Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 498) (1915 04 16)

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APRIL 16th, oe. Seen s. sTORIES OF BOYS THAT MAKE MONEY. PLAYING TO WIN} OR, THE FOXIEST BOY in WALL STREET. Find OTHER Srories oY AGLLF MNGYIE SYUV . : ¥ oS Z oS es Pace pider toward the boy. “Sign, or—" He got no furthers p the lock, the door was suddenly Slammed ea. by two policemen, entered. the room. “Sign!” demanded Jepson, for at that momel open, and I

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= f ne and Fortune STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY | Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., a8 Second-Class Matter, by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 23d Street, New York. No. 498. NEW YORK. APRIL 16, 1915. Price 5 Conta: ~ PLAYING TO WIN — —— OR —~ - THE FOXIEST BOY IN WALL STREET - By A SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER LE WITICH INTRODUCES THE HERO. “Mother,” cried Arthur Forbes, a bright, curly-headed boy of fourteen, dashing into a poorly furnished room where Mrs. Forbes sat sewing beside a. window overlooking a forest of tenement roofs in the lower Hast Side of New York City, “I've got a situation at last!” . “Have you, Arthur!” exclaimed the sad-faced, patient-look- ing little woman, whose age might have been thirty-five. “Yes, mother, T have.” “Hearen be thanked!” she responded, gratefully, tears start- ing to her eyes, still beautiful In their expressive mournful- ness. “You'll never guess where it is, mother. It’s a fine posi- tion.” said Arthur, bis eyes sparkling with satisfaction. > “You'll have to tell me about it,” said Mrs. Forbes, look- n for he reminded her constantly of the husband and father whom death had robbed them both of. “It’s in Wall Street, mother; what do you think of that?” eried Arthur, proudly. “Is it possible!” in surprise. “ stock broker's office. I’m to be the messenger, begin to-morrow morning.” ~ “Why. how did you manage “Well, you know Dick Bell?” ee,” _“He’s been working for Denbry, Coke & Co., stock brokers, He heard about this vacancy, and put me ~- and I for some time. 1 on to it this morning. I went there at once, applied for : t the position and got it. But I came awful near missing it. . Mr. Jepson had an applicant ahead of me.” a” “Andrew Jepson?” breathed the little woman, laying one a - band on her heart, while her face went white. Z “Why, yes; I believe Andrew is bis first name. How did ~*~. you come to guess it?” Mrs. Forbes made no reply, but sat staring almost vacantly at her son. “Why, mother, how funny you look. What's the matter? -* Are you ill?” in a tone of great concern, going up and put- ing his arms lovingly about her neck. “No, no; but don’t mind me,” she answered, with a deep- drawn h. “But something is the matter with you, dear,” he insisted, kissing her on the cheek. - Fe - _“How did it happen that Mr. Jep' you. the prefer- nee over the other boy who had a ‘the ‘situation, tt ‘Fe , gee at BR. 2 a eat fondly at her only child, whom she almost worshipped, | | | | to get such a nice situation?” “That's the funny part of it. The boy wasn't there, but Mr. Jepson had a letter from a friend of his recommending the boy.” age “And yet you got the position?”” “That's what I did.” - “[ don’t understand it,” said the little on her face. “Nor I. mother, for he really few words at first.” “At first?” “Yes. He told me that he alrea had been recommended for the pos to leave, very much disappointed, me if my name was Forbes. He have seen my name inside of my hat. for I remembe ‘held it on my knee in such a way that he could easily have seen my name if he had looked that way.” ‘ 4 “Well?” said his mother, breathles “Of course, I answered ‘yes.’ I told him ‘George Forbes.’ way and then inquired if he was I said ‘yes.’ He next asked me father’s business. I sai he had been cashier of a firm in Exchange Place. ‘Cohen, Finkelbaum & Newburger?’ he asked. I said I aid not remember the name of the firm, t died. He then wanted ? woman, with a clond urn me down with very had an applicant who mn. I was getting up hen he suddenly asked : asked father’s name. at me in a strange was. ‘Where do you live? address, which he wrote down. friendly way, said I should have in his office, and told me to report ed, and I gave-him our en he looked at me in a position of messenger 6 Mr. Blake, the cashier, asn’t it wonderful how She was thinking. and her thor were not altoget ikelbaum & Newburg pleasant ones. “pid father work for Cohen. “Yes, Arthur,” with a catch o “Did you ever hear father s “Your father knew Mr. Jeps , SE2% Mrs. Forbes took up her work again, but her fingers trem- bled, her eyes were moist, and it was clear, even to her son, — that she was much agitated. - ea | “Mother, what's come over you? #1 thought you'd be tickled to death when I told you about good fortune. Instead of which it seems almost as if the news burt you. What is _ the trouble?” 5 o> et a “Nothing that you need worry. noting his look of disappointment. and kissing him tenderly.

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PLAYING “But it does won’ me, mother, to see you look unhappy.” “I was t name call mn eee “Well, just think how much better off you're going to be lator this with five dollars—that’s what [’'m going to. get— coming in every week. You won't need to work nights now over that poorly paid stuff. We'll be able to pay up the land- lord what we owe him. and buy many things that you need badly. I tell you, mother, I begin to feel like a man. I'm going to take care of you after this, see if I don’t.” “You're a dear, good boy, Arthur. I don’t know what I should do without you.” - “Of course you don’t,” answered the boy, gaily. “This is my lucky day. I’ve not only got a position, and a good one at that, but I found this.” He held up a dirty ten-dollar bill. “Why, where did you find that?” she asked, In surprise. “TI saw it lying in the gutter on Broadway and I picked it about your father, that’s all. Mr. Jepson’s ollections of the past that are painful to Rie will come in very handy.” she said, with a smile. “Well, I should remark. We ought to get something sub- stantial for dinner to-night, don’t you think? We've been living on anticipations long enough.” “You might get a smali round-steak from the butcher's, ‘and some groceries that we are in need of.” “Sure I will. .Let me have a list of what you want.” The list was made out, and then Arthur Forbes put on his hat and left the little three-room flat on the top floor of a ‘erowded tenement building where he and his mother had been living from hand to mouth for several months. Things were much different with them when Mr. Forbes was alive, for he had been a bright man and drew a good salary from which employed him. _ But that was all of seven years ago, and Arthur had only an indistinct recollection of the good times he had in those days. ‘He remembered that some great trouble had come upon them like a bolt out of a clear sky; that his father was un- that finally he was told that his father mother took him away from ‘their poor locality, where they had less } wear any more. After that they moved about from place to place, each time ‘to a shabbier locality. He had attended different public schools, and bright and ‘studious as he was f! hanging around had kept him back, so that he did not te until a few months before this story opens. boy who He was a adily made friends, and was very popular among his associates, but as his mother had _ inecul- cated in him very distinct ideas of right and wrong, he avoided companions whose morals might have led him astray. “He had only one friend, and that was Dick Bell, the son of a mechanic, lived in the next tenement. Dick finished his a year before Arthur was done with the public school, then was so forturate as to get a job as office boy 1essenger in a Wall Street office. Arthur rather e: is friend his good luck, as he never expected to get s0 good a place himself, though Dick con- stantly assured him t he would let him know of the first chance he got wind of. As we have seen, it was through Dick that Arthur got the tip that Mr. emt ed a messenger, and now. that he had Secured the cov situation our hero was as happy as fy ‘around the ss al of a molasses barrel. nd to Inneh together, and returned o'clock. s far as you’ve got, Art?” asked after his chum had ‘secured em- TO WIN. “Oh, yes. I had a lot of messages to carry around to other brokers’ offices yesterday, but I rather like the exercise.” “You'll find it wearing on shoe leather, and ahers are high these days.” “T shan’t worry about that. ing ‘you kick on the subject.” “What's the use of kicking? When it’s up to, you to hustle you're got to do it, or chuck up the job.” | “Why, messengers aren’t the only ones who hustle in Wall. Street—everybody seems to be on a constant maye. Look at the way the brokers themselves fly around. Every time you see one on the street you'd think he was trying to catch a train.” . “That's right,” nodded Dick, with a grin, “And my, what a lot of money there’s down here!” , “Sure there is—loads of it.” “It’s nice to have plenty of money,” said Arthur, wistfully, thinking of his mother, who was obliged to sew all day for a mere pittance. “Just look there, will you?” pointing to a money broker’s window, where a clerk had just finished lay- ing out for the day:a display of foreign gold and silver coins, bills and other evidences of wealth in great profusion. “Doesn't that make your eyes water?” “T wouldn’t mind owning some of that stuff myself,” said Dick, as the two paused to feast their eyes on the fascinating sight. “Look at that little Japanese tray of English soy- ereigns, every one of them worth $4.84. Bet you a nickel you can't guess how much is there.” “T couldn't guess, and it wouldn’t do me any good if rd could. Look at that bowl of German coin—20-mark pieces, I'd be satisfied with the value of those in American money.” “I'd rather have a handful of those £5 Bank of England notes. There must be $600 worth there.” “Come on. We might look all day and not be a cent richer.” “Well, some day I hope we'll have as much or more money than we saw in that window,” said Dick. “I mean to be a broker one of these days, don’t you?” “I haven't thought about such a thing yet. There’s lots of time before us yet, Dick.’ We're only fourteen.” They presently reached the office building where they were employed, and separated till they should meet again at noon. Arthur had been ten days at Jepson’s. where his polite man- ner and activity gave perfect satisfaction, when Mrs. Forbes had a_ visitor. It was about two in the afternoon that a knock came at the door, and thinking it might be the landlord looking after his arrears, she put down her work and hastily went to the door and opened it. A well-dressed, prosperous-looking gentleman, who had been brought to the neighborhood in a cab, stood outside. “You don’t seem to remember me, Mrs. Forbes,” he re- marked, with what he meant to be a cheerful smile, at the same time holding out his gloved hand and walking into the room. The hallway was dark, in spite of the fact that it was at the top of the house, and the little widow did not recognize her visitor until the light from the window rested on his face, then she started back, with a little oy, “Mr. Jepson!” “exactly, my dear Mrs. Forbes,” replied the well-groomed gentleman. “Aren't you going to shake hands? We are old friends, I think, and it must be all ot seven years since we lost sight of each other.” She timidly extended her hand and he took it and held it. *T am sorry to find you in such straightened circumstances, Jessie. I may call you that, mayn’t I? I had that right once before George Forbes won you away from me.” “Mr. Jepson,” said Mrs. Forbes, faintly, “I beg you will not bring up the past. You went out of my life when— when——” 5 “Yes, I know; when the man who became your husband stepped upon the scene.” A steely flash came into his eyes, but it act agin in a mo- ment. “Not so, sir,” replied the little widow, with a flash of spirit, that Mr. Jepson had always admired ‘in her; “but. when you were obliged to leave town after deceiving your employer. By that act you forfeited my respect and——” “Love, I suppose. You were too hasty in your judgment. You did not use me fair. But never mind—the past is over and done with. You married —— Forbes. moved to this T don’t remember. “ever hear-

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cx, StOD; Mr. Jepson!” cried the little woman. indignantly. My hushani was not guilty of the crime charged to him, and for whi¢éh he was wrongfully sent to prison.” “Well, well, we won’t argue the point, Mrs. Forbes,” re- Plied her visitor, soothingly. “You were his wife, and it is natural you Should defend his memory, It is quite right you should.’ I'am not in a pesition to judge him with the Same leniency. I can only go by the evidence brought out at the trial, which pointed overwhelmingly against him. A jury ¢ of twelve unbiased citizens brought in a verdict of guilty, and your husband was sent to Sing Sing for fifteen years. He was drowned in the river while making a fruitless effort to escape with another convict. It is a painful subject. of course, to you, so let us dismiss it, and talk about something pleasanter.” Mr. Jepson rubbed ‘his sleek hands one over the other, as though washing them with invisible soap and water, coughed slightly and regarded’ the little widow with a benevolent eye. Mrs. Forbes, however, was very much agitated. : The rehearsal of the darkest page in her life had visibly - Upset her. And then the disquieting thought passed through her mind to what was she indebted to the visit from one whom she had discarded as a suitor many years ago for conduct unbe- coming an honest and upright man? ~“As I said before,” continued the stock broker, seeing she remained silent, “I regret to find you in such poor surround- ings—surroundings but ill adapted to one of gentle birth like Yourself. It must be a sad trial for you to have to mingie _ With a class of people infinitely below: you in education and refinement.” “The people in this neighborhood may be poor and of low orizin, perhaps, but that is their misfortune, not their fault.” replied the little widow, with u dignity that somewhat dis- concerted’ Mr. Jepson. “Af any rate, they seem to be honest, and well meaning,” she added, “and I have no fault to find with them.” “Ahem! Yes, of course, but they are not like the people i have been used to mingle with, and whose society would ‘beneficial to your—ahem!—son. And that reminds me, and you are probably aware of the fact, that your Arthur is now _ im my employ as a messenger. He is a bright boy, and I am very much pleased with him.” _ his was a subtile stroke on” Mr. Jepson’s part that was not without its effect on the fond mother. Jatt. was kind of you to employ: him,” said Mrs. Forbes. “Yon will not regret it.” “it was entirely for your sake, out of the great regard I in for you, that I gave him the preference over an- “Other lad whom I had been asked to take on,” replied Mr. cee patronizingly. “Your kindness in that respect is appreciated,” she an- _ ‘Swered. _ “Don’t mention it, Mrs. Forbes. If you will permit me also to do something for you—something that will improve your situation—I shail esteem it as a favor.” ~ “I do not quite understand you. Mr. Jepson.” “Mrs. Forhbes—Jessie—you cannot help seeing that I am Still interested in yeu. Although it is sixteen years since you broke off our engagement. I have not ceased to care for you 88 LT always did. it is still the fondest wish of my heart to’ © win your for my wife.” “That is impossible now, Mr, Jepson,” said the little woman, . “The past cin never n’t say never, Jessic,” broke in the hos Yi catching her ; once more. ST “must,” replied Mrs. Forbes, firmly, withdrawing her hand ~ from his grasp. “If nothing else but loyalty to my dead hus- and, that would present between us an impassable barrier.” oe should it?) He has been dead at least five years. juemher. you haye a son whose future it is your duty to con- I do not ask that you marry me right away. All I now is that you give me hopes that some time—in a year, at will consent to become my wife.” mips s ee wae hs P] PLAYING TO WIN. 3 7 “Of course you don’t; how could you?” he added quickly. “He is the apple of your eye, and I appeal te your mother love not to scorn my proposal! before you have weighed all - the advantages it will bring your bay.” Mr. Jepson pressed his suit artfully, for he was determined to. win this woman. if he had to move heaven and earth to accomplish his purnose. “But his father’s memory hes Geims on my heart which ean never be effaced. Besides, Mr. Jepson. I ean never think of you as I once did. The love [f then had for you is dead, It can never be revived.” “You only imagine so, Jessie. It is quite a common oc- currence for widows to marry xeain. Between us it ought to be a simple matter to join a thread that wis breken in haste on your part, but never severed on mine. You will think this thing over and give me your answer—a fayorable one, I hope—some day in the near future. May I rely on this?” he asked, insinuatingly. “I can offer you no hope. I never intend to marry again.” — “That is a rash assertion, Mrs. Forbes,” replied Mr. Jep- son. “A young and attractive woman like yourself shouid not sacrifice herself on the altar of a dead memory. Allow me to ask, does your son know that his father was a—ahem!— convict?” “He does not. and I trust Swered, a spasm of pain crossing her featares. knows that he is dead.” “That is what I thought.” said Mr. Jepson, with a look of satisfaction. “It would be very sad if somebody who recalled all the circumstances of your husband's trial and conviction was to lny the lamentable stery before him.” “What do you mean?” asked the little woman. ina startled tone. “Are not those terrible facts buried in the past?) My husband is dead and forgotten by all save the wife and son, whose ditty it is to revere his memory. Who, then, is there to tell my boy what I have carefully concealed from him all these years?” “Who, Mrs. Forbes?” asked Mr. Jepson, with a snaky smile. Something about her visitor's manner inspired her with a new-born terror. “Surely you would mot be so cruel,.Mr. clasping her hands. J - “I should hope not, Mrs. Forbes, I should hene not; but it Agnends altogether on yourseif.” “On me! I do not understand you.” “Then let me make my meaning clear,” heesaid, advancing and looking her in the face with an expression that gave her a. shndder of apprehension. “Years ago I had hoped to make he will never know,” she an- “He only Jepson,” she cried, cg my wife. That hope was frust®ated by George Forbes: I did not cease to love you betrese you were another man’s wife. There is always a chance in this world that the cards will come your way. Well, George Forbes is dead, and the field is once more open to me. I am a man who, onee re- solved upon a@ purpose, never draws back, I hope you under- stand me. I have determined to make you my- wife, and T mean to do so. I have no wish te force you to decide this matter against your will if by any possibility an easier course will prevail.. I will give you a year to know me better and to make up your mind. In the meantime your gon will re- main in my office, and will be afforded every chance to get ahead. If by any possibility ha should learn the true facts about his father during the ftelre months it will not De’ through me. I promise you that. But im one year { shall ex- pect au affirmative answer to my suit.or the boy shall know the full-facts. .I think I need say no more now, ‘trusting th for your son’s sake at least you will take a sensible view the situation. Should you conchide to give me an earlier answer, a noté, through your son, will, of ie reach me. Good-afternoon, Mrs. Forbes.” : Thus speaking. Mr. Jepson bowed himself out of the q leaving the little widow in a a a a on collapaes -\ CHAPTER IIL. A BOOM IN M, & N. 5 Arthur Forbes took to the strenuous life of Wall Street ike a duck to water. le The financial district developed. fascinations for bim s he had never dreamed of. eral ‘public, but fora set Sane of the’ Andrew Jepson did a large a Be Sea ) brokers:

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, a PLAYING TO WIN. — as for some of the big moneyed men who speculated on the market. As the months sped by the hoy’s strict attention to business Was noted by his employer,.who. ere long. raised -his salary to $7, and at Christmas presepted him with $25, much to the lad’s delight, who immediately turned it over to his mother, thinking how pleased she would be to receive it. » But Mrs. Forbes, as the reader will understand, was not made happy by this Hberality on Mr. Jepson’s part, for she felt it was but part of his plan to propitiate her, and win » her reluctant consent to a marriage that was more than ever distasteful to her. She was careful] to allow no hint of her dilemma. to reach her son. ° Not for worlds would she have him know what his em- ployer’s object really was. » She listened to his constant references to Mr. Jepson’s kind- hess, and what an excellent boss he had, with a‘ smile, while her heart grew heavier as time slipped away and her year ‘of probation, so to speak, drew to an end. Mr. Jepson’s silence, and the fact that he studiously kept “away from her. was more ominous to her than if he had pestered her with attention. _ She was thoroughly afraid of him, for she recognized his ' will was far stronger than her own, and that when the ne ‘came he would be a relentless dictator. Accident, however, befriended her at the eleventh rian / One day a letter was delivered by the postmen to Mrs. Forbes. ; ‘It was in Mr. Jepson’s handwriting, and was brief and to the point. He reminded her cf the fact that the year was up and that in two days he would eall for her answer, which, he said, he trusted would be favorable. The little widow's feelings may be Lise a imagined than described. The issue was at hand ard she must rnc it. The crisis, however, was averted for the time being at least. Next day, “when Arthur came home after office hours, he brought the news that Mr. Jepson had met with a severe ac- cident in his automobile, and that it was reported he wesid| be confined to his house for’some time. This préved to be trae, and Mrs. Forbes breathed a sigh of relief. «Three months»passed away, and then the doctor ordered the broker to the south of Europe for his health. No one could sxy how long he would be away. AS a matter of fact, nine months elapsed before Mr. Jep- son ‘stepped ashore in New York again,*thoroughly re-estab- lished in his health. pay During the interval. things went on‘as usval in the Wall Street office. under the cashier's management, and Arthur Forbes grew daily wiser in the routine of the Street. ' Long before this he bad come to share In Dick Bell's ambition to become some day a broker himself, and to that end he and his chum both studied the methods of the Stock Exchange aud made many littie ventures on their own ac- count in the “buckets hops,” wHich turned out almost uni- formly successful. “How much deca have you got now?" asked Dick. one day, after they had cleared np about $80 apiece in a spec ula- tion on a rising market, “How much? I've got $360 in the Seaman's Bank,” re- plied Arthur, with a smile of satisfaction. : And I’ve got $240. That’s $600 you and I have made ide our wages in the last year by the meercme of our matter. Not so bad, is it?” ‘ Fi e've done pretty weil. I guess.” your mother about it?” n d want to surprise her one of ieee days with i te ae | “Py only got | 50 shares, ‘80° yor re twice ae ne REE yg: thinking of putting my profits into, 100, shares of & Nu at 32.” i ya) nar Pe you? Why M.. & N.2” f “TY heard Broker Smith tell one of his Ouatsiners yester- day that it was a good stock to go the limit om if he sss in at once.” “On what ground?” “He told him a combination had been py eg to) aaa the stock.” f “You heard him say that?” “ Yes.” ; “You were lucky. oT.” “T carried a note over to Smith's yesterday and was wait- ing for an answer, when Smith came out of his private office with the party. They were talking about the stock, and stopped close to me without taking any notice of me. That’s how I overheard the conversation. I tell you, I’m pretty foxy; Dick.” f : “1 call that a first-class tip,” said Dick, enthusiastically. “I’m going to get my dust and take it up to Presby & Co. right away. Of course, you’re with me.” “No bucket-shop this trip, thank you. with Parsons & Trip.” “What's the matter with Presby’s? with them so far.” “J know it; but I’ve heard some ugly stories about their ‘dealings with’ certain people, and I’m going to steer clear of them when I can.” “Well, you know. best. same. If they can beat me on a sure tip like this M they’re welcome to my money.” “One would think you'd dots of money the way you talk,” grinned Arthur. “No; but I’ve lots of nerve, The boys went to the bank business capital, as they called it, and Arthur drew $320, which he took around to Parsons & Trip’s, in Broad street, and put it up on margin for the purchase of 100 shares of M. & N. at 32. Two days after the stock was selling at 33 3-8, and Arthur land Dick shook hands when they met to go to lunch. “We are the people, bet your life!” said Dick, with a sat- eat grin, ! . “It looks that way, doesn’t it?” “By the way, Art, when do you expect your boss back from Europe? He's “been away some time, hasn't he?” “May. Blake got a letter from him this morning in which Mr, Jepson said’he would return in the St. Paul of the Ameri- can line. She leaves Southampton the day after ‘to-morrow. He's been aw ay just nine months, and it’s exactly a year since he was in Wall Street.” “That was a pretty serious accident he had, wasn’t it? Came near doing him up for keeps.” i should say it did, He's all right now, and I'm glad he’s coming back.” if Arthur had only known a few things he wouldn't have been quite so glad. But then he didn't know the real Andrew Jepson; neither did Mrs. Forbes, for that matter, though she thought she did. When Arthur, with a smile on his face, told her that night at supper that Mr. Jepson would be in New York in ten days, the news gave her quite a shock. About the middle of the following week matters began to get lively aroung the M. & N. corner in the Exchange. The stock had, been going up steadily, but with small ad- yances, which didn’ t seem to catch the attention of the brokers generally. I don’t see how you managed to catch I’m going to invest We've done very well I’m going to risk them, just the ~& N. don't you forget it.” Now, however, the traders “pias to realize that there was a genuine boom on in M. & N., and there was a rush to buy the stock, with the result that before the Exchange closed that day the stock advanced from 40 7-8 to 51. - Next day there was more excitement over M. & N. It opened at 52 3-8 and by noon was going lively at 57. ‘Both of the boys, of course, kept tab on the stock in which fairly hugged each other in the hall. . Dick, grinning aJl over his face. ly that,” replied Arthur, more coolly. Kak Same, $1,250 slaves where they kept their small it aes were interested, and when they met at lunch hour they “Say, this is where we become muiti-millionaires!” cried - “At the present | Tm just $2, 500 to the good, and all on’ pa investment : eas well off asT; 1 lot of money to riley eee Se

