Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 449) (1914 05 08)

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MAY_8=2 ISi4 we com oy = RIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY. LM ss Gripping the rope looped around the steeple, Tom dragged himself to the top of the window frame. He was almost near enough to the unconscious aerofiaut to seize his down-hanging arms. The broken aeroplane was moving up and down dangerously.

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arate ~ i sss MAS meand Fortune Weekly STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY \ Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1914, in Mg office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. 0.. by Prank Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 230 Street, New York on Entered at the New York, . ¥., Post*Office as Second-Class Maiter. = No. 449. NEW YORK, MAY 8, 1914. Price 5 Cents. Se eee TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK ——OR—— , “WINNING A LIVING BY NERVE By A‘SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER I. 4 “I should think you would be glad to be seen in my com- pany. ” A TRAGIC INTERVIEW. : “Indeed! Your company doesn’t interest me at all, I can : manage to exist without it.” é “Nellie Dare, you're the prettiest girl in the State of Maine,’ “Oh, come now, you don’t mean that.” said Herbert Dunean, a good-looking, sprucely-dressed youth “T do mean it.” } of eighteen, to his fair companion as the two stood in the} Herbert dug one of his heels viciously into the ground and. / afternoon sunshine on the top of a long line of beetling cliffs | muttered something that was inaudible. | Which lined the coast at that point, their base laved by the The girl's opposition made him angry. pe ippling waiters of the broad Atlantic. He was quite infatuated with the lovely Miss Dare, we “Thank you. for the compliment, Mr. Duncan,” replied the | came of humble parentage and was employed in the fish can- - Siri, with a mock courtesy. . ning establishment, of which his father was a large stock- “Do you know I think more of you than any other girl in| holder, pasting labels on the tins after they had been soldered . a the world?” he added, ‘earnestly, trying to take her hand. up. |. “Dear me, how sudden!” said Miss Dare, drawing back, with! She was undeniably a beauty, and even attired in her cheap — a mischievous little 1 dugh. “Are you often taken this way, | Sunday gown and hat she cast the swellest young lady of the _ fe x - Duncan?” village in the shade. $ _ “I wish you wouldn’t’call me Mr.. Duncan,” said the boy, evi-| As she stood near the young aristocrat, who had encountered =» , dently annoyed. “Everybody calis me Herbert.” | her by chance on the cliff road, she looked as blooming asa ‘o they? Then you must consider me an exception,” — rose. es “But I don’t want ,you to be an exception. 1 want you to| There was an unconscious grace in her attitude and move- r. call te Herbert. I want you to be nice to me and let me take| ments that almost belied her humble origin. ae, "You around like the cther fellows take their girls, You know} Her figure was slight, but well rounded, ber foot small and _ My. father is rich, the most important person in the village, | neat. , and everybody takes his hat off to him. We live in the finest} Her eyes were like sapphires, and full of expression. house in’ the neighborhood, and are looked up to as the real| Her ruby lips were slightly parted, disclosing a glimpse of My father has just bought a brand new touring car | perfect pearly teeth imbedded in pink, (og of the best make. I'll be glad to take you out in it. There Herbert Duncan was willing to swear that a daintier crea- : are lots of places we can go, and J’il give you a swell time.) ture did not exist, and he chafed under the independent way § 2 You'll be the envy of all the village girls. I'll bet there isn’ t| she treated him. 3 One of them but would jump at the chance I am offering you.” He was not a bad looking fellow, and yet there was some-_ “Why don’t you give them the chance to jump, then?” | thing about his countenance that was not attractive. d the girl — in some respects he was a spoiled boy, and his social peek ecause I’ve got no use for any of them, You're the only tion made him supercilious toward his equals, and overbearing rl that takes my eye. I want your company or none.”| toward those he regarded as his inferiors. ; appreciate the honor you are seed me, but I can’t} As a result he made himself unpopular, and was cordial t your attentions.” — ; d disliked by the majority of the village boys. 3 not?” i “Considering who I am, I don’t think you are treating me several reasons.” Gate fair, Miss Dare,” he continued after a pause. at are the reasons?” | “Don’t you? I’m sorry,” she replied. ) ell, one is the difference in our ‘social standing * Nevertheless, she didn’t look a bit sorry. Never mind that, It doesn’t count with me.” Rather she seemed to be amused at her companion’s show with me,” said the girl, firmly. “I am a working | annoyance. mp eared in the canning house, while you are a rich; She knew she held the whip hand over him, and, w mi x brefer to to associate with those I have been| like, she revelled in her advantage. ‘ up with.” 4 “Don't you think » person in my station of Ife is w “you prefer Tom Morris’ company to mine?” said; dozen common fisher boys?”. ef g to hi voice. “That depends on who the fisher boys are.” ; Di _ “I refer rly to Tom Morris.” : enly the girl's»

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i 2 TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. “He was not in“a humor to heed the warning if he had no- Neither noticed at the moment how close they were to the ¥ tice Pat. brink, but the girl was dangerously so. o is the fellow, anyway? What does he amount to? I “I care nothing for your insistence, or you, - either” I am _ surprised that a girl as pretty as you would have ‘any- | wouldn’t tell you if my life depended on it,;so there!”" == & thing. to do with him,” he continued. “His father, I’ve heard, “You spiteful little cat!” snarled Herbert. “I'll have: you. ' Was a low-bred ruffian, while his mother——” discharged from the cannery, Go! I’ve got no further use’for “Stop!” flashed the girl, in a tone of blended scorn and in- | you!” ¥ 7 ) dignation. “How dare you talk that way, and you call your- He gave the girl a rough shove and turned away: - gpelf a young gentleman!” She staggered to the very edge of the cliff and trod upon — “Oh, I have touched you at last,” he replied with a sneering | overlapping patch of earth which hung a hundred feet ab - chuckle. “Perhaps you would like to defend him?” the jagged rocks and swirling water below. “Tom Morvis doesn’t need a defender, He can take care of She uttered a scream on realizing her peril, which canna eae _ himself, which is more than you are capable of doing if you | the boy to turn back, and look at her. ' got into trouble. It wouldn’t be well for you to tell him what| He saw her swaying on the brink where he had pushed her you just said to me.” ‘ in his anger. © a oe “Ts that so? Do you think I’m afraid to do it?” / Realizing her danger, he turned white with fear, but had _ > “TI wouldn’t advise you to, that’s all.” | not the courage to spring forward and catch her, though it is _._. “I don’t wish to have anything to do with the fellow. My | doubtful if he could have covered .the distance in the brief Mother has told me never to associate with common people.” | space of time that intervened before the patch of earth gave ty “Don't worry, Mr. Duncan, Tom Morris has no ora, to as- | way under her weight, and she disappeared, with another ter- _. sociate with you.” rified scream, over the edge of the cliff. _ _. “Did he say that?” cried Herbert, angrily. | / _ * **f} am saying it,” she replied. * ~“*Hfe’'d better not make any cracks like that around here if he knows when he’s well off. I don’t propose to be insulted by CHAPTER II. ‘a common chap like him.” “What would you do?” she said, tantalizingly. : THE FEAT OF HIS LIFE. : “No matter what I'd do. I’d get square with him some- | ‘ : \ *> shew. Midway between the village of Bayport, where Herbert Dun- _ ** *T thought you didn’t want anything to do with him?” jean lived on the hill in a handsome: house and Nellie Dare a “T don’t, but I’m not going to !et him shoot off his mouth at | lived in a humble cottage near the shore, and the spot where me. I don’t understand what you see about him. He'll never the foregoing interview between the pair took place was a amount to anything. He’s only had a village school education, | break in the iron-bound stretch df cliffs, and mighty lucky he’s been to get that. He has to go out fish- It constituted, a small cove where a rusty black fishing ing to make a living for himself and his mother, and how do boat, of no great size, lay at anchor under the lee of a spur of they live? Do they ever have anything decent to eat? I doubt } rock whick concealed its presence from seaward view. it. He’ll always be a common fisherman as long as he lives.| With the exception of a narrow patch of hard white beach He isn’t cut out for anything else.” inside the cove, which widened to fifty feet at low tide, the va “And what do you expect to be when you're a man?” secluded spot presented a wild and rocky appearance. . : *“] shall be a lawyer like my father, and a politician. | From the beach a rugged path wound its sinuous way up + | Shall be a man of importance like he is. I'll run the village, | the rocks to a broad, flat shelf forty feet or more KS the ‘and the canning establishment, and ride around in my car like | high tide mark. *_ a gentleman,” said Herbert, swelling out his chest. A ledge of rock jutted out from the cliff and Seekan a kind 2 - The girl uttered a silvery laugh. of rude parapet on the outer edge of the shelf. ger : atte hat’s a long time ahead, and lots of things may happen to} Behind this natural battlement stood a small, ‘weather- Es your program,” she said. “You are still only a school-| scarred cottage“which backed up against the face of the cliff. nt The upper part of this dwelling, the red saline dusted roof ~ “Excuse me, I'm a student. I am studying now under a | and a foot of wall, could be seen from the sea. ther. be aes mn at once! How dare you. touch me so fough- On the smooth face of the shelf was stretched a cant eet cried the.ate spiritedly. A good looking, stalwart boy was mending the rents. tere : oer. you go when you tell me" glared the ‘young aristo- | and there in the delicate tracery of cross lines. - i 2 aera This was Tom Morris, the fisher lad referred to by vee Let 0 my wrist.” <r forge and the woman instde the nee was his mother. — ; € Herbert. ° = ey y worked he hummed the words of an o ol n of which ran; “strange fish—some with

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“There, I guess that’s the last one,” he said, in a tone of sat- isfaction as he gave the net a shake and looked it over with his sharp eyes. __ “Thope’ it is,” said a boy’s voice close by, “for the afternoon _ is half gone almost, and you promised to go over to the Mouse Trap when the tide was half ebb.” ~ “Hello, Bob, is that you?” said Tom, looking up and seeing _ his particular friend, Bob Jones, who lived in the village. “I ee ee ~~ > my _ for us to venture.” 7 “Sure it is. I’ve been watching it for the last hour. When s ai saw it start to go out I came over to meet you. I thought you didn’t work on Sunday?” “I don’t, as a rule, but as I’ve got to go out in the morning, and when I.laid the net out to dry I found a dozen breaks in it, I had to turn to and patch them up.” “Oh, well, if you don’t do anything worse than that on Sun- day I guess you'll be able to squeeze through the golden gates when you die,” grinned Bob. . “fm willing to take my chance on it. Mother and I have got to live, and as things haven’t been prosperous of late, I can’t afford to miss the run of mackerel that’s reported off a shore. No one can tell how long they’ll hang around these Sy waters, and when they start further north a fellow has got to _ follow them or go without.” “Well, let’s make a start. It isn’t often'a fellow can get in ‘and out of the Mouse Trap without getting his feet wet, and T’ve got my Sunday rig on.” a “T'll gamble I can get out of it any time.” “I wouldn’t bet you can’t, but I don’t know anybody else * who can. You're a wonder at climbing. I don’t see how you do it sometimes with all your nerve. Joe Lawless saw one of your feats, and ever since he’s called you the Human Fly. you could make a raft of money by hiring yourself to a circus.” i “I’ve heard that circus life ism’t what it’s cracked up to be.” “I don’t know. Circus Pople travel these days in Pullman a ary d live on the fat of the land.” t’s all right, but a chap has.to be something more than ‘@ Mere climber to qualify with a show. I’ve read that the ormers have to start in when they are auite young to limber up and learn the tricks of the business. Every winter _ they have to think up and practice some new stunt for the 4 coming season, as the public these days want novelty. The - people go to the circus every year when it comes around, and they don’t want to see the same thing twice.” By that time the boys had reached the beach below, from which spot Tom led the way over the rocks to the long line of : beach outside at the foot of the cliffs, now partly uncovered my the receding tide, ‘It was an‘ideal early summer afternoon. a "The gulls circled in and out as though at play. _ The sea which so often thundered upon the path the boys were following was now in a Most submissive state. _ It ebbed and flowed on the beach without a sound, retiring tee _ further and further out as time passed. ae - _. The Mouse Trap, the spot the boys were bound for, was a . "treacherous indentation in the cliffs half a mile east of the |! w cottage. 3 _A narrow opening five feet high, though not that high above = _ the rigs of the outer beach, afforded entrance. At half ebb it was quite clear of water, and through the _ hole one had a view of an entrancing little swimming pool in- side, surrounded by a wide beach. Both beach and pool were much below high-water mark, as was also the entire entrance. Inside, the cliff walls rose up a hundred feet or more, . and for thirty feet they looked as smooth as a marble floor, : affording not the slightest foothold for a climber. aA3 _ Above that point an expert climber would find lots of rough bs of rock and Jagged crevices to support his way almost ) the top. _ The highest point he could go Was to a ae within twenty _ feet of the top of the cliff. © “There the adventurous one would find himself stuck, and un- less a rope was lowered to him from above, he could not com- plete t the Leseiimic 3 the incoming ide. in tie) hie ia ed He said you were wasting your time going out fishing—that ro Saag circular in shape and almost wholly shut in at the _ xa tg * ai ‘ ‘ts * af 5 : * TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. 3 SE: “He kept time with his needle, while his face beamed with | trance closed so rapidly that the bewildered prisoner found es- - good nature. : cape impossible. Hence, it had been dubbed the Mouse Trap. It was such a lovely swimming pool that the village boys frequently went there during the summer in spite of the risk they knew they ran; but they took good care to time their _ coming, and always left one of their number seated at the en- trance to watch the tide. The moment it began filling up the depression in the line of the beach outside, the watcher gave warning, and a quick + x forgot all about our arrangement, but I guess the tide is right | scramble ensued among the swimmers, who usually dressed themselves outside. Tom Morris had visited the place time and again. He had been there a score of times alone, and had the run of the tide down as fine as any one could get it. i He was by nature a daring and expert climber. Almost from the first time he cast his eyes upon the ledge eighty feet above, where a lone stunted pine tree grew out from a fissure, his ambition was to reach it by climbing from the Mouse Trap. He tried it from every point, but failed to ascend higher ~ than a yard. Even that was a feat that no other boy, try as he would, could accomplish. The preceding spring something happened to open up a few fissures in the first stretch of the wall. One day Tom detected the change, kicked off his shoes, and tried it again, He found it a tough proposition, but he reached the point where the rest looked easy. Then he discovered that the tide was catching him, and that if he continued to the shelf he would have to roost there for ~ six or seven hours. He made a spring into the pool and escaped with a good wetting, being barely able to swim out through the fast closing entrance. Having blazed the way, he was resolved to try again at a better time. The necessity of following his fishing business, however, prevented him, and he had not made the ledge up to the time he and Bob went there that Sunday. When the boys reached the Mouse Trap the tide was well out. Some time would elapse before it flowed again. Bob’s object in visiting the place was to hunt for shells and a certain kind of pebbles that the tide carried into the pool. While Bob was looking for what he wanted, Tom was gazing up at the ledge and the tree. S “I told you I could escape from the Mouse Trap at any time,” he said. “J know you did, but I don’t see how. It is considered an impossibility,” answered Bob, “Bet you a quarter I can prove it.” “T’ll take you. When are you going to make good?” am “Now.” : as he stopped to rest. ; 3 “You'd make a fine steeple-jack,” returned Bob. ’ = | The rest of the way to the ledge proved comparatively easy ae to Tom, though that doesn’t mean it would have been easy to an ordinary climber. FS Tom possessed not only the nerve, but also the knack, for 2 doing such stunts. g He soon reached the ledge and perched himself on it. “T’ve won the bet,” he called down. = Bob admitted that, but he could not help wondering if- his 2 friend would find the return trip as easy. ; Tom could look out at sea from that’ point, for the Spe! Trap was enclosed only half way up. He presently became aware that there were two or more sons on the top of the cliff right over him, for he heard t voices. One was Clearly a girl’s voice. 3 He looked up, but it was tmposstble to see anyone oF any- feo ert ry nary ; ae ; 4 pL Meme te, Caylee tree, and tested it. =:

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eos TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. ‘ and Herbert Duncan, a boy he intensely disliked, were ‘epi She threw her arms around his neck, pulled his head down there, engaged in a wordy combat. It was at that moment Herbert gave the girl the push that sent her right on the brink. Her shrill scream startled Tom, and he was still more star- ‘tied when he saw the flutter of a dress on the edge of the ; cliff, Before he could think twice the ground gave way under the girl and she pitched downward. Tom saw her coming right at him. He might have dodged and let the girl crash against the tree and roll off to certain death. Indeed, it seemed foolhardy of him to try to catch her, since the contact was likely to sweep him from the ledge, too. Yet, without knowing it was the fair Nellie, he wound one arm about the tree and threw up the other to catch her. She struck the tree and Tom’s arm at the same time. . The tree bent, like a reed in a gale, carrying the boy down on the edge of the ledge, But he hung on for dear life, and between the stout tree and his grip the girl was saved. CHAPTER iil. NELLIE GOES HOME WITH HER RESCUER. The girl lay as quiet as any inanimate object, for she had} . fainted. Tom carefully extricated himself from the” bent tree and -» rolled her down on the ledge. ..- Then he raised her in his arms and—recognized her. “plellie—Nellie Dare!” he gasped, fairly staggered by the revelation. ‘Good heavens, how came she to venture so near the edge of the cliff? Whoever she was with should have held her back. My gracious, what an escape she has had! If I hadn't been up here to catch her, or this tree was not here, » she would have been killed, even if she had struck the pool - below at the deepest point. That would have broken my heart, _ for there isn’t another girl like Nellie in the world.” He held her head upon his knee and rubbed her forehead * and hands in an effort to revive her. >». Bob, down below, had heard the girl's scream and seen her form falling from the top of the cliff. and kissed him. It was the first time their lips had ever met, and the sensa- tion thrilled Tom. He explained how he had managed by good luck to save her, and she trembled as she looked down'on the pool, eighty feet below. ; “How came you fo be up here, Tom?” she asked, wonder- ingly. “How did you get here? Not from the top, for you have no rope hanging down. How could you ever have climbed up, and why did you do it?” Tom explained, and then asked her who had been with her on the cliff. ; “Herbert Duncan. I met him along the cliff road, and he ~~ forced his company on me, We walked out on the cliff, and “a . his talk was perfectly ridiculous. We got into a spat at last, and he got mad and pushed me to the edge of the cliff, where I lost my balance and fell.” “He pushed you?” cried Tom. “He dared do such a thing! Wait till I meet him, that’s all. I'll give him such a licking that he won't get over it for a month.” “No, no, you mustn’t. You'd get into trouble, and maybe be arrested and put in jail. You know his father is rich and runs the village.” “Suppose he is rich, is that any reason why his son shall be allowed to escape the consequences of his cowardly act? If I hadn’t been up here at the right moment to saye you, where would you be now? Dead in the pool below, and Her- bert Duncan would have been your murderer, whether he meant to harm you or not. It makes my blood boil to think how near that fellow brought you to your death.” “I shall never notice him again—never!” said Nellie, de- cidedly. ' “I shouldn't think you would. But he ought to be shown up.” 4 “It would do no good to spread the story of his conduct to me. He would deny it, and his father would back him up. As Iam only a working girl, people yould doubt my statement, - They always side with the most important party.” Tom knew that Herbert’s father practically ran the village am and the fish cannery. All the fishermen took their catches to that establishment, selling their loads wholesale for cash at the market price dic- Believing she would miss the ledge where Tom stood, or if| tated by the superintendent, which, however, was a fair one, _-a-dash for the entrance hole in a panic. ting the surface of the pool. Then he guessed she had hit the ledge square and stayed there, so he ventured back. Looking up, he saw Tom holding a figure in his arms. -*’| He shouted, but Tom paid no attention to him. '. “TI wonder if she is dead or only badly hurt?” he asked. him- Mas self. “Even that short fall was enough to half Kill any one,” He waited for some word from his friend. Ag ‘i In a few minutes Tom shouted to him to run back to the - cottage, get a long rope, make his way to the top of the cliffs. _ ghe hit it would bound off and drop where he stood, he made| though often a little lower than-they could get at neighboring ports, but not enough to make it an object for the fishermen He got through, but heard no splashing thud of a body hit-| to take their cargoes to those places unless their cruise took them near them. The Shoals off Bayport was. one of the best fishing grounds for miles up and down the coast, so the Bayport Cannery got all the fish ft wanted. Tom only occasionally dealt with the canning house, for his boat being a small one, his catch was limited at the best, so ~~ he peddled his fish around the village at the retail price, and supplied the summer hotel and cottages during the season, n this way he did very well as a rule. He turned the money over to his mother, who saved the =a - by the route near the cove and come to the place above where) surplus, keeping her hoard in an earthen crock under the floor — Tom stood. ee : Bob understood and hurried off to carry out Tom’ s orders. n above. did not know, of course, that this person was Herbert / Duncan, that he was responsible for the girl's fall, and that the moment she disappeared over the edge he had taken to his heels in terrified flight. . Fifteen anxious minutes then Nellie ‘uttered a sigh ' opened her eyes and up into Tom Morris’ face. F “Oh, Tom!” she said. “Where am I? ‘What has happened to “Muck ou “much hurt, Nellie?” he — eagerly. uch hurt! What do you mean? - & little scream escaped her lips as api reasserted itself. istvely gh hegeroe save me!" he cried, 8 rig his arms con- | her it wasn’t safe, and tried to get her to deposit it in the . Tom wondered he had heard nothing from. Nellie’s jomcngs village bank. ' ground rent free, for the owner of the land which embraced. | use ae the cove, which he couldn't utilize himself. of the bedroom in spite of her son’s remonstrance, for he told "ae _ Mrs. Morris had no confidence in banks. ‘Her husband had lost all his savings in the original village bank when it failed, owing to the fact that the cashier proved a defaulter, looting it of every cent in cash and securities he . could get his hands on, and skipping out to parts unknown. : Of course, the other depositors lost, too, and a quarter of | them were fishermen; but that did not prevent the same per- __ sons going into the new bank when it was started by Jerome __ Duncan, Herbert’s father, and other well-to-do villagers. "3 The new Bayport Bank ‘appeared to flourish, and as it paid ~ two per cent. interest on monthly balances, everybody who had _ surplus funds patronized it. 7 ieee . Tom’s mother was about the only exception. : a She owned the cottage, though not the ground, and lived that part of the cliffs never thought of charging her for te 3

