Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 440) (1914 03 06)
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ame and Fo STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY 3 < Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. mnerew. according to Act of Congress, in the year 1914, tn the office of tha " og Librarian of Onngress: Washington, D, C., by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 254 Street, New York, bar ntered at the New York, Nu Y¥., Post Office as Second-Class Matter. t \ Lenina np hens NS IEE, - No, 440. ee “- ONEW YORK, MARCH 6, 1914, 23" - Price 5 Cents. AN ER AND. BOY’S FORTUNE. : THE OFFICE OF WALL STREET SECRETS. . : Sus By A SELF-MADE MAN Q Pasa . 2 “oe je ; Se ee eae } y hi CHAPTER I, ai It was one of those “soft”. winter days that succeed a cold f 6 : k : snap. a ie “THE TIP THAT CAME OUT or RooM 310. There was no sun, and ie air was thick with an uncom- RMS RN E fortable mist. At Petey Oa lashes bes peaveang sere eure ye Se agi Things felt damp and sticky, and ee seemed likely toe us 4 3 ‘continue through the day and up into the night. Ee ee »” ie ee replied Hd " Arlington, enthusiastically is a Mr. Denton’s private office was Room ati. He came and went without passing through tne other ae “A cinch! | In what way?” Shek ‘ . , re seh iy Ed’s desk was in Room 309, and he was the ane oceupant ‘In several ways. : : of “Git. “It's a regular brokerage house, {sn’t it?” t ‘ “No. Mr, Denton only does business for a select bunch of ‘Room 810 was a kind of private reception-room, Giesipkon aie operators. He doesn’t. cater to the general public. ” | with a long table and a dozen chairs, while Room 308 was _ ‘Then you have an easy time of it?” where the bookkeeper and the stenographer held Longin cae A “Yes, compared with what I had to do in my old job.” || Ed entered and left through Room 308.» a nt ie “What's your hours—shorter than the average?” There was a smail electric bell alongside es desk, the: wire pbs _. “T get to the office at noon, have an hour for lunch, and quit | Connecting with Mr. Denton’s desk. for the day at one,” grinned Hd. If the boss. wanted Hd, he rang once; if Het stenographer, “You mean that is what you'd like to do, How long d twice, or the bookkeeper, three times. * ie hance iy q f . sale aert There were pther signals which Hd understood and acted on, “Half-past nine to half-past three, put. Tm expected to work but it is unneeessary to explain them. r Ned wir if my services are required.” The door was always open between Roonis a 309, so | & | thWVhat's ‘your pay?” ; i that the stenog Tapher and the bookkeeper C0 aid hear their own ),.$ Good.” f calls. ae 4 “How did you get hold of the position?” Bd hung up his hat and took His seat at his desk, “Through an advertisement in one of the big dailios.” The unfinished work he had been engaged on when | called “T suppose there was a bunch of applicants after the job. | UPon to go out lay just as he left it, and he proceeded with it. . You were lucky to land it.” Whether Mr. Denton was in or out He did not know; in fact,” “1 don’t know how. many applicants the boss had, but I guegs | it did not concern hin, he had a hundred or more, All replies had to be sent care of| Fifteen minutes passed, then a visitor entered Room 308. the newspaper.” . He. wanted to see Mr. Denton, Pv iG r good fortune. Where fs, ry of- ‘The bookkeeper pushed a buazer, and Ed came out. FeCl aaa vet Re your ; pa The boy walked up to the caller, who was a tall,. dark- af x Third floor-of the Atlas Building, rooms 308 to 311. front. featured’ man, with sharp, black eyes. ~ - a i H apt. Denton is painted on the door of 308, nothing else.” ‘Il wish to see Mr. Denton,” he said. Th tei . lave a large office force?” “Write your name and business on that card,” said ‘thd, “No 0. Just.one bookkeeper and a, stenographer.” ; presenting a printed one with blank lines, “and I will see ifthe +2 Loe you run the errands?” is in. ak iat Yes, and I do some clerical work besides. ng have a desk all| The stranger wrote— “RE. Jackson, business spécial and Buercgampeesia to myself.” portant,” “Then you're more important than a mere messenger?” | Eda invited him to take a seat in dia room, and the be “Somewhat.”. opened the door of Room 310, crossed over and apie : + re you allowed to see a friend during business hours?” | No, 311. RP opnass. so. Going to call on me?” | He was told to come in, “and he, found Mr. Denton at his | i hould like to take a lock at your office.” desk. a after three, then.” Without a word Ed handed him the card, Af er half-past three, more likely, Well, so long, I must] The gentleman glanced at. it and said: (jon my way.” |. “Show him ia,” Dick et oe down, Broail 8 street, pate Bad returned to Accordingly, Ed piloted Mr. Jackson inte the | boss’ sanetn 1 ae as Ra Ay % ‘ ‘ Ga ag. the. visitor remained with Mr. pals es
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a idea, for when his business was concluded he took his leaye by the corridor door of No. 311. The afternoon passed away, and three o’clock’ came. Then a tap on Hd’s desk bell summoned him to the presence of his employer. Mr. Denton handed him a dozen envelopes. “Deliver these in person to the gentlemen they are directed to,” he said.. “You need not come back unless you are handed a note to give me.” , “Yes, sir,” replied the boy, who returned to his room, closed up his desk, put on his hat and coat and left the office. ii tock him an hour to deliver eleven of the notes. The twelfth gentleman was notin his office, nor had he been there since he went to lunch. Ed sat down to wait for him. Twenty minutes elapsed and the boy began to wonder if the Zentieman was going to return to his office that day. ‘Then he turned up in company with two gentlemen. Ed handed him the note. The gentleman looked at his watch, considered a moment, _ then wrote something'on a pad, enclosed it in an envelope and told the boy to take it back. . So Ed started back for his office. ‘The fog was denser than ever, and he was obliged to go slow to avoid running into people. f It was/ten minutes oP five when he reached Room 308 and found it locked. "He carried a key and fad: no trouble in lettin® himself in. Phe stenographer and the bookkeeper were gone. Wd entered his own room and crossed to the door of, 310. -.- It stood slightly ajar, and he heard several voices speaking ‘Tnside. ) He hesitated to onter, and wits he stood there he Jearned a ; ° thing ‘or two. , is The gentlemen within No eneRy to be members of a syndi- . eate, and were arranging to corner and’ boom J. & D. stock. {Hid only heard a few of the particulars, but his Wall Street experience, eequired in a brolor’s office where he had worked fon three years before the failure of the house, threw him’ out : of work, enabled him to understand clearly what was going } >on in, the: room, _ The information he picked up inside of five minutes was decidedly valuables It was of ithportance to him individually, for he saw. he be could use it te his personal advantage, for he never let any- Aning get by him if he could help it. He had speculated off and'on in the market during more oe than a year, and as luck had attended most of his ventures, he ** had acquired something over $1,000, wnice he was looking for a-chance to increase. ay Here was a chance that looked like a dead sure thing, f * The syndicate was backed hy a raft of money, and one of the \/ ‘members said that he saw ho reason why the price couldn’t be "forced up all of twenty points. ‘ At this point We recollected that. he hada rote to hand his boss. It was higvauty to do it, so he rapped sharply on the door. All conversation inside instantly ceased. A gentlemaan who was a stranger to Ed pushed the door open. “What are you doing here?” the man demanded, sharply. “Who are you?” “T am Myr. Denton’s clerk and’ messenger,” have brought a note back to him,” “Stay there and I will tell him.” Ed retired to one of the windows, and presently his em, ployer made his appearance, _ * did not expect you back,” said Denton, “but since ses - have brought a note, I will take it.” Hd banded it to him. j i Denton read it, and then told him he could Zo, _ As soon as Ed passed out inte the corridor, Denton put on the dead latch, which made it impossible for the door to be ' epened from the outside. + *T should have done that before,” he muttered, “but I guess it’s all right. It isn’t likely the boy has heard anything.” Then while Hd was going down the elevator he returned to Rae: $10 and read the contents of the note to these assembled. answered Hd. “I pray He CHAPTER II. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE yod THAT NIGHT. here is nothing like getting hold of a 800d live tip,” said t himself as he left the eater 2 and started for the en- if the one 3 pl an idea hey ke Room 810 was a ' AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. ~ meeting place for the boss’ customers, for it is fitted up Hke a beard-room, IJ guess a syndicate meets there when anything is in the wind. Those notes I carried around this afternoon must have been to the gentlemen who were in the room when I got back. They are a pretty swell lot of men. I wouldn't be surprised if they were all millionaires. It was fortunate that I was sent back with the note, for I ought to make a good thing out of the pointer I got hold of. I can buy 100 shares of J. & D. all right, and if the price goes up 20 points I’d mako $2,000. That would be a very nice little haul. I'd be satisfied if I made hali of it.” ; Hd. lived in the Bronx with his married sister, whose hus- band was 4 carpenter, and he was two hours later than usual in getting home that evening. “You are late to-night, Ed,” said his sister. “Was it on account of the’ fog?” “No. The boss of the office had extra work for me to do, and that detained me downtown. The fog had nothing to do with it, although it was as thick as pea soup when J started home. I admit the elevated had’ to run slower than usual on that ace count, and possibly that did made some difference, but not a whole . lot.” Supper was already on the table, and Ed sat down to it. “How are things in Wall Street?” asked his brother-in-law, whose name was Richard Brown. £ “Same as usual,” replied Hd. “It’s a fine place to make © money if you know how to work the ropes.” er “T've always heard it was the worst place in the world for — aman to risk his money. A friend of mine lost all his savings — Ja few months ago on some stock that was going ud. Just when. he expected to double his investment the price of the stock took a sudden tumble, and he lost gi pepe: said ge ear- penter. ; “He held on too long, " said Hd. “The broker he bought of told him he was safe to heldo on. A, “Who was the broker?”. “{T don’t reeall the name of the firm, but it has an agency up y here in the Bronx.” “Your friend did business through the agency, eh?” “Yes, The uptown manager represented the Wall Street firm, and the downtown house was responsible for whateyer _ was done by the agency.” } is cy “Of course,” “Well, you/see how risky it is to go into’ Wall Street.’ ‘gtdena id just as s00n shove my money down the nearest sewer hole.” “J won't deny that it’s awfully risky for outsiders to get in. Fe ou the game. It is the lambs who are always getting left. No matter how certain you think you are about what is going to happen, the chances are always against you. I have made money during the last year and a half, but that is because I vas always on the job and luck was with me. 1 got hold of a tip this afternoon that unless something out of the common happens, I expect will iand $1,000 or more in my pocket.” “Well, you're right in’ Wall Street and have a better chanee, I suppose, than people who just go down there to invest on the strength of what they read in the newspapers. When you a tip you naturally have some advantage.” a “if it’s a reliable one. All sorts of worthless tips are fi around the Street. Some are sent out to deceive the publ ne while others are merely the private opinions of people who ie think they kuow a lot about the market and flatter themselves that they can guess how the cat is going to jump.” “You think the tip you got hold of is a reliable se te: “Tf it isn’t I’ never put faith in another.” As Ed pushed his chair back from the table the bell rang and he went and pushed the button. ’ Then he went out on the landing to see who was coming up. The visitor proved to be a fyiend of his named Joe Rillings, a tod a) “Want to go to the show to-night?” “Teety ‘i Pvo got, a 4) pas for two.” “You mean the Metropolis?” } } “Yes.” ¢ “Tl go. with you.” if Hd got into his overcoat, told his sister where ho was 8 bound, and started off with his friend. “Beastly fog, isn’t it?” said Joe: \ “Yes. . It’s ‘thick as much way downtown. to New vege and the people The’ commuters, ho live over on Staten Islan noon. * “Til bet they did, - Whey the weather iw thick or Ee! col I’m always glad J live witain easy reach of the ome ; Notwithstanding the fox the theater was comfortab! ete that eévéning, week, for a ROBES: play bbs on. ses kcazohies for
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AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. — re The show got out about eleven, and the boys started home. ' As they lived within a few blocks of thé theater, they did 5 oe it necessary to take either a surface car or the ele- vate They were half way up a side block off Third avenue when the figure of a man suddenly rose up from the sidewalk in front of them with an ejaculation as though their eoming was unexpected to him. At rs same time Ed struck a soft object in his path and fell over In falling he sralinee the man instinctively to save himself from the fall. One of his hands encountered the stranger’s OS and his fingers closed around a'charm that was attached to the chain.. The taan.struck him a blow on the face and drew back. Ed fell to the ground, but the charm came away in his grasp. The stranger then disappeared in the fog and darkness. _ Joe had also stumbled over the object on the sidewalk, but _ saved himself from falling, Hd realized that he was sprawling over the body of a human being who lay motionless on the sidewalk. ’ “Strike a match, Joe. There’s a man lying here,” he said. Joe pulled out a match, ignited it on his trouser’s leg, and ‘as the glow penetrated the fog like a halo, the indistinct oyt- _ line of a man was seen before them. Eid flashed a second match himself closer to the figure, and saw that there was blood on the side of the head. -A light cane with a round, loaded handle lay close by. _ Whether this belonged’ to the unconscious man, or he had been struck down by it, was a matter of doubt, but the Wall Street errand boy was inclined to believe the latter suggestion. The stranger’s. overcoat and inner coat were both open, which: hikes famage suggestive under the circumstances. “The ae ess Man was well dressed and of middle age. “Looks dike a case of hold-up, doesn’t it?” said Joe. “Very much so. His head is cut from a blow. handed to him from behind. The chap who-got up so suddenly: hit me in the face and then took a hasty leave seems to be the responsible agent in this affair, We'll have to carry this party to the ' hearest drugstore, and’ have him brought to his senses, By the way, Tye got something belonging to, the man who got cy aw i Cal SE he dropped?” > i “No. Something i accidentally pulled off him-a watch- >. Charm.” “That will be a clew for the police.” . The boys picked the unconscious man up by’the legs and . shoulders and started back toward Third avenue. He proved quite a weight to carry, aS well as an awkward - burden. A walk of two blocks brought them to a corner drugstore, and they carried bim in there. The head clerk of the store was just closing up. “What's the matter?” he asked. ' “We found this man senseless and bleeding on +——~ street. We have an idea that he was attacked and knocked down in the fog, for we caught a man bending over him. He got away a in a hurry. We decided to bring this man to the nearest drug: store, which happens to be this place. You ought to be able eC \ for the police.” “Bring him-in to the room in the back,” said the clork. to whe boys did so and laid their burden on the: foun ge that was there. | The clerk examined the man's wound, and said it had been _inflieted by a blunt: instrument. /“ “Do you think it wes done with this cane?” asked Hd, hold- ing up the loaded one. ~ *Not unlikely. You found that on the spot?” Vag. ” . “Phe man you caught bending over ‘him, wag =e a route “fellow 2"!./ Sui, “No; he looked quite respectable. Not like a inotind atall.” “Fle ran away, you say?” 47 don't say that he ran away, but he got out of sight. fs ie a \they were speaking the clerk wae weing over tr / «ma: ele ite y few minutes the stranger sighed wand opened ifs eyes, He stared around him in a puzzled. way. “Where am I?” he said. _ “How came I here?” you senseless on ns sidewalk.” “You're in the back room of a drugstore,” replied the clerk. You were brought here by those two Beye who said they “Ah, yes, I was Knocked down by the blow from a cahé. Then a man jumped on me and choked me till T Jost my senses. I have been robbed, I suppose?” > He put his hand to his wateh pocket, but toting that article safe. Then he shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out a roll of money. “TI guess these. boys saved you from being cleaned out,” said the clerk. “They scared your assailant away.” The man’s wound, which was not very serious, was bound up, and he got on his feet: “T am much obliged to you, my lads, for your services,” he said. “But for you I would have been robbed of everything. Let me show my gratitude by handing you a small token of my appreciation.” He peeled*off a couple $100 bills and offered them to Ed and 3.08. Ed declined to take the money, and Jce didn’t like to when his companion. refused. : When the stranger found they would not take the bills, he asked them their names and addresses. He put his hand into his inside pocket to get a card from his wallet, and uttered an exclamation of concern. ; “It’s gone,” he said. “I wouldn’t have lest it for ten thou- - sand dollars.” \ ante “Was it full? What have you lost?” aR ste bane “My waliet.” f 7 “Was it full of money—big pills?” ecadinind that the gen- tleman should carry so much cash around with him at night, especially on a night favorable to street thieves. “No. There was an important paper in it,” . “The man probably got thet out of your pocket, thinking” ity ie held your. money, for when we meket ou up your overcoat and inner coat were both unbuitoned,” d Ha. “Too bad; too bad. The paper was ae no value to the rascal, but it was of great value to me.’ I would rather have Tost: everything else than. that.” rt “That is too bad, sir.” 4 Ke “Why not notify the police of your loss?” said Joe, “We had a fair look at the man and could describe him tolerably well. A. detective might be able to catch him and Perhaps: TREOVEE ae: your wallet.” ; “I have a clew to him. When I grabbed him,: and he airack at me, this watch-charm came off in my hand,” said Hd, band- ing it to the gentleman. : The man gave one glance at the article, which the boys now saw was a handsome charm, with a monogram made out of chip diamonds,"ind exclaimed: “Great Scott! Could it have been he who——” <a He stapped and stared fixedly at the charm, while the two Say boys and the drug clerk looked somewhat astonished, i CHAPTER III. Bey a a WHAT HAPPENED IN MR. ASHTON’S PRIVATE ROOM, “Tt must ane been. It must have been,” he muttered. * a a . to bring him to his senses, then we'll find out if it is a case | never took him for such a scoundrel, and yet the temptation to ~ get it away from me must have been irresistible, for with that. ~ paper in my possession I had him under my thumb; but with this piece of evidence in my hands, and the testimony of these boys who gaw his face, it will avail him nothing. Tf he ba destroyed it 1 will make him sign another, or bring’ bin, g re the Board of Governors.” a s Asking the drug clerk for a piece of paper, he. took ‘down - “ the boys’ names and addresses, and told them they would hear from him in a day or two. “Shall we go with you to'the police station?” asked Ha. i No, it-isn't necessary. A wilt keep this charm and see what. ee comes of: it.” \ Aecompanied by. the boyd “4 left the drugstore after handing the clerk a $5 bill, and after walking a couple of blocks with | the lads, during which he told thera his name was Ashton, and — assured them they. had conferred a great favor on him, he parted from them and went on his way, while Hd and Joe eseded to their own homes. ee When Ed went'to lunch next day he ‘dropped in at the Itt bank on Nassau street and bought 100 shares of J. & D. on. margin at the market price of 89. ae Fair oor put up $1,000 security, which igi him with a balanee of about $200. itis ; oa after he sa adirhuae the offices: ‘the man who
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AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. on Mr. Denton the day before came in and asked for the gen- tleman as before. Ed was called to attend to him. The moment his eyes rested on the man, whose name he‘ re- membered was Jackson, a picture of the man in the fog of the night before rose before his mental vision. Instinctively he looked at his wateh-chain, No charm dangled there, nor was there any evidence that a charm had ever hung there. The day previous the man’s eoat had been tightly buttoned so that his watch-chain was not visible. i To-day being fine and not cold, his coat was open. There was a decided resem plance between this man Jackson and the man in the fog, but Hd dismissed his suspicions, for it did not seem likely that there could be any connection be- tween the two. As Mr. Denton was out, Jackson had to 20 away. . Three o'clock came and Hd was thinking of getting away from the office when Mr. Denton rang for him, handed him an envelope, and told him to take it to the office of a Jersey City broker, “Tf the gentleman isn’t in, wait for him, for it is important I should get a reply from him,” said Mr. Denton. “And, by the “way, leave this note at Mr. Ashton’s office on your way. He will give you an answer, too.” “Ashton!” thought Hd, as he walked out. “That’s the name of the gentleman Joe and I gave a helping hand to last night. I wonder if this letter is for him? He did not mention the | fact that he was a broker. Well, I shall know when I see him,” Broker Ashton’s office was in an old building on Hanover ' street, near Wall, and Hd went there first. ‘The gentleman was not in. The clerk said he had gone to a meeting of the directors of & manufacturing company he was connected with. “Hé won't be back to-day, then?” “Yes, he will be back at half-past four. ment with a party about that time.” . “I’m going over to Jersey City, and expect to be back at four. I may call between that and half-past four,” said Hd. He went oh his way and reached Jersey City at half-past three. Here he met with another disappointment. - The gentleman it was important for him to get an answer from wasn’t in, and the clerk who saw Ed couldn’t say when he would be in. “T'll have to wait for him to come back, then,” said the boy, _ The gentleman did not return till twenty minutes past four, . just as Ed was wondering if he wouid returm at all. He read the note, wrote the desired reply, and Ed hustled, for the ferry. Tt was close on to five when Hd ' dering if he would find his _ . He saw there was a light shining under the door of Room *. $11, so he knew Mr. Denton was in there. . \He let himself in at No. 308, walked through the other rooms and knocked on the door of the private office,» pe “Gome in,” said his employer. “What kept you so long?” he added when Hd marched in. “Did you have to wait for the * gentleman?” : “Yes, sir; nearly an hour. Denton read it. - , “How about Mr. Ashton? Where's his answer?” “I didn’t seo“him. ‘He was gut to a meeting of directors. I can run down to his. office now. “Too late, I’m afraid.” “His clerk said he would be in around half-past four, as he had an appointment with @ visitor, It is possible J may catch him before he goes away.” “You can try it. You can hand me the answer in the morn- ing : you get it,” and Mr. Denton closed his Sul and got any He has an engage- got back to the office, won- boss waiting for him. H ere’s his answer. i to g : Ha helped him on with his ira sane and they left the build. ihe together. The boy made a beeline for Ashton’s office in Hanover street. 'The one-hoss élevator took him up to the floor, ; He asked the elevator’ boy if he thought Mr. Ashton was in. '-“J took him up about half an hour ago, and I haven’t seen him since,” was the reply. “He might have left by the stairs, though 1 don’t imagine he did. The last of his clerks left |» - about five minutes ago.” e expected a ‘visit tor between half-past. four and five. *g why I came on the chance of catching him.” | oker Ashton had a suite of fea: , /of such a thing as that?” ‘which meant that he would be detained and arrested, - | {the room, One of them was large and embraced his counting-room, while the other was his private office. The rooms were at the back of the third floor, and over- looked a rear prospect. As Ed walked down the hall he saw the private office: was lighted up. *He’s in,” said Ed to himself. He tried the door of the big room, but found it was locked. He went to the door of the private office and was about to knock, when he suddenly heard loud voices inside, then the ejaculation, “Ha! would you murder me?” : zh “Yes, blame you, unless ycu give up * the resi ofthe am man’s reply being ies in the struggle that immediately took © place. / “My gracious! What does this mean?” said Hd. Then he heard a blow and a groan, followed by a fall. He applied his eye to the keyhole, and saw a man he judged was Ashton lying on the floor, while bending over him, with a slung-shot in his fingers, was Jackson, the man who had twice called at his office two days running. He was fairly staggered by the sight in the room. Hie saw Jackson drop the weapon in his overcoat pocket, then stoop down and take something from the senseless man’s fingers. The light showed Ed that it was the watch-charm he had turned over to the broker the night before. The boy no longer had any doubt that Jackson was the per- son who had struck Mr. Ashton down in the fog and darkness, and had stolen his wallet containing the important paper. His purpose had evidently been to secure the document, just - as his present object was to recover the charm, the loss of which made things uncomfortable for him. Singular to say, Hd had come along in time to be a A ee 3 of his: second assault on the broker. The question was what was he to do? Nobody seemed to be in any of the offices on that floor. The only thing he could do was to rush to the elevator sg ring for the man to come up. As soon as the elevator stopped at the floor, Wd haerloais ‘told the man what had happened in Ashton’s office. Needless to say he was astonished and seemed to doubt the pene truth of Ed’s statement. / “Come down and look nee the keyhole of the RBNEe room,” said Hd. The man followed him. : a As they approached the door the boy saw that the light in-” side had been extinguished. That put an end to anything being seen through the key- hole. Just then the door of the Sucre ‘office was arse ‘atid a man stepped out. The light was not very bright in the corridor, bat Ed recog nized him as Jackson. “That's the man who downed Mr. Ashton,” mrulener eel Ea, grabbing the elevator man’s arm to impress the fact upon | Aral him. : Jackson paused irresolutely at the door on secing the two, fe “Youre name is Jackson, isn’t it?” said Hd, stepping) for- ward. The man started on recognizing the boy as the lad he had jtwice seen in Mr. Denton’s office. : -“No, my name isn’t Jackson,” he said, starting to push past Hd. ¥ “Hold on a minute,” said the boy, seizing him by the arm, He “What did you do just now to Mr. Ashton?” ea “Wh? What are you talking about?” _ “T was looking through the keyhole of the ave room door, and I saw you strike the gentleman down with a pigs shot.” “You infernal young liar, what do. you mean by, accusing me “Then my accusation is not based on fact?” said Wd. “Of course it isn't.” “All right. Then you will have no objection to going beh: into Mr. Ashton’s private room with us. if that gentleman is ~ net lying senseless on the floor as I saw him struck down, sud By will apologize for my statement and admit that 1 pa ats seo. what I thought I did.” ; s Jackson saw he was in a tight fix, ‘He couldn't go back, of course, without eriminating nimsa There was no doubt that the boy ve seen what happen » His only way out: of the predicament was, to make is