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PLAYING me, for E never owned more than $250 at one time in my life, and that was about a week ago.” “Well, I'm beginning to think it’s about time we sold out,” suggested’ Artinur. - “What for? The boom has only been on since yesterday _ morning.” “That makes no difference. It’s liable to peter out so quickly that it will make your head swim.” _ “Don’t you believe it,” replied Dick, nodding his head Sagely. “But I do believe it. the crash comes.” “It won’t come this week,” asserted Dick, positively. “How can you tell that?” ’ “Oh, that’s my idea.” “Well, it isn’t mine. I’m going to sell out to-day.” “You’re a chump. M. & N. is going to 80.” “To what?” “Eighty.” “All right, let it go. I think it's getting top-heavy now.” ; “What makes you think so? “Because it’s "way above its normal value now. I’ve been looking up the record of the stock for two years back,” “Why didn’t you tell me that?” replied Dick, beginning to waver. “Ain’t I telling you now? Take my advice and sell out this afternoon before the Exchange closes.” “T hate to draw out of a good thing.” “The good thing is liable to get away from you when you least expect it. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, that’s the way I look at it. As soon as M. & N. hits 60— I want to get out from under before I'm going to chance it to that point—sell is the word. You a Sir fo as you please, but if you «et left don’t say I didn’t ss tore you.” | Dick didn’t say anything. ' Clearly, it was like drawing teeth for him to part with his ; tid shares of a stock that was going up a whole point at a i eo. s “It had jumped nearly 20 points in’ a° day and a half; why Wouldn’t it go up 20 more in two more days, thus giving him a clear profit of nearly $50 a share? Still, after his conversation with his chum, he was afraid to chance it. . _ ~He had come to regard ara as a pretty foxy young _ Operator. He had made money before by “following his friend’s advice. | Well, he would think it over. At two o'clock M. & N. reached 60, and Arthur, who had kept a constant eye on it, telephoned to his brokers to sell. ; ck held on till 2.30 p. m., when it had reached 62, then e3 he asked for a few minutes’ ‘leave of absence and ran over to Presby & Co. and cashed in, as he called it. Ten minutes later M. & N. went to pieces before the bears, ; ry = a small panic took place on the stig cn ee re , yop j —— ay > me) CHAPTER IV. . A TIP THAT WORKED THE WRONG WAY. fe _ “Dia you sell?” were the first words with which Arthur en greeted Dick, when they met to go home, half an hour later. - “Bet your life I did,” replied his chum, beamingly. “Glad you took my advice now, aren’t you?” “That's what I am. You're all to the good, Art. You're 4 is foxiest rooster in the Street.” “Thanks for the compliment. I alwilys try to get in out : of the rain.” _ “Tt isn’t every one that can tell when it’s going to rain.” i “Im weather-wise,” grinned Arthur. “Tl bet you are. I’ve made $1,500 off that tip of. yours. me blow you to a hot soda.” “I'm your huckleberry. I’ve cleared $2,800.” “I wish somebody would hand me out another tip. I want add another nonght to my pile, and make it $15,000.” : whiz! You aren't greedy fora cent, are you? ,, Well, your turn to get a tip. I've done my duty by you.” That's what you have. Shake.” —. “They shook and turned into a big drug store to get the Mr. ‘Pepson came down to the office, looking finer i abroad and he was forced to} _| tried to open it. baat som i: ig Be you'd go into —— bah joy over it, TO WIN. 5 Brokers came in every few minutes to see him, and con-' gratulate him upon his return to the Street. There was lots doing that day in the office, and Arthur was kept pretty busy answering questions when he wasn’t out on an errand. That night he teld his mother that Mr. Jepson was back, _ and that the broker looked better than ever. That was most unwelcome news to the little widow, but she had been expecting to hear it ever since Arthur told her Mr. Jepson had arranged to leave Engiand for America. Once more matters were coming to a crisis with her, and she was no better prepared to meet it than twelve months before. She now daily expected to get a letter from her objection- able suitor, who had her under his thumb, for she believed he was fully. capable of exposing to her dear son the secret she had so far managed to withhold from him—the secret of his father’s trial and conviction of a crime of which me believed he was entirely innocent. Two weeks passed and still no letter came, but the sus- pense was a great strain on her nerves. However, she had another reprieve, as it were, for Arthur came home one Thursday afternoon and told her that Mr. Jepson had gone out West to Southern Nevada on business connected with some big mining. company in which he was’ heavily interested. Next day, when Arthur met Dick between twelve and one, the latter seemed very much excited over something. “Hello!” said Arthur. “What's troubling you?” “Don’t say a word, Art. I've got a tip!” cried Dick, fairly bubbling over with the information he had to communicate. “The dickens you have!” cried Arthur, in surprise. “It’s a good one, too.” “TI hope it is, for I suppose you mean to let me in on it.” “Of course I do. We go snacks on all these things, don’t we?” . “That’s the way I look at it. Well, what's the tip?” “We want to buy B. & O. right away.” “What's it going at?” , “Last quotation 112.” “Give me the particulars. pointer?” ° “T had.a message to carry to Jaffray. You know "pire His office is on Broadway.” “I know him all right. Go on.” ; “He wasn't in, so I went to the Bxchange. Hé wasn’t there. Finally a D. T. messenger told me that he saw him going into’ a Broadway cafe, and that he looked to be full as a boiled owl. So I trotted over to the cafe and found him Hned up against the bar, all by his lonesome, with his bat on the back: of his head and humming to himself over a mint julep.” “He must haye been feeling good.” laughed Arthur. “Well, I should remark. I looked hard at him a minute or two to see if he was sober enough te attend to business. couldn't decide, nnd finally concluded to hand him the note, anyway. It wasn’t my funeral if he didn’t know what to do with it.” ra + “Well, go on. I’m interested. You gave him the note.” “That’s what I did. He balanced himself .on the bar and It was no go, so he went over to one of the windows, and I followed him, thinking there Inight be.an answer.” “What happened then?” “He was so unsteady on his legs that T had to hold him up while he tore the envelope open. Then ~ read what was in- side.” “He did? If he was so drunk as you ‘say, I don’t see how he did it,” said Arthur, wonderingly. : gh How did you come to get the “Oh, he read it, all right.” fs “1 sup you heard him read it, and that’s where pd comes in, eh?” “No. I didn’t hear him read it. He read it with bis e “JT never would have believed it from ‘your statement ot his condition. Go on.” “After he’d read it he uttered a kind of mild whoop and began to mutter otic loud: ‘Buy B. & O.. eh? Sure I will, Going up clear out’r sight. Knew it all the time. Foxy fe low that Pratt. Knows when he’s got a good thing, and will- ing to share with friend. Whoop! That's what he said. I remembered every word of it. What do you. think of it? It’s all to the mustard, isn’t it?” # “Maybe it is,” replied Arthur, thoughtfully “Maybe it ist What do you uican by Thay sure, copper-fastened pointer on B. & 0.? | “tet. i hat more do- ” 2 ae ™

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PLAYING TO. WIN. EEE eee instead of which all you say is ‘Maybe it is,’ and rap that nut of yours with your fingers. anyway?” “Well, I’ll tell you,” responded Arthur, cautiously. “It may be all right and it may not. A drunken man’s words are not reliable. He might have read the meaning of the note backwards. But who is Pratt? Nobody of that name in your office that I know of.” ~“T didn’t say there was. - and a customer of ours. He was talking to Mr. Coke, and he asked me to take the note to Jaffray’s office.” “Oh, I see! Well, [ll give your tip my earnest- consider- ation.” “Tye got $1,500, and I’m going to invest it all on B. & O. right away.” “Don't be foolish, old chap. Wait till I look into this mat- ter.” “Oh, look be jiggered!” cried Dick, impetuously. “What's the use of haying a tip if you don’t use it at once?” *That’s right, too; but you don’t want to go off half-cocked. To tell you the truth, I don’t like the looks of your tip, for several reasons.” **“Name some of them, smart aleck.” “I've already named one. that a drunken man’s words are not to be depended on. Another is that B. & O. is high at b ly 5 Bhs “How do you know it is?” “Because I noticed its standing three weeks ago, and it was then 103.” “Oh, it was?” sarcastically. “It was. Now I’m going to look up its record for the past year and ste how it’s been holding itself.” “What's the difference how it’s been holding itself? this a tip?” “Well, I've heard of tips that let a fellow down kerchunk, and made a fat roll look as if one of Barnum & Bailey's ele- phants had been standing on it for a week. This may be one of those.” “Oh, fudge! You're losing your nerve, I’m thinking.” “Not a bit of it. I'm just foxy enough to do mothing with my eyes shut.” “All right, I’ve told You, so it’s up to you to make use of it or not.‘ I thought I was doing you a favor.” “Don't get off your base, Dick. I thank you for the tip, and I'l use it if I think it’s safe. I'd advise you not to risk more that a portion of your wad on it, anyway.” They turned into a quick-lunch house and got to talking about something else. Neng an Dick drew $500 and bought B. & O. on the strength ts) Arthur thought the matter over, looked up bis quotations, asked Mr. Blake, the cashier, whether he had heard of any ~ develop) in B. & O., and got a negative answer, figured the chances out that evening at meme. and finally decided not to go into the speculation. Three days afterward B. & O. took a slump, and Dick was called on for more margin. He came to Arthur with a long face and told him about it. “Don’t put up another cent,” answered his friend. “You are $500 out, and you'll be out another $500 if you put it up.” Dick believed him and let the stock go. The next day B. & O. was still eee, and Dick was thankful he hadn’t lost any more. “That was a fine tip, I'don’t think,” he grumbled, when he met Arthur again. “Well, you are a foxy boy to keep out of it. ‘I wish I had your head.” _ “Pshaw! I merely used my judgment. It didn’t look safe to me, and I couldn't find any excuse for the stock to go up vhigher. That's all there was to it. Let’s go in here and } a soda on me.” ndin they went, Dick feeling or ged Sore over the expe- “which had cost him a cold $500 Pratt is a broker, a eurb man, Isn't ; CHAPTER v. 3 cz ARTHUR 18 TREATED TO A Bid SURPRISE. em Arthur decided that his mother needed a couple of new es, a hat, a warm jacket, and lots of other things, and at a ean gre would look Paper well on his own well-knit yy pny wl r _of his capital, whic What’s the matter with you, / now amounted to te spot ie ee as her he ee F ‘Your son is is sixteen—an age when he should prepare him- uae made a small venture in stocks and was so lucky as to win, Of course, she was both surprised and delighted to receive so large a sum of money in one lump, and regarded’ her six- teen-year-old boy as quite a phenomenally smart youth to be able te make so much money all by himself, never dreaming that the lad still had $2,500 left in the bank. : The idea of spending any such sum on herself was out of the question, and although Arthur assured her that he-expected to make as much more in a short time, she insisted on putting $225 in the bank, and the boy allowed her to have her own way. A few days afterward Arthur, who had been following the market very closely since his last speculation, decided that a certain stock, known as A. & L., was about due for a rise. He had figured the matter out carefully from items he had seen jn the different financial papers, and paragraphs printed in the daily press, as well as from conversations he had had with various brokers friendly to him, and he thought so well of the stock that he decided to buy 200 shares of it, which was ruling at 81. Of course, the deal was made on the usual ten per cent. margin, and it cost. him $1,610 to go in, thus leaving him $900 in bank to fall back on in case the stock should go the wrong way and he should be called on to furnish more margin. He was working altogether on his own judgment now, and as he wasn’t sure how the deal would turn out, though he had every confidence in its ultimate success, he said nothing about his new venture to Dick Bell. It happened that Dick had been doing some figuring for himself about the same time, as he was eager to put that $1,000 he had in bank at work to double itself, and the. result was he thought that I, X. L. stock looked to be about the best thing on the stock list to go long on, and without saying a word to Arthur he bought 200 shares of it on margin at 45. fn a week both of these stocks participated in a general rise, which set in all along the line, A. & L. going to 90, at which figure Arthur sold out, clearing something like $1,800, while I. X. L. proved a winner to the tune of $1,000 for Diek. As soon as they had realized on their little speculations, each confided his luck to the other, and was surprised to find that his companion had been out for the wampum, too. “And you never said a word to me about your going into the market,” said Dick, in an aggrieved tone. “How about yourself?” retorted Arthur, slyly. Thereupon they indulged in a hearty laugh over the situa- tion, and punched each other in the ribs. “If we keep on,” said Dick, “we'll have money and expe- rience enough one of these days to go into business for our- selves,” “I hope so,” answered his friend. It was about this time that Mr. Jepson returned from the West, and a day or two afterward he surprised Arthur by ask- ing him to deliver a letter from him to his mother. Of course, the boy carried the letter home, and it was quite natural he should have a strong curiosity to know the con- tents of the communication. He was sharp enough to observe that his mother changed eolor, and seemed much agitated when he handed her the envelope and told her Mr. Jepson had asked him to give it to her. _ As she hadn’t yet opened it, and therefore couldn’t possibly know what was inside, Arthur thought this emotion on her part very strange indeed. What was stranger still, she put the envelope, unopened, into her pocket, and that action furnished the boy with food for thought. “Aren't you going to read it, mother?” he asked, curiously. Mrs. Forbes suddenly realized that she was placing herself in a false position before her bright-eyed boy, and so she drew the letter hastily out, with the remark: “Why, of course Iam. How foolish of me!” A tremulous little laugh, which Arthur easily saw was forced, accompanied the words. Then he could not fail)to see that her fingers trembled as she tore open the envelope and drew out the enclosure, which ~was. written on one of the office letter-heads. It ran thus: “My. DEAR Mrs. Fornes: You have now had two years and two months in which to arrive at a conclusion in the issue I submitted to you at the time of my visit to your flat. Surely that 1s time enough. I shall, therefore, expect an early, and I hope favorable, reply upon a matter so close to my heart.

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PLAYING _ Self for college, whither I prepose to send him as soon as you have made me a happy man. I am having my residence in Sevyenty-second! street compietely renovated and redecorated. It will be rbady within a couple of months to: receive as its mistress the lady who has never ceased to be the mistress of my‘heart. Surely the attractions of wealth and social station ought to be a sufficient inducement to one who fs so well fitted to'adorn’sueb.a position in life, and to whom the neighborhood of Cannon-street must be well nigh intolerable. Arthur will also be provided for for life, and need never learn the unfor- tunate irnth:about his father. “Hopefully yours, “ANDREW JEPSON.” “Ts the letter about me, mother?” asked Arthur, to whom - Such a supposition was most natural, though he wondered _ Much at the strange emotion displayed by the only person on _ €arth whom he had to love and cherish. ‘ “You are mentioned in it,” she replied, with visible con- ~ Straint in her manner. , The boy wasn’t satisfied. -“It seems to affect you a good deal,” he continued. anything wrong?” anxiously. “You mean in reference to yourself?” “Yes, -mother.” - “No, Arthur.” “Ts there ; hia I don’t understand—forgive me, mother, for being’ _ 80 inquisitive, but you are acting very strange. I can see _ that you are agitated, as if it contained news which greatly \ disturbed you. Mother, won’t you tell me what's the trouble? I know ihere must be something. What can Mr. Jepson have to tell you that——” _.He stopped and looked at her in a troubled way. Mrs. Forbes saw that her son would not be satisfied with anything short. of a full explanation, and she did not know what to do. ‘The silence that followed was embarrassing to both. » “What shali J do?” she asked, flushing and trembling. Arthur looked at his mother, and the longer he looked the More certain he was that something was wrong. - “Mother,” he said at last, appealingly, “I don’t like this mys- _ tery. I thought we were to have no secrets from each other.” _ His words, and the reproach in his manner, brought a flood of tears to her eyes. “Oh, Arthur, my son, I am in terrible trouble.” - The words were wrung from her almost against her will. The boy was greatly startled’ _ He rose and, going to her, threw his arms about her neck _and laid his cheek against hers. “In terrible trouble! What do you mean? Tell me, mother. Iam your son and it is right I should know.” She sobbed for a few’ moments as if her heart would break. to nerealt. she must tell him all now—at least all that related There could be only one answer to that letter if she would & Keep from him the knowledge of his father’s disgrace, /and _ When that answer was given she must tell him about the - change that was to take place in their condition, so it might - 88 well be told now as later. -. When she had somewhat recovered her composure she drew him to her and, kissed him. ; oe my dear son, Mr. Jepson has asked me to marry > CHAPTER VI. | ARTHUR LEARNS SOMETHING OF MR. JEPSON’S EARLY HISTORY. _ “Mr. Jepson has asked you to marry him?” he exclaimed, in ago astonishment. “Is this true, mother?” a es.” “Why, I did not know that you were even acquainted with “Mr. Jepson.” * _ “I was acquainted with him before I met your father.” “You were?” In fact, I was engaged to be married to him when ons! surprised un ares “And you never ‘told me a word about Now I can guess why Mr. Jepson gave me the preference _ Over that other boy when he hired me, and I can thus account his remarkable kindness to me, and to the unusual salary getting at present as a messenger. — Mother, why did you that a secret nepal me?” é . my reasons, di eee saa me all about ttt How is it you came to marry father I don’t need a college education. I can get wii without one. ae TO WIN. 3 in preference to Mr. Jepson, to whom you say you were en- gaged first?” “Do you really want to know, Arthur?” “Yes, mother, I do.” Mrs. Forbes seemed reluctant to revive the past, but ean she decided to satisfy her son’s curiosity. “T was living in Liberty Center, a small New Jersey town, and Andrew Jepson was clerk in a store there. I got ac- quainted with him at a social gathering, after which he paid me a good deal of attention. He was quite an attractive man; I liked him very much, and in time we became engaged to be married. One afternoon he called on me unexpectedly. He said he had left the store, was going to New York at once, and wanted me to marry him then and there and go with him. I refused to do that, but said I would marry him as soon as he got a good position in the city. He went off in a huff, and next day I was astonished to learn that he had been discharged from the store for a defalcation in his accounts, his employer not caring to prosecute him.” “Ts it possible Mr. Jepson, the rich broker, could have been guilty of such a thing?” said Arthur, in surprise. “Yes, it is true. Everybody knew I had promised to marry him,” went on Mrs. Forbes, “and I felt the disgrace of his conduct so keenly that when he wrote me a month afterward I returned him his ring, and presents, and told him that our engagement was at an end.” “You did right, mother,” said Arthur, kissing her. “It was not long after that I became acquainted with your father. He was at that time margin clerk for Cohen, Finkel- baum & Newburger, stock-brokers, in Exchange Place, this city, and he came to Liberty Center to spend a two weeks’ vacation. ‘When he returned to his work we had become engaged to be married. He was a different man altogether from Mr. Jepson, and I often wondered how I came to care so much for my former suitor. In six months your father and I were married, and, of course, I came to New York to live. A year later you were born.” ; Mrs. Forbes paused as if she had finished. , “When did you see Mr. Jepson again?” “Not until the day that your father——” The little widow stepped suddenly and seemed to choke up. “T’m listening, mother.” But she didn’t go on. Instead of which she began to cry, not only at the recollec- tion those few words called up, but from-:fright at the slip of the tongue she had almost made. “That is all,” she sobbed. “But you didn’t answer me, mother. When did you see Mr. Jepson again? You must have seen him several times, proba- bly, since I went to work for him, or he would not have written you this letter asking you to marry him.” “TI saw him a few days after you got the situation. He called upon me here.” : “You never told me a word about it.” “Forgive me, dear. I thought it was best not to.” “Why?” “Don’ t ask me, Arthur. I had my reasons,” she replied, des- perately. The boy looked at her thoughtfully. “Have you any idea of marrying Mr. Jepson now?” he asked, | anxiously. He felt her shiver in his arms, and the answer came with evident reluctance. “Yes.” “Mother!” in surprise. “Don’t chide me, dear. “My sake?” “Yes. Mr. Jepson is rich. He has promised to send you to. college, and start you in lifé under the most flattering aus- ices.” : Certainly such a prospect was alluring to the boy, but even for that he did not propose that his mother should sacrifice herself, if that really was her intention. « “Do you care for Mr. Jepson enough to marry him?” “Don’t ask me, Arthur,” she answered, with averted face. “Mother, you do not. I can tell that by your manner. I knew you could aoa altogether forget the memory of my father.” Eepated “Don’t, Arthur, don’t!” she begged, almost piteously. =~ ' “Mother, Mr. Jepson is rich and probably able to do all he says he will for me, but he isn’t rich enough to buy your love, which he once sacrificed. Unless you really care for him n oi j [it would be a sin for you to become his wife, just for my ; I am doing it for your sake.” Pua:

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8 | PLAYING TO WIN. Many of our smartest and most successful men did not have the advantages of a college course. I can make my own way in this world without Mr. Jepson’s, or any one else’s assist- ance. Shall I tell you something, mother? I did not mean to yet awhile, but I feel.that it is best that you should know now. Ii have $4,300 in the savings bank that I have made all myself during the past year.” “Arthur!” cried Mrs. Forbes, in great amazement. “TI am telling you the truth, mother. I will show you my two bank books to prove it.” He took them out of his jacket pocket, for he always carried them about with him in case he should need to draw any of the money for speculative purposes, and handed them to her. She opened them and saw the big entries. “T thought you were wonderfully smart to make that $275 you gave me the other day, but it seems you have been keep- Ing a secret from me for a long time.” “Yes, mother. I meant to surprise you some day with the present of a house and lot.” “Well, you have surprised me. How ever did you manage to make it?” “In the stock market, of course, mother; that’s the only * way I could have made so much money in so short a time.” “But I always have understood that stock speculation was a risky business, even for those with years of experience and plenty of-money at their command.” “So it is.” ’ “Then I don’t see——” “I know you don’t, mother, and it would take me too long. to explain, even if I could, how Dick and I have been operat- ing.” “You mean Dick Bell?” “Yes. We've made it a business to study the market and make ourselves familiar with Stock Exchange methods. Then I got one good pointer, a sure one, and it put us on our feet. It jumped my capital from $360 to $2,800. I’ve made one deal since I gave you that money, and I made $1,800, less commis- sions, by it. Now, mother, there is no necessity for you to marry Mr. Jepson, to help me, I think I have shown I am able to help myself.” “You have, indeed. You are but a few months beyond six- teen, and yet you have more money than your father had when I_ married him.” “Now, mother, I think you can safely say ‘No’ to Mr. Jepson, for I don’t believe you care enough for him to become his wife, rich as he is.” But Arthur didn’t dream of the threat the broker held over his mother, 3 CHAPTER VII. DICK’S UNIQUE IDEA. Business was unusually lively in the office next day, and Arthur was kept on the run. In the course of the morning, Mr. Jepson sent him to the Stock Exchange with a note for a broker. When Arthur got there he noticed that there was consid- erable excitement on the floor. While waiting for the official who stood guard at the gate to find the broker for whom he had brought the note, Arthur asked’ a D. T. m mger what the racket was about. “Been a sudden advance in C. & O. shares,” was the reply. “Act like a lot of lunatics, don’t they?” “That’s what they do.” _Just then the doorman came up with the broker Arthur _wanted to see, and he handed him the note. & The trader tore the envelope open and glanced at the writing. “No answer,” he said, turning on his heel and hurrying off into ‘the melee. _ » Arthur started to leave. As he stood a moment at the door two brokers brushed by ~ him, going out. “It's a corner,” the boy heard one say, “and the Newburger clique is behind it. That means millions at its back. No one a tell where* the stock will go. I’ve just bought 10,000 = hen. they ‘out of hearing. _“A corner, eh?” muttered Arthur. ; onsidered the matter all the way back to the office. age: te looked at the ticker, which was singing a lively ae seeetene, C. 2 Oma weind BM, “T guess that is worth with a yeniet Q Looking back he saw it had opened at 45 3-8. Examining his back quotations he discovered. it was going begging a week before at 38. “There’s surely something doing in the stock, all right,” he breathed. “I might just as well make a few dollars out of it with the others. The main thing will be to sell out before the slump sets in.” Having decided to go in, Arthur asked for a half hour’s leave, which was granted, and went to both his banks, drawing $2,500 from one and $1,500 from the other. He took the money to Parsons & Trip, and ordered them to buy 800 shares at not over 50. The purchase was made at exactly 50, and Arthur returned to the office. At luuch he told Dick what he had done, and that young man immediately followed his lead to the extent of 300 shares, for which he had to pay 52. When the Exchange closed for the day the excitement around the C. & O. corner was tremendous and the shares had advanced to 57. tae day they rose to 67, and opened Saturday morning at 68 5 At 11.30 they were 75, and Arthur concluded not to take any further risk, so he ordered Parsons & Trip to sell his holdings; which they did inside of ten minutes at 75 3-8. He ran downstairs to Denby, Coke & Co. and told Dick he'd better sell, too. Dick at once telephoned his broker to close out the stock, which was done a minute before noon at 76 3-8. is was the closing price for the day. Arthur figured that he had made a clean $20,000 off the deal, and Dick calculated he was $7,200 better off. “Don’t say I never did anything for you, old man,” said Arthur, as they shook hands over the results. “This is the second winning spec. I’ve put you on.” “You're all right, Art. If I can ever return the favor you may depend on-it that I will. I'll stand by you through thick and thin, if I break a leg doing it.” He did not dream then that the day was not far distant when he would be in a position to make good his words, though not exactly in the way he was thinking of. The office closed early, of course, on Saturday, but a few minutes ‘before Mr. Jepson went away he called Arthur into his office and told him that his salary would be $15 a week from that date. The boy looked his surprise. “You're not to run errands any more. I’m going to give you charge of my Western business for the present,” the broker said, by way of explanation. “I’ve ordered a desk to be put in the reception-room for you, as there is no room for it in the counting-room. It will be here shortly. If it doesn’t arrive before the office is closed, I wish you'd wait until it does, and have the men place it in a suitable spot.” “I’m greatly obliged to you, sir,” began the boy, but his em- ployer cut him off. “You needn’t thank me, Arthur,” he said, with a smile. “You're a smart boy, and have won your advancement. But there are better things in store for you—much better,” he said, significantly, reaching for his hat and allowing the lad to help him into his overcoat, Then he went out. Arthur was delighted with his raise, and pleased to think that his abilities had been recognized in so signal a manner. He might have entertained a different impression if he had known Mr. Jepson had received the following note in the first mail from his mother: “AnpDREW JEPSON: In reply to your note of the 8th, I can only say that my feelings toward you have undergone no change. Ta do not love you, nor ever can. But your unmanly threat to enlighten my dearly loved boy regarding his father’s mis- fortune unless I yield to your wishes and marry you com- pels me to bow to your request, which I regard as a man- date. I give you my hand, but remember, that is all I have to give. In return I make one: request—that you will not insist on this marriage taking place for six months. At the end of that time you may claim all that I have to offer you. . '*Yours, JESSIE Forses.’ 4) Mr. Jepson answered | the note by special messenger, ex- pressing his satisfaction at having won even her reluctant assent to their union, assuring her she would never nas cause to regret the step she had decided on, repeating his promise to do all in his power for her son's benefit, and finally granting her the six e. wy she had asked for.

