Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 499) (1915 04 23)
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No. 499 APRIL 23rd, 1915 5 (onls. | FAME: FORTUNE WEEKLY sfORIES OF BDY FROM THE SLUMS.__ 9) By HEELF- MALE MUN fm |_| AND hey = "3 bateg wa - ea! Ne itt “Stop thief!” shouted the stranger, following him. The rascal darted around the brick pile with the intention of hiding inside of the unfinished buildings. “No yer don’t, cull!” cried Tatters, springing from his perch and landing on the fellow’s back. h ;
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Jack Drew. STORIES OF BOYS Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered at WHO MAKE MONEY the Post Office at New York, N. ¥., as Second-Class Matter, by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 23d Street, New York. No. 499. NEW YORK, APRIL 23, 1915. Price 5 Cents. LACT’ CH RS PARR: aka -A Boy From the Slums Soeoe By A SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER I CALEB TARTAR’S LODGING-HOUSE FOR BOYS. geeks Tatters?” cried a tough, thirteen-year-old dpect| whose real name was “Any of youse fellers seen him ter-night?” ” answ ered Henry Smith, aged fourteen, better known as “Bermudas.” His reply filled the bill. Not one of the dozen ill-dressed, not over-clean boys, whose ages ran from eleven years to fourteen, gathered for shelter and a night's rest in Caleb. Tartar’s cellar in Water street, ew York, had seen Tatters. It was a miserable, rainy night, the hour was midnight, and | Caleb Tartar had just started to close up the entrance, a pair ie ricketty wooden flaps working on hinges over a short fight of stone steps, to his “Boys’ Lodging-house.” “Wretched quarters, indeed, for any one to call home—a ¢, low, narrow basement, with bare stone walls and floor- én of humanity known as “Butts,” thickly strewn with straw, the only cot being the one}. by Tartar himself, with a small iron stove in a far corner, while the sole illumination came from a cheap candle ened to a small shelf on the wall—but it was the only re these boys knew. Hold on, Caleb!" shouted Butts, from his own particular héap of straw. “Tatters ain’t come yet. Yer don’t want ter ut him out sich a night as this, does yer?” Ha n't he come yet?” asked the landlord of the lodgings. “Then 2 he stays out,” growled @artar. “He knows the rules ; establishment. We close up at twelve, and no one gets Aig come off, Caleb!” protested Butts. ve him nothin’. A sie is a rule. ng? Me or you kids?” use is runnin’ it, I s’pose; but yer don’t want ter keep ek reg’lars out jest ‘cause he happens ter be behind “Give him a show.” Who’s runnin’ this : chis lookout, not mine,” was Tartar’s reply, as he let Pag one flap, which had been open, and locked it with a “he shuffled across the floor to his own quarters, and ore got into his cot and wrapped himself in blanket. ot does yer t'ink of dat, api exclaimed Butts, disgust. ig chorused his. ent ‘upon his mpanions action,, "bat it didn't ns a “Der old men es stnod 0m ¢ our D } “Caleb Tartar, you're a mean old stuff!” cried Butts. | “That's wot he is!” | ters. | uncomplimentary remarks. “Will yer listen ter dat rain!” remarked Butts, after a Silence of two minutes. It was coming down now in torrents, and the wind from the river swept it up against the fronts of the buildings. “A fine night ter be out in, ain’t it, fellers?” “It’s soakin’ trough on der steps,” said an urchin nam Billy Moss, who blackéd boots for a living. “If it keeps on at dat rate we'll all have ter swim ou ars up a newsboy named Tommy Dodd, who was a a Caieb Tartar preferred this kind of night, for it gene provided him with a full house. He charged the boys five cents apiece, strictly in advai for the privilege of passing the hours of darkness in his ce lodgings. He was a miser, and for this reason, combined with hi other bad qualities, the boys had no friendly feelings for him “If Tatters shows up soon and wants ter get in, I mov dat we bust der door open an’ let him in,” suggested Bermu das, sitting up in his straw bed. “Dat’s wot I say,” agreed Billy Moss. “Pallo, there!” roared Tartar, who had overheard wa Bermudas said. “If you kids don’t shut up and go to sleep ('ll take a stick to you.” “Yes, yer will, I don’t t’ink!” replied Moss, ironically. “Who spoke?” demanded Tartar, in a sudden rage, sitt up. “Was that you, Tommy Dodd?” “No, it wasn’t me,” answered Tommy, who was cuddled close to Moss. ; “I say it was you. I know your voice. If I hear ano word from You I'll put you out into the street, d’ye hear “I didn’t say nothin’,” replied Tommy, who stood in gre! fear of the old man. Se “You will answer back when I told you to shut up, 4 you? Now out you go in two minutes, and you don’t your money back, either. I'll learn you kids not to sass The boys heard Tartar get out of his cot and start to | his clothes on. They all knew that he meant business when he got s and Tommy Dodd, who had to hobble about with the one crutch, was terrified. “Say, fellers, do we stand ter have der cripple put der storm?” sang out Butts, aggressively. There was a momentary prod niga then a Soe ee of Fameand Fortune Weckly — came from the straw in yen adpess: quar-. isk Tartar covered his head with the blanket to shut out these * is
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_ time dat we put a stop ter it,” continued Butts, groping about a in the straw. YY “Wot rer goin’ ter do, Butts?” asked Bermudas. 2 “T’row me shoe at his head ter begin wit’,” answered Butts. “Fellers, when I give der word, fire one of yer shoes at him. df dat don’t stop him, t’row der udder. Den if he wants some "more we'll jump on him and sit on his back till he gives in Tartar now came shuffling toward the spot where he kn Tommy Dodd lay. a As socn as he got half way, where the candle threw its light ‘upon his spare figure, Butts roared: “ae “Let him have it!” --Whiz—swish—whiz! Hight shoes flew through the air, and every’ one hit its z Tartar was taken completely by surprise, and he went down the floor. He was up again in a moment, swearing like a trooper, and lared about the cellar, but every boy was lying down. Only the old man’s oaths and the rain outside broke the a ness, “T'll put you all out, you pestiferous imps!” howled Caleb tar. “I'll lick you, Tommy Dodd, to begin with, for you’re the cause of ali the trouble.” He started again for Tommy’s locality. e om As soon as his back was turned to thé majority of the boys _ there was another movement in the straw behind him. Whiz—swish—whiz! et Acusg shoes played a lively tattoo of Tartar’s back d hea He stopped and turned around, but every boy had vanished nto the straw again. “I'll pay you well for this, you little villains!” he roared, ously. A chorus of snickers rose from the straw. Tartar shook his fist at his young lodgers and then reached or the cripple boy. “Come out of that, Tommy Dodd. ks for the street, d’'ye hear me?” “Tf ain't done nothin’,” whispered Tommy. Come out!” “Yer ain't got no right ter put me out,” protested Tommy. ‘ve paid me lodgin’.” “I don’t keer whether you've paid or hain’t paid, you’ve back.” I never opened me mout’,” asserted. Tommy, truthfully. say you did. I heard you. by the feet.” ar bent down to seize the cripple’s leg, when scme- g alighted on the top of at something was the agile Butts. mudas, who was much heavier, followed, and Tartar ed as his weight struck him in the small of the back. veral of the other boys piled on until the old man was ddled from his neck to his feet. le. The cellar-door key had dropped from Tartar’s fingers, and nudas accidentally put his bare toes on it. ‘ye got the key, fellers,” he shouted, as he picked it up. ar wriggled around in a vain attempt to unseat his entors, and what he didn’t do to the English language ; worth mentioning. : the old miser a lesson. to h ve subsided. Bf yer goin’ ter let Tommy alone, Caleb?” g- the old man by the ears. 's got to get out,” insisted Caleb. with him.” asked Butts, “And the lot of you don't go quietly ter bed we'll tie yer up an’ t’row ther pool of water close to ther stairs, see?” won't. Yer wen't do nothin’ ter me. dat.” de?” asked Bermudas, leap- ‘ee Come out and make} ‘the boys had him at their mercy, and Butts proposed to | naturally as water down hill. had died away outside, and the wind, too, seemed | customs and manner of talk were strong upon him. n’t yer fool yerself, Caleb. Nobody goes out ter-night, | dese toughs meself.” the = of you, Jack Drew, for this,” snarled Tar- | rate, Cc - Yer knows | ing their size, but the superior weight of their opponents E id oment eae ae a arose outside a wild- clatter of foot- | scene. jin a moment they scattered to the right and the fort of foe dripping: to their heels, Jgaving Tatters and his crowd TATTERS. bee Above the uproar came the wild shriek of a girl. “Hully gee!” cried Butts. or youse kin call me a liar!” A loud rapping came on the cellar flap, and the well-known voice of Tatters was heard shouting: “Hi, hi, fellers! I want yer help. Dere’s trouble ter burn!” “There’s Tatters!” roared Bermudas. “He's got into a scrimmage. Come on, all of youse!” He unlocked the padlock, but was careful to put the key in his pocket, and threw open the flap. The sounds of a conflict in the street, mingled with the | shrieks of a girl, came plainly to the ears of the boys below, who, with no thought for their shoes, began to swarm up the stone steps, leaving old Tartar and crippled Tommy to them- selves. CHAPTER II. THE SCRAP IN WATER STREET. The flickering gas lamp at the edge of the sidewalk threw a misty light upon the scrap that was going on in front of the building. Tatters and a well-dressed man were backed up against a truck, standing off four ruffians of the Water street gang who were attacking them with sticks of wood. Cowering down beside Tatters was a terrified girl of ten, attired in a neat jacket and hat to match. On the ground near by was a shattered umbrella. / The man, down whose strong features trickled a stream of. blood from a cut on the side of the head, was defending him- self with one of the rungs of the truck, and was hard pressed by three of the rascals, while the fourth was having his hands pretty full trying to overcome Tatters, who was dodging around and tapping him on the head and body every once ina while with a stout bit of wood he had picked out of the gutter. “Come on, fellers!” shouted Tatters, as soon as he saw his friends coming into sight. out’r these toughs.” Butts picked up a stone and shied it at one of the rascals, festcne him on the head and putting him out-of the fight fora moment. The rest of the boys, grabbing up the first thing that came t to go when I says the word. I don’t allow nobody to sass/|to hand, joined in the melee and began to make things inter- esting for the Water street ruffians. Just as the rascals were beginning to give way, they re- If you don’t move I'll pull you | ceived reinforcement in the shape of three of their pals, and then the fight grew hotter than ever. Tatters kept near the little girl and whirled his stick about his back and bore him to the | with telling effect. He was a stout boy of probably thirteen years, as tough ° and rugged as they come in the slums. But he had a strong, good-looking face, with not an evil line in it. Of his clothes, the least said the better. BS They were the cast-off wrecks of. better days, full of rents, — Now will youse be good, Caleb?” asked Butts, with 2} through which the warm air of summer and the chill blasts ob oy @ winter came in contact with his brown skin. Torn and tattered they were indeed, and by his singular costume he was known—Tatters. For all that, a warm bath and a suit of new clothes. eouiai have made him look like a little gentleman, but. he. never could have acted the part, for the moment he opened his mouth the lingo of the slums flowed between his lips He had been bred in the purlieus of the great city, and. is “Take dat, cully!” he eried, whacking a fresh opponent the shoulder with his weapon and then dodging safely away. . tis, dashing from a return blow. “Dat’s de «ay ter fetch him, Tatters!” cried Bu up alongside of his friend. “I kin lick de stuffin’ out’r one o Biff! Whack! Crack! . The two boys and the rascal mixed matters up at a- fight, con: aleb Tartar’s young lodgers put up a game oing them up, when two policemen suddenly sapennet ) One of the ruffians uttered a warning to his comp o1 marten al Sap ace Ferme “Dere’s somethin’ doin’ outside, 1 “Sail in and knock the stuffin’ a tty he eee a ¥ eg BP nT ou
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ay TATTERS. 3 ~.) “The man and the girl who had been the primary’ cause ofjon me soon. I want to do something for you in return for - trouble were instantly surrounded by the boys, and Tat-| what you did for my Tittle daughter and myself to-night.” ‘ters was importuned to explain the cause of the disturbance. “T’anks for de bill, mister, and Ill keep de keerd till me “The policemen, however, forced their way to the front and | tailor sends home me new soot, den mebbe I'll do youse de. _ Started to question the man, who was in a fainting cendition | honor of callin’ on yer.” from the blows he had received. “Td prefer if you’d let me send you to a store where they “Pll tell youse all about it,” volunteered Tatters, seeing | keep clothes ready made,” laughed the man. “Your tailor that the man was in no condition to answer. might keep you waiting too long.” ~“Well, what do you know about it, Tatters?” asked one of “I dunno, mister. I’m used to dis soot. It fits me easy, an’ the officers, who knew the boy well and knew nothing bad |I shouldn't know meself in anythin’ else. If it's all de same Seorehim, = -' to youse we'll let it go at dat. Dis bill ought to give me oe “It wuz dis way: Dis here gentleman and dis girl,” taking | an’ me friends a nickel apiece around, so I t’ink de account is eS the little miss by the hand, a familiarity she did not resent |’bout square. Good-night, miss. Glad I wus able to help ~~ in the least, but rather gazed at him with eyes big with ad- | youse out.” 2 miration and respect, “come off der Fulton ferryboat awhile | Thus speaking, Tatters backed away and, followed by Butts, ago, see? I wuz passin’ erlong at de time an’ I seen ‘em start | Bermudas and the rest, dived down into Caleb Tartar’s cellar, ter cross de street. At dat moment t’ree of dem Water street |and pulled the trap after them, Bermudas lingering behind toughs jumped out from behind a truck, under which dey’d |to lock it. been hidin’, and went for dem. I know’d wot deir game wuz. Dey meant ter sandbag de gent and rob him, so I jest chipped ‘ in wid me mout’ and give him a warnin’, a de same time CHAPTER ITI. Tunnin’ up an’ catchin’ dis girl by de hand so as ter help her get a move on. Den a fourt’ tough j'ined in and cut us off so TATTERS STANDS TREAT, we had ter back up agin dis truck. I hollered to me friends in de cellar and dey come out and sailed in, but t’ree more of Next morning Tatters and his friends left Caleb ‘Tartar’s at the gang showed up, an’ I guess we'd er got de worst of it if half-past six and started in upon a new day's experiences. youse cops hadn’t come up. Dat’s all dere is to it.” Tatters’ occupation was that of a bootblack, and his par- “He's 2 brave lad, officer,” said the man, reviving somewhat. | ticular associates, Butts and Bermudas, followed the same line “If it hadn’t been for him I should have been knocked out, | of business. and heaven knows what would have become of my little girl| They worked along South Street and 2djacent thoroughfares, . down in this neighborhood.” but trade was never so brisk as to overburden them with. “I guess it was lucky for you that you ran across Tatters,” | nickels. - agreed the officers. When the boys emerged from the Water street basement they q + ' “What do you call him?” asked the man, in some surprise. | made for a neighboring horse-trough and washed up in a very _ “Tatters. That's all the name he has, I guess. At any rate, | primitive fashion, then they were ready to flock te a cheap Inever heard he had any other, and I’ve known him for three | restaurant close by for coffee and rolls or perhaps something — SORre.” more substantial, according to the state of their finances, “What is your right name, my boy?” asked the gentleman “Say, fellers,” said Tatters, as they started fer the hash- - of our hero. , house, “I guess dat bill I got last night will pay fer grub all “Tatters is me right name. Dat’s all I got, at any rate.” ‘round dis mornin’.” “Is it possible you have no other name?” “How much is it—a dollar?” asked Butts. } F The little girl looked her astonishment, too, but she never “Dat’s about wot it is,” said Tatters, as he pulled it out of _ * let go of his head. his pocket and smoothed it out. “Hully gee!” he exclaimed, “Dat’s right. I'm Tatters, and dat’s all dere is to it.” stopping in the middle of the street. “If it ain’t a fiver!” . “The name fits him all right,” grinned the officer. “He’s The crowd gathered around and looked at it. _ # bundle of rags from head to foot, and I've never known him} “So ‘tis,” said Bermudas. “atters. youse ought'r blow ns > to look any different.” off at Delmonico’s.” “Where do you live, my boy?” asked the man, clearly inter- “Tm tinkin’ dat would be too rich fer yer blood. Por- __ “In de streets, ‘cept at night, when I bunk in Caleb Tartar’s browned in de pan in addition to de reg'lar coffee an’ rotis, = el.” an’ it won't cost youse a cent.” ested in his young savior. tugee Joe is good enough for us, Youse kin all have hash “Under dat ship chandler's, dere,” replied Tatters, pointing | a wild break for the small eating-house kept by Portuguese Joe, — s “Caleb Tartar’s hotel! And where is that?” “Yer a brick, Tatters,” shouted the hungry urchins, making :* to the open flap of the cellar entrance. “Me and me friends | as he was called. sleep dere nights.” When they had satisfied their appetite, Tatters led the pre- “So you call that a hotel, do you?” said the man, with a/ cession up to the counter where Joe himself sat. c smile. He threw down a handful of checks. oth “Yep. It ain’t as swell as de Fift’ Avenoo, but wot kin “Dis is on me,” he said, diving into his rags for the biil. _ . youse expect fer a nickel?” Portuguese Joe grinned. a - “I should say the charge was very reasonable.” He knew Tatters well and had a friendly feeling for him, a “Well, we don’t put on no frills. I’m savin’ me money to | but it did not go as far as free grub'when the boy was broke. __ buy an automobile so I kin take the air in de park, see?” When the boy laid the bill on the counter he took it up and - “It seems to me you're a character. Well; my lad, I'm under | looked at it. "a freat obligations to you xs a “And me friends. Don't forget ’em.” } _ “And your friends, of course, but chiefly yourself. I should _ be glad to do something for you, if you will let me.” - * “Youse needn't worry ’bout me. I’m glad dat I queered de _ gaug. Dey is hard cases, an’ don’t tink nothin’ of tappin’ \; wer “Where you find dat, Tatters?” he asked suspiciously. lectin’ me rent. Hand over de change.” “You rich to-day,” said the Portuguese, as be handed the boy what was comirig to him. : “Betcher life I am, cull. Dis is me flush time. If it wasn’t dey live, see?” _ “The Water street gang js the toughest in this neighbor- hoed,” explained the officer. “They’re crooks, every one of _ them, and there isn’t one but has done time either on the _ Istand or up the river. You may congratulate yourself on al an’ blow yer off.” chinning 2 moment or two scattered to their various stamping grounds. 3%, Tatters, Butts and Bermudas went off up Soutb Street fo- gether, and finally sat down on a stringpiece of one of th wharves in thé ‘sunshine. #:) It was rather early yet for business. = “Dat wuz a nice little gal last night dat youse had under ye wing, Tatters.” grinned Butts. “She seemed to taker v shine ter yer.” A: ay escaped them. They'd as soon drop you into the river as ook at you.” _ The gentieman shuddered and the little girl looked fright- “Well, officer, as a favor, I wish you'd go with us as far as e elevated station. I'm, in no shape to run any more risk night.” . “Quit yer kiddin’, Butts,” retorted Tatters. ee wr a riekt) isin”: ; “T leave it ter Bermudas.” : é _ _ “Here’s a bill for you, my brave boy,” said the man, hand- | “Dats right. Tutters, She"wuz mashed on yer,” sid the Patters a note. “Here is my card, too. I wish you'd call ! other. pit ~ irae “on de nut an’ goin’ trough yer clothes. Dat’s de way |ag’in me temp’rance principles I'd take yer around de corner — “Don’t youse worry erbout dat, Portugee. I’ve just been col: f Portuguese Joe grinned. the boys filed outside, and after
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TATTERS. “Bermudas, you make me tired.” “Youse have got de gent’s keerd in yer clothes,” said Butts. “He promised to get yer a new soot. him up.” “Wot’s de matter wit dood?" “Yer don't have ter wear ‘em if yer dont want ter. Yer kin soak ’em up in Cherry liill for a couple of cases an’ den lose de ticket, see?” “Arter de gent had paid a tener for ‘em mebbe, eh? Wot - do yer take me for? I don’t do dat kind of biz. If I took de clothes I'd wear ‘em. But I don’t want ’em. Dis outfit is Bice enough for me. I don’t need no valley ter keep it in irs. I kin sleep in °em an’ work in ’em an’ dey alwuz looks same. Me name is Tatters, ain’t it? Well, I’d look fine wit’ ant name in a new soot, wouldn’t 1?” ae right,” agreed his friends, together. atters no more.” ~#Of course I wouldn’t. Den who would I be?” ast? “Give it up,” replied Butts, scratching his head as if the em was too much for him. .* have ter get a new name,” tiers is good enough for me,” replied the lad, drumming with his bare heels upon the stringpiece. “It’s funny dat yer don’t remember not’in’ about yerself, ‘Tatters,” said Butts, refiectively. “Yer must er had a father an’ mudder, like meself and Bermudas. I kin remember me old woman well. I lived wid her on a top floor back, in Cherry _ Hill. She drank like er fish an’ used to beat de stuffin’ out er _ me when she wuz full. She wuz pulled in reg’larly an’ sent to de Island. De las’ time she went up she never cum back. Dat wuz more’n a year ago. Somebody told me dat she died of de horrors an’ was planted in Potter’s Field, wherever dat is.” “My old woman used to drink some, too,” said Bermudas, “but not as bad as dat. She wuz a cleaner in one of dem big buildin’s on Broad street. She fell down de stairs one night an’ de ambulance took her off to Ge hospital. She wuz dere tree mont’s. Den she wuz took bad an’ died, an’ I never seen her no more. Me old man is dead, too. He worked erlong de docks an’ was mashed up in de hold of some vessel. A big case ‘fell on him. So yer don’t know not’in’ erbout yer old man or id woman. do yer, Tatters? Wuz yer picked up in de streets?” “Dunno, Bermudas,” answered Tatters, carelessly. "Wot is de fust ting dat yer remember?” asked Butts, curiously. “Der fust ting dat 1 remember wuz Caleb Tartar.” “Is dat er fact? “Yep. ¥ wuz livin’ wid him in Cherry street, Dat's when » tage 8 er junk store an’ he made me go ‘round pickin’ up old S and udder t‘ings outer de street an’ back yards. He used me till I got tired er dat, an’ I took er club ter him e night. Den he quit. An’ I quit workin’ for him, too. I int see him agin till seas fellers brought me down ter yer? Do yer tink I want ter turn fay“ “Yer wouldn't suggested Bermudas, “ incoktiaie dat night. “De old stuff know’d yer ter oncet. a Wanted yer ter cum back an’ live wid him ag’in, an’ ‘cause yer wouldn't he’s been sore on yer ever since,” said Butts, with a “Dat’s right,” admitted’ Tatters. en ‘Didn't it ever strike yer dat Caleb might know somet’in’ erbout yer old man an’ old woman?’ asked Bermudas, shying | oyster shell at a stray dog. Never tought not’in’ erbout it,” replied Tatters, as if that ortant matter gave him very little concern. ‘Don’t yer keer ter know?” : ae ope.” ~scpppid an’ me wuz talkin’ erbout yer de odder day. Butts dat yer seemed ter be diffrent from de rest of de kids t we know. Yer don’t cuss, nor smoke, nor chew, an’ yer honest for anyt'in’. It ain’t nat’ral. Yer mudder er must have been diff’rent from de reglar run. Yer never been ter-schocl much dat I know of, yet yer kin de noosepaper like er book,” — inspector made Caleb send me ter school. He didn’t ter. but be wuz skeered to keep me out. I s’pose I’d er goin’ yet if I hadv’t run away from him dat time.” i; aid yer like it?” » teacher wuz good ter me an’. I did de best I could a If I wuz youse I'd take —_ he eee Se esstneguesenpesnnesansenees ener “Hera you kids, skiddoo! Skip! And be quick about it" cried a rough-voiced dockmaster at this moment. The three boys rose like a covey of frightened quails, darted across the way and up the nearest street, with their bootblack outfits swinging from their shoulders. CHAPTER IY. HOW TATTERS CLEVERLY OUTWITS A THIEF. “Say, Bermudas,” said Tatters. casting his eye down in the street, “what's dat feller up ter?” “Wot feller?” asked Bermudas, his friend’s extended forefinger. “Dat tough-lookin’ snoozer behind de gent wid de grip.” ‘It was about eleyen o’clock, and.fatters and Bermudas had mounted a tall pile of bricks in front of an unfinished building on I’ront street to indulge in a quiet game of craps. They were busily engaged with the dice when’ Tatters, hap- pening to look up, with a wary eye for a policeman, noticed the suspicious behavior of a fellow who was following close behind a well-dressed man with an alligator bag in his right hand. “Bet a nickel he’s goin’ ter swipe de bug if he kin,” replied Bermudas. The words were hardly out of his mouth before the shifty- looking individual made a snatch at the grip, wrenched it from the owner’s hand and ran across the street as fast as his legs eould carry him. “Stop thief!” shouted the stranger, following him. The raseal darted around the brick pile with the evident in- tention of hiding inside of the unfinished buildings. “No, yer don’t, cull!” cried Tatters, springing from his perch and landing on the fellow’s back. The shock was too much for the thief, who lost his balance and pitched forward on his hands and knees. He tried to get up, but Tatters’ weight on his back held him down until the man who owned the bag came up, grabbed the rascal by the arm and held him securely so that it was impossible for him to bolt. Tatters then dismounted, with a grin. “I’m much obliged to you, my lad,” said the stranger, with a smile. “That was about as clever a thing as I ever saw done.” “Dat wuz de only way I could reach him, mister. I seen bim copper yer grip an’ try ter get away wid it, so I tought I'd queer de gaine.” “You did me a great service, my boy, and you shan’t tose anything by it. That bag is full of valuable papers and securi- ties, and its loss would have seriously embarrassed me. What is your name?” “Me name/is Tatters.” “What's that? Tatters?” “Yep.% “Are you the boy who helped a gentleman and a little girl to escape from a gang of thieves on Water street last night?” “You've got it straight, mister.” “That was my brother and little niece you befriended, and here you've done me a special service, too. I must certainly become better acquainted with you.” “Here comes a cop down de street, the top of the brick pile. The shifty individual struggled hard to get loose and tried to strike his captor, but Tatters grabbed his arm and pre- vented him. A crowd gathered about the three principals in this affair, — and when the officer came up he had to ferce his way through ah an the spot where the stranger and Tatters held the t “Here, officer,” said the man who “owned the grip, “I want you to arrest this rascal. He snatched my bag and weuld have got away with it omy for this boy, who cut off his eseape. Had I lost the bag I should have suffered a serious incon- venience and probably considerable loss.” Ne “Til take him to the station, and vou and the boy must come | te ot along. I know this fellow. He's just finished six months on the Island. 1 guess this will give him a trip up the river. He es deserves it.” He yanked: the thief along with very little ceremony, eS stranger and Tatters by his side. avd the crowd, whiew incinged Bermudas. of course, followed behind. 343 peek alee wended its way to. the Ola ~~ police stat following ‘the direction of ~ ory ” shouted Bermudas, from. 3 ¥ “¢ 3 ty
