Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 398) (1913 05 16)
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, MONEY. ; Imspite of the chauffeur’s best efforts, the car rolled over the prostrate boy and then stopped. A ff" Score of eye-witnesses rushed forward, expecting to find the boy crushed ae, to death. But he wasn’t. He crawled out unhurt.
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Fame and Fortune Weekly STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1918, im the offica of the y Frank Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 23d Street, New York. — <x Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. ibrarian of as hin Washington, D. C., z ntered at the New York, K. ¥., Post Office as Second-Class Matter. ag No. 398. NEW YORK, MAY 16, 1913. Price 5 Cents. BILL'S BOND SYNDICATE ——0OR—— “4 A FORTUNE FROM A TWO-CENT STAMP. CHAPTER I. WHICH INTRODUCES BILL AND OTHERS. “That Iron Mountain deal is one on the boss,” said Bill Bunce, junior clerk in the counting-room of George Jessup, Stock broker, No. — Wall street. “How do you make that out, Bill? It wasn’t his fault that the market slipped a cog before he could realize on his stock,” said the second ,b0ok-keeper, whose name was Jack Carter. “How do I make anything out? By keeping my brains at work, of course. What is the use of having brains if you don’t use them intelligently?” replied Bill. “Do you mean to say that because Mr. Jessup got caught in Iron Mountain that he didn’t use ‘his brains intelligently?” said Carter. “Ido. If he had he wouldn't have got stuck. Any fool would r “have known better than to have gene long in Iron Mountain ee under the conditions it was boomed.” ee “You seem to know awhole lot about it.” » » . “I know that much.” oe At that moment Simon Cobb, the red-headed margin clerk, ~ - who was no friend of Bill’s, and had been listening to his criticism of the broker, stepped up and said: “Why don’t you suggest to Mr. Jessup that if he’d raise your salary you'd be willing to act in an advisory capacity - to’him?” “Why don’t you attend to your own business, Simon Cobb? _ You were not asked to put in your oar,” retorted Bill, tartly. “You needn’t.get mad over it. It was only one of my jokes,” ‘said Simon, in a whining tone that was characteristic of him. “One of your jokes? You haven’t humor enough in your whole body to get off a respectable joke. What were you listening for, anyway? My remarks were only intended for Carter’s ears, not for yours. “I couldn’t help hearing wedi you said,” said Cobb, depre- catingly. “You spoke rather loud.” “There’s mighty little said in the office that escapes those tavern sighs of yours.” - “You're always making cracks at my ears,” said Cobb, flash- » ing an unpleasant look at the junior clerk. “What's the mat- ter with them?” } “They ‘take up too much room .when you move around. Why ) don’t you pin them to your head?” a $ s’pose you think that’s funny?” “Tf you don’t like that suggestion I’ll offer you another, and “4 T won't charge you anything for the pointer. If I had your ears I’d rent the backs of them out for advertising PUTpOwES: hin hod pring in a nice little income.” , "You always take pleasure in insulting me,” hissed Cobb. 4 “I couldn’t insult you.” By A SELF-MADE MAN “T haven’t forgotten that you called me bricktop a number . of times. Red hair is a sign of smartness.” , “Really? Is it hair-red-itary in your family?” chuckled Bill, i Cobb did not appear to see the witticism. ; He was not 2 very wide-awake youth. oa “You want to know if it runs in our family? I ought not / to satisfy your curiosity after your remarks about my ears. The Bible says we should be charitable to those who villify us, and spéak all manner of evil against us, so I will say that my father had hair the same shade as mine.” “You're always quoting the Bible. Does it tell you to go sneaking around to hear ‘what other persons are talkiz about?” “I never sneak around. I attend strictly to my business.” “Why.aren’t you attending to it now instead of butting aii on Carter and me?” ; “Tz you don’t care for my society I'll go back to my desk. + “Do so, and you'll oblige us greatly.” ne Simon threw a look of PESeRtnIOnt at him and returned to his work. “You made a mistake talking so fankiy about the, boss in Cobb’s hearing,” said Carter, in a low tone to Bill. “You ought to know that nothing gives him so much pleasure as ta get people in trouble. It’s dollars to doughnuts ‘he’ll tell Mr. Jessup what you said about him at thé first chance, and; then you are likely to get a call-down, “if Cobb repeats my remarks to the boss Ill punch his head,” said Bill, with an aggressive look. “That would only make matters worse. He has a pull with the old man, and if you attacked him under the circumstances you *d be brought to book for it.” “Oh, I don’t know. If the boss stood up for such a chap as him it wouldn’t increase my respect for him.” “What do you want to speak so loudly for? He — say that.” “TY intended that he should. Listeners never hear any 5 of themselves.” Siviere., “You're pretty independent, Bill, which is well Suga its way, but a fellow can be too independent sometimes for hig own good. I don’t want to see you get in trouble, old man, so J advise you to be more cautious in expressing your opinions when Cobb is around.” “Oh, hang Cobb! I hate the sneak! He’s a regular hypo- crite. Always quoting the Bible and pretending to be a Chris- tian, I’ve sized him up and I know he’s only trying to make ii capital out of religion.” : “He's a member of Mr. Jessup’s church and belongs. to the! ee pastor’s Bible class. That probably: accounts for the standing: he has with the boss.”
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ihe ct “It’s a wonder Mr. Tater don’t sée ee} him whem every- body else in the office can. Miss Watson says she can’t bear the fellow. He's soft as mush to her, and it makes her sick.” The ceshier, who had been in the private-room. with the broker, now came out, and the two clerks separated, Bill re- turning to his desk and getting busy over his work: Bill Buace was admittedly the smartest clerk in the office, He was a swift and accurate worker, and performed his du- ties, while some of the others, notably Simon Cob), were fid- dlitig over ‘theirs. Whatever time he lost talking with Carter he made up in- .side of the next twenty mintites, so the boss lost nothing by his brief loaf. Bill was particularly strong on the subject of all kinds of gilt-edge bonds. - He was thoroughly securities, ‘The clerk who had eas of the bond business carricd on by Jessup frequently consulted him to save time, having found by experience that Bill’s information could always be relied upon. He also kept next to the market price of stocks, though that was a socondary consideration with him, for bonds were his hobby, ‘i He had made financial subjects a study ever since he began lis career in Wall Street as office boy for Mr. Jessup, three veers since, after leaving school. The first. thing he did when he bodENE his morning or his Svea paper was to turn to the financial colunin—this had become a hahit with him. ~~ “After he had studied the lafest hond and stock reports, had noted ihe changes in the quotations, and had the financial es vei at his fingers’ ends he turned to the general news of the da The only occasions on which he deviated from this custom ‘Was When some unusvtal sensation cropped up, and was set \ forth seer a Slaring scare heading om the first page. in such cases’ he ran over the startling intelligence as swiftly as an eiert newspaper man, taking in all that was important, and gliding over the minor details, which he read later, then i he hurried to his financial page, and until he had mastered - it had thoughts for nothing else. _ © Whileracting as mestenger for the office, Bill had made quite m class of sony speculating on the ‘side in one stock or Eat ; ~ Sometimes the was favored with tips that he picked up on #0 6, fer he was so sharp that nothing got away from occa ‘ Sigs t mostly he relied on his judgment. ere was | a lot of guesswork in his deals, “but this was always backed up by his Knowledge of the situation which he - was constantly aecimutating from the daily papers and the financial journals. Most ct his friends ehieihed their reading to the news of the - day and light fiction, for RaHnot matters did not greatly in- terest thon. é What they knew about the wtonk res ket and the price of bond’ was what they picked upon the fly. 4 They did ‘not deal in bonds, and not a wholé lot in stocks. ~ ' / Whatever their inclinations might be toward the Jatter, they haa little apostenity and less money to get in on speculative ars, deals. — Fs ve BT made. his opportunities: without inter fering with his aid duties, and the opportunitios panned him out a nice little capi- tal in’ ‘the course of time. - The secret of his svowing independence was ful confidence in h §$ own powers and the cash he had acduired, ~ Jessup. put him into the counting-room as soom as an opening tered, moving Simon Cobb, who } had fermerly heen his @ffice | IY, up a peg. As far as smartness was concerned, Bill was head and shoul- d ge pave Cobb, and Jessup was not ignorant of ‘his superior : ments, but he leaned more toward Simon because that : youth went to church with unfailing regularity, and stood iin the pastor's estimation as a most exemplary, young lan, , however, could read human nature like a book. g was a natural physiognomist without knowing it, b 4 afforded. him considerable recreation when seated in a ote we «A ageelg Paage with nothing olse to engage his attention, e the faces on forms of his fellow niishiteea | male nale, =. ate take him many sailnutes to sit Mm Ry a persion’ s bi ak acter from his or her cou mtenance, (> “was wont to say-t that every human being. bore a more less ronounced | lik seness, in face and forma, to some animal, y \ a touch with the market price of these eat) 0 st hand in your resignation to me, and quit on Saturday. BILL'S BON ‘D SYNDICATE. SE ror Hae tae oa la, ae a ee ain and eaeeiaa thé characteristics of the animal to a certain extent. fle told Carter that Simon Cobb was a combination *, a cur- dog and sonie kid of a snake which he could not place. He had some idea that mankind had developed from the ani- inal and viper kingdom, and had tately taken to reading aris treating on the subject, His conception of Cobb wag that he was a natural born iy tie crite, whose’ professed Christianity was a sham; who would take a blow without outwardly resenting it, but would try to get back at the giver in.the dark. He had already proved himself a sneak and a coward, and would have been a bully under favorable conditions. Bill lived in Flatbush with his parents and two sisters, one oldey and one younger than himself. What they didn’t think of him as a smart boy and 2 budding financier is hardly worth considering. And he was deserving of their high opinion, even though they were naturally prejudiced in his favor. CHAPTER If. BILL'S SERY ICES ARE DISPENSED WITH. Bill always went to luich at half-past twelve unless he had something particular on hand to finish np, and he got back at one, Simon Cobb went to his lunch about the same time, On this occasion he was still working at his desk when Billigak left the office. He. was, still very busy, apparently, fifteen minutes later. Then he threw down his pen “and went into the private- reom, He was in there ten minutes, and when he came out he went to lunch. At half-past three that aftrenoon the office boy came to Bill’s desk and told him that Mr. Jessup wanted to see him. He went in to see what the boss wanted. “Look here, Bruce, I understand that you have been criti- cizing me in a disrespect ul manner,” said the broker, Ana severe tone. “Who told you that?” sald ‘Bill, who easily SOG the © identity of the tale-bearer. “No matter. I was told that you ‘ied the following words, | and Mr. Jessup picked up a piece of paper and looked at it: ‘Any fool would have known better than to have gone into Iron Mountain under the conditions it wag boomied.’ Also, you remarked that I didn’t use my brains intelligently | or I wouldn’t have got stuck. Do you deny that you made ‘use of those expressions in reference to me?” “No, sir; I never deny what is true. The remarks, however, RE were spoken privately to Carter, and were not intended for ~ promiscuous circulation. Simon Cobb heard them, I know, and, of course, he is the sneak who carried them to you in : order to make trouble ‘for me. But that’s the kind of fellow he is.” a “Stop, sir, you have. ‘no business to attack your fellow clerk. tes He reported the matter to me as he believed it was his duty to do; but with a charity towards you that does him ¢redit, he begged me to judge you as lightly as possible,” Bill’s lip curled with scorn. * His consideration for me is truly touching,” he said, sar~ castically. “He brings you a full account of what I said in the counting-room, and then he asks you to let me off. T at’ Lee tike handing a person a rousing kick and then. begging. his janie pardon for the act. aie is “| am surprised you should show such sentiments toward wee a Christian lad as Simon: I wish you” were’ ‘More: like | hi “T don’t. Jf 1 thought I were like him. I'd. go down to the Battery and jump off.” | . “How dare you speak that way,” cried. the broker, angrily. “Because I hate hypocrisy in a person. There’s as much | real Christianity about that cuspidor as there is about Simon Cobb. He seems to have no trouble in fooling you, but he can’t. focl me worth a cent.” - “Your words are insulting. I am surprised that you have. the ho assurance to address. me in such a way. This, on top of. your. ; previous remarks, which you admit, convinces me that the office will get along better without you, You will, therefore, when Carter went out ’ gf is all. “Very well, You can go.” sir,” replied Bill, turning aes and ‘walks out. ¢ He stopped at Carter’s desk, ei
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“BILL'S BOND SY NDIC ATE “Cobb carried my remarks about the boss to him, and en Just had a run-in with him. I told him one or two things about the sneak which didn’t improve the matter. He told me my words were insulting, and requested me to send in my. resignation and quit on Saturday,” said Bill, “Do you mean to say that you're really bounced?” said Carter. “That's what it amounts to.” “And all through Cobb?” “There is no doubt that he made the trouble. I shall have something to say to him on the subject at five o’clock.” Bill fully intended to-read the rict act to Cobb after the of- fice closed for the day, but he didn’t get the chance, for Simon, suspecting what he was up against, got permission from Mr. Jessup, before that gentleman left, to go off fifteen minutes early in order to attend a special meeting of a committee of the YM. 0. 'A. Cobb. never had any trouble in working an excuse of that kind on his boss, but it is a question whether his excuses were genuine. 5 Mr. Jessup, however, admired the apparent zeal that Cobb; _ displayed toward Christian matters, and thought the more; highly of him in consequence, So Bill was disappointed in not having it out with Cobb that ; afternoon, but he guessed it would keep. He told Miss Watson, the stenographer, with whom he was Cobb grinned, “] told him if I thought I bore any resemblance to you ‘La ; go down to the Battery and jump off into the bay.’ Cobb stopped grinning and favored Bill with a nasty look. “Always insulting me,” he gritted: A cage came along at that moment, and Cobb stepped to- ward it to go down. “Don’t be in a hurry,” said Bill, seizing him by the collar and pulling him back. “He doesn’t want to go down yet,” added Bill to the elevator man, who thereupon closed the gate ;and started the cage. “What are you trying to do?” snarled Cobb. “Just amusing myself, that’s all. Are ycu gcing to apole- Bi. for doing the sneak act and getting: mein trouble?” asked i “Yl do it after you apologize to me for all the insults: you have handed me.” “I never apologize for truthful remarks. Bverything I’ve - said to you, and about you, is the truth. You're a sneak and [R hypoerite, A sneak because you carry tales and do so many underhanded tricks that a decent chap would be ashamed to be gitilty of. A hypocrite because you pretend to bé a fodd | Christian when you're not, and have vo real intentions in that direction, You're working the church business with-a selfish motive—to feather your own Ree Now that you've heard | what I think about you, you ¢an I don’t imagine it will, a great favorite, that Mr. Jessup had requested him to hand shave any effect on you, but it’s a Gaitefaction to me to speak in his resignation, owing té6 what Cobb had reported to him, my mind to you. Qne of these days you'll be shown up in The young lady expressed regret at the news, but told Bim | your true colors, and it would aflord me unlimited enjoyment he had acted foolishly in giving utterance to any sentiments |to be present on the occasion, but T expect no such luck,” reflecting on Mr. Jessup, particularly in the hearing of Cobb, who, she agreed, was no or nament to the office, “I’m gorry to have you go,” she said, “but you ought to have ‘no trouble in placing yourself in another office.” “I'm not sure I shall look for another position,” said Bill. '“No?” she ejaculated in surprise. “JT think*I cam do better.” “In what way?” j “Working for myself. I have some capital, and I fancy I ean make it grow by devoting the whole of my time and my energies to it.” “Then you have an idea of going into some business?” “Yes, right here in Wall Street. It is the greatest place to: make money in America if you know the ropes and can work j : them right.” “Are you thinking of starting out as a broker and working - up?” “No, I have other views: I haven’t money enough to go into the brokerage business. There are more ways than one of making money in Wall Street.” Miss Watson did not press the question further, and after - gome further talk they separated outside the building. _ to Mr, Jessup by the office boy, and on Saturday he told the ; cashier that he wasn’t coming back on Monday. “why not?” asked that gentleman. ad “Because Mr. Jessup thinks he can get on without. me. I the ‘thought he had told you,” said Bill. “No, he said nothing to me about your going away. What | “was the trouble?” “T created it by expressing my views about the Iron Moun- of the horn, Simon Cobb heard what I said and took all the ee trouble of telling Mr. Jessup—a truly Christian act for a chap . “who: is so close to the church and is always: quoting the Bible. That reminds me, I haven’t settled with him yet. Good-by, Mr. Brown.” ‘ 4Dm sorry. to see you go, Bunce,” said the cashier, “You're, “Oh, I guess Mr. Jessup won't go into bankruptey because I'm not on the job,” said Bill, laughingly, as he turned away. \ Carter followed him out, and they were standing in the cor- | - -vidor near the elevator when Cobb came along. i ae “hope you are feeling happy now, Cobh, ” said Bill. “Tam enjoying my customary good spirits,” replied Simon, with a sickly grin, * “Mr. Jessup told me that you ravdvted to him what you heard me say to | Carter ‘the other morning about the Iron ; ‘Mountain deal,” |. “Tl am gilt but my duty to Mr. Jessup compelled me to. pring the matter up,” said Cobb, meekly. “I told him f hoped he would not be hard on you.” “So he remarked at the interview I had with him on the cain , He seems to think a lot of you. He said he wished ere more’ Itke din Moyes a smart fellow, and, in my opinion, the office needs you,” !’ tin’ express time.” Think you're smart, don’t you?” sneered Cobb, as another lcage came down and he signaled it to stop. “The boss told ,me he had given you the bounce for insultihg him, I’m glad |to hear it. It is the best news I’ve heard in a moath, You'll have a nice time getting another position without reference. I wish you duck.” With that parting shot Cob sprang ‘into the elevator and was whisked out of sight. Bill laughed, and he and Carter took the next elevator down, When Bill got home that afternoon he said nothing. to his mother about his discharge from the office, . He knew it would upset her, and he would have to payee into 'a full explanation to account for the trouble he had’ got into with his late employer. He handed her the amount usually turned in on Saturday, , and then went over to the home of his particular. friend, Dick | Sanderson, to see if he was about, Dick held a position in one of the departments of the Bor- ough of Brooklyn, and he generally reached his. house: some time before Bill got home, He found Dick waiting for him to show up. “Well, old man, where shall we go this. “afternoon?” said Ny Ae Rs Next morning Bill wrote out his resignation and sent it in | pick, “Any place you say,” replied Bill. . ; ‘ “I'll leave it to you,” “T haven’t anything on the hooks.” mn At that moment a touring car came gliding, down the ‘street. It had but one occupant—a boy of about their age. -. ; His name was Bob Ridley, and he was a friend of Bill and. : ck’s, 2 “Hey, fellows, want to take a ride?” asked ‘Bob, bringing , 4 tain deal the boss went into and came out at the short end the car to a stop near them. | “Surest thing you know, if Bill will go,” said Dick. “Tm on,” said Bill. “Glad you turned up, Bob, for we were p just figuring how we should spend the afternoon.” op yy “Pile in,” said Bob, Li “Where did you pick up the car?” asked Dick, as they Rie started off. Rents “Oh, this belongs to my boss. I’m bound on an errand to ou of his customers who lives im Jamaica.” aa “That's some distance,” said Bill. : “Yes, if you had to walk it, but this car will take us there ; “How fast will she go?” asked Dick. “A whole lot faster than the speed limit. It’s a high-pc machine, The boss says it is geered up to thirty-five le hour.” | “When you hit the road let her out and let us see ct sel pened Monk: ss “Not one chance Dick. me | “How do you ude that? I’ve ‘heard that the jay pues wide: awake when a ear is ‘stretching the in a munarea of our gibi ol y 4 said Dick. . Wieder Se
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“Oh, if we were held up we could say that we didn’t know we were running too fast,” said Dick. “That wouldn’t go down with those chaps. They'd, take me before the justice and I’d be fined $10 at least, and be held . with the machine till the boss was communicated with and the fine paid. ‘That’s the way the village authorities pad the treasury.” “Well, you’re running the machine. We-don’t care what ‘speed you run her at,” said Dick. They had hit the road by this time, and Bob let her out as much as he dared. “This is going some,” said, Dick. . “There’s no one in sight. Let her out another notch,” said Bill. Bob did so, and they were soon going at a gait of thirty miles an hour. As they were approaching a turn, Bob shut of power till he could see what, if anything, was ahead. Swinging around the curve, they perceived a large, heavily loaded farm wagon in their path going slowly along in the same direction as themselves. ~ Coming toward them on the other side were two autos, one behind the other. ~-Tt was fortunate Bob shut off the power, and he was now obliged to put on the brake, for otherwise he could not have avoided a collision with the wagon, for he .could not have passed around it owing to the position of the other cars. When the other autos passed on, Bob got in front of the BILLS BOND SYNDICATE. wagon, aud after that they kept to about twenty miles an hour, and in due time reached Jamaica. CHAPTER III. IN THE VILLAGE LOCK-UP. Bob transacted his business, and then they started back for Flatbush by another road. Opening up a clear stretch of road where there were no ve- hicles in sight, Dick and Bill persuaded Bob to give them a specimen of the car’s speed, Bob agreed to do it for a short distance, and ke got the car down to business. Suddeniy a man jumped out of the hedge and eae a signal. The boys didn’t see him, as he appeared after the machine ‘had flashed past. Just as Beb shut off, having run as far at top speed as’ he dared to risk, a man was seen ahead on a motor bicycle, run- ning in the same direction they were. They overhauled him pretty fast, and when they came nearly abreast of him he shouted to them to stop, showing his star. = "Gee! That’s a-cop,” said Dick. “How fast are we going, ob?” “ve shut off power, but we're going at a pretty hot clip, “more than the speed limit, I guess.” “Then we stand a chance of being malin in,” said Bill. » The man on thé motor, who was dressed in plain clothes, _. kept pace with thera till they stopped. “You’re under arrest,” he said. "87 am?” returned Bob. “All of you. You have been traveling way beyond the speed mit.” “Only for a short distance,” ‘trying out the car.” “You were running nearly forty miles an hour, and the limit on this road is sixteen.” : “Sixteen!” cried Bob. “For funerals “This will be your funeral, I guess,” said the country of- - ficer, “Go ahead now, slow, Don’t try any game with me, ‘Yor I’ve got a gun, and this ’cycle of mine will run as fast as Rh can go.” “What’s the use of being hard on us. I don’t own the car. Bob.’ “You've got to go before the justice. / your excuse, ; "Under the convoy of the country cop they entered a small Me village and were taken to the law office of the justice of the peace, who was the most important personage in.the place. The boys were arraigned before him, and the officer made ir his charge, expaining how he had timed the auto, and found it _ Was running at a speed of over thirty-five miles an hour. he justice frowned ominously, ; he community thereabouts had been terrorized lately by aA “ge ral parties of “joy riders” who had escaped arrest, and it - -wWas'¢ etermined to stop the je aad on thet road. replied Bob, “We were just : you mean?” We’re only boys, and It belongs to my bess in Brooklyn,” said’) You can hand him — justice levied a fine of twenty-five dollars on him, and assessed Dick and Bill ten dollars each. “We hayen’t any funds to pay such fines,” protested Bob. “Lock them up and holg the car,” said the justice to the constable. “Oh, I say, you’re laying it on pretty thick,” said Bob. “T’ll double your fine if you say another word,” roared the justice. Bob was mad as a hornet, but he deemed it prudent to make no mcre remarks, for he knew the magistrate of the village had the power to make matters exceedingly hot for him and his companions. The constable led them. up a side street to the lock-up, a primitive kind of jail, which stood close to his house. It was built of wood, had a small office on the ground fleor, and three cells behind it. The cells were small and dirty, each having a barred win- — « dow, and a stout wooden door, with a small sag pRetine: in it, Overhead was a loft. : At the time of their arrival the place had no occupants, nor had there been a prisoner there for some time. The constable took their names down in a book, with their addresses, together with the name and address of Beb’s em- ployer, aga whom the justice expected to collect the $256 fine. The boys were then locked up in separate cells and the con- stable went away to fetch the auto. He backed into an open shed on his premises and Teft it. The boys, being unable to communicate with, one another, were in no cheerful frame of mind over the situation they ie found themselves in. af The only furniture in their cells was a cot with a couple of cheap blankets and a pillow, none of which smelt very sweet. Bill sat on his, and wondered how long they would be kept prisoners. He knew their fathers would come after them and pay the fines as soon as they’ learned of the predicament their sons were in, but this would take time. Atter a while Bill pulled his cot over under the window, stood on it and was able to look out through it. It commanded the rear prospect of the jail, overlooking a large vacant lot with a tree-lined street beyond, where there -| were several houses, With others further on. The sun was setting in the distance, and its last rays shone full on the back of the jail and on Bill’s face. “This is a nice situation for three respectable young chaps to be in,” he thought. “We couldn’t be wor'se off, in a way, if’ we had been caught in the commission of a real crime, and brought here to face the music. These country magistrates seem to haye little consideration for any one that is brought ve before them. Hxceeding the speed law isn’t such a terrible of- - tence that 1 can see: A fellow oughtn’t to be locked up like a common criminal for it. I think it’s a shame.” Bill laid hold of one of the bars to steady himself, for the cot threatened to turn over under his weight. y He found the bar very loose, both at the bottom and top. He tried the second bar and found that one even looser. ‘ “I believe it wouldn’t be much of a job to get these bars out,” he thought. “They’ve either been loosened through time and poor cement, or some prisoner who was in here had worked on them with the view of making his escape, and was unable to finish the job. I’d like to break out of this place | just to get the better of these jay constables. But if I did it would only benefit me. . Dick and Bob would have to stay — here. Still if I got away I could hasten their rescue by notify-. ing their fathers, who would come after them, settle the fines and take them away.” Bill got out his stout pocket knife and commenced opera- tions on the lower part of one of the bars. wih The work proved so easy that in fifteen minutes he was able to pull the bar out. He replaced it, for it was too early to Steet to escape by the window. He would surely be seen and recaptured. By the time he had removed and replaced the second bar it was dark. As he descended from the cot he heard sounds outeias. in. the corridor. de hastily replaced the Keds in its original patient and lay _ down on it, : The door was unlocked and a deputy constable appeared ty bearing a lamp. ’ said ‘the aye ras “The constable has sent supper in to you lads,” officer. “You can go out in the office and eat it.” Ms