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PLAYING TO WIN. 9 y The furniture man hadn't brought the desk by the time _ the employees*’filed out on the way home, so Arthur had to ~ Dick, in’ the ‘meantime, was waiting downstairs for his ~ ehum to’ show ‘up. _ “As he didii‘t do so, Dick came up to see what was the reason _ therefor. “Pye got to Wait for a desk that’s to be brought here,” ex- > plainea Arthur. “When do you expect it?’ asked Dick. “It ought'to be here any moment.” “All right; I’ll wait, too. By the way, Art, I’ve been . Newey it would be a great scheme if we could rig up some _ kind of communication between this room and our reception- “Seber directly underneath, so we could signal each other—a ' Sort of telegraph, don’t you know.” X What for?’ ea _ “Why, if you wanted to see me you could press the button - once. If the matter was important, twice. If you were ready a) 80 to lunch, three times, and so on.” . “Oh, I see. You've got a great head, Dick. As it’s your Scheme, perhaps you'll let ne know how it can be worked.” “By a wire and a battery/’ and then Dick went on to explain more explicitly how such an electrical contrivance was - arranged. “But we couldn’t put a wire through the floor, even along- - Side of the window,” objected Arthur. “Don’t need to, because there’s one already in. I noticed ‘that a long time ago. Before your firm and ours occupied these two floors there must have been a firm or company that had both, and the wire was probably put in to establish com- munication between the two fioors.” _ Dick examined the wall alongside one of the windows, and - Showed Arthur where the wires still lay, close to the floor. Just then the furniture men appeared with the desk, and _ Arthur had them put it down in a space not far from the _ Windows, So that it faced the door leading out into the corridor. “Who's going to use this desk?’ asked Dick, after the men had gone. “Tam. I've been promoted.” _ “You don't'say. Then you've given up the messenger busi- ness.” “Yes. We're going to have a new one next week.” “Well. you’re the lucky boy. What I was thinking of is this: We can yet an electrician this afternoon and have him fix this racket of ours up right away. No need of your letting _Jepson know anything about it. He wouldn’t kick, anyway. Well have the connecting wires run to each of our desks and a button arranged underneath each, where it will be out of Shan we do it?” : «_ “Yea.” “AYE right. We'll go to pars now, and then get the elec- ician.” ~ four o'clock Dick’s unique ‘idea had been carried into ‘Practical operation by an expert, and when the boys left for home their telegraph was in full operation, and all that re- , Was to agree on a small code of signals to cover the ; pprarious purposes to which they expected to put it to use. CHAPTER VIII. IN WHICH RALPH LATIMER APPEARS ON THE SCENE. “Well, mother,” said Arthur, after supper that evening “I we've lived in Cannon Street long enough. I’m in favor of A\change to a more desirable locality.” _“Thave no objection to moving, my son, if it is your wish to do so. Where did you think of going?” -“T had an idea of buying a house in the Bronx.” a house!” she exclaimed, in some surprise. Why not? I believe I can afford a little luxury of lat kind,” grinned her son, cheerfully. is you are really thinking of investing that $4,000 you Have in bank,” she said, with an indulgent smile. a “Did you say $4,000, mother?” laughed Arthur. “I'm afraid money too fast for you to keep track of my re- I have made a few more dollars since I showed you vank-books. If I keep on at my present rate I shall soon able to , says ross in Mr. Jepson’s business, supposing he x I eared to associate myself with be doubtful.” — sence. at the mention of the broker's pee and 1 her cheeks, a tee went Frommer * boy the knowledge that she had passed her word to wed Mr. Jepson after ix months. “How much haye you made, Arthur?” she asked, with a look of interest. “Guess.” “IT couldn’t. Perhaps $500.” “If you added.a nought, and then multiplied that amount by four you would come nearer the right figure.” yi: suppose that is one of your jokes, Arthur,” she said, “I’m not joking, mother. The other day a wealthy clique, started in to corner C. & O. stock. I happened to get a hint of what was going on. I drew $4,000 out of my banks and bought 800 shares of that stock on a ten per cent. margin. To-day I closed out the deal at a profit of $25 per share. In! other words, I made $20,000 this week. Not bad for a boy of my age, eh?’ “Twenty thousand dollars!” she exclaimed, sarees “Exactly, mother. Twenty thousand dollars.” “You can’t mean it.” “T do mean it. I'll prove it to you on Monday, when I shall have received my check. I am truly worth at this moment something over $24,000, and I intend to put a portion of it in a nice house and give it to you for a birthday present.” “Why, Arthur, I cannot understand how you manage to make so much money in stocks—you a mere boy. It seems in- credible.” “It does sound like a fairy tale, doesn’t it?” “It does, indeed.” “Why, Dick cleaned up over $7,000 in the same kind of deal, after I tipped him off. He’s worth $9,000, though six months ago his whole capital amounted to something less than $200. He’s going to buy a house in the Bronx, too, for his mother.” ” “Yes, we are a little out of the ordinary run. But-a little foxiness and a Httle luck well mixed together sormetimes pro- duce great results, as our wads will testify to. The only trouble with Dick is he’s inclined to be a bit reckless once in 2 while. The other day he picked up a tip from an intoxicated broker, and if it hadn’t been for me I believe he’d have gone flat broke on it. As it was, he lost $500 inside of three days. He jumped on me because I didn’t go in and use it, too. But I was just foxy enough not to get caught that trip. A tip sometimes acts like a boomerang—comes back at you in a way that makes you duck quick to save yourself. At any rate, that’s the way Dick’s served him.” “I trust your good luck will continue. You must be very, very careful not to allow over-confidence to spoil the splendid beginning you have made.” “Trust me, mother. Dick calls me the foxiest boy in Wall Street. That’s his way of putting it.” laughed Arthur. “The real truth is, I use my head. I haven't made a mistake yet, but that doesn’t prove I never will. The shrewdest people get a knockdown sometimes, and I suppose I shall when my turn comes. But you may depend on one thing: I'm taking as few chances in that direction as I can.” His mother regarded him with fond admiration. “By the way, I’ve more good news to tell you, mother.” “More?” “Yes. Things are coming my way in great shape these days. Mr. Jepson has advanced me from messenger to clerk, and my wages to $15 per. How is that?’ Mrs. Forbes easily guessed why the broker had done so. “It is very nice of him,” she replied, but without any great enthusiasm. “And he said there were better things yet in store for me. I guess he’s taken quite a fancy to me. Why, Dick has been a year longer in the business than I, and he's: only getting $10. ” “ His mother smiled, but it was a forced smile. Next day Arthur and Dick took a trip to the Bronx to look. around and see what they could see in the line of a couple of houses, whose cost would not exceed $5,000 apiece. é £ “They must not be too far apart,” said Dick, “for we shall ra “s me sh ee al TRE LY hE GA SE gD se TTR ATO OS Ey BAe Wh Be EI cts Md Aa abise bs BY Sat eR yo see A. eI 83 a Rt Biba ee ae a ET eR at AI OEE aE cat aS at a m ne Puc ¢ ad wants and conditions, and received 2 number of permits: ene xt

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to PLAYING TO “WIN. as the afternoon was now nearly spent, they returned to Cannon Street for supper. It Was’ a month, however, before two houses were finally » decided on, and a deposit paid down, pending examination ‘of title. Arthur’s cost him an even $5,000, while Dick secured a less imposing one for about $4,000. Inside of another month the Forbes and the Bells moved into their new homes. which were within easy walking distance of} that he has some hold over my boss? an underground station on the West Farms branch. Mrs. Forbes had little heart in fitting up the house her ‘son had presented to her, for she knew that in four months she must leave it for the Jepson mansion on Seventy-second Street, and she dreaded the day when she would be compelled to break the news to Arthur. Dick and his friend had great fun with their telegraph ap- paratus, and it also proved useful to them in many ways. In fact, it was such a great success, in its way, that they had a private telephone wire stretched between their two houses in the Bronx, and were thus enabled to hold long talks of an evening without visiting each other. Thus four months passed from the time that Arthur was promoted to a clerkship in Mr. Jepson’s office, and neither of the boys had made any very material addition to his capital. Arthur had nearly $20,000 lying idle, as he called it, while Dick had about $5.000. “Tt’s about time another tip came our way, don’t you think?” said Dick one day when they were on their way to lunch. “It would be very welcome if one alighted in our back- yard,” chuckled Arthur. -“Bet your life it would,” replied Dick, nodding his head vigorously. “That money of mine is ‘growing rusty for want of exercise.” ‘ “Better to grow rusty where it is than to take wings unto itself and fly away where you'd never see it again,” replied his friend, sagely. That afternoon, about three. o’clock, while Mr. Jepson was putting on his overcoat preparatory to leaving the office for the day, the door of the reception-room was opened and ad- mitted a shabby-looking man, whose face showed pronounced traces of dissipation and a wayward life. Arthur got up from his desk and asked his business. “I want to see Andrew Jepson,” he said, almost roughly. The boy didn’t like the visitor’s looks, and said: “I think Mr. Jepson has gone home. Give me your name and I will see if he’s still in his office.” “Tell him Ralph Latimer must see him, d’ye hear?” Arthur carried the message into the private office, and found Ais employer putting on his hat. Mr. Jepson started visibly when his young clerk announced the caller’s name, and he seemed undecided what answer to make. Finally he said, a a husky tone: “Let him come in, “He looks as if he was somewhat aintier the influence of liquor, sir,” said Arthur s “Show him in,” replied the broker, curtly. “ The boy retired and, nodding to Latimer, pointed to pe partly open door. , The visitor walked a bit unsteadily toward the private. Sous 2 entered and closed the door behind him. Arthur could hear him talking in a loud, threatening way, and he wondered that Mr. Jepson would stand for it. the moments my by the caller’s voice became more and ted. !” Arthur heard him say. “I want $100, want. it now—now, d’ye understand? If I don’t get aap eg you. rn ie all I know about that Forbes it beddlowed this poe on and presently Mr. Jepson, irene and agitated, came out, closed the door carefully “him and went to the cashier's window. said something to Mr. Blake, and that gentleman went the safe and brought several bills. 4 peal in his hand, the broker returned to ‘his private es afterward the man who had given his name came out of the room, Jsoking flushed and ga Arthur Visita wtixin: said: thinks weg te. tie EI eee ee eee ee ee ‘} out any—hic—frills. © “Next time I come—hic—young man, show mé inside with- Understand?” He leered at the lad, and then let himself outside. : A few minutes later Mr. Jepson aiso left the Office for the ay. “Who can that person be?” mused Arthur, fr a perplexed way. “Why should Mr. Jepson tolerate such a person in his office? He seemed to be quite upset over it, too. Can it be He threatened to expose And -what'éould the man a him, What is Mr. Jepsen guilty of? mean by the Forbes affair?” The tinkle of a little bell sounded under his desk. That was a signal that Dick was ready to go home. Arthur pushed his button as a sign that he would join his chum presently. Then he put certain books and documents in the office safe, donned his hat end overcoat and left the office. \ CHAPTER IX. THE FAMILY RIDDLE THAT ARTHUR DETERMINES TO SOLVE. When Arthur got home, the first thing he had to tell his mother was about the strange yisitor who called at the o/fice that afternoon. “I was sitting at my desk, which faces the door, when the man came in. He was half loaded, I could see that easily enough, and I told Mr. Jepson so when I announced him, which I had to do, as the office boy wasn’t in at the time. He was poorly dressed fellow, but looked as if he might have seth better days. He said his name was Ralph Latimer.” “Ralph Latimer!” gasped his mother, turning white; and looking as if she was about to faint. “The man whose testi- mony convicted your She stopped suddenly and pressed her hand to her heart. “Mother!” exclaimed Arthur, in a voice of great amazement. “What are you talking about? You speak as if you knew this man.. What does this all mean?’ Shé had covered her face with her hands, and he could see the tears trickling through her fingers. : “Mother, for heaven's sake, tell me what secret you are keeping from me,” the boy cried, in a tone of earnest appeal. “No, no, Arthur, don’t ask me!” cried the little widow, driven into her last corner, as it were. “I can’t tell you, in- deed I can’t.” “You can't tell me—your son?’ he cried, in a hushed tone. “What mystery is this that I may not know?’ A hysterical flood of tears was her only response. Her agitation was so excessive that Arthur was thoroughly alarmed. “Mother, you must tell me. I insist on knowing.” “Oh, Arthur, Arthur, I would die rather than that you should know.” “That I should know what? It is something that affects my father, is it not? You said just now that this man Ralph Latimer’s evidence convicted my—and then you stopped. Were you going to say my father? Was father ever on trial charged with a crime? Answer me, mother—yes or no.” The little woman swayed a moment in her chair, and then fell over in a dead faint. Arthur caught her in his arms and laid her upon the lounge. Then he applied the eamphor bottle to her nose, and used such other means to restore her to consciousness as are usually resorted to in such cases. At length she revived, and as soon as she realized the canse which had brought on her swoon she burst into a paroxysm of tears. He tried to soothe her, but it was nearly an hour before she became composed again. In the meantime, Arthur had been thinking aeane He saw Clearly that some terrible secret that must be con- nected with his dead father weighed upon his mother. _ “Poor mother!” he breathed more than once. “She wishes to keep me in ignorance of it, whatever it is. To make her tell me, except as a last resort, would be cruel. I must find out for myself through other sources.’ I shall never be satis- fied until I know the truth, be that what it may.” So when his mother grew calmer, though she trembled like a leaf whenever her eyes rested on her boy’s manly young face, for she had seen a look in his eyes and had -heard an _ |aceusing ring in his voice that had almost taken the life from Ther, he made no deena reference ee "abject Sone ee R Dictate Pa u's uame had called up. ;

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He was as tender and loving as he had ever been in his e. But this change in his manner worried her almost as much - as if he had arraigned her again at the bar of his young soul. “Oh, Arthur, my son, what can you think of me?” she cried, __ Piteously. _. “Think of you! Why, as I always have—as the dearest _ and best mother in the world.” “No, no; I-mean abou Z: _ “There, there, mother, we will drop the matter right bere,” he replied, soothingly. “Y shall never question you further * about this thing. If you think it is best to keep this secret ' from me, why——” 5 “TI do, I do, Arthur. It is best you should never know. _ Your father met with a great misfortune, which led to his _ death; but believe me. my boy, it was through no act of his. _ He was innocent! “He was innocent!” she eried, fervently, Taising her hands in earnest assertion. _ , “I believe you, mother. We'll let it go at that. I know 2 father was guilty of no crime. I am sure he was an honest, ~ Upright man.” ee “He was. Oh, Arthur, he was!” a" “That-is enough. ‘Let us talk about something else. Or, _ father. is it not time that you got supper ready. I feel as if I could do justice to a good steak, with fried potatoes, etc.” | _ “You are not offended with me, my son?” she asked, wist- _ fally. taking his hands in hers. “Offended, mother! As if I could be. Are not you the only One T have to love?” ' “And you trust me, dear? : _ Seeret is, that I am acting for the best in withholding it from pn” : “Yes, mother.” : : gh With a sigh of relief she put her arms about his neck and, You believe that whatever this Straining him to her heart, kissed him fondly. _ Then she got up and went into the kitchen to prepare their evening meal. F : ¢ Arthur Forbes was a clear-headed, ‘quick-witted. boy, and While his mother was busy. in tbe other room, he pondered 2, deeply upon this family secret. . “It seems pretty clear that my father was brought to the bar to answer-fer some crime, and that Ralph Latimer’s evi- ence convicted him,” mused Arthur, thoughtfully. __ I get at the facts of the case? By making application at the ‘Mistrict-attorney’s office I should he able to fix the date of ‘his trial, and maybe learn all of the particulars; that is, if it came off in this city, which must have been the case. I _ Was seven years old when I lost sight of father, therefore I + ~ heed to look up the files of the daily press ten years back to _ Set the facts of the case as they came before the public. _ Mother says father was inuocent, and I believe he was. There- _ fore it looks as if he was the victim of unfortunate circum- Stances or the designing knavery of some enemy. Which was ' This man Latimer threatened Mr, Jepson with some ex- Posure. He said he would tell all he knew about the Forbes affair, unless he received $100 then and there. Clearly he bas # real hold over my employer, for he got the money, and Mr. Jepson quietly put up with his insolence. In what way _ Gould Mr. Jepson have been implicated in the Forbes affair? - In some way, apparently, that will not bear the searchlight * = publicity. Mr. Jepson was engaged to marry mother before _ She knew father. Afterwards she married father and came to this city. Mr. Jepson, two years ago, asked my mother to Marry him, and she seemed on the eve of doing so, even against Her will, when the matter blew over, far as I know. Can At be that Mr. Jepson engineered my father’s ruin because he paver the woman Mr. Jepson wanted himself? Is my em- _ Dloyer that kind of a man? If my father was convicted and Sent to prison for a crime of which he was innocent, is it it my duty to leave no stone unturned to clear his memory tracing the real facts of the case and exposing the con- 1 of which he was the victim? It is my duty, and I ill devote every spare moment from this day to that purpose. looks to me as if this Ralph Latimer holds the key to the dle, therefore he is the man I must follow up and corner, ok or by crook, until I ca nwring the truth from his lips.” that moment Mrs. Forbes entered the dining-room to set another time. eighty matter until sh . CHAPTER X. «HOW ARTHUR GOT A POINTER ON ©. & G, ‘ - PLAYING TO WIN. “How shall. table, and so Arthur postponed further consideration of of your the first time he could remember Arthur wanted to 11 So when his telephone rang that evening he did not an- swer it. 3 Then he went downstairs and instructed his mother to. tell Dick, if he called, that he was out. “Where were you last night, Art?” was the first question Dick propounded to him next morning when they met on the Way to the subway station. “That's a secret, old man,” replied Arthur. any more questions on the subject.” - ; “T thought we were not to have any secrets from each other?” asked Dick, “Not as a rule. This is an exception.” “Say, did you read about the broker that was chloroformed in his office and robbed?” “ No.” ‘ c “There’s a column in the morning paper about it. Nobody knew anything about it for hours. though there was a meet- ing of the board of directors of the company which ocenpies the offices underneath. If that broket only had had a tele- graphie attachment like ours as a precautionary arrangement, he might have sent an alarm to the people downstairs, and the rascals who committed the outrage would probably have been caught red-handed.” “Thet's right. We'd better add a danger signal to our code, hadn’t we? Some day a crank might come into either of our offices and threaten to blow us up unless we coughed up some money. I’ve heard of two or three such cases; He'd probably hold us up so we could not get to the telephone, or. out of the office. then how handy it would be for me’to push the button on the sly. and if you were in. as you generally are now, like myself, why, you would understand we were in trouble and you could telephone for the police, while I kept the rascal waiting until the cops came to nail him.” : “It would be fine if it worked out as you say.” : “No harm having this signal, is there?” “Sure not.” ; “But remember it must never be rung up understand?” “Tt understand. What shall it be?” ; “It must be something short, say one continnons ‘ring of no particular length. If you ever hear me give that kind of signal you may know there’s something serious going on up- stairs,.and telephone for the police at once.” “All right, old man; but I guess you'll never give it. There isn't one chance in a thousand of anything: happening in your, place that will call for it.” “You can't tell. It's best to be on the safe side.” As it happened, it was fortunate that this arrangement was made by the two boys. That afternoon Mr. Jepsen sent Arthur to the safe deposit company to get a package of bonds out of his box. He had to wait a while in the reception-room, and he took up an afternoon paper he saw there to read a moment or two. ; F Two richly dressed ladies presently entered from the vaults and went to a small desk within earshot of him. One had a package of papers in her hand which she began to sort ever, but like a woman she kept up a conversation at the same time with her friend. “You'd better get a block of the stock, too, Edith,” she said. “I'm going to put up all of these securities as collateral for 1,000 shares, It's selling to-day at 59, but in a week from now my husband says it will go above 70.” Arthur was all ears the moment he got onto the substance of the lady’s: conversation. “How do you know it will go up?” asked her friend. , “The directors of the road held a meeting in my husband's offices yesterday afternoon. They have bought the O. & G. railroad, which runs into the mining belt, and are going to consolidate it with the S. & T. My husband says there are 20,000 shares of O. & G. stock out, which must be bought in before the news gets out, and he is authorized to buy them. I'm going to try and get 1,000 shares, and then I'll make my husband take them off my bands at an’ advance, or I'll hold “So don’t ask as a joke, do you J them till the rise comes. Won't that be a good joke on him?” laughed the speaker, who thought she was doing a very clever thing. iF “Remember, this is a profound secret, Edith,” said the I have given you what my husband tip, and such things are scarcer than hen’s teeth. Dra gs and go to a broker and see if he can | G, stock. If you can get even a bu “Oh, my, aren’t you smart, Lydia!” exclaimed her friend, — adm first lady. “You mustn't say a word about what I have told sou {for your jife. Ss ied ‘ a