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“AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE oes ee from the’ building at once without reference to the construction which such a course would put on his action. Luck was against him, but at all hazard he must try and save himself. So giving Ed 4 violent shove, which sent the boy against the opposite wall of the corridor, he rushed in the direction of the elevator. Pe “Stop him! Stop him!” eried Id, trying to recover his bal- nee. The elevator man, not knowing positively that a crime had been committed, made only a half-hearted attempt to head off the man, which gave Jackson every chance to reach the cage standing at the floor, He sprang inside, slammed the door shut, and started the cage down, When Hd and the elevator man reached the iron latticed framework the car had touched the ground floor, Jackson dashed out of it and made his escape from the building. CHAPTER IV. IN WHICH J. & D. GOES UP. “He’s got away,” baa Ed, in a disappointed tone. “However, it doesn’t matter, I shall turn in his name and description to the police, and they will get him. Let us go back and see what we can do for Mr. Ashton.” At that moment some one rang for the elevator, and the man said he had to go downstairs and attend to business, but would come back. He ran down the stairs. and Ha entered the office alone. Passing through to the private room, the boy turned up the electric ligif? and found things as he expected. The broker was lying senseless on the rug just as he had fallen when the cruel blow had fallén on his skull. There was no blood visible, as the slung-shot had not cut the skin, The blow had PEODSDIY only been heavy enough to knock , him out. 4 /The first’ thing Ed aid. was to look up the call of Police Headquarters, and then communicate with that place. He told the office at the other end of the wire what had hap- pened, and asked that an officer be sent to the building at =" once. While he was :abune this the elevator man came in and saw how matters were. “Get some water and bathe his face,” said ‘Ba. through in a moment.” In a few minutes he was helping the man bring the broker to his senses. ‘This they succeeded in doing. : Mr. Ashton looked around him in a dazed manner. “What happened to me?” he asked.. “Don’t you remember?” said Hd. jwith a man named Jackson. It ended in trouble. “TIL be «you had an interview He wanted that watch-charm, and pepe you refused to give it up, he struck you down.” “Yes, yes; the scoundrel! What became ‘of him?” “He got away and carried the charm with him. I have notified the police, and an officer will soon be here to whom ‘you can tell all the particulars.” “Aren't you one of the boys who helped me last night when I was assaulted ‘by the samo man in the fog ‘up in the Bronx?” ; “Ves, ” se “How is it. that you bave come to my aid a nee time— “(here in my office?” ( “T was sent to you with a message that requires an answer.” “Who sent you?” asked the broker, in some surprise. “Mr. Ralph Denton, of No. — Wall Street.” “Are you employed by him?” 3) am. ” 4 “Is it possible! - office?” 3 “ About two: weeks. ” ¥ ell, well, and I never dreamed you were connected with 4 fie Ananeial district: I\am wery glad you happened to get here in time to help me.” "B “Tam glad, too. How do you feel now?” _ “Rather shaky, but I guess I’m not badly hurt. ‘So the vil- ain. achieved’ his object. Well, I. don’t think it will do him uch good, since you appear to know him, and saw him here.” I didn’t gee him hit you, but when I looked through the - How long have you been working at his him standing over you as you lay on: the floor:: I saw the slung-shot in his hand, and I also saw him take the watch- charm out of your fingers. I think my testimony will be good enough to secure his arrest with your own statement; and I can swear he was the same party who knocked you out in the Bronx last night, or at least that he was the man my friend and I caught bending over you,” said Had. “That will be enough. I shall push the law against ies to the limit. Where did you meet him before? You appear to know him fairly well.” : “He called twice on Mr. to-day.” “That’s how you came to know his name?” “Veg,” The broker lay back and closed his eyes. At that point the watchman of the building, sent by the ig vator Man, came in. Hd explained the case to him in the next room. ‘ Then a plain-clothes man from Police Headquarters. ap- peared, and Ed, after going over the matter again, took him to the private room. Mr. Ashton told about the interview he had had with Jack- son. He explained that Jackson was a Curb broker who had sold him a big block of copper steck for a certain figure. The stock had suddenly jumped in price, and Jackson was unable to deliver it. ve When he (Ashton) demanded a settlement at the market price, Jackson tried to wiggle out of .it, but was finally com- pelled to sign a paper admitting his indebtedness, and settling the manner of payment. This paper Ashton secured from him the night before’ at @ certain club. The broker then started for home: From what followed Ashton was satisfied that Jackson re- gretted having signed the document, and believing the fog would cover his purpose, had followed him, struck him down on the street, and got the paper. But for the appearance of Hd and his friend Joe on the scene of the outrage, the broker never would have known who his assailant was. ‘When he saw the watch-charm he recognized it as Jackson's property, and this was proved by his initials on it. Determining to bring the man to his knees, he had sent for him to call at his office between half-past four and five what afternoon. p Jackson came. (oA Then Ashton accused a ot the assault and the theft of the. paper. Jackson denied it siagitia tonite until Gontronted’ with the sight of the watch-charm which he had missed soon after the i. crime. .. ey Then he declared he had lost the charm and jwas not re- sponsible for it being in the broker’s possession. Mr. Ashton told him that wouldn’t go, for he had two wit- negses to the assault, the boys who had happened on the scene, — one of whom was ready to swear the charm had come off his — watch-chain into his hand when he (the boy) tried to stop. him from getting away. My That forced Jackson into a corner, and he jumped up and 4 swore he would Kill Ashton if the broker didn’t hand over ~ the charm and drop the case, *ep This the broker indignantly declined to do, and the second assault followed. The detective took down Jackson’s full name and business address, said he would look up his: home address, ics arrest him that night if he could find him. With that assurance he departed. eae Mr. Ashton felt much better by this time, ate said he was ¥ able to go"home without any assistance. Fes He read Ed’s note, wrote a brief reply, and handed it to the boy. Then they left the pulidine together, Mr. Ashton going up || Wall Street to get a Sixth avenue train, which he could con- “— nect with by walking through the Hmpire Building, which |. faced on the west side of Broadway, while Ed started for the Hanover Square station of the Third avenue elevated road. - Of course, he was home late again that evening, but he had a thrilling addition to make to his story of his previous night's 1 ‘adventure, which he had detailed to his sister and brain She law that morning. | thea akan» They were amazed at what he told them. ; Ki “That man Jackson must be a great rascal,” said Richind Denton-on business—yesterday and CARRE ates keyhole. of: that door, after oe @ Trumpy in here, I Baw Brown, “You si aa hardly expect such villainy: om a ae ‘
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whose business brings him into daily. contact with gentle- men.” “That's right, Dick,” said change a leopard’s spots. grades of society just as they are to be picked up among the tenements. The gloss of refinement does not make a born Villain the less dangerous.” “I should think it would make him all the more dangerous.” “This man Jackson is dangerous enough. Both of the as- saults he made on Broker Ashton were about as nervy as could be expected. of a professional criminal. However, he is likely to be’ in jail before morning, and he will have leisure time to ponder over his crooked work. Mr. Ashton said he in- tended to make him sweat for what he did.” “T should think he would,” said Brown. “It’s bad enough to: be downed once from a blow on the head, but when it is re- peated within twenty-four hours, that’s rubbing it in with a vengeance.’ “Tes, it's carrying matters pretty far, especially among gentlemen.” “You don’t call Jackson a gentleman, do you?” “Hardly, but he’s been an associate of Ashton and the other brokers, and no doubt has been looked on as a gentleman. His friends will have a different opinion when they read the papers da the morning.” : After supper Ed went around to Joe’s house to tell him the ~ gequel-of the previous night’s attack on Mr. Ashton. Needless to say Joe was as astonished as any one could be. “So My. Ashton is a broker and you never suspected it till you: called on him: this afternoon,” said Joe. **That’s true,” answered Ed. “Ths funny how you should happen to butt in on that man Wackzon a second time while he was trying to repeat his ras- cally performance with Mr. Ashton. I suppose you. would call ‘that a sort of coincidence.” “It was certainly odd. I have proved his Nemesis in a way.” “You will have to testify in court against him.” Yess So will you if you think you will be able to identify im the man we encountered in the fag.” *] didn’t get a very good look at. him. _ know him again.” pick gan swear to him, and you can swear that you saw the same man I did, which will help corroborate my story.” “ft can do that, of course.” Bd stayed out the evening with Joe and then went home. . The morning papers contained the stery of the two attacks on Broker Ashton by Broker Jackson, though the first attack appeared to be somewhat indefinite. Jackson bad not been arrested up to midnight, as he couldn’t be found at his bachelor apartments on Park avenue, nor at, any of his customary ‘resorts. “The police, however, expected Me get him at his office next day if he) appeared there. iid, after reading the story, thoueut it was doubtful if he ‘would go to his office under the circumstances, ‘Still he would have to face the tausic some time, for he had to look after his business. The boy thought the most likely thing he would do would be to try aud settle the case with Mr. Ashton through some friend or a lawyer. ‘From Mr, Ashton’s attitude on the subject it did not seem likely he would be able to make terms that would let him out of his hole. Eid went to work at the usual time, and when he got off at three he called on Broker Ashton, after reading the afternoon -papers and learning that Jackson was still among the missing.’ Mr. Ashton received him cordially. He had entirely recovered from the shock of the second at- tack, and he was full of gratitude to the errand boy. y “Won’ t you let me pay voy in some way for your services?” he asked. , ’ “No, sir. It isn’t necessary,” answered Hid. “I am fully repaid by having done the best I could for you under the eir- ‘eumstances.” “But I should like to make you a substantial presen." “Your thanks are good enough for. me, _If I should need ‘a favor any time, I will call on you.” ' Dogo, It will be granted if it lies within my power.” “The police haven’t caught Jacksohy2see. He is hiding with, the idea of coming to a private mt ‘with you, maybe.” “He can ‘t come to any settlemen -me,” said the broker, t have killed me, or at intend to’push matters Ed. “But you know nothing will I don’t think I'd ascals are to be found in the best |. AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. aan) without gloves. A common crook would receive little mercy for one such assault if captured. Why. should be be treated with more lenience?” Ed agreed with the broker, and soon afterward went home. Next day Ed noticed that J..& D. was on the upward path. He visited several of the men to whom he had carried notes, and whom he believed were members of the syndicate asse- ciated with his employer. When Saturday Game around the stock was up to 85, and was attracting some attention in the Street. Four days had elapsed since the assault on Mr. his office,'and Jackson had not been arresied. ff the man was trying to arrange things with the man he had. attacked, of course, Hd did not Know anything abdut it. On the following Wednesday J. & D. reached 90. A great deal of business was doing in it at the Hxehange among the traders, either on their own account or for their eustomers. Ed heard a broker tell another that the stock was scarce, and that. he believed it was cornered by a syndicate. “If he knew what I know about it he would be certain of it,” thought Ed, as he walked away. - Ashton in —— ae Wee CHAPTER. V.: CAPTURED, When Ed left his office for home that afternoon he. was fol- lowed by a man who had been standing for a while in front of the office building. ‘Hd did not go to the Hanover Square station, which was wae nearest way to the Third avenue elevated road. He was in no hurry to get home, and as it was a pleauadt day, though chilly, he walked slowly up Nassau street to City: Hall Park. 3 The park was deserted of loungers at that season of the year. The trees were leafless, and the general. effect bleak. He intended to take a train at the City Hall station at the Brooklyn Bridge. ee At the time of our story the subway had not yet begun op-- erations, though it expected to run to One Hundred and Worty- fifth street shortly, As Ed was going’ up the stairs, the man who had followed him from. Wall Street tapped him on the shoulder. ~ “Your name is Edward Arlington, I believe?” he said. - “Yes,” replied. the boy, wondering who the stranger was, for he aid not remember having seen him before. “You are employed in the office of Ralph Denton ; : “ Yes. n ie '*“T have something to say to you privately. Will: ‘you Hey. aside?” “What’s your business?” “You know a broker by the name of Rupert J ackson?” “Do you mean the man the police are looking for?” “Yes. He got into a little trouble over some private business, with another broker named Ashton.” “A little trouble! I think it is a mighty serious trouble nes has placed himself in.” “We won’t discuss that. I am a friend of his, and he wants me to see you, as you are a factor against him.” “What do you want to see me about?” pret “He is trying to effect a settlement with Ashton, and-it — would be much to his advantage if he could persuade you_to ‘ forget what you have learned about-the trouble.” ' ree “T suppose he would like to buy me off; is that what you re phe getting at?” ue “That’s about the size of it,” admitted the man, frankly. «y am authorized to hand you $250 and guarantee you $750 more - if you will promise to have a foggy memory in the event that he is brought into court to answer the two charges of assauit:” “Your object in seeking this interview is to offer me a ‘bribe - of $1,000 to go into court and shield Jackson to the are of ay ability?” “We won’t call it a’ “nribe, We'will term ita substantial evi- dence of his appreciation for a service rendered by you.” | “As I have already given my testimony, not only to Mr, Ash- ton, but also to a Headquarters detective, how do you suppose, when put to the test, that I can go back on it?” “That's easy enough. You have read\in the papers how * when people are brought up before investigating tacnogh ae that they are often afflicted with shocking bad memories. » ae same, thing could abi happen to 1 “for it’s over a week Z
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AN ERRAND BOY'S FORTUNE. - Since the two AgeaTR were pulled off. A boy can’t be expected to remember exactly what he saw a week ago.” “Well, my memory is very clear on the subject.” “Just so, but isn’t it worth while making $1,000?” ‘Not by making a liar of myself.” “Some people would forget what happened to them yester- day if they could make a ten-dollar bill.” “I'm not one of those kind of people.” ; : “But consider what a lot of money $1,000 is. You could have all kinds of good times with it, and it would™last you quite a while.” ¢ “Nothing doing, my friend,” said Hd, decidedly. “You can go back to your friend Jackson and tell him that he nor any- body else in Wall Street, or elsewhere, is rich enough to buy an conscience. I believe in square dealing. That is my prin- ciple. ; have: it.” “TY will make it $500 down right here,” and the man pulled out ie roll of bills, “and $1,000 more when the case is settled.” ’ “No;. sir. much more on top of it, and do as you suggest.” ; “Then you absolutely refuse to accept a good thing?” i 2 a absolutely refuse to accept: anything in the shape of a * “pribeve. / Thus speaking, Hd walked away, leaving the man very much disappointed. 1 On the following day J. & D. went to 95, and next day to VILO1. Ed decided that it was time for him to sell out, and he did. His profit on the deal amounted to a little over $2,000, and he was very well satisfied. -He showed his brother-in-law the bank's statement of his ac- count in great glee, and asked him what he thought about Wall Street tips. “Your tip has panned out all right,”, admitted Brown. “The same ‘tip: would probably have been of no use to me, for I wouldn’t know how to take adv antage of it,” “Of course you've got to know something about the game to follow a tip up,” said Ed. “I’ve been in Wall Street about ‘three years, and for half that time at least I’ve been studying the market and making small ventures. This deal was by far ; tie biggest‘one I have made. I risked nearly all my capital. wouldn't have dared take such a risk if I had not the fullest confidence in the tip. If I told you how I got hold of it. yous understand” how’ good it was.” mm “Did you get it-at your office?” G\ “1 won't. say whether I did or not.” >. “You needn’t be afraid to tell me.” ih -“J'm not; but it is one of the rules of Wall. Street not to _ talk about ‘anything connected with your own office,» People have been discharged right off the reel for not keeping their ' tongues, quiet under subjection. ¥ “As you have a good job, I won’t be inquisitive about your business affairs. I congratulate you on merits so much meney. How much are you worth now?” “About $3,200.” - “You're rich for a boy. It will be a long time before I am likely to be worth half that sum.” oe “Never mind. Neither you nor sis shall vali for ee as long as I am around. You're a good brother-in-law, an appreciate the fact.” ‘On Saturday night Joe Billings turned up with tickets for a smoker held by a political and athletic elub on the east side of the Bronx, and Ed was quite willing bg take it in with his friend. They went to the club rooms, which was over a saloon, and found the place crowded. ee They had to content themselves vwith standing room, by experienced amatours,. and double the number of three- minute boxing rounds. The boys stayed till’ half-past eleven, and left before the “programme was finished. _ ‘They were proceeding up a dark and silent street when an xpress wagon came dashing along! , Tt was filled with tough-looking boys, and was driven iy a man. ; _ The vehicle ran. up to the curb ahead of Ed and Soe: and the yuneh tumbled out of it in a hurry. ee Before. Ed and his friend had any idea what was going to happen they were set upon by the crowd and knoeked down. A. handkerchief was placed over Ed’s face by the man, and ‘boy did the same to Joe. i“ The two. lads: put. up the best struggle they were as of, |: lots ante seals mee Ree ; as: jes & wanted $1,000 very. bad, Mr. Ashton would let me }. I wouldn’t take the whole $1,500 dowh, and as | ‘The programme consisted of a number of vaudeville acts | sloop took the channel between it and-the main land. eis The handkerchiefs were drdaged and they scon became un- conscious. Joe was hauled into a doorway and left, whilé Ed was bun- dled into the wagon, which then drove off toward. the Harlem River. The wagon, drawn by a single sorrel nag, made good dite to a small, lonesome wharf on the Harlem River, to the east of the railroad freight yard. Randall’s Island divides the river into two parts. The northern or narrowest arm is called the Bronx Kill, and it was on this stream that the wharf stood toward which the vehicle was driven. ‘ There is little traffic on the Kill at any time, as all craft Dassing through the Harlem River enter or pass out at the east end by way of the southern channel. The bank of the Kill has a deserted appearance at all times, but naturally it is mueh more lonesome at night. Under the clouded sky of this particular Saturday night one had to be familiar with his bearings to get around in safety. } The driver of the wagon knew exactly how to “reach the. =~ wharf in question by the speediest and most direct route; and = inside of twenty minutes he drew up in the darkness | chose a to it. The only lights to be seen in that vicinity were the weal lights of the yard locomotives moving ears about from.one... _ track to another, and the track signals near the ground: »~ ie It was a little after midnight, and only an octastonal ert : could be seen in a building. The bunch of boys tumbled out of the wagon, davon “the unconscious Ed out; and carried him to the end of the wharf, where a weather-beaten old sloop lay moored with her mainsail and jib shaken out in readiness for hoisting.. The Wall Street lad was taken into the dirty ‘eahin, wither was illumined by a smoky. oil lamp that gave out very little light, and deposited on the floor. a Then his arms were bound. behind his back, he was. lifted - into a bunk at one side of the craft, an old blanket pulied over him, and the faded curtains of some, dark material drawn so as to hide him from sight. ee In the meanwhile the man in charge of the wagon had, driven away. . Lie The boys, there were eight of them who, ‘acted as though ines at whole thing was a great ark, proceeded to unnmoor the sfoop and hoist her sail. The wind came keen and cold off the Bronx flats, but it/had ~ little weight in it, so that the craft. moved away in the wharf in,a sluggish manner. One of the largest tough boys acted as.the boss and directed operations from the hand tiller, at which he stood. : The black night, the black water and the black and on: either side mingled in one opaque mass, but the helmsman seemed to know his way as well as though one Kill was brill-: jantly lit up. As scon-as the sails were spread the rest of the boys pro- ceeded to amuse themselves according as their fancy dictated. One remained’in the cockpit to keep the leader company, while the other six entered the cabin and, squatting around on ie en '|the floor, started a game jof cards for small monetary stakes. At the forward end of the cabin a beer keg, with a metal spout driven into the bung-hole, was elevated on skids. Several beer glasses stood handy, and these were presently in service carrying beer to the lips of the boys. The pair outside made sure that they got their share of t foaming beverage, and so matters went as merry as a marriags bell auentd the old hooker. CHAPTER VI. f ; THE ESCAPE WHICH FAILED. ‘It took the sloop more than an hour to make the Hast aight: and then her course was.altered to the northeast. ene Considering the state of the night, it was somewhat sur-* i 43 prising that the boy at the helm experienced no’ great trouble — in following the right path, with only an Poca iene dark ob- ject on the right or the left for a guide. At half-past one the boat was clear of Randall’s Island and threading its way close in to the Bronx shore, 3 At two o'clock a small island loomed up ahead, and. ‘the : It was about this time that Ed recovered his senses. Naturally, his first thought was. one of pounce bi i ci ‘himself in. a strange Place. Paice