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d the rascal was hustled up to the desk, where the charge Was made to the sergeant. He entered the facts in the blotter. The thief refused to answer any questions and was “con- ducted to a cell. “What is your namé, sir?” asked the sergeant of the stranger. “John Warburton.” ge “What's y yours, boy?” , “Tatters.” ‘Phe sergeant frowned. He thought the lad was aie a funny break. “I asked you what your name was,” he said severely. eS *“T told you me name is Tatters. Dat’s all de name I’ve got.” _ ‘Are you telling the truth, boy?” asked the officer, incred- ulously. ee “I never told a lie in me life,” replied Tatters, with a proud oak flash of the eye. *.. “Haven't you got a father or mother?” “Nope. Never had any.” “Where do you live?” - “Nowheres in partic’lar. I sleep at Caleb Tartar’s lodgings when I’ve de price, which I gen’rally has.” “Where is this Caleb Tartar’s lodgings?’ “On Water street near——” and Tatters mentioned the name of another street. “I guess I'll have to hold you as a witness in this case, Young fellow.” 3 But naturally Tatters bad a strong objection to being de = tained at the station, with the chances of being sent to the _ House of Detention for witnesses for an indefinite period after cae eeepenten that afternoon at the Tombs, so he put up a ck. Rut it wouldn’t have done him any. good, for the sergeant had decided to hold him, when Mr. Warburton came to his iescue. ~ “TIL be responsikle for his appearance at the Tombs this - afternoon, sergeant,” he said. . “How can you?’ asked the. officer, curtly. “He'll probably _ give you the slip the moment you're outside the station. He’s ‘ot no home, by his own statement. I’ve half a mind to hold m as a vagrant.” ) eHaprer v. > ‘ WHAT HAPPENED TO TATTERS, ; a een is Tatters?” said John Wistigiis: looking Se oe ne ae TATTERS. 5 “Let him go. officer, and papers you that I won’t lose| manner. | all dat?” — ——— a wea>“RNDgazaOwOwOoO Owe ae “And you really haven't any ether name at all?” = “Nope.” “And you live nowhere in particular?’ “Dat’s right.” “And these are the best clothes you own?” “Dis is me Sunday soot an’ me every day rags, too,” grinned Tatters. “You look like a bright boy.” = “I’ve cut me eye-teeth, betcher life.” “Do you earn your living shining shoes?” “Dats wot I do, mister.” “You look like an honest boy.” “T never stole not’in’ in me life. It’s ag’in me principles.” _ “Tatters, I'd like to do something for you. In fact, my brother has already made up his mind to do something in that line if you'll let him.” “I don’t want not’in’ way. ” “I see you are independent. Tatters, and self-reliant. The principle does you credit. But you're heavily handicapped by the life you are leading. You are a. boy of the streets, and the influences surrounding you are dangerous and work against — you. You've acquired an unnatural sharpness and shrewdness from your manner of life. If properly directed this will here- after be of great advantage to you. I want you to understand, Tatters, that I am talking to you for your own interest. Ag “IT ain’t kickin’, mister.” 7 “Now, wouldn’t you like a good home, good clothes, an educa- tion, and a name that would be more suitable than Tatters?’ “Say, mister, you’re joshin’ me, ain’t yer?’ ; “T suppose you mean, am I making game of you? No, Bs Tatters, I'm not. My brother is anxious to take you away — from the slums and start you on a new life.” : “Wot for?” in some astonishment. “Because he’s taken an interest in you.” “Nobody never took no interest in me exeept Caleb Tartar, an’ he wanted me ter work for him for not’in’.” “My brother is grateful to you because you saved him and his littie girl from a great danger last night. I may say, Ruth has taken a great fancy to you.” : “Ruth! Wot yer mean?” “That's the’ little girl’s name.” “Dat little girl I stood by last night?’ growing interested all at once. “Yes,” from. nobody. 1 kin make mé “own a! a | replied Mr. Warburton, noting the change in the boy’s “She told me this morning that you are a brave boy. — That you wouldn't let those ruffians come near her. She likes — you very much and wants to see you again.” ; t “Wants ter see me? Yer don’t mean dat, I guess,” said — Tatters, almost wistfully. “T do mean it. And I'm going to take you up to see her news r “Mister, 'm afraid dat L can’t go. “Why not?” aS “Look at me clothes,” and for the first time in his life Tat- ters cast a dissatisfied glance at his rags and his bare feet. “I'm going to treat you to a new outfit, from a hat to shoes E> and stockings.” = “T couldn’t make me livin’ in a new soot. I'd look like a dood, an’ de fellers would guy de life out er me.” > “But you mustn’t go back to the slums again. My brother * intends to give you a place in his office.” “But IT can’t do not’in’ but shine shoes, mister,” Tatters. You know the city well, I guess, and ean run errands and make yourself generally useful.” . “I kin do dat all right.” : “You’re to live at my brother's house, go to night school and be company for Ruth.” : “De little girl!” ejaculated Tatters, with some exeitemen “Yes, I'm sure you'll enjoy her society very much. & 's the nicest little girl in the world.” “Betcher life she is!” cried Tatters, enthusiastically. “You'll see her every day, eat at the table with her, and on Sundays you can go out walking with her in Central Park and elsewhere.” “Say, mister,” said Tatters, looking earnestly at Mr. War burton, “is dis here a fairy tale yer givin’ me?” » “A fairy tale!” What do you mean?” < “Youse is stuffin’ me, ain’t yer, erbout me seein’ dat gi every day an’ eatin’ wid her an’ walkin’ out inter de park, at. protested “4 “Certainly not, Tatters. I’m telling you what's before. ; “I don’t seem ter understand it,” replied Tatters, evide ea anaetpiagent ec abet gal much perplexed. ‘ in her class, mister.
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TATTERS. ee? Ge fe ae eee ee ae They had reached the neighborhood of East. Broadway and Were about to cross that thereughfare when a sudden hubbub arose around them. s The horses attached to a big brewery wagon which had been standing in Chatham Square had become frightened by a toot- ing automobile and had started up East Broadway on the run. As.they reached the first side street they collided with an express wagon just turning the corner at a smart pace. ‘The result was a big smash-up. *& large crowd collected around the ruins of the two teams in a very few moments. and Mr. Warburton and Tatters were caught in the thick of it. _ ‘There was so much excitement and pushing and squeezing that Tatters got separated from his new friend and quite lost / Sight of him in the mob, As soon ax Mr. Warburton missed him from his side he began abad look for him. - But Tatters was. a small object to distinguish in that assem- *Rlase: ae There were two persons, however, who were more fortunate =u in keeping track of the boy. % These men, smooth-faced and hard-looking, had been follow- ing Mr. Warburton and Tatters from the moment they left Old Slip police station. i ey were friends and pals of the man who had been ar- rested for trying to steal Mr. Warburton’s grip, and had been _ eye-witnesses of the whole affair, from the very moment their associate had grabbed the bag. These two fellows, as well as the prisoner himself, were members of the Water street gang, and, as a matter of fact, - re the very three who had first attacked Edward Warburton d his little daughter the night before. They were close behind Mr. John Warburton and Tatters hen the accident happened, and they took immediate advan- tage of the rapidly gathering crowd to push in and separate boy from his new friend. Then they jostled him about’ and forced him further and further away from Mr. Warburton, and finally pushed him t to the fringe of the mob. Then they grabbed him roughly by the arms and hustled him along the side street. _ “Say, what’s de’ matter wid youse fellers?” demanded Tat- pe ake elle iy i a : Shut up and step lively!” cried one of the fellows, in a ‘menacing tone. _ “Let me go, will yer!” cried the boy, angrily. Fake me for, anyway?” “Be quiet or I'll choke the life out of you, you little imp!” eatened the other man, grabbing Tatters by the neck and ‘giving his windpipe a squeeze that made him gasp for breath. “What do yer the way he kicked and fought for freedom gave his cap- all they could do to hold him. all this occurred in broad daylight in the middle of the , it was bound to attract some notice. ut the men didn’t seem to care for that. They kept on yanking the boy along, and though many peo- ie remarked the affair, no one seemed disposed to interfere, Leven ask what the trouble was about. nally they hauled Tatters into 2 saloon two blocks from b natham Square, and rushed him into a back room. Here one of the men choked the boy till he was half insensi- , While the other went to the bar and got a giass of water. e brought it into the back room, took a bottle out of his ket and poured some of its contents into the glass, stirred p and then forced it down the boy’s throat. ve minutes later Tatters was, so to Speak, dead to the _ CHAPTER VI. 4 THE RENDEZVOUS OF THE NIGHT owls. When Tatters Sonmeceed his senses he was astonished to 3 in a place quite unfamiliar to his eyes, “He lay on a pile of gunny sacks, his arms bound behind his ek, and his head resting on the heel of a wooden rib of ppeared to be a long and narrow vessel. ed aspect of the strange 7. and the absence of was aground ‘some- me mmering of ‘a light seme tnteena front behind him, weird ee, about the gloomy spot where | uproar made by a dozen engaged in __ But Tatters was a spunky youngster, if he was only thirteen, | if I kin get half a chance I'll fly de coop.” “Yer make noise enough down here to rouse a churchyard. noisy conversation and laughter, attracted the boy’s attention at once, and he rolled over to see what was going on about — him. A dozen or more feet away from him was a crowd of hard- looking boys, from fourteen to eighteen years of age, squatting about a hatch-cover, playing cards. * A lighted candle stuck into the neck of an empty beer bot- tle furnished the only illumination and gave Tatters the im- pression that it was night. “Where de dickens am I?” he asked himself, as his bright eyes roamed about the place. “It’s de hold of a canal-boat, sure’s yer live. Some old one dat’s lyin’ out’r de water, by de looks of it. An’ who are dem toughs around dat hatch? I never seen dem afore. Wot has happened ter me, anyway, or am I dreamin’ dis ting?” Tatters soon began to recall the incidents of the morning— the capture of the thief; the scene at the Old Siip station; the subsequent walk as far as Hast Broadway with Mr. Warbur- - ton, whose name he did not remember, and finaily the rough handling he had received from the two members of the Waiter street gang. : “Wot did dey do to me? Dey must have hocussed me in dat saloon and den carried me here. Now wot’s deir object? Wot have I done to ’em dat dey’ve tryin’ ter get back at me in dis way? Dat’s wot I want to know.” The crowd around the table grew more noisy, more hilarious, and finally quarrelsome as the moments passed. Oaths flew about thick and fast, occasional blows were ex- changed, and the chances of a general scrap seemed to be good. ; “TI never seen such a tough gang in me life,” muttered Tat- ters. “I don’t like de looks of dem for a cent. Here I-am~™ tied up like a chicken. I wonder wot dey mean ter do wit’ me?” The gang, however, paid no attention whatever to Tatters. As time passed there were desertions from and accessions to the bunch around the table. The stakes played for were not large, but there was just as much excitement over results as if the risks were big. Tatters watched the proceedings until he grew tired of it all, then he began to consider his own disagreeable situation more earnestly. His first object was to try and loosen his bonds if he could. He worked his tough little wrists about and strained at the rope until he succeeded in loosening it enough to enable him to draw out one of his hands, which, if brown and calloused, Were small and well formed. Of course, the other hand followed easily enough and he was free. “Dat’s a satisfaction, at any rate,” he said to himself. “Now Several of the younger members of the card-playing crowd reeled off to one side, stretched themselves out in uncouth at- titudes and went off in a drunken sleep. “If dey’d all only do dat it would soot me to de queen's taste,” thought Tatters. Just then a couple of the biggest card players got into a muss over some disputed point. ; The game was temporarily suspended while the rest watched the scrap and encouraged the fighters to put it all over "each other. Very little science was displayed by the fighters. They slugged away at each other and frequently clinched, staggering about on the uneven surface of the hold. te At the height of the fight a man suddenly dropped down | through the open hatchway and, seizing the scrappers, sepa- <2 rated them. ¥ “Get on deck, all of yer, d’ye hear?” he shouted, angrily. Didn't I tell yer to keep shady while this business of ours is under way? First thing you know this coop of yours will be spotted by the Jersey cops, and then yer'l! all be sent | Snake Hill.” =] He chaséd the boys up the hatchway, and Tatters heard ea another man’s voice above, talking to them on deck. Fe “Come on, Spratts!” cried the man who had entered the : hold. “Drop the kid down and we'll stow him alongside baie x ay other chap. ac Tatters saw something like the form of a boy let down through the hatchway, and caught by the fellow below. = ae Then the man Spratts jumped down himself, and the tw dragged their burden close to the spot where Tatters lay, “Get the candle, Hague,” Sala res “and let's. se i Tatters chap has come to yet.” — ; Pabtete: aoaehe, it center
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ed himself from his bonds, and as Hague drew near with ‘light he closed his eyes and simulated unconsciousness. The candle was held close to his face, and the rascals lis- ened to his breathing. “He's safe enough for an hour or two yet,” remarked Hague. Save him a strong dose of the drops. He’s been uncon- S about ten hours.” b “Probably he won’t wake up till mornin’,” said Spratts. __ “So much the better. As we've got to keep him and that ‘Sermudas here until Bill gets off, we'll have to rig up some ‘ind of partition down here to fence them off from the rest the hold.” . _ “We can do that, I guess,” said Spratts. Nee. “There’s an old shanty over yonder on the edge of the marsh. " We'll get the Owis to pull it to pieces, and use the wood to J d the partition with.” __ “We'll do it in the mornin’, then we'll have these kids dead to rights. There was a cop lookin’ for this Tatters this after- Noon along Water street.” “The judge must have issued an order for him when he didn’t show up at the examination. Now that we’ve got Ber- Mudas, the other witness, in our hands, I’m thinkin’ that gent ie _ Will have a hard job makin’ a case against Bill, eh?” “You bet.” Tatters’ sharp ears took in every word the two men said, and he now clearly understood why he had been abducted to this out-of-the-way place, which he judged to be somewhere in the Jersey marshes, not far from the bay. And his friend Bermudas, it appeared, had also been caught and brought over there, too. Well, if he and Bermudas couldn’t show these rascals a _ trick or two before many hours had passed over their heads it wouldn’t be for the want of trying. -“Are you down there, Hague?” roared a voice at that mo- ment from the combings of the open hatchway. “There's Skillings now,” said Hague, who immediately re- Plied to the hail, inviting the newcomer to come down. _. The shadowy figure of a big, burly man dropped into the ‘ el and advanced to the place where Hague and Spratts “Benson and me have brought the girl over,” was the first | thing Skillings said. _“Yer don’t mean to say yer’ve got her already?” me. do mean to say it. She’s in the boat with Benson, along- 2. ; “Yer’ve been mighty slick workin’ the trick, seein’ how yer é last night with everythin’ in yer favor.” _. “It was that imp Tatters who queered us. I'd like to choke} him for it!” said the man, savagely. } Tatters heard the threat plainly enough, and it didn’t make! him feel any too good, for he was in the power of these men, | and he had already had a sample of their way of dealing with a = ; ___ Yer kin choke him if yer want to, Skillings, for we’ve got _ him over here, but it isn’t worth while, now yer say yer’ve _ Sot the girl.” i fl ‘Skillings muttered something under his breath, then he - Said, aicud: : } _ _ “Where are we goin’ to keep the girl till we can put the | _ deal through?” __*Im the cabin, aft. It’s just the place for her. She couldn't | TATTERS. | enemies might take it into their heads to return to the hold. “T hope it will. Let’s go on deck and take the girl aboard,” With that the three men left the hold, Hague leaving the candle on the hatch. i : CHAPTER VII. THE ESCAPE. : cL “I'm glad dey got out’r here,” said Tatters, drawing a breath ¢ of relief. “I didn’t know but dat big chap Skillings might > take it inter his head ter choke me windpipe. He looks bad s enough ter do most anyt’in’. So dey’ve run off wid dat little a: girl, have dey?” clinching his fists. “An’ dey mean ter keep “ me an’ Bermudas here till dey get deir friend Bill, the feller *e dat swiped de grip, cut’r de Tombs. P’raps dey will, an’ den i aA ag’in p’raps dey won't. But when we get ready ter skin out, e der little girl goes wid us, or we'll know de reason why she don’t.” A movement upon the gunny sacks at his feet called his at- tention in that direction. “I guess Bermudas is comin’ ter his senses,” he muttered, | getting up and crawling toward his companion in misfortune. “Hello, Bermudas!” “Who's dat?” “Tatters.” “Tatters! Why, where am I? hands behind me back?” : “Two fellers called Hague an’ Spratts. Dey belong to de — Water street gang. Dey didn’t do a t’ing to me, eider.” ; “What did dey do to.yer? And do yer Enow where we are?”: asked Bermudas. “I dunno how I got here, De las’ ting I remember wuz dat a couple of fellers jumped on me in Front street after dark, an’ one of dem hit me wit’ erclub. I tought ~~ me head wuz busted, an’ den anudder clip knocked de day- lights out’r me.” ; “Dem chaps caught me up in East Broadway erbout noon,” explained Tatters. “1 wuz walkin’ erlong wit’ de gent I inter- dooced yer to outside de station-house. Two wagons run inter one another an’ I lost de gent in de crowd. Den dose Water street chaps caught hold’r me, run me inter a saloon, half choked me windpipe an’ poured some stuff down me t’roat dat done me up. I didn’t know nothin’ more till I woke up here a little while ergo. Dere wuz a lot of kids down here, den, playin’ keerds. Dose two chaps come down an’ drove ‘em out an’ took a look at me ter see if I had come ter me senses. But I made out dat J hadn’t. Dey tink I’m good till mornin’, see? Dey’re goin’ ter build a coop ter put us in down here, Bermudas, so de best t'ing we kin do is ter sneak while de coast is clear.” u “De best t’ing youse kin do is ter get me hands loose, den I'll talk bizness,” replied Bermudas. : “T'll do dat, betcher life!” ‘ Tatters, however, found that his friend had been tied even tighter than himself, and that he couldn’t get the knots loose. “T haven’t got no knife, Bermudas, but if you'll keep quiet I’ll get de candle an’ burn de rope.” Tatters didn’t lose a moment, for he couldn't tell when their And say, who's been tyin’ me The candle fiame soon released Bermudas from his fetters, though it scorched his flesh a bit during the operation. However, 2 little thing like that didn’t bother him. “Now, Bermudas, let’s see how tings look outside,” said “TI want’r tell yer one ting, dough. Dat little girl _ et out cf it to save her life. even if there wasn’t nobody on| Tatters, e board to watch her. This boat is the finest hiding-place that! we saved wit’ her father last night has been kidnaped, an’ is” It’s anchored on a mud-bank right in the marsh,| aboard dis old canal boat. Dey’ve got her in de cabin by dis ~ I know of. _@nd the grass is so tall and thick hereabouts that yer can’t _ See her ten feet away in any direction.” . “I know that,” replied Skillings. “Benson and me had to _ Work the boat through the stuff all the way from the bay, eT ‘and we ran aground about forty times gettin’ here,” ; “Yer may know how safe it is when I tell yer the Night | 4 Owls have been using this boat for more'n a year.and the po- lice haven't been able to spot ’em,” said Hague, _ “I'm satisfied. Benson and me look to you and Spratts to See that the girl is kept out of sight and is well treated, while We work the scheme in the city. We shall hold out for $10,000. Benson and me get $6,000, and you two the balance. fe Sot $5,000 out of that Ohio job we put through a couple _ of years ago. We cught to have got more, but there were _ SO Many detectives on the case that we concluded to reduce ante. We had the boy’s father frightened out of his boots. how we got the money. The police objected to the set- but it was, of course, made without their knowledge. fair ought to be easy alongside of that.” ¢ » *. time, an’ it’s up ter us ter get her away wit’ us.” i “Is dat er fact, Tatters?” exclaimed Bermudas, apparently — astonished. fe “Yep. Sure t‘ing. Yer goin’ ter stand by me in dis, ain’t yer. Bermudas?” ; ; “Say, Tatters, don’t I aiwuz stand by yer?” “Dat’s right. Yer do. We've got our hands full dis time, betcher life, but it’s a cold day when me an’ youse get left.” “Well, 1 guess!” grinned Bermudas. - By this time they were standing beneath the open hatch. “Give me a boost, Bermudas,” said Tatters. 3 His companion hoisted him up till he pulled his chin to a level with the combings. a ae Then, steadying himself by resting his bare feet on Ber mudas’ shoulders, he looked cautiously up and down the deck of the canal boat. : The night was as black as ink, and a cool breeze so through the marsh grass which surrounded the boat on a Wty tek sides.