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BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE. . ————T———————————————————————————S Leaving the door open the deputy unlocked the other two cells and gave a similar invitation to Dick and Bob. ; In less than five minutes the three young prisoners were in the head constable’s office, where a large tray filled with ; dishes containing food stood on the desk. The deputy placed the Jamp on the top of the desk, ‘while } a second deputy remained with his back against the street | door, “Sorry we can’t accommodate all of you with chairs, young! fellows, but we haven’t but ‘two. One of you will have to stand, and use the desk as a table.” _ Motioning Dick and Bob to take the chairs, the deputy handed each of them a knife and fork, and a plate containing | a piece of steak and a boiled potato, with a couple of slices ; of buttered bread. The three cups of tea, and three saucers of rice pudding, remained on the tray for the present. Bill took possession of the table. “Don’t you think this is an outrage to treat three respectable young fellows like common criminals?” said Bill, as he started to eat. “You oughtn’t to have broken the speed law,” returned the ; - deputy constable. '“We only broke it for the distance of a mile over a deserted straight road. We were simply experimenting with the car, to see how much speed it was capable of.” ' “Did you explain that to the justice?” “Yes, but the explanation didn’t do us any good. He’s a grouchy old man, and he handled us without gloves, just as if we were highwaymen, or something of that kind.” “Well, I’ll tell you. We've lately been having a lot of trouble with people driving their cars at top speed over that part! - of the road, and the village authorities have determined to put a stop to it. As you are the first offenders to be caught, you have to suffer as an example.” } “The justice soaked us pretty hard, considering we’re only boys. I #hink $45 fine is outrageous. Ten, dollars is the usual thing, and the person running the car is the only one fined. In our case the justice fined Ridley, here $25, and threat- ened to double it when he protested, while Sanderson and myself, who Were merely passengers, were assessed $10 each. » As none of us have money enough to settle we were sent here and locked up like .common malefactors. Such a _ thing wouldn’t happen in New York, take it from me,” said Bill. “Tt does seem kind of hard on you chaps,” admitted the deputy constable; “but the justice is sore on the speed fiends, sand it happened to be your luck to be the first brought before . him: for breaking the speed law.” ' “Has. the boss constable tried to communicate with my boss?” asked Bob. z “IT couldn’t say what he has done about that. He may have sent a messenger to notify him that you lads have been ar- rested and fined and his car held as security for the money.” “That will be an extra charge, I suppose,” said Bill, “Very likely, as it’s a matter of accommodation,” said the deputy. While the boys Were finishing their meal Bill took in the - office. ‘He observed that the deputy had hung the ring with the three cell keys on a nail beside the desk. He immediately concluded that was where it always hung. Tt gave him a new idea. - , He looked ‘at the window, overlooking the street, and saw : that. it was secured by an ordinary fastening, which could - easily be forced by a wedge-shaped piece of wood driven be- tween the sashes. When the boys had concluded their supper they were led back to their cells and locked in for the night, unless their fine was paid in the meanwhile, when they would be released. i The deputy constables, blowing out the lamp and taking the trap of empty dishes with them, went away. As soon as Bill heard the front door slammed to, he moved ‘his cot back under the window and mounted it as before. It was too early yet to attempt his escape, but he wanted to keep his eye on the neighborhood, “Tf I can only work my plans all right,” he thought, “the three of us will give the village authorities the merry ha, ha! and we'll take the car with us, too.” i He chuckled at the thought of the surprise that awaited the ~ constables in the morning if things worked without a hitch. “Tl bet Dick and Bob are feeling pretty blue in their cells,” . . said Bill to himself. “If they only knew what was going to > s“happen their spirits would rise like an inflated balloon, and -‘ “they'd be as tickled as they now are miserable.” ~ Bill eth a match and looked at his watch. i 5 It was eight o’clock, still too Pare, for him to venture to begin operations. It was quite possible they might heed a visit yet from the head constable. Bill curbed his impatience to be up and doing, for he knew that he might spoil the whole thing py too much haste. It seemed an awful long time, before nine came around, and that hour was far too early to take chances. As ten o’clock approached the lights in the houses within | his range of vision went out one by one. The village people went to bed early in comparison ‘with city folks. About this time he heard a light vehicle drive into the con- ~ ' stable’s yard, and he heard the sound of men’s voices there for about fifteen minutes. Z Then a door was slammed and quiet reigned again around j the neighborhood. He ‘took the bars out.of their sockets, laid them on his cot ° and pulled himself partly out of the window to take a survey fof the situation. He saw a light in an upper window of the constable’s house, and a man’s shadow occasionally reflected on the blinds. A white picket fence ran between the lock-up and the ton- stable’s yard, ending at the shed where the automobile was. Bill knew it was there, for he had heard the noise it maze when the constable backed it in there. As it was his intention to run it out after he had een his two friends, he had some misgiving as to whether the noise it was sure to make in running out would awaken the constable. Even “if it did that would not prevent them ‘making their ; escape, Meese) Eleven o’clock came around on leaden wings, we “T guess it will be safe to venture now,” he said. 3 He raised his right leg and pushed it through the window. Hanging out, he took a good look around. The only light in sight was what came from the stars and — made nearby objects quite clear. : : From his perch he saw a ladder stretched across the front of the shed, resting on a couple of barrels. a “1 wonder if the constable thinks that will keep the car from getting out,” he chuckled. : Then he swung himself out of the window and landed en “8 the ground—a free boy. : 4 CHAPTER IY. THE JAIL BREAKERS. He looked up at the barred windows of the other two ‘eae where his friends were confined, and his first idea was to toss’ a small stone through each of them to attract the attention of Dick and Bob. \j On reflection he concluded not to do so. : He was about to enter the constable’s yard to look for oa small piece of wood which he could fashion into a wedge to insert between the sashes of the office window when his eye caught sight of an open window in the loft of the lock-up. | “That will be a mote expeditions way to get back into the a jail than by way of the office window, which is likely to give me considerable trouble to force,” he thought. “I can e get up there by using the ladder which the constable placed i in front of the shed. It was very kind of him to leave it so _ handy for me.” a Bill climbed over the picket fence, put the ladder over, got es back again, and raised it under the.window of the loft. f ¢ To run up and enter the loft was the work for but a tow as moments. ; Lighting a match, Bill soon found a flight of stairs which ran down into the lock-up proper. : He went down and walked into the office where he found the cell keys, as he expected, hanging on the nail beside the constable’s desk. 4 “Oh, this job is easy,” he laughed, as he started for the back of the jail. He tried the keys first on his own cell to find the one opened it. é Then the idea occurred to him to replace the bars in their sockets, and put the cot back in its original place. “After I let Dick and Bob out I’ll relock the cells and. tomy the keys to the nail, All we have to do will be to get through the window, remove the ladder, and leave Mae ok stable to solve the mystery of how we got away,” he s' y tickled over the thought of the amazement of the. “cons bl when he tound aS ai all right, denne: in the look =—
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‘6 and yet the three prisoners gone. “It will be one big joke on him, and I'll bet he won't get over it in a econ’s age.” Relocking his cell door he went to the next one, where Dick was. confined and opened it. BILL'S BOND SYNDICATE. “Through ‘the window! It was barred like our windows.” “I'll admit it was, but those bars Nenenitad to be feous I made therm looser, and finally pulled them out altogether. How could you, Instead of his friend asking who was there, he heard deep |'’Then the way was clear for me to get out, and I got sult as ‘breathing trom the cot. “Dick is asleep. Now to surprise him. Here, wake up, old man,” he said, shaking his friend by the arm. Dick gave a snort and sat up. “Who's there?” he said. > “Bill Bunee.n”:., “What, is that really you, Bill?” “Don't you know my voice?” “Sure f do, How came you in here? and paid, cur fine?” “No, not that I have “Then explain.” “T escaped from my éell, and Bob out.” “You don’t mean it,” cried Dick, jumping up with alacrity. ~-* Come on and don't waste tine. We've got te get away from this place as soon as we can.’ “How are we going to get out of this jail. locked up, isn’t 1?” “Don’t Worry about getting out.. That's easy. Follow me.* | © Xs sodifias Dick stood in the corridor Bill locked the call ' ‘and-then opencd the third and last one. » Be found Bob asleep, too, Tt didn't take much exertion to awaken him, > Ei; “Hello, is that you, const able?” aghed Bob, rubbing his eyes "dn ethte dark. S heard.” Phe place is | the ladder) just to make the puzzle a bit denser. soon as J judged it ‘was prudent to do so.” “But the bars were in your window when we came down the ladder. I saw them,” said Bob. “fT put them back to puzzle the constable, When he or his deputy brings us our breakfast in the morning he will find us non est inventus, which is Latin for not to be found, or words to that effect. He'll find the cells locked as they were left, and the windows looking as usual. The problem he’ll Have our folks come have to figure out is how did his three prisoners escape?” “He’ll know when he examines the bars of the window you. tampered with,” said Dick. ; “He'll understand how I got out, of course, but that won’t got the keys and came to let you explain how you two got out.” “The ladder and the open loft window will give him an idea.” “I returned to the lock-up that way, released you chaps, and so on? Well, I closed that window before I followed you down If I could have fastened those bars in their sockets 1 could have had him guessing for the rest of his life.” “It’s a great joke on the constable,” grinned Dick, leaks cut, the people are bound to roast him.” . “Tm thinking the justice ‘will. roast him first. out $45.” “You forget that the justice and the constable have our names and addresses,” said. Bob. “The constable is sure to “When oe The toute is “No, it isn’t the cons stable, but. your puatlontes friends, Bill | ¢2ll on my boss aud deraand payment.” mt and Dick." “How did you two come here? Are ’y we released?” “No, but we're going to make our escape." “Make our escape! How??) ~*’©omeé along and you'll see.” '“Eob didn’t waste any time in eee out of the cate which Bil locked: “flow is he going to make him pay? He didn’t break the speed law, and it is a question if the constable will be able ‘to levy on ihe inachine now that it is out of his jurisdiction.” “iy con't know. just how we'll stand in this matter,” said Bill. “You ses we are escaped prisoners and are probably liable to vearrest. This might prove more sérious than break-— ing the speed law, though I maintain that the justice had no- “Follow after me,” said Bill, and he led them to the door of | 2! right to fine Dick abd me at all, as we were only pas- “the officé: "Wait, here till I hang the keys up where they be- long. mr! ay. DOW do Sve get out?” asked: Bob when Bill returned to ‘them, ie “We can easily get out through the office window, which is held by 2 common cateh, but as I want to mystify the con- stable, I donjt care to leave the window unlocked as long as there is no‘teed of it, Follow me up to the loft. There’s a y window there with a ladder standing under it. We'll be out- may side in a jiffy.” i Inside of five | minutes they were standing on the ground » Outside and Bill took lold cf the ladder and, pushed it back | jo into the coustable’s yard.. “Now, then, we must get the car out of the shed,” he said. _ ¢ “Is)thet where it is?” said Bob. » “Yes, Get over the fence and you'll see it.” -* We can't start her without making some noise.’ - “Tt won't take you more than haifa minute, I shotild think, to crank her and start her. I'L nen the gate 80 the way will be clear.” ; 7 With the gate open, ‘atid Bill ana Dick Ww as ready: for the final move in the game. “The cdast was clear as far as could be seen. a ee and the other before the front door of the chustable's i he. laider was balanced across the front one. rake, and gtarted the car. It eft the shed with a eoxee of sia sped throvgh the open te | It the isin les rae Nidgiaed ae ‘hie: depar tive of. the car the rf gee mot knew it, and they were soon : speeding Brooklyn-: 7 eease of twelve.” ce Our zor ke must. be wondering what has becuse of us,2" ba dae ig f tell us how you got. out of your ell, a " paid Bob. | “You. that before you could help us.” Well, t at ent through the window,” in’ the Back seat, all | law on the subject, but it is my impression that you and your Before getting into the car Bill and Ditk placed one of the | he’ li: bave to stand for all the consequences. said: eae debe you were treated, They'll have te wonder till we “wet back to offer an expla- | sengers. If any attempt is made to rearrest me, I shali fight the matter on the ground that my arrest in the first place, to- gether with the fine, was illegal. I advise you to do sot bss Dick, $" ; x “T eertainiy will,” said. Dick, ; i sd “It looks as if I was to be the goat,” said Bob, ott “ft strikes me you will have to stand for the fine, and your 2 ; boss will havé to pay if you don’t, as the car is agit said Bill. It was close on to cne when Bill entered his Home. 4) PRA His folks had gone to bed and were aslecp, for they manne f worried about Bill if ne was out late, or even over night, as had more than one friend at whose house he often etopned At breakfast next morning he told his folks about his -auto ride to Jamaica, and how it ended for the time being in the f village lock-ip, Then he described how he escaped from his coll, and Wenctind ; his two companions in misfortune. Mr. Bunce looked serious. e “You boys got yourselves into a bad saraiie, and it is a ‘Gieke tion hew it will end,” he said. “I am not familiar with the sis 3 as friend Dick Sanderson, being merely passengers in the Cary ts should not have been fined. As for young Ridley, I'm afraid . He was fined $26. barrels on which the ladder bad rested in, front of the back | The fine not being fortheoming, he was very properly sent to’ the locii-up. A few hours later he broke jail with your help, |) | It strikes me that. he can be rearrested. and punished for cic) pene in addition to the fine. The village < raaeiaiad ean. bring ol cranked the machine, sprang into his seat, rele aged. the | another charge ‘against him; tos.” . “Another ebarge! What other charge?” , “Carrying passengers in a car of wi Lich” he was. not the owner.’ : “Is that against ‘the law?” 4 é “T think it is:* = ! “Heavens! Bob will a up to his neck in trsisoas, Bae e “As he is only a boy he may come out of it all right: ) ae was foolish for you lads to break ‘out of oe Bo snatter how ; ) ment with the authorities of the village.” ; “Who would have thought that an atternoon | ride would lead {to such uapleasant resilts,* said Bill, : YOu: boys brought the trouble on yourselves, ms rcs ta th i
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BILL'S BOND SYNDICATE, - eng 5 car. Suppose you had run over and killed aeaaetiory: see = vis Veere tally away in his pocketbook for further consideration, trouble it would have involved you and your families in. As it is, I think it is serious enough,” said Mr. Bunce. Bill teok his father around to Dick’s house, where a consul- tation was held with Mr. Sanderson. : : The two gentlemen then went with their sons to call at the Ridley heme, re The result of the discussion there was that the three men went to sce Bob’s boss, who was ignorant as yet of the trouble, tor he supposed that Bob had returned before dark the after- moon berore and returned the car to the garage, whereas it was one in the morning when Bob arrived in the ear. ‘ The oulecome of the consultation at the home of Bob’s boss was that the four men went in the car to the village and saw the’ justice. That official was in very bad humor, and was intent on push- ing the case against the boys. When the legality of his action in fining Bill and Dick was evestioned, he reluctantly admitted that perhaps he had gone too far, and he said he would remit the fines against .them, but insisted that he would have Bob rearrested unless the $25 was paid, and another $25 for his breaking jail. ‘The second fine was finally reduced to $15, and the four men chipped in $10 apiece, and the whole case, was. settled. And ‘so the boys got out of what might have ete: a se- -. rlous affair. Hf nz hes é > s ns CHAPTER V. 2 RILL’S BRAIN CONCEIVES A GREAT SCHEMES. Bill left home on Monday morning at his usual time, and, after getting out of the car at the Breoklyn Bridge entrance, walked over to City Hall Park, took a seat near the fountain _ and devoted his attention as usual to the financial page of his sees ning paper. _- Tt was pointed out that small bidders had an equal chance “with the big ones in’ ‘securing some ‘of these bonds, as every he ders would be certain to be awarded their full quota, while’ the. successful large bidders were likely to be cuit down. © Bidders would not be required to forward any deposit with |’ bane ‘their offers, but would have to deposit the amount of the pre- ‘ mivm on the full amount of bonds bid for ona certain date. “€hould a successful bidder fail to do so, or take up the bbuds, they would .be allotted to the next highest bidder, The subject of bonds. being a fad with Bill, as. we have eitready remarked, he. was deeply interested in this advance piece of news. _* He read the niore detailed. account of the forthcoming bond issue on another page bec a great deal of attention, and pon- rad” over BGs ‘was not stated id the Treasury Department would ake its forma! request for offers on the. $50,000,000 bond “when the compiete details would be published. ~ Bill cut out beth the tote pe the editorial, and put them | bid would be. considered on its merits, and the smaller bid-|- ‘ saaee,! ath it was indicated that it would be’ announced soon, then he read the rest of the news. When the clock on the tower of the Produce fxchange” an~ nounced the hour of five, Bill started for the Brookly n Bridge to get a car for home. He devoted some thought to the subject of bonds that eve- ning, particularly the perspective issue of the two per cent. Panaina Canal securities, which was the lowest rate of interest yet to be placed by the Government on its bonds, and he won- _ dered what would be the highest offer the Treasury Depart- ment would get, and Whether the sale would be’ attended with the usual success. lps his chair tilted back and his feet on the ledge of a indow, he sat in the dark and went over his recc'ections of ss jous bond sales by the Government, and how when offered to the general public, and not privately to banking syndi- cates, they had been over-subscribed two or three times, and the Treasury Department had secured a higher price for pt a gilt-edged securities. : As he riminated, a somewhat visionary scheme formed in his active brain, but it had possibilities that appealed to him. The scheme, half formed as yet, had nerve for its backbone, — and a nerve that, was colossal for a bey to even dream of: But it was the right kind of nerve—the nerye that has made millionaires of small capitalists. To say the truth, the bare thought of actually attempting’ - what was in his mind somewhat staggered him at first, but as time passed and the plan shaped itself more definitely in his - brain, he ceased to regard it as anything. more than a bid: for. — fortune, which might prove successful; and in‘any case would cost him nothing more ihan a sheet of paper, an brains ie and — a two-celt postage stamp, i But he could not hope to succeed by mere susseworky e It is true it was possible to win by a Mere guess, but it. tina ; one chance in a thousand or more. } He was too much interested in his idea to take such chances, Besides, it was unnecessary. ; Having the bond business well in hand throngh jong study i and careful calculation, he had the ie ican to base his. Se figuring on. Pets Indeed, he was nearly as well equipped as arly’ of the great banking houses to enter the lists with them in the competif} ioc that would shortly be in order. Sy Until the time came he intended io devote all his time, daide: from his stock operations, to a careiul caleulation of the con- ditions bearing oa the matter, and also to plan-how he woe, dispose of the bonds if they were awarded to him, ‘ His whole campaign must be accurately sketched out in de 4 tail before he made his bid, for he knew such a bid as he had ~ in mind would attract general attention in the fi aucial world as soon as it became known that it had been su mitted by a boy without the capital to make good. a It would be criticized by some financiers, and jeered’ at by others. Set The newspapers would take it up and give it the aspect ofa iarce-comedy, but Bill did not mean there should be any farce comedy about it. Ridiculous as some might view. the idea, he intended, it good Juck attended his venture, to Make a fortune from an insig- nificant iwo-cent postage stamp. ; In the meanwhile, Bill kept his attention: on the two stoke deals he was interested in. In about a week L. & O, went up 6 95, while United! tion did still better, “going to 135 in 'that time. \ ~ At the end ‘of ten days Bill sold L. & O, ata et of 8 a share, clearing $800. He continued to follow United Traction. f For another week it fluctuated up and down, and fina reached 137. Bill concluded that. was good enough for him, and he making $2,400. : During all this time he went to Wall Street and atte home at his regular time, and so his family had no suspic! that he was no longer in the employ of Broker Jessup. He met Jack Carter occasionally and learned how th: were going at the office. 5 Simon Cobb was in high feather there, and lorded new clerk who had taken Bob's desk. Kee -“He’s sore on Miss Watson, though,” said: Carte never thought much of him, but she thinks, Jess o —_ : he was’ the cause of getting YOu Gat fe eG “He stands as well BS ever with Me Said Bill, “Oh, font ‘He's got the inside ‘track