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TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. “And you, too,” she said. were pleased to hear that their daughter had visited his home -“Yes. with your help. Both of you together ought to be able | and taken. tea. . + to anchor the other end of the rope while I climb up.” They were humble people themselves, Mr. Dare being a car-_ In a few minutes Bob’s head appeared over the edge of the| penter, and they looked on Tom Morris and his mother as — y their social equals. i Rate was lying down with the rope in his hands. It is true that the more successful fishermen and their fami- - “Hello, below there! "he called out. lies regarded themselves as a peg or two above the Morrises. ~ “Let down the rope, Bob,” replied Tom. > The Dares, however, were not proud, though they lived in — “Shall I make a slip noose?” Bob asked. a nice little cottage and enjoyed many small luxuries. “No. Ili doit. When I give tho signal, haul away. Nellie They did not look down on their less fortunate neighbors, doesn’t weigh much over a hundred pounds, so you ought to neither did they envy the well-to-do residents of the village : be able to pull her up:” who had no use for them. 7 = “I guess I can manage it, though one hundred pounds is|, They were contented with their lot and, as a consequence, ~ E somes haul for me.” happy. i. A “Is there any way of you bracing yourself firmly up there?” ; ee - “Yes, there’s a large stone two yards back.” CHAPTER IV. “Do you think you can hold my weight while I climb up by A FINE CATCH. at \ oethge teagan led rope around yow and anchoring your feet ate just dawn next morning when Tom Morris tumbled “T guess so.” Fa right. How much slack can you let out and reach the 3y Sapna te ee de ee chat fr Phare fleet, uit naps . i the village, but it was a question if he could. Quite a bit. yo ¥ The fishermen never let the grass grow under their fect Give me two yards. I u tie this end securely around Nel-| when the mackerel were in the neighborhood, and their boats lie, then I'll climb up.and we'll have her up in a jiffy.” were larger and faster than hi ing equi ith Tom's directions: were followed out, and in a few minutes | | spread of sail. Pear e, ere Nears ie ‘both: he and Nellie stood in safety on top of the cliff. Still, the Nellie Dare, as Tom had rechristened the old Sea- Pm-afraid I won't get over the fright I got for a month,” | bird, could sail faster than any craft of her size in that vicin- said the girl ity, old and rusty as she looked. “I wouldn't wonder if you didn’t,” said Tom. “When you! ‘Barly as it was, his mother was up getting breakfast, for went over you thought your last hour had come, I'll bet.” | she realized the importance of the maxim “the early bird “I was too terrified to think of anything,” shuddered Nellie. | catches the worm.” Tom told Bob he was curious to learn how Miss Dare came Not but there were mackerel enough in those seas to load the to get her tumble, and Tom gave him the full particulars as/| fleet many. times over, but the thing was to catch them. _he got them from the girl, They ran in huge shoals as thick as blackberries on a bush, | Herbert Dunean actually pushed you off?” said Bob, much} but they had an exasperating way of vanishing of a sudden, | _ astonished. without warning, just as the fishermen got down to business. ‘2 : “He pushed me; but I don’t believe he intended to throw me At one moment you might be hauling them in as fast as you | | over,” said Nellie, °“Bie was very angry at the time, and I} could hook them, and then, without any seeming cause, they a guess he did not realize how close to the edge of the cliff we} were gone, like a flash of lightning, and in what direction was. ae _ were standing.” a puzzle. os " “T don't see how he could help knowing it,” said Bob. “You| There was no use waiting for them to come back 'to that ought to call on his father and tell him, You had an awful | Particular spot, and ‘the experienced fishermen never did so. marrow escape.” They pulled in their lines and nets at once, and sailed in ‘Tom coiled up the rope and they walked over to the Clift various directions trying to locate the shoal again. * road, which ran into the village. The boat that was lucky enough to sueceed was soon sur- When they came to the path that led over to the cove, Tom|Tounded by the others, as fast as they could come up, and persuaded Nellie to call on his mother. _ | fishing began again. a Bob didn’t go, but continued on home. A dull and even rainy morning was favorably regarded | . -- Mrs. Morris, who was a plain-looking woman of the lower the fishermen, for luck usually attended them on such an 0c — _ strata of society, gave Nellie a warm welcome. eaaion. : On this Monday morning the weather promised to be fine, sate liked the girl, and she knew that her son was atisahed and the fishing community deemed it wise to get to the Shoals fs nrise. She was horrified when she heard Nellie’s story, backed u by Tom’s, and declared, in no uncertain way, that Hert knew that, so-he expected to have plenty of company = he got under way. ; Dunean’s conduct had been outrageous. ‘It seems to be in the nature of poor people ‘to enterta “gishgle ae Casa Pere es BEL ek, oon of antipathy against their well-to-do neighbors. Mrs. Morris felt that way toward the better grade 6 : . ee eve ag date: and before he put on nies residents. oS ta Of course, such a ‘sentiment wasn't charitable, but he’ 5 life had been one of work, with little play in it, and eS) ‘sented the luck that came to others. ~ Tt made her angry sey Abat a pee ana’ Ss son ahontd ut | Nellie Dare in peril of her life through his temper. ; He was partly concealed by a bi roe but Tom wit ~ In her opinion rich people looked down with contempt on just the ray if ‘i :. * Sng aa the poor, and aust they ‘could walk over them with im- Paya: brings that man here, and what is he up to?” t unity. e boy, watching the chap curiously. “What is he loo! Sy told Neliic as much, and declared if: she was her mother | eee He is evidently a sailor, or maybe a petty officer of | _ she’ d put on her bat, go straight to the Duncan residence and} vessel. It isn’t often we have men visitors, and I don “tell the autoerat what she thought of his son. ber any one who ever came here before with a spyg “f doubt if that would do you any good, mother. Herbert! ‘Tom a sg to interview him, , and. weiss. are swear that the affair was an accident, and his father clothes. - a the’ Aes closed after Foading him a lecture,” _ When he got out on ‘the shelf the man was ‘gone, 4 At least, he wasn’t in sight. ; ere to stay. to ‘tea, and while ‘Mrs. Morris! Tom looked up and down and on every side, butt in wae it, she and Tom walked outside and seated | find trace of ins te ves on. an aig toe oe ewe oe a iene a sall-| “Id give something to ‘ what he was inte is” ~ ae ‘thought the. = mabe west in. for Bis og the sp

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i yi 8 family named Brown.” tc 6 TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. ‘were away with Nellie Dare. It was just growing dark. I noticed the end of a spyglass peeping out of one of his sleeves,” said his mother. “What did he want?” “He asked me who lived here. I told him I did with my son. He asked where my husband was, and I told him he had been dead these three years. Then he wanted to know what you did for a living, and I told him you went fishing in the sea- son.” “He was mighty curious.” “That’s what I told him. He explained that he was looking for a family named Brown that He had heard lived ar. the * shore. He had news for them. Then he asked me if I had noticed lights along the cliff, or on the beach at low tide, late- ly, but I said I hadn’t. He gave me a very hard look, apolo- gized for dssturbing me, and went away.” “Hum! Very singular, mother. If that was the man I saw perched on the parapet, he was looking for something besides “Maybe he was looking for the lights.” “T saw three lights against the face of the cliff between here and the village a week ago,” said Tom. ._ “You did not mention the matter to me,” said his mother. - “What time of the night did you see them?” ~ “About midnight. I had just got home from the village. That was the night I took Nellie to the dance. It was dark and cloudy, but lights could be plainly seen at a distance. I wondered why the lights were in such a place, and watched them for ten or fifteen minutes, when they disappeared. ‘One was a red light and hung above the other two, which were when the fish got that far north. white. They locked like a kind of signal, but the idea of any ‘one signaling at that hour, at such a spot, looked ridiculous | © to me. They a not appear again as far as I know, so I turned in, for I’ was tired.” By that time Tom had finished his breakfast, and as he had no time to spare, he picked up his net, which was tied in a bundle, grabbed the package of lunch his mother had pre- pared for him, and was off, He ran down the path to his boat, and was hoisting the sail ’ when the man with the spygiass rose up from the rocks and approached him. “Good-morning, Yeung m: “You're going opt SArly.” a2 he said, in a hoarse tone. _. “lam,” repligfP&m, shortly, yee to hoist the jib. “Going fishing?” ae - ice f ‘© Yes.” xt ee E _ “After wha , ‘ “Mackerel.” ae Pee Bae Aa “and I dare’say you are bound for the Shoals?” His aes _° “That's a good guess,” ~ J a aaa? “Do you mind taking 3 a aN Pe ee ie Ae oN “Don't want one,” a “I’m interested in seeing how mackerel are dans age “Try one of the big boats, then. There-is no'r mir I; need all the space for the fish I expect to catch.” '. “Then there’s no chance of my going with you?” salt man, looking disappointed. 7 _, “None at all, Sorry I can’t oblige you, but it wouldn’ n’ y me,” said Tom, releasing: the boat from her mooring rop iy _ as the wind caught the sails, heading her out through short, open passage. _ Then he laid her course for the Shoals, i ‘Shoals in question lay about three miles the co: Tt was known to be a favorite feeding ground for mackere! _ By the time they reached the Shoals they were well grown in good condition, and a tempting prize for the fishermen. The Shoals was a dangerous stretch of navigation. agai the hidden rocks and sandb fishing fleet could thread its way all aaa it, as the i knew the place like a book; but when loaded down 1¢ vessels had to use caution. _ Nu ane ped <— the Shoals, _indleating the worst ots, n on there wi wo eer E ae to the beast and one to the southw: the midst of the Shoals was a low, Saar island which “have ‘served admi as a er for a. aap a - nature of Ft on of which - ae Loe foundation for a lighthouse would hold, so the project had to be given up. The island was surrounded by sandbars and sharp rocks, and could only be approached by small sailboats when the tide served. No one but fishermen ever went ashore on the island, and they but seldom, for there was nothing to be seen but sand and scrub bushes. Coming out of Bayport harbor Tom saw the fishing fleet in straggling order. It was_a race between the Nellie Dare and the fleet as to which reached the fishing grounds first. Tom had a mile the advantage of his larger rivals, for the Shoals lay to the east of the little cove. The men aboard the foremost of the fleet, a fast sailer, saw Tom’s boat, and recognized it, but it meant nothing to them whether the boy beat them or not. He was looked upon as a small freelance whose presence or absence cut no ice. The wind was rather light, but Tom made good time. Inside of fifteen minutes he saw he would easily make the fishing ground first and get down to work before the other boats came up. Half an hour later he was anchored in one of the channels, as close to the island as he cared to venture. He got out a line or two first to see how the fish were biting. They fairly jumped at the bait. That satisfied him they were all around him. Then he put out his net, anchoring it in a semi-circle. After that he dropped in his lines and hauled in the fish as quick as he could handle them. By that time the fleet was half a mile from the Shoals, com- ing on slowly, for the wind was dropping fast. Ten minutes later a dead calm prevailed. 3 “T’'ll bet those chaps are doing some tall swearing,” chuckled Tom. “Each of them will have to get out their boat and tow the sloop into position here. That will take time and a lot of hard work.” This program was put into execution without loss of time, for the skippers of the different boats could see Tom through their glasses hauling fish in like mad, and they knew a feast awaited them. Tom had several tubs aboard, and he ‘itted them one after the other. These he tied forward on the half deck; after that he dropped the fish into the oblong well amidships, where they accumulated fast. . The fleet was now taking up positions on the ground. The sun had been up for some time, and the calm sea spar- kled under its rays. The fishermen were getting out their nets\in anticipation of |a goodly haul, it was that the mackerel ceased biting at Tom’s bait. gling on the hook. , knew what that meant—the shoal had taken alarm and where else. t no trail, but even if they had the calm prevented he other fishermen following them. se aboard the fleet were wild with disappointment. _ Tom was not, worrying, for he already had two-thirds of a i = with the net yet to be examined. rs om the way the cork floaters dipped he judged that it was full, P He had plenty of tiie to haul it in, which was done by gathering the ends together first, then pulling a line which closed in the bottom. The top was gathered the same way, then attaching his tackle, he began turning the Httle winch, which worked on a combination cog principle, enabling one person to lift a con- -| siderable weight. _ Of course, the more cogs the easier the work, but each ad- ditional cog made the job proportionately slower. Given cogs enough, Tom could have lifted a ton, if his appa- ratus would have stood the strain. 44 i present case Tom Franebe raised 600 or 700 pounds of fis’ The little boat heeled over under the strain; but the boy got the bulging net above the level of the bulwark, streams of water running out of it and reducing its weight somewhat. - Be the bottom rope, he a niiod Soe the net in, the boat right- well on ae =; seher fad, and i bulged and it bulged over on being Te ing released. ter the other he hauled in his lines with never a fish E Yy were practically marooned on the Shoal. ® he

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— TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. y e 0 Eee a Ee gee Bas RRR RE: SERENE ISS GEE EEE Te _» “fom was in great glee, for he had obtained a full load, while “No, por anybody else.” & _ the fleet itself had caught practically nothing. “I could.” “The early bird:-had got the worm that morning for fair. “Get out.” ahs mel . “Yesterday I climbed up the inside of the Mouse Trap to the shelf where the tree is, eighty feet above the pool.” CHAPTER.V. eee A SOE ERS OP er rae “Tell that to the Horse Marines.” Tom, of course, had to remain at anchor waiting for a breeze “You don’t believe me?” to take him back to the cove where he and his mother would “No.” : have a job cleaning the fish. “Bob Jones - was there and saw me do it. Nellie Dare also The bulk of his catch would have to go to the cannery at; knows I reached the shelf.” ; the wholesale price, for he could only dispose of a certain “If you really did that I don’t wonder Lawless calls you quantity in the village, and the hotel was not open yet, as it| the Human Fly. I don’t see how you ever got up the first — : was only the early part of June. thirty feet. It’s as smooth as glass.” : As the calm seemed likely to last some time yet, Tom went “It isn’t as smooth as you think, but it’s a tough climb, just ; forward, got out an empty tub from under the half deck. and | the same.” “3 ‘placing it where he could straddle it with a board for a seat, “Tf you climbed to the shelf in the Mouse Trap, that steeple he started in to clean as many of the tub fish as he could. ought to be a cinch for you. It inclines inward to a point, Previous to doing this he ‘had hoisted the mainsail far | like all steeples, and has six ridges strung all the way up with © enough to shade his main catch of mackerel from the sun. fancy cleats. With a rope for a support you can get up to the _ Tom was an expert fish cleaner, as was also his mother, and | ball as easy as winking.” he worked rapidly in order to accomplish as much as he could “And yet Ben Blake wouldn't risk it?” while the calm lasted. “He isn’t as much of a human fly as you are,” laughed the The moré fish he cleaned out there on the Shoals the less |caPtain. “Good-by. If you tackle the steeple your name will . he and his mother, would have to do when he got back, and | be in all the papers in the county.” as time was money to him, every moment counted. The boats drew apart, and Tom continued on his way home. Not until eleven was there any signs of a breeze, then it} 48 he approached the shore he caught a fiash of light on the came from the northeast, the most favorable quarter for Tom | Cliff. ES to make his run back. Looking in that direction he saw a man with a telescope. up At first only cat’s-paws ruffled the surface of the ocean, fan- | there. ning Tom’s cheeks for a moment, and dying out. The flash ‘was the reflection of the sun’s Trays on the brass Then it gradually became steady. band or the glass end. The young fisherman hoisted the mainsail the rest of the| The man was stretched out at full length at the edge of the way, set his jib and got his anchor up, which consisted of a | cliff, and Tom would not have noticed him but for the flash, four-pronged grapnell. “There he is again,” thought Tom. “He seems to be looking Making his way to the narrow eoeknt he seized the tiller |2t me. I wonder what in thunder he’s trying to find out?” and brought the boat’s head around to her course. As conjecture was useless, the boy gave the matter up. This carried him close to half of the fishing fleet and-gave| There was no reason, in his mind, why “he man should be the other fishermen, who were now under slow headway again, particularly interested in him. a sight of his load of speckled beauties. The little sloop made straight for the cove, and Tom soon They viewed his catch with feelings of envy. lost sight of the man with the telescope. It was small compared with what/most of them were 4ble| As the wind had freshened after Tom left the Shoal, he . to take aboard, but large when they had got none themselves. made a quick run of it. Be “Hello, Morris,” shouted one skipper, “you've been lucky | His mother did, not expect him back so soon, owing to tha: J this morning.” i calm, which*she expected would interfere with his getting a “Yes. That’s because I got on the ground ingtime to get | full load of fish. rela. oan CREE CE ag! Fit SS * RESET SRE as PCr eel NS eS Ps Le them.” Nevertheless, she occasionally swept the sea with a a * 34 “You must have taken all there were around here, for when | spyglass she had, and on one of these occasions she made ou’ ; _” “we came up we couldn’t get a bite.” the little sloop heading for the cove. “Heavens! there were millions on the Shoal/when I ‘cast an-| That was a sign he had been lucky, and she smiled with sat- «chor. They grafbed at my bait as though they were starved. |isfaction, for she saw more dollars coming to increase her =~ Had you people*been on hand at the same time you would | private store of savings, 2, shave got half a load at least before they skipped out.” She was down at the cove when Tom ran the sloop in. =A “Say, do you want a job when you get rid of your fish?” | “You've got a fine load, Tom,” she said, her eyes snapping — “) + i gaid the skipper. as a = _ crowded nee 3 yee Leyes = jas Sie “« > “Yes, mother was particularly lucky,” he answered. : ; eet Peay “ni Ese phot itn sere’ 1 Ses ese? a got this catch before the fleet arrived, though the boats started “One of the trustees of the Ridgeway Methodist Church «was | for the Shoal about the same time I did. The extra mile they over to the village yesterday afternoon looking for an éxpert | had to cover made all the difference in the world with them, ~ climber to do a steeple-jack act, They want the-ball at the I reached the ground just as it fell calm, and found the place alive with mackerel. The fleet got as far as the edge of the a foun fm Mage oe a 89 jellies Phe hoal, and were becalmed there. There were fish around them : ‘sailor. I told him if he didn’t find a man, to call on you. en, but before they could get their nets out the school dis “Well, he made a deal with Ben Blake for $15, and Ben was to | ®P ppeared and so they got = left.” eis have gone over this morning,.but he backed out, or is ni acs ete: “eas like to see them disappointed once in a while, - - made hi till open. If you t to tackle the man. : .. job,. Rigpheotg te vie afi Folew Tndrtwik vhs Sele in the same|_ “You oughtn’t to say that, mother, particularly alter. I have ‘lock with the church. You might call at the minister's | been so successful,” said Tom. : -. house first, and he will send somebody with you to Mr. An-| “Why not?” she replied with some energy. “Don't: th _ drews. It’s a chance to make $15, and the job won’t take you | women look down on me because I live out here and have =a _ long once you reach the ball,” said the skipper. - style? Do any of them ever call on me to pass the time o P58 _ “How high is that gilt ball from the ground?” asked Tom, in day, or ask after my health? Not one. I hate the whole brood. _ I dare say I could buy and sell half of them, with all the pegs le ares tone. ; e hundred and fifty feet, more or less.” they put on. One of these fine days I'll show thém a thi suppose the climb begins at the foot of the steeple?” or two that they don’t suspect. I'l build a house in b he ? Of course. You wouldn’t expect to crawl up re side of the | lage that'll take the shine out of them, and put on fine clot would you?” grinned the in Sane and airs myself. Then they'll call to see me, I dare ree “No, but r might dot Ip a pin So 3e a a ak egh gp eae eo I'll shut the door in you had wings. ; wt faces and jaugh at their chagrin "nana ooh be are good enous. ‘You’ Ye: ‘been fn the Mrs, canarzie rubbed her t we a brown hands to:

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e | TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. ' "Tom seldom paid any attention to his mother’s vagaries. / The young fisherman returned to the cove with a small ' While he knew she was saving every cent she did not actu-;| catch of other fish, about half enough to supply his regular _ ally need, he did not figure that the total sum she had accu- | customers. mulated amounted to much more than two or three hundred Those. who expected to get’ mackerel from him would be dollars at the outside. disappointed. ‘ In his estimation there was little chance of her saving The fleet had left Tom on the Shoals and gone east in search enough to build a good, substantial cottage and putting on the | of the school. style she often hinted at. The boats returned next morning with full cargoes, having As Tom started in cleaning the fish, too, he happened to | overtaken the fish. glance up at the top of the cliff. ) Tom saw them coming in one by one as he was loading his eB, There stood the man with the spyglass looking down at | steeple-jack rig on his hand-cart, ‘them. / Ridgeway was only three miles distant, and Tom had. ar- “Hang him! I wish he’d keep away. He’s got no right to be | ranged with the postmaster’s son to pull the cart behind his { spying upon us,” he muttered. ‘light wagon when he went for the morning, mail to the rail- Bass \ He said nothing to his mother about the man, who presently | road station on the outskirts of the town. .| # disappeared, but went on with his work. He did not worry about the return trip, for he never crossed be At the end of an hour his mother left him to prepare dinner, | a bridge till he came to one. eee when it was ready she called him to it. Shortly after nine o’clock Tom appeared with Ls cart in ee Two tubs of fish were more than enough to supply the vil-| front of Mr. Andrews’ house. lage. That gentleman had gone to his business, but had left word ‘al: The rest was dumped back into the well, and by two o’clock | with his wife that he was to be notified over the ‘phone when Tom sailed for the wharf of the cannery at the village, a mile ' Tom showed up ... and a quarter from the cove by water. His wife called him up on the wire, _ When he got there the fish was inspected and weighed, and He said he would come right away, and in the meanwhile an order given him on the cashier for his money. would communicate with the painter, and have him or.one He collected the sum coming to him and took it home to his|of his men meet Tom at the church, where the boy. was di- mother, rected to go and wait. . | ‘Then he loaded the two tubs of his best fish on a handcart} Tom, while waiting, took a good view of the steeple and saw and started for the village to peddle it around. that it was a tolerably tall one. Naty It was »fter dark when he returned with about enough left; The church was one of the finest edifices in Ridgeway,.and tte furnish a few messes for himself and his mother. there was quite a bit of gingerbread work about the spire. _ Whije he was eating his supper a knock came at the door. Twenty minutes later the painter drove up in his wagon His mother opened the door and two men walked in. with the gilding material and a dummy ball. In the basement of the church the msn instructed Tom how to gild the ball. By the time the young fisherman had learned. his = Mr. M CHAPTER VI, , |Andrews appeared. " ; The caretaker of the church was with him. : yeh THE WRECKED AEROPLANE. py “It’s something of a feat you are about to undertake, young man,” said Mr. Andrews, “You are sure that your nerve is 5 “One of the visitors Tom recognized as a fisherman named | equal to it?” 5 Us Ben ‘Blake. “You needn't worry about my nerve,” replied the boy. “TI _- "fhe other was a well-dressed stranger. did some climbing a week ago Sunday that I fancy was harder _ “How d’ye do, Tom,” said Blake. “This here is Mr. An-|than this steeple is likely to prove. I had no rope, either, to _ drews, of Ridgeway. He wants to have a talk with you, so I sustain myself, but had to depend on my fingers and stocking ; him over.” : feet. I went up eighty feet on the sheer face of the cliff to a ~ “Help yourselves to chairs,” said Tom. “TI can guess your | ledge, and by doing so I saved the life of a young lady.” errand, sir,” added the boy to Andrews; “you are looking for “Our steeple is about sixty feet high, but it begins about _ @ good climber to gild the ball orf your church.” — eighty feet from the ground, so that. when you reach the ball “Yes. You heard I came here yesterday on that errand?” | you will find yourself some distance up in the air. I suppose is '- “Cap'n Barry, of the sloop Nancy, told me this morning at | you will go up first and then send a rope down for your seat ! BR ‘Shoals. He said that Blake here had agreed to do the | and the gilding material?” ‘work, and then backed out of it.” “Yes, that’s what I’ll do, The base of operations will be in “Mrs. Blake kind of objected to me doing of it,” said Ben, the belfry, I guess?” ing a bit sheepish. “Yes, We will go up there now.” have been told that you are a remarkably smart climber,” | |The entire party started up the narrow sini N'ngl carrying 4 “Mr. Andrews, “as good as any steeplejack; so I came ee rope, the caretaker his bo’sun'’s chair, and the painter the « to offer you the work. We'll pay you $15.” gilding material. ““When do you want it done?” . i Reaching the belfry, Tom proceeded to get his rope in shape, ht away, if possible. The ball has been looking shabby | He attached a coil of thin line to his waist. ‘some time.” - This was to be utilized after he reached the ball to draw up would hardly pay me to put in my time for $15 while | his seat and the gilding material. . mackerel are off this coast. I brought in a load to-day The rope on which the boy was to depend for support on arin me four or five times that sum. T hope to re- his way up was.one he had submitted to a severe test. -morrow.” ‘In one end he had made a loop. when could you undertake the work?” said Andrews. |. The other end had to be passed around the steeple and then night be able to do it'in a week—just as soon as the through the loop. I school runs off to the east’ard. I could spare a day, To accomplish this the end had to be flung around the four id follow the fish on the following day:” sides of the belfry, from window to window—no small feat in well. Shall we look for you a week from to-day? Here + 4 : : : address in Ridgway. The church is in the same block. -will.show you how to gild the bail when you get 0 will furnish all the rope you need, oe a swinging b “ins to sit on while doing - work.” . : “I'd. rather bring my own rig. | coe a “regular bo'sun’s Tom stood at the first window, and the painter went to the second, at a right angle with the first. The boy flung the rope upward and around, _ The coil hit the slanting spire above the pfcsoh tse: 43 a and dropped on the other side of it. : The painter pulled the end in. ; “ é Tom recoiled it and made his second fling for thie) next win- ae be there Lecatin, bat aioe ay? ‘aur z the week, dow. res TI may ly get over on . Anyway,| In this way the rope was got around above the widtows fae ROM. _ While Rei work was in progress the Boneh caught sight of) an aerop roaching the town. | SRE They | eta watch | the achive for a few Sraigers Sarees ate rghit Mie . a , EA ; abel by