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“It’s so dark dat I guess it’s safe ter get up.” He scrambled on deck. “Now give me yer hand, Bermudas, an’ I’ll give yer a lift.” With Tatters’ assistance, Bermudas got out of the hold. *“Dere’s a boat somewhere alongside,” said Tatters, “dat de -fellers brought de girl in from de city, an’ dere must’ be anudder one in which youse came over in. Now dis canal- _ boat is on a mud bank, so we'll have ter find where de water is before we kin find de boats. Look out dat yer don’t run - inter dem Night Owls if dey’re aboard.” Fortunately for them, the Night Owls had all gone off to the old shanty in the marsh to continue their gambling where they would not be disturbed. The two boys found that the stern of the canal-boat pro- jected into the water, and here they found the boats _ But the greatest danger faced them at this point because the cabin was here, and through the door, which stood slightly ajar, they saw the four ruffians of the Water street gang smok- ing and drinking inside, while lying upon one of the bunks as the unconscious form of Ruth Warburton. _ Benson and Skillings, the kidnapers, presently got up and said it was time that they returned to the-city. Tatters and Bermudas at once hid behind the cabin, and from their shelter they saw the two rascals take their de- arture. ‘Hague and Spratts sat down on the stern rail and finished heir smoke, “We must lay in a better stock of grub and whisky than we brought over with us,” remarked Spratts. “Don’t yer worry about dat. The boys’ll get us all we want _ from the main shore. I’ve promised them twenty-five cases apiece when this job has been put through, and they'll see that we want for nothin’ we kin pay for.” _ “How are you going to secure that cabin door?” asked ratts. “I don’t see any lock on it.” “We'll get a stout hasp and padlock to-morrow. For to- night we'll brace a stick against it. I’ll show yer.” Hague entered the cabin, blew out the candle and returned - with a stout bit of wood, one end of which he placed against - the stern rail and the other against the center of the cabin BS ait then one of us can turn in, while the other stands atch.” nd Bermudas from where they stood, and as the men moved "forward toward the hatchway along one side of the cabin, the Ye ‘s moved in the opposite direction, or toward the spot just ated-by the rascals, along the other side. We must fly de coop now in a hurry an’ take de gal,” said ers, “for dose fellers will find us missin’ from the hold erbout two minutes. It’s a good t'ing de cabin door ain't ced, or I dunno wot we'd do erbout gettin’ de girl out. i _ Bermudas, youse wants ter drop inter de boat, an’ I'll de girl down ter yer, see?” udas understood, and he slid down into the boat while Ts removed the wooden brace which held the door, en- d the cabin, and, lifting the unconscious little girl in his pear led her outside and handed her down to his com- sly. re t'ing,” was ‘the reply. F shut the door and replaced the brace as it was be- his sharp ears heard the excited voice of Hague and as they were clambering out of the hold. was clear they had discovered the escape of their prison- nd they were wild with fury. — cast off the boat's painter, and swung down into her Tail. h off, ‘Bermudas! ” he cried, in a low tone. “Dose fellers kin’ fer us now, an’ it won't do a de oe to find out TATTERS. “JT don’t see nothin’,” he whispered down to his companion. {sleep in the chair. ine nara ot — his Det: ant her ciwmgee a for the mom eee Be aS ey Tatters and his companion used the oars as poles to push the little craft along. The water was not deep at the best, and they were continu- ally running onto shallow spots, where the boat wobbled so that they expected at any moment to be dumped cut into the mud. : “Dis is de wurst ever, Bermudas,” said Tatters, after they had gone a little way, and had grounded half a dozen times. “Dat’s wot it is, Tatters. I don’t mind takifi’ er bath wit’ |me clothes off in real water, but ter tumble inter dis stuff wit’ me rags on ain’t wot I keer for.” “Wiil youse listen to dem fellers swearin’ back dere on de deck,” said Tatters. “I guess dey’ve found out dat we've run off wid de boat.” “Wot diff’rence does it make wot dey tink. Dey hain’t got 'no boat ter chase us wit’.” “Dat’s right, dey hain’t.” R Fearful of upsetting their little craft, especially on the little girl’s account, the boys made a slow and cautious advance ~ throught the grass of the marsh. “T hope dat we're goin’ in de right direction,” said Bermu- das, at last. “Dunno,” replied Tatters. “It’s so dark, an’ de grass is so tick dat a feller can’t tell where he is.” At that moment Ruth Warburton began to stir, where Ber- mudas had placed her in the bottom of the boat. “De girl is comin’ ter her senses,” said Bermudas. know her name?” “Her name is Ruth,” answered Tatters. “Ruth wet?” “Dunno her udder name, ter herself.” “T wish de moon wuz out, den we could tell how we wuz headin’,” said Bermudas, after another ten-minute inter- val, during which the boat made its way through the grass and water with great difficulty. “Tt seems ter me dat we ought’r strike de bay pretty soon,” said Tatters. “Dat canal-boat couldn't ‘r got very far up in dis kind of place.” Tatters was quite right in his idea—the canal-boat was not very far from the bay, but it hadn’t come by the way they were going. It had been blown up a kind of grass-covered creek and lodged on the first mud-bank it struck. Had the boys been acquainted with the marsh, or struck the creek, which ran within a few yards of the stern of the canal- boat, they would soon have reached open water. As it was, the boat was simply propelled deeper and deeper into the maze of swampland, and, in their efforts to avoid be- ing upset, were actually working around in a circle. The night being intensely dark, they had no means of know- ing how they were going. They were simply trusting to luck, and luck was playing them a shabby trick. A cry from Ruth Warburton at length arrested their atten- tion and their exertions. She sat up in the boat and gazed wildly at the boys and at the surroundings. The darkness and strangeness of her situation terrified her. She thought she was experiencing a terrible dream, for her last recollections were of home and a big, cosy arm-chair | in which she was sitting, and in which she had gone to sleep, waiting for her father and mother to return from a visit to a le ret s, a couple of blocks away. While she slept, Benson and Skillings had entered the house, chloroformed and carried her off in a cab, which had driven : direct to the Staten Island ferry, boarded a boat, and, on its | arrival at St. Geerge, had carried the adbuctors and their little ; victim to a certain wharf, where a boat was in waiting. — In this boat the rascals had made their way to the stranded canal-boat in the New Jersey marsh. , 42 But of all this Ruth was ignorant. ! She began to sob in a pitiful manner, not understanding “ what it all meant, when Tatters took upon Meet the role v4 of comforter. si “Don’t cry, Ruth. I'm Tatters. Bon't yer recollect me?” 2 saya Tatters! She had been thinking of him before she dropped oft PS sh ee ee ee ee eT “Do yer We kin ask her when she comes Sail mT. eet si he Yer safe wit’ us. *, i Wondering when she should see him ian and. now, tho iis she couldn't distinguish his features in the gloom , she t
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TATTERS. Sure ting. y der ferry.” “*I can’t see you, Tatters, but your voice——” nervous tones. Here’s a match, Tatters,” interposed Bermudas at this bint. “Strike er glim an’ let de little girl see youse.” _*Dat’s de ticket!” replied the ragged urchin, and in a mo- mt the glare of the match, which Tatters shaded with his pas, lit up the boat and its occupants, and threw their adows upon the thick grass around them. Oh, Tatters!” screamed Ruth. “What does this all mean? m I dreaming?” No, Miss Ruth. she began, It ain’t no dream. Youse have been kid- laped from yer home by two fellers dat expected ter make 5 er father pay er lot er money ter get yer back. Dey must’r T| “AOcussed yer ter keep yer quiet, like dey done ter us. Dey; brought yer erboard an old canal-boat in dis marsh, which is | OMewhere in Jersey, an’ meant ter keep yer dere till ye~ ather put up der stuff. But me an’ Bermudas got on ter ¢ © e€, an’ we've reskered yer, see? We're goin’ ter take ye. | ‘Tight back ter yer home if youse’ll tell us where yer live.” sh “Oh, Tatters, I’m so frightened!” sobbed Ruth. “I can’t derstand it. I don’t remember any men carrying me oif!” 2 “Dat’s ‘cause yer must’r been asleep when dey got yer, an’ < Ley gave yer somethin’ ter keep yer from wakin’ up right -“am I in a boat, Tatters?” _ “Dat’s wot yer are, Ruth,” he replied. “And who is this boy with you?” oo “Dis is me friend Bermudas. He’s all right. 5 by yer t’rough t’ick an’ t’in, same as meself,” Ruth was silent for some moments, during which the boys Tesumed their work pushing the boat along through the grass and shallow water. “Papa and mamma will be frightened to death about me,” _ Sobbed the girl. eH He'll stick _ “Youse'll be home soon, so don’t yer worry,” said Tatters, “How did you know my name was Ruth?” “A gent wot I done a favor for ter-day told me. yer father wuz his brot’er.” “You met Uncle John!” cried Ruth, in surprise. -. “I don’t remember wot his name wuz, dough I heard him ‘tell de sergeant at de station.” — “His name is John Warburton. He said My name is Ruth War- . My father’s name is Edward.” “T’anks. I'll try an’ remember, but Ruth is easier.” BG “Cali me Ruth, of course, and I’H call you Tatters, because At an haven’t any other name, have you?” she answered, shyly. ate “No, miss. Tatters is all dat I have, an’ it seems good _ €nough for me. Wot do yer s’poseayer Uncle John wanted me} 2 _ ter do ter-day?” » “I don't know.” _. “He wuz goin’ ter get me er new soot, an’ a hat, an’ shoes Ll stockin’s, which I ain’t used ter. Den he wuz goin’ ter take Tae up ter yer home ter see youse.” _ “Oh, why didn’t you come? I should have been so glad to seen you,” she cried, in a delighted tone. fe vould yer, really?” 1 “Yes, very much, indeed.” ' “Youse is too good for a kid like me, Ruth,” answered Tat- ters, wistfully. “You mustn’t gay that, Tatters. I like you; papa is anxious do something 'for you, and mamma is eager to see you, and you for what you did for papa and me last night.” “Yer Uncle John said yer father wuz goin’ ter give me a b in his office, an’ dat I wuz ter live wit’ yer at yer house, an’ walkin’ wit’ yer in de park. I tought dat wuz too good ter Teal. Sounds like er fairy tale.” “Papa did tell mamma that he would like to take you away the slums, and make a man of you. He said you were a h diamond, and all that you needed was education and table surroundings. He wants to bring you up in his , and he did say it would be a good idea for you to live p us, for I could teach you lots of things, and he thought _ You'd be willing to learn from me.” ‘He said all dat, did he?” said Tatters, much astonished at interest that Ruth’s father seemed to be taking in him. ry word.” “I don’t see why he should keer for a kid like me.” “He's very grateful to you for what you did last night. oh, Tatters, you don’t know how grateful he and mamma be for what you’re doing for me now—bringing me back eee Sore. dient men mea me off. You’ve got to : : I’m de kid dat stood by youse last night ssa “I dunno, miss. I should miss all me old friends. Here’s Bermudas, and den dere’s Butts, an’ Billy Moss, an’ Tommy Dodd, he’s a cripple, an’ has ter use a crutch. I'd feel awful lonesome—like er fish out'r water.” “Dat’s right,” put in Bermudas, who didn’t relish the idea of parting from his friend Tatiers. . “You could see them sometimes,” said Ruth, encouragingly. Tatiers, however, made no reply. ; He wasn’t quite sure whether such a radical change in his condition would suit him. = While he was thinking about it, Bermudas suddenly said: © “We're a long time gettin’ out'r dis, Tatters. I’m er t'inkin’ : we're lost in de swamp.” CHAPTER IX. a IN A TRAP. “Oh. Tatters, are we really lost?” exclaimed Ruth, in dis- may. “Dunno, miss. But I tink we’re kinder mixed up. We ought’r been out on de bay by dis time. Yer see, dis grass is so t'ick, an’ de night is se dark, an’ we can’t push ahead straight on ercount of dere not bein’ enough water, dat I s’pose we've kinder got out’r our course. Looks as if, we won't be able to get out till mornin’, when we kin see where we are.” “Must we stay all night in this boat?” “J don’t see dat we kin do anythin’ else, Ruth,” replied Tatters. “Dat’s right,” coincided Bermudas. “Dere’s nothin’ but © mud, an’ water, an’ grass all erbout, see?” ,° The prospect looked decidedly gloomy to the three, especially to Ruth, who wasn’t accustomed to roughing it. If the girl, for whose safety they felt responsible. was not in their company. Tatters and Bermudas wouldn't have wor- ried much over the outlook. They would have probably to sleep. “Dere ain’t no use pushin’ Bermudas, pulling in his oar. de bay instead of toward it.” “Dat ain’t no lie,” answered Tatters, taking in his oar, “We've got’r wait till it gets light.” ‘bog “Dere’s an old coat here,” said Bermudas, pulling it out pty from a covered space in the bow. “Miss Ruth can put it over her an’ go to sleep, don’t yer tink?” ao “It'll keep yer from gettin’ cold,” said Tatters, offering the if article to the girl, She ecbjected at first, but as she realized that the night air was chilly, and that she might catch a bad cold, she was finally persuaded to use it. Ruth didn’t talk any more, and so the boys chinned to- gether on various topics of interest to themselves, and while listening to them the girl closed her eyes and in a rery DORE: time was sleeping as caimly as if in her bed at home. uty After a while the boys got tired of conversing and soon. dozed off on their seats, with their heads bent cia a Siete their arms. ahs Thus the night slowly passed away and daylight came. With the rising of the sun above the New Jersey landscape — Tatters and Bermudas awoke, but Ruth still slept on. The first thing Tatters did was to stand up on the seat and try to see where they were. 5 But Tatters wasn’t very tall, while the surrounding grass) was, so he didn’t gain much by this maneuver... “Wot do yer see?” asked Bermudas, eagerly. “Nothin’ at all,” replied his companion. “Dat is, nosis but de grass. Dere’s plenty of dat, betcher life!” “Well, let’s get er move on an’ see if we can’t run inter open water.” So they applied themselves once more to the oars, poling the boat through the grass, and for the next half hour Aton made some progress, though they couldn’t tell where they were geiting to. The sun was now in sight, and a very slight breeze waved _ the top of the grass to and fro. All at once they slipped through an opening in the. grass. and to their astonishment, and not a little to their alarm the stern of the canal-boat they had fled from rose up before — them, a pane of yards away. ete curled up in the boat and gone ‘round dis way any more,” said ~ “We may be headin’ away from
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ay 10 “Hully gee!” exclaimed Tatters. “Gee whiz!” cried Bermudas. Tatters saw that the cabin door was open, so it was-evi- dent Hague and Spratts had discovered the loss of their girl prisoner. There was not a sign of life about the canal-boat. It looked as lonesome and deserted as the day it had drifted up the creek and grounded on the mud-bank. “We must get out’r here afore dose fellers pipe us off,” said Bermudas. “Dere don’t seem ter be any sign of dem dat I kin see,” said Tatters. “Dey must be in dé hold.” “Mebbe dey are. I tell yer wot I’m goin’ ter do. I’m goin’ ter get on top of dat cabin an’ see if dere ain’t some way ter get out’r dis marsh.” “It’s risky,” warned Bermudas. “We've got’r get our bearin’s somehow, and dat’s the easiest = way dat I see.” / - fatters didn’t wait for his companion to make any further -objection, but shinned up the side of the canal-boat, and thence to the reof of the cabin. From this point of vantage he made out the break in the grass a little way to the left, which marked the position of the creek. _. He saw they could reach it in five minutes. He also caught.a glimpse of the bay, glimmering in the early morning sunshine. ; And further away the sloping shore of Staten Island. Behind him he could make out trees, and the roofs of sey- eral scattering houses on the Jersey shore. “I see me way all right now,” he muttered, in a tone of Satisfaction as he descended to the deck. | ‘He glanced into the cabin, and the sight of part of a loaf of bread and a hunk of cheese on the table made his mouth water, for he hadn’t eaten a mouthful since the previous morn- ing at Portuguese Joe’s restaurant, when he treated the crowd. As none of their enemies was in sight he entered the cabin _- and grabbed the bread and cheese. Then he looked into a locker to see if there was anything more in the eating line about. '“Hully gee!” he exclaimed. “If there ain’t a revolver here. Mebbe dat’ll come in handy for us.” ~~ He saw that it was fully loaded, so he shoyed it into his waistband. ; > He came out on deck, took a cautious look along the de- serted deck and then tossed the bread and cheese to Bermudas, after breaking off a hunk of each and eating with great rap- _ idity and relish. Then he ran swiftly over to the open hatch, and putting his ear down to the combing listened for some sound that ‘would indicate the presence of persons below. Not a sound did he hear. “Dey must’r all lit out,” he thought. He returned to the stern and reported the apparent state of | things to Bermudas. | they had had in their effort to get away. TAPFTERS. = CHAPTER X. RECAPTURED. “Make for de grass ag’in!” cried Tatters, working his oar vigorously. Bermudas, realizing they were in a tight place, hustled as hard as he could. ; “Oh, dear, what’s the matter?” asked Ruth, in some amaze- ment at the sudden change in affairs. “You see dem fellers tryin’ ter head us off. Dose two in de stern of de boat are de fellers dat kidnaped youse. De udders are dere pals. If we don’t give dem de slip our name is mud, an’ yer won't get home ter-day.” : Ruth turned pale with apprehension as she saw the violent exertions the men were making to overtake them. “Oh, save me!” she cried, piteously. “Dat’s wot we're tryin’ ter do, Ruth, but I dunno if we kin,” replied Tatters. : The boat shot into the grass once more, and they began to pole it along as hard as they could. The rascals followed a few moments later, and it was now a blind chase, but with the chances against the pursued, never- theless. : The crashing in the grass behind them indicated the position of their enemies, who were swearing and jabbering away at a furious rate at the trouble they were having to catch the two boys and the girl. The superior strength of Hague and Spratts over Tatters and Bermudas mide up for the greater weight and clumsiness of their boat, but the two boys managed to keep their distance, and even to increase it, for their, boat drew less water .and slid over spots that held up their pursuers. : The object of the boys was to work around through the grass and try to regain the creek from another point, ahead of their enemies. They made as little noise as they could in the hope they might thus throw their pursuers off the scent. It is probable they would have succeeded if they hadn't run into a long tree, which ‘blocked their way, and then the mass of branches tangled them up so badly that before they could get clear of the obstruction the other boat came upon them and the four rascals laid hold of Tatters and Bermudas with no gentle hands. “So we've got yer at last, eh? slip, and take the gal with yer?) Now, you young vipers, how did yer know about the gal, anyway? Who teld yer there was a gal aboard the canal-boat? When we thought yer was unconscious I s’pose yer was playin’ ‘possum, and heard all we said in the hold. Well, it didn’t.do yer no good, did it?” Thus Hague addressed the prisoners, who felt decidedly down in the mouth over their capture after all the trouble that Thought you'd give us the Tatters had had,no chance to use the revolver hidden in his rags. It wouldn't have availed them any if he had displayed it, '“Dere’s a break in de grass dat way,” he said, pointing to- las these rascals were not easily frightened by the sight of a “ward the creek. “De bay is furder on, an’ Staten Island only a little way off. We kin get out’r here in no time.” “Dat’s good,” replied Bermudas. “Let's start ter onct.” At that moment Ruth woke up and looked around her. -- It was a moment or two before she realized where she was “I’ve got me bearin’s, Ruth,” said ‘Tatters. yer home in a couple of hours.” and what had happened to her during the night. By that time Tatters was in_the boat again and the boys were pushing their way toward the creek. “We'll have _ “Hully smoke!” exclaimed the two boys in a breath, as they Two of *I'm so giad,” replied the girl, joyfully. ; ~Patters didn’t say any more because his attention was fully occupied with the oar in one hand and a chunk of bread and cheese in the other. A moment more they shot out into the open water of the But here an unpleasant surprise awaited them. Coming up the creek, and directly in their path to safety, is a good-sized boat containing four men. . the faces of Benson, Skillings, Hague and Spratts. the rascals who were facing their way saw them the same moment. NS pean a shout of satisfaction. : © and Spratts, who were rowing, turned around and they began to row toward them as fast as they could. we wuz all right, too. a-t'inkin’ dat dey have guns demselves, an’ de cha had yer drawed it dey would have shot ye down could have pulled on dem more’n onct. I'd radder see youse — ee gun. They were accustomed to carry weapons, and use them even among themselves on slight provocation. Having secured the two boys they left the terrified Ruth in the other boat, taking it in tow behind their own. They soon reached the canal-boat and boarded her with their prisoners. Ruth was returned to the cabin and locked in, while Tat- ters and Bermudas were taken back to the hold and securely tied hand and foot to a couple of stanchions under the cabin. “Yer welcome to get away ag’in if yer can,” said Hague, derisively, as he and Spratts turned on their heel and left them to themselves. “Dis is tough, Bermudas,” said Tatters, with a glum leok, which the other couldn’t notice in the gloom of the after- hold. “Dat’s wot it is,” agreed Bermudas. “Jest when we t’ought It's blamed hard luck.” “An’ ter tink I had a revolver on mine all de time an’ I never — used it.” “A revolver, Tatters!” ejaculated Bermudas, in surprise. “Sure. “IT dunno, Tatters, whedder it would’r helped us ’r not. Tim afore yer I found it in de cabin dat time 1 come aboard ter _ look for our bearin’s.” ; nees are