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8 E _ BILL'S BOND SYNDICATE. because it’s the only thing that keeps ene halt way de- | dicate, and the combined bids of all of them only amounted to cent; but such leeches as Cobb, with their sanctimonious bluff, | $15,000,000, the-syndicate would be allotted the balance, or do religion a lot of injury, since they are certain to be shown up in ,the long run, and their exposure gives outsiders and blacksliders a wrong impression of a good cause.” “That's right,” nodded Bill. “The pastor of Mr. Jessup’s church called yesterday to see him. As the boss was out at the time, he asked for Cobb. *You ought to have seen the way Simon kow-towed to him. He was as nice as pie. Brought the dominie into the counting- room and introduced him all around. Then he took the rev- erend gentleman to his desk and talked with him for fifteen or twenty minutes. About that time the boss turned up, and they both went in to see him. Altogether, Cobb lost the best _ part of an hour from his work, and as he isn’t a chap to catch up, he had the new junior help him out.” “How is the new fellow getting on?” “First rate. His name is Rickey, and. he’s a quiet chap. Cobb bosses him around a good deal, but I fancy that won’t continue, As soon as Rickey sees through him he’ll call a halt and Cobb will take water.” - Next day Bill met Cobb coming from his lunch, and stopped him, ; “How do you do, Mr. Cobb? It gives me great pleasure to meet you again,” he said, ironically, | Cobb didn’t seem inclined to have anything to say to him at first, but his curjosity to learn how Bill was doing got the better of him, "Tam glad vo sée that you can talk to me without insulting me, » said Cobb, in a patronizing tone. “Where are you work- ing?” “I haven’t found a job yet,” said Bill. “No,” grinned Cob, with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. *“Can’t you get anybody .to take you on?” “It’s pretty hard to get a position in Wall Street without Ps een nf “You see what you got by insulting Mr. Jessup—and me.” “Maybe if I called on Mr. Jessup he might give me refer- Mt imee,” - “He might—if I asked, him to.” “Are you his right bower now?” “Well, I stand pretty close to him. We belong to the same chureh, you know.” .“You attend services every Sunday, I suppose?” _ SI never miss morning and evening services, and I also at- tend the Bible class at nine o’clock. Besides that, I go regu- larly to the Wednesday night prayer meeting, and attend the - meetings of the Foreign Missionary branch, of which I am a humble and zealous member, If you followed my example you _ would have more luck. Pardon me now, I must get on. It _ isn’t proper I should waste Mr. Jessup’s time talking to you - jn the street,” said Cobb, continuing on his way. “Well, you’re the limit, Simon Cobb,” thought Bill, as he : gene on to the little bank. Re. CHAPTER VI. 2 ; 2 “BILL SENDS IN HIS BID FOR FIVE MILLION BONDS. At length one morning Bill saw in the newspaper the pub- lication of the Government’s call for tenders on the Panama Canal two per cent. thirty-year bonds, _ He read it carefully and gleaned all the necessary particu- lars. That day Bill devoted his whole attention to the subject he was Por thoroughly interested in. c had only to complete his calculations, based ‘upon sub- stantial grounds with which he had carefully familiarized himself. eet Tt does not.concern this story how he reached his conclusions while the modus operandi greatly interested him it would Naibaty interest our readers. We will merely say that he worked his bid out on the same es ee by an expert financiar with a similar purpose sited the nerve came ia was the amount of bonds he in~ ten ed to bid for—one-tenth of the whole issue, or $5,000,000 to Fle; ‘haa no doubt that one or more syndicates had been ; “formed, or were in the course of formation, to bid on the en- e issue. : ae course, if a syndicate’ s offer was higher than that of any er tender, the combination would ‘get all the bonds, and the other bidders would get left. f a dozen or more people or banks bid higher than the syn- $35,000,000. If enough offers were made at a’higher rate than the syndi- cates to cover the whole intended issue of bonds, then the syn- dicate would get none at all. Finally if the bonds met with such popular favor as to be largely over subscribed for at bids that entitled almost all to a look-in, they would be allotted pro rata as far as they would go. So when Bill had decided upon his exact bid, or rather bids, for he did not intend to make one bid for the whole $5,000,000, but five, each covering one million, to increase his chances of getting something out of the operation, he sat down to the table in his room and wrote his letter to the Secretary of he Treasury. We will merely reproduce his bids for the $5,000,000, which were as follows: $1,000,000 at 104.125 1,000,000 at 103.990 1,000,000 at 103.976 1,000,000 at 103.925 1,000,000 at 103.867 The first of the above bids stood the best chance of winning because it was the highest, a little more than he wanted to offer, in fact, but he put it in because he was afraid the bids might run higher than they ought to in his judgment, and though he saw little profit in the event that a single million was awarded him, still he argued that he could make some- thing. He hoped to come in on a couple of the others to make things interesting, The last two were nearer his idea of what the bonds ought to net the Government, which he calculated would allow the bidder a handsome profit. He put his letter in an envelope, sealed it up and aidirensed it to the Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. The paper and envelope he counted immaterial, so that his entire investment cost him only the price of the postage stamp —two cents, To make sure that his bid would not go astray, he intended to mail it at the general post-office next morning on his way to Wall Street,-registering it. He usually went down Nassau street, which led straight into Wall, but on the following morning when he left the Brooklyn Bridge he only went as far as the beginning of Nas- sau street, at the corner of Spruce, and started across to the post-office, Then the incident happened that some people would have considered as either a lucky or unlucky omen in connection with his bond venture, according as they viewed it. He was crossing Park Row direct from the post-office build- ing when an automobile bore down upon him at some speed. For once in ‘his life his wits were not about him. His thoughts were all centered on his bond scheme. The chauffeur saw him, tooted his horn and turned cut of his + way. Bill, still unmindful of the car, suddenly darted for: the sidewalk, thereby getting right in front of the car, and in a twinkling he was struck and knocked several feet ahead of the car. In spite of the chauffeur’s best efforts the car rolled over the prostrate boy and then stopped. A score of eye-witnesses rushed forward, expecting to find the lad ey to death, But he wasn’t He crawled out unhurt, And in his fingers he held the letter containing his bond bid, whieh had fallen from his hand, but which he had not failed | to ‘recover in spite of the dazed condition he was-in from the shock, Two men helped him on his feet and asked him with some solicitude if he was much hurt. “Why, no, Im not hurt,” replied Bill, a bit hazily. hit me? A street car?” “No, an automobile. There it is, and here is the chauffeur | come to see how you have come out,” said one of the men. The chauffeur did not feel that he was to blame for the ac- “What a cident, but he knew he was likely to be arrested just the same. . “Tam glad to see that you do not appear to be much burt, young man,” he said, feOURE, greatly relieved after. looking Bill] over carefully. “So you ran me down, did you?” self again. “You chaps appear to think you own the streets.” 4 ‘said Bill, now quite him- (3
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BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE, spuds) “fam sorry, but Vl! leave it to any eye-witness if it: wasn’t | to, but the little bank is good south for me. wholiy your own fault,” said the chauffeur. “My fault. How do you make that out? way?” “You certainly dia. You were in my path when I first saw you. {I blew my horn three times and turned out. Nothing would have happened had you remained where you’ were. Instead of that you suddenly darted forward and placed your- self directly in my way. That made it impossible for me to avoid hitting you. I could not even stop in time to avoid run- ning over you. The marvel of it all is how you escaped the wheel. Yours is one case in a thousand, and you ought to be mighty thankful that you are not a subject for either the hos- pital or the morgue,” said the chauffeur. “And I am mighty thankful, too,” he added, “for though I could not have heen held responsible for anything that happened to you under the circumstances, still I would have been involved in considerable trouble,” Quite a crowd had gathered by this time, and fresh acces- sions increased it every moment. This attracted the attention of a policeman, who came to see what the trouble was. The case was explained to him, and he took down Bill’s name and address, and also the chauffeur’s, together with the hame of the owner of the ear. As Bill was satisfied from what the eye-witnesses of the ac- Did bi get in your cident said, that the chauffeur was not to blame, he RecaeRe no charge against the man, So the car started on its way, and Bill entered the wes office with a lame shoulder, but otherwise all right, and the crowd melted away. Bill mailed his letter and then made his way dowh to Wall Street and entered the little bank, “He was feeling in good spirits, for somehow he feit it in his bones that he was going to secure at least a part of those Panama_bonds. And while he sat in the waiting-room ‘watching the black- board, his thoughts were busy with speculations as to how he would dispose of his option at a profit. He knew the chance of a profit depended on what advance the bonds made in price between the time the successful bid- ders were announced and the time the first payment had to be made to the Government. “ It would not require much of an advance for him to make something out of one million dollars worth of bonds. If he was successful in catching on to two or three million, his chance of a comfortable profit would be materially in- creased, : And if, by good fortune, he secured the entire five million, he stood to make a mighty good thing out of his two-cent investment. When he returned from lunch he noticed that C. & D. was advancing, and decided to take a shy at it. He bought 300 shares at 85, and gave his attention to it for the rest of the afternoon. When the Exchange closed at ehebe o'clock the stock was half a point higher than he paid for it. When Bill left the little bank he walked leisurely down Broad street. ‘ He met a broker named Smith he was. acquainted with, “How do you do, Mr. Smith?” he said. “Hello, Bunce. I heard you had left Jessup’s office,” said the broker, who had been so informed by, Jessup himself. “Yes, that’s correct.” “What are you doing?” ’ *Speculating a little to keep busy.” “You are looking Yor another position, too, T suppose?” “No, I haven’t made any efforts in that direction. I think I can do better on my own hook.” “Think you can, eh?” “Yes, sir.” “You must have some money if you can afford to speculate. What broker have you favored with your eustom?” “At present I’m dealing with the little bank on Nassau street.” As that establishment was regarded by brokers as a sort of bucket-shop because one could buy as low as five shares of any stock on the list of a five per cent, margin, which method of doing business was looked upon with great disfavor by the I traders because it encouraged boys and persons of limited capital to speculate, Mr. Smith judged that Bill’s financial “backing did not amount to a whole lot. “You won’t make much out of that shop,” said Smith. “thought you were dealing with a regular broker.” Cf rit, “I've got capital enough to deal with any broker if I wanted | get one. ‘T will give you my address, and shall expect you to call on me Ne I’ve made more than $6,000 there.” “You haye?” ejaculated Smith, looking surprised, for he did not believe anybody could pull ‘that much money out of the i place, The impression in Wall Street was that any establishment that savored of a bucket-shop gave iis customers the short end wherever that was possible. Yes, six,” “If you’ve been as fortunate as that you ought to cuit the place before your luck changes,” “I think a person ought to stay where he'is doing well” “But a bucket-shop is a mighty poor place to hang on to. I’ve never heard of anybody doming out ahead in the long run at such shops.” “Do you call the little bank a bucket-shop?” “Its methods are known to be those of a bucket-shop.” “YU admit that you can do business there on the same scale as at a bucket-shop, but you know the bank has a representa- tive in the Exchange who executes its orders in a regular way.” “T doubt if he executes any but the larger orders.” - “LT have been assured by the cashier of the little bank the® - every order its brokerage department receives is put through in a legitimate way. That if you buy or sell five shares of any stock, the same is actually bought or sold at the Exchange. If that is true, and I see no reason to doubt it, the little bank is not really a bueket-shop. Anyway, I know the cashier re- sents the imputation that it is.” . “Well, we won't argue the matter. If you are in a position to buy or sell 100 shares or more of any stock, why don’t you eall at my office and let me handle your business for you? To be known as a customer of the little bank won’t do you any good. A person is always judged by his associations.” “T may drop in and give you an order.” “Do so. I'll treat you well.” j With a nod Smith walked away. As Bill continued on his way, he saw a white-haired old gentleman coming across Broad street. An express wagon rattled out of Mxchange Place and bore : down on him. The driver shouted at him to get out of the way. uy & Instead of doing so he stood still, , Fixer The driver tried to turn out, but the space between the team and the old gentleman was too short for him to do any- thing and an accident would have happened but for quick action on Bill’s part. He darted from the sidewalk, seized the old gentleman and whirled him out of the way. The nearest horse struck Bill a heavy. but glancing ‘plow and sent him staggering toward the curb, the forward wheel missing him by a hair. ; CHAPTER VIE. - BILL MAKES NBW FRIENDS, Bill lost his balance and fell with the little old gentleman. Neither ‘was hurt and the boy was up in a moment and helped the dazed old gentleman to the sidewalk. ’ As several passers by stooped, attracted by the incident, — Pill asked the man he had saved if he was hurt... ae “No, no, thanks to'you, my young friend. Let us get away from here as I see a crowd is beginning to srg gh said the old gentleman. ; ‘ae Bill led him up Exchange Place, oe “T am very grateful to you, young man, for the Shales yo s have rendered me. I must have been run over and perhaps killed but for you.” I did the best I could under the ray “You are welcome, sir, - circumstances,” Sey aed “No one could have done tie I should be glad to ae : : your name.” HS The boy told him, “My name is Henry Trafton. I live on Riverside Drive. . shortly, for I would like to know you better. Most of life has been passed in Wall Street, but I’ve been out of anges for some time. Are you employed in this in a ood?” “T was until lately. I was in the office of George Jes stock broker. We had a disagreement and that caused 3 retirement,” said Bill. “If you haven't another place in view I will ‘see that yo I have a large circle of friends, any one o} will be glad to do me a favor if. they can. We, will: te RS
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peta he 10 BILL'S BOND sYNDIO ATE. heres matter over when you call on me. We will go down New street, if you please. My son-in-law has an office half way down the bléck, He will take me home in his car.” An automobile was standing in front of the entranée to an office building, with a chauffeur seated in front. Thevold gentleman said that was his son-in-law’s car. The chauffeur touched his hat to him with great respect. ; “Come uy to my son-in-law’s office and I will introduce you ‘ to-him,” said the old gentleman, taking Bill by the arm. , They Went up in the elevator to the fifth fioor, and the old gentienian l¢d the way to a suite of cffices, in the front of which bore the name of Wdwin Stockbridge, with the words “Stocks and bonds” following it. Mr. Trafton took Biil into the private offce where they found a fine locking man of perhaps eight and-forty years seated at his desk, ‘“Hdwin,” said the old gentleman, “let me make quaintéd with my young friend, William Buace. is Mr. Stockbridge.” Bill and the broker shook hands. ‘Mr, Trafton then told his son-in-law about the service the boy had done for him, and Stockbridge thanked Bill for sav- ing the old gentleman from being run down by the wagon, assuring him that he appreciated his courage and presence '-of mind very much indeed, and would be glad to show that he did in any way within his power. ““T-have invited him to call on me, Edwin,” Trafton. ' Stockbridge nodded approvingly. “Your daughter will be glad to have an opportunity to.ex- ‘press her gratitude. te him,” he said. “Of course. Of course," said the old gentleman. - ghall I expect to see you?” he added to Bul. “Whenever it is convenient to you, sir,* “Where do you live?” Bill gave his address in Flatbush. “That is some distance from my house,” said Mr. Trafton. Pa guess you'd better call cn Sunday afternoon, Say about ' feur, Will that suit you?” »-“Yos, sir,” said Bill. : “* Very well. Then I will look for you et that time.” ‘He handed the boy the number of his house, and in a few - minutes Bill took his leave. 4 “Looking through his paper that afternoon Bill saw a pata- graph about his accident in front of the post-office. ‘The ondeca had take n down the names and addresses of you ac- Bunce, this said Mr. “When replied the boy. In that | way it came to the notice of the newspapers. Next morning Bill was on hand at the little bank with his ta eye on the quotations of the stock he was interested in. -.. » "During the day it went up three-quarters of a point. a The fcllowing day was Saturday and it advanced another fraction of a point: > SAt hali- past eleven Biil concluded to sell out and did so. He: calculated | that his winnings would amount to about y $60 00. After his dinner next day he left keane to call on old Mr. “got “out. at, a sete: ‘walked ‘over to in river and turned up Riverside Drive, Mr. Trafton lived in a handsome residence, surrounded by well kept grounds. maid admitted him and he was shown up stairs into private sitting-room, where he found the old arenes écting hira. le. received a cordial greeting. 5 sefore long Mrs. Stockbridge, the old eedtlees 12n's ‘abuctaih came i in and Bill was. introduced to her. er daughter, Nellie, a prétty sixteen-year-old girl, “becom- me atilred in a house gown of the la tost style, came in and was: presented to her. bout: five Mrs. Stockbridge and jer deughter excused k the drive. nhs t left Bill ava the old gentleman by themselves. You naven't found a position .yet, I Suppose?’ ”' said. Mr. UP _ ‘Trait on. an not looking for one, sir,” replied Bill. said the old g entleman, in some surprise. he Tve- ail nearly $4,000 cut of the stock market eft Mr. Jessup about a month ago. That is a/ whole iN than dca earn Working: ‘for any man or firm.” Pe ARE ete A A a Bae Ct AEE Mla CRIN DE in NA AM Ta We BR dele RI vc at linn ae NTR ; eh “True, but don’t you think it a rather hazardous way to toake money?” “T admit it is, particularly when one has only a limited capital, But I have something else in view that I take more Interest in.” “What is that?” “ft don't know whether I ought to say anything about it till I learn how I am coming out. Still I don’t mind men- tioning it to you in confidence. You know the Secretary of the Treasury has called for bids on the first batch of Panama Canal two per cespiee'y “Yes:” ‘ “T have put in a graded bid fer five million dollars worth.” “Five million, you say? You amaze me.” “It was rather nervy of me to do it, but if all.or a part of the bonds. are awarded to me TI intend to sell my option ata price that will give me a profit. Of course I am. banking on the probability that the value of the bonds will immedi-~ ately advance higher than the figure I have offered to pay for them. That has always happened heretofore, and I believe it will happen again, though the low rate of interest is going to keep the advanee down. It was because I knew I could only court on a small margin of profit that induced me to bid for such a large amount of the bonds, Should I be allotted . the eutire five million a small margin of profit: will amount — to something.” “Upon my word, yOung man, as a budding financier you are the limit,” laughed the old gentleman. “To make a suc- cess of your venture, in the event that you happen to prove one of the lucky bidders, you will have to hitstle, as I take it for granted that you will not be able to raise the auiount of the first payment.” “You are right.. The grass won’t have time to grow rear ees nly feet. I'll have to make hay while the sun shines, and the sun won't shine any too long on my scheme.” ray “If the bonds secure a fair market advance at the start you may have no great trouble in selling your. option to one of the cther important bidders who failed through your bid to get as many of the bonds ashe or the firm calculated: on. But you must not forget that if your entire bid is sue- cessful. it is going to make a stir in financial cireles. You are going to get into the newspapers from one end of the country to the other. When it becomes generally known that’ an irresponsible bidder has secured the option on one-tenth of the whole bond offer the financiers most interested in these bonds are going to bring pressure to bear on the Secretary. ot the Treasury to have your bid thrown out.” © “T wouldn't be surprised, but I count on having a fair deal. I am entitled io make something out of my bid if it should prove successful,’for I didn’t reach it by guesswork, but by the same method any financier would adopt-to reach a similar result.” To make Mr, Trafton understand that what he said was'so he explained how he had long devoted his attention to the study of .the bond problem, and’ was as well grounded in. general finance as the POBLOLENY of persons in the same line in Wall Strest. The little old gentleman was much interested in his state- ment, and said that lhe ought to prove a valuable asset to any bank or office in the financial district that carried? on a large bond business.. After that. Mr. Trafton, who had at first aiawed Bill's seheme to secure an option on $5,000,000 of the Panama Canal bonds, and try to sell it in Wali Street at a profit, as a visicn- ary speculation, altered his opinion, and became rather itt terested in the result of the unusual venture. They were still talking over the matter when Mrs, Stéek- bridge and ner daughter returned from their ride and joined them again. % Bill stayed to tea with his new frieads, and just athens: it was announced Mr. Stockbridge came in and shook hands” s with the young visitor. ; After the evening meal everybody adjourned to the sitting- room and Bill remained) ‘until. nine o'clock, . “He was invited to repeat his visit at an early date, and the se old gentleman tcid him to let him know how he came out on’ his bond bid, as he was quite sa in the outcome, of Bill's nervy speculation. “['ll let you know,” said: Biil. “Itt am suecessful 5 may” wish to consult you. in reference to the disposal of the’ option.” “T shall be pleased to assist you in every way I can,” replied Mr. ‘Trafton. “Remember I am under. a deep obligation. to you.” Then Bul started for Flatbush. ’ » he te ae
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* valuable article in his sdiapeta te at half-past eight in the ’ power and put on the brake to avoid a collision. 7 dried affair. one of the servants in the house learned that the tiara was to i : BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE. 11 CHAPTER VIII. THE SPOLEN TIARA, Blil appeared at the little bank promptly at ten o’clock, next morning, hoping to get another shy at the market. Prices were weak, and nearly all the stocks showed a down- ward tendency: There was little business being done by the habitues. Bill left about eleven and went over to the Curb Mxchange ta see what was going on there, The mining market was fairly steady, but the brokers were not falling over themselves in a rush to execute orders, be- cause business was slack there, too. Bill hung around for half an hdur and then concluded that there was nothing in it for him. He then went to the Consclidated Exchange and took up his position in the gallery. _ There was no rush of business there. He remained till after twelve and hied himself to lunch. He returned to the little bank at half-past one and remained there till three. He collected what ‘was coming to him on the C. & D. deal and locked the money up in his safe deposit box. When he bought his afternoon paper ‘he found a sensa- tional piece of news on the first page. To ‘his surprise Simon Cobb figured prominently in it The story was this: Through an arrangement made the previcus nee Cobb had called that morning at the home’ of a wealthy member of the church he and Mr. Jessup, attended and was intrusted by the gentleman’s wife with a diamond tiara, valued at about $10,000, to take down town to a Maiden Lane diamond firm, on his way to Wall Street, with a letter of instruc- tions relative to remodeling the shape of the tiara. This important mission was intrusted to Cobb rather than toa servant because he was regarded as a model young man, who could be thoroughly trusted. A taxi-cab was placed at his service, and he left with the morning. At the northeast corner of Madison Square an automobile, which had followed the taxi down Madison avenue, crossed its path so sharply as to cause the driver of the taxi to shut off The auto stopped squarely in front of the other vehicle and two of the three men in it sprang out. While one held up the driver at the point of a pistol the other opened the door of the taxi, shoved his revolver in gba Sar een ae Ve a SEP EES Ee ae aa Re NE cd CT eae DL eee RON o_O cae Ea Soe ea ae ct Se ene Ve) Cobb's face and compelled him to give up the package con- taining the diamond tiara. ; ‘The men then sprang back into their car and made off down Wast Twenty-fifth street at a speed which soon took - them out of sight. Cobb yelled to the driver that he ‘had been robbed and told him to: make his way as soon as he could to the nearest precinct station house, whieh the man did. There Cobb and the driver told their stories and detectives ‘were sent out to find the thieves. Cobb then telephoned the lady who had: dntrusted him with her property, explaining what had happened, and assuring her that he had dove the best he could to save the Package, but that he had to give it up to save his life. | Byerything about the hold-up indicated that it had been pre- arranged, and the mystery of the affair was how the rascals had learned that the boy, on his way down town in the taxi, was the bearer of a valuable package. This was a puzzle the police were trying to solve in con- 4 if the i ae - nection with the case. “That’s a hot one on Cobb,” thought Bill. who sent him on such an important errand knew that he had no more backbone than a mouse I guess she would have thought twice before placing such a valuable article in his hands. The sight of that revolver must have thrown him in 6 a terrible funk. I wonder that he had the presence of yiind to get overito the station house as soon as he did. He did the right thing without loss of time for once. in his life if the newspaper gives the story straight. I'll bet the driver of the taxi is entitled to as. much credit for that as he, The police say the hold-up was a cut and perhaps more. Tt certainly reads that way. I should say that be sent down town in Cobb’s charge, and gave the tip to i sath ‘crooked acquaintance with the view of sharing in the Piaorene: of the robbery. That's the pe it looks: to me,” Bill tanned to the financial page and forgot all about the hold-up in which his enemy had suffered. The market continued uncertain for the whole week, and Bill made no attempt to get in on any new deal. On Saturday afternoon at one. d’clock he.met Dick San- cerson by arrangement and the two boys went down ‘to Jamaica Bay and hired a boat to take a sail. This was an amusement they both .enjoyed. very. much, as constant practice had made them pretty good boatmen. - “Shall we run out as far as Rockaway Beach?” asked. Dick, as soon as they got under way. “Yes. I guess we can easily make it in this breeze, stay ae awhile and get back to the wharf before dark,” nodded Accordingly they shaped their course, which would carry them past the many islands in the bay, and felt a keen. enjoyment as the little craft slipped through the water at a spanking pace, In due time they reached a landing on the inner side of: hockaway, tied their boat and went ashore. The season was not yet opened at the, ‘Beach, as ‘it was too early, but preparations for the opening were going on. « New buildings were being erected here and there, and the lessees of several of the others were down there overhauling things and making alterations and additions. There was enough going on to interest the boys for some time as they strolled about, and the sun was going down when they started on their return trip. The tide was down, a fact they did not take notice of, and so the first thing they knew they got aground on a shallow place between two islands. They tried to push the craft into deeper water with ‘the only thing they had, a boat-hook, but without result. ; “One of us will have to gct out and shove her,” said. Bill. “The water is pretty shallow here.” “S’pose you do it as it’s your suggestion?” grinned Dick. “tt might be better if we both got out,” replied Bill. “That would lighten the boat a good deal more, and give: twice the shoving power,” “Suppose the boat got away from us, we'd be in a pretty pickle, wouldn’t we?” said Dick, who wasn’t anxious. to. get out. ; ’ “Rather. We'd have to do a little swimming.” “This isn’t the time of year 1 care to.do any swimming, especially with my clothes on,” said Dick. “I'll match you to see who gets out.” Bill produced a cent and told Dick to call the turn. Dick reluctantly did so, and was much relieved on. seeing that his companion was stuck, So Bill removed his shoes and stockings, rolled up his trousers and was about to step overboard when a gust of. wind swept down on them and the boat was carried off the: bank into free water. “Some people are born lucky. If rd lest the call that. wouldn’t have happened to me,” said Dick. Bill laughed and pulled on his shoes and stockings again. aground in another place. “Why didn’t you watch where you were going?” said Bill. “How could I tell there were more shallows. around? Y can. ’t see them.” “You ought to know, we’ve been out here often enough “We were never caught here before at low tide.” “We'll match again to see who gets out.” ‘ “No we wort It’s up to you to get out, for you lost te’ toss.” ’ Another gut shoved the boat farther on the shoal and ‘she listed over, which showed how shallow the place was, Bill took the boat-hook, went forward and felt around to. see if he could determine where the shoal ended. He found the water very shallow everywhere within “hts reach, Re “We're here to stay till the tide rises,” he said when came back to the stern. “How long will that be?” ; “Two or three hours, maybe.” Ri oGare “That’s pleasant. Don’t you think we could shove aie if we both got out?” ‘ “We might, as she doesn’t draw much water.” foot of water under us,” said Dick. “There isn’t much more. The boat-hook showed th “What shall be do?” 3 Gi. go the. halliards, and drop the sal, for, we He had nardly completed the operation when ‘they Lbisias “From the way she is lying over there doesn't seem t be ij