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TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. : 9° » When it got over the business section not so very far from | hauling, declaring that he Was all right and needed no treat- _. the church, the aeronaut began showing off what he could “do. | ment. 9 ¥ The machine swooped down and then rose up, just like a When he learned how Tom had saved him from his perilous mo bird: position, he expressed his gratitude to the boy, and said he It went around in cireles and performed other stunts that} wouldn't forget what he had done. air men are wont to indulge in to show off their skill. He gave his name as John Denby, and stated that he had Suddenly it swung around in a wide circle and made a dive} started his aerial flight from Belfast. right at the steeple of the church. * The police cleared the street in the immediate vicinity of The man tried to steer the machine aside, the church, and the occupants of the houses were warned that Heretofore this had been an easy thing for him to do. the wrecked aeroplane was liable to fall at any time. ~ It probably would have been easy then had not the mechan-| The officer in charge of the police took part in the consulta- ism of the steering gear gone wrong. tion concerning how the machine was to be removed from the The result was he lost control of the machine, and it col-| steeple without damage to the surrounding property. r lided with the top of the steeple, entangling itself in the ball The aeronaut gave a general description of his aeroplane, — and upper part of the spire, and throwing the aeronaut out! stating what its weight was and other particulars. of his seat. Tom was asked if he would climb up and take a look at it, Instead of falling to the ground, as he had every chance of} and see how it was attached to the point of the spire. doing, his body was caught by one of the arms or wings of the The aeronaut agreed to pay him $50 if he would do it. machine. Under the circumstances Tom would have gone up for noth- There he hung senseless, like a limp rag, rising and failing | ing, but he did not refuse the money, for the trip might prove with the swaying movement of the wreck. a dangerous one to him. id at A crowd of people, augmented each moment, gazed upward At any rate there was nobody else to undertake the- feat, in horror at the peril he was in, expecting: every moment to} and he was in the position to make his own price had he been see his body drop like a stone through the air. | so disposed. Tom-and the rest of the party In the belfry could not help | The party returned to the belfry, accompanied by the ofiver, é . seeing the catastrophe. and a patrolman. A Indeed, when the aeroplane hit the steeple the shock was so| Tom made his preparations, and then started to make his heavy that the spire swayed to and fro on its foundation. way up the steeple.. “I'll have to save that man if I can,” said Tom; “but it’s go-| Owing to the fancy cleats which ornamented the six ridges” ing to be some job, for he’s hanging several feet out from the| of the spire, he found that the ascent was not so very diffi-> steeple.” cult with the aid of the rope thrown around it; -but these; ~ He took the thin line from his waist and made a lasso of! ejegts would prevent him from descending with the rope, for _ one end. 1 the rope could not pass them in a downward direction. p2a8 His purpose was to throw the loop around the aeronaut’s} Recognizing that fact, another coil of rope had been sent for -y head and shoulders. to enable him to descend, which in this way he could do with /,. _ It appeared to be the only way he could be saved. ease, even without the aid of the cleats to step on. ie “Tour told the painter what he intended to do, and asked his When Tom got two-thirds of the way up he saw that the ~ ~~ help to make the plan successful. aeroplane was pretty firmly anchored on the point of the spire, pping the rope looped. around the steeple, Tom dragged| which shot up several feet through the open part behind the t himself to the. top of the window frame, aeronaut’s seat, and about midway between the two pair of — “ He was almost mear enough to the unconscious aeronaut to| wheels the machine rested on when it was on the ground. seize his down-hanging arms. These wheels were necessary to give that type of aeroplane — ‘The broken aeroplane was moving up and down dangerously. | its flying start, and without that it could not rise into the air. The crowd below eagerly and hopefully watched the boy’s} Tom found that what the fisherman called a movements. breeze was blowing up at the tcp of the spire, and it caused When the arm of the machine swung downward it brought | the aeroplane to rock on its aerial perch. ~ ‘the aeronaut close to where the boy clung against the spire. It rocked both sidewise and forward and back, and its move- Taking instant advantage of this chance, Tom easily threw | ments had already torn off a number of the fancy cleats, and — the loop over the man’s head, and it dropped below his arms. | damaged the woodwork of the spire. We tte | When the arm rose the loop ghtened about the aeronaut | Tom went as high as he dared, which was pretty close to the» f and pulled him off it. - bottom of the machine, and took note of the way it was mary _ ... He did not fall far, for Tom had a tight grip on the line. / like a huge fly on the point of a pin. _ He bumped against the side of the steeple, and Tom swung| As far as he could make out the aeroplane was not mate- _ him around in front of the window. - rially damaged, but it would haye to be broken up to get it ay The painter grabbed him and pulled him inside the belfry. down. .. - And so his life was saved by the young. steeple-jack. How this was to be accomplished was a problem for the : owner to solve, has a ; Ropes would have to be brought up there and attached to 1 CHAPTER VII. different sections before the aeroplane was disjointed. {586 : A TICKLISH Job. 0 ae It was a job that would require the service of several men % . As Tom went up the steeple he naturally had to haul in his R was’ t 3 The aprounut by Sue pues ee si Sa se bs = aga -| supporting rope as the cireumference of the spire grew less. ~ i OF. ‘ 1 ot being able to reach the narrow point under the ball, he — a fer a ane aerop a9 continued poder | the air had to fasten the rope at the higheont point he felt it weer, t \ Until as removed Tom could not erform the work he to venture, : ax tae hired for. . When he had done this he tied his descending rope to 1 The question that agitated Mr. Andrews was, how was it to | loop so that it hung down beside one of the ridges of cleats. on be. remov He had taken the precaution to put knots in the ropes two- x te: increased in force the machine owas likely to | feet apart, for greater security, though really he did not: . “play ae dickens with the spire, | lutely need sugh help, for he was accustomed to elimb up Not only that, but it was likely to fall either into the street | down a rope d over hand. — ; It was as easy as rolling off a log for him to return tos yard, — ie - | window - si vgs sages Beye which he started, ‘wad equal! ) liable’ to do considerable damage even | easy to ¢ up to again. ee oh any ‘hp 8 Ag = ve He made nis report to Mr. Andrews and the ‘rest ¥ ndrews, while waiting for the ‘exiWalanes to call for the party. ¢ Reis i aeronaut, who failed to revive under ordinary treat- ‘From it they judged that there was no tmmodiate telephoned the facts to the police department, suggesting | the aeroplane falling from its perch unless: torn apart t officers be sent to the church right away to clear the wind. of the increasing crowd. At the same’ time they realized that its. removal was a th police arrived about the same time. ous Matter. and on examina-| Although the young stoople-inck, was was willing to ‘heip all ee acagenae ep rtesreseyion Tr same aen could, he said he could do nothing with oonuend z ; ba B! short Raye map r _Npon. the roof of one of the adjoining houses, or into ae oom) ey eS o it yas soPas age ees

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10 TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. . ~ right nerve,” said Tom. “I don’t think anytHing can be done Nuts had to be removed and braces loosened, and other work _ , till the machine stops rocking, and it won’t stop till the wind | done. , drops.” Suddenly the tail of the acroplane sagged and the workers iy It was suggested that the owner go up with Tom’s help and | drew back. ; w= see what could be done with his aeroplane, but Denby declined Up went the tail in the air. then down ; on $he ground that after the accident he was not. in shape to Its unsupported end bent like a piece of cardboard crumbling _. undertake any risk. up, and the connections snapped. i The police officer said that something must be done, for the It hit the spire with a bang and hung supported by the sa wreck was a standing menace to life and property in that | ropes. Bi neighborhood, and that in spite of the fact that it appeared to| Work was then begun on'the front part, which hung down at be well anchored on the spire, there was no certainty about |an.angle of forty-five degrees. : how long it would remain intact. Two hours passed before this was detached and fell against He thought ropes ought to be\attached to various parts of it | the spire. without delay, and thatan active young steeple-jack like Tom It was late in the aiternech when the second, wing followed fas should be able to do the work. its companion, and then only the central part of the machine _“T’m ready to take the risk if I’m paid for it,” said Tom; | remained glued to the point of the steeple. “but I wouldn’t do it under $100.” It was safe to stay there until taken apart. Then Denby said: The next thing was to rig a heavy block to the spire and ~ “Tli give you $100 in addition to the $50 you've already | lower the four detached sections one by one. os i mera ¥ going up and looking at the aero.” The first section was lowered as far as the belfry, where “it $100 altogether. 4 j another block was fixed with fresh rope, and then it was let “a9 oA right if you're satisfied.” |down to the street. ees “Who’s going to furnish the ropes?” The second and third sections were lowered in like manner z “TI suppose I'll have to do it, as I’m responsible for the con- on either side of the church where there was an open space, and the last section was dropped on the back of the church and slid off on one side. By that time it was nearly dark, and npoithiies further could be done. Tom left his cart in the*basement of the church and walked to the railroad station, where he was in time to connect with the rig of the postmaster’s son, who was waiting ie for the _ dition of things,” safd Denby. ee ‘Nothing could be done until the rope was brought, and the owner of the aeroplane went off with Tom to get it. q An hour elapsed before the rope was delivered at the church, . and during that time the wind had grown fresher. - The foreman of the nearest fire-engine house had been sent “4 for and consulted about sending a couple of his men to help - the young steeple-jack. evening mail to arrive. As the removal of the airship was @ matter of public con-| Within an hour Tom reached the cove with a fine ‘appetite _ cern, the foreman said he would send over two of his nerviest | or his supper, Men. i i These men were on hand when the rope came with Tom and CHAPTER VIII. ; Dexby in the wagon, LIQUOR SMUGG@LING. When Tom described his day’s experience to his mother she expressed no concern about the risk he had taken. She seemed to regard it as a matter of course, for she knew he was an expert climber.’ ~ } The aeroplane was now cavorting at a livelier‘rate than one. Since he had been up there the first time the machine had What interested her most was the $100 he had been prom- ty ever, and a circus job faced Tom and the two firemen. sf The bey went up first to the place he reached before and ' attached a second knotted rope a couple of feet from the first pas wane down close to the looped rope. ised for his share in the work. “A seore of faney cleats had been dislodged from their places,| “Are you gure you'll get all that?” she asked cagerly. _ 80 that the spire looked bare for a yard or so around the aero-|, “] guess there’s no doubt about it. I saved the man’s life, : Plane. so [ hardly think he'll try to cheat me out of my price.” - Nothing had happened to the weather-beaten gilt ball as far “Good!” she said, rubbing her hands together. “It’s better as Tom could see. than fishing. And you are’ to get $15 more for gilding the Watching his chance, Tom cautiously got a rope around One | pall?” ~*~ : _ of the hollow stecl parts of the machine. “That’s the arrangement.I made with Mr. Andrews.” Swinging out into the air, with nothing between him and “Ah, we're getting rich fast,” she said, in a tone of satisfac “the ground, he pulled himself up into the wreck with the ease; tion. “It’s pleasant to think about it. The day is coming: of a monkey. when I'll take some folks down a peg or two. How their eyes “He sent down a coil of thin line for the rope needed to make | wi}! stick out when I go around like a real lady, which they the lashings, and hauled it up. never can be with all their airs that amount to nothing. That He crawled out on the tail plece of the machine, which rose | will be my revenge, and it will be a fine one.” and fell at an acute angle like a seesaw. She chuckled and rubbed her hands together again. “Tt was like getting out on the skysail of a ship that was} Tom did not sympathize with these exhibitions on her part, @ rolling from starboard to port in a small gale, only the alti- but she was his mother, and he never made any remark one * tude was very much higher. way or the other. Tom, being a natural sailor, did not mind the work a bit, * but the spectators in the street below, and at the windows, and on the roofs of the houses, held their breath as they Apparently she did not expect him to, so his silenea did not affect her. , Next morning Tom rode to Ridgeway again with the post- master’s son. He found men at work at the church taking the sections of the aeroplane apart for transportation to Belfast. “Mr. Denby’s aerial trip was likely to cost him a- pretty penny in the end, but having been so lucky as to escape with watched his indistinct half concealed in the apparatus working outward till it stopped at the point he decided to at- tach one of the stout ropes, Having accomplished the first part of his work, he returned the spire. There he made the other end of the rope and cut off the slack. * _ He repeated the work on each of the side arms, and then led the front part. — _ That done, he went over. the same job ata by ei ged between the spire and ~~ first four oh wea ft it was all he could d 0. : meanwhile the owner of the machine had hes fn-|and painted. ting the two firemen how they could best separate the; This couldn’t be done that day, so when Tom had finished sections of od aeroplane. with the ball he was paid for his work and told he could go t he was ready for. ‘them, and the tools were home. line. | Denby paid him the $100 and presented him with a fine gold ‘followed. watch and chain for saving his life. as he was able to foot the bill. Tom decided to go up and gild the ball before helping pe ‘two firemen to remove the last of the air-ship from the steep As the framework which still clung to the spire offered a _| safe platform for a carpenter to work on, Mr, Andrews decided to let it remain there until the broken-off cleats were replaced bat tuey went and told him: if he: ever r Wanted a favor, - read i «alt, ens SF Sahin 5 : BEE ae — only a few minor bruises, he did not mind that, particularly ns re ate to. the sine eee ere eae At the same time he gave the boy his alieedbad in Belfast, — ‘ ; and

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es ee ts ap «tee = TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. aes . ~ “I'm going out after mackérel in the morning, so if you want “He was released because there was not enough evidence Me to help get down the rest of your air-ship, you'll have to | to convict him.” send word- over to the cove when you want me,” said Tom. “He was not guilty, was he, mother?” “We may be able to get along without you,” said Denby. “I “The Government believed he was. Until the day of his think the two firemen will be able to finish the work in short | death he rested under suspicion.” order. At any rate, the rest of the machine won’t be touched “Well, what has that to do with us?” for two or three days, until the carpenter has' made the re- “When Brisson attempted to land Wis third cargo fifteen pairs.” - Months ago, the Revenue people were on the watch. Brisson So Tom returned to the cove and handed his mother the | signaled his presence off the coast. One of his shore friends, $125. aware of the trap waiting for him, started to show the usual She told him the man with the spyglass had been around | warning signal. Unfortunately, she was caught in the act.” asking for him. “She! It was a woman, then?” “What does he want with me?” he asked. His mother looked momentarily confused, then recovered * “He didn’t say. I told him you were doing steeple-jack | herself and went on. work in Ridgeway, but I expected you would be home this “She was caught before she could give the warning, and the y afternoon. He said he would call after dark.” ae pie her to show the signal that all was clear or go to “He’s been hanging around here several now. I wonder and face disgrace.” elds dls Ra Ee = aye “She must have accepted the bribe, because the smugglers His mother chuckled as if pleased at something. were caught with the goods, and no woman was mixed up in Tom looked at her, then turned on his heels and walked out | the case. to get his boat ready for the morning trip. She accepted the least of the two evils, gave the signal the E He expected to be gone all next day, for the mackerel school |Tevenue men wanted displayed, and—well, you know fhe re-~ had gone some distance east. sult. -s He had the little sloop washed out and everything in shape| “Well, mother, all that cannot affect us. by the time his mother called him to supper. Yes, it can, and it does. : “T think I can guess what the man wants to see you about,”| “How?” - §Said his i ia! during the meal. “The revenue officer who is nosing around this locality sus “Tell me.” pects that I was the woman who tried to warn Brisson off that ~ “« night, and would have done so if I hadn’t been caught.” “Siyny. 1 bavent heard of any lnguor being satore bese tor |, WAY ahowld he suspect you when you nevor had anything 9” year or more—not since the Brisson crowd were caught at it, gag 5 pnp Say pa ag praia oun brother and all but Brisson himself sent to prison,” said Tom, in sur- or sister on the slightest. provocation.” prise. “ But they’ve no right to suspect you. If that chap hints a His mother chuckled. . ” . “About three weeks ago you told me that you saw three word about you t& me, I'll smash him. “The easiest way is the best. Don’t say anything about having seen that signal. If you do it will make trouble for us.” “T don’t see why it should. 54 “I want you to do as I tell you. ,I am your mother, and you owe me obedience, I order you to forget that you saw the signal.” “Tf he asks me if I (Saw lights along the cliffs———”. “You're to say no.” “That would be telling a lie, mother, and that goes against | my grain.” ; lights against the face of the cliff, in the direction of the ; village, about midnight.” “That's. right.” “One of the lights was a red one and higher than the other two, which were white.” : =< “Yes,” nodded her son. “And you said it looked like a signal, though you couldn't see why anybody should be signaling on such a dark night.” “Do you mean to say that was aqprenedy on shore that was signaling a liquor smuggler?” : “That's the old Brisson signal.” % earn } “It is; eh? Then that French rascal, after escaping and BE pagel a mand nol peers free ae fee ghcimgier yee lying low for over a year, is at his old tricks again?” mit it, he will have no evidence that liquor has been landed “T suspect he is, or somebody else is imitating him.” again on this shore.” ty “Do you think liquor was landed the night I saw the lights?” “Mother, can it be that you are in sympathy with those who His mother shrugged her shoulders, try to smuggle liquor into this State?” ee = mney the meaning of the signal I saw—a red light} “rf 1 a to favor them, as Ba A business.” - ve two white ones? “How you benefit by doing so o try to smuggle any- in HOF ——— I know the meaning of it?” said his mother, | thing into ~~ country ou besonicid there is a duty is unlawful. a furtive tone. Why sympathize with lawbreakers? a “True. It might have meant the coast is clear.” “y am not going to argue the matter with you. I have say ne “It doesn’t mean anything of the kind,” said Mrs. Morris, | own views, and you have yours. If you would ward off trouble _ sharply. from us, be as silent as the grave about the signal. Remem- Tom looked curiously at his mother. ber, it is my wish.” “How can you say that when you have just denied that you} “Allright, mother. What you say goes with me,” said Tom, haye any knowledge of the meaning of the signal? Why me up from the table and walking outside on the shelf. shouldn’t it mean that the coast was clear for the landing of | It was then about dusk. ~ liquor? And perhaps liquor was landed that night.” Coming down the path which led from the top of the cliffs ~, “It’s nothing to’us what the signal meant,” the boy saw the man with the spyglass. os “That's true enough, mother, we have no interest in the & _ Nquor smuggling business.” aa -—-—s *So it behooves you to be cautious what you say to that rd _ Officer when he calls to see you to-night.” CHAPTER IX. z “He won't learn much from me, because I don’t know any- thing on the subject. All I can tell him is about that signal.” _ “Don’t say a word about 51 Ag ~ “Why not?” \ “The officer has been hanging around here two or three _ days. That's enough to show he’s suspicious of us.” _“Why should he suspect us?” “Because we live out here in this tonesome spot.” “But we've always Hved here as eon: as I can remember.” ; here’s another reason. is it?” “Give a dog a bad name and it will stick to him.” “What do you mean by that?” . g years ago, when you were small, your. father was. ed as an accomplice of a St. peg AA liquor pataaier. THE REVENUE OFFICER. k tas Tom waited for the whom his mother had inforaied: him was a revenue RS to approach. young man,” said the stranger, civilly. ‘| “Good-evening. I understand you want to see me?” said the ate, £ Ty wanitto.dibl yon &.dadetion oF re” Sir. “Heave ahead. But first I'd like to know who you -—S “I’m a Government officer. My name is Duffy.” “Are you connected with the revenue service?” “T am.” “Your presence her, I take it, indicates that the Governme: has reason to bolleve thet Hauer smuggling ‘haa been Hees in this wins? ae ab Bary