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ied up erlongside’r me here dan know dat yer wuz a corpse de marsh. I didn’t see dem take de gun away from yer.” “Dey don’t know dat I got it. It’s hid in me clothes.” ' Dat’s good. It may help us out’r dis scrape yet.” “I dunno,” replied Tatters, dolefully. “Dey’ll watch us fetty close after dis ter see dat we don’t fiy de coop erg’in.” |-I s’pose dey will. I feel sorry for dat girl, for she ain't d ter bein’ up ag’in sich hard luck.” “Dat’s wot makes me mad, Bermudas. I don’t keer for my- if, but I hate ter know dat she’s in de power of dem toughs. ‘ll keep her now till dey work her father for dat ten sand cases.” : j Dat’s wot dey will. An’ dey’ll keep us till dey get deir nd Bill clear.” gue or Spratts came down at intervals during the day ke a look at the boys, and they never failed to jeer them their unsuccessful attempt to get away with the girl. bout noon Hague brought them a ham sandwich apiece a mug of water, released them from the stanchions and d over them with a club while they ate the frugal meal. _ Before they had finished, Spratts-appeared with some boards, : a hammer and nails, and started in to board up that Section of the hold. tle left an opening large enough to look in, and the job be- Mg finished the two rascals lifted the hatch cover up on deck placed it over the opening. Dey’ve got us dead ter rights now, I’m t'inkin’,” remarked mudas. Mebbe dey have,” replied Tatters, who hadn't given up hope yet of outwitting their enemies. “T's er satisfaction dat we're not tied up, at any rate,” Bermudas. Tatters thought so, too. : any more matches erbout yer?” he asked. Sp, (Sure I have.” Se strike’r light an’ let’s look at dis place.” . __. Bermudas lit a match and the two boys took a look around se narrow prison. _ “Say, wot do yer call dat?” asked Tatters, pointing upward the floor of the cabin. _ “Dat looks like’r kind of scuttle.” _ “Dat’s wot I tought. If it ain’t fastened on de udder side _ We could climb t’rough inter de cabin, couldn’t we?” _ -*Dat’s right.” P hee “Gimme er match an’ I'll climb up on yer shoulders an ‘See whedder it’s tight ’r not.” _ With the mateh in his fingers, Tatters mounted, and after _ Striking the match he pushed against the scuttle lid. It yielded to his touch, and the boy, in great glee, raised it cautiously an inch or two. __He was able to see the greater, part of the cabin, with } the door in the end, which wee closed. Ruth was standing clese to the only window, looking out ith tear-dimmed eyes. wi N Acd - wi wae After satisfying himself that she was alone in the place, ters raised the scuttle half up. + “Ruth!” he said, in a low tone. . ys ‘She looked around, in a startled way, but did not see _ Whence the voice had come till he called a second time. _ “Tatters!” she cried, running to him. _ “Hush! Don’t make 'r noise. Bermudas an’ me is down here. We're goin’ ter try an’ belp yer ter-night if we kin, an’ “Set yer away ag’in. De cabin door is fast, ain’t it?” “They nailed a piece of wood over it.” _ “Dey'ye fastened us in down here, too. Keep up yer cour- Age, Ruth, an’ if we kin find er way out’r dis old boat we’re “Z0in’ ter take yer wid us if we break a leg, see?” _ “Oh, Tatters, I know you'll help me!” “Of course I will, an’ so’ll Bermudas. We'll stand by yer €¥'ry time, don’t yer forget it.” You're a brave boy, Tatters, and I trust you.” Dat’s ight. Youse kin trust me an’ Bermudas ter get ; out if de ting is ter be done.” “And then you'll come home and live with papa and mam- and I, won't you, Tatters?” eagerly. Til tink erbout it.” “But I want you to. Won't you do it for my sake?” “I'd do er good deal for yer sake, Ruth, but yer know I ain't notin’ but er poor barefooted kid, an’ I ain’t used ter ice I wouldn't feel jest easy like in yer house, an’ te + ee aN a a TATTERS. 14 “T'll tink it over, Ruth. -I must leave youse now, as Ber- mudas is gettin’ tired holdin’ me up. Just youse look fer me at any time of de night. If I don’t come it'll be ’cause we haven’t found no way ter get out’r de hold.” With these words Tatters closed the scuttle cover, which worked on hinges, and dropped down beside his companion. CHAPTER XI. TATTERS DOES THE VANISHING. He was only just in time, for Hague came down into the hold a moment later and peeked through into the enclosure where the prisoners were. “How are yer feelin’ now, kids?” he asked, in joking tones. “Wit’ our fingers. How are youse feelin’ yerself?” asked Tatters, saucily. “Yer’re a fresh kid, yer are, for a fact!” growled the ras- cal, not relishing the boy’s reply. “Wot’s de matter wit’ youse?” retorted the ragged youth, impudently. “If yer give me any more of yer lip I’ll fetch a club and give yer a dressin’ down!” cried Hague, angrily. “T’anks! youse kin keep de change.” “That settles it—yer get no supper to-night.” “<Ain’t youse got not’in’ ter eat on de boat?” grinned Tat- ters. “We've got plenty to eat, but yer out of it to-night.” “Well, me friend Bermudas wants somet’in’—some boned turkey or a pan roast, somet’in’ delicate like that, for he’s got’r weak stommick.” : ‘ “Neither one of yer will get a smell of eatin’ to-night, d’ye ear?” “Do youse tink I’m deaf?” Hague glared in at his young tormentor and then left the hold, swearing loudly. “Dat mout’ of yours done us out’r our supper!” growled Bermudas. “Mebbe it did, but I couldn’t help givin’ dat stuff as good as he handed out ter me. De idea of his comin’ down here ter ask us how we feel, boarded up in here.” : At that moment a crowd of the Night Owls came tumbling into the hold. hie J lit a candle and began to indulge in-a lot of horse- play. 1s Some of them got out cards and started a game. One chap lit a small piece of candle he took from his pocket and came over to the partition and looked in at Tatters and: Bermudas. “Hey, fellers.” he shouted to his companions, “come over and see de.wild animals!” Half a dozen of the tough boys crowded up and looked in. “Look like a couple of Barnum’s monkeys, don’t dey?” one eried, derisively. Fs feller in de rags looks like de What-is-it,” jeered an- other. ; “Youse fellers tink yer funny, don't yer?” snorted Tatters, in a tone of disgust. “Say,” spoke up another, “get a pole and we'll stir up de beasts.” “Youse'll stir up not’in’,” retorted Tatters. dere I'd knock de daylights out of yer.” “Yer'd do wot?” snarled the other. “Youse heard wot I said.” “I could lick yer wit’ one hand and never know I wuz fightin’.” : Tatters made no reply, but edging up to the hole he punched the speaker in the eye. “Wow!” howled the fellow on the outside. “How did yer like that? Go back an’ sit down or I'll give yer anuder, if I kin reach youse.” A chorus of oaths and threats were hurled at Tatters. “Tf I wuz out » “Let’s pull de place down and knock de stuffin’ out’r dat chap,” suggested one of the crowd. 2 The sudden appearance of Spratts down the hatchway caused them to scatter. Spratts had a small jug of water and some food for the prisoners, and they were glad to get it. “I tought we wasn't goin’ ter get not’in’ ter-night,” said Tatters. ‘ “Well, you're gettin’ semethin’, ain’t you?” fay “Tanks. Youse is all right—when yer asleep.” i Then Spratts departed. ; . . é Soe a en we | a : ,
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TATTERS. eo: Tatters and Bermudas made a meal of what had been given | for us while we’re away, as we’ve got them secure enough | now. Some of the Owls will be awake all night, anyway. Tl! “Dis would be all right-if we had a cup’r coffee wit’ it,” re-| promise a couple of ’em a fiver apiece to keep watch. When marked Bermudas. do we start?” . “Quit yer kickin’, an’ when we get out’r dis I'll take youse “Right off. It’s one now, and it'll take us an hour to reach © Delmonico’s an’ blow yer to all de coffee youse kin drink,”| the place,” said Skillings. grinned Tatters. “With what we get out of this thing, and the price for “Wot erbout gettin’ away from dis place ter-night; Tat-| returnin’ the gal, we won’t need to work for some time,” ters?” said Bermudas. “Got any idea how yer goin’ ter work] grinned Hague. Lie B-Ab 2 3) ; “That's the way I figger it,” chipped in Benson, getting up _ “Nope. I don't tink we kin do anyt’in’ ter-night.” from his seat on a good-sized valise, which held a fine set of “Yer can’t get out trough de cabin, den?” burglar’s tools. “Nope. De door is nailed up, so Ruth said.” — - “Well, are you ready?” asked Skillings. “How are we goin’ ter get away, den?” “Sure we are,” replied Spratts. “We've got’r figger it out, Rermudas. At any rate, we can’t “Just wait till I take a peek at those kids and pass a word do notin’ now, so I’m going ter take a snooze.” or two with a couple of the Owls,’ said Hague, starting for Tatters curled himself up against the side of the boat and| the hatechway. Was soon asleep. Tatters, on hearing this remark, left the window and dropped Bermudas followed his example and was presently in the] through the scuttle, taking care to let the lid down. land of dreams. “That big stuff Hague is comin’ down ter take a squint , at And while they slept Hague came and looked in on them.| us, Bermudas. Just curl up an’ pretend yer asleep.” He gave a grunt of satisfaction. A few moments later Hague flashed a candle into the ents: _ “They won’t give us no trouble to-night,” he muttered, turn-} sure. Es around and leaying the hold. He appeared to be satisfied that the boys were “fast asin ce The Night Owls raised cain, generally, in the fore part of| and went away. cE) e hold. Then he went over and held a short chat with the leader of r By midnight half of them was stretched out in a drunken] the Night Owls, who was playing cards with two of his cronies, 4 ‘Sleep in any old corner, and the rest continued to play cards, | the three pretty well under the influence of liquor. arre! and occasionally come to blows. Tatters and Bermudas watched him through the opening. in They were a tough gang, and their chief mode of picking| their prison until he left. S up a living was to steal stuff from the big railroad freight “The four of ‘em are goin’ off ter rob a house somewhere,” _ rds in Jersey City. said Tatters to his companion, ii * ab They had been quite successful in this line of late, and were “Yer don’ t say.” wey hater the fruits of their nefarious trade. “T heard ’em ‘talkin’ about it on deck. It’s er scheme C) atters woke up about one o’clock and aroused his com- Skillings and Benson, the fellers dat kidnaped Ruth.” = $s ~ares : “Dose chaps are reg’lar perfeshionals, ain’t dey?” eine a lift. I’m goin’ ter see how tings are in de “I should tink dey are. Too bad we can’t spile their game.” bin.” “If de four of dem is goin’ it’ll be a good chance for us ter _ Lifting the scuttle lid, he took a peep. try an’ skip.” th was lying asleep on one of the bunks. “Dat’s wot I wuz tinkin’: I wuz wonderin’ if I couldn't — ‘hrowing up the lid, Tatters scrambled ‘into the cabin. | squeeze meself out’r dat cabin winder. It’s kinder small, but He went to the window and looked out. dere’s no tellin’ wot a feller kin do when he’s up ag’in it like ere The night was dark and still outside, and he easily heard| we are, Bermudas.” hy the four men talking a couple of feet away. “S’posin’ yer did get out, Tatters, do yer t’ink me an’ de zirt Z a ‘How did yer get on to that place, Skillings?” he heard] could get out, too?’ asked Bermudas, anxiously. oa ague say. “Don’t worry erbout dat. If I kin get out I guess I kin get Through an old pal who is doin’ time now up the river. de door open from de outside. Give me er lift up erg’in.” : e found out all the particulars from one of the servants He climbed nimbly onto his Semeneivae shoulders to reach’ rig rho was sweet on him. He, Benson and myself were goin’| the scuttle again. jt to do the job three months ago, but he got caught on another Bermudas put out his foot to steady himself. about that time, and the judge gave him six years.” His shoes slipped on the damp wood where the water had ; ‘Yer say there’s a lot of good stuff there waitin’ to be! oozed throngh, and the weight of Tatters on his shoulders — 3 inched?” caused him to lose his balance. he : Heaps.” The result was that Tatters was thrown violently backward Plate and jewels, I s *pose?” against the side of the canal-boat. ct should say so. It’s stored in a strong-room off the old There was a subdued kind of crash, like the erumbling aw aye n’s bedroom. There’s a steel door with a combination} of decayed wood. ust like a safe, but Benson has the tools here that’) When Bermudas picked himself up and struck a mateb to through it like paper. In that room is a solid silver| see whether Tatters was hurt or not. his companion had ervice Melville received from the Mexican government. Then} vanished, and a gaping hole in the side of hirsed ennal-boat — are solid gold articles that run into the thousands, and| showed where he had gone. " ‘the old lady’s diamonds and gems, said to be worth a ane. The house itself is filled with rare old furniture and msive bric-a-brac.” — ‘ou make my mouth water,” said Spratts, whe was squat- ectly under the window where Tatters was listening. yer say you've made up yer mind to do the job toenight?? a 1S. Taek found out this afternoon that the old man is wife have gone to attend a wedding in Philadelphia on’t | ‘be back till to-morrow; and that the coachman and were. going to take advantage of their absence to ight in New York. That leaves only three women and the gardeuer on the place. The gardener is an n, and sleeps in a lodge: house ¢lose to the main gate, mt be in the way, It's the aneat. chanee we may | the crib.” ‘ yu're goin’ to let us in on it, eh?” remarked Spratts. s too much swag a sight for Benson and me to we've decided to take you and Hague in, on the geet to us ash igre ahem to you two. We'll! _right es re rg ts elt the vate ane. HAPTER XII. Shy TATTERS, RUTH “AND BERMUDAS ESCAPE FROM THEIR PRISON ONCE ‘e MORE, : 5 “Hully smoke!” exclaimed Bermudas, dasine vacant the hole.in the side of the boat. And while he looked, shea ich face appeared, framed in off with his hand. “Is dat youse, Petters?! asked the Catontad erana dl “Betcher life it’s me!” replied the ragged youth.” “Where have yer got ter?” “Don't say er word, Bermudas,” in a tone of ‘som ment. “I’m on de outside of de boat in de mud” “Why, so yer are!” rented Bermudas, now ‘un erst ‘the situation. : “Take a squint at ap Owls, racket eutenip eee
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~. TATTERS. “Nope,” he said, turning around again. of dem awake, playin’ keerds. an’ dey look half shot.” Tatters climbed back into the enclosure. “Dat wuz a lucky tumble, Bermudas. It opened up er way for us ter fly de coop. We kin all get out trough dat hole as easy as winkin’. Me face got a mud bat’ dat time, but wot’s de odds s’long as we kin use dat way ter mosey out. Dose chaps must er gone off by dis time, so dere ain’t no use of us Wastin’ no time. Do youse t’ink yer kin hold me up all right dis time while I go up ter de cabin an’ help Ruth down de scuttle?” “Sure I kin,” replied Bermudas. “See dat yer do, den.” Bermudas placed himself in position, and Tatters mounted to _his shoulders once more. He flung open the lid and pulled himself up into the cabin. Before waking Ruth he went to the window and listened to make sure their enemies had really gone off. _. Not a sound came to him through the broken pane. : “Dey've gone, all right,” he said to himself. “Dere won't be a ting doin’ when dey get back and find dat we've dusted out, too.” . Then he aroused the girl. “Is that you, Tatters?’ she asked, sitting. up and looking at bim in a dazed kind of way. “Dat's me, all right. Are yer ready ter go home ter yer ~ folks?” 5 “Oh, Tatters! Are you going to take me now?” “Sure [ am, Ruth. I’ve found er way ter get out’r here, an’ so if youse is ready we'll start ter oncet.” “I’m ready, Tatters,” she said eagerly. “Come on, den. Yer must get down trough dat scuttle. hold yer, an’ let yer down easy. It ain’t much of er drop.” _ “It’s too dark down there, Tatters.” she said nervously, as the boy flashed a match over the hole. “Ain't it dark up here, too?” “Yes, but- “Dat’s ce only way we kin git out, Ruth,” he said. yerself ter me, an’ I'll see dat not’in’ happens to yer.” Kuth had perfect confidence in her young protector, and so ae allowed Tatters to gently lower her into the dark void ow. ath Holding her tightly at arms’ length, he cried: b “Catch her ‘round de waist, Bermudas,” and Bermudas im- mediately zrabbed Ruth and let her down easy. y Tatiers followed. After taking another peek at the three card-playing Owls in _ the forepart of the boat, Tatters broke away some more of the ~ rotten wood. thus making the hole larger and easier for them 2 te pass through. In two minutes they were on the outside, “tree once more. “When dose chaps see dat hole dey’ll drop dead,” remarked Bermudas, as they moved slowly away from the spot. “Give me a boost till [ git on deck an’ see if de boat is dere at de stern,” said Tatters. «+ _ Bermudas furnished the required boost. but hardly had _ atters got his head above the leved of the deck before he dropped back again. “Dose tree Owls have come up on deck,” he said, “an’ dey're walkin’ dis way. Dat’s hard luck, just when we wuz _ erbout to get erway.’ _*Let’s keep on dis way,” suggested Bermudas. “De ground ds kinder hard. Mebbe we kin strike de pat’ t'rough de swamp an’ get out’r dis place dat way.” “Go ahead.” replied Tatters. “Ruth un’ me'll follow.” _$o with Bermudas leading the way, they traversed the en- tire length of the stranded canal-boat. _* As Inck would have it, they came right upon the path which _ traversed the center of the marsh, and, foliowing it, they came to the main shore. A dark wood loomed before them, ‘and through this they made their way, confident that they would soon strike a high- way of some kind that would take them into Jersey City. They got mixed up in the gloom of the wood, and it was some time before they came out of it onto a railroad track. Here they paused, looked up and down the rails, quite un- sy whieh direction to take. “We'll go dis way.” said Tatters, finally, pointing in the direction he thought Jersey City lay. When they entered the wood Jersey City lay practically to their right, and the boys knew it, from the position of the old -boat with relation to the bay. but in traversing the wood sacompelanehy worked around toward the south while I'l “Trust 2 fs t iS ¥ till daylight, den we could ring de bell at de gate. an’ ask de folks — inside ter look out for Ruth till we could go ter New York an’ tell her father where she wuz. How’s dat?” “Dat ain't so bad for youse, Bermudas. ter do dat, Ruth?” Ruth did not know whether she liked the plan or not. ae) Finally she said if Tatters would stay with her she would be willing to remain at the house. “Are ye willin’ ter go erlone, Bermudas? dollar ter pay yer way.” =i Beye scratched his head as if he didn’t quite faney the plan : Then something happened that started their thoughts ‘in a new direction. An upper window of the house was thrown up suddenly, a woman's head appeared and shrill screams echoed upon the : still morning dir. > ae “Help! Help! Thieves! Help!” “Bully gee!” exclaimed Tatters, as he and Bermudas carted to their feet and Ruth began to tremble with terror. “Wot’s dat?” “Thieves ! Help!” don’t yer oe. I never wuz nervous in replied Bermudas. for erwhile,” said Wonld yer like us Yl give yer a . Help! CHAPTER XIII. HOW TATTERS STOOD BY RUTH WARBURTOX “Dere must be burglars in dat bouse.” said Tatters. “Mebbe dis is de house dat dose chaps come ter rob, hi said