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PLAYING ~ 42 you'll be sure to make some pin-money for yourself, and that’s something that’s always welcome.” The speaker having sorted and wrapped up her securities, - the two ladiés started to leave just as an attendant entered ‘to escort Arthur to the vaults. “Who is that lady in the brown silk and picture hat, do you know?” asked the boy of the attendant. - “Oh, that’s Mrs. Isidore Finkelbaum, wife of the big Ex- change Place broker. You know Cohen, Finkelbaum & New- burger, don’t you?” “Sure.” “Her husband is the head of the firm.” “Thanks. She’s yery stylish, isn’t she? I guess.” “T’d like to own half of what she’s worth in her own right, without talking about the old man himself. They.say Finkel- baum is a multi-millionaire.” “So I’ve heard. He's one of the directors of the S. & T. road, I’ve been told.”™ “Yes, and half a dozen or more. other corporations.” Arthur got the bonds that Mr. Jepson wanted from his box and returned to the office. “That’s a first-class tip I got on to that time. Nothing like a woman for giving things away sometimes. Now the ques- tion is how am I to get hold of some of those shares? They are probably not to be easily got in open market, as there are only 20,000 out, and I guess they're held by persons likely Got lots of money, TO WIN. “If LT was you I'd set a figure, but I don’t think you'll get over 63, if you get that. The last sale on the»market was 59 7-8, an eighth lower than you authorized us:to pay Denby, Coke & Co. for the stock. You must be See on some tip, young man.” “What makes you think so?” “Shows itself on the face of it that you mawat | have some inside information or you wouldn’t pay more than the market price for the stock. Then there’s Finkelbaum) fishing for it as if that was the only block of it to be got.” ‘ “Perhaps it is,” replied Arthur, with a wink. “If he wants it he’s got to come down handsomely or he don’t get it. I wouldn't sell it to him at 70 if he made the offer.” “The dickens you wouldn't!” almost gasped Mr. Trip. “That's right. You can tell him that the stock isn’t for sale under 70, even if he can get it at that price.” Arthur said “good-day” and left, and Mr. Trip sent an an- swer to Mr. Finkelbaum the purport of which rather dis- gusted the mulfi-millionaire. CHAPTER XI. ARTHUR PERFORMS AN HEROIC ACT. That evening Arthur and Dick paid a visit to the Cannon known to Mr. Finkelbaum, who is already skirmishing around |street neighborhood to see one of their old acquaintances, a after them. It will be a great pity if I get left on this thing. young printer, who lived on the third floor of one of the tall Well, the only thing I see that I can do is to leave an order|tenements of the district. with Parsons & Trip to buy any part of 3,000 shares at 60, if he can get them on the market.” It was too late then to do anything, as the banks were closed for the day, so Arthur had to put the matter off until next morning. On the way home he told Dick about the tip, saying that he had graye doubts about being able to secure the stock. v“What did you say was the name of the road?” asked his friend, wale & G. It’s a short line, I find, running into the mining et, “Are you sure it's O. & G.?” asked Dick, showing some ex- citement. “Positive.” “Then I know where there’s 4, 900 shares.” _ “You do?” excitedly. “Who's got them?” “Denby, Coke & Co.” “Your firm?” “Sure as you live. A customer of the house traded them off to-day at 59 1-8 for Denver & Rio Grande.” “And they’re still in your office?” “They were in the safe when we closed up.” SDick, are you in with me in this deal?” Bet your life Iam. Anything you say goes with me every ‘ings [ - “You've got $6,000, haven't you?” sy “Yes, and $800 over if anybody should ask you.” “Get your $6,000 first thing in the morning. I'll put $18,000 to it and give Parsons & Trip an order to buy 4,000 shares of O. & G. Ill tell them that your firm has the stock for sale. We must get in on this ahead of inkelbaum.” Arthur's bright plan was duly carried into effect next { morning, but the stock cost the upset figure of 60. ‘Ten minutes later Isidore Finkelbaum got track of the stock and went to Denby, Coke & Co. to get it, but was told — that he was just too late, as they had we | the block to _. Parsons &:Trip. . Finkelbanm went to Parsons & Trip with an offer of 61 for the stock, and they communicated with their young. eus- es Arthur Forbes. ie! he -wrote Arthur, back. “Hold on to it tm t falior So oe, re Trip sent their messenger around to Cohen, rem eae with mors peat the saath were Te. } | seems: aches anxious to get that stock, don’t you _Arthur to Mr. Trip, when - he stopped in at his , you want for the ghek: peereeee mee we The three boys spent a cheerful evening together, and the visitors were about to take their leave when suddenly a big hubbub arose in the building. “What the dickens is the “matter?” asked Dick, starting to his feet. “The Mulligans upstairs are having a party to-night,” grinned the printer, “and I wouldn't be surprised if it was breaking up in a row.” The boys listened and could hear a babel of sounds above, the overturning of furniture, a lot of screaming from the girls, a a yelling and tumbling downstairs of a mob in great con- usion. Then came a shrill scream of “Fire!” The cry was taken up by others, amid a banging open of doors, more screeching and the deuce to pay generally. “My gracious!” exclaimed Arthur. “I believe the house is on fire.” “T hope not!” cried the printer, turning pale. young girl with a broken leg on the top fioor. be able to get out.” “Why not?” asked Arthur. “She isn’t alone, is she? of her folks will be sure to look after her.” “She and her father live in two rooms in front, and the chances are he’s down at the corner gin-mill, half soaked by this time. I saw him go out just before you chaps came in.” The boys ran to the window and looked out. A crowd was beginning to collect in the street, and every- body was looking up at the floor above. The tenements opposite were alive with people in the win- dows and on the fire-escapes, all looking over, and many of them gesticulating. The racket in the hall increased, and the cry of “Fire!” was frequently repeated, passing from lip to lip. They ran to the door, and the odor of burning wood was plainly distinguishable, while the smoke came rolling down the stairs. “We'd better get out while we've got the chance,” cried the printer, making a dash for the stairs and going down three steps at a time. “What about that girl on the top floor?” cried Arthur, as Dick made a break for the staircase. “Tf she isn’t out by this time she never will be,” answered Dick, excitedly. “Look at the smoke rae down. The whole floor above must be in a blaze.” A piercing scream came from far above. “That must be her now!” cried Arthur. her to perish, Dick.” “What can we do?” gasped Diek, choking and coughing from the smoke that was growing denser each moment. a cave must do something, old man. Hark! Don’t you hear er? effort to save her.” “There’s a She'd never “We can’t leave “You can't get up there to save your. life, Art, and if you ; is aaa you'd never get down again. There’ . the eieen ceiuh all , the one co aD Some My heavens, I can’t leave her to perish without an —

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PLAYING TO- WIN. 13 ; 7 ’ Arthur, showever, instead of following his chum, who was He reached it. stood np and leaned, panting, over the edge - already ‘staggering half-way down towurd the second floor, |of the fire-escape railing. ; made a rush'up the smoke-covered stairway toward the blaz- Pracing his nerves for anether effort Lhe gained the next 2 floor, mow all alight with the fast-increasing fire. ladder and went down to the second floor platform with his The screams of the poor girl that came down to him with | burden and into the arms of two firemen, who had just pulled on ore intensity, appealing to all the chivalry of hiis na-|themseives up there. + urged — to attempt her rescue at the risk of his own The girl was taken from his arms and passed to the street, and immediately after he was iowered. limp’ and insensible, his face scorched and blackened, and his hands blistered and puffed up from the flames. He did not hear the rousing cheer that greeted the ‘suc- cessful tremination of his gallant act, while he was borne, — under the admiring gaze of hundreds of eyes, to a neighbor- ing drug store, where he was followed by Dick, who pushed his way in through the crowd blocking the doorway. Bl at But the: Rasster of flame and smoke which opposed his "gallant effort. was too much for him, and he was forced back, _ half strangled and blinded. Had he been cooler he might easily have seen that it was nh utter impossibility for any one to reach the top floor by the stairs. The smoke alone would have prevented it, but now the flames were bursting out fiercely and hungrily lapping the alls and floor of the hallway aboye. _ With the girl’s frantic screams ringing in his ears, he made one d th i sling ‘at by PROPOR ee ee ee ee While the druggist and his assistant were bringing Arthur “Grene heavens! I can’t get up there! She'll perish Sin and the rescued girl to their senses, Dick Bell was answer- the most awful of deaths! Can nothing be done to save her?” | 2% auestions being put to him by a reporter. He was now in great peril himself, for the stairs below ‘At thes moment a wild-eyed man fought his way madly Were thick with smoke as was the passage from which he |*>rough the mob at the door and got into the store. had been obliged to retreat into the room where he had spent My child! My poor little girl! Where is she? Don't tell the evening. me she is dead! Where is she, I say?” and he glared at an ““Ha! The fire-escape is in front. Perhaps I can reach the | ficer, who had seized and held him back, struggling like a top floor that way.” maniac, “Your ehild is all right,” he said. “Be quiet.” He ran forward, threw up the window and stepped out. “Let m her!” cried th b A roar from a hundred yoices greeted his appearance. ope epodagh te) e man, whose disheveled hair and ite caer henta the danwle of eo jibe t come ant iaskine bloodshot eyes too clearly showed he was but half sober at that moment. ‘Up the street, saw a fire engine coming full tilt down the| «father!® — crowded thoroughfare. came a weak voice from the back room. “You hear? She i: li S . ‘Another one swung around the corner just below. eo!" oe. calling: the. 7 Het nei goto Ber.) Lane Chad RLSM: SOG CLARE WAS: ROWING | WHT, Overy. WP: The officer led him around the counter and into the small P 7 j room, the shelves of which Were packed with bottles, and A score of voices roared at him to come down. boxes, and packages of drugs and other s ack Wie aves: Gowath , a ~~ eee 2 gs r stuff connected with The smoke was rolling in dense volumes out of the wih He-dro ’ pped down beside his little girl and took her hand . Ows above, and tongues of flame darted through them. gently in his and began to murmur broken sentences. As they cleared for a moment he saw that smoke only was|~ «] 9p) safe, papa,” she answered him, “A brave boy car- tering out of the top floor. ried me down the fire-escape through the flames and smoke.” With the agility of a monkey, he darted up the fire-escape.| «\ here is the boy?” eried the wretched- looking man. “I A babel of cries went up from the street, and the tene-|y:int to sce him. I’m his friend -for life.” get Be around, as his foolhardy action was observed. “Sure, it's a fine-looking friend you'd make,” muttered the obody eould understand hie 4 a4 object was. the fourth | Policeman, 'in a tone of disgust. e reached the platform o e escape on the fourt)) “ 5 glad I pretty girl mone on aes baftom of the door with her got your child out. I just managed to do it by the skin of — ands and moaning piteously my teeth, but what's the odds so long as I did it. She's g She oy dragged herself from the bed, but could get 20/4 “proken leg, I believe, and couldn't get out by herself.” Bre + rit “Broken leg? You're right. You're-a brave bo y “Save me! Oh, save Pai: she ented, holding out her arms | pero, Glad sai know you. Naes is” Lathner- Ralph cikoes him. What's yours?” I will,” replied the “aia with aieiehe hreast. Arthur started at the name and looked hard at the speaker. | e grabbed up some of the bed clothes, wrapped them| He never would have recognized him as the man who had | t her, and seizing her in his strong arms ran to the | called on Mr. Jepson the afternoon before. CHAPTER XII. MABEL LATIMER. , mt window and stepped out on the fire-escape. But after a closer look he saw a certain resemblance whieh ‘s oar like a tempest note smote on his ears as the crowd |told him that this was the same man, indeed. Pas low saw him and his burden. “So you are Ralph Latimer, are you?” Arthur said. core of firemen were now dashing toward the building,| “I'm Ralph*Latimer, Once a gentleman.) praieig S the ey, too, saw him. . less said about the mutter the better, but some peop Pits : all escape for him and the frightened girl seemed cut ‘eall me a bum—a drunkard. But I drink no more. -aeert 3h the flames pouring out through the wey: of the} with it. Might bave lost my little girl—my only nd = AW.) ‘cause I was lushing at the corner instead of ne hy * hon e ping one énd of the blanket about the girl's head, | to protect her. You saved her. ‘Stes = a seablemnats lrawing in a long breath himself he fairly slid down |your name?” va) “My name is Forbes—Arthur roe : = Sage a “Your name is Forbes? Name is Tamiliar. Knew by that name once. Hate to say Recta but I ak him to. State's prison, understand? Too bad oe a ind. Can't” interest you. You're, Tw FF : through the are, and fell in a heap on the mot : to his” knees he eaten to the opening, aaa 1 for the seaond ladder. ‘ ; believed he had been: overcome, and a shud- a a hundred frames, j

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PLAYING = " said Arthur, as Latimer started to go. “Say,” to the assistant in the store, “can’t you give this man something io sober him up a bit?” “T'll give him something that'll help him, I guess,” was the answer. The clerk prepared a drink and brought it to Latimer. “What's this?” the man asked. “Give it name.” “Never mind the name. Drink it damn and it will liven you Latimer looked at it suspiciously. “Tt’s all right,” said Arthur. “It will do you good. os “All right, if you say so. Do anything for you,” ‘swallowed the mixture. Then he left the store, and Arthur went back into the small and he ee) FONY EN batt understand,” to see you, too.” Ralph Latimer now reappeared. He appeared to be a good bit more sober than. wl en he left the store. “A family down the block will take my daughter. in and keep her a while till I can get rooms,” he said. “I. will carry her down there, and you must come with us, young, man. I want to talk to you.” “Vl carry her for you,” said Arthur. .‘ Or would .you rather your father should?” he asked, turning to the girl. “T should like you to carry me, if you are willing. afraid “Oh, I’m all right, little one!” said Latimer. “But he can carry you, if he wants to, He won't get away, then, before I can talk with him.” “Wait for me here, Dick,” said Arthur. soon.” Wrapping the blanket well about Mabel Latimer, Arthur raised her in his arms and, preceded by her father, left the store, and pushed his way through the curious throng of spec- tators who were watching the fire, now almost out. replied the girl, earnestly. “I shall be glad Tm “I will be back CHAPTER XIII. ARTHUR TAKES THE BULL BY THE HORNS. The family who had agreed to shelter Mabel received her with many expressions of sympathy. : They were poor people, like the majority of those living in room where Mabel Latimer, now. quite recovered, had been | that district, but they were good-hearted, and were always asking for him. She was a swoet-faced girl of nearly fifteen years, with hazel eyes and nut-brown hair. There was an air of refinement about her that contrasted strangely with her lowly position in life, and she looked to be more than ordinarily intelligent. She held out her hand to Arthur with a smile that seemed almost angelic to the boy. “You saved my life,” she said, in a low, sweet voice. “y thank you from my heart. Oh, you don’t know what I suf- fered until you came. I thought [ would be burned to death. I ¢ould cnly crawl as far es the closed door, .I pounded and screamed, but no one seemed to hear me. I could smell] the thick smoke and feel the heat of the flames in my face, and hear the crackling of the wood. It was dreadful—dreadful. 1 shall never, never forget it as long as I live.” “T am very glad I was at hand to render you this service,” replied Arthur. “¥ou are so brave—so noble,” she ih gratefully. “You risked your life for me when everybody else in the house ran. away. You do not live there. You are nicely dressed, and so different from the people in this neighborhood; You saw the fire from the street and came up to save me, did you not? Hew could you know that I was lying helpless on the top : floor?” “T used to live in Cannon street, and was visiting a friend on the third floor when the fire broke out. I heard that a girl with a broken leg was on the top floor. I heard you scream for help. I simply couldn’t let you perish without making an effort in your benalf. That's all there is to it, and I hope you _ won't think about the rio any more.” “Oh, but I can’t help. thinking about it, and about you. You ve I am deeply grateful to you, don’t you?” wistfully. . “Sure I do. You will oblige me by letting it go at that.” - “But you will call and see me, when we have a new place to ‘live. You won't mind father. He drinks, but he is good to me. -- It would have killed him if I had been burned up. He has ‘been unfortunate. We were better off once, but since mother ‘died everything has changed, and we have been growing ‘peorer and peorer.. You will let me see you again, won't you?” _. “Certainly. And I want you to do mea favor, Miss Mabel.” ge, I will do anything for you!” don’t let fas father forget that he has promised to ; pikes tie an interview. You will remind him to-morrow, for e@ may forget when the excitement is over. It is very im- oriant to me.” : |. will see. that he meets you if you will select a place,” said. with just a mite of wonderment in her eyes at the ness for an appointment with her father. sowie find a place where you can be removed to eager to alleviate distress when it lay in their power to do so. | Arthur bade Mabel good-night, and promised to see her on the following night. Ralph Latimer foilowed him to the sidewalk. “See here, young man, you’ye done me a great service, and I want. you to’ know that I’m grateful for it.” “You've already thanked me,” replied the boy. “Maybe I have; but I guess I was not myself at the time, and I don’t know what I said. It won’t do any harm to thank you again. I s’pose you think i’m a hard case. I don’t look like a gentleman, do I?” “Clothes doesn’t always count,” said Arthur, evasively., “It isn’t that. It's drink. Drink has been my curse.” . “Why don’t you give it up, then?” . “Why don't I fly to the moon? Because‘I can’t. Booze has got me down, and is holding me down. I'd do anything in my power for my Mable’s sake, but to save my life I can’t stop drinking. I've tried to—itried hard, but it’s no go. It fetches me every time.” : “Will you go to a sanitarium if I pay your way there?” “Sanitarium! You pay my way! What do you mean? You |speak as if you had money to burn, What interest can you take in a man who, even if be was once a gentleman, has now sunk so low as to have taglive in the meanest apartments and slowly break, his child’s heart because the fiend of intemper- ance has fastened his clutches into him and will not let go? No, young man, I am past cure. If there was any hope or chance for me, my Mabel would save me. But she can't do it. I’m cursed, and perhaps I deserve it. Suppose I tell you that I swore a man’s character, aye, his life, away, for the disgrace of the prison stripes I fastened upon him killed him, and that I knew at the time that this man was innocent, what would you say? That I am only reaping the seed that I sowed, You'd say that, wouldn't you?” “You can swear that he was innocent?” cried Arthur, trem- bling with excitement. Ralph Latimer seemed suddenly to recollect himself, for he paid no attention to the question, but turned the matter off with an unpleasant laugh. Arthur, however, was aroused, and he determined to force the issue with Latimer then and thére, instead of waiting till another time as he had arranged in his mind to do. He relied upon the man’s gratitude, which seemed to be sin- cere, to win him over, At any rate, he thought it better. to so the iron while it Was hot, as the saying is. “Look here, Mr. Latimer, you say that you're grateful fo me for saving your dcughter’s life.” “Grateful! : am if k talked all night.” r Ww mean that?” . oe do meses heaven Je my Jndge- Bo ou doubt Young man, J covidn’t tell you how sratetal ;

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PLAYING TO WIN. = ' *T believe“you, but I want you to prove it.” “You want me to prove it?” replied Latimer, slowly. “I do. You can de me a favor——” “T’ll do’any-favor in my power. What is it?” “T want you to tell me the true story of George Forbes— the man who was tried for a crime of which he was innocent, and who was convicted on your evidence.” ‘ Ralph Latimer regarded his questioner for a moment in speechless consternation. ~“You want’'to know the story of George Forbes!” he ex- claimed, hoarsely, “What do you want to learn about him? What was he to you?” “He was my father.” ““Your father!” gasped the man, fairly staggered. “Yes, my father. Tell me the truth, I beg of you. Tell me what crime he was accused of. Why was he accused, and whether Andrew Jepson was at the bottom of the conspiracy to ruin him.” “How do you know I can tell you anything?” asked Lati- mer, doggedly. “I know you can. Your own admissions to-night satisfy me that you can, if you will, clear my father’s memory of the stain that rests upon it. Do this in gratitude for the peril I faced tonight in behalf of your daughter. Do it, and I will see that your futre and that of your daughter is provided for.” A strange expression came over Latimer’s face. “TI know more about you than you think, Mr. Latimer,” con- tinued Arthur. “I know that you were in Mr. Jepson’s office in Wall Street yesterday afternoon. I know you threatened to tell all you knew about the Forbes affair—those were the words you used to him—unless he gave you $100, and you got the money. I know that you were the chief witness against my father at the trial. I want you to tell me, his son, the whole story. A moment ago you said you were reaping the harvest of the seed you sowed. That you deserved the curse which had fallen upon you. You said, practically, that the disgrace of the prison stripes killed the man whose liberty you falsely swore ‘away. Mr. Latimer, will you do my dead father justice?” - Ralph Latimer listened to Arthur Forbes’ impassioned ap- peal with conflicting emotions. He saw that he was driven into a corner. ' That he had, to some extent, incriminated himself, ‘Besides, he owed this boy a debt of gratitude that he now r had the chance to pay. But if he made a clean beta’ of his guilty knowledge he Would kill the golden goose that promised so much for the : future ; “still this boy had said that he would take care of him and his child. : He must have money, then. “How do you know I was at Mr. Jepson’s office yesterday?” _ he asked, curiously. “Because I saw you there.” “You saw me?” - “I did, and spoke to you.” A light broke in on Mr. Latimer’s mind. “I thought I had seen your face before. You were the clerk a the desk.” was. ” “ Sey you listened to our conversation?” “No, I did not. But I could not help hearing a few words, for you spoke so loudly that any one in the reception-room ra ‘could: hear you.” oat er said nothing more for a moment or two. e@ seemed to be considering. At iength he decided upon his line of ‘action. -“Come with me,” he said, grasping Arthur by the arm. This is no place to talk confidentially.” He led the boy down a side street till they came to a va- space that was boarded up. i. was no street lamp near, and their figures were in hadow. _ “Look here, my boy, you saved my daughter's life to-night; te return for that I’m going to tell you all you want to know.” “You shall lose nothing by it, Mr. Latimer. You will be for in a more honorable way than bleeding Andrew on the strength of your criminal hold upon him. I eee ine emcee for a boy of my age, and I would (Satied about that. I know what my Mabe! would say knew what you have asked me to do for you. She is pes I am net Gueriey. of the love I know she bears ofa come b= eo pena Tm going to 15 “ 4 Jepson I'll go on the stand and swear to the truth of it, if I am sent to prison for perjury.” “I hope you will never be sent to prison by me, Mr. Lati- mer,” replied Arthur. “For the sake of your daughter, as well as the gratitude I shail bear toward you for’ clearing my false swearing. Do not fear. You will be safe.” CHAPTER XIV. THE CONFESSION OF RALPH LATIMER. “Nine years ago your father was cashier for Cohen, Finkel- baum & Newburger, the Exchange Place brokers. You know the firm?” “J do,” replied Arthur, breathlessly. “I was their head bookkeeper at the time, and a close friend of George Forbes, whom I always liked, ‘because he was a good- hearted fellow, and as honest as the day is long.” “You were his friend, and yet you-———” “Betrayed him? Yes. I don’t deny it. him.” “Why did you do this?” regarding Latimer with a feeling of resentment. “Why? Because I was well paid for my part in the con- spiracy.” “You mean to say that you profited by my father’s down- fall?” “TI did. I helped to ruin ate SS I needed the money. I was something of a high roller in those days. I had acquired expensive habits, which my salary would not cover. Besides, I had just married, and the scale on which I attempted to live got me head over heels in debt. I was being pushed to the wall by my creditors. At that unlucky time I was approached by a man, then a strug- giing broker, but now one of the eminent lights in the treet——” “You mean Andrew Jepson?” “He was the man.” “And i have looked upon him as my best friend!” cried the. boy, with a shudder. “How is that?” asked Latimer, in some surprise. “No matter. Go on.” “I had been speculating in the market through him. My last deal had resulted disastrousty, and I owed him a balance I couldn’t pay. He took advantage of that fact, as well as the knowledge of my manner of living, which he had taken pains to investigate, to make me understand that I was under his thumb. That a word from him to my employers would result in my instant discharge. He had me where the hair is short, and I was at his mercy. Then he confided to me that —————$$ > he owed George Forbes a grudge—why, I have never known,” “But I know,” broke in Arthur, impetuously. “You do?” “Yes. But proceed.” “Tt was his purpose to ruin Forbes, and he said I must help him do it. I objected, but he turned the screws on me, and then held out a golden bait to silence my scruples. To cut the matter short, I agreed to do as he wanted.” “And that was——” breathed Arthur. “To substitute a forged bond for a genuine one in a package of securities, then go to Mr. Finkelbaum with a story which would lead to an investigation that would cause suspicion to fall on George Forbes who had charge of the signed and un- signed bonds of the new railroad company, of which Mr. Finkelbaum’s signature, and the signatures of the vice-presi- dent and treasurer of the railroad company, were found hidden ; away in Forbes’ desk. I had put them there.” “You!” cried the boy, in horror, “It was part of the evidence provided by Mr. Jepson to in- criminate your father.” _ “Then you did not forge them yourself?” “No. Andrew Jepson did ey: ng in that line, for he was a clever penman. It was well that I had no hand in it, for my evidence was impeached at the trial and a dozen specimens of my handwriting was of the defense, in order to establish the prisoner's plea criminal conspiracy against him. In the end I went on stand and swore that I had seen George Forbes signatures from the genuine originals. In his own defense o swore to the contrary, but the jury believed me with dence oe. the forged bond before them, and your fa convicted.” y tion. father’s name, I will shield you from the consequences of your, ned by an expert in the interest — * was “It was infamous!” exclaimed Arthur, ina burst ot aa ds

