Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 467) (1914 09 11)

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SE xe. IS i4¢ The rascal grasped the boy and flung himself from the trestle. With a mighty roar the train rushed over the spot both had been occupying a moment before. Down plunged the young contractor and his foe toward the river below.

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Fame and Fortune Weekly STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY dssued Weekl a Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered at the New York, No. 467. Entered according to Act of Congress, tn the year 19[4, arian of Congress, Washington, D. C., ay Frank Touseyv, Publisher, 168 West 28d Street, New ¥., Post Office as Second-Class Matter. NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 11, 1914. tn the office of the York. Price 5. Cents. — FIGHTING FOR FAME aig eee THE LUCK OF A YOUNG CONTRACTOR By A SELF-MADE MAN ca CHAPTER I. THE RAILROAD CONTRACT. “Well, Don,” said Gilford Winthrop, a bright-eyed, earnest- looking lad of eighteen years, as his twin brother, Donald, en- tered the office of “John Winthrop, General Contractor,” on Main street, in the town of Lakeview, “does the contract stand?” There was a shade of anxiety in his voice, while his hazel eyes searched his brether’s face as if he would read the answer in his expressive features. “Yes, Gil,” replied Don, in cheery tones, “everything is sat- isfactorily arranged, Mr. Prescott, the chief engineer of the D, P. & Q., assures me that the original bond is holding on the work, and.so far as the railroad company’s concerned, father’s death will make no difference with respect to the con- tract.” “Good!” exclaimed Gil, with sparkling eyes. “Andrew Newman was present, and he made a big fight to freeze us out. He said all manner of uncomplimentary things about you and I; but it did not do him any good, just the same,” “I'm glad the maiter is settled, Don,” said Gil, with an air of relief. “I was afraid that Newman would get the inside track of us. He’s an old and experienced contractor, you know. He expected to get this contract, in the first place, and was as mad as a hornet when it was awarded to father. The day it was signed Jim Kelso, Newman’s confidential . foreman, who was under the influence of liquor at the time, swore that father never would complete the work within the ” stipulated time. Do you think we may look for trouble from the Newman. crowd?” “It is quite possible they will try to annoy us all they can. We must be on/our guard. It is up to us, Gil, to build the road within the time limit, not only for the honor of the thing, but to save forfeiture of the security bond, which yo are aware aniounts to twenty per cent. of the approximate cost of the contract. No excuses for the non-fulfilment of the oer eusiast will go with the railroad company.” Par 8 walked over to the safe, took therefrom the blue prints a copy of the general specifications for building the line of eo covered by the contract. The two boys sat down to a table and, with a pile of memo- anda prepared by their father before he died, they were soon : engrossed in a study of the situation. ‘The late John Winthrop had contracted to build a branch line for the D. P. & Q. railroad from Lakeview to the main aes, at Glendale, a Tey of about twenty miles, Fs As this was not the first contract of the kind he had un- dertaken, he was well provided with the necessary facilities for the prosecution of such work. His steam shovel outfit had a capacity of 2,500 cubic yards in ten hours, and it handled all kinds of material trom the softest earth to shale rock, large boulders, tree stumps, ote, and performed all the work of loosening and loading. As the economical working of the shovel required that the material should be hauled away as fast as it was loaded, Mr. Winthrop had provided some thirty dirt cars, which, when the distance to the dump was short, were hauled by horses; otherwise they were made up in two trains and handled by a couple of narrow-gauge locomotives. The steam shovel was indispensable on the present job, as the survey carried the line through a spur of the foothills, where a cut half a mile or more long would have to be exca- vated. A short tunnel had to be cut through a cliff projecting into the lake. But by far the greater part of the roadbed would lie along a flat, comparatively lével district bordering on the lake which gave its name to the town with which railroad connection was to be made. An arm of this body of water ran close into the spur of the hill where the principal excavation was to be made, and Mr. Winthrop counted on this as a great advantage to him, as the fifty horse-power non-condensing engine employed to operate the steam shovel used so much water that the cost of water supply, which was a serious matter to him when ‘water was not readily obtainable, was reduced toa minimum: John Winthrop had only one competitor for the railroad con- tract, This was Andrew Newman, a man by no means popular in that neighborhood, where he had.done a great deal of road’ building for the county. Newman wanted this particular contract badly, and he tried his level best to get it, making use of questionable methods, But possession of the proper plant enabled Winthrop to un- derbid him, and Newman felt bitter toward his successful Tival. Winthrop had got things almost in shape for beginning the work, when one morning he was found dead in his chair in his private office. The physician called in declared that he had died of heart failure. The case, therefore, did not go to the coroner, and in due time all that was mortal of John Winthrop was laid away in the town burying-ground. A few days aiter the funeral Newman called on Mrs. Win- throp and made her an offer for the business and plant as it

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2 stood, which, of course, carried with it the railroad contract. The offer was not at all satisfactory. Besides, her two stalwart sons, Donald and Gilford, had de- termined to carry on their father’s business. They believed themselves fully competent to do so. Both had taken a three years’ course of civil engineering, and in addition thereto had had two years’ practical experience under their father’s eye. For Mr. Winthrop’s intention had been to eventually take his boys into partnership. With a valuable contract at their disposal, and all the neces- sary means at hand to carry out the work outlined, it would have been a foolish move to dispose of the business, even at a fair price. And Mr. Newman’s offer could scarcely have been called a fair one. He believed the Winthrop business was at his mercy. ’ For Don and Gil he had nothing but contempt. He looked on them merely as boys. Not for a moment did he believe they would attempt to carry out the contract for grading the twenty miles of roadbed be- tween Lakeview and Glendale. He was unpleasantly surprised when he discovered that such was really their intention. “Ridiculous!” he exclaimed to his man Kelso, and his chief assistant, of course, agreed that the idea was preposterous. “I shall see the chief engineer of the D. P. & Q. about it,” he said angrily. And he did. He found Don Winthrop in consultation with Mr. Prescott. He was admitted to the conference, and he used every argu- ment in his power to convince the engineer that it would be folly to allow the Winthrop estate to carry on the contract with two such boys as Don and Gil in charge. But Mr. Prescott had the records of the young fellows before him, and he saw no reason why the contract should not stand. The boys were fully prepared and apparently qualified to carry out the work, and the surety bond was good. So Andrew Newman was Giexpioaiuited in his effort to attain the object sought after. The contract was to stand, and he was out of it. We are sorry to say that the big contractor used some very strong language to relieve his feelings after he left the en- gineer’s office, “If he had been disgruntled by losing the contract originally . to John Winthrop, he was twice as much put out to be euchred by that gentleman's sons. “I'll get square with those cubs for daring to beard me to — So they think they can build this branch line, do they?” He laughed sardonically as he walked along the street to- ward his own office. “They think they can do the work on time, eh? With a half-mile spur to be cut through in the hills and the tunnel at the cliff to blast out. Oh, yes; they'll doe it. Not if Andrew Newman knows it they won't, and I guess he'll keep track of what they do. I swore their father shouldn’t make a success of this work, and I meant it. I guess he was a bigger propo- _ sition than they are.” S q He stopped at a saloon to get a drink, a frequent habit of his, and found his confidential ieee Jim Kelso, lined up with a couple of cronies against Jim was not in the least wrists ga einer his boss surprised him in this position. ; Kelso had a habit of doing pretty Tauch as he pleased when his business was not rushing, and Andrew Newman’s affairs Were somewhat slack just then. He had only one contract. on hand. It was a matter of road- building on the other side of the lake, and Kelso’s assistant, Mike Mullen, was looking after that. Newman called for a whisky, and, having drank it, he mo- tioned Kelso to follow him outside. “The railroad contract has been transferred to those boys in spite of everything I could do to the contrary,” said New- man, gloweringly. . “Has it?” replied Kelso; with an unpleasant grin. “They've got a cast-iron nerve to think they'll be able to _ put such an undertaking abies in anything like the time stipulated.” _ “Failure to do it ‘ll cost ‘em a pretty penny, I’m thinkin’,” said Kelso, with another of his cheerf] grins. “Then they will go under.” “Mebbe they will. But I reckon we ought to help 'em along in that direction.” es _ * They won't need any assisiance, I'm’ willing to bet a thou- FIGHTING FOR FAME. sand dollars that they'll be all tangled up in less than a month.” “Don’t be so sure of that, Mr. Newman,” answered the fore- man, with a sage wag of his head. “Them boys understand their business.” “Who says they do?” demanded the contractor angrily. “IT say so. If ye want to know my opinion, it’s jest this: Them two lads are smarter’n chain lightnin’.” “What are you giving me, Jim Kelso?” growled Mr. Newman, with a lowering brow. : “Nothin’ what I can’t prove. If ye want to do them two boys up ye’ve got ter get right down ter business. Ye don’t want ter take no chances. They may have bitten off more’n they kin chew with this railroad job; but ye'll be kinder sur- prised, mark my words, to see the way they'll go at it. Them boys ain’t no kid-glove dudes. You’d know it by this time if ye’d paid any attention to ’em, which I guess ye haven't.” This plain statement on the part of his foreman was news, and not pleasant news, to Andrew Newman. é He wanted to discredit it, for he despised everything that bore the name of Winthrop; but he was keen enough to under- stand that there must bé some ground for Kelso’s dogged assertion. “Your word is pretty good, Jim, but I'd like something more substantial in the way of evidence.” “You watch them: boys after they get started on this job of gradin’ and ye’ll have all the evidence ye want,” said his ~ foreman, with a nod that carried a great deal of weight with it. “Well,” grunted Newman, “I don’t care how smart they are, I'm going to pickle them. I’m going to drive them out of business, in these parts, at any rate. I'll bust them higher than a kite before I get through with them. They'll regret the day they measured strength with Andrew Newman.” “Now ye're talkin’. And ye kin depend on me helpin’ ye do it. I’m down on that fellow Don. He butted in ‘tween my son Jerry and that there gal of mine, who thinks’ cause she’s blind she kin do as she pleases. But I reckon I won’t stand no sich nonsense.” “Where did you come to get hold of that girl, Jim? She isn’t your daughter.” “Never mind how I come to get her. I ain’t tellin’ everythin’ I know. She belongs to me, and that’s enough said,” retorted Kelso, doggedly. “Well, it’s none of my business. Your affairs are your own. So long as you stand by me I’m your friend. If you hate one of the Winthrop cubs, so much the better. You'll take a greater relish in doing them up, and the worse they’re done up the more satisfied I'll feel. Come into the office and we'll go over the matter and see how we'll go to work about the thing.” And thus, while Don Winthrop and-his brother were ar- ranging the final details for starting the grading of the rail- road right of way, Andrew Newman and his assistant Jim Kelso were putting their heads together three blocks away, laying plans to defeat the efforts of the two bright young fel- lows to carry the work to a successful end. CHAPTER IL. . BLIND NELLIE. Although Don and Gil Winthrop were twins, and of course of the same age, Don took the lead in everything without hesitation, and his brother instinctively accorded him first place and was content to follow at his dictation. Gil was more like his mother, who was of a gentle, yielding disposition; while Don seemed to be the counterpart of his father, who had been a man of action, perseverance and un- common energy. The boys had never had a quarrel in their lives, and the possibility of a serious disagreement between them seemed very remote indeed. So when the railroad contract was fairly started, Don took he entire supervision of the job on his shoulders, and Gil was satisfied to pass the larger portion of his time in the neighbor- hood of the big steam shovel, which had begun to eat its way into that pattieulyt spur of the foothills which stood in the path of the projected roadbed. A temporary track had been laid down for something like a mile and a half to the outskirts of Lakeview for the purpose of hauling the earth from the hills to a ten-acre plot of low, swampy ground. This piece of land the Winthrop brothers had purchesed cheap, and proposed to. reclaim it by raising it to a level with the grade. On contracts for railroads, the railroaés would not allow the contractor to dispose of the material excavated, where it would

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be expensive to the company. The present instance is an ex- ception. This was a bit of speculation on Don't part, for he knew that the owners of the Greenville Carriage Works, now located in the small town of Greenville, thirty miles distant, were looking for a convenient building site close to the new railway line, and he had made overtures to them on the subject, with every prospect of completing the deal in time. Later on Don proposed to fill in a certain part of the lake shore within half a mile of the cut, which he and his brother had also acquired by purchase. On this made land they pro- posed to build a summer hotel, with tennis ground, bathing pavilion and other modern improvements. It was a warm spring day, and everything was progressing favorably with the grading work of the new railroad line. Don had three gangs at work. At the cut there were five Italian laborers under Joe Sinkey, the foreman. This gang was employed in shifting the steam shovel when necessary, taking up and relaying the tracks for the cars, shifting loaded and unloaded cars, etc. Besides these men there was the engineer - the stationary engine, the fireman and the cranesman. The wages and other expenses of the outfit was about $150 per week, Besides, there were the engineers of the two locomotives and __ a dumping gang at the other end of the track. The third gang, which was the largest, was working be- tween the cut and the Lakeview terminal, along fairly level Aronnd. * Don was here, there and everywhere where work was in progress. Aiter dinner on. this particular day he was out at the cut giving sundry instructions to his brother, who for the present was anchored at that locality. , Then, feeling that he had a respite for a while, he strolled over the foothills toward the cliff abutting on the lake. This cliff had to be tunneled at a certain noint for the tracks to pass through. This was the most delicate and difficult part of the con- tract, but it was a piece of work that appealed to Don's en- gineering tastes. He was really very enthusiastic over the prospect of suc- cessfully piercing that wall of rock. When Don reached the cliff he heated himself on a boulder in a nook among the rocks, and began to study the face of the projection which was to be penetrated by the drills. He wondered how much labor and how many pounds of dy- namite would be required to do the work properly within the lines of excavation as indicated by the plans, “It will be a nice piece of work,” he mused, as his eyes roved up and down the bare cliff. “Drilling and blasting must be conducted with all possible care to prevent shattering the roof and sides beyord the section lines.” _ Undoubtedly this was the most fascinating part of the con- tract for Don. Fifty feet above where he sat the cliff projected in half-arch fashion over the surface of the lake. Up there it was covered with a struggling mass of early oe gga, which shone brightly green in the afternoon sun- t. - A rough, irregular pathway pursued its sinuous course from the shore line to the top of the cliff. One hundred feet from the edge of that airy height Don could just make out the roof of Jim Kelso’s humble cottage. - The only sign of life in that vicinity was the wisp of hazy- . looking smoke, which floated straight up in the air from the ” red brick chimney at the back of the house. __ But as Don looked upward a sunbonnet came into view, and " ~ then by degrees the figure of a young girl in a check gown ap- broached the edge of the cliff, standing there in the full glory * ot the sunshine. - FIGHTING FOR FAME. 3 perceptive faculties, but for all that he was startled by her apparent peril. - “Nellie,” he shouted eagerly, edge of the cliff.” The girl easily heard and recognized the voice as it was watted up to her. She looked down at him and smiled as though she really saw him. “What are you doing down there, Donald Winthrop?” she asked, taking off her bonnet and swinging it lazily to and fro by one of its strings. “Tm coming up to talk to you a moment,” he said, suiting the action to the word, for it made him neryous to see her standing in so dangerous a spot. “No, please don’t,” she replied, in-a tone that brought him to a full pause all at once. “And why not?” asked Don impetuously, for since the day, three months before, when he had thrashed Jerry Kelso for striking her in the face—ag cowardly act that had made his blood boil at the time—he had often thought of the blind‘ girl. Her unfortunate condition as the drudge of the Kelsos ap- pealed to his chivairy, and he had looked forward to another meeting with her as a matter of great pleasure. The girl turned toward the cottage before answering. Then she said: “Tll come down,” With the fearlessness of one sure of her way, Nellie walked a dozen yards back along the edge of the cliff till she came “go back; you are on the very | to the beginning of the roughly-hewn. pathway, which she seemed to recognize without difficulty, and then started to descend the face of the rock. No one watching her movements, which were as light and graceful as a fawn, would for a single moment have supposed her to be blind. Don, too impatient to await her coming, sprang forward to meet her, and the girl knew he was coming from the moment he took his first step. “Donaid Winthrop, what an impetuous boy you are!” she exclaimed, with a winsome smile that lighted up as lovely a countenance as any painter could wish to transfer to canvas. A sudden draught of air whistling about the cliff caught and blew out the unconfined tresses of her beautiful hair, and the sunlight transformed it into a mass of living, burnished gold. “TImpetuous, am I?” laughed Don, as he continued to ad- vance to meet her. “To tell the truth, it gives me a epill to see you coming down this path in such a reckless manner.” “Why, there isn’t any danger,” replied the girl, in a tone of surprise. “Tsn’t there? Well, I don’t know about that. How can you know but the. heavy rain of yesterday morning may have loosened a rock here and there?” “But I am always very careful where I trust my feet, Den Winthrop,” she said. “I should judge by your movements that you are not half as eareful as you ought to be.” “That’s because you don’t know me,” she answered with a smile, as she placed her hand in his confidingly when she felt he was near to her. “You are truly a wonderful girl, Nellie,” said Don, with a sympathetic, almost tender, look down into her sightless eyes. “Surely you have not always been blind?” “No,” she replied sadly. “I had a fall which injured the optic nerve, so that I gradually lost my sight a few years ago.” She suffered him to seat her on the boulder which he had just vacated, and she sat there in silence for a moment or two, with her face turned toward the lake, while he sat by her side and studied the beautiful face in its frame of golden hair. “Tf Mother Kelso or Jerry should chance to see us together I’m afraid there would be trouble,” she said at length. “You are sure we are alone?” “Yes, Nellie, quite alone,” replied the boy, after a rapid glanee around the lonesome spot. - ” “Good gracious!” gasped Don. “That’s little blind Nellie. “T am glad,” she continued in an eager voice. “I wanted so A step or two more and she will plunge to certain death | much to see you, Donald Winthrop. You are building a rail- eyed the rocks down here. How can I warn her?” and the | road near here, are you not—you and your brother?” boy stood up in great excitement. ; | “Yes, Neltie.” _ But his anxious solicitude for the sir Was really thrown| “And that is why you came here, I suppose—to - look s ON around?” ; _ Nellie knew exactly where she was, although: to her eyes “Yes. We are going to blast a tunnel through the base of. _world was a blank. senses of touch and of hearing were marvelous. * She knew — foot of the ground and the exact contour of irons around the Kelso cottage. ces bacead about Nellie’s remarkable this cliff by and by, and I came over to study the looks of the place.” ; “Mr. Andrew Newman—that’s the man. Mr. Kelso works yr for—wanted to build this road, didn’t he?” . “Yes,” answered Don. rather surovrised at ie. Pameehe: ‘

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—— x 4 — “TY heard Mr. Kelso talking about it at the cottage. Mr. Newman is very angry because you got the contract, and,”— she grasped Don’s hand. while a little shudder agitated her— “I’m afraid you'll have trouble over the work. Mr. Kelso ae me with the threats he used against you particu- arly. “Why me in particular?” “Because,” and the boy saw the tears start in her blinded eyes, “he hates you bitterly. He says he means to get square with you for taking my part that day Jerry struck me. And I—I have never had the chance to thank you sufficiently for your courage in coming to my assistance. But now I am sorry you did—so sorry—because Mr. Kelso is a harsh and unreasonable man, and I dread Jest he do you an injury, and all on my account.” “Nonsense, Nellie! I can take care of myself. I don’t fear Jim Kelso a little bit. And if I hear of Jerry Kelso abusing you again I'll give him another dressing-down, one that he won't soon forget.” “No, no; you mustn't,” she said earnestly. know these people. They are very vindictive.” “T shall keep a bright lockout against any of their little tricks,” answered Don, resolutely, “YT hope you will,” she said, with evident anxiety, “for I am sure they mean you harm, Donald Winthrop. I heard Mr. “You don’t ‘Kelso say you had a gang of men excavating the hill yonder,” and Nellie waved her hand. in the direction of the cut. “He told Mother Kelso he meant to do something in that direction that would knock your operations out for a while. You have an Italian there named Mike Rossi. You ought to watch him, for I am sure he is a very bad man. He used to work for Mr. Kelso. He was sent over to your place to get employment, and for no good purpose.” “I am much obliged to you, Nellie, for this warning,” said Don gratefully. “fam Jooking for trouble from the Newman people, but of course cannot tell in what shape it is likely to come, I shall have this Rossi spotted, and if we catch him up to any funny business | I'll have him in jail so quick that itll make his head swim.” “I’m so glad of this chance to tell you these things,” said the blind girl, looking up in Don’s face. “I should feel very miseralble if any harm happened to—you.” “And I am very grateful to you for interesting yourself in my behaif,” replied the handsome young contractor. “I wish I could do something for you in return. I can’t understand why a girl of your gentle nature is willing to put up with the life you lead with the Kelsos. You ought to leave them. My mother would be} glad to offer you a home, while I——” “No, no,” replied the girl, with a frightened look. “I dare not leave them.” “Dare not!” exclaimed Don, ‘impetuously. The girl looked at him appealingly. “Tell me,” urged the boy, earnestly, “has this Jim Kelso any claim upon you?” -*¥You must not ask me—indeed you must not!” she vr ate with a look of fear. “Are you a relative of his?” _ “No,” she answered reluctantly. -“Then’ what possible hold can he have on you?” Nellie only bent her head, and Don could see the tears steal- ing down her cheeks. “The sympathy he had all along felt for this isin creature came to the surface with great warmth. He bent over, her and seized her little hands. “There's some mystery in this, little girl. Why will you not trust me? I will be your friend. Tell me what the trouble is. Nellie} I insist on knowing.” Neilie sprang up with a suparessen seream and clung to Don’ s*arm:. — The bey turned quickly abut, to find Jim Kelso standing “why?” _ within a few feet of them, regarding him with a look as black as phe cer sunt. ‘CHAPTER IIL | THE FIGHT AT THE FOOT OF THE CLIFF. Weil,” said Don, with a dignity that was natural to him, a Pits PMpas have you got to say about this matter, anyway?” _ “What have I got to say?” said Kelso, with a sneer. “I’ve a bit to say. Go home, gal,” he added fiercely, turnin: o Nelite, "If I ketch you talkin’ to this ehap agin’ it wort | 5 aerate. tation, ala ie lie, i A hi h d, 2 nm op,” e giv! ng ™m n which trembled visibly in his gras ial FIGHTING FOR FAME. ER re aeNcta l. Ka abe Su EE hn ee eh Ee aR a PBs SE A Sec ae tS ae RS SR, Aa Ey ee es Se en Nee eS a ee ae ae eee Z Aes Kar Nellie,” Te gk answered, without eae = any si tempt to detain her, which he’ judged would have brought down on her gentle head the anger of her tyrants. The blind girl turned slowly away and began the ascent of the cliff, passing within arm’s length of Kelso. Don watched the man like a hawk, fearing he would strike the girl, Had he done so, and his eyes seemed to indicate such an in- tention, there would have been trouble; Don was in no mood to stand for such an exhibition of brutality. But Jim Kelso allowed Nellie to pass him uaharmed. It is possible he scented danger in the young engineer's face and preferred not to provoke a quarrel, strong and rugged as he undoubtedly was. Evidently the man was not looking for a personal encounter at that moment. “Now you kin go,” the boy. “Can I?” replied Don, with a short laugh, which in its way was a sort of danger signal. “Since when have you consti- tuted yourself the arbiter of my movements?” “None of your blamed business! ‘I don’t want ye hangin’ ‘round here chinnin’ to that there gal; do you understand?” “T wasn’t aware that you had any control over this ground,” replied Don sarcastically. “T have control over that gal, and I won’t stand for a gent like you’ puttin’ any nonsense into her head—that’s what I mean. You struck my son Jerry three weeks ago because he gave the gal a tap on the cheek for talkin’ sassy to him, and I want ye to understand that I don’t care for ye to repeat it,” and Kelso nodded his head in a significant manner. “TI struck your son because he was behaving like a brute and refused’ to desist when I asked him to. He's big and husky enough to defend himself without cailing on you.” That was quite true, although.Jerry Kelso was but seven- teen; but, like most bullies, he was a rank coward, and Don knew it. “What was that gal sayin’ to ye when’ I came up?” Kelso, suddenly changing the subject, “Why do you want to know?” replied Don, squarely in the eye. “Cause I reckon it’s my business to know, foreman doggedly. “Well, you won’t learn from me,” “Then I’ll make her tell. me,” said Kelso, with an ugly scowl. “And suppose she won’t—what then?” “Don’t you worry; I'll find a way to open her mouth,” he said significantly. “Look here, Jim Kelso,” said Don, walking sored ad up to him; “do you know what I think of you?” “No, nor I don’t keer.” “Don’t you? Well, I've just got one word to say to you on that subject, and if you know when you're well off you'll heed what I say. Don't let me hear of you laying the weight of your hand on that girl. I mean it. For as sure as there is a heaven above I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget as long as you live.” “You'll do what?” roared the foreman, doubling up his brawny fist. “T'll take it out of your hide, if that’s plain enough Eng- lish.” “Why, I kin eat you up, you soft-faced dude!” ejaculated Kelso furiously. “Do ye see thet arm?” and he rolled up the sleeve of his red flannel shirt. exposing a great, hairy arm, which bristled with muscle and sinew. “if I hit ye with that you'd be a fit subject for the coroner, d’ye understand?” If Jim Kelso thought this display of his strength would intimidate Don Winthrop he was greatly mistaken. “T see you’ve been drinking,” said Don, coolly, “and I prefer not to have any trouble with you; but——” “What if I have been drinkin’? Thet’s my bizness. If I go up yonder an’ kick the head off’n thet gal if she won't open her face when If ask her a question, thet’s my bigness, too,” he said, turning a malevolent look on asked looking him ” answered the snarled the foreman, squirting a stream of tobacco juice with- in an inch of the young engiveer’s shoe. “You'll find out that I'li make it my business if I hear you doing any harm to her. Why, nobody but a brute woul raise his hana against any woman, let alone a /little blind girl* like Nellie.” *Yah!” snarled Kelso, showing his tobacco-stained teeth like a famished hyena. “I’ve a mind to smash your face for you.” “T’'ve dealt with brutes like you before, so I wouldn't advise you to try it,” said the boy, with exasperating coolness, _ “Blame you!” cried the hian, flaring up jike a flash of gun- Praigs and thrusting his, revgs fist within an tach: ‘of ‘Don's Or : i es

