the whizzing instrument. © The man raised it again to repeat the attempt, hissing foreign imprecations. Will grabbed his arm, snatched the rattan oe his grasp and broke it in two, He couldn’t have done auything that ant have pro- voked Ladrone more, short of another blow, for the Italian me prized that rattan for its many qualities. With a hiss of rage ‘he put his hand ‘to his neck and flashed out an ugly-looking, thin knife. a Will saw his danger, and quick as a eal he smashed the _ man on the point of the chin. The Italian went down, knocked out sonnsletaly: and the knife fell ringing on the stones. Will stopped and picked up the weapon. Then he looked at the man, who lay dazed and half un- conscious. Out of the window above leaned Spiff Paterson. He had been a witness of the last part of the scrap. He had expected to see the boy knifed and had .drawn his revolver to shoot the Italian before he could accomplish his purpose, for Spiff had a grudge: against Ladrone, but the boy’s rapid action saved him the commission of a crime. Spiff left the window and hurried to the sidewalk with a bundle under his arm. Walking over to Will, he said: “You're all right, young feller. 1 like your grit. If you ever want a friend, Spiff Paterson’ll stand by you. Now take this bundle and git,” “But the girl!” cried Will. “Never you mind about ‘her. said Paterson. Pll see that the dago — doesn’t foller you. Get a move on before a cop shows up,” - Mindful of Bill’s injunction to lose no time, Will took — ‘the oe es and offered es knife to the man. oe
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WILL, THE WAIF. ne “Keep it,” said Spiff. to lose it.” Palmyra was now on her feet. “J thank you for saving me from Flavio. grateful to you,” she said to Will. you—never.” She seized the boy’s hand that held the knife and pressed it to her lips, then she darted across the street and disappeared into the tenement. As Will passed up the street a hundred eyes followed him in admiration. He had done something no one believed possible, that was to beard the Italian to his face, disarm him and escape without a scratch. Will got home as soon as he could. Bill was watching for him and let him in. He took the bundle and then flashed the candle in the boy’s face. “Now, you sculpin, you and me is goin’ to part right now; p’raps for good,” he said. “Part!” cried the surprised boy. “Yes,. Ain’t you glad of it?” Will made no reply. ae he was glad to be icra of a hard master, who hept him down in life, but he could hardly believe his emancipation was to be real. Besides, the astonishing communication came to him so suddenly that it almost took his breath away. Tf Bill was going to leave him for good, what was he to do? I am very “T shall never forget He hadn’t a friend in the world, nor a penny of money. | man slammed down the window. He would have to get out and hustle for hig own living, but such a ehange was a welcome one. Though he had a certain feeling for Bill, because he had ‘always lived with him, he really was glad to get away from him, and he hoped it wonld be for good. “Pye knocked you around kind of roughly, and you’ve never squealed. Spiff says you’re the right kind, and T etiess. you are. T wouldn’t lose you if T could help it, but I’ve got to dust, and T can’t take you with me.’ “Where are you going, Bill?” “None of your blamed business where I’m.goin’. What do you care? You'll be your own boss after this, and I giless you’re able to fight your own way. Here’s a fiver to ‘keep you goin’ till you find a way to make somethin’ your- self.”? He dropped the bundle and shoved a bill into Will’s hand. “Now go upstairs, bare your things in a piece of paper, and get out.” “What, to-night!” almost gasped Will. “Yes, tonight, ” eried Bill, fiercely. “Vl give you fif- teen. minutes to make. yourself scarce. If you ain’t gone by that time you'll hear from me. Understand?” => Will knew his tyrant well enough to understand that he always meant what he said, so without another word he ran: upstairs to the garret to gutter: his few belnene to- gether. These included three gcd very sabcioiie to him. One was the rudiments of ees sigeins, the go fies i fat ENANE iady f Per at leg’: Tih i 3 “Tt’s a good thing for Ladrone| was a well-thumbed arithmetic, and the third was a co $001 is PY | the broken ground toward the next street ata fast gai of Robinson Crusoe, with the last chapters missing, He hustled everything into a bag, tied the end tight with a piece of cord, and was downstairs inside of the allotted | time. Bill was moving around in his room, “(ood-by, Bill,” he said, stopping at the door, . “Good-by, you seulpin,” came the reply. As Will descended the stairs he heard Bill’s door open. The man who came out into the gloom of the landing didn’t look like Bill except in bulk. His face was covered with a heavy beard, and his clothes had the cut of a longshoreman or sailor. His hands and what little of his countenance as showed was darker than Bill had ever looked | The voice, however, was Bill’s, as it bellowed down after Be epee ale Fees “Took here, you young sculpin, don’t you dare come back to this house again, Mind, on your life, don’t come back. Get down somewhere and stay there. The best thing you can do as a starter is to take to blackin’ gents’ boots. You'll make enough to keep you. When you get older you can try somethin’ else. Now git.” The man listened till he heard Will unlock the door and let himself ont, then he went down and secured it again. Going back to his room he opened the front window and | watched the boy on his way down the street. Will went slowly, with his bag over his shoulder, for he was considering where he shold spend the night. As soon as his figure) disappeared in the darkness. the | “That’s the last I’ll ever see of him, T es he mut: tered, as he resumed packing a grip. “The world’s, alhgns® own now. I expected to make a good het out of "him one of these days, but that infernal job this afternoon 1 has | put a spoke in the game. Curse the luck!” he growl savagely. “TI had to do it to save myself. Bah! Tf he hadn’t pulled a gun things might he different. with. him, I can hear that cry he gave yet. Will T ever get it out of my head ? ise ain’t the first man T’ve soaked, bat, he’s 8 ee first I’ve He broke off with an imprecation, and hurried his moves ments. . Fifteen minutes later he was. downstairs with hia unlocking the back door. 1 He reconnoitered the neighborhuod cautiously and then stepped out, shutting the door softly after | ; F He glanced around each corner of the iiing and. lis ‘ tened attentively. 2 Only distant sounds broke the saiaas of the night. The stars. twinkled softly Picwins ‘but there ing no | : moon to light up the landscape. _ . Satisfied that there was no one near he started oft acros Hardly had his form been swallowed up in the ons than the rumble of wagon wheels sounded down the strect. | It. stopped at the street corner and Hitbaliaeiy out of the vehicle. iv " Piers Two hurried to the front, of a house and one ‘0 t tear,
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—_— The man at the back found the door yielded to his touch. “Our bird has flown, I fear,” he muttered. “The door here. is open,” said the first man. “That looks as if he skipped out, if he’s been here. We’ll go in and investigate. I understand there is a boy living with him. A young pal of his, of course. If he’s gone off with him we'll be better able to track the pair.” They entered the house and flashed dark lanterns around. “You stay at the back door, in case they should be hiding here, and make a dash to escape. Ill let Jim in at the front.” oF “What's the matter with locking the door and removing _.' the key. a: ~“No, You've got to watch to see that they don’t aon from an upper story if they’re here.” __ The house was thoroughly searched by two. of the men, but all indications showed that the late occupants had gone. “They’ve gone all right,” said one of the men. “Thats evident. gifowever, you must stay here on the watch, on the chance that the boy might come back. Hoo- ete himself, ds clearly gone for good.” Two of the men returned to the patrol wagon, which pe drove off the way it had come. The three were detectives who wanted Bill ‘Hooley badly. Then silence fell on the neighborhood again ; but though _ the officer in hiding remained half of the night on the scene, his vigilance was not rewarded. Bei) obody came near the house. - Phe two strangely contrasted persons who had occupied | . ge place for six years were miles away by that time, and miles apart, from each. other. ~ Rotts the future held for each was at that moment a died book. One faced a new and useful life, but the Lae ¢ . ars OHAPTER III. WILL STARTS AS A BOOTBLACK. ill walked somewhat aimlessly toward Third avenue. “saw that it was close to ten. , ee must find a lodging-house for to-night,” he said. ~ Bless T’d better go in here and change my bill, 80 that I es a hide ‘most of the money somewhere about me.’ nite i boi saloon and asked the bar-keeper to break n as a good-natured fellow and readily obliged 1im, giving him four one-dollar bills and the rest in change. oa Outside, “Will put the bills in his shoe and then went on. Fea ‘hen he reached Third avenue a boy came along with ack papers under his arm. _ “Extry! Full account of the murder on Boston Road. ae Up ‘sto a and iooked at him, as Pipes! cho ates tingled at the grewsome announce- te n outrages i in the papers that Bill brought, to the house, but non of em had interested him, or hein ares like ati ire report fr th lips of Pampa aie Pee. "At the first saloon he came to he looked at the clock and Gi! WILL, THE WAIF, BAG 5 ans Just why he should: be interested in it he could hardly. say, and yet he was. On the spur of the moment he stopped the boy ane bought a paper. It was the sporting extra of a-liye newspaper, but was underlined “Nine O’clock Special.” On the first page a glaring scarehead announced that an old money-lender named Matthew Brandon had been murdered late that afternoon in his home on Boston Road. He was shot through the heart with his own revolver, which lay on the floor at the feet of the corpse, when the crime was discovered some time afterward by the house- keeper, who had been away during the afternoon vinHne friends, ; Will read the story eagerly under the light of a street lamp. Finally he feaahad that part in which it was stated that from a clue found in the room the police believed the mur- der was committed by a crook who had been known to the authorities for many years as a dangerous fellow, and sus- pected as having been concerned in a score of robberies, covering several years, none of which, however, could be brought to his door, owing to lack of evidence. The man was known as the “Gorilla,” owing to his long arms and great strength, but his everyday name was Bill Hooley. Will dropped the paper with an exclamation, Bill Hooley a murderer—he couldn’t believe it. And yet, after what had happened at the house that even- _ ing since Bill’s return home—the announcement he made that he was about to leave right away for some place which he would not divulge, compelling him to throw his com-. panion on his own resources—was sufficiently out of the common to lead Will to suspect the worst, A aay but Bill was a & good eee aot he ie aiaye
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money, wherever he got it from, and Will had never had to worry about where his food was coming from. » “T don’t know that I can do better than to take Bill’s ad- vice and turn bootblack,” he said to himself; “but I’l] have to learn the ropes before I ean do much at it, and the only way of doing that is to get acquainted with some bootblack and get him to give me points on the business.” He had heard about the newsboys’ lodging-house way downtown, and he decided that would be the es place for him to apply for a lodging that night. He saw a policeman standing close. to the elevated sta- ‘tion stairs, and walking up to him he asked him how he eould reach the Jodging-house j in question. “Take a train down to the City Hall station, and then yowll be near it. Anyone in that neighborhood will direct|s you to the place,” replied the officer. So Will followed directions, and in something over an hour landed at the station in question. _ As he stepped into Park Row he spied a policeman, and ‘he asked him where the newsboys’ lodging-house was. ~The officer told him that it was only a short cg away, and directed him how to find it. Though Will had never been so far downtown before he had no difficulty in reaching the place he was after, and ap- plying for a night’s lodging he was taken in. In the morning he made the acquaintance of several of ’ the boy lodgers, and one of them proving to be a bootblack, he agreed, if Will treated to breakfast, to show him where to purchase an outfit, and afterwards take him down to his stamping grounds and show him how to shine shoes. Will gladly stood the breakfast for his new friend, whose “name was Bob Short, and an hour later he and Bob were on the scene of operations. Tt didn’t take Will long to pick up a sufficient knowledge of the business to enable him to start in, and very proud _ he was of his first job, His initial customer was an old gentleman of benign aspect. . The ordinary price for a shine was five cents, but the old gentleman liked his face and paid him ten cents, It was the first money he had ever earned, and he .de- termined to keep that coin as long as he could. _ He put it away by itself in one of the pockets of his shabby vest, and then looked around for another customer. _ He soon secured one, a pompous-looking merchant on his way to his store, and Will treated him to the best shine he could produce, in deference to his fine clothes and im-| portant bearing. The boy wondered if he would give him a dime, too, for he looked as if he could well afford to; but he didn’t. Thus the morning passed away, and by half-past twelve he had earned forty cents, independent of the first dime. “T’m not doing so badly,” he said to Bob Bio; when his ‘new friend joined him. “You're doing fine for a beginner.” “How much have you taken in?” asked Will. “Wighty cents. Are you hungry? Let’s go and eat, I _ know a cheap joint where we can fill up for fifteen cents.” “Then we'll go there,” replied. wit who was hungry after his new exertions, It was quantity and not Wages that Will found i in that hash-house. ; . a1 ‘ ie s ; é WILL, THE WAIE. $= ne ae ee re an a en ee ee Se or In ee Aaya “food had not vaoeebd fo its present high figure, and the man who bossed the joint was able to pro- duce quite a spread and still make money. Will and Bob Short filled up and were satisfied they had got their money’s worth. ‘ They then returned to their stamping grounds. Many of the bootblacks kept their receipts in their box, probably because their pockets were not safe receptacles for coin. At any rate they found-they could make change quicker that way. This practice was followed by Bob, because he was ac- customed to it, though his pockets had no holes. : When he saw Will diving into his trousers for the neces- sary change to a quarter he suggested that he adopt the |} same method, As Will wanted to follow the eustoms of the business he decided to do so, and this fact led to the loss that after- noon of a part of his day’s receipts. It was about five o’clock that a man came swaggering down the street with a pair of muddy shoes. Will and three others made a dive for him, sorntiag a customer, Bob was the only one not after the job, for he was busy. at the moment shining the shoes of one of his “regulars,” the manager of the American Importing Company, which establishment was close by. — “Shine, sir!” cried Will, who was the first to reach the newcomer. i “Shine! Shine! Shine!” yelled the other three, bois- ; terously. ; The man glared at the four and was about to pass on when a sudden idea struck him. Cpe . He grinned malevolently, as he singled Will ape told him to get busy. . Will, proud of the fact that he had caught on in place of the others, which he reckoned something of a feat for a ne one at the business, unslung his box and dropped it at the, man’s feet. | Reet Then something happened that took the new boy as 1. as the bunch by surprise. . Just as Will got down on his knees the man gave hig boot-blacking kit a tremendous kick. It flew through the air and Will’s money dropped ond of it, ‘sage The street gamins made a rush for the coins. The man, with a self-satisfied grin walked away, while the victim of the disagreeable joke gazed stupefied on the scramble for his money, not a coin of which he had the faintest chance of getting back. : % es piley CHAPTER IV. ; THE STOLEN WALLET, , ge, ies Will teat about fitty cents of his: first day’s earnings, and he was rather glum over it for a while. a pee Bob sympathized with him. “That galoot ought to have been pulled ato such a nasty trick, ” he said. ey hope I won’t run against another pee soon,” as plied Will. zy “Tt ain’t likely that you will, though youl ve all) cit er Phe
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hs 1° debt F rons ao t WIL, ‘THE WAIE. | oe of men, and some of them ain't angels when they ain't inl “You ought’to celebrate your first day’s work by taking good Ge uy in a show to-night,” suggested Bob. “Tf V’d kept my money in my pocket 1 wouldn’t have lost} “I’m willing, and I'l! stand treat to the gallery,” replied it,” said Will, regretting now that he had adopted the} Will. custom of using his box for a cash receptacle. “Bully for you. Ill treat next time.,” said Bob. “Don’t worry,” said Bob, “it won’t happen again. That| “What theater shall we go to?” .. ' guy was half drunk, I guess, and he ain’t no ‘pone any- “We'll take in the Thalia, which is the old Bowery under way.” anew name, lHver been there?” Bob broke away, for he g} sied Sothes of his “steadies”! “Never. Last night was the first time in my life that I coming along, and Will looked around for a. customer. came below Central Park.” The other bootblacks gathered around to guy Hs and| “Go on, you don’t:mean that,” cried Bob, astonished; for laugh over his misfortune. Will had told him that to the best of his knowledge and be- Will took their chafting good-naturedly, and pretty soon | lief he was born in New Tork City. ne of them proposed a game of “craps.” - “T do mean it.” He was invited to join in, but declined, becatise he didn’t “What theaters did you ever go to then?” know anything about the game, whith was for penny] ‘The Metropolis, in the Bronx.” % ; stakes, “Ts that the only one?” He contented himself with watching the group, and at Will nodded. the same time keeping an eye out for a customer. “And youve always lived in the Bronx?” The game was so simple that he soon got.on to its fine} “Always, as far as I can remember.” points, if it can be said to have any, but while the bunch| “And the man you lived with so long fired you out on - were deeply interested in it,. Will secured a customet and} your uppers last night?” _ Was soon busy “earning another nickel. eM es.! A steady stream of clerks, bookkeepers and other em-| “What for?” ployees now filled the sidewalks, for business downtown| “He had to leave the city, and didn’t want to take me was practically over for the day. with him.” Will and his companions picked up a few along the| “He was a relation of press Ses sherk fringe of the home- -going,mob, and then as the district be-| “No.” deserted. they began to gravitate toward City Hall Park.| “How came he to take charge of you?” - Here they came into contact with the bunch of bootblacks; “TI don’t know.” who considered that they owned the park, and several scraps} “He must have had a reason.” - nearly resulted over the rivalry for customers. “T suppose he did.” ‘The big fellows chased the little fellows, causing an oc-| “How about your father and mother?” es collision with the public. “Don’t remember them.” was early in the summer, and the weather was warm, “They must have died when you were very little. Per- - the benches were all filled witli loungers, many of whom haps this man was a friend of your folks and took you to were wondering where their stipper was coming from. keep you out of an asylum.” ss ~The most tagged bootblack, in the neighborhood, however,| ‘Will did not answer. — “was not worr ying over that fact, for the least prosperous} He did not believe that Bob’s es cea came any where had the price of a plate of “ham and beans,” and a cup of | near the truth. pa foe, if he couldn’t do any better, Anyway he did not care to decane the matter. No. one would have supposed that among the hard-up oc- “What kind of show have they got on at the Thalia? 2” cupants of the benches were professional men of brilliant | he asked, with the view of changing the subject. intellect, but stich was the ease, “A dandy one. It’s called ‘Marked for Death.’ Full of __.There were men who had qualified as lawyers; who had excitement. ve seen some of the big bills, and I. guess Thee ‘positions on the daily press; who had sraduated from | there’s shootin’ in it to burn.” big colleges, and who wete capable of doitig most anvthing Part of the foregoing conversation took nice between except to earn.a living through their own exertions. the boys on their way up Park Row toward the theater, ; Drink had downed some, competition had taken the sahd| which was in the neighborhood of Chatham Square. ut of others, and the bulk lacked the eher ay to hustle for| Finally they reached the establishment which enjoys the position against adverse circumstances. distinction of being the oldest playhouse in the city. ‘The fact that they were well edteated, and regarded Of late years it has been the home of the Hebrew drama, | themselves as professional men, prevented them from look-| but at the time of this story it was lkmown as a “combina- : ing for common jobs, the small wages of which would have | tion house.” in time put them on their feét, and thus have carried them} Third-rate touring gave.a continuous feast’ of more or “over their present difficulties. Jess lurid melodrama—a new show every week. Will looked many of these loungers over, occasionally| Its patrons were er entirely recruited from the lower -sttiking: the better dressed onés for a shine, but he only| Hast side. —eatght one job from the men on the benches. Will bought two ee seats for fifteen cents each, and When ¢ Aish, beg n to deepen into nightfall, Bob rejoined} he and Bob ascended to the region of the “gods.” from ~’ him and rt. to a cheap testaurant on Park Row and| which they had a good bird’s-eye view of the stage. f ‘ pated ba “Marked for oe ee proved to be full of thrills, and ie! ~ y (a Be ee re ea eee eee +
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8 . WILL, THE WAIF. was evidently what the audience was looking for, judging hy the applause which greeted the “stand and deliver” atti- tude of the hero and soubrette at critical moments. There were four strenuous acts, and at the close of the show the gallery gods rose like one man and began a rush for the exit stairs, There were cat calls, and howling, and scrapping to beat the band, at the height of the crush, and the pushing and scrambling was something fierce. Will and Bob got separated, and finally reached the Bide- walk wide apart. Will was carried toward Canal street by a flood of hu- manity without the least idea where he was going. Finally he disengaged himself from the crowd and began looking for Bob. His companion, more nimble in getting clear of the rush, was in front of the theater looking for him. Although the show house was only a short distance away, Will could not distinguish it from where he stood. Still he knew it must be in the direction whence he had come, and he began to retrace his steps. He got as far as the entrance to the Atlantic Garden when a couple of well- dressed young fellows came ont of that place of amusement. They seemed to he somewhat under thi influence of liquor. They moved over to a cab that stood close to the curb, and one of them opened the door of the vehicle. “At that moment Will saw a rough-looking fellow, who had followed'them out of the building, lift the tail of the jacket of one of thes and pull a wallet out of the exposed pocket. Then he moved off toward Canal street, repli the | pocketbook into his side pocket. Will’s first impulse was to rush up to the young man and tell him he had been robbed, but he realized the loss of time would enable the thief to escape with his booty. So on the spur of the moment he hurried after the crook; caught up with him at the corner, shoved his fingers into his pocket and got possession of the stolen wallet. Strange to say the thief did not feel him relieving him of {ae pocketbook and kept on up the street. » Will, seeing this, did not look for a policeman ag he had intended, but started back to restore the young man his property. The cab, however, had started, and passed the boy on the way. There were many vehicles in the street, and the roar of a _ passing elevated train above further confused Will, so that he did not notice the cab as it went on its way uptown. When he got back to the Garden the cab and the young men had vanished, and he was left with the stolen wallet in his possession, CHAPTER V. THE RESULT OF THE ADVT. “wild stood and looked in vain for a sight of the white “My gracious! They’re gone, ‘and T’ve got the pocket- - book,” he said, At that moment Bob discovered iss, asad b and sped ‘him on the shoulder.” ee ue a pretty good pickpocket yourself.” anything special,” replied Will. | skin you out of it. will es Pe wallet inside his vain. when he » tamed “T’ve found you at last,” he said. “I was just about to give you up, thinkin’ you were on your way back to the lodgin’-house. Hello, what’s that you’ve got in your hand? A pocketbook? Did you find it?? — “No. It was stolen from'a young man in front of this place. I chased the thief and got it back. Then when I returned the two young men and the cab were gone.” Bob didn’t quite understand his explanation, until he repeated it with the additional facts. “Well, blow me if that doesn’t beat anythin’ I ever heard,” cried Bob. “A crook pinches a wallet from a young man without him knowin’ it, and then you pinch it from the thief without him gettin’ on to you. You'd, make a “T’d like to know how I’m going to return it me the owner,” said Will, whose thoughts were wholly engrossed with that problem. “Don’t worry about returnin’ it to the owner. You'll never see him again. It’s yours now. Let’s see what’s in. it. Maybe there’s a wad of money in it which will put you on Hasy street.” “No,” replied Will, “it isn’t mine, and T don’t cruel to keep it.” “You ain’t goin’ to be such a fool as to turn it over to a cop, are you! a” “T’m going to try and find the owner myself.” “How can you when he’s gone uptown somewhere in a eab ?”? “T can’t do anything to-night. Maybe if T advertise ie the owner will turn up.” “Better look into it and see if it’s worth advertisin’. Maybe there isn’t more’n a dollar or two in it. It wow cost nearly that to advertise it.” . on ae. . Will looked at the wallet. On the flap were two initials stamped in gold. ¢ ©. Opening the pocketbook the first thing the boys saw was a roll of bills, the outside one being a $20 note, Pulling the wad out Will counted it and saw that it | amounted to $180. es In the next flap was a handsome diamond ring: set for a lady. Ge! That must be worth another hundred, sure; ate Bob. ad i? BS In the third flap were several old coins. Suen There was nothing else as far as the bac survey dis closed... / ve Not the least clue to the owner, excepting the destin on the flap, and they did not convey much information. aa “T s’pose you'll advertise it,” said Bob, as they. neared the lodging-house. “Tf the owner turns up and claims it he ought to give you a good reward.” Ahoy “T’ll take anything he offers me, but I’m not sania for. “You’re more honest than most of the fellers I know. j They'd freeze on to that boodle and get a good time out of | it. I'l bet that ring could be pawned for a good price if you went. to the right place. Some pawnbrokers. would I guess it would a a ba ye try to raise any money on it.”