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ae PLAYING TO WIN. “It was, I admit,” replied Ralph Latimer, with a penitent expression cn his face. “Poor father! What he must have sutfered!” in a broken, voice. “He suffered deeply, I’ve no doubt, but nothing to the pangs of remorse that afterward assailed me. On the night I heard of his death I walked the streets till daylight—a haunted man. Haunted by the unauenchable memory of the Judas-like act ‘which had brought his ruin. From that day I took to drink- ing deeply in an unavailable effort to escape from myself. _ 1 broke my wife’s heart,” a sob shook his voice, “and I have brought misery and sorrow to my only child. To-night I left her alone, helpless as she is, in the top floor of that tenement —and I have done the same, night after night—to fill my worthless carcass with liquor at a common corner gin-mill. But for you she would now be a blackened corpse, and I a wretched, broken-hearted mourner. Boy, do what you will with this confession I am ready to put it down, with every particular, on paper and sign it before a notary. And if you prosecute Andrew Jepson, I will go before the Grand Jury and testify to my share in this conspiracy. I fear, though, you can do nothing unless you could discover the original bond, which I brought to him so that he could duplicate it on one of the unsigned blank bonds. It is probable that he de- stroyed it after he used it. I should imagine he is too artful a scoundrel to keep such a thing long in his possession. The police, of course, searched your father’s home for it, and, naturally, did not find it. It’s disappearance was made one of the principal features by the lawyer for the defense, but did not avail.” “What was this bond?” asked Arthur, with curious interest. “It was bond 113, of the C. & L. B. R. R. of New Jersey.” “Mr. Latimer, I want you to write out your statement, down to the minutest particular, swear to it before a recognized notary and give it to me when I call down here to-morrow said the boy, night. Will you do this?” “JT will. You will find me with my daughter, and I shall be waiting for you.” “Very well. Do you want any money?” “No. I have fifteen or twenty dollars left of the money I got out of Jepson. I shall give that to my daughter, that I may not have the price to gratify the thirst that is forever upon me,” In the meantime, Dick Bell waited with increasing impa- tience at the drug store for his chum to return. An hour passed and still there was no sign of him. The fire was all out and the engines had gone back to their homes. “He must have fallen into the sewer,” growled the wearied boy. “This is worse than waiting for your mother-in-law to go home. Gee! It’s twenty minutes past eleven. I wonder df he hasn’t forgotten that he left me here. If he doesn’t show up in five minutes, blamed if I don’t——” At that moment Arthur walked into the store. “Suffering tadpoles! Where have you been all this time?” demanded Dick, with a look of virtuous indignation. “T’ve been doing the business of my life,” replied his friend. “I should think you was. Why, you’ve been gone an hour and ten minutes.” } “Well, are you ready to go home?” “I’ve been ready for an hour.” “Then come alorg.” They left the store at a brisk walk. “You haven’t told me what detained you,” said Dick. “I'll tell you one of these days.” BH orb polite hint that it’s none of my business. a at (or riled, Dick. You know I’d tell you if I didn’t have a good reason for keeping mum. It was simply a private family matter.” “Dick was satisfied, and soon afterward they reached an un- terres, station and took a train for the Bronx, CHAPTER XV. BOND 113, c & L. B. R. BR. e eflorts made by mg Por ond employed by Mrs. tusades inkelbaum | to purchase 1,000 shares of O. & G. on the Ex- Pid brought 100 to the surface, and he had to give Bore to draw attention to the stock, and several other tried to get some of it, which resulted in uncovering vegeta a at asin ge Sere, vite emaness y sud seqnester him in a private eae for Ancurable drunk. was invested in it, still he did not entirely forget his stock interests in his anxiety to right his father’s good, name. Even if he had, Dick would have jostled his. memory, for Dick kept a close eye on the upward flight of O. & G. When the ticker recorded the 70 mark he congratulated himself that so far he was $10,000 ahead on the deal. “And just to think Art is $30,000 to the good.,, 1 wonder ber he means to close out? I must ask him when we go to unch.” Arthur had Ralph Latimer’s sworn confession locked up at home, and he spent much time considering what use he would make of it. Although the boy endeavored to treat Andrew Jepson with the same politeness as formerly, he did not wholly succeed. His feelings toward the man who had brought about the ruin of his dear father were bitter indeed, but he hesitated to use the evidence he had in his possession, lest it be ipsuf- ficient’ to accomplish the object he aimed at. “If I only knew whether that original bond of the C. & L. B. R. R. was in existence i'm move heaven and earth to get hold of it. With that in my hands I could bring Mr. Jep- son to the bar of justice and clear the stain from father’s name.” But the longer Arthur pondered upon the matter the slim- mer grew the hope that the bond was in existence. “There seemed little dovwbt but that he destroyed it. A man of his character wou $ .ardly keep such an incriminating bit of evidence about wheu its usefulness had ceased. Still, you never can tell. The smartest criminals make mistakes that lead, sometimes, to their ultimate undoing. I'd give every dollar I own in the world to find that bond, for without it I fear Latimer’s confession will not avail me.” This was the condition of affairs when, two days later, Mr. Jepson called Arthur into his private office and asked him to help him move his desk out from the wall, as he had accidentally pushed a stock certificate behind it. The boy obeyed the request, and when the desk had been moved he saw the certificate on the floor on the top of a layer of dust which had been accumulating for years. “Pick it up and lay it on my desk,” said his employer, walking out into the reception-room to take a look at the ticker. Arthur picked up the certificate. Then he noticed another document almost wholly smoth- ered in the dust. Wondering what it was, he picked it up and knocked the dirt from it by beating it against the back of the desk. > Opening it, he recognized the familiar appearance of oa bond. One sharp glance at the engraved name ai the head of the sheet and his heart almost stood still. It was a C, & L. B. Railroad bond. And the number was 113. He knelt there gazing upon the document as if fascinated and unable to stir. How long he would have remained in this condition if his employer's voice in the reception-room had not broken the eharm we cannot say, but with a start he refolded the bond in > haste and thrust it into his pocket, just as Mr. Jepson re- jentered his private office. Then he sprang up, laid the certificate upon the desk and waited for the broker to give him a hand to lift the heavy desk back to its former position against the wall. This done, he returned to his own desk in the reception-- room, in a curious state of mental tumult. He could hardly believe that the fateful bond 113 was actually in his possession, and he had to take it from his pocket and warily examine it cnce more before he was cer- tain that he really had the missing link of evidence. That night he went down to the neighborhood of Cannon street to see Ralph Latimer and, incidentally, Mabel, be- tween whom and himself had already grown a strong bond of sympathy and friendship. There was not a suitable place in the tenement where Mabel was stil! staying for them, to indulge in conversation, of a contidential nature, so they went to the spot outside the boarded lot, where they had held their first interview. Ralph “Latimer was entirely ignorant of the fact that he! had been shadowed by two different men in turn whenever he appeared on the street that day. Andrew Jepson, recognizing that his blackmailer was a dis- agrecable as well as dangerous problem, had resolved to squelch him. . His plan pn was to kiduap ‘Latimer at a suitable. opportunity > etal odie J ee et Tee

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PLAYING TO WIN. D a ards, where’he‘would be encouraged to drink himself to death and thus wind*up his worthless career. _ When Afthur and Latimer came out of the tenement to _ Seek a quiet spot to talk, they were followed down to the _ fence: by one? of the men who had been employed by the _ broker to wafeli the latter. ‘This person’ ouldn’t get within earshot of his quarry with- ; r being observed, _ _ dust the same, he was eager to learn what the boy had to _ ‘Say to Latimer, or what Latimer had to say to the boy. . -He decided to get behind the board fence, if he could, with- Out his presence being discovered. “He aceomplished this by entering one of the buildings ad- Joining the lot, passing through the hallway to the rear and climbing over the narrow fence. _ _ Dropping into the vacant lot. he’ made his way toward the mt fence and fou _ Where Arthur and Latimer stood. _ He was thus enabled to overhear all they said. _ The boy was telling his ally how he had found the long- _ missing bond 113, of the C. & L. B. R. R., behind Mr. Jep- % Pou . desk. yi ou are quite sure it is the right bond, my lad?” cri Latimer, eagerly. ; + r se “I’m quite certain it is the one you spoke to me about. -Owever, you can see for yourself, for I brought it with me to show you.” ; _ “Let me see it. I shall know it in a moment,” exclaimed . » in a tone of considerable excitement. “If it is the bond we have Jepson in our power at last, and with my assist- _ &lce you can push him to the wall. He will have to answer _ to the charge of forgery himself, and his conviction will clear ‘your father’s memory of the stain I helped to bring upon it.” Arthur handed him the bond, which he unfolded with shak- g fingers. , ‘One swift glance over the paper, while the boy held a "s fed match in his fingers to inmmine the document, and ‘Latimer was satisfied as to its identity. “Tt is the bond!” he shouted, exultantly, handing it back. “Now, Andrew Jepson. look out for yourself. Wall Street » Will soon know you for what you are—a forger and a scoun- “I shall put your sworn statement and this bond in the hands of a reputable lawyer and let him arrange for the c tion of Mr. Jepson through the district attorney's “That will be the proper way. But be eareful that you an honest lawyer—one who won't sell you out. Re- mber, Andrew Jepson has money to burn now, and he'll burn it fast enough to try and save his reputation and him- | from the State prison. He'd give a hundred thousand lars to get that bond back into his hands, and there are ots of lawyers who wotld find it greatly to their advantage come ‘to a private arrangement with him.” How could they? You don’t suppose I would stand for funny business, do you?” cried Arthur, energetically. ‘What could you do if the bond happened to be reported a8 mislaid? The blame would probably be saddled on a ‘lerk—possibly a confidential one, who would receive a slice Of the boodle and then be quietly shipped off to Europe for ‘year or tivo until the trouble blew over, You could make rouble for Jepson, of course. The charge would be ven- ted in the press. but Jepson would deny and pooh-pooh it, his money and reputation would save him as the in- inating bend could not be produced against him. Take dvice. Keep that document under lock and key at your till yon have looked over the field and selected your er. There is no need of undue haste. Mr. Jepson doesn’t what is hanging over him, so you have no cause to fear Go slow and make sure of your game.” ; “I will act on your advice. I have a safe at home to which land my mother each have a Key. Your confession is there. F place tnis bond with it as soon as 7 get home.” o. When shall I see you again?” tr “Tt can’t say now, but 1 am pretty sure to call Sunday after- ‘as I promised Mabel I would see her then. If you get before Sunday, send a letter to me at the office, en- / new address.” ‘ : ! tenement and shortly separated. 53 " “walked back to the CHAPTER XVI. © N "B. en genannten epsnetneeperentstermnanedinpesnsetenstnapess sme ootontsgsanbieaee- than before—like a ery for help from comrade. ‘| “My heavens!’ That’s ,our per os sure enough, There's something w upstairs. ; 2 " would give it éxeept ‘phone the police to come here at once.” ing bock down and I'm just stuck on reading it. under his. desk came a long, continuous beli—the danger signal. unexpected blow. tion with the Old Slip station. He handed the office boy a card. and while he was wait- ing to be admitted to the private office, Arthur noticed him, and judged he must be a new customer, or some outside acquaintance of his employer's, for he had not seen him at the wfiice before. The visitor was shown into the sanctum and the door closed behind him. He remained there some little ‘time, and several of the regular customers were compelled to cool their heels in the reception-room before he came out and went away. “His business must have been important,” thought Arthur, as he followed the stranger to the door with his eyes. It was, indeed, of the greatest importance—to Mr. Jepson. he caller was none other than the man who had followed Latimer and Arthar when they left the tenement together the preceding evening, and had afterwards played the part of nd a convenient knothole close to the spot) eavesdropper behind the fence, drinking in évery word of their conversation. He had an excellent memory, that was part of his business, and he reported to the astonished and dumfounded broker that morning all that had passed between his clerk and the man he and his associate had been employed to shadow. Mr. Jepson was certainly staggered to learn that Arthur Forbes was hot on his trail, and had at last, in the most remarkable manner, obtained the necessary evidence to bring him to justice. But if Arthur was the foxiest boy in the Street, Mr. Jepson Was equally foxy as a man. ” He had the advantage, too, inasmuch as he was now aware - of what he was up against, and like a wise general and strategist, he proceeded to plan the discomfiture of his young antagcnist. ‘ There was-nothing in Mr. Jepson’s manner the rest of the day in his intercourse with his clerk that gave rise to the faintest suspicion in Arthur’s mind that anything was wrong.” If anything, Mr. Jepson was even more suave and friend: toward Arthur than erer. The broker usually went home at about three o'clock. This particular afternoon found him apparently very busy at that hour. Four o'clock came and Arthur got ready to’ leave for the. day. Mr. Jepson, howeyer, came out of his office would probably need his services until, five, : “ Of course, that was equivalent to a command .to remain, and he did so. iY Pe: He signaled Dick by pushing his button, and in a few .min- utes his chum, ready to go home himself, came up to see him. 4 “I've got to. stay an hour. if not longer,” said Arthur, I've got an interest- “so you'd better go home by yourself.” “No,” replied Dick, “I'll wait for you. the office I picked up,second-hand to-day, It'll keep me interested till you're ready to go. “Ring me up as soon as you are done. working, and I'll meet you in the corridor below.” . “All right,” replied Arthur. and Dick returned to his office, aia! and said he and was soon deeply. absorbed in the adventures of three, boys who had been wrecked, Robinson Crusoe fashion, on an uninhnbited island. ed An hour and a half passed away unheeded by him; the jani- tor came in, swept and dusted, and went off again, and he had reached an exciting part of the story when suddenly from ring of his— Dick jumped to his feet as if some one had smote him an His book fell to the floor and he stood for an instant as if by some enchantment he had been transformed into a graven — ee image. a: Again came that long ring, more ee insistent in a case of dire emergency. I'll soon in comm In the meantime. let us go back a little while. At five o'clock, when all but Arthur and Mr. . ue, t came in to ee He rushed to the instrument and was

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18 PLAYING “Thank you, sir. I’ll let the place go until morning,” re- Plied the janitor, who then went on upstairs. Ten minutes later the door opened and admitted the smooth- faced caller of the morning. He was accompanied by a companion, who sported a taus- tache, and they went right into the private office, carefully closing the door behind them. _ Five minutes more passed away, then the door of the pri- vate office opened and the two men, followed by Mr. Jepson, ‘came into the reception-room. '_ One of the visitors went to the doer as if about to go, but he didn’t. He simply turned the key in the lock and then came to- ward Arthur. Before the boy realized that anything out of the ordinary Was on the tapis, #1e two men seized him and proceeded, in spite of his struggles, to bind him to his chair, while Mr. Jepson threw a folded towel about bis mouth and chin, and thus cut off any chance of his calling for help. His right arm was left unfettered for reasons that soon transpired, and the clear-headed bey, through whose brain thought flew with lightning-like rapidity, took advantage of the fact to push the electric button concealed under his desk and give the danger signal to his chum in the office below. The action passed unnoticed, for Mr. Jepson had no knowl- edge of the contrivance the boys had arranged to establish communication between themselves. Mr. Jepson now spoke. “Arthur, I'm sorry to have to use you in this manner, but you know that self-preservation is the first law of nature. You have obtained possession of a document in this office which concerns me greatly. I must get it back. You know what that document is, and I propose to make you give it up, or matters will take a painful and unpleasant course with He spoke sternly, and Arthur, recognizing the gravity of his position, managed to send in his second cal for help to the office underneath. » “You are a smart boy, Arthur, a very smart boy, but you failed to measure well the man you are up against. Your object is most praise-worthy—you wish to remove the stain your father’s name. It would meet my unqualified ap- proyal, but for the fact that the evidence you propose to use toward this end is dangerous to me. I expect to marry your mother inside of fifteen days—I hold her written promise to become Mrs. Jepson within six months from date, and the six months are now almost expired. It would be cruel of you to spoil the purpose of my life, for I've set my heart on marrying your mother, and I don’t propose to be balked, es- pecially now at the eleventh hour. Therefore, my dear boy, I want you to sign this paper, authorizing your mother to -g0 to the house safe where the two documents are deposited, | get them out and deliver them to the bearer of this order. It is a mere stroke of the pen, and when the papers are in my hands you will be relieved from all furtheminconvenience,” and Mr. Jepson laid the order he had written down on the desk before Arthur, and, leaning forward, took up.a pen- _ holder, dipped the nib in the ink bottle and held it toward his helpless prisoner. CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. Mr. Jepson had spoken very suavely, for he felt that he : of the situation. ; i Arthur, however, what would happen after ‘certain sanitarium where he would be kept a close pris- oner until after Mr. Jepson had married Mrs. Forbes, while in the meantime he would quiet the little widow by telling Jepson. oY in no hurry to do so. x it play for delay. mn, however, w: in no humor to waste time over TO - WIN. ——= ditional turn a suffocating pressure. would be brought to bear on his windpipe. As an indication of what the lad might. expect, he gave the towel a turn, and Arthur, in a moment, began to gasp for breath. Arthur felt that he would have to strangled, r +a If his chum had understood his signal and sent for the police, help would arrive too late. “Sign!” demanded Mr. Jepsen, holding the penholder to- ward the boy. “Sign, or——” He got-no further, for at that moment a key rattled in the lock, the door was suddenly slammed open, and Dick Bell, followed by two policemen, entered the room. Mr. Jepson and his two associates were taken completely by surprise, and before they recovered their presence of mind they were in the hands of the officers, backed up by the jani- tor and Dick. : Of course, Mr. Jepson attempted to throw a bluff, but it didn’t go for a cent, for when Arthur was released from his bonds he ordered the officers to take the three prisoners to the station. He and Dick went along as a matter of course, and on theif arrival at the station Arthur made a formal charge against his employer, and against the other two men as ac- cessories. The boy also intimated that he had a more serious charge yet to bring against the broker—the charge of forgery, and subsequently he made a full statement to the reporters of the morning papers who visited him that evening at his home. The result was that Wall Street had a big sensation to digest next. morning. At the examination of the prisoners at the Tombs, Arthur furnished evidence enough to cause Mr. Jepson to be held for the grand jury. i The broker’s lawyer preduced the necessary bonds to se- euve his client's release, but Mr. Jepson did not return to Wall Street. ‘ : Arthur Forbes did, however, but not to his desk in Mr. Jepson’s office. He was done with that place forever, just as lis dear mother was forever relieved of the cruel necessity of becom- ing the wife of a man fer whom she had entertained but ordinary respect, and certainly no love. Arthur Forbes was the most-talked-of boy in the Street for many days thereafter. ; Before the end of the week he made an offer of the block of. 4,060 shares of O. & G. stock, through his brokers, to Mr. Finkelbaum. He asked $80 a share for it, and after some demur on the big broker's part the deal was closed at that figure. After the settlement had been made and the check was in Arthur’s hands, he and Dick squared up. Arthur’s profits were $60,000 and Dick’s $20,000. The day that Arthur went before the grand jury to testify against Mr. Jepson, he and Dick entered into articles of co- partnership as Wall Street brokers. Mr. Jepson was never brought to trial. He committed suicide when he realized that his conviction give in or be half j was enevitable. It was found, when his will was read, that he had left Mrs. Jessie Forbes the bulk of his property “as a partial atonement for the wrong he had done her husband and the consequent privation and trouble she had suffered for years in consequence.” ; He also left to Arthur, for whom he expressed great ad- miration, a written acknowledgment of his guilt in the Forbes affair, completely exonerating the memory of the unfortunate victim of his periidy—-George Forbes. Arthur persuaded Ralph Latimer to go to a sanitarium for the cure of drunkards, and while he remained there Mabel became an Inmate of the Forbes home. Eventually, Latimer overcame his thirst for liquor, and went to work for Forbes & Bell, stock brokers, as their book- keeper and adviser. One night there was a wedding at the Forbes home, the contracting parties being Arthur Forbes and Mabel Latimer, and so to their new-found happiness we leave them, beliey- ing Mabel will never regret haying married the foxiest boy in Wall Street. : :

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& | ‘ FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. The great State of Illinois has stooped to selling cats. % ' Charles Ni loon an Alton boy, caught a nine-pound carp with his hand near Hop Hollow, Mo. He saw the fish in 4 he water near the ice, which he broke. Then he grabbed the fish. Young Nelson marketed his prize on the Alton x Pecks for 90 cents. - oe William E. Coughenour, wife of a loca! dairyman, Connellsville, Pa., kicked at a rooster which had been chas- pins the children and which made an attack on her. The soster dodged and her foot struck a stone, breaking one of the large bones of the foot. E-Djcaster confronted Beloit College seniors recently five oe before time to stage the annual college play. Marie Radcliffe, Milwaukee, leading woman, appeared for the al rehearsal unable to speak above a whisper. Dr. K. P. Waugh, professor of psychology, who, Dee. 20, cured > hypnotism the blindness of A. H. Chase, River Falls, Vis., solved the predicament. He treated Miss Radcliffe und in:one hour she oe the part without a break in Sachi Bookwalter, while ploughing on his farm in : Amanda Township, near Findlay, Ohio, saw a snake crawl ‘into a small opening in the ground. He investigated, picked up a shovel, and witha little digging discovered a ail cave occupied by scores of snakes. Mr. Bookwalter lied for help and when the small army of men were rough with +the slaughter 125 had been killed. All ¢ of the blue racer variety. Several of the larger ones owed Aght, but. they were killed without much trouble. While William Sedan: of near Giuesell: Ind., was en- deavoring to exterminate lice on his pigs by using kerosene, lighted toreh fell into the pan of oil. There was a flash, d the next instant a terrified, oil-soaked porker dashed r the open, a mass of flames. Soon a half-dozen hogs ‘e ablaze. All dashed out and circled the yard a couple and water. ner was saved From an orereunply of roast pork. forced to listen to the music. the machine and was trying it out. from the arms of his mistress. Hie raced through the house, chewing its paws. times and, returning to the pen, set it on fire. One of shoats hit upon a bright idea and dashed for a pool of The others then followed suit and the eld ‘befexo a canted music. machine, a a big collie be- ing io Miss Jane Detrick, of New Market, Md., was to dog heaven. The dog died in an hour after be- Miss Detrick had just ‘She wanted to hear the music and held the animal before the ment. The dog whined piteously and finally wrig- After getting loose ing that the dog “had _gone mad, Miss Detrick sent. veterinarian, who announced that the dog, which wis anim] had. eyed sree eee | hominy which he sold, realizing 40 cents. - Kegther: bought popeorn with her penny and 1 ed task of the etal corn. ate ne wi On authority of a writ of attachment, Deputy Sheriff J. H. Root, of South Beloit, went to Rockton, IIl., three miles south of Beloit, and conducted the sale of four An- gora kittens to satisfy demands of creditors of Fred Toenges, proprietor of the Rockton Bank, whose disap- pearance last November was followed by the discovery of the absence of the $3,000 of deposits in the bank. The cats were sold to Mrs. Edith Stevens of Rockton for $18. _ There were two other bidders. Mrs. Stevens says she can sell for $50 the highest-priced tabby for which the sheriff received $7. The disposal of the cats brings the total realized from Toenges’ personal property up to about $1,400. It is believed that the liabilities of the bank are $3,000. The -proposed new Turkish capital, Broussa, lying at the foot of Mount Olympus, is the capital of the Turkish Vilayet of Khodavendighiar, or Broussa, one of the richest provinces of the Ottoman Empire, noted for its great mineral and agricultural wealth, its mineral springs, large forests and valuable industries. The city of Broussa is an active business town of 80,000 inhabitants celebrated for — its export of silk. It is some sixty miles a little west of south from Scutari, the suburb of Constantinople on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus. Broussa was the first Otto- man capital and continued so during the reign of the first six Sultans, and here are found their tombs. The pride of Broussa is the mosque called the Yeschil jama or Green Mosque, from the minarets covered with precious green tiles that once adorned it. The exterior is adorned with richly-earved marble and the interior with brilliant colored tiles. It contains the tomb of Mahommed, its builder. There are other mosques scarcely less notable. How 700 Lincoln pennies grew into $175 in a year won related at the Methodist Sunday-school, Frankfort, Ind. The school wishes a new chapel, and the superintendent decided to test the practicability of the “Parable of the Talents.” possible during the year. composed of sixty-seven young women, reported made $31.37 from the sixty-seven pennies. The class was next, turning in $26.69. The home depar ment class was avelose third with $25. Reports from. of the little children were interesting. Georgia or bought an egg with her penny, hatched a chicken, raised the chicken and sold it for $1. Russell Eubank box penny’s worth of white corn; his mother made He distributed 700 pennies among the 700 pu- pils, who were told to increase the amount as much as — As the classes and pupils were called on to make their report, the Y. W.B. ©. class, Oxford