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+ErG HTING FOR ry AME. face, “if ye git me goin’ I'l] wipe the earth with ye till there Won't be enough left of ye to make a respectable funéral.” “Take your hand away!” cried Don Sharply, without moving & muscle. The ruffian half complied, and then, as though ashamed of his action, he suddenly slapped the boy across the mouth, taking the remark: “Take that. for———" But he got no farther. With a spring Don planted his fist squarely between the org Ae eyes, and the fellow fell back in a heap among the rocks. oe a moment he sat up and looked around in a dazed sort cof way. Then, with an oath, he sprang to his feet. His face was distorted with passien, and blood was trickling from a cut behind his ear, where his head had come in contact With a .rock. “I'll kill you fer that!” he shouted hoarsely, rushing at Don, ye eae ne with all the evil instincts of his nature. mash! The boy leaped aside with the agility of. a cat, and at the same time planted a swift hook under the rascal’s jaw which rape his head back with a snap and rattled every tooth in his aws. _ The blow stopped him for a second; then he came at Don like a whirlwind, evidently intending to annihilate him on the spot. But the boy, who was as cooi as.an iceberg, ducked with -wencerful quickness, and as Kelso’s fist shot past into empty air, throwing him partly off his baiance, Don turned and hit him a swinging blow under the leit ear, sending the brawny fellow staggering away. No one but an adept at the science of sparring couid have handled the muscular foreman with the ease and precision the young engineer displayed. * “Ye kin fight, Kin ye!” gritted Jim Kelso, now thoroughly aroused to the work cut out for him. “Let me hit ye one : er an’ I'll knock ‘it all out of you quicker’n greased light- n n’ ” This time he came at the boy with more caution; but his of smashes in the face, either of which would have floored an ordinary man. But in his case they merely stopped him for a moment. ; In the mix-up which followed Don received one glancing __ blow, while he pummeied his opponent right and left in the face and chest. Kelso, now bleeding from a cut on the mouth, looked like a Savage as he advanced again, this time fully determined to have his revenge for the punishment: he had received. -“T’ll have no merey on ye if I once git ye into my clutches!” he snarled, with a grim ferocity which boded ill for the boy = re he could keep the ruffian off. Don again cleverly ducked a straight one aimed at his head. ‘Biff! * ‘He opened a second cut on Kelso’s lip. With an oath the foreman recovered himself quickly and dealt the boy a staggering blow on the chest that sent him back a yard or two. “Yah! Now I have ye!” roared the ruffian with a triumph- ant grin, following up his advantage with a blind rush ang swing of his arms. But Don was not where Kelso thought he was. : Smash! Crash! _. The lad's hard knuckles rattled his jaws again, and the fore- ‘Man turned fairly livid with disappointed rage. 1 on his with him i enough,” he muttered under his | time T polis blows were parried with wonderful skill, and he got a him ae if Tm ever,

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cor) on one of the leather-covered chairs with a sigh of satisfac- on. “Nothing fresh to report, I suppose?” said Don, without stopping the deft movement of his fingers, which were now part and swollen after the fight under the shadow ofthe citi. “No. Sinkey has got a man he can trust to keep tab on Ressi’s movements during the day, while Mike Doyle, our /watchman, will have-an eye out for him after dark.” “That’s right,” nodded the real head of the firm, as he drew the finished letter out of the machine and glanced over it before affixing his signature. “fo-morrow is our first pay-day on the work, and I’m bound to say I feel encouraged with the way the job is progressing,” seid Gil, with a lazy smile. “Yes, everything is running: nicely,” folded the letter and enclosed it in the addressed envelope. “By the way, here is a letter from the carriage company. One ot their representatives will be over to-morrow to inspect the site I have offered them.” “Tt will be some time before it’s filled in.” A “That doesn’t cut any ice. They want to see how far it is from the proposed freight yard. Then the vice-president is going to interview the general manager of the D. P. & Q. with reference to the laying down of a spur track into the property. They want to ship direct from the new factory to the cars.” ‘ oP aie they'll get what they want if their business justi- es it.” ss “Well, I understand it’s the biggest carriage works in the tate.” ‘ ‘We ought to make a good thing out of that deal if it goes through.” “IT can’t see any reason why it shouldn’t go through. an ideal spot for their business.” “It was a bright idea of yours to buy that ground, which did not lock to be good for anything. pleased to hear of this little coup.” “Newman won't be pleased with a good many things before we get through with the railroad contract,” said Don grimly. “I’m sure he calculates.on doing us up. He was standing at the door of his office as I came along, and he favored me with one of his sarcastic smiles that mean a heap in their way. I heard he is preparing to put in a bid on the new sewer authorized at a recent meeting of the town council.” “He’s welcome to it. He needs the work, if he can get it. All I ask of him is to keep his hands off our affairs. If he should have any dirty trick brought home to him he’s likely to find himself behind the bars. I’m going to take every pre- caution to head off any crooked work on the part of that crowd. What I gave Jim Kelso to-day is a sample of how I treat brutes of his caliber.” “By the way, you haven't told me how you came to have the mix-up with him this afternoon. ~. Whereupon Don told his brother the whole story of his méeting with blind Nellic, her warning of premeditated foul play on the part of te Newman crowd, Kelso’s unexpected appearance on the scene, and what led up to the row. “Such fellows as he are the scum of the earth,” said Gil, - “and I hope you knocked some sense into his thick head.” “I'm afraid he’s a hopeless case. You can’t make a silk purse out of a swine’s ear. He'll never be any different than Whai he is, though he may haul in his horns more frequently than has been his custom.” ‘He Ieeks ts me es if he possessed a certain low cunning which finds its best opportunity in the dark.” “fle certainly won't tackle either one of us hereafter in the open. His proper habitat is the State prison, and it’s a won- der to me he hasn't fetched up there long before this.” ~ “He'll get there, if in the meantime he doesn’t do something hat put his head inside a noose.” “Do you know; Gil, that I can’t get that biind girl out of acy ¢? Strange. isn't it, that as long as she’s lived down yonder with the Kelses I should only have‘seen her but once _ before yesterday, and both occasions resulted in a muss with ' @ imember of that family.” - “Why, I never seen her at all. ; BS ie guess.” “Ete “There's some mystery in pe you can take my word for it,” remarked Don, ‘nedding hig head sagely. _ “Whet sort of « girl is she? ” asked his brother curiously.. 5 “What sort?” replied Don. “Any description I might give _ wouldn't do her justice. You know once on a time, Jong ago, “you aad I used to speculate cn the personality of the angels It’s They keep her pretty close, admitted Don, as he! Newman won't be]. Y aheats ‘saad Peceiad a xetigions ‘pictures. They arise: to be" man, | ay a aes Chit wae LTS ia ee i aes She pet US Oe ee FIGHTING FOR FAME. largely of the feminine gender, as I remember it. Well, Nel- lie is as close a realization of what an angel is, or ought to be, as I could express the idea.” “You excite my curiosity, Don. I will certainly have to catch sight of her and see if we can agree on that point as we do on most everything else,” smiled Gil. “I’m afraid you won't find that en easy matter. The Kelsos have us marked. Besides, they’ll be skittish lest the girl may hear something of the schemes they propose to put in force against the new line and find means of putting us on our guard against them.” “I dare say you’re right.” “Whatever influence they bring to bear on the girl, it seems effective enough to serve their purpose. She clearly stands in great fear of them; otherwise, I’m sure she would have given them the slip long ago, since she needn’t go any further than this town to find people whose sympathies would easily be en- listed in her behalf. It’s a great pity she’s in their clutches, and I shall not rest easy until I see if something cannot be done to break the connection.” And it was clear that Don meant every word he said. At that moment the telephone bell rang and Don walked over to the*instrument. “Hello!” he said, putting the receiver to his ear, “Yes,” he added in reply to some question. “What's that?” he exclaimed a moment later, in some little excitement. “Well, do the best you can. I'll be right out,” and he hung up the receiver. “What's the matter?” asked Gil. “One of the buildings out at the cut has caught fire,” re- plied Don hurriedly, “and Phil Mead thinks it’s liable to prove serious.” Don seized his hat and was half way across the street to the stable where he kept’ his horse. CHAPTER V. MORE TROUBLE. A few minutes later Don was dashing down the street on his way to the scene of the reported trouble. As soon as he cleared the town he made out a quantity of smoke rising into the air from the direction of the cut. He put his horse to his best pace and rapidly covered the three miles which intervened. “Tf this is a trick of the enemy,” he muttered between his clenched lips, “there’s going to be trouble for some one,” Before Don had gone half the distance the smoke, which had been quite heavy at first, began to clear away. As there was no sign of flames the boy began to feel en- couraged. “TI guess Mead and the Italians have managed to gain control of the fire in time to save the building.” And such he found to be the fact when he reached the ground, “The laborers were at their supper when I noticed a ‘gus- picious-looking glare through one of the upper windows of the place where the men bunk,” explained Mead, the man in charge of the staticnary engine. “I° hurried upstairs and found one of the closets all ablaze and the fire breaking out through the roof. I pitched the three hand extinguishers that hung against the wall into the closet; but there was some- thing wrong with two of them, for only one broke, and that had but a momentary effect on the fire. I then rushed for the metal extinguisher downstairs, routing out the men and forming them into a bucket brigade on the way. As matters looked decidedly shaky, I thought I’d try and reach you over the private wire if I could. I am glad to say that the big ex- tinguisher and the laborers, who hustled for all they were worth, put us out of danger before matiers got beyond con- trol. You'd better go up and look at it. There's a hole in the roof as big as the head of a small tank, and you might back » a freight car into the upper northeast corner of the building if the hole were on the ground iloor.” t *Don looked the damage over, and saw that it could be easily and quickly put to rights again, and he felt very much re-. lieved to find that the trouble was no worse. : He telephoned the facts to his brother, and asked him to ar- range to have a couple of carpenters and the necessary mate rials out at the é¢ut the first thing in the morning, Then he asked Mead if he had any suspicions as to. how the fire started. “No, sir; I can’t say as I have.” 3 ‘The sane question was put'to Miko Doyle, the night waich- : - , sll ee

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$Y ‘FIGHTING He shook his head. “I have orders to keep me eye on that Rossi; but I can’t be in half a dozen places at once. When the alarm was given E noticed he was eating supper with the rest of the Italians, so I don’t think he had anything. to do with the fire.” “Well, it’s very singular,” remarked Don. “I examined the Temains of the closet thoroughly, and there seems to be a strong smell of kerosene mixed with the odor of burned wood. Now, there should not be any kerosene out here.” “Not a-drop, sir. As ye are aware, we use signal oil alto- gether for the lamps, and sure that has a different smell from Kerosene.” . “Evidently a deliberate attempt has been made to destroy the building,” said the young engineer, knitting his brows. “You'll have to keep a brighter lookout than ever. Remem- ber to report at once the slightest suspicious movement on the Dart of that man Rossi. But don’t let him get the idea that he’s watched.” “All right, sir; ye kin depend on me.” Don then returned to Lakeview. That night Mike Doyle found an empty can, which had un- coubtedly recently held kerosene oil, in a clump of bushes fifty feet from the laborers’ quarters, and he reported the fact to Gil Winthrop when he appeared at the cut in the morning, showing him the can. “It certainly points strongly to the fire being of incendiary origin,” said Gil. “But it is a poor clew to detect the rascal _ who brought it out here.” ; Everything went swimmingly for a week on the railroad job, and pay-day came around again. Rossi was observed to be pretty thick with the men, but beyond that there was no fault to be found with him. He was constantly shadowed, for Don Winthrop had resolved to take no chances. _ Most contractors would probably have got rid of the Italian on general principles, but Don had an idea that if he caught the fellow in any crooked work he might be able to frighten him into a confession, which would implicate whoever was behind the man, thus striking an effective blow at the con- Spirators who were working against him in the dark.. Gil paid off the men at the proper time. There were thirty- six Italians in the different gangs, and about the time he had finished all of them went in to supper as usual. Without the slightest suspicion that anything out of the or- dinary was brewing, the boy started back to town. He put up the horse and bussy and joined his brother at the Office preparatory to going’ home for dinner. =" They had their hats on and were going out of the door, when the telephone jingled. Don, as usual, answered the call. - The news that came over the wire from Mike Goyle was that every laborer on the job had taken his bag and iit out ~ aS soon as the crowd had finished their meal. “By Jove,” exclaimed Den, in a tone of disgust, “if this isn’t enough to make a man mad! This thing happens just at the Moment I was preparing to put on an extra spurt.” “What's up now, Don?” asked Gil, from the doorway. “More trouble,” responded his brother. : “Anything happened to the machinery?” asked Gil, in an anxious voice. : “No, nothing of that sort.” “What, then?” “All of our laborers have deserted us in a body.” + “The dickens you say!” replied Gil. _. “That's the news Doyle sends over the 'phone.” “Then we're at a complete standstill.” ~ _ “That’s about the size of it. Of course, this is Newman's + Work, and it seems to be pretty evident Rossi has engineered the break-up. Some strong inducement must have been of- fered the men to quit. We have treated them well, and I . ‘haven't heard a squeal from them since they went to work for ell have to advertise for new men, of course,” said Gil, a frown. ae e’ll have to get them somehow. “It's lucky I engaged men yesterday from Pittsburg. They were for e and order ancther batch of laborers, . ™ eS FOR TAME, if they are to be got offhand. If not, I'll connect with that Italian paper in New York and put in another advertisement.” “T'd give something to know what Newman is going to do with the crowd he took away from us to-night. I haven't heard that he’s started any fresh job.” “He might put them to work on the road across the lake,” suggested Don, while waiting for the connection to be made with Pittsburg, “and so hurry the job along.” “Well, I'll bet this low-down trick will cost him something in the way of a bonus. He'll have to make good whatever inducements Rossi held out to them, else you'll see them troop- ing back and begging to be taken on again.” Ten minutes later Don hung up the receiver with a sigh of satisfaction. “Zotorello has promised to send on thirty-five additional laborers at once,” he said to his brother; “so we shall not lose so very much over this wholesale desertion.” “Glad to hear it. I was afraid | wouldn't buve any appe- tite for my dinner,” said Gil, with a cheerful simile. “On the whole, I’m glad to get rid of Rossi. He's one of the slickest rascals I ever came across, and I never felt that things were exactly safe while he was about.” “He hasn’t done so much harm, when you come to look at Te" : “He was watched too closely for that.” “I dare Say he got on to that fact, and the card he worked to-night was about the only safe trick he dared spring on us.” “And that has practically failed of the desired resuit.” “We shall know better about that in the morning.” And they did, for about seven the next morning. while the boys were at breakfast, a dispatch was delivered at the house from Joe Sinkey, who was in Glendale. It was to the effect that he had been arrested on the charge of disorderly con- duct just as the train came in, and was locked up—etvidently a put-up job to corral the new laborers and spirit them away. “Well, that's tough,” remarked Don, tossing the dispatch over to his brother. “It's' plain I'll have to go te tiendale.” CHAPTER VI. BLOCKING THE ENEMY, Don Winthrop took the morning beat down the Inke, arriy- ing at Glendale about ten o'clock. ‘ He found Sinkey had just been discharged for lack of evi- ence. At the railrcad station not one of the imported laborers from Pittsburgh was in sight. “How did it happen?” asked the young engineer of his fore- man. \ “I hardly know myself,” explained Sinkey. “I reached here last evening about nine with the wagons, and put up at the Glendale House. I was called at 4.30, and had the wagons here waiting for the train due at 5.45. I heard the whistle, of the locomotive at Parson's bridge, and walked forward to’ where I supposed the smoker would pull up, when withort warning I was sudden!ty surrounded by at least a dozen men, and found myself hustied off the platform and down the street, the center of what appeared to be a free fight. Some- body fetched an officer, and the crowd scattered like magic. The policemen arrested me, in spite of my urgent protest, and 1 was locked up. The magistrate discharged me as soon as 1 was brought before him and had stated my side of the ease. He also reprimanded the officer for making the arrest. There is not any doubt in my mind that the Newman crowd found out we expected the Italians, and put up the job to euchre us out of them.” ‘ Don was evidently of the same opinion. ey His eyes flashed and he set his jaws tegether with a snap, “Newman has scored a couple of points on me, but I'll give him all the fight he wants before I get through with him. If he imagines that he can stop me on this railroad coniract and prevent me finishing it on time he’s got another think coming.” © “His crowd have got away with the men, all right.”. said ~ Sinkey, dejectedly. — ; J Lp aay “I'm going to find out where they've gone,” answered Don, in a determined tone. “I don't propose to stand for it if I ean help it.” ape as ine He questioned the two drivers who had come over from Lakeview with Jee Sinkey. They were hanging around the station awaiting developments. “ “Quite a crowd of men got off on. the. y platform as sean as the train came in,” spoke up one of the drivers. “They stood around chattering and gesticulating like a Jot of cats ina | Sagal gr 3 and me, of course, looked, and Ioxd ‘em abeard the teams. 2 strange garret. M to round them up hg But > © eX a. 9 e ° \y awe

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8 FIGHTING first thing we knew three or four chaps came up, spoke to ‘om in their own lingo, and started them in a procession down the track as soon as the train panes out. That's the last we've seen of ’em.” “In what direction?” asked Don. “That way,” and the driyer waved his hand toward the north end of the lake. > The young engineer thought a moment; then he got busy. “You're acquainted in Glendale,” he said to the foreman. “—T suppose you could drum up helf a dozen stout chaps who worldn’t mind a little strenuous exercise if well paid for it?” “T ean get “em in ten minutes,” replied Sinkey. “Do so, then.” Within a quarter of an hour Joe returned with seven stal- wart fellows. He lined them up before his boss, who made them an offer for their services, and explained to them what might be ex- pected of them in an emergency. They accepted Don's préposition with alacrity. “Get aboard these wagons, then,” ordered the boy tersely. They obeyed like a lot of young colis. Den jeined the driver of the leading yehicle and directed him to move down the road beside the track at a lively gait. “They have four hours the start of us, and will probably have reached their destination before we can catch up with them, <All the same, there will be something doing, if I can locate them, even if I have to go inte the midst of the enemy’s amp,” said he. A long. dusty ride of two hours followed, with nothing to vary the monotony of the trip: Then a sudden turn in the read brought them unexpectedly into the presence of a score of Italian laborers squatted in the shade of a line of trees. ive men, net Italians, were gathered in a knot a little dis- tance away, talking and smoking, while a whisky flask passed from mouth to mouth. Apparently the five were feeling uncommonly good. \“Those are our men for a nickel!” said Don, turning in his seat and shouting back to Sinkey. “They look like the fellows I saw on the platform,” nodded the driver. “But I am not sure, for all Italians look alike to me.” All hands prepared for action, and as the wagons drew up before the outtit under the trees Sinkey’s boys tumbled out into the read and awaited erders. “Hello! What's all this mean?” demanded the leader of the party, as Don stepped down from his perch beside the driver, He knew well enough what it meant without asking. but of course he and his associates were prepared to resist the efforts of the young engineer to recover his imported laborers. “I came after these men,” replied Don, curtly, “and I’m going to take them back to Glendale with nie.” my :: are like fun!” returned the man, insolently. ch u heard what 1 said,” said Don, with fire in his _ eyes. ese Italians came down here to work on the rail- road. I hired them in Pittsburgh. You and your pals were , sent to Glendale to steal them away, and you succeeded, after ~ a fashion. Now I propose to recover them. Peaceably, if I _. ean—by force if necessary.” “You can’t bulldaze me in that fashien!” snorted the lender of ‘the opposition. ‘ Then he rushed to the Italians, but found Sinkey talking to the men in their native language. The foreigners were all on their feet, jabbering like a tree ; full of monkeys. They stared awkwardly about, not in the least comprehending the situation. j ‘Sinkey, however, was bringing order out of chaos, when the other leader interfered and brought his ewn Italian lingo into tees: ordered. the laborers’ to get into the wagons, and ie some of them started to obey« ee Evidently. they were tired of walking, and a ride had its 5 {(ailurements. : More followed, in spite of the protests of the opposition, and things hings seemed to be going Don’s way. This angered the Irishman who was the emissary of i dw Newman, and he suddenly struck Sinkey and knocked down. ‘oe jumped to his feet and went for him. Bete others came up to help their companion. Don's seven ters, Somictan egg hae off. and a general mix-up ensued, to laborers, 2ll of sh aa now * sie ec : points of var - vantage pe sass agons, FOR FAME. The scrap was not of long duration, for the Newman crowd were clearly outgeneraled and outnumbered. “You haven't heard the last of this!” roared the man who headed the opposition bunch, shaking his fist at Don Win- throp when his adherents gave up the fight. “It’s a poor rule that won’t work both ways,” replied the boy, sententiously. “I know you’re Mike Mullen, Andrew Newman's foreman on the road work. and I want you to tell your boss that if he continues to look for trouble in our di- rection he'll get into it, right up to his neck.” With these words be mounted beside the driver of the first team. “Yah!” snarled Mullen, picking up a stone and making a motion to fling it at the young engineer. | -Don was down in an instant. He walked straight up to the fellow, and looking him in the eye, said: “Muybe you've heard how I treated your friend Jim Kelso last week. Thait’s how I deal with scwm of your sort. Do you understand? Put down that stone, or I won't leave a whole bone in your body!” Mullen drew back, thoroughly cowed. Tie had not heard anything about Kelso being knocked out by Don. ' Jim was not such a fool as to spread the news about. . But Newman's confidential foreman bore signs, too evident to be mistaken, Of having been through a serious scrap with somebody; and Mullen had heard more than one say that Don Winthrop was a scientific slugger of no mean order. Where he would have called one of his own set a liar on the spot, he accepted the boy’s statement without question. If this young engineer could whip Jim Kelso, he knew bet- ter than to invite a serap on his own account. So he turned on his heel with a smothered oath, and mo- tioning to his companions, the crowd started off down th= road. Then Don remounted the wagon, and the yictorious party drove off in the direction of Glendale, where they arrived in time to catch the three o'clock boat for Lakeview. CHAPTER VIL. STRUCK DOWN. Work was resumed next morning’ at the small way, all along the line. Don had already been advised that thirty-five laborers hart left Pittsburgh en route for Lakeview. This time he deter- mined to take no chances with them, so he went over to Glen- dale by boat and took an early afternoon train for Fairfax, cut, and, in a where he expected to connect with the train carrying the- Italians. On reaching Pairfax he found he had nearly an hour to wait for the train on which he had beén advised that the Italians would come. He noticed a man in a light suit talking to the station agent. He was not a pleasant-looking man, and in the light of what had happened to his other consignment of laborers, Don suspected that the fellow was there for no good purpose, prob-- ably to intercept the gang of Italians he wes waiting for himself. : Whether or not that was his mission, the boy determined to keep an eye out for trouble. A After taking a good look at the man. so he’d know him again, Don decided to kill time by inspecting the steel trestle- work bridge which spanned the river on the outskirts of the town. He had heard that it was a mighty well-built bridge, just wide enough to carry a double track, and as he was inter- ested in everything connected with the building of railroad lines, he was glad of the present chatice to look it over. So he started off along the tracks toward the river. The stranger, who had been covertly Watehing: him, broke away from the agent and followed hii. Don did not observe this action of his, for he was not ex- pecting anything of the kind. The man did not try to overtake him, but kept a certain distance between them, as if he merely wished to find out why the boy was walking out toward the bridge. Don did not look behind, and in fifteen minutes reached the | bridge. After carefully inspecting that end of it, he waikea out on the rails, not aware that an express, which did not stop at Fairfax. was due to pass the bridge in a few minntes. — Although there was no reason why he need be run downy “even if caught on the middle ‘of the ues) as he end or : 4 _— os.”