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12 TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. ~ “We have evidence pointing to the landing of a quantity of | “Your mother retires early also, I suppose?” > kegs of. French cognac brought from St. Johns, New Found- “She does, for she is up before me to prepare my breakfast.” land, recently.” “The landing of the kegs was made on the beach below the “Well, I don’t know anything about the matter. Neither | cove, toward the village. It was. done about low tide, for the does my mother. The liquor, if it was landed in this neigh-| kegs could not have been carried into this cove after. the tide ' borhood, was not brought into this cove, that’s certain.” | got three-quarters full, That is clear to you, eh?” as “You are sure of that, eh?” “Yes... But they could have been hoisted to the top of the i “I am reasonably sure of it. Had it beer fetched here we | cliffs at any place between here and Bird Point.” would probably have had some evidence of the fact, in which “They could, but that would have been quite a job, which -. case we would have considered it our duty to report the fact.” | would have called for tackle. Men engaged in such work “Look here, young man, you've lived in this cove nearly all | would naturally follow the line of the least resistance—mean- »» your life.” ing they would take the easiest route. The cove offers that.” ; “Make it all my life and you'll hit it. I was born here.” , “Admitting all these facts to be true, in what way dees the “You were born here?” said the officer, looking hard at the | surreptitious landing of a quantity of liquor kegs affect my boy. mother or myself? We are not responsible for the acts of 3 “T was.” | others. The smugglers had no right to make use of this cove, “Sure of that, eh?” for we are in possession of it, but it is not likely they would “Certainly I am. .My mother told me so, and she ought to consult us on the subject. Such work is always done in secret ow.” to avoid discovery.” “Then your knowledge of the fact is based on her state-| “Well, young man, I do not believe you had anything to do ment?” _ |with the job. I have thoroughly investigated your character ' *How else? No one of his own knowledge remembers when | in the village, and find you bear an excellent reputation. I and where he was born.” have also learned a thing or two about you which it appears _“That’s true enough. So you believe you were born here?” | you are ignorant of yourself.” “TI guess there is no doubt about it. I have positive evidence “What is that?” asked Tom, in surprise. that my father and mother lived here for some years before I “J’d rather not say, as the facts are not generally known, was born. They came here, and my father built this house, | which, I dare say, accounts for you not being acquainted with about the time of their marriage, and they never lived any-| them. The matter does not reflect upon you in any way, so where else. However, that’s a matter you can’t be interested | you need not. worry. You. will probably, discover everything ie in time. Frankly, I think you ought to know, but it isn’t my “That's right, too. So you really believe that——” place to tell you anything. Your mother should do that.” E: The speaker broke off abruptly and stared fixedly into the “How do you know but my mother has told me?” - boy’s face. “Tf she has, why did you affect ignorance of your real——” “What I was going to say is this: you aré familiar enough| The officer paused irresolutely. \. with this part of the shore to know that the only comparative- “What are you talking about? You did.not bring the mat- 4 ly easy way to reach the top of these cliffs for ten miles this |ter up before.” side of Bird Point, at the entrance to the harbor, is by way of! The man eyed Tom sharply. _ this cove,” continued the officer. “Go on,” he said. “What do you think I am referring to?” “I am aware of that,” nodded Tom. “My mother told me that when Brisson landed his last cargo j So that if a score or two of liquor kegs were landed here-| here fifteen months ago—the one that was nabbed by the reve- - abouts, the party who received them would naturally ee Nope people, and which broke up the business—that a woman =r » them away by the path through the cove. Isn't that common | accomplice on shore started to warn him of his danger by the Sense? usual signal, but was caught doing it. She was iet off on con- _- *“YIt admit that your argument is good,” admitted Tom. dition that she flashed the ‘all clear’ signal in place of the _.. “Very good. According to advices received from St. John, | other. She did so, and the smugglers and their cargo were in _-forty kegs of cognac were shipped, with other lading, aboard | consequence captured.” - the schooner Jean Dubosc, which eleared in proper shape’ for | “Your mother told you that, eh?” said the officer, with an - the port of Boston. The vessel in question reached Boston in jest look. : _. due course and discharged her cargo. No cognac was on board,|. “Yes.” ' nor did her manifest show she had brought any. Nevertheless,; “Well?” tion, and that is the reason you have been hanging around this place for the last few days.” - wharf in St. Johns, and she sailed a short time afterward. The question which interests the Government is what became of those kegs?” © 7-480.” “The Government suspects they were landed in this neigh-| “Well, you want to take a reef in your suspicions, Mr. borhood on the quiet, I suppose? And the suspicion arises from | Duffy. I want you to understand that my mother never has the fact that a Frenchman named Brisson was caught at the | had any connection or sympathy with Brisson and his smug- * game some fiftesn months ago—that is, his associates were |gling crowd. If she had had any leaning that way, I think I nabbed and imprisoned, but he managed to escape himself,” | would have known it. Besides, she wouldn’t have helped the one Tom. rascals without being well paid for the risk she ran. Now fact, of course, has something to do with the ease in as I know my mother has very little money, and is dependent hand. But we have something more tangible than mere sus-;on my exertions for her living, it stands to reason that she~ j ‘picion, my lad. We have the ey. of a create wituees: could have had nothing to do with those smugglers. So I : 5 won't stand for you or anybody else making libelous cracks at 7 _|her. I want you to understand that. My mother may not be ~— a lady—that isn’t her fault—put she’s my mother, and I shall © ‘|defend her against the world,” said Tom, resolutely. ae The officer watched the boy intently while he spoke. © eae “If he didn’t relish Tom’s straight-from-the-shoulder remarks oor |he gave no sign of it. i _| “So you are sure that your mother never stood in with the ad jpuieciors : , “Of course I’m sure of it,” said Tom, stoutly. : | “Never heard that your father had any dealings with them, either, eh?” a the forty kegs were the last things put aboard of her at her}. “She told me that you suspect she was the woman in ques- go ‘t what hour of the. night?” ae ei was nae mi “No. He made his ear as a Ssherman.” Se : a, i) “And he taught you to ow in his steps?” +3 gt a cast aethbin across the sunburned eatin of the officer.| “Yes.” heard nothing on the night in question, which was} “It seems to me that you are out for something better than ; weeks ago?” he said. that.” ; all at any time, unless it is the waves at thigh, *T guess I could make a living as 2 steeplejack, too.” the rocks below.” ; “I heard you were considered a good climber, and that ase nerve; but. it’s a. mighty ne sgshicc may: lad. I wot ; ommend it as a business.” yy ir a i to be good

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Se TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK 13 terday and this morning working on the steeple of the Metho-} “I brought up the woman you told me was caught on the dist Church at Ridgeway.” cliffs giving Brisson the warning signal just before the smug- » “And I dare say you took your life in your hand while you; glers were captured, and who led them into the trap to save were up there. The risk must have been considerable to get | herself.” “you that amount of money for a few hours’ work.” “Ah!” ejaculated his mother, “why did you do that?” ae 2 “I didn’t think about the risk. A fellow can’t fall from any | “Becanse you told me he suspected you to be that woman. height if he holds oh to something that won’t give way. It!1 let him understand without any frills that I wouldn’t stand _ Was hard work getting an aeroplane apart way up in the air.” |to have you suspected of something you were not guilty of.” “What's that? An aeroplane on the steeple,” said the man,} His mother laughed. _ who had not heard about the matter. “The last thing he said was that he had heard you some- _ “Yes, it got caught on the spire and stuck there,” said Tom, | times walked in your sleep along the cliffs. He said that was /who then gave him a full account of the incident. mighty dangerous business. and advised me ‘to break you a h Ay sg my word, that was some job for you and the firemen,” | of jt.” he sa es. “This morning I went up and gilded the ball on the top of | mother. the spire.” « iris No, and I told him so. Then he went away.” - That's regular steeple-jack work. Well, I must be going. As the clock pointed at nine, Tom said it was nigh time they _ By the way, there’s an island out yonder in the center of the turned in, for they would have to get up at half-past four. Sere , Ever been ashore there?” His mother nodded, and shortly afterward the cottage was st pe "a dark, Sathdno erstand there’s nothing on it but sand and scrub/ ‘Tom sailed away at sunrise next morning and was gone all ™ F day. Se btnaphtaagn SH ety ahout’: > Dusk was coming on when his mother spied through her “That's right, too.” = telescope the little sloop heading for the cove. “That's all. Good-night, my lad. I wish you eas: ” Tom had a fair load of mackerel aboard. He tgld his mother that the fish was going further and further east and north earlier than usual, and he was afraid that his little boat would:soon be out of the game, and that he would have to content himself with what he could eatch on He walked off a few steps and stopped. “One thing more,” he said, “I’ve heard that your mother . Sometimes walks in her sleep—along the top of the cliffs to- Ward the village. It’s dangerous business in more ways than one. If I were you I'd try to break her of the habit.” the. Shoals. “Who told you that ane story? I never knew her to do “Well, it can’t be helped,” she replied, philosophically. ‘Such a thing.” | After supper they went down to the sloop, and under the “She doesn’t do it often. Only wlien she’s got something light of a couple ‘of lanterns cleaned the fish. on her mind. She will probably deny-it if you mention it, but |. Three-quarters of his catch would go to the cannery, and ~ it’s a fact just the same. Good-night.” this was thrown back into the well and covered with a piece of The reyenue officer started up the path, leaving Tom look- | Sailcloth. ing after him. Two tubs full of the choicest he intended to sell at retail, . and these he sank in the water to keep fresh. CH pc orranee D eee ; Next morning he sold the bulk of his catch to the cannery, yt Poni stag after which he sailed back to the cove, put the two tubfuls ine onlin * 4: eagimtemeter gi Sida his cart and started for the village. “You had a long talk with that chap,” said Mrs. Morris when) By the middle of the afternoon he had disposed of the last Tom re-entered the cottage. “What did he have to say to|of his stock and returned home. Fouts 2h ; Next morning he started for the fishing ground again. _ “He had a lot to say,” answered the boy. While he was away a messenger came from Mr. Andrews, “Let me hear what it was about.” saying that he was wanted in Ridgeway as soon as possible. “It was chiefly about smuggling. He told me that the Gov-| His mother told him when he got back that night with ernment has a witness who saw a lot of kegs of cognac landed | another fair load. on the ach sed night the three lights were flashed from the |- “I don’t see how I can go until next week unless I was sure x Saree Weeks REO. * ” it would pay me,” he said. “I suppose they want me to help sone we tell you who the witness was? take down the rest of that airship, They probably consider I ; teat i seseeaee. to co that. The witness saw the kegs car- have been paid to finish the job, so I would be out a day's “The man said nothing about that.” you and the firemen can detach the rest of the wreck from _ % “What else did he say?” * , the spire and send it down to the belfry,” said Andrews. hardly pay him to come over specially for such a job. LAr 6% te be ar Sicis ae ir re one ba Si dal While he was at work, Mr. Andrews could send word to the firemen Be awe pe ot to attend to the piece of wreckage that remained to en down. ‘thing or two about ‘me dc : This arrangement being agreed to, Tom went up to the bel table and looked uneasy. fry, where he found the finished cleats, ready painted, tied in au “ vs gripped the fable ad T su on | pundle ready to be used. oF hough I him, The knotted ropes leading up to the loop near the top of eae: it was 3 your "place ao a apt teeter originally placed in position by Tom, the bo} 7] ce?” y> ‘oun : jae ti idéaj nother, Wha be geterreaitor™ He tied a line to the bundle of cleats and placed them on tie . be about you that he didn't. feel Se ae eltey (wittiow.: on it there was nothing in it. If I th a hammer stuck in one pocket and the other pocket fell you that you ought to know, you would full ‘of the proper sized nails, he ee up one of the s ‘ago, There is no reason why T- should’| nd soon reached the loop. ; From the loop he got into the peuapint. of the ba ap i ae aa a the; ‘Then he pulled up the bundle of cleats. ei ES a eis reach As the vacant spots where the new a \ Ih nothi t ‘Tom said that as it wouldn’t be dark for three hours, he pay a lng or Sapien oi site vtilate guessed he’d put the cleats in place right away, for it basic shh

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14 work of the aeroplane, the job he had in hand could be speedily executed. TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. . Over two hours elapsed before he judged he was getting in the vicinity of the cove. He lost no time in getting at work, and was more than half|* His gaze was fastened on the line of cliffs for the two white through by the time the two firemen appeared. They began work without interfering with him. When he had put the last cleat in position he lent them a hand. Before dark the last of the air-ship had been removed from the spire. Tom remained up to take down the ldop. lights he knew his mother would show on the parapet to guide him to his destination. Another half hour passed before he caught sight of ‘them, hanging like twin stars in the darkness. Below them, however, appeared a red light, much to the boy’s surprise. it recalled to his mind the signal he had seen against the To'do this and get down himself might seem like a difficult | cliffs on the night the smugglers were alleged to have landed 7 job. It was not to a steeple-jack. He disconnected one of the knotted ropes from the loop,| below.instead of above the white lights. made a small loop in the end of it, and hung it from a pointed cleat. . He did the same with the other rope. Then he untied the big loop while holding on to one of the knotted ropes and drawing it clear of the spire to let it drop. ! To descend all he had to do was to go down a couple of feet on the rope and attach the other knotted rope to a lower cleat. Transferring his weight to that rope, he removed the other ‘and attached the loop to a lower cleat, and so on alternately till he reached the window of the belfry. As some of the rope belonged to him, Tom coiled it up in e the belfry and said he would call for it when he could. He started home on foot, but when a mile out of town was; the kegs of cognac. . There was a difference in this signal, the red light being Taking in consideration the presence of the revenue officer along shore, Tom jumped to the conclusion that the signal was intended as a warning. The fact that it was shown indicated that an attempt was to be made to land another lot of kegs in this vicinity. Presuming that it was being flashed from the same spot the 4 other had been shown, Tom wondered why his mother had failed to hang out the two white lights he depended on asa guide to the entrance of the cove. Tom knew it was a dangerous matter to try to make the entrance to the cove on such a black night without lights, for es was every chance of the sloop being smashed upon ihe rocks, as, according to his calculation, the tide was at its overtaken by the postmaster’s son, who gave him a lift the rest | flood. of the way to the village. A smart walk of fifteen minutes carried him to the cove. : He turned the $5 he had earned over to his mother with the ° money he had received from the peddling of his fish, ate his supper, cleaned out his boat in readiness for next morning’s trip to the fishing ground, and turned in. CHAPTER XI. ’ TWO WHITE LIGHTS AND A RED. - "When he turned out next morning he found a dull, leaden sky overhead. - A smart off-shore breeze was blowing. He looked at the barometer which hung beside the cottage door, but it was stationary, and showed no indications of a storm brewing. d The only safe course for him to follow was to keep on for the entrance of the harbor, run in there and anchor under the lee of the Point til dawn. This he started to do. He had tacked in toward the shore in anticipation of getting his mother’s signal, and was already close enough to catch the roar of the surf on the rocks. He tacked out again, and soon made out the stationary white light of the lighthouse on the western side of the harbor en- . trance. It was further away than he expected, figuring on the posi- ; tion of the three signal lights. 3 He cast his eye at those lights again. The red light had disappeared, leaving the two white lights —~ ! only, and they looked just like his mother’s signal. Moreover, the distance that intervened between them and It didn’t fies however, that the instrument would not|the light at the entrance of the harbor corresponded with Wary later. , Banking on-its present looks, he put off in his sloop and : joined the rest of the fishing fleet. a the wind favored the larger craft, he was soon left be- hind. The regular fishermen were at work an hour before he came up with them again in the midst of the school of mackerel. The weather continued about the same all day. a hands made a big catch, and then started Pack for Bay- That was close on to sundown. eastward. - With a heavy load of mackerel aboard, in a comparatively the position of the cove. Tom was a bit puzzled over the situation, but decided to take a chance and run in again. In a few minutes he made out a third white light low down near the shore. That was the light his mother set to ‘show the entrance to the cove. - ’“Those are her lights after all,” he said, with a feeling of — relief. “But I don’t understand why she ‘displayed that red oe light below the parapet. She never did it before, It was foolish of her, for if the revenue man is on the watch, as is The wind had increased in force and veered around to the! quite probable, it would arouse his suspicion that something was doing in the smuggling line.” Confident that everything was all right now, Tom headed open boat, and with night ms i aaa on, Tom began to fear} directly for the lower white light. that he was in for a tough tri ' He was not wrong. _ As the waves rose higher his little craft rolled in a way that threatened to dump some of the cargo overboard. . _ He was forced to take a couple of reefs in his mainsail, and _ to accomplish that he had to come up into the wind to get his boom aboard, and then lash his tiller in position until he got ‘k to it. : back fo the wind did not exceed a small gale, and he ; got along very well after that. - As darkness fell he lost sight of the coast and the hindmost vessel of the fleet, which was steadily leaving him in the rear. __ He steered largely by instinct, using his hand compass occa- onally to correct his course if need be. a a bie tt mst a box of which’ he ips. ‘om and even to Tom, accus- n all kinds of weather, it felt vie on but the dark outline of ing of the water as it shot occa- eraft. as long as the wind held steady he felt in no particular 5 See Peete eS ae BEG H jl! ie 1 touned boat, a mile from the| pulling a chair up to the table. y » “It is, but you had the lights to guide you.” “At The roar of the surf grew louder as he drew near the shore. He could see nothing ahead or around him but the white lantern gleaming like a glowing spark through the darkness. It required a steady hand and an intimate knowledge of the entrance to the cove to make it in safety that night, but Tom had no misgivings about it, 4 Inside of ten minutes the sloop shot into the narrow chan- nel and was presently safe within the basin close to the light. Tom dropped his kedge, lowered his sails and waded up the inclined beach to the lantern which he detached and started =e. the path to the shelf on which the cottage stood. ae His mother was reading a paper by the light of the lamp. The shawl she was accustomed to wear over her head me she went outside at:night lay over the back of a chair. On the floor against the wall, and concealed by its folds, stood a lantern with red glass. ~ “Well, mother, I’ve got back,” said Tom, hanging up his ; cap. i “I see you have,” she answered, in a matter-of-fact wigs dropping the paper and moving toward the stove, where her son’s supper was kept warm against his return. .- “It’s a black night, and blowing half a gale,” said the. ‘bor, a : _ “They nya me clarmees pat ir eller

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is all right. I have good eyes, amd saw it as plainly as I see _ you now. It hung low between the others. Must have been the work of that revenue man,” : by = yb 7 eae eee TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. 15 _ “How?” “You hung out a red one in addition to the others. Why | did you do that?” “You are mistaken, son. Do you think I would mislead you on such a night as this?” she answered in a furtive way. _ “T shouldn’t think you would, but the red light was there T thought it was | a signal of the smugglers, and I judged that I was half a mile nearer Bird Point than I really was. I didn’t find out my mistake till I tacked further out and caught sight of the light- house gleam from the lighthouse. Then I was puzzled, but looking shoreward again I saw the red light was gone, and I made out the cove light at the landing. I tacked about and headed in, confident everything was all right, but the showing of the red light was a mystery to me.” “If you saw a red light in the position you have stated, it | said his | mother. “He may have news that another vessel with liquor aboard is expected off shore to-night, and he adopted that ‘ruse to entice them to land the sttff before morning.” ' “That's so, mother. seen the man around?” “No; how could I in the darkness?” : “True,” said Tom, applying himself to his supper. “You did not remove the white lights before coming in?” “No. I will attend to that after supper.” } “Never mind. I will look after them. Go te bed, you must | be tired. Did you get a load to-day?” | “A big one, but I was afraid I’d lose half of it before I could make the cove. [I had to run all the way under 2 double reef. On the whole, I think my heavy cargo proved | an adyantage, for its weight served to steady the sloop.” | “Here’s a letter that the postmaster’s boy fetched over about | noon.” ; i Tom tore it open and read the contents. ~ | “Another steeple-jack job, mother,”‘he said. “I'm offered $50 to paint the spire of the Ridgeway Episcopal Church.” “Fifty dollars! It isn’t enough. You ought to have $100.” “Pll ask $75, but if they won't give it——” | “Tell them to find somebody else to do the work. That will | : bring them to terms, for steeple-jacks are not so plentiful that be picked. up in a hurry.” made no answer, and his mother taking the shawl from the chair, and hiding the red i paighs under its folds, left the | cottage. | She walked over to the parapet, “a8 instead of removing the | rr white lights, she tied the red lantern to a thin line, lighted the wick and let it down along the face of the rocks till it hung at right angles with the other two. table she re-entered the oetaee and found Tom still at the I never thought of that. Have you vee. - CHAPTER XII. 7 . TOM MAKES A DISQUIETING DISCOVERY. Tom was very tired after his day’s work, and he had his fish to attend to in the morning before he could take them to market, so he soon went to bed, much to his Leyte s satis- faction. -, Fifteen minutes later she looked in on him ait found him asleep, "Then she donned her shawl and went out on the shelf. - The night was still as black as ever, and a heavy sea was breaking on the rocks. The woman stood under the lee of. the cliff, where she was : ee from the wind, and kept her eyes on the sea. passed, and she hardly moved. x out Sat in rhe 2 direction of the Shoals appeared two white many feet apart, and a red one midway below therm : t last!” muttered the woman, in an eager tone. : fos. ‘under a small piece of sailcloth she took. an iron S araem it on the top of the parapet. in it, . a sngsire match, she ignited a fuse that stuck out of of the canister. ~ } tong immediately a bright red fire glowed up with a cloud 5 dark aks, which was flattened out to the leeward by the “similar flare dint out of the sea, revealing the sails and e of eee sat hove to and tossing on the surface es. aieeae. soon his”) ican a8 did also the er. ; “were also. doused. son ar Sami Be from |til this moment. the basin, lighted it and carried it down the path and replaced it on the pole that stood there. Then she returned to the shelf. She did not observe a shadow crouching near the corner of the cottage. This shadow was Tom. He had been awakened by the glare of the red flare which’ had shone through his open window, illuminating his little room. Leaping out of bed. he looked out and saw his mother’s form reflected by the light, Astonished at seeing her there, and by the presence of the light, which he felt was a signal to somebody off shore, he watched, strange suspicion forming in his mind. When the light went out, and he saw his mother light the | lantern he had removed from the shore of the basin below and start for the path, he hurried into his clothes and came out of the cottage. Going to the edge of the shelf he looked down and saw his mother hang the lantern to the pole. Clearly she put it there to guide a boat into the cove. t “Good heavens!” ejaculated Tom. “My mother is in.leasue —~ with those liquor smugglers, and to think I never knew it un- I would have knocked the man down who ; hinted such a thing, Last night she told me she was suspected }to be the woman who was caught fifteen months ago in the j act of, warning the Brisson people against risking a landing of liquor the night their craft appeared off this vicinity. In | the face of her actions to-night, ‘can I doubt the truth of that” suspicion? As she was caught and recognized, it is more than suspicion that the revenue officer is working on. ‘'He knows she is the woman. This is a terrible discovery for me to make. To think that my mother should take a hand in such illicit business. She is certain to be caught again, sooner. or later, and the Government is not likely to let her off and shield her a second time. If she is shown up it will ruin us both in the estimation of the village people. I will probably be suspected. as having acted as her accomplice. What is to be done?” At that moment Mrs. Morris started up the path, and Tom retired to a place where he could watch unseen. The woman pulled up the red lantern and extinguished it, _ | but did net touch the two white lights, While she was thus engaged it occurréd to Tom that he |-would like to get a close view of the men who brought the liquor from the vessel in the offing. Confident that the darkness would cover his movements, he made his way to the path, and went down to the basin. ‘Here he had the choice of hiding behind a rock or crawling under the half deck of the sloop. He chose the latter. In a short time he saw his mother come down and ‘seat her- self on a rock. Half an hour passed away, and then above the whistling of the wind and the roll of the surf Tom heard the oars in their rowlocks. Inside of a minute a stout whaleboat, propelled by eight — men, shot into the cove and stopped near the sloop. ; The men sprang ashore and the boat was hauled part way up on the sand. Mrs. Morris came forward and was greeted familiarly by the ; steersman. + Tom heard her tell him about the presence of the revenue officer in that vicinity. . He seemed surprised that the Government had got wind of their movements so soon, and arked that when Brisson ‘ was told he would doubtless stop the business until the situa- _ tion cleared “Where is the officer to-night?” he asked. “Since you slg- naled us that a landing could be made in safety, we take it that you know he cannot interfere.” “T tricked him,” said Mrs. Morris, rubbing her hands glee- fully. “He got word that the smugglers were aware that this neighborhood was under watch, and that liquor would ‘be 7 oe ashore on the beach a mile south of Rockland harbor at mid- night to-night. He and his mates rode to Ridgeway this after- _ noon and took a train for Rockland. They are now laying for the liquor twenty miles from here, but will have their trouble for nothing. The road is clear for you to take. the kegs over to Brickley’s barn, as you did before.” % “We haven't kegs this time, old woman, but cases of prime _ cognae, just as they came over from France, There are to make two trips in your son’s- necessary; | since we have the night before us, and a clear way, that rex any difference,” said the man, pe aa ®, the men and i tien to get busy. ee A ee <e oe See