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2 A) 1 WILL, THE WAIF. | Arc a 9 re in that night, for fear something might happen to it while} bulldoze you into givin’ it up. | would probably slug you and take it away from you.” he slept. He found it there safe in the morning and then stuffed _it in an inside pocket of /his jacket. “Goin’ to advertise that pocketbook to-day?” asked Bob, as they went to breakfast. “Yes, replied Will. “Be careful what you say in the advt. Don’t describe what’s in it, or somebody who ain’t the owner will be makin’ a claim to it. I’ve heard that there are people who make a business of watchin’ them Lost and Found advts., and answer every one they think they can make anythin’ -out of.” © “Oh, T’ll be careful. sider to work on,” replied Will. - On their way to their field of labor for the day they _ stopped at the publication office of a well-known newspaper _ and Will inserted an advt. which he thought the owner of the wallet might recognize if he saw it. _ He paid for three insertions, and used money from the _ pocketbook, putting the newspaper receipt in it as evidence to show how the money had heen expended. The answer was to be directed to “W. W., care of Box 65,” at the newspaper office. As the advt would not appear in-print until the following morning, Will did not expect to hear from it at the earliest until the following afternoon on his return from his work. * Will did very well that day, making nearly $2 through - the exercise of his brushes and a small amount of muscular exercise. Bob did about the same, and both lads were well con- fed when night came again, and they sought the same ‘Park Row restaurant. Will resisted Bob’s invitation to visit the Bowery and _ take in some of the cheap shows, as the reading-room and library of the lodging-house had more attraction for him. _ He was in bed and asleep long before Bob returned from his jaunt. with another lad, and in the mowing they went to breakfast together as usual, Will bought a morning paper, and the first thing he did was to look for his advt. _ It was there all right, and he read it over to Bob. Phat evening on their way to supper they stopped at the “newspaper orice and Will aed his receipt at the letter - desk. | He received three replies, one of them ina “eons hand- writing. “Two of them ate fakirs, if not three,” said Bob. Will opened the lady’s letter first. The writer said she had lost a pocketbook. in front of the Atlantic Garden, as Will had so stated in his advt., on Z | “ie would pring it to her has No. Bast Houston slic she would. describe the wallet and what was in it, Hoe could she. describe ibe” said Will. “ She didn’t lose iis ” i wi allet, T can swear. ‘She won't try to, uae grinned Bob. ou there with the book.” at good will that do her?” “All she wes aa to T won’t give any clue for an out-| tt e eee in question, and she was sure the ‘one in question | | a friend ‘there whose business: uy will be tol is ‘If you should refuse he “T could have them arrested then, couldn’t 1?” “Yes, if the cops could find them. The chances are if they got hold of what’s in that wallet they would dust out to another town.” “Would you answer her and tell her that you know the wallet belongs to a man, and that it isn’t worth while call- ing?” Hae nate “No. Tear the letter up. You know she has no claim on it. It’s a good thing you didn’t give your name and a street address, or she’d call on you.” Will followed Bob’s advice and then opened the second letter. This was from a man, who had. also lost a wallet that evening in front of the Atlantic Garden. He gave an ambiguous description of the article, which would fit any ordinary’ pocketbook, He said it had money in it, but he couldn’t Adal the © amount. He was willing to givide half of it with the finder if the wallet was returned to him at a certain saloon in Four- teenth street. “He’s another fakir for fair: He never lost that pocket- book, or any other, near hs Atlantic Garden. Tear it up. 92) The third writer had missed his wallet soon after leaving the Gardens. Until he saw the adyt. he supposed it had been pinched by some light-fingered chap. He was glad to hear that the advertiser had found it. He: said it was an ordinary wallet, in good condition, and that it contained a sum of money, he could’ not remem- ber how much, - Tt might be $10 or it might be $100. Y Sometimes he had as much as $600 about him, and other times a dollar or two. &: He couldn’t really say how much he had the night he visited the Gardens. All he was certain about was that the wallet must be his, and he was prepared to come up w ith a liberal reward for its return, His initials did not correspond with those on the flap of the wallet, and his answer was far from satisfactory. aD) vidently the wallet was not his. ; “It’s funny how many pocketbooks were lost at the At- lantic Gardens that evening, isn’t’ it,” chuckled Bob, Ag your adyvt. runs three days you'll have more answers. to- morrow. What a lot of beats there are in the world! | They *re, willin’ to do anythin’ for a livin’ except work,” The boys then ey to supper. ' CHAPTER VI.- “Brq-rooT WILLIE.” Bob’s statement that Will would have more answers to ie his advt. was fully ver ‘ified. He received two more when he called on the following evening at the newspaper office, ee They were very like the others, and Will tore them up. : On his third visit to the office he received five letters. is One was from the same woman cae Seas first, i
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10 WILL, THE WAIF. | Ne espe care ere ett mete gf en eT IE TS MED HOTT MAUR pe came ate ance phar porn rn Sn pe rere nl dears Sn srdacesrestelines amen non She insisted that the wallet was hers, and repeated her| ordinary store where the show was established, and dilated invitation for the advertiser to eall on her and bring the on the astonishing living curiosities that aod now be seen | pocketbook. pute, dwelling paride on “Big-Foot Willie.” : She hinted that she would pay $25 to get it back. “Here's a new one,” said Bob. “Let’s go in.” . It was quite clear to Will that none of the replies came] Without waiting for Will’s consent he pranced up to the from the rightful owner. ticket-office lon: and planked down two dimes, receiving | Apparently he hadn’t seen the advt. . a couple of small pieces of pasteboard in return from the “You'll have to keep the money and the ring,” said girl who officiated as ticket seller. Bob. “Come on,” said Bob, and Will followed him inside. ~~ “I certainly intend to an I find the owner,” answered The proprietor of the establishment presided at the Will. door, “You'll never find him. Would you know him again if/ He had a black mustache, and was in pressing need of you ever saw him?” a shaye. “T think I would. I noticed that he wore a black-enam-| He wore a silk hat, sack coat and trousers of checker- eled ring, with a diamond, on the little finger of his left| board pattern. hand. He was about twenty-five years old, and he was| His flowered vest, to which was attached a cable- plated dressed in swell clothes.” chain, from which dangled a big elk’s tooth, was cut in a “T guess he won’t miss that money, though he might the! sort of horseshoe curve, revealing a not over clean shirt, ring,” said Bob. “It is my idea you’ll never hear from] with horizontal red bars an inch in width. him.” He took the tickets from Bob’s fingers; and waved the] Bob seemed to be right, for the days passed away and| two boys imside with a kind of majestic dignity. no answer was received from the right person, although; The odor of tobacco, mingled with unclean sawdust and Will put the same advt. in another big daily. many other flayors, made the atmosphere particularly rank, | Fearing that he might lose the wallet, Will wrapped it} and the warmth of the evening heightened the effect of the up carefully in paper, wrote his name on the outside, and| whole. deposited it in the safe of the lodging-house for safe keep-| The curiosities were mounted in a long row on ape ing. form built to elevate them at a height which would enable Soxaval weeks passed away and Will had grown accus-| the spectators, if there was a crowd, which there was ide tomed to the boot-blacking industry, but he was not con-| on this occasion, to observe them with ease. tented to remain a bootblack any longer than he could) The lecturer was beginning his round when Bob and. help, although he was making money out of it, which he' Will entered, and he commenced by calling the attentio had deposited in the lodging-house bank to his credit. | of the audience—five boys, a sailor, and a poorly. dresge i During that time he had got well acquainted with a con-| scrub-woman—to the menagerie, which consisted of two. siderable portion of lower New York, City. ~ monkeys, a small hear, several guinea pigs, and a bad. look- Every other evening he went tramping around the dis-, ing bulldog. trict east of Park Row and north of Chambers street in "Then he went on to ie fat woman, who occupied a company with his boon friend, Bob. . rocker, and was fanning herself, Bob wanted his company, and insisted so that Will felt} Hach of the curiosities was rapidly sketched, and at obliged to fall in with his views. length the lecturer arrived at the spot where the chief at- Bob was a kind of mighthawk. traction of the show stood—a small, delicate looking youth He had no use for the lodging-house except as a place to| whose pipe-stem legs rose from a pair of enormous shoes, sleep. supposed to encase a pair of feet of abnormal growth. The reading-room had no attractions at all for him. The crowd gathered around in a semi-circle and regard ‘The lights aid life of the Bowery and Grand street acted “Big-Foot Willie” with not a little interest. like a tonic to him after his day’ s work. This was something new in the curiosity line. = Thus Will came to indulge in night pleasures which he} “Gee! Them feet are big:enough for canal boats,” said did not actually care for. Bob to Will. “Tt’s a fake. Nobody could grow feet that There was hardly a place of amusement on the Bowery| large, not even the fat woman, and this chap is so'small and | or its neighborhood that the boys didn’t visit. thin you could blow him away with a good breath.? One night as they were walking up the east side of the} Will agreed that “Willie” was a fake, and the whole Bowery above Chatham square, a glaring sign in front of a| show a frond ‘ building attracted Bob’s attention. “Now, ladies and gents, give me your kind cients The a read: “Globe Dime Museum. Now on Exhibi-] please. Let me introduce to your notice ‘Big+Foot Willie,” tion: The Fattest Woman in the World—the only and orig-| the most remarkable curiosity ever put on exhibition, and | inal Living Skeleton—the Beautiful Circassian Girl—| which the proprietor of this show obtained - only after a Cerese, the Fascinating Snake Charmer—Kirox, the Mys-| hot competition with ‘the representatives of the biggest terious' Egyptian Fortune Teller—and that most astonish-| sideshows in the country, and at a cost that would stagger | ing Freak of Nature, Big-Foot Willie, Walk in and see the you if I told you, Willie is the highest salaried curiosity marvels now on ae for One Dime.” : in the world, and will shortly retire with an independent: A barker stood at the door, with a long rattan in his fortune.” : Cpe hand to keep the urchins at a respectable distance. » | The lecturer then went on to deacaibe how Willie. a. He ee back and forth across ‘the wide entrance of an been fae like any oe ie ees that his feet soon out s f: SY aE ap Bt sa Pe
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Sitered all records for pedal extremities, and his shoes had to be made to order from special lasts. The lecturer, as if by accident, stepped on the toes of one of the big shoes. “Big-Foot Willie uttered a sharp cry, which had no ‘evi- dence of a fake about it, and to the astonishment of Bob and Will, real tears coursed down his famished-looking cheeks, and he seemed in considerable pain. ‘ { The lecturer made a great bluff of sympathizing with the oy. “He has very tender*toes, ladies and gents,” he said, '“and when I accidentally trod on them you perceive it ealled forth a cry from him. There, dry your tears, Willie; Tl get you some nice candy after the show.” The lecturer, having exhausted his stock of curiosities, invited the audience to consult the Egyptian fortune teller, ‘who, for the small sum of a dime, would read their palms and give them a true outline of their past, present and future. Bob and Will Jingered near Big-Foot Will. “He’s a sad-eyed lookin’ little beggar,” said Bob. “He is,” admitted Will. “I wonder what made him cry / out that time: He was certainly hurt.” _ “T couldn’t tell you. P’raps the professor stuck him in the arm with.a pin.” . “No; he didn’t touch him with his hands.” abe don’t believe he stepped on his toes. I’ve got a dollar _to bet that his feet ain’t any bigger than they ought to be, land are just stuck in a pair of overgrown shoes.” ~ T guess you're right, Bob,” said Will. “Sure Pm right.” Hob noticed that “Willie” was looking at them in a wist- “Shy, Willie, » said Bob, “what made you cry out?” “He hurt me,” replied the curiosity. “How could he when your feet ain’t that long? I’m on ‘to them shoes. They’re stuffed ones.” ““IVillie” made no reply. If there was a secret about the matter he was afraid to Rive it away. The audience was now going out, and new speciation Coming | in, Bob’s roving eyes lighted ona otirtath at the end of the aa grm, near “Willie.” ~ He was greatly interested in getting at the bottom of “Big-Foot Willie’s” feet, and the curtain suggested an idea. ~The professor was not vookite that way, neither were the A uriosities, “Come with me, Will, » he said, grabbing our hero by the | Sai Will understood his object he was drawn Paina the curtain. Another. curtain divided the space from the tlatform, and the hoys found thmnmpelyns, the only occupant of the martment, — Vhat are you up to, Bob?” wince Will, puzzled by the ¢ eep quiet. ‘T.want to get a line on them feet bf Wil- lie’s and find out what. amade him ery out.” “Will was curious about the matter, too. WILL, THE. WAIF. He was : satis there. ‘was some Lagvawee about it, 11 though there seemed to be no mistake that the poor little curiosity had been really hurt. The room was filling up with a larger number of specta- tors, and the professor was preparing“to begin again. Bob soon discovered that there were no boards nailed against the end of the platform. Raising the bottom of the red cloth, which answered for a curtain, he looked underneath. Feeling for a match he lit it and flashed the light under the platform. Then he crept under and looked, up at the boards where the big-footed curiosity stood. What he saw induced him to continue his investigations more closely. Finally he whispered to Will to join him. The lad did. “Just look there,” said Bob. screwed to the floor.” “T see they appear to be,” answered Will; “but what is . that contrivance there?. A piece of wood secured to the floor by a hinge, as if it was-intended to work upward when the short-end is pressed down by that bolt inside a spring.” “Thats what it’s intended to do,” said Bob. “Look closer and you'll see a needle driven into the long end of the wood piece, and above it a small hole, When the bolt is pressed down the long end flies up, sending the end of the. needle through that little hole into some part of the little chap’s foot. That’s what causes him to cry out with pain.” “Those big shoes are “Great Scott!” exclaimed Will, in a burst of indigna- tion. “That’s an outrage.” “Of course it is; but what else would you expect from such fakirs as are runnin’ this kind of show?” “Tt ought to be stopped. They are phates that little chap,” said Will. He looked around the floor. “Tl! put a spoke in it,” he said, picking up ‘a piece of iron. In a moment, while Bob held up another match, he ripped the apparatus apart. “That'll stop the game,” he said. “Until they come down and repair it,” said Bob. “Tl prevent that for to-night, and get evidence for the police to raid this show,” said Will, completing the work by detaching the piece of wood with the needle altogether. “Now come on. We must get away before they get on to us.”, , . They returned to the empty compartment outside. The lecturer had reached the big-footed boy nage and - was telling his history. Will and Bob peeked through a corner of the eae. They saw the man again tread on the toe of one of the — | big boots. ° The little a hos winced as if in Sestebie of the needle thrust, but as none came he looked relieved and did not cry out, as was evidently expected of him. The lecturer glared at him, but did not dare repeat the trick, so he let the matter pass, and. covered it 1p. with some glib words. As soon as Ae was done he intended to see what was wrong with the trick, for he was satisfied the Pe wees have cried out’ if the i ie tuck ise tas