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‘BILL'S BOND SYNDICATE. a the boat clear over on her side.” Dick let go the halliards and the sail came down with a run. 5 It was now getting dark fast. The sky to the southeast was clouding over, and the wind was growing fresher. “Tm afraid we’ve got ourselves into’ a bad pickle,” said Dick. “The bay is much rougher and the ‘wind stronger than when we left the beach.” “That's right, but it can’t be helped.” Half an hour passed. and then it became so dark that only the outlines of the larger and nearest island to them could be discerned. i By that time the wind ban increased considerably, raising white-eapped waves all over the bay. These waves extended over the shallows, in a somewhat lesser degree, and dashed against the careened boat, occa- sionally sousing the two boys with water. The air had grown very chill, and the wind, coming in ‘from the Atlantic, made it all the colder for the boys, who buttoned their jackets about them and exercised their arms to keep up their circulation. “There's some one on that island over there,” said Dick. “T saw a light like a lantern, flashing along through the trees. Iv’s gone now. I wish we were there instead of here. I hope the tide is rising so that we can get) away before long.” “When the boat begins to right we'll know the water is x deepening under us.” : Another thirty minutes elapsed and matters appeared to be growing worse. At any rate the water slappea harder against the stern of the ‘boat, and the boys caught the spray oftener. Dick rolled up his jacket and shirt sleeves and ran his arm Bee into the water to test its depth. pe m half frozen,” growled Dick, as he rolled down his sleeves. “I felt 4pe sand so the tide hasn’t come in to any great extent. We must have hit this place at the lowest point of the tide and it’s been slack water ever since.” “Then the tide ought to be flowing by this time. Jt won't “ at long to fieat us off once it gets started.” t’s got so dark I can’t see the island any longer,” es “We Jcnow it’s over yonder,” said Bill. ope Another half hour elapsed and the boat righted by degrees "and was lifted at the stern by the waves. and pushed about. Bill went forward with the bcat-hook and tried to shove her sternward, for the water was deeper in that direction, » +Forx a time he failed to budge the bows, which had ploughed deep in the sand, but he finally succeeded as, the tide rose } higher, and the little craft finally floated free. 1, “Now, up with the sail, Dick, and we'll get out of_here,” said Bill, dropping the boat-hook and grabbing the tiller. : As soon as the sail rose the wind caught it and Bill steered as he thought through the channel between the islands. ‘Instead of that he was heading straight for the largest Seen island, for the swinging around of the boat’s stern had caused him to lose his bearings in the dense blackness of the night. : The first thing the boys knew the boat shot into a narrow - cove-like indentation and ran half of its leneth up on the shelving beach. “Holy smoke! What’s this?” cried Dick, as the boat came eto, a sudden stop, listed over and nearly threw him out. j ‘Down with the sail!” cried Bill, springing up when he saw that the boat was ashore on one ef the islands, though ' which one he didn’t. know. “You're a fine beat steerer, you are,” snorted Dick as. he seized the halliards and let the sail down: of the islands.” “That appears to be a fact,” admitted Bill. “I thought I ‘was heading through the channel. The boat evidently got twisted around and I was steering at random, Don’t blame me. It’s so dark that we can hardly see the island we’ve ran. ‘upon, I’m going to look around the place and, see i the island looks like.” “Better not go far or you won't be able, to find your way back,” said Dick. -°Don’t worry about that. up and you can shout back.” Bill thought it might be the island on w hich Dick had seen light, and as he didn’t think it was safe for them to trust on the bay among the islands on ‘so dark and: blowy in such 2 small. boat, he wanted to See if there was “Mercy! Tu ye eut to you if I get oarbes Gecidedly gusty, and the next whiff of wind might throw “We've run on one a house on the place where they could remain till morning, and perhaps get a bite to eat. He pushed straight ahead and found himself among a lot ‘ of small trees. There were many trees on the island where the light had shone for a few minutes, so he went ahead expectantly. Suddenly he came out in an open space and walked up against a story and: a half building. That satisfied him they had come ashore on the right island, He walked around the house to find the door. e went the wrong way and came around at the back where there were two windows, through one of which shone a dim illumination. Bill went up to the window and flattened his face against the lower pane. There were four persons inside seated around a common deal table, in the center of which stood a lantern that gave out a bright light. Three of the persons were men, and they were examining something which gave out scintillations of light. The fourth person was a boy, and as the light shone full in his face Bill was not a little surprised to recognize him as Simon Cobb. Bill wondered what had brought him and the three men to that island. He also wondered what the men. were looking at. ‘He was not long kept in the dark. The man holding the article laid it upon the table and Cobb reached for it, Before his fingers grasped it Bill saw what it was—a woman's diamond tiara. Then like a flash the truth hit Bill. It was the stolen tiara—the one the papers peparted as taken from Cobb when he was held up at Madison Squore. Presumedly these three men were the ‘thieves. If they were how came it that Cobb, who lost the tiara, was in their company, and apparently on the best of terms with them?” » CHAPTER IX. HOW THE TIARA CAME IN BILL'S POSSESSION. It didn’t take a sharp-witted lad like Bill many moments, as he stood there taking in the scene, to connect Simon Cobb with the theft when he recalled the statement of the police that the job had been planned beforehand and was not a mere off-hand hold-up of a young man in a taxi on the chance of what it might produce in the way of booty. The police suspected that a house servant had furnished the thieves with the tip that the lady was going to send the tiara to a Maiden Lane jeweler at a certain hour arranged between her and Cobb, and the crooks then planned to intercept and rob him. The presence: of Cobb in that shanty with the presumed thieves convinced Bill, who, as the reader knows, had no great cpinion of the margin clerk, that Cobb, and not a house ser- — vant, had furnished the information to the crooks, or per- — baps had planned the scheme and taken the rascals in with him. suspected, Bill was rot greatly surprised to find Simon in such com- | pany, for he believed that any one unscrupulous enough to play the hypocrite in church matters was capable of any piece ‘of rascality. While these thoughts flashed across his mind the conver- sation inside reached’his ear through a hole in the window pane. “Take your last peep at it, Simon, we're going to pick the diamonds out.and melt up the setting,” the chap who appeared to be the leading’ spirit present. © 7 “It’s a shame to destroy it,” replied Cobb, in a regretful tone, shape.’ z “Tt undoubtedly would, » said the: other,’ “but it would sup. ; ply a clew that would land us all in jail. We chaps never. think of offering stolen jewelry, or RaEPY Orraieitey ip. its original shape. Do we, Casey?” “Not by a jugful,” said the man Gpwounie: with a grin. “We're not such fools.” “Of course not. you hang out with us long enough. The*diamonds in that ~ tiara will- lose their identity when removed from their set- ting, and can then be safely disposed of. The setting itself — when reduced to a melted state can be’ worked off for its” At any rate it showed that Cobb Had associates that no ones said one of the men, | “T should think it would fetch more in its Bate od “YouwH learn a few useful kinks, Simon, if y* he va ray Ae
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‘BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE. value in old gold, and no one not in the secret will ever guess what it stood for. The dealer we favor with our cus- tom never asks any unpleasant questions about the material we bring him. He simply buys it for what it is worth to him, and what he does with it afterward is nothing to us. Is it, Casey?” “Nothing whatever,” replied Casey, with another grin. “¥ou brought the melting pot from the boat, Barney?” “Sure I did,” nodded Barney; “the whole business.” “And I’ve got the tools in my grip to extract the diamonds. Start the furnace going, Barney, and by the time you have . the right heat on tap I’ll have the setting ready for you,” said the leader, picking up a small hand bag, and opening it on his knees.. “If you've satisfied your curiosity enough, Simon, pass the tiara over and I'll get down to business.” “How much do you think it’s worth as it stands?” said Simon Cobb. “T judge it cost around $12,000, though the papers said it was worth $10,000. Probably it’s worth the latter sum, the difference between the two being the manufacturer’s and the dealer’s profits.” “How much do you expect to raise out of the diamonds and the melted setting?” “Maybe $6,000, which will give us $1,500 apiece. You ought to be able to make your share go some way, Simon; but re- member you must be cautious and not let any of your friends suspect that you have unexpectedly come into money. The police are supposed to be watching the madame’s servants, but they may be watching you, too.” “Watching me!” gasped Cobb, with a startled look. “Yes. Don’t imagine because you enjoy such a fine reputa- tion with those who associate with you that the detectives on the case leave you entirely out of their calculations. I didn’t want you to meet us this afternoon and come down here, but you would do it. You saw no risk in it because you are not up to snuff, but we saw it, and until darkness came on and hid our movements on the bay I was not abso- ~~ lutely certafa we were not being shadowed by detectives in one of the boats we saw on the water. Now, however, I think we are safe. But when we separate you mustn’t try to com- municate with us again. When the money has been realized you will receive a bank draft from the West for the amount of your share. When you cash it soak the cash away and don’t make any display of sudden riches. It’s risky.” “All right,” said Cobb. “I guess you're right. I don’t intend to blow my money in like some chumps. It isn’t got so easily.” “Now, Barney, give me a hand with this job. Hold the setting steady while I get to work. i Bill, who had been thinking rapidly during the last few minutes, picked up a stone and suddenly: smashed in the window. “Hold up your hands! ” he cried out. Then he made a rapid change of base. As may be imagined the smashing of the window and Bill’s words produced a startling effect on. the parties inside the building. The leader grabbed the lantern and feat it into a corner, seized the tiara and ran into the next room, while the others riade for the door and tumbled out in a hurry, the two crooks expecting nothing else than to be grabbed by detectives, but hoping to get away from them in the dark. The leader flung open the window of the next room and crambled out of it. He ted for the trees and collided with Bill before the lad could get out of his way. The are took the boy for a detective in the dark and made a desperate effort to escape. - Bill smashed him in the face in order to escape himself.” A mix-up followed, lasting for but a few minutes, and then the leader tore himself free, leaving a section of his jacket in Bill’s hands. Bill made another change of base, towards the front of “You're pinched! m the house, before he realized that he was carrying something more than a piece of cloth in his hand. : vragis intention of startling the rascals was to prevent the destruction of the tiara in its original shape for one thing, and in case they were frightened enough to leave the building in a body he meant to run in and see if they had left the ; ornament on the table in their haste. Of course in that case he would take possession of it and return to Dick and the boat. The feel of the object he held in his hand with a section a he jeader’s jacket pocket ot ge him to ae and run other pene over it. DERE BRE EEE, SRS ne ES AP a ar EN sah dE FA Sree i oR YS IR A a AGA RE a eee “By George! It’s the tiara!” he breathed exultantly. And so it was. There was no further need of entering the building. He had obtained in a rather remarkable way the very thing he had aimed to secure through a nervy coup. Luck certainly attended him, and there was no further need to remain on the scene, so: he started to retrace his way to the boat. He was feeling his way, as it were, through the deep gloom when he heard a cry of “Help! Help! Oh, Bill!” in Dick's voice. : The cry showed him that hé was a bit off the right course. Satisfied that one or more of the crooks had come upon his companion, and were assaulting aim, he rushed in the direc- tion of the outery. “Bill, oh Bill!” came floating toward him again. “Here Iam. What’s the trouble?” cried Bill, rushing from the trees. “A rascal pulled me out of the boat and made off with it,” said Dick, who was standing on the beach all mussed up from the struggle he had been through. ‘ “Too bad,” said Bill. “It’s one of the crooks who has mdde his escape.” te “One of the crooks! What are you talking about?” asked Dick, to whom Bill’s words were not very intelligible. “T'll tell you later. Keep quiet now, for I don’t want the rest of the bunch to come down on. us. As the boat is gone we'll have to stay here till we can signal somebody in the ~| morning to*take us off. lLei’s get up among the trees and stay there,” said Bill, grabbing Dick by the arm and pulling him along. “No one can hear us here,” said Dick, when they reached a bunch of trees and stopped. “Tell me what you know about , the crooks you mentioned.” “No, I don’t want to talk yet awhile. There’s two ‘more . of the rascals, and a boy, who’s as big a rascal in his wee as they are, around here among the trees, and it wouldn't be healthy for us to run foul of them.” “What are they doing among the trees on this island at this time of night?” persisted Dick, whore tried was : aroused to the highest pitch. “Hiding,” replied Bill, laconically. “How did you find out that they’re crooks and that they'r re hiding?” said Dick, with his lips to Bill’s ear. : “Can’t you shut up for a few minutes?” Dick remained silent, but his mind was pall of axotted wonder. ' “Keep your ears peeled, for they might come this way, " said Bill. »The boys stood listening but heard nothing save the wind: sweeping through the naked branches above their heads, and the occasional dash of the water on the rocks. Fifteen minutes passed away, and as nothing happened | Bill began to think that perhaps Cobb and the two crooks — had made their escapé from the island in their own boat. At any rate he ventured to talk in a low tone and: put Dick wise to all that had transpired at the house. Dick naturally was astonished at his recital. “And is that the tiara the newspapers reported was taken from Simon Cobb when he was held up in the saat on Madi- son Square?” he asked. “That’s the article,” said Bill. this moment.” “In your pocket!” ees ies “Put your hand down and you'll feel it bulging out.” Dick did so and. was convinced, “How did you get it away from the crooks?” “And it’s in’ my pocket at Bill explained his encounter with the leader, and said he” guessed he was the man who had thrown Dick out of the sailboat and made off in it. j “And you say Cobb was with these men at the house?” “Yes; but you must say nothing about it. I am the chap. who is going to expose him and see that he gets what's. coming to him. He was ‘the cause of my discharge from Jessup’s office. It will open Mr. Jessup’s eyes when he’s shown — up in his true colors, and the pastor and members of the church he attends will learn they had a wolf in sheep's clothing in their midst without knowing it.” Dick. “T fancy he will; has been convicted.” | After hanging around the spot for more ‘than an hour ‘Bil became curious to learn if Cobb and the other es er had really left the island, = “He'll get the bounce from his job and go to jail,’ ” said : to and from jail to State seer when he ye 2
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14 BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE: Ph SS So A RC a CSSA RO OE TERE A AR ETT “Let's go over to the house and investigate,” he said. Dick was willing and they moved that way. - When. they reached the edge of the clearing they moved around it, but there was no light in the building, which stood before them like a dark blot in the night. Bill venturéd to the open doorway and. listened. - All was silent inside. He entered softly and struck a match. -The back room was just as the rascals had left it. ‘The broken Jantern lay in the corner, and the fire in the portable furnace had died down to a few glowing pieces of charcoal. i The chairs lay on the floor where they had been oyer- / turned by the rascals in their haste to get away. : Bill picked up the lantern, lighted it and placed it on the table. i Then he went to the door and called Dick. “We'll make ourselyes as comfortable here as we can till morning,” he said, “It's a whole lot; warmer than outside,” said Dick, warming he hands at the furnace, which still gave out quite a bit of eat. | _ Bill picked up the chairs and also a small object he saw en the floor. _ dt was a locket bearing the initials “S.C.” “Here’s a find,” he said, showing it to Dick. “It is just the proof J need to convince the police that Cobb was. really here with those rascals.” Hé opened it and found inside:a smal Ipicture of Cabb taken within the last three months. “This locket must have caught in the table somehow when Cobb jumped up with the others. It was torn off when he made a break for the door,’ said Bill. The boys thought it prudent to barricade the gear with the table, and then each taking two chairs sat upon one and put ais feet on the cthor, ag wouldn't mind this so much if I had had my supper,” fale Dick. “I’m as hungry as a famished gorilla.” could Bet away with a square meal myself. We'll ‘have ‘ ‘efer eating until we get home.” 1. ‘@iome! A restaurant will see me before home does,” said Dick, »'; ‘They talked until. they grew sleepy and then they dozed off in the chairs. ; Both were sound asleep when daylight began to make Ce objects visible outside. Sane tgs CHAPTHR X. IN WHICH COBB GETS TXIE HO0K. i * the: sunshine was streaming in through the broken window when Bill awoke in the morning. | Dick was “still snoozing away, but his companion put an end to his sleep by seizing his arm and pais him into _ wakefulness, » “Change cars!” laughed Bill. ec ers ejaculated Dick, looking arcund. Bill pulled the table away from the door and opened it. - “Come out and sniff the morning breeze,” he said. _' They went down to the shore and looked out on the bay. if A couple of boys younger than themselves were fishing in a boat a short way oif. site ' They shouted until they attracted the atventton of the boys, and ‘then made signs for them to row. to the island. The lads were in no hurry to comply, bat: sd 3 finally took 4n their lines and came over. “What do you want?” asked one of them “We want to be taken off this island, x “replied Bill. bt “FHlaven’t you got a boat?” ‘“No. If we had we wouldn’t ned to ask the favor of you.” °° “How did you get on the island? Swim there?” grinned youth. “No. We came here on a small sailboat, but we lost its” ears away, eh? You want to get to the shore?” es What will you give us to take you atee : coe dollar bill,” said Bill. DAs es worth two dollars for us to leave’ our fishing,” said ie, youth, thinking he might gouge that much out of the piarooned ones. | 11 give you two dollars, then, but. that’s the’ limit,” 0 Si ars was psp ng ike ‘anOeal, for the jads, so they # 2 ; | A ‘for his boss, or some of his friends, to visit him | ‘and $$$ rr rowed in to the beach, tock Bill and Dick off, and carried’ them to the public landing. Bill and his companion found the man who had rented them the boat in something of a ‘stew because it had not been returned the afternoon before. “Where's my poat?” he asked. Bill explained how they had gone ashore on the, island, and how the boat was*stolen from them by a man who was on the island with others when they got there, This wasn't pleasant news for the boatman. “T suppose you don’t know where he went with it?” he Said. “Not the slightest idea. his course.’ “He must have left it somewhere along the shore if he didn't g0 over to Rockaway.” “He never went to Rockaway.” “How do you know he didn’t?” “Because he had reasons. for getting ashore on the main land as soon as he could. In any case the wind. and tide were against a trip to Rockaway at the time,” said Bill. The man went away to try and find his boat while Bill and Dick started for a restaurant near by. They ordered a hearty breakfast, and ate every bit of it. “I feel a whole lot better now,” said Dick, when they walked up to the counter to pay. Sas “Same here, That meal went to the right spot, and filled up all the chinks. Now, then, we’Jl get a car and go home.” Both boys when they walked into their homes were called upon to explain where they had been since early the preced- ing afternoon, and they told their stories with certain reser- vations, Taking Dick with him, Bill called at the Brooklyn police — headquarters and had an interview . with the chief of the detectives. fs 3 ihe He handed over the diamond tiara, ake ia locket belong- ing to Simon Cobb, whom, he incriminated, and described - a the faces and general build of the three crooks... Dick told how one of the men pulled im out, of the sail boat and made his escape that way. at! And he said he saw his companion pick : the locket ‘off the flocr of, the room, Bill. said the hand bag with tools in it, and the portable furnace brovght by the men to the island for the purpose of melting up the setting of the tiara, were left behind in the house by the rascals. fe Giving their names and addresses the boys left the station house and returned to their homes. As the diamond tiara case was in the ‘hands of ‘the Man- hattan police, an officer was sent over to communicate the facts furnished by Bill, and to turn over the ornament and. the locket, the latter to he used against Cobb, ‘whose arrest was immediately ordered. His address was found in the city directory and a dstective went to his house. The officer found he had gone to Sunday school to attend the Bible class. He went to the chureh and had Cobb called to the TERE where he was arrested, The margin clerk turned white and trembled violently. “{ haven't done anything wrong. Why should I be ar- rested?” he faltered. a “You will learn at headquarters what the charge is. Come along,” and Cobb went, looking like a miserable wretch. who had been ordered to immediate execution. The morning papers printed the story. of the. arrest. ORs Simon Cobb in connection with the stolen diamond tiara,, and — the recovery of the ornament through the agency of William Bunce, a young Wail Street speculator. Vi described how Cobb had heen put. through the third: degree, and had made a full confession of the crime, giving a3! ali the details and naming his accomplices; who were known _ to the police and whose arrest. was expected at any nome: All the facts of the case were given, and it must have caused a great shock to those who had rated Cobb as a. model sarge man when, they read it. é Broker Jessup and ‘the pastor of the church were prob- ably staggered the most by the revelation, and only SOR 3) 0! Cobb’s confession they would hardly have believed in. his guilt, and would have rushed to his rescye,’ The young Chae e admissions to the police, however, ban: ished doubt, and so Cobb satin his cell and waited in y Ch aa ie him the consolation that his misery yearned | Ci Spo ae fe Bill looked for the ie he ‘first ae when he bought is It was too dark to get a ine ‘on Sr. Pama fs "i oe . at