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—T.- tp oe % os ae ee tah ek a 16 TOM THE STEEPLE-JACK. “T judged so when nothing happened at the point I was sent to. I did not think I couid-be so easily fooled, but the person who brought me word of the matter impressed me by ‘his naive earnestness, and I am chagrined to think that I believed him... From your statement I take it for granted that a land- ing was made once more near the cove in which you live.” “It was made in the cove itself this time.” ; “You know that to be a fact, do you?” said the officer. “I do. I was close by when the boat put in there. ‘It was a whaleboat, manned by eight rowers and a steersman, and came from a vessel in the offing.” “You were close enough to see the faces of the men?” “I was. I lay hidden under the half deck of my sloop.” “At what hour did this happen?” “About midnight.” “Would you be able to identify the men?” “T would know the steersman, at any rate. He was in charge of the boat.” - “How many kegs did they land?” “None at all. They brought two dozen cases of fine brandy in the same shape as they were imported.” “They were carried up to the top of the cliff and carted away?” “Yes.” “Too bad. It would have been a fine haul for us, and we would have got the smugglers, Now it will be a difficult mat- ter to trace them, if not impossible.” “T can furnish you with a clew.” “Can you?” cried the officer, eagerly. “I will see that you are rewarded if we nail them.” “Very well, it’s a bargain if you let:me name the reward, and promise solemnly to pay it.” “T don’t like to bind myself to a blind agreement. I might not be able nor willing to keep it.” “Will you give me your word of honor as an officer to deal fairly by me?” “T will. I can promise that.” “Then I will trust you. The reward I ask is immunity for my mother.” They did so, and out of the big whaleboat landed twenty- four iron-bound boxes stenciled with the brand of the brandy and the shipper’s name. The boxes were carried in succession up the. path to the shelf, and thence to the top of the cliff. ’ , The cart was wheeled up there, half of them loaded on it, — three of the men started off with it across the country- side. The steersman handed Mrs. Morris a couple of goid pieces, then got into the boat with the other five men, and put off out f of the cove. _ While his mother was talking with the leader of the expedi- tion, Tom crawled out from his place of concealment and sneaked up the path in the darkness. He had seen all he wanted to, and had, moreover, learned the destination of the smuggled liquor. a ari was a farmer whose place ran inland from the cliff roa He had not been very prosperous as an agriculturist, as his : Jand, which had been in the family from his grandfather’s _, _ time, was poor and worked out. Fifteen months since, when the smuggling of liquor went on unchecked for some months, he and his family had shown un- wonted prosperity, but he gave out that his wife had received a legacy, and nobody had reason to dispute the fact. yi His brief show of prosperity came from his connection with a the smugglers. When they were caught and convicted he was not impli- cated, for none of the liquor was traced to his place. /._.. The only goods that was captured was what landed when _. the men were nabbed on the beach. Ke, This being the case, he was called on again to act as re- ‘a ceiver for the new expeditions. The stuff landed three weeks since was carted there in the Same way as the present lot was sent, and a day or two later Brickley carried it to its destination under a load of manure. Mrs. Morris had sent him word to expect another lot that night, and he was up in expectation of its coming, . Tom did not want his‘mother to catch him up at that hour, ie for she would know he had become wise to a game she had used her best endeayors to keep him ignorant of, so he darted into the house, undressed and got into bed. He had a serious problem on his hands, He had no sympathy with lawbréakers, and he believed it was his duty to see the revenue officer and tell him all that had taken place. At the same time he felt that he must protect his mother from the consequences of what he called her indiscretion. ‘ _ How he was going to accomplish both was what worried him and kept him awake a long time. ; He heard his mother open the door of his room and look in. _ He pretended to be sound asleep, and she retired to her own _ Yoonr satisfied. Baath ce ea ease ; It was long after that before his eyes closed in sleep, tired as he was, and then he had reached no decision as to what course he could pursue which would save his mother from with the smugglers?” “T regret to say I have. I need hardly ask you if y she is the person who was caught on the cliffs fifteen » ago in the act of signaling the smugglers’ vessel, and €sca prosecution and exposure by trapping the rascals.” “She was that person. I know it as a fact. I am afraid she won't escape this time.” “But you have no evidence against her yet.” “We have you.” : “TI have told you nothing.” ; : . | “You have just admitted that you have found her out. The Government, on that admission, can put you on the witness stand and force you to tell all you know.” i “T would tell nothing that would incriminate her.” “Then you would be sent to prison for contempt of court.” “T will’go to prison sooner than say a word.” “Well, what about this clew you spoke of?” exposure and the consequences it would entail. Sein Sate taken last night.” . * “You did?” ’ : - © ses,” ee “Where?” hina CHAPTER XIII. ACS i TOM PROTECTS HIS MOTHER. Tom slept until his mother aroused him next morning, - The clouds and the gale had disappeared, and sunshine was. on the face of the sea and the landscape. — aaNet ieee "The ig age showever, were still in evidence, and beat heavily against the foot of the cliffs. ; ) ee eapture the brandy and prevent the landing of any more with- all: the credit yourself of finding the smuggled brandy. It will be.a feather in your cap.” f “i wasgclear to land the brandy.” i ‘des “T have nothing to say about that. Do you know a farmer here over yonder.” } r_ that sore liquor was Rockland har- ‘to do PA ; “Ah! You have discovered at last that she has dealings. “T heard where the two dozen cases of brandy were to be “T will tell only on the assurance that you promise not to. bring my mother into the matter. You ought to be able to out mentioning her as a party in the case. You must not give out either that I furnished you with the clew. You can take | “All right. I agree to your conditions. I take it for granted ; ig that your mother was a party to the hoax that was played — ‘By dark k, ; upon me, and that she signaled the smugglers that the coast. VRAD Rtn SES anh 6 a on th by the name of Brickley? His place is about half a mile from Dar “I know the place, but have no acquaintance with the man.” _ “The brandy was taken there. If you wish to capture it you will lose no time in searching his bain. I guess he hasn't removed it yet, but can’t say positively, for he’s had all day ‘ q ¥ - s Pr.” ents rg “ ; ad

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S: . ; ‘0x THE STEEPLE-JACK. 17 _.2 Tom told everything about the intiiiee without Some j that his mother had been on the:spot at all, ~The officer was satisfied. _ He called to his companion and they retraced their way Awhile the boy continued on to the cove, where he found his _ supper awaiting him and his mcther in high good humor over a _ the gold she had received from the leader of the landing party eo the money she expected to get from the sale of her son’s _ dig load of fish. ve “Are you going after more mackerel in the morning?” she oe asked him. : a “No, Vm going to Ridgeway to see about that steeple-jack ai, WOrk.”. + “Then see that you get what it’s worth.” “Never fear, I'll, ask for more than $50 if it’s worth it.” | Next morning he rode to the town with the postmaster’s son and called on the church trustee who had written him. _.. He was taken to the church, and.viewed the spire. The only thing he was expected to furnish was the rope and| the bo’sun’s chair necessary to the job. He saw that $50 was a fair price, and he agreed to bring his| apparatus over that afternoon and start in the first thing in | - the morning. When he got back to the village he found the place in a state of excitement. Farmer Brickley had been arrested on the charge of aiding and abetting liquor smuggling into the State and country. | The evidence against him was ‘the twenty-four cases “ -eognac discovered concealed in his barn. The revenue officer who made the capture did not give out | any of the facts that Jed to the arrest of Brickley, When questioned on the subject he simpply winked his we and looked wise. Tom carried the news to his mother, wondering how she | would take it. : She looked a bit startled, but quickly recovered herself. -. he capture of the brandy did not affect her, for she had no _ further interest in it, Xe What made her uneasy was the fear that her own arrest * _ would follow. : The afternoon passed away, however, and she was not dis- _turbed. . Afte ner Tom ‘put the rope and bo’sun’s chair into his} {cart heeled it to town. “Sa caretaker of the church took charge of the outfit. ; At eight morning the young steeple-jack was on hand | to begin his work. This spire was smooth and not equipped with fancy cleats. He worked: his way up to the weather-vane by means of the leoped rope method, and then pulled up his bo’ sun's chair, » which he made fast to the loop, _ After that he had only to haul up the paint and eat to work. He applied a gilt color to the vane, making it sparkle in. the 2 sunshine. ; _- Then he used a black paint on. the steeple itself, FA The absence of cleats enabled him to work the loop down-} Se. letting it out as he proceeded, hen he quit at noon for his dinner he slid.down to the belfry window by a long rope without knots. resuming work he easily shinned wp the rope to his | bia On chair in sailor fashion. Bs : fi ¥ for there always is a fascination about the movements Jae yng steeple-jack. The work is’ ls et as extra hazardous, and for that rea son he C Aad properly gets big pay. oe a Popeetrions on the Gisedt below stopped to watch him at ve ns as He had more than half the work done at sundown, when he knocked off for the day and rode home on the postmaster’s wagon, His mother had been on pins and needles all day, fearing a visit from the revenue officer, but nothing like that happened. She did not dream that her safety had been secured by her son, but supposed her part in the landing was merely sus- pected, and suspicion wasn’t proof. Tom completed his work on the steeple next day, which in- cluded the belfry, and received the price agreed upon. He loaded his rope and chair into his cart and stated off for Bayport. “Fifty dollars for two days’ work isn’t bad,” he thought, as he walked along. “I like it better than fishing. The only trouble is to get work enough to keep busy. It’s earning a living by nerve just as many people earn a lot of money by their brains. Now that the mackerel have gone so far east, I don’t see any use of my following them. My boat doesn’t carry a load big enough to make it pay. With luck in my . favor on the ground it takes’a whole day to go, come and fish—a day of eighteen hours, If the fish don’t bite to any ex- tent, the trip will take another day, maybe. Then another | day is used up cleaning and seiiing the fish. At that rate Eh could do about as well confining myself to the Shoals. Any- way, by next week the mackerel will be practically out of my / reach, and I’ll have to fish off shore here or not at all. Now Tye earned $175 by two steeple-jack jobs, and $225 from the mackerel so far. That makes $400, enough to put us on our feet this summer, for our expenses are not heavy. I guess ’'ll quit fishing and look for more steeple-jack work. If I get only one good job a week I can earn $500 during the summer, and that will put us on Easy street for the winter. Yes, I think that is the right thing for me to do.” He laid his plans before his mother at the supper-table. “Where are you going to get the steeple-jack work?” she | asked him. “Look for it.” “You'll have to travel around, s “T suppose so.” “Tou may be away for days, and I'll be left alone.” “J guess you can stand it, Nobody is likely to visit you. | Now that the revenue officer has captured the last lot of smug- gled liquor, and nabbed the man who has been standing in with the smugglers, probably you won’t see him around for awhile to come.” “T hope not. I don’t like spies.” Tom laughed and dropped the subject. After supper he went to the yillage to call on Nellie Dare, He called at the post-office first, and was handed a letter — postmarked Belfast. It was from Aeronaut Denby, informing him that a hundred and fifty dollar steeple-jack job awaited him in that city, and that he wouldn't be required to furnish anything. | Tom n up his mind to start for Belfast first thing\in the APTER XIV. CONCLUSION. Said. pect of T ody him abont you, and he asked me to send tor y © at of the pinidines 7 tee! firms had 2 estimated on it, the rT —— eh re? he $150 coming her way stifled any choo orris might have advanced against her son iiGugi “It a

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site length of the body line first and made th a would be able to regain control of t = 18 TOM THE STEEPLE-JAOK. The work was then offered to the other bidders in order, and all of them found themselves in the same predicament. “Don’t know what?” Every painter that went on the roof and saw the peril of the “What has happened here?” undertaking in its broadest light declined to start in at any | “What has happened here?” cried Tom. “Is my mother price the bosses were willing to pay. sick?” Two-thirds of the work had to be done at the risk of about “Worse than that, young man,” said the officer, solemnly. a 175-foot fall to the street, or a 60-foot fall to the roof of the “You don’t mean to say she is——” adjoining building. “Dead? Yes. She has been murdered.” ' The other third, the rear part, was a safe proposition, as| “Murdered! Great heavens!” cried Tom, breaking down. painting jobs go. He stopped and looked at the boy. . Tom got his first view of the cupola from the street. the signal she gave sixteen months or so ago which trapped his “Pretty risky thing to swing out on that,” said Denby as ™éen and lost him his cargo of brandy.” they looked up. | *“Are you sure of that?” “Yes. Is there a trap in the roof at the foot of the flag| “Here is her dying statement, written in her blood after the pole?” scoundrel left her for dead.” “Yes.” The officer pulled out a large sheet of wrapping paper folded “The flag pole is tt i up. : BS nant 7 any cere hey oe poe ree j Unfolding it, the boy read the evidence against the smuggler _ “Then I guess I'll take the job. All I’ll need is a stout rope | With his own eyes. and a be’sun’s chair. I'll take the chances of falling.” “The villain! He must be caught!” cried Tom. : “Then I'll take you to the company’s office, and if the man-| “I hope’so, but he’s a slippery customer. Your mother ha: ager is in you can arrange matters with him,” been dead at least two days. We came here for a drink of The manager was’ in, and Tom was introduced to him as a| water, and made the gruesome discovery.” hervy steeple-jack. “My poor mother!” cried Tom, in a tone of grief. “Let me “Before we come to an arrangement,” said the manager, “I | $0 to her.” 4 think you had better go up to the cupola and size up the diffi-| “One moment. I have something to tell you first.” culties of the work. It is easy enough for you to look up to| “What is it?” : the cupola, but the sensation is quite different to look down. “The night I held my interview with you here I made the It has got the goat of 2 number of men accustomed to taking | remark that I had learned something about you that was not chances on high scaffolding. In this case you’ll have to do! generally known.” \ the work swinging on a seat attached to a single rope, and it} “Yes, yes, I remember. You refused to tell me what it was.” Tequires a steady hand to lower yourself from time to time as “T said it was your mother’s place to tell you.” the work progresses.” |. “Now that she is dead, she cannot.” Tom went up with Denby and viewed the curve of the cupola! go it remains for me to teil you. You are not her son.” from. the trap-door. | “I am not her son?” He was satisfied with the proper apparatus he wouldn't fall,| “No. Who your real parents are I can’t tell you. Probably so he returned to the manager and closed the deal with him. | you will never learn. Sixteen years ago last March a terrible The manager was to furnish everything, and Tom was to. storm tock place off this coast, and a steamer was wrecked on start in next morning. the Shoals. Only one person escaped alive from the wreck, = Denby told the boy he could stop at his ho free of cost | Child two years of age. That child floated ashore in a sma while he Was on the ‘sob, and Tom eased fap. vtice | boat which drifted into the cove below, The boat and its small _. Byerything was ready for the boy when he appeared at the | Passenger were found by Bill Morris, the man you haye looked building on the following morning. upon as your father, on the morning after the storm. I need - A stout block was attached to the foot of the flag pole hardly say that the child was yourself, and that you survived. It had two pulleys. i You were adopted by Morris and his oo and Baye. Apres 0 +, | supposing them to be your parents. e presumption is tha’ ‘aa ee ere ey mere ad your parents were on the ill-fated steamer and were lost.” _ Through the other he put a rope not quite so thick, which! “How did you learn all this?” cried the amazed boy. was attached to a broad band around his waist. : “From John Bunsen, an old fisherman in the village. He The slack of the first rope was tied with a - the half-loop of the chair, while the slack of th tached to the bo¥ under his arms. - When he was ready to lower himself he let « sailor’s knot to | promised Bill Morris and his wife to keep their secret as long second was at-| as they lived. I got it from him by accident, and felt bound to See keep it, too. Now that Mrs. Morris is dead, you can go to the requi-! Bunsen and he will confirm all I have told you.” k fast again.4 “It seems incredible,” said the bewildered boy. al it Duffy took Tom iuto the cottage where his foster mother ‘ope, his lay dead with a wound in her breast. 8, and he! We will pass over the interval that elapsed until Mrs. Morris : | was laid beside her husband in the country graveyard. d . ni Old John Bunsen swore to the truth of the story of the boy’s shed it to the satis- | rescue from the sea and his adoption by the Morrises. Then he let down the chair with him If by any mischance he lost his grip ° ‘weight would be caught and sustained _ We will not follow him on his work, The job took him four days, and he With the $150 in his pocket he bade Mr. Denby is wife , foster mother’s little hoard of money, looked for it. good-by and set out for home. | He found a big earthen crock under the fidor of the bedroom » In his pocket he carried a copy of a Belfas ly with a! occupied by Mrs. Morris. Photograph of himself as he was swinging against the front of, Instead of a few hundred dollars, the boy was astonished to he cupola half way down, taken by a staff of photographers find over $10,000, the ‘savings of Morris and his wife. ym the roof of a building opposite. ‘Tom took possession of the money and placed it to his credit _ To -this was attached the newspaper story of his feat. in the bank. ‘When he reached the village he showed the paper to several | People he knew, and then hurried over to the cove. ; ing the‘place ‘up: when he, went fishing or undertook a job of As he passed down the path leading from the top of the cliff _ Steeple-jack work. ¢ Standing at the door he saw Duffy, the revenue officer, and, By this time Tom had acquired quite a reputation as a e of his men. ‘ i steeple-jack, and work fiowed in on him. His mother was not visible. : Although his young wife objected to his hazardous calling, _Tom hurried forward, with a suspicion that the officer had | Tom continued for many years to make a living by nerve, and _ gone ack on his promise and put his mother under arrest. | was known far and wide as Tom the Steeple-jack. — ; ate Duffy saw him se ae oe meet him. -are you here, Mr. Duffy?” Tom asked, aggressively, We are here by accident. Where haye you been?” e | have been in Belfast for five days attending toa steeple- * oF five dayst Then you don't know——" oe ‘SEND POSTAL : EN AND THE WALL STREET BROKERS.” “Murdered by the French smuggler, Brisson, in revenge for . OE NOR EN of the manager. -= Sere : ‘| Then Tom, feeling that he was rightfully entitled to his’ Next week's issue will contain “SAVING A MILLION; OR, oe

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— tes \ , a ) FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ~ 19 CURRENT NEWS . 3 r e _ A harmless bullet, made of a shell of chalk, has-been} The great strength of reinforced concrete telegraph ‘Invented by a Parisian physician, and it will no doubt be; poles was proved to a demonstration during the violent 7 exclusively used by French duelists. When it strikes a|storms of this winter. The Pennsylvania Railroad Com- ‘person it merely marks the spot without doing the least| pany states that this was shown in the case of their tele- injury. With a mask over the face, men can practice re-| graph lines, where a large number of reinforced concrete volver shooting at each other just as they now practice| poles were exposed to the recent heavy storm, which prac- fencing. tically isolated New York City. Though many of the wooden poles were broken down by the wind, in no case did a reinforced concrete pole fall, and this in spite of the fact that so severe was the stress that the wooden cross arms upon some of these poles were broken. They are made of Portland cement, reinforced with steel rods. They have the further advantages, in addition to their strength, that they do not rot at the ground and that they never rust as do the steel poles. - After torturing them, insurgent Moors slashed to pieces ‘Capt. Herve and a lieutenant, a fellow scout’in Herve’s aeroplane. While reconnoitering near Zenmour, Morocco, _ the plane’s motor failed. Herve skillfully and safely made a gliding descent. While the Frenchmen were repairing _ the motor, a band of Moors surprised them. In their fury .the natives destroyed the aeroplane. aq The British oil tank steamer Ashtabula, which arrived ’ from Lobitos, a town near Callao, Peru, the other day completed one of the longest, if not the longest, non-stop _ Steam voyages on record. On account of bad weather, ¥ hich forced her to round Cape Horn, instead of thread- ing the Straits of Magellan, the vessel had 10,881 miles to __ her credit when she paused to take a pilot off PEs Hook. e Ashtabula i is an oil burner. Richard. H. Terhune, a prominent manufacturer and a member of one of New Jersey’s oldest families, died of blood poisoning and hemorrhages at his home, No, 30 Maple street, Kearny, N. J., as the result of the extraction of two teeth ten days ago. Mr. Terhune suffered from a severe toothache. He went.to a dentist who pulled a tooth. After he returned home he was still in pain, and finding that two other teeth» were loose tugged away with his fingers until he had dislodged them. He began to suffer great pain three days later, and a physician found that blood poisoning had set in. There was no hope for his ry, Mr. Terhune was descended from the Sanfords, . Capt. Osear Sanford purchased that part of y known as’ Hudson and Bergen counties, or a small sum of money. Mr. Terhune “In eatieination of ineveased water trade through the ae Canal, 881,sailing, steam and unrigged vessels of! ) 215,056 gross tons were built in the United States last) _ year. Four hundred. and seventy-nine vessels were come} 2 structed on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 229 on ea: Pacific, 84-on the Great Lakes,,83 on Western rigg each in Porto Rico and Hawaii. The figures ieee report issued precntlys sig atat ington, Mee A is survived by - Mrs: Clark E. Sanborn, ‘of Buffalo, aged % & tied suicide in the rapids a short dista : falls” the other day. The woman was seen 4 . by Constable Martin on Third Sister Island = Reservation, and was taken in custody. She f t least five feet for men to be en- nk and file of the territorial forces here she was carried into an eddy. She was pUilec BRS ” pill bé one inch less than five feet. The new ith a Pee pole, but was found to be dead. an men, especially the mental history, and a history of Pa ski party from Dissigia near Vienna, was held” up! ¢ wolves in the Carpathian Mountains throughout a : nt recently. Their route lay through a forest, and ~ darkness overtook them before they reached their destina-| the man ineligible for the service. In the last year, when, owing to the uncertainty of the political situation, prepa- vy of the Austro-Hungarian forces” rations for wat included the recruiting of large numbers _ on. The wolves followed them at a distance during the| of men from. apparently underfed districts, it was noted for those men who will work in the © is or in the offices as clerks, the mini- . *% previous epileptic attacks or mental instability will make _ nee. , and becoming» more bold in the darkness en-| that persons otherwise quite healthy, did not ‘reach the — rty iy decided that it would not be safe to go any farther, alted beneath a high | rock, Then they made a fence ‘sticking their skis in the snow. The party, had re- rs and electric lanterns and we able to defend them- Ives against the attacks of the wolves, killing aeveral.of ‘of the population of 50,000,000 being under arms in tim mn. V aeyenrmned nce ng aie" eles es ides ere S about earl Re AS tion, even with the new law, the supply of men capable for service is but sparingly drawn on, not even one per cer : to rush the last man in the party. The skiing} height limit. These would be lost if the old law should — continue in force, At any rate, says the Vienna corre: spondent of the Journal of the. Amercian Medical Associa-_ Tle €