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‘ furs =? vs _FAME | _ THE GOLDEN bea ee Sen || Seem TWO BOYS’ SEARCH FOR NO-NO. LAND | : By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY), CHAPTER XUI (continued). _ “My friends,” said Frank, “I’m not here to do fighting. ~ Tam simply on a journey through your land, and my de- sire is to be on friendship with all the inhabitants of the country. As I have done nothing to provoke you in any way, I = entitled to ask you why you threaten one of ~ my party.” "There wa’ no response, but the uplifted arms of the na- tives did not descend, eat the spears were still ready to be hurled. - “What's all this?” cried Ben Burton, as he arrived on the scene. _ “Shiver me! But we'll settle ajl that, an’ mighty quick, too. We'll just drill a few holes in their black hides with bullets, and that will do the business.” As Ben was raising his rifle to his shoulder to put his ideas into instant effect, Frank stopped him. _. “Ben’s right!” cried Tack. _ “You’re both wrong,” answered Frank, aa _ “Do you want to kill Edith?” “What a question!’ retorted Jack, indignantly. give my life for her.” . “Same bere,” said Ben. “You're ct talking sense, | Frank, this time. Those fellows are only armed with Spears, and with our guns we can do just as we please.” “Ben,” said Frank, “you don’t seem to understand the “Pd : position of ro: The instant we commence an attack, rae Edith will be killed. We are strong enough, I believe, to overpower the blacks, but this is an occasion. whens strength doesn’t help us.” ‘“Shipmate, you've - made things plain,” answered Bia. Fete “We can’t see ae, pest Try what talk 239 Jack,” =a the black. \ haps» we are their friends, = i een vy threatening Miss Edi th4 z took AND AND FORTUNE: WEEELY. tbe Sais iad) impossible.” Se Wes can’t trust you. 2m Fes) that’s a good idea.” “T get them occasionally, Frank.” Evidently this proposal had some effect, for they benall talking together in a wildly-excited way, and the spears — were once more rested on the ground. “Tt’s all right,” cried Frank, joyfully. “Thanks to me.”. P “T don’t care, Jack, who gets the credit, as long as_ Edith is safe, Come along; Edith,” he shouted. “It’s.all — right now.’ “Don’t you move a step, miss,” suid a voice every one recognized, and then, to complete their astonishment, as_ the ranks of the natives parted, 2 white man appeared and they saw that it was Jim Morgan. The three parties now formed a triangle, Morgan and. his band being much nearer Edith than Frank and his friends were. This was an advantage which it was diffi- | cult to overcome. Td like to take a shot at that villain,” said ack an-— ily oY ow *re not the only one,” observed Ben, “but as Tieak said just now, we’re in a tight corner and have to be care- ful. 3 . “What’s the meaning of all this, Morgan ?” asked Frank. > “Tf you have, any ground of complaint against us, why don’t you come out like a man and not attack a girl?” — “If I have any ground of complaint,” echoed Morgan, mockingly. “Say, but yon’ve a cocl hand, you have, to ask such a question. You stole my boat and left me to starve in an African forest. I suppose I ought to thank — you. »? a - “You brought all your hides on yourself, Hora and you have only yourself. to blame. If you want any-— thing in reason now, I am willing to grant it. We have © a little food we can spare, and you can have it if ae, d like. ” “T want more than food.” : Dons beat about the bush. Save time ne tell us right : out. “I want to get back with you same as I was before ae \ trouble.” | : >> Phe BARS Yaa she Foyt Fie +3 righ. ‘ ‘ V Recollect ‘6 trae ftivovgie me that 3 Grito” fge oe. i

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§ 1A _ FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 21 square you. If. we find the gold, Morgan, you shall Bt share of it just the same as if you were With us. ©That won’t do. You'v ve got to take me along. Say, do you think I like traveling around with a pack of nig- ers? Well, I guess not. I want some one I can talk to, and as you won’t bring me back of your own free will, ‘T've got to bring you to terms.” § With this, Morgan turned and spoke to some of the acks that were with him, and instantly half a dozen set off on the run for Edith. Before Frank could interfere *y was a captive. _ “Fire a shot!” roared Morgan, “and the girl dies. Keep “quiet, and she'll be as well treated as if she were with “The talk’s interesting,” said Ben, “but it seems to me that Edith ought to be the one to think about now. The other subject will keep.” = “Right you are, Ben,” exclaimed Jack. “Although, there isn’t really any hurry, because we can’t do anytee: until night.” “That’s true, Jack, but there’ s something,” said Frank, “that we ought to do quickly.” “What is it?” “We must have our scouts out to watch Morgan. If he moved away without our knowing where he had gone, we might never see Edith again. Fortunately, those fellows have no boat, so they can’t travel by water.” é “How do you know that, Frank 2” “Because, if they had a boat, they wouldn’t have tried to steal ours. We must set Tom and another native out to keep watch.” “Reckon we’d better go ourselves,” said Ben. “Always believe in doing the work myself, if I want it well done.” ~ “In this case, Ben, it must be left to others. At any instant an attack may be made on our boat and if we were away, do you suppose Tom and the other blacks would stand a show?” , The argument was unanswerable, so Tom was called: over and given his instructions. He was told to keep out of sight as much as possible, and the dangerous nature of his work was impressed upon him. But Tom laughed at the idea, of any harm happening to him. In common with thé rest of the boat’s crew, he simply worshipped Edith. She had always spoken to and treated the black men kindly, and they were only too glad of the chance of doing something in return. - After the black men had gone, Frank and his friends had their dinner, though they had no appetite. In fact, it was only through Ben’s persuasion that they took any food. “Tf you don’t eat, you can’t fight,” said the old sailor. — After eating, they sat for several hours gazing out over the river, hardly a word passing between them.’ From time to time, a messenger was sent out for news, and came back with messages from Tom that Morgan was still camped near the river and showed no signs of ore: i ing up camp and getting on the march. Jack and Ben eventually became talkative, and first one and then the other propounded a plan whereby Edith’s release might be effected. Frank was really listening what was being said, although his thoughts appeared to — be elsewhere. He said nothing, because he had not heard te one plan that appeared to possess any merit. Scarcely hi one plan been submitted and rejected than anothe was immediately proposed, and then as quickly dropped. _ And so, at last darkness came on, and | no progress | been made. “Tt seems to me that we're not | “We're in a very great fix, Jack,” observed CHAPTER XIV. THE FIRE BY THE RIVER. Morgan waved his hand and immediately Edith was ought toward him. A moment later Edith was being en toward the bushes from which Morgan had recently de his appearance. “Tet’s shoot!” cried Jack. “He would never dare to y out his threat of injuring Edith.” “No, no,” said Ben. “Keep still. You don’t know Mor- in as ee as I do, my lad. ““He’s capable of anything.” Meanwhile, Edith and her captors had all disappeared, 1 for a moment Frank and his friends were so horror- en that they could not find their tongues.” “He must have a boat there,” said Jack, at length. “We'll find out very soon.” “Tf we can release Edith in no other way,” answered , “I have no objection, but I won’t have a traitor ne camp if I ean help it.” ‘A long discussion took place as to the best way of res- ing Edith, and this talk put an end to a very alarming dent. Frank heard a noise near the river. At first ought, as did his companions, that it was some wild al creeping up through the bushes. Then the real ming of the sounds burst on them like a flash. “Quick! Quick!” he goed, ‘Springing to his fect. “They after our boat!” ive to the new ie which threatened them, they hed across the sandy waste which separated them from ver, and, as they got near, they saw several black | going: down the bank toward the boat. Morgan ¥ was to be seen. _ “Fire over their heads, Ben! !” cried Frank. “Give them Scare! That’s all that will be needed.” . Crack! Crack! : irec! tly the rifles rang out, the natives, who evidently very. whore fear of these veariaesy ‘turned and

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22 FAME AND FORTUNE. WEEKLY. ITEMS OF INTEREST 3s. HIS FIRST BATH IN TWENTY YEARS. ~ “It’s beyond me. I never saw anything like it; that must be healthy dirt,” said William Brown, orderly at the Mandan Hospital, Mandan, N. Dak., as he dropped into a chair to rest. He had just finished giving Mike Keating, aged 101 years, the first bath Keating had taken in twenty years. Keating came to North Dakota in 1875 and was once well-to-do. He lost his property by fire and for years has been living alone in a little shack. He will now be cared for by the county. 4 PAYS AN OLD DEBT. ' A. D. Stubbs of Carden Bottom, six miles south of At- kin, Ark., received from the postoffice there a dollar and the following letter of explanation: “A. D, Stubbs—Dear Friend: Please find inclosed $1 for one turkey I killed of fours twenty-seven years ago in the woods near the mouth of Petit Jean River. This . turkey was taken to George Shoemaker’s and we cooked it and ate it. I am serving heaven. Will you please for- - give me for this sinful act? L. R. Eagan. ” . The letter was mailed at Kansas City. Mr. Stubbs re-’ members Eagan well, but was not aware of the killing of the turkey. _ Mr. Stubbs at once applied the dollar to the cause of foreign missions. : ~ AUTOS IN SNOW BEAT STAGES IN ALASKA. - Bob Sheldon has again established his automobile stage line over the big trail to Chitina, Alaska, in the dead of winter and in the face of almost unanimons belief that it _ would be a failure. He cut down the axles of his ma- ' chines a foot, narrowing them to a 44-inch tread; This enables the driver to stay on the packed sled trail, giving him a few inches on each side of the track for swerving. The machine at the Chitina end left there in the morn- ing and made Meier’s roadhouse, 120 miles, in time for ‘supper. The horse stage requires two days and a half to make the trip that far. From Meier’s across the Alaskan range to Rapids the trip is made by double-ender by. both stages, then the auto picks up its passengers and puts them into Fairbanks, 137 miles. = ‘The auto stages last fall did practically all of the pas- _ senger business and the experiment now being tried is one _ of interest to everybody, including Congress, where road ap- trail by: 3 unusual method to the North has been made. ae AIRMEN DROP BOMBS. r ago Lieutenant Varcin of the French army, from rif 800 feet, struck a mia with his ee as! _ propriations are up this session. A second trip over the}. ~'stufed re apa rele sideration that Varcin not only hurled these bombs him- self, but acted as his own pilot. The method of working is as follows: machine, which is usually of canvas, has an opening in front so as to give the aviator a view ahead. At his feet he may Jook straight down. Thus his vision covers every- thing ahead and below. At the aviator’s right is a steel bomb-holder. This remains closed until the aviator, by bringing his leg to one side, drops taut a connecting cord attached to the end of the holder. This opens the holder, releasing the bomb. The apparatus at once closes, a second shell meantime replacing the first. The matter of aiming is not quite so simple- the hole, directly beneath the aviator, is stretched a cord divided into equal parts by various colors, red, blue, ete. In front of the aviator is stretched a cord against which he rests his head while he aims. As he aims, meantime look- ing at the colored sections of the cord below to give him a means of sighting, he suddenly jerks his leg, thus dropping the bomb. That is the method Lieutenant Warein em- ployed in his wonderful successes in his experiments of a year ago. That is the method employed by the daring aviators in their service in the present war. FARMER KILLS TWENTY SNAKES BEFORE ; BREAKFAST. Tsrael Wakeman, a farmer living in the northern part of Delaware County, Ind., says that when he went to the barn on his place at dawn recently and reached into a buggy to obtain a hitching strap, his hand came in con- tact with something cold and caused him*to investigate, with the result that he saw, by the light from his barn lan- tern, the gleaming eves of a huge blacksnake. The reptile seemed apathetic, and he had little difficulty in killing it with a club. It measured 6 feet 2 inches long. Then on going into the stall where the family driving horse was kept, he found her shivering with fright, and in spite of the cool air, she was sweating and her eyes gave every indication of terror. Wakeman investigated and found the manger fairly alive with a squirming mass of blacksnakes, all much smaller than the one found in the buggy. They gave battle when Wakeman attacked them with a pitchfork. However, he killed thirteen, and thinks three or four escaped. One in attempted flight wrapped itself about Wakeman’s leg and struck at him viciously, - but did no harm. In an adjoining stall was a big, gray mule, and about its feet were five or six reptiles similar to thodd’ in the |manger. One measured more than 4 feet long. The mule was quietly munching hay, apparently not caring about his neighbors. Wakeman killed these snakes also and He thinks the snakes were hibernating near the barn, and the warm then proceeded to the house for breakfast. weather and thawing ground caused them to think spring }was here. He will have the akin e He Seri Nee soe The hood of the. Aeross < ee ee ee ee ee a ee ee ee oe =

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CHAPTER XVIII (continued). r, boys feel decidedly uneasy. “T"}] bet a detachment of the Spanish forces have landéd up the coast and attacked the patriots who have been left in care of the camp!” exclaimed Dick. “Faith, if there’s enough of the blackguards,” replied Ned, with a frown, “it’s whipped they'll have the Cubans. “What worries me is that Fanita is in the camp.” - “Holy mackerel! I forgot all about her!” Ned) I’m going back to the camp.” _ “It’s nearly half a mile from here.” “Come on! The attacking party here is retreating.” “Where is Mario Peralta?” ’ “Lying wounded upon the deck over there.” “Poor lad! I hope he isn’t badly hurt.” _ “We have no time to atiend to him now.’ ~ “You ask leave of the captain to land, a Tl find out show badly the poor boy is injured.” _» This suggestion was ‘followed. _ Dick easily gained the captain’s consent to their de- parture, and Ned hastened up to Mario. The Cuban boy lay upon his side upon the deck. _- “TF say, old fellow !” cried Ned, anxiously. ’ Mario did not reply. “We are going ashore,” said Ned, bending over him. ‘Are yeu too badly injured to come With us?” Still Mario did not answer. s Ned seized him and turned him over. “Dead !” This ery burst from Ned’s pale lips the next moment. = ‘Yes—poor Mario was indeed dead! A bullet had pierced the brave young patriot’s bint, and he fell with a rifle in his hand while gallantly fight- ing for the land of his birth. ‘He lived a brave helper, and he died like ‘ a true sol- dier. At this moment Dick approached. be” With tears streaming from his eyes, Ned silently pointed at the prostrate form, ‘his heart too full for utterance, and ~ @ troubled look upon his face. a >t) ‘Dick saw what had happened. He turned as pale as snow. and then sadly’ turned away, muttering hoarsely : ie heaven | receive his soul.” to that, ee tones. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. » For a moment he gazed at the set feasts of his friend | 23— Two Yankee Boys in Cuba as Er, See FIGHTING WITH THE PATRIOTS By ED. KING (A SERIAL STORY) “Fle will be taken care of. Let us go, Ned. For the Tn view of what was transpiring, these sounds made the | dead we can do no good—the living demand our aid.” They entered a boat and hastily rowed ashore. Both were well armed, and some of the patriots had promised to follow them in a few minutes. Once landed, the two Yankee boys started at a run in the direction of the camp from whence the shots came, Every few moments they could hear the reports of fire- arms, and ‘hear the voices of men shouting. “The Cubans are making a strong defense,” said Dick as they sped along. “There were.no more than fifty left in the camp, but heaven only knows how many of the enemies are assailing them.” “Sure, they’ll need plenty assistance, I think.” In ten minutes the boys reached the scene of the fray and then observed that the Cubans were attacked: by a ~ troop of militia, and not marines, as they Fae The camp was almost surronnded. \ Hiding in the bushes, behind the rocks, and j in otlier places of security, the Spanish troops were. mending’ a dropping fire in upon the camp. ‘ All the Cubans had entrenched themselves behind the first available barrier; but they were so poorly proleggen. that they were being shot down rapidly. 5 It made the boys’ blood run cold to see the slaughter going on, and fired their blood to aid their friends. “By heavens! Fanita may get shot down with the rest!” muttered Dick, in tones of alarm. ; “We can’t get through the Spanish lines without getting riddled with bullets,” said Ned, dubiously. “It certainly is dangerous to attempt it, But I'll go mad if-I have to remain here perfectly inactive, and hae, : to think of the danger threatening her.” We 4 “Don’t get impatient now, Dick.” » Pen “Can't you suggest a plan?” : “There’s only one thing to do.” “And that?” “T'o go. back to thé’ boat and get help.” “You go then.” “All right. But hadn’t you better come ery “No: TH remain hére until you return.” “Faith, you'll be exposed to great danger.” “Qh, don’t you worry. I can take care ae 1? = LS ans "Very well—but, Dick, be careful.” Se

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= FAME ism, a si pare point Dick waiched the flight going on, and then a most thrilling incident occurred. ‘One of the, Spaniards gave an order to the rest to charge on the camp and take it by storm. _ “There are not fifty men guarding the place!” he yelled. _ “By heavens, it is Captain Durango!” muttered Dick, in alarm, “and Fanita may again fall into his clutches!” . Like magic a large number of the (ecspamehes arose from “their places of concealment, A wild rush for the camp followed. Shots were rapidly exchanged, yells were heard, and tien the Cubans beat a rapid retreat into the jungle, where they scattered. By this means they prevented a veritable massacre. Up to the deserted camp rushed the troops, and a few moments later a piercing shriek reached the ears of Dick, and he recognized the tones as Fanita. Out from among the tents came Durango fiercely shld gling with the Cuban girl. ‘He was dragging her toward his horse with the evident intention of leaving his men fighting, while he bore Fanita Bway. Mezddened beyond all endurance by what he saw, the Yankee boy seized a pistol, rushed from his covert to- ward Durango, and shouted furiously : § “Release that girl, you coward, or by heavens I’ll kill you! Release her, I say—release her quick !” _ An imprecation escaped Durango upon seeing the boy, and-as quick as a flash he pulied out his own revolver and began to fire at Dick. 2 . CHAPTER XIX. oe CONCLUSION. + Diek was not slow to follow the example of the desper- ate Spaniard, and in a few moments a deadly duel ensued. _ Fanita, overwhelmed with terror, flung herself upon her knees, and with clasped hands and wild eyes, watched the fighters, ‘ “Rither you or I perish, bchcany<-h !” exclaimed Dick j angrily. a “Yes, carramba! this will settle our feud !” the Spaniard ait ‘Nissed, with a-dark look upon his haggard, drawn face. "6 Bang! bang! went two more shots. _ Only fifty feet separated | the duelists. A sharp twinge of pain at Dick’s side told him that 0 one his enemy’s bullets had struck its mark. Yet the boy did. not falter. e took keen aim and fired again: “YM fix you!” he muttered grimly. _ “Santa Maria, Ym shot!” groaned Durango. Ror a moment it seemed as if he would give up, but ; a den impetuous fit of vengeful rage assailed him. ~ ' lame y wart the Spaniard yelled, as a haven: tigerish | shone in his eyes. “Iam de 3 dead ee ‘ de a rush for Dick. Sy See alized that Duran go designed to ah counts could be no bis part to AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. — 3 Realizing his danger, Dick took deliberate aim while his enemy was preparing to fire. - Bang! went the boy’s weapon. “Gracios mio!” shrieked Durango. He paused, dropped his pistol, and, clapping a hand over the region of his heart, he staggered back.” Fixing an awful, intent glare upon Dick, he fell to the ground—a corpse! For an instant Dick stood motionless. ; A chill of horror passed over him as he realized that he had killed the man. “Tt was his life or mine!” he muttered presently. I not done it, he would surely have killed me.’ As he stood thinking about it, he felt a hand gently touch his arm, and, glancing around, beheld Fanita. ~ “Thank heaven!” the girl muttered, “You have avenged 12? ‘the murder of my father and the injuries done to me!” “Tt was an awful deed, Fanita.” “No—no. It was a fair battle, and this is a time of war. He was your enemy and thirsted for your life.” “Well, he will trouble us no more.” “Let us leave this place ere his friends return.” “Yes—yes—lI’ll take you to the yacht.” Before he could carry out his resolve a large body of. the Spanish troops returned and saw them. “Too late! Too late! We are almost surrounded!” eried Fanita, when she saw them, “Get behind these rocks!” exclaimed the boy. He barely had. time to drag her out of harm’s way when a shower of bullets came whistling sein a them and rattled against the rocks. Dick had reloaded his pistol. He now blazed away. at the troops, and several of them were wounded. It checked the advance of the rest. They held a brief consultation, and then evidently de- cided to make an attack in a body. On they came with a rush. For a few moments it seemed to Dick that their doom ’ was sealed, and he aid tothe girl: “T fear the worst, Fanita.” * “Ah, but I am not afraid to die!” she replied. “Should I fall, it will be in your defense to the last.” ‘Town’ with them! Down with them!’ he heard the Spaniards cry, furiously, and their flying footsteps arrived ’ within a short distance of the rocks, when—— “Cuba libre!” came a shout of the patriots. Ned had met and brought a large party of them. “They came with a cyclonic rush, and they attacked the Spaniards with a vigor that was admirable to see. Shots and yells mingled'in a fearful din. Steel met steel, and man fought man. Observing how matters had turned in their favor, Dick = ‘sprang from behind the rocks, plunged into the eokels 4 of the fray and fought like a demon. _ The battle did not last long. Few of the Spanish troops survived, and those who es- be | ze death on ine as smeeeayr were apeises mens e to kill hm “Had

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“The oldest resident of Nevada is dead in Gatpenn in the b State Prison.. He was was “One-Armed” Jim, a Shoshone _ Indian, and had served twenty-nine years of a life sen- tence. The prison records give his age as 109. A con- _ tinuous silence since the day he was first placed in prison was preserved by the Indian. He was sentenced to be Z _ hanged in 1886 for murder. He was convicted through the testimony of his squaw, who, fearing for her life, produced the pistol used in taking the life of a railroad rr agent. : Folks who ridicule the plan of Hans Wagner to play first base for the Pirates this year can find a notable parallel to his case in the person of Hughey Jennings. Hughey was about the best shortstop of his time when in the heyday of his glory with the old Baltimore Orioles. Finding himself ipping a bit and unable to cover quite as much ground as formerly or with his old agility, he decided to try it at first base. He was almost as much of a success there. Wagner, of course, is older than Jennings was then, but it nust be remembered that Jennings, ete a star of Both in magnitude and duration, Lassen Peak’s eighty- second outbreak on March 20 exceeded all previous erup- ons. Beginning at dawn, a mighty column of > dense lack smoke rose from the voleano’s principal crater and ay a pall over the countryside for miles in all direc- tions. At 3 p.m. the eruption ceased, but for an hour rer ashes continued to fall at points fifteen miles away. Yn March 19 two other vents—one in a desolate region ee miles away from the peak, and known as Bumpas were unusually active. Scientists who inspected n Peak last summer gave this warning: “If Bumpas l wakes up, look out. <6 Harley 04 Kable, who grew up in Masibe County, Kan., nd Miss Flora Powell were married by the Rev. G. C. . a former Dickinson County man, in Lewiston, ., and will take an 800-mile ride on horseback into heggaes is Nevada as their wedding trip. Both are riders and four strong pack horses will carry a ete outfit for outdoor living. They spent five days ng to Lewiston, from their homes beyond the Bearpaw crossing the Missouri River on the ice to ‘ton. ‘There was no minister closer than fifty miles g the Canadian line. They are young people and to enjoy their romantic. honeymoon trip, which will mine ns middle of April. : ‘than two years 202 wiles were killed in Travis Texas, according to figures compiled by the comp- *s office force, In addition to the wildeats, eighty- lobo or gray wolves and one coyote met death Travis ‘County | hwiters. For the sealps - : FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ae _ TIMELY TOPICS of 79 “a by the Legislature, paid hunters $458.25. The total amount of money paid in the different counties by the State for bounties was $99,987.25. This sum was distributed among 177 counties. Crockett County was the greatest bene- ficiary, $5,137.50 having been paid that county for the killing of 1,170 wolves, 579 wildcats and 416 coyottes, Several counties received $2,000 or more. In all 68,267 coyotes, 21.665 wildcats, 8,592 wolves and ten Mexican lions were killed in the various counties of the State from Sept. 1, 1912, to April 1, 1914, according to the aioe issued by the comptroller. President Lowell, of Harvard University, has some sen- sible as well as most timely remarks in the current issue of Harvard Illustrated, declaring that the need of prepara- tion for war is real. “The war in Europe,” he says, “has taught us many things, and we should be indeed dull if we learned nothing from such a cataclysm in the history of civilization. We have learned, first, that war is in- evitable even for a nation that does not seck it. We have learned, also, that modern warfare marches so rapidly that’ there is no time to organize a defensive force after it be- gins. We have learned, in the third place, that the gréat- est need of a country with a small standing army is a body of trained officers. With them armies can be recruited and drilled in a comparatively short time. Without them the, creation of an efficient defensive force is almost impossi- ble.” President Lowell suggests that college undergradu- ates would make ideal officers after a summer or two in; the National Government summer camps. “Sensible men insure their houses and a sensible people will prepare to defend their soil,” he ended. - An elopement party was given by Miss Bessie Rogers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rogers, of White County, living twelve miles north of Lafayette, Ind., re- cently. The hostess is now Mrs. George Luck. Her hus- band is the nineteen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Luck, neighbors of the Rogers family. The bride is six- teen years old. She and Luck had been sweethearts two — years. They asked their parents for permission to wed, but failed to obtain consent. Then they planned to Tun away. Luck has an automobile and the machine aided — them in carrying out their plan. Miss Rogers invited a # number of friends to her home one evening. Luck was ; one of the guests. During the festivities the hostess: in ate formed her guests’that she and Luck were going. Fone short automobile ride and would give them all a surprise. Soon after the automobile left the house the girl’s mother — became suspicious. She investigated and found ae daughter had packed all of her clothing and left-a note in which she bade her goodby. The parents tried to te fo Chalmers, the nearest town, but found the elopi ple had been married i in Chicago. The seme aan oe gr ote 3