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“Dat’s so.” exclaimed Tatters. “We'd better get out’r ae way. If dey see us here dey’d be de dickens ter Day. Come, Ruth, we've got ter get out’r de road. Bermudas an’ me t’ink dat mebbe dem chaps. de fellers wot kidnapped yer, an’ deir Pals may be ‘round here. an’ we don’t want ‘em ter see us.” ee three fugitiy es hurried around to the end of the stone wa Pushing the girl well back in the shadow cast by a big oak, Tatters and Bermudas watched for further developments. They were not long in coming, but not from the direction they expected. Suddenly they heard the report of a gun-from the direction f the gate. -A few minutes afterward there was a sound like some one serambling upon the wall behind them, and a man’s form ap- Peared on top of it. ffe leaned back toward the grounds. and when he straight- ened up he had a big bag in his arms which he tossed down _close to Ruth's feet. _A\. second bag soon followed, and then a third and fourth. - The man on the wall jumped down and came face to face ‘with. the terrified girl. “Who are you?’ he demanded roughly, pulling her forward as a second man appeared upon the wall behind. __ Tatters, seeing Ruth’s peril, thought of his revolver, and, drawing it, he darted forward recklessly. “Take yer hands off her!” he shouted. Bermudas, looking around for some weapon, spied a stout ‘ee limb and grabbed it up. ‘The raseal recognized them and uttered a terrible oath. - Ye yanked the girl to her knees, and she uttered a shrill Scream. This was more than Tatters could stand, and he fired point blank at the villain. who happened to be Skillings. xe The scoundrel clapped his haad to his side and fell forward, : elawing frantically at the grass. _ _ Bermudas dashed upon Spratts, who was the second man “down, and knocked him senseless with his club, atters then fired at Benson. wounded him in the arm, and m turned his attention to Hague, who was still astride the ‘Tence. That ruffian, not knowing but that they were being attacked it couple of officers of the law, slipped back into the grounds made his escape by a different route, a __enson also dashed away among the trees and soon disap- ir “Tatters and Bermudas were thus left masters on the field the four bags of plunder in their possession. It was all done so quickly that the two boys hardly realized at” the danger which had menaced Ruth and themselves was aie ae SS uth had fainted from sheer -terror. Skillings and Spratts lay motionless. : “Yer must’r killed dat feller,” said Bermudas. - “I don’t keer if I have,“ cried Tatters. “I had ter shoot him, r T Vought he wuz goin’ ter kill Ruth de way he handled laid out dis chap wit me club,” said Bermudas. At that moment they heard footsteps rapidly approaching ug the side of the wall by the road. Presently a stout old man in his shirt sleeves, with a lantern "shotgun in his hand, appeared. Hello, mister.” shouted Yatters. “Come here.” Surrender, you villains!” eried the neweomer, bringing his apon to bear on the indistinct form he saw before bim. der inatter wit’ youse?” cried the boy, indignantly. e ain't no villains. We've caught ’r couple of de burglars.” ‘ome out and let me see who you are?’ demanded the old gardener of the establishment which had been walked over to him. ou're only a_ boy,” he- said in some dabeidabecnick: 7 . rt > gardener Marches to the tree with ‘some caution, as if a trap. me friend Bermudas,” said Tatters. “We (Macs sag one Aide. tree of us aca idnapped from New bel re Festorday,. Say. bs i we carry her up fer de TATTERS. That proved to be unnecessary. for Ruth was reviving and Soon sat up, much to the delight of Tatters, Tatters then explained to the gardener that while they were sitting by the side of the road to rest they heard the woman's screams, and, suspecting that the four men from whom they had just escaped were robbing the house, had tried to avoid meeting them. Then he went on to say that the rascals came suddenly upon them with their plunder, over the corner of the wall, and that he had shot Skillings in defense of Ruth and had wounded an- other, who managed to get away. “An’ de udder chap I laid out meself,” said Bermudas, rather proudly. “why, gardener. “They are brave and honest boys,” said Ruth, coming to the front in defense of her young champions. “This man.” pointing with a shudder at the still form of the ruffian Skillings. “and another stole me from my father’s house in Madison avenue two nights ago and were going to keep me on an old boat in ~ the marsh near the bay until they made my father pay them ten thousand dollars. I never could have got away from them but for Tatters . ; “Tatters!” exclaimed the gardener. “Dat’s me.. I'm Tatters,” said that youth. “Upon my word, the name suits you, for you're nothing but a bundle of rags.” “Well, don’t youse worry if I am. name.” “What's your right name?” “Me right name is Tatters. Now youse know.” “Nonsense! That's only a nickname.” “That's all the name he has, sir.” said Ruth, earnestly. “You're joking, miss.” : She shook her head very decidedly. “What's your name, miss?”/ “Ruth Warburton.” sa “You're not the daughter of Edward Warburton, the civil engineer, are you?” x, es, sir, 29. “Is it possible!” exclaimed the gardener, flashing the light in the girl’s face, who was now anything but like the charm- ing little miss she really was. She had no hat. Her dress was torn, rumpled and dirty, while ber- hands and face had not seen water since she was taken from her home, and her bair was tousled and unkempt. She might easily have been taken for a child from the cheap tenements, after the experience she had just been through. “Edward Warburton, your father, is a personal friend of Mr. Jesup, my employer, who lives in yonder house. I heard that he had a little daughter named Ruth, but who would think you were that girl!” “She’s got an uncle John, too,” chipped in Tatters. youse know him, too.” “John Warburton! Why, of course. I’ve seen him here many times. Miss Ruth, you must come to the house and stay till we can notify your father. Mr. and Mrs. Jesup have gone to — Philadelphia, but they will be back by an early train this you boys look just like street gamins,” said the I ain’t ashamed of me “P'raps morning.” a ‘ “Patters must stay, too.’ said the little maiden, in a tone poe which meant that she would not take “no” for answer. “Certainly. “Fen, mudas.” “What are you called Bermudas for?” “Coz I wuz born dere.” “You were born in the Bermuda Islands, is that Att “Dat’s key-rect,” grinned Bermudas. “Well, you boys have done a big thing for yourselves. Tm I thinking. Mr. Jesup will do something handsome fer you for saving his property. My goodness!” he exclaimed, peeping into the nearest bag. “This loo”: like our Mexican silver cat os The villains must have broken into the strong-room.” | - - He looked inte each of the other bags. and when he had finished the examination his face was a study. “Why, those rascais made a clean sweep. All of Mrs. Jesup’s — jewels are here.. There's over one hundred thousand dellars’ worth of value in those four bags. Mr. Jesup will certainly * see that you two boys are well provided for.” jp aae s “My papa is going to provide for Tatters.” spoke up % uthe “He's going to live with us and work in papa’s office.” | : “After what he’s done for you nnd for Mr. Jesup ~ he serves all he’ 1 yt “af Tatters and—what's your name?’ to Bermudas. — Smith is me name, but I’m gen’rally cated Rer- _
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TATTERS. “1S ae “I ain’t lookin’ for not‘in.’ I kin make me own way, betcher life,” answered Tatters, holding up his hand. —_ “Now, boys, I want you to help me remove these bags to the house. Do you think you could earry that small bag—the one with the jewels—Miss Ruth?” “Yes, sir,” she replied promptly. “Then follow me.’ “Wot erbout dese fellers?’ asked oo chap?” The gardener stooped down, oy Skillings over and felt of his heart “No, he’s ‘not dead, but I guess he’s pretty ‘badly hurt.” -“He used Ruth dat rough I couldn't stand for it, an’ I jest plucged him wit’ a bullet. 1 didn’t keer if I killed him, but now I’m glad I didn’t.” “We'll leave them here for the police to attend to,” said _the gardener. “I’m going to telephone to the nearest station.” _ He tied them, so they could not escape. ‘The party took hold of the bags of plunder and marched with them into the grounds through a small iron gate beside | the great entrance, and so on up the driveway to the house, where they were met by the three excited female servants rol were gathered in the lower front hall talking over the roLbery. “Did I kill dat a ee CHAPTER XIV. THE METAMORPHOSIS OF TATTERS AND HIS FRIEND BERMUDAS. \ After Edwards, the gardener, had explained the situation to the servants, Mrs. Jesup’s maid took Ruth upstairs. The bags of plunder were restored to the strong-room, the door of which had been drilled and then blown open, and left them there just as they were for Mr. Jesup to see when he came home. Then the gardener, after telephoning to the police, took the boys down to the lodge and told them to take a good wash. Soap and water improved the countenances of the lads won- derfully, especially Tatters, whose face had been well spat- tered with mud on the edge of the marsh when he made his i “a ggeiaas dive through the rotten timbers of the old canal- _ He was really a handsome boy when his light curly hair had been well brushed and the towel had got in its fine work. “Those rags ought to be burned up, my young friend,” the gardener. toe, with good underclothes, and you'd look like a young gen- ‘tleman. You're a good-looking boy.” “Tanks, Youse is complimentary,” grinned Tatters. “Then with a new name you'd be all to the good. I suppose you're an orphan. How the dickens is it that you don’t re- “member your real name. You must have had one once, you! know.” “Mebbe I had. If I did, Caleb Tartar didn’t tell me. He -alwuz called me Tatters, and den de boys called me Tatters, so ; “ dat’s de way I come ter be Tatters. I got used ter de name, } : ‘he raze sti sang asters wuz better’n no name at all, so I clung ter said | d = Bn thal laughed heartily at the boy’s method of rea- sonirg; then he said it was nearly five o’clock, and perhaps " they'd better lie down and sleep for a couple of hours, as he Ty —o to do that himself. _ At half-past seven he took them up to the house for break: st, introduced them into the roomy kitchen, which looked bright and clean as a new pin. The cook provided them with what Tatters declared to be the swellest breakfast he ever had in his life, and Bermudas ally impressed by it. “Dis is as good as Delmonico’s, betcher life,” he said to his oe as they cleaned their plates the second time, and pol- _ ished off two cups of good coffee. “Portugee Joe couldn't get nothin’ like dis, could he, Tatters?” 5 MT should. tink not,” replied the ragged youth, emphatically. While they were eating, the maid came in and said that | Miss_ Ruth was in bed asleep, and that she wasn’t going to 4% 4d her before nine. breakfast two policemen came to the house and in- od: everybody. coachman and footman, who had been all night in New g, returned about eight o’clock. - shouldn’t have left the "ey tea / wife were. she ig and’ th th pied “What you want is a new outfit from top to} Later on they started with the carriage for the Pennsylva- nia Railroad depot in Jersey City to meet the ten o'clock train — from Philadelphia. F Mr. and Mrs. Jesup reached home about eleven o'clock, and then they heard all the details of the burglary. Ruth Warburton and her young champions, Tatters and Bermudas, were presented to the wealthy retired civil en- gineer and his wife. “Ts it possible that you are the daughter of Edward Warbur- — ton, of Madison avenue, New York?” exclaimed Mr. Jesup in | surprise. Z set, “Yes, sir,” replied Ruth. “Why, there was an account in yesterday’s paper of your-— = mysterious disappearance from home night before last. Where have you been?” Ruth told her story, calling on Tatters to fill up the missing links. 4 She told how the boys had tried to escape with her irom the old canal hulk by boat, how they had got lest and spent all night in the marsh, and how they had been recaptured next | morning. | ‘Then she told about their escape that morning, their long ~ j walk through the wood and over the railroad ties, and finally — | the thrilling encounter with their enemies, the burglars. : 3 The story told by Tatters was even more graphic, and the ~ Jesups regarded the ragged boy with considerable interest. Bw “Miss Ruth,” said Mr. Jesup, suddenly jumping to his feet, “J must-telephone your father that you are safe and at our — home. You must remain here, of course, until he comes for — you.” ws Mr. Warburton had a telephone in his house, and Mr, Jesup ée on tonnected with the Madison avenue house. Ruth's father, his brother John and a detective were in consuitation in the library when the call came, and Jobn Warburton answered it. ~ What he heard over the wire caused him to shout to his brother: “Ruth is all right, Edward. She is with the Jesups on the — Midland Road.” H Edward Warburton rushed up and grabbed the receiver. . — He wanted full particulars from Mr. Jesup, who was a the | other end of the wire. | “Why, John, that Tatters boy you lost in the crowd Puckdaye on East Broadway is with her, and so is another boy ees 5, Henry Smith.” , { “Is that so?” replied John, greatly surprised. d < “My heavens, John, it is just as we feared—Ruth was ab- — ducted, and her escape from the scoundrels is entirely d to Tatters. That boy shall never want for a friend as long a I live.” rz “Nor as long as I live, either,” said John Warburton. — “Run upstairs, John, and teil Lydia that Ruth is safe and jis with the Jesups in New Jersey.” s While his brother was away Edward learned a few of th more important particulars about his daughter’s hard exp rience since she was spirited from home. 3 He also learned about the burglary at the Jesup home, an oe the great service Tatters had rendered in saving the valuable contents of the strong-room, which had been looted Ke rascals. “This Tatters is a most astonishing boy for his age,” s Mr. Jesup over the wire. “He is as bright as a new tin p and smart—well, don’t say a word! Ruth insists that are going to take him in hand and bring him up. Well, have the first claim on him if you wish to exercise it. If ya don’t, I shall adopt him myself, providing, of course, he willing to give up his questionable freedom. His talk is | language of the slums, and it will be quite a contract to’ him into a new line of life, but he’s young and, once pro started, he’ll come around all right. He has the fine man, and he looks as if he came from good stock. afraid we shall never learn his true origin, unless the mation is known to a man he calls Caleb Tartar, around bs, his earliest recollection centers.” Before Mr. Warburton had finished his talk with his fi Jesup, his brother John returned to the library and dis the detective with a check for services rendered. t “I'm going out to Jesup’s place at once,” said so burton, as he hung up the receiver. “And Vl go with you,” replied John promptly. “ up Gibson's stables and order a rig to ‘be sent around at Out at Jesup’'s Tatters and Bermudas were. bare of their lives. a They were sent to the’ nearest outfitters in c + earerte, ‘the Fopeac tis ant Tatters’ Tags and sO 7%
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TATTERS. _ shabby garments were replaced by fine new suits, with hats, _ shoes and stockings and underclothing to match, not forget- _ ting collars and neat ties. ' When Tatters was dressed and led in front of a looking- glass he didn’t know himself. “Say, cully,” he said to the salesman, “is dis me, on is it er pipe dream?” A “It’s you, all right,” laughed the gardener. . _ “Say, dese shoes hurt me feet. I never kin wear ’em.” Sie “You'll get used to them soon. If you’re going to live with Miss Ruth you can’t go around barefooted.” “I s'pose dat’s er fact,” replied Tatters, with soiaetbins like @ sigh, as he saw the clerk gingerly carry his old rags to the back door and throw them out. “Dere goes me name,” the boy said, regretfully. Tatters no more.” __ “Youse are a swell of de first water now,” said Bermudas. _ “An’ just look at me new togs, too! De gang’ll never know me when I show up. I dunno wot I’m goin’ ter do wit’out yer, Tatters,” in a gloomy tone. _ “TIT guess you won’t go back to New York, Smith,” said the ‘gardener. “Why not?” “Mr. Jesup is going to give you a situation on his place.” “Wot! Yer don’t mean it?” “T heard him say so.” s aed did? An’ kin I see Tatters once in a while?” - *T have no doubt but you will. He can come here and call on you, and you can go and see him after he gets accustomed to his new home.” “Oh, say, Tatters, wot do yer t’ink er dat?” in high glee. “rl let youse know later, Bermudas,” answered Tatters, ho wasn’t certain by any means that the new life that was ene mapped out for him would fill the bill to his thorough - 3atisfaction. / When the gardener brought the two boys back to the Jesup mansion, their appearance created a small sensation—they were so changed. Ruth was so astonished with the transformation in Tatters cially that she couldn’t believe at first that it was really “T ain’t on’t youse know me, Ruth?” he asked, now doubly re- gretting the loss of his familiar rags. “Why, it is you, Tatters, isn’t it?” she said, clapping her nds and laughing with pleasure. “Sure it’s me. Who else ’ud it be?” hated how handsome you .look now. Doesn’t he, Mr. : rhe old civil engineer admitted a fact that was patent to ‘Quite a little gentleman,” he said, with a smile. The boys were introduced to an elegant bathroom, where ey were told to give themselves a thorough bathing. 5 Shortly afterward they sat down in company with Ruth and their hosts to a dinner, which Tatters declared to Bermu- in a whisper was clean out of sight. f course they felt decidedly awkward under the circum- mees, but Mr. and Mrs. Jesup, seconded by Ruth, did all hey could to put them at their ease. ‘ fter the mea) Mr. Jesup carried them off to his library. ow, boys,” he said, “I want to have a talk with you. I beli eve it is decided that you, Tatters—I must call you by ame_ still, as you have no other yet—are to live with ward Warburton, who, in gratitude for the service you re rendered Ruth, is going to assume the responsibility of future. Now I owe you a considerable obligation for 3¢ e you did for me this morning. You, with your | Henry Smith, saved property of ours worth, at a low te, $150,000. .As an evidence of my gratitude T am go- o> hand Mr, Warburton my check for $25,000 to be depos- your future benefit in some bank he will select for rpose. It will have doubled in value by the time you vat age, and will be a nice nest egg for you to begin life s Was. too much astonished to say a word. ‘ you, Smith,” said Mr. Jesup, turning to Bermudas, to look out for your future myself, if you have no ‘Tm going to deposit $25,000 in a New York bank and I’m going to employ you about my place | assistant to the gardener and in occ peseia ed months, if you prove worthy, I shall send you to ding-school, where you will get the education you le,” put in the ur friend Tatt , as an entice- will go to the same ‘respecting your future. _ * the: men whe. meubes, esd eter at Bermudas’ eyes opened very wide, and he grinned at Tat- ters, who responded in the same way. Mr. Jesup saw that the lads were beginning to wake up to the new life that was before them. CHAPTER XV. \ TATTERS AND BERMUDAS BEGIN A NEW LIFE. Shortly afterward Edward and John Warburton drove up to the mansion. The meeting between father and daughter was very affect- ing. : Then Tatters and Bermudas came in for their share of at- tention. “J should never have known you, Tatters,” said Edward Warburton, grasping the boy warmly by the hands. “You look so different in good clothes. We shall have to find a name for you now, and I hope a thorough investigation of — your past will bring your real name to sight.” “Mebbe Caleb Tartar knows it,” said Tatters, doubtfully. “Who is Caleb Tartar?” “He’s de man dat keeps-.de- Water street lodgin’-house, where Bermudas an’ me slept nights. I used ter live wit’ him in Cherry Hill when I wuz a little kid, but I shook him, ’ compe he licked me an’ made me work for nothin’.” *“T shall make it my business to call on this man Tartar. I shall make it worth his while to tell all he knows about you. — It is to be hoped that we’ll be able to find out something about ~ your parentage.” “Dat feller ll do anyt’in’ for money,” replied Tatters. “In the meantime I want you to come home with Ruth and me, and I hope you will be Satisfied to fall in with my views I want to educate you first of all, and then we’ll see what will come next.” Tatters agreed to. go with his new friend, especially as the prospect of being Ruth’s companion was enticing to him. \The new clothes had already worked a revolution in his feelings and sentiments. He felt of more importance in the world, and realized that — he.couldn’t go back to his old life any more, which, with all — its boasted freedom, was a hard one. When the time came to part from each other, Tatters and Bermudas showed symptoms of gloom, but being assured they should meet often, became reconciled to the situation. r “Good-by, Tatters,” shouted Bermudas, as the team drove © out of the big gate. “I'll look ter see youse over here soon.” — “Dat’s right, Bermudas,” replied his friend. “Youse’ll see — me, all right.” 1g Then the carriage drove off in the direction Ruth: and = the two boys had come in the early hours of the morning. Y “Ain't youse goin’ ter Jersey City?” asked Tatters. “Certainly,” replied John Warburton, who was driving. “This is the road there.” “Is dat er fact? Den Ruth an’ me an’ Bermudas wuz walkin’ in de wrong direction.” “You certainly were. Every step you took carried you further away from the point you were aiming at. It is fortu- nate, however, that you went astray, otherwise | those rascals would have got away with Mr. Jesup’s property.” = “How erbout dat chap I shot? He ain’t dead, is he?” | “No. He’s in the hospital and will recover. Then he’ll be tried for his crimes, and he’ll not get less than twenty years.” “An’ de udder feller—de one Bermudas knocked onde nut?” 47] “He’s in jail safe enough.” Pes “Heard anythin’ erbout de udders? Me an’ Bermudas told de police. all erbout dat canal-boat in de marsh, an’ de — is Owls,. an’ everyt’in’.” “No, But you may be sure the gang will be broken up most of them arrested. We shall hear all about it in a day or two.” ; Tatters received a warm reception from Mrs. Warburton who, as one may well believe, was overjoyed . to. have Ruth back again—safe and unhurt. 7 It was a new experience for Tatters to have a aa tur- = nished little room all to himself, and a bed that, in his eyes, looked fit for a king. - “1 wonder if I won't wake up in de mornin’ an’ find meselt at Caleb Tartar’s, and dat all dis fine time: rm havin’ only er dream.” + ; On the following day Tatters. was. produced in ‘ere b3 benelai er and was excused for his non-app aS ea ae a ee eee ee