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20 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. - CHEEK AND CHANCE i TRAVELING ON HIS WITS By ED. KING sae (A SERIAL STORY) CHAPTER XXIII (Continued). “They should be punished.” } Ont fraud,” at “He h t the| “Their crimes have been expiated Jong ago. Death has shi thdees (iio! thik i pean uae te seat Tent fon wiped out the score for eternity. Leslie Markham looks to be afraid. We'll bring that gold out and. put it in trust. | fhe future.” I know a way to beat him.” “Tt is a sad and terrible story,” said. Andy, “T aman. - “Té you are not sure of that the gold is better where it| Phan myself, but I wasrbrought mite As eae is for years yet.” though my kind Sonia, was a gambler. My origin wi “Pll take the responsibility. What’s more, I'll tell you | never be known.” . a surprising fact. Leslie Markham is alive; and I know| Jason gripped Andy’s hand witha ‘sbrarige emotion. where he is!” “Andy, my lad,” he said, “chance was kind in throwing Andy gave a spasmodic cry of joy. . | }us together. “Our sympathies are akin, and may. we never “Jason!” he exclaimed. “You don’t mean it? “You be separated in friendship and companionship again.” are not joking?” #3 s “Amen!” said Andy. “But eemigy eign we are losing on “Tt is too serious a matter. Yes, I know where Leslie | time.” “Wither i is. All these years that the old doctor has been Consulting the time-table, eas cui that ‘they could - hankering for the recovery of his son, Leslie has been | get a train for Bangor within the hour. It is needless to almost within his call. He has even heen beside his father’s | say that they got it. wagon a number of times and heard him talk.” But as they boarded a forward car tre men with muffled — _ “Can this be trae?” gasped Andy. aces boarded a rear car. Andy saw them, and communi- ie: . “Tt is true!” ited this fact to Jason, who smiled:. e “But what an ungrateful and unkind hem try it;” he said, resohitely. “We are armed, 3 he not paiean his father’s heart ollow us far they will get pretty weary, I can» Sy | “Ah, for a very good reason. doubt hut that the two muffled men were. &. Sepomgatt ‘up by those who stole hi } . It did not disturb Jason in the least, F G t ° an of Cain, and hrunted for his life, 6. f iy Himg they reached Bangor. The trees were bud- _ x€ —— h@ birds singing gayly as they drove out into — fapn the way to Molunkus. é king back down. the country highway, any rsemen, and called Jason’s attention to te fact. PY only amiled grimly. i they arrived at South Molunkus they mee large : Se. les of men coming out: of the woods. . reformed and escaped the law. penalty. _ None were going in, The season was, of course, closed # ‘secure this gold, ‘place it in trust for him, and| for game, and the ae was hardly ef yet on salmon. and B de fend. his own against: this impostor Smith. We ‘trout. | be clear of all.” So it took some effort on. Jason’s ade to explain to +e! dT shall have sid executed ok oath: ‘to Dr. game and fish wardens.” ham,” said a: at | “We are simply going into the woods for recreation EES ape oat a Pee is: _ |health,” said Jason. “We intend to violate no laws. ; this is a great relief to me. “Via are a won- may devote a month or more to building our camp.” _ lov How did y you sg i to a. Tele: Mark-| This looked reasonable, and the wardens aa not eS, miickly 27 i s further. Thus: this difficulty was: removed. ; =e = i § ‘& not think he need have | with a chill of horror. “I am su é have forgiven angie: The st Fea iy 6 Possibly! ite ‘But | that i is why Leslie Mark : are arig even. to the breaking of his hea <M,

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: kudy = Tiact bade eval to civilization, and hey were in the very heart of the wilderness. ey were trailed they knew nothing of it. it’ night they made a fir shake down and drew their indiy. No human being disturbéd them: jer 1 Benen camp was made of limbs and boughs of the CHAPTER XXIV. BY. ALL ENDS WELL. oy = 8nd most logical way of conveying the gold out of the derness after they should recover it. from the head-waters of one stream to the waters of al Eeeneported out of the wilderness in bark canoes. : 7 y, carrying around rapids here and there. aterways.extended to the Penobseot. rdingly they went to work with this plan in view. mee were yet there and in good condition. But it took several days to get pitch and repair their : ng no “este 3 in digging. Now,” said Jason, when all was completed: my lad. Show me the chart.” © ions were traced again: een paces west. by compass from Suddenly Andy gave a sharp cry: ms “tags % 1s. ulated, “what is this se ae he ejac ecg ft baig soil phere. a tittle stream made a tiny wed heavy nails. been this way,” whispered Andy. er ed. He examined ‘the trail closely. ij t nor yours,” he declared. soe stones FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. to eas. other a a and it was almost a!sneered. dy drew the piece of oiled paper from ‘his atom, a sain alley were skirting the forest toward: ‘ the i re was plainly to be seen a human footprint, porting the two hundred and penal thousand dollars in American gold eegles to Panter Set 4 “We vaults. sa Leslie Markham: If it is those “Very well. We have nothing to: fear. only a compass for guide plunged into the deep woods. |two dogs, Smith and Oxley, we can stand them off.” So they kept on. In due time they reached the very mound which Andy had Jocated once before. Jason sank the pick in the needle-covered soil and loos- ts about them. With a fire at their feet they slept |ened the surface. Then he began work with the spade. He was strong and made the dirt fly. Andy kept watch A week was consumed in reaching Moose creek. Here |the while with his revolver in readiness. Suddenly Jason’s spade struck something solid. “Tt’s here!” he cried. A moment later the splintering of wood followed. Then he lifted a small canvas bag and placed it outside the trench. One after another of these bags he brought to the surface. At length the Jast one wis recovered, and he sprang out of the excavation. There was a large and exceed nary: Of f course the fortune’seekers had to consider the easiest | heavy heap of the bags of gold. Andy’s eyes were like saucers. He saw that some of them were marked one thousand dollars, some five thousand. dol- making a series of carries of a few miles here and jlars, and various sums. 21 “Now,” said J ans, “the question is how are we to “get as s, it was figured out by Jason that the gold could be |them to the canoe.’ This seemed a problem. While they were considering it Darius Smith. f The first looked amazement and covetousness, the second noes which Andy had brought into the region a}wore an ugly sneer upon his face. Jason and Andy dis- he iz “Your little game is about ended. So this is - played their revolvers. Smith was the first to speak. “JT thought we would succeed in cornering you,” where you have had Dr. Markham’s gold hidden, eh? The + rotten gains. k ceremony the two rascals turned and disap-— e forest. Andy was puzzled by their eqadesl mly smiled and said: ‘e i seen the last of them.” - jes overcome by Andy and Jason in trans- safely into bank’ There prntheg -five amend acta was: placed to. ‘Andyo laccount. The balance was held subject to the order of “Tt | Leslie Markham. “Now,” cried. Andy, «it is for “you, Jason, to: b i to claim bisown.” = “He Mid at ‘the Se rig ie$ atten phe A fine pair of rascals you — Take them to the i heir will then put in his claim, — aa tags: ri s proved, ‘this, It is mnnecessary to “Swell up- oe the Penobscot it would be easy to float to Old-ja heavy footstep crunched in the undergrowth and two. A system |men emerged to view. One was Oxley and the other was A vy aay

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CAUGHT AFTER EIGHT YEARS. For almost eight years John Sullivan, parole violator from the Joliet State Prison, Ill.; has wandered from city to city as a vagrant, serving short terms in many jails. He was arrested in Oregon and identified by his photo- graph by Detective Pat Moloney. Illinois authorities have been hunting him since May 22, 190§. Moloney and Detective Swennes came upon Sullivan at Third and Stark streets, Portland, Oreg., and took him into custody as a vagrant. At headquarters Moloney iden- tified him. “Td just as soon go back,” said Sullivan. “I’ve been in every jail in the United States, I guess, and I might’ as well take up my permanent abode at Joliet, where I know most of the boys.” Sullivan was sent to prison for a definite term from Chicago on Feb. 26, 1903, for burglary, and in 1906 he was paroled. On his first opportunity he disappeared. The Joliet authorities were notified immediately, and an agent was sent for aa: _AMUNDSEN NEEDS $200,000. Private reports from Christiahia, received at Washing- ton, are to the effect that Capt. Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer, must have $200,000 before he can equip his proposed polar expedition. Explorers and scien- tists here express the belief that it will be practically im- possible to raise the required sum. - The reports from Christiania said that Capt. pate: sen’s ship, the Fram, after completing repairs at Monte- video, would sail for Norway, the plan being forther to "> Teave there and pass through the Panama Canal to the Pacific coast early in 1915, provided that $200, 000 could be raised before that time. y _. The National Geographic Society recently d ae $20,000 for the Amundsen groedit ion. ‘uled to leave the Pacific coast next year to e3 plor e tl vast polar tract between Northern Canada, Alaska “and “Asia, including the North Pole. It is expected that the woyage’ would require ‘at least four years in Bes Polar ice, lm & : “SMOKE CLOUDS TO PREVENT FROST. The first thought would be, when mention is made of a ef making artificial clouds, that the purpose for such things would be to secure shade, but that is not the idea at all— Artificial clouds are made as a preventive against frost. _ This idea has really been taken up and successful ex- = periments ‘made in the cold mountainous regions of _ Europe, where people depend entirely upon certain crops and where sudden frosts are very likely to occur. The clouds are not made of vaporized water, of course, of ina mean 6 it is ane dense smoke and hangs FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. FACTS WORTH READING + The smoke clouds are produced by tar, resin or petro- leum, according to the abundance of the ‘particular prod- — uct in the locality where it happens to be needed. The success of the system is said to depend entirely on» the promptitude of its application, in which case resulted are immediate. Vats of tar, or whatever the substance to be used may be, must be at hand at the various points necessary, and immediately upon a significant fall in tem- perature the laborers must be instructed to produce the cloud by the application of slowly kindling fire to the su stance at hand. A system has been perfected for use over large areas by which one man can fire “a line of vats. The explosion is produced by: means of a wire. oo VALUE OF TEMPERANCE IN BASEBALL. The value of temperance cannot be better shown than by a study of the careers of baseball players in the major leagues. An examination of the records for the past ten years reveals that the athletes who abstained from the use _ of intoxicants are the men who lasted longest in the game, were the most famous and were the most successful from a finartcial viewpoint. In order to make a comparison, a baseball expert has examined the records of thirty players who were total abstainers and of thirty others whom he ~- knew to be drinkers—not necessarily drunkards, but men ~ who were “moderate” drinkers. “He began with the ‘year 1904, when the'sixty players selected were all in the major — leagtes. Four years later, in 1908,‘only nine of the drink- ing, while twenty-one of the abstainers were still playing. _ In 1909 only four of the drinkers’ remained,’ compared to. sixteen of the abstainers. This year, ten years later, only two of the drinkers, of whom one has quit drinking, re-" | main, while eight of the non-drinkers are major leaguers. Other statistics bring out the , point even better. Of. heat ‘thirty drinkers. eight are “down and out,” five are living, but have all they can do to get along, three are prosperous, 2s and two of them are playing yet, nine are dead and five are : amaccounted for. Of the thirty non-drinkers only ‘one is “down and out,” nine have to work hard for their living, sixteen are prosperous, two are dead and only two are un- accounted for. The cause:of the deaths of all players” who are not living could not be: aseertained, but it was learned that of the two non-drinkers who died one suc-— cumbed to appendicitis and the other to pneumonia. - Of the drinkers, four died from kidney diseases, one from consumption, otie from suicide, one in an accident and two died mysteriously. In « similar manner it may be shown that the temperate players in virtually every case were t} famous athletes and also the men who were popular am: the fans—the real baseball enthusiasts, not the “ oe who think a player must be a “good fellow.” The‘ the “good fellow” in athletics is past. Christie son, Napoleon Lajoie, Eddie Plank and Hans. W: are, sufficient evidence to prove it, even: race the u use se of

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. _ TEN- DAY ISLAND. he es THE SECRET OF OLD 33 | By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY) > * : CHAPTER XIII (Continued). Joe was so scared that he almost dropped off his percli. _ As John Jacks looked up he saw that they had discov- &: ied. the giant at last. = ‘There he was, perched in the i above them, a. negro _ over six feet high, with enormous feet, and the longest arms ever seen on a man. _ He was. bareheaded and dressed in “rags, but he had on 1 pair of great flat-soled shoes which had made the big buried under that sand.” ootprints in the sand. — “What’s that beyond the sand?” exclaimed Joe. “Looks | ‘The morning wore on, and the tide began to fall at _ “Hello, who are you?” cried John’ Jacks. ike a stick bobbing up and down.” last, and the wind seemed to go down with it. A great change had come over Ten Day Island. ~ The biggest part of it had disappeared ‘entirely. Over near the cove the boys could see the sand heaped up-in great piles, as it had not been before. “This ends our chance of getting the chests forever, Joe,” remarked John Jacks. “I have no doubt they are Bree aal, Tm Crsar,” replied the giant. “Don’ yo’ go “Why, T’ll be blest if it isn’t a mast!” cried John Jacks, 5 or to do a thing te me, ign ba ? I won’t do a thing to | who had not seen it before. “It must be some sailboat yo ise.” washed ashore. Come, let’s get over ied and have a vidently - Cesar was be Maes a he as he was a man. look; the water is pretty well down now.’ : ow can we ‘hart you?” said John Jacks. “We are in ase the simple, followed -them full of excitement. 5 . same boat you are, . Tell us all about it, Cesar, who} he high sand piles hid the craft from view, but when ou are and. any you came here. You needn't be afraid they got out upon a point of land newly formed by the ax, sea, and were able to look out beyond the sand piles, there lay a neat. little fishing boat over on its vee) half in att water and half buried in the sand. xt limbing. aip into the higher branches of the tree then, ! boys had their minds diverted from the danger of eir situation by listening to Cwsar’s story. — - was simple enough. The negro belonged in New ns, and had shipped as a cook on board.a schooner ind for New York, which had been wrecked off Hat- in the storm of the night before. hands were lost, according to Cesar, for the nite saree 2 up and went down all in a moment. company with thg mate and two sailors, Cokat7 man- get into one of the boats, which was swamped: in surf, drowning the mate and the sailors. mehow Czsar managed to get ashore.) Tater he ed up a bag of bread, a keg of water, a lantern, and ne other things, whieh had been in the boat. ad not seen the boys and Susie land on the island, — the treetop' at the time, and when at last r the boys, he felt afraid 0 we CHAPTER XIV. DISCOVERIES, The first dian overy was Cypsar, and now there’ was an * - other following close upon the darky’s big heels. pes The discovery of Cxsar worried John J Tacks not a little ‘at the start, for he kept thinking what was to be done about “the big fellow in éase they were fortunate enough to find that’ the chest had not shifted its position, but after he came to be a little better acquainted, he arrived - at the conelusion that he did not mind the giant any: more than be would a big dog. i TF “Dat am what we want! Dat am wid we wint t: New G.* we can go Norf!” bawled Crsar, as soon as they caught ot . sight of ‘the sloop-rigged fishing boat. i 3 How to ny out to ens sloop ¥ was ‘the sigh ows j ever. lem, for some ves of colored t to show that’ — onthe s mS d to repeeg com Ba

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4 FAME. AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. | ——_ - @ inlet had formed, and through both these openings. the| John Jacks went cakes about, it, but at the aoe be, tide was running swiftly. against a snag. _ John Jacks did not take in exactly what it-<meant at} The chests-proyed io be immensely; sheayy. ‘ z first, but when he did he saw that he had made a new dis-| The one they had tackled’first was the lightest of at "covery. ‘but none of these could they budge dhe inch, — , The storm, instead of being their enemy, was undoubt- they tried the rope upon each one in turn. edly their friend. _ “This is where Cesar is going to come in!” said John The wayes could no longer wash into the cove, and the}Jacks, giving it up at last.’ “We nee nie helps consequence was, now ‘that the tide ‘Was o1t the ebb, the} Joe.” ; cove was rapidly being drained. “That’s what we do. Cant mttage them ats no Wa » “Hooray!” shouted John Jacks. “Why, look, Joe! ‘a without him. Let’s open one, Johnny. I’m just crazy to : “a few moments we are going to have dry land there in the| see what there is inside.” eet cove!” “There should be eight of the chests altogether, acco: de = Cesar had run out to the end of the point. He cared] ing to the paper,” mused John Jacks. “I suppose om 16: ancy nothing aboyt the state of affairs in the cove, his interest has gone to pieces, and that’s where the gold came fror ‘ all Jay in the’ sloop. which I found on the sand. No, we won't open them yet, — 4 While the boys were talking, he slipped off his ‘clothes, | Joe, I’m afraid we are going to have trouble with Comte _ plunged into the water, and struck right out. for the little} when he comes to see the gold.” 7 _. eraft, swimming with a strong, powerful stroke, which was “Here he comes... By gracious, he has got, the sloop!” aye a pleasure to see. cried. Joe. “Say! he'll go off with the sloop!” cried Joe. “What|~ ‘Phe little ‘craft Was just coming into view around or 4 are we going to do?” point, Cesar had run a sail ap and was. handling the ie ‘We can’t do anything about it if he does,” replied! tilier like an ‘expert. 4 eee | John Jacks. “T'lere doesn’t seem to be any one on board,| Hoe" waved his hand to the bays, and they hurried ont and, of course, it would be a fine thing for us to load it} on the point to meet him. RRS Senki with the treasure and light out of here altogether, “Hooray! Hain’t nobody abo’d, ae dey's’ ite of grubs: : __. but we can do nothing about it. I trust Cwsar, though.| Must have broke loose and drifted away from somewhar, — . He seems to be a harmless fellow august ang I believe} {t will ca’y all ob us, all right. Hain’t no call for us to he will bring the boat ashore.” * -“bstay on dis yere God-forsaken island no longer now.’ Sag .. Phe boys now hurried down to. the cove to see what! “Work into that little, cove down there, and we will “had become of the chests. Jae Before they had quite reached it, Joe sung out that Se they were up against another discovery. *“Look at them! Look at them!” he cried. “They are lying all around! They i Rene washed 7 out of coe the sand by the storm!” RE fe oa ' It was really wonderful. _ } oe - If John Jacks and Joe had ee their time to visit ; eg “Ten Day Island to hunt for sacha treasure, they could not is have chosen it better. What they wonld have ae it next to impossible to do for themselves even with! a ENS suit, the storm had : done for them. Where water had been was now dry land, and thisee: lay “as great wooden chests like the one they ‘had: discovered ~ in the first place, -and this one, by the way, had not been ; s eeala: but — ‘Tay on its side gl as er tet left it, as up on the beach, 3 * Joe was so ovineatne with euitiigaat at this remarkable discovery that he could scarcely speak. _ “Johnny, that will make your rich!” he ae “Gee! ron’t know a fellow when you ‘get all that money in pocket! I won't k be in it with you then fe ert sy John Jacks was trembling with excitement. Mii! ae 1 fortune to be suddenly thrown into his hands? ever do get the upper hand of him,” he muttered, | as I tell ‘yon, and I'll make you rich.” him no mercy, never sh ae to ial — “Rich Y ariod the giant. “What’ ft want = in ie |.Gib ole Cesar plenty ob grub an’ * ses uC wy dat all he wants ; but I Pu | come and have a look at your boat, Cawsar!” John Jacks § called out. “We have found something to show. you, eee : something that will make you open your eyes.’ es” “What am it, boss?” roared the darky, opening his eyes. a right then: em “Wait till you see,” replied. as Fuclce, and they Io é ried on to meet Cesar and his prize. : The sloop proved to be a new ‘one, and: a most excellent craft in its way. it The name painted on its stern was ‘the “Pigeon,” and: the place was Doyletown, a. settlement some miles pia Wareton. Vet ae There was a large cabin aft, and plenty of storage sha: forward for the chests.’ If the Pigeon had been built on purpose: to fly ay with the treasure, it could not have suited the situa: ‘better, #, “It’s just what we want!” exclaimed J ohn Jiao “Now Cesar, we will leave it here a, while. Take that ax, -on your clothes, and come along with me.” r “But wharggill we go, boss?” asked the giant ting to hind@gvorking up the coast to. Virginny? 1 heard tell dat nfggahs do powerful well in Virginny “We'll, go ‘where you will be all tight, ‘atiyhow, plied John Jacks. “You stick to. re Ciesar, an j C4

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Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players z ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY 3 BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESIGNS New portraits of actors and actresses every week - plays. a wn A I Mat AOR a - PEST Bu PR ee 5 rig Pea SBE } you the latest number issued | 168 West 23d Street depots. and to be held in reserve for the navy if eded have been awarded to the Maryland Steel Com- y, of Sparrows Point, Md. Each collier will have a "he anthorities have succeeded in arresting a wild man ada, for many weeks.. He was caught as he was slipping | : a shack in which he lived. Officers were compelled to} “over twenty-six miles of road in an effort to get him the jail and then to repeat the performance when he ed a returned i his hut. Hp soldier in the seit army more i aie years and killed himself in Danyille,gMfo., where he ecently moved. He was eighty-four years old. About E Ts ago Detoul had a carpenter here make for him ¢ coffin, which he kept under his counter,’ He took 1 showing the coffin to customers. Detoul tried : elf a number of times, saying Me was too old. a a aegetin Income detached Ww a as ing down oe ni siuber FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY WE WANT YOU TO READ “WVioving Picture Stories” EPRICE 5 Cente ” COPY & EVERY NUMBER CONTAINS Six Gripping Stories, based on the latest and best films, each profusely illustrated with fine half-tones of scenes in the _ Photographs and Biographies of the most celebrated Photoplay actors and actresses, Special Articles relating to Moving Pictures, written by the greatest authorities in the film business. | News Notes from the studios about the doings of everybody of prominence connected with the Photoplays. _ Scenario Hints and the names of all the companies who may buy the plays you write. - Poems, Jingles, Jests and every bright feature calculated to interest both young and old. GET A COPY NOW from your newsdealer, or send us 5 FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher rho has terrorized the settlers in Western Ontario, Soil ‘every year, it is safe to say that, the Ls Ragin ar pps veer Absolutely the finest little publication on the news-stands ts THIRTY-TWO PAGES . FINE HALF-TONE FRONTISPIECES Geta copy of this weekly magazine and see what itis cents in money or postage stamps, and we will mail New York of farms and cottages have been blotted out and the high- roads from Brive and Lanteuil, France, have been de- stroyed for more than half a mile. Heavy rumblings in- dicate that the mass is gaining impétus and the inhabi- tants are fleeing from their homes. A gigantic sunfish which was caught off the California coast by D. H. Barton has been added to the American ©! Museum of Natural History, at New York. In addition to being a monster of its species, it was so old. that on its back there were wrinkles, composed of folds of skin which had grown together, leaving the surface of the skin quite smooth. ‘The fish was 10 feet long and 11 feet high, but was not weighed. However, it is estimated that it weighed . a ton. —_— } * Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, was for — many years the site of one of the most famous meteoro- logical observatories in the world, and the discontinuance of this institution, as.a result of the, withdrawal of govern- - ment support, was regarded by meteorologists as a serious calamity. Now it is reported that the site of the observa- ‘tory is to be occupied by a tourist hotel, connected with — | the base of the mountain by a railroad. As, even without the railway, Ben Nevis is climbed by some 15, 000 PA : 2