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BILL'S BOND SYNDICATE. paper, for he knew it would be published in all its detatis:| but he did not expect Cobb would own up ‘his guilt. He supposed that the lad would deny the whole business indignantly and fight the accusation out to the last ditch. He forgot that Cobb wag a moral coward as well as a physi- cal one, and he did not dream of the methods the peclice brought to bear on him to force a confession, So when he saw that Cobb had wilted under examination and admitted everything, he knew that the margin clerk’s .Beose was cooked to a turn, and that Wall Street and» the church had seen the last of him. “Those kind of chaps nearly always get it in the neck in the long run. Cobb has met his finish sooner than I expected ke would. He’s worse than [ had any idea he was. I know he was a hypocrite, and was using religion as a cloak to ad- vance his interests, but I did not think he had the nerve to engaze in such a criminal game as he has been catight at,” mused Bill. “One never knows what to expect in this world, ejther in Wall Street or out of it.” Bill, as soon as he reached Wall Street, called at Jessup’s office to see what effect Cobb’s*exposure had on the cashier and clerks. It: was then only a few minutes after nine and the office: force had only just got to work, though to say the truth, precious little business was being attended to for the cashier, who had arrived but a few moments before, was surrounded by all the clerks and all were talking about Cobb. . Miss Watson was reading the story over again in another paper, and was not wasting much sympathy over the dowm fall of the guilty margin clerk. -Bill’s appearance produced something of a sensation in the office, for according to the papers he was the person who re- covered the stolen diamond: tiara and: brought about Cobb’s exposure. He was pulled into the iakthasstoseh by Jack Carter, and everybody wanted to TERRE. any additional facts not in the _ newspapers. “Who'd have thought you would be in on this affair,” said Carter, “How did it all come about, Bunce?” asked ae cashier. “It’s all in the papers,” said Bill. “The papers do not tell how it happened you were over at amaica Bay on Saturday night,” said Carter. “The account begins at the point where you and your friend ran ashore on the island in the dark. How is it you were on the bay so late?” “Oh, Dick Sanderson and myself hired a boat at about two : o'clock for a sail. We went to Rockaway Beach to see what was going on there and remained on the island a littie longer than we intended. That, however, would have cut no ice had we! not run on,a shoal near the island in question, and were ‘unable to get off until the tide rose, which did not happen till some time after it got dark. If it had been an ordinary night we would not have run roul of the island afterward and landed, in which event Cobb would not now be in jail, a con- fessed criminal, and the diamond tiara would never have been. recovered by its owner, but would have gone into the melting pot after the diamonds had been removed; but it wasn't an ordinary night. It was so dark that you could hardly see your hand before your face, and so when our boat got off the shoal I steered ‘her on to the island, thinking I was running through the channel, and everything: came about as you have seen in the papers,” explained Bill. » “Juooks like the hand of fate,” said Carter. on th that way, for I had no more idea of seing a ‘Cobb on that island, or ‘anywhere else in that vicinity, or getting on the track of that diamond tlara, than: £ had of taking a trip to the moon.” wb was your luck to bring about his éxposure.” 4 : Bill remained till half-past nine, during which time no ae was done in the office, and then he left and went to the ae Astle bank. ef ‘He bought 500 shares Michigan Central that morning. and sold the stock out two hours later on a rise of a point and a iis fraction, making $700. price dropped later to the point “where he bought it, mS » Siand sovhe shook hands with ‘himself over his good judgment in, making a sale on a small advance. — The ‘afternoon papers reported the arrest of two of the ate “ probks: ‘coneerned in the diamond. tiara robbery, and the -police expected to land the third in a short time, - The man still at large was the leader of the enterprise— the fellow who had run foul of Bill in the dark and in the ges that ensued Jost the ornament. aay as well caidas here ‘that’ he was: ts Kot not caught. ‘thief, ” ys He was 2 sharp rascal, and the moment he got Eehagl ess the island, believing that it was a detective' he had-been up against, he hustled to his lodgings, packed bis. grip and started for the Wést on the first train he could get, ‘ The game being up in his opinion, he wasn’t taking any: chances, for he knew he was known to the police, and if:Cobb was caught and “peached” he would be run down if he re- mained anywhere within the limits of Greater New York,.’ Abeut the middle of.the week the two crooks in» custody, with Cobb, were brought before the magistrate atthe Tombs Court, and Bill was summoned. to identify them and testify to what he had seen and heard in the house on the island. Mrs. Risdon, the lady to whom the tiara belonged, and her husband, were also in court. So also was the driver of the taxi-cab which figured in the ease: Cobb pleaded guilty. . ; He looked like a wreck. and Bill felt sorry for him, Mrs. Risdon likewise felt compassion on him and would ae withdrawn the charge against him if she could have one 50, - ; The two crooks fayored the margin clerk with no pleasant looks, for they despised a squealer. They pleaded not guilty, though they knew they had no chance of escaping the consequences of the crime. Cobb was remanded for sentence, which, in view of his plea, and the fact that this was his: first offence, would be made as light as the Court thought the circumstances called fer. As Cobb was led away the crooks, who had consulted, told the judge that they wished to waive examination. * The magistrate allowed them that privilege and sent them back to the Tombs. That closed the proceedings connected with the diamond’ tiara robbery. Mrs. Risdon went over to Bill, shook hands with him ‘grid thanked him for his valuable services in recovering the orna- ment. : She assured thé boy that it was her intention to show her appreciation in a substantial way as soon as the case -had been finally disposed of. 4 He took: Bill over and introduced him to his wife, who ‘also thanked him for saving her property from the Melting pot. “It is sad to see a boy in whom we all placed so much in confidence, and believed to be the soul of honor, Deanery 7 aa sighed Mrs. Risdon, regretfully. * “Tt is, ma’am, and I am the cause of his- downtall, ie sald : Bill. “You only did your duty. It is not your fault that he snias in the shadow of a felon’s cell, By committing the crimes he worked his own ruin.” “That's true, ma’ am. Although he and I never were friends when he worked in the same office still I don’t feel like re- ° joicing in his overthrow. Don’t yeu think that as the com- — plainant in the case it would be the right thing for you to see the judge, who will pass sentence on him and try to have it made a light one?” “I will do that willingly. Indeed I would prefer to. see him released tnan sent to State prison. He sate a reform’ his xia ways if given a chance,” she said. a Her husband agreed that an appeal should be. jnade to: the r judge of the criminal court, who would pass the. sentence on Cobb, “You might call « on the district attorney anak. put. the shat before him. If he asked the judge te be easy on. Gali it ‘would have some effect,” said Bill, ee “We. will call on him at once,” said Mr. Risdon. 2 ary £ They did, and after a talk with that. official. he said he would take the matter under consideration. ¢; : He sent one of his assistants to call on Cobb. , Cobb consented to testify against his companions in. crime ie even without recompense. He said he didn’t care what became of him now. for. all: his prospects were ruined. Mr. Risdon in the meanwhile called on Broker Jessup, a they called on the minister of the church. The result of their conference was a petition for ole signed by the more prominent members of the congregat on. E When Cobb was called ap for sentence. this etition Wi presented to the judge, i ; The district attorney, after explaining that the State ‘wanldh eros use Cobb as a Rel Seay aaa his ea eee at their trial,
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4 16 BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE. testify, his plea of guilty, na the fact that this was his first. offence, The judge sentenced Cobb to two years in Sing Sing, and then suspended sentence. That meant he was released from custody, but would be required to report at certain intervals to the district attor- ney’s office. Thus Cobb eseaped in the ignominy of prison stripes, and if he behaved himself for two years the shadow of his sentence would be removed for good. CHAPTER XI. BILL SECURES THE FIVE MILLION OPTION. Some weeks passed and then came the announcement of the lucky bidders for the Panama Canal bonds. Bill received an official notification from the Treasury De- partment that his five bids had been accepted and that he would be allotted the bonds if he deposited the premium on a specified date, If he defaulted in the payment the bonds would be divided among the next highest bidders. ‘He found the important letter. awaiting him at his home when he returned there at his usual hour one day, and his mother, who had noticed the Treasury Department imprint in the left-hand corner, and the usual notice on the other corner in the place of the stamp, was very curious to learn what was in it. “Are you looking for a position in the Treasury Depart- ment?” she asked, with a smile. “No, mother,” replied Bill, opening the letter and reading its.contents with a thrill of satisfaction, mingled with some excitement, for now he was surely up against the real thing. ‘He had secured an option on the whole five million, but unless he could sell that option at a profit within a limited ‘time, or raise the five million, plus the premium, to pay for the bonds, on the date mentioned, his nervy scheme, to which he had devoted much time and thought, would go for nought, and his failure would furnish _ Wall Street and the news- papers with a good joke. “What is it all about, William?” asked his mother, curi- ously. “Read it,” said Bill, handing her the letter. Mrs. Bunce read the communication and her eyes bulged with puzzled wonder. '.“What does this mean?” she asked. “Isn't it plain enough? The Secretary of the Treasury has f accepted my bids for five million dollars worth of the forth- coming Panama Canal bonds,” said Bill, in a tickled tone, reveling in his mother’s astonishment, “Yes, that’s the way it reads. I suppose you have made these bids in the interest of Mr. Jessup?” “You suppose wrong, mother. I made those bids in my own’ interest.” “Why, how could you buy $5, 000,000 worth of bonds?” ~ “J eouldn’t pay for that amount of bonds, or anything else, T’ll admit, but that fact did not Prevent me from bidding on them.” ' “You've got some purpose up your ‘anes then?” “T have. This letter practically gives me an option on those $5,000,000 bonds for a short time. Now that the bonds will _ shortly be» issued they will be put on the market, in advance, like any other bonds, and people wanting them, who either did not bid, or were not successful in securing an option, will try to "buy them before the price goes up. That wilt -ereate a market for the bonds. : quired to make a payment on them. “That's the idea precisely.” Those holding options will ask a fair advance on the price they have engaged to pay for the bonds when they are ready for delivery. If the demand for the bonds is lively the price will go up, and the higher it goes the more profit there will -be in sight for those in a position to sell what they have the eall on. Understand?” Mrs. Bunce thought she understood. “Then you expect to sell. your option before you are re- Is that it?” “How much do you expect to make?” _* 4] haven’t the ghost of an idea at this moment.” “Does Mr. Jessup know you have gone into this thing?” “He does not. Mr. Jessup and myself are not on speaking terms. i fee 33s; “What do you mean by that?” - “P’m pot working for Mr. Jessup at present,” said Bill, soe the admission at last. “You're not!” iets his mother, in great surprise, _ “No, mother, and I haven’t been for some time.” “When did you leave him and why?” Bill told her. , “And you never said a word about it to your father or me.” “J thought I had better keep the matter quiet.” “You must have got another position right away.” “Why do you think so?” “Because you have been going to work every day and com- ing home at your regular time, and on Saturday you handed , me your board money as usual.” “T have been working for a person you think a good deal of.” “Who is that?” “Myself.” “Yourself?” “Yes, and I’ve made a whole lot more than if I had re- mained with Mr. Jessup.” “What have you been doing?” “Speculating.” “In what?” “Stocks. I have made nearly $5,000 since I left Jessup’s office.” ; “Five thousand dollars!” “Four thousand four hundred, to be exact.” “You have made all that?” said his mother, doubtfully. “I have.” “You never told us about it. What have you done with it?” “I’ve got it stowed away in a Wall Street safe deposit vault box.” “T don’t see how you made so much money in so short a time.” “That's because you don’t understand the opportunities: there are in Wall Street to make money quick.” _ “I have often heard you-say that speculating in Wall Street stocks was a very uncertain and;risky matter.” “IT say so still. It is, but I’ve been lucky to win as a piles At any rate I’m ahead of the game at this moment.” “I don’t know what your father will say when he bears all this.” “I’m not worrying about what he will say. He can’t find any fault with me that I know of.. He might question my bond speculation. As soon as Wall Street hears about it the It isn’t every- financiers are bound to sit up and take notice. body with big money at his back who would bid for one-tenth of a bond issue; but for a boy like me, without backing, to do it, is bound to attract a mighty lot of notice.” Bill walked up stairs to his room to consider the situation. At that moment it looked exceedingly doubtful if he would be able to come out at the top of the heap. Everything depended on whether the bonds would have a rising market in a few days, in which event he expected to be able to dispose of his option to some bank es to pay the price that would give him a fair profit. If he had the money to make the first payment chats his chances would be practically sure; but as he didn’t why the issue was in doubt. It looked more doubtful now than when he put in his bids. Nevertheless he was full of hope and expectation. There was high jinks at the supper table when the facts came out before his father and sisters. The matter of his several relations with Broker Jessup, after having been commented on, faded into insignificance beside his bond venture. His father whistled when Bill handed him the letter to read. stated its meaning. His sisters fairly gasped when Mr. Bunce read it out and “Why, you must be crazy, ‘will, %, said Nellie Bunce, the elder girl, » “Do I look it?” grinned Bill. “In the name of goodness how do you expect to pay for ‘those bonds?” he said. “JT don’t expect to pay for them. I intend to sell my option, and let the buyer pay for them.” “Oh, that’s your little game?” said his father. "Do you : think you’ll be able to find a purchaser for such a. saa ae ae 9 securities?” “T hope so. Or maybe I'll be able to sell one million to 1 different parties.” “What bid did you put in?” \ willen “TI submitted five bids at varying figures, Here they are om that, paper. You see what the highest one is) I may make nothing on that, but I ought to do something with the last. three at any rate.” Mr. Bunce was not a fnaneler in any sense of the ‘word,
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nl BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE. 17 so he could form no idea of the possible profit his son might _ possibly pull out of his scheme; but he imagined that five Millions worth of bonds, on a small margin, ought to pay 2, handsome sum. TAY An average profit all around of one cent would amount to. »$50,000, and he said so. “Tl be satisfied if I make half of that,” said Bill. “I don’t count on making an average of a cent. The advance market would have to go over 105 to make that possible, and that seems too much to look for on two per cent. securities.” Mr. Bunce, being hazy on the subject, accepted his son’s statement. He knew Bill was an expert on bonds, and for that reason his son’s scheme had not staggered him as much as it other- ao would have done. He believed Bill knew what he was about. At any rate he was willing to take a chance on it. He regarded his only boy as a smart lad, and on the whole he was rather proud over Bill's’ nervy speculation. He hoped he would succeed in pushing it through, and was rather optimistic over the result. That evening Bill wrote a letter to old Mr. Trafton inform- ing him that he had secured the option on the entire five million of bonds, and that he hoped to come out all right on his venture. He asked the little old gentleman when he could call to talk the matter over with him. The letter did not reach Mr. Trafton as soon as Bill ex- peeted it would, for the reason that the old gentleman was out of town on a visit. - His daughter did not suppose it was of vital importance as _ her father was no longer in business, so she placed it on his Gressing-case to await his return. ” Owing to Mr. Trafton’s large acquaintance among finan- _ @iers, and the great respect in which he was held, Bill had counted on his help as a considerable factor in helping him place the option .in the event that the market was satisfac tory, and so he was much disappointed when his letter re- mained unanswered. ~ Thrown entirely on his own resources, Bill kept on the alert to see how the bonds would go on the market, for he ‘could do little towards. working off his cairo till he could get figures to base a deal upon. * C2 4 Bs CHAPTER XII. THE MYSTERIOUS WILLIAM BUNCE, All Wall Street learned right away the names of those who had secured the biggest provisional allotment of the Panama Canal bonds, and with the exception of one they were all ' Sop ixtae iss factors in the financial world. ‘The single exception was, of course, Bill Bunce. Every financier in Wall Street, began to “wonder who Wil- ‘liam Bunce was, He must be some unknown capitalist of the great West, for that was where all such individuals appeared to come from. : The wires were kept hot making inquiries all over the - country of banks who might be expected to be honored by this Bunce as a depositor. Nothing came of these inquiries because no bank carried William Bunce on its books. Clearly William Bunce was a mystery, but there was no mystery about his having captured a tenth of the entire bond igsue at figures which showed that Bunce was no slouch at the bond business. - Bankers and capitalists who had been nosed out of the 7 contest by this Bunce were exceedingly anxious to get a line on his identity, but they were not more eager than Wall Street and other financial centers, always on the qui vive _ to get. on terms of business intimacy with men possessing ' large “dough bags.” $o a week passed away and aug Bunce remained an elusive quantity. ~ E He heard his name mentioned a hundred times: on the a. -by brokers and financiers when they stopped to talk. fae! Oe A ee ee ; ia ee ee, One morning he met Broker Smith, “Hello, Bunce, how are you coming on?” a Smith. “T’ve no kick coming.” Fe “Still speculating?” va . Cre ” ‘ . “Why haven’t you called to see me? I expected to get some of, your ‘eustom.” - ; PES haven’t put through much aon I “met you ast.” Rint Got i ege ss es in the sa 94 eS pi dears Age “Yes.” : “That reminds me a namesake of yours is an object of ete interest, in Wall Street just now.” “ es?” “Yes, William Bunce. He captured five million of the new Panama bonds that are to be issued as soon as they can be printed.” “T suppose you know that my first name is William?” “No. Is it?” “Yes, sir. Maybe I’m the party you are referring to.” “T haven't the least idea what you are worth, but it’s a safe bet- you are not worth $1,000,000 let alone five or six.” “T.am not giving out my financial status. If you traders knew that I was worth a lot of money you'd all sit up nights figuring how you could relieve me of a part of it.” “Oh, come now, you seem to have a hard opinion of us brokers. ff “No, I have a very good opinion of you, but I think it is good policy to keep my business to myself, for I know evéry one of you chaps are watching for a good thing to come along so that you can pad up your bank accounts, at my expense.” “Do you call that a good opinion?” “Ti’s the way you do business. I don’t mean to say that you would actually rob a man, but if you could get hold of his money legally, why it would be regarded as perfectly fair in the game. You know what the newspapers some- times say about Wall Street, and the, Stock Hxchange, and otHer pet institutions down here, so don’t blame me for sizing up things in my own way.” “The newspapers libel us. When they haven't anything else to stir the public up with they take a crack at Wall Street. You don’t want to believe any of those things. The impression that brokers are a lot of bloated spiders sitting in their offices waiting for lambs to come in to be sheared is getting out of date. That bit of alleged humor has grown whiskers on it.” On Monday of the following week Bill ventured to call on Broker Stockbridge. “Hello, Bunce, glad te see you,” said the broker, shaking hands with him. “Sit down.” “How is Mr. Trafton?” “He’s enjoying his usual good health. him this morning.” “Ts he out of the city?” ; “Yes, down.on Long Island, visiting an old friend, He’s been away a couple of weeks.” “Then he didn’t get my letter.” “Did you write him?” “Yes. I addressed it to his house.” “Maybe it’s there awaiting his return, Is it Amara “Yes, to. me.” “YTll ask my wife about it when I get home, and if it’s there ‘ I'll mail it to him.” “Thank you. I wanted his advice about the disposal of my option on the Panama Canal bonds. I secured the entire five million.” ; “What's that? You secured five million!” exclaimed the broker, who was ignorant of Bill’s bidding on the bonds. “Yes, sir. Didn’t Mr. Trafton tell you I put in five bids ceevering that amount of the issue?” “No, he said nothing to me about it. Are you the ‘William Bunce that Wall Street is puzzling itself over?” . “Yes, I guess so.’ a “Do you expect to sell your option?” “ Yes. ” “Well, you have dont nerve, cost you so far?” — “Two cents.” “Well, you won’t lose much if you slip up on your shi goal “T hope I won’t slip up for I’ve put a good deal of my gray — matter into those bids. It would be a shame after: hitting » the nail on the head to lose my anticipated profit.” They talked awhile longer and ther Bill left. That afternoon Wall Street learned the identity of William Bunce, and his purpose in bidding for the bonds, and a pro- eg whistle went through the Street as the news circu- late I got a letter from How much has the venture é CHAPTER XIII. BILL'S SYNDICATE, 4 The secret being out, of courae, the’ newspapers got hold» of it, One ot them got hold of Bill's address and sick a reporter to interview a
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18 BILL’S BOND SYNDICATE. “So you’re the mysterious William Bunce?” porter when Bill received him. “T've made no mystery of ‘my identity,” replied the boy. “Um more often called Bill than William. Whatever mystery has surrounded my connection in the bond matter has been created by others.” The .reporter then questioned Bill about his bids, asking him how he came to put them in, how he had arrived at a successful set of figures, and what he proposed to do with | his option, | said the re- | Bill gave him perfectly frank answers, and furnished him enough copy for half a column without the heading, Next morning it was all in-the paper headed “The Mysteri- ous William Bunce Revealed at Last.” _ Bill read it with interest, and so did a million or more ‘other people, ; _ On the ‘financial page Bill read something of greater in- terest... Tt was the market quotation of the Panama Canal bonds. The price offered for them on the previous day was 104.10. | At that figure he was behind one-quarter of a cent on 1,000,- 000 of the bonds, but ahead a small fraction on the other four million, being well to the good on his fifth, or lowest, bid. During the week the bonds continued to advance and’ on Friday stood 104.40. As time was getiing short Bill got a move on and began visiting financiers who had bid on the bonds but had been cut out of the larger part of their application by his bids, _ He met with a cool reception, and found no one who would _ pay more than the maximum amount of their own bid, which _ was below the market price, and would give Bill no profit. It scon occurred to him that the financiers had combined ‘against him. : ~ Bill hadn’t thought of this kind of waiting game being blayed against him. He saw he was beaten unless he could get around the problem another way. : The only other way was to form a syndicate of persons willing to pay, say, 104:50 for the bonds, which would prob- atly be the market price by the time the option expired. © Next morning ‘he got a letter from Mr, Trafton. : He was coming home that afternoon and would see Bill ‘cn the following afternoon, which was Sunday. ‘Bill found three brokers on Saturday who were willing to go into his syndicate to the tune of $50,000 each. Sunday afternoon at three found him at Mr. Trafton’s _ house, where he received a warm welcome from all hands, and particularly from the old gentleman. . “Well, Bunce, I received your letter, and I congratulate you on your success in securing your coveted option on the whole number of bonds you applied for. What have you done toward selling your option?” _ “Very little. I had to wait till the bonds got a market at Pel and then I started out to interview the people most : ikely to take them off my hands. I soon found.I was making ‘little headway. I got no encouragement from the particular parties I counted on. They were not willing to relieve me . of the option at any figure that would make it worth my _ while to sell, I have finally reached the conclusion that the financiers do not care to see me win anything by my fore- sight. They know I cannot make good myself, and that I am certain to lose the allotments without their help. I have no doubt they figure that as soon as I refault in the first pay- Ment the bonds will fall to them pro rata, at least the bulk ‘oi them. So you see how the case stands, sir,” said Bill. _ “Then you think your venture is going to prove a failure?” “My only chance is to form a syndicate to take over my option at the best price I can get that will permit of a profit, An accordance with that idea I have approached a,number of brokers, with whom I am. slightly acquainted, and have 80 far found three who are willing to go in at $50,000 each.” » “Well, Bunce, as I am under a great obligation to you for the service you rendered me, it would afford me great _ pleasure to assist you in this thing. Perhaps I can. If will give you a list of friends of mine who I think might take a ‘hand in this syndicate of yours.. T will give you a general letter of introduction which you can take around and show them. Iwill subscribe half a million towards the capital '. required by the syndicate to take up the bonds at a price to be agreed upon that will give you a handsome profit if the Iarket warrants it, You can use my name and my written subscription offer freely. I think you ought to get the rest. of the money promised in three or four days. Should any hitch | occur I will personally make an effort to help you out,” | Si ge ey 22). A ee a ce eek Wee ; aS: ’ a 4 i, j 4 7 mi & ates Tain ‘money, and was the happiest person that day in’ ISHHD; OR, THE TRBASURE OF THD INCAS,” “This is very kind of you, sir,” said Bill, with a thrill of hope. “It is a favor I shall always remember.” { Bill remained until some time after tea and when he left he — carried away with him the magic documents that he believed would lead the way to success. Next morning he started out to call on the first gentleman on his list, a well known operator, with offices in Exchange — Place. : The gentleman was in and received him when the office boy told him that the visitor bore a letter from Mr. Trafton, Bill opened up his syndicate proposition at once, showing the gentleman Mr. Trafton’s letter and paper representing his» subscription for half a million. Sits “Tl stand-in with you on the same basis as Mr. Trafton. Lg Put me down for half a million,” the broker said. shi “Will you kindly put your offer in writing so I can w it with My. Traften's as a potent argument with the next ~~ man I call upon,” said Bill. “Let me see your list.” ’ Bill showed it to him and he signed. Cz, _ Thanking the gentleman for his co-operation, Bill started te call on the next one on the list. We will not follow him on his rounds ‘that day. Some of the gentlemen he was unable to see, but he met ~ with no refusals from those he interviewed and he raised a second million among four men. "4 pris Next day he continued his rounds and picked up another — million, ; On Wednesday he captured'a million and a half, BEG _ With but one million more to round up he felt confident of success, and was proportionately elated. His: list running out; Mr. Trafton supplied him with addi- tional names, and at twe o’clock on Friday his syndicate, embracing thirty-one members, was complete. ; f Bill then,'called on the old gentleman and a meeting oree arranged for the following day at one o’clock. Ma arti At that time the price of the'Panama Canal bonds had ad- ~ vanced to 104.60. fy Bill personally carried notices around to each of the mem- bers of his syndicate and they all promised to attend the meet- 6 ing, which was to be held in Mr. Stockbridge’s office. ~ pas Bill was on hand at half-past twelve, and soon afterward — Mr. Trafton arrived. The other gentleman began arriving soon afterward. At a quarter past’ one Bill ealled the meeting to order, being present. 3 ; ; je He stated that the amount needed to purchase his options ( had been fully subscribed, and he hoped that the combine | — would not object to his price of 104.50, as the market: price — then stood 104.60. ; eh aay If they agreed to take his options at his figure the syndi- cate would pay him the sum of $62,000 odd, when he would transfer his five options over to the combine, and the chair man chosen to conduct their affairs would then call for the amount necessary to secure the allotments from the Treasury Department, ; a NE: ; aN In the meantime he would notify the Secretary of the Treasury that he had made over the options to the syndi. cate, aud would furnish him with the chairman’s name and address, ‘ The chairman cotild also notify the the transfer, and the purpose of the syndi bonds on official notification. The paper was passed around for inspection, and Bill’s price disctissed with relation to the future value of the bonds, As it was the general opinion that the price of the bonds . would continue to go up, and that the syndicate would be ©. able to make a fair profit out of the transaction, which they understood had been ‘put, forward by Mr. 2 als for the express object of helping his young friend out of a financial — predicament, it was unanimously voted to’ pay Bill the price We he asked. weds up. his * ee was at all “Treasury Department of ; & cate to pay for the —_ % That closed the proceedings and the meeting broke Three days afterward Bill receiyed a certified check Street. d 5 = He had sueceeded in putting his bohd yenture thro spite of the opposing financiers, and had cleared a from a two-cent stamp. ~ » ‘i see Next week's issue will contain “THE BOY WHO” SAD POSTAL FR UR FREE CATALOGUE 4