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Ie. iG HTING Bee 1 FOR FAME. 9 — ; Ho the other track if he was walking on the ties over which | the express would dash, still it was no pleasant thing to be exposed to the wind and-suction of a train going at a fifty- mile clip. When he started across the trestle the stranger began to Close up the space between them. Don hed reached the middle of the bridge when he saw the than coming. He recognized him as the party he had seen at the station. “IT wonder if he’s up to any mischief?” thought the boy. He stopped to let the chap go by, but instead of doing so the fellow halted beside him. “Your name is Don Winthrop?” he said, abruptly. “Yes,” replied the young contractor. “You have come to Fairfax to meet a bunch of Italians you . ©xXpect from Pittsburgh?” } “How do you know that?” said Don. “That's my business. You won’t meet them.” “No? Who will stop me?” “I will,” replied the man just as the shrill whistle of the express sounded a short way off. The whistle startled Don and he turned around. The raseal grabbed the joy and flung himself from the trestle. . With x mighty roar the train rushed over the spot both had been cecupy ing a moment before. Down plunged the young contractor and his foe toward the river below. Don's legs caught in the steel brace half-way down and his flight-was arrested, but the man lost his grip om the boy’s _ arm and fell into the river, which carried him under the _ bridge and out of sight. Don lost no time in swinging himself upon the brace, and Straddling He leaked: for the man and saw him buffeting with the Tiver a hundred feet away. He was swimming for the gperette bank, with every chance of reaching it. “It was easy for Don to cllmb up to the rails, and paying no further attention to the fellow he started back for the Station. He saw no more of him. . Half an hour later the Pittsburgh train stopped at Fairfax. Don boarded it and feund the Italians in the smoking-car. s “Den aiternated between the platform and a seat near the oor. He had to keep on the watch, as the train, which was a local, made frequent stops. He could not tell but another “agent of Andrew Newman might make his appearance at Any moment and try to coax the laborers to light out for ‘Darts unknown. However, nothing of that kind occurred during the run to Glendale, and s0 Don got his men aboard the steamer and "p to Lakeview all right. And now work progressed with more rapidity than ever ‘fore. : Dering the ensuing month great progress was made at the eut and along the road between that point and Lakeview. _A new gang was put to work under a man named Farrell. ‘hey were grading the line between the upper end of the en of the hill and the cliff where the tunnel was to be ored, \ Bverything was running smoothly, and- Don had begun to : = that Newman had finally concluded to keep his hands‘ Su. : _ “Nothing hke handling men of his stamp without gloves,” ‘said to his brother one day, when he felt in a particularly iy of mind over the situation. “Thats right,” agreed Gil. with a boyish grin, aie Bi Harley Seems perfectly satisfied with the work as far hi it has gone,” said Don, in a contented tone, — _ Mr. Harley was the engineer in charge of the D. P. & Q., “and he had just been over that part of the line under con- - Sttuction. . Don had all his leeks at work, either Gliartig the land be- tween: the right-of-way boundaries or carting the waste ex- ‘€avation taken out above where the shoyel was employed in the cut. Trees and brush had to be cut elose to the surface the ground and then barned or otherwise disposed of. exezvated soll was taken down to the ‘lake and dumped eet amiiete the nae proposed to Rien ‘their summer Gil nedded, as the idea struck him favorably. He liked to see things humming at ail points. “How about the factory people and the carriage site? We are filling in the ground fast now, and it is beginning to look something like a plot. I thought the vice-president was com- ing over this morning?” “Didn't 1 mention the fact to you? No? Well, he was at the office at eleven o'clock, according to appointment. - He handed me a check for $500 and took a sixty-day option on the property. It’s practically a sale. We paid only $800 for the ground as it then stood. Our profit will be over $4,000, and we shall not have held it over four months at the ut- side.” Gil’s eyes sparkled. “All things come to those who have long heads—meaning you. for I never would have thought of that scheme.” “Well, it’s all in the firm, Gil," replied Don, patting his brother affectionately on ithe back. “By the way, have you managed to catch sight of Nellie yet?” Gil shook his head. “No; I was on the top of the cliff this morning, within a stone's throw of the Kelso cottage, but she was not to be seen.” “T guessed as much,” said his brother, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “But I must say I am disappointed. I wanted to hear how she was doing. I don’t trust Jim Kelso for a red cent. He's capable of a whole lot of villainy.” “A woman, whom I judged to be Mrs. Kelso, piped me. off, all right. She's got a face that would turn milk sour on sight. is “I dare say she’s well wortay of Jim. It makes my blood boil to.think that poor girl is under the thumb of such a couple—not to speak of Jerry, who is capable of browbeat- ing the life out of her.” “Tt certainly is a shame,” admitted Gil; that we have any right to interfere.” “That remains to be seen. I’ve taken an interest in that girl, and I don’t propose to see her abused if I can help it,” said Don, in a decided tone. Gil said no more on the subject. He felt sorry fer the girl, as he might have felt for any one whom he believed to be entitled to his symapthy; but he did not have the same interest in her that Don had. “Well, I've got some directions to give Farrell,” said Don, preparing to mount his horse. “I'll see you on my way back.” “You had better hurry, then, for it looks like rain.” “Pooh! <A little water won't hurt me,” laughed the boy, as he gave his animal the rein. There was a trail running around the spur of the hill through which the cut was being excavated. This came close to the margin of the lake at one spot, and then made a detour along the base of the hills in the direction of the cliff. Don cantered along without paying any attention to the ominous appearance of the heavens, which threatened a good shower, if not worse. To say the truth, he was thinking of blind Nellie. Me was wondering how things were going with her since the day he knocked Jim Kelso out under the cliff, The ‘boy was far more interested in the beautiful and un- |fortunate girl than he was willing to admit to himself, As he approached the curve in the trail near the lake it be gen to rain a bit. This aroused him, and he urged his animal to.a more rapid pace. The clouds seamed to be closing in on the landseape, which took on a parti¢wlarly dreary aspect. There was nothing to be seen but the leaden-colored maton on the one side. The Srush-covered hills were on the other, | the white face of the cliff coming into view In the distance Don observed a stout boat dratvn in close to the shore, and beset £ What surprised to see it there. | ; ag conthmed to fall at intervals unti) he came up : with Farrell and his gang. , ‘A string of carts were plodding of and coming back from the lake shore. : = Fartell came pip as soon as he saw him. ; ae ““Let me have your plan,” said Don, alighting from his, horse. j The foreman took it from his pocket. ¥ “There's: going to be some change here,” spid the dic: nee the et! i the blue print. “Mr. Harley wi ‘ing to me aabut ei a a ago. ‘The culvert over “but I don't see

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10 FIGHTING FOR FAME. stream will go here, instead’ of there. The course of the They - yanked the boy to his feet without ‘ceremony and waterway seems to have been altered a bit by the late spring | forced him ashore. rains, and we have to provide for that by running the em-} “What's the meaning of this?” demanded Don, beginning bankment a yard or so to the right. See?” to realize that something was decidedly wrong in his affairs. “IT understand, sir.” ; “Ye'll_ know in good time, Mr. Winthrop,” said Kelso, “I'm going to send you .a dozen more men te-morrow to | mockingly. push this thing along. for ’m going to get at the cliff right “So it’s you, Jim Kelso, is it?” ejaculated Don, in some away. Some of the men who deserted us a month ago have | surprise. applied for work, and I'm going to take them on. The steam | “It's me, all right,” replied the man, in an unpleasant tone. drilis and the boiler will be brought up by the end of the |“Mebbe yer glad ter see me, and then, ag’in, mebbe ye ain't.” week.” ; “Look here, Jim Kelso! If this is some trick of yours or “All right, sir.” Mr. Newman's, let me tell you you're making a grave mistake. Dou spent three-quarters of an hour with Farrell, by which | You ought to know by this time that I’m not one that will time it was beginning to grow dark. stand for any monkey business.” Siem “Pl be out here some time in the morning,” said the young What are ye goin’ ter do about it?” sneered the foreman, engineer, as he rode off, taking the trail back the way he |Jalevolently. ; pe s . “Well, for one thing, ’ have you in jail. You'll pay deariy The rain, which had held off during his stay with the upper | for this outrage, let me tell you. And if your employer is at gang, now began to come down in erenaak . 4 the back of this affair, as I more than half suspect, he won't “It's plain that I'll be soaked before I get back to the cut,” | find it easy to avoid the responsibility.” ‘ soliloquizetl Don. . *Yah!” exclaimed Kelso savagely, relensing Don's arm and He put the spurs to his horse and galloped along at a/| hitting the boy a clout in the face with the fiat of his leathery good pace. hand that sent him staggering against the Italian Guila. As the animal was taking the turn at the point nearest to|“Take that for yer answer, blame ye!” the Ixke he suddenly shied, almost throwing the. boy. It was a cowardly blow, and Don's eyes flashed fire as he “Whoa. Prince!" he exclaimed, soothingly. “What's the |recovered himself. matter, old boy?” sl : He wrenched himself free from Gulla’s clutches. and, Then somebody sprang out of the gloom and seized the | bound as he was, he walked up to Kelso. The man shrank horse by the bridle. back instinctively, as if he expected a blow. 3 Two Italians appeared on the other side and grabbed hold I shall not forget that, Jim Kelso,” the boy said, with of Don. suppressed anger. “Ii’s well for you that you took the pre- “Hello! ‘What's this?” he exclaimed, striking at one with |¢aution to tie my hands before you dared offer me such an his short whip. indignity. But, remember, lll make it my business to. bring Something very like a big stone struck him on the head | YOu down on your knees for that blow. Yeu haven't for- m behind, and he fell forward on his horse’s neck uncon-}gotten your experience under the cliff, PM warrant. I pity iene ;you the next time I get you within reach of my hands. You'll be glad to go to jail after it’s over.” i It was too dark for Jim Kelso to see the expression on the CHAPTER VIII. young contractor’s face, but he felt that the boy meant it, AT THE M just the same. ig SE SSR OF, Ce “Yell never git ther chance ter git back at me, Mr. Win- Don Winthrop was roughly pulled out of the siidate: and throp,” he blurted out. “We didn’t take all the trouble of while one of his assailants held up his limp form another | geyehin’ you over here just for the fun of the thing. #e've tied his hands behind his back. built all of that there railroad ye’re goin’ ter.” Then he was carried down to the water's edge and lifted “What do you mean?” ejaculated Don, for the first time be- into a boat which lay there. His horse was turned loose. ginning to look at his abduction in a serious light. There were three men, two of -whom were Italians, and a}|~ «Neyer you mind what I mean. You'll find that out by stont boy in the party. and by,” retorted Kelso, significantly. “Fetch him along, All embarked withovt delay, and the ‘small craft was pushed Gulla,” and once more he grasped Don by his bound arm, ond off and headed out into the lake. with the aid of his confederate hurried him toward the in- “I reckon I've got him dead to rights at last,” said the |terjor of the island: coarse voice of Jim Kelso from the stern of the boat. Don began to feel somewhat apprehensive as to how this ! “That's what you have, dad,” sneered his estimable son adventure was going to end. ? Jerry, who sat straddie-legged above the unconscious prisoner. | . Pye sinister conduct of his captors was far from reassur- “You fixa hhn all right dissa time,” spoke up one of the jing, rowers, Tony Gulla by name, who was a sort of under-fore-|' Were they planning to murder him and conceal his body man in Andrew Newinan's erapley: fi t solinewhere in this lonely locality, which he belleved was a go vou kin jest bet I will,” replied Kelso, with an oath. deserted part of the farther shore, where he knew a crime When I get through with him his name will be mud. '|might easily be committed and all traces of it sereened from “You maka him eata da humble pie, eh?” grinned Gulla. | nyplic observation? Kelso made no answer to this, and for a while nothing | y+ nad not occurred to him that he had been brought to Was heard but the rumble of the oars in the locks and the] tne island where the stone quarries were located, and with swish of the rain as it was driven against their unprotected | whose situation he naturally. was familiar. _ - persons by the wind. The island was owned by Andrew Newman, and it was Sees “Sax, dad,” chipped in Jerry, at last, “do I get a whack at |from these quarries he obtained the broken stone he used in him? Towe-him one for the knockdown he gaye me a while building the public roads, of which work he had long enjoyed et 2 See & monopoly. es rete coment you worry,” growled his father; “he'll get all that’s} Don's thoughts were decidedly unpleasant ones. fa nz to lim, and more, too!” He believed Jim Kelso was capable of any desperate crime « young ruffian grinned, and as a foretaste of what he| when, his worst passions were aroused. meant te do when he got the chance he gave the senseless |« ‘And he judged that the ruffian hungered to get square with _ ena rd a sly Kiek in the ribs. him for the beating he had administered to him under the — i” ORS was A small island not far from the opposite shore | cliff. : r . nud the boat was being pulled toward if. It was extremely galling to his proud natuve to be pushed — < Den: recovered his senses about the time the craft grated |and hauled about by a couple of low-browed rascals like the _ fis keel on the shingly beach, _ men who had hold of him. Ons of the Italians, who. bore a strong resemblance to Mike| Determined to foil them if he could, he tried to work his — © Rossi. stepped. into the water and pushed the boat further in,! hands so as to loosen the rope which held his wrists. y and then the party disembarked. But he soon found this unavailing. + As Jim Kelso and Tony Gulla canght- ‘the young contractor; Then, suddenly and without warning, he broke away from by his pinioned arms to drag him out of the boat the boy | Kelso and Gulla, butting Jim in the chest with his head and P: fat up and gazed around him in a puzzled sort of way. flooring him. I 7 ¥ouve come to, have ye?” growled the foreman. “Then He then dashed past Jerry and the other two, with the Jn- be Aaa walk wome, xe re us the troubie of carryin’ tention of trying to lose them in the darkness. ie i ss But the Bang was acy te heels in Short ovder and, handi-

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ee ee ee HTING 7 1 re a basa cain, as he was by his pinioned arms, he could not. bring Ris full powers into play. Therefore it was not, many ‘mo- Menis before he was tripped up and his flight arrested. “So ye thought ye'd try and give us the slip, eh?” cried ~ Kelso, with a brutal laugh, when he came up. “Just as if | Ye could, consarn ye!” and he gave the fallen boy a kick in _ the ribs with the toe of his thick boots. _. Tony Gulla and Mike Rossi helped the young engineer to “his feet, At the command of their leader they started ahead again ; ieee} the prisoner, while Jim Kelso and his son closed in be- n - The party proceeded in absolute silence until they arrived » . at the opening to one of the quarries.. ‘s is was not. being worked at the time. had been built in the center of the excavation. Kelso kicked the door open and all hands entered. The building consisted of only one room, about eight feet Square with a window. __ The walls were quite bare and unfinished; the window had fo sash, being a mere opening five feet or so from the floor, BS the latter being formed of rough, two-inch plank. . The furnishing consisted of a stove, the pipe frofu which - brojected straight through the roof, a rude table and perhaps half a dozen stools. Jerry went to a shelf, found a bit of candle, and lit it. “Take da seat; you feela much bet’,” said Gulla, pushing Don toward one of the stools. Although the boy resented the way, in which the request Was given, he saw no reason for refusing to accept it, so he Sat down. ‘ Jerry and the two Italians also selected stools, and every- _ thing seemed to hinge on the action of-Jim Kelso, who was Peay Clearly bossing the job: A rough shanty CHAPTER IX. FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH. es “I might as well tell you that Newman hasn't any hand these proceedings.” began Jim Kelso, seating himself on _ the corner of the table and eyé¢ing his victim with undis- ‘ ~ ghised satisfaction. “Pm glad to hear it,” said Don Winthrop. eS yee “I'd hate to that a man in his position would so degrade himself ‘ogee to counive with such scum as yourself and your crowd in i igor a dirty trick.” _ “Don’t fool yerself. He’s got it in for ye good and hard r stealing that railroad contract away from him. But this x affair is a personal matter between ye an’ me, that’s all. is © boss won't make no kick if he should happen to find out how I disposed of ye. Though I don’t reckon he'll ever find f\ Fils words conveyed a sinister threat, and Don winced in a ones of himself. : “What do you propose to do with me?” he asked, as calmly ‘ as he could. _ _ “I intend to have satisfaction for the score I owe ye,” an- bweres Kelso, with savage earnestness. , I didn’t give you any more than you deseryed,” said the boy, fearlessly. “Sana snarled the ruffian, impatiently. “You did what no ever done before—ye put me down and out with that ed science of yours. I hate ye for it, and I mean to do e up in af way that'll settle all arguments. on the subject _ “You mean you've ‘bronght me overfhere to take it out of me With my hands tied so I can’t defend myself. It's what ont might expect from such as you.” ‘ No, I don’t mean no sich thing. I mean to make ye sweat aS way. Ye'll have jest long enough to say yer pray- a and ye’re wiped out for te an’ all—do ye under- ther next world,” and the foreman glared vindictively at him. ee suppose you know the consequences of such a crime?” Ene eer: as coolly as could be, expected were the cir- <3 don't keer nothin’ about no Consequences. I don’t reckon re'll be po None of us is goin’ to ay“ = hapds on ye. accident will bappen, that’s all,” An ecrren repeated the boy. You're in the disused quarry on Jumbo og aces off work to-day there was ot Fa FOR FAME. 11 one can of nitro-giycerine left in the dynamite safe. [Tm goin’ to fetch that over here as company for ye after we leave. If it should happen to take a notion to go off by it- self. why. .ye’d go off with it, thet’s all,” and the rascal grinned sardonieally. Don thought he saw through the fiendish scheme, made him shudder. It was as cold-blooded a crime as could well be imagined. “So ye see the consequences ye spoke about don’t amount to nothin’. Ye'll be missed. thet’s all. The papers’ have an account about an expiosien at the quarry on Jumbo Island that blowed a shack of a house to little bits. Newman’ll come over and look the matter up to see who's ter blame. And I reckon thei's all there'll be to it.” “And you're going to take my life this way simply because I whipped you in a fair, stand-up fight?” and the boy's lips eurled contemptuously. “Yes, and because ye've been tryin’ ter get the inside track with that there gal of mine, Nellie. She ain't the same as she was afore she come to know ye. Ye’ve changed her—do ye understand—and that’s one good reason why I intend to be } rid of ye,” and Jim Kelso showed his teeth with all the ferocity of a wild beast. “You're a coward and a cur, Jim Kelso. Mark my words, the day will come when you'll wish that this nights work was blotted from your memory.” “Don't ye believe it, Mr. Winthrop. sorry for wipin’ ye off ther earth.” With these words he slipped off the Farle and walked out, the door. “He was gone a short time. { When he returned he had a hammer, a small steel hook, and several yards of stout cord. He mounted the table, drove the hook into the ceiling. aaa: then tried it to see if it was firm. i “Fetch me a good-sized rock,” he said to his son, as he, passed the cord over the hook. Jerry went outside and hunted up one which weighed about; forty pounds. Jim tied one end of the cord securely about it, pulled it up! to the ceiling, and securing the other end of the cord to a hook in the wall an inch or so above a small shelf, left the stone to dangle in the air. Don watched this performance with some curiosity. What did it mean?” Kelso then held a whispered confab with the Italians. Then the th came over to the yeurg eugineer, seized him and bound him down on top of the table. While they were doing this Jerry brought in a flat stone and placed it directly under the reck which hung above. The table with the prisoner was turned on its side, and Don’s body brought close to the fiat stone. All hards then left the building, and when the sounds of their footsteps died away in the distance there was absolute silence in and around the shanty, the rain haying ceasefiven- tirely. Don turned his gaze at the hanging rock, then down at the flat rock, and then at the end of the cord, alongside of which Kelso had placed the three-inch piece of, candle. Whatever infernal arrangement this was he could hot un- derstand it. If it was intended that the rock should fall in some way he could not see what damage that would do, beyond giving him a shake-up. eae this, after all, some practical joke on Jim Kelso's part? Did he imagine such a clumsy contrivance would create a mysterious fear in the young contractor's breast? Don almost smiled at such an idea. : But hark! He heard footsteps again outside. Presently Jim Kelso entered the building, carrying with the utmost eare a can which the boy ppetandly. recognized as a receptacle for nitro-glycerine. Instantly the meaning of all these preparations flashed oe his brain, and sath blood fairly congealed around ae eart The devilish ingenuity of the man was appalling. He placed ihe can softly on the floor, and after a glance at the candle on the shelf he spoke. “Ye've been long ssouge in the business ter recognize what this can contains,” he said, with a horrid grin at Den. “fm. going to pisece it on that flat stone within a foot of yer head—_ Ee see? Ye'll have half an hour or so ter live, Mr. Winthrop. . By keepin’ yer ere on that candle. ye kin count yer span of — life. As-scon as bey, fiame touches. the cord it'll Bey to and it I shan’t never feel