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_ Tatters soon found out that his good fortune did not spring from a dream, but that it was the real thing. _ He and Ruth had a fine time together, and seemed to thor- _ Oughly enjoy each other's society. _ On Friday they had to go to Jersey City to appear at the -€xamination of Spratts and half a dozen of the Night Owls _ who had been taken into custody. ' Here they met Bermudas, who had also been required to _ appear to give evidence against the lawbreakers, 4 Well, Tatters,” grinned his old friend, “how’s t’ings wit’ _ youse?” ' “Finer dan silk. How are youse gettin’ on?” _ Mudas, enthusiastically. “Dat’s er swell job dat I got. De _ Cook tickles me palate ter de queen’s taste. Never lived so -. pigh “ 1% er 3 on’t tink I'd care ter shine ’em up any more,” sai _ Tatters, beaminely. an sta 7 _ “EF guess not. I’m goin’ ter have me own private bootblack ‘one of dese days.” ' “I get me shoes shired in’ de barber-shop ev’ry mornin’,” Said Tatters, with a chuckle. “I’m gettin’ used ter wearin’ ’em ' how, but dey felt kinder funny at de start-off. Just like as if - Me feet wuz bandaged up.” _ “Well, youse look fine dese days, Tatters,” said Bermudas, looking his friend all over from his hat to his shoes. “Wot a diff’rence Since dat mornin’ we wuz playin’ craps on de pile ll bricks in Front street. We don’t seem like de same fel- “I 4 5 : a “Dat’s right, Bermudas. It seems like er dream.” “a gang must be wonderin’ wot’s become of us.” _. “Pil bet dey are.” ss: “If we wuz ter walk down on Water street ter-night in dese - glad rags, hully smoke, what ’ud dey t’ink!” f “Dey’d tink we'd gone inter de bankin’ bizness.” I'd like ter see Butts,” said Bermudas, a bit wistfully. “So ud I. An’ Billy Moss, an’ Tommy Dodd.” Their further confidences were cut short by the entrance Sm the judge, and soon afterward Spratts was cailed to the ag Ruth gave her testimony first, and then Tatters was called. ___*You solemnly swear that the evidence you are about to _ 8ive.is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” _ Yattled off the clerk. “Kiss the book.” -/Tatters obeyed. : =" “J “What's your name?” _ “Tatters,” replied the youth, glibly. “What's that? I didn’t understand you,” asked the clerk, ee eee the judge looked hard at the well-dressed, handsome _ boy. _. “I said me name wuz Tatters,” lect of the slums. P His reply. coupled with the great contrast between his _ Speech and his appearance, created a stir in the court. A “What's your first name?” _ At this point John Warburton rose and asked to be allowed to make an explanation to His Honor. _ _. He was permiited to do so. __ _Ina‘low tone, not audible to the curious spectators, Mr. War- _ burton told the judge that the boy had no other name at _ present, that he had only just been rescued from the slums, and that his evidence could be depended on. __ The examination then proceeded, Tatters being addressed as ‘ r Tatters. The lawyer hired by Spratts, however, took advantage of the situation to try and discredit the boy’s testimony, on the ground of his past life. He did not succeed in convincing the judge, or anybody else, for that matter, that Tatters was not a competent and Teliable witness. _ The same tactics were pursued with Bermudas when he Came to the stand, but failed just as signally. The result was that Spratis was remanded for the action of the Grand Jury. ‘The half-dozen Night Owls were treated in a more summary Manner. : They were found guilty offhand, and sentenced to three Years apiece in the Reformatory. “Serves dem right,” remarked Bermudas, as he parted at the door of the court from Ruth and Tatters. “Dese fellers ain’t no good for nothin’.” ; y “Dat’s right,” replied Tatters. “Dey called us wild animals -dey looked in on us while we wuz pris’ners in dat canal- an’ wanted ter stir us up wit’ er pole. Now dey are get- it in de neck, an’ I 3 + * replied the lad, in the dia- ain’t sorry for a cent.” + + “I’m livin’ on de fat of der land, betcher life,” replied Ber-: TATTERS. CHAPTER XVI. TATTERS’ STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. On Monday of the following week Edward and John War-, burton went down to Water street to find Caleb Tartar, and have a talk with him. ‘ While they were away, Tatters and Ruth went up to Central Park. They went to see the animals first, and spent an hour around the cages. “Dat monkey in de corner puts me in mind er Caleb Tar- tar,” chuckled Tatters. peat “Qh, Tatters!” exclaimed Ruth, with a merry laugh. “You don’t mean that.” A man in bushy whiskers who was loitering near the cages looked up suddenly in a startled way as he heard the forego- ing, and then bent a sharp look on the boy’s face particularly. Ruth and Tatters soon walked off up a pathway, and the man with the whiskers followed after them. * For half an hour they kept to the paths, but finally they turned off among the rocks that led to the lake, and the man was still behind them. + In the vicinity of the big lake there are lots of secluded a nooks, and lonesome-looking spots overlooking the water, that = make a stroller in the park forget, for the moment, that he r is in the midst of a great city. sf Tatters and Ruth wandered through grottoes, over rustic bridges, through by-lanes whose dense foliage made a sort of a twilight within them, and so on till they came out upon @ I stony place in a sheltered nook of the lake. Ms “Ain't it lonesome here, Ruth?” said Tatters, as they stood admiring the rude natural beauty of the spot. eS “Yes. You wouldn't think we were so near Fifth avenue” ~ as we are, Looks like some wild spot in the Catskills.” i, At that moment they heard a step behind them, and, turn- ing, discovered the man with the bushy, black whiskers com- q ing toward them. ' me “Do you think he has been following us, Tatters?” asked Ruth, nervously. “Wot makes youse t'ink dat, Ruth?” asked her companion, with a sidelong glance at the stranger. j “Pecause I've noticed him behind us almost all the time since we left the menagerie.” “Well,. he'd better not butt in, dat’s all I got'r say,” said — Tatters, aggressively. ¥ “Let’s get away from here. He might attack us here, and ~ nobody would be the wiser,” said Ruth, in a frightened tone, “Don't youse worry. I kin take keer of yer,” replied the — boy, confidently. es: “Do come away,” she begged. - “All right, if youse want’r. Wotever yer say goes wit’ me.” — They turned to retrace their steps, but the man with the ~ black whiskers blocked their path. Ase “Wot's der matter wit’ youse?” demanded Tatters. trying to push the man aside. “Not much,” answered the man. shortly. bone to pick with yer. That's all.” Fa “Yer have notin’ ter pick wit’ me. I don’t know youse.” “Oh, yer don’t?” replied the man with a sarcastic laugh. “Well, I know yer. all right, even if yer have new togs on, — Yer Tatters, the Water street kid.” ree “S’pose I am Tatters. Who are youse?” “Yer want to know, do yer? Well, look and see, you little imp, before I throw yer into the lake, as I’m goin’ to do rig! away.” — ' He removed his false whiskers and stood revealed as Hi: Ruth recognized him at once, and uttered a scream. “Shut your trap, yer little vixen!” cried Hague, furiously, grabbing her by the arm. htys.. “Hands off dat girl!” cried Tatters, striking Hague in the face a blow that staggered him. ae The man swore a great oath and, grappling with the | tried to force him over the rocks toward the water, wh looked deep and dark at this spot. io “I'm goin’ to close yer mouth for good, yer little imp,” he cried, hoarsely. “Yer give evidence ag’in my pal, Spratts, las week. And yer mean to do the same ag’in Skillings wh he’s brought up.. And ag’in my other pal, Bill, whose g yer queered that mornin’ in Front street. I’m ’ to fix yer so yer won't be on hand when yer called. I’m goin’ te kill yer!” fiercely. "60m Tatters, however, was a strong boy for his years, an out up a stubborn resistance. 4 ne “Only I've got a> | 7
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ee aE Ruth, too, grasped Hague's coat and pulled for all she was - worth. y The rascal shook her off, and then weshed Tatters almost _ to the edge of the pool, where he fell on top of the boy, and the struggle continued with desperate earnestness, while nth, finding she could do nothing, screamed repeatedly. ~The man and boy rolled about, and Tatters squirmed so _ that Hague was unable to accomplish his object. ' At last he thought he had Tatters, and he was anxious to finish the job, for he knew that the girl’s screams were bound to attract attention to the spot. - -. So he made a sudden and powerful effort to push the boy over into the water. At that moment Tatters, who was as agile as a monkey, ze. ‘wriggled under him and he fell over on his side. eee _Tatters kicked him in the shins to recover himself. ‘Phen he felt he was falling, and made a frantic grasp at ‘the rocks. His feet went down over the edge of the rocks and pulled _ his body with them. _ He disappeared from _Tatters’ sight like a shot. There was a splash in the water and then silence. ey Two pedestrians, who had heard Ruth's shrieks, came run- ning into the break of the rocks as Tatters scrambled to his feet. 3 “What's the trouble?” asked one of them. . _ Ruth, as pale as a ghost, could only point at Tatters. The strangers walked to him. bet “What have you been doing?” they first demanded. TATTERS. SS A aa am = I SEES TE aT —————— and the result was Ruth and Tatters were paroled in his eustody to appear at court next day. We may as well say, right here, that at the examination which followed Tatters was relieved of all blame for the death of Hague, who was identified by the police as a crook whose picture was in the Rogues’ Gallery. . That night, however, there was a very important confer- ence at the Warburton home. Tatters was told that Caleb Tartar had been induced to re- veal all he knew about him. The boy’s right name was George Lovett. His father, Arthur Lovett, had married a typewriter in his. own father’s employ, and had been cast off by the family, a well-known and much respected one, in consequence. Arthur Lovett, after a hard struggle with the world, died, leaving his wife with their little boy in comparative poverty. Sickness prevented her from taking a position to support herself and her child, and she drifted to the poorest section of Cherry street, where she became acquainted with Caleb Tartar. When she found she was golng to die, she begged Caleb to look after her boy. He promised to do so, and she died and was buried in potter's field. Then Caleb Tartar proceeded to bring George Lovett up in a way that should turn to his own particular advantage. For fear that the family of the boy’s father would learn about the child and take him away, Caleb suppressed the lad’s name and ealled him simply Tatters, which suited well “Been havin’ de fight of me life,” replied Tatters. “He's; with the clothes he furnished the unfortunate little orphan. cadirn dere." And the boy pointed to the water, but there was no sign of Who's down there?” “De feller dat tried to t'row me hither de lake.” ¥ _ Looking down, the men just made out the ghastly face of villain, lying two feet below the surface. _ He had struck his head on a rock and become uncon- “My heavens!” exclaimed one of the strangers. “How can we get him‘ out?’ +3 The rocks went down in a sheer incline, which made gue’s rescne, under the circumstances, impossible. The rascal was as good as dead, and he deserved his fate. ‘He’s a goner,” said the other stranger. “We can’t reach him, to save our lives,” “Come on, bdy, this is a case for the police to settle.” Et wuzn’t my fault, all right. Ask Ruth.” Thus appealed to, Ruth, now recovered from her fright, d the story of how the man had attacked Tuatters and tried throw him into the water, and how he had slipped over strangers listened as they walked along. were inclined to believe her story and to exonerate of wrong, but they felt that they had no right to “oeetonesine on so serious a case, so they turned both of g people over to the park PSS. who heard the story, } s body was recovered, and taken to the station near gerie. walBatton who, by that time, had nesting to his notified by telephone | at Tatters’ request. : to the park at once, and after he had heard troub he Aepnineot, ao wis a ines That was all, but it was enough to establish the boy's identity, and his right to an honored name. Subsequently, his grandparents were induced to recognize him, but that was not till some years afterward, when eduea- tion and refinement had worked their change in the handsome, bright lad. Mr. Warburton sent him away to a military academy in New Jersey, and Bermudas went with him, at Mr. Jesup’s expense, They graduated together, two of the brightest students ot the school, and were then sent to Princeton College. When they had completed their schooling, Henry Smith, or as we have known him—Bermudas, began the study of civil engineering under Mr. Jesup’s patronage. teorge Loyett—no longer Tatters, the boy of the slums— followed his example, and now occupies a responsible position in Edward Warburton’s office. , He doesn’t live with his old protector any more, but in the immediate neighborhood. He calls frequently at the Madison avenue home, and the © ; impression prevails that he will soon marry Ruth Warburton, | one of the Joveliest of this season’s debutantes. is ‘AS soon as he and Bermudas are of age they expect to get possession of the $25,000 apiece given to them by Mr. Jesup. As for Ruth, she is proud of her young intended, and — thinks there isn’t another young man like him in the world, — but when she wishes to tease him she assumeg a roguish air * and calls him “Tatters.” Next week's issue will contain “A YOUNG MONTE CRISTO; OR, THE RICHEST BOY IN ees WORLD,” ae ; ns > SEND POSTAL Ft OUR FREE CATA
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‘Tn the last thirty-eight years, from 1877 to 1914 inclu- ve, the total loss by fire in the United States and Canada — Was $5,866.000,000. The Joss’ in 1877 was $68,000,000, and that in 1914 was $235,000,000.. The greatest year’s _ loss was in 1906, the vear of the San Francisco fire, when the figure was $159,000,000. _ bieyele race, which has not been held since 1907, is again “to be ren this year on Decoration Day morning. "The _ Empire City Wheelmen, Incorporated, of Brooklyn, has secured a permit for the use of this cycle path for the - Tunning of this event. The revival of this classic, after a lapse of eight years, should mark a new era for the bicyele. Leaning over the pulpit and looking down at the casket _ before him as he was preaching a funeral sermon, the Rev. _W. E. Fetch, pastor of the Céntral M. E. Church, Colum- bus, Ohio, was surprised to see spread beneath it a Siberian : wolf, rug that (ras stolen from his automobile on Nov. 22, ; 1914, After the funeral he recovered the robe from the ; P undertaker and set the police on the track of a chauffeur who sold the robe to him. John Fay Palmer, fifty-five years old, of Cleveland, O., | ~ member of “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine”. company, _ playing at the Trenton Theaters dropped dead from heart | _ trouble. He had played in the first act and walked off | the stage apparently well, but fell at the dressing-room ax dor. Without permitting the women in the cast to know of the death, the play proceeded. The audience was igno- tant: of the death. The fire department pulmotor .was used ineffectively. = ’ A check for $1,090 bearing the name of Nicholas Long- worth, received by the Cincinnati branch of the Commis- sion for the Relief of Destitute Belgians, brought consid- erable joy to the local members of the commission re-| - cently. _ But it was found the cheek was a forgery, that Representative Longworth had not sent it, that no attempt ' had been made to imitate his handwriting on the check 7 and that it was made out on a bank with which Congress- man A heaes did no business. Be details of the naval battles in the North Sea and oif the coast of South America show that some of the ships at were sunk were struck at the extreme range of 15,000 ards. Up to the heginning of the Europeon war it was nerally assumed that 12,000 yards would be the limit at ch hostile fleets would begin to fire. But the com- devs of both the English and the German warships chanees at 15,000 yards and the fire proved effective. js wnnecessarv to state that every navy in the world taken up the problem of conducting target sae, ice at of Soni’ cs a to Sea ae . | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. The popular Coney Island Cycle Path twenty -five-mile | count ry, and each of them is expected to vield annually With three successive portions of water. }ried a total of 2.567.214 tons of cargo. .|time to permit shipment to Pasadena, via the Panama ee ae! Se It has been found that the scap nut tree which grows in India and also in Algiers will thrive in Florida. Trams- planted to American soil its fruit is larger, finer and much more valuable commercially than when grown on their ma- tive.seil. Panama bark from the quillaya tree is not by any Ineans as good as this new soap plant. Already over 500,000 young soap nut trees have been planted in this many pounds of soap nuts. To prepare soap from the soap nut, an ounce and a half of the = REE hulls is boiled The three por- tions are mixed and concentrated to one-third the original volume. After it is cooled some egg-white is added. and the whole reboiled to clear it of dirt. It is now thickened again by boiling and treated with 15 per cent aleohol. ~~ This gives the extract of soap, a brilliant liquid, which can_ be used for anv purpose for which ordinary toilet or - laundry soap is used. The first six months of commercial operation of the — Panama Canal were completed at the close of business on Feb. 14, 1915, the canal having been opened to eom- — mercial traffic on Aug. 15, 1914... Four hundred and — ninety-six vessels, other than canal vessels and Jaunches, — etc., which are not counted, passed through the canal dur- ing this period, says the Panama Canal Record ; they car-— Slightly over forty-one per cent. of the cargo handled was in moves a between ports of the United States. The six principal com- ~ modities passing through the canal were, in order of a 4 tonnage, grain, nitrates, coal, refined petroleum products, — lumber and cotton, and these six commodities together — formed approximately one-third of all goods shipped — through. The tolls levied during the six months’ period — amounted to $2,126,832. Adding to this the $11,611 of tolls collected on barges prior to Aug. 15, the total levy to Feb, 15, 1915, is $2,138,443. ; The last annual report of the Mount Wilson Obserya- tory states that al! the larger parts of the mounting fo the 100-inch reflector (which will be much the largest telescope in the world) will probably be assembled at the Fore River shops, where they have been constructed, in- Canal, early this year. Meanwhile the smaller parts ani accessories have been under construction at the observa tory. The driving-clock, which is nearly completed, . quired more than half 2 ton of bronze castings and near! 114 tons of iron castings, in addition to the 2-ton driving w eight. The cireuler steel building for this instrument cemplete up to the rails which are to carry the dome. latter has been built in Chicago and is about finished. T building and dome will probably be completed next su mer so that the mounting may be set on the pier in antumn. Meanwhile good progress has been made~ the capital task of grinding and figuring the great n
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FAME AND FORTUNE W EEKLY. 2 " 7 CHAPTER XV (Continued) ma “Then T think the best thing we can do, Ben, is ‘to ‘agree to Morgan’s terms and take him back.” ~ - “Tt hasn’t come to that yet,” said Ben. + “Oh, yes it has. What do you say, Frank? You've been dumb as a clam all afternoon, but you must have dons ot thinking . _- “T haven’t quite made up my mind yet.” ‘Then you had better do so quickly. Just think of that poor Edith must be suffering now. She pie be f dead from grief and terror.” *You’re right, Jack, and I ought to have thought of bat before. Yes, Morgan shall come back, villain as he . *d have a dozen traitors in the camp rather than E should suffer one moment longer. How selfish T have been. Why, I can hardly forgive myself. ll go ight down to the camp and agree to Morgan’s terms.” Look!” cried Jack, springing to his feet, ex- wn the river, near the water’s edge, they saw a great ‘in the sky. CHAPTER XV. THE LOG IN THE STREAM. — y instant the glare increased, and, as the sky be- ; edder, g “aie flames were seen leaping up, accom- t Frank ahd Tack and Ben Burton were gazing is alarming spectacle, Tom came rushing up. ow dare vou leave your post?” cried Frank, angrily. rhe black. was too exhausted to speak, for he had run \ dith.” : * said Frank, in horror, not mally wnderstand- "3 statement mcant. ~ THE GOLDEN GROTTO ~ TWO BOYS’ SEARCH FOR NO-NO LAND By GASTON GARNE _| thongh, by this method the prospects of sucess ¥ re * perate, ‘it was, sipereuty, = tho ht ¢ (A SERIAL STORY) had great difficulty in keeping up with them. At this instant they theught only of Edith, and forgot all about. the boat, which was left to take care of itself. A great stretch of forest was on fire, and Frank recog- nized the spot. It was undoubtedly the place where Mor- gan had made his camp. “They must have escaped,” he said. think, Jack?” “Tet as ask our black man. He’s here. the second scovt over and questioned him. The man seemed quite positive that Morgan had not come out from the burning bushes. According to his account, as soon as the fire broke out, it spread with incredible rapidity. This “What do you was quite probable, for a high wind was blowing and all the luxuriant vegetation which grew around the trees was” as dry-as tinder. “No one came out,” said the black man. “This is horrible,” said Jack, “and we can do nothing.” “Tf it wasn’t for-Miss Edith,” observed Ben, who had now arrived, “you wouldn’t see me shedding many tears, for roasting’s good enough for Morgan. But, Miss Edith with fire all around and the river on the other side—what ean she do?” - “The river!” cried Frank. “That's a good idea, Ben. They called We may save her that way. You and Jack stay here, in ease there is a chance of giving help. Ill take Tom with me and row down in the boat.” hea ' This was no sooner proposed than it was acted upon, for ‘The fire minutes were of the utmost importance now. was now growilg every instant, and it threatened to con- tinue for some time, in fact as far as there was any vegeta-_ Be tion to be ee dd Frank Jost ne time in pushing off in the boat ing down bia river. and row- edge. The river bank was now one great blaze, and heat was so great that it was necessary to keep the me out in the stream. “This means death!” said Frank, sadly. a chance.” Both Frank end Tom kept their eyes about them, thi ing that some of those who had been in Morgan’s “There is D To his horror, he saw that for a cn a might have tried to save themselves by swimming. _