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Boe | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. “19 | J psig establishments and other commercial concerns all ‘over the country are erecting wireless masts over or ‘ "close to their places of business to catch the offic lally correct time flashed at 10 o’ elock every night from the navy’s wire- less station at Arlington, Va. Loeal jewellers. who seized upon the idea have set the pace for other cities, Two great icebergs, one hundred miles north of the j transatlantic steamship lanes and moving southward, were - discovered by. the revenue cutter Seneca on April 13; ac- cording toa ie ae yed wireless despatch to the revenue cutter gorvice. One b berg was in latitude 44:36 and. longitude . other | was eleven miles west of that position. -E Bugis. Smith, of the Hast Side, New York, broke ‘is 2 arm in the ae round of a ten-round bout with Jimmy Flynn, of Long Island, at the Atlantic Garden Athletic ~ Club, recently, and was forced to quit. -The club’s phy- -gician examined the injured hoxer’s-arm and declared that it would be at least two months before he would be able to box again. Until he met with the accident Smith had all : the better of the going.. In the semi-final “Young” O'Leary had a sight advantage over Eddie Sherman. Petry Hiers, of ‘Rosemary Township, brought to et 8. C., on April 15, an eagle he caught with a ook while fis ching recently. While.i in a boat looking after vee lines Hiers observed the bird overhead, and he was just l ng a fish off the line when the eagle swooped at the orsel. The hook caught the bird by the wing, and before could free itself Hiers killed it with a paddle. The gle measured 5 feet 9 inches from tip to tip. Its talons vor ‘placed on exhibition i in a new SPapey office her e. < a a : bi asion speak. ae rick publid life, to ae ie ereetly what is bad, to be silent about what is middling; id to extol what is good in French’ public life.” ‘The lisposition in this country to be consorious and too often ist criticisers of. public officials, tends to lessen the respe for PN: 3 ar? “sal gid Hi Op reauest of Benno agus an ee the Maure- was stopped on Tuesday, April 15, that he might yreaths into the Atlantic in commemoration ersary of the Titanic disaster. Mr. Neuberger, a personal friend of alent B. Arges the: theatri- nor. ‘ The iar wreath. Was ve all: the Titanic a red in behalf of the Hebrew Infant of v ich. Mr, Neuberger is President. Practically ve ania @ the brief sai CURRENT NEWS In the final hour and a half left by the United States aa the other morning for the filing of Titanic claims 25 demands for damages were handed to Commissioner — Heade Gilchrist. The whole number. of claims filed is 910. A total of almost $14,000,000 is sought from the White Star Line for loss of life, health and property through the sinking of the steamship. All claims not filed by the hour set were declared invalid, though Judge Holt . allowed two exceptions. Henry Escher, counsel for seven. Swiss immigrants, was granted an extension of thirty days. A, Leonard Brougham was allowed one week to file fitty claims. ~Ceptain Wills of the British steamer Longstar, arriving 8 the other day from Cette, France, brought i in what is said © to be a message from the Titanie, which he picked up off the Grand Banks on his last transatlantic passage. Captain am Wills said that the message, which was scratched with a — nail on a piece of wood about a foot square, was signed by Colonel John Jacob Astor. What the nature. of the ‘message | was the captain would not divulge, Yo said he had been in communication with Mrs. Astor and offered the relic to’ her, but that she had declined to receive it. Officers of the - steamer believe the message is genuine, but shipping people placed very little er edence in the theory that it came from the Titanic. “aes. £ Six persons, including four einployees of the Dilleburg ‘Post Office, York, Renn., were poisoned by candy sent from Harrisburg the other night to the Postmaster, F. M. Altland. Mr. Al and and his. daughter, Catharine, aro confined to their beds. The others who partook of the eandy and. were made il are Bailey. Spohr and Robert — ‘Smith, carriers, and Helen Spohr and Maud Klugh, school ‘ehildr en, who had received some of the candy from the y| postmaster’s daughter, A box of homemade fudge. was +] received by Postmaster ‘Alfand, early, this: morning. Te aoe treated his daughter and the two carriers. His wife refused to eat any, becoming suspicious when she wag told that the person who sent the candy wae wiknow nD. Detectives have been put to work on ‘the. case. Mr ong 4 Tae ja Pe ine ka Captain 5 Tutt ce the Hamburg- agian Line steam= : ship Carl Schurz, which arrived from Colon, reported that. at 11:33 A. M. on April 8 his wessel ran into. a sleeping whale and killed it off the Colombian coast, between Santa Marta and Port Limon, Captain Tutt said the Schurz was moving at sixteen knots at hour when she struck with a shock that frightened many passengers, They. thought the ship had run into another vessel or a st inken’ reef. The s|"¢aptain ordered the engines reversed and backed’ at. full speed. In the bright moonlight the ¢arcass of a forty-twe ” foot whale was seen spitted on the bow. of, the 8 Nias i £ the steamer backed wt body sanic to. the water and dis- . it on. “paid
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20 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. THE BOY DIVERS > THE MYSTERY OF THE SUNKEN SHIP . By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY). CHAPTER XIX (continued.) And upon the sea, lashed to fury where the white-capped waves raised their lofty crests in wild contention that threatened doom to the voyager, whose craft might he cast among them, a small Pees Ca schooner-built eraft— from whose masthead had fluttered the ensign of the reve- nue service, farther north battled under bare poles with the storm. The captain knew they were near dangerous. shoals— the. relics of the submerged reefg of the Bahamas. But the gale drove his vessel on; no human power could guide it in the face of that awful tempest. White-faced and terrified, a young girl thrust her head above the manhole in the closed hatch of the companion. way... “Captain !” she cried. “What is it, miss?” he answered, as, lashed to the mast, he kept the deck over which ever Bos anon the wild waves swept. “Ts there any hope?” she asked. “Heaven can only answer! There should be islands near—mostly they are uninhabited, and yet there may be human creatures on some of them. Oh, if we only had a signal light to guide us to a harbor! But all is dark- ~ ness. The land that must be near is therefore a source of | ' peril rather than deliverance. We may be driven upon the rocks. But the signal: gun shall be fired. Heaven grant we may get an answer.” The detonation of a cannon—a small gun in the bow of the revenue vessel—boomed over the sea, sonacing above the pandemonium of the storm. Anon, as if the signal had heen heard, a iene beacon light flashed ahead. With joy the captain ; gave his orders. The vessel ran for the light. But, oh, horror! The light was a wreckers’ beacon set on the most dangerous rocks of the coast of the island of the seven pines. The revenue vessel was reaching a certain doom. ; CHAPTER XX. P THE GIRL FROM THE WREOK. ‘Well, Hawk, the men have well-nigh had only their trouble for naught. The false beacon they set last night’ lured the vessel to doom, and she went to pieces on the, outer reef. But of phinder cast ashore there was little enough.” Under the light of a new day Onslow and the captain of the black schooner were pba Dk along the coast of the island where the false light had been kindled during the hours of darkness and storm. In reply to Onslow, Hawk made a significant gesture of disgust. “Yes,” he said then, “and so far as we-have been able to learn, not a single soul of those on the vessel gained the and a 2 “So much the better.” “Yes, since from the fragments of the lost vessel, which was cast up by the sea, we have learned her name.” “Which we know to be that of a revenue vessel.” “Certainly, And the very one our agent in Charleston warned us about.” “The one he stated had been commissioned to convey revenue detectives to the Florida coast?” “Yes; to try to ferret out the mystery of the besoin schooner, and our smuggling enterprises.” “Hello!” cried Hawk. “Yonder comes several of our’ men, and they are carrying a human form between them.” — Onslow gave a start, as he looked along the shore: ra the direction in which Hawk pointed. “A woman!” uttered’the smuggler chief. “Then she is from the wreck—from the lost revenue yessel !?” \ “Tt must be so.” ” be “And ‘probably alive.” Sere “Possibly, judging from the care sth ae the men — are carrying her.” : Onslow and Hawk moved forward. fers They soon met the men with the human burden. On- — slow looked down upon a beautiful girlish face. But it was as white as death. One glance the smug gglor bent upon the seemingly life. 4 less girl. Then a choking ery burst from his ne and & his eves dilated to their widest extent. “What is it? You know her?” exclaimed Hawk.. “Yes—yes! Why, man, this girl is Vadna tan, ‘the heiress of the lost treasure ship!” , Hawk was surprised into an utterance niet of his state of mind, a who bore the unceriseious girl: “Ts she dead ?” » “No, cap, not quite—I reckon we kin aes her. Se see, we jist found her. The waves had cast her up on t sand around the p’int o’ rocks yender, 2 ang the apenke pointed. ae i “Quick! No time must be lost! To the nearest
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FAME AND FORTUNE A 2 8 5 aera eee Eke b This girl’s life is valuable to me. If it is within human Power to save her she must live!” cried Onslow. He dashed away, bearing in his arms the slender form of Vadna Lynn, whom we had taken from the men who “had picked her up on the inhospitable coast of the island. - Followed by Hawk and the men, Onslow gained a cabin. ‘There he placed Vadna in the care of two middle-aged “women, wives of two of the smugglers. He had confidence in the skill of the women. To them, with promises of rich (reward if they were successful, he intrusted the task of \ bringing Vadna back from the mysterious state between q ife aad death into which she had entered. _. Success was the merited reward of the'intelligent efforts Yat resuscitation made by the smuggler’s wives. _Vadna was ‘restored. ; ‘It was a singular providence, but that one frail life, : that i in human judgment must have seemed the least likely to survive the peril of storm and wreck, was the only one | ‘saved. Strong men, endowed with the vitality which made them ‘giants in the strife for life amid the waves, had perished. Vadna was alone a waif from the sea—alone in the power ‘of the villain she most feared and dreaded. The day had advanced, and the sun had some time since passed the’ meridian, when Vadna, lying pale and weak and wan upon a couch in the smug glen’ 8 cabin, yet in “the full ath all her faculties, heard a heavy foot- ¥ step without. _ Already the women of the cabin had told Vadna she swas the only one saved from the wreck. But the young ‘girl had no suspicion of the destiny, worse than death, which might soon menace her. - The smugglers’ wives had stated that they were = ieamitians ‘of a litle community of honest Seheries: 8 families, dwvell- ing on an island. “More than that Vadna had not elie ited. She felt su- k ‘preme- gratitude, and had conveyed ‘the understanding of Mthat to the woman. For some time she had slept, and she was now alone. : ‘The heavy step Vadna heard without drew nearer: ,I used at the door. She heard a hand on the latch; the ating of ‘her heart quickened, yet she thought not that e had cause for fear. ‘he coor opened. adna beheld Captain Britton Geclows whe young girl uttered a faint scream... Her strength -not yet sufficient for the effort she made to arise, She pack on the couch. — a Ath = Jter sa age was one of absolute ree and of sur- is a} hrough: ‘an inner he eame one of the women of thx arms to the smuggler’s wife. . “Qh, do not leave me! Vor the love of heaven, do not me alone with this man—this monster!” 1a See Ae terror soul strength to her voice. va sly. cast a. glance that was by no means unkind upon / Before Onslow could speak: i adna stretched os as. ene ‘beat a ue retreat, for Onslow’ $ will was) *: quest of her ake sesh een A Onslow closed the door through’ which he had entered, and for'a brief interval he stood silently looking at. Vadna with an expression of insolent triumph upon his counte- nanee, which served to increase the young girl’s apprehen- sions. “A singular and most welcome meeting, Miss Vadna. Really, I consider myself ‘a lucky mortal. You have been cast as a waif upon my kingdom in the sea. Here my will rules. I am a king. You are mine from this hour—mine, body and soul. You will never leave the island. Your treatment will depend on your conduct. I can be a kind, indulgent master, or a severe one. You may as well understand the situation at once, so I speak plainly. But I still am willing to make you my wife. Ill have an old Spanish priest I know brought here in the. course of a month—after my return from a certain voy- age—and then the ceremony will take place that shall. unite us*for life. You see, I might be worse than I am.” - Vadna experienced the hope that. she was respited— ~ that the man who had become the arbiter of her destiny wasvsincere—that he would for a time leave her unmo- lested. ; She formed the mental resolution to seek a grave in ‘the sea before she would submit to the plan of her fubire $0 - brutally indicated by the smuggler. ® Vadna was meditating in’a way which Onslow had no conception of ‘while she remained’ silent when ‘he had spoken. ", The disappearance of the two boy divers and old Dan had created great wonder and apprehension ‘in Semimole village for a time, and the fate of the trio was a mystery, until one day a Séminole Indian—one of the last of the ~ race of the Everglades—came into the village with a” startling report which threw light upon the strange van~- ishment of the divers. ge Tom,” such was the name of the Seminole, said: “Me see black schooner one night in Indian Lagoon. ~ Me see old Dan and two young palefaces who go down — ‘under sea. Strange men had ’em. They were prisoners — tied heap strong. . They were put on black vessel. Then it put of to sea. Tom saw it no more.” Be The Indian had the reputation for truthfulness; which ~ caused hig hearers to credit all he said, and some ques- tioning elicited the further information ‘that Captain On- slow boarded the black schooner with the divers. 8 Jt was then ascertained that the old coast mansion which had been Onslow’s habitation was closed and deserted. That same day the revenue. vessel, which we have stated rs was driven 4o doom on the rocky coast of the smuggler’ S island, arrived at the harbor of Seminole Point. The captain proved to be an old friend of Vadna’s foster- father. The Indian’s story was reported to him. He de- clared his intention of cruising after the black schooner to rescue the boy divers and.old Dan, hoping-to fall in with the government man-of-war, which he knew to be in the “| southern waters, and upon , which he meant to call for assistance. re At. Vadna’s earnest sali tution slic was allowed: to sail en the revenue vessel, that ee ieoed without. es DS nee Ss Soak oie)
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1 22 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, FACTS WORTH READING THE “NEWPORT’S” SUMMER CRUISE, The summer cruise of the good ship Newport, known as the New York Nautical School, was assured recently, when the Board of Education appropriated the sum of $21, Ov0 forthe expenses incidental to the voyage. It is the fortieth year of the school, which it is proposed to abolish. The city has been paying about $50,000 a year to support the school, or a total of $1,050,000 to graduate 769 hoys, of whom only 134 have followed thé sea. President Churchill aid yesterday that it was too much money to pay for a “jaunt” and the Legislature could not abolish the school none too soon to-suit him, AN ADIRONDACK CLUBHOUSE BURNED. ~The Adirondack League clubhouse, at Little Moose Lake, New York, was burned on April 15. The boathouse, con- taining about 150 canoes, was saved, as were the nearby camps. The property is that of the Adirondack League Club of New York City, which has about 1,000 members. The property loss is between $50,000 and $75,000, The origin of the fire is unknown. It started in the east wing of the building, which was unoccupied, and it was necessary to break in the doors to-fight the flames. he blaze was ‘discovered by the caretaker, Mrs. Peter Zimmer, who noti- fied the Old Forge Fire Department. About sixty men went to the head “Of First Lake by motor boats and auto- mobiles and then travelled five-cighths of a mile through the woods to the clubhouse. A bucket brigade was seine. While it prevented the destruction of nearby property, the clubhouse, icehouse, laundry and storéhouse were burned. AN AVIATOR KILLED. Otto W. Brodie, a professional aviator, was killed at Chicago, April 19, by a fall of his machine from a height of forty-five feet at the aviation grounds on the West Side. _ Brodie was head of a school of aviation and was testing a new machine. He was guiding the machine over sdme trees when a branch snapped a guide wire, preventing con- trol of aeroplane, The aviator was caught under the engine. Brodie was one of the first CBicagoans to take up avia- tion professionally. He was 26 years old and had been a flier four years. His instruction work Was so successful that he recently made plans for a factory for the manu- facture of air craft. He professed to be the first aviator to deliver parcel post. packages by the air route. He car- ried several such packages from Cicero, a suburb:of Chica-| 80, to Argo, Til., soon age the parcel service was free woe GLASS TELEGRAPH POLES. Near Frankfort, in Germany, there is a manufacturing plant ‘which turns out glass poles for telephone and tele- graph wires. In order to give them solidity and strength - there is a thick framework of woven wire in the glass. ‘These poles are taking the Be of the wooden ones in mney sections = Picco heats: ‘invasion of the country by most conservative experts, who have estimated Tt may be that in,time all such telegraph and-telephone poles throughout the world will be made of glass because there are so many advantages in them. In the first place, they will last practically for all time, except in’ eases of unustial accident, where they may be broken, as in railroad wrecks. They will Jast even longer than iron or steel, as weather has practically no effect upon them, nor can insects get into them and destroy them, And in tnese days, when wood is becoming more and more valuable, ft will be quite a saving of the precious wood to make such things of glass. Experiments are also under way for the manufacture of railroad ties of glass, in which wire netting is imbedded in the glass. Paving blocks are made of glass and have proved to a a most valuable material for street surfaces, being fitted together in such a manner as to be watertight, no water running down between the blocks. There are, in’ Lyons, France,’ a number of strects paved with glass, and they have a better resistance than stone, and also are not such great conductors of heat as stone. These glass paving blocks are now said to be actually cheaper than the granite blocks. : TREASURE OF THE INCAS TO BE EXPLORED, W. ©, Gates, an explorer of New York City, accompanied by three gold experts, sailed the other day on board. the United Fruit Steamship Carrillo for Callao, Peru, whence they will make their w ay up into the Andes around the shores of Lake Titicaca in a quest for the buried treasure of the Incas. The present expedition comes as a result of dieeoveries. made by Mr. Gates on a recent prospecting trip in Peru, - when he found a number of gold ornaments not far from Tiahaunaco,; the old pee city of the Tneas. i Struck by the remarkable designs of the ornaments ‘and convinced of their antiquity, he took them to the authori ties, who pronounced them genuine relics of the early : of the Aymara clan, the direct predecessors of the Incas. As a result of this opinion, the four men sailed to. com plete the exploration. They expect to be gone more than - a year, and upon their return a $20, 900,000 corporation: will be floated to purchase land in Per u, after the neces sary permits have been obtained trom the Peruvian ernment. When asked for details of the expedition, Mr. Gete de- nied it was for the purpose of discoy ering. the ‘treasure a the Ineas, and said he and his companions were boun merely upon a prospecting trip for iron ore. The treasure of the Incas, which was. hidden. atte the | the Spaniards under Fr ancisco Pizarro, has been variously estimated at amounts from $10,000,000 to $1,000,000,000, | That it is of tremendous value has been admitted by the) the wealth) of the old Incas civilization at the time. of the Spanist invasion and the amount of wealth. extracted fre country by the as aa Sees i Pe
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NED, CHAPTER XXIV (continued.) I called for all the servants, questioned them and finally picked out the butler as the man most Jikely to know something, from a certain look on his face, i questioned him privately and he admitted that he had st his master out at three in the morming, and had then losed the door and locked it. “Did he say anything about me?” T asked, the man ing a stranger to me, having come to the house during absence! 0, sit, not by name he didn’t, but he said that he go and he guessed I could stay if I behaved myself, the new master who was coming would stand no honsense, but I didn’t know he meant you,\sir, because I always heard that the young master w: as dead. “if And did you help him pack up? Did he, take money Rs well as papers?” ~ “7 don’t know, sir. a ae want especial.” I only packed his clothes, things ag I aicmtead hin, saving: ry well, Robert. You may stay, hut remember that least. appearance of anything wrong, out you go.” er I Jearned that my uncle had left by an early for the East and. that he had taken all the av ailable , and securities that he could put his hands upon, eae eydiee oohere ne: sides me sas detectives w ere vy but he made his escape and es that day to ave never seen nor ae from him. unele Tett the. greater 8 of our ee behind because he was unable to take it with him, and with had pot from the lost mines we three yond the dreams of avarice and had enough oto to the islands, Dut many vears after- astonished by’ the report that a sea found on an island | in the - Pacifie fur- | nd mini plants, and that these were FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. historic race of which tained shadow pictures with a compound - steel m weighing little more tha a pound, mr 23. BESS AND MYSELF a THE SEARCH FOR THE KING’S LOST GOLD MINE KING By .ED (A SERIAL STORY) | Ned, Bess and myself were greatly amused, but we let the scientific world puzzle itself over the matter and did. not attempt to enlighten the learned debaters upon the subject, ; Years have passed since then and the matter would have been entirely forgotten had not one of my sons—his name is Ned—asked me one day for a trte story, and with the aid of my companions in the strange happenings which we then witnessed, I have written out the story of. the earlier lives of Ned, Bess and Myself, THE END. eee NEXT WEEK A NEW SERIAL BEGINS —READ— Mark, the Money Maker --OR—- BOW A SMART BOY GOT RICH By ED. i KING THIS 1S A GREAT STORY Get the beginning NEXT WELK wo oe — Tt is possible to produce, with the aid of a magnet, shadow photographs resembling those made by action of the N-ray. Wither an electromagnet or a permanent mag- net will answer the purpose. Place a key, or other iron or steel objec t, on the sensitive film of an ordinary photo- graphic plate. then bring {he poles of the magnet near l the other side of the plate and» keep them there for five minutes or more, Upon developing the plate, a shadow. picture of the key or other abject; as sharp and well defined - as' any of: the! Ks -ray pictures, will be found. By this method only iron or steel of other paramagnetic substances ; may be photographed ; but if the sensitive side of the plate is turned toward the magnetic poles, and a disk of iton nearly as large as the plate is placed on the other side, {then shadow pictures of any nou-magneti¢ objects, placed , on the sensitive film facing the magnet, may be obtained. The operations are, of course, condueted in a dark room, With an electromagnet capable of lifting a weight of a hundred pounds one scientist has imade such pictures through two inches of. interposed. wood, He has als
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240 SAVED BY A BOTTLE OF CHLOROFORM. I have a friend who lives in South Africa, with a Dutch settlement three or four miles south of him, and with heavy forests hounding his farm on the north. Three years ago, in my wanderings about the earth, I chanced’ to wander near him, and dropped out of my way to visit him and see what life in South Africa was like. Maitland was overjoyed to see me, and between his wel- come and the novelty I prolonged my stay much longer than I had intended. We took two native servants with us, and went up into the interior on a lion and elephant hunt, and met with moderate success. This was something like! It made my blood tingle when I heard the first Tio roar. This would be something worth telling, I thought, _ when I reached my home. And afterward, when I had ' managed to shoot an elephant and the huge beast had fall- en, I cut off his tusks triumphantly, feeling that I would need them to confirm. my story when I should reach home. But after the hunting was all over and we had gone back to the farm'came an incident which left all the others in the shade. Maitland had gone down to the village on some business that needed his attention. I had intended spend- ing the day lounging about the house, but, being in a mood to think kindly of my old friends, I happened to think of Prof. B., who is prouder of a new bird or butterfly than he would be of a gold mine. I determined to take a round through the woods near the farm, and see what tropic bird I could kill for thé dear professor, or with what new butter- fly I could enrich his collection, Over one shoulder I earried a shotgun, loaded only with the finest birdshot, and over the other shoulder was the light pole to the end of which was attached the butterfly net. I had left the house and gone half-way down the path before I remembered the chloroform with which I always killed the butterflies. I ran back then, found the little vial, and stuck it in my vest pocket, and so went strolling off, at peace with myself |* and the world. ~ J wandered about considerably that morning, enjoying myself very much, and not watching for game as closely as I might have done. Still, I succeeded in bagging two or three very pretty birds, and in geting a long way from home. I had just shot a bird and had dropped it into the game bag, while I made leisurely preparation to reload my gun, when a sudden violent rushing among the. leaves of a stooping tree attracted my attention. Before I had time to raise mty eyes, almost, down dropped a huge gorilla di- rectly in front of me. ‘The creature lighted upon its feet as a man might have done, and stood there chattering and beating upon its breast with its hands. It was evidently angry, but I believe it would have gone on and left me alone if I had possessed presence of mind enough to keep still and not molest it. But I was so startled at the unex- | pected apparition, that involuntarily I leveled my gun and fired full at its face. I had forgotten that the load was only mustard seed shot. Straight into the gorilla’s face it went, and the roar that arose told how it stung. The next moment and he came, roaring till the hills rang, and beat- ing his breast such, blows as seemed almost hard enough to break his: ribs. I had barely time to club my gun before he wes ont me. ‘The gun : never "struck = at all. He caught it FRAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, = oe tor found that I had three ribs broken: beside an i as it fell, snapped the stock from the barrels like a reed in his hands; and made for me again. But fortunately I had not waited. I had rushed off through the trees, mak- ing such time as no mortal ever did before. But if I hoped to escape in any such way I had reckoned without consult- ing the gorilla. I heard his loud roar behind. me, and glancing over my shoulder saw that he was coming with such a rush that I would be overtaken inj an instant. Just in time I dodged behind an enormous tree—for he almost touched me as he dashed past. He turned and came again, and I made some weak effort at dodging around and around the tree. But I was no match for the horrible ani- mal that was pursuing me, and added to my clumsiness. was the condition of nervous collapse into which I was falling. My knees began to give way under me, and I was” about. to fall at last, when the long, hairy arms were. thrown around me, and I was hugged closer, closer, in a horrible embrace that was crushing the life out of me as” though I had been a mouse. , The pain wag so unendurable that I felt myself swooning, and everything began to swim, before me. I knew that I would be dead in a few minutes more. My left arm was bent backward in some way, and those crushing arms snapped and my very soul sickened. ‘ But in the effort to drive off the faintness that took posses- sion of me, I presséd my right hand upon my breast, and in doing so touched the bottle of chloroform. : Quick as thought T had it in my hand and had press out the cork. Another second and I had filled the creatur face with the burning liquid; eyes, nose, mouth and small bleeding wounds made by the tiny shot. His: agony was something horrible, and for one awful mo: he tightened his clasp. The next moment he released and went staggering blindly here and there, tearing al face, beating his breast and uttering the most direa human-like cries. T ran to the spot where he fad dropped my gun, picking up the barrels, I crept up to this horrible os half ghoul, half man, and dealt it blow and blow, b it was quite still. I swooned away, and lay there I bash tell yer ane | must have been several hours before I regained conscious ness. I finally arose and dragged myself back farmhouse, but on its threshold I swooned again. my arm. A: went off into fever and delirium, an. farm. Thy was evident that Pes gorilla had ie his latitude, as it had been years since one of the | had been seen in that part of the country, and this fact had made him more vindictive. But he that may be, the experience is one that still make: shudder when I think of it, and the smell 0 enormous, shaggy arms. Any person in a Japanese. theater who chia small extra fee is allowed to stand up during th ance, and those sitting behind him are quite unless Les choose to follow his exataple,