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AN ERRAND BOY'S FORTUNE: € . As his brain cleared he started to rise, and found that his arms wero tied. Through the thin folds of the curtain he saw the dim light of the lanrp. and heard the talk and laughter of the boys at their ecard game. - All that was very strange to him. The motion of the sloop through the water was so light that the prisoner did not know for the time being that he was , aboard a river craft. His legs being at liberty, he used them to find out the kind , . of bunk he was lying on. He found it was narrow, and was close up against a wooden wall, He remembered the assault. made upon him. and Joe by the wagonful of tough boys, and as the voices beyond the cur- tain belonged to boys, whose toughness seemed evident, he knew that he was a prisoner in their hamds, and he took it for granted that Joe was also.a victim. Why he and his friend should have been’ set upon, drugged and carriedawey was a mystery he could not fathom. Of co se, the reader knows that Joe Billings was not aboard the: sloop. ~ Tho sole’ pa en of the midnight assault appeared to be the te Oe -abduction of Ed alone, im from interfering in the affair. We. may as well say here that Joe was later on. discovered by a policeman on that beat, and the officer, taking him for a young: drunk, got a wheelbarrow and trundled him to the - precinet station, where he was locked up without ceremony to sleep is jag oif. Ed worked himself close to the curtain, seized one end of it -in his teeth, and pulled it aside far enough for his eyes to ob- >» tain a view of the room, _ *" > He was now able to see the six boys at their game, and to . mote the beer keg, His roving eyes soon informed him that what he looked upon’ was the cabin of a boat, but it was some little time before “he became aware that the vessel was in motion. a “T wonder what I’m up against?” Hd.asked himself. “Why _ should these chaps go to the trouble of carrying me off? They . must have some object.” , It was impossible for him to guess what that object was. One of the card players while drinking his sixth beer hap- pened to look at the head of the bunk where Hd lay, and '. caught that lad’s eyes peering out from the corner of the cur- tain. “Fie’s awake, fellers,” he gaid. “Who's awake, Mopsy?” asked one of his companions, lazily. “De pris’ner.” This announcement drew all eyes toward the bunk, : The fact that their victim was looking at them did not bother the bunch to any extent. '- They amused themselves for a few minutes guying Hd, and then let him alone. © ‘The beer and the lateness of the hour soon after that made ‘the toughs sleepy. The card game broke up, and the bunch, curling up on the > oor. were presently asleep. i kid; also dozed off, and so the night passed away and day- light came, cold and gray, and found the aiped still hugging the Hast River shore of the Bronx. The only other craft on that part of the river was a big» three-masted schooner Joaded with lumber, headed for the cit , ‘Her big ithe buries wrinkled and almost useless, so little wind breathed upon them, and if she was making any headway at. all it was not noticeable. _ Only the man at the helm was visible aboard of her, ‘ Probably he stood there half asleep, for he had nothing to do. A house here and there could dimly be seen along the shore, - There were no signs of life at that early hour on Sunday m ning. orning grew apace, and the boyish leader of the sloop-gang was leaning over the helm, apparently asleep. : _ His companion, with his back against the end:of the cabin, js and his head sunk forward, was undoub edly acae to the world for the time being. . At that moment a face appeared at the open cabin door. The countenance belonged to Ed, the Wall Street errand boy. i After’ a, lot of patient effort he had succeeded in teleasing VA fate }and some \.. Billings had been roughly: handled and drugged to prevent | “ane 3 Then “hb he sees bunk and stepped softly over his sleeping “captors, Hi, ie ey He oven at the drowsy steersman and then at his aber less companion. He stepped into the cockpit and looked cautiously around, The shore was about a hundred yards away. To reach it he would be obliged to swim the intervening distance. The water looked, ecld, and as it was the early part of Feb: ruary, there was no doubt about its icy condition: And after reaching the shore he would have to Seana through an unfamiliar and sparsely populated district in his wet garments, : Such a prospect was no joke. Eid clambered on top of the cabin and went forward. A scuttle cover in the bows attracted his notice. It was supplied by a hasp and staple, but the pin or padlock that usually went with the combination was missing. Instead of taking to the water, which Wd did not relish, he lifted the scuttle, let himself down into the small compart _ ment, which was littered with rubbish, rope, a block or two, / jeces of old iron, and let the cover down over him. “When they find me missing I wonder if they'll guess I’m hiding down here?” the boy thought. “They may not bother about me until they make their intended landing, and geen!” ll be able to give them a run for their:money.” The morning air grew lighter as the moments passa The steersman, whose name was. Griffith, woke up, me himself, and squinted his eyes shoreward. “Tve never seen sich a bum- breeze,” he muttered. “TL take us half the mornin’ to get to the P’int at this rate. The boat ain’t goin’ worth shucks. I dunno what’s the matter with the wind. When a feller wants it he ought to have it. I don’t like long-winded jobs like this. The man that’s behind this” game ought to pay a bonus, I’m goin’ to strike him for it.” | ~ Griffith rubbed his hands together to infuse a little warmth { Re into them, pulled the collar of his ragged overcoat closer about his ears, then produced a ham sandwich from one of, his - pockets and began to eat. The breeze swung around to another quarter and freshened a bit. The sloop’s sails filled and she began getting a move on her. “That's somethin’ like,” said Griffith, in a tone of satigfac... tion. “If it keeps up we’ll soon get to the P’int.” } His companion woke up and the leader called to him © Haid fe the tiller. ewe “I'm goin’ in to take a look at the pris’ner.” 'He entered ‘the cabin, pulled the curtain aside, aad gasped © when he saw the vacant bunk with the rope that had ee Hd’s arms lying in it. With an imprecation he josked about the cabin as if he Ox pected to find the prisoner crouching in a corner. i Of course. he saw no signs of him. “Where the deuce could he have gone?” he said. “y don’t, wis seo how he could get. out of this place without wakin’ me or ‘one of these fellers.” He kicked and pulled the six boys till he had aroused them, The pris’ner has got away,’ " he said.. “Wot's dat?) Got away?” said Mopsy. ain’t been. up agin de shore, haye yer?” “Of course I haven't, Get out and look for, him. ” The bunch tumbled into the cockpit. enh: “Mebbe he went overboard and swum ashore,” suggested one of them. “Dat’s de only way he could get dere.” ms “T don’t, see how he could with me at the tiller,” said the 9 leader. “P’haps yer wuz. asleep.” “What, me asleep! J guess not.” The ctowd was at their wits’ end. wn It seemed evident that their late prisoner had managed to ae leave) the sloop somehow. abs Nobody thought pigut going for ward and looking down into the forepeak. = ' Griffith was as mad as a hoenei * d He said if they bad lost their man they wouldn't get a cent for the trouble they’d been put to. i: “And there’s the P’int yonder with the house where the guy. who hired us is waitin’ for us to show up,” he said. “I’d like | Hf hihi what I’m goin’ to say to eae He'll call us a lot of ; slobs.” iP Then Griffith’s eyes rested on the scuttle cover of. the fore: peak, and he got an idea. _ Springing on the roof of the cabin, he ‘went forward. He fiung open the. scuttle and looked down. ’ At first he could see. nothing, oe it was dark down fe he s place, f , ' { “How could he? Yer. x Paine
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AN ERRAND BON'S FORTUNE. He fumbled in his ie T8 for a match. Finding one, he lit it and flashed the light down. Hd could not eseape from the glow, and the leader saw him crouching in one corner. ; He let out a whoop of satisfaction. “Tve got him, fellers,” he shouted, “He’s hidin’ down here.” He slammed the cover down and called some of the Pave forward and told them to sit on it. “All’s serene now,” he said; with a grin. “He can’t. get out till we yank him out. We'll soon reach the P’int, and then we'll collect what’s comin’ to us.” He returned to the tiller and took charge of the sloop again. ‘CHAPTER VII. IN THE HANDS OF HIS ENEMY. The sloop duly made the Point and ran close up alongside of the shore. Griffith sent Mopsy ashore, pitched him the mooring line, and told him to make it fast to,a stake near the water’s edge. ~“Now then, see that the pris’ner doesn’t give you the slip while I go over and see the bogs of the job,” he said. of the gang. “How did he ge +t out of the cabin with you fellers lyin’ around in there?” retorted the leader, in a tone intended to be sarcastic. “Aw rats! How did he get out’r de cabin wit’ youse sittin’ in front of it?” was the significant reply. Griffith had no answer to make to that question. He knew he had been asleep at his post, and that the pris- ‘oner had taken advantage of the fact. ‘We jumped ashore and started for an old dwelling of two stories and a half which wore a deserted, unoccupied air. _. All the lower windows were boarded up, and the upper ones looked as if they had not been cleaned for years. The building had probably never been painted since it re- “Ceiyed its original two coats, and it was hard to say what the color was. A picket fence surrounded pee enclosing a space of about . fifty by a hundred feet, and. this was leaning over in places, _~ The front gate was decidedly bins oa the bottom hinge being out of business.’ Altogether, the habitation wore a disreputable look, like an old man who had gone to seed and lost, his self-respect. Griffith entered the yard, walked up to the stoop and pulled an old-fashioned bell handle. He heard the jingle of the bell somewhere in the rear. After a minute or two he heard the footfalls of somebody inside coming to the door. ' A key was turned in the lock and the door thrown open, ‘A well-dresséd man stood in the opening. | It was Broker Jackson. Tor This was his hiding place from the Néw York police. ee Here his particular and trusted friends visited him and- re- eeived his orders. . y They brought him money from the office, which was being run by his cashier in good shape. One of his friends had arranged for the abduction of kd after that lad had refused to accept a bribe in Jackson’s in- terest. The idea of fetching the boy to the house on the Point was |. to try and accomplish by threats wAer had. failed through ae mee Griffith ha ee re ae but had been directed to deliver Hd to the man he ae ain at the house, who would pay him the larger part of the _ sum. agreed upon for the crooked business.’ “You're the gent who wants the boy Me oF sald to Jackson. , “You have him?” “Sure we have him,” | “He's on that’ sloop?” » “That's what he is.” “You've got him tied up, I suppose?” ae “We did have him tied, but he got loose somehow, _ him again before we bring him to yer.” “See that you make a good job of it, for I don’t want any - trouble with him.” not seen Jackson eter) and: didn’t know who 4 We'll tie “We get the money that’s comin’ to” us as soon as we hand . over, don’t we?” -“Gertainly.” 12) ewe bring him here Het mer ai “How’s he goin’ to get away wit’ us sittin’ here?” said one}. - | unlocked it and opened the door. “Do so. Come in, I want to show you what to do with him.” Griffith entered the house. and Jackson took him into a rear furnished room. 7 “Fetch him in here and tie him to that chair. at the door on your way out and pay you.” That was satisfactory to the tough, and he went back to the sloop. Ed was pulled out of the forepeak, his arms bound again, and then he was marched over to the house, the door of which stood open. He was taken into the rear room and tied to the chair. There the gang of boys left him. Jackson, who had kept out of sight during those pickehisten! ne. I'll meet you | paid the leader the money he was looking for, and the bunch returned to the sloop, pushed off and headed back down bye river, a Ed easily saw that he had been brought to the serenutai house for some purpose, and he wondered what it w: EL, He was not kept long in suspense, last He heard steps in the hall, and then Jackson came into the room. The moment he saw the broker he began to understand the situation. “Well, young man, I’m glad to see you,” said Jackson, pull ing up a chair in front of him. “I can’t say that I return the sentiment, ” replied Hd. are the cause of my being brought here.” “T admit it. I wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you, and as circumstances prevented my going to you, it was neces- sary you should come to me,” “You took an outrageous means for accomplishing your purpose.” ; “The end always justifies the means,” “Tn your opinion, but not in mine, or in the eyes of the law,” ~~ “I’m not worrying about the law as long as I can evade it.” es “The law will get you in the end.” ‘ “T hope not. I lock to you to help me defeat it.” : Bai “Then you're looking to the wrong party.” Ki? “No, you are the right party. You're the chief cor roncmanive ay witness. If I can win you over I will be satisfied to face the “ music. aR “You can’t win me over, I have already refused the bribe. oP you offered.me through one of your friends.” “T know you have. Had you accepted it your presence here this morning would not have been necessary.” arose “Well, now you’ve got me here, what’s your idea? T don't see what you are going to gain by it.” “We shall see, I am prepared to pay you handsomely for. your, services. If you won't act reasonably, why, then you. must take the consequences.” “What consequences?” “The consequences of a refusal to act sensibly.” ‘ “Whatever the consequences may be, I shall certainly refuse — to stand in with you, Mr. Jackson. You committed two un- provoked assaults on a respectable, elderly broker because — he had you where the shoe pinched. As I am the chief witnes: next to the victim himself, your plan ts to bribe or settened “You {i me so that Mr. Ashton’s case against you will be weakene’ enough to let you off easy. There isn’t a particle of use of yo pushing your scheme, for it won’t do you any good.” | 2 Ea’s resolute attitude made Jacksén angry. i “Are you such a fool as to turn down $2,500 easy Honey Sas he said. by ' “Yes, under the conditions named.” “We’ Nl see how long you can hold out.” The broker got up, opened the door of a large closet behind _ Hd, and shoved the boy, chair and all, into it. " ea: Then he closed the door, locked it and put the key in his iM pocket. ' He went into a small kitchen adjoining the room, cooked his. breakfast of ham, eggs and coffee, which he ate with a relish, then he put on-his hat and walked out along the shore to con- niger his plan of operations toward the boy. ie returned to the house in an hour and, going to. the Wloset, He uttered an ejaculation of surprise and consternation, The closet was empty. Be Wd had disappeared, and, astonishing to relate, the ; which he was bound had vanished with him, At oc There, appeared to be no. clue to ie mystery. CHAPTER VIII. : | THE SECRET OF THE CLOSET. — When Jackson slammed the closet door on Ed and the boy felt the floor premble ravi ee ret
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* 10 : Thon he heard a click somewhere in the wall, and. immedi- ~- ately. he became conscious that he was rising in the air. He felt sure this was a part of Jackson’s plan to bring him to.terms. - The closet was dark, of course, so he could see nothing, but he knew from a glimmer of light which appeared over his head that an opening had taken place in the ceiling, and that he was rising through it. The glimmer of light became more pronounced, and he pres- ently saw that he was rising Into another closet on the floor abover ¥ he chair to which he was bound was standing in the center i : wee trap as large as the entire floor of the closet he _ ust left The entire ceiling of the closet. had slid out of sight, jailing an equivalent space clear to receive the ascending trap. As soon as the trap reached the level of the ceiling it came to a rest, and Hd heard another click similar to the one which had started him upward. “This old rookery appears to be fitted with machinery for producing certain effects,” thought the boy. “It isn’t likely that Jackson had it put in, for he hasn’t been in possession of “tt long enough; that is, unless he has owned the house for some time prior to his trouble with Mr. Ashton, and equipped it for purposes known only to himself. However that may be, he knows all about the mechanism, and is using it to intimi- date me, I don’t think he wiil gain much, for I am deter- . %Inined to foii him. Mr. Ashton is a gentleman, while Jackson ..is a born rascal.” _. Ed couid not see how the upper closet was lighted, as the ‘he esta which was clearly daylight, came from behind im. He guessed it must come through a small window. There appeared to be no door facing him, nor on either side. As far as he could make out, he was in a walled space the size of the closet below. Ten minutes passed away and nothing more happened. ,a ne vascal has sent Me up here to get out of the way,” ‘thought iid. “It appears to be a secret hiding place. A gang _ of crooks would find this a fine place in which to hide their ‘booty from police search. Maybe that is what it was originally “put in for. I suppose I must expect to remain here until Jack- son makes his next move. I wonder if I can’t work myself free and checkmate him?” +a lost no time in applying his energies to the problem. ' Being doubly tied—that is, his arms were secured behind him with a piece of line, and then, his body was tied to the ‘chair with another and longer piece—he saw he had quite a job ». on his hands. _ Believing he had lots of time before him, he went patiently _ to. work to see what he could accomplish by. persistent effort. . -. He remembered the old story of Robert Bruce, the king of ~ Seotland, who, while hiding from his pursuers in the hut of ‘an old peasant woman, occupied his time watching the efforts of a spider trying’ to swing itself up to one of the walls in order to get a foothold in the construction of a web it wished to spin. This old yarn, true or not, has been handed down in various bits of literature as illustrating the idea “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Ed was: endowed with a full share of the persistence that ‘wins success in the battle of life. So when he tackled the doubtful job of trying to.free him- self, he went at it with the vim and determination that spells success. While he was engaged on it Jackson returned, as we men- tioned at the close of the preceding chapter, and discovered - that both prisoner and chair had unaccountably vanished. q Ae iid kad been in a position to see the broker at that mo- ent he would have known that Jackson ‘had no hand in his elevation. ‘The broker was utterly astounded at the state of things. : How could his bound prisoner have gotten out of a locked ‘ geen the key of which was in his (Jackson’ s) pocket all the ae - That/he had ‘done SO was evident, since neither he nor the ehair was there now. : ¢ _ Jackson did not believe in any such thing as hocus-pokus, He was too level-headed to consider, even for a moment, that material objects can pass through any substance equally as material, like the walls, floor or ceiling of a room or closet. - ae As soon as he recovered from his astonishment he began to’ ‘ uty how this strange phenomena had been brought about. e examined, the closet. sage for a oem: but found none. talayy a reason for the ‘boy's 3 ses one selon : see AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. He pawed the wall all over, but made no discovery. He examined the floor minutely for a trap, but in vain. Had he carried his investigation close up against the well he might have found out something. r He did not reflect that perhaps the entire floor was a trap, the duplicate of the one which had carried his prisoner up out ._~ of sight. } Finally, disgusted;and puzzled, he slammed the door shut and went down into the cellar to look around. The banging of the door had the same efiéct on the con- cealed spring as before. Ed heard the slam and, following the concussion, heard thew same peculiar click in the wall. Immediately he felt himself descending to the closet below. He believed Jackson was bringing him down to have another talk with him. “Too bad he didn’t wait a while,” thought the boy. little more time I feel sure I’d free myself.” The trap kept on descending, and at last came to rest. in its old spot, and Hd found himself in total darkness again. He looked to see the closet door open, but it didn’t. After waiting a few minutes he resumed work on his bonds. In the meantime Jackson went all over the cellar. He found a large, closed-in space there beneath. ine erst: Ie was bricked up and plastered over. There appeared to be no access to the interior, and -he Wee , dered what it was there for. fae Within it was enclosed the machinery that operated tia i closet trap, but he did not know that. + He continued his investigations to no purpose. ‘The mystery of his Delonge s disappearance Was as much a mystery as ever. 3 He returned upstairs teain and sat down to think tio over, * Ed heard his steps in the room and expected to see, him He was not disappointed when. the broker didn’t come, He kept on working at his bonds. Half an hour elapsed, and he slowly squeezed one of | his. hands out of the loop which held both. se That relieved his arms and he drew them out of limbo. All that remained was to free himself from the chair. Mare At that moment he heard the harsh jingle of the front door- bell. Jackson got up and went to the front of the house. He looked out cautiously to see who was there, | ’Two of his confidential associates were outside. i He let them in at once. “Did you get the boy all right?” asked one of them. “Yes, I got him this morning. He was brought here by a bunch of young toughs on a sloop, TI settled with the seepe ; according to the terms you made with him.” j “TJ suppose you’ve had a talk with your prisoner? ee you can make the riffle?” “He defied me.” “Oh, he did. I expected he would at first; but now you have. him in your power, you ought to be able to force an Aerecneny with him.” ie “That was my intention, but a most astonishing tng. has ag happened in connection with him.” “How is that?” “J Jocked him in a big closet off the sitting: room to ae and — impress him with an idea of what he was up against, : ‘ Well?” + “An hour and a half later I decided to have another talk ie with him, and opened the closet doot.” “He was as defiant as ever, I BODTOHE “He was not there.” _ “Not there? Do you mean to say that he got away?” : “I mean to say that he has disappeared.” “3 “He broke out of the closet?” “No, he didn’t.” “How did he get out, then?” tt “That.is what puzzles me. He was bound to a ate and | T shoved both him and the chair into the closet and turned the key. When I opened the closet he and the cha had vanished compietely, leaving not a trace behind.” ; cae ek “You are joking, aren’t you?” { ee “Do I look as though I was?” “But how could he and the chair as well got out of the | closet if you surely locked them in there?” ; ” “That’s where the mystery comes in.” + “Did you look the closet over for a clew to the matter? — “I did, in a thorough manner, for I was dumfounded,” “We'll take a look at this mysterious closet. There is cer- ix ™ “With a 5 oa
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Jackson and his friends proceeded to the sitting-room and the broker threw open the closet door, . He gave a gasp, for sitting there, just as he had left him, was his prisoner, CHAPTER IX, _| working this to get my goat. ED ESCAPES, “Well, T'll be blessed!” ejaculated Jackson, hardly believing the evidence of his' eyes. “Say, what have you been giving us?” asked one of the ; visitors. “You said the boy had vanished.” “So he did, but he’s come back again.” -“Get-out! That’s all nonsense!” “Where have you been?” the broker ‘asked Hd. “You ought to know,” replied Ed, keeping his hands behind « him*‘so that his captor would not get on to the fact that he had ~ freed. them. % *T ought to know. “You. did.” j “When I came back after a while you were not here. ‘where did you go, and how did you manage the trick?” Ed was sharp-witted, and he saw that Jackson spoke like a man who was puzzied. Nevertheless, he was sure the broker was making game of him, for surely he must have started the closet mechanism. How else could it have got in motion? Jackson’s friends looked at Jackson as if they thought he , was talking rag-time, Looking into the roomy closet, they saw no way ‘for the boy, not speaking of the chair, to leave it it the door was locked as the broker. asserted. Then, as they could see with their own eyes, the boy was bound and helpless. They were both satisfied that the lad had not ica out of the closet at all. It didn’t staid to reason that he had been. w, ‘They looked at Jackson to see if he was under the influence of liguor. He showed no signs of it. “What kind of game is this you're working, anyway, Jack Bes. son?” said the visitor who had been doing most of the talking. The broker paid no attention to his remark. He wanted to get at the bottom of the mystery through the boy. “Why don’t you answer me?” he pated sharply. “What do you want me to say?” asked Hd, rather puzzled himself at the broker’s attitude, which he couldn't understand. “1 want to know how you got out of that closet and then back into it/ again.” “Tf you don’t know, I. can’t tell you. You are better ac- quainted with/the A Bea of sui house than I am,” answered Ed. Jackson fecaivedenis reply. with angry impatience. “There’s some secret about that closet, and you have learned what it is,” he said. “I want you to explain it,” , Wd looked hard ‘at him to see if he could guess what the broker was getting at, but so far as the boy could see he ap- peared to be in earnest. : “Gan it be that he really is ignorant of the mechanical work- “ings of this closet?” Ed asked himself. “If he is I’m not going to enlighten him.” “T can’t tell you anything, Mr. Jackson. You shoved me in A here and I haven’t been out of the chair nor free of these ropes since. I guess you must be joking with me, for it is ridiculous talking about my having been out of this closet. TEL oe you wouldn’ t catch me here now, you can bet,” said Hd. ice “Cut out this funny business, Jackson,” said his friend. “Phe boy is here, as any one can see,. What are you going to do to bring him around to your way of ase rubiintl fi Jackson scowled. -_, “T think we had better talk the matter over, as three heads are better than one,” he said. + : -“We- are ready to help you out if we can.” “Come on, then. I guess this young ane can't get away even if he gave me a temporary slip. We'll let him stay where he is. You are witness to the fact that he is now in the closet. ‘Do you want to examine the place before 1 lock him in again?” _ “J see nothing to examine about the closet. I am willing to bet ngs 000 we shall find him here when we look for him.” - : “Very, esiek aad: the broker. | Cina you TORE rascal, if I shoved you in here, didn’t I?” . Now, AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. | Pushing that aside, you disappear again I’ll pull the closet to pieces to find out how you have done it.” With those words Jackson slammed and locked the door. - Again the floor shook under Ed, once more he heard the mysterious click in the wall, and for the second time he felt himself rising ceilingward. s “This is a regular farce comedy,” he chuckled. “Jackson is The ‘slamming of the door re- leases the spring. If he didn’t do that intentionally, why | should he do it twice. He might just as well have closed the door with less muscular effort. I am glad he has left me alone for a while. It will give me time to cut myself loose from the chair. When he brings me down again I'll give the three of them the surprise of their lives by jumping out and making a break for freedom.” . - The trap came to a rest at the top of the closet as before. Ed put his right hand into his pocket, pulled out his pocket- knife and quickly freed-himself from the chair. He stood up and looked around the place. Then he saw that a narrow slit under the eaves of the house admitted the light of day. On one of the walls he saw a small, round brass disc. .+ | He felt of it and mechanically pushed it. Immediately a small door slid back and revealed an opening. Ed looked out of it and saw a narrow landing and a flight of spiral stairs. “Here’s where I’m going to give the bunch the slip, ig can,” he said. He stepped outside. Then it occurred to him to pull the chair out, with the ropes, There was just space enough for him to do it. \ The sliding door shot back into its place. ; Another narrow window lighted the landing and staircase.. ‘Leaving the chair on the ‘landing, Hd, without any idea . where the stairs would take him, began the ticklish descent, which wound around inside a brick tube, like a narrow well. Down, down through the dense darkness he went, carerathy : feeling his way from step to step. The descent seemed interminable. ue He reached the bottom at last and struck a match to see where he was. He found himself in a small compartment almost filled with - a drum, around which was wound steel cables, four of them, running to the upper four corners, whence they disappeared , up holes. A. brief inspection of the machinery showed Hd that it was built to operate both ways. : It was automatic in its working. The cables were now wound around the ring showing that the floor trap was’ up. Ed touched a hand lever, connected with a wire, and it yielded to his touch, At once the drum began to move and the cables to ‘unwind. The floor trap was descending. Ed couldn't see it come down, but he believed it Was. fi seending. 7 ay He got proof in a few minutes when the celling over ; machinery slipped wholly aside and the opening “thus was presently filled by the trap sinking. into place. “It’s a great scheme,” thought the boy, “I wonder cwhy it 3; was put into this old house?” That fact, however, did not interest Hittite seit as ther desire to escape from where he now was, evidently i $0 Har. of the house. fy He looked around for a door, and saw a narrow one Atte f the brick wall. j There was a large brass disc beside it. “As, This he pushed, and the door opened enkwal admitting im into a brick arched tunnel only large enough for one to crz through. : Wd hesitated about trusting himself to it, for it looked doubt ful as an exit. Ms It was the only way to leave the little enclosure, and $0 th boy was forced to avail himself of it. Hoping that good luck would attend him, he crawl the door clicked behind him. “Tf the exit should happen to be closed up, I'll be i fix,” he thought. “However, I’ve got to chance it.” The tunnel went on fifty feet, and then Ed saw a of light ahead. e pushed on with renewed courage and reached. j where the tunnel was lightly ton by vegetation he looked: out on sd waters of t he i gli ¥ x q