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re. * Re ‘ As he walked away ee get the people over to the fortune- teller, Will raised the curtain. “Hi, sonny, we spoiled that game,” he said. ~ Big-Foot Willie looked down and understood. ‘He smiled in a sad way. “He'll fix it again in a few minutes,” he replied. _“T don’t think he will. Look there,” and Will held up the piece of wood with the-needle in it. Then he dropped the curtain, and he and Bob, watching their chance, joined the outgoing crowd. . CHAPTER VIi. ae os he a .§ PALMYRA AGAIN—THE WARNING, oe _ “Have you any idea where the nearest police station is, Boh?” Will asked, as soon as they reached the sidewalk. “Yeo; but I think you’re foolish to go there,” replied Bob, - “Why so? Those rascals will fix that thing up so that it will work to-morrow, and then torture the boy again,” said Will. “Tt’s got to be exposed and stopped for good.” “Then youll get in trouble, for those fakirs will follow: you up till they get square with you. Better not butt in. We've done the little beggar a good turn for to-night. Maybe he'll give the show the shake. He’s a fool if he doesn’t,” said Bob. “Tf I thought he’d quit I’d a the matter go,” said Will.” “Tf he doesn’t, atter what he sees he’s up against, he doesn’t’ deserve any sympathy,” said Bob. ‘The boys walked up the Bowery a short distance and then Bob came to a stop before another cheap show. The sidewalk placard read: “Grand Vaudeville Show.” Among the names of the performers special attention was | called to “M’selle Palmyra, in her Great Skipping. Rope Dance.” “Come on in. It’s your Me this time,” said Bob. The show was going on. The boys walked in after Will had expended twenty cents for tickets. The seats were arranged on either side of a center aisle. The room was fairly full, but as two seats, had been va- cated up front, Will led the way'to them. While they were-walking up the aisle, the violinist, cor- netist and pianist started the entrance cue of the headliner of the show, and M’selle Palmyra came gliding out on the little stage. . The moment Will’s eyes lighted on the aii, who was hardly fifteen, “he recognized her. She was the girl'he had befriended and rescued from the attack of Ladrone, the Italian. The girl saw him, too, and kngw him in an instant. Her surprise was so great that she paused as she was in the act of commencing her dance. Then, with the skipping rope. in her hands, she blew a kiss at him, and began. : Everybody, including Bob, noticed the fair dancer’s ac- tion, and the crowd supposed Will: was one of her res - lar friends. _ hey all envied him, for the gil was a beauty, | and re-| ae no doe preparation : to enhance her charms. EIS “WILL, THE WAIF. Hig. els au elena ST eee ‘the ‘Gridiron,’ on Blank street: iy you intend to. do 1 WON “T say,” said Bob, as they took their seats, “look out. That little dame is tryin’ to work:you.” “What do you mean?” replied Will. : “Why, look at the kiss she blew at you. She must think | yow’re a rich man’s son in disguise,” chuckled Bob. “Nonsense! I’ve met her before.” “The dickens you have! Where?” : “Uptown on the Hast side.” The girl was the recipient of much applause: for she danced with exceeding grace and skill, miles ahead of the, “| Bower ‘y standard of such exhibitions. Indeed, she would haye made a hit with any high-class vaudeville show in the city, in her special turn. : As she danced she kept her eyes on Will when she could, and at the close of her dance she kissed her fingers at him again as she retired. She had to respond to a thunderous encore, and repeated a part of her act. ; _ “She’s a beaut,” said Bob. “How did you come to know her 2?” “Tl tell you when we get outside,” replied Will. At that moment the face of Flavio Ladrone peered from — the shelter of the stage “wings.” ; : His roving black eyes soon singled Will out. He had not forgotten the downfall he had received at sa boy’s hands. Tt was his nature to hunger for revenge. He had been unable to trace the whereabouts of wil, 3 but hoped the boy would some time cross his path. = At last his wish was gratified. é " i The boy had come to the show where Fala was pers forming. ss “Ha!” he muttered, as he drew back. Good. I will fix him.” The curtain was rung down for an intermission of five. minutes. | The orchestra sat hades in, thew chairs and regaled thn selves on beer, brought to them from the saloon next door.. Ladrone called a tough-looking young man to him. — » He took him to the edge of the curtain, which he valle slightly aside. “You see those two boy in the second row next ve the Pig man ??” he paid, ‘I guess yes,” replied the tough. «What about therh ? if “T wish much that I get my hands on the one — to te the man.” Bt “What do you want with him?”~ a . i “T have a grudge I wish to settle with him,” replied Ladrone.”” Bs “You can’t pull off any serap ‘in this oe Ladrone, ets said the tough. “The boss doesn’t want to give: the Om cause for closin’? up the show.” ‘¢ ~ “T do not mean to do anything here. I am no fool. 3 A want to entice him to some place where it’ will be safe horas me to settle scores with him. Tf you help me a do that will make it right with you.” ae “Come up with a five-spot and I will ot] aroun “Hei4g up, there is a trap-door in the cellar that opens on a bri in the sewer. You ean drop him in, and ‘he'll be carri a tout inte ‘the’ river, Saleen tnad, him i in the morgu
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WILL, THE WAIF. : 43 “You think you can do that?” said the Italian, eagerly. “T can do a whole lot for five bones.” “Good. . Here is the money. I will be at the ‘Gridiron’ in one hour. I shall expect to see the boy when I come ) there.” * “You leave it to me, Ladrone,” said the tough, moving _ away. A serio-comic singer, who was standing behind the near- est wing waiting for the curtain to rise on her turn, heard the confab hetween the Italian and the tough, and she " wondered what the boy had done to arouse the former’s enmity. She judged Ladrone was a bad man, and felt sorry for ‘the young fellow outside. She hadn’t much time to consider the matter, for a bell tinkled and up went the curtain. After she had done her turn she went back to the room 3 used by the female artists, and found Palmyra dressed in ‘ the corner, of —— and Blank streets. I wish to speak to you.’ Why do you hesitate? Write it down or I will beat you when we get home.” Tremblingly she wrote what ite wanted. “Now sign your name.” “Why should I?” she said. “I do not expect to a “Write!” hissed Ladrone. Standing in mortal terror of the man, she could only obey. With an evil smile he folded the paper and walked away to find the tough. The fellow was talking to a friend of his, and Will was the Subject of their conversation. “Here is a note that will fetch the boy I want. Read it and then get somehogy to hand it to him. You under- stand, eh?” The tough read the wae and nodded, “That. will make matters easy for me,” he said. “Bar- ney,” he added to another stage hand, “I want you to hand this note to that young fellow I pointed out to you. Better take it to him at once before he leaves the show.” The other tough said he would, and the note was handed to him. He glanced from the wings and saw that Will was still her ordinary attire, _ She immediately told the girl about the conversation she had overheard between Ladrone and the stage hand. Palmyra was alarmed for the safety of the boy who had protected her, and she deternfined to warn him if she iild; if not, she would try to save him, anyway. Tt seemed impossible for her to communicate with Will, seated outside. r she knew that her task-master was waiting outside to} He immediately left the stage by a side entrance, walked take her to the tenement where they lived. down the side aisle next the wall and came up the center. py had changed their place of abode from uptown, one. ‘ satan met her, to a street off Grand. “Let’s get out,” said Will, at that‘moment ; “this show is “Qridiron” saloon was only a couple of blocks from | getting worse as it goes on.’ They must have put all the a a home, but she did not know that. bad acts at the end.” But she believed she could find it by following Ladrone| “All right,” replied Bob, who had had enough of it. eft her at the house. As they stepped out into the main aisle the tough stage ured to her, however, that the singer might be able| hand stopped Will. to convey: a warning to the boy from her. _ “Here’s a note for you, from Miss Palmyra,” he said. - was unfortunate, however, that she did not know} “A note for me!” exclaimed Will. : *s name. “Yep. She pointed you gut to me. Said she didn’t’ She told the serio-comic of her desire to’ warn the boy of | know your name, and told me to hand it to you,” said the nis danger, and asked her how it could be accomplished. tough. “Pl give him the tip if I can,” replied the singer. “All right,” replied Will, taking it, much pleased io re- f Buk you do not know him,” said Palmyra. ceive a communication from the loy ely dancer. “Much “oy aye him off in the second row,” said the young] obliged.” w . “Fe was sitting next to a stout man.” “Youre welcome,” answered, the f ellow, walking away. Ye 6: yes,” pe Palmyra, eae “That is the| “What did the fellow want with you?” asked Bob,. as ™ Will rejoined him near the door. “He stopped me to hand me this note. It’s from Miss Palmyra.” ’ “Gee! You don’t say. She’s got her eye on you, Maybe it’s an invitation to call on her,” grinned Bob. : Will stopped long enough “te read the few ois words, written by the girl in an unsteady hand. “She wants me to meet her right away at the corner of and Blank streets, as she has ainatbng to say to. me,” said Will. “Corner of ——— and Blank streets!” said Bob. “That's . a tough neighborhood.” “Tm afraid she’s used to’ tough neighborhoods. T feel sorry for her, for she’s under the control of as rascally an Italian as walks on two feet,” said Will. “That so? You know considerable about her.” ee Not a eo Saree We you core aie me and. show me by ed do a know his name,’ + aa the Binee ome “4 wish I did.” : aree , well, it doesn’t matter. Vl find it out for you if I t with him.” he matter being arranged between them, Palmyra left | dressing-room. le waiting for the girl, Ladrone had thought of a assist his scheme. ny oon as Palmyra appeared he took her to a table and handed her a piece of paper and a pencil, Write what T say,” he said, in his usual bow beating
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14 WILL, THE WAIF. “Sure Ill come. alone. The two of us-can make out all right, I guess.” “Come along, then, and T’ll tell you how I made Pal- myra’s acquaintance.” As they started off a young woman, with a rather bold: face, slipped up and caught Will by the arm. “You know Miss Palmyra?” she said. “Yes,” said Will, in some surprise, now recognizing the party as the serio-comic vocalist who had appeared on the stage in the show they had just left. “You are in danger from her guardian, Flavio Ladrone. She told me to warn you to get home right away.” “Get home right away!” cried Will, “Why, she sent me a note to meet her at the corner of and Blank ‘streets, and we are going there now.” “Let me see the note,” said the woman. Will handed it to her. “That’s her writing,” said the performer, with a puzzled expression. “T don’t understand it.. The ‘Gridiron’ is only half a block from that corner, and there’s a plot on foot to get you there and do you up-—drop you down a trap in the cellar into the sewer. If I were you I wouldn’t keep this date. I’m thinking there’s something wrong about it. After what Palmyra said to me she wouldn’t write such | ‘ note—unless she was forced to do so. the Italian, You'd better not go. me.” Will looked at Bob. _ “T guess you’d better give it up,” said Bob. “It’s after eleven now, and that locality is dangerous. Is the Italian down on you for any reason ?”? “Yes. I knocked him out one night, and I dare say he’d like to get back at me,” admitted Will. “That' settles it,” said Bob. “We don’t go to Blank _ street.” The yocalist clinched the, eee by repeating to the boys what she had overheard in the wings—the conversation be- tween Ladrone and the stage hand. “Ladrone must have got Palmyra to write that note as a decoy for you,” she conclided. “By staying away you will disappoint him, and probably save your life.” “Thanks for your warning,” said tan “We'll follow it. ? “Good-night,” said the singer, walking tapidly ey Maybe it’s a plan of. It looks crooked to CHAPTER VIIt. IN THE CELLAR OF THE “GRIDIRON.” ey guess you’ve had a lucky eseape,” said Bob, as they turned around and started back for the lodging-house. “T guess so, too,” admitted Will. At that moment they heard a scream behind them. They turned around’ to see what was the matter. Ladrone and his associate, the head stage hand, had hold of the serio-comic vocalist, and were apparently mak- ing things hot for her, : Palmyra was trying to save the young woman. “Pll bet those vaseals were watching you when the girl handed you the warning, and suspecting what she told us - when turned around and gtarted:} hack, ine are e tryin’ 19 get back: at. Lee said Bob. * sa een, alae a > ey It wouldn’t be safe for you to go | over, and the actors scattered. “Then it’s up to us to stand by her,” said Will, reso- lutely. “Come on.” He made a dash for the scene of trouble, but had hardly gone half a dozen steps when two men rushed at him, grabbed him, pushed Bob aside and shoved him into a night hawk cab standing at the curb. One got in with him and held him down on the seat, The other slammed the door and signaled the driver. — The jehu whipped up at once, and the vehicle rolled away. ‘ - Bob made a running jump, caught on behind and was: carried off, too. | The fellow on the sidewalk didn’t notice the bootblack’s. performance, for he was hurrying to the scene of the rr on the sidewalk, where a crowd had already collected around the vocalist, the Italian, Palmyra and the stage hand. 4 He put his fingers to his mouth and gave a bile: : signal. “Tehmediately the stage hand let go of the wondlist, ‘and said something to the Italian. Ladrone understood, and released the young woman, algo, -“You can go,” he said. “TI guess we make a mistake? He grabbed Palmyra by the arm and Jed her away, and when a policoman reached the seene the disturbance was The truth of the matter was that Ladrone and the stage. hand had seen the vocalist stop the boys and talk to them. Suspecting that Palmyra had told her to warn oth . Italian was wild with rage, and was for rushing on. ey young woman and doing her a serious injury, : The stage hand restrained him, and suggested then which was paar out, as we have seen, to captur ie tee, He hastily put two of his heelers on the job. 4 They were hanging around outside the saloon next to the show. Sak If the boys turned back after the young woman Jett them | it wonld be plain to them that she had warned. them. c The ee wo and Ladrone were then to jump on. ue heelers were to tale advantage of it to ae Willand pp nit | him into the cab, the driver of which was to be talon their confidence. The scheme worked out in great tape. f the’ satisfaction, and poor Will was carried along at a ve rate to the Ben tans Side Aaauit iki in. issn street, : companion’s rescue. a, The head stage hand went back to his aie re about over for the night, while Ladrone marched Palmyra | home with him, intending to lock her in her room, and the proceed to the “Qridiron” to accomplish his “— pu i pose. 13 The cab stopped. ) : The heeler inside had choked Will into a state of se unconsciousness. ro He opened the cab door, took the ‘boy. in his started for the side entrance. se ak Te Bob, aie es had ee es in dashed up to the side door of the saloon, and i tf
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SD Nei Lid bs erate Ses ix oN A oN DX oS: oN WILL, le geage ae has * ot eae smashing him in the face with his fist, and causing him tol 17 The door between the ee parts of the cellars was locked, partially drop his burden. _ The driver, seeing how things were; sprang down with his whip and laid Bob out with the butt end of it. Several hard characters standing near did not offer to interfere. Grabbing Bob the cabby threw-him into his vehicle, + slammed the door and hastily drove away, just as the | ‘er, with a bleeding nose, hurried into. the building with Will. . He carried the boy into a back room where four men pere playing cards, =" One of these men was the silk-hatted sport who ran the i: F ideshow on the Bowery that Will and Bob had patron- _ ized earlier in the evening. Another was the lecturer of the same show. Seem en tin tiicope Pe The third was the barker, and the fourth was oO » attache. > _ Perched in a chair, half asleep, was the famished looking youth who had posed as “Big-Foot Willie.” | that they were no larger than a boy of his size and weight} “would have. 4 arms. and the key. was kept in the bar of the saloon. There was no way of imprisoning Will in the side where he was brought without tying him, which the heeler pro- eeeded to do with some ofthe odd pieces of hay-rope that lay around promiscuously on the floor. After binding his arms, he tied his legs to a post, and iS finished up by gagging him. Will recovered his energies while the heeler was binding him, and he tried to get away from the rascal, but found he was at-too great'a disadvantage to do anything. - Satisfied that the boy couldn’t get away, he left him, and went to the street door to watch for Ladrone, who was expected to come soon. Left 3 alone in the darkness, with all kinds of “Albabigics odors in his nose, Will the waif felt that he was in a truly plight. \nd he certainly was. Yet all unknown to him there was holp near. The little act of kindness he had done that night for a wie A glance at his feet now “would have disclosed the fact | poor, downtrodden lad was to redound to his interest a hundred-fold. He was “Marked ‘for Death,” like the hero of the play Tie woke up when the man came in with Will in his| he had witnessed at the old Bowery Theater on the night he came into possession of. the pocketbook, but his life was His sharp little eyes inatetily recognized the prisoner} to be saved by the lad who masqueraded under the name deen brought into that joint, the character of which he was: fully acquainted with. This first impression was that the proprietor of the side show, ander whose thumb he was, had discover ed. in some way that Will was responsible for the failure of the shoe } trick to act, after