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12 4 og Tae ail FIGHTING FOR FAME. burn it. The weéakenin’ of mebbe a single strand will be enough to cause the weight of that hangin’ stone to snap it short off. What then? I reckon I don't need ter tell an ed- dicated feller like ye what'll take place when the rock hits the can of nitro-glycerine.” “You're a fiend!” cried Don, the sweat gathering in big’ drops on his forehead. “T see ye’re beginnin’ ter ‘wilt already,” snickered the man. “That's where you're mistaken, Jim Kelso. I may have to die, but you'll never be able to say under any circumstances that IT took water from such a reptile as you.” “Yah! I might have given ye a chance for yer life, but now—— bape “That's a lie, and you know it! give nye half a chance.” “That’s right, drat ye. I didn’t. I hate ye so that I'd like to brain ye with a rock, if this wasn’t more certain and ‘il leave no trace behind.” The foreman, fairly livid with passion, shook his clenched fist at the pinioned boy. “And now good-night to ye. Here’s yer through ticket ter perdition, with no stop-over checks.” ' Thus speaking, Jim Kelso cautiously placed the can of nitro-glycerine on the fiat rock, and then quickly retreated to the door. “Beiter begin’ sayin’ yer prayers, Mr. Winthrop,” he said, sneeringly, as he stood with one foot on the sill. “There ain’t more’n half an inch of candle between ye and ther nitro- glycerine.” Then he vanished into the darkness and the night, and Don heard the crunching of his thick boots on the gravel grow fainter and fainter, till at last the sound died away in the distance. Ion Winthrop, the young contractor, was left alone with death! ” You never intended to CHAPTER X. SAVED BY LOVE. “Must I die like this?” groaned Don, as he strained un- availingly at the rope which held him with the grip of a vise to the table. Then his eyes rested with a kiud of fascination upon the _ sealed can of nitro-glycerine which stood within a foot of his ace. . The contents of that can would easily blow the building and everything it contained to small fragments. And Don began to wonder if, after all, that would not be an easy death. “ll never know what hit me, at any rate. over in a flash.” . Just the same, the very idea of -such a death was truly horrible. It aroused bim*to make-a fresh effort to free himself, which ‘proved just as ineffectual as the other. Jim Kelso and the Italians had done their work only too It will be all - well. Alveady ten minutes of the fate half hour estimated by Kelso as representing his span of life had passed away. Don glanced at the candle on the shelf, which was leaning _ slightly against the cord, and saw with a shudder that tiie flame had drawn perceptibly nearer the strands, the sever- _ ance cf which meant the end of all things, as far as he was concerned, -~. Qutside the clouds: had gone into the northwest and the full moen was out in all its glory. At this moment it was rising above the summit of the quarry, ind its rays began to shine in at the open. window, bathing the boy’s head and shoulders in a flood of light. ‘Suddenly Don thought he heard the sound of a light foot- ne step without. pr tension of the situation had made his hearing unusually nen He listened with a desperate ” eagerness, mingled with a “. thrih of hope. The sound was repeated, this time nearer. had hitherto been so profound that there could he no mistake but that semteth ing or some one was moving beut the quarry. ee aioe: his energies, esis shouted: * UF ret! . was. a ak ‘atteving: on the gravel and then the slight noise of something side of the building. “Help! Help!” repeated the young engineer, with a fearful glance up at the burning candle and the cord on which his life hung. Almost instantly a shadow cut off the ray of moonlight shiping in at the door, and a soft: voice which the boy readily recognized called out: “Don Winthrop, are you in there?” “Heavens!” gasped Don. “It is Nellie!” “Don—Don Winthrop!” ; : “Quick, Nellie!” cried the boy, almost sharply. “If you would save my life, come to me here. Follow the sound of my voice.” The blind girl entered the room and came toward him as straight as a die. \ Don watched every step she took with the greatest of anxiety. “Stop were you are!” he called peremptorily. The girl stopped as ordered: “Adyance one step more,” he said quickly. She obeyed. “Kneel down!” he ordered. She did so. - “Stretch out your right hand slowly—that’s right. Move it to the left till you feel a can that’s standing there. Grasp it by the handle and draw it toward you gently. For heaven's sake, don’t let it jar against that rock, or even the boards of the floor—it contains nitro-glycerine.” “IT know it,” said the girl, calmly. “You know it!” gasped Don, in astonishment. “Yes,” she replied, simply. “And I know there is a rock suspended from the ceiling above by a cord, that the cord is attached to the wall, and that there is a lighted candle beside it.. Am I not right?” “You are; but how in the name of all that’s wonderful can you tell these things, for you certainly cannot see them, un- less you have recovered your sight in some miraculous man- ner.” “No, I cannot see them; but I know about them just the same. I’m going to take this can outside,” she said, rising to her feet and turning around. “Do I face toward the door?” “Almost. Just a shade to the right. Now be careful and don’t strike the can against the doorjamb. Go slowly. 1 am quite safe.now. The rock may fail, but I need fear only its flying fragments.” Nellie, with a precision that was truly marvelous, carried the can of deadly explosive outside of the shanty and then returned. The candle flame was now flickering close to the cord. “Put your left hand on the wall, Nellie.” directed the young. contractor. “Now walk quickly along till I say ‘stop.’ ” She followed his order to the letter, and came to a halt within reach of the shelf. “Raise your hand higher, and you will feel a shelf. Remove the candle you find there.” The flame blew across the cord as she teok the eandle away. “Now come here,” he said, and she obeyed him, holding the lighted candle in her hand. “IT am securely tied to a table which has been turned on its side. Unless you have a knife you must burn the cord which holds me to the table.” “T have not a knife,” she said, as she extended her disen- gaged hand and felt for the rope, which had been passed a number of times around Don's body. +i Then she carefully brought the flame of the candle to beer on the strands of the thin:rope. and having severed the lire in one place, she dexterously managed to release the bey from his bonds, and he rolled over on bis face. “My hands are tied separately,” he said. Once more she brovght the candle’s flame to bear on the rope, which she burned throvgh without so much as seorch- ing his skin. Don then shook himself free of his fetters, and rising to his' knees, flung his arms nbout the blind’ girl and pressed her to his. breast. “Nellie, it is over! The girl's he deal weight striking against the out- Right. You have saved my life!” : fell npon his Shoulder, ‘and she hung @ ts mp, his Armes. 4 He looked ‘nto her face, It was'as pate as marble and iGay? | eyes were doeka: “She has fainted!” _ “Great MeO, he patialuie. eae. cae

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~ Side of the hill where you’re making the cut. have beer watched for days. They had a boat in waiting to take you to the island after dark. others how he meant to rig the nitro-glycerine trap so as to FIGHTING ——- ee a CHAPTER XI. SEALED LIPS. Springing to his feet and taking Nellie in his arms, Don hurried outside. He soon found a pool! of rain water, with which he began to bathe the girl’s face copiously, while he alternately chafed her hands and wrists. This rude method of bringing an unconscious person to their senses fortunately speedily prevailed in ‘this instance, and Nellie opened her eyes. “Don Winthrop,” she murmured. “Yes, Nellie!” “You are safe, are you not?” she said, eagerly. “Yes, thanks to you. Now you must tell me how you came 'to be here on Jumbo Island, a mile from the cliff where you live. I cannot understand how a Dbiind girl like you could reach this spot all by yourself. And it looks to me as if you knew I was in trouble, and that you came over to aid me.” “Yes,” she said, with a shudder. “I had reason to believe your life was in danger. I overheard Mr. Kelso and two Ttalians, named Gulla arid Rossi, plan to cut you off this afternoon when you came out to the men you have at the Your movements i heard Mr. Kelso tell the add acute torture to your last hours, while at the same time this would remove every trace of the terrible erime they con- templated.” “The scoundrel!” muttered Don. “No one could ever guess what I haye suffered since ‘this awful scheme impressed itself Wpon my mind. I was. locked in my room—indeed, I have not been allowed to leave the house since that afternoon Mr. Kelso discovered us together at the foot of the cliff.” ‘ .. “Did the rascal dare ill-treat you.on his return to the cot- tage that day?” “He swore at and threatened me, and ordered Mother Kelso to lock me up and never let me out of her sight when I was - not in my room,” “Thank goodness, he’s abused you for the last time. This job will place him, as well as his confederates, ineluding his Preciors son, where they won't be able to trouble the com- i ~~ the lake, -Munity for some time to come, Go on, Nellie.” . “This afternoon was selected because it was gloomy and threatened rain.; Mr. Kelso said it would just suit bis pur- pose. At four o'clock Gulla, who had been on the watch Soniewhere slong the path which runs around the hills near came to the cottage and told Mr. Kelso that you had come out, and was talking to the foreman of the gang ately left the house; an “that Mr. Kelso had come to hate you. ‘Me to get out of the room by way of the door. been able to do that, I should have been caught by Mother ; "Kelso. I ahened _ the window and managed te push myself through, dropping to the ground. the lake shore nearly a mile from the cliff, Owned a boat and was friendly to me. She readily agreed to of workmen. The three men, accompanied by Jerry, immedi- then L knew you were in great danger. As it became darker and started to rain, I grew des- Perate at the thought of the peril you were facing. L believe it was largely because of the interest you had shown in me It was. impossible for Eyen had | At last I could stand the strain no longer. I then made my way to the foot of the diff, Clambered over the rocks on the edge of the lake, and ran as fast as I could to the house of Widow Meiggs, who lives on I knew she ‘Tet her son’ row me over to this island when I explained that it was of the utmost importance. The chance that Mr. Kelso and his companions were perhaps on the island at the moment # our arrival was a risk I had to face. I could only depend vf on Willie’s watchfulness and my own sense of hearing. Willie gnided me to the quarries. at the entrance to watch.” “JI shudder to think that you-niight nive come just in time to share my fate. Do you realize the awful risk you ran to Save me? Do you ‘understand that the matter of,ten minutes ye have made all tie he tA in the erorl? Such cour- | vi I tried this one first, leaving him ‘boat | tered. l FOR FAME. would rather have died here with you than not have made this effort to defeat the terrible purpose of those wicked men.” “Nellie.” said Don, with great emotion, “what you have done for me to-night is quite beyond me ever to repay. . You haye won my lifelong gratitude, as well as that of my mother and brother. You shall come to my mother’s house and live with us.” “I cannot,” she cried. with a little ery of despair. “Cannot! What do you mean? Don’t you know that this attempted crime on the part of Jim Kelso will land both him and his son in the State prison for’a long term? As to Mother Kelso, as you call her, you surely would not wish to return and experience further abuse at her hands?” Nellie buried her face in her hands and sobbed bitterly. “I must go back,” she said, piteously. “I must.” Don looked at her in astonishment. “Look here, Nellie; what's at the bottom of your connection with these Kelsos?” “Please don’t ask me,” she replied, pleadingly. “But I want to know.” he insisted. “If ever a girl needed a good friend and protector I think you do at this moment. You haye just saved my life, and the least I can do in re- turn is to save you from the infiuences which have hitherto surrounded you. With Jim Kelso and his son out of the way, what have you to fear? Mrs. Kelso could not make you re- turn to her against your will. My mother, my brother and myself will protect you against any harm or trouble if you will only make your home with us in the future.” “IT am very grateful to you, Don Winthrop,” she answered. “It would make me yery happy if 4 could accept your offer; but——” “But what?” asked the young engineer impatiently as she paused. “T cannot. I must go back to Mother Kelso, no matter what happens to Mr. Kelso.” She raised her tear-dimmed eyes, which had no sign of blindness in them, to his face, and her lips quivered. “I must not,” she answered, in a tone which left him no hope of unraveling through her the secret which he could not fathom. “Nellie, you cannot guess how this. answer of yours pains me,” he said, sadly. She took his hands confidingly fs hers.‘ ‘ “Do not be angry with me,” she pleaded. “I have a good reason for my silence. Another’s life depends on it.” “Another's life?” repeated the boy. in surprise. 13 “Yes. One I love dearer than all else in this world-my father.” She bowed her head in her hands and the tears flowed freely. “There; do not question me further. Let us go from here, ' Mr. Kelso may be on the watch and, not hearing the ex- plosion, he may return to see what is the matter. Should he do so and find us on the island we could hardly escape him.” “Don't fear for me, Nellie. Now that my hands are free, I warrant you that Jim Kelso and his cowardly Italians - would think twice before tackling me. He had a lesson hinm- self that he hasn't forgotten.” At the entrance to the quarry they found young Meiggs, who was thirteen years old, seated upon a rock with his face cocked toward the beach. They embarked in the boy’s boat, and in twenty minutes Nellie and Don were landed at the foot of the cliff, while the boy rowed homeward. “I hate to part with you, dear little girl,” said Don. “But, depend on it, I will see you soon again. I will never- feel pipe until I have rescued you from the clutches of the elsos.” Then, yielding to a sudden impulse, he took her face be-- tween his hands and kissed her lips. She uttered a little cry, and springing away, disappeared in the darkness. ; CHAPTER NXItI. THE FACE OF JIM KELSO. oo a sigh Don Winthrop turned his steps sorese Lake- Ww. “I wonder what those rascals did with my herse?”. “ws mut “Well, they've put their foot in it- this time, bag guess Andrew Newman will have to look up econ man. I will pat Jim Kelso through to the: limit. doesn’t get twenty years, at least. for his attempt on Pr ‘rn be hoprace =... .oN he “He Poet a ~ ee i

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a rs 14 He struck the regular trail around the hill and followed it with a steady stride. which promised soon to land him at the cut where the laborers’ houses were. Here he would be able to telephone to the office, for he knew his brother must be anxious over his lengthened and unaccountable absence. “Tl het Gil has a party out searching for me,.and if they ran across the horse—well, I'll soon be able to set the dear boy’s mind at ease.” He presently passed the spot where he had been overpow- ered by the villains. E “Tf they had not taken me unawares and struck me that cowardly blow from behind I guess I should have made things interesting for them,” he said, grimly. The bright moonlight lighted his way. “Poor Nellie! If I could only get at the bottom of the mys- tery which anchors her to the Kelsos, I might be able to help her.. I must help her somehow.” When he arrived at the cut he found something doing. Mike Doyle, the watchman, was the first to see him ap- proaching. “Tpon my word, Mr. Winthrop! Where have you been all this time? Your horse walked in here about five o’eldck when the rain was coming down at a smart rate. Your brother sent eut every blessed one of the Italians to iook for ye, thinking' something had gone wrong, but not a sign of ye eculd they discover between here and the cliff. When the hands knocked off and came in Sinkey and Boggs each headed a searching party, and they came back an hour ago without finding a clew to your whereabouts. Faith, ye look as if ye’d been having a rough time of fE:%% “Tt had a bit of adventure, that’s all,” said Don, carelessly. “Is my brother out here?” ‘ “Yes, sir. He’s in the office with Boggs and Sinkey.” The office to which Mike Doyle referred was simply a small hoarded-off section of the ground floor of one of the men's houses. It was furnished with a table, at which Gil sat when he paid the labovers off. A couple of chairs and the telephone completed the furnishings. Den walked In as cool and collected as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. His unexpected appearance was as surprising as it was wel- come. and Gil naturaily wanted to know right away what had happened to him. “ll tell you all about it on the way back,” Don replied. “Have our horses brought up, will you, Sinkey?” It was nine by the clock, and the twenty odd Italians who had been out with the two foremen beating up the hills for a trace of the young boss were now eating their supper. From his brother Don kept nothing back. He told Gil the whole story from start to finish. “Good heavens, Don! You had a close call,” said Gil, with a thrill of horror. “And you really mean to say that the blind girl saved your life?” he added, in astonishment. “She most certainly did.” “Snd where has she gone? cottage after that?” . “She did go backs Nothing I could say was of any avail to infinence her to the contrary. Her actions are an enigma to me, almost.” : “What do you mean by ‘almost? ” “Well, she gave me a slight hint on the subject, though it necessarily is incomprehensible to me.” 3 And Don told his brother of Nelie’s single admission, on Surely not back to the Kelso ‘the subject. “That scoundrel seems to have some terrible hold on the girl.” said Gil. “After we land him in jail we may perhaps find out what it id.” 5 nes Den was not very sanguine that the man’s capture would afford the desired result. Mother Kelso seemed to exercise the same power of in- timieation over Nellie. ; ‘Howerer, he hoped for the best, fully resolved to. probe the “mystery to its root. On reaching Lakeview Don immediately sought the chief of the local police and put the matter before him. %t was such a serious affair that several officers were at _ once sept out to arrest Jim and Jerry, as well as the two _ Jidlians, Gulla and Rossi, on sight. _. The young contractors then went home, expecting to hear in the morning that the villains had heen landed in jail. 7: But they were disappointed. - ; : The rs scoured the country roundabout, the authori- age ae the adjacent towns and villages were notified to be on the lookout for the fugitives, and finally the police of oe, FIGHTING FOR FAME. several cities within a certain radius were communicated with. But in the end nothing came of it. The two Kelsos, Tony Gulla and Mike Rossi had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed them up. Don hired two men to keep constant watch on the Kelso cottage on the cliff, night and day, with orders to notify him of every movement happening in that quarter. His chief object was to prevent the spiriting away of the blind girl Nellie, which he feared might be contemplated. Whether Mrs. Kelso discovered or suspected that she was under surveillance we cannot say, but she made no attempt to leave the locality. : Nellie, however, was never seen out of doors. As days went by work on the railroad progressed rapidly. Don had all the men he could use with advantage, and he was perfectly satisfied with the results achieved, Prilling and blasting was under way at the base of the cliff, and at this point the young contractor spent a large part of his time. : He made several attempts to get into communication with Nellie, but his efforts failed. She was too vigilantly guarded for that. = Mrs. Kelso maintained a scornful and defiant attitude. How she managed to get her supplies no one could tell, for she was never absent from the cottage herself, and no one Was seen to go there. By the middle of summer the cut was finished and the steam shovel put out of commission. Yhe grading of the line was practically finished to the sat- isfaction of the railroad company from the outskirts of Lake- view to the mouth of the tunnel, which was now two-thirds completed. : The large force of laborers thus released was transferred to the other side of the cliff, where they had plain sailing al- most all the way to Glendale. e The filled-in site accepted by the carriage manufactory had been paid for, and the young contractors had made a clear profit of $4,000 on this speculation. The site they had purchased for a summer hotel was rapid- ly being put into shape for the foundation, and Don expected to have the carpenters at work within the next thirty days. Plans for this building had long since been drawn up, and Don had recently advertised a two years’ lease of the pro- jected establishment. The building would be ready for occupancy the following spring. “I received an answer to our advertisement this morning from a well-known Chicago hotel man,” said Don to his bro- ther one morning early in July. “He’s coming down to in- spect the location and go over the plans.” “Glad to hear it. What are you going to place the rent at? There will be accommodations for three hundred guests, and this place is going to be the summer resort of northern New York in a very little time. As soon as this branch line is put in operation it will have every advantage one could wish for.” “T can't say yet what rent we will get for the hotel, I will have to consult experienced persons on the subject before I can hit on a price: but you can rest easy, Gil; it will yield a handsome profit on our investment.” “We have got one of the best locations on the lake, all. right,” said Gil. “You mustn’t let that fact escape you when you are fixing the price.” “Trust me for that, Gil. the next fellow.” : Then the two brothers, who had been standing ontside the unfinished tunnel, separated, Gil returning to the bore, while Don started to skirt the base of the cliff, where it was layed by the waters of the laké, in order to reach the scene of the railroad beyond the tunnel. As the lake was perfectly placid that afternoon it was an _ easy matter to step from rock to rock and thus gain the other side of the precipitous wall. When half way around Don paused and wiped the pci- spiration from his brow. It was decidedly hot in the sun, and there was searecly any breeze stirring. - The sutface of the water was as unruffled as the face of a mirror, glittering in the sunshine like a plate of burnished d. 7 ee the boy stood there taking in the sweep of the water- scrape, there suddenly came a whiz through the air, as @ big rock, apparently dislodged from above, descended obliquely toward his head. ? I'm out for the dough as well as > : em

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— Fortunately, its aim was not true, and it passed an iach - aboye the young engineer’s shoulder, striking him a glanc- ing blow on the head. ‘This, however, was sufficient to stag- ger him and cut a jagged scalp wound. Recovering his balance, Don glanced up at the face of the rock mechanically, and there more than half way up, peering down at him with a look of calm ferocity, was the repulsive cceuntenance of Jim Kelso. CHAPTER XIII. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. ‘ Don Winthrop was thunderstruck at the sight of his enemy, for whom the police of Lakeview and vicinity had sought in vain, finally giving up the search in the belief that the man and his confederates had escaped from the Siate. “Jim Kelso—here!” gasped the boy, hardly believing the evidence of his eyes. Shaking, off the feeling of dizziness which came over him for a moment, he looked up again; but the rascal had dis- appeared. “The villain is crouching up there among the rocks,” he muttered. “It was he who launched that rock down upon Me, beyond a doubt. What an escape I’ve had! By George, I'll rout him out of there before he is five minutes older!” . He dashed back across the rocks as if it was ‘the smooth- €st pathway in the world, and reappeared before the mouth of the tunnel just as Gil and Joe Sinkey came walking ‘. out. t “Great Scott, Don! What’s happened to you?’ gasped Gil, observing the smear of blood on his brother’s face and the red gash just above his right ear. 2 Ignoring his brother’s excited remark, Don seized Gil by _ the shoulder. ’ “Get your men out of here, quick!” he exclaimed, sharply. os inkey, being accustomed to obey the orders of his su- _ -periors without question, jumped back into the tunnel and shouted to the laborers, with such good effect that every Man of them, except the men directing the operations of the steam drills, came rushing out. “Get around on the rocks, every one of you, and look for a@ chap that’s hiding somewhere up on the cliff!’ ordered = Don. “It’s Jim Kelso,” he explained to his brother, as they __ tollowed in the wake of Joe Sinkey and his men. es “What!” ejaculated Gil, in astonishment. “You don’t mean you actually saw Kelso around here?” a “I met Kelso,” said Don. “This wound is a gentle re- ‘Minder of his presence and his amiable intentions toward me.” Ps “Good heavens! That fellow has lots of nerve!” said {3 The Italians led by Sinkey scaled the rocks like so many ‘Monkeys. > The cliff was accessible about two-thirds of the way up; beyond that, for a matter of twenty feet, it was like a Smooth wall. iS As far as the men could go the rocks were thoroughly _. overhauled, but they found not the slightest trace of Jim Kelso, nor of any one else. rig “He must have managed to get away during the minute Or two I lost in coming after the men,” remarked Don, ‘regretfully. = “Too bad!” responded Gil. “It would give me a heap of i Satisfaction to see that scoundrel in jail.” “We'll get him there yet,” said Don, with a confident nod _ of his head. “T shall not feel easy until we do,” replied his brother; a _ “he’s making most persistent attempts to do you up. He’s ee @ desperate scoundrel.” “T wonder where he could have got in so short a time,” Said Don, scanning the face of the cliff intently. “He must have scrambled down and sneaked off around the rocks in an incredibly short space of time.” ' “] suppose so. If there had been any hiding-place up - there the Italians would have found it, I imagine,” Half an hour was wasted to no purpose over Jim Kelso, and then the laborers returned to their work. Don, with his head bound up, went on around the cliff, jumped on a hand-car, and was soon inspecting the more advanced part cod the railroad work. nin the ie of his eetaee Se of ot en came out later in etd day and made FIGHTING FOR. FAME. 1b a tour of the neighborhood, making another thorough search Fe, cottage; but their efforts were not productive of re- sults One fact, however, was brought out, and it occasioned Don a good deal of concern. Nellie, the blind girl, was miss- ing from the cottage. This, too, in the face of the constant watch that had been kept on the house on the cliff. How had it been managed? Don believed the night watchman must have fallen asieep at his post, and that this fact had become known and taken advantage of by Mrs. Kelso, who was about as artful as they make them. In fact, after that day’s adventure it was by no means certain that Jim Kelso had not been in the neighborhood all the time search was being made for him and his com- panions in guilt. It was quite possible he had a hiding-place which, so far, had defied detection. me was uot thoroughly satisfied with the exertions of the police He and Gil talked the matter over, and that night after supper they rode out to the cut, left their horses in charge of Mike Doyle, and then walked on through the excavation, which was now completed and graded, ready for the perma- nent sleepers and rails. The night was warm and still, but the sky was overcast with flashes of lightning in the distance. They passed through the cut and took their way over the hills beyond the rear of the Kelso cottage. In making this detour they purposely pursued the least- frequented route, which took them down through a gully in the hills. “T think we made a mistake in taking this road,” said Gil. “It'll take us all night to make our way through this brush.” “Oh, there can’t be so.much of it,” returned his brother, encouragingly. Just then a stout twig pierced Gil’s light jacket and tore a big hole in it. “There now!” he ejaculated, discontentedly; “at this rate’ I shall not have a stitch on my back when we come out at the other end.” “Hush!” cried Don, in a sharp whisper at that moment. “What's the matter?” “I’m sure I heard yoices.” “What, down here?” “Yes; keop quiet and listen.” Gil complied with this request, and strained his ears to catch any sound which might strike on the night air. “Now do you hear it?” whispered his brother Don, gripping him by the arm. “T hear something,” replied Gil, in similarly guarded tones. “Follow me, and don’t make a sound if you can heip it.” Don parted the brush which lay in a dense mass in front of him, and carefully felt his way down the gully. The two boys advanced like slow-moving shadows, and with every step the scund of voices grew more distinct. At last they felt they were close upon the speakers. “We can’t go more than a step or two further without be- traying our presence,” Don whispered into Gil’s ear. ““They’re just around this bend.” “Who do you fancy they are?” asked his brother, softly. | “One of them I can almost swear to be Jim Kelso, and the other-——” ¥ Here Don pushed his head warily through the brush. He found himself looking into the pocket of a gully. A red glass lantern, similar to those used by railroad men . contractors, was standing on the ground in a small, cleared place. It gave out sufficient light for the boy to recognize the two men seated on a section of a decayed tree, which had been rolled down into the gully> - “One of them, as he had surmised, was Jim Kelso. He looked thoroughly disreputable in his attire, as if he had sustained hard usage of late. His companion, who was. stout and well dressed, was none other than Andrew New- man. - That these two persons should be found tonothar in earnest consultation at such a place, and under the circumstances that surrounded the ex-fcreman, was a ae ie saaaes bone for Don to make. ~The boy scented trouble. & * ‘ 3