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12 } ped close to the Point, where he had been landed from the sloop Below him was a narrow piece of beach. The tunnel ended in the side of a twelve-foot: bluff. Ed couldn't turn around, so he had to get out head first. The drop was only about. a yard, so he stood little danger of hurting himself, The end of the tunnel looked like a drain from the house. No one would have supposed it was anything else. ft didn’t take Hd long to get out and stand up, a free boy. As he wanted to get away from the neighborhood as soon as he couid, he started off along the narrow beach in the direc- tion opposite to the Point. ‘ ae sccn found a spot where he could reach the top of the w He climbed up, but as\the house was not far away, he de- cided to keep to the shore until he got far enough to avoid recognition. in case one of the men was looking out of a win- dow in that direction. eo minutes later he took to the bluff again, satisfied he was safe. He started at a rapid pace across thé country. ‘He believed he had a long walk before him, ‘Now that he had no further anxiety about his safety, he began to feel the sensation of hunger, for he had eaten nothing since his supper the evening before. ‘The sun, not a bright one, indicated that the hour was past noon. Twenty minutes later he reached the first house and ven- tured to make inquiries about the locality he was in. As he believed, he was away over on the east side of the Bronx. : : He ‘got his bearings and pushed on. An hour later he ran across a small restaurant. It was a welcome sight, and he entered the place. ' He got outside.a forty-cent meal and resumed his way feel- ing much better. ; It was about four’ when he finally got home. Joe Billings had long since got away from the police station, after convincing the captain that he and his friend had been _ the victims of a hold-up. Supposing Hd had made his escapes, he did not go to his - house till after dinner, and then he learned that Hd had not been home all night, and was still away. “The story he told sent Mr. Brown to the nearest police sta- tion, with Joe, tc report the matter. The desk man entered the complaint in the blotter, and ‘promised to have it attended to. What the police actually did’in the case was never learned. -lid’s sister was overjoyed when he entered the house. He was telling his story, when his brother-in-law returned, After finishing his story Ed hurried to the police station to report his return and to inform the captain where Broker Jackson, wanted down at Headquarters, was hiding. Having performed that duty, he went around to call on Joe and tell him what he had been through, and make it clear to that lad that the hold- -up was a put-up job, directed wholly Vin aeguny) himself. | aon ria xX. she SPRINGING HIS TRAP. : “When ‘Ed started downtown next Morning he looked in his paper to sce if there was any mention of his sreueriey, and to ee if Jackson had been caught. There wasn’t a word about either. : That left him in doubt as to whether the police had acted on _ his tip as to Jackson’s whereabouts. \ That afternoon he called at Mr. Ashton’s office and res ik story to that gentleman: - The broker was astonished. - He immediately called up Police Headquarters and asked hat had been done toward catching Jackson. As far as he could learn nothing had been done, He was indignant that the police should let Ed’s pointer lip, and he demanded that detectives be sent to the old house n the shore of the Bronx. The officer promised the matter would be attended to. Whatever was done, Jackson was not caught. Doubtless when he and his friends found Hd had escaped, _ they deemed it advisable to make a change of base. Shortly _of/envelo ve to GelVRE atter, office’ hours. AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. ‘that is their funeral.’ | his little capital, afterward ‘Mr. Denton handed Ed eae Patek | car with the profits of this deal.” } Most of them were addressed to the same gentlemen he had waited on before. “There is going to be anothér syndicate operation,” he thought. “I wish I could find out what’s on the hooks this time.” In the board-room, as Ed called Room 410, was a cabinet of drawers, standing beside a ticker. 3 A similar cabinet stood against one of the other walls. When Ed came back and reported that he had delivered all the notes and that the recipients had said “All right” to him, Mr. Denton handed him a bundle and told him to put it in the top drawer of the cabinet outside. Hd forgot to ask which cabinet. He went to the one near the ticker and tried to open the top drawer, but it was shut tight. “Tt must be locked,” he said, laying his hand on the top and bending down to look at the keyhole. He accidentally pulled against the molding of the top, and it yielded. ‘ Wondering if that was the way to reach the top drawer, he pushed the cover up and discovered, to his surprise, that the cabinet was simply a hollow box, built to represent a chest of drawers. “Gee!” muttered Hd. it is used for?” Then his eyes rested on the other cabinet, He went over to it, tried the top drawer, and pulled it out. This cabinet was a regular one, and he dropped the Package } into it. His curiosity induced him to return to the fake cabinet ein look at it again. “This would be a fine hiding place,” if it is ever used for that purpose?” Then he noticed that the ticker was silent, and had not clicked since he came into the room,’ The tape hung motionless from tho brass mechanism, Se some of it lay in the basket under the slit in the glass cover. He pulled up about a yard to see what quotations were on its There wasn’t a mark of any kind on the tape. “T guess the machine is out of order,” he thought. He opened the door to look at the machinery. There was no machinery inside; but instead there was: ae telephone outfit. Ed judged that it was a private wire from some pines; 80. he shut up the door. Se Then he thought he would get into the bogus cabinet and see what kind of a hiding/place it was. Qn the spur of the moment he did so. ae Just as he pulled the cover down over his head his boss en- tered the room. “Gee! I'll be fired if he catches me in here,” thought the boy. “I must wait till. he goes back into his room.” Mr. Denton walked straight over to the ticker, aes the door and took out the receiver, which he put to his 7 “Yes, it’s me, Denton,” Hd heard him say, “We he going to have a meeting at five o’clock. Have you got anything fur- ther to say about L. & B.?” Ed couldn’t hear the reply, but he heard Denton say: “You are sure the agreement’ to take over the property of the Hasterly Navigation Co. has been signed?” The reply was evidently “Yes,” for Denton said “Good. The: | Nayigation stock is certain to jump all of thirty points. We ~ will corral the majority of it and divide the melon. I wi all the facts before our syndicate this afterncon, and I will be ” authorized to start in buying to-morrow. What's that? ‘This. is the office of Wall Street secrets? Ha, ha, ha! I should Biy” it ls. We cut half ‘the melons in the Street here. gation Co, is a rich prize. As soon as we have put the’ price up the syndicate will be formed to take over the Navigatien Co. stock at a figure that will net us several millions. — The “This 18 a.great bluff. I wonder what he thought. “I wonder > Vs L. & B. stockholders will come out at the small end, but then ‘The road is rich and can stand it. The * ie directors ean issue another batch of bonds, you ‘know. ° ‘It’s at 4 old story, ha, ha, ha! ” Good-by. BY rae Denton hung up the receiver and went back into his root. Hd then took adyantage of his zhance to get back to his desk, put on his hat and start for home, quite satisfied he had — captured another good tip on which he. could rely’ to iner ease At the supper table that evening. ‘Hd told ae sister and- brother-in-law that he had come into’ possession of, another | Silt-edged ‘tip. ts “You're lucky,” said Brown. “| suppose you'll buy a a mei caee much, a would I do. Na a ‘motor ear?” ‘ fe er, Puton This Navi~
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AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE. “Take your best girl out riding on Saturday and Sunday,” grinned his brother-in-law. “T haven’t got a best girl. Motor cars ar? expensive luxu- ries. None for me till I’m worth a bunch cf money.” ~~ “How much do you expect to make out of this new tip?” “Anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.” “You're a hummer. You talk about making thousands as I would of single dollars. If ail Wall Street errand boys had » your luck I don’t know what would happen down there, I don’t see how you pick up such good tips.” “Well, you see I have a huneh on a place where they keep Wall Street secrets on fap. That’s where I got the present 7 one.” “What is it about?” “A certain big railroad company has arranged ie take over the property and franchise of a Navigation Co. The deal has been put through on the atiet, as is customary in such matters. Somebody, however, has given the tip out to the members of a wealthy syndicate. The syndicate will immediately take advantage of the inside news to buy up all the stock of the Navigation Co, that is floating around. As soon as the deal made by the railroad company becomes public, the Navigation _ Co. stock, which is selling low, because the company has lately _ been losing money owing to the opposition it has been up ‘ against from the railroad, will adyance: The syndicate will probably be in a position to push it still higher. If I buy 300 shares of it to-morrow at 35, which is its present market price, and it jumps to 50 in a week or two, I’ll stand to make _ nearly $32.000.. That’s the whole thing in a nutshell,” ex- * plained Ed. ; “Tt gets me how you. can find out these things,” said Brown, seratching his ear. ; ‘ “Well, you don’t want to worry over it,” laughed Hd, as h left the table.: ae oa 35, at the little bank, and then awaited results. : Phat afterncon Mr. Denton sent him over to Jersey City with a note to a mining broker. On his way back he’ sat behind two men on the ferryboat. R They were strangers to him, and he paid no attentien to . them until he heard one of them mention his name, then he Wee all attention. _ He found théy. were friends of bt cha who was now hiding ‘in: New Jersey. somewhere. hat they talked over a scheme for getting the errand boy into 4 Jackson's power again. © + Their plan was to call 4 Denton’s office about closing time on Saturday, get Hd into conversation until the bookkeeper and the stenographer had gone away, then suddenly attack him and drug him. They would then take him down to the cab at the curb and carry him across the viver and deliver him to Jackson. ASUS Tg looked easy to them, but they would have thought differ- - ently had they known that their intended victim was seaied _ behind them taking in all the details of the scheme, © - Bd determined to thwart their little project in a way that would rather surprise them, and he laid his plan accordingly. He told Mr. Denton what he had learned on the ferryboat, ' and asked permission to have a Getective on hand to arrest the men. - Hisemployer, who knew that he was an tinpo tant witness | against Jackson, and who had also heard what the boy ha¢ been up against in the old house on the Bronx shore, tol him:to go ahead, and so Hd called at Police Headquarters and arranged to have an officer call at the office abot half-past eleven on Saturday. — Accordingly, the detective assigned to the case made his appearance at the time stated, and Bd took him into Room $10. He showed him the fake cabinet of drawers. ‘he men’ will enter by the outer office. I will be on ‘ths h for them. When I give you the sign you must conceal urself in that cabinet. I will then invite the visitors in here. The. moment they start to grab me I’ll-shout ‘Help!’ That will be poe signal to show yourself and arrest them. et me?” Yes, ” nodded the sleuth, Re ae ntil the stroke of noon. The n 310 and gave the detective | f leuth a ae ‘once. Next day Hd bought the 300 shares of the Navigation Co. at} ‘body was out of the outer office: | | The expected conspirators. did ney make their appearence} sault they came up to. the railing in the Geter office and asked | you make another attempt to get me, you ll find» “me 1 sent the stenographer in to ‘the next! room the door.” on ‘ “Yow did you get away?” the map asked, curfously. 18) ” , Then Ed went out to see the’ men. : “We have called-to see you.on a matter of some imipors tance,” said one of them. “Can we see you alone?” “Sure,” said Ed, cheerfully. : “Come right in.” One of the visitors pcos BG outside of the railing to watch for the departure of the bookkeeper and the stenographer, after which he intended to follow his companions in and take part in the attack on the boy. The other caller followed Hd into Room 310: “We won't be interrupted here,” said the boy. hear what you have to say.” “TF have called to see you in the interest of Broker Jackson,”’ said the man. “T had an idea that was the cbject of your visit, for I don’t know you, and -couid not surmise what other RAISE you could have with ie,” replied Ed. nr “Mr. Jackson is very anxious to reach a gatdlacueie in the ene unfortunate matter in which he is ‘involved.” “T should think he would ‘be. I’m afraid he'll haye to face the music, since Mr. Ashton is not inclined to let up on him,” “Mr. Jackson believes that if you would exert your influ- ence with Mr. Ashton, that a satisfactory arrangement could be brought about.” “T have no influence with Mr. Ashton.” “I think you have, for you helped him out of his two predicar ments. Naturally he would listen to anything you had to say” in Jackson’s favor.” Ee “Why should I interest my: self in Mr. Jackson, particularly” a after the way he has treated me? I was abducted to an old house in the Bronx at his instance, and if I hadn’t managed — to make my escape it is a question what would have Hanpened to me there.” : “Now let me “By taking advantage of my opportunities.” | ede At that juncture the other man walked into the room. Hoc He made_a sign to his assog¢iate to let. him know that ge The man who pia? been’ talking with Hd prepared to rush CE. matters. te He began bagi toward the boy, holding his ‘cane in: such’ a way that when he got within. striking distance he could adn’ “ae it against Ed's. head. at His companion edged around from the door 80 as to take the m boy in the rear. ro Bd saw what their tactics were, “Don’t come any nearer.” he said\to the first visitor. The man made a rush at Hd, but the boy shouted “Help ine Instantly the top of the cabinet flew up and the detective ; appeared, gripping a revolver. . Up went the man’s hands. ~ “Don't shoot!” he yelled in affright. CHAPTER XI, : ED 1S PRESENTED WITH SOME MINING STOOK, Hd laughed at the man’s trepidation. ' ‘Then he saw that. the other visiter was trying to. door in a cautious way, so he SED DES across himsel ; off his retreat. “Now then,” “what's * your little gents?” “Game!” sputtered the ‘man with the cane. “What do y mean? Why are you intimidating us? What have we dc We calict! to have a private talk with this boy. Whats r have yeu ta interfere?” “You two came here to assault the boy, him cross the river to New Jersey. m idiculous!” said the visitor. “it’s the truth,” said Ed, “f heard you two dincisntay eae ; scheme on the ferryboat three days ago. I was sitting behind you. I heard all you said, and arranged this sictle surprise for your benefit.” i The visitor protested that Hd was imistakens but the boy told és him he wasn't. “Do you want these men man ee in? asked the ‘officer, “No. We couldn't prove anything against them. The as intended making was nipped in :the bud ; sudden appearance. You ‘can go, gentlemen, but re said the sleuth, drug him and take a much om my shard, and you may not get off so easily, The callers gneaked out as fat as they could go and i | their way to d the Cortlandt street fern : i uity
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AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE, acquaint him with the latest effort on Jackson’s part fe get,| he went back to work at his trade to,earn another stake. He so hold of him. “That man is mighty persistent,” said the broker: . “He is, but it wen’t do him any good. Are you still deter- “Mined to push him for the two assaults?” “Most decidedly, though it’s keeping me out of the money he owes me, which is a considerable sum, Still, if he approached me in the right spirit, and agreed to settle up on the plan we . originally agreed upon, and I felt I could trust him, I might withdraw the charge of assault. He has made me offers | through his friends, but they have not been satisfactory to me.” “T should think the longer he remained away from his busi- ness the worse it would be for him,” said Hd. “He is running his office with the aid of his-friends and his cashier.” “That isn’t the same as running it himself. id “No, but he manages to pull out.” “Be is hiding over in New Jersey now. Why eouldn’t you get the police there to smoke him out?” . “He'd fight extradition proceedings and give a lot of trouble.” *“Bot you'd get him in the end.” - “T’d rather let things take their course. When he gets tired of remaining under cover he may make an offer I will accept. ~ By the way, Ed; i'd like to make you a present of a block of mining stock. It isn’t worth a whole lot now, but it might pan out some day. I took it at a loss in partial settlement of a - debt; and I’a rather give it to you than try and find a lawyer.” “What's the name of the mine?” “Yellow Dog.” “TY wonder how. the owners came to call a mine by such a “name?” “it’s hard to say. It isn’t the only odd name you'll find in is the mining list,” said the broker, getting up and Boing to his we pete safe. He pulled out a bundle and carried it to his desk. “There are 20,000 shares here. The market value of the bateh is not over $800, according to the Goldfield quotations, ant the most I have been offered for the stock is $500. There ig no demand for it in bulk. You might be able to sell 1,000 _ shares for $40, but nobody is looking for a larger quantity, T’ll - get it transferred to your name, and send it to you. You ean put it away in your trunk, and possibly some day you anters —~thake something out of it.” Ed thanked the broker, and soon. after took his leave. ; Two days later he’ got the Yellow Dog certificates made out | se his name. _ He showed them to his brother-in-law. “What did you give for them? You have a lot.” “Nothing,” answered Ed. . “You couldn't have given less. » thing?” “Yes, they’re worth something. According to Western quo- ; tations the block is worth $750, but the trouble is to find a pur- aise Mr. Ashton presented the stock to me and told me it a become valuable in the course of time, though I guess he? very optimistic about it. He told me to lock it up in wane and forget about it.” hint stock, as a rule, isntt a very good investment, I’ve Aren’t they worth a any- ie Bee mining stock is valuable, and people who bought it hen it was down to bedrock at the start, before the mine 5 - began to realize the hopes of its promoters, made a bunch of ‘money—provided they held on to it. I can give yas an in- stance, In 1871-two young men were working side by side, each earning $3 a day. Out of their hard earnings each of them had saved $1,000, which they deposited in a bank. One day a gentleman tried to persuade them to buy some stock te in the Calumet and Hecla Mining Co. One refused to purchase, preferring to have his money in the bank, where it was earn- 6 per cent. interest a year. The other young man investi- gated the mining company, was satisfied it was in the aed of honest people, and bought 1,000 shares (par value $25 phare) for $1a share. He is still a stockholder, and ‘his Gace _ are. ‘worth $650 each, or $650,000. In addition, he has received Be ns. about thirty years over $850,000 in dividends. His original at; 000 investment has turned him in $1,500,000. How is that?” “Sounds. like a fairy story,” said Brown. : “PIL admit ‘it does, but nevertheitss it is an actual fact. You've heard about the, Cripple Creek mining district?” ok Ob, “xe8." “Gold there was discovered and developed by artisans, mer- sie chants, and | men of small means. One of them, a man named Stratton, ter. He spent his time in the hills as, long ted, and when his money aye exhausted Re mre a tees es, Ce eae ae ae Se A Eh ETS SE OR SES SNES SS BD) EAR EIT “ee 2 = 7 owned the Independence mine, and he ultimately sold it for) = $11,000,000 to a big corporation, Pretty good, wasn’t it?” ig “Reads like a beautiful pipe dream,” said Brown. a “And yet it’s a fact beyond question. I might mention a few more such cases, but What’s the use?” fh “Maybe this Yellow Dog stock might make your fortune in | the same way?” said Brown, with a sly grin. 5s “Tt might, but the chances are it won’t. If I make my for- © tune it will come out of the Wall Street market, provided I get hold of tips enough like the one I have just gone the limit || on.” “Have you put all your money up on it?” “T have.” “You know your business, but it isn’t me that/ would take such a risk.” At that moment they were called to supper; and that ended. the talk on thé subject of mines and speculation in. general. A week later the news came out about the Wasterly Naviga- tion Co. having been acquired by the L. & B. road. The speculative traders made a rush to buy the, former — stock. t ; They found it was scarcer than hen’s teeth. i, The syndicate members and others on the inside had bought — it all up; that is, what was not held by the people who turned % the control over to the railroad. The price jumped to 40, then 45, and finally. to 50, which was the par value. Ed sold his 300 shares at that prlee, making a profit of $4,500. After the bank settled with him he found he was beais B $7,700. “Flow. does that hit you?” he asked his brother-in-law. ” “You'll be a millionaire if you keep on,” said Brown. “Tt will take some time,” Ed bought his sister a new outfit—hat, gown and shoes, and his brother-in-law & new suit of clothes. He gave them sundry presents besides, and they declared there was nothing stingy about him. “Well, I can afford it,” said Ed. “In the course of time, if I maike enough, I may present you with a house, and then you: will be able to bounce the landlord.” “Thanks,” laughed his sister, who hoped such a thing would. come to pass. 4 oy CHAPTER XII. } ; THE VANISHING OF BROKER ASHTON. A month passed away, and then Md was sent the ees again with another buneh of envelopes addressed to the cs saa bers of the syndicate. That told the boy there was something new on the tapis, and he wondered how he could find the facts out. } The only way was to take the chance of hiding himself in. the false cabinet. . +e he was caught he knew that would be the last of his. fine ss Cet he was awfully eager to get next to another of the of fice secrets, fs They were sure winners, and that is what re was loptekag. : for. He knew how risky ordinary speculation was, and the baci money he had theless he wanted to lose any of it. When he returned and reported that. he had delivered all, the notes, My. Denton told him he could go home. ty Instead of doing so he hid his hat and overcoat behind his= desk and got into the cabinet, the top of which a kept open ons with a piece of lead pencil. $ Here he remained cooped up like the robbers in the oil jars it in the story of the “Forty Thieves” for an. hour before any- thing happened to vary the monotony of his confinement. 4 Then the members of the syntlicate began to’ arrive, singly and in pairs, until a dozen plutocrats were assembled around the table in the board-room. ' Mr. Denton remained in his private room until the Jaimering: was complete, when he took his seat at the. head of the table _ and called the meeting to order. “Gentlemen,” he said, “I have summoned you here at quest of Mr. Goldbug, who has an scseseaaaaae (Broposit submit to you.” | uA The speaker nodded at the gentleman in question, and | Goldbug, a pompous-looking man, reputed to be worth s millions, and who looked it, got up, cleared hi.’ proewade’ to disclose’ what he had on a mind, ; Vt ag te