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26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, APRIL 16, 1916. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Write your name Haxny FE. Wotrr, Presiden Ror L. McCargpet., Tice President er jon Wourv, Treasurer Cuanies E. Nrtaxpen, GOOD CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES “Samuel H. Bowman and Richard D. Grimsley caught a catfish weighing 137 pounds in a net in the Ohio River near the mouth of the Great Miami River. It was the largest fish ever caught in the river in this vicinity. Their lives were endangered before Grimsley shot the fish and ~ Janded it. Bowman was hurled ten feet by the big fish in its struggle for liberty, and fell into about tw enty feet of water. However, he was able to swim back to the boat. Frank Tousey, Pubtisher 168 West 23d St., N. Y. wie The snow bath craze, which created a sensation at Coney Island, when a large number of young persons romped gayly in the snow, clad only in bathing suits, has struck Sheboygan, Wis. Hazel and Mamie Zabel, outdoor sport enthusiasts and horsewomen of ability, tried out the new stunt and enjoyed a full-fledged “swim” in the snow. ; Then they ran around the block clad in bathing suits only, to the wonderment and amazement of a number of citizens. Fasting may be good for some men, but it seems neces- sary that in order to write well one should possess .a hearty appetite and satisfy it. Fielding, Thackeray, Macaulay, Dickens and Browning were all good. eaters, so were Goethe and Lessing, Hugo, Flaubert and Zola. As for Balzac, his normal dinner at the Cafe Very, Paris, con- sisted of eight dozen oysters, twelve cutlets, a duckling, a pair of partridges, a sole and the usual balance of lesser dainties. Balzac’s capacity for hard work was only equaled by Bepeess s, yet Napoleon ate sparingly. — C7852 - _ 2 Alfred Grenda, the Australian cyclist, who has returned _. from West Baden, where, with Alfred Goullet, he -went __ through some preliminary training stunts, declares that he has conipletely recovered from the effe ots of-his operation _ for appendicitis and looks forward to one of his best’ vears e track. Grenda says that last year he was stricken ‘lazy spells, due to his troublesome appendix, but now with: it removed, he will compete with his old-time vigor. a boosts his countryman, Goullet, as the probable the American championship this vear. that Goutlet will defeat: Kramer. Jack Neville. Grenda start of his professional dling Goulet One million German pigs have been fillefed on the 3 civilian population of Belgium. The pigs: must be-fed and eared for by the Belgians, who, without distinction as to class, must perform this service. One of the wealthiest inhabitants of Brussels has been compelled to take twelve | hogs on what he styles “reduced rates by the: week.” His poorest neighbors have at least one pig to a family. For some time there have been reports of a shortage of ‘fodder in Germany, whereas the amount in Belgium is nearly normal. Hence the importation of the swine. Belgians are concerned lest the presence of the pigs should result in a further depletion of the already scanty supply of the food necessary for the people. With their customary thoroughness the German authorities have devised an elab- orate system of billeting the pigs and obtaining reports as to their condition. The distribution system has broken down occasionally, however, with the result that oceupants of apartments and flats have found themselves saddled with the care of several animals. The billeting regulations include provisions for compulsory health reports and vital statistics. GRINS AND CHUCKLES “Now, my son, I shall give you some advice about keep- ing money.’ money first, pa?” He és practical economist)—Darling, do you return my love? She—vWell, it’s the only thing you have ever given me that. I ¢an return. “Nora, you must always sweep. behind the doors,” said the housekeeper. “Yis’m, I always does; it’s the aisiest- way of getting the dust out of sight.” — fe His Friend—What part did you find most difficult when you were on the stage? Footlights—Trying to live up to the salary I told my friends I was drawing. “I hope you don’t mind children?” said the lady who “Oh, no; I avers leave 7 . was engaging a new servant. missus to look after them,” replied the girl. _She—Can you keep a secret? He—Well, it depends a good deal on how rough the weather’s going to be. It’s — hard to tell what a fellow can keep on board ship. Boating heute Mistress (at Sunday dinner)—Mr. Jones. why do you not eat some chicken? Mr. Jones (who has labored fifteen minutes trying to carve a leg) Thanks; I never work on Sunday. “Do you want a boy?” he asked of the magpate of the 4 “Nobody wants — “Do you need a boy?” asked — office, standing before him cap in hand. a boy,” replied the magnate. the applicant, nowise abashed. “Nobody needs a boy.” The hoy would notgive up. “Well, say, mister,” quired, “do. you have to have a boy?” lapsed. you’ re about seid Mg waits Pie oe “Wouldn’t it be better to give me a little ‘4 he in- The magnate col- “T’'m sorry to say we do,” he said, fee 5 ers

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THE CAPTURE AND THE ESCAPE. By Paul Braddon _ Twenty- five years ago important mails were carried from’ st. J oseph, ‘Missouri, to Sacramento by a postal system Called the pony-rider express. — There were eighty riders and four hundred pomies in dg his. service. The rider whose adventure I am about to relate was a ather diminutive man, weighing about one hundred and en pounds, and was known on the route simply as Chubby. _ At ten o’clock one dark night, while going west, through persral Kansas, he arrived at Steel Plate, one of the ange stations. ie | “The mail agent at the station informed him that the In- s had Fated a settlement about three miles south of trail, between that point and Black Kettle, the next ion, and had cut off communication between the two aces, and that the mail carrier, who should have reached steel Plate that day from the west, had not been heard He also informed Chubby that the rider who had reached Steel Plate the day before had not dared to make the trip between there and Black Kettle until his (Chubby’s) ar- --Yival. _ “Who is he?” Chubby inquired. “Tt’s Jchnny Scully,” replied the agent. Chubby laughed. Scully was a big, marneadet Trishman, the tallest man on the line. ” Me He talked in a deep bass voice, wore fierce whiskers, and oked like a man whom a mele tribe of Indians might try dia ns a > th =? n to intimidate. ‘bere i is little Johnny ?” Chubby asked, “If he’s go- ug to ride to Black Kettle with me, he’s got to be ready e of five minutes.” Scully was found, and he tried hard to dissuade Chubby undertaking the perilous ride. ut the little fellow was obstinate, and finally Scully got upon his horse, with a yery ill-grace, and both set out r Black Kettle. he night was dark when they started, much to the ction of both of them; for if the pedekins were darkness was their only safety, The steed which Scully bestrode was a spirited Morgan, minded his weight as nothing, while Chubby’s was one e best on the line—a Royal George stallion. ; : animals were uted to the road, and cantered briskly h the darkness with sure-footed speed, he riders had proceeded but a_few miles, however, the moon rose, casting a bright light over the smooth beneath them, every spot on whose surface was ‘isible from the elevated table-land over which, the led. ‘ don’t like this? sid Seully, picidegiy reining in his d. te “nay * FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. “The Indians are between here and Black Kettle. thats smoke all day. If they were on the ‘that so” small be tn should make — a berms: see:them now. We can’t see them, so I sistance. | iin, ah eT risk it by going through there, if you’ve a mind to, but Pve.got a wife and children, and I’ll throw up my place on the mail and be called the biggest coward on the plains before I’ll ride into certain death with my eyes open.” Chubby saw that it was useless to argue with him, and he accordingly started cn alone. Scully watched: him a few moments, and then turned his horse’s head toward Steel Plate. The hollow toward which the pony-rider was going needs a word of description. The mail route was laid over a high hill, which at this point declined abruptly into the hollow. In order to make the descent possible for a horse, a “dug- way” about five feet in width was cut down the declivity. Consequently, on one side rose a heavily-timbered hill, while on the other the land sloped, almost perpendicularly, to a narrow gulch between two hills. In the bottom of the gulch was a small stream, which even in midday could harily. be seen through the nek underbrush. A better spot for an ambush eoela hardly be found, As Chubby reached this spot his nerves pan vibrated with excitement. He was as positive he was running into ambush as’ if he had seen the Indians. _ The first intimation he had of their presence was the sound of a rifle-shot, and the Royal George sprang into the air and fell dead. Chubby no sooner felt the horse falling under him than he sprang to the ground. There was but one way of escape for him. Above were the Indians. Five hundred feet below was the gulch and a chance of concealment in the bushes. Five Indians sprang from concealment, and, not daring to attempt the descent, commenced firing in the direction of the rapidly-receding figure of the white man, Chubby stumbled and fell. He lay where he fell till the dim light of morning began to make objects around him visible. Then he crawled deeper into the ‘hilestiaasle intending to go through the gorge and come out on the prairie, Bop- ing thus to throw the Indians off his trail. As he neared the narrow outlet between the hills he heard a slight rustling in the bushes,: and immediately dropped down on all- fours. After a moment, however, he crept toward the sivcam to reconnoiter, The next moment a heavy weight fell ~~ him, ae he felt his arms pinioned. He struggled desperately, but the inne fier his captor was an Indian—pyshed his face into the soft mud of. the — creek bank till he was almost smothered, and then we ously tied his hands with a whipcord, probably ttle: from fed some prairie schooner. Having thus secured his prisoner, the Indian pulled him ‘to his feet, and looked him over, apparently wondering» i ayicar ates =

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_ like a lamb with a blue ribbon. . she'd donk the string and chirp to me as if I was an old 28 FAME stooping shoulders, wearing a pair of blue-jean overalls and a plaid shawl. The shawl was tied around his body by a woman’s gauze veil, twisted into a string. Those two articles of his dress had probably a tragic history. On his lead the savage wore a battered silk hat, which was decorated with feathers, and his feet were encased in regular Indian moccasins. "Truly a noble-looking object was this untrammeled child of the wilderness. For arms the redskin carried a muzzle-loading nie € or carbine, a long knife, and a small hatchet of civilized manufacture, such as carpenters call a lath-hatchet. After scrutinizing him, Chubby’s captor motioned him to walk in the direction from whence he came, following him so closely that escape was impossible. “In this way he proceeded through the gorge and out on the prairie, where they were met by a band of five braves with six squaws and a dozen children. ~ Chubby’s captor seemed to be the chief, and the captive learned from one of the Indians, who spoke a little Eng- lish, that his name was Sleepy Bullock. -After being joined by their chief, the party set out to- asses the south. : E as string about four feet long was attached to the whip- ook: which confined Chubby’s hands, and the task of lead- ing him was consigned to an old squaw, who also carried a young pappoose. - At the beginning of the march she was about to saddle the pappoose upon the prisoner’ s back; but Sleepy Bullock vetoed this, much to Chubby’s joy. eat you.ever want to feel small,” said Chubby, “just wait till you’re led around with a string by a greasy old squaw, Whenever Id lag a little, horse.” About four o’clock in the afternoon the Endipns stopped for the night. _ Chubby was now searched, and most of his clothes were i taken away. _ ‘The mailbag was also Rincabenéd, and soon the braves _ were busy tearing the postage stamps from the letters. With these they proceeded to adorn themselves—not ac- ee 3 cording to the rules of any decorative art society. Tn one of the letters Sleepy Bullock.found a photograph, Fe lt which, after admiring, he hung around his neck by a string. It was the picture of an elderly gentleman, and was prob- _ ably sent by a father in the East to some far-away son, who little imagined into what rude hands-it would fall. Later in the day, the braves went out on a hunting ex- pedition, leaving Chubby, who was tied with his back to a ; _ evinced a great deal of interest in him. he Indians had flat noses. 3 flattened that organ by pressing a finger on it. AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. As they seemed. to enjoy this, and repeated it several times, Chubby grew desperate and bit one of his tormentors’ fingers. This had a good effect, for after that they experimented with a hatchet-handle. When the braves returned, Chubby was given his supper, and was then allowed to sleep, his hands and feet being se- eurely.tied. The next day was a repetition of its predecessor. The Indians kept on toward the south, Chubby still in charge of the squaw, who fed him at noon with her fingers. The third day a drove of buffaloes made their appear- ance at some distance, and braves, pappooses and squaws joined in a hunt, leaving Chubby and his jaileress alone. The squaw was anxious to see the sport, and she there- fore tied her prisoner’s tether to a tree, and, still keeping him in sight, went a little distance to watch her com- panions. Getting interested; she finally left him altogether. Now was his chance. He picked the knot which held him to the tree with his teeth, and by a gymnastic feat brought his hands over his head, and untied the whipcord as he had the other knot. He had now only to untie his feet, but his hands and arms were so numb from confinement that it was half an hour before he could use them. When at last liberty rewarded his efforts, he crawled on 4 his hands and knees four or five miles, till he came to the backtrack of the buffaloes, where he knew he would be likely to find white hunters. He was successful, and met friends the next morning. | en > ite ee , ONE MAN VOTED 22 TIMES. A record for voting twenty-two times in one day was claimed by Fred Eisner, who testified recently in the trial of the Terre Haute election case. The witness testified that he confined his operations to three precincts, and with one exception received $1 for each time he voted. He said he was cheated out of the other dollar, as the paymaster said “I had made enough money already.” challenged only once during the day, he said. Evidence bearing on the alleged “training school for witnesses,” which United States District Attorney Frank C. Dailey described in his opening statement, also was introduced. “Hilton Redman, a defendant, came to me while the 4 Federal Grand Jury was in session and said that all the boys were sitting tight, ” testified William Hughes, who has pleaded guilty. “He instructed me to keep under cover, but if I were caught to keep quiet on the election — other in regard to the Federal investigation.” -alone with the squaws and their offspring, all of whom} - Albert Mast, another of the eighty-eight who have plead- ‘ ed guilty, testified that he was 21 years of age on — day and celebrated it by voting six times. mubby’s was of a Grecian cast, and several of the dusky} Most of the confessed fraudulent voters testified that | they had been told to report on election morning at police g it in this position, they would step back an| headquarters, where Chief of Police Holler gave them’ a vegard him with head beeen ude aide ~~ a horse and buggy in which they drove through Terre — recinet they bsrian. ES: eR Fe ee eS ee eT ee EET Ee eS my eee :: stuff. Hilton said he had seen all the boys but me and an- q : Eisner was ;

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_ As an emergency precaution the fire department of) ew York City has established a telephone fire alarm sys- tem, Should there be a breakdown of the existing fire alarm system a signal will be sent out notifying the police as well as the fire companies, and at once men will be sta- ‘tioned at the fire alarm boxes. Then when a man runs the nearest firebox to turn in an alarm, he will find “some one stationed there who will send in the alarm over he police lines. Tn the trial of one L. S$. Menary, on an assault charge the Superior Court, Bellingham, Wash., the defendant ised a ripple of amusement in the courtroom. Menary Said his business was gathering empty bottles. He said he had been operating in Anacortes, but was advised to shift to 9 Bellingham, a dry town, He said he did so, aud soon ‘after his arrival there he made a shipment of fourteen of “dead soldiers” picked up in alleys and divers s about the city. we Milan hen, according to information coming from be hat, is considered a reliable source in the town east) of ndusky, Ohio, famed as the birthplace of [Thomas A. on, the inventor, finds a wooden leg every bit as useful he genuine article. The hen is owned by Leonard ll, Lake Shore Electric conductor, who carved. the leg of a piece of hickory with a pocketknife and fastened it with piaster-of-paris ‘and bicycle tape. The hen broke her leg trying to scratch gravel while the mercury was 10 pdegrecs below zero. “AN hough you “find a harp in every symphony orchestra and in many theater orchestras, there are less than a hun- people in all New York who are really proficient pists. Less - than forty harpists are members of the usical union and of this number more than half play by "They were all busy the evening of the 17th of March. 08 people have an idea that harping—not on one but on y strings—is practically a feminine occupation. Not ; ly twelve of the forty harpists of the musical union ‘women. But as harps are much sought after for deco- ons for studios and music-rooms they are carried in Ay. several ie P R E. Aakins: of Byron, Okla., apparently died and ysician made out a death certificate, Her daughter, @, A. Townsend, of Wichita, Kan., sent flowers to e home when informed by telegram ‘of her mother’s Be. Two hours after the death certificate had been d Mrs. Adkins is said to have recovered and was con- e ee hel she died. ‘The box of flowers . Townsend, in Wichita, was mother had revived. Ten FAME AND. FORTUNE WEEKLY. NEWS OF build and unusually active. The barefoot season in | calendar begins March x; he said at the stock yards © - oe, hig farming Mr. Haigler raises alligators 29: THE DAY It is proposed to form leagues among the various ‘re- cruiting stations to promote interest in baseball. In Chi- cago President Weeghman, of the Federal League Club, has given permission for the soldiers to use his park to play their games. It is expected that the clubs in other leagues will make similar offers. In accepting President Weeghman’s offer, Secretary of War Garrison wrote: “It is the aim of the anilitary authorities to make the army as attractive to young men as is possible to make it consistent with the purpose for which they enter the service of the United States. With this end in view, athletics are always encouraged, and baseball] is one of the most popular of athletic sports throughout the army. Furthermore, I am keenly interested in securing good, clean men for the army and feel satisfied that there is no better field for securing such men than among baseball players.” English boy scouts are now engaged in the navy for sig- naling and are receiving more pay than midshipmen. ~ More than 12,000 scouts have entered military service of. one kind or another and 2,000 more who are nearing th age of enlistment are in training. At the outbreak of the war the scouts by thousands guarded telegraphs, tele- phones and bridges, served as messengers, and performed countless duties of value to the war office and the admi- ralty. More than 4,000 medals have been given to scouts’ who performed not Jess than twenty-eight days of service. About 50,000 boys have served a fewer number of days. The sea branch of the movement volunteered to carry out. ithe duties of the coast guardsmen recalled to the fleet, and they were detailed to duties on the East Coast. This required more boys than the branch could suppjy and the land scouts joined, atid now 1,600 boys are so employed in patrols of eight, under their own leaders and with their own equipment. When grass roots and Mother Earth come in contact with bare feet there is a sort of soothing electrical current transmitted through the body that rebuilds and ‘invigorates the entire system, is the theory and practice of J. M. Haigler, of Carlton, Okla. Eight months in each year he spurns the pressure of leather on his feet, and with | trousers rolled up nearly knee high attends to his” farm. ; He has been in Kansas City with no shoe or boot accom- | paniment and did not feel half as strange as people*who! looked at him. Mr. Haigler is no novice at the+ bess foot business. He has permitted his feet to be in the open | 400 months in the last thirty-five years, and now at the age of seventy-three finds that he has neither achies nor pains, or physical defects. A man of average height, a ey tree cently, and lasts til! Nov. 7 As a side issue in cont ee rar gene” Bs the

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FAME AND oe — eee are FORTUNE WEEKLY. INTERESTING ARTICLES HAS NO NEED OF HUSBAND. One of the best rustlers ih the short grass country is a woman. Miss Sophronia Summerson, manager of the Farmers’ Supply Company store in Penokee, in Graham County, Kan., has succeeded without aid of a husband. For the last two years she has held this job, and made money for the company. Her people live near Hoxie, Sheridan County, Kan., where she owna.a section and a half of land and farms it out on shares. In 1914 Miss Summerson raised 2,000 bushels of wheat, 1,000 bushels of oats, 1,000 bushels of corn and 2,500 bushels of barley. the agent of the Union Pacific at Menlo, Paleo and Mor- land. The Summersons were among the pioneer settlers of Sheridan County. GET $5,000 INSURANCE POLICY ON WEATHER. Allegheny College has insured the weather for $5,000 during a part of the eélebration of the one hundredth an- niversary of the founding of the‘college, which will be: cele- brated at Meadville, Pa., during the week of June 19, by a pageant of 400 students, a gathering of noted educators from all over the world, and distinguished statesmen, clergymen and alumni. _ Por eight years the pageant has been planned. This is the first time in America, it is believed, this kind of insurance has been taken out. It was placed with Lloyds of London, England, and if it rains on the three days set apart for the brilliant historical pageant, Lloyds will pay over $5,000 to the college authorities. The premium on this unique policy is paid out of a special guarantee fund oni by fifty of the alumni. BIGGEST SUBMARINE. z The navy department recently awarded a contract for the construetion of the most powerful submarine ever -_ planned. It will be called the Schley, in honor of the hero of Santiago. The price is $1,350,000. The Schley, which will be known as a seagoing sub- _, accompany the Atlantic fleet. She will have a displace- Sen of approximately 1,000. tons and a surface speed of - 20 knots and a submerged speed of 12 knots. set 38 When the Schley is launched by the Blectrie Boat Com- caer months from date, naval peti insist constructed. She will be almost as speedy as a tor- For more than a dozen years she. was | ‘|sea, and as early as 1843 he was urging the necessity of © . marine, will have a steaming radius that will enable her to gee of oer PS in her own class, that hak ever o destroyer on phe surface mae bs be one to cross the. .|Dundonald’s plan, and the.most feasible seems to be that — class as the submarines that have been so active in ee pean waters. They will cost $450,000 ign “Endy will be known.as the N-1, N-2 and N-3. In christening the Schley it is the intention of the navy department to differentiate between the seagoing and the coast defense submarines. All the seagoing divers that may be built by the navy are to be known by the names of famous nava! commanders, while the coast defenders will continue to be known by a letter and a number. CARRIED HIS WAR SECRET TO GRAVE. “For the welfare of the human race, we, think it ad- visable that your. lordship should carry your secret with — you to the grave, Such were the impressive and emphatic words uttered i by Lord Exmouth and Lord Keith, to whom Lord Dun- — donald—“after the death of Nelson the greatest naval com- mander of that age of glory’—to quote an historian, sub- mitted, in 1811, a.plan which, he contended, would destroy entire armies at one blow and at very small cost. - Lord Dundonald was no crank or visionary. He was a mvactioal inventor. who devised many plans for the great- _ er giiciency of the navy. It was he who forésaw the day — when “a kettle of water” would drive ships across the . adopting steam power. and screw propellers for ships of the line. Indeed, he spent $80,000 from his Be pocket — for that purpose, but with very little result. , Then- came his great invention—a terrible engine of , war. Having submitted the idea to the government, they — appointed a secret committee, consistiny of three admirals — and two scientific persons, who reported that, in their ~ opinion, the plan would be perfectly infallible and irre- — sigtible, but inhuman, and for this reason they would not 3 advise its adoption. Still Lord Dundonald persevered in his endeavor to get. a the government to accept his invention. Lord Palmerston 4 submitted -it to various scientists, who reported favor vably, 4 “4 % ‘ and in 1855 Lord Dundonald said he was prepared, if his plans were adopted and his services accepted, without fee or reward, to demolish every Russian fortress in the Baltic at an expense of less than $1,000,000. But the offer: Was: declined. 4 What Lord Dundonald’s ia plan was id never been By disclosed.. The government’s great objection to it seemed — to be that it Bexy not be retained exclusively by Eng- land, and, consequently, in the ease. of a great war, it — would result in unparalleled annihilation and extermina-_ tion on ‘both sides. The consequence was that the plan was secretly filed away at the war oftic, and it’ is probably; t there to- day. ase Many ‘guesses have hheaa aitla. at the nature of Land! discovered the secret of an. even greater Ror oe pini sity as and petrifie, $6253