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FIGHTING FOR FAME. CHAPTER XIV. TIE PROPOSITION JIM KELSO MADE TO ANDREW NEWMAN, “T tell you, Jim, you’ve not only ruined yourself, but you’ve muddled up all my plans by your mad break against the life of Donald Winthrop at the quarry,’ Andrew Newman was saying in a tone of plain dissatisfaction. “What in thunder have you got against the boy that you can run such a des- perate risk in order to gratify your personal animosity?” “T hate him!” hissed Kelso, vindictively. “Well, I know you have had it in for him ever since he struck that boy of yours——” “Hittin’ Jerry ain’t got nothin’ ter do with it.” “No?” said Newman, blinking at his late foreman curiously. ate spoke once as if you had your knife into him for at “Well, I did;. but it was-on account of that gal of mine,” said Kelso, doggedly. “What abcut the girl? He was not trying to make love to her, was he?” grinned the contractor, tantalizingly. “I shouldn’t imagine a chap like Winthrop had any time to waste over a blind girl.” “Tt don’t make no diff’rence whether he had the time or _not, he made it his bizness to interest himself too all-fired much in her to suit me,” snarled Kelso. “Then you have a hold on the girl, eh?” said Newman, with some interest. “I always thought there was something queer about her connection with you. Besides, I couldn’t understand why you wanted a blind girl around your premises, anyway.” “Tt doesn’t make no diff’rence whether I’ve got a hold on her or not, nor why I kept her around. That’s my affair, and I wasn’t goin’ ter have this pesky young contractor pokin’ about tryin’ ter find out what didn’t concern him.” “He didn’t learn anything, did he?” “No, he didn’t. I told him to git, and if he’d done it and let the gal alone after that I reckon I shouldn’t have tried to do him wp. It ended in a scrap, and he laid me out.” “Laid you out?” said Andrew Newman in amazement. “Do , you mean to say that boy whipped you with his fists?” “That’s what he did. He’s been and took lessons from some prizefighter, for. I couldn’t reach him nohow. You'd have thought I was a chicken the way he handled me, and that’s why I hate him. He’s the first fellow that ever got the best cf me, and I’ve sworn to settle him for it.” “And you've put yourself into a nice hole trying to do it, haven’t you?” “T'll reach him yet,” gritted the rascal. “Well, you know your business. You sent for me to come out here to see you. I suppose you want ad I brought you $100.” “I want a good deal more than $100,” said Kelso, as he accepted the money; “but I stand ready to earn it.” “What do you mean by that?” . “Ye said awhile ago that the quarry affair had blocked your schemes for doin’ up their railroad:contract.” “I did. I depended entirely upon you to queer them one way or another. Your recklessness simply killed my chances.” “Mebbe it did, and mebbe it didn’t)” retorted Kelso, dog- gedly. “They haven't finished the work yet.” “Well, it looks mighty like they were going to finish it on time,” said the contractor, gloomily. “I had no idea those boys had it in them.” “Mebbe ye’ll remember I told ye one day, jest afore they began the job, that if ye expected to do ’em up ye’d have to get right down to bizness. Ye see I was right, don’t ye?” “I’m not denying but they’ve surprised me,” admitted the contractor. “But if you had simply looked strictly after my interests instead of yielding to an insane temptation to do up Denald Winthrop on your own account, it is not _ unlikely I should have been able to _but a spoke in that railrcad contract.” “I reckon I see a way to put a Be me big spoke in it yet,” te - said Kelso, grimly. oe _ arrested Rein, his head “How can you do anything tnat'll interfere with the build- ing of the line now? You're a marked man, certain to be on sight,” answered Andrew Newman, incredulously. pier hain’t got nothin’ ter do with it,” said Jim Kelso, , “Tye got a plan, and I mean nm under cover.’ y me what your scheme is, and if I see aan in it ti Bate btu Je: every Fc confidently. ee haven’t been asleep while I’ve t’s wast to me.”. “Will ye? Well, it’s easily worth $5,000 to ye.” “That’s a good deal of money, Jim.” “Isn’t it worth that to bust this new firm up an’ drive ’em out of bizness in these diggin’s?” “Let’s hear what it is, and then I’ll be able to judge of its value.” “Suppose somethin’ happened to that tunnel they’re borin’ through ther ciff? More’n half the mascnry is already in place. Wouldn’t it kind of upset the time calculations of them boys?” “How are you going to manage it?” asked Mr. Newman, in some excitement. “That’s my bizness. If you’ll agree to pay when the job is done I'll put it through.” “Well, if the work were thoroughly done it would cer- tainly cripple the Winthrops to a considerable extent,” mused the big contractor, with some eagerness of manner. “As this is their first big contract, it would hurt their reputation, I guess. It might even prevent them finishing the work within the time. At any rate, it would mean a big loss to them, and might leave me a clear field to scoop in the con- tract for the trolley line between Lakeview and Greenville, for which bids will soon be asked.” Andrew Newnan was hot after the contract to build the trolley road in question, and it was no secret that the Win- throps would bid against him when the time came. “Well, Jim, you go ahead and see what you can do. If you can make good in a way that’ll prove to be to my ad- vantage I'll see that you get $5,000. I guess itll be worth that to me.” “Get your $5,000 ready, for the job will be finished before mornin’.” “Very well; I’ll get back to town now. As soon as I learn that you have accomplished the work the money will be .at your disposal.” “T’ll call for it myself to-morrow night at your house. Be on the watch for me.” Andrew Newman stared at his former foreman. The fellow’s assurance was amazing. “You seem to be certain of success,” he said. “I reckon I am,” replied Kelso, as he took up the lantern and started to lead the contractor from the scene of the confab. me $5,000 CHAPTER XV. THE CAR OF DEATH, There was evidently an outlet at the back of the ‘pocket, for in that direction Jim Kelso piloted his late employer, and the two men almost immediately disappeared from view. Don Winthrop drew back his head and turned to his brother, who had been leaning against him during the entire inter- view. “You heard all they said, didn’t you, Gil?” he asked, in a guarded tone. “Every word, but I did not catch sight of either of them. What are we going to do to defeat this piece of villainy? It’s lucky we came out here to-night.” “It was providential, “Whatever plans that scoundrel has for aceomplishing his purpose, they seem to be well matured from the way he talked. His confidence staggers me. You may be sure he is not alone in this. Those two Italians and his son Jerry are with him hand and glove. How they have managed to elude the police, who have been over every foot of this ground, astonishes me. That they have managed to live three months under cover hereabouts shows that they have allies on the outside. their intenjions we must round them up before they can carry thei: dastardly scheme into execution. After that we will atte.d to Mr. Newman, who has made himself an ac- cessory before the ‘sct, and to that extent he will come within the meshes of the law. Now, Gil, you get back to the cut 95 secon as you Rouse up a dozen of the Italians you‘can trust in this emergency and get them over to the neighborhood at once. Keep well in the background until I join you, or you see the chance to get the drop on these ras- cals. I'll see what I can do to nip the scheme in the bud.” Gil pressed his brother’s hand and hurried away on his mission, while Don cautiously entered the pocket of the gully and walked in the direction taken by Kelso and Andrew . Newman. The Sy idaniee Sigeds in blasting the tunnel was stored on the hillside in a hut a quarter of a mile from the tunnel. Gil,” replied his brother, solemnly. . Now that we are forewarned as to- “Two watchmen, in turn, guarded the place night and day. — v4 ‘ Z .

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FIGHTING FOR FAME. 17 # Don guessed that Jim Kelso intended to get possession of the dynamite stored in the hut and use it to wreck the tunnel. ~_ 4 He determined to prevent this at any hazard. __ So when he made his way out of the series of gullies in the hills he directed his steps toward the hut. - He found the watchman on the alert. The man naturally was surprised to see him there at that ur, r “Jennings,” said Don, when he came up, “an attempt is to be made to-night by a gang of rascals—Jim Kelso, his Son Jerry, and the two Italians, Gulla and Rossi—who have concealed in this vicinity ever since the quarry. affair, Steal the dynamite we have on hand and use it to wreck tunnel. I want you to run down and bring the tunnel tchman back with you. The three of us ought to be le to stand them off with our revolvers.” _ “All right, sir,” replied the watchman, down the declivity to carry out his orders, Don stood in the shadow of the doorway and waited. Five minutes passed slowly away, then ten minutes, and still no sign of the two watchmen. k ae those two fellows were here,” muttered Don, im- Patiently. . te om tg by the boy, two shadows crept upon the hut from De nm x __ They parted at the back of the building, where it was en- Cased in its mound of earth, and each glided up on opposite ‘ides, Only one stepped out in front, and the young engineer saw the figure at once. ‘ f “Who's there?” he demanded, with his right hand on his _ Tevolver. - “Don’t move, or I’ll drill a hole through ye,” cried the Voice of Jim Kelso, and Don bit his lip with vexation, for he saw the rascal had him covered with a pistol. “Throw up your hands!” commanded the ex-foreman, per- mptorily. Don determined to take a desperate risk. _ Making a feint to obey the order, he drew his own re- Glver, and like a flash had it pointed straight at the scoun- and : he started His intention had been to fire at once, and it would have e hard with Kelso, but at the moment he pressed the fer his arms were suddenly caught from behind and the _ Sullet went wide of its mark. _. Who have ye got here, anyhow?” growled Kelso. 0esn’t look like thé watehman.” It was clear he had not recognized Don in the dark. Tony Gulla, who had been kneeling on the boy's back while je was tying his hands, turned the priscner over and thrust “is ugly countenance close down to the young contractor’s “He Gotta de match, boss? Betta one dol’ we gotta da prize Kelso found a match and lit it. j e held it down toward the face of his prisoner and started k with an oath. ~ “Donald Winthrop!” _ “Whata I say?” grinned the Italian. Sf da job, Gooda haul. No expect.” Kelso was clearly surprised. Jon Winthrop was the last person he expected to run across Mut there that night. ; T’ve got ye agin where the shoe pinches, haven’t I?” he id, mockingly. “Ye couldn't have turned up at a better ie. I was beginnin’ to think ye had a charmed life. I Ought nothin’ would fetch ye. If ye’re lucky enough to get Way this time ye deserve a gold medal.” | “rT Two more shadows came cut of the gloom in front. squeaking sound followed them. z ‘ hey proyed to be Jerry Kelso and Mike Rossi dragging procession came tc a stop a few feet away. ® found two watchmen down yonder, dad, instead of as we s’posed,” said Jerry, wiping the perspiration from forehead. =$ v3 ou got ‘em all right, did' ye?” — i tcher life.we did. We left them bound and gagged they wouldn’t get hurt by the explosion. We brought tools to break open the door of the hut with. I u kin do that part ob better’n the rest of e- j My; “and while I'm “We catcha da boss 4 father, grufly; 7 = doin’ it ye might feast yer eyes on ther gent Gulla and me got hold of a minute ago.” “What, the watchman?” ejaculated his hopeful son, looking carelessly down at Don as he lay on the ground, earnestly praying for the appearance of his brother on the scene with the much-needed help at his back. “No, not the watchman, you idiot!” snarled the elder Kelso. “The chap that we tried to do up at the shanty in the quarry and didn’t.” z “Not Donald Winthrop!” fairly gasped Jerry. “Ef ye don’t believe me, look him over,” said his father, taking up one of the tools and making an attack on the lock of the door. r The Italians got busy, and in fifteen minutes every pound of the explosive in the hut was transferred and secured to . the handcar. “Now, Mr. Winthrop, we'll pile you on top, and see if you can get away from it as easily as you did from the nitro-giycerine over at the shanty. Ye are booked straight for the mouth of the tunnel—ye and the dynamite. When the car strikes at the end of the route I reckon there'll be somethin’ doin’.” The ruffian’s werds sent a chill of horror to Don’s heart. — He felt that he was doomed to a horrible death. The help that he knew was coming would arrive too late to save him or avert the catastrophe he had planned to pre- vent. Gulla and Rossi lifted the young contractor from the ground and secured him to the car as best they could. At any rate, he seemed to be safe enough for the short trip. “Ye kin say yer prayers as ye go down,” said Kelso, brutally, and he gave the signal to start the car on its fatal journey. — The two Italians gave it a push, and the wheels began to turn. In a moment or two it began to gather momentum and slipped away from their hands. Then it vanished into the gloom of the night, and the four villains waited with strained attention for the explosion they looked for to follow. CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION. _ Half way down the wheels revolved so fast that the hum of their revolution struck on Don’s ears with rising dis- tinctness. It was the requiem of death. s Apparently nothing could save him! now. Like a flitting shadow it passed the startled gaze of a dozen men, headed by Gil, who had just arrived on the scene. “What’s that?” exclaimed Gil to Mike Doyle, the night watchman at the cut, whom he had fetched along. “Sure, it’s a handcar running wild, sir!” “A handcar——” A crash and a tremendous explosion cut the words out of his mouth. The face of the cliff was lit up for a moment by the glare, and then darkness, more intense than ever, settled about the scene. “Great heavens!” exclaimed Gil. have dynamited the tunnel!” The crowd of Italians, preceded by the boy and the watch- man, made a rush for the mouth of the tunnel. Within twenty feet of it Doyle tripped upon a yielding obstruction in his path, and went florvndering on his hands and knees. : ; ‘ “What the dickens——” he began, as he recovered himsvif bo Pee of the object. “Why, it’s a man, as I’m a Chris- an!” “Is that you, Doyle,” said a voice, and the figure seemed struggling to sit up. “By all the blessid saints, it’s never you, Mr. Winthrop, is it, sor?” “Tt isn’t anybody else, Mike,” replied the recumbent object. “Cut me leose if you’ve a knife handy.” “Gee whiz! What's the matter with ye?” “My hands are bound behind my back.” “Faith, that’s rough. And how did ye come this way?” side his boss and fished in his _ a iemre eee a sR peeaae the handcar and Fe Ni S 4 1,3 a t F ‘ - 7 sh af e + “We're too late. ‘They asked Doyle, as he knelt pocket for the jackknife h “It’s the work of Jim who had escaped

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18 FIGHTING FOR FAME tion in the most remarkable manner. “I’m pretty badly | of sudden excitement, seizing the young engineer by the shaken up. You'll hardiy believe me when I say I was bound|arm. “You will save him, will you not, for my sake?” . to a handcar loaded with dynamite and sent down the grade “Your father! What do you mean? Where is he?” cried to what was apparently my death. Thank heavens, I have} Don in’ astonishment. escaped; but I am afraid the scoundrel has succeeded in} “He is there, behind those boards,” and she pointed toward destroying our work in the tunnel.” la section of the cayern-like room which Don, for the first “Glory! Ye’ve had a wonderful escape, Mr. Winthrop, and! time, noticed was partitioned off from the rest of the place. it’s glad I am to be able to congratulate ye on the strength | “He has been a prisoner there for years.” of it.” | “A prisoner?” said the young contractor in amazement. “Amen to that, Mike!” said Don, grasping the watchman’s! “Yes,” she answered brokenly. “We were both trapped hand and giving it a hearty shake. | here long ago by Mr. Kelso, who wanted to get possession of In another mement they were at the mouth of the tunnel, an invention of my father’s—an automatic coupler for freight where several lanterns were now twinkling and flitting cars which he had had patented. Mr. Kelso swore my father about. |should never see the light of day again until he assigned Mcre lanterns were to be seen around the corner of the his rights to him, and this my father has steadfastly re- cliff, where most of the men seemed to be gathered. | fused to do. I was seldom permitted to see him, but made “Why, how’s this?” exclaimed Don, in the utmost amaze- to work for Mrs. Kelso as.a servant; and the threat was ment. “The tunnel seems to be all right.” ; held over my head that if I ever breathed a word about my “Sure it is!” echoed the voice of Mike Doyle. | father’s presence here his death would instantly follow. 1! “Beta you life,’ said an under-foreman named Zottarelli,' knew Mr. Kelso was capable of such a crime, and I knew _ ecming up with his lantern. “Everyt’ing all right, boss. Noa he would not hesitate to carry out his threat, as he bitterly blowa up here. Looka down yon’. Taka da face offa da hated my father for his obstinacy in refusing to do as he cliff. Grata big smash.” , wished him. He is the direct cause of my blindness, which A drizzling rain set in about this time, which, with the was occasioned by a fall from the rocks which I sustained intense darkness of the night, put a stop to any further in-| at his hands.” vestigation of the damage done to the cliff. | “The scoundrel!” said Don, clenching his fists. The two watchmen were discovered bound and gagged half; “As long as my father was in his power I was silent; but Way up the hillside, when a section of the party, headed by | now that I see a way for his escape I fear the Kelsos no Don, started toward the hut. They did not have any ex-’ longer, for I feel you are my friend—that you will protect my pectation of seeing any trace of Jim Kelso and his crowd, / father from that man once he is away from the place.” however. | Don had Nellie’s father, whose name he ascertained to by Those scoundrels had fied immediately af | Edward Moore, removed from the underground cavern to of the dynamite. Pee “Ailes Ehe.cRglosion | his mother’s home, and Nellie, of course, went there with They did not go far away, as Jim Kelso was not yet pre-| Dim. pared to shake the dust of the neighborhood from fe inet: | Both received a kindly welcome from Mrs..Winthrop, whose — As many more were guarding the tunnel, though he made | sympathies were naturally attracted to the beautiful little ho attempt to go in that direction. : | blind girl. : Soon after daybreak on the fellowing morning Don and| Mrs. Kelso was immediately arrested at the cottage on ~ Gil were on the ground where the explosion had occurred, | information furnished by Don Winthrop, and late that after- making an examination of the huge break in the cliff. noon Jim Kelso, his son, and the two Italians were cor- “There seems to be a hole up there of some kind,” re-! nered in the woods fifteen miles from Lakeview and taken marked Don. “I’m going up to see what it is.” | prisoners. The young engineer mounted the jagged fissure with proper They were afterward tried on the charge of attempted mur- caution. Ger at the quarry on Jumbo Island, Jim Kelso getting twenty — The opening in question appeared to be the beginning of | years, the Italians fifteen years apiece, and Jerry seven a subterranean passage leading into the heart of the cliff. years. Curiosity compelled Don to enter it and to follow its course, With the exit of the Kelso gang from the scene there was to see where it would wind up. no further trouble encountered by the Winthrop brothers with > He penetrated the passage for a distance he thought to| the railroad contract,.and the work was satisfactorily com- be about one hundred yards, when he unexpectedly emerged | Pleted within the contract limit. into a cavern-like room. n The two young contractors later on cbtained the con- A lighted lantern hung from a hook stuck into the wall. tae for building the trolley road from Lakeview to Green- ville. : Geist beara te en ER AO SENS FD WEE. They encountered no opposition from Andrew Newman, because that gentleman had just been tried and sentenced to Th gente yd gS cmtepy as Don ‘had last seen het, lay Nellie, five years’ imprisonment for complicity in the tunnel out- “Great Scott!” he exclaimed, thoroughly astonished by | "*&°- “ d The boys’ profit on the D. P. & Q. branch line was some- pipe ewe hil eS this underground hole! What can —- like t Shean in all, and they made about half as much — FT on the trolley contract. a sadn or ellaniad feos Po rattled ees cee Soon from | “rhe summer hotel was duly erected on the selected site The noise awoke the blind girl and she started up in an | alongside of the beautiful lake, and proved to be a winner, attitude of attention. the three years’ lease arranged with the Chicago hotel man “Nellie!” said Don, softly, advancing to the cot. bringing them in $10,000 per year. ‘She gave a little scream of startled surprise The young contractors have greatly extended the business “Donald Winthrop! You here?” : left by their father, and Don is now about to close a deal “Yes, Nellie!” 3 for building a racine ~ og ar get ae ‘spran z ~ extendec He will be mar n a few weeks to lie Moore, the Pie en ete ot ee we Laan ee gop teagan little girl who saved his life in such'a wonderful way on “Surely something must have happened, eise you could | Jumbo Island. ; ‘ . She is no longer blind. : sr have tT access to this place, which is directly under Money was no object to Don where she was concerned, and — a great oculist succeeded in repairing the mischief caused “Yes, little girl, something has happened. Kelso tried to| hy the villainous Jim Kelso so many years ago. destroy our tunnel with dynamite last night; but his plan With everything before them to make life happy, we bid. miscarried, and instead the end of the cliff is badly scattered. | farewell to the young contractors of Lakeview, who fough Surely you must have felt the shock of the explosion?” for fame and won’ it. 7 ce did. Pe: Alga pe me from my sleep. But I could not : understand what it meant.” 9 tn “Phe falling dway of the Tock disclosed ah‘opening, which Next week’s issue will contain “SEBKING A LOST ‘REA I discovered this morning. I found it led into a kind of| URE; OR, THE NERVE OF A YOUNG EXPLORER. passage and, curious to see where it went, I followed its hae course until I reached this cavern-like room and found you eee ca tat save my lather!” she ecsunea in a tever/SENB POSTAL FOR OUR FREE GATALGGU ari? + 3 a pat RS Se tee 5 ~< "7 » 35 Ts dé = E a a. 2 ae

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q To keep wine properly, the liquid must actually touch ne cork, for any air that is compressed here by corking e bottle is very injurious. Air can be removed by tak- ga small copper tube about the size of a quill and filing t so as to make a semi-tube, then fixing a thumb ring at top and sharpening the bottom end. Place the tube n the neck with the fiat side against the glass, and the ork is driven in so that the air comes off through the l When corked, the tube is withdrawn and no air is eft in the bottle. a j A novel experiment in automobile racing will be tried Salt Lake, Utah, when Teddy Tetzlaff will try for a forkd’s record on the closely packed salt beds, just outside {the city. Since the success of motor racing on the Or- onde and Galveston sand beaches the plan to use the Salt 4ake betls for the same purpose has been advanced, as it is id that they are naturally adapted for this purpose. *hould the experiment prove a success it is the intention the promoters to construct a great racing course, on hich international contests will be held. \ _A cigarette betrayed William Reilly and Michael Mar- hg, two alleged burglars, found by Mrs. Parker Dean in er home on Storm King Mountain, in Cornwall, N. Y. 8 she sat reading in a bedroom she scented the smoke. ing into the sitting-room she surprised a man picking p valuables. Charles Capes, answering Mrs. Dean’s call 40r help, gave chase and overtook the men on the West lore railroad tracks. He turned them over to Constable Ombs. The police say they had $125 worth of loot in Rei pockets, & oi . Harriet Harper is thé oldest woman in Kansas Mregister for the primaries. She is one hundred and two ars of age. As the time for the hour for registration to Ose drew near Mrs. Ernest. Underwood, eandidate for Minty treasurer, called at the Harper home. “Better he on down and register so you can vote,” Mrs. Under- od suggested. Unassisted, Mrs, Harper walked down- ewn and climbed the long flight of stairs leading to the ty clerk's office. It is estimated 75 per cent. of the men of Atchison will vote in the August primaries. tah : Sap fe ro of the American navy’s four dreadnoughis now ig were nearly three-fourths completed on Aug. 1, ing to comparative figures issued by the Bureau of action. The Neyada, at the yards of the Fore Shipbuilding Company, and the Oklahoma, under ection by. the New. York Shipbuilding Company, s respective percentage of completion of 72.4 and J Tho. total percentage of Cae! of the Dare 7 yard, is 2 £4. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. CURRENT NEWS \ A romance carried on by letter across the ocean ended in the marriage of Mrs. Mary Jewel, of England; and Charles H. Warner, a Shelbyville farmer.. When the two met at the train it was the first time they had ever seen each other, After the wedding they declared: “Of course we love each other. I am more than pleased with ap- pearances.” Warner saw a picture of the pretty English widow last winter and so impressed was he with her looks that he wrote her. Soon the engagement followed. They will reside in Shelbyville, Mich. She is thirty-five sad *| he sixty is. A crop of 900,000,000 bushels of wheat, almost half of the world’s average wheat production, and a new record for the United States, is the prospective total yield of the farms of the country this year, as estimated by the De- partment of Agriculfure in its June “crop report issued recently. The enormous wheat harvest will be 137,000,000 bushels. more than has ever been grown before in the United’ States in any one year, and is due to excellent weather and an increase of 6.4 per cent. in the acreage planted. There will also be large yields of = and barley, probably second in size on record. J Capt. Ezekiel Goddard Dodge Diamond has recovered’ from a slight indisposition and is skippng around in his room at the Old People’s Home, in- Pine street, San Francisco, laughing at the doctors who, because of the captain’s 118 years, were worried about him. The captain - has been in commission steadily now since 1796, has watched one whole century come and go and has gotten a pretty good start on the second one, and declares he will hang around a while yet, just to see what is going to hap- pen in Europe. Capt, Diamond was quite a lad when Napoleon got licked at Waterloo, cast his first ballot for James Madison, saw Robert Fulton’s steamboat steam up the Hudson River and has much other odd bits of per- sonal history to talk about. - ; Helen, one of the lionesses of the Central Park Zoo, recently became the mother of three cubs, all of which © were reported healthy and strong by the head keeper, Bill Snyder. The recent arrivals make nineteen cubs born to Helen in captivity in the last six years. The father of most of these, including the three just born, is Leo, a big black spotted African lion, who has been in the park menagerie for thirteen years. Helen has been in the park eleven years. The baby lions are black-spotted and resem-. ble Leo, Whey have been put in three adjoining cages with Helen, two of the cages being left free for them to run about i in and the third being fitted up as their sleeping apartment, In it is a large box, eight feet long by five fect _ in width and height, into which Helen and the cubs can retire. Within a few days, Snyder said, the cubs will be ata where the public will | have opportunity Yo ~