Page 15
“Gentlemen,” he began, “I have been watching Ts & P. for ) some time. For some reason I was unable to fathom, it has steadily declined, until now it is fully twelve points below. its normal rating as a good railroad stock. Of course, J investi- gated, but the results were not satisfactory. This’ morning, however, I learned that the decline was due to the efforts of the Barnum clique to gain control of the road. They have failed, and their next move will be to try and push the price back again. and unload what they have acquired. I think we can prevent that by selling them the stock as fast as they offer to buy. In that way we can keep the price down, and as we can command five times the money the Barnum clique has, we should easily beat them out and finally compel them to unload at rock bottom figures. After that we will boost the price and cash in at a big profit.” After the pompous man had expressed himself, the matter was argued pro and con, and the risks of the Eeme fully threshed out. Tt was decided that the Barnum! erowd had worked them- selves into a tight hole where the Denton syndicate, with its almost unlimited resources, could squeeze them dry, and as there was no sentiment in Wall Street, it was resolved to do up the clique and cut another melon at the proper moment. All the details were gone into, and then the mecting broke up about hali-past six, and those present took their departure, | ignorant of the fact that they had had an cager listener to .. all that had transpired ine the room. f As soon as Bd was satisfied he was alone in the rooms he got out of the cabinet, and beat it for home. ° Until the syndicate had pushed the Barnum clique to the wall there was nothing in it for the ‘boy. There would surely be another meeting when that fact had been accomplished, and’ he resolved to be on hand to learn the second part of the game. ‘ Ed watched L. & P., and saw that from day to day a great .. deal of business was done in it. The fact that the price remained down indicated that the Denton syndicate was holding its own very nicely. . At the end of a week Ed was sent on the rounds again, and ‘he knew a meeting would be held that afternoon in Room 310. Disposing of his hat and coat as before, che hid himself in the cabinet. The members of the syndicate turned up in due time, and the second meeting was held, during which Hd learned that .the Barnum crowd had that day disposed of its holdings to =" yepresentative of the syndicate, and were now out of it. ~All that remained was to boom the stock and unload at the | best price. ine general plan of doing this was agreed upon and the ing broke up early. _, Hd now felt that the time had come when he could safely get in on the game. Accordingly, next day, he pokeht 700 shares of L. & P. mt the market price, which was 75, This time he expected to clean up $10,000, perhaps more. ‘i As he hadn’t been near Mr. Ashton for about six weeks he thought he would call on the gentleman that afternoon. ‘>. On his way over to Hanover street he bought a paper and ' looked casually at the news on the first page. | The first scare heading he looked at ran as follows: ' “Mysterious Disappearance of a Wall Street Broker.” From what followed he saw that the man who had vanished was Mr. Ashton. “That's Jackson’s work,” ejaculated Hd. “No doubt he’s been angling for Mr. Ashton for some time, and now he’s got ‘him, I must read the facts and then see if I can’t do something to queer that rascal’s ‘game.” _ + “He read all the newspapers printed, then he went on to Mr. Ashton’s office to’ make further inquiries, ‘The bookkeeper and cashier, who was in hdres in. the ab- sence of the broker, told Ed that Mr. Ashton had not been at the office for several days. _-- Hé had'gone home as usual the preceding Tuesday, had his dinner, and then went out to his club to spend the evening, as was his occasional practice. ©. | He did not return home, and his wife and family naturally its became worried when they could obtain no trace of his'move- ents after leaving his club on the evening in question. to re- Gas home. ~ The police were notified, but at first were Yequested to Keep the matter from the. newspapers. The broker's continued unexplained absence finally led to Oe matter becoming public, and sae how the manfter now a “4 ra if AN ERRAND BOY'S FORTUNE. is second. floor. tom of Mr. Ashton’s disanpearance, and as Jackson was un derstood jto be hiding somewhere in New Jersey, that was 7 where the police ought to press its investigations. =a The cashier said there might be something in the boy’s sus- — picion, and said he would see the authorities about it. A After some further talk, Hd went home. : As Wd had no clew to Jackson's whereabouts, he did not see what he could do, but he did not give up hopes. He was interested in the broker, who had acted in a very friendly way toward’ him since they became acquainted, and . he wanted to help him, 2s ‘well as to defeat the plans of Jack- son, who had handied him without gloves because he sided =, with Mr. Ashton. ; i Next morning’s papers not only contained a rehash of the ° story of Mr. Ashton’s: disappearance, but contained a, para- graph that gave Ed a start of surprise. Broker Jackson had turned up in the city and surrendered himself to the police. “Fe has either heard of Mr. Ashton’s vanishing, or Knows ~ all about the matter,” muttered the boy. “Now that the gen- ¥ tleman is out of the way, and can’t appear against him in | count, he feels safe in showing himself. I'l]. bet he has, ab- — > ducted his accuser and has him imprisoned somewhere over in: New Jersey. While he is trying to,.work the squeeze gameon him, he is taking advantage of his absence to make a play to ° have the case squashed, I must notify the police that I am ready to appear against him as a witness, I will do all I can to block his new game. Of course, he can’t be indicted until Mr. Ashton reappears to press his charges, but I shouid think he © : could’ be, held on the original warrant, particularly when I hint about the scheme ‘that, in my opinion, he is working.” So when Hd reached his office, which he always did fifteen minutes before the bookkeeper and the stenographer made their appearance, he called. up Headquarters aud had a. tals \ with the officer at the end of the wire: He was told that Jackson was to appear in the police court ie that morning, and that he had been in see covbsaaisee es with the District Attorney’s office. ee Ed then called up, that office and had a talk with one ‘ot the: clerks. § = . After some delay he. was requested to call there right away. eS By that time the bookkeeper came, and Hd told. him he’d i) like to get off long enough to attend to the case of Jackson, - ie who had given himself up to the authorities, ® i ¥ sila eto ae He The bookkeeper said he had better wait. till Mr. Denton. arrived. As the boss was expected soon, Hd waited. | When Mr. Denton came the errand boy made his request. . He got permission to go off, so he hurried up to the District uae Attorney’s office. shui! He secured an interview with one of the assistant attorney and as a result that man was directed to go to court ie: a and have the case continued. t When they reached the court, Jackson, wile was out 0: was on hand with his lawyer. When the case was called the lawyer mayed that é against his client. Ne dismissed. Then the assistant attorney got up and said that in yi the absence of complainant, he wished the: Case: “cont ue pending that gentleman's return. The magistrate so ordered it, and Jackson was allowed go on his bail bond. Hd was not called on to say anything, and went back to his , office. : That afternoon he hung around Jackson’s office till oy broker left. re Then he shadowed him uptown to his bachelor apartments aid subsequently to the hotel where he dined. } Here Jackson met one of the men Hd had seen in the oh fae in the Bronx the ‘Sunday morning he was a pr: { there hy After dinner the pair went to a well- known § where they met another well-dressed man. The three retired to a private room, and Hd follow He sneaked into one of the adjoining rooms, | thin might overhear what they said through the wall, proved out of the question. The wall was too solid for the sound of “Woiyes to ene’ through it. i ce! The room Ed was in had a window opening on a lighted in the daytime: by @ skylight on the roo There was another skylight below, as the resort: was on hy ' vr Ueeaity. the window, J Ha a looked out and saw
Page 16
AN ERRAND BOY’S 3 FORTUNE. room milehe tho, btivee'h men were had a similar ete ee as had also the third rddm beyond. ' The top and the bettom ‘of the middle window was open for ventilation. - : Hd pushed his own window. up all the way and swung him- ep self out; holding on by one leg and one hand. He could now hear what passed in the room where Jackson and: hig friends were. ' The Men were holding a conference about the situation. poe <s0n said that owing to the action of the public prose- or it would be necessary to force matters*to a conclusion He n old chap, but if I can make it clear to him er get back to his family until he gives in, s Cideflance may end in-his death, I hope to lea , have no intention of causing his death— 4 réerer— but we may be able to impresss him idea that his body might find its way to the morgue agrees to our terms. I am willing to pay him half of ey 1 owe him if he will call everything off, and under the cumstances E, a half a loaf in his case is better than no bread at“all.” : Bae IO will him to’ come to the seratch,” said one of the broker's i Whatever you pay him will be clear profit.” sr OLS 1, but he wants it all. The best he would ettliement, which, of course, I can’t make e wall. He told me yesterday morning feelings of his family over his disap- pearance, he’d ‘gee ‘me fir rther than the end of the world before _ he'd make any terms at all with me,” said Jackson. “You will have to turn ‘the screws on him, even if it is a saat platt, a that ho? ‘have returned to the city, and are under bie hig Pal tee 9 i} stot. connect Ashton’s disappearance with you). ‘hey are hunting tor him, of course, but without a clew ) that if it wast thes got likely ‘to find out where he is.” “Youwink it is safe to keep him at the place you had the “boy?” said the other: man. “Certainly, or. T° wouldn’t do it. When the boy escaped he oy aie Bh ‘otified the police, as I expected he would, and they searched Jae hs the vee ih and made myself scarce. The boy’s mys- Danhothered Mme not a little till I ventured back ee i‘ igecret, as I explained it to you both, of oR movable flod sof the closet. The boy apparently did not ' its workings I can’t say. I) think the slamming of the closet docr released the mechanism. In fact, I am sure of it, for I: violence the trap floor started up or down, as the case might be. The boy finally left the house by way of the tunnel off else, re-entering the house, that way, 1 got some material and ; 4 “plastered it up dt the end. Tvery day I have made it my busi- have also plastered up the other end near the sliding door, so I consider that exit out of business.” “In the cellar, where Benson and myself prepared the wood “. bin. f his reception.” )-wouldn’t they?” ° “Benson is always on guard. If anybody tried to get into him up into the hidden compartment on the floor abare, Then he could safely defy any search.”. Tek am not looking for him to interfere. I have had him steadily Shae es and find that he is attending to his own fet / “When are you ‘going to see your prisoner again?” | “Not until Saturday night. I want to give him time to family again on Sunday.” » “And if de doesn’t?” ., “Well, I wish’ you luck. Shall we Ting for drinks or shall we é go to the bar and then walk up to Cassidy’s?” ‘ ” subject: that brought us in here,” said Jackson. ES The three men got up and Jeisurely left the room, yp te house. Of course they did not find me there, for I took horough investigation of the building. en I ‘Tountt OB make any mention‘9! it to, the authorities, - tried it and found that when the, door was shut with some He the room where the machinery is. ‘To prevent him, or anybody ness to see that the: opening has not been tampered ‘with. I / “Where do you keep the old man?” the police suddenly descended on the place they'd find ‘the house he will remove Ashton to the secret closet and send “Unless the boy was with the police,” affairs.” digest my last proposition. If he yields he will be with his © *T shall proceed to turn the screws a bit tighter,” We'll make a start, for I’ve nothing further to. say on the ‘ Ed waited ‘till they were out of the high and then m followed, CHAPTER XIII. ED'S TICKLISI VENTURE. “So, Mr. Ashton is held a prisoner up in that Bronx house?” said Ed to himself. “AJl I have to do to put a spoke in Jack- son’s wheel is to notify the police and accompany them there. Then Jackson will find himself over his head in the soup tureen. It is now nine o’clock, I haven’t had anything to eat yet, so I guess I’ll go to supper.” Ed entered a restaurant and ordered a sirloin steak, fried potatoes, coffee and some rice pudding. After he had ‘got outside of that meal he felt more com- fortable. 6 How he got on to |. He took a car dopattoal: and getting off at Bleecker street, made his way to No. 300 Mulberry street, where Police Head- quarters then was situated, After some delay and trouble he succeeded in securing an interview with the assistant to the Chief of Detectives, and to that person he told his story. The man was not inclined to put much stock in the boy’s tale. He regarded Ed as one of those amateur detectives who imagine they are of some importance, or that their alleged information is. The boy’s yarn looked fishy to him. It sounded like a chapter from a boy detective story. aS It was quite possible that'Hd had shadowed the three men to the sporty resort, but that he was able to find a convenient — window to lean out of, from which, he was able to hear all that passed between the three men in question, was, in his ~ estimation, all moonshine, particularly as the conversation i turned on the very matter the amateur sleuth wanted to learn sh Bis about. If the boy had ordered the scene set, and the subject nae of the talk in advance, things couldn’t have turned out, better. Real detectives don’t find their work so nicely cut and dried for them; if they did, what a cinch they would have. hy The officer cross-examined Ed sharply, but the lad stuck to’ — his story. fis “Well, I'll make a note of your information and submit yf the chief in the morning,” said the officer. “I'll take e name and address.” ah Bi hate t you going to do anything to-night about releas\ | Ashton?” said Ed. ors es Nothing can be done tin the chief passes on the matter,® | ; “I don’t see any use of wasting time. Consider the gentle. $ man’s feelings, and the feelings of his family.” “Young man, we don’t want any dictation from you. home and sleep it off,” “Sleep what off?” “That big head you've got.” “Thank you for the suggestion. I'll do better. Since you won't send a man with me, I’ll go up to that house myself'and — release the gentleman if I can. It is more than a boy’s work, | but I’m not afraid to tackle it.” q “Go by all means. If you capture the entire crowd let me — know, and I'll have a leather medal made expressly for you." Perhaps the chief will offer you a place on the force. If he doesn’t you might start a private detective agency on your own hook. There’s money in it—to get.” Ed felt thoroughly disgusted when he walked out of the building with the green lamp over the door. . ; The officer had treated him with very i consideration, Af or { and he was mad, It was no fool errand he had decided iapoa! It would take him several hours to get to Fiet, old house, even if he did not miss his way in the dark. He would have to try and retrace his steps over the ‘grodee« he had passed over that Sunday afternoon i making his es- cape. He remembered it was a long walk, and he. was pretty sure he would have to do some hunting before he reached his des- tination. . fechas after he got there, how was he going to get into the 4 house? - Backed by the authority of a real detective, he had counted — on foreing anentrance, and then he expected to fi nd the broker | hidden in the space above the closet. Thrown on his own Tesources, he wasn’t over-confident ot results. Hid, however, wasn’t a boy to be discouraged by difficulties, ak The refusal of the police to act made him ail the ‘more de-. term! ed to step into the breach himself. A j
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“If I sueceed in rescuing Mr. Ashton J’ll, show the police up ‘to the newspaper men,” he thought. “The press will rap the ' detective department, and that big stuff who put on airs to me ‘will find something to ponder over. Maybe the chief will pull /nim over the coals. He'll deserve it.” Hd decided to go home first and tell his sister that he had ‘ business that would keep him out all night, then she wouldn't |. worry over his absence. So he boarded a Third avenue train at Bleecker street and ; the Bowery, and in due time reached home. } He only remained in the house fifteen minutes, then it “pi him to call on. Joe and see if he would go with him. Spa was not home, so Ed started on his enterprise alone. We will not follow his movements over to the east side of e Bronx. “Phe tramp was fully as long and as lonesome after he left e beaten tracks as he had anticipated. ’ The only thing in his favor was that the night was not ab- solutely dark. The stars were out, but they were not very bright. _1t was around one in the morning when he made out the cold nd dark waters of the upper stretch of the Hast River. Then a difficulty presented itself. He did not know whether he was above or below the house ie was in search of. He walked south for at least half an hour without ‘Tesult, and hen he decided he was on the wrong tack. He had to retrace his way and go further on. He. was beginning to realize the strenuous nature of the me he was engaged in when he sighted the Point, and di- éctly afterward the house. en it was three o’clock. “Now that I’ve got here at last, the next thing is to get in, id without letting the man on duty know anything about it,” © said to himself, AN the ; ee floor windows were boarded up. The small cellar windews were secured in the same way. The kitchen was a small ell at the back with a flat roof. A second story window overlooked it. . Hd, after walking all around the house, glanced at that win- he was desirous of reaching ‘t and ‘testing the fact. e looked around for some means Of boosting himself onto jof of the kitchen. vestigating an outhouse, he saw several boards. So he brought the board and aa it against the side of me kitchen and shinned up. , The window he had aimed for was as tight as wax. Flashing a match, he saw it was nailed on the inside. “That settles it. I can’t get in here,” he said. There was a window, a small one, under the sloping roof of the half story or attic, but it was far out of reach. _ After some deliberation Nd pulled up the board, placed ‘it against the house as close to the window as he could put it, ‘and began shinning up. There was considerable risk in this, for if the board slipped he stood more than an even chance of taking a header into the yard below, and that would be apt to do him up. ' But Ed was full of pluck and resolution. re was going to get into the house if there was any way. of doing it. He had come too long a Giktdnes: and the issue was too ie _ portant, for him to allow a risk to stump him, i Se up he went with reasonable caution, and finally got with- in arm’s length of the little window. _ He judged, as it consisted ots a aiiaie sash, that it worked “on hinges. He pushed against it with no great seve: and to his great joy the window yielded and opened inward. ‘Still the worst of the job was before him. He had to grab the sill, swing off the plank and pull himeett inside. . If his muscles failed him’ thee was no regaining the plank. _-. He would hang thirty feet or TAUTP in the air, with the hard yard below. Did Ed hesitate at this grave risk? | Ke ay as Not a bit of it. : he _. He was game to the core, a ant Rtn t eal ‘AN ERRAND BOYS: FORTUNE. Re secured a good hold on the window and swung off the plank. Then he shoved his arms inside and got a firmer grip. His head and shoulders rose and he hunched them inside. Then he did some scrambling, and success rewarded him, He crawled in at the window and was in the house. Thus he had pulled off his master move. For ten minutes he sat and rested himself, then he pulled off his shoes, stuek them in the side pockets of his overcoat, and was ready to explore the old house. Striking a match, he looked around the unfinished place he was in. It was just an ordinary attic, high in the center where the roof peaked, and grew lower as the roof sloped on either side. It contained many odds and ends of broken furniture, boxes and so forth, and its full quota of dust, ve which could be added dirty, abandoned spider webs. Ed found his way to the head of the stairs, surrounded on two sides by a common railing to prevent one falling into the chasm, There was nothing to prevent him reaching the second story, so down he went: “Now I wonder where the guardian of the house is?” he thought. “Does he sleep up here or on the ground floor? The . prisoner is presumedly in the cellar. That is where Jackson said he was kept, in\the wood bin.” Ed decided to cautiously inspect all the rooms on the second floor, One of them was furnished as a bedroom, and the bed showed signs of recent occupancy. : “Where was the occupant? That was a matter of some importance to the boy. If he had got up and gone into the cellar to see how the! prisoner was, Ed figured that he might run against him in bi dark, In that event there would be something doing. The match went out and dropped on the floor. Ser Rid started to leave the room, when suddenly out of the res darkness beyond came, the sharp challenge: “Who’s there? ~ Speak, or I’) shoot!” eee, ‘ The boy was greatly startled, and held his breath. oe CHAPTER XIV. CONCLUSION. Ea’s situation was decidedly ticklish. At any moment a bullet might come his way. and put an end to his usefulness. . ia His first idea was to crouch down to avoid the anticipated 4 shot. His next was to squeeze himself up peant therwall of the ; room, He followed his second impression. if : i It was lucky he did so, for the man, aaa ey the by: ihe truder would instinctively crouch to get out of the line of vane aimed slantingly and pulled the trigger. There was a flash and a report. Ed was waiting for the first to show him the soil of the ; man, ¢: Y. The moment it lighted up the corridor éutside he saw where: ae the fellow stood. ( The man eaught a glimpse of him, too, ‘but before he. could cover him the boy sprang at him. ‘ Ed struck him with all his weight, clenched Rim, and th f next mhoment they were rolling on the floor. The shock had dashed the revolver out of the man’s han and he lost that advantage. / “Who are you?” roared the man. Ed wasted no reply on him. The blow took effect on the soint of his jaw, and Lane a ha groan his head fell back and he ceased to struggle. t Q Tid held on to him, fearing some kind of a Evie 2 trick, é but nothing happened. ‘ Then he let go by degrees, : The man remained perfectly quiet. 3 rit The boy struck a match, and the flash showed him that 1 antagonist was knocked out. ) “Good! Now to secure him, and then the way will ‘be clear to Mr.. Ashton’ s rescue.” his bagi Then he lifted him into 4 chair and tied th to it. “YT guess that will hold him all right,” he said. ; He now felt safe to use the lamp he saw hs i on table in the Foor, %