its first few successful performances, and on the boy who had done him such a ‘kind turn that even-| cf “Big-Foot Willie.” The reader will understand that his thoughts were far ing. _» He was on the alert at once to find ont why Will had| from cheerful. He was a plucky boy, but nevertheless he feared the out- come of his next meeting with the Italian. _ Ladrone was not built on forgiving lines. He looked for his pound of flesh every time, and insisted | on good measure. Will did not know the man as others knew him, but his had Iaid wires successfully to capture him, with the view of| encounter with him, brief as it was, had given him a pretty Be ; -pustishing him for butting in. f man showed no interest in the coming of the heeler and ‘his prisoner; neither did any of his companions. * et want to reach the cellar,” said the heeler, “How can Z door will take you to the cellar stairs,” said the ¢ “parker, with a curious look at Will. “Qook out that you "don’t break your neck goin’ down.” “Gimme some seem said the heeler. ae ty famished youth looked at the four men n around the table, and se he slipped u closely out of his chair, glided over to the “door, and followed the heeler and-his prisoner. : Will was deposited in a corner of the cellar, = Tt was a filthy place, recking with dirt and rubbish, Ha lf of it was boarded off for the accommodation of beer ot r Tiquor ‘barrels connected with the saloon, — ance to this part was had from the sidewalk by steps temecraed by an. inclined pair of cellar flaps, oF ed on hin es, and was secured by a padlock un- soy: good idea of what he might expect in the way of mercy He soon saw that this idea was wrong, for the silk hat = his enemy had all the advantage on his own side. Z While Will was struggling with dismal thoughts the heard a noise in the dark, He thought it was a rat, for rodents might be looked for in such a cellar, \ The sound approached him in a stealthy way. Then he seemed to qivagaieh the breathing of a human being. Was that the Italian approaching him in a sly ant cal tious manner? Was he to be murdered in the dark ? “Hist! Where are you??? came a boyish voice. | What. a blessed relief to his oversirung neryes ! . Could it be that Bob had followed the cab, and had man- ing that they were all intent on their game, aaewia penetrate the cellar? Hardly that, for the voice ‘did not sound like his, = Gladly would he have answered, but the gag prevented im. — Yet he mew not what boy would come to his rescue there. is The only thing he could do was to make a noise with his heels on the hoards, Tt guided “Willie” to his side. _ i He felt a hand slip over his body up to his toe: ie Tt enone 8 a moment and Boe: a © Bag was remoy eg e afar aaa ee cates
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> - ¢ « . ite “Thanks,” cried Will. help me?” “T am ‘Big-Foot Willie. 4 “What!” exclaimed Will, in astonishment. “Who are you who eee come to “Are you, WILL, ‘THE WATE, ig he spoke his finger came in contact with the spring! and mechanically pressed it. The Italian, as fate would have it, was standing on the| trap at the time. really ?” It dropped like the trap of a gallows, downward, and’ “Yes,” ro ah C9 ; without noise. i “Did you see me rode here?” With a ery of terror Ladrone and the tantern fell ” “Yes. You did me a big favor to-night, and I’m going| through, as a stage demon slips down through a theatrical to pay it back.” trap. ey i Swish! There was another cry, followed by a “splash—_ 1, The cord that held his arms was severed. Swish! Swish! His legs were released. ‘Will sprang up a free boy, and he grasped the. bogus curiosity gratefully by the hand. “You have more than repaid me, and I can’t thank you enough. What’s your real name? I want to know who you are.” ‘ “Willie Day. % “And my name is Will, mS pair of Wills.” PA “Come, we must get you sit of this make no noise.” He led the way toward the cellar stains They were about to mount them when the steps of men sounded on the floor overhead, Then a lantern flashed down the steps, and Will’s heart gave a great thump as he heard Ladrone’s disagreeable voice. “We are caught!” gasped Willie pes G Apparently they were. Will Warren. We are a %, Z #1 Bs Pip, ve i Follow me, and “3 ir CHAPTER IX. THE RECOGNITION. Will grasped his companion by the arm wad pulled him under, the ladder just as Ladrone and the heeler came down. «| “Where is he?” asked the Halian. © “Over in that corner,” replied the other, pointing into ‘the darkness. “He’s bound hand and foot and gagged.” “Good. the trap.” “Do you mean to dump him into the sewer?” asked the _heeler. OM, “Why not? Dead boys tell no tales.” “Then I won’t have a hand in it. He’s nothin’ to me.” ~ “You can go after I’ve seen ees rg The two men moved toward-the corner. ‘Now is our chance,” whispered Will. Ladrone raised the Puech and flashed it into the cor- ner. The spot was vacant, “THe isn’t there,” he cried. “Not there !”* paried the heeler, who was hes to the wall, feeling his way through the debris, “He must beast Then something happened that took his breath. Not being aware that at a certain point i in the wall there “Was a ‘spring connecting with the trap over the break in Ly the sewer, he had moved his hand along. ae stone, as a man mi hit under the cireumstances. Crain FN “|, While he was thus capaged the two boys sn We will take a look at him and then hunt for] silence. Ladrone was whisked away to his death under the streets | of the far Hast side to the dark river beyond. i The fate he had intended for Will overtook himeelt—/ swift and sudden. The heeler was staggered ; so were Will and his compan ion. None of the three could grasp the sakes of the, tragedy just enacted. = / : “Where are you?” cried the heeler, in a half ‘panic... He got no reply: | Le The disappearance of the Italian stupefied him for the) moment. “e The vanishing. of the lantern left him in darkness He called again without result. Satisfied that something was wrong, and struck it. Then he advanced cautiously. Suddenly he found himself looking down into a dank void” 7) The low rush of water met his ears. . He knelt down and flashed a second match into the, hole, 4 fod sol iv} eh he felt for a +e : up the stairs. © Willie Day opened a door which Jed into a small vate They passed outside. A He took Will to another door through: which came a aim light. is Opening it he piloted our hero into a room at fhe bac ic of the saloon. passe Tt was after midnight, but there were no Kena Yet, front door being closed. Es The place was fairly well filled with bro acters. 5 | “We must go through the saloon to reach ‘de street m said Willie Day. en “We may be stopped,” said Will. “No. The bbets knows me. Ta Bob Short. Their appearance "hen balk startled thechabitueg, regarded them with no pleasant looks.: “Bob!” cried Will, rushing forward. Ps “Fello, here he is!” eried the ‘surprised Bob, grab his friend. | “Ts this the boy? if ea the chief officer of Bob. “Yep; he’s the chicken,” was the teply.* 0 “T thought you said he was a prisoner here “SoTL hat put in 2 Will, “out this as is Nee "eape.” af
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WILL, THE WAIPF. Teka pep ae on eepine ge es “Who is he? Bob. ~ “Sure you have.. You saw him in the sideshow this eve- ‘ning, He’s Big-Foot Willie,” said Will. - “You don’t mean it,” cried Bob. “Come outside. a girl theré waitin’.” “4 girl!” exclaimed Will. “Yep. Can’t you guess who she is?” _ “Not Palmyra!” ceo “Yep. The ‘Ttalian locked her in their rooms, but sus- * pecting something was on the hooks by his manner, she ce through a window and came here to see if you had speak into trouble after all. We met her, and I told her how - you had been peel and brought here's in a cab. Where’s the Italian?” ~ “T believe he fell through the trap in the cellar.” “Come along, you lads. We have no further business - here,” said the officer. Bob was anxious to know how eyeebes could have fallen through the trap. ate explain That I saw later,” said will as the party _ made their exit. d When they looked for Willie Day he was not with them. either was he in the saloon. le had vanished upstairs to his sleeping quarters, satis- fied with having rescued the boy who had done him a good turn that night. saa myra, rushed up to Will. and actually hugged him in T’ve seen him befere somewheré,” said There’s she stepped back in maidenly confusion. pee to the officer how ee Day had helped hurry back to the fae tei 2 fon she lived. fearful lest Ladrone had already preceded her. , chart worry about him,” said Will. “T don’t believe 1.see him. to-night. Be * / oys oe oa to the Lice nipenie and on the ) ies a nen? ” ‘said Bob. is nape I wall be. free of him at last. ” said Pal- mi ee 7 wie ty a8 il be a good thing for you, a guess,” said meet Kerik in tet of the show where she the following evening at, eight, - 7 ade her good-night and started for the lodg- use, where they expected to meet with trouble in vat late hour. “ype OC, they found the a sitting at the ight was warm, and they managed. to pass ing him that they were regular lodgers, to the sideshow W mT paid a aire to en-| if 1 well rid of that man. 4 at evening, Will and Bob started for. the}. vk bering, Malte at was on exhibi- ‘ment? reat eae : 1% et er oe rovetrertet —— He, was, and he recognized our hero with every aan stration of pleasure. He told Will that he had threatened: to run away if the needle device wasn’t cut out, and the boss had reluctantly agreed to do away: with it. It was arranged that when the lecturer’ tr od on the end’ _| of his boot he was to pretend to be hurt, and after some re- hearsal, “Big-Foot Willie” and the professor found ‘they could pull off the trick in good shape. Bob waited outside till Will rejoined him, and then they went to the other show where they stood around till Pal- myra and thé serio-comic vocalist appeared together. “Did Ladrone show up?” asked Will, the snondont they came together. “No. His body was found in the river this morning, and T’ve gone to live with Miss Smith,” replied Palmyra. “And T’m glad to have her,” said the. vocalist. “She's You were 1G: ” taken to the ‘Gridiron’ last night, after all, lucky to make your escape. Tell me’ about But I hear you were caught and. Will told the particulars of his eapture and brief impris-_ onment in the cellar of the “Gridiron,” and said that his rescue was due to the efforts of a boy named Willie Day, who he had an idea lived in the building. He explained how he and Bob first ‘saw him posing as a big-footed freak in a sideshow further down the Bowery. “Tis feet are no bigger than they ought to be,” he went on, “When he’s on exhibition he has them stuffed in a pair of big shoes which are screwed to the platform. We made his acquaintance owing to an ingenious device installed by . the boss of the show under one of- the shoes.” Will told what the device was, and the. parpess for which it was constructed. “T put.it out of commission, and Wiltie Day was grateful : to me for doing so. It.was to repay me that he vebtured into the cellar and released me from my bonds. not come to my reseue, it is likely I the sewer, and that my body, instead of Ladrone’s, would have been pulled out of the Kast river,” he concluded, Palmyra gave Will her new address, and told him she aon he w ould call on her, . Will and Bob continued their stroll up the Bowery, an thence up Third avenue till they came to Fourieenth street, when they turned: along that lighted thoroughfare : ‘and walked tow: ard Union square. , pd They stopped in front of a big vaudeville theater, Aantin eer the square, to' look at the pictures of the petformen on the bill for that week. As they turned away a cab a to the curb, and es +. | young’ men in evening clothes REE out and pigntes for, Tape the entrance of the theater, - bela ‘ BE P +3 CHAPTER. KS WILL ‘FINDS ‘TILE OWNER OF THE POCKETBOOK. | t Will rushed up to the. young: man at onee dnd iat OT beg: your Pa sir, can. Ee aprae with, ae h Had he *d have been thrown into _ Tn one of them Will recognized pe person t rom Whcae ‘the: pocketbook had been stolen in front of a aa. Lae
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ra ¢ “T hayen’t got it with me. - around with me; but it is safe, and if you will tell me watt 18 They almost wondered if he was really sane, for such an ~ exhibition’ of honesty was almost astonishing to them. - do you think, Harley?” eee een — The young fellow stopped and ees the eae _ dressed boy with a displeased expression. “Go way, boy. I haven’t any change to give out.” “T- don’t want any money. I want——” “Well, what do you want?” asked the young man, impa- tiently. “Will you tell me if your initials are J. 0. 2” said Will. The young man looked at the bootblack in some surprise. “Yes, they are. How did you know, and what about it?” “Didn't you lose a pocketbook in front of the Atlantic Garden about a month ago?” The young man uttered an exclamation, “Yes, I did. What do you know about. it?” he said, sharply. “T saw a man take it out of your pocket and sale off with it. I followed him and: got it away from him. I hurried back to give it to you, but you and your friend had gone away in a cab, I opened the pocketbook to see what was in it. I found some money and other things, so T put an advt. in the paper for three days asking the owner to write me. I got lots of replies, but not tom. the person who owned the wallet, I afterward advertised in the - but without success, I have the pocketbook ready to"hanid over, to you as soon as you tell me what was in it, which, of course, you can easily do,” said Will, The two young men looked at the boy as if he were a new “kind of animal, or a remarkable curiosity. That a lad of his condition in life should exert himself ‘to find the owner of a pocketbook containing a considerable amount of money, and a diamond. ring valued at $600, which he had got hold of, an their comprehension. Say, young fellow, do you mean to tell me you have kept that pocketbook all this time without spending any of the|P $180 that was in it, or pawning that diamond ring?” said J.8. “Yes, sir. I admit I used a couple of dollars for the advts., but the receipts are in place of the money. I thought it was right for me to ~ that, ” returned Will, | earnestly. “And you stopped me to give me back my eer, eh? T wouldn’t sane ants it I can see you to-morrow I will bring you the pocketbook.’ “Well, if this doesn’t get my goat!” cried J. C. he “Tt is certainly most extraordinary,” ddehitied his friend. “This boy must be one of those rough diamonds we some- times read about in the newspapers. He deserves a good reward, You'll be mighty glad to get that ring back. I know you'd rather have that than the money, even if din i was $1,000 in the wallet.” “That’s right,” replied J. O. “Well, my lad, you seem to be an honest boy. I am certainly astonished to find that _.a person who seems to bé in such. poor pelea as yourself was able to resist such a temptation. _. that most anybody, else would have appropriated | the money and the diamond ring, and made no attempt to find the ee owner, How, did ne her ‘that: my bop de J. & ee i T suspect WILL, ey vo “Those initials | are ay on the outside fap of diy pocketbook,” replied Will. “So they are. Well, hare is my card and business ad- dress. Call at that slore any time to-morrow between nine and five and you will’find me. I will see that you lose noth- ing by your honesty.” “T’ll be there, sir, about half-past nine,” said Will, taking the card. “I’m awfully glad to have met- vat for T was anxious to return the pocketbook. 23 Will rejoined Bob, and the two young men iced the theater, eat “Why did you stop those chaps ?” asked Bob. “You had a long chin with them.” reas When Will had explained his friend was duly astonished. “So that was the geezer who lost the wallet?” said Bob. “Yes. Here is his card. His name is John Converse, of Converse, Harley & Co., Hides and Leather, on Platt street. IT guess he is the son of the head boss,” said Will. ; “Tis funny you should meet him by accident,” said Bob, jf nO aahg Raga “That’s the only way TI could expect to meet him.’ Bob admitted that fact, and the boys continued their walk. i Next morning when the boys went to breakfast Will did not have his hoot-blacking kit with him. a “T’m not going to work till after I’ve returned the pocket: book,” he said to Bob. His friend nodded and went off alone, ee Promptly at 9.30 Will presented himself at the hide and leather establishment of Converse, Harley '& Co., on Platt street, near the Brooklyn Bridge. We asked one of the porters for John Converse. “Yowll find him hack in the office,” was the rep RS So Will walked to the rear of the store where a aelon, a partly of glass, divided off the counting-room and the pri-_ vate offices of the firm from the rest of the place, ee: A white-haired man, who was the head bookkeeper and cashier, stood at his desk in front of a small opening in the glass partition. “T want to see John Converse,” through the opening. es ohn, 2 called the bookkeeper, Bis 8a hoy here who wants to see you.” The young man came out of one of the ste — opened the door and saw Will. "& Qo you re on hand, I see,” he said, 2 ‘a tiiendly way. “Come in,’ e Converse took him into the office and Sa the door. “Sit down, young man. I neglected to sa oe name. last evening, What is it?” Will “said, pas “Will Warren.” ek ee EG “You have brought my wyalllet o” 5 “Yes,” said Willy putting his hand in iG pocket to. = get it, “Wait a moment till I describe it and its contents. We might as well do things regular.” > He proceeded to. give the necessary inforination. nae “Tt’s yours, ae right,” = Wal, and he laid it ny the. rs desk. Converse ae it, ‘oak out the voll ot fills ond ad down. ; eee ws pulled 0 out the ring.