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£ a . an 20 FAME ASD. FORTUNE, wv EEKLY. - THE SILVER WHEEL. — O0R—_ THE LIGHTNING LEAGUE OF LYNN By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY) © CHAPTER XIII (continued). “Tsn’t he far ahead, Larry! ? “Arrah! an’ he’s not, an’ it’s meself yell have to be » thankin’.” “Why le “Didn't he mane to get on the cars?” “T’m sure I can’t say, Larry,” said Jack, bot 2 ae I wasn’t here, But tell us what happened.” “The spalpeen marched into the depot as bold as brass, Masther Jack, wid his wheel wid him, just before the train for Topeka got here.” wit - “He was going to travel by it!” cried. Ned. “Faith, an’ it looks like it, seein’ he bought’ his ticket. Then he Sax me, at’ shure he was as white as the collar round my neck. It’s nerve he has, though; all the, same. Seein’ me, over he walks. ‘Larry, he says, ‘it’s glad T am te meet you. Howld my whos there’s a good fellow, while I send a telegram,’ an’ when he had done that, he ets on his wheel again an® away hie rides.” | “Yow re sure he bought a ticket?” asked Jack. _“Begorra, I am.” ; a “Then, if he hadn’t seen you, he would have ridden on} “the train, and that would have been the end of him, for _he’d have been disqualified, What a pity you didn’t keep out of sight?” ss “Ti’s out of sight. I was,” cried Larry, “till he ‘tied round. But niver fear, Master Jack,-we'll ie him he: - fore he gets through.” — “as “Hope you will, Larry! !” exclaimed Fes. as he and Ned Boe on their wheels;again and rode off, resolved as they My u ore e to overtake the leaders: Ware and Green were both of them, and the only rider in the rear was’ Dick My Kilby, whose wheel had broken down. _ Some few n miles to the east of Olathe they. stopped and pt, being badly in need ‘of rest, and it was late in-the atrio0 when Mig aot uM vidoe a as Leslie. Ware Oi en, when they had got nearer, : aed shel rere tired, for i it was not a diffienlt done : fe Beas once - “more, es now to- they saw, Phil Gresn, alc d wished . & t - “Give it up, Ned,” whispered Jack. “Let us keepeabout one hundred yards behind. We shall. have them in sight then, and shall be quife near enough without having to talk to them.” “Very well, that will do for me, and, besides, it’s not a had plans for I guess they know the ways and we can follow.” Ware seemed to be ann ae gt their efforts to avoid coming into close contact with him, and as they fell back he slowed down, too, but seeing they still kept their dis- tance he shouted to Green to get a move on him, and then set off at a tremendous pace. “Hooray!” eried Ned, seeing this. riding, That crawling tires me.” The road was good and level, and the boys scorched - along it without meeting any one, until at length they lessened their pace as they saw the houses of a city before them. ; t “That must be Lawrence!” cried Ned, “If itis, we’ye made very fine time,” answered: Jack. “T'] no idea we were so near. We may as well cross ie tiver and go right on. ‘L don’t: feel tired.” “Nor me. Im ready to ride fifty miles. Jack. They're turning. away from the town.” “That means they're going right on without entering _ the city, wea better do the same. We may as well ee iow Ware.’ Tt was certainly ¥ wise » for the boys to do this, as ‘they aia not mean to rest at Lawrence, and a moment later. they — were tearing down a hill in pursuit of the leaders, — Altead of them ran the river Kaw, and as the boys got in sight of it, Jack gave a great shout: “By gracious, re this is Pleasant ; the bridge is s broken down!” ,; .¥ oe a “Now for some real Look! Look, a 3 ‘HAPTER XIV. sea JACK, SEIZES THE BOAT—WARE MAKES AN: pNPORFUN ATE MISTAKE, Aid REY xt = ‘Both the boys dismounted, an os , Ware. had done. the same, me two Tater oe Jack an fot va ran over quickly 4 see. “what ied, and found th as idge had

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Ls FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 21 “Can you swim across this river ¢ ?” asked Jack. “Why ?* +3 “Because you'll have to, carrying your wheel on your back.” “Bosh! all we have to do is to ride on and find another bridge.” “Which will mean a great loss of time, Ned.” “The same for all of us,” retorted Ned. “Ware and Green wil] have to ride around, too.” “No, but they won’t,” cried Jack, excitedly. “They’ve found a way out of the difficulty. They’ve got a boat, Ned. Come on, bring your wheel with you.” With these words, Jack took his wheel.in his arms and ran down the bank with it. Ware was in the boat with the two wheels, ao Green was holding onto the stern, evidently about to push it off. _ “Just in time,” said yee coolly, as he put his wheel on board. “Here, I say,” cried Leslie Ware, hotly, “you: -have some nerve, and no mistake. What do you mean by putting your wheel aboard my boat?” “My dear Ware,” answered Jack, smilingly, “I don’t see the necessity of putting such a question. I want to cross the i , and your boat happens to be the first one 1 can see.” “Well, vou won’t cross in this boat,” said Wars: savage- ly. “Take your wheel out or I’ll throw it into the river!” “Try,” said Jack, coolly. “If you raise a finger towards it I'll threw you, Green and the two wheels out of the boat. Don’t stand staring there, Ned. Put your, wheel on board, and yourself, too. gentlemen.” Ned was quite enjoying the fun, and was admiring the readiness which his friend Jack displayed on every occa- We don’t want to delay mene sion. Aroused by Jack’s words, he placed his wheel in ; the boat and followed after it. “As he did 805 Jack pushed off. Al ; “Stop! stop!” cried Green. “Wait for me!” “You'd better swim,” laughed Jack, and Green had to rush through the water to gét on board, preferring to wade rather then wait until swimming became necessary. Wave was mad. He sat and glared at Jack and Ned, but he | did nothing, knowing that a struggle in the boat ‘a would only lead to it capsizing. - But Green was pot -so. thoughtful. springing towards him he seized Jack by the neck, 2 think I have you now, Jack Hudson,” he cried, 3 P £:, g0, » said Jack, Ealy, «su'l all go, too. You pose you can. get the best of ime. Without a strug- ae t means that the whole lot of us'will be in the for ‘abat,” cried Gren, savagely, ce can | a v8 ie to in ack colt bie. seat, aan the ‘Jack sat with a pair oft -sculls in his hands rowing the boat along and Green ? imagined he had him at his mercy, thrown Green back into the bottom of the boat, and then Ned jumped on him and kept him down. “You think you’ve got the best of us!” shouted Ware, springing to his feet now. He was angrier than ever when he saw what had happened to Green. The hoat by this time was not far from the bank towards which Jack was rowing, but the water was still quite deep. “You never made a greater mistake in your life, Jack Hudson!” exclaimed Ware, in a tone of triumph. “I’m going to show you something.” Saying this, -he seized one of the wheels quickly and held it over his head. “Tt?s my wheel!” cried Ned, frantically. Jack! He’s going to throw it in the river!” But Jack never moved, and with a loud laugh Leslie Ware hurled the bicycle into the water. “Now, win the Silver Wheel if you can, cried Ware, sinking back into, his seat again. Green, despite the fact that he was still held at the bottom of the boat, laughed, too, for he. understood what had happened from the talk which had taken place. “You'll have to walk to “Frisco now,” said Green, laugh- ing to kill himself. “Ha, ha, ha!” roared J ack Hudson. niest:thing ‘I’ve ever seen.” Ned was furious with his chum, but Ja taking no notice of him, ran the boat ashore, seized two wheels with the speed of lightning and sprang onto the land. “This is no laughing matter,” cried Ned, angrily, gazing at the spot wheré the bicycle had sunk. “Oh, but it is,” answered Jack, speaking with difficulty owing to his laughter. “It will kill me, Ned. Ware made a trifling mistake. It was Green’s wheel he threw into the river.” “What!” cried Green, turning white. “Ha, ha!” Janghed Ned and Jack together now, whilst Ware stood quite still, apparently dazed when he discov- ered what he had done. “Hope you'll have good sport,” said Jack, springing on his wheel. “Can’t stop to see you fish for Green’s bike, but I know you'll enjoy yourselves.” Ware made a rush at Jack, but the latter, expecting this, was already riding fast, with Ned close to him, and Ware was left far behind. The last seen of Ware and his friend they were standing on the bank gazing quite Tears on’ at the riders, “They ll waste some time, Jack, ” said Ned. her “Yes, theyll be an hour at least in getting that wheel out. For once we have the best end of the deal, and we'll” make the most of it.” But they soon found they could not ride very fast, for the road was steep, and many times they were compelled to dismount and push their wheels along. After a time “Stop him, Ned Wood!” “This is the fun- they came to a path which ran alongside a precipice with _ ie high rocks towering overhead, and here extra care had to be used, for a fall probably meant death. Fortunately this kind of traveling did not last long, and after the path | bad made a’ descent for a considerable distance it broad a oe out into a tat oe aes for: a coach to avel spubate * was no need |: , : ea

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22 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. FACTS WORTH READING MOVIE SNAKE BITES HIM. While posing for the “movies” George Cogswell, scout of the Schaghticoke Rattlesnake Club,°was bitten by a rattler. : He said: “I had lifted the snake and was talking and not paying much attention when the snake got me at the firs##joint of the left thumb. When the snake struck it felt like a pin prick. It is the first time in my life that I have been bitten by one.” GOLD COINS FOR EXPOSITION. Two thousand $50 gold pieces, one-half of which will be octagonal in shape, like those issued in California in 1851, will be coined at the San Francisco Mint to com- memorate the Panama-Pacific Exposition, by the terms of a bill passed by the United States Senate. There also will be coined ten thousand $2.50, gold pieces, twenty-five thousand gold dollars and two hundred thousand 50-cent pieces. All of the gold coins are to be sold to the exposition company at par and will probably be sold by it'at an advance to visitors. BOXING IN EUROPE AT A STANDSTILL. Boxing throughout Europe is at a standstill owing to the war and the knights of the gleve have exchanged their padded weapons for those of a far more dangerous charac- ter, .In France alone several score of the professional boxers are serving with the army, the most illustrious example being George Carpentier. The recent ring vic- tories of the French middleweight over both Bombardier Wells and Gunboat Smith caused European critics ‘to pre- dict world’s championship honors for Carpentier. Should ‘he be killed or injured in action his loss would be keenly felt in pugilistie circles, for even the English ring au- thorities predict a promising career for him, as can be seen from the following extract from a review of his bout with Smith: “Though the result of the boxing contest between Car- pentier and Gunboat Smith was very unsatisfactory from one paint of view, there is very little doubt that if the contest had continued Carpentier would either have won easily on points or would have finished his man before the tenth round. The Frenchman had science, pace and pre- cision, and all of them had been improved since he last appeared. “With qualities such as these he was sani able to deal with a man whose chief assets were strength and endur- ance. The rapier will nearly always win against the broad- sword. We shall always look forward to seeing Carpen- tier in the ring again. His fierce vitality, his swift intel- ligence, his flaming courage present a combination of _ some of the finest qualities which boxing has ever evolved in its pe en race. \ ME CSF Se RPS PE Oe ST YALE FOOTBALL PLANS. Plans for starting the Yale football season have been perfected at a recent coaches’ meeting and the general squad has heen ordered to report at Yale Field September id. The largest set of players who ever faced a head coach here is expected. September 8 a smaller squad, largely the backfield men, will meet Capt. “Bud” Talbott and Chief Frank Hinkey of the coaching staff in Madison, about twenty miles from here on the bist shore of Long Island, for light preliminary work. “Billy” Bull is the only other member of the permanent coaching staff who will be present at Madison. The coming season will introduce more novelties into Yale football than any of its predecessors. A new head coach, Frank Hinkey, will make his bow, installing a new system of gridiron play at Old Ili; there will be a medical director for not only the eleven but for all branches of sports, Dr. Bull; a new ‘preliminary season of training at Madison has been inaugurated previous to the general season in this city, the playing schedule will be the short- est on record, embracing only nine games and containing no Wednesday contests, and the only sunken football stadium in existence, the new Yale Bowl, will be opened for the game which forms the climax of the season, the game with Harvard here on November 21. Hinkey’s style of game will probably include open play to the extreme and secret practice may be abolished. At any rate, it will be greatly curtailed, and the Eli attack will be entirely remodeled. Hinkey, who captained two former Yale eleyens—those of 793’ and 94’—has been coach annually with the exception of but a few years since he was graduated, but has never before directed a Yale campaign. The spring practice, under his supervi- - sion, was the most exacting a Yale football squad has ever aveltaved through. The engagement of Dr, Bull has given the football players a permanent policy in medical and surgical aid for players who are injured or ill. He will also look after baseball, track and rowing athletes during their playing season. He will make this city his home and will be available for duty as backfield coach during the football spring and fall practice, The Harvard game alone will be played on the new ground in the bowl. The old wooden stands are being prepared for the other games, 17,000 seats being carefully prepared for the crowds. The Brown game, November 7, will be the last in the old stands, which will be tora down at the close of the present season. The bowl will be easily ready for the pubis by the date of the game with Harvard. The bow] will accommodate about %2,000 people, seating some 60,000. Funds for the entire structure are not entirely secured, and the price of seats for the Harvard game this fall is not yet announced. It will be something of an advance over former soa a3 it is o Hetiored:

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 23 The Fight for the Pirate’s Isle ne BEN 9, * Pecan if CAPTAIN DIABLO’S LAST’ CRUISE By ED. KING ; (A SERIAL STORY) CHAPTER I>” ' THE ALBATROSS SAILS, “Mind, we are going with you!” “Oh, no!” was the laughing reply, “we’ve no room for girls aboard our craft.” “Haven't you, Master Dick? You didn’t always say so. “We do foolish things sometimes.” This short conversation took place in a pretty room of a house in Baltimore. The speakers were four young people known once as Claire O’Neill, and her friend, Grace Baldwin, Dick Decker, the renowned boy commander, and his lieutenant, Harry Hamilton. - But the two girls were Claire O'Neill and Grace Bald- win no longer. They had been rescued after incredible adventures from the Tele of Delight, the stronghold of Captain Diablo, the Sea Demon, by Dick Decker and Harry Hamilton. Then they had sailed for home. Once there, little time was lost before the two girls be- came the brides of the two daring young sailors who had rescued them from a fate worse than"death. So Claire married Dick Decker, and Harry Hamilton and Grace were made one. © Claire, was a brunette and Grace a blonde, and their beauty was perfect and dazzling. ; The raven locks and dark flashing eyes of the one con- trasted admirably with the golden tresses and soft blue | 3s of the other, But their features wore now the charm ' which only perfect happiness can give. ‘They had passed _ through the most ‘terrible scenes of bloodshed and strife. - But youth soon forgets this, and we find them as free from a care as two young girlej just married and beloved by their ; husbands can be. : Dick Decker was as handsome and dashing as ever, with ___his bright, blue eves and his curling, blonde hair. : 2 _ He looked every inch a sailor, But not more so than Harry Hamilton, with his raven B: locks and his flashing black eyes. . “Then. you really are going away again, Dick: pee rat By said Claire, - Se “Yes, Tt rai 2? * + why—we're so happy here? Now, we can enjoy -oureles and forget all about that crsadta? pirate ‘and his “Claire, would you have me break my word?” “Break your word, Dick! Why, whatever do you mean?” “T mean that when my father fell beneath the blade of this fiend Diablo, with his dying lips he made me promise to avenge his death. ‘There, while his life’s blood was ebbing fast away, I swore to revenge him or perish in the attempt. . Claire, I love you dearly, but you ask too much of me when you wish me to violate my sacred oath.” Dick Decker spoke as if he was deeply moved, which indeed: he was. “Dick,” said Claire, “I will not try to turn you from yoursduty, but,” she added, looking at him with pleading eyes, “take me with you.” Grace added her entreaties. The two young sailors felt there were many objections to what was required of them. In the end, it is needless to say, the girls had their own way, and it was arranged they should take part in the desperate enterprise. “Well, now that’s settled, girls,” saitl Dick, “you’d better run away and do all your packing, for the schooner will sail in three days.” “Three days !” “Yes.” “All the better,” waves again.” “And I,” added Dick. “And so are we,” said the girls, “with you.” Laughingly they ran out of the room. A few days later a smart, rakish-looking schooner was sailing down Chesapeake Bay, out onto the broad Atlantic, The war with England still continued, and the Alba-. tross, for that was the name of the craft, sailed under let- ters of marque issued by the American government. Up and down her quarter deck paced two young sailors, . hoth handsomely dressed, and looking exceedingly graceful © in their splendid uniforms. “Harry, isn’t she a beauty?” said one. “Dick, she floats like a cork and sails like a bird. I'll forgive old Diablo if he’s got any craft can outsail her.” “Yes, and she can bark, too. By Jove'! yes, she carries plenty of guns. “The sooner me hear the sound of them the better oy like.it, anyway.” As they sated a sailor came towards =. lt was Ben Heniiie said Harry. “I'm dying to be on the

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24. ' FAME AND FORTUN E WEEKLY. ee He was red-faced and weatherbeaten. . His twinkling}, eyes and the pimple that served for a nose were his most conspicuous features. Ben-was boatswain of the craft, and was as hardy and honest a man as ever stepped a deck, He. cherished a strong affection for his quid of tobacco and his rum, and was devoted to Dick Decker, with whom. he had eailed before. CHAPTER II. 2 ‘ THE ATTACK ON THE ENGLISH BRIG. “Well, Ben, what d’you make of her?” “Can’t make her out at all, cap’n,” said the boatswain, “Well, Ben, what d’you think of her! She'll do, eh?” | handing him the glasses, “I reckon ‘from her cut, though, “Do, cap’n, shiver me I’ve sailed the water, man and|'that she’s a fighting craft.” » ee boy, this thirty years, an’ I reckon T’ain’t seem the craft as} Dick looked long and anxiously, could give her leg bail.” “Think you're right, Ben, she isn’t a merchantman.” : “And she’s as stanch as she is fast,” added Dick, proudly.| “Anyway we'll soon see,” said Harry, “for she’s coming ’ “Guess it’ll have to be a big sea to drown her.” up fast. She'll cross our bows very shortly.” “Drown her; she won’t drown. If she goes under she’ll| “Wonder whether she’s friendly or not!” come up again like a cork. Now, I mind me,” added Ben,| “Don’t think so, cap’n. From her cut I reckon she’s a “when I was serving on board the Saucy Nancy the sea—”| Britisher.” : “Ha! Ha! Ben,” said Dick, “you haven’t forgotten] “So much the better,” said Captain Dick, “we'll have how to spin a yarn, I see.” some fun with her.” - This was a weakness of his. “Fun !” said Ben Barnacle, “my eye, how you talk. Why, “Come along, Dick, I reckon dinner’s ready. Ben’s yarn she’s bigger than us.’ will keep, the soup won’t.” “T know and am glad of it. It'll give us more chance The two young men disappeared down the companion-| t¢ find out what the new ship can do.” ! , They watched the unknown brig carefully, but it was way. q “Strikes me,” said the boatswain to himself, looking impossible to tell from her course whether she was endeav- , after the retreating figures, “it’s very strange they always| °°" to intercept.the Albatross! For since she had been sighted she kept on in the same direction. o when I to tell ” hing. P’rap: . Wi eee ee eee se tei “Put the helm down, a point,” cried Dick Decker, “et’s think I inwent ‘em, but shiver me, my tales are as true as gospel.” see what she does. now.’ The two young men and their wives were in the cabin A schooner went round and instantly they saw the of the Albatross. It was luxuriously furnished, and every- ree ve a _ wg a ~ “eset 9 ee P th thing that money could buy or thought suggest had been ae it un eee we Fs ee pot ae A “Well, T " provided to minister to the comfort and enjoyment of the ot 5 oe + ? Te it : » =: a Sotaae party. se 4 isappoin ee cou ; s “ad you a pair of heels, Dinner was over, and Dick and Harry, lazily reclining the Srbdiscatig ert Ske Sse chamet ous the soft lounges, were smoking cigars and listening cad GE ee rapidly sailing toward the brig. yds aes ine: ; “Shall we fire a gun, cap’n, and rag? her what she She was singing a pathetic little ballad, accompanying mony 74 herself on a sweeet-toned guitar. | ex _ “Bravo, Claire!” they all shouted, when she had feished. Noh +: 766 22 * “You won't: a2 T call this jolly,” said Harry. oe Ron up a flag.” “A flag! What one?” ; “Why, the stars and stripes, to be sure, and nail it to the mast if necessary. That'll make her show her colors.” Up ran the stars and stripes to the peak. a ‘ a wish it would last forever!” said Grace. » “That can hardly be, but we'll make the most of it while we can, « Sée.” said Dick, looking through a port-hole, - “we're Jeaving Jand far behind. Now we're on the real salt 2 iy at vy again.” Re Pee Almost immediately the British union jack fluttered on As they sat and talked and sang, they noticed that me the other vessel. land had faded from sight. “Now we're in for it, Harry.” . a The schooner was sailing before.a fair wind, and they “Yeas, ‘This looks like business.” There was a pull of smoke, and a shot came over ae \: water, narrowly missing the rigging. “Now, my Jads,” said Dick Decker, addressing his crew, “this is going to'be a tough fight, T don’t doubt.’ But re- | member we’re fighting for the flag that waves above tts.” “Hurrah—hurrah !” shouted the sailors loudly. © ee es : _ All was excitement and animation. cs Dey . Barnacle sea as des “gees” a suspicionslokin Dick’s enthusiasm had infected ay pr cea there were eet -.' | all eager for the fight. © eed [ Pia, springing = “Call s — te “quarters pe he. rid. | Dissiute : arms te Mit ft “4 a “(tm be continued) ete eee tell how-fast she was cutting: see 4 the water by the noise of the waves against the sides. ite * There-was a knock at the door. “ome i aul Yr said Dick, tke ” A ST oe ~<a ; rw