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ete Viehtea it and walked downstate) after putting on his - shoes. Things in the sitting-room where the closet was looked aus much the same as when Hd was a prisoner in the ouse ' He didn’t stop to view them, but looked ‘around for the _ stairs leading into the cellar. _ He found them in the passage between the sitting-room and the kitchen. He went down, and with the lamp in the air he hunted for the wood bin. br He saw a door secured by a padlock, in which stuck its key. ¢ He opened it and flashed the light inside. a On a cheap cot lay a figure asleep. f “That sure is Mr. Ashton,” thought Hd. He walked in and let the lamplight fall on the man’s face. It was the broker, sure enough. Ed grasped him by the arm and shook him into wakefulness. “Get up, Mr. Ashton,” he said. “Th! What do you want with me at this hour? Is this some fresh persecution?” “Get up-and look at me, sir.’ I am Ed Arlington. I have * come here to set you free.” “Hd Arlington! Is it possible?” cried the broker, springing up and staring at the boy. “In the name of all that’s wonder- ful, how, did you trace me here, and how did you get into this house unknown to the man who is guarding me?” “J will explain everything on our.way back to the populated part of the Bronx, All you need know now is that I have made a@ prisoner of your jailer, and left him tied in a chair in a room on the second floor. He’s safe to stay there until. we _ send the police to arrest him, unless one of his friends shoul turn up in time to save him. Now let us get away from this house. You must be anxious to get back home, and I shall be glad to get to-my home in time to get my breakfast before .. Starting for Wall Street. I will have to go to bed early to- nighte? (1); Hd and the delighted broker, who was profuse in expressing his obligations to the plucky Wall Street boy who had under- ue gone so much in his behalf, made their way out. of the cellar to the living room upstairs. “Before we leave. do you wish ma see how I have fixed your ti Jailer?” asked Hd. BS . “I do not know that I care to see him,” responded Mr, Agh- ton. “I am anxious to get home as fast as I can and relieve my mysterious disappearance,” ', “Well, I.am going up to see how he is getting on,” said the boy. “J put kim to sleep with a blow on the jaw, but I guess he has come around by this time. I want to make sure he is i not likely to get away before the police come tere to take charge of him, as I suppose you intend to prosecute him in % ‘connection with Jackson. If you don’t care to see him, you ‘can wait here till I come back.” _ “I don’t know whether I shall proceed against him or not,” gaid the broker. “I shall be satisfied to put the squeeze on ‘Jackson. I am sick of the whole matter. Jackson, as the ‘cause of all my trouble, must pay the penalty. Iam ‘not par- ti icularly interested in those who helped him.”. Ed went upstairs alone, leaving Mr. Ashton in the dark. ‘He found the prisoner conscious and fuming over his pre- cament. ‘How do you like being a prisoner yourself?” asked fd. ‘The man glared at him. “What are you going to do with me?” he asked. plied the boy. “I have liberated Mr. Ashton, and we are Wa going to leave the house. If he decides to take any steps inst you for acting as his jailer, the police will come after ‘Ed locked his bonds over, and fecling-satisfied the man was ed to remain so, he wished him good-night and returned . Ashton and his young rescuer then: left the house seksy way @ front door, which they left unlocked. be helped. “You are free, and in the course of three hours or ss you should be with your family once more.” “I shall never forget the obligations you have put me under, 3 id,” said the broker, gratefully. “You have proved a good end in need, and I shall always be your warm friend.” — “Say no more about it, sir. I felt it to be my duty to help ‘out of your scrape, the more so when the Manhattan po- , to whom I I applied for help, turned me down.” “AN ERRAND BOY’S FORTUNE, | . an the worry my wife and daughter are suffering on account of | “Nothing, except keep you tied up for the rest of the night,”. ‘ou later, otherwise you'll stay here until you are) liberated.” ia told the broker about all he had gone through that afters noon How he had shadowed Jackson to the sporting resort, and by great good luck learned where he was being held in bond- age, He told of his yisit to the police and the réception he rer ceived at Headquarters. His story enlivened the long and tiresome walk westward, and during the last stage of their journey Mr. Ashton talked: 7 over how he proposed to treat Jackson. It was after daylight when they reached an elevated station. There Hd parted from the broker, promising to call on ay 2 that afternoon, : ide got no sleep that morning, but it didn’t really matter muc $i He was young and healthy, and could easily miss one night's rest, which he could make up before another sunrise. ; While his sister was preparing breakfast and during the. meal he told her and his brother-in-law what he bad gone through that night in behalf of his friend, the Curb brokor. Brown declared that he had the right stuff in bim, and that | Mr. Ashton ought to be eternally grateful to him. That morning Jackson was arrested in his oflice’on the fresh % charge of abduction, and when he faced Ashton in the police™ eourt he realized that he was up against if in the worst way. He was released under heayy bail, and returned to his office ia feeling that his course was, run, As Myr, Ashton suspected that he would jump his bail-an flee the jurisdiction of the State, he hired a detective to kee him under watch. ; Jackson devoted the week to settling up his atfairs weit’ b view of skipping out, never to return. # During that week Li. & P. stock was rapidly boomed up to. 0. yi At that figure Hd gold out, realizing a profit of a little ‘ove’ $10,000, which raised ‘his capital to $18,000. ’ i About the middle of the following week Jackson was ar. rested while in the act of boarding a train for the West. He was brought up before the magistrate who had admitted: * him to bail. tee The result was he was confined in the Tombs to await tle — action of the Grand Jury in relation to the charges pending es against him. - In the meantime Mr. Ashton prought a civil suit against him. for the money due in the matter which had originally led toy) all the trouble. , The Grand Jury turned in three indictments against h He was tried on the office assault case and, convicted, The judge sentenced him to six years, but he took an app which staved off for a while the exetution of the sentene In the end he had to go to Sing Sing, with the know, that he would have to face the other charges when he out: ; The civil suit was tried and went against him. Mr. Ashton collected a portion of what was coming to ‘him. About this time Ed carried another batch of notes around} — to the members of the Denton syndicate. f That afternoon he hid in the cabinet again. in order to get}: onto, another tip. a This time he was disappointed, for before the meeting got down to business he was discovered, and a big rumpus ensued. After giving him a strenuous lay-out, Denton discharged him from his soft job, and so the office of Wall Street secrets knew him no more. ; Hd did not worry a whole lot over his discharge, He called on his friend Ashton and went to work in his» office. Six months later the Yellow Dog mine turned up trumps. A very rich discovery of ore was found on the property, and the mine took its place among the big producers of the Nevada mining district in which it was situated. The stock steadily advanced to $1 a share, and then it went up by degrees to $3. id received an offer of $35,000, and later on $40, 000 for his block of shares, which had cost him nothing. He refused all offers, for the mine had begun paying regular dividends, and the prospects were it would continue to do so for a considerable time to come. And thus it came about that the Yalow Dog stock proved to be an errand boy’s fortune. . Next week’s issue will contain “IN THE FILM GAME; OR, THE BOY WHO MADE MON ie aad x ‘SEND POSTAL ER oun FREE ‘ATHLOGUE, W
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ° 45, & : : : : ; Seti 3 | - CURRENT NEWS Edward and Adolph Larsen, fishermen, won a dpachtn sadticonaihe arrived suddenly to visit his relatives. He is fight for life amid the ice floes of Lake Michigan the other| Huge Eckardt, formerly of Milwaukee, later of Nome. day when they were rescued by a wrecking tug and fire-| Ten years ago, when he was twenty- our, Hckardt emi-' io boat. The gasoline launch in which they: had ventured| grated to America. He became a ropemaker’s assistant at out was disabled and crushed in the ice near shore, and the fishermen were thrown into the water. The men managed to climb on a floe and stayed there for several hours until the rescuing vessels smashed a passage eiguge the ice to them. Only a very stall paliatea: of Uinicinds and habitual drinkers of alcoholic liquors are cttrable, and the results of the many institutes in Germany for tke treatment of alcoholism have been disappointing,’ “according to a report just issued. Declaring that few of the patients treated y cured, it noted that out of 732 treated in several in- tutions only 122 became sober citizens; 74 were sent to ane asylums; 301 refused absolutely to stop drinking; were igs to sees, and 91 to hospitals. oo The whinedtins er no: Me tieis free to shoot elephants at: is will and pleasure in French West Africa. The Gov- ernor has issued severé provisional regulations pending the promulgation of a decree on this subject. Every uropean who has a regular license to carry arms and 10 wishes to hunt elephants must make a declaration and ‘a tax fixed by the district governors, which must not eas than $200. This is only good for one year (or less ‘the decree is issued before the lapse of a year) and only les the holder to kill two elephants. Every elephant jot. in excess of the two must be declared and paid for at fhe rate of at least $100 a head, and not moreé)'than five f in all may be killed in the year. The spoils of an ele-’ phant killed in self-defence must be- handed over to the é aera authority. - he George Walter Vincent Smith art collection, valued * at more than $1,000,000, was deeded to the city of ‘Spring- +: ‘field, Mass , by. Mr. Smith and his wife, Belle Townsley Smith. The only stipulations are that the collection shall % be open to the public at reagonable hours, that’ Mr. and > & Mrs. Smith shall have the right to make substitutions and i, additions, and that the’ gift shall be known as the George | + eWalter Vincent, Smith Collection. The collection, which ranks as one of the best of its kind in the world, repre- sents the life work of Mr. Smith. Jt includes ceramics, arms, bronzes, lacquers, paintings, textiles, laces, books, - manuscripts, jades, and tnotable curios. Many of the ob- jects represent the only examples in existence of certain - phases of art, and have” been unsuccessfully sought for fa- | mous ucamentions in both Europe and America. § Wy ter sas Daath | ¥ e town of. Greiz, famous for, its ae on anes carried in procession around the town. Milwaukee and soon afterward went North and tried gold digging in Nome.‘ Between 1908 and 1912 he struck it rich and soon he was employing twenty diggers. Some days he gathered as much as $500 worth. last winter he | was particularly fortunate, and having collected his win-— nings, determined to yisit his old home. We brought back ~ a number of large nuggets as a guarantee of good faith ~ Eckardt intends to return to Alaska next summer for on¢ — more digging season. Then he will settle permanently in Germany. Congressman Stephens, of Los Angeles, has evolved. a plan for the firsrt commercial cargo passing through the Panama Canal that is at once romantic and practical. He finds it probable that the first merchant vessel to sas | the canal probably will be one of the ships of the Panama’ steamship line, owned by the United States Government. — His idea ig to have this vessel loaded at Atlantic ports with a cargo for the Pacific coast and that the cargo be unloaded at all the chief ports from San Diego to, Seattle. Then, for the return. trip he would have the vessel loaded —— with citrus fruits, raisins, and other California and Pa- — cific coast products, to be unloaded at Atlantic coast ports. The matter has-been broached to Secretary of War Gar- rison, and may be worked out as the zealous California’ congressman plans. Mr. Stephens says of the plan: “This would give a corking illustration of the benefits that will be realized from the operation ve the canal.” ~ ae A sudden outbreak of anti-clerical violence at Ostuni — has created a good deal of anxiety in Roman Catholic circles. It did not turn on any question of government: or papal authority, but, oddly enough, it arose through an effort on the part of some distinguished priests to put down popular superstitions about a miraculous’ interven- ai tion of heaven in a drought. For a long time the inhabi- om tants of Ostuni had suffered severely through want of» rain, Public prayers and processions in honor of | their patron saint Oronzo had been without, avail. Finally the ; “miraculous” image of the saint was carried in proces- wi sion, and following this rain fell in torrents. A. thanks- : giving service was organized, and the image a ‘to be~ The’ priests hibited this, whereapon the people crowded to the c boaters Shouting, “Long live our saint!” and “Death { the priests!” the infuriated mob threatened to lynch the clergy, who barricaded themselves in the sacristy. i tunately, a body of police and ag arrived: in ly
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20 CHEEK AND CHANCE FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY... \ A ve = HOR TRAVELING ON HIS WITS By ED. KING » (A SERIAL STORY) CHAPTER X (Continued). “Send them broadcast through the village street,” said the doctor. He took a long brass horn ane mounted the driver’s seat. No tally-ho bugler ever sent forth such blasts as he did while the imposing equipage dashed through the little |’ country town, "rom every house and store people old -and young rushed forth, ‘When the doctor descended he _ said briskly: <~ “Nothing like advertising, my boy. the people and makes the money.” _ Andy had begun to regard Dr. Markham. a as a remarkable man, He realized that he had once more hit upon a good thing, and ihis time. he watts that fate would not again dash it from him. The next day; near the evening hour, the equipage rolled ‘into Houlton. People on the street stared at the coach and four horses and the fat, genial-looking doctor tooting the brass. horn. That evening after the horses had been fed and supper That’s what draws had: been procured at. the principal hotel, Dr. Markman) himself tooled the four grays into the publie square and drew down the canopy of the coach. Andy helped him to produce the bottles of medicine and light the torches. _ Then taking the banjo he mounted the driver’s box} He played rollicking jigs and breakdowns. From every- where the people flocked to the spot. Soon a perfect mass of humanity was crowded about the wagon. _ Andy sang and played and cracked jokes with the crowd. Many a wit of the town went’ down before his sharp sallies. - He was uproariously applauded, Doctor Markham’s face beamed. After awhile he be- gan his lecture. He was eloquent and flowery. The people - listened as to a great treat. They were convinced of the cure-all properties of the mnecAOlnses and soon the bottles began to Aue At ten o’clock the doctor pulled up the canopy in the - face of a clamorous crowd, and said to Oxley: . i “Drive to the stable, Joe. I’ve done business enough ‘for to- day.” i The first. evening with Dr. ‘Mention, was We last, and ndy felt well pleased with the result. Other evenmigs itnessed the same success. au) ‘The quack doctor took a great fancy to: Acidy. From town to town they went, and He paid Andy promptly, and it was not long _ coffers. ous the ag atc ee that he had the aie, money rolled into the doctor’s | lable nest egg of four hundred dollars to his credit. He — felt quite rich, and was congratulating himself upon future | immunity from poverty when again the wheel of fortune made a sudden turn and whisked his chance away from him once more. . It was in a little Canadian town not far from the boundary line. The doctor had been selling medicine} rapidly, when, suddenly a coarse-featured man with eyes — AR swollen with drink reeled up to the wagon, and began to’ pe eurse and swear. Such ruffians were ‘often encouraged, but this fellow was unusually persistent and obnoxious. 4 Finally Dr, Markham called upon the crowd to find an — officer and remove the offensive fellow. Upon this. the latter threw a heavy brick-bat at the doctor, which struck . him heavily on the head. He dropped in an unconscious, | heap. ts In an sabia Andy lifted him: up on the cushion Bo cried to Oxley: ~ Drive to the hotel, quick, Joe. Hin oY re But Andy succeeded in hpying “hs one carried: tom ‘ room at the hotel. Physicians. came quickly, and made most appalling report. “There is effusion of blood in the brain. are slight.” é The brutish: perpetrator of the “outrage could not be found. Andy was beside himself. He hovered over the | wounded man constantly. Late the next day the doctor opened his eyes for the first time, and became conscious. His faculties were astonishingly acute. He looked at Andy, and then gazed about the room. Slowly a realization of all came ‘to ‘him. “T remember,” he said, slowly. “That fellow meant fs lad. He meant to kill me.” ’ “T wish I had my hands upon him now,’ gritted ‘Andy, The sick man looked keenly at him. Then his face. — softened, a. Aienee light came into his eyes, and whispered: “Boy, come ‘here! Sit beside ine, T must tell you somer i thing. The story must not die ,with me, and you shall . have it—all the fortune—you shall haye it, 1 say.) j acca eee CHAPTER XI. THE DOCTOR'S WILL. ake has made not the slightest doubt that the deste: Se brain was wandering. Haney he humored ane and sat down fy the tees Bip ih Shea oh: :
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a BS d FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Dr, Markham stk one of Andy’s hands in his. I set my life. ~ you. Who were your parenta rai “T never knew my parents. Did your boy die?” he’asked ) softly. | “No,” replied the'sick man. - somewhere in this wicked world. _ cradle. The blow killed his mother and drove me nigh » insane. pve never been the same since. | Never the same.’ “Too bad!” whispered Andy, unconsciously. Markham’s hand closed on Andy’s. _ “I have always hoped to find him. I have looked for his face in all the crowds I have addressed. But it has - never come. Boy, I am going to die.” ’ ~ “Oh, I think not,” protested Andy. give hope.” “But/I know better. Death is upon me. “must settle one matter. I am a man of very large fortune. Tn all the world I have no liying heir but my lost boy. - My money is buried, lad, all buried in the ground. That , fellow who threw the brick at me knows it, and has tried - to kill me that he might claim it. He is a villain. His came i is Darius Smith. He claims to be my half-brother, but itis ‘a lie. He issan impostor: When I am dead— listen, ‘Andy, swear to me, for, I know that you are honest, “swear that you gill defeat that scoundrel. I am going to ‘entrust you with the secret of the hiding place of my noney. I want you to become its custodian, and one- ii hird shall be eae brah year’ me, but bh must abe “He may be alive to-day He was stolen from the “The surgeons Before I die I if selves hia the oh, tie thirds, his rightful her: If you never find him, all is yours.” . _ Andy recovered himself with a strong effort. ' : Die promise,” he said, solemnly. “But you are not to “Dr. Markham. T cannot have you die. You must I am satisfied,” he ect “Yon will do it, Place your don my chest. ‘There you will find a small package in. i Take it out, Place it next your body. . Guard ‘at with your life. When IT am dead open it ‘and read. That is all. Leave me now, for I must think. ? ‘Like one in a daze Andy tools the silk packet. He went oftly into the inner room.’ A great Jump was in, his roat. He felt that the eccentrie man was his friend, that: he loved him, and- now he was te oe and leave’ him nee more friendless and alone. ae ee e followed the injunction and fastened the oiled packet ' tring about his neck. After a while the door gently d. One of the attending physicians nodded to Andy . entered. ‘he physician softly approached the sick 1 man’s Sd he glanced at the face on the pillow he gave a start aa en quickly over it. The eyes were open, the jaw dropped. lance was poet sh tise aia ere to Sane As | pass, dig. The chest is nine feet under the surface. Money The amount is two hyndaee oe , wane aty ios ’ at SS eee “You take this seriously,” said, the physician gently. “JT had a little boy once,” he said; “an infant, by whom | “Is*he a.relative?” © Had he grown up he must havé been like]. “He was the only friend ‘I had in the world,” iat: Andy. "The news of the quack doctor’s death created some- thing of a sensation. Strange people came to the hotel to take charge of the body. But Markham had left a written will with Andy and the physicians. All funeral arrangements were made by them and the dead man was given a Christian burial. Darius Smith, who was really the murderer of the ec- centric doctor, did not put in an appearance. Nothing doubtedly too astute. That he would hear from him later Andy had no doubt. The doctor’s team and horses were sold. This, with money found on his person, was amply sufficient to pay all funeral expenses. Andy saw that all was settled, and then prepared to leave the place. He had a mission before him. He was resolved to do all in his power to execute the dead doctor’s will. Not until all was over and he was once more conscious _ of being out in the world for himself again did it occur to. him to look at the ohne package given him by Dr. Mark- fats ’ He gently Aideupased it from his neck and Ava it. It was tied with a strong twine. folded upon which was written in a fine legible hand the following : such as find it, I solemnly charge them under the penalty of being haunted by a dead man’s ghost, to deposit this, my Jast will and testament and inventory of my wealth, with some “safe trust company, which will guard safely the inheritance I leave and faithfully execute my ir which is: “For tw enty years the money ‘tenia alow shall ‘re- main at interest for my son Leslie. Hach year the interest. but no part of principal shall be devised to advertise in far parts of the earth for my son,-who has been long lost ‘to me. If at the end of twenty years he or his heirs do not make claim, the money entire shall revert to any de- serving charitable society. This is my will. For faithful ~ execution of same, I devi ise to the executor five thousand — dollars. One mile north of Moose creek at its. junction with | White’s brook. A threc-forked, solitary pine marks: the clearing. “Fourteen paces west: of this pine by ‘the com-~ is in gold. . thonsand dollars all told. “Tn execution of this will I bid you fail ot: nor be fai for ihe bac have a dead man’s curse. ; cPigned) “Chester. Markham, a i eee te be continued) aay: would have suited Andy better, but the wretch was un- -- A slip of paper was un- “This) may ba found wpon my body after death, To — “My fortune vil he found buried in a spot thus ee scribed! A clearing’ in the great woods of Moosehead, Two _ miles east of a cain on ae southern side of Katahdin. — bs. 4
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e three and three-quarters miles. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. - FACTS WORTH READING GIRDLING THE EARTH. English airmen are inclined to regard an aeroplane trip around the world unfeasible in the present stage of aerial development. It is pointed out that in order to recover the distance in the stipulated time it would be necessary to fly at the rate of more than 200 miles daily for three months, _ Védrines was five weeks in accomplishing the 3,500 miles from Paris to the aa flying an average of only 100 miles daily. “The Exhibition Committee’s offer,” says The Daily Mail, “indicates remarkable confidence in the future of aircraft, though there is little prospect of the feat being accomplished by the proposed date. But it is merely a question of time before an airman puts a girdle around the world,” KILL 400,000 PRAIRIE DOGS. Four hundred thousand prairie dogs in the Cochetopa. and Dike national forests in Colorado and the Tusayan and Coconino forests in Arizona have been killed by the Department of Agriculture since its campaign of destruc- tion was declared against the rodents. In a statement issued recently the department says that this work was done at a cost of about $12,000, which is a mere trifle when compared with the value of the forage| 8 upon which the dogs lived. It is estimated that the forage which the rodents devoured would have been sufficient for about 15,500 sheep or about 1,800 head of cattle, valued at $150, 000. ' - Carbon bisulphid and strychnine mixed with heavy oats is the department’s means of getting rid of the dogs. In the Cochetopa forests alone last year‘the survey used 35,- . 000 pounds of oats, 4,000 pounds of bisulphid, and about 1,800 ounces of strychnine. The hides of the prairie dogs are practically worthless in this country, according to the department. American and English furriers obtain better skins from Siberia for 5 cents apiece, and glovemakers say that the skins are too small to be worked up economically. As a result, the department says, no market for the skins has been found. DEEP SEA FISH FOUND. The Prince of Monaco’s passion for oceanography has brought to light a specimen of a hitherto unknown species of. fish which was found in the Atlantic at. the depth of Tn honor of the ‘reigning family of Monaco it has been called “grimaldichtys pro- fundissimus.” The depth at which it was found is several hundred yards lower than the lowest depths hitherto explored and _ tends to prove the existence of other unknown races and species of deep-sea monsters at depths which have never Pe been sounded. The grimaldichtys profundissimus is very heavy about the head, but the body diminishes rapidly in size toward the tail. It.is covered with a peculiar form of scales im- bedded in the skin. The head is round and soft, with the appearance of having been flattened underneath; the eyes are extremely small, but visible, and the teeth are numerous and small. The fish is yery pale and almost without color, except for a grayish-violet tinge in certain parts of the head and underneath the body. The inside of the mouth is a dark violet, almost black. WHEN “FINDINGS ARE KEEPINGS,” There are a good many popular sayings on matters — legal which if followed literally may lead to trouble. The’ old saying that “Findings Are Keepings,” is one of them. It is true that under the law the finder of lost property is entitled to keep it against all the world except the | rightful owner, but he may get himself into serious trouble unless he makes a reasonable effort to locate the real owner. At least that is so in New York and probably in some of the other States where New York’s Penal Code is more or less closely followed. There is a section of that code . | which provides that, unless he makes a reasonable effort to restore it to its owner, the finder of lost property is ae guilty of larceny. Just what amounts to “a reasonable effort” must. de- pend upon the circumstances of each particular case. Onc would not be expected to go to any considerable expense to locate the owner of an article of little value, but, on. the other hand, if the property found were worth several thousand dollars, the finder might reasonably be expecied to expend his own money, if necessary, to locate the loser, Tf he didn’t, he would be guilty of larceny under the. statute. oes There fs no duty upon the part of the finder to advertise sae for the owner unless that method seems to be the most: a likely one to locate him. . a: If you find a gold watch on a street car, it is your duty to turn it over to the conductor or to the lost property de- ies EK ee partment of the railway company, not because the com- — pany has a better title to it than. you, but because that is the most likely method of locating the owner. If the property is not reclaimed within a reasonable time, you may insist upon having it returned to you. For this ~ reason, when you Haag over lost property in this way either obtain a receipt for it admitting your claim to. it as a finder, or if you cannot obtain such a receipt, deliver — with the article a letter asserting your claim, aa rae copy of the letter. j Again, if you find a pocketbook in a ase aie ides ( is no clue to its owner, it is your duty to inform the shop- aa of your find, but there is no reason why you eee more sre found.