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. “yen death t ty fire would be more merciful!” he ee te ae across toward the middle of the stream, hel? ; i “saw a dark object resting upon the surface of the water. “There’s ene of those brutes now,” he said. he kept his eyes for an instant or two on this object, thought he saw something move. It seemed to him as it were an arm raised in the air. “What do you make of that, Tom?” he asked, pointing to what he had seen. “You have pretty good eyes, do Z a think it is a crocodile?” “No ’dile, Massa Frank,” answered Tom, promptly. a “Alive! Alive!” he cried, excitedly, standing up in the boat. “Alive—what of thet ?” inquired Frank. ile alive ?” “Not dat way.” _ “Well, Tom, to put an end to it all, we'll just row over 3 and see.” __ As they got near, it became clear that it was not a eroco- _ dile which had attracted their attention. Apparently it _ was a large log. “Frank! Frank!” ee “Why that’s Jack calling! I wonder what could have appened? We must see, anyway. Give way, Tom, and send her along.” Very soon they saw Jack. He was standing close to. fire, river bank on a spot which had been ere by, the - “Well, Jack, what is it?” “I just called you over, as I saw aks out there, to tel] You that we have seen nothing of Edith. Have vou?” Have | You," seat Ay) cone who was in the “Tsn’t a croco- oe ae camp?” j toe “Yes, one black man who rapa to escape by swim- Ff - Ming dewnstream, and he says that he is the only person who escaped the fire. Poor Edith! Isn’t it horribie, : Prank?” oy can’t bear even to talk of it, and to think that it all pened through us. If we had not been so obstinate, had given way to Morgan, Edith would be alive and ‘with us now. But I will not abandon hope vet. I row about i: the river.” Tom kept on ealling Frank’s attention to the fact that a log which they saw in the river he was sure that there Was something which was alive. “Maybe it is one of those black fellows who was with an. No matter who it is, I must save him.” - distance to go was not great, and, as the fire still d fiercely, the river was now brilliantly illuminated. h glare { fell on the floating log, and as Frank looked at gave a cry of oy. Lying on the log, quite motion- he saw Edith Duncan. ‘Saved! ! he cried joyously. “She. has only ently" fete: was a rush through ‘the water, —— CHAPTER XVI. THE RESCUE OF EDITH. Jt is easy to imagine Frank’s horror. It seemed to him — as if it? was ‘in:possible to save Edith from a dreadful! = death, for, even with a rifle, it is no easy matter, although oo at close quarters, to stop such an animal as the crocodile, The momentary feeling of dread which came over him passed away, and Frank, having his rifle at his shouldee ss proceeded to take aim. 4 “His. eve, massa,” whispered the black man in the boat, — for even he was almost stricken dumb by what was hap- pening. Vise Frank required no instruction from his black servant | know that the eve was the most vulnerable part of the crocodile, and that it was almost useless to expect a bullet to pierce the scaly armor which covered the monster. When the crocodile was within a few feet of the ina upon which Edith was lying, Frank fired. He was firm as a rock now, though so much’ depen upon the shot. A few seconds of intense interest followed. lf the crocodile was not killed, it seemed: as if ait death was inevitable. The monster soon showed that it was very much sind He darted hither and thither, churning up the water with ~ his _ ied taii into a Sa mass of foam. Furious tS toa, he was trying to * demolish it. ; “We have him now,” said Frank, joyfully, “and ray is safe. What a fool the creature is to imagine cea it can smash this boat into pieces.” “Yes, yes!” shrieked the black. “Bah, let him try!” answered Frank, cient _ Meanwhile, he was fang careful aim again, and trated the eye, ‘and, with a very feeble struggle, the croco- — dile was dead. ‘Edith by this time was aroused. but she evideutiey i not realize where she was! If Frank had rowed hastily, she would have risen to her feet and fallen i the water.. He caught her by the arm and she was s “Prank ! !" she eried, recognizing him, “where am What am I doing out here on the river?” “Thank goodness, you are safe, Edith. Don’t you re lect the fire ?” i “Yes, yes; it all comes back to me.now. . Oh, me rible.it was, Frank! The heat was intense, . and flames crept nearer my captors -ran in all di seek some escane. No one thought of me, not» Morgan. They ‘had enough. to do to look after them “But how came you to be on the log?” fees fo ~“T saw it near the edge of the river = ne it, I gases off = the stream.” Beata), r-stricken acy epee iow ofa}.
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SIX LOGS FROM ONE TREE. ey have cut a pine tree which scaled 6,543 feet at Manis- _ ‘tique, Mich. Six logs were secured from the tree. Ac- 3 cording to lumbermen, this tree was the largest pine tree out in that part of the country. RICH ALASKA GOLD STRIKE. placer gold strike of unusual richness has been made Dexter Divide, four miles from Nome, Alaska. Many rators have struck dirt paying $3 a pan. It is esti- ated that $150,000 worth of dirt has already been blocked ut. The pay streak is twelve feet deep and sixty feet wide, extending a mile east and west. It heads near Grass h, running toward Cooper and Specimen Gulch. any operators have leased ground and are preparing to ork the claims on a large scale. JOHN D. GIVES A BALL PARK. John D. Rockefeller has given the use of three acres of his Jand at Pocantico Hills to the Pocantico Hills A. C. for baseball park, and will lend men and teams to help put diamond into shape and build a grand stand. anger Kerrigan of the Pocantico Hills team expects to a speedy bunch of youngsters in uniform this summer hopes that Mr. Rockefeller may become one of the ’s ardent rooters. Mr. Rockefeller has long shown in- in athletics and his liking for baseball has increased seeing some exhibition ‘games at Daytona, Fla., in the Brooklyn Dodgers took part. NG AND CLOSING DATES OF ELFVEN LEAGUES. ypening and closing dates for the leading major and deagnee for the season of 1915 show that the Pacific e will, as usual, play the longest season. ‘The 2 schedule, whiek opened March 30 and continues October 24, calls for close to seven months of con- play. the. East and Middle West the American, National ederal leagues will carry their pennant races through of cepresienet six months. The dates a the Open’ ‘Close. ote - Bail Aprill4 . Oct. 7 ya 5 dings Punt pacer Sept. 18 Ja tp 5S Sa's ea eg TP aD: 5 3 Bepti: 6 rag in G58 8, f Re se 5 ie —— he Hee i ae ee IDS ag Pee ee FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. William Gardner, scaler for George Roberts, reports that |) postoffice are using motor cycles. CL See ee gree aie a De 8 ae S a CYCLE RACING NOTES. Walter Rutt, the German cyclist, in a letter to a friend in Newark, writes that he feels certain that Kramer will be able to retain the title of American champion again even though Goullet has taken long strides to dethrone the hig fellow. Rutt was recently stationed at Steglitz, where the motor cycle corps of the German army made their headquarters at the cycle track in that city. Rutt says that he has won a-number of races at the track. He is a member of the corps. He also denies the story that he will never ride a bicycle again. It was reported that Rutt’s recent illness had left him in such poor physical condition that he would never be able to compete again. Rutt insists he is in perfect health. In order to demonstrate to the Canadian War Depart- ment the ability of the motor cycle for military purposes, the Toronto Motor Cycle Club is planning a relay race from Windsor to Ottawa, a distance of 400 miles. It is proposed that the riders deliver a message from Windsor to the Minister of Marine, the Hon. Samuel Hughes, at Ot- tawa, Canada, is considering the establishment of a mili- tary motor cycle corps, which it is hoped will develop into a Dominion-wide organization. One ‘of the most interesting motor cycle trips made last fall was a 600-mile run into the Catskills by a party of Brooklyn riders. Equipped with tents, sleeping blankets, and cooking materials, the cyclists headed their machines for the mountains. After a couple of days of riding they found an ideal camping spot at the foothills of the Adiron- dacks, about ten miles from Lake George. Here they spent » week fishing, resting and exploring the hills. Many motor cyclists of note will help to make the two- wheeler events in connection with the celebration of the twenty-sixth anniversary of the opening of Oklahoma the biggest affair of its kind in the Southwest. The event will — take place April 20 to 22. The Motor Cycle Club of OF homa City has a membership of sixty -five. Baltimore is planning a big motor cycle race meet shar cles being used by rural mail carriers in the United Site. we course e will touch wae New England State. A number of special delivery carriers: 2 the se BS - Motor cycles are to take the place of twenty horses , were seein anctioned off Beis the tee
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Ea ogy Oe Ct nl ne . var ¥ ae eee aed Soi eae . NF}, FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Tv wo Yankee Boys in Cuba keg) ae Re FIGHTING WITH THE PATRIOTS a By ED. KING (A SERIAL STORY) aan 4 CHAPTER XIX (Continued) “Yes—by all means.” ee “pee __ As the fight ended Dick met Ned. “Very well.” ae _ They clasped hands, and the former said: A few minutes afterwards the skiff came back, and its i _ “This shall be mv last. battle.” crew reported the frigate stil! there. j _ “Faith, I’m heartily sick of it myself, Dick.” It was, cruising off the cove, and occasionally sent a “Tf the yacht can get away I’m going home in her.” howling shot towards the place where the yacht lay; but * , “Sure I’m with you on that: trip——” the rocks protected the Sea Shell from injury. 33 “And I?” asked Fanita, nervously. . Once, on the following day, a second attempt was made __ *You shall go with us to America.” by the Spaniards to reach the yachtsmen, but their boats — = “I would be so glad. But—how about Mario?” were met by such a furious bombardment from the Gatling ee “He——” stammered Dick. “Why he——” gun that they beat a hasty retreat. - es _ Then the boys exchanged troubled glances. In the meantime, as all the munitions had been lend ~ Fanite observed their looks. the Cuban patriots took leave of the boys, and safely car- ‘a - Instant!y she became intensely alarmed. ried the things away, inland. a Her face grew very white, and she sprang toward them,| ‘The night finally closed in as black as ink. ; a oe - and cried in tremulous tones: “I'm going to risk running out under cover of the “Some trouble has befallen my brother!’ gloom,” the captain annowneed. finally. “And we'll go at” Neither of the beys answered her. for they did not feel| once—before they expect us. If we wait too long they'll - eqnal to the task of breaking the sad news. | have guards in, boats watching and waiting for us.’ -For- an instant there was a deep silence, then she! Every one agreed. ‘ 4? : : aned : Accordingly noiseless preparations were made for de 4 _ “He is dead—dead! I can see it in your looks, I can—| Parture, and the yacht glided from the cove. <a i oh, heaven !” Unfortunately the Spaniards were upon the alert and | “She would have atlantic ihe ground in a faint had had boats posted near the inlet, and the guards saw the | _ Dick not seized her, and she remained unconscious a long yacht and yelled the news. ig <a A gunshot flew from the frigate in the Sea Shell’s di- When she finally revived, she was quite calm and col- rection, but missed her, and the captain muttered griml ; lected and implored the boys to explain to her what had| “We are exposed. We'll have to run now.” happened. | Every inch of canvas was up, and there was a s As she was so eager and fully prepared, Dick gently | breeze, making the yacht keel far over. gave her the details of Mario’s fall. Away they sped, all hands extremely anxious, and” _ She wanted to see his body after that, but when they Spaniard fired several more shots ai random, with hed the yacht, they found that the brave Cuban boy effect. : a d been interred. Indeed, he simply betrayed his own location, It was just as well so. Our friends, therefore, gave him a wide berth. _ The poor girl was assigned to the cabin. As the tide was high the crew of the yacht felt She retired from yiew to mourn in solitude over the| from the shoals, aifd safely reached deep water. Toss she had sustained, and the boys joined the captain. With closely trimmed sheets the Sea Shell finally - “Any more trouble, sir?” asked Dick. the gunboat fat astern, vaily hunting for her. ~ “Not a bit, my lad,” was the gruff reply. Both Dick and Ned remained on deck all night, “How about that gunboat ?” when daylight dawned they were so far away Trom ] _ “Tve sent a skiff out to see.” island of Cuba that no fears were entertained. : ~ “Can Ned, Fanita and I go to New York with you?” The yacht headed for New York. oo course you can, if you will run the risk of our| During the uneventful eruise that followed Dick g to dodge the Spaniards.” Fanita were a great deal in each other’s society, and We understand the situation tel ‘ bey finally proposed marriage to her. ‘rt wish 2” She had loved him a long while, ‘and accepted b
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‘The result was that when the yacht reached New York the three took leave of the crew, and went’ directly to Dick’s residence, where he explained all to his parents.. _ As the boy and girl were rather young to marry, it was decided that in a year’s time they might be united. The girl was put under tuition to learn English, Dick and Ned started in business together, and the fortune in Yuba belonging to Fanita was secured for her. _ And thus matters are at a rest at the present moment. The two brave Yankee boys frequently hear from their patriotic friends in Cuba, and watch with interest the war there in which they were engaged so prominently. And as, at the present time, the war is not over, and the: year of Dick’s engagement has not expired, we must fe leave of our friends. However, in.anticipation of the marriage of Fanita and ick, and an ending of the cruel war in favor of the op- 4 a we will draw the curtain. THE END. gap NEXT WEEK “33g BE SURE TO READ THE NEW SERIAL JOLLY JACK JONES paced, SEER By Ed King This is a thrilling story of adventure THE OPENING CHAPTERS BEGIN map NEXT WEEK “SBR YEGGS BLOW A SAFE. le a watchman for the New Jersey Zine Company at nklin Furnace. New York, was on duty at some dis- from the office the other night he heard a muffled m in that direction. Suspecting that robbers were ne weekly payroll of $30,000 in a safe in the office, ied there. As he burst into the office he discov- Yeggmen at work. The safe door had been blown | the robbers were busy searching the contents of e; one way stuffing some bills into his overcoat _ The watchman drew his revolver and gave chase. bhers opened fire, which was returned by the watch- One of the yeggs dropped, badly wounded. The s took different directions. The watchman contimed of the man who had the money. in his overcoat The robber threw off the coat. The watchman however, and made the man a prisoner. Return- ap the coat, and found the money intact eae aereae | hold out change. | before the arrival of the _jitmey bus—and i in some ] ‘a small Te ee ee Sha ‘ FAME AND Las doth ti WEERLY. portation but as a word hitherto unknown in these parts, [have been gathering information about it. “When T first saw the word in print in Eastern news- papers it was stated that it was the common term for a nickel in the West. Having lived somewhat in that see- tion and also in the South I thought it rather strange that I had never heard the word there, and I began making in- fquiries among Southern and Western acquaintances in New York. None, as far as I could discover, knew any more about it than I did. “Appeals to other nearby sources brought no more in- formation and I coneluded to go to the West for the de~- sired knowledge. Seattle being one of the points where — the jitney bus was flourishing like. a green bay hoss used to flourish, I wrote to my one-time editorial ‘buddy,’ Horace McClure, now of the editorial staff of the Seattle Times. From him I have just received a letter which comes so near being information that I am willing to ac- cept it as far as it goes.” Then he read this letter: “T think the word jitney sprang up in Kentucky, mean- — ing the genius who can make a one-cent stamp do the work of a two. When this thing broke a few weeks ago F be- came philologic. My effort, which appeared editorially here, has been widely copied in the West. I enclose a copy of it, along with other stuff which I have nailed en passant, which is a Chinook phrase current in our best so- cial circles. “One of the fellows in the office tells me that jitney is used by London cockneys to indicate the very smallest tip. For example: ‘What did he give you? ‘Oh, a jitney.” Another says it is employed by some poker players as the name for the smallest chip—maybe a penny, or two bits, — or fifty cents, or a dollar, or five dollars, according to the rules of the game and the quality of blood back of it. But I never heard cockneys use it, nor did I ever encounter a- poker player who had it in his vocabulary. My little edi- — torial states the case about as contplotely as is ae a: 2 aa my present state of education.” Here is the editorial : y “What is jitney? The question has been asked many — times throughout the Pacifie Northwest since the invasion — of trolley-line territory by small motor cars. It would take a leavened exponent of slang to answer the question correctly. The word does not appear in ordinary diction- aries and its etymology is therefore a matter of much oe doubt. ‘«Jitney is used by colored children and poor white i the extreme southeastern portion of the United States for a nickel. It is just as completely a term there as lagniap is in New Orleans—the, latter meaning a a to puss purchase or the payment of a bill. “From what appears to have been its source jitney has drifted into Louisiana, Arizona and New erie, from it has come an allied term, ‘jit a man,’ meanin The expression has reached the citi Fy gs ee Ne te Ska | ait ae Ls, ee oh a , een ae ; ig A ~*~ we, aS Dry -es te cy i A “2 i iti is understood to m its me
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ia of the New York Public Library is pe increas- ing. In 1914 there were 711,122 readers in the reference rooms, who called for 2.127.328 books. In 1913 there were _ but 526,682 readers, calling for 1,685,715 books. The cir- penlstng department in 1914 issued 9,516,482 books, as - agains 8,320,144 in 1913. The Pan-American Union states that the teaching of ae is increasing among American colleges and uni- Yersities. There are now 278 institutions, every State be- ing represented, which include Spanish in the regular cur- Ticulum. New York has more institutions peuciine Span- ish than any other State. A Holstein cow in British Columbia recently established a world’s record in milk production, according to the 4 ‘American consul at Vancouver. In eighty-six successive “4 days the animal produced 9,376 pounds. of milk and 107 ‘pounds of butter. Her record for one day is 123 pounds ‘of milk. She is a pure-bred Holstein, 4 years aid The following is said to bé the Chinese ae of * eatching fish: ‘Take cocculus indicus, pulverize and mix f, ~ with dough, then scatter it broadcast over the water as You. would sow seed. The fish will seize it with great avidity, and will instantly become so intoxicated that they will turn on top of the water by dozens, hundreds, or thousands, as the case may be. Then gather them up, and " put them into tubs of clean water, and presently they will be as lively and healthy as ever. Their flesh is not in- ured in the least. ‘= Tt ee £s Repeated exclamations of “Look who’s here,” in a loud tone, mystified a policeman, fireman and tenants recently when fire was discovered in an apartment house at 96 Hun- terdon street, Newark, N. J. Policeman John Begley, who helped some of the tenants from the dwelling, solved ~ the mystery as the firemen were about to enter the house to make a rescue. His portly form appeared in the door- way carrying a big cage in which was a green parrot. “Look who's here,” cried the bird, cocking an eye at the p whose face wore a broad smile. A cheese that weighs between five and six tons and is rly five feet high and more than six feet in. diameter been made in New York State for exhibition at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. The intake of twenty-five . sivtonicn for a day, amounting to about 106,000 pounds f milk, was used in the manufacture of this enormous reese, It was made in a mold built up of galvanized steel ps. At the close of the exposition the cheese will be cut pound pieces and sold. This is an unusually large 2, but not the largest ever made. A cheese -made in la and exhibited at the World’s Fair in Chicago al elevbn mesen wag. six de high and ey nine feet TIMELY 1 TOPICS A battle between two big timber wolves and a buck deer was interrupted by Gus Harrkonson; a farmer, who was on his way to Gilbert, Minn., from his home south of this vil- lage. Harrkenson dsclaxes that the wolves had the buek cornered ‘in a wood lot, with his back against a tree. The buck, with head down, was on the defensive, and made. no attempt to attack his enemies. Harrkoneon; who was un- armed, went back to a farmhouse to borrow a rifle. On~ his return the wolves scented him and ran in different di- — rections. Harrkonson shot at the wolves, but missed. The deer did not move away for some time after the wolves — disappeared. Men are being replaced by women as clerks in the Adame Express Company offices at 65 Broadway, New York. Rob- ert Mundle, one of the auditors, said that the change was for economy’s sake. Reduction of express rates by the Interstate Commerce Commission, he explained, had made — retrenchment necessary. The company found that, with - the help of adding machines, work in one department that — formerly required nineteen men could be done ‘by nine — women. Since March 1 135 young women have been em- — ployed to take the places of men. Thirty more will be ~ hired shortly and thirty more men will go. Some of the men discharged say that the economy effected is small and that old employees have been discarded. $ T'rapped in a patch of woods, nine of the desperadoes ti who raided Stroud, Okla., robbed two banks of approx imately $5,000 and probably fatally wounded a ae are making a last stand against a posse of more t 5 300. Two of the bandits have been wounded and cap a tured. One is believed to be Henry Starr, the Cherokee outlaw, for whom the State has offered a $1, 000 rew. a It is said that in 1902, after Starr’s band had robbed + 3 train near Bryor Creek, Okla., they diseovered, while gal- — loping to their camp, a Joplin, Mo., gitl who had fled - from the train in terror at the gang’s hots: The meeting ended in the marriage of Starr and the girl. Mrs. Cora” Starr, said to have been the heroine of the romance, ob tained a divorce at Sapulpa. The smallest money order ever ie by the local post- office was made out at Grass Valley, Cal., by Clerk E. FL Whiting, who has had many years of experience in that work. A woman had received a debit statement from” mail-order house notifying her that she was in arrears te the amount of 2 cenis. Indignant and unable to real the spirit that would prompt any one to mail a bill fe cents, the woman decided that a postage stamp would suffice and that only a memes order would eye. to. was 3 cents and the postage nolcean to carry it to” destination cost 2 cents more, so that with the 2 e¢ postage that carried the bill to the-woman 7 cents” sepened in i: eoplecting the 2-cent d ey. ;