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. WE WANT YOU ‘TO READ “Wioving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY - BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESIGNS New portraits of actors and actresses every week - 25 Absolutely the finest little publication on the aews-staads ji EF PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY @ _ THIRTY-TWO PAGES = “FINE HALF-TONE FRONTISPIECES Getacopy ofthis weekly magazine and see what itis EVERY NUNIBER CONTAINS Six Gripping Stories, based on the latest and best films, each profusely illustrated with fine half-tones of scenes in the plays. 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 cents in money or postage stamps, and we will mail you the latest number issued. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher 168 West 23d Street TM. Bulien, of Newport, Del., has a bird dog that beats homing pigeon, cats or anything else for “turning up.” When he started from eee keag Del., in his mo- ter boat for Fenton’s Beach, N. J., where he has a summer ' cottage, he found his dog, Speolsle Flirt, had followed him for miles from Newport to the wharf) He drove her back, as he supposed. ‘I'wo hours afterward when he was sitting on his porch he saw a wet and forlorn object crawl- _ ing up to him. He was amazed to find it was his dog. é The animal swam diagonally across the Delaware River, a _ distance of six miles, to reach her master. She must have kept the motor boat m view all the way, for it was her first 4 Visit. to the beach. My. Bullen now says there is not Bs regen money in the Mint to buy that dog. He also says : nt foe go with him in the motor boat hereafter whenever che Pp eases, ‘ _. Stone roofs are very common in Malta and give excel- ent service, according to Consul James Oliver Laing, of Valetta. The custom is an ancient one and is contizued — stone roofs are cheap and durable. “I have seen such roofs here three hundred years old and perfectly 7 he said. “Large beams of wood were used in an- t times upon which to lay the stone. The beams were bout 10 by 7 inches. | Steel beams about-the size of an rican T-rail, but a little higher, ‘are now used. The ° saniars Sener i usually about four or five Now York set in cement. A thin line of cement is also spread on top of all joists. The roofs are flat, with just enough slope for drainage. The stone does not wear out and the only repair necessary is a2 new covering of cement for the joists once in a while. Unless they are walked upon twenty years sometimes elapse without repairs of any kind tc the roofs. They have the advantage of being abso- lutely fireproof.” Seventeen of the convicts at Camp McCormick, in the Catskill Mountains, who had been paroled from Sing Sing to work on the Cleve Mountain State road, were sent back to the ‘prison for a number of days. These convicts, who comprised the second allotment sent from the prison, had sulked at their tasks and gave evidence of preferring the prison walls to life in the open. The first gang of thirty convicts are working contentedly in the woods. They will | be retained on the work. The seventeen sent back did nothing of a violent character, but simply declined to work, and it was thought their example would be a menace to the other men. It is charged that this sulking on the part of convicts has been brought about by State road con- tractors. It is asserted that added recreation and amuse- ments have been installed at the prison and that the pris- oners have been indirectly influenced against the State road work, The seventeen mén, sent back made it plain that they thought they were on ‘a pleasure excursion, and Wes ; they declined to nat: the pate in any cae ae nae

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26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 11, 1914, TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS a cade Denes to Address Tell ers to Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 23d St., N. Y. BRIEF BUT POINTED ITEMS H. C. Tusts and his nephew, William Norton, of Tuc- son, Ariz., have just returned from an automobile trip in the course of which the kewpie on their radiator cap was hailed by Indians as a heathen god. The doll was dressed in red. The Indians had to be literally pushed out of the yoad so that the car could proceed... Anna Ohler, daughter of a farmer near Medford, Okla., was attacked by a bull while milking a Cow-in a field near the house. She was tossed several times in the air and rolled arouiid on the ground before her father and several sisters went to her rescue with pitchforks and clubs and drove the animal off. The girl was painfully bruised. J. A. Sutlifle, twenty-six, went to the gravel pit at the east edge of Corwith, Iowa, for a load of gravel. In the evening about 10 o’clock a party in an automobile passing the pit noticed a team hitched to a wagon come from the pit, and, seeing no driver, investigated. In the pit Mr. Sutliffe was found buried in the sand, just his head pro- truding. He was dug out and taken to town, where medi- cal aid was given him, but he died in a few hours. Tyrus Cobb of the Detroit American League team re- cently set at rest reports that he intended jumping to the! -Federa] League by signing a contract to play three more| on, years with the Tigers. The contract does not contain the maligned ten-day clause, neither docs it carry an increase in his salary, which is said to be $15,000 a year. The contract under which Cobb is now playing contains this clause, but it will expire at the end of the present season. ~The announcement that an alligator had been killed _ | in-Lake Manitou, near Rochester, Ind., has caused excite- ment among the summer visitors there, and many fair bathers are not taking their customary daily dips, fearing _ that other alligators may be in the lake, The dead alli- gator was nearly three feet long. It was killed by Fred Paramore, a Rochester contractor, when he found it sleep- side his Jaunch anchored off a prominent beach. It is believed to be one of several which were sent here from fall.and on + ae J lease its hold, Awakened by something passing over her arm, Miss Hazel Joseph, ‘of Ohio, Pa., jumped up in bed and dis- covered a monster black snake coiled around the neck of her younger sister, Loretta. ‘The latter was fighting for her life, but the big reptile was slowly choking her to death. So tight were the coils about the girl’s throat that she could not speak. She was gradually growing weaker when the elder sister caught up a pair of long shears from a dresser and plunged,them through the throat and body of the snake again and again, but the snake failed to re- Hazel, then, with a strong “snip” succeed- ed in cutting the snake in two. She then quickly released her sister and ealled for help. The injured girl was resus- citated with difficulty, but will recover. The snake was more than seven feet long. JOKES AND JESTS. Dr. Carver—Is Jones all right financially? Dr. Pills- ber—Oh, yes, indeed; why, I should diagnose almost any- thing as appendicitis that Jones had. “Are you at all familiar with. Plato?” asked Mrs. Old- castle. “No. That’s one thing Josiah always blames me for. He says I never make real close friends with any- hody.”” “Haf you heard about Isaacstein?” “Vass it iss?” “Dey took him by the hospital und took his appendix avay from him, alretty.” “Ha! Vat a pity ain’t it he didn’t have it in his wife’s name?” Now that Ann’s age bas been thoroughly discussed, the Council Bluffs Nonpareil springs this one: “A young woman goes upstairs to dress at 7.45 for the evening. She is 19 years old and weighs 102 pounds. State the wait of man below.” ~ } An agent who had sold a Dutchman some_ goods was to deliver them at the residence of the purchaser. The Dutchman Beve him the directions: “You shoost goes behind dot ’ar church; den you turns up right for a while till zou come to a house mit a big hog in the yard. Dot’s “Oh, yes. I’ve opened an office,” said the young lawyer; “vou remember that you saw me buying an alarm-clock the other day.” “Yes,” Teplied his friend; “you have to get up early these mornings, eh?” “Oh, no, I use it to wake me up when it’s time to go home.’” The teacher had guests at school one afternoon and nat- _ urally was anxious for her pupils to make a good impres- _ sion. “William,” she asked a rosey-faced lad, “can you ; tell me who George Washington was?”. “Yes, ma’ Lt ; was the quick reply. “He was an American. gen’ “Quite right,” replied the teacher. “And can you fell v us what George Washington was remarkable for?” “Yes, ma’am,” replied the little boy. “He was remarkable be- cause he was a American and we the truth.” emer

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. THE WITCH OF THE GLEN. By Kit Clyde -As I was slowly and thoughtfully walking along the main street of a little town in the northern part of New York State, my attention was attracted by the ery: “The witch—the witch !” On looking up I saw just ahead of me the wrinkled and bent figure of an aged woman. Her appearance was certainly very much like the pic- tures of witches which now and then we see in some book of fairy tales, or in connection with some old German legend. But she passed on without heeding these cries, attending strictly to her own business until a stone, shied by one of the boys, flew near her head. Then she halted and turned, and gazed sternly and fix- edly at her tormentors; and they, in fear, shrank back. Then she spoke: “For shame!” and her tone rang with indignation. “Why do you molest a harmless creature, whose burden of woe is already deep enough. “Boys, you should be heartily ashamed of yourselves!” I sternly said; “Do your fathers or mothers bid you stone this poor woman? You know they do not. Think you that your mothers would commend this brutal, unkind spirit? Think you they would be glad to know that their sons could descend to such low ruffianism ?” Those who had seemed to feel her rebuke felt more ashamed of themselyes than ever, and those who had not ' slunk quietly away. One of them, more manly than the rest, approached me and said: _ “Forgive me, I was thoughtless. I did not throw the stone; still I should not be in the company of those who would barm her.” And then the noble little fellow turned and walked away. I felt a hand laid on my arm, and from following the boy my eyes sought the face of “the witch” beside me. eae ‘almost savage expression of the face was gone; it ~ was now softencd wonderfully, and the piercing eyes were ~ moist. : 4 “Sir, heaven will bless you for the kindness you have shown an old woman, whose only crime is that she is un- fortunate. They call me the Witch of the Glen because - they do not know me, because across my threshold no strange foot is ever allowed to pass. Will you tel] me your name? I wish to know it, that I may. speak it when I bend ri . ‘oor ereature !” I thought. ashe i is not sane, her mind ee to some extent,” and then aloud: ae name ? 5 ger. 27 the Witch of the Glen. It seems to me that her name was Zingara something.” “And the place where she lives ?” “It is in a deep and lonesome glen, half a mile beyond the outskirts of the town.” “And does she live alone ?” “Now you’ve pot me.” My friend’s son just then returned from the post-office, where he had gone after the evening mail. “Father,” he said, “they say there’s a fearful time in the glen to-night. The howls are awful.” My friend glanced at me. My interest had been deeply aroused, and he was aware of it. “Will you go?” I asked. He nodded. “Then come on.” In less than ten minutes we were standing on a line with the hut in the glen, on the latter’s edge. From below us were constantly arising a succession of the most dreadful howls. They were from human lips, and those belonging to a maniac. We went down into the glen, and, as a matter of pru- dence, approached from the rear. A gleam of light caught my eye. Toward it I directed my steps. Tt came through a large crack in the solid woode shutter. To this crack I applied my eye. What I saw within sent a shudder from headAo foot. Into the wall a ring-bolt had been securely fastened. From this a heavy chain was led and fastened to an iron hoop, which encircled the body of a young man of twenty- five or six. The latter was dancing at the extremity of the chain, his hands extended and making frantic clutches at the witch who held a bunch composed of half a dozen slender switches. With this she was punishing him, while she was uttering the wild and fearful shrieks we had heard. “Down, Jimmie, down!” cried the old wonian, sternly. “Down, I say!” and she wielded the switches fast, fierce and furious, cutting across his arms, his shoulders, and even his face, which exhibited several cuts, from which blood was issuing. Never before, I thought, had I seen as fiendish looking a being as the old woman, as she meici- lessly plied her instrument of torture. Howling, foaming, resisting, the witch finally got-the upper hand, and slowly, but steadily and surely, whipped him back to the wall, and then made him crouch down on the floor. Exhausted, gasping for breath, ‘the witch held her switches, and stood before her victira. An incautions step, made by my companion, produced a noise that reached the witch’s ear, I saw her bend her head to listen. Her attention for a moment .was taken from the chained man. I saw his eyes glitter, his arms were swiftly raised and extended, his fingers began to twitch and work like the talons of some beast of prey, his body began to sway to and fro, he crouched lower to gather his muscles. - T now saw the true state of the case. \He was a madman. with a-pemrteroyn ton bia, pac Rabanne: &

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‘gish-looking old woman could speak! I tried to utter a warning cry, the roof of my mouth. Merciful heaven! the madman sprang! very limit of his chain: She seemed to realize the imminency of her peril, and raising the switches, which he had not succeeded in wrench- ing from her, she summoned all her waning strength, and struck him a fearful blow across the face, cutting it open in several places, and drawing blood. Blinded, maddened with pain, he clutched at his face where it was stinging him, while she fell heavily to the floor. Another minute, and then the madman suddenly ceased howling, stretched himself on the floor, and became quiet and motionless. He had worn himself out by his par- oxysm, and was now sleeping heavily. “Someone is coming!” suddenly said my companion, shaking me by the arm, : . They passed within a few feet of us—two women. They went to the door of the hut and then knocked. “Who is it?” I heard the witch’s voice ask from within. “Tt is us, mother,” was the reply. Mother! I stole forward as the door was opened, and heard a low cry of anguish fall from the witchs lips, then saw her recoil and totter backward across the hut, where she clutched at a table for support. * “Come, sister,” tenderly said the smaller of the two but my. tongue.cloye to Clear to the women, and with clasped-hands they entered the hut, the door of which they left so far open that I could see what took place. within, with the lamp burning in the room. The elder of the two newcomers was dreadfully pale, and ! there was a wild, scared look in her eyes. ; é 3 i _ Behind the witch was the dog, on the table beside her the big, black cat. As these two women entered, she bent forward and darted a piercing look on the shrinking form of the older of them, and then a low, suffocating; heart- rending ery burst from between her quivering, wrinkled lips: “You also!” she gasped. » “Hush, mother!” said the younger. courage ; I am still left to help you.” » “My poor, poor darling!’ How affectionately the hag- “Blinor, my pet, come here—come here and kiss your mother.” _ “Ave you my mother?” with a stare. “No, I don’t be- lieve it. You are a witch. I heard them call you the Witch of the Glen one day.” I started forward.’ My companion aS have followed had I not motioned him back. I knocked at the door. I heard someone bound across the floor, and then I saw the old woman’s head thrusvout. At first she appeared angry, “Be brave—have { } as if she considered herself unwarrantably intruded upon. But the moment she recognized me the annoyed look van- ‘ons one of doubt place: it. After a moment, I “Tam doctor. I am the head man in the — Insane Without. a word of reply, she cated me to enter. ! er a little while she told me all of her sad history. | weighs proportionally ten times as much, while air _ | the pressure of fifty atmospheres weighs fifty times: as ip tps oes Test June and benseoniy, and well-off in life had been ¢ of unallo ppi-| normal, so that the liquid is 1,600. te as ages 1Us- fae se alr, or Nata) a8 heavy as. ae os 28 FAME AND FORTUNE WEERLY. band’s family had cropped out in him. She had cared for him to his dying day; although he had always been very violent. and had knocked out every tooth in her head at divers times. Finally her son had gone crazy. All their money ex- hausted, driven wild herself by misplaced sympathy of those who knew her circumstances, and yet were too selfish to give her a bit-of bread, she had discovered this old hut in the glen and moved into it, purchasing it from its owner, and leasing the ground it stood upon. And ‘here she had kept her erazy son for years, her two daughters being at work in a distant city and sending what money they could spare to help to keep the wolf from the door. She herself had hunted the forests in search of herbs, the gathering of which added a little to her income. When the crazy spells came on her son, she bad found that the only way was to punish him, and though she al- ways whipped him severely, it was with an aching heart. And now her eldest daughter had been brought home by the younger, her mind also shattered. And this woman, whom the townspeople had called a witch, had spoken of slightingly, had hinted was in league with the evil one, to whom she had'sold herself—for where else could she get money? they asked themselyes—this woman was greater than any of her detractors. Who among them could show such a life of self- abnegnation, living in poverty, going half-clothed, in order that she might keep her crazed son with her, instead of sending him to the State asylum? Her history touched me deeply. I related to my friend what I had learned. “And we have been slighting this noble woman,” he said regretfully. “For one I will pledge myself to devote five dollars a month toward her support if her story proves true.” It did prove true. I took the trouble to verify it at once; and when I left the town I placed in, her hands some drugs, and instructions for their use, so that when she saw her son’s paroxysm coming on she could put ror to sleep } and avoid it. She was moved to a pleasant little cottage on the out- skirts of the village, where she lived until she died, which was within a few weeks of the death of her afflicted son. The daughter, I afterwards heard, had recovered. potato 2. The common belief that air weighs nothing—or almost nothing—a belief which has given rise to the simile “light as air,” needs correction. A toy balloon filled with a cubic. foot of air weighs 564 grains more than the same balloon collapsed. This shows that the weight of a cubic foot of — air is 564 grains, which is a good deal more than an — ounce. Accordingly a small room (15 by 15 by 10), con- ‘taining 2,250 cubie feet of air, would weigh 2,900 Barbe or 183.% pounds avoirdupois, as, much as a large man. Could you lift a room full of air? The air in an: automo- : hile tire under pressure of 150 pounds a square | inch — is much as an egual volume of ordinary air, — When air. liquefied its volume is reduced to one-sixteen hundr o Ror

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Good READING A father and a son met in Brock, Neb., for the first _ time in forty-five years. Both men were gray-haired, but one was just a little more bent than thé other. Frank Hue, the son, is fifty and is a railroad conductor of Seneca, Kan. Lewis Hue, the father, is seventy-three years old, and a merchant of this city.’ The father and his wife separated when the son was five years old. | While fishing at St. James, Mich., Roger Jewitt caught a: large pike which he first hooked in the same locality Seven years ago. Jewitt knows it is the same fish, as it oi was still attached to a valuable silver-mounted Beking pole _ which it had wrested from him after a terrible struggle. _ The great pike jerked pole and line from Jewitt’s hands at that time. It has been’ swimming about ever since, tow- _ ing the pole behind it. _._W. H. Davenport, a railroad man, who recently re- _ turned to San‘ Francisco, Cal., from Nevada, tells how a 3 native of that State took him on a fishing trip. Tustead of x using poles and lines, they went to an irrigation ditch, turned on the water for a few moments, and then cut it 2 otf suddenly. Almost a hundred mountain trout were ieft ‘ _ stranded and were easily picked up. “And they call that pening, says Davenport. ~ Announcement was made by the War Department re- cently that out of the total of $2,000,000 annually appro- priated by Congress for apportionment among the various _ States for the purchase of ‘supplies and ammunition nn- ‘ i der the militia Jaw $1,599,362 has beew set aside by the “Secretary of War for that purpose ‘during the fiscal year - 1915. The amounts allotted to New Jersey is $53,856 ee to New York S214, 260. The New} York Public Pibiey 4a just” aca nired the ex- tensive collection of meteorological works formerly kept the Centra! : Park Obsérvatory. “These consist chiefly te Saris and other periodical statistical publica- 3 es tebe iihigs sg services ana. 0! bas Goats eat digioulty, in removing deposits from the jin- tiles is well Known, and often they have to be A | for’ this reason, A Swiss inventor “makes an in- vice i r the shape of a vather large metal basin di ight tue,” Sand is put in the basin, Aa the. water supply. Px ‘siinple a 3 sand and water into. the cleans it: -of-fi ‘the o : ing ae the * reseue | Jacob Serafin, an undertaker, and five pallbearers were almost buried alive the other morning in St. Peter’s Ceme- tery at Lodi, N. J. The men were standing on a plank over the grave, ready to lower the coffin. Relatives of the dead were gathered around. There was a crash and the plank gave way, throwing undertaker and pallbearers in a heap on the bottom of “the grave. The coffin next fell on top of the six men, bringing with it considerable earth. It was with some difficulty that they were extricated by the funeral attendants. The love of a cliff swallow for her newly hatched babes nerved the mother bird for a successful duel with a small rattlesnake in the E! Paso Gulch on the desert north of Grand Junction, Colo. ‘The bird had made her nest in a low crevice on one side of the gulch. on the other side watched the snake crawl slowly toward. the nest. When it came within three feet the mother bird left her young ones and attacked the snake with her beak and claws. Two onslaughts convinced the reptile that his hepes were in vain, harass by the engineers, who killed the snake. When F. F. Merritt, of Grand Junction, aL because of his love for animals, refused to shoot a colony of gray squirrels that made their home this year under his apricot The squir- _ frees, he added many dollars to his bankroll. rels stripped -his trees of every apricot, but took only the pit. The apricot pit is extremely sweet and juicy. The squirrels carefully opened the fruit and extracted the seed. The fruit, devoid of,pits, was left on the ground beneath the trees. The pits haye been stored away by the animals for winter use., Merritt easily collected the fruit as pitted by the squirrels and sold it to the canning factory at 2 ‘eents per pounds more than ordinary unpitted apricots brought. In addition he was saved the expense of em- ploying pickers to harvest his crop. > _ Mrs. Manon de Shazo, of Avondale, Ala., eee son, R: W. de Shaz, aged three years, was res- “lened from drow ning by her elder son, Ira de Shazo, who is just eight years: ‘old. The rescue happened at Spring | Creek, near Montevallo. Tra was fishing inthe creek and — his’ little brother was wading about in the shallow water. The youngest poy stepped off a tedge and disappeared, the decp‘waier. No one was within calling distance. ag fe his fishing pate and o wiieg in after: his Barr os ey r wet aad very A party of surveyors. The bird was saved from further .~ & has returned | from a trip’to Montevalloand told her friends: that her a>

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i SS BB ne +t. .at I Tne FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. "ARTICLES OF ALL KINDS KITE SIGNALING OF THE FRENCH NAVY. Novel ways of signaling were tried out recently during the naval maneuvers in the Mediterranean by men aboard the French warships. It was generally conceded that the tests with box kites- were most efficient. The results proved that the box kites, being light, can be hoisted even when there is but a slight breeze; and their size makes them easily discernible from great distances. ; The signal system used was similar to that of the flag system. Various combinations of kite grouping were used. While this system of signaling is not quite so fast as signaling by means of flags, it is more definite, it is claimed, and can be seen for miles around. The suecess of the experiment has led to a recom- mendation to the French government that the system be introduced generally in the navy of France. SNAPPING TURTLE MINE. - The almost unbroken drought which has prevailed in the southern end of Grant County since May 10, promises to depopulate a big pond near Fairmount, Ind., of snap- ping turtles, which for years have thrived there in great numbers. * The water is now all gone, and the hardshells have buried tiimselves beneath old tree tops and bunches of trash about fifteen inches below the surface. Some one discovered this recently and since then has been bringing to town large supplies of turtles. He kept the location a secret, with the exception of a few friends, but the second crew is now at work, and the turtles are being dug out on alternate dave by.the two parties. One of the crews obtained more than 100 pounds of turtles in a few days and they held a big feed the other night. The other hunting party brought in six big snap- pers weighing from eight to eighteen pounds each. F. SAWDUST. BREAD. 7 Meash may not appeal to the palate as a digestible or appetizing substitute for flour in the making of bread, but all the same there is a large bakery in Berlin turning out “20,000. loaves of sawdust bread daily. Phe sawdust is first subjected to a process of fermenta- tion, and various chemical manipulations. Finally it is mixed with one-third part of rye fluor, formed into loaves and ,baked in ovens like*any other bread. Although this new “pain de bois,” as the French call it, is meant for consumption by horses only, claim is madd by the manufacturers that in case of famine it would fur- nish; a nutritious and highly gacigactory food for human ‘ings. ~ Sawdust, bread may not taste so bad as it sounds. In various parts of the world bread is obtained from trees. - For example, in the Molucca Islands the starchy pith of the sago palm furnishes a white, floury meal, which is oy made ecg — Alone Libel and bakes in curious little : ina ee © See eed es ovens divided into small oblong cells\ just big ‘enough to recelve the loaves. : In-Lapland the ‘inner bark of pine trees, well ground and mixed with cat flour, is made into cakes, which are cooked in a pan over the fire, In Kamchatka pine bark and birch bark are used for bread without the addition of any other substance, being reduced to powder by pound- ing, made into loaves and baked, Along the Columbia River bread is made from a kind of moss that grows on a-species of fir trees. After being dried it is sprinkled with water, allowed to ferment, rolled into balls as big as a man’s head and baked in pits, with the help of hot stones. Travelers who have tasted it say that it is by no means unpalatable. The Californian Indians collect the pollen of cattails in large quantities by beating it off the plants and catch- ing it on blankets. They make bread of it. But as a delicacy they prefer bread of grasshopper flour. EGYPT’S WINGED THIEVES. Out at Gezira, where all Cairo has its rendezyous at the Sporting Club every afternoon in and out of season, there exist large colonies of kites and crows. No sooner are the. tea tables laid out than the former, ‘who have been perched on the qui vive on the adjacent trees, start circling round and round. . With a‘sudden diye one-of these hawk- like birds will swoop down on the table he has chosen and pick off the bread and butter arid cake. New arrivals in Egypt are always very disconcerted by these antics. It matters not how. many people are seated around the tables. The kite is no respecter of persons and on one crowded afternoon last season, when the Ger- man Crown Princess was taking tea, I remember séeing no fewer than eight tables swept of their eatables by as many kites in the space of a few minutes, _ These monster birds add to ‘the terror. which they. strike to the heart of the new arrival by the fact that their flight is so sudden and the theft is committed without stopping. They. describe a curve, the lowest point of which is the plate of bread and butter or cake, and so accurate is their | descent that rarely do they leave or drop anything. An- amusing factor in this otherwise rather annoying situation is furnished by the crows, who invariably act as scouts for thé kites, and the presence of whom, hopping about the grass, always precedes one of these depredatory flights. When the coup has been successfully brought off the crows evince their pleasure by ear splitting caws, and pro- _ ceed to follow the plunderer at a respectful distance, “pos- sibly in order to express their unbounded admiration in. the vain hope of obtaining a few crumbs. On the golf — course the kites are a source of endless trouble to the play-_ ers—and incidentally one of great profit to the golf ball — venders—for it is no unusual thing for your ball to whiffed, off just as you are oe Pe. ade apnea ‘ Lee ; to Aa atten a