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CHAPTER is OLD 33, “Come here, J sii jacks, I want to speak to you.” — “Can’t now, Mr. Mac. Tm hard at, it, as usual. Be- sides, the old man is SORE along the corridor. He’ll _ get on to us, sure.” ‘without looking ack at Old 33. F: tS . “Come soon, then, John Jacks. Come to-night just before Gayton goes iis rounds, if you can’t come before.” _ “Allright, Mr. Mac. Ill do the best I.can,” and the The old prisoner who had looked through the grated _ywindow at him sank down upon his bed and buried his E face in his hands. “This is the end,” he murmured, and he said it again % and again. r What did he Se: Was it the end of his own life that he referred to? ad If so, there was nothing strange in the fact that it was the enid, for the man was certainly as much as eighty E ‘years old. ¥ vf ag was it the’ end of his imprisonment in the Wareton jai ry By This would have been something to. wonder about a little more than that so old a man should die, for George Mackintosh was the oldest prisoner in the inil, and no one now living in and about the establishment could re- _member when he did not occupy cell 33. “John Jacks knew nothing of his history beyond the fact tine he was entered in the ‘prison books as having been committed on a life sentence for a murder sane over fifty venra ago. ‘A poor, “old, white-headed man, who had spent more than half a century bebind the bars! : That was “Old 33,” as everybody called him. The mys- erious prisoner—and he was mysterious, for’ the reason that no one knew who he was, or where he came from on the day of his commitment, and no one had ever been able to find out since. _ Now, Wareton jail was not really a jail, but rather a enitentiary. , \ belonged’ to the State of North Carding, and was t, surrounded on three sides by a es Nicos ete ed away for miles. k ae FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. TEN-DAY ISLAND boy. went whistling along the corridor of the Wareton jail}. si ated at the head of a long iilet which ran up from the| =<. 2 ‘THE SECRET OF OLD 33 By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY) A dreary, miserable place, if ever there was one in a the wide world, ruled over by “Colonel” Gayton, a drunken; tyrannical, ignoramus, who had but two objects in life, one being to drink whisky, the other to starve, torture and torment the prisoners under his charge all he could. We have now described two of the principal personages ° in Wareton jail, and before taking up our story we may as well describe another, and that is the bright boy of eighteen, \..10 went toiling through the long corridor with the two heavy water buckets; his daily task. This was John Jacks. Two years before he had been arrested i in the streets of Raleigh as a homeless vagrant, and.when he was taken be- fore the judge and asked to tell who he was and where. he came from, he made a singular answer. “Tm nobody. I belong nowhere. I’m starying. Send me away where I can pull myself together and begin. again.” The name he gave was J Bhs Jacks, but he admitted at the time it was a false one. All questions about his past he steadily refused to an- swer. He was as much of a mystery in his way as the old man in cell 33. They sent John Jacks to the Wareton jail on a thirty days’ sentence, and there he was forgottén, and had re- mained ever since, He made himself so useful to the under keepers—for ‘he was a most active worker—that Colonel Gayton simply would not let him go, and although he had tried in every — way to make his escape, the opportunity had never offered. Practically John Jacks was a slave, and it looked as if: he was likely to’ remain so as long as Colonel Gayton lived and had charge of Wareton jail, and his was not the only case of the same kind within those grim prison walls, where the warden was absolute master, and held’ himselé responsible to no one. vou try to escape, John Jacks, and Vl surely catch: you,” Colonel Gayton often said, “and if I do catch you, week Vl kill -you and chuek your carcass to the bloodhounds to Bs chaw ‘up. ‘That’s me.” ged: John Jacks believed Colonel Gay to would be as good as his word, for he had seen him do the very same tag in other cases. That is why John Jacks did not try to escape. © Night came on, and a dismal night it was, too. A. fearful storm was raging off Hatteras, and they tide ~ pose high: in the: 2 ade ; a, iy
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24 a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, | z llc The wind whistled through the cypress trees in the swamp, every now and then tumbling one over. with a re- sounding erash; the rain beat against the walls of Ware- ton jail with a force which might almost haye washed: them away if they had not been built of solid limestone. There were often such nights down there in thé cypress swamp at the head of the inlet, but John Jacks could not Temember ever seeing a worse one. “What a night for an escape!” he thought. “Hven the bloodhounds could not track a fellow in such a storm as this.” John Jacks was going his last round at the time this thought passed through his mind. This was to light the lamps in the corridor on the third story of the big stone building. It was in this third story that the life sentence prisoners were located, and as the boy passed along with his torch he paused in front of cell 33. What was the noise he heard—that singular grating _ sound? John Jacks listened, but the sound instantly ceased, and the whitened head of old George Mackintosh appeared at the grating in the door. “That you, John Jacks?” he whispered. ' “Ym here, Mr. Mac,” said the boy. ere’s the old man?” “Don’t know. At his supper most likely.” “Any of the keepers on this floor?” “No. Bill has gone downstairs, and I.don’t know where ' Crab is. If you want to gay anything to me, Mr. Mac, you had better say it now.” _ The old “lifer” was trembling all over. desperately at the bars with both hands. . ' “John Jacks, what is behind my cell?” he Praushed: ) “Behind your cell, sir? I’m blest if I know. Let me think. Why, it’s one of 7 rooms in the High House, of course.” - “I know that, boy; eciacels I know that. But whose He clutched ‘room? A vaeant one? If not, whose room? Speak quick.” ‘What are you driving at, Mr. Mac? Surely you pat mean: | “No matter what I eas John Jacks, you have done me many a favor. You have been very kind to me, and what is more, you have treated me with respect, Boy, I’m going to tell you a secret.’ I have learned to. love you like a son!” ve SD sure Pm willing to do anjibae I can for you, Mr. Mac,” said John J acks, touched by the earnestness with which the old man spoke. Bhoih “Phen be quick! Stop and think. It is deaty feet from the end of the prison to the wall of the High House. ie “About that, sir.” “I know it’s that, for Tye RE it. Now, in peru mind measure the rooms in the High House on the floor corresponding to this, and try and. tell me whose room. comes behind my cell.” _ “John Jacks, what in thunder are you hanging aneund bei there for? How many times have I got to tell you not to talk to the prisoners? Come here, you young Come quick, or Tu Ha a pe into a hide t ‘Tlouse.”’ jand a number of small rooms or dormitories over that. — 1}. “Oh, dear! Oh, dear! There he is!” groaned Old 33, — pulling away from the grating. “Go, John Jacks! Go!” Now, John Jacks did not want to go at all, for he knew just what, he might expect. It was Colonel Gayton himself who had suddenly a; peared at the other end of the corridor, and he was in his usual*condition—drunk, ugly and full of fight, —. Still there was nothing for it but to go, for to hold back would mean worse than what he might expect by 7 going on. ; John Jacks accordingly hurried toward the irate warden, and got a little more than his usual dose. 4 He was seized by the ear and had his head. pounded against the wall: a He was kicked, and then lifted on the toe of the colonel’s | foot and thrown toward the stairs. “Get off to bed with you!” roared the tyrant. “No supper, to-night for you! Let me catch you talking on 3 the lifers again and I'll break every bone in your podyed Hi: and have your hide tanned and turned over to the cobbler ; to make into shoes !” Not a word did the boy answer back. use? What good would it.do? No one knew better than John Jacks that it only meant — % more of the same sort. ie So he skurried off downstairs, and ace out into the prison yard, the door being opened for him by a keeper, who, to keep on the good side of his master, gave the boy — a kick on his own account as he passed through. & THe rain almost drenched John Jacks as ir turned the>* What was he : corner of the big stone building and ran the forty feet. Aa Ait which Old 33 had talked about, and popped in at another door which led into a long, narrow building bounded by | the prison wall on one side and the inlet on the other, © 4 This building was what was known as the “High It was not over ten feet wide, and rose ee a er height of four stories. ‘Here the under keepers lived, and on the piled took was the prison kitchen, the dining-yoom on the next fl rt It was in one of these dormitories that John Jar slept, and his window overlooked the inlet and the swamp. It was fifty feet down to the water, and as no regula prisoners were eyer put in these ‘dormitories, bars were not deemed necessary there. _ A narrow corridor ran between the prison val me th dormitory doors, and John Jacks, hurrying through, iby opened the door of No. 9. MAG As he did so his ears canght a queer grating soun which seemed to proceed from the prison wall. ee: It was the same sound he had héard a few moments b fore when he paused in front of the cell of Old 33, | i casts | CRAP TRE it’ _ 18 THIS MAN sea “What. in theworld was that?’ thought J thie Janu Ly stopping short, for the sound had instantly oe : He listened, but it was not repeated. Then he knocked on the wall. me be conned) os MISO Aya f fe sid T\>) ay Sasid oh the SAE ew (YAR Se eel, ty
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_ Hamilton Cherry, of Aurora, Ill., who was six feet nine mehes in height, is dead at the age of seventy-three. He was of ordinary height until thirty years of age, when he _ tbegan to grow. He came from a family of giants, every » nember being more than six feet four inches tall. 3 See the fact that in the Boer war “it took 5,000 shots to hit a man,” the celebrated rifle shot, Ommundsen, s: “In spite of improvements in the power, precision rand rate of fire of modern weapons, the percentage of Vhits was immeasurably greater a hundred years ago than jit is to-day.” E: oie of the failure to comply at a fraternity dance . ith the rules of the college authorities prohibiting’ the tango, six students of Gettysburg College who formed the Dancing Committee have been suspended for a period of “two. ‘weeks. The faculty action also carries with it the inderstanding that the students be deprived from par- cipation in all coilege activities, and that no more inter- raternity dances be held this year, with the exception of ¢ big dance just, before commencement. Flats were first made by a Swiss at Paris in 1404. ewhen Charles VII. of France entered Rouen in triumph 1449, he wore a hat lined with red velvet, bearing a ch plume of feathers, Henceforth, hats and caps, at Jeast in France, began to take the place of chaperons and hoods. Hats were first manufactured in England by paniards in 1510. Very high-crowned hats were worn y Queen Elizabetin’s courtiers and were eeaip introduced & ‘in. W783. u It has been reliabl y reported that Mr. Henry ‘Ford, ‘mannfacturer of the well-known low-priced gasoline auto-| mobile, is soon to enter the electric field, producing an @lectric automobile that may sell as low as $600. Ac-! e ding to the plans that haye been given out, the car will ‘weigh 1,100 pounds, of which 405 pounds will be. taken by the storage battery equipment. The storage haitery be of the Edison nickel-iron type and the machine have a radius of 100 miles per ae ' | Acute army officers the subjects of iaedicitinaies d aeroplane design has something pictur resque, about it if Ww may. judge from the account which one of the instrue- When the clock strikes, the pupils flock all corners of the By’ and volplane down to the in- the dogs ee at their. feet. A. ea has been 1 what may develop into regular and systematic | courses of lectures accompanied by problems: and . The instructors thus far chosen are Dr, Professor Durand: ame pe pasa cade FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. : | FROM ALL POINTS. - The most curious town)in England is Northwich. There . is not a straight street not, in fact, a straight house in the place. Every part of it has the appearance of an earthquake. Northwich is the center of the salt industry in Cheshire, England. On nearly all sides of the town are big salt works, with their engines pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of brine every week. At a depth of some 200 or 300 feet are immense subterranean lakes of brine, and as the contents of these are pumped and” pumped away the upper crust of earth is correspondingly weakened, and the result is an occasional subsidence. These snbsidenoés have a “pulling” effect on the nearest _ buildings, and they are drawn all ways and, give the town an extremely dissipated appearance. } Starving and exhausted chamois, stags and roe deer are descending from their mountain fastnesses in the Canton of Grisons anfl the Swiss Tyrolese frontier Alps into the villages, practically begging for food, and with all fear lost. On these mountains the snow lies six feet deep, and during the last three days the cold has been intense (zero Fahrenheit on an average). Eyen above Arosa and Klos- | ters famished deer have been found, while near Davos a large stag was discovered in a stable. In the Praettigau Valley eight chamois and twelve deer are now “en pen- sion” in the villages, but a number of the animals have been found dead on the paths and roads. It is forbidden by law to harm these animals in the canton, and when’ they are restored they will be liberated. A further fall of © black snow is reported frorh Malcolin, near Bienne, while / at Wetzikon, Canton of Zurich, gray snow fell recently. A large avalanche has carried away the two wooden mili- — tary barracks on the Oberalp. A military patrol from Andermatt has been despatched to the spot. ~The Senate, with testimony before it from Secretary of War Garrison and General Crozier, Chief of the Bureau of Fortifications, that the United States Army was so badly in need of. arms and munitions that it could not make a respectable resistance against a foreign invader, passed, recently, the Fortifications bill carrying $6,895,200., Sen- | ate amendments increasing the House appropeistians for ‘| guns and ammunition by some $2,000,000 were adopted with practically no debate, and the bill was passed with a single roll call. The largest increases voted by the Sen-— aie raised the House appropriation of 900,000 for ammu- nition io $2,000,000, and the House appropriation of $450,000 for cannon of various types to $900,000. Sen- . | ator Bryan of Florida, who handled the bill for the com- ‘mittee, said that there were less than tf, 200 guns for the (i a ‘whole army and that these could not be mobilized from one strategic point to another because of the size of the | country. Senator Bryan said the increases were made to. - meet as nearly as possible the estimate “ an anany: of half a ape ale men. Lap shavel : ; «!
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| ij vhead. t 26 Fame and , Fortune Weekly NEW. YORK, MARCH 6, 1914.. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Single Coplez One Copy Three Months One Copy Six Months, ..... One Copy Ome Year Postage Free. HOW TO SEND MONELY—At our risk send P.O. Money Order, Check or Rogistered Lettér; remittarices in any other way are at your risk, We aceept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envel- ope. Write your name and uddress plainly, Address letters to Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 23d St.,'N. Y. BRIEF BUT POINTED ITEMS Another profit-sharing plan was put in operation in Hershey, Pa., when the Hershey Chocolate Company dis- tributed $100,000 among its employees. The distribution took the form of a 20 per cent. bonus to all employees of six months’ standing. es MW. Haarines, Treasurer GtwoLam Touser, President Omas. K. Nriaupben, Secretary The National Aerial League has completed plans for a flight of a flotilla of aeroplanes across the Sahara or Great Desert. They will start from Oran, Algeria, and the final landing will be made at Timbuktu, French Sudan, a dis- tance of 1,400 miles. Pyramids of stone will be placed at intervals to mark the route. If the experiment proves successful the establishment of a regular air mail service will be. considered. . Paul Schmitt, an engineer in France, has built an aero- plane which, with seven men and carrying an aggregate weight of a ton and a half, rose recently to a height of ‘about 5,000 feet in half an hour. Among the devices on "the aeroplane is one by which its speed can be regulated at will from 75 to 26 miles an hour. It is claimed that this must revolutionize all theories on long distance tours and _ makes possible an aerial automobile service. Moving targets are used in Germany which are mounted on trucks and drawn along the ground by the use of elec- * trically worked cables and drums, so as to approach real conditions. In the electric plant is a large motor driving a number of drunis;.one for each cable and its target, the speed varying as desired. Silhouettes representing infan- try are drawn along, at first slowly, and when fired at they tun at a rapid rate till they reach the first trench, stop-. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. . t : ey Se er es letter was dated Boa Vista, Brazil, which is at the head- waters of ordinary navigation on the Uraracuera River, a northern afituent of the Amazon. The Indians call them- selves Porocotos, Ajamaras, and Zapacas. Doctor Fara- bee made vocabularies of their languages, took photo- graphs, and collected many cthnological specimens. Archaeological specimens of rare interest were also found. The letter was dated October %, and reported that all members of the party were well, and were about to set out for Guiana to make further explorations. ‘ ER JOKES AND JESTS. _“What’s a diplomat?” “A diplomat is a man who re- members a woman’s birthday, ‘but forgets her age.” i | Bloobs—You know disease always attracks the weakest — spot. Blobbs—Do you suppose that is why so many people get a cold in the head? i Ball Fan—How do you account for the slump in Me- A Fogarty’s fielding average? Sport Writer—He goes after — too. many high balls.” - 2a “Toesn’t the story of the prodigal son bring tears to — your eyes?” “Yes,” replied Farmer Corntossel. “Every K time I hear the story I can’t help sympathizing with the Ps fatted calf.” er oe i Fane \ “I suppose,” said a quack, while feeling the pulse of ~ a patient, “that you think me a humbug?” “Sin? ret? ON plied the sick man, “I perceive that you can discover a eh man’s thoughts by his pulse.” : ne Willie! and his little sister were visiting at a mountdin _ resort where they heard a great deal of talk of the fine — view. One day the sister fell over the edge of the piazza, and Willie ran screaming to his mother: “Oh, mamma! — Come, quick! Bessie has fallen into the view!” ris Beatrice Herford, the famed monologist, appeared in Ther specialty in London for a while. One afternoon she had just made her appearance on the stage when a cat ~ walked in and sat down beside her. “You get out!” sai Ke Miss Herford sternly. “This is a monologue, not a cat- — alogue !” Get Ma : r 5 “So you are going to be a poet, young man?” queried a the ex-editor, in whose voice there was a note of cynicism. \ “Well, there’s always room in the upper story.” “That's — ping and lowering automatically so as to show only the| where I’ve landed in just six months’ time; attic of a Other maneuvers for infantry or cavalry can be carried out, and the electric method allows of a good con- -trol of operations. Three tribes of Indians hitherto unknown have been ‘discovered by the University of Pennsylvania’s Amazon expedition. They are in regions of Brazil never before pen- - etrated by white men, according to a letter received re- i. cently from Doctor Farabee, head of the expedition, The skyscraper, with a prospect of having to take to the — roof when the weather will permit.” eat tee A Mere ert A small negro boy went to a physician tobe treated — for a painful sensation in one of his ears. The doctor — examined and found the ear was full of water. “How | djd this happen?” he asked after he had drained the — ear; “been going in. swimming?” “Naw, suh,” said the — little fellow, “been eatin’ watermelon!” Ga ; jes cke
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Heaven bless you. Be careful. Conceal yourself. Watch. Top room at back.” Lazziz THORNLEY.” Thornley—Thornley ! The name appeared familiar to me. I went to the diary, turtied to letter T, and found > I shall never forget the 13th of December, 1879. The | the following entry: | ‘streets of the great city of Manchester had grown de- | November 24, 1878.—Bill Thornley, alias Springer, alias pressingly desolate, and a dense, black fog prevailed oyer Saxley, dgindee SABROR! all the town ; i : Rte ce hea ce j Could this, then, be the man, who, for nearly eighteen SS ‘or oe ying, ae . ute aa beer see He months, had successfully eluded our most vigilant pursuit? Pcs Fae gat aie a ae tic ie re : a ie | It seemed more than probable. 7 ai oe de mah a i my : ee as te Calne | Was the information, however, contaitied in that myster- Peiciar ae I er: é Ay aca ‘by. i chest ious message of a genuine character? Or was it meant to ae d : ? i heart Fs fi sig in wy swny wh thas to my omow, 7 nl fatal trop? The proto of wes r ae fg retired for the night, was considerately prepared | | an yOu. ate ak hah dona Can VE at te I will have you, my | eine took off my: great-coat and muffler, drew a chair close gas oe cata another doy i es arias the day Was ‘to the fender, and began thinking over the incidents of a young, when 1 put out the oie lights’; for the bell of St. a case I had that afternoon brought to a successful issue, Pie ?, s had just tite: owt the hour of ous, when, with the suddenness of a startled night-bird’s scream,| had decided, whatever might be the consequences to cr heard a: piteous and prolonged shriek issuing from be- myranknown visitor, to go home and sleep over the matter, q ieee oe ipegie dura: ick Te aid fil jand then report: the circumstances to the inspector, so as, - bin Dae ae pian cha ae rie sanity ne | to receive his sanction to the step, before putting my plans Lond b into execution. peo bran With this resolution strong upon me a started upon my ae A wild, white face, with long dishevelled hair hanging journey home. My way lay in the direction of Greengate, over an ill-clad orm, was gesticulating in a beseeching and several times ere I reached Blackfriars Bridge I saw manner close to the fire-lit panes. ithe vision of that white face, with its look of unutterable ~ Cool and collected as I usually am under extraordinary | terror, fixed unmovably on me. circumstances, I must confess to a feeling of terror taking) T,ate in the forenoon of the same day I returned to the a possession of my whole frame at that instant, and I sat! office and duly. reported’ my experience of the previous there rooted to the spot. ‘| night. ; It was only for a moment, thoug gh—or, perhaps, as ibe “Phis looks like a serious job for you, Lomax,” said In- as it would take one to count ten—before the apparition, spector Jones, as soon as I had finished my report. “Just as it seemed to be, vanished as.suddenly from my trans- turn to the album there and look at S. and T.. for a portrait fixed gaze as it had in coming upon me with all its ghastly of ‘Springer, or ‘Saxley, or “Thornley.’ He has done whiteness. - ‘seven years, but not accounted for himself for a long time | oe “This is very strange,” I involuntarily exclaimed, “and past. Is that it? Ah, good ! Take it with you, and if puzzles me not a little. What can it mean?” you get a chance of comparing it with the original, and Then, striding toward the door, I flung it wide open; you find they agree, nab him—that’s all. Would you Hilke bat there was nothing before me—only the black, choking ‘Schofield with you?” fog, and the dead silence of the street: Ses answered. For a little while I stood like one bewildered. I strained | iis ‘Well, in any case, be quite prepared to face rough my ears in the anxious hope of catching the sound of some; work, for if your man should turn out to be the one I - one’s footfall; but it was all in vain—the quiet remained | suspect, look sharp, I advise you.” unbroken. — After these and other timely hints I retired to the ward- Sate ushing back the door, I turned to re-enter the room, ' robe adjoining Jones’ room. I went in a clean-shaven, when my eyes caught sight of a, piece of white paper that | good-looking man of twenty-seven, and in half an hour’ upon the wide sill of the window. “afterward came out again in the character of a middle- peo Ah,” ” T thought, “here, then, is the explanation of this! aged woman, dressed in a rather seedy suit of black. ’ é deep mystery.” I had on a faded dress of cashmere, a long circular. T took it to the light, opened it, and, much-to my aston- cloak of the same material, and a matronly-looking bonnet, — . ent, found a message of deep anguish, addressed to me, | from beneath which hung longish locks of iron-gray hair, — in almost undeciphered characters. | iwhile a thick veil drooping down in front completed the The note was wet in places as if with tears, whet it bore |transformation. I must not forget to mention, though, - dubitable. evidence of, having ‘been hurr iedly written. |that I took with me a small wallet of pins, needles and — sis what is said: | tape, under the pretext of having them for sale. My get-up ai as jas perfect. I looked to all the world like one who had ~ jou seit stop more crime,’ perhaps murder, come | seen better days, but was reduced now to a state of genteel o No. 13 Tomson’s Court, Am followed. Heaven | joverty. my: ‘child “What shall Ido? Rescue us, and‘ liv was close upon three o'clock in the afternoon when | ‘THE COINER’S WIFE. By John Sherman y