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TRICK MATCHES. : Consist of a Swedish safety i box, filled with matches, which will not Nght. Just the thing to cure the match borrowing habit. Price, 6c., postpaid. ' H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klys, N. Y. * CHANGING MONEY TRICK BOX. se) With this trick box you cad Fi make money change, from a Penny into a dime or vice versa, Also make dimes appear and dis- @ppear at your command. Price, 10c. ¢ach by mail, postpaid. H. ¥. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y,. « GOOD LUCK PUZZLE, It consists of three horse- a shoes fastened together. Only a very clever persca can take off ‘he closed horseshoe from the two } linked horseshoes. But it ; ©an be done in a moment when the secret is _ known. Price, by mail, 10c. each. 7 _ WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. ROUGH RIDER DISC PISTOLS. Made of reg? col- wred wood 5% Inches long. The power is furnished by rubber bands. Ten discs of cardboard with each pistol. Price, 6c. each, postpaid. RH. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. MAGIC PIPE. Made of a regular corns | cob pipe, with rubber figures | inside; by blowing through | the stem the figure will jump | out. Made in following fig- ures: rabbits, denkeys, cats, chickens, etc. Price, 10c., postpaid, | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. et el ee eS POCKET FLASH LIGHT SQUIRT. Made of decorated en- ameled metal, represonte | ing an exact flash pocket | lighter; by pressing a but- | ton instead of the bull’s eye, an electrically light- ed up stream of water is ejected into the face of the spectator; an entirely , new and amusing novelty. Price, 3éc., postpaid. WOLYF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th 8t., N. ¥. | THE MAGIC NAIL. A common natl {fs givon for examination, and then in- | staztly shown pierced through the finger; and yet, when taken out, the finger is found to be perfectly uninjured, = and the nail . again given ‘ be examined. Nicely finished. Fs Price, 10e. by mail, postpaid. | C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. THE Fi.sGER THROUGH THE HAT. Having borrowed @ hat from your friend, push your finger through the crown cf it, and it is seen to move about. Though ‘Yery amusing to others, the owner of the hat | foes not see the joke, but thinks it meanness to destroy his hat; yet when it is returned it ®% perfectly uninjured. Price, 10c. each by mail, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 30 W. 26th St., N. ¥, THE INK BLOT JOKER. : Fool Your Frienés, —The greatest novel- ty of the age! Have a joke which makes everybody laugh. More fun than any other novelty that | been shown fn years. Place it on a desk, blecloth, o1 any piece of furniture, as shown the above cut, near some valuable papers, on fine wearmg apparel. Watch the re- Bult! Oh, Gee! Price, 15ce. each, postpaid. RANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. ¥. Stewardess odds iin aa WINDOW SMASHERS. The greatest sensation, just from Paris. A most wonder- ful effect of a smashing, breaking, falling pane or glass. it will electrify evory- ré ' body. When you come home, : Slam the door shut and at Bars the same time throw the _ @ises to the floor. Every pane of glaes in the ok will at once seem to have been shat- six Price, by mail. postpaid, S5e., & set a MF. LANG, 1519 Contre st, Brkiya, ¥. X a FIcTt. Also Known as Japanese butterfly. pleasing novelty en- closed in an envelope. opened Fim will out through for several Made of colored paper to represent a butter- fly Bie fy fy six inches wide. WOLFF NOVELTY CO.,, 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. COMICAL FUNNY FACES. This genuine laugh producer is made of nicely colored cardboard. A sharp, bent hook is at the back to attach it to the lapel of your coat. Hide one hand under the lape! and twitch the small, black thread. It will cause a red tongue to dart in and out of the mouth in the most comical manner imaginable at the word of command. It is very mystifying, and never fails to produce a hearty laugh. Price, 6c. each by mati. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. | POCKET SAVINGS BANK. nickel plated. Holds just five dol- lars (50 dimes). It cannot be opened until the bank is full, when it can be readily emptied and re- locked, ready to be again refilled. Every parent should see that their children have @ sma)! savings bank, as the early habit of saving their dimes is of the greatest importance. dom forgotten in later years. Price of this little bank, 10c.; $ for 2éc., mailed postpaid, H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre S8t., B'klyn, N. Y. DUPLEX BICYCLE WHISTLE. This is a double whistle, pre- ducing loud but very rich, har- monious sounds, entirely differ- ent from ordinary whistles. It ig just the thing for bicyclists and resonant tones at orice at- tracting attention. It is an im- ported whistle, handsomely nickel plated, and will be found @ very useful and handy pocket companion, Rrice, 10c.; 3 for 26c.; one dozen, 75e., sent by mail, postpald. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥. HOT AIR CARDS There are § cards in a pack. They are nicely printed on good bristol- board, and contain the funniest Hterature ever composed, such as “Pro- fessor Eluggem, hu g- ging. and kissing done in the very latest style,” a Liar's License, a membership card for the Down and Out Club, and other com- ical postry and prose. Every card guaran- teed to make the sirls giggle, the boys to laugh, and the old folks to roar. If you are looking for fun, get a pack. Price 10 cents a pack, by mail, post-paid WOLIF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. DEAD SHOT SQUIRT PISTOL. If you shoot a man with this “gun” he will; be too mad to accept, the ancient excuse—‘‘l didn’t know it was loaded.” It ioads easily with a full charge of water, and taking aim, press the rubber bulb at the butt of the Pistol, when a small stream of water is squirted into his face, The best thing to do then is to pocket your gun and Tun. There are “loads of fun” in this wicked little joker, which looks like a real revolver, trigger, cock, chambers, barrel and all. Price only %o.; 4 for 25e.; one dozen 60c, by mail Postnaid. 0. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. SURPRISE KINEMATOGERAPH. The greatest hit of the season! It consists ef a email metal, nickeled tube, with a_ lens eye view, which shows a pretty _bal- let girl in tights. Hand it to a fricnd, who will be delighted with the first pic- ture; tell him te turn the screw in center of fngtru- 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-‘s sure to be caught every time. The fnstrument.can be refilled with water in an instant, ready for the next customer. Price 25e. by mail, pestpald. WOLFE NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. . When the envelope is | the air | yards, | Price, 10c. | A perfect little bank, handsomely Habits formed in early life are sel- | or sportsmen, its peculiar double | ‘LOT ’ } / 7 | ». QUEEN ©o., ' Tobacco Habit BARISHED in LEH / No craving for tobacco in any form we iramediately upon taking Tobacco Re- : docmset, ag to quit epee ; nnai t’s a losing against heavy odds and meansa serious shock to the By Guit YOU it will quit you if Pent qui : uit you, if you just take Tobacco Redeemer, according to directions, for two or three days. itis the most marvelously quick and t h- ly reliable remedy for the tobacco habit § the world has ever known. Nota Substitute Tobacco Redeemer is absolutely harm- less and contains no habit-f drugs of any kind. It is in no sense asu! fortobacco. After finishing the treatment you have absolutely no desire to use to- | bacco again or to continue the use of the remedy. It quiets the nerves, and will make you feel better in every way. It not a particle of difference how long you have using tobacco, bow much you aseor in what form you use it—whether you smokecigars. ipe, chew plngor fine cut oruse snuff. Tobacco edeomer will positively banish every trace of desire in from 48 to 72 hours. This we absolutely guarantee in every case or money ded. Write today for our free booklet showing the deadly effect of tobacco upon the human system and itive proof that Tobacco Redeemer will quickly free you of the habit, NEWELL PHARMACAL COMPANY Dept. 438 ~"" St. Louis, Mo. AGG BS, ES es SN PS a Es ee ‘Delivered ru FREE in i" A sample 1915 model smaner’ bicycle, on wo and 30 DAYS rite at once ol 14 catalog showing comp! line of 4 tires and supplies, and parti yee marvelous offer ever madeon a bi 4 You will be astonished at our Jow p. and remarkable terms. RIDER AGENTS Went Mo make mo orders f. Tees until To | GREENBACKS Pack of $1,000 Stage Bills, 100; 5 packs, 25c. Send for a pack and show the boys whata WAD you carry. Cc. A. NICHOLS, JR., Box 90, Chill, N. Y. S OF FUN FOR A DIME 4 f Yentriloquist’s Deuble Throat Y's5,"tctisiuic esaztest thing yet. Asionlsh and mystify your friends. Sing like a canary; whine ike « puppy ; crow like « rooster, and imitate birds and beasts of Geld and forest. LOADS OF FUN, Wonderful invention. Thousands sold. Price only 10 cent.. 4 for 25 cents or 12 for 60 cents. Chas. Unger, R. F. D. No. 1, Dept. 3, Catskill, N. ¥. Bi. VALUE FOR. 1 GFR, of Pretty folks, 8 Platures of jt Stake Bier, 1 Joke lar le ve anise cue eset tome Soa aes on4 we will send all tae above by ot onm NOVELTIES—2"™ jokes, puszies, magis Illustrated catalogue free. | EXCELSIOR NOVELTY CO., Dept. 0, | Anderson Realty Bidg. Mount Vernon, N. ¥ - | F REE Qe tineronds tan ier at Elk River, Minn. that cannot be made to He down, and yet by simply pass! the hand over it, the former causes it to do 80 -This trick affords amusement, and is of convenient size to ADOUE . oe sec ceee ec ccccceces+ ce cen ¥TICR, H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre 8t., B’klyn, N,

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INDIAN FINGER TRAP. A couple can be joined together and their strug- gle to be released only a makes matters worse. It . will hold them as tight Qs 4 he he oe and the more they try to pull Bway, the tighter it grips. Our traps are extra\long. Price, 10c. each; 3 for 25c. by mail postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y¥. THE DANCING NIGGER A comica) toy with which you can have no end of fun. It consists of a cut-out figure fastened to a thread suspended between the ends of a spring. By pressing the wires between the fingers and thumb the fig- ure wili dance tn the funniest manner. Price 10 cents each, by mail, postpaid WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. POUR WEEES (A LOUD BOOK). Has the absolute and exact shape of a book in cloth. Up- on the opening of the book, after having it set up accord- ing to directions furnished, a loud report similar to that of a pistol-shot will be heard, much to the amazement and surprise of the victim. Caps not mailable; can be bought at any toy store. Price, 65c. by mail, postpaid. 4 WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. iSISING PENCIL, —The performer ex- S hibits an ordinary pencil and shows it top and bottom. The pencil is laid on the palm, the performer calling attention to his hypnotic power over innate objects. The pencil is seen siowly to rise, fol- lowing the move- iss ments of the other hand. The witnesses are asked to pass their hand around it to assure themselves no thread or hair is used. Price, 25c. Cc. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. s VANISHING AND RE- APPEARING EGG.—Very fine, easy to perform and it produces a@ marvelous and mystifying effect. Egg made to appear and right before the Beautifully made. Price, 25¢. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y. TRICK PUZZLE PURSE, — The first at- tempt usually made to open it, is to press down the little knob in the eentre of purse, when a small needle rungs out and stabs them in the finger, but does not open it. You can open it be- ere fore their eyes and still they will be unable to open it. Price by mail, postpaid, 25c, each. WOLFE NOVELYY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. JUMPING JACK PENCIL, ov This pencil is made up in handsome style and <SSREE «looks so inviting that look at it, every one wiil want to The natural thing to do is to write with it, and just as soon as your friend tries to write, the entire inside of the pencil files back like a jumping jack, and ‘Mr. Nosy” will be frightened stiff. It is one of our best pencil tricks and you will have a hard job trying to keep it. Your friends will try to take it from you. Price by mail, post- paid, 10c. each. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y¥. : SLIDE THE PENCIL. The pencil that keeps them guessing. Made of wood and lead just Hike an ordinary pen- cil, but when, your victim starts to write with it—presto! the lead disappears. It is so con- structed that the slightest pres- sure on the paper makes the lead slide into the wood. Very funny, and a practical joke. Price, 10c. each by mail, postpaid; 3 for 250. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, N. Y. ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY plays. you the latest number A Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players os a PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESICN * New portraits of actors and actressesevery week - Six Gripping Stories, based on the latest and best films, each profusely illustr TO READ | EVERY RUMZER CONTAINS WE WANT YOU “Nioving Picture Stories” Absolutely the finest little publication on the news-stands FINE HALF-TONE FRONTISPIECES Getacopy of this weekly magazine and see what itis ated with fine half-tones of scenes in the Photographs and Biographies of the most celebrated Photoplay actors and actresses. Special Articles relating to Moving Pictures, written by the greatest authorities in the film business. News Notes from the studios about the doings of everybody of prominence connected with the Photoplays. Scenario Hints and the names of all the companies who may buy the plays you write, Poems, Jingles, Jests and every bright feature calculated to interest both young and old. ] GET A oe ow from your newsdealer, or send us 5 cents in money or postage stamps, and we will mail | FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher | 168 West 23d Street LINK THE LINE PUZZLE. OBO The sensation of the day. tering it, still it.can be done fh two by giving the links the proper twist, us less you know how, the harder yow twist them the tighter they grow. Price, Bent 3 for -15¢.: one dozen, 50c., by mail, postpaid, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. baffling and sci cc novelty out. Thousands ve worked at it for hours without mas- CARTER AEROPLANE No. 1. Will fly. on<a~ horizontal line 150 feet! Can be flown in the houge,.and will not injure itself ~nor anything in the room.-»The most per- fect little aeroplane made. The motive power is fur- nished. by twisted* rubber bands contained within the tubular body of the ma- chine. It is actuated by & propeller at each end revolving in opposite directions. Variation in height-may be ob- tained by moving the planes and the balance weight. It can be made to.fily either to the right or the left by moving the balance side- wise before it is released for flight. Prica, 85c. each, delivered, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. THE GK.UAT FIRE EATER. A great Sensational Trick of the Day! With the Fire Eater in his possession any person can become a perfect salamander, ‘ap- parently breathing fire and eject- ing thousands of brilliant sparks from his mouth, to the _ horror and consternation of all behold- ers. Harmless fun, for all times, seasons and places. If you wish to produce uw decided sensation in your neigh- borhood don’t fail to procure one. We send the Fire Eater with all the materials, in a handsome box, the cover of which is highly ornamented with illustrations in various col- ors, Price of all complete only l5c., or 4 boxes for 50c., mailed postpaid; ome dozen by express $1.20, N. B.—Full printed instructions for per- forming the trick accompany each box, which aiso contains sufficient material for giving several exhibitions. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. THIRTY-TWO PAGES Pronounced by all, the most ~

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4 ks o hy ad : LATEST ISSUES—— The Little Castaways; or, The Fortune That a Wreck Brought : 7 Sav Town. 438 His tt Chance; or, The Boy Who Made Money in Wall Street. qi pmo Bean or thinning gs “Merits” _ 439 Shi, to Sea; or, The Treasures of the Coral Cave. 474 Out for a Corner; or, A Smart Chicago Boy. : ; rand Boy’s Fortune; or, The Office of Wall Street Secrets. 475 The Winnin Trick; or, How a Boy Made His Mark. 4 44 e Film Game; or, The Boy Who Made Moving Pictures. 476 The Young Editor; or, Running a Country Newspaper. sq 2 art New York Boy; or, From the Tenements to Wall Street. | 477 A Big Stroke; or, The Lad Who Made a Record. Pia Th Pare caseens on whe abner 8 aoe 478 In the Copper Field; or, The Mine That Made the Money. ia Th Sag: ees. OF ee 479 From a Cent to a Fortune; or, A Chicago Boy’s Great Scoop. “3 e Secret Chart, or, The Golden Treasure of the Crater. 480 A Start in Life: or, A Poor Boy's Rise to Fame. % The Boy Behind the Deals; or, The Luck of a Wall Street Broker. | 4g) A Wide Awake Boy; or, Born With a Winning Streak. a 5 geo s= es or, Starting Business on_a Dollar. 482 Capturing the Money; or, How Ben Bailey Made His Mark. on Hg 9 pees Sy ; or, The Lad Who Worked His Brains 483 Digging for Gold; or, The Luck of a Boy Miner. & om, the Steeple Jack; or, Winning a Living by Nerve. 484 A Boy With Grit: or, Earning An Honest Living. Fe ite Ps org es oe —_— ig hy Street Brokers. 485 Andy, the Mill Boy; or Rising to the Top own aD ut; or, ar oy to Beat. : Be et : rr 486 Fame Before the Footlights; or, The Boy Who Bossed the Theater. The Boy Banker's Double; or, A Strange Wall Street Mystery. | 487 Lucky Lee, the Office ey: br The Nerviest Lad in New York. | The Young Beaeh Comber; or, A Fortune From the Sand. 488 Sure to Get Rich; or, A Smart Young Messenger. “é — Little Boss ; or, After the Wall Street Money Kings. 489 Pushing it Through; or. ‘The Fate of a Lucky Boy. $250,000 in Gold; or, Hunting a Hindoo_ Treasure. 490 A Born Speculator; or, The Young Sphinx of Wall Street. ig A Corner in Money; or, Beating the Wall Street Money Sharks. 491 The Way to Success; or, The Boy Who Got There. * ert 2 So ey poy nF tslge Reiger is Owe ao 492 Struck Oil; or, The Bov Who Made a Million. . y e cker; or, Making Big Money in Wa , 493 A Golden Risk; or, The Young Miners of Della Cruz. x a a = ee: wy Pig a Recess peg x 494 A Sure Winner; or, The Boy rho Went Out With a Circus. Py ed ote Ae n v; oF Old Bu s Nerve. 495 Golden Fleece; or, The Boy Brokers of Wall Street. , Hitting it Ri ee ‘The Lackie o Fi sate: Wwailese 496 A Madcap Scheme: or, The Boy Treasure Hunters of Cocos Isiand. aoe 4 2 e : or, The pac se 4 # a t. * 497 Adrift on the World; or, Working, His Way to Fortune. 2 , the Salesman; or, The boy Seen Ones 498 Playing to Win; or, The Foxiest Boy in Wall Street. 464 ne EN ger fy igh terme ¢ ne Dew 499 Tatters; or, A Boy from the Slums ra Big Stake: or, Brains Agains rawn. a7 : Facing the Mexicans; or, The Secret Of the Aztec’s Gold. 500 A Young Monte Cristo; or, The Richest Boy in the vom Fighting For Fame; or, The Luck Of a Young Contractor. Seeking a Lost Treasure: or, The Nerve Of a — Explorer : Matt, the Mechanic: or, The Boy Who Made His Pile. : 2 Among the Ice Peaks; or, The ‘Voyage That Made the Money - od ~ For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, DY a : FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - - - - - - - - 168 West 23d St., New York. | See ene eee ee Ee IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS 4 of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out and fill in your Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. 168 West 23d St., New York. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - - - - - ° J — ou R TEN-CENT HAND BOOEHES No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELEC- with figures and the magic of n By 5 description of the wonderful Anderson. Fully illustrated. umbers. tae uses of electricity and ‘electro magnetism; to- No. 7 > gether with full instructions for making Elec- CORE tric To; Batteries, etc. By George Trebel, for writing A. M., - D. Containing over fifty illustra- 41. HOW TO BREAK, RIDE AND DRIVE A HORSE.—A complete treatise on . the horse. Describing the most useful horses the best horses for the road; for diseases peculiar to RAPHER.—Containing useful information re- garding the Camera and how to work it; also - how to make Photographic Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsomely illustrated. No. 62. HOW TO BECOME A _ WEST POINT MILITARY CADET.—Explains how to gain admittance, course of Study, Examina- tions, Duties, Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Po- lice Regulations, Fire Department, and all a boy should know to be a cadet. By Lu Senar- f ens. No. 76. BY 63. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL ; with specimen letters. ‘ No. 75. HOW TO BECOME A CONJURER. —Containing tricks inoes, —~Die irty- for business, ino valuable recipes t x le RTUNES No. THE HAND.—Containing rules for telling for-— CADET.—Complete instructions of how to gain | tunes by the aid of lnes of the hand, or © admission to the Annapolis Naval Academy. the secret of palmistry. Aiso the secret ©: Also containing the course of instruction, de- telling future events by aid of moles, mar! scription of grounds and buildings, historical | scars, etc. Iilustrated. 2 sketch, and everything a boy should know to No. 77. HOW TO DO Fi TY TRIC Re. become an officer in the United States Navy. WITH CARDS.—Containing ptive Sas - By Lu Senarens. Tricks as performed by leadin njurers and No. 64. HOW TO ELECTRICAL magicians. Arranged for home amusement — MACHINES.—Containing directions for | Fully illustrated. “> making electrical machines, induction coils, No. 73. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART. dynamos, and many novel toys to be worked —Containing a complete description of py eee: By R. A. R. Bennet. Fully patina es Magic — boeapgiset A 7 Ps ustrated. gether with many wonderful experiments. serving birds, animals and insects. No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.—The most | 4- Anderson. Illustrated. a No. 51. HOW TO DO = WITH original joke book ever published, and it is No. 79. HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR. cS _—Containing explanations of the gen- brimful of wit and humor, It contains a | —Containing complete instructions how to. principles of sleight-of-hand applicable | jarge collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, make up for various characters on the stage; — card tricks, of card tricks with ordinary ete., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, hu- together with the duties of the Stage Manager, oS and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of | norist, and practical joker of the day. Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property Man. cks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use No. 66. HOW TO DO PUZZLES.—Con- No. 80. US WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK.— — pay par fithe taining over three hundred interesting puzzles tne ge ne eens sore ee and — - a .—G ‘unny stories o: is world-r German © rules, and Sah Rinectious tor. playing, | ™2@ conundrums, with key to same. A com- ¥, wae = ichre, Cribbage, comedian. Sixty-four pages; handsome co 0, Forty-Five, R. ¥ plete book. Fully illustrated. - i, " — ‘os Casin' . sh y ti aor o. 6%. HOW TO ELECTRIC ored cover, containing a half-tone photo of ily ill x 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for conducting debates, outlines for debates, questions for discussion, and the best sources for procuring information on the question ven. . z ‘a . 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND AN- ‘LS.—A valuable book, giving instructions in collecting, preparing, mounting and pre- full the author. F Fours, and many other popular games of "No. 58. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS.—A Sp ag Bw eart, ¥ + Mother, sis- r. brother, employer; and, in fact, e and anybody you wish to write to. *S4. HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE Giving complete information as to the r and method of raising, keeping, tam- the ecting and arranging and coins. ely illustrated. “HOW TO. BECOME AN EN- TRICKS.—Containing a large collection of in- structive and highly amusing electrical tricks, together with illustrations. By A. Anderson. No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS. —Containing over one hundred highly amus- ing and instructi tricks with chemicals. By A. Anderson, “andsomely illustrated. No. 69. H€ # TO DO SLEIGHT-OF-HAND. —Containing over fifty of the latest and best tricks used by magicians. Aliso containing the secret of second sight. Fully illustrated. No. 70. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.— Containing full directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. Fully illus- trated. No. 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS.—Containing complete instructions for performing over sixty Mechani Tricks, Fully illustrated. No. 72. HOW _TO DO SIX’ WITH CARDS.—Embracing all o cks, and most deceptive card tri trations. No. 73. HOW TO DO TRIC WITH NUMBERS.—Showing many curious tricks Y address on receipt of price, 10 cts. No. 81. HOW TO MESMERIZE.—Contain- — ing the most approved methods of mesmer- ism; animal magnetism, or, magnetic h ing. By Prof. Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. au of ‘“‘How to Hypnotize,” etc. ~ No. 82. OW TO DO PALMISTRY.—Con- taining the most approved methods of rea ing the lines on the hand, together with a f explanation of their meaning. Also exp! ing phrenology, and the key for telling ch acter by the bumps on the head. Hugo Koch, A.C.S. Fully illustrated. No. 838. HOW TO H OTIZE.—Con ing valuable and instructive information garding the science of hypnotism. plaining the most approved methods are employed by the leading hypnotists the world. By Leo Hugo Koch, ACS. No. 84. HOW TO BECOME AN AUTHOR —Containing information regarding subjects, the use of words and the m neatness, of manu y, or 8 for 25 cts., in money or postage 1?