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— WILL, THE WAIF. “Have you any idea what that ring is worth, Warren?” _ he asked. “No, sit.’? ~ “You are a thoroughly square lad, I see. Well, that ring cost me $600. It was intended for a young lady I think a great deal of! I had to buy.a duplicate, for I never ex- pected to see that one again.” “T’m sorry I wasn’t able to restore it to you sooner, but ~ it wasn’t my fault.” “Of course it wasn’t.” “Tf you had looked in the lost and found column of; either of those papers you would have seen the adyt., a -eopy of which you see I pinned to the receipts.” “Young as you are, you do things in a methodical man- ner, I perceive. Now, what can I do for you to express my sense of obligation?” “Tt isn’t necessary for you to do anything. I am satis- fied with having returned you what Helens to you,” said Will. Fe “That won’t do. Your sterling honesty merits a sub- ~ stantial reward. You can have the money,” and Converse pushed the roll toward him. “No, sir, I won’t take that. If you want to give me ten - dollars——” z a “Ten dollars! Nonsense! What’s ten “dollars?” * ~ “Tt’s a lot of money to me.” cae is, and yet you refused to annex $180 and a. diamond ay ring worth $600 when the chance was yours to do so.’ ey am not a thief,” replied Will, proudly. “The pocket- book was not mine, and I never would have touched a thing Ay 7? Converse looked at him attentively. _ He was greatly attracted by the boy’s face and attitude. Where do you live ?”’ he asked. At t the Ni ewsboys’ Lodging-house. Si “Then. } you have no home or sagan: oe “No, sir.” “A await, eh? How i eee heen out on the) ) world?” “About a month.” “Only a month?” said Converse, in surprise. «Who did you live with before you went to the lodging-house ?” e my “man named Hooley.” — eos relative?” ar Sa! «Y9 sir.” left him for reasons of your own, T suppose ?”, “No, sir; he left me. He turned me out because he was “Boing away from the city and couldn’t take me with him.” “TJ see. Your parents died some time ago.” “ don’t remember them, a] Ps <a es No? ‘They must have a when you were very young, _ then. By the way, you haven’t told me how you got hold of|' “my: ocketbook. I think you said last night that a man] to go ‘out with you any more. picked my pocket and you followed him and recovered my day 2 T don’t blame you. gem ‘How did you manage it?” fe, Will told him the particulars. * _ “What are you-doing for a living ?” asked Converse. aes ~ “Blacking boots on the street.” “Wouldn’t you like to do something ether than that?” would,” replied Will, eagerly. ‘Very well: We need an office hoy. ‘The one we had Saturday, nap haven’t sk his ae - You! eo ode he said, a bit it vesentully. ‘can have the position. We paid him $5 a week, but as you have to support yourself, we'll give you $7 as a starter. What do you say?” : “T'll be glad to take it, sir.” “Very good. You'll need a better suit of clothes, Here is a $50 bill. Spend it on yourself, and report here in the morning at eight o’clock.” “T am very much obliged to you,” said Will, gratefully, “Are you the head ‘of the firm! p? “No. My father is the head partner, but he is an in- valid, and I and his partner’s son are managing the | brisic ness. We are only the Go. Teh, but in time we expect to he the firm. Come with me.’ He took Will into the seks room and shitecdutel him to the other junior partner, Fred Harley. “T have hired him in Tom’s place,” said Converse, Hatley nodded his approval. Converse then introduced Will to the head bookkeeper, and also to the chief porter, telling them both that Will was the new office boy and would report on the following morn- ing. Will then took his leave. He felt like shouting with joy. Evie) He was through with the bootblacking industry forever, and now had a position in which there was a future. With these exhilarating thoughts he started off to buy himself a new suit and other things tet he felt he needed. CHAPTER XI. HIS LITTLE SWEETHEART. Bob kept an eye out for Will, and as time passed and he didn’t show wp, he wondered what was keeping him. © He went to his fendi alone that day. ¥ me, When he got back he saw a well-dressed boy approaching him, and was somewhat staggered when he recognized him as his particular friend. He rushed up to him. “Say, you’re comin’ the swell, aren’t you?” a shone not,” replied Will, with a smile. “Why, you’re all togged out to beat the band. Come. now, let me finish you off with a shine.” “Go ahead,” said Will, with a light laugh. “You must have got a good haul out of the geezer You returned the pocketbook to,” said Bob, as he ne to to shine ’7em up. “Yos, I did better than I expected.” “How much did he give you?” “He gave me $50 to dress myself up on.” “You didn’t spend all that, did you?” “No, I’ve some of the money left. co / “Pll have to get a Sunday suit, too, or I pes be able: So you’ve cut work for to- I'd do the same if I corraled #50, Business has been rather slow, anyway.” “Tm not going to black boots anv more,” pate Will.” “What!” cried Bob, pausing in his work. “Are you goin’ to shake the business ?” ~ “Yes; Vm through with it.” Spar Mae ‘Moe: Bol gave him a blank look. a eae “And you're goin’ to shake me, too, now that hi vegot e ee a
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© a f cd ee WILL, THE WAIF. “Not at all. T expect to see you every night and morn-| Fred Harley came in at nine and wished him good morn- ing, same as.usual.” ing. | “What.are you goin’ to do in the daytime?” > He had acquired a very favorable opinion of Will from “The party I returned the pocketbook to hired me as| young Converse, who had taken a decided fancy to the boy. office hoy in his store. He happened to be in need of one.”| Will ran several errands that morning, and when noon “You don’t say! What business is it?” came he was told he could go to lunch any time between “Hides and leather.’ : twelve and a quarter of one, and take half an hour. “And the store is on Platt street?? - He showed such an anxiety to please that the clerks “Yes, near Gold.” judged that he would make a very good office boy. , “What are you goin’ to do there? Run errands?” At quarter of three one of the clerks took him around to “T suppose so, and help around the office.” » the firm’s bank, and showed him how to make the daily ; “Tow much is the seate ‘gory to uay you?” deposit, which was a part of his duty. FE “Seven dollars a wee When: five o’clock came work stopped in the counting- “You made as much as on shinin’ shoes. -I often make} room, and the head bookkeeper put. the Books and papers in $10 when luck is good.” the big office safe. ~ * “Tl get more after awhile. The other boy only got $5.”! Will was told that his duties were over for the day, and “It’s good wages for an office boy. I know a feller who] that he could go. _ only gets $4 for runnin’ errands, sweepin’ wp, and such} He put on his hat and walked down to Bob’s stamping pines said Bob., “And I know another who’s in a aie ground, lately his own, also. in’ office, and he only gets $3.50.” He contrasted his new position with the hoothlacking ine “T’m glad to get a steady job that has a future to it. A} dustry, and he felt that good luck had certainly ata him fellow can’t always black boots for a ‘living, at least not on| a real gold brick. ie the street. I want to get up in the world. Pei Bob was attending to one of his “regulars” when Will “I don’t blame you, You’re better educated than me,| arrived in his vicinity, and our hero waited for him to of though you never went to school. You've always taken to| finish. Bi books and learnin’, while I haven’t. - You'll be a gent one of | | “THello, Will,” he said, “How did the first aby go at ‘ these days. There you are. ‘ve given you a ten-cent| your new place?” ee shine.” - “First rate. I like the work very much. Tes easy and “And here’s ten cents for it,” said Will. pleasant.” ett - No, you don’t. You can’t pay me a cent, I don’t care] “You’re in luck. I’m beginnin’ to wish T had a job like how prosperous you are,” said Bob, decidedly, picking up| that myself. You don’t have to worry about gettin’ cus- the coin and handing it back. tomers now. Your money is sure on pay-day.” Sees “Very. well, Bob, V’ll make it right be you some other} Next day was Saturday and business closed down at ‘one cw way.” Fie ‘o’clock at that time of the year. to kal “Goin’ to stay atthe lodgin’ -house ?”” i 4 Will received a full week’s wages. Stee “T ouess so, for the present.” When he counted the money he told the cashier 1 hat: he ““Phat’s right. I don’t want:to lose you altogether.” didn’t think he was entitled to more than two days vga “PH walk oo to. the Battery now, for I’m interfering} The head bookkeeper smiled and told him not to. worry, with your business.” as it was the custom of the house to pay a full week where bs “What's the diff’rence? You'll come Baek: ‘won't you?” | a new employee came to work at any time during the week, “Sure, and then we'll go to supper together. We'll have} This’ establishment has been in. business thirty years or. ig an extra good ‘meal _to- night in honor of my new job.” . | more’ and has always done it; Put the money in your “You ought to take in a show, too.” pocket and say no more about it,” he said. a ig “We will. We'll go to one of the uptown theatres and| Will went to lunch and then hiked down to find Bob. “gee ‘a first-class performance.” “T got a full week’s wages for a day and a nevi wo) Bob wasn’t sure that he cared to ‘see some of the shows at] he told his friend, - the uptown theaters. “Gee! You don’t say. They must have Bey wath i el They didn’t look promising to him. in your place,” said Bob, *y He: preferred a good, lurid melodrama to “Lady Wilder- “Ths a solid house, I guess. Been i ‘in business. over ink ' mere’s Fan,” or «The Oase of Rebellious Susan.” years.” ' “The Bronco Buster” was, at the Bower y that week, and it looked good to him. But as Will was going to.pay for the tickets, he felt he , couldn’t kick) " “Yow have certainly fallen on your feet. If thay should want another boy to wrestle with the hides and leather, pute in a good word for me, will you??. ‘4 ae ae “Sure T will. 1 should like to have you there.” (>. 4 That evening Will and Bob went. up the Bowery ae to. see Palmyra dance, and sett the serio-comic voaaicl, ys me W ould. be his first duty to dust off the desk in tne counting: Smith, a hand. * Pi room and private offices. a ; ae was their last week a this house, as | they were én About the fime he had fished this the clorks Se to. appear ata regular theater eet on the following i coming in. . | | week. A : i The 3 told him tO ; ‘The agent | of a Crear agency had ‘Aincovered™™ Ps Vine ; offered ie a + chanee: at a ig vi uideville | - hous ‘Will made his appearance at the hide and leather store at Cight in the morning, and the head porter told him that it *
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oe oe WILL, TH “WAIE. - oe Se a at retuscd to accept unless Miss Smith was also pro- ; , vided for at the same theater. — CHAPTER XII. ~ Argument failed to move her, as did terms that were : dazzling to her, and the agent had to try to make the riffle, i for he counted on making money out of the girl. ; Some weeks passed away and Will-had got thoroughly The management of the theater consented to put Miss| broken into his duties in the. hide and leather establish- Ee thi in Monday afternoon’s bill, and if she made good to | ment. ~ continue her, otherwise she would get the hook, Seuratively Young Cortverse and Fred Harley were siti pleased at. speaking. ae his aptitude for the business, and with his earnest endeay- ; To provide against Palmyra quitting in that ease the| ors to make good. agent was careful to get her name to a contract. “He is certainly an uncommonly fine lad, ” said the Miss Smith did Awo turns on the Bowery, and between | former. “We couldn’t have got a better boy if we had 3 them Palmyra did her dance. tried.” ~The house had been crowded at every performance since} “I agree with you,” said Harley. “By the way, thane is “the girl’s specialty had caught on, and Bob and Will had} something jin that boy’s face that seems familiar to me. to stand up at the back, for every seat, was taken when they I’ve been trying to think who he puts me in mind of, but got to the show.’ it’s beyond me. I don’t know whether it’s his face, or the ; Palmyra was greeted with thunderous applause, and | expression that rests on it sometimes, but, pies me, it re- ecalled several times. “}minds me of somebody.” ime Mivs Smith came out Will and Bob started 2 “T guess ‘it’s only your imagination, get ‘lenahed Converse. applause. “By his own account he’s a waif, the son of poor people, no ie e couldn't help seeing the boys, and smiled at them.| doubt, who died when he was too young to know his loss. almyra was pats wise to their Behan is gol kissed her | However, he’s got the makings of a smart man, and I shall gers to” them. be surprised if he doesn’t some day rise to ice top of the heap.” The announcement that a gentleman. wished to see Cons verse put an end to the conversation, and the young man ~ went into his own office. Will saw Palmyra several times a week now. She and Miss Stith were living in a small flat up in West ‘Thirty-eighth street, near Broadway, which they had taken with two chorus ladies engaged for the run of a sum- mer attraction on a roof garden. . Palmyra was dancing at that show, at $150 per week, which was just ten times as much as she received on the Bowery when she made her debut there, while Miss Smith was “resting”; that is, she hadn’t been able to find a man- ager willing to put her in his bill. ; On Will’s advice Palmyra put the greater part of her — money in a saving’s, bank when the « ghost walked” on Monday. | This prevented her ses lavishing it on the i ienpecuniowe professional people who constantly dropped in at the Ret with the view of “touch ing” her for a V. Young Converse had ‘spoken ‘bo glowingly at home oa, THE LIKENESS 10 THE-DEAD. ey cs chs wiehiod 16 Cbs to beer, but the boys said dn’t drink, preven, cing out at bought a quart of ice cream. ow, Sadan ,? said Will, privately to her, KT , idea of you making a business of dancing. I dandy at it, but somehow Vd prefer you with the profession. Of course it’s none of Db ness what you do, and you mustn’t feel provoked >; but : ee T think a lot of you—just as if you it would please me much if you e of f baisiness aside Jonge the ih ous to see the lad who resisted the temptation of appropri- ating $180 cash and a $600 diamond ring em the chance to do so came his way. It was finally decided that Will should % seit to take. - tea at the house on Sunday ens Lchead he had been ah ae month at the store. _ The invitation was duly extended to: es by Convivee, Tas | who said that his father, who was the head of the firm, par- ‘ c | ticularly desired to see him. Urea do as hee wish ” she ones “ana mit ay Will regarded he invitation as. equivalent tos an or der, and he accepted i He was: Bo ual to arrive ab the Converse ee which 1en ea care a little forme?” ike you better thar/ anybody ‘in the world”? e you better than anybody in the ori, ” u want me to stop dancing?” + ZO as far as that Just yet, Palmyra, as ‘Soak an y at it; but you mustn’t accept any work rk and eran That will gt give me the ra. Shall hate you ia au | the firm’s new office boy, that Mr. Converse, Sr., was curi-
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22 WILL, THE WAIF. Palmyra at the flat, and suggested that Bob, who now had a Sunday suit, should go with him. “You can stop there to supper, after I leave. Tl get Palmyra to invite you. Put in the evening there, and after I have finished my visit at the boss’ house I’ll come back to the flat after you,” said Will. “All right,” said Bob, who had already made himself quite popular with Miss Smith and thetwo chorus ladies. In the midst of it Will whispered to his sweetheart that they had better adjourn to the dining-room, where they could enjoy a private talk. This suited Palmyra, and they excused TieanSeiee from the general company. More professional people called, and the little sitting- room became quite crowded, but nobody intruded on Will and Palmyra, though Miss Smith, or Miss Sand, or Miss } \ So the boys took a car and rode up Broadway to West| Dexter came out at intervals for bottles of Jiqnid refresh- Thirty-eighth street, ment for their guests, and, of course, they always had some- Will rang the bell of the third flat, which had four names| thing to say to the two young people. : pasted on Hee letter box, as follows: , At length the clock marked 4.30, and Will said he’d have — Miss Smith—Miss Palmyra—Cora Sand Gladys Dex-| to go and keep his engagement at Mr. Converse’s. ee ce nels Phe lock of the-door clicked and they entered the lower corridor. Two flights of stairs landed them on the third floor, where they, found Cora Sand standing in a flowered wrap-| per which had seen better days. “Hello, Will,” cried the young woman, familiarly, “come to see your beat girl?” “Surest thing you know, Miss Sand. Isshe in?” “Ts she? I should remark that she is, and watching for you. Hello, Bob; come in and make yourself at home,” said Miss Sand. They walked in. A vision of loveliness in a fluffy digi darted out of the front room, a pair of plump arms were thrown around Will’s neck, and a happy, blushing face was pressed close to his own, Pm so glad you’ve come, Will,” said Palmyra, as she disengaged herself from the ‘embrace she had invited. “You didn’t imagine I wasn’t coming, did you?” replied Will, as they entered the room where they found Bob ‘already seated between Miss Sand and Miss Smith, on a ® - Jounge, while two chairs opposite were occupied by Miss Dexter and a smooth-faced young man, in his shirt sleeves, who was introduced to Will as Dick Tupper, a performer in vaudeville. “Glad to know you, Warren. suppose?” “No, I haven’t the honor,” replied Will. “Indeed! Do you know I took you for Warren, of War-| ren and Snigsby, sidewalk conversationalists. I was going to touch you for a wheeze for my new act,” ele Tupper, glibly. Will smiled, though the ae A of the word “wheeze” was not very intelligible to him. He found out later that a wheeze was a joke or clever saying that was generally regarded as funny. «My, Tupper is doing a clever skit with his partner at the Vic.,” said Miss Dexter, for Will’s information. “Are you doing well with it, Mr, sii) aa i in- quired. “Am I? Say, we're e knocking ” em cold, ae go of the week. We ought to have been billed as headliners, We've got the top-notchers skinned to death. Why, young Ham said we were the whole show,” said Tupper, enthu- siastically. Mr. Tupper rca to es about the stonishing merits pe his act. : Te 9 & You're in the business, I ) ‘ma jumped to the conclusion that the two were a d- giving any outward sign et HOR / Palmyra was sorry to have him go, but he assured her that he would return for Bob some time during the eve- | ning. Then he got up and they went into the aithingatom, where Will was introduced to the newcomers, and Palmyra to two or three she had never met before. Will remained a few miautes longer and then oe leave. At five minutes of five he rang the bell at the eee ‘residence and was admitted by the maid, who showed him ~ upstairs into the family sitting-room, where he was wel- comed by young Converse. % He was then presented to Roger Converse, the yomg man’s father, The moment the ‘elder Converse’s eyes rested on the boy’ face the words of welcome died on his lips, and he: stare fixedly at him. With an effort he recovered himself and then expressed the pleasure he felt at meeting a lad so highly chew ro ee by. his son. ; Will was not a little disconcerted by the stan which the invalid merchant bent on him, and he made something of a mess of his reply. : From the boy’s face Roger Converse” S gaze turned to the picture of a lovely woman hanging against the wall >painite by an artist of note. ae There was an astonishing similarity in the expression ‘ which rested on the boy’s face and that of the portrait, A stranger not acquainted with Will’s past would ; son. Roger Converse was so startled himself by ie regen: bagy blance that his face went white, and he showed so “the ; emotion as to attract. the notice of his son. “What’s the matter, father?” asked the ue man. “Are you ul ax : “No, no,” replied the ee | man, in a dreamy tone, was just thinking.” Jack Converse looked at him pon ively. and then 5 , that his father was looking at his dead wife’s picture. He understood, or thought he did, the cause of father’s sudden display of emotion, for he knew that mother’s death had nearly finished his father. He had never recovered from it. Nevertheless the young man could ‘not condensin ; his father ond have we overcome at that particula time. 5: aes He often: ae up vat his wife’ 8 pictured Caer rah,
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However, with his young employee in the room he felt that it was no time.to dwell on the matter. During the interval before tea was announced, Roger Converse furtively watched the boy’s face, and the more he looked at him the more restless he became, Just before the bell rang a . pleasant- faced, middle- aged lady entered the room. She was Mrs. Hamilton, Roger Oonverse’s widowed sis- ter, and Jack’s aunt. _ / Will was. introduced to her. She took an instant liking to Will, and showed it by her cordial manner toward him. Then the tea bell rang. “Come along, Will,” said Jack, starting for the door, with his hand on the boy’s arm. “My ites will come with my aunt.” As they disappeared in the' direction of the wide stair- ease, Roger Converse started up in a feverish way. “Lily, ” he safd, in a tone so agitated as to attract her wondering attention, “did you notice it?” - '“Notice what, Roger, dear?” said the lady, going to her ne to-assist him on his feet. , “That boy’s face.” : " “TPs a fine, manly face, and it puts me in mind of some- hady T know,” she said, a puzzled expression resting on oa Sita * “Somebody you know? Can’t you remember? Look at “my wife’s picture. a The words came in a compressed, agitated way. _ sister-in-law. “esvens!” she cried, with a gasp. ess yr Tae 2 The gaze of brother and sister met, but neither spoke. “The very like- “CHAPTER XIII. “WILL TELIS WHAT HE KNOWs ABOUT HIMSELF. “Then Mrs, Hamilton and her brother appeared at the table, the lady looked at Will with a new and strange in- terest. #3 ‘His xe markable igicaess to the portrait on the wall.of the gi Piig-room bronght to her mind a mournful chapter in the family history. r "This was the mysterious disappearance of the second son born to Roger Converse and his wife. At the age of two years he vanished one day etc leaving a clue behind. « ie be ‘The nurse was in the habit of taking him +0 ithe york: in his carriage almost every fine day. One afternoon she carried him there, as usual. Her attention was taken by an old woman who ap- roached for a few cents, in the name of charity. | he stranger gaye her a hard luck story, and: she came ‘up with a nickel. _ Then. the woman walked ae away the nurse found few “minutes ae was a scene, but to make the that was the last of little Harry Converse. “enjo ed ‘the tea very much indeed, for it was sed which he was not accustomed, and erential WILL, THE WAIF. - Mrs. Hamilton looked at the picture of her departed rene to a position in ae kena nan oe ce these ; 23 After the meal they went back to the sitting-room, and for awhile the talk was general, then Roger Converse got Willsby his side. “You are an orphan, 1 nudéretand ?? he said. “Yes, sir,” answered Will. “You remember your parents, I presume?” “No, sir.” : “No? Haven’t you the faintest recollection of them? 2 “Not the slightest. Ks “With whom is your earliest recollection connected ?” “An old woman, whom I called Mother Hodge, and a ‘|man by the name of Hooley. Neither claimed to be vela- tives, nor would they tell me anything about my parents, or where I was born. ‘The woman, I recollect, was very good to me, and taught me to read and write, and to do arithmetic sums. She seemed to be well educated, but you wouldn’t think it to look at her. Four years-ago she had trouble with the man, Hooley, and he ordered her to go. She went, and. I have never seen her since.” “But. you know at any rate that your name is@Warren,” said the merchant, in an- eager, tremulous tone. “T suppose it is, I don’t know. . Hooley told me it «was. About, the only name he called me was ‘young sculpin,’ when he was in good humor or bad. Sometimes he called me worse. I would have run away from him had I dared, but he was the one man I seemed truly to fear, He knocked me around as if I amounted to nothing, and I was forced to ° put up with it.” — “And how came you to get away from him finally?” “Something happened that ab liged him to leave the city in a hurry.\ He told me that he couldn’t take me with’ him, and ordered me out of the house at once, though it was ahout ten o’clock at night, and I had never been away on my own responsibility before.” “When was it you left him?” “About two months and a half ago, at the beginning of summer.” “What part of the city did you live in?” “Way up in the Bronx, where houses were few.” “You remember the street, of course ?” “Yes. It was Lyndenhurst avenue, near “The man’s name was Hooley, you say?” “Yes; Bill Hooley. » “And the woman’s, Mother Hodge 2?” “She had another name, but I don’t recall it now. I always.called her alee. Hodes, and so did Bill, when Me was sober.” “There is the picture of Mrs. Converse, who died three years ago,” said the merchant, in a choking tone, calling Will’s attention to the portrait. The boy looked at it, as he might at any picture. “She is a splendid looking lady,” he said. “You—you don’t remember ever seeing a face like that street.” | before, do you?” asked Roger Converse, eagerly. “No—never,” replied Will, wondering at the question. | The merchant looked like a man keenly disappointed. “Well, you must come and see me again. J am = very - much interested in you. I want to know you better. My son says you are the best office boy we have ever had. He is quite taken with you, and so is Mr. Harley. You will’ be
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en | a 4. 24 WILL, THE WAIFE. days. be a successful man.” Nine o’clock came around sooner than Will expected, and then he said he thought it was time to go. The merchant said good-night to him in a yearning kind of way. Mrs. Jack Converse saw him to the door, and said good-night there. When Will reached the flat in West Thirty-eighth street he found some new faces, and everybody, including Bob, appeared to be enjoying themselves. A performer had brought a guitar around, and when Will was admitted there was a song and chorus under way. y ‘Palmyra took immediate possession of him, and they sat together on the lounge. The conversation was distinetly didn’t half understand the stage 8 about. © Bob, however, had got on to it by this time, and hs was an interested listener. Before the evening was half over Bob had dreams of joining the profession. The only drawback was he didn’t know what he could i Finally he broached the subject to one of the male vis- itors. “Want to be an actor, eh?” grinned the young man. “Yes, I think it’s a good business,” said Bob. “Can you sing?” “No. 99 “Perhaps you can dance ied Bob admitted that he was shy:in that respect. “Well, can’t you do any kind of stunt at all?” “Nothin’ that T know of,” confessed Bob, his popes drop- ping to the zero mark, “Well, if you can’t do anything, my boy, you’re cut out for the legitimate,” chuckled the vaudeville artist. \ - Bob was about to inquire what the legitimate was when Gladys Dexter called the young man away from his side. At this stage of the game somebody asked Will to sing. He was about to decline when Cora Sand said that as pene and Will ang that was bandied _everybody else had obliged, he ought to hold his end up. “But I’m not a professional singer, ” protested Will. “What's the difference?” chipped ina performer. 4 -the best you can. We won’t criticize you,’ mi -“T only know one song, and that’s an old one,” he sia “What is it?” “The Old Folks at Home.” . “Just the thing. We'll all join in the chorus. Hit her up, Fitz,” he suid: to the guitar player. Fitz played the prelude softly, and Will, fecling that he was in for it, began. It happened that he had a natur ally fine tenor vetoes; and yh: he began he created something. of a, sensation, as ae s faded before He sang it now just as he sang: ‘it many a time in the - garret. in “the old house in the Bronx, with feeling, : and | up ds to himeelf than the assembled « company, — Indeed, as the itr ve a a My to be back in fs There is no reason why you should not. turn out: to Hamilton wished him good-night kindly, and said she hoped she would see him soon again. ent on, the sitting-room nd ier the garret again, with a vision of his unknown mother. be- * fore his eyes. All conversation ceased in the room, and the ro lis i tened in distinct admiration to his clear, bell-like notes. : When he began the chorus not a voice ¢himed in till he : had finished it, and then, as if by one consent, the ge lore repeated it.. Will sang the three verses, and the company took up the chorus. ‘When the guitar ceased the crowd Ns ani seam Will. a : ‘ a, 7 ' c hig rf CHAPTER XIV, a: . CONCLUSION... fe Bat: The week that followed es aay: as the pics four had done, and Will continued to Sane a good i si sion at the office. One morning a stranger came into the office and } oalisin’ interview with Harley, young Converse being out at the time. ' ‘ Will was called in. “You lived with a man named Bill Hooley, sae known as “The Gorilla” up on Lyndenhurst avenue, di you?” said the man. “Yes, sir.” if Now, you know that Hooley was an ex- convict and erook, Gott you 2” Roe “T always suspected he whs a bad man,” replied Will O heart failing him, for he feared-what this exposure migi mean to his job. — : . “Oh, you did! Then why did you stay with him PP sake 7 the man, sharply. j gap cher “Because I was afraid to leave him. I feared ie kill me.” 2 “But you did leave him on the night he fled atten th a murder.” ie ag “He put me out.” oe : The man looked skeptical. “You knew he killed a man on Boston Rood tha i noon, didn’t you?” i “I didn’t know it till I read it in the paper ater Tat the house.” ie “why didn’t you 20 to the\ police and report, whe knew about Hooley, and give a clue to his whereabouts?’ “T didn’t think about ites it. ee only too glad get away from. Bill.” ' , “Well, young man, you are ahdlee arrest, You’ ve got tc go he Headquarters. 2 ae Pet “Under Tee !” oasped Bill. Me tas, ian . * Yeas mae a detective. We've been looking tor since the re of the murder. The chief thinks ‘may can throw some light on it, seeing as > tak with Hooley. At any rate, he wants t Will looked appealingly. at Harley. | “’m sorry, Will, bai I’m afraid you'll tad ‘don’t worry. You have friends who will see you th So ne was: carried me Police Headquarters 11 ung ou k with depos: et the results cates hed the alsc disappointed hin.