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art 1 ip Panama Pacific hinges NEW YORK, MAY 8, 1914. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Postag Bh, oe TO SEND MONEY—aw our risk send P.O. Money Order, Check red Letter; remittances in any other wa “er are at your risk. We accept Postage sg hen cond ing silver wrap the Coin in a ssparate piece of paper to avoid cutting the enyel- ope. Write your name and address plainly. Address letters to ay paar a { Frank Tousey, Publisher : 168 West 23d St., N. Y. Hawsixes, Cuas, B NrLaxpes, Secretary tamps the same as cash. BRIEF BUT POINTED ITEMS Dr, Henry S. Tanner, of Los Angeles, Cal.,/ who ‘years ago gained fame by fasting for forty days, declares that the simple life is the only one for him. Dr. Tanner, who is eighty-five years old, is now living on ten cents a day to prove that not only is it possible to do so with comfort, but - a person’s health is benefited by a fruit-and-nut diet, ‘According toa ruling of the ‘senior | class of the Oregon Normal. School,, the } material for tHe girls’ graduating dresses must not exceed $5, and the men’s apparel must be proportionately reduced in cost. Girls who make their own dresses thus will prevent the dressmaker’s bill and further reduce expenses. A class of seventy, the largest in_years, will graduate in June, and it is estimated that tlie action just taken will afford all the members a saving of approximately $500. A‘system of wireless telegraph is ingeniously worked by the porters of hotels in yarious European cities. position, or angle, marked by the way in Which a label is pasted on a guest’s baggage indicates whether the owner is accustomed to tipping. For instance, if the upper left- hand. corner of the label points downward, he is generous ; if the label is straightly placed, the side parallel with the - Sides of the trunk, he is a mean fellow, averse to tipping, and on him special attention would be wasted. He’s a poe! . \ Basiters who frequent the Joh ‘Schray woods, five miles - northwest of Lansing, Mich., have often noticed ‘a railroad i tie growing into an elm tree, and have marveled at the freak and wondered how it became in the tree. Recentl f _it developed that it was placed in the erotch thirty-five rs ago by Henry Neller, who, when a youth in a test of = - strength with other young farmers, chucked the tie in al crotch of the elm, which was then a sapling. The elm is w twenty inches through and so tightly has its bark “grown over the tie, that it could not be removed. in > United States, will not be exhibited as such in the _ The s Schooner has been sold floati FAME AND FORTUNE WEERLY. Fame and Fortune Weekly the schooner left Portland Me., in omega of Mrs. The} he j farbne: ‘schooner’ Hiram, the sion oldest vessel | [itera “But what Contes shea re 2 won a A Vt os ; i S i = q George Orr, the only woman captain regularly engaged ini — coastwise traffic, it was planned to make the trip to San ~ Francisco through the Panama Canal and place the» ninety-five- year-old eraft. on exhibition in ‘the Panama- Pacific Exposition, but the idea has fallen through: and the | gallant old schooner which has seen more service than any other schooner sailing the. seas..will end her days as a gasolene supplying boat, Her sails will be stripped off and she will be but a skeleton of the handsome schooner yore. She was tied up at Widegery wharf, in Portlant for many years and attracted considerable attentio Capt. Mrs. Orr and her family always lived on board of the Hiram, and they generally kept a large flock of h on board. For many years the schooner, which was buil in Biddeford, has been engaged in carrying lumber from Maine ports to Boston. Her crew consisted of Mrs. Orr; ~ her husband, their daughter and one sailor. It:is said the~ schooner sold for oN 3 JOKES AND JESTS. Cholly—Give me a kiss, sweetheart. Marie—I’m afraid to; the parrot is looking. The Parrot—Oh, go ahead and cise her; [' turn my head. ee : og ke “Those folks in the next flat are awfully pretentious. s “Are they?” “Yes. She pretends she sends her visiting card over—two middle names on it—when she wants to borrow butter.” District Visitor (to old orn) Wig? ‘Mrs: Malage, haven’t you seen a doctor? Mrs. Malage—Why, ma’am, — my husband don’t hold with no doctors. He do say Pd better die a natural death.” ieee Teacher—What is it that you have drawn on your slate, Willie? “Small Willic—It’s a picture of a house, Teaclier - —What is a house used. for? Small Willie—For a mar ried man to keep his wife in. 5 Strawber—Clubberly rather gave himself away when | he went to church with Miss Summit the other day. Singerly—What did he do? Strawber—He wanted the usher to check his hat and coat. ; + Auntie—Don’t you ‘know, Bobbie; that it’s very bad manners to put your knife ig your mouth? Bobbie- - Don’t your think, Auntie, that it’s very bad manners to. stare at your guests when they’re eating? 4 “They say,” Bey an Miss 'T'witters, “that thei is a. foo . ‘in every. family. Do you believe it, Mr. Saunders?* “Well, er—I_ hardly know,” stammered Saunders. | “You See, T am the only TITRE, of our saeeily. #3 in Daiting will. you marry me ” “This is is ‘So 0 sud Why, you old confirmed ‘bachelor, when did you ever the idea that you ought to. get married: ioe “T decid Rte Seas

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THE GIRL SPY. ae as - By John Sherman drowsy day in the early autumn, when everything, e sleepy sighing of the scarcely preceptible breeze e doleful and monotonous chirping of the crickets, to woo the senses to slumber with a solicitation be easily resisted, particularly if one were inactive, y Merril! fell asleep in an easychair, behind the cur- n of young Mr. Alexander Madhurst’s: alcove smoking “Madhurst House,” as the old country residence was ied, had been the home of the Madhurst family almost | a time “whereof the memory of man runneth not;” Ht least the old stock of the past generations had resided ere ever since the days of Oliver Cromwell, and long efore that, if traditions. faithfully handed down from " her to son were to be credited. to the formation of the incongruous pile. €tn improvements”—as the advertisements say—was Mr. the family, who, by the way, was a young and handsome achelor, possessed of a fair fortune, and consequently onsi dered by managing mammas as their legitimate prey t is to say, provided Providence had blessed them or ‘wise given them marriageable daughters. : Mase House was located in one of the most pleasant En; sland’s shires, and the fortune of the young man who wned it seemed indeed ‘tobe a desirable one. But who was Gerty Merrill ?” I asked, as the detective was relating this narrative paused. | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 27 of One thing was noticeable. during my sojourn at Mad- _ burst, and that was that there were no mysterious thefts while I remained there. More than one night, unknown to Mr. Madhurst him- self, I watched his room all night long, but nothing oe- curred to give me the least clew to the solution of the mystery. At the expiration of a week, business catled me back to London, and I confess I was not a little crestfallen at my failure in a case regarding which I had been so san- guine of success. The day I left Mr. Madhurst, one of the female ser- vanis of the house—a chambermaid—had given notice that she was about to be married, and would no longer continue in his employ. Mr. Madhurst had casually mentioned that he should at once advertise in the London “Times” for a somata to fill her place. I determined that Gerty Merrill should, if = se- ¥ ‘From time to time the different occupants of Madhurst |cure the place. douse had added additions to the old homestead, until | I thoroughly posted her regarding the capbtdey which almost everyptonceivable style of architecture contributed |she was to attempt to solve; and, sure enough, Mr. Mad- hurst’s advertisement appeared, and my quick-witted as- : The present occupant | of the ancient edifice, “with mod-|sistant managed to secure the situation. For some time no more mysterious thefts icra at Alexander Madhurst, the sole surviving representative of |Madhurst House, and Girty Merrill, who reported to me by - letter, had nothing of much importance to communicate. ' The rest of the story I will give you mostly in Gerty Merrill’s own words. “A certain young gentleman—a German student, called ‘Max Hertzhoff, who resided that summer with his uncle in the little village of Andover, which was Mr. Mad- hurst’s postoffice address—had made Madhurst’s acquain- tance, and become a frequent visitor at the old home- stead. From the first time I met the German student, as I did “Ah, yes. : I must tell you something about that young soon after I entered,Mr. Madhurst’s service, he impressed before T proceed any further. The young lady in n, though barely “turned eighteen, was one of the roficient and successful female attaches of the Scot- Yard detective service at’ the time of which I am ing you, though now she is—well, never mind what she » near getting ahead of my story. You will know T’ve finished, however, so to proceed with the sequence of events as they transpired. day in summer, a couple of months preceding the le day when “the gir! spy” fell asleep behind the of the alcove at Madhurst House, Mr. Alexander it called ees me for professional advice and as- om a rather’ old tied and this. was. its substance : some months past,” said he, “I have lost consid- | urs of money ‘from my sleeping room. You may » quite naturally, that I don’t keep a great deal of ‘about me, but I usually have at least ae pounds pocketbook for cutrent expenses. ing” home this very day, and I wish irs could me and begin your investigation at once, for T}. pyead:sexyicce: Samy OAbe 24 Epes st curtain of Mr. Madhurst’s smoking room—that drowsy S jeutumnel day—was a time _— x Sueae an unexpected self tien you shall hear, ee: me as men have seldom done. I soon found out that Hartzhoff was a student of psychology, a chemist, and a general dabbler in occult mysteries, which’ have ever found their devotees. among the students of the German universities. Moreover, I was not long in learning that Hertzhoff pos- sessed a great deal of influence over My. Madhurst—such as an iron will often gains over the possessor of a weaker one, when by association the opportunity to dequire men- tal ascendency i is presented, as it was in this case. Mr. Madhurst was, I am sure, at this time. entirely un-— conscious of the power which Hertzhoil had acquired over him. - It then suddenly flashed upon my mind that the Ger- man might, in some way, be, connected with the mystery which I was seeking to solve. T/ determined that Mr. Hertzhoff should be the object of my especial surveillance, and from that moment, when- eyer he visited Madhurst House, I kept my eye on him as much as possible. ‘Whe day I fell asleep in the arwohait behind the alcove

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tain, there was no one in the alcove. a start, I heard the sound of voices. I peered from behind the curtain without leaving the| volver, when, to my chagrin, I discovered that I haa@ care- chair, and saw Mr. Madhurst and Mr. Hertzhoff. The latter was speaking earnestly to Madhurst. I listened, for the first words that reached my ears were such as to chain my attention, “Then you will not let me have the loan?” said Hertz- hoff. “T cannot, at this time, Hertzhoff. I have invested largely in mining enterprises, and the numerous mysteri- ous, thefts, of which I have told you, have materially de- ereased the amount of ready money at my command just he wow,” answered Madhurst. , “I don’t know what I shall do then, I am sure; the debt is-one of honor—a gambling debt—and I promised that it should he paid this week; I was almost sure that you ~. could and would accommodate me,” replied Hertzhoff. “I assure you I am sorry that it is not in my power to assist you just at this time. If you could wait until next month, perhaps I could Jet you have the amount you re- quire, although even then it. would be an inconvenience to myself,” Madhurst went on. : “The delay would be fatal. I must strive to secure the loan elsewhere. My father, you know, is ignorant of my _ passion for the gambling table, and were I to solicit him to advance’ the money I require it would be necessary to reveal the truth. In that case he would probably be en- Taged at the knowledge, and refuse to serve me. I think 1 shall try the Shylocks of the city as a last resort.’ During this conversation the German student had kept his. eyes upon the face of his companion, and now, in “amazement I -beheld Mr. Madhurst’s face growing very _ pale, while gradually his head sank down upon his breast, » and his eyes closed’ as though he had snddenly fallen i, : wee a The German regarded Madhurst, with a look of exulta- ora » over the.face of the seemingly sleeping man. The result of this strange proceeding was at once to EE Nica cause Mr. Madhurst to breathe heavily, and there could - now be no doubt that he was completely oblivious to all ._ his surroundings, «The German: glanced ioe: the room. : 2 chair, ~ He drew toi his. bosom a diriite—such = sailors 3 5 Me. Pas Tt fi recovers now ru il him?” hissed Hertof. “Now, then, a search the. dxawer,”: the iGertesn: went He strode to the far-end of the alcove, out of my sight, i him prying open the drawer ot _ “Mad-} FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, When I awoke, with : Arising, after a moment, he made some strange passes The wey Once: of the. serge chained me to my|- But. Madhursi’s senses were enchained. P _| fessed that he had compelled Madhurst to steal “Now to escape!” he went on. 4 “I must stop him,” I thought; and I felt for my re lessly left it in my room. He was gone in a moment. I sprang to Mr. Madhurst’s side, st aroused ‘oe n by | dashing a glass of ice-water in his face. ; The young man sprang to his feet. ? “Mr. Madhurst, you have been victimized ies a aert scoundrel, who possesses the power to mesmerize y After putting you into a mesmeric trance, as he did ju now, your esteemed friend, Max Hertzhoff, forced opel yonder desk and possessed himself of some paper which from his exultation in securing it, is, I _Suppose;} ¢ value,” I said. Madhurst rushed to the desk. ,; Hurriedly he examined the contents of ‘the’ iki which had been tossed about in-considerable confusion. ~ While he was engaged in searching the desk, I said: “I must now jritroduce myself to you in my proper character! Iam a detective, one of Mr. L—~’s staff, and_ he sent me here to investigate the'mystery which he failed to solve before business called him back to the city.” Mr. Madhurst was surprised “and gratified at the same time. z In a few moments: he had asiseal the search ‘of ee desk, hi “J find that a check for fivé hundred pounds, which I had drawn up in favor of a creditor of mine whe wae to call upon me to-day, and which is payable by my Lor . don banker to bearer, is missing,” Mr. Madhurst said. : “Not a moment must be lost, Telegraph to your bank- er that the check has been ia a and warn him not to pay it,’ I advised. \ : Horses were brought from the stable, and’ in a few min- = utes we were riding rapidly on our way to the village. — While Mr. Madhurst was sending his dispatch, I routed out the constable and proceeded to Mr. Hertzhoff’s abode. The gentleman we wanted was’ not to be found, ‘but 2 farmer’s boy whom we met stated that he had just p 2 a gentleman on horseback beyond the village bes ae : swered to Mr! Hertzhoff’s description. oa eal We—that is to say, the constable and wey down the country road. We had not proceeded far, when we sae a deep gre from the roadside, and we saw Max Hertzhoff lying the with a broken leg, as we soon discovered, Roh TFs He had been, thrown from his horse. _ We found the stolen check in his possession. The man ‘made no remark save to curse us oo He was conveyed io the village jail, and. finally. con Pigs self, That is to say, during the many oe intimacy he had acquired such. complete m over Madburst, that the latter, when he wille bring his ready cash to him in the dead of

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bullet speeding ai a rate of 3,000 feet a second, which re‘ than 2,000 miles an hour, makes a great distur- in the atmosphere and creates air waves which, of e; are invisible to the naked eye. Attempts which been made io take photographs of bullets going at speed have been unsuccessful, hut scientists are still img. Jf a photograph could be taken, ‘they say, the ' puyats probably show a space like a body of water ked “by what looked like speeding water-bugs, each ving a ripple in its wake. Photographs of a bullet going a rate of speed less than 1,200 feet a second show no Waves at all. But anything eutting through the air at greater rate than this causes much disturbance. If you Taw a stick through the water it. causes little eddies and to-trail behind it. The faster you draw the stick the waves and wider the angle it will leave. Just so with automobiles a carriages sitacbed! to their dened s to the private use of SEER as and their families y induced Senator Martin, of Virginia, chairman of ommittee on Appropriations, to inquire into the mat- The codified information he received showed that the ernment of the United States and of the District of bia, owned in all 341. passenger motor vehicles and horse-drawn passenger carriages of various kinds. of these yelticles were explained as being for the olficial to move about. Many of the vehicles, are used, how- rat odd. times by the families of officials. . For Secre- ‘State Bryan three vehicles have been provided, a surrey and a brougham at a total cost of $2,000. , Mr. ‘Bryans memorandum explained, | was an average si $666. 66 a vehicle, The total cost of the motor icles listed. was $404, 637.35. The total cost of horse- sy especially appropriated for the purpose, but Secre- ’ of Labor Wilson reported that he had bought an 3 of his department. ‘team’ ‘of dogs ibeiabesa to a sisi as the the “Arctic and> Autavetic dire accustomed to for only an expert. “For a person who has} : of dog driving to be seated in a sledge irteen dogs would be rae a ess a edlahod| i a of the oificers of the Government whose duties require carriages was $452,362.94 Many of them are of warden slept. - . e model. Most of these vehicles were bought with imilding a guard was on patrol with a rifle, but failed to. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. __ 99 GOOD READING ordinary dog team consists of twelve working dogs and a leader. The duty of the latter is to obey the word of com- mand and to pick out the best going. ‘The sledge has one trace, made of a rope tapering toward its forward end, which is formed into a loop through which the harness toggles of the leader and the first pair of working dogs are — passed. At distances of four and a half feet along the trace loops are spliced into the main trace, and a pair of dogs pull from each loop on opposite sides. Dog harness is much like the breast harness of a horse. It is made’ of the cotton’ webbing used for driving reins. The harness ends in an easily running swivel, which is joined to the toggle by about ‘eighteen “inches of chrome leather thong. Mr. Meares says dogs thoroughly enjoy pulling, and he has known a dog who thought that his team mate was fot . working hard enough jump over the main trace, give the lazy dog a good nip and jump back to his place without losing a stride. ‘Frank G. Hohl, the burglar who robbed the Union Bank, Altoona, Pa., March 23 last of near $3,000, and is also charged with committing thefts as an auto bandit “in Pittsburgh, escaped from the county. jail early the other morning. Hohl got out through a small. ventilator win- dow six feet above the floor of his cell. He removed his clothing, soaped his body and squeezed through the small — 3 ‘opening but five and seven-eighths inches wide and ‘three feet long. “Before crawling through the epening. he threw his clothes out on the roof and also a rope which he made by cutting the mattress and bed-clothes to pieces and splie- — s ing them. Once onthe roof, he dressed in his blue serge suit, golf cap and slippers.. He tied an end of his self- miide rope around the chimney and dropped the rest of it ly EN eee eta ee ey = oF ~ i$ down: the side of the building, using it as.a ladder. In — fae his descent he scaled by the window of the room where the see. the “fugitive. When the janitor arrived the rope was dangling from the side of the huilding and a strong light bile for about $1,600, ch urging it to the contingent thrown into the prisoner's cell from the stained glass win-_ ies ey 2 : z _| dow, broken away, told the story of his flight. Warden ‘| Biddle talked with Hohl at 11 o’clock the previous night jend saw nothing to arouse suspecion. ‘trace of Hob! have failed) He had confessed to the bank burglary and was to receive ‘sentence. ported that he saw a man answering Hohl’s. description amaking for the mountains inthe southern end of the county aud the sheriff and: a. — started: in Ned 4009 ‘ing trial was eakiaoke ‘The ‘Union ‘Babi bored the noon hour by a masked bandit, ‘In the jail yard at the other side of the — z All efforts to get — é A railroader Te- z

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te A) ee ena 9s les ll ™ a 4 ~ 3 ~ A ae 4 4 . ca = eat art ‘ 80 FAME AND FORTUNE ner ARTICLES OF ALL KINDS fee SKELETON OF MONSTER ELEPHANT FOUND. The practically complete skeleton of a prehistoric ele- phant was found in La Brea fossil fields near Los Angeles, Cal. “The animal, in life, was more than sixteen feet long,” said Frank S. Daggett, director of the Southwest Museum. “It stood fourteen feet high and the tusks are * sixteen feet long.” MANY FRENCH SOLDIERS SICK. Since last fall health conditions have been bad in the French aymy. Epidemics of typhoid. fever and other con- tagious diseases have raged among the conscripts, the situation at Jast becoming sufficiently serious for the Chamber of Deputies to appoint Dr. Lachaud, one of their oWn number, to conduct ‘an exhaustive inquiry. His re- port has just been submitted to his colleagues. It contains much food for thought for army authorities in the United States and other countries, as well as those of France. Dr. Lachaud found that most of the barracks were con- structed along old-fashioned lines, were ilk ventilated and generally unhygienic. should be. radically changed, and preaches the gospel of fresh air and sunshine, which is only just beginning to be understood in France. He points out that the soldier is always careless of his own well-being. ‘Dr. Lachaud’s most serious charges are leveled at the medical service, He has high praise for the surgeons, doe- tors and nurses es individuals, but blames the War Depart- ment for not keeping the service up to the efficiency mark, both in regard to equipment and a mamabes of medical Hews “GENUINE SWISS CHEESE TO BE MADE IN AMERICA. The new Swiss colony twelve miles from: Dijana, \Wash., in Thurston County, received its ‘first settlers when ‘twelve expert dairymen and cheesemakers from Minnesota arrived on the land, piloted by Hugh T. Halbert, of St. Paul, and Prof. Charles M. Andrist, University of Min- nesota. “They found one ifine: already Snptited and work in progress on several others. “Four of the men will begin at | once the assembling of a dairy herd'and lay the foundation of an industry that eventually will lead to the establish- ment.of a Swiss cheese factory and acreamery. “The tract was inspected last fall by Alf Karlen, Swiss _ Consul at St. Paul, and other experts in the dairying in- -dustries, and was promignped highly favorable for a Swiss colony.” a Bi active work will be undertaken by G. ‘Karlen? and ‘Karlen, respectively. brother and son of the Consul, i er Aufenast and Joseph Guigel. Mr. Andrist has in-} ested ain eleven” acres, six of which are in the orchard eves of the Cowiche Valley.. Other members of the He helitives that ‘these buildings. | plate, cloth, some Belgian francs, brass rods and a mat. » Mr. and Mrs. Martin Heinzelman, formerly of | has sought to make a meal of it, blows itself out « State Park; Mr. and Mrs. G. Andrist, J. Bergman, — ‘stand up all over it, me that ‘the ane North . § saad Tata 3 Py «' 7 4 ae MISSIONARY LIFE IN WEST AFRICA. J. H. Weeks, now living in the suburb of Footing, Eng land,,has seen life in the raw and has had more than enough of stirring adventure in one‘ of the ries of the earth. For over thirty years Mr. Weeks has labored as a mis- | sionary among the cannibal tribes of the Congo. He was the first Englishman to agitate against the establishment of the Congo as a free state, and he was an indefatig: assistant to R. D. Morel, of the Congo Reform Association, in fighting for the suppression of the rubber atrocities in that region. Although prevented by illness from an immediate re- turn to‘Central Africa, Mr. Weeks delights to talk about the country and the. people, and he: was freely communi- — cative when a Daily Chronicle representative Visited him. _ He declines to admit,.howevér, that he, like some’ “other ‘ teller of “traveler’s tales,” has had narrow escapes from — death by the score. Yet he has to confess to some thrilling experiences. On one ocedsion, as the imission steamer — drew into a native village which had not been visited be- — fore, the party perceived the ‘beach to be literally black ~ with humanity. As they approaehed more-closely they found ‘that the men were\armed with bows.and arrows, with which they threatened the occupants of the boat, dar- ing them to land. Only by a display of the utmost cool- — ness and by convincing the natives that they were un- armed were the mission party able te proceed in safety. 3 “Tt was certainly an anxious time,” said ‘Mr. Weeks, — “and not until we had turned our boat for the sea and were beyond range could we feel that our lives were safe. — Afterward we learned that at the very place a native had been shot in coldblood as a target. Two officers on the bridge of a steamer made a bet that neither could kill a man who was walking along the beach, but one of them ~ was successful. : “That’s just the point. White men are looked upon as ~ practically one race, so that if some European, no matter — of what nationality, kills a native without reason, they ~ say, ‘One of our tribe has been killed; we will kill one of — theirs the first chance we get.” Speaking’ of his “parish,” an area covering something like 3,000 square miles and taking a week to cover, Mr. Weeks described a collection amounting in value to close — upon'$15 once taken at a mission church. . This consisted of an umbrella, a tin of gun-powder, a calabash of gun- ~ powder, a bottle of kerosene, eggs, matches, a guncap, a — At the Natural History Museum, South: Kensington, are to,be found varieties of fish for whiose discovery Mr, Week: was responsible.. Four specimens have been named him. One of these, having the power to distend its as soon as it finds itself in the gullet of.a larger fish ¥ Dae eae