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FAME-.AND ‘FORTUNE WEEKLY. FROM ALL POINTS ee A- record aeroplane flight from-England to Germany was made on April 18 by Gustav Hamel, who flew with a “be ca from Dover to Cologne, without a stop, covering the 245 miles in 258 minutes, passing over four frontiers and encountering five rainstorms on the journey. Leland Stanford, Junior, University announced on April 8 that it would send a baseball team to Kelo University, Japan. The contract from the Je apanese university agrees 0 pay $3,500 to the Stanford managers for the trip. “The American team will stay thirty days in Japan, and agrees © finance a return visit of the Kelo University team. n the month of March 2,803,015 cubic yards of earth w e excavated from the entting of the Panama Canal, ely approximating the retord of the same month last r. More shovels were put to work on the Culebra sec- ion, resulting in an increased output. There® remain 2,500,000 cubic yards still to be exéavated before the ; ae of the canal: ‘ontracts for the construction of two gigantic floating ranes for the Panama Canal were let on April 18 by the hmian Canal Commission to Newmeyer & Dimond, of w York, agents for the Deutschen Mashinenfabrik, a erman concern, whose bid of $837,500 was more than 600 below that of the lowest American bidder. These s will each have a lifting capacity of 2,300 tons. An f Congress authorizes the purchase ‘abroad of equip- for the canal in case domestic bids are unreasonable. Bie htiicie treasure, the plant: of the Old Cherokee cate, a paper which for half a hundred years was the national life of the Cherokee Indians, was 7 sold by that nation. Tt was the only newspaper fa ers. The once > powerful seat, now a souvenir, was 1) chat dat publf& auction by J. S. Holden, editor of the on Post, more as a matter of sentiment than any- . $151 being the sum paid for the outfit. ; arriage of Harry L. Rand, local manager oe a oration in’ Denyer,. and Miss Helen Stanford of e City. is preserved in all its details through the ' motion pictures. The families of the bride and m both live in Salt Lake and could not be present. ple were for a long time at a loss as to how happiness without the disappointment of | ‘ ir parents” were unable to witness the scene. The young ‘lady came to Denver and was married the train unt il the happy pair left the church orded by the picture men, the first pic- e LeDe ‘made in Denyer. The ceremony was first pee Church by Dr. A. ““Correio”, which does not disclose his whereabouts. suggested. | the motion pictures, and solved the 2B. . Former King Manuel of Portugal declares: “I foresee that I shall soon return to-the throne of Portugal,” in an interview published recently in the monarchist newspaper. Man- | ue! outlines a programme of social and economic reforms which he intends to introduce when he returns. He de- scribes the condition of Portugal as deplorable, affirming that actual despotism has replaced parliamentary self-gov- ernment and is.controlling the courts of justice, while neg- lecting the country’s agriculture, commerce and industry and augmenting the taxes to such an extent as to forcé 120,000 Portuguese to emigrate during 1912. The inter- ‘|view is one of many indications that the monarchist party in Portugal is relentless in its activity. Robert M. Petty, banker and trolley magnate, former President of the Washington National Bank, of Washing- ton, N. J., was convicted in the United States District Court in Newark the other night for the embezzlement of $30,000 from his bank. He had been indicted on tiwen- ty-five distinct counts and the jury returned a verdict of guilty on every count. Petty, in getting the: money from the bank, deposited bonds of the Northampton, Easton & Washington Traction ‘Company, of which he was also President. Walter H. Bacon, assistant United States attorney, likened. the defendant to a yeggman in robbing a bank, saying he didn’t have to use dynamite because he happened to be the President of the bank. The testimony of Miss Lillian Frits,-a bookkeeper in the bank, was potent in the conviction, Petty, who has been under $10,000 bail, was taken to the Essex County jail to await sentence. ; | President Woodrow Wilson will be the first occupant of the White House to pound a typewriter. He has a record of forty or fifty words a minute on the keyboard. Presi- dent Cleveland found dictation distasteful, and wrote in longhand whenever possible, President Roosevelt kept his force of stenographers. busy. President Taft dictates. Mr. Wilson can give the typewriter a prestige that it hitherto has lacked. Sentiment has weighed against the type- writer. In the minds of the critics it takes the individu- ality out of writing and réduces it to a dead level’ of mechanical excellence. The President knows better. He admits that he writes with the first and third fingers of his right hand, his second finger standing outright. That tabi is doubtless reflected in. an occasional striking of a p” for an “0,” and “i” for a “k,” and other sirailer schdltatition’ Every user of the “writer’—at least every amateur user—has his earmarks. + Perhaps he is in the habit of transposing letters, or letting his finger nail catch — ‘the time Mr. Rand kissed his fiancee as she} on the “q” when heis trying to strike “a,” or not shoving his shift key firmly down, which results in staggering — lines. In some way his individuality is bound to show — itself, Now with the President of the United States re- ‘sorting to a machine to’ get out his annual message, the = Lae is s going to be oe as well as useful. : Nae a
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26 FAME AND: FORTUNE W EEKLY, Fame and Fortune. Weekly|. NEW YORK, MAY 16, 1913. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS ———— Single Copies............. -o5 Ceats One Copy Three soba .65 Cents One Copy Six Months, he $i.25 One Copy One Year... .. 20... ccc. s ec ceeecseue eee ee $2.50 Pestage Free. HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P.O, Money Order, Check or Registered Lettor; remittances in any other way are at your risk, Wo accept Postage Stamps the same as cash, When sending silver wrap the Coin in a soparato piece of paper to avoid cutting the enyel- ope. Write your name und address plainly. Address letiers to Srxcnam Tousny, President t Frank Tousey, Py bt isher WN, Hasrixes, Treasurer Cuas: B. Nybaxvnk, Secretary 168 West 23d St., N. ¥. BRIEF BUT POINTED ITEMS Some curious photographs, recently exhibited at the Academy of Sciences in Paris, show the effects of exploding moss into a block of polished steel. The effect upon the steel surface is similar to the lines of very fine engraving, the moss being-embedded in the track it took and leaving the most, intricate tracery. George Mitchell, a full- blooded Shinnecock Indian, died as Hempstead, L. I., April 8, at the age of ninety. .Mitch- ell left his tribe in Suffolk. County when he was a young man and had lived near Bagnoelend since. Nearly all other Shinnecocks who have lived in Nassau County haye died of tuberculosis. Mitchell died of old age. ~ A new American intercollegiate record for the 16- pound hammer throw was set at Berkeley, Cal., on April 19, in the twentieth annual track and field meet of the University of California and Stanford University. Karl Shattuck, of California, hurled the bammer 175 feet 10 inches, the previous record, made by Talbot, of Pennsylvania, being 173 feet 6 inches. ee ae ET REE 500) Macon County, Ala., is said to have a larger area of land held by negroes than any other county in the South. In 1910 negroes owned 61, 689 acres in Macon. In Liberty County, Ga., the next largest in negro land holdings, the} ‘area was 55, 048, while in. Louisa County, Va., the third county in this respect, the colored population owiled 53,268 acres. In Macon County there is no race problem——the negro population, through the industrial education of Tus- Keges, has become self-reliant. The county has fifty-seven colored public schools. 6 "The a earnings of corporations of the United States| for the calendar year 1912 were $3,000, 000,000, an in- crease of $250,000,000 over 1911, This amount will yield| an income to the Federal Gov ernment under the corpora- tion tax Jaw of $30,000,000, which is $2,500,000, or 8 per cent. greater than a year ago. Royal KE. Cabell, Commis-| sioner of Internal Rev enue, “hag just received returns from practically all ‘corporations, and to-day. completed Assess: nents: to. the full extent, a the 890, 000,000, Rie) must ae the | hoy a banana, too? old Jady. haughty pedestrian, ‘me ieee mia match, Reese ‘The first Parliament of the wor \a’s youngest republic was inaugurated at Peking, April 8, amid general rejoicing — throughout the country. The scene of the gathering of the joint maugural session of the members of the Senate and - the House of Representatives was a remarkable one. Five hundred Representatives out of a total of 596, and 177 Senators out of 274, all of them earnest-looking men of © mature years and nearly all dressed in European fashion, with frock coats, silently awaited the apoointed honr of opening. As the clock struck eleven sev eral bands played — the national anthem while the assemblage rose to its feet. The senior member of the House of Representatives then — made a few congratulatory remarks to the notable gather- — ing and formally declared both houses open, Scenes of enthusiastic jubilation followed see an adjournment Was taken, JOKES AND JESTS. Willie—Papa, if I was twins, would you buy the othe Papa—Certainly, my son. Willie Well, papa, you surely ain’t going to cheat me out of all ater banana just. “cause I’m all in one RSs se oy hat’s the matter, little boy?” ingnired the kin “T jes’ lost five cents,” replied the little boy, w Was crying bitterly, “Well, here’s five eents inore for you, so don't. cry. How did you lose it?” “J lost.it a pennies.” cis ees The Toute Husband—What! One hundred - ond twenty-five dollars for that gown? Why, there’s nothin 4 {o it but tlee dolllars’ worth of goods and two dolla ars’), worth of trimmings. The Intelligent W arate one. du ee and bw enty dollar’s worth of style. oes oy ell, Bill, ” said the temporarily retired burgla his pal, * ‘there's one thing we oughter be thankful ! here in the pen.” ‘Wot’s that?” said Bill, We ain't both ered much ‘dodgin’ ortermobiles or worryin’ over the higl cost of living,” anid the T. Hs B. i Siete ; “Say, grandpop,” began little George, ‘is it true that George Washington couldn't tell a lie? “Yes, quite t “And was he an awful good man?” “He sure “Then why did you let them name me ee orge Wash Brown for? Ain't I ‘to have: any fun?” id “Ploase gimme a nickel, “piston 2 said ue ita never give money to beggars on the street, * repl “Oh, dat's all right,” aaah juck victim. “Tere’s one uv me cards. Youse ki at me Ge an’ “leave your contribution, wid me | Keopor.” i kes Robbie! at * neighbor vis was yond soit grant tobacco sent by his son in America. “He own pipe ostentationsly, “Hae you a match, s queried. The Betol was fortheoming, but “T do: believe,” hame.” “Phen,” ae Sandy, after a sie nee,
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. a Sp a a : In. fact, her husband: was confined to his room by en WHO STOLE MR. WILLIAMS’ MONEY. attack of gout, and, for all we knew to the contrary, it was by his advice that she came. By Col. Ralph Fenton, It would appear sharper in me to say that I suspected | something wrong from the yery start, but poneely compels One of the hardest things in detective life is for the, me to say that I didn’t. : Officer to be obliged to report on family matters. “No} When she had departed the chief said to me: . matter how long he has been in the business, or how fire: | “This looks like.a very simple case, and IT can’t see-why proof he has become, the detective who will make a report Taylor has not picked up some clew. The robberies have which he knows will break up a family and bring wretched- been per Goteritea by some of the servants, and Pll give ness to half a dozen persons, is a scarce article. ‘That is, you a fortnight to trap the guilty party.” “he will report to his chief verbally or by letter, and thus let, T was at liberty to consult Taylor. she information get to those who hunger for it and yet: The orly servants who had acéess to the bedroom were dread to hear the truth. T’o face a husband when the horror, the chambermaid and the butler. of dishonor is upon him—to report te a wife that her hus- | This last personage had no right there, of course, but yand Jong since ceased to love her, and that her only refnedy ; having the run of the house he could slip. into the room. $ the scandal of a divorce suit, is a oe no one in the” Taylor had suspected him, rather than the chambermaid, Seryicé wants to fill a second time. ie \ land had devoted his whole time to watching the man.. A fair share of the detective business of every city in the Nothing but disappointments had turned up. nd hinges upon family matters, and! the work done seldom! °'The butler had the best of recommendations, was with-, pears in ‘print, or if ‘the newspaper reporters get hold of , out vices of any sort,and’a search of his effects had brought circumstance, the particulars are kept away from them. nothing to light which could implicate him. For a long term of years my assignments as a detective | It was agreed that I should look ‘out for the chamber-. mnected with the force of one of our large cities were maid, and 1 put in a week on the case to find out that she. rely of this character, and some of the Shicidents can also had the hest of recommendations, and that the prob- related without injury to anyone's feelings. abilities were all in her favor. did not associate with the criminal detectives at all, Tf it was true that either of the servants had committed; the majority of them did not know me by name, _ the robberies, it was likewise true that they had covered: One morning I was sent for by the chief to take up a “their tracks so well that we had no hopes of making, an ew case, ayd “when I entered his office I found a lady ‘arrest. resent. "LT worked on the case three weeks, and then spicata da it. e was a woman ick over twenty-five years of age, Mrs. Williams seemed much more disappointed than her of a merchant whom I will call Williams, husband’ over my failure, and she shed tears of vexation ney had been married about a year ae a half, and it when informned that I was to drop the case, or at ieaat said that it jas a love match. cease active work. ae had come to headquarters in her own carriage in! I meant to keep the butler and chambermaid aa ee sur- road daylight to tell’ her story to the chief and.seek the veillance for a time longer, but I could not promise that ces of a detective. | a _janything would come of it. may tell you that T was prejudiced in oe favor from The third day after this Fate played me a curious trick. ery first glance. ~ ie | I had dropped into a family restaurant for a plate-of he was one of those women whose every word is of oysters and not cating to have comers and goers study my est, and whose every gesture has a touch of artlessness face I went upstairs to be served in one of the little Tooms And she could shed big tears, and catch little sobs, or stalls. put sucha look into ‘Her brown eyes-as would. make | T had devoured my oysters and drank my coffee when a an old detective almost want to die for her. . tlady and gentleman entered the next stall on the right, her story had been simmered down it amounted 16 and it wasn’t ten seconds before I recognized Mrs. Wil- or some time past she had been missing jewelry and liams’ voice: | — of money. A private detective had Bean employ ed,! The man’s identity I ie soon heiebhiahed by his tones. ad inet with rio success in discovering the thief, One! He was a handsome, dissipated chap named Raynor, ry included a a yaluable diamond ring ; another a pair known in all the clubs as a great spendthrift, and reported rings ; a third the sum of $400 in gold: a fourth the to the police as a reckless gambler. £300 in greenbacks. About ten days previous to her The pair were scarcely et: in the stall when the lady sage: of $12,060 had been taken from her hus- said: ecretary, and at the same time she had missed a “Will, T ean do no more for you. T have robbed myself, roach. from her dressing case. One of the regu- stolen from my husband, and perjured myself to the officers t —— been a ope te on this last tte son over to help you out of your troubles. You are no sooner out of one trouble than you bring another upon yourself.” |” | Softly, Sister Nell, softly!” chided the man. “TI have “not pa serait that Mrs. Williams shold be always been kind to you. OE haye always” been the best recoyery of the property, ‘but that her brother in the world. “Give me a chance. I was horriby in bi lead her ‘to se at Geek e re! to debt. You have come to my a, ina — Ways Sand ee i A ded ho a lege youd sare ee ‘ aie)
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28 “Hush! Heaven cannot bless me for stealing from my husband to pay your gambling debts. Do you know the value of that package I gave you the night you came and threatened to commit suicide?” + “About $12,000,.I believe, she it helped me out of three or four bad scrapes.” “And I thought it was only $200! ‘afraid you are down to ruin.” ~ “Pooh! pooh! Nell, I am no worse than hundreds of others who are sowing their wild oats. Make a raise of a couple of thousand for me this week and Ill go to Hurope and remain away until I can steady down.” With that I walked in on the pair. A few words had made the case as plain as day. _. While it was “all in the family,” as the saying is, and Oh, brother, I am while there was no probability that the. dissolute brother . forest a little and kill something for supper. _ how eager a man gets when he hasn’t hunted any for a long _ time and finally reaches the place where game nee be be .. found. would be punished, I did not rest until he had been taken into Williams’ presence and made to confess all. I left the house in company with the brother, and as we gained the walk he asked: “Do you think the old man would shell out a couple of thousand for me ?” “You must be crazy,” I replied. ' “Phen the game is up, and here’s good-by to you!” he exclaimed; and before I could lift a hand he had pulled a pistol and sent a bullet into his head. Ss ieee i SPM dea HUNTED BY ‘WOLVES. a man named Robinson. has just returned frorn ie for- ests of Northern Minnesota to Chicago. He had some great sport up there, he says, and one experience which was decidedly ‘unpleasant, ‘Not far from Pine Lake, in Cass County, Robinson and his friends decided to camp. There had been snow on the ground for three weeks, so they journeyed northward from | Wheelock, the nearest railroad point, in.a big sleigh—“a pair OM bobs,” the driver called it. Baz) During the second afternoon the horses were ‘making is such slow time that Robinson decided to get out and walk. _ He carried his Remington with him and his revolver’ in his pocket, and finally, from thinking what might be in the woods neat him, he decided to penetrate into the Pretty soon. Bakneay found deer feAGuas down a heavily-antlered stag. That was curely worth an _ searcely heeded the flight of time, _ ered that. night was almost upon him he made: haste to kour’s walk through the snow. ~ It took him a good while to cat: out a few pounds of “steak for. supper and them hung the deer up out of reach’ of the wolves. ‘This work,was so interesting that. he return. As he was not,certain as to the right direction he, : decided to take the back track fal: the eae was Ponce FAME AND FORTUNE the path after him like a ‘resistless wave. You know} : Bhoy were’ fresh and ‘he followed them eagerly for a while, and at last, just as he was about to abandon, the chase and retrace | m his steps, he caught sight of them through the'trees. With’ _ much caution he crept near enough to shoot, and brought When he at last discov~; WEEKLY. —a As was natural the distance back to the road was about twice as great as he thought it was, and he had just about reached ‘he half-way point when he saw something like a — shadow flitting silently among the trees ahead of him. Soon he saw the dim outlines of another—and another. They were wolves. Like Robinson, they had been *trail- ing the deer, and, like any other party of hunters, they decided to abandon, the cold trail, and take up ‘the chase — after'the bigger game, when they came in sight of it. -So_ | Robinson soon found that the wolves were foliowing him. They were quite timid at first, slinking along two or three hundred yards behind. He fired at them and they vanished into'the woods. He pushed on, hoping they were ; gone, but. pretty soon he saw them again—a little closer this time and decidedly more numerors. He fired one more, There was a how] of anguish, and then a chorus of howls prolonged. ino Robinson began to run at the sonst bad looking pace over his shoulder, he saw the whole pack was rolli ing down Tt was twilight, but he could see to shoot, so he sane | about and emptied his Remington into the mass,’ hoping” his companions would hear the firing and come to his res- — cue. He ran as fast as he could after that, and the snarl- ing and fighting of the beasts begen to grow dim—the broke out afresh in a mournful brass fremalo which m his hair stand on end and his breath come short and The savage blood was running fiercely now. They we coming—coming in ever increasing numbers. Howe fast he might run, they came faster and faster, In a dreadfully short time the wolves were so clo eee Ae that he see a a8 ec... His*gun. pindes they gathered in froin all quar ters at the aarthy We] plenty of cartritges, and he spore half an ak shoot at the wolves. little execution, Dicbet once in a while there came yell which told of a shot gonehome. ‘Robinson was safe from the wolves, but was gr cold-—yvery cold and slee py. The numbness spr e his feet to his legs and ae his legs to his. body, felt like a wooden man or a graven image. . He was curling up in the fork of the tree with the suicidal intention of going to sleep when he heard t shots, from the direction of the road. He manage | the , eylinder of his revolver, though his hand w. he lost nearly all his cartridges, . He fired twice air, and heard the answer—one shot. He was just talling into a sweet. slumber again- how he forgot that ‘help was coming—when. the aroused-him the second time, much nearer now,. managed to respond. Then the torches were gleam through, the trees, and the rescuing party was at hand.” The wolves made a bold stand, but six Ri the hands of six determined men, were too such a desperate horde of. hunger-driven, When the last live wolf -was gone, Robinson - again. Eyen the noise of, the firing and th a fierce battle failed to keep him awake, and ‘down among his friends just as they s surro
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 89 GOOD R EADING Physicians in Spain have been conducting experiments | to determine the relative value of wines as tonics. For centuries the juice of the grape, properly treated and con- verted into wines, was considered the greatest strength- giver to a weakened constitution, but recent tests have shown strawberry wine to be better. In some localities in Spain great quantities of strawberries are being grown for wine alone, s RST a ge TEES Fifty members of the Columbia Park Boys’ Club of San - Francisco who are working their way around the world under the personal direction of J. 8S. Peixotto, a cousin of the Equitable Life’s Paris manager, arrived at Paris on “April 19 and are visiting newspaper offices. They will re- Inain two montlis, giving street concerts, dancing and a¢t- ing in plays. Already they are popular along the boule- yards. The next country they will visit will be Italy, after which they will go to Australia, China ‘and Japan, ex- pecting to arrive in San Francisco next March, It is believed that the Eskimo lamp was invented before tis possessors*emigrated from their original home, which was probably farther south and near the sea coast. But the _ form of the lamp becomes mere specialized the higher the atitude is. ‘The lamps of southern Alaska have a wick dge of two inches, while those of Point Barrow and north- ern Greenland have wick edges of seventeen to thirty-six nehes: ‘The lamp is employed for melting snow and ice to tain drinking water, for, cooking, lighting, warming, dry- g¢ skins and in the arts. Tt is also a social factor and the hig lamp. Although the centenary of the'top hat is to he celebrated year, it was invented probably in Florence about 1760, ing rather more than half a century for its yooue, In its first appearance in London, dated by some authori- s January 15, 1797, curiosity ran and crowded to such eths that several women “fainted away” in the crush d one citizen paid for his unmannerliness with a broken while the wearer met with the common fate of those spring anything new on humanity, being ignomin- usly bound over by the Lord Mayor on a charge of breach ‘the peace. The silk hat reached its modern perfection » thirties, the D’Orsay days. i ‘ resentative J. Hampton Moore, of Pennsylvania, in eech on Stephen Decatur and the gallant frigate Phila- hia, urged the House recently to appropriate to recover . Philadelphia’s hull and relics now under water in the arbor yf Tripoli. Mr. Moore said that if the recovery attempted before the Italian Government proceeds construction work, which obliterate the wreck forever, of the family unit, each head of the family having | It is only during a comparatively short time that the Japanese have known glass as Occidentals know it. When the first railroads were built, passengers in the coaches often put their heads through the glass, supposing the frames of the windows to be empty, and the railroad com- pany at length pasted pictures on the glass to call attention to the fact that a solid substance was behind them. The masses of the Japanese to-day do not know the mirror as it is known in the west. ‘The richer people haye one mirror, indeed, but usually the glass used in the mirrors sold to the populace is not quicksilvered, being merely well pol- ished, As for eut glass, it is practically unknown in the island, and glass drinking-cups are rare. ~ Announcement is expected from officers, of the Inter- . national Harvester Company that its twine plant at Auburn, N, Y., will be dismantled and the machinery remoyed to Germany. Intimation of this action came to- night after a committee representing the striking twine mill employes had refused to comply with an ultimatum that the strikers return to work immediately or the mills would be removed. It became known that all men employed in the mills and most of the office force had heen discharged and preparations made for removal of the machinery, State mediators report progress at the mills of the Colum- bian Rope Company, A tentative settlement has been reached on recognition of the union, reinstatement of the union oilicers, abolition of piece work and increases from 10 to 15 per cent. in wagesg, A joint Gomumittee will meet to try to adjust all other demands. ‘© The controversy between rye Cobb and’ the Detroit American League baseball club management over the sign- ing of Cobb’s contract for this season-may result in an investigation by Congress to ascertain whether the system of players’ contracts of the baseball league’ violates the Sherman anti-trust law or the law against peonage. Repre- sentative Hardwick of Georgia, representing in Congress the district in which Cobb lives, stated he was working on a resolution for such an investigation and would introduce it in the House shortly, Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia, | who declares “Ty” Cobb is one of the South’s most prom- inent citizens, telegraphed to Cobb in Georgia asking him |to forward to Washington a copy of his contract and in- .| formation regarding the conditions under which the players sign. The Senator said he wished to form an opinion as to | the validity of the contract and to ascertain whether it was true that players are forced to accept the salaries ‘and terms or be forever barred from playing. “What I under- stand exists cannot exist legally,” said Smith. Representa- tive Gallagher of Illinois in March last vear introduced a resolution which called for an investigation of the “baseball trust” by a special committee. It was referred to the rules committee, but no further action taken. It is understood ~ Representative Gallagher intends to introduce a similar wv resolution at the present session, a a Sid Ghee oe : : t: Z ‘