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‘ WILL, THE. WAIF. _ Will was sent back to his cell. Tn the meantime an order was served on the police com- _pelling them to produce the boy in court next morning. A prominent lawyer was on hand with Jack Converse, and a fight was made for Will’s release. , Will told his story in court, and the magistrate decided at het he would have to hold him, for he might ultimately ‘be required as a witness against Hooley. 2 ~The lawyer then asked that the magistrate fix bail. iB This was placed at $1,000, and Jack Converse qualified as a surety, whereupon Will was released. Jack Converse took Will back to the store, and into his e _ private room. f There he ‘and Harley assured him that his arrest would make no difference with his standing in the establishment. As. soon as he got off work at five o’clock he hurried oP town to see Palmyra. _ She had read the story in the morning and Pikes papers, and was much distressed over his arrest. He comfor ted her and told her it would be all right. te At seven o’clock te reached the Converse residence, where he had promised to dine. Here meet a welcome that made him feel a good deal better. Roger Converse and Mrs. Hamilton told him that eval “aces 1e relish. cote thunderstorm came on, as he was ee to to bed. ut two i in the morning he was awakened by a flash of if his | yes and an. exclamation in a man’ 8 voice. rw’) lar Gi woatt be takon alive, d’ye lderstand? me well enough to Vantekigs a that iL am a bad n driven into a corner.” | suddenly stretched out his hand and dia the butt Iver, he saw sticking out va sk ey’s 1 ce an palpaned his throat. aad seize th weapon, to ession of it, it went off, and Bil, with a hoarse red*back d fell to the floor. rang ou of bed, Agr up. the dark lantern and) e 1] never go to Se electric hain? Nadia the muffin: alarmed the house and J: ack Converse came din astonishment. “T’ve shot. Bill Hooley, * replied Will. “Bill Hooley! The murderer! How came he in the house ?”” 2 “T couldn’t tell you, sir. All I know is that when T awoke I saw him bending over me. He threatened my life, and I did the best I could to protect myself.” “Where did you get the revolver ??” “Out of Bill’s pocket.” “He's finished me,” groaned Hooley. “Well, what’s the difference? It’s right that his hand should be the one to send me out of the world. I stole him when a baby for reasons which don’t matter now. Where is Roger Con- verse? ‘Bring him here, for I’ve somethin’ to tell him.” The merchant was brought after a few minutes, and then Bill confessed that Will was his lost youngest son. “Tf you want more. evidence, go down to No. 6 ——~ © street. You'll find the old woman, Mother Hodge, there. She helped me do the trick. Tell her I confessed, and she'll do the rest,” said Bill. Then he fainted. The police and an n ambulance were sent for, and Bill, desperately wounded, was taken away. Before daylight Mother Hodge was located by Jack Con- verse and a detective and brought to the house, where, on — hearing of Bill’s statement, she confessed everything. In consideration of Will’s Gntercession the old woman was allowed to 20, and was even rewarded with a $50 bill. Great was the joy of the Converse household when the fact was fully demonstrated that Will Warren was beyond _ all doubt the long lost Harry Converse. The fatted calf was killed in great shape, and-Will was established in his own home, to which he had been a stranger for about fourteen years. In his first flush af happiness Will didn’t forget Palmyra and Bob. At his request they were both brought to the house and informed of the alteration in his circumstances, and their amazement may be imagined. _ After a heart-to-heart talk with his aunt, Palmyra was taken into the family under Mrs. aaiton’s wing to be edueated up to the standard required of her as wills future life partner. At the store, Will was taken into the oontinuerea oom ‘ight away, and at his earnest request his late job was given to Bob. Bill Hooley did not die of his wound after all, but recoy- ered to pay the extreme penalty in the electric chair for the Boston Road murder. ‘Three years later Will, now Harry Converse, was ad- mitted as the junior partner of the hide and leather house, and thus he rose from a bootblack to a merchant. me Next ‘vcplea issue will contain “PRINCE OF THE CURB; OR, A COLLEGE BOY IN WALL STREET.” SPRCIAL NOTICE :—All back Tee of this weekly are always in print. Tf you cannot obtain the ones you want from any newsdealer, send the price in money or postage stamps by mail to FRANK TOUSEY, PUB- | LISHER, 24 UNION SQUARE, New York iG and, : eal receive the copies you. order by Teturn mail. Fao WeteHe + 1 Gut
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TAME fee BORTUNE. ver . IETS Ce ss SF. ss Snare Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, MAY 12, 1911, TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Single Copies.,..........0008 ecb cdvetetecsuesecevenssesuvcecs »05 Cents One Copy Three Months.. -65 Cents One Copy Six Months...., + $125 One Copy One Year...csccccccncsecscccccceves cesessuceseny 92.50 Postage Free. HOW TO SEND MONBY—At ourrisk send P, O, Money Order, Check, or Registered Letter; remittances in any other taf are ab your risk, We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash, When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envel- ope. Write your name and address plainly, Address letters to Frank Tousey, Publisher a4 Union Sq., New York N. Hastings, Tressurér SincuaiR Toveny, President ; Cu4s. E. Nrpanpmr, So GOOD STORIES. In Wiewnces when a Latiolict ok is geutenosih ‘to death by the guillotine, the day of his execution is not named in his presence, and he knows not when he is to be led forth pel within fifteen minutes of the fatal moment. 7 Japanese theatres are still conducted on strictly Oriental lines—that is to say, they’are open from nine in the morn- ing till seven or eight in the evening, and the play is in progress all the time. The price of admission is as low as one cent, and for this one has the option of staying all day. The valuable material from which meerschaum pipes are} thade is continually getting scarcer, and the large industry which has flourished in Vienna,» Budapest; Nuremberg, Paris and in the Thuringian town of Ruhla-seems endangered, The manufacture of meérschaum pipes is much more important than is generally supposed. The town of Ruhla alone has been exporting in round figures to the value of about $1,500,- 000 annually. The finest grade of meerschaum is found. near Eski-Schelir, in Anatolia, Asia Minor, in a hollow, which in early days was a lake, in which the meerschaum ‘was preci- pitated. Meerschatum is also found in other places, including Thebes, Egyri, the Bosnian Mountains in the neighborhood _ of Grubschitz, and Nuendorff in Moravia, and in some sections of Spain and Portugal. ~ Assemblyman Struckenbruck, the farmer-blacksmith of San Joaquin, Cal., is devoting a great deal of his time to getting votes for his pill to permit the shooting of meadow larks. He says that the birds destroy not only grain, but have lately developed a fondness for melons that is proving disastrous to the cantaloupe crop. One of the strongest bits of evidence cited by Struckenbruck is that when the agrigultural demon- stration train of the University of California was sent through ‘the’ State’ to teach the farmers how to raise their crops on _ scientific principles the meadow lark, properly stuffed and ' mounted, occupied a dishonored place among the exhibits as a “pest.” Observation in the fields has also shown that the bird is too busy picking up the farmers’ grain to devote any time to singing. He claims that the lark, whose rippling melody, which was once the harbinger of spring and the inspiration of » vhymesters, has now become an ordinary thief. “When brooks, streams and ponds become dry most fishes | ¢ : die, ” says ‘Francis B. Br one of Philadelphia. “Some kinds, siderable time by burrowing into the wet or moist bottom, which may be quite dry at the surface. This is particularly true of some tropical fishes found in regions subject to drought, where it is a matter of common observation that a — pond depression that has been baked by the sun’s rays for © days or weeks, will immediately after a heavy rainfall, afford good fishing. The ability cf certain tropical fishes endure drought and to remain out of the water for a long time in the markets, depends on the possession of an accessory = on the under side of each gill cover, by means of which o: gen may be taken directly from the atmosphere. Failure to notice dead fish after the drying out of brooks or ponds, simply ss means that birds and four-footed beasts, often night’ prowlers, have been there first. One of the most important lines of | work carried on by the fisheries branch of the Government ig the rescue of food and game fishes from the overflowed - lands in the Mississippi Valley.. After the floods subside, shal- — low \pools are left that are wholly disconnected from the — streams, and in these the fishes gradually perish as the dry- ing of the pools progresses, By sending men to seine these pools the Government each year saves and returns to” pub ay waters hundreds of thousands: of valuable fishes.” ; i of my mouth. clove now. / eae Are Srp: The Baiamnc peer you have money, people sha you by the hand——-, The Philosopher—When it’s. eon they shake you altogether. “I concede,” he said sarcastically, “that women ie mo cleverly than men. “Your Concession; ” “she replied . “in itself. upsets your theory.” ‘My, John, you hayen’t a particle of tact.’ done now?” “Asking Mr. Hamfat to dinner er you will give him a good roast! And he’s a bu i id “That's just why she likes him. (He doesn't ation a word in édgewise.” ‘ “It seems to me that I have heard most of the: dese, vanced in your speech before.” “That,” said ‘Senator hum, “merely goes to show that i are good: ideas: will stand wear and tear,” : “T have something new in the way'of a plot for a far ¢ “As to how?” “The action hinges on a ease of mi identity.” “TI’ m afraid that’s a little too new,” sighed ‘the ager as he motioned the boy to. open the door. “Byerybody should be made to work in this life,’ rema the political economist. “I don’t agree with you,” ansy Miss evinakes ee are too many people who, when ‘the yk
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A FOREST. ADV ENTURES ie 4 SEITE. Me, a By Kit Clyde. Ay? Sees | “You surely don’t mean to go on by Se The distance is # good twenty miles,” ~ “Yes,” said I, “I must catch the Rhine steamer at Hrlachen in the morning.” “But,” objected the landlord, “there is no conveyance.” eA “Yes there is,” I replied; “a good serviceable pair of legs. ened by @ score of milés over a good road.” “But,” he persisted, “this is Saint John’s eye.” ._ “I wish the reverend gentleman joy of it. It is likely to OB. a particularly nasty bit ‘of property, by the, locks of the sky.” “Don’t jest,” he replied, earnestly, “especially if you insist upon pursuing your journey. The road has a bad reputation. More than one traveler, as brave as you, has zepentes the hour he set foot upon it to the day of their death. cis suppose you mean that it is frequented by light-fingered gentry,” I answered... “However, I have nothing to fear, since I have nothing to lose.” “It is said to be haunted,” he said, “especially on Saint ‘angéd upon the scene of their crimes more than fifty years ago. You may still see the rusted chains hanging from the “rees. Their bodies decayed into nothing long ago. For dering defenseless travelers. The laws in those days were not % trictly executed. So long as no one of note suffered at heir hands, they were unmolested; but, growing bold with im- ig from justice, the scoundrels committed an enormity eman of the neighborhood was about to marry a ul girl of a wealthy and distinguished family. The dding was to take place on Saint John’s Eve. It was a rmy eee as this -pglenc to’ be. Preparations had jere spread, ie ‘the nietog: was waiting to neue the Nothing was wanting but the presence of the intl eoach. But she did not come. Hour after hour the ‘guests grew uneasy, the expectant bridegroom terseach for the absent girl. They found her within i of the castle. The postilion and her father and sister found with their brait s knocked out, and She was dis- ae all night long he and his asenanaatony scoured the and at daylight the six marauders were Meg ee Tt is dscns party rehearse those dreadful scenes. It may i What do r know? But not for millions would I a ry onotey? PRE I replied, “and doubtless susie : sani any of the gota a2 personages con- {i haven’t footed it over three-parts of Burope to be fright-| i | : John’s ‘eye, by the specters of a gang of marauders who were | these yillains had infested the road: robbing and mur-} ‘spite of their mysterious movements. eo Zz At this first: our I proceeded ai a swinging pace. point the storm, which had been threatening all the evening, burst * The rain epoatee down in sheets, pet aed me to be a welgitghocting sound, far from sieladnse to hear. The darkness grew so intense that I had great difficulty in keep i= the track, and more than once floundered into the wet diteh beside the road. I kept up my spirits, however, and plodded steadily onward. Near ‘midnight I arrived at a point where the road divided ) wo. ‘branches which led off at right angles to each other. ised. in dismay, for I had not the least notion which I ought to take. rile - I was debating the question in a very comfortable frame. of mind, I heard the sound of heavy footsteps in the road behind me. Delighted at the opportunity of inquiring the w out of my dilemma, I waited at the side of the road ve approach of the travelers. They came on at a quick pace, and as they neared me I could see that there were six of them, all men dressed in the forester’s costume, a traditional attire which the peasantry | are’ fond | of assuming on occasions of holiday festivity. They Appeared to be armed; indeed I was certain that I saw a gleam of a deer knife in the belt of the one nearest me. What struck me at first as somewhat odd was the per- fect silence with which they walked. They uttered no ex- clamation nor exchanged a word, but tramped on like mutes. As I had hitherto found Germany a perfectly safe region I had no reason to doubt the good character of these men, in a I hailed them and inquired | which road I ought to take in order to reach Erlachen. To my indignation and astonishment they paid no. attention whatever to my words, put marched steadily on- ward,’ vas if I had not spoken. I repeated my eee in a louder tone, with the same “result. rahe I was now thoroughly angty, and went up i the nearest one, with the intention of shouting in his ear, when a per- fectly unaccountable sensation kept me dumb. It was not fear, nor any explicable feeling; but a species of terrible inward shrinking, as if my heart was contracting. At this instant I noticed another startling phenomenon. I was now near enough to see the faces of the men. They gleamed as white as chalk in the obscurity—perfectly blank and colorless as the faces of the dead. I could see the dark circles of the eyes, though the pupils were invisible. The effect was altogether ghastly and ghost-like, I refrained from attempting to hold any further communi- cation with them, and waited in considerable mental con- fusion until their footsteps died away in the’ distance. I presently shook off my unpleasant sensation, and conelud- ing that the men had probably taken the main road toward Erlachen, I followed after them. I had gone perhaps a hun- dred paces when I detected the creak and rattle of some heavy vehicle behind me. Looking back, I knew that it must be some sort of traveling carriage from the two lamps that were upon it, which were, shining like two red eyes, and casting a proad glare upon the wet road. The horses were going ata furious gallop, and I could see the steam from their bodies. rising like a cloud into the damp air. The spot where I stood was exceptionally dark and rough. The postilions seemed to be acquainted with it, for they presently pulled in their horses to a cautious walk. As soon as the equipage drew near enough I hailed the postilion upon the foremost horse and inquired the way to Erlachen. I was ‘sure this man must have heard me, but he made no reply, neither did he turn his head in my direction, ree IAT" ee