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THE MAGIC DAGGER. A wonderful tllusion. To all appearances it is an ordinary dagger which you can flourish around in your. hand @nd suddenly state that you think you have lived long enough and had better commit Suicide, at the same time plunging the dagger up to the hilt into your breast or side, or you Can preterd to stab a friend or acquaintance. Of course your friend or yourself are not in- Jured in tle least, but the deception is perfect @ud will startle all who see it. Price, 10¢., or 3 for 25c. by mail, postpaid, ©. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. ELECTRIC PUSH BUT- TON.—The base is made of maple, and the center piece of black w inut, the whole thing abouy 1% inches in diameter, with a metal hook on the back so that it-may be slipped over edge of the vest pocket. Expose to view your New Blectric Bell, when your friend will the button expecting to hear it ring. soon as he touches it, you will see some of Mvyeliest dancing you ever witnessed. The tric Button is heavily charged and will '@ @ smart shock when the button is pushed Price 10c., by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. MUSICAL SEAT £ J x BAe: ber f The best joke ont. | You can have more fun than a circus, with. one of these novelties.. All you have to do is to place one on a chair seat (hidden under a cush- fon, if possible). .Then tell your friend to sit down. An unearthly shriek from the little round drum will send _your_victim up in the air, the most puzzled ‘and “astonished mortal on earth. Don’t miss getting one of these genuine laugh producers. os harmless, and never misses doing its Wor Price 26 cents each, by mail. post-paid /WOLF® NOVELTY CO., 29 W- 26th 3t., N. ¥ €ARD THROUGH THE HAT TRICK ae oe With this trick you bar- row a hat, and appar- ently shove q@ card up through the crown, without injuring card or hat. The oper- ation can be reversed, the performer seemingly pushing the card down through the crown into the hat again. It is a trick. which will puzzle ‘@nd interest the closest observer and detection almost impossible. It is zo simple that a ehild can learn how to perform it in a few ‘minutes, Price 10 cents each, by mail, post-paid the Ps _ 4H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥, ITCH POWDER. Gee whiz! What fun you can have with this stuff. Moibten 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 back. In a minute he will feei as if he had 4 the seven years’ itch. dt wit wakd nim scratch, rear, squirm and Make faces. but it is Bartectly harmless, as 4 fs imade from the seeds of wild roses. The horrible itch stops in a tev minutes, or can be checked immediately by rubbing the spot with a wet cloth. While it is working, you Will be-apt to laugh your suspender buttons ' The ‘best joue of all. Pee 10 cents a + box, by mail, postpaid. 4 LYF NOV. CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. “Ayvad's Water-Wings ! strument, producing the sweetest dulcet tones BLACK-EYE JOKE. New. and amusing joker. The victim “ig told to hold the tube close to his eye so as to exclude all Ught frem the back, and then to remove the tube until pictures appear in the center. In trying to locate the pictures he will re- ceive the finest black-eye you ever saw. We furnish a small box of blackening preparation with each tube, so the joke can be used in- ae Sotapes WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥. THE JOKER’S CIGAR. The biggest sell of the sea- son. A real cigar made of tobacco, but secreted in the center of cigar about one-half The moment hunéreds of sparks of fire burst forth in every direction, to the astonishment of the smoker. The fire is stage fire, and will not burn the skin or clothing. After the fireworks the victim can continue smoking the cigar to the end. Price, 10c.; 3 for 25c; 1 dozen, 90c., mailed, post- | paid, _C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. BINGO, It @&es box, It looks very in- mocent, But it is sup- plied with an ingenious mechanism which shoots off a harmless cap when it is opened. You can have more fun than a circus with this new trick. Place the BINGO im or under ll go off when the ar- ticle is. opened or removed. It can be used as a funny joke by being placed in a purse, cigarette box or between the leaves of a magazine, also, tinder any movable article, such a8 a book. tray, dish, etc. The BINGO ean also be, used as a Burglar Alarm or as Theft Preventer by being placed in a drawer, money till, under a door or window or under any article that would be moved or cisturbed should a theft be attempted. Price 15 cents each, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. TRICK PUZZLE PURSE. The first attempt usually made to open it, little knob in the center of the purse, when. a 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, 25¢. each by mail. postpaid. , F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N DUPLEX BICYCLE WHIS7LE, ’ This is a double whistle, pro- ducing loud but very rich, har- monious sounds, entirely differ- ent from ordinary whistles. It or sportsmen, its. pecullar double and resonant tones at once at- tracting attention. It is an im- ported whistle, handsomely nickei plated, and will be found a very useful and handy pocket companion. Price, 10c.; 3 for 25e.; one dozen, 75e., sent by postpaid. mail, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St... N. Y. THE FLUTOPHONE.—A new musical fn- of the flute. The upper part of the instrument denattely. chose not in the trick | w € caught every time. Abso- lutely harmless. Price by mail 15¢. each; 2 for 25e, inch from end is a fountain | Httle metal — is to press down the | is just the thing for bicyclists | 7 EXTRAORDINARY OFFER. .2022¢2 Spe Fialont finest of bic: ap aE eres > Ae 'e pi you on approval, rei prepas » Without a cent TE TODA Thiscker ab jutel: gonniae. TO our big ca 8 WRITE TODAY our full line of bicycles srusled for like wesltoy. it is @ coctovetis ct Vices or like ity. 15 @ C: a sundries and useful bicycle infortnation, it’s free. TIRES, COASTER-BRAKE rear wheels, fa lamps, cyclometers, equipment — at hoif usual prices. A i pn om second hand bicycles taken in trade will be out et once, at $3 to $8 each. ” RIDER AGENTS wanted in each town to ride and exhibit a sample 1914 mode] Rangor f: us. #t Costs You Nothing to learn what we you and how we can doit. You will be astonished convinced. Do not eof a bicycle, tires or sundries until new specjal offers. Write today. you get our catalog | MEAD CYCLE CO. Dept. W188 CHICAGO, ILL | VOICE THROWER" geSs=its= Srpipuni avec | Great Fun! fyi.tc.Mecersre , Startle and amaze your friends, Imilate the Tree Toad’s voice to peesign and } warble-and trill the beautiful ‘of the } Mocking Bird. Concealed in the mouth; : it cannot be seen, ge © per: ; formers. Don’t miss it, of the tun } you can have posing asa ventriloquist. Set of 2 for only 10 cents or 12 for 25 cents. Don't miss this, MOUTHPIECE COMPANY, Dept. K, Fronohtown. N. J. EASY MONEY === QC and make ‘em all “ru! Keay | : w and ave dandles. | O> iit ar | e Learn to Play a Harmonica Copyrighted Self-instraction Bookiet, 0c. Fine Con- cert Harmonica and compiete Instruction Outfit, 86e. Nostamps. Peter Muntford, Maritime Bldg., New York JAPANESE TWIKLER, A wonderful imported paper novelty. By a simple manipue lation of the wooden handles ® number of beautiful figures cah be produced. It takes on several combinations of magnificent colors. Price, 16c., postpaid, WOLFF NOVELTY CO 29 W. gate Be N.Y” IMITATION FLIES. | Absolutely true to Nature! dandy scarf-pin and a rattling joke. It is impossible to do these ping justice with a description. You have to see them to understand how lifelike they are. When people see them on you they want to bru them off. They wonder “why tha fly sticks to you” so persistently. This igs the most realistic novelty ever put on the market. It is a distinct ornament for anybody’s necktie, and a Sa joke on those who try to c t. ; Price, 10c. by mal! postpai C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. SNAKES IN THE GRASS Something entirely new, consisting of siz large cones, each one nearly one inch in height. Upon light- ing one of these cones with a match, you see something similar to a ‘ 4 July br tion of fireworks. Sparks fly every direc- set and ietmurreasted with whet appears to out an surroun: be { at™the same time a large ne uncoils himself from the burning cone an lazily stretches out in the grass, which’ at is placed in the mouth, the lips covering the openings in the centre. Then by —— gently upon it you can play any tune desir as easily as whistling. But Mitle practice is required to become a fin player. It is last burns to ashes but the snake remains ag a curiosity ScabAryion. They are not at =" ve. not * gn eet and can be set off in the if Me An ordinary dust pan answers the pur- >: swim by one. trial ico 25 cents, Postpaid : a pone 4 pRid more room than a ; unde, With ced on some metal surface that 3 ounces and sup- burn. . poun aAnyO mad irely of js ‘pose ly. Price of the six cones, % re hier t, Foruse, Be ve onizito met rg We jon eat deistretions oo bn tae gg red sea ene 3 box, only 10c., ern ed loner wwe pairae =< - 4 canth. Be iar f ee 3 boxes for » 1 dozen boxes Z5c., sent by C1 under my mail postpai : ‘ mail 3 J ee LANG, 1 ‘Biklya, N, Yo | 4. A. WARFORD, 16 Hart St. Brooklyn, N. ¥. x eaLiaaan, sp Wi OE Bs BN, or} Ceipeeonl Tia) | yO “ik ms ees

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VANISHING CIGAR. This cigar. is made in exact imitation of a good one, It is heid by a rub- ber-cord which, with the attached safety pin, is fastened on the inside cf the sleeve. When offered friend, as it is about to be taken, it will tly disappear. Price, 10¢. each by mall, postpaid C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St.. New York City 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 person, he is suddenly startled by the wonderful activity of this frog. Price, 15¢. each by mail postpaid. H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. toa MANY TOOL KEY RING. The wonder of the age. The great- est small tool in the world. In this Mttle instrument you have in combina- tion seven useful tools embracing Key Ring, Pencil Sharpener, Nail Cutter and Cleaner, Watch Opener, Cigar Clipper, Letter Opener and Driver. It is not a toy, but a useful article, made of cutlery steel, pered and highly nickeled. Therefore will carry an edge the same as any lece of cutlery. As a useful! tool, nothing ever been offered to the public to equal it. Price, 15c., mailed, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CU., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. THE PEG JUMPER. any one. A miniature both sides of the paddle, the performer causes, middle one, and lastly to the upper hole. A very effective 5 ne erent pocket trick, easily 7 peddle is shown. Cen- tral holes aré drilled through it. A wooder simply breathing upon it, the peg to leave the upper hole, and ap: in the middle one. Th Bot of the paddle are repeatedly shown. ee Ap Price by mail, 15e- to be performed by peg is inside of the upper hole. ‘Showing now’ en it jumps to the low C, BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. TORO. sb esi eeoee, \ It SS, eRe eee sess ee Screw | tem-» er hole, back to the ' Look? One of these fine watches FREE to anyone sending us Qne—] year’s subscription at. . . Two—6 months’ subscriptions at. . Four—3 months’ subscriptions at .. . THE FIGHTING ROOSTERS. A full blooded pair of fighting game i cocks. These’ Hliputian fighters have real feathers, yellow legs and fiery red combs, their movements when fighting are perfectly nat- ural and lifelike, and the secret of their movements | is known only to the operator, who can cause | them to battle with each other as often and as long as desired. Independent of their fighting proclivities they make very pretty mantel ornaments. Price for the pair in a strong box, idc.; % pairs for 25c. by mail, postpaid. WOLEF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N.Y. LIGHTNING TRICK BOX. A startling end pleasing illu- 4 Sip sion! devious,” says Matthew Arnoid, but the ways of the Lightning Trick Box when properly handled are admitted to be puzzling and uncertain. You take off the iid and show your friends that it is full of nice candy. Replace the lid, when you can solemnly assure your friends that you can instantly empty the box in their presence without opening it; and taking off the lid again, sure enough the candy has disappeared. Or you can change the candy into a piece of money by following the directions sent with each box. This is the megtest and best cheap trick ever invented. *zice, only 10c.; $ for 25c., mailed, postpaid, M, V. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. X. NEW TEN-CENT FOUNTAIN PEN. It requires no ink. AI you have to do is to dip it in water, and it will write for an indefinite period. ‘The secret can only be learned by procuring one, and you can make it 2 source of both pleasure and amusement by claiming to your friends what it can do and then demonstrating the fact. Moreover, it is a good pen, fit for practical use, and will never leak ink into your pocket, as a defective fountain pen might do, Price, 10¢, each by mail, A GRAND - PREMIUM $2.50 Ease 168 Saae , ‘3 “The ways of the world are | Look! 1.25 each 0.65 each For either of the following: “Moving Picture Stories,’ ‘Happy Days,” “Wild West Weekly,” “Fame and For- tune Weekly,” “The Liberty Boys of 776,” “Secret Service,” “Work. and Win,” or “Pluck and Luck.” There is only one condition—send us the money ($2.50) and we will send you the watch, and any one of the above publications for the period subscribed for. Description of the Watch is American-made, open face, stem wind and set, and will run from 30 to 386 hours *. with one winding. The movement is the same size as an expensive railroad timepiece, — a absolutely accurate, and each one is guaranteed. The cases are made in Gold Plate, | Polished Nickel, Gun-metal with Gilt center and plato Gun-metal. er The design on the back case is a fancy engraved scroll. ; & \Send in Your Subscriptions Mow to K TOUSEY, Publisher West 23d St., N.Y. GOOD YUCK BANKS. Ornamental as well as ui ful, Mate of highly nicke? brass. It helds just One Dy lar. When filled It opens: felt, temains locked wu refilled. Can pe ustd as watchcharm. Money réefur ed {f not satisfied. Prh 10c. by mall. ai Kass i . F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., Bklyn, Ne) t EGGS OF PUAKAOH’S PERSE 4. wonderful and startli novelty! ‘Pharaoh's. Serpen are produced from a small € no larger than a pea. ¥ of them on a plate, touch, fi to it with a common match, @ instantly a large serpent, & ¥ or more in length, slowly U coils itself from the burning © Hach serpent assumes a differe position. One will appear to | gliding over the ground, ‘Wi head erect, as though spyi danser; another will coil itself up, a6 if Pr paring for the fatal spring upon its victh while another will stretch out lazily, i ently enjoying its usval noonday nap. n mediately after the egg stops burning, 1 serpent hardens, and may afterward be ke) a8.an amusing curiosity. They are put up- wooden boxes, twelve eggs in a box. Pric Sc., 3 boxes for 20¢.; 1 dozen boxes for 60 « Sent by mail, postpaid. - WOLTT NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th 5i.. N. Sh ae ALE See 8S 9 DEAD SHOT SQUIRT PISTOL. if you shoot @ mt with this “gun” he w be too mad; to accey th ancient ,excuse— didn’t know it Ww loaded.”" It loads east with a full eharge water, and taking dim, press the rubber bul at the butt of the Pistol, when a small strear of water is squirted info his face, The bet thing to do then isto pocket your gun #n run. There are .“loads of fun”. ih'this wicke little joker, which looks Ike #, real revolve) trigger, cock, chambers, barrel and all. Price only 7e,; 4 for » 25¢.; one dozen 60c, by ma . ?

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- 403 In Bu re Chesie > 408 A Million 407 Contractor Bob; 408 A Nervy Deal; or. p the i Lg _in ths World. or, The Ric! : Wor! mger; or, The hey Who Got Rich. Fighting for a Big Job. The Boy Who Bought a Railway. Larr; 2 : The You yrecker ; or, The Boy Who De 2 In the Game for Gold; or, Beating the W. Messenger SixtysFour; or, Hustling for. HO Up fe che Minute: on" iBiomromce ‘Bay io Broker. Ch ‘Wan street | #85 Bere eee iz Baming the Brokers e rae ee With the Iron Nerve. (A Wall 158 is Las Chance: or The E ay Ws alan ‘ona "i Sliver “Bolla sams’ or, "The Coln that See Hin Tae (A Story iat fo See roe Bor Who” sade : HS BOE Gate aty MR LAT BR a DOPE Wal Tice | 43 Martinis Mine’ 8c a'Sengobos's Taber, 417 Lost in the Balkans; or, The Luck of a Young War Correspondent. | 445 The Secret Chart, or, The Golden Treasure of 1¢ 418 Plunging to Win; or, The Deals of a Wall Street Office Boy. 446 The Boy Behind the Deals; or. The Luck of a Wall § 419 The Young Shipper; or, The Boy Who Was Always on Top. a TF ten oe ee oe eo dg: 420 eer oe Ad pre gigced or, Breaking Up a Crooked Game. A 449 ‘Tor, the Stéeple Sack: or Winmite = Evie by x 421 Fighting for Fame; or, The Struggles of a Young Author. 450 Saving a Million; or, Ben and the Wall Street, Broke: 422 Stocks and Bonds; or, The Firm With a Grip on the Market. A | 451 Down and Out; or, A Hard Boy to Beat : Wall Street story. 452 423 Stranded in the City; or, The Boy with a Head for Business. 424 Getting the Coin; or, The Luckiest: Lad in Wall Street. 425 In the Lumber Trade; or, A Winning Speculator. 426 A Boy’s Big Deal; or, The Wall Street Tip That Won. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 6 cents per copy, In money or FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - : - - - 2 2 hs - : 168 West 23d IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write fill in your Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by rett. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. Sil og FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - - + += + = = + 168 West 28d St., Ne The Boy Banker's Double; or, A Strange Wall Es No 1 NAPOLEON'S ORACULUM, AND DREAM BOOK.—Containing the great ‘oracle of human destiny; also the true meaning ef almest any kind of dreams, tegether with charms, ceremonies, and curious games of cards. No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great book of magic and card tricks, containing full instruction on all the leading card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical illu- sions as performed by our leading magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book. No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.—The arts and wiles of flirtation are fully explained by this little book. Besides the various methods of handkerchief, fan, glove, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it contains a full list of the language and sentiment of flowers. No. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of this little book. It contains full instructions in the art of dancing, etiquette in the _ball- room and at parties, how to dress, and full Tada for calling off in all popular square ances, No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A com- plete guide to love, courtship and marriage, giving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to be observed. ; No. 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE. —Giving full instruction for the use of dumb- bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars and various other methods of developing @ good, healthy muscle; containing over sixty illustrations. No. 7 HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Hand- somely illustrated and containing full instruc- tions for the management and training of the canary, mockingbird, bobolink, blackbird, par- oquet, parrot, etc. No. 9. HOW TO BECOME A _VENTRILO- QUIST.—By Harry Kennedy, Every intelll- gent boy reading this boek of instructions can master the art, and create any amount of fun for himself and friends. Ne. 16. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self- detense made easy. Containing over thirty MMustrations of guards, blows, and the differ- ent positions of a good boxer. Every boy should ebtain one of these useful and instruc- tive beeks. as it will teach you how to box without an instructor. No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS. —A most complete little book, containing full directions for writing love-letters, and when to use them, giving specimen letters for young and old No. 12. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO LADIES.—Giving complete instructions for writing letters to ladies on all subjects; also letters of fntroduction, netes and requests. No. 13. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF For sale by ail newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10 cts. per copy, or 8 fo FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - ETIQUETTE.—it is @ great life secret, and one that every young man desires te know all abeut. There’s happiness in it. No. 14, HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A com- plete hand-book for making all kinds of candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc. No. 13. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL. —One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world. Every- bedy wishes to know how to become. beauti- ful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost costless. No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVEN- ING PARTY.—A complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, comic recita- tions, etc., suitable fer parlor or drawing- room entertainment. No 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full instructions aboot guns. hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fish- ig together with description of game and sh. No. 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.— Heller’s second sight explained by his former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the secret dialogues were carried on between the magician and the boy on the stage; also giv- ing all the codes and signals. No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.— This little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky days. No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.—Cotaining fuil directions for writing to gentlemen on all subjeets. No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.— Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic. sports and athletic exercises. Em- bracing thirty-five illustrations. No, 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT.—Fully illustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with in- structions on swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. No. 27.. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECITATIONS.—Containing the most popular selections in use, comprising -Dutch dialect, French dialect. Yankee and Irish dialect pieces, together with many standard readings. No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.— Everyone ig desirous of knowing what his future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little hook. No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR. —Every boy should know how inventions orig- inated. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity. hydraulics, magnet- ‘sm. optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc. on cook It containg recipes for game, and oysters; also and all kinds of pastry, —Containing fourteen illustrations, different positions requisite to Speaker, reader and elocutionist. oe taining gems from all the popular pe : Prose and poetry. No. 32. HOW TO BEHAVE.—613 the rules and etiquette of good so the easiest and most approved m appearing to good advantage at par the theatre, church, and in the 4 No. 35. HOW TO PLAY G P plete and useful little book, conta rules and regulations of bDiliiards, backgammon, croquet, dominoes, etc— No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUL, —Containing all the leading conun@® - the day, amusing riddles, curious ca ; witty sayings. No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOT? — DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, contai z ful and practical information in the ~ of ordinary diseases and ailments cc every family. Abounding in useful a tive recipes for general complaints. No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS TRY, PIGEONS AND RABBITS.— and instructive book. Handsomel No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND : —Including hints on how to cate weasels, otter, rats, uirrels and bir how to cure skins. opiously iliustr | No. 41. THE BOYS OF N Yo) MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a — riety of the latest jokes-used by No. 42. BOY: a STU. pe d men’s jokes. er placed before th famous end men. No amateur mi AKER.—Containing a TO BECOME A MA Se ae oer complete without this wonderful lit, THE S OF NEWS ‘ump speeches, Negro, grandest asnorsmett, collection of Albur time and ion; Affection, Sentin’? money or piel. erat: z est 23d St. Ne S53