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AL’ sides. = = Mellie’ out of Albert street, and a drizzling rain was mak- ing matters most uncheerful. : I had no difficulty in finding Tomson’s Court. It was situated in Little Peter ‘street, and in that direction I turned my footsteps. I must confess my mind wag not without some misgivings as to the successful accomplish- ment of my plans. Still I had before played two or three bold games as a detective with considerable credit, and why should I fail in this? Proceeding along the dark and narrow yard of Tomson’s Court, I noticed a knot of unkempt women of most repul- sive Appearance standing talking together, and by their earnest demeanor I knew that they had some serious busi- ness in hand. Sudden as thought my wallet was out, and I stood betéco ‘them cringingly heseeching them to buy my wares. But of , course it was all to no purpose. I neither sold anything nor heard a word that would give me the faintest clue. Watching my opportunity, I got away from them, and passed into No. 13 unseen by any one. The room was. situated at the end of a long, dark and winding lobby, and the stench that met me was almost overpowering. I paused a moment listening, but not a sound did I hear. Then I knocked at the door; very feebly at first, then ' louder and louder, and yet there came no response to me. I knocked again, so as to be certain there was no one in the room, and still received no answer. My curiosity was now aroused. - I took from my pocket a small bunch of skeleton keys—I never went out without them—and noise- lessly opened the door. As soon as I entered I stood mee at the sight that met my eyes. ‘In one corner of the room, stretched upon a heap of , ach I saw the form of a woman, half naked and motion- ee rit her eyes closed, as if in ‘Aouiis I staggered toward her, turned her face to the light, and, merciful heavens, recognized in her the mysterious midnight visitor whose wild look had so possessed me} I turned her head more to the light, and was horrified | to see a thin stream of blood oozing from her snow-white . brow upon the face and hands of a ‘little pate t that nestled i Be her breast. '.A few moments afterward she fixed a steady, wonder- ‘og gaze on me, then tried to speak. Pray, do not, forthe present, agitate yourself,” ! ex-, claimed, in a well- -assumed female voice. “You will’ feel better presently, and then we will speak a little.” _ Three chairs, an, old deal box and a dilapidated table’ » formed - the principal articles. in the room. » things, however, attracted my attention more than all’ be- ,eurious to know the character of its contents. “I was just rising from my seat, -with the intention of| confines ofa better world. making a closer inspection, when the woman. opened her yes again and beckoned me to her side. sia ust taised shows, a hieasae she me ye FAME AND FORTUNE ikictenet Thvo “other |! They were a long wooden bench, such as is used by | most powerless of resistance, carpenters, and from La nature of the tools ‘I saw lying parakyzed with surprise, and before he knows. the mea about—with dies and molds of various yaandieeae suspicions ing. of it finds the bracelets on his wrists.’ At. least, su ~ became fully confirmed. / The other ‘object which atrested my attention was ajof him. As for his wife and child (for such’ they pr strong, capacious wardrobe in the opposite corner, facing |to -be), I had them tenderly conveyed to the Roya the bench. ‘Its folding doors stood a little ajar, and I grew! firmary, where for ten long days and nights of s Le ‘voice the satisfaction of asin coe Ae ta to (OP? Laie tte “Who are you that have found your way into this miser- able dwelling ? 275 “Tam a woman peddling a few Simgle wares,” I an- swered; “but how I managed to find myself here is more ~ than I can tell; ‘yet I am thankful I have reached you, if it is only that I may be of some simple service to ha for I see you need a helping hand.” “Ah, *tis true—tis true,” she replied; “but I fear your © kind assistance has come too late—yes, too late!” 4 “T hope not. Tell me, though, how you have come by 4 that wound in your temple. Is it the result of a fall?” — “No, no; it was done by him—my husband, He struck — me with a hammer because I would not consent to his taking away my child.” “Merciful heavens, can such things be? Where is he now?” I somewhat eagerly inquired. “Last night, a little before twelve, he came home dg a terrible temper. I saw murder lurking in his eyes, nd — after listening to his fearful oaths, I ran to the police sta- tion, pursued by him. I could not attract attention. He — overtook me just as I re-entered this room, and Hark What is that?” ; Instantly we were as silent as the dead, and Tistannas ; s I motioned to the woman to be silent, while I erey noiselessly into the open wardrobe. I closed the folding doors from within, and, as good to tune would have it, discovered a jlarge crevice throu, which I could see the movements of any one who mig {choose to enter the apartment. The minutes elapsed seemed hours to me, and 1 was beginning to think that, after all, my ears had deceiv me, when, very slowly, and without ‘the faintest sound, the door opanéd: and the figure of a short, stout, bud bearded man crept in. It was Thornley. He stole to where Lizzie Thornley lay: he bent over. he as uf to assure himself that she was unaware of his presence | “Um! she must have been muttering in her sleep, I ireckon. I could have sworn, though, I heard two voices, Slipping his fingers in his waistcoat pocket, he drew forth a small key. With this he opened a secret panel in the wainscot of the wal], and there I saw great piles. glittering coin, which my practiced cyes told me wer j spurious all, With ihe rapidity of a panther bbbinaine on its prey. flung open the wardrobe doors and sprang on him, — suddenness of my appearance struck him motionless and dumb. He could-but glare at me, while 1 held him ina vise- -like grip, and his lips trembled and grew ashy pale. At such a moment as this a detective needs all the co ness he can command, for then it is that. his victim is. The latter becomes semi-_ To ‘was the case with the ruffian Thornley. I made short she inna her baby lay, and then their aati? erosse Thornley was found guilty of judriatauiaiften a he ara
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a “The ostrich is a descendent of a genus of bird which in _ prehistoric times attained an enormous size: In the allu- + vial deposits of the island of Madagascar, Africa, evi- ' dence has recently been found to show that ostriches four- _ teen feet and fifteen feet in height once lived there. { et Walter Gray, 35 years old, farmer, presents a baffling ' case to Batavia, N. Y., physicians. He has yawned three times in'a week and each time a physician has been obliged to administer treatment’ to get the man’s mouth closed _ again, his jaws having! become dislocated in each ease. _ Physicians are at a loss to account for the trouble. if After working thirty-four years in one store in Belle- , fontaine, Ohio, “without my sh a day Christy McClusky ’ resigned so that | he could take a “much needed rest.” Me- Clusky was never late at work in the morning and he as- serted that he had never been able to get away from the ore exactly on time in the evenings. McOlusky’s rem- ly for all ailments is work. If he'felt ill he went to work just the same. If he became ill when busy with his duties he worked* the harder. ’ 7 “Sotin Keegan of Thomaston, Conn., and Michael Kee- y of Washiubton State, brothas; haya just found each other, ‘John was fifteen and Michael eighteen when they at bine of each other, forty-five years ago. Michael went to England in 1868 and returning to this country a w years later settled in Washington, where he prospered. he brothers will endeavor to arrange a reunion. There "was another brother, Patrick Keegan, but neither John nor hacl know whether he is living or dead. After spending ten days in a snow dugout twenty miles he mountains from. Alhambra Springs, Mont., Mike Murray, a prospector, 70 years old, was found by a search- ing party almost dead from exposure, hunger, and cold. ‘ray was forced by his extreme hunger to kill a colt which had followed his mare from the ranch and eat the raw flesh io keep himself alive. The searching party was “fo med when friends became alarmed by Murray’s long on a hunting trip. ioe old 3 man had encountered fie snowstorm. $ With the’ promise theun Colonel George W. Goethals, in command of the Canal Zone, that his. boat. would be the first to pass through the Panama Canal, Commander A. is Robertson started recently from San Diego in the d States cruiser Denver. According to Commander Bs he canal locks before the waterway is really opened. s tle Navy Department interferes with Colonel ’s plan the: sata’ wah Sater the canal at. pea tson, Colonel Goethals intends to use the cruiser to FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. GOOD READING a sent out in a war. Miss Bdith Durham, whose dispatches from the Balkans contained some of the most vivid descriptions of the hor- rors of the recent war, lecturing in London recently, ex- pressed her conviction that “no Red Cross aid ought to be To heal men’s wounds and send them back to the front as soon as possible isto prolong war in- definitely.” But for the Red Qross aid, she said, the war would have been ended much sooner than: it was. If the bullet from a Mauser rifle does not bit a vital part, the wounded can return to the front in ten days. The one idea of the wounded, she said, was to get back for revenge” and loot. Lieutenant H. S. Post, First Aero Corps, U. 8. A. was instantly killed by a fall of 500 feet in a hydro-aero- plaife. About 150 feet from the surface of the bay. Lieu- tenant Post was seen to shoot clear of the machine. It was said by watchers that the engine exploded. Lieuten- ant Post was flying for an altitude record. He had the reputation of being the best aviator in the army camp on North Island, across tle bay from San Diego. Lieuten- ant Post was born in New York June 15, 1835, and was commissioned as second lieutenant of the T'wenty-fifth In- fantry in.1911. His death makes a total of sixteen in government aviation since 1908. A tale of self-privation and sacrifice and devotion to two pets was revealed when Amos Morgan, an eighty- three-year-old hermit, was found in a dying condition in. his log cabin in the woods. near Parsippauy, N. J. During the severe weather of two wecks \ago he slipped and sprained his ankle at his door. broke up what furniture he had in the house to keep the stove going. He gave all his food to the two collies and went hungry himself: The animals became ugly after the ~ Sinking from hunger and cold the | The continued — howling of his pets attracted Abram Hettinger, who, with «— food supply gave out. aged recluse fell into a comatose state. others, went to the hut and found the aged man nearly sre It is not thought he can recover. \ A Jarge, half-starved ane wall after atiaehing ae persons and spreading consternation through a staid resi- dence district, was shot and killed on Linwood Boulevard, — The wolf sprang at Miss — Miss Har- | rison threw her fur muff at the animal and while the gar- ment was being torn to pieces, escaped into a house. Her — he. wolf, ran . Kansas City, Mo., recently. Anna Harrison as she waited for a street car. clothing was torn but she was unhurt. bottles, as he ran. Unable to walk about, he ~ down the bouleyard pursued by: a Rea who hurled — Two blocks from the first attack a
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aS it es = pone omy An enterprising dentist practicing in the Place Clichy, Montmartre, Paris, has just published an original schedule of rates for the extraction.of teeth. The ordinary extrac- tion is 60 cents, painless extraction $1, extraction to music, “$4. With this class of operation the victim may’ choose any musical record he desires, hear Wagner, Beethoven, or, as the announcement adds, Irving of Berlin. bd The aviator Ingold broke the world’s record for an‘ en- durance flight at Munich, February 8. He remained in ‘the air for sixteen hours and twenty minutes and coy- éred a distance estimated at 1,050 miles without landing. Ingold started. at Mulhausen, ‘Alkecs, and flew far to the north, He then proceeded southward: to Munich, landing in a suburb. Fox hunters suddenly ran into a herd of twenty-three |§ _deer and three old bucks at Westminster, Conn. All parts of the county are now overrun by deer, which are leaving their winter retreats and invading settlements in search of food. Young trees, especially apple, peach and pear ‘trees, are being destroyed by thousands. It is usually late in March hefore the deer leave their winter “yards.” Farmers who have long studied their habits believe that the breaking up means that the animals consider winter broken up also. - No natural resource is too trifling to be turned to ac- count by the teeming population of China. The sea is ‘raked and’ is dvainied for edible plunder. Seaweed and tise have a place in the larder. Great quantities of shell- ~ fish no bigger than one’s finger nail are opened and made to yield a food that finds its way far inland. The fungus that springs up in ‘the grass after a rain is eaten. sweet. potato vines furnish the poor man’s table. The roadside ditehes ate bailed out for the sake of fishes no longer than one’s finger. Careful observers say that four- fifths of the conversation among the ee relates to _ food. ~ Jasper W. Rainey, State prison life-termer, at Leayen- worth, Kan., who broke a silence of twenty years recently when, on his knees, he begged Samuel Seaton, Governor ‘Hodges’ pardon clerk, to have release on parole granted, has left the prison. the parole regulations. “Rainey has served twenty years on the charge of murdering a woman with whom he ‘quar- » reled at Paola, Kan. He had protested when he arrived 2 ‘at Leavenworth, Kan., that he had been wronged and Bi took a vow that his voice: would not be heard ae he re- y mained behind, tle prison sioner in ih “The International Waterways ‘Commission has ‘published its final report on the proposal to establish a submerged dam or. weir at, the 0 ou FAME AND FORTUNE WEBKLY. ARTICLES OF ALL KINDS ‘}bulged out, while the young man, who was Rodman Law, Fried | He will be free as long as he observes ‘\|the reeular delivery of parcel post packages oe the Uet of Lake Erie for the adasute of raising the water in all the Great Lakes except On- tario. Its cost would be about $3,000,000, and the Com- — mission unanimously recommends that a treaty be entered into between Great Britain and the United States pro- viding for its.construction. The report states that the — level of the lakes has been appreciably lowered by the | Chicago Drainage Canal and the Erie Canal. To illus-— trate the importance of this question, it is pointed out that ~ the freight boats on the lakes are built to the greatest capacity the depth of harbors and channels will permit, — and that every added inch of water means an increased capacity of 85 tons in these big vessels. ae Two motor cars raced over the Williamsburg bridge the other afternoon and when the first car reached the center span, 175 feet above the river, a young woman leaped out, — scrambled up to the top of the parapet, seven feet: higher | than the driveway, and jumped off into space, , A young — man jumped. out of the second car, threw himself to the | top of the parapet, and followed. Traffic was lively on the bridge, and only a few noticed a motion-picture machine at work. ‘The shouts, shrieks, and yells which greeted the double jump stopped for a moment when it was seen that : the two had parachutes. The young woman, who was ; Constance Bennett, fell ninety feet before her parachivee 7 rte human, sacha in vals like a shot BG yah Me 2 pages, noticed a tug cruising near heen! with two: a ie tion-picture cameras aboard. This tug, the eee oc " picked both of them up. 2 - cut quite a ee in the saving of choe te ather Yor po office employees. The idea was originated by the fore - man of. the check room in the Chicago postoftice. Jn ‘the basement of the building is @ clear space of over 300. fee: of smooth conerete flooring, on either side of which: are” arranged a total\of 1,400 carriers’ lockers. The checki | of uniforms during the rnsh hours taxed the ae men in charge of this work to the limit. Then. the of providing the checkers with roller skates was bit tbe, with the result that the time formerly required for Ca rying uniforms from one end of the locker room to other was cut to one-fourth. Fo llowing this the sch was applied to the moving. of packages of mail. from part of the building to another, and finally as a mean side. The success of. the experiment was such that Pos master Campbell of Chicago predicts the plan will soon. eeeeally, Sa a in all ie ge cities in the erp ie
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THE GERMAN OCARINO, om A handsome metal instru- Pegment, made in Germany, from which peculiar but sweet music can be produced, Its odd shape, which resem- a torpedo boat, will attract much atten- , We send instructions with each instru-| t, by the aid of which ‘anyone can in a 4 time play any tune and produce very st music on this odd-looking instrument, Price, 16c. by mail, postpaid, %. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y¥. | THE GRLAT FIRE EATER. A great Sensational Trick of the Day! With the Fire Hater in hig possession any person can becomes a perfect salamander, ap- parently breathing fire and eject- ing thousands of brilliant sparks from his mouth, to the horror and consternation of all behold- ers. Harmless fun for all times, geasons and places. If you wish | Oduce a decided sensation in your neigh- Od don’t fail to procure one. We send Tire Water with. all the materials, in a me box, the cover of which is highly. hented with illustrations in various col- » Price of all complete only lbc., or 4 | for 50c., mailed postpaid; ome dozen by is $1.20. —Full printed instructions for per- the trick accompany each box, which ntalns sufficient material for giving hibitions, G, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N.Y. ITCH POWDER. ; Gee whiz! What fun you can have with this stuff. Moisten the | tip of your finger, tap it on the contents of the box, and a little bit will stick. Then shake hands with your friend, or drop a speck down his In a minute he had he seven years’ itch. , rear, squirm and e Sectiy harmless, as wild roses. The ¢ainutes, or can ubbing the spot is working, you ir suspender buttons r ail. Price 10 cents a aid. CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, SNAKES IN THE GRASS Something entirely new, consisting of six large cones, each ene nearly one inch in height. Upon light- ing one of these cones with a match, you see something similar to a 4th.of July exhibi- | fi o _ A nice! bet, . diameter, a hook on the back so that ; it may be silpped over edge of the vest pocket. Expose | to view your New Hlectri¢ Bell, when your friend will expecting to hear it ring. ches it, you will see some of g you ever witnessed. The eavily charged and will rae en tho button is pushed “by mail, postpaid. {'€O., 29 W. 26th St., N.Y. OWER-POT TRICK is trick yOu can make @ pant vt up in a flower-pot, defore f your audience, An ordinary “then flower-pot is handed to ‘ators tor examination, A Heft is then placed over it, and a few magic words, and wand over it. When the @pparently in full he pet. Full directions with a 15 cents by mail, ctpaid, ALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St. N. Ke ies WOLFF NO 1 LITTLE CLINCHERS With a pair of there creepers clinched on your shoos you can defy the sitpperiest ice or snow. No matter bow silppery the road or how eteep the hill, these claws of steel will carry you safely over them. A child can adjust them in 80 seconds. No’ natlzx, straps, screws or -rivets are needed. They will net injure your thoes, No need te remeve them indoors—sim- ply fold the heel-piete for ward, reversing the spikes under the -instep. They aro comfortable, durable and in- visible. Just the thing fer postmen, golfers, bunters, woedsmoen, brakemen, miners and. all who would insure life and Iimb in winter weather. 25 cents a pair, postpaid. #. F. LANG, 1315 Centre St., B’klyn, W. ¥. MARBLE VASE. A clever and puzzling effect, % easy to do; the apparatus can vase, acct a —atea ta Sota g 3 shown empty. beautiful enameled turned wood Vale, “_* 4 Price, 20¢. bo minutely examined. Biffect: 4M, V. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 58th Bt., N. A marble can be made to pass from the hand into the closed * NOISY HANDKERCHIEF, A great deal of amusement may be had with this little erticle.. It imitates the blow- ing of the nose exactly except that the noise '"* magnified at least @ dozen times, and sounds like the bass-horn in a German band. This device ts used by simply. placing It between the teeth and mo wine. The harder the blow the louder the noise. rice, 10c, each by mail, postpaid, VELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St, N. WINDOW SMASHERS. The greatest sensation, just frora Paris. A most wonder- ful effect of a smashing, breaking, falling pane or glass, It will electrify every- body. When you come home, slam the door shut and at the same time throw the discs to the floor. Every pane of glass in the house will at once seem to have been shat- tered. Price, by mall, postpaid, 85¢., a set of six plates. H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kilyn, N. ¥. THE MAGNETIC TOP. A handsome metsl, highly magnetized toy, A horseshoe and a spiral wire furnished with each top. When spun next to the wires, they make the most surpris- ing movements. You can make wires of dif- ferent shapes and get the most peculiar ef- fects. Price, 5Bc., post- paid. HW, F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y, THE SPRINGER. Don’t miss this brand new nov- elty. It is a little figure made 7 in various: shapes, perched on a spring and pedestal. You push down the spring, set it where you please, and in a few moments it leaps up into the air, scaring the cat, and sending every one in the room into convulsions of laugh- ter. Price, 10c. each by mall, -post- paid. BERER, 120 W. 62d St, New York City. MANY TOOL KEY RING. The wonder of the age. The great- est small tool in the world. In this little instrument you have in combina- ¥ tion seven useful tools embracing Key Ring, Pencil Sharpener, Nail Cutter and Cleaner, Watch Opener, Cigar Clipper, Letter Opener Priver. It is not a toy, but a useful article, made of cutlery steel, tem~ pered and highly nickeled. Therefore * will carry an edge the same as any jece of cutlery. As @ useful tool, nothing as ever been offered to the pubiic to equal it, Price, 15c., mailed, postpaid. WOLEE wes OO. 29 W. 26th Sty . ¥./ < and Screw Almost anyone can learn it at home. 8 cost. Bend te-day 2-cont atamp for martinis and. proof. O. A. SMI sa Bigelow 6t., Peorla, ZiL 1a ee WANTED. $1 te $600 OLD COINS ald fog Send 10cente f heliaeotaine = ee cen’ Or Our coin \7 woes yout ROCKWELL b O. 8266 Archer See. ORIGAGO, Uke ‘Wonderful tastromegy @ ot creaing & new ve aa come from a great divtance awry, Meld untoemin thi LOTS OF FUN FOR A DIME Veatriloquist Double Threaty ‘ Fite reof of mouth; always invisible; gr A thingyet. Astonish and mystify: your ict Neigh like 2 horse; whine like a pi yt y lhe a canary, and imitate birds and bengty the Held and forest. Loads of fun. Wonder. fulinvention. Theusends sold. Price: oaly 1@ cents; 4 for 25 cents, or 12 for’ 50 cents, Double Throat Co. Dpt. « Frenchtown, MB Tv ASTHRIA : S—OLD COINS WANTED-3B $7.15 Paid for RARS date 1652 Quarters and $14 without arrows. CASH prame jums paid on hundreds of old cooing, Keep all money dated before 1898 CY a REREDY sont to you on VREK TRIAL HZ it cures, sond $1.90; if not, don’t, Give expres office. Write teday. W.K, Bterline, $37 Gale dve., Zidovy, Chie, send I HN cents at once for Iustrated Coin Value Book, size 4xi, Get Pos and make money easy. 0. fy. CLARK & OV., Cela Dealers, Box 41, Le hoy, N. &. dierent sorts, an@ » 3 RIGE POST CARDS wccsi.cun. te one year. The WHOLE TRING for Siete YouGan take $8: ROBERTS & 00., 3247 WOOD &T., Bemis quick. WATSON & CO., waar Pai 2» EASY MON! tay Sean ae VE upp ond make 'em aii “rubber.” These goede are , in Weshingten and are dundies Resy mone: them. Bend 100 fer »McKINLETZ 00., Sin. Ps LIQUID PISTOL ‘Will step the most vic. feus dog (or man) with- on La a Spohn injury, erfectly @ tocarry without aa Ofleakaga, Hires and Feonarea say : pulling the trigger. Loads from any Liquid. No Sartridges required. Over six shots in one loading, All deslers, or by mail, S@c. Pistol with rubber cov- ered holsier, Shc. olsiess separate, 100. Send money orde®. No postage stamps or oolns uccepted.. AKER, STEARNS & G@., 273 GEGRGIA AVE., RBOORLYS, & ¥ THE JUMPING FROG. This little novelty creates a world of laughter. Its chief attractiveness is that it tekes a few seconds he- fore leaping high in the air, . so that when set, very inno- cently along side of an unsuspecting perag he is suddenly startled by the wonder: i activity of this frog. Price, i5c. each by mail postpaid. H. BE. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, N. © JUMPING CARD.—A pretty little trick, easy te 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 pere form the trick, 100, This puzzle containg twenty-one pieces of wood nicely finished; take them apart and put them together same as” illustrated. Hverybody would like to try it, as it is very fascinating. Price, by mail, postpaid, 26c
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a9 Foe HAPPY HOOLIGAN y JOKER. With this joker in the lapel of your coat, you can make @ dead shot every time. Complete with rub- ber ball and tubing. Price, 150, by mail, postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. SLICK TRICK PENOIL. This one is a hummer! It fs to @ll appearances an ordinary, but expensive lead pencil, with nickel trimmings. If your friend i wants your pencil for a moment, fg@hand it to him. When he at- w@itempts to write with it, the end instantly turns up, and he cannot write a stroke. Price, 10¢,, portpald. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyx, N, ¥. aS RS AT 0 Ee EE ES THE JOKER'S CIGAR. The biggest sell of the sea- son. A real cigar made of tobacco, but secreted in the inch from end is a fountein ny of sparklets. The moment iis’ the fire reaches this fountain - hundreda of sparks of fire burst. forth in.every direction, te the astonishment of the smoker. The fire fe stage fire, and will not burn the skin or clothing. After the fireworks the victim can eontinue smoking the cigar to the end. Price, 10¢.; 3 for 2%5c; 1 dozen, 90c,, mailed, post- paid, ©. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St.,, New York City. ) SURPRISH LETTER DRUM. oriae That was one on you! he joke? You senda friend a letter. He opens it, and that releases the drum. Instantly the sheet of note paper begine to bang and _ thump furlousty, with 2 rip- 2 ping, tearing sound. Guar- antesd to make a man with iron nerves al- most jump out of his skin. You can catch the sharpest wisenheimer with this one, Don't miss getting « few. Price, 6c, each by inall H, F. LANG, 1815 Contre St., B’kiyn, N. ¥. Face J ‘. Premium >. \. ‘Coupon Datei Vee cdieeays he This coupon when properly filled out a and forwarded with om subscription price en- % titles the holder to Pre- Ry }maium mentioned. se center of cigar about one-half | Look! One of these fine watches FREE to anyone sending us Oue4 year’s subscription at. . . $2.50 Two—6 months’ subscriptions at , . Four—3 months’ subscriptions at . . 0.65 each TRICK PUZZLE PUBSE. The first attempt usually made to open it, is to press down the little knob in the center of the purse, when @ small needle runs out and stabs them in the fin- ; ger, but does not open it. You can open it before their eyes and still they will be unable to open it. Price, 25c. each by mail. postpaid. H, F. LANG, 1815 Centre St.,. B’klyn, N. Y¥. CACRUO OR SNEEZING POWDER. - The greatest fun-maker of them all. A small amount of this powder, when blown in a room, will chuse everyone to sneeze without anyone knowing where it It is very light, will float in the enetrate every nook sae B Icacoo) P= si comes from. alr for some time, and ; and cerner of a room. t ie perfectly harm- leas. Cachoo is put up in bottles, and ono bottle contains enough to be used from 10 to 16 times. Price, by matl, 10c. each; 3 for 25s. WOLFF NOVELTY ©0,, 29 W. 26th &t., N. ¥, POCKET WHISK-BROOM This in no toy, but a real whisk-brvom, *% Inches high. It is made of imported Japancse bristles, neatly put together, and can Basily be carried in the vest pocket, ready for use at eny mo~ ment, for hats or clothing, etc. Price 10 cents by mail, poatpald. Cc. BEHR. 150 W. o2d St., N. ¥- BUBBLE BLOWER. With this device, a continuous se:ies of bubbles can be blown. It is m wooden, cigar- shaped blower, e¢ncas- ing @ small vial, in which there ts a piece of soap. The vial is oo) filled with water, and a peculiarly perforated cork is inserted. When you blow in to the mouthpiece, it sets up a hydraulic pressure through the cork perforations and causes tubble after bubble to come out. No need of @ipping into water once the little bottle is Alled, Price, 10c. each by mail, postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. _DEVILINE’S Nickel plate’ polished; it” seller; iit : actual size. — iad 12¢c. by mail, WOLFE NOVELTY 00,, 29 W. 26th St.,, THE ELK HEAD PUZZLE. Just out, and one o most fascinating puzzle the market. The stunt separate the antlers an) join them. It looks eas, try it and you will admi ft is without exception puzzle you have ever seen. You can’t it alone. Made of silvered metal. e Price, 12¢.; 3 for 30¢., sent by mail, po H, F. LANG, 1815 Centre St.,: B’kiyn, THE AUTOPHONS. A smell musical in ment that produces sweat musical note: placing it between thi with the tongue over edge, and blowing & into the aoe \ent.) Y notes pra’ e%' . unlike at anything they cag very little prg- C. BEHR/. Sy Be Ho —g 5 e2 ae 389 er SEE ole We Bees a : a on ge W ve. UTES Besos” weene | young BES ee any Y, and suddenly 5.92.2 @ | to’ the q lived long @ vor suicide, at thoy mvely on the 2 Cn up to the hilt 2S), . Span pratar:dete ste machine at of . j fured in t16° 29th greeted the and will startle: __ * | "Price, 10c., or 8 FAS seen that ©. BEHR, 150 W. 6% who wa Q A GRAND PREMIUM For either. of the following: “Moving Picture | Stories,” “Happy Days,” “Wild West Weekly,” “Fame and Fortune Weekly,” “The Liberty Boys of 76,” “Se- exet Service,” “Work and Win,” or “Pluck and Luck.” There is only one condition—send us the money and we will send you the watch, and any one of the above \ Publications for the period subscribed for. Description of the Watch It is American-made, open face, stem wind and set, and will run trom 30 to 36 hour! ‘ with one winding. The movement is the same size as an expensive railroad timepiee absolutely accurate, and each one is guaranteed. ' Polished Nickel, Gun-metal with Gilt center and plain Gun-metal. * The design on the back case is Look! 1.25 each Your Subscriptions Now to- The cases are made in Gold Plat 1 a fancy engraved scroll. if \ Send In BP AGAreSS 0... c cece teen ered eee eeeeee NY DOM NS rics Cech 2's 'oralluenho’o‘clonae leten SAY eh FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher : ; Stites . 168 West 23d St., N. Y « 4 “4