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’ 28 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. oe : . By this time the coach was &breast of me. I walked along, keeping pace with it, and repeated my inquiry to the guard - upon the box. To my rage and amazement, he too neither made reply nor looked at me. I wondered if I had came by chance upon all the deaf mutes in the country out for an airing. I turned my attention to the coach, and perceiving dimly that it was occupied by a number of people, I shouted into] ® the window, which, strangely enough, I found to be without glazing, and reiterated my question. ‘There was no reply, and apparently no notice taken of me whatever. I now began to perceive something very extraordinary about the whole equipage. By the strong light from the lamps I saw that the housings of the horses were rotten, and nearly faliing apart. The dresses of the postilions were of the fashion of half a century before. The velvets, trimmed with gold and lace, seemed dropping from their limbs with age and decay. The coach itself was of an antiquated pattern and very ruinous. The iron work was rusted in holes, and the - leather covering had pealed into tatters which flapped in the wind. All this was the more astonishing, since the crest of a noble family was visible upon the panels. My amazement was augmented as my sight became better . accustomed to’ the. obscurity. The mute postilions* had the same terribly white faces, the same corpse-like expression which I had seen before in the six men who had passed me. Once when the light fell strongly upon the features of the one upon the rear horse, I was horrified to see that it was absolutely the face of a man long dead. _ As I looked back from the intolerable shock of this dis- covery, my gaze rested upon the occupants of the coach. These consisted of an old man in‘an ancient court dress, wig and ruffles, a young girl of twelve or fourteen, and a lady some years her senior, attired in white silk, a long lace veil, and a profusion of jewels. , All three sat in opposite corners of the spacious seats, bolt upright, and staring blankly into each other’s eyes, with expressionless, dead white faces. I recognized, by some inner sense-rather than by sight, that these three shapes, like those ot the postilions, were thosé jot beings long dead, 2 Never shall I forget the horror of that moment, brief as ‘it was, during which that grotesque and ghastly assembly remained before my fascinated gaze. The next instant the 5 equipage passed by, leaving me ee and tottering in the road. ‘ But this was not ‘ithe finals of the dreary drama of that ‘ night. The vehicle had gone beyond me hardly its own length, when there was a terrific confusion of sounds, cries, curses, and groans intermingled, and the coach was overturned into the road with a tremendous crash. The lights ‘still continued to burn, and in the feree I bea | a number of dark figures, which I recognized as the’ men| of last week ata sale of ‘unredeemed, pledges at the in foresters’ dress who ‘had passed me a few moments before, engaged in a desperate struggle with the postilions. Heavy, sickening blows were dealt, followed by awful cries of agony, and presently I saw three servants outstretched and bleeding in the road. Ina moment more the coach door was torn open, and I saw its occupants dragged out. Then began another horrible struggle. The old man was struck down, and the younger of the two girls quickly suffered the same fate. The elder of the two seemed to make a more desperate resistance, I could see her flying hither and thither among the men, her white dress and white face gleaming phosphorescently in - the semi- darkness. downward blows of the glittering knives. reas ‘figures, a long, shrill scream that seemed to sail away. in have possessed the necessary 15 or 20 franes to r I could hear her awful cries and see the At last she was a seized; there was a renewed nde ontiam among ie dark “Tneonnu.” objects so pcr guarded for 4 mournful echoes over the barren tree tops, and when I saw} her again she was lying upon the ground with a red gash in} her breast. ne z ' Will anyone ask ime why i did not interpose or make some ’ effort toward rescuing the girl? The very sight of thdse ghostly figures with their white faces writhing in and out! of the darkness, would have paralyzed a braver man than} I. I?was spell-bound and frozen; I could neither move hand} nor foot, nor utter a syllable. I could only stare with fas-|} cinated gaze at the weird and dreadful scene, quivering =s4 if with an ague. I knew then, as I know now, that I was witnessing no mortal combat in which living beings were en- gaged and human creatures were sinning and suffering. It was } an unreal struggle among the dead, and I had no power} either to interfere or to fly. The whole scene occupied but a few seconds. While I stood petrified the sounds suddenly ceased, the lights went out, and the dim figures of the men and the two girls van- ished in the winking of an eye. ‘Where they had been noth- ing now was visible but the wet and shining Road and the black back-ground of the forest. : 2 Then the spell seemed to leave my muscles. I sprang fi ward toward the spot, only to be stricken by a heavy bl full in the temple and to fall insensible in the road. Pe When I again became conscious it was broad daylight, the sun was shining in my face, L arose, stiff and: and looked round me bewilderedly. The events of. the ous night were still fresh in my memory, and I invol looked for, traces of the terrible scene I had witness none were visible; no wrecked coach, no blood stains, tered garments, nothing but the rain-smoothed sini marked only by my own footsteps. go rliat My head felt very painful, and putting my hand: £6 it I that I had received a bad cut on the temple, for the cause, I discovered a number of rusty cha Hu ing from the tree over my head. One, with heavy. links, hung a little lower than the others, in a line with my fo ‘ It was this which had given me my wound, I had directly beneath the tree where the robbers had ‘been hang ( fifty years before. ee: Call it mere coincidence, and say that white! 1° saw was tt eaiaiecehice of my landlord’s story and dr eamed: in the ae) matter. An incident ‘not without atid aagnced Lowel th Piété. There were sold by auction a child’s d plate, spoon and knife and fork. Fifty-one year souvenirs were deposited in the Paris municipal p ‘ Every year since the interest has been paid regular] and right of redemption secured, but, the family nev session. Evidently the poor people are either dead become more heedy. Two years. ago the interes be paid, but the department, to their credit, abst selling these “lares and penates,” Several letier: dressed at the last known residence and to other p the pawners have lived, but they have come ba ‘The sands of the glass have run out, old.
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LOTS OF FUN FORA DIME A> Ventriloquist’ sDouble Throat O12, (20% 0 mons at BAAR Cilny yet. Antonis and tisatify your felends. Sing like a oaoary; whine ke x puppy: crow like » rovster, and Naitate irda god hensce 4 of field and forest. LOADS OF FUN, Wonderful fovention 6:4; ‘Thomeonds avid. Prioo ouly 10 conte, 4: for 2do-~wr 42 for Slo. - pddress CHAS, UNGER, 316 Unton St, Jersey City, N. 2 BOYS and GIRLS —Sc! 6 packages of FER M@ tablets at 25 cents each and receive Camera and Complete Outtit or pair of Kotler Skates FR EE-—Yonur choice. Address The'Fermo Co., 2036 Wilmot Ave., Chicago, Ill. 1) cy Oo © Zi Lis | 20 | 21 SCORE Hustlers to handle our attractive combination pac ages of soap and toilet articles with valuable prem- iums, One Michigan agent made $65 in 47 hrs., another $21 in8 hrs., another $22.50 in 10 hrs, Write today, . H. M. DAVIS SOAP CO.,380 Carroll Ave., Chicago, 211, ENTERTAIN {ove ‘chests YOUR GUESTS ; Book containing 250 jokes and riddles; 73 toasts; 12 tricks with cards; 40 amusing exs H periments in magic; 16 parlor magic; 2% M parlor pastimes; 8 forsune telling secrots; 1 S WE SHIPovAPPROVAL . Without @ cent deposit, prepay the freight f >, and allow 10 DAYS FREE TRIAL. Bike 4 \" on highest grade 1911 model bicycles. ¥i until you write for our large Art Catalog sample bicycle going to your town. iT ONLY COSTS one cent to learn our K MVFAGTORY PRICES 2:70:22 unheard of prices and marvelous offers #2 pair of tires from anyone at any price f aud learn our wonderful Proposition on iret ‘Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. 299 Broadway, New York City Make $20 a Day FREE TO BOYS U Machine, Sakesy deveites aatstes achine, e evelops, nishes . phot half minute; 200 an hour. I Have a Glove, Mitt, Mask, Ball, Bat, Cap and odark room, Evvperience unneces- 7 sary Photo Post Gardsand Buttona Belt, for Every Boy Who Will Write te Me. 9 ail the rage! You coin money any- ti where, Small investment; big rofits. Be yourown boss. Write ‘or Free Book, Testimonials, etc. PRIDER AGENTS sczrne°ie % toney exhibiting and selling our bicycles. We Sell cheaper than any other factéry. Vy y | TIRES, Coaster-Brake rear wheels, ij famps, repairs and all sundries at Aal/ usual prices, i Bo Not Walt; write today for our special offer. GAEAD CYCLE CO., Dept. P-282 GHICAGO consisting of Checkers, Chess, Dominoes, New Game of Authors, Fox and Geese, Nine Men Morris, The Spanish Prison, and the Game of Flirtation, allfor 0c, Best valne. Li, oF Penshorn Meyers & Co., 1357 B. Street, Richmond, Calif, a Dy Days Free Tri rs or hae see 30 Days Free Trial ~ » THis JOB $25 ® and if we haven't an agent ff ‘in your city, we will sell you at wholesalo agonts’ price, on’ AMERICAN ~. Mlotoreyole or Bicyole and prépay the freight, Write for our in- troducing offer and catalogue, and say whether you want motorcycloor bicycle. W/rmerivan Motor CyoleCo. 952 American Bldg.,Chicago : oy, oS Neer, : We teach you the entire snbject by mail ny 10 weeks’ spare time, and assist you to secure a good position, De- mand for trained men can’t be filled, Simple, practical, and personal institution, Besides, we assist you to secure ma cod position. Free auto mode] to each stadent. a FIRST LESSON FREE—WRITE FOR IT NOW OWNERS—-We supply competent men f 2 Empire Auto Institute, 574 Empire Bldg., Rochester, N. W. } Pre Lhe Original Automobile School. : Sy) Ai Wid JUMPING CARD—A pretty little trick, easy) to perform. . Effect: A select- ed card returned to the deck jumps high into the air at the performer's com-. mand. Pack is held in one hand. Price of apparatus, with enough cards to per- form the trick, 10c. M. O'NEILL, | 425 W. 56th 8t., N. XY. PEARING BILLIARD BALL.—A solid _ billiard ball, beautifully made, can be made - to appear in the bare hands with the sleeves rolled back to elbows. Very /fine and easy to decor. : Price, 35e¢, < —— M, O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th St., N. ¥. MICROSCOPE.—By use of this ‘wonderful little micro- scope you can magnify a drop of stagnant water until you see thousands of crawling in- sects; is also useful for in- _ specting grain, pork, linen and “ mumerous other articles.. This | little instrument does equally as good work as the best mi- ¢roscopes and is invaluable to the. household. Is made of best finished brass; size when closed one inch by two and a half inches. Jo th! Price, 306. L. SENARENS, 347 Winthrop S8t., Brooklyn, N. Y. s There are seven splendid pieces in this great outfit, The ash bat is a good one. The mask is * here: Peaeee! aries full ere phe yrese a its i thickly padded, very heavy and has patente “ F : ( fastener. Mia gots is of tanned ledtheratia has | THE DEVIL'S CARD TRICK.—~Tron? three patent clasp, The ball is strongly stitched and | Catds held in the hand anyone is asked to will last. A neat, adjustable belt and a dandy cap | Mentally select one, All three cards are complete this groat outfit, Remember you get the | Placed in a hat and the performer remdves e whole outfit of seven-pi Fs ,, irst the two that the audience did not select veaite Brat today nud youl Galt peep wor and passing the hat to them. their card has mysteriously vanished. A great climax; highly recommended. 64 Price, 10c, Frank Robinson, 311 W. 44th St, N, ¥. get it, | A.M. Pipe, 367 Poputar j Bldg., Des Moines, lowa. BIG FAMILY GAMES (Oe eae x ee Ait Sane tN BS he SORT, hy
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STARTLING CARD TRICK.—2Etf- feet: Any card se- lected from a pack, placed under a bor- rowed handkerchief BS and held by any one over an unprepared . Zlass goblet and Ary Cardin Tumbler Gone? dropped in the same, d On removing tha handkerchief the card has vanished and may be reproduced from any place desired. Note: A startling card trick; cam be done anywhere; highly recommended, Price, 15¢, Frank Robinson, 311 W. 44th St, N. ¥. WONDERFUL CARD ACT.—An entire ecard act ean be performed with these fifty- two cards. A page of printed directions accom- pany them. Any- akg one can perform these apparently impossible tricks; no sleight- of-hand required. The secret lies in the cards and no one can possibly discover it, even after minute examination. The cards can be used in all games, Price, 85c, Chas. Unger, 316 Union St., Jersey City, N. Je THE BEST YET! RIGHT FROM THE MINT.—We sell you for 10c., postpaid, a real mysterious trick that can be done without practice, The outfit consists of 2 metal rings, @ cover on Which to do the trick, and the pic- ture board which seemingly does it all. Take any coin, just place the ring over it, say “Go!” and it goes without touching it; say ‘‘Come!’ and it comes back. Really clever, and your money back if you want it. Sale price. WOLFF NOVELTY 00.,, 20. W. 26th St., N. ¥. Send for whole- SAAT THE FLUTOPHONE.—A new musical in- strument, producing the sweetest dulcet tones of the flute. The upper part of the instrument is placed in the mouth, the lips covering the openings in the centre. Then by blowing gently upon it you can play any tune desired as easily as whistling. But little practice is required to become a finished player. It is made entirely of metal, and will last a life- time. We send full instructions with each instrument. Price, 15¢,, or 2 for 25¢., by mail, postpaid. A. Ai WARFORD, 16 Hart St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. ITALIAN TRANSFER.—wWith this remark- able invention any one can transfer pictures or engravings from newspapers or books, and make perfect copies of butterfly and moth wings for scrap books. It is the dry transfer process, cleanly, handy and reliable, and the results secured will astonish you. Transfer Is a@ gelatinous substance put up in cakes, one of which is enclosed with a wooden rubber and full directions for producing pictures, it-re- quiring but a few moments to make the trans- fer. Any picture in the newspapers can be speedily reproduced in your album, or else- where, a perfect copy being made, and several copies can be made from the same picture. Butterfly and moth wings can also be pictured, all the beautiful colors and mark- ings oh the wings being transferred, and thus an ‘interesting and instructive collection of _ insect forms can be’ made and permanently preserved in a scrap book. Both young and old will take delight in using Transfer, and the price is so low that all can afford. to have this new process at command. Price only 10c.,,3 for 25¢.; one dozen, %5¢e., by mail post- paid peer hee Chas. Unger, 316 Union St., Jersey City, N. J. - " aes ¥ @ ¢ ‘ SNAKES IN THE GRASS. Something entirely new,.consisting of six larg: cones, cach one nearly one inch in height. Upon’ lighting one of these cones with a match, you seé 2M” something similar to a 4th of July exhibition of fireworks. Sparks on in every direction, and as the cone burns down it throws out and is surrounded with what appears to be grass; at the same time a large snake uncoils himself from the burning cone, and lazily stretches out in the grass, which at last burns to ashes, but the snake remains as a curiosity unharmed, They are not at all dangerous, and can be set off in the parlor if placed on some metal sur face that will not burn, An ordinary dust pan answers the purpose nicely, Price of the six cones, packed in sawdust, in a strong wooden box, only 10 cents, % boxes for 25 Pn 4 dozen boxes 75 cents, sent by mail post ai 1 M. O'NEILL, 423 W, 56th S8t., N. Y. i\played on your friends by H asking the ratchet-wheel of he Rrprine, Teanme noise tgives. them a sevcre-ghock, land they heave a sich of re- | jokeistomake agentleman’s | or lady’s watch a stem wind, er. With the frog concealed in your hand, you take the stem of the watch between / = your thumb and finger, and atthe’same time allow the ball of your thumb to pass over the ratchet wheel of the frog, when to the company you will a 3 to be winding the watch, but the noise will startle them, for it willsound more like winding Barnum’s steam caliope than a watch, and youcan keep Winpine@ indefinitely. The pos- sessor of one of these Frog Jokers éan have any amount offun withit. Itis made of bronze metal and will never wear out. Donotfail to send for one. Price 10 cents, % for 25 cents, by mail paid, one dozen by express '75 cents, Chas, Unger, 316 Union St., Jersey City, N. J. COMICAL RUBBER STAMPS. figure is mounted on a separate block, any boy can pega a regular parade or circus bid printing the figures in different positions. With each set of figures we send a bottle of colored ink, an ink pad ‘and full instructions. pictures on their toys, picture books, Ng a Bd and envelopes, ani y are withont dou most amusing and entertaining novelty gotten upi years. Price of the complete set of Rubber pony With ink and ink pad, only 10 cents, 3 sets for 25 cents, one dozen 90 cents, by mail post-paid, © L Senarens, 347 Winthrop 8t., Brooklyn, N. Y. Children can stamp these e a ‘of tail, The THE ROSE IN BET. j TON HOLE,—Thi popular trick should . open every magic en- tertainment. The per- former, upon finding that he has forgotten to place a flower in his button hole, reaches for his wand and mys-” teriously waving the. latter, he produces a handsome rose in the, empty button hole. { Price, 25c. 4; L. Senarens, 347 Winthrop St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. ROUGH AND READY ' These lively acrobats are handsomely decorated with the U. 8. flag and with gold and silver stars and hearts, Upon placing them upon any flat surface they at once in @ most wonderful i ¢ tumbling over each other: irit was after them, causing roars of Fea em to cut up such antics is a secret that may not he knowneyen to the owner of the unruly eubjects, If you wantsome - fun send for a set of our tumblers, Price, per set, 10 cents ; mailed postpaid, A. A, WABFORD, 16 Hart St., Brooklyn, N. Y. KANGAROO PADLOCK. ; A handsome pad-. — FF. lock, stamped out of: q olished — steel. It 4s ocks itself when the ~ hasp is pressed down > into the lock, but the uzzle is to unlock it. toa ean instantly un- lock it with the key, -but no one not in the secret can unlock it. You ean slip the hasp through a friend's buttonhole ang fe him to wearv mat y to the lock; the ke and girl ean be locked together. or a bo: buttonhole, by slipping the hasp through a of the : fothinw. Many other innocent and’ amusing jokes ean be perpetrated with it upon your friends and acquaintances. It is not only a strong, useful padlock, but one — of the best puzzles ever invented, Iull print- ~ ed instructions sent with each lock. They — are a bonanza for agents, as they can bo readily sold for 25 cents each, ws ae Our price, 15 cents; 2 for 25 cents; 1 dozen, $1.26, sent by mail, postpaid, WOLEF NOVELTY CO., 29 W, 26th. St., N. ¥. NORWEGIAN MOUSE A very large gray mouse measuring g inches from tip pody of mouse~ fishollow. Place our first finger tn his body, and then by moving your finger up and } down, he ee / mouse appears to be running up your sleeve. Enter A pes y, nyhere there fs ladies, with the | Yy see a scattering © Y oe fair Fon . d Many practic okes Pan be perpetrated with rodent, } A ie he ; Price, 10 cents; 3 for 25 cents, postpaid. e j FRANK ROBINSON, 311 W.