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FAME AND HORTUNS WEEKLY, ARTICLES OF ALL KINDS A VALUABLE PHILATELIC LIBRARY. |sleeping habits of the various peoples that while those in The Philatelic’ Library of the late Lord Crawford the | northern countries do not appearto be able to sleep well most comprehensive tollection of books and pamphiets on - postage-stamp collecting that hag ever been brought to- gether, or is ever likely to be, has become, by his bequest, the property of the British nation, and will doubtless be placed in the British Museum. Mr. Bacon’s catalogue of it, recently published, is a large quarto volume of over 450 double-column pages, and its compilation extended over several years. CARRIED A BULLET FOR FIFTY YEARS. Major George Cooper, who fought through the Civil War ‘on the Confederate side, left his home at No, 241 |, Nineteenth Street, West New York, recently, and went to North Hudson Hospital; where he complained of an abscess in thé calf of hig right leg.. Doctors opened, the abscess and out dropped a bullet! “eWell, old fellow, I have been carrying you with ine for’ fitty years, since | was shot down at the battle of Pea Ridge,” the astonished | major said. Major Cooper was born in’ Virginia seventy-six years ago. After the Civil War he’ joined the armies of Germany, Russia ‘and France. He i is utimarvied, “I’m just a soldier of slung’ he. remarked, > as he left the hospital. THE PYRAMIDS. BUILE OR. ASTROLOGERS. “The famous pyramids of Boybr Gere undoubtedly built as ‘platforms ;for the renowned astrologers of the Hast, who came: to. Bgypt to foretel},the: ‘fortunes of King Cheops and» his family,” d Doctor Percival. Lowell, director’ of the Lowell Observatory, a’ Flagstaff,, Ariz., recently. “The great. pyramid, yartuly must have been designed for a superb astronomical obsetvatory; From it the astrologers - studied the stars and the’ constellations, and foretold Sth events of the King’s life. The other pyramids were built for his brothers, sons, and grandsons. From studies that scientists have made of the pyramids, we. are able to say safely that the men who built them had a wonderful knowledge of astronomy. There is‘hardly any doubt that | all the pyramids were built at the same time. The grading’ of the sizes, corresponding with the importance of the]. various members of the king’s fatnily, and the fact: that none. of the family robbed. a hogs of his ce shows that this is: tel ; Se How PEOPLE SLEEP. The American’ or the: Buropean in ‘order to get a good night’s. rest ordinarily requires a soft pillow under his bed, oe the. Je pane qtotcies himge on a Tush mat on the a Sia te Widen. well if he does not have it. In Chita. ind, , moved, Aes ected, ne fired by. the agence} they make a great to do with reference to their beds. These | tricity. . The: effectiveness of some of the more rec are very hae scarcely rising from. the floor, but are often neve + makes ie any softer than | is JP geateos by the use. er ‘ : yi ct tds trolled Be torpedo, unless they have lots of room in which to stretch their legs, | the inhabitants of the tropics often: curl themselves. up like monkeys at the lower angle ofa suspended hammock and sleep’ very - ‘soundly that way. The robust American will cover himself with a pair of blankets and throw his window open to the air even in the dead of winter, and sometimes he will not complain if there is a bit of snow. on the window sill in the morning. But the Russian, on the contrary, likes no sleeping place so well as the top of the big soapstone stove in his dwelling. Crawling out of this blistering bed in the morning, he ‘delights j in taking a plunge in a cold stream, eyen if he has to break through ‘the ice to do so, In Lapland the native crawls, head.and all, into a bag made of reindeer skin and sleeps warm’ and conifortable within it. The East Indian, at the other end — | of the world, also has a sleeping hag, but it is more porous » than the Laplander’ s. Its purpose is to keep ont the mos- quitoes rather than to keep its occupants warm, The American clings to his feather pillow, but he has long since disearded the old feather bed in’ favor of the hair or stra or felt mattress. at fs ELECTRICITY IN MODERN W ARFARE, The electric telegraph wires over the land, and the val under, the seas, and the wireless through the air, in times _ | of war become of untold value in the quick transmission of | despatches to and from the forces in the field. Distance is is annihilated, important movements are executed ‘wit less delay, and war is itself shortened. In addition’ 4 ese applications, electricity is now put to many other impor vb uses in the conduct of war. Moreover, new applications ¢ a constantly being found for its varied capabilities. Mateos: ern mine field for coast or harbor defense is an electr' adaptation akin to electric blasting, in which suitable fu are arranged to be fired by a battery-current. sent at. Ww. from some control station by the simple closing of circuit. Heavy charges of high explosives, called mines, a1 ‘so distributed and conndeted by cables to control. statio S that it is difficult to imagine a hostile ship or fleet tr vers- ing: a well-erganized mine field without. destruction mae serious damage. Another terrible engine. of. de vuction for use in the defense: of harbors is the olectHeaDy f “Moving, and. steering itsel in response to electric’ currents sent through a- ‘small 1 or cable, it, Davies: a charge of explosive sufficient to | d in.an instant the most formidable warship. Its hig and’ ‘its almost complete submergence saye it from dam, by the guns of the enemy, even if its approach is dis ove} seg, : dev eloped electrical devices: has not yet been test ( a day when war ail prove. a ha 80 cucerac ‘as to be. aveitled, if aus ley oy ae civilize Ln rtio
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THE SURPRISE FOUNTAIN PEN greatest merit! it looks just like a gen- . uine fountain pen. But it isn’t. That's where ; the joke comes in. If you take off the cover, a nice, ripe, juicy lemon appears. Then you give the friend you lend it to the merry ‘'ha-ha.” - You might call it an everlasting Joke because you Can use it over and over again. Price, by mail, postpaid, 10c. ‘ WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, IMITATION CUT FINGER. A cardboard finger, carefully bandaged with Hnen, and the side and end are blood-stained. When you slip it. on your finger and show it to your friends, just give a groan. or, two, nu se it up, and pull will get nothing but give them the laugh. postpaid. =) 2 look of pain, — You _ 8ympathy until your Then duck! Price, £c., HL, F. LANG, 1315 Centre St, B’kiyn, N. Y. pee THE LIFYLE GM TELEPHOYE, rh The transmitter in this telephone is made from the best imported parchment; with ordinary © use will. last a long, time; can be made in any F length by adding : y cord; the only real tee telephone for the es honey; each one put up in a neat box; fully Mlustrated, with full directions how to use them. Price, 12c., postpaid. TOLER NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. W.-W, THR TOM-TOM DRUM. ‘Hold. the drum in one hand and with the thumb of the other resting against the side of the drum manipulate the drumstick with the fingers of the sama Shand (as indicated in the cut). BS ago With practice it {8 possible to i tain ao great skill as with & real drum, The “Movable sounding board can be adjusted for er heavy or light playing. They are used sively in schocts for marching. ; Rei Price, 10c, each, delivered free. 62a St., New York City. Ere "i § POSTAGE STAMPS, AS Tr Our packages are the best, as each contains at least 2 rare ones, worth the price of the whole lot. Start a collection. In time it will grow very val- vable, very known variety in these packages. Fifty va- pene rieties for 5 cents; one hundred, cents: two hundred, $0 cents; three hun- “dred, 35 cents: five hundred, $1.26; one thou- “Sand, $3.25; two thousand, $18.09; 1,000 mixed 26 cents. All in good condition and worth “the amount we ask. "3 D¥ NOVELTY CO., 20 W. 26th St. N. Y CAKD THROUGH THE HAT TRICE va Pete With this trick you tar- ; row 4 hat, and appar- ently shove a card up through the crown, without injuring the card or hat. The oper- ation can he reversed, the performer seemingly , pushing the card down through the crown into SS a the hat again. It is a kas. trick which will puzzle Winterest the closest observer and detection aimost impossible. It ig so simple that a Heres Jearn how to perform it in a few es. , { tice 10 cents each, by mail, post-paid . GALLIGAN, 419 W. seth 8t., N. ¥. z “RAPID CIGARETTE MAKE, - wi This -Uttfe ai icle f=}, should be in the pocket = With it ae 29 W. 26th &t,, N. Z A novelty of the, of foreign and domestic stamps’ } | Solid-breech: co oo Hammerless ES 2a RE PEATER SOLID-BREECH © HAMMERLESS ; SIDE-EJECTING : Sure Safe Shooting for Man or Boy--And a Simple Rifle to Care For The Remington-UMC .22 Repeater is rifled, sighted and tested for accuracy by expert gunsmiths. It shoots as you hold. The simple, im- proved safety device on every Remington-UMC .22 repeater never fails to work. Accidental discharge is impossible. The Remington-UMC .22 Repeater is easily cared for. In taking down, your fingers are your only tools. The breech block, firing pin and extractor, come out in one piece—permitting the barrel to be cleaned from the breech. i The action handles .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle cartridges—any or all at the same time without adjustment. Remington-UMC—ihe perfect shooting combination REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO. 299 Broadway, New York City BiG VALUE FOR.10 CENTS. FREE gee Be hee neni a ou! A UTee Sa Waterline Soekat i » BOYS 1 Hosts zon Lore ond Courwilp, 1 Book on Magieit) Book om a fing baseball onthit, consistin Lotter Wea Droam Book and Fortune Tollor, 1 Cook Book, 1 Basa Boll Book, givos rules for #)\ popu« Jar games, 100 Coaundrums, 50 Vorsen for Antogrepy Albums, Out this out and return to us with den cont And wo will send ell the above by malb @% ence G CO,, ANDOVER, OHIO of completo suit, including shi: pants, cap and belt, good qual extra wolleewed, 4 r combination J. E. KIN S-OLP COINS WANTED-—3 $7.75 Paid for RARE date 1858 Quarters and $44 without arrows. CASH prem- ivms paid on hundreds of old coins, Keep all money dated before 1896 and b= send ‘HN cents at once for New Illustrated Coin Vulue Book, size 4x7. Get Posted and make money. easy. ©. f. CLARKW & OO,, Coin Dealers, Box 21, Le Koy, N. ¥. ; set of our fine plotures to dispose of at 25 cents each. Send us the $2 you collecsh and for ity trouble will pond yet outfit described. WRITE TODA fot pictures, No harm dona, Ttake back what ¥¢y can’t sell, Mi, 0. Seitz, anzoa Chicago ‘our THE MAGIC WALLET Lots of fun can be had with It, puzzling people, w’.ile being used in a practical way to carry bank bills, letters, invoices, ete. Open with the straight bands on the left, lay a bill on top of bands, close wallet; open to the left, and the bill will be found bp end poss HG ¢ } ‘ are less ¢ Pade ask for cheap wheels. Other rellable from$i2up. Af h » ig under the crossed bands. Closo. achines Wj Wallet, open to the right, and the bill will be found under straight bands. ‘ rata How aid ft get there? That's the question. brava /reiphearapaid, anywberein UB Price, 12 cents each, postpaid, bicycle or a pair of tires from anyon he at C. BUR, 150 W. 62d St, New York City. hi ghteaat presences gaaeeioers aziog Sd A ine’ Hine everything. BU tt now, > ‘oaster Br: ‘Wheels,lampa, T R bag and findries hal? usual Rider Agents everywhere are coining money selling our ble cycles, tires and sundries. Write today. MEAD CYCLE CO., Dopt.piss CHICAGO fogs BASEBALL CURVERS tot mutagen, Ingo wide curve, Ho smallit is not nodond and they oll won JAPANESE TWITLER. A wonderful imported paper novelty. By a simple manipu- Jation of the wooden handles a number of beautiful figures can be produced. It takes on several comb tion 8s of magnificent Colona, ip PElee 1c. postpaid. | ASW, MS etn cgm vast ote s CRACK PIRCHER ot WOLFF - baer gtd 0Q., CMP 23: Sia i») fan out thie batters, ral Lapsrustians for encore * 7 onrves.’ \aoury offered to Introd: Ea 20 OW. tri St, - x. ‘ hy Lifeinto new hemes. Beod 36 ety. to pay fo Sree "EIN aowsn, ado Stee It is made of cast metal and has the oxact color, shape and FREM!DY sens vo you on-FN Be . “t MEDY¥ sons Ou on *FRES TRIAL. size of a live mouse. Pinned. on If it cures, pond $1,001 if not, don't, bh your or somebody else's clothes, as wwill have a startling effect upon _ tee spectators, The screaming fun had by this little novelty, éspecially in the presence of ladies, is more than can be im- agined. - ita cat happens to be there, there's no other fun to be compared with it. ¥ Price, 10¢. each by mail, postpaid; 3 for 25q |, H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N, ¥. PICK-ME-oUT PUZZLE, . The head is finished fn |} black japan, and in the mouth {8 a highly polished }. my steel ball. The puzzle is; to pick out the ball. Priée, 30e.; 3 for 25¢. by mail, postpaid. : M, V. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. ¥. Give expressofice, Write today. W.-K. ASTHIiA Btorline, 837 Ohio Ave, Biduey, Obie, Sans FRE BLUE ENAMPLLED i FLAG PIN. Any letter haud engraved. and @ catalog of Badge Pins, Jewelry, © ‘Tricks, Jokes and Puzzles. Sond TW ceuts to pay for postage and handling a ; . BEVERLY NOVELTY Co,, 2083 Beverly Koad, Brooklyn, N. ¥. ‘ FUN FOR A DIME . Ventriloquist Double Throat. Fits roof of mouth; always invisible; greatest — thing yet. Astonish and mystify your ftiends, Neigh like a horse; whine Jike a puppy; 4 / like a canary, and imitate birds and beasts | the field and forest. Loads of fun. Wonder. _ fulinvention, ty agro tag sold. Price: o: ¥ 40 cents; 4 for 25 cents, or 12 for 5dcenta, Double Throat Co.Ovt.k Frenchtown,N.&
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Pit FOUR WEEKES (A LOUD BOOK). Has the absolute and exact shape of a book in cloth. Up- on the opening of the book, after having it set up accord- ing to directions furnished, a loud. report similar to, that of a pistol-shot will be heard, much to the amazement and surprise of the victim. Caps not mailable; can be bought pt any toy store. Price, 66¢c. by mail, postpaid, MH, ¥. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B'klyn, N, Y. VANISHING AND RE- APPEARING EGG.—Very fine, easy to perform and it produces a \ marvelous and mystifying effect. Egg is made to appear and vanish right before the eyes, ‘Beautifully made. Price, 25c. M, V. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. ¥. miniature sets you can TUTTLE KIP’S TEN-PINS. play ten-pins on your dining-room table jus¢ In each set there are ten pins and two bowl- ing balls, packed in @ beautifully ornamented 7 wae as well as_the game ran ve played In 2 regular alley, Every game known to professional bowlers can be worked with these pins. » Price, 10¢. per box by mall. postpaid. u&, £. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y- The Bote tle Imp.— "that it cannot be made to He down, and yet by simply passing the hand over it, the per- former causes it to do s0. This trick affords great nmuserment, and is of convenient aizakte carry fbOUL. ee ee eae Cee be vidswe ds sETICH mOe C. BEHK. 150 W. 62a St., New York City. SURPRISE scnaftle , BOTTLE. s Those in the joke may freely smell] the rfume in the bottie, but the ‘uninitiated, on removing the cork will receive the, contents in his h This i simple and cleve Price, 10¢. each’ by mail ost+ paid; 8 for'25c. ga H. F. $15 Centre § THE SWIMMING FISH x Here is 4 fine mechantcal roy. It is an imitation gold- and contains a water-tight compartment which will not allow it to sink. To keep it in a natura! position, the lower fin {s ballasted with lead. To make it work, a spring is wound up. You then throw it in the water, and the machinery inside causes the tail to wiggle, and propel it in the most lifelilke man- ner. When it runs down the fish floats until it 18 recovered, and it can then be rewound. Races between two of these fishes are very eet eehi as Price, 25 cents each by mail, post- paid. | C. BEUR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. THE SPOTTER, OR THE EDUCAT- ED DIE,—The_ per- former exhibits a die. The Ace of Spades and five cards are now taken from a pack. The Ace of Spades is thoroughly shuffled with the other cards, which * are then placed face soa “2 down in a row on thé table. The die is now thrown, ard as if embodied with superhuman intelli ce, the exact position of the Ace is indicated. « With- out touching the die, the performer picks up the cards, gives them a complete shuffle and again spreads them out. The die is rolled as before by any person, and is seen to come to a stop with the locating number uppermost. The card is turned over and found to corre- apond in position. Price, i5¢. uM. FE. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klym, N. a. box. With one of these! fish, about 4% inches long,’ ITCH POWDER. Gee whiz! What fun you can have with “ this stuff. Moisten the tip of your finger, tap it en the contents of the box, and a little bit will stick. Then shake hands with your friend, or drop 28 speck down nis back. In a minute he will feel as if he had the * seven years’ itch, It tnake him geratch, roar, squirm and | | will make faces. But it is perfectly harmless, as ‘ft is made from the seeds of wild roses, The horrible {itch stops in a few minutes, or can be checked immediately by rubbing the spot with a wet cloth. While it is working, you will be apt to jaugh your auspender buttons ea. The best joke of all, Price 16 cents a bex, by naail, postpaid. WOLIYF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. | GOOD LUCK BANKS. Ornamental as well as useful. Made of highly nickeled brass. It held’; just One Doilar. When filled ut opens itself. Remains locked until refilled. Can be used as a weatchcharm. Money refund- ed if not satisfied, Price, 10c, by mail, ! y. ‘Senarens, 347 Winthrop St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. na CACHOU OR SNEEZING POWDER, The greatest fun-maker o@ chem all, A small amount of this pewder, when blown in a roem, wiil cause everyone to sneeze witheut anyone knowing where it It is very light, will feat in the j t | comes from. air fer some time, and penetrate overy neok and cerner of 2 room. It is perfecttly harm- less. Cachee is put up in bottles, and one bettle contains enough to be used from 16 te 15 times, Price, by madl, 10c. each; 3 for 25a, WOLFI’ NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. X. SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING.—No trick has ever puzzled the scientists more and created & greater sensation than the famous spirit- writings which appéar between sealed slates which have freely been shown cleaned, care- fully tied together and given to a spectator to hold. These spirits answer questions. Sold | by us complete, slates and secret. No chem- | ical used. Price, 75e. M, ¥. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. ¥. THE FLUTTER-BY, This mechanica’ flying machine is worked by a new principle. It looks like a beautiful butter- fiy, about 9 inches wide. In action its wing move- ments are exactly like live butterfly. It will travel of a those through the air about 25 feet, in the most natural manner. As flying toys are all the rage, this one should be a source of profit and amusement to both old and young. Price, 18¢. cach by mail, postpaid. M. Lk. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. = i MAGIC CARD BOX.—A very cleverly made box of exchanging or vanishing cards. In fact, any number of tricks of this character can be performed by it. A very necessary magical accessory. rice, 15¢. - P M, ¥. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th st. N.Y. . ¥ THE - RLCK.— B.Four cards are held in the form of a fan and a spectator is requested to mentally select one of the four. The cards are now shuffied and one is openly pik taken away and placed in | his pocket. The performer remarks that hs has taken the card mentally selected by the spectator. The three cards are now displayed and the selected card ie found to be missing. Reaching in his pocket the performer removes and exhibits the chosen card, Price, 15c. C, Beiikh, 160 W. 62d St., New York City. 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. | | THE DEVII/S CARD TRICK.—From three cards held in the hand anyone is asked 10 {mentally select one. All three cards are ! placed in a hat and the performer removes | first the two that the audience did not select ‘and passing the hat to them their card has | A great_ climax; | mysteriously vanished. x Price, 10c, | highly recommended. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. APPEARING BILLIARD BALL.—A solid | billiard ball, beautifully made, can be mado ' to appear in the bare hands with the sleeves ' rolled back to elbows. Very fine and easy to do. Price, $6, M, V. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. ¥. - MISING PENCIL. ,—The performer ex- yO} hibits an ordinary Y pencil and shows it top and bottom. ‘The pencil is laid on the palm, the performer ealling attention to his hypnotic powe over innate objécts. The pencil is seen slowly to. rise, ‘fol lowing’ the move ments of the other hand. The witnesses are asked to pass their hand around it to assure themselves no thread or hair is used. Price, i. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. ' : iNe " “KNOCK-OUT” CARD ‘TRIC are shown, front and back, an two cards alike. You place ‘80 a handkerchief and ask any person to them by the corners in full view of the audi- ence. You now take the remaining cards and request anyone to name any card shown. This done, you repeat the name of the card and atate that ycu will cause it to invisibly leay. your hand apd pass into thé pendastoulaee where it will be found among the other cards. At the word “'Go!’’ you show that the chose card has vanished, leaving absolutely only ' two cards. The handkerchief is unfolded b: ‘any person, and in it is ivund the tdentiost | qard. rice, 10c. M. VY. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., Roy E
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LATEST ISSUES. 874 Tipped to Win; or, The Wal! Street Messenger Who Made a For 847 Finding a Fortune; or, The Mystery of the Old Bel! Tower. tune. = B48 Ta, he Stock Market or, ‘The Lucky Ventures of « Wall Street \G75 TPS Hor Seman sot, Oot Oeaiting Luck go. wall Street. senger. - 376 ¢ J ior, 849 Three Copper Cents: and How They Made a Waif’s Fortune. ‘877 The Way to Fame: or, The Success of, a Young Dramatist. _ 850 The Old Trader's Legacy ; and What His Office Boy Did With It. 878 In the Money Game; or, The Luck of THo Wall pores Sane 851 4 Million In Diamonds; or, The Treasure of the Hidden Valley. | 87° & Golden Treasure: om The Uysteny 07 ieroee of Vimeelf oe igi pee “Th erenine We fhe ee Mes, | 381 cag the Man-Eaters; oe The Becta of the Golden Ledge. : or, e Boy W n a Circus. , 854 lan 2 Golden Stake: or, rouking a “Bucket-Shop” Combine 382 EG ite Street Speculator; or, The Boy Who Became ® 855 Bound te Hos aes BEAOY :) Making M in B NW 388 Old Hazard’s Errand Boy; or, The Nerye That Won the Money Soe Bom , Manager; or, Making Money tn Basqball. 884 Check 765; or, The Strangest Tip in Wall Street oe stony oe REL Bollars: or, The Mystery of a Money Vault. (4/385 A'Short Cut to Fortune: and. The Smart Boy Who Found It. 857 Tom, the Apprentice; or, The Young Mechanic Who Made Hig | 386 Broker Brown’s Boy: or, A Tough Lad from Missourl. (A Wal) 858 A ps t 17 The Wall S B Synd Be ae ty anker a ; or, The a treet Boy’s Syndicate. : With Grit. 859 The Mystic Chart; or, The Treasure of the Big Caves. 388 A Boy Wile Beaities oF a Porcine nes a Dime. (A story of 860 Working the Money Market; or, The Deals of a Wall Street Boy. Wall Street.) ; 861 The Boy Gold King; or, The Greatest Mine in the World. SRalie: Own Gb Gaiiona® Ge acon See to Bows, Z 862 A aoe Broker's Money; or, Trapping the Sharpers of Wall | 399 The Banker's Plot: or, The My : Oy From Crippix. Creek otreet. : issing Million; or. re of the Wreck. 863 Dollars and Cents: h B P. font en eee by ppueh ; oe Jimmy, the Office iors eek Giueky all eeear Pieces 392 A ae ie? — + ae et or, The"O d Broker's Protege. (A story 65 Always on Time; or, The Perils of a Young Mail Contractor. : ' “ ay Pls a 5 893 A Born Hustler; or, The Boy With the ‘Goods. ie The Missing Bonds; or, A Lucky Boy in all Street. 394 Mat, the Money Maker; or, 7, Ntran e Lad in Wall Street. Hunting for Treasure; or, The Pirate’s Chest of ,Gold. 895 “Out For Everything": or, The Boy Who Was Willed a Circus. 868 $10.000 Reward; or, The Fortune of a Bank Clerk. 896 In Wall Street to Win: or, The Boy Who Got the Money. 869 Bought at Auction; or, The Bid that Led to Riches. 897 A Young Sinbad: or, Wrecked on a Treasure Island. _ : ‘B70 The Young Copper King: or, The Boy Who Went.the Limit. 898 Bill’s Bond Syndicate; or, A Fortune From a Two-Cent Stamp 871 Ralph, the Reporter, or The Mystery of Assignment No. 10. (A_Wall Street Story.) > 872 A Lucky Risk; or, The Nerve of a Wall Street Office Boy. 899 The Boy Who Vanished; or; The Treasure of the Incas. - i 873 The Race for Gold; or, After an Aztec Treasure. 400 A Born Broker; er, The Success of a Wall Street Boy For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps. by FRANK TOUSEY, Publisl:er, IF YOU WANT ANY 168 West 23d St., New York. BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. . Write out and fill in your Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, No. 46. gether with full instructio. _ tric Toys, Batteries, A for also valuable re pe serving bir No No. 58. HOW TO W wonderful little book, telling you how to write ‘to your sweetheart, your father, mother, sis-_ ‘ter, brother, employ body and anybody instructions anical Tricks. , curious. tricks * :