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ELECTRIC PUSH BUT. | TON.—The base is made ef meple, and the center piece | ef black w mut, the whole thing abou,g 1% inches in | diameter, with a metal ; hook on the back so that | it may be slipped over edge | of the vest pocket. Expose te view your New DBlectric Bell, when your friend will sh the button expecting to hear it ring. Soon as he touches it, you will see some of | the liveliest dancing you ever witnessed. The | Blectric Button is heavily charged and will give a smart shock when the butten is pushed Price » by mail, pestpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. THE MAGIC DAGGER. : A wonderful illusion. To all appearances it is an ordinary dagger which you can flourish around in your hand and 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 ean 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 | and will startle all who see it. Price, 10c., or 3 for 25c. by mail, postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. MUSICAL SEAT The best joke out. You can have more fun than a circus, with one of these novelties.. All you have to do is to place one on 2 chair seat (hidden under a cush- fon, if possible). Then tell your friend to sit down. An unearthly @hriek from the little round drum will send your victim up in the air, the most puzzled and astonish. mortal on earth. Don’t miss etting one of these genuine laugh producers. rfectly harmless, and never misses doing its work. Price 20 cents each, by mail. post-paid WO FF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥ €ARD THROUGH THE HAT TRICK With this trick you bar- row,a hat, and appar- ently shove a card up through the crown, without injuring the card or hat. The oper- ation can be reversed, the performer seemingly Pushing the card down through the crown into oe patcewsts tt is a which w uzzl and interest the closest observer and detection is almost impossible. It is so simple that a ehild can learn how to perform it in a few minutes, Price 10 cents.each, by mail, post-paid ’ H, F. LANG, 1815 Centre Si., B’kiyn, N. ¥. ITCH’ POWDER. you can have with this stuff. Moisten the tip of your finger, tap it on the contents of the box, and a little bit will stick. Then shake hands with your friend, or drop a speck down his back. In a minute he ou feel as if re ‘4 e seven years’ Itch. ; it Wil wuke Dim scratch, rear, Pb and, make faces. Lut it is perfectiy harmless, as | it is made from the seeds of wild roses. The! horrible itch stops iu a fev minutes, or ean | be checked tmumediately by rubbing the spot | with a wet cloth, While it is working, you | jl be apt to laugh your suspender buttons ° The best joke ou: Price 10 cents | ‘ box, by mail, postpai WOLFF NOVELTY CO. 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. v « _ Ayvad's Water-Winge -wings take wp no more reom thon mentee we S ounces aad sup- from 58 te 250 + With a patrangone can to swim or foat. Foruse, you sting, Sigh hes blow them vp, and vogether tre om fecea. Gee whiz! What fan— BLACK-EZEYE JOKE. New and amusing joker. victim is told to hold the tube close to his eye so as to,exclude all ight from 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- 2 for 25e. 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 PK, center of cigar about one-half y inch from end is a fountain of sparklets. The moment * the fire reaches this fountain hundreds of sparks of fire burst forth in every direction, to the astonishment of the smoker. The fire is stage fire, and wili not burn the skin or clothing. After the fireworks the victim can continue smoking the cigar to the end. Price, peg 8 for 25c; 1 dozen, 90c., mailed, post- Pp C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. BINGO. It & ao Hittle metal box. It looks very in- nocent. But it is sup- plied with an ingentous mechanism which shoots off a harmicsa You can have more fun new trick. Place the v BINGO in or _ under any article and it will go off when the ar- ticle is opened or removed. It can be used me | UOT definitely. Those not in the trick id will be caught every time. Abso- | lutely harmless. Price by mail l5c, each; | } with it. cap when it is opened. | OF FUN geez Ventriloquist Double Throat Fits roof of mouth; always iuvisible; createst bing yet. Astonish and myastity your friends, Neigh like a horse; whine like a puppy; sing ike a canary, aud imitate birds and beasts of the fleld.and forest. Loads of fun. Wonder- tulinvention. Thousands sold. Send a dine and a 2c stamp for one dozen. DOUBLE THROAT CO., Dept. K, Frenchtowa, W. J BOYS! GIRLS! a> The wonder of the 20th Century. Shows the bones in your fin- gersglead ina pencil, &e..&c. You can see through clothes,even the flesh turns trans- 10e parent and the bones Can be seen. Very useful and instructive. The most interesting instru- ment éver invented. Think of the fun you can hive Complete X-Ray shipped, prepaid by mail upon receipt of (0c. X-RAY MFG. CO., Dept. 43, 26 BE. 23d st., N. ¥. SURPRISE KINEMATOGRAPH. The greatest hit of the season! It consists of a small metal, nickeled tube, with a lens eye view, which shows a pretty bal- let girl in tights. Hand it to a friend, who will be delighted with the first pic- ture; tell him to turn the screw in center of instru- ment te change the views, when a stream of water squirts into his face, much to his dis- gust. Anyone who has not seen this kinema- tograph in operation is sure to be caught every time. The instrument can be refilled with water in an instant, ready for the next customer. Price 25c. by mail, postpaid. | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥. than a circus with this | as a funny joke by being placed in a purse, | cigarette box or between the leaves of a magazine, also, under any movable article, such as a book, tray, dish, etc. The BINGO ean also be used @ Theft Preventer by bein placed in a drawer, money till, under a door or window. or under any article that would be mov or disturbed 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, is to press down the 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, 25c. each by mail. postpaid. H, F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, 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 ig just the thing for bicyclists or sportsmen, its peculiar double and resonant tones at once at- tracting attention. It is an im- ported whistle, handsomely nickel] plated, and will be found a very useful and handy pocket companion. Price, 10¢.; 3 for 25c.; one dozen, 75c., sent by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO.. 29 W. 26th Si.. N. ¥. THE FLUTOPHONE.—A new mustfcal tn- \strument, producing the sweetest dulcet tones of the flute. The upper part of the instrument is placed in the mouth, the Ips covering the openings in the centre. Then by bienie® gently upon it you can play any tune desire as easily as whistling. But little practice is required to become a finished player. It ia made entirely of metal, and wil! last a life- time. We send full instructions with each instrument. : Price 8 cents, by: mail, postpaid. . A. A. WARFORD, 16 Hart St., Brooklyn, N. ¥- as a Burglar Alarm or as - IMITATION FLIES. Absolutely true to Nature! A dandy scarf-pin and a rattling good joke. It is impossible to do these Ping justice with a description. You have to see them to understand how lifelike they are. When peopie see them on you they want to brush them off. They wonder “why that fly sticks to you” so persistently. This is the most realistic nov put on the market. It is ornament for anybody’a a decided joke on those chase it. Price, 10c. by Cc. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. POCKET WHISK-BEOOM This is no toy, but a real whiek-broom, &% inches high. It is made of imported her. and bristles, neatly put together, a: pock rouge! ay f at Bene mos et, ready for use ment, for hats or clothing, etc Price 10 cents by mail, postpaid. Cc. BEHR. 150 W. 6td St. N. % PIGGY IN A COFFIN. This is a wicked pig that died at an early age, and here he is in_his coffin ready for burial. There will be a great many mourners at his funeral, for this coffin, pretty as it is ve tricky, and the man who gets Joel a uae oe Yagi is mene f metal, perfectly shaped an ut y uered. The trick is to open it to see the ig. The man that tries it gets his fingers ead feelings hurt, and piggy comes out toe nt at his victims. The ‘ubular end of the n, which everyone (in trying to open) resses inward, contains a needle which stabs fre victim In his thumb or finger every time. This is the iatest and a very “impressive” trick. It can be opened easily by anyone in the secret, and as a neat catch-joke to save urself from a bore is unsurpassed. Price, Oc.; 3 for 25¢., postpaid; one dozen by ex- press, 75c. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, jooks, it open will THE HINDOO WHIRLER, A white wood notched stick, sy inches long, with a pivot at the end, on which a metal arm revolves. Your friend scrapes the notches with a toothpick, but he cannot make the metal arm spin unless he understands the secret. You can scrape the stick in a certain way, and the metal whir to the right. Scrape the same way, and the word = commane you can yen it re- volve in the ' novelty which will puzzle and amuse every- body. Price, 10c., \ M. O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th 8t., ™ ¥, <i

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GooD LUCK BANES. Ornamental as well as use ful. Made of highly nickeled : VANISHING CIGAR. THE FIGHTING ROOSTERS. This cigar is made in A full blooded pair of exact imitation of a good fighting game cocks. ene. it is held by a rub- These liliputian fighters ber cord which, vith the have real feathers, yellow a cst aque bare Sa attached safety pin, is legs and fiery red combs, ar. hen filled it opens it- fastened en the inside of their movements -when self. Remains locked until the sleeve. When effered fighting are perfectly nat- refilled; Can be used as a to a friend, as it {s abeut to be taken, it will ural and lifelike, and the watchcharm. Money refund- secret of their movements ed if not satisfied. Price, instantly disappear. Price, 10c. each by mail, pestpald. | is known only to the operator, who can cause Cc. BEHR, 150 W. G2d St.. New York City. them to battle with each other as often and as long as desired. Independent of their | eg Sen nn fighting proclivities they make very pretty 16c. by mail. G. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. x. 73 ppc FROG. mantel omaments. . Price tor ya pair i> This ttle novelty creates | strong OX, iC.5 pairs for . by ™ a world of laughter. Its | postpaid. ‘ f EGGS OF PHARAOHNH’S SERPENTS. chief attractivenzss is that WOLFE NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. A’. wonderful. and startling novelty! “Pharaoh's Serpents” are produced from a small e&s, no larger than a pea. Place one of them on a plate, touch fire to it with a common match, and instantly a large serpent, a yard or more in length, slowly un- coils itself from the burning ess. Each serpent assumes a different position. One will appear to be it tekes a few seconds he- aap pe gated high in — air, so that when set, very inno- cently along side of an unsuspecting person, LIGHTNING TRICK Box. he is suddenly startled by the wonderful A startling and pleasing illu- activity of this frog. Price, 15c. each by mail sion! ‘the ways of the world are postpaid. devious,” says Matthew Arnold, H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. but the ways of the Lightning | | Trick Pett ih er ae ge Randles + are admitted to puzzling an MANY TOOL KEY RING. uncertain. You take off the lid gliding over the ground, with The wonder of the age. The great- and show your friends that it is head erect, as though spying est small tool in the world. In this | full of nice candy. Replace the | danger; another will coil itself up, as if pre- little instrument you have in combina- lid, when you can solemnly assure paring for the fatal spring upon its victim, tion seven useful tools embracing Key | your friends that, you can instantly empty the | while another will stretch out lazily, appar- Ring, Pencil Sharpener, Nail Cutter | box in their presence without, opening it; and | ently enjoying its usual noonday nap. Im- and Cleaner, Watch Opener, Cigar | taking off the lid again, sure enough the candy mediately after the egg stops burning, the Clipper, Letter Opener and Screw | has disappeared. Or you can change the | serpent hardens, and may afterward be kept Driver. It is not a toy, but a useful | candy into a piece of money by following the | as an amusing curiosity. They are put up in article, made of cutlery steel, tem~ | directions sent with each box. This is the wooden boxes, twelve eggs in a box. Price, pered and highly nickeled. Therefore | meatest and best cheap trick ever invented. | Sc., 3 boxes for 20c.; 1 dozen boxes for 60c., ; Fy a = edge ri —— sedis Price, only 10¢.; 3 for 25c., mailed, postpaid, | sent by mail, postpaid. if ece of cutlery. As a useful tool, no n tank S ‘HH, L YX : r Bas ‘ever been offered to the public to equal it. 4RAKK SMITH, 883 Lenox Ave.,,N. X WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥. Price, lis., mailed. postpaid. Se eS ee pik LSPS 2 Sass Se ee nea WOLFF NOVELTY CO.. 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. NEW TEN-CENT FOUNTAIN PEN, DEAD SHOT SQUIRT PISTOL, If you shoot a man THE PEG JUMPER. ; << eee e ee with this “gun” he will fim FON et egg q be too eS to accept fo be performed by One Cree mies oeolien San mystifying , he ar eae any one. A miniature ee t te ae t ai Mae ca! no ink. All loaded.” It loads easily paddle is shown. Cen- Will write for an indefinite Saas mearet ‘with a full charge of tral holes are drifled through it, A wooden | can only be learned by procuring aia seu ba tet: O20 Se ers the rubber. bulb eg is inside of the upper hole. Showing now | Gan make it ~ source of both pleasure aed at the butt of the Pistol, when a small stream Both sides of the paddle, the performer causes, | Priusement by claiming to your friends what of water is squirted into his face. The best by simply breathing upon it, tho peg to leave | 4¢ can do and then demonstratin the teat thing to do then is to pocket your gun and the upper hole, and appear in the middle one. | }roreover, it is a good pen, fit for Gractical nines run. There are “Icads of fun” in this wicked Then it jumps to the lower hole, back to the | 444 will never leak ink into your pocket, as 4 | little joker, which looks like a real revolver, Thelle one, and lastly to the upper hole- | defective fountain pen might d trigger, cock, charabers, barrel and all. Price he - of the paddle are repeatedly shown, DP td ey only %c.; 4 fo 25e.; * j Bot P Prive by mail, 150. Price, 10c. each by mail. bet ae r 25¢.; one dozen 60c. by mail hs 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. — - = Look! @rennum LOOK! One of these fine watches FREE to anyone sending us One—1 year’s subscription at. . « $2.50 Two—6 months’ subscriptions at . . 1.25 each Four—3 months’ subscriptions at. « 0.65 each C. BEHE; 50 W. 62d St., New York City. | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥.' mn. F, LANG, For either of the following: “Moving Picture Stories,” “Happy Days,” “Wild West Weekly,” “Fame and For- tune Weekly,” “The Liberty Boys of °76,” “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 Date... sesceeeeess ‘“. Ht Is American-made, open face, stem wind and set, and will run from 30 to 36 hours This wa with one winding. The movement is the same size as an expensive railroad timepiece, Re enad x vie ctutely accorate, and each one le guaranteed. The cases are made in Gold Plate, : 1} fill out <a 9 a with ‘“\ Polished Nickel, Gun-metal with Gilt center and plain Gun-metal. subscription price en- a i ‘ft ‘itles the holder to Pre- M.: The design on the back case is a fancy engraved scroll. miuu mentioned. ' “.gend in Your Subscriptions Now to » Name s-sseceseersereeerereteree ONS FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher ‘. AGOreSS .ccccces ee csceecereesssesoes S OMY sseneeeeeee Btaterseeereseeeeeense 168 West 23d St., N.Y. City ‘ N

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. as ; + we 5 - : se eo - * : See Me od FAME AWD FORTUNE Ww EEE I.yY Story.) 417 Lost in the Baixans; or, The Luck of a Young War Corpespondent. : 447 418 Plunging to Win; or, The Deals of a Wall Street one Boy. 448 LATEST ISSUES— é- 415 Bound to Make His Mark, or, Runo.ug a Moving Picture 416 Ed, the Office Boy; or, The Lad Bebind the Deals. 442 OTeee:| tH x | 4 (A W Street | 445 A Smart New York Boy; or, From the Tenements to Wall Street. * Mark Milton's Mine; or, a Schoolboy’s Inheritance. The Young Banker; or, The Mystery of a Money Box. The Secret Chart, or, Ihe Golden Treasure of the Crater. 6 The Boy Behind the Deals; or, The Luck of a Wall Thrown on the World; or, Startin A Speculator at 16; or, The Lad ey ho Worked His Bralns. ad. 2 ie a | “~ Street Broker- & Business on a Dollar. 4 x _ ‘FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - j A | % IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. eS Young Shipper; or, The Boy Who Was Always om Top. a : aay 4 ng the Bucketshops; or, Breaking Up a Crooked Game. A 449 Tom, the Steeple Jack; or, Winning a Living by Nerve. —_ ry of Wall Street. 450 Saving a Million; or, Ben gnd,the Wall Street Brokers. 424 : for Fame; or, The Struggles Bf a Young Author. 451 Down and Out; or, A Hard Boy to Beat. 4 x3 - nds; or, The Firm With a Grip on the Market. A | 452 The Boy Banker’s Double; or, A Strange Wall Street Mystery. 7 story. B : . > Sand. 423 Stranded i e City; or, The Boy with a Head for Business. 7] 7 aie me Re ced the BO eer tings. ¥ iy re Getting the?Coin; or, The Luckiest Isad in Wall Street. 455 $250,000 In- Gold; or, Hunting a Hindoo Treasure™ - en = ae eaton The 4. eee Rec etnat Won: 456 A Corner in Money; or, Beating the Wall Street Money Sharks. 427 Princ # Printer; or, The Little Shop That Was Made to Pay. 457 Going it Alone; or, The Boy Who Made His Own Luck. 428 The Lit Money King; or, Tempting Fate in Wale Street. 458 Little Dan Tucker; or, Making Big Money in Wall St. 429 Among the Missing; or, The Treasure of the Silver City. 459 Fighting for Business; or, Heating a Bad Start. Ter T acer Late ohe toy. WHS Made *WallcBtrest Hane Noli. > | Looe acy, Money Maker: nor, In Wall Street or can ag ‘ 481 The Young Wrecker: or, The Boy Who Dealt in Derelicte. 461 Buried Gold; or, The Treasure of the Old Buccaneefs. - 422 In the Game for Gold; or, Beating the Wall Street Market. 462 Hitting it Rich; or, The Luckiest Firm in Wall St. - 4833 Messenger Sixty-Four; or, Hustling*for a Living. 463 Sam, the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Tongue- 434 Old Kitson’s Kid; or, The Best Tip in Wal! Street. 464 Playing in Luck: or, A Plotter’s Dangerous Deal. ‘ 435 Lineman Jack; or, The Boy Who Built a Business. 465 After a Big Stake; or, Brains Against Brawn. 436 Barry & Co., Bankers and Brokers; or, The, Boy Money-Makers in} 466 ae the Mexicans; or, he Secret Of the Aztec’s Gold. "ta Wall Street. 467 Fighting For Fame; or, The Luck Of a Young Contractor. © 437 On the Fast Mail; or, From Clerk to Postmaster. 468 Seeking a Lost Treasure; or, The Nerve Of a Young Explorer. ' 438 His Last ance; or, The Boy Who Made Money in Wall Street. 439 Shipped to Sea; or, The Treasures of the Coral Cave. 440 An Errand Boy’s Fortune: or, The Office of Wall Street Secrets. e 441 In the Film Game; or, The Boy Who Made Moving Pictures. - For sale by al] newsdealers, or will be’sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, DY - ~. 7 168. West 23d St., New York. — omnR TEN-CENT HAND BOOHES é © » Few POLEON’S ORACULUM AND **.—Containing the great oracle e4 also the true meaning of of dreams, together Rehr ty most any » ceremy Kee and curious games DO TRICKS.—The great % rd tricks, containing full ruction on all Wyse leading card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical {llu- sicns as performed by our leading magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book. Ne. 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 paeage and sentiment of flowers. ‘o. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of this Little book. It contains full instructions in the art of dancing, etiquette in the ball- roem and at parties, how to dress, and full @irections for calling off In al! popular square dances. No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE,—A com- plete guide to love, courtship and marriage, ving ble advice, rules and etiquette to f observed, with many curious and interest- ing : ree not generally known. No. 6 HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE. ing full instruction for the use of diumb- bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars and various other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; containing over sixty filustrations. 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, paro- uet, parrot, etc. “Ne. 9 HOW TO BECOME A VEN’ -QUIST.—-By Every intelli- Harry Kennedy. ‘gent boy reading this book of instructions can ® 7ove «elo. ¥ Ye, master the art. and create any amount of fun for himself and friends. It is the greatest book ever published. No. 10. HOW TO BOX,—The art of self- defense made Containing over thirty fliustrations © ards, blows, and the differ- ent positions of a good boxer. Every boy ould one of these useful and instruc- as it will teach you how to box- out an instructor. - 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS. most complete little book, sontaining full jons for writing love-letters, and when w to use them, giving specimen letters young and o . No. 12. HOW TO —G:! instructions for subjects; also ‘Jetters of introduc No. 18. HOW For sale ETIQUETTE.—It is a great life secret, and one that every young man desires to know all about. There's happiness in it. No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A complete hand-book for making all kinds of candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc. Ne. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL. —One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world. Every- body 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 for parlor or drawing- room entertainment. It contains the money than any book published. ’ No 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full instructions anent guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and ‘fi@h- ane: together with description of game and No. 22. HOW TO DE SOND SEGHT.— Helier’s second sight exp!u#inéa by his former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explainine “how the secret dialogues were carried on be.ween the magician and the boy on the stage; also giv- ing. all th es and signal” ‘o. 23. w TO PLAIN DREAMS.— This little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky days. > No. 24. HOW TO WRITS LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.—Containing ful! directions for writing to seems on all subjects. No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A G¥YMNAST.— Containing full instructions for all kinds of mnastic sports and athletic exercises. Em- racing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. ‘ 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 is desirous of Knowing what his fu- ture life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be convinced. No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVEN- TOR.—Every boy should know how inventions originated. This book explains them all, giv- ing example in electricity, hydraulics, magne- *tism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc. more for. - - - - - - No. 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of the most instructive books on cooking ever published. It contains pes for cooking meats, fish, game, and oysters; also pies, puddings. ake and all kinds of pastry, ad a grand collec tion of recipes. ate No. 81. —Containing fourteen illustrati iving the different positions requisite to become a good speaker, reader and elocutionist. Also con- taining gems from all the po: authors of prose und poetry. , No. 32. HO TO RIDE Containing instructions for of a machine, hints on traf plete book. No. 35. plete and useful rules and regulations of billl bagatelle, backgammon, croquet, dom!noes, etc. . No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS. —Containing all the leading conundrums of the day, amusing riddles, curious catches and witty sayings. — No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, containing use- ful and practical information the treatment of ordinary diseases and ailménts common to every family. Abounding in useful and effec- tive reci Kearny complaints. « No. 39. RAISE DOGS, 2 PIGEONS AND RABBITS.—A useful and in- structive book. Handsomely fllustrated. No. 40. HOW TO MAKE cat weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and how to cure skins. Copfously illust No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YO MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Contain riety of the latest jokes use famous end men. No amate minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied as- sortment of stump speeches, Neue, Dutch and Irish. Also end men’s jokes. ust the thing for home amusement and amateur shows, No, 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN, —Containing the grandes’ «ssortment of mag- ical illusions ever placen before the pubuc Also tricka with cards. incantations, etc. No. 44. HOW TO WRITE IN AN AL- BUM.—A grand colléetion of Album Verses suitable forjany time and occasion; embrac- ing Lines of Love, Affection, Sentiment, Hu- mor, Respect, and Condolence; also Verses Suitable for Valentines and Weddings, No. 45. THE BO F NEW YORK MIN- STREL GUIDE AN OKE BOOK. thing new and very instructive. boy should obtain this book, it con fan instructiong for organizing ‘amateur min- stre] troupe. ¥ ed. or 8 for 25 cts., in money or postage stamps, by - 168 West 23d Sty ew Nariaae . 7” as ? — OW TO BECOME A SPEAKER. _ little book, containing the- : a ee wi ¥ a