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ne LOOK 1011. petition. in a later issue. of And each 100 headings—Oh, my! | FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, : SPLENDID PREMIUMS GIVEN AWAY FREE hes Save the front cover page headings of this weekly, beginning with the — » issue dated March 10th, 1911, and ending with the issue of July 21st, ml No headings dated before March 10 or after July 21 will be accepted. Send us 25 headings within these 20 weeks and we will give you a valuable 4 gift for them. The numbers need not be consecutive. Any reader can get a premium. ‘We will describe the premium Hach 25 headings will get you something you will like. Hach 50 headings will bring you something much better! HERE! tag This is not a com- 24 UNION SQ., N. Y¥. THE OBEDIENT Mable, especially adapted to. begin- hers, as it is easy BY ~ to perform and the effect is quite perplexing. This is an especi- ally nice miade piece of apparatus. Resardless of its age it is little Known to persons not - connected with magic Price, 15¢; “Frank Robinson, 811 W. 44th St, N. ¥. : 4 ¢ a ee | MARBLE VASE.—<A_ clever and puzzling ef- fect, easy to do; the apparatus can be minutely ex- amined, Effect: A marble canbe made to pass from, the hand into the closed : vase, ‘whith a smoment before was.shown empty. This is a beautiful enameled turned wood vase. 4h ‘Price, 20¢, . Seiarens, $47 Winthrop St, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; ' ageessory. ; Price, 15u, eee M. O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th’ St., N. ¥. ; ae Ne “OF YO. os GE CARD ’RLOK, . Pour cards an are held in | whe form Of a fan and a Spectator is reqtiested to mentally select one of the our. The cards are now shuffled and one is openly ie hie. taken away and plated in is pocket. The performer remarks that he hat! ken the card mentally selected by the aio . The three cards are now displayed e selected card is fouhd to be missing. A 1ing in his pocket the performer removes Cmanibits the chosen card. Price, Ie, i. Unger, 316 Union St., Jersey City, N. 3. Good Luck Banks _ -Pricé 10 Cents a eed wnt refilled tabebatras sinaiea if aot eatise ! BALL,—An old re- | VANISHING AND RE- APPEARING EGG.—Very fine, easy to perform and it produces a marvelous and mystifying effect. Hag is made to appear and vanish right before the eyes. Beautifully made. Price, 25e, M. O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th St.,.N. Y. t DISAPPEARING THIMBLE. —aA thimble is placed on a fin- ger-tip and then the palm of the other hand is placed over it and tightly closed. On openin hand the thimble has | the aE Price, 15¢ ROBINSON, $11 We 44th St., £ . RISING PENCIL. “4 —The perfotmer ex- hibits an ordinary pencil and shows it top and bottom. The pencil is laid on the palm, the performer ealling attention to his hypnotic power over innate objects. The péncil is seen slowly to rise, fol- lowing thé move- ments of the other hand. The withesses are asked to pass their hand around it to assure themselves no thread or hait is used, Price, 25e. Chas. Unger, 316 Union St., Jersey City, N. J. ‘ty, “KNOCK-OUT” CARD TRICK—rive ca¥ds are showh, front and back, and there are fio- two catds alike. You place some of them in a handkerchief and ask ahy persoh to jold them by the corners in full view of the atrdi- ence, You now take the remainiig cards and request anyore to naitie any catd shown. This done, you repeat the ndmé of the card and state that you will cause it/to invisibly léave your hand and pass into the handkerchiéf, where it will be found among the other cards. At the word “Go!” you show that the chosen card has vanished, leaving absolutely only two cards. The handkerchief is unfolded by a person, and in it is found the identical card. Price, 10c. M. O'NEILL, 425 W. d6th Sti, N. ¥. _ THE MULTIPLYING CORKS. A small round box is shown to be empty ard one of the spectators is allowed to place three corks n it, The cover is put on and the box is handed to one of the spectators; who; upon temoving the cover; finds six corks in the box: Three of the corks Are now made to vanish as mysteriously as they came, Very deceptive, | re Price, Ie. ‘Erank Robinson, 811 W. 44th St. N. ¥. U t entirely - vanished. <A pretty pocket trick. LATEST ISSUES. “WORK AND WIN” Fred Fearnot’s Lightning Drives; The Champions of the Rink. — or, The Bad Men of the Trading Post. Fred Fearnot’s Cross-Country Run; or, Winning the Great Paper Chase. Fred Yearnot's Training Trip; or, the South With a Baseball Nine. Fred Fearnot and “Little Dick’’; ot, The Trials of a Poot Working Boy. Fred Fearnot’s Baseball. Giants; Winning the Opes: Games. Fred Fearnot’s Boy Life Savers; Brave Work at the Beach. Fred Fearnot at Lone Pine; or, Mystery of the Moonshine Camp. Fred Fearnot Playing the Game; or, Out With His New Nine. “PLUCK AND LUCK” } Across the Pacifie in a Dory; or, Two oys’ Trip to China, H. Wilson. Young Cadmus; or, The Adventures of Lafayette’sChampion, By Allyn Draper. The Boy eriff; or, The House that Stood’ on the Line. By Berton Bertrew. The Little Red Fox; of, The Midnight Riders of Wexford. By Jas. C. Merritt. Diek, the Half-Breed; or, The Trail of the Indian Chief. By An Old Scout. The Nihilist’s Son; or, The Spy of the Third Section. By Allan Arnold. The arereees Athletes; or, The Boy Champlotis of the Cénttity Club. By Howard Austin. 5 Left on Treasure Island; or, The Boy Who Was Forgotten. By Richard R. Montgomery. “THE LIBERTY BOYS OF ’76” 633 The Liberty Boys’ Dangerous Game; or, The Plan to Steal a Prince, 524 The Liberty Boys at Wort No. 8; or, Warm Work on the Hudson. 585 The Liberty Boys in Despair; or, The Disappearance of Dick Slater. 536 The Liberty Boys and “Deadshot Mur- phy’; or, Driving Back the Raiders. 687 The Liberty Boys’ Courage; or, Baffling 538 539 540 541 In or, or, The a British Spy. The Liberty Boys in Old Virginia; or, The Wight at, Great Bridge. The Liberty Boys Accused; or, Defend- ing ‘Their Honor. The Liberty Boys’ Best Battle; of, The Surrender of Cornwallis. - The Liberty Boys and Lightfoot; or, Dick Slater’s Indian Friend. mm “WILD WEST WEEKLY” 488 Young Wild West Betrayed by a Greaser ; or, Sealed in an Aztec Tomb. 439 Young Wild West's ight at the Forks; or, Atietta and the’ Lost Mmigrant Train, Young Wild West and the Desperado ; of, The Masked Mén of the Mountain. Arietta's Birthday Gift. 442 Young Wild West's Rapid’ Mire Fight ; oF, . folding 4 Cave of Gold, AAS Young Wild West at a Cowboy “Shini- _ dig”; or, Arietta Calling a Bluff. Young Wild West atid Senor Santo; of, : The Brigands of the Border. Young Wild West Calling the Cayairy; or, Arietta’s Thrilling Ride. Young Wild West's Ready Rifle; or, The Bullet that Found a Mark. 447 Young Wild West’s Road Agent, Holki- Up; or, Arietta Carrying the Mall “SHORET SERVICE” 684 The Bradys Tracking o Skeletoit Afni; ov, The Clew ih the Tree. : 635 The Bradys and the Factory Boy; or, The Mystery of the Mill Pond, 636 The Bradys and the Poisoned Pei; ot, oiling a Desperate Plot. 637 The Bradys Chasing the “Black Crook’) of, Solving a Fiftth Avenve Bee / 638 The Bradys and the Banker's Bot; 56, ng | Kidhappers of Mulberry Tend, 639 The Bradys After the Gold Biick Mon; or, Chasing 4 Cone of Swindlers. 640 The Bradys and the Diamond Heart; or, , The Mystery of a Mummy ; 641 The Bradys’ Red Glove Ciae; or, The _ Seerét Band of Seven, 642 The Bradys and the Man Next Door: or, The Mystery House on High Street. <= : = ; For sale by all méwsdedlers, or will be sent to | any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per cany, | in money or postage stamps, by Frank Tousey, Pub,, 24 Union Sq.,N.¥. ee Fred Fearnot and the Indian Queen; or, ~ By Capt. Thos. . Yoting Wild West's Weston Welcome ; of, f
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FAME AINIED FORTUNE WEEKLY | LATEST ISSUES— (AiG Gant gota eRe ae eh he a . 238 Benson's New Boy; or, Whooping Up the Wall Street Market. 267 Born Lucky; or, from ‘Miner to Millionaire. 239 Driven to Work; or, A Fortune Pa a Shoe String. 268 HaliHolman’s Tip; or, Scooping the Wall Street Market. eas 240 The Way to Make Money ; or, Taking Chances in Wall Street. 269 A Boy of Business ; or, Hustling for the Dollars. 241 Making His Fortune; or, The’ Deal of a Lucky Boy. 270 Smart as They Come; or, The Boss vf the Wall Street Messengerse 242 The Stock-Bxchange Boys; or, The Young Speculators of Wall Street.| 97] A Pirate's Treas e; or, The Secret of the Three Wrecks. 248 Seven Bags of Gold; or How a Plucky Boy Got Rich. 272 Johnny Jones : ee. ; Che, ‘fies that Kept the Brokers Guess- 244 Dick, the Wall Street Waif; or, From Newsboy to Stock Broker. ing. (A Wa ree ory x i c 245 Adrift on the Orinoco; or, he ‘Treasure of the Desert. 273 Adrift in the Ci The tea at gt : 246 Silent Sam of Wall Street; or, A Wonderful Run of Luck, 274-A Little Stockbroker; or, Lhe Boy Wi oney ‘to Burn, (4 wad 247 Always on the Move; or, The Luck of Messenger 99. Street Story.) ; , 1 Street 5 Island Number Ten; or; The Secret of f 248 sae ks Lucky Jack; or, The Boy Who Fooled the Wal Te pe & wail Street Errand Boy, ahch Fae select anne en ie 277 Newsboy Partners; er, The Little Money-Makers of the Batte y 249 Learning a Trade; or, On the Road to Fortune. 278 A Box of Coin; or, ‘Vhe Old Broker's Secret, ies Wall Street ies 250 Buying on Margin; or, The Boy Who Won the Money. (A watt 279 Ralph, the Runaway; or, From Farm to Fortun : Street Story.) 280 A Winning ‘Lip; or, Beating the ‘Tricky Brokers, (A Wall Stree}, 251 a Darcy’s Treasure Hunt; or, The Secret of the Island aie Story.) ane 252 A “Live” Bo i i A 281 An Outing Boy’s Pluck; or, Mea tre Against Odds. : 3) Street.) ¥; or, Quick to Get the Dollars: (A Story of Wall 28 2 Lon & Cow Be jbrokers of, The are Wait street ri : 258 A Barrel of Coin; or, The Luck of a Bo Trader. Bey (Wi, inwers ox. a iad ¥ ig ade @ Great Min tory. 204 Driven to the Wall; or, The Nerve of a Wail Street Boy. ect vote arent ane The bitin ell Nes soe se E 255 Johnny, the Parcel ‘Boy ; or, The Lad Who Saved the Firm. 285 Dick and His Chis or; Making a Fortune For the Firm. 256 sen) Limit ; or, A Big Risk for Big Money. (A Wall Street | 9396 Ong To Wins ar The Mystery of Safe Deposit Box No. 666. (A Wall ry. 257 U oe to Him; or, Running His Father's Business. 287 Cast Away in Iceland; or, The Treasure of the Crater, re 258 “Back Number Bixby”; or, The Boy Who Was Up to the Minute. (A | 288 A Wall Street Hero; or, A Winning Tip on the greta i Wall Street Story) 289 Winning a Fortune; or, The Boy Hero of the Mill. 259 A Young Barnum; or, Striking It Rich in the Show Business. 290 Stock Broker Dick} or, The Boy Who Broke the Wail Street. a8 9 A {protherhood of Gold; 10 A Daring W Alt Street Game. Market. 2 ; © Hxpress Boy; or, His Own Route to Wortune. 91 € r A : 4 ~ : ees "he Stolen Bonds; ce How Wall Street Will Made His Mark, Pts The nee ok : es The Boys Who Won the Money. (A Wall 263A Favorite of Fate; or, After the Head Hunters’ Treasure. Street Story.) ; Beg, 264 Master of the Market, or, The Boy Who Cornered the Stock. (A Story 1 of Wall Street) 293 Will, the Waif; or, From Bootblack to Merchant. Ivor sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on r eceipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, ae” Viren i oped Hia\ vse Cisse TG a the ile Ca Simtel SQUARE, N. Ae IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS ———— ‘ of our Weeklies and cannot procure thém from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out. and. fill in yeur Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK ee Publisher, FRI To aya Aaah RIDA Me = - + = «= + 24 UNION SQUARE, N. aoe Ow EF 97 Es INT ~ cnn T EK AND E BOOKS No. 33) HOW TO BEHAVE—Containing the No. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MIN- | ing, breeding, and managing all kinds of pets: f rules and etiquette of good society and *the sittin: GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK:—Some- | also giving full instructions for malin _ easiest and most approved methods of appear- | thing new and wery instructive. Every boy | ete. Fully explained by twenty- eet us-— ing to good advantage at’ parties, balls, the | should obtain this book, as it contains full | trations. theatre, church, and in the drawing-room. {peer cuoUS for organizing an amateur min- No. 55. HOW TO COLLECT drinen ‘AND t No. 34. HOW TO FENCE.—-containing fui | S7e Toure : Cope COINS.—Containing valuable information re- — instruction, for fencing mi one the use of the No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELEO- | garding the collecting and arranging of | ne Eeeosgr hide @ also instruction in archery. De- ae poke Hen xe the beatae and coins. Handsomely illustrated. scribed with twenty-one practical illustrations, | uses of electrici y and electro magnetism; to-_ No. 56. 1 ry MO giving the best positions in fencing. : gether with full instructions for making Blec- iGentatiins nar taatrece AN ENGINEER No. 35, HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A com- | (ic Toys. Batteries, etc. By George rebel, | jocomotive engineer; also directions for build~ plete and useful little book, containing the | 4-M.,M-D. | Containing over fifty illustrations. | ing a model locomotive; together with a full _ rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle, No. 47. HOW TO BREAK, RIDE AND | description of everything an engineer one ' backgammion, croquet, dominoes, ete. DRIVE A HORSE.—A complete treatise on | know. aM No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.— the horse. Describing ‘the most useful horses HOW 'TO MAKE MUSI ; Containing all the leading conundrums of the | for business; ene best CERES fon Redbolt ae full directions how ae TRU day, amusing riddles, curious catches and witty AU bol ae recipes for diseases peculiar to the copeks Violin, Zither, Adolian Harp, Xylophone — sayings. Onse. and other musical instruments; together with No. 37. HOW TO KEEP HOUSE.—It con- No, 48. HOW. TO BUILD AND SAIL | a brief description. of nearly every. musipal ti tains information for everybody, boys, girls, | CANOES.-A handy book for boys, containing | strument used in ancient or modern ie men and women; it will teach you ‘how to full directions for constructing canoes and the | Profusely illustrated. make almost anything around the house, such faeae popular manner. of sailing them. Tully No. 58. HOW TO BE. as , parlor ,ornaments, brackets, cements, Br Reeds Old King Brady, the Bia re Aeolian harps, and bird lime for catching | No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules | which he lays down some valuable rul birds, for conducting debates, outlines for debates, | beginners, and also relates some advent No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN | questions for discussion, and the best, sources | Wejj}-i¢cnown detectives, _ ry _DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, containing use- | for procuring information on the questions PARAS . ful and practical information in the treatment | given. No. 59. HOW TO MAKE A. acters! of ordinary diseases and ailments common to ie 50. HOW ‘tO STUFF BIRDS AND ANI- | TERN.—Containing a description of the | every family. Abounding in useful and effec- IALS.—A valuable book, giving instructions | tern, together with its history and inven tive ap ga for general complaints. fe collecting, preparing, mounting and pre- | Also full directions fe~ its use and Fon pate No. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POULTRY, | serving birds, animals and insects. slides. Handsomely illustrated.) — ; PIGEONS AND KRABBITS,—A useful and in- No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS. No- 60. HOW TO. BECOME A PHOTO io: structive book. Handsomely illustrated. ; ining ex ati F | pH Re antes useful info _ No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS. of x lie: 5 ing the CP hotoet —Including hints on how to catch moles, i to make » Phot weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also p and other ‘how to cure skins. Copiously illustrated. eomuned Caras mere y : No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END ae : ; 62. HOW re tBEC OME west 1 ap) oF No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS. Giving the pore SRY hse sian ‘ : SENG SORE feooae jones cacea ke fae bisat rules and full directions for playing: Euchre, : eee nee 8 D porters co! ae famous end men. No amateur minstrels is | Cribbage, Casino,, Fowty-Five, Rounce, Pedro Duties, Staff path iMcors,. P ny il Fours complete without this wonderful little book. | Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Pitch, Al | Regulations, Fire De n any other popular games of cards. f ; No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK stump | *7¢ ™27Y Laibar should know to be. SPEAKER.--~Containing a varied assortment of No. 53.| HOW TO WRITE LETTERS, HO’ TO sens stump speec hes, Negro, Duteh and Irish. Also | wonderful little book, telling you how to crf C romplete instructions o end men’s jokes. Just the thing for home } to your sweetheart, your father, mother, sister, admission apolis — 7 amusement and amateur ‘show. ieee brother, employer; and, in fact, everybody and Also ‘containing pi “and a pe —Contalning the grandest ent of mag- No. 54. HOW TO) KEEP AND MANAGE sketch ar verything ical iMusions, ever placed before the public, | PHTS.—Giving comatees information as to. th ie | |b come an nicer: bak ee Also tricksiwith cards, incantations: te. | manner oe sigh of raising, keeping, Lu aon f Hote Ss: eile ly all new wadealers, ‘Or. well be sent to any address on tees of price, 10 cents per No, 43. HOW TO dee Maanetmone nan: anybody you wish ta write to. seription. ae ee unds an