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, APRIL 23, 1915. Postage- Free - HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P: 0. Money Order, Check id = ret Leter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. 5s acrept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver ve the > the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. oa your name and address pluinly. Address letters to Hanzy E. Worry, President Roy L. MoCanprin, Vice-President a ON, Basrmaa Worrv, Treasurer EB, Nruanxper, Secretary ) Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 22d St., N. Y. G00D CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES a: th British Empire, where they. are i Seacbesatiesly pee _ from wireless telegrams, is unique, if thorough. The offi- in charge of a certain hinterland received from his su- rior officer at the base some time in August this mes- : “War has been deciared. Arrest all enemy aliens _ your district.” With commendable promptitude the iperior officer received this reply: ‘Have arrested seven ns, four Russians, two Frenchmen, five Italians, Rovmanians and an American. Please say who we’re yar with.” =e * ha Salton Sea fell 42 inches during the year ending June, 4, when the annual sample of its water was collected + analysis by the Carnegie Department gf Botanical Re- arch. ‘The annual concentration of the water is about per cent. During the year in question the total solids sed from 1,003 to 1,180 parts per 100,000. During the Carnegie betanists also made a collection of the growing in Salton Sea, with a view to determining ther these plants are tesponsihle for deposits of tufa, s recently been suggested by Jones and Walcott. investigations have been made in the Lake Lahon- asin, where remnants of alge have been found in all “tufas except the-thinolitic form. Laboratory experi- on the subject are in progress. ' ‘captain and officers 0 of the Dutch freighter Blotberg, arrived in port recently from Rotterdam, did not to take anv chance of being torpedoed by a German in mistake of an anemy’s ship. Her 400 feet on either side was painted a bright scarlet at the e, with a broad belt of yellow above, on which, in nt green, was the inscription Nederlands. The sign fty feet long and the letters ten feet in height, so could be read across from the Bay Ridge shore tine. In addition. her name was also painted narine It has long been known that some of the surgeons in Greece use ants as substitutes for stitches in surgical opera- tions. This custom has been practiced since long before the Christian era. Ants are kept on hand especially for this purpose by the surgeon. When a patient suffering from a clean eut requires treatment, the ants are pro- duced, those with long and powerful mandibles being selected. The edges of the cut are brought together with the fingers of one hand, while the ant, delicately held with a pair of small forceps, is brought close to the wound with the other, its mandibles biting through the flesh on |both sides, and holding the edges together. Its head is then promptly nipped off, and the mandibles are left to take the place of surgical stitches. As many as fifteen or twenty ants are sometimes used for a single cut, and they are usually left on for three or four days. Their removal is then far easier than the withdrawal of the silk or thin ~ silver wire ordinarily used for the purpose. GRINS AND CHUCKLES “So you got thé opinions of two lawyers on the case, Were their opinions the same?” “Yes, $25 each.” Husband—Are you aware, my dear, that it takes three- fourths of my salary to meet your dressmaker’s bills? Wife my Tes Te - ‘, Son—Why, dad, T can throw the hammer further than any | —Good gracious! What do you do with the rest of your money ?° , “If you were there for no dishonest purpose, why were you in your stocking feet?” asked the magistrate. “I heard there was sickness in the family, your worship,” said _ the burglar. i + i y i % ie a J tar in vet yet. Ba A Rp ae pe “What a marvelous insect a grasshopper is! He can _ jump one hundred times his length.” “That’s nothing—I once saw a bee raise a- two-hundred-pound man three feet __ in the air!” J “Hold on, dar!” said a colored man, hailing an ac- quaintance. “ “Does yer cross der street every Ming: yer sees” me ter keep from paying dat bill?” “No, I doesn’t.? “What, den?” “Ter keep from being axed fur it.” : ih Farmer Jones—What hev yer Varned at yer - eatloges son? one there. Farmer Jones—Thet’s good. I guess yer’ll hey — no trouble in gittin’ er job in er blacksmith’s shop then. “Sir,” said the office boy to his employer, “as you know very well that my family is in perfect health, I ask you to let me off this afternoon to go to the ball game.” “Young i man,” replied the boss, “you are entirely too honest. ge have my suspicions of you. You are fired.” Statement of the Ownership, Mi parent.) Cinealation ete., ‘cesta taf, the es im peta S AD ace ete e 1a ae WS a Menaging Baulor None: “Y *Prninkes Man HARLES 'E. \YLANDER, ek 4 ler 168, eae ry WOLFF, 168 W. 22d St., Kon Sorks Ne Yori... Known bon of total it |e Rew moun! Oe. Demidast ate ie ans s Ere Las ett afore oe REN of Deeds:
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THE MATL ROBBER. By D. W. Stevens The position of railway mail clerk, or route agent, in _ America, is an important one. The emplovee of the railway postal service must be a man of nerve and energy, because his work is hard and "ceaseless. __ He must be a man of uncommon watchfulness and dis- - eretion, because an unlucky blunder may cost him his offi- cial head, and he is ever liable to fall upon the evidence of fraud and crime. ; He must be a man of bravery and decision, because, ; cee in charge large sums of money and securities in _ transit almost daily, he must hold himself in readiness to - defend them and his life against the assaults of desperate and coyvetous ruffians, who see in his lonely car both the neentive and the opportunity to tempt them to the com- : mission of robbery or murder. A few years ago I was employed in the mail service as agent over one of the leading routes in Southern Missouri. About the time T assumed the duties of my position in ee service, the James brothers were making raids on the roads further north, and although they had never molested _ the mails in our section, there was no. knowing when they or other maratiders, equally desperate, might take it into _ their enterprising heads to drop down our way and make - an attempt to go through the registered mails on one of _ our through trains, and there being only two daily through mails over the line, and my train having twice as much valuable matter in transit, every trip, as was carried on_all _— the way trains and the other through trains together, you will admit that there was good logic in my supposition - that if they should determine to try their luck on our line _ they would be pretty apt to honor me with their attention, and the fact that the other through train passed over the - road by day and that ours went through by night tended 3 to strengthen rather than allay my apprehensions. A month went by, and I had grown used to my work, . ‘end liked it. is Everything was going on well, when, upon taking up a newspaper one day, I saw something which brought all my old forebodings back to me with irresistible force. The sheriff's posse and the vigilantes in Northern Mis- ~ souri were making the country so warm for the James _ brothers that robberies were of less frequent occurrence than they had been for the"year past, and it was hoped that in this new state of affairs the marauders would see it to their‘advantage to change their base of operations to some dangerous and more favorable locality. What more natural, thought I, than that our route might become, before many weeks, the object of the depredations of this notorious gang of lawless villains? Nor, as the sequel will show, were my fears groundless. Tt was a dark, stormy Saturday night in November, “A cold, drizzling rain had been falling during most of day, and as evening approached the. atmosphere grew , changing it to a driving sleet, which, carried on a p wind that. had ca ie ie 0 i sc was, dashed a . Fy ay al e > = FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. | ' i fore we come to the ‘first distributing office. against the windows of my car with a persistent rattle that at times half drowned the clatter of the wheels over the steel rails underneath. My run was a long one, extending across the State from the Mississippi River to the Kansas line. é We had passed over‘about a quarter of the distance bee ; Here I had to deliver a Jarge mail for distribution. ® T usually left three or four registered pouches at this point, and received as many more in transit for the Paeifie a slope. Five heavy pouches T gave into the hands of the local carrier, and six as heavily Jaden I received from wee thinking as I dragged them back in a corner that my re- — |sponsibility was unusually grave this trip, for, to dee by the number of bags, the registered mail was a third” more valuable than common. The last one of the six lumbering pouches was lifted — into the car by three strong men; then, with a scream, ‘the | | engine whirled away from the ‘station. ! Just a glimpse cf a wav ing hand I caught as the three carriers were swallowed up in the gloom; then I noticed ~ the bell-cord suddenly tighten, and the train speedily came to a standstill only a few hundred yards from the station. 4 This was an unusual occurrence; but I had scarcely time ~ to wonder what was the matter before the inner door to my apartment was opened quickly, and the conductor's _ face was framed for a moment in the space it had filled. “Slide the large door, Brown,” he said hurriedly. ; “They've forgotten a pouch of registered mail, and they ~ are coming this way with it as fast as they can earry it. Get it in as fast as you can, for we are ten minutes behind- y time now, and can scarcely hope to make it up before we arrive at Eudora.” 2 Before he had ceased speaking I had opened the door, = and, in a minute, three men were raising the heavy pouch to deposit it on the floor of the car. a I remember I thought it was an uncommonly large one, ; and well filled at that. 5 I got only a fleeting glimpse of the three men, Pe that *: was sufficient to impress me with a vague notion that they — were not the same men who had put in the other pouches. “Tt got left by mistake—laid back in the dray all es, bes and sound,” said one of them. And I was sure the voice had an unfamiliar ring b it “Pshaw!” I thought, as I dragged the pouch back deposited it with the others (a heavier one I lise net handled). “This seems all right, and the locks are s I don’t think anything has been pilfered from it, a rate—it is chock-full now. I believe I am getting nervous — —nervous as a woman, What matters it who they were if the pouch is all right? Probably they had authority attend to it, or it would not have been in their possessia And then I dismissed the matter from my mind. — For half an hour I worked like a beaver. Then above the clatter of the cars and the beating st and wind a strange sound came faintly to my ears. T paused and listened intently. For a few seconds there was arm, to covers my al “ness. aa .
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Then the sound was repeated I thought more distinctly. Surely it sounded like a long-draven} ‘sigh, followed by a ort, gasping breath. ‘1. do not think I was frightened, but I was startled. f those sounds were not a sigh and a gasp from a hu- nan throat they were very like them. _Hurriedly I looked around to see if everything was in . I cast a hasty glance at Bi pile of registered ponches in the corner. I counted them without knowing that I did sO. ‘as one missing. ‘It was the one that had been put in last. The one that had been left and brought by the three nen after the train had left the station. _ Where was it? My heart seemed to be throbbing this question in my There any rate the pouch had been deposited in a certain ce only a little while before, and now it was gone. d not being, a believer in the ghostly and unearthly s of the spirits, I was forced to the. conclusion that it been removed in some manner unknown to me by in instrumentality. could not be anywhere i in the ear, I felt. certain. Yet almost involuntarily I began to peer in the shadows the corners, and, finding nothing there to alarm me, I ‘ound Padua Neca if it had not been concealed in soon as I had partially recovered from my surprise ing it so unexpectedly where it must have been behind where I had been standing while I was ex- the corners of the car in search of it, I fell to ating as to how it had come: there. once rejected a half-formed idea that the change in Os ition. had been brought about. by the motion of the mail for that place was not more than half made up. no ‘time to lose, so I clutched the een that had ¥ “ ooh J had five minutes to spare. "ak ‘E pressed the case till I heard the faint click of the spring that held it closed. s Then mechanically I dropped the watch into its place in my pocket. 4 As I did so an unusual sound struck upon my ear. It was not a sigh. It was not a gasp. I was not to hear a repetition of the sounds that had startled me a little while before, and which, coupled with the mystery of the mail pouch, had caused me so much uneasiness since. The noise sounded like that produced by ripping a Sra: seam or forcing a knife through some harsh substance. I turned around quickly, and, as I did so, my gaze in- é voluntarily sought the place where I had placed the pouch a few minutes previously. 3 It was gone again, Halfway between the pile of pouches and the place =: where I was standing it was lying. Half terrified, I fixed my eyes on it in an intense gaze that saw everything—the mail bag, the pile of pouches, the distance between the two, and the blade of a glistening knife slowly traversing the length of the mysterious mail pouch, and leaving a gaping rent behind it. ’ In another moment a man’s hand was thrust through — S the aperture, grasping the knife with which it had been ~ made. I comprehended it all in a second. It was a very ingenious plot to rob the mails. The person who had caused the train to be stopped was” a pobber. the three men who had lifted the heevily flected a pouch inte the mail car were his accomplices, and the per- — son in the mail bag was probably intending to murder me _ and rifle the six mail pouches containing the registered matter of their contents. _ And-had I not been startled by the sound made ie rs his knife, he would in all probability have <n 5 his purpose. ied If he had not become troubled for breath, in conse- quence of his close confinement, or of his exertions of pro- “ pelling himself to a position where he hoped to regain liberty and take me off my guard, I would at that asi in all probability, have been dead. tg With the spring of a tiger I was upon him, clutching 1g his wrist, snatching the knife out of his hand, and Mie him immovable to the floor of the car. ; _I had the advantage of him, and I kept it till the tra ran into Eudora and came to a dead. stop. ork now, fad, leave the Ugh aot of this mystery hen I should have little to do but to unravel it. letters, tying them in packages, and drop- e by one, into the Eudora pouch. I was ship- through the steel slides. * 1D) in are Then I yelled for help, which came soon, and pi p ‘quick my prisoner was secured and handed at ‘to authorities. He was tried, found guilty of an attempt to rob the mail, and sentenced to ten years. ez But he escaped five months later, and I never a him afterward till 1876, aa I read that he was ‘ hfi
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a day there are dispatched from Great Britain to “the British troops in France about 300,000 letters and _ 18,000 parcels, the latter approximating 40 tons in weight. Tt was thought that the German “war bread,” made of “Wheat flour mixed with potato flour, would be cheaper than the all-wheat bread. Vice-Consul-General Dreyfus reports m Berlin that such is not the case, “as the baking of read made with potato flour takes longer, and consequent- equalizes the expenses of the baker.” Tests by the Ger- n Public Health Service show that in taste, appearance ~ and consistency the bread containing potato flour is the equal of all-wheat bread, and that only in its nourishing _ properties is the “K” bread slightly inferior. _ Themas Dempsey, Jr., Phillipsburg, N. J., fifteen years old, had a glass imitation of a revolver and pointed it at Joseph Errington, sixteen, saying “Ill shoot you!” The Errington boy went into a poolroom the other night and Saw young Dempsey there. Protruding from the latter’s Sang was the bntt of a revolver. Grabbing it, young Errington pointed it at Dempsey and said, “I'll shoot You!” and pulled the trigger. Young Dempsey fell dead, bullet in his brain. The parents of the dead boy would ke ne complaint against young Errington. new airship of unequaled size was launched from the delin factory on Lake Constance, according to advices n Zurich, Switzerland. It is said to be 50 per cent. rger and more powerful than any heretofore built, though his information must be taken at the word of villagers in 1@ neizhhorhood who saw the airship in its trial flight, lich is said to have been successful. There has been a rked inerease in activity since March 1 at the Fried- ow believed to be at work. It is estimated that ieee pelins have heen completed at Friedrichshafen since beginning of the war. It was generally supposed that e were eleven in existence when ‘the war began. rough the efforts of Prosecuting Attorney Barnard - and his investigator; Richard Wilson, of Grand Rapids, : ich -a marriage between Hilda Eckert, 20 years of age, id Joseph Galbait, a cripple, was prevented recently. m Mrs. George Uckert, the girl’s mother, learned how the girl had come to having a husband without legs linted. The parents planned to-have the Probate name a guardian for the girl. Galbait learned that was being taken, and he and the girl obtained a li- and were on their way to get married when the in- ator nabbed them. The girl was placed in a deten- hospital and. Galbait was released. Galbait said he id ste ithe girl and marry her in Fite: of the authori- oat a0 “aad socstrings for a living. TS SEIS WR AR ce TENN Parse" bce A a ae ison A cet CEE MRE Pape eat AR Be Nal: RLS LE: SIS eC AB gS eS SR aR rs SA ae a ae ae FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. NEWS OF THE DAY = « A correspondent of the New York Times, describing a — trip along the line of the French, British and Belgian forces, speaks of visiting a stretch of fighting front 12 miles in length, on which the line was so irregular and so — intricate, that the total length of the successive trenches — with their zigzag approaches, etc., was 200 miles. Al- though this seems to be an exaggerated estimate, it is by no means impossible under the conditions of French war- — fare as being now carried out on the eastern front. Where the advance is made by yards at a time, and captured trenches are added ‘to those of the successful advance, ee ; quite possible that from the foremost line facing the en-— emy, back to the rearmost trenches of the attacking force, ar the total length, if the zigzag approaches are taken into account, might well reach the high figure quoted. ei cetera a Before the Queen Elizabeth had done her surprising work in reducing the Dardanelles forts at 21,000 yards range, Brigadier-General E. N. Weaver, Chief of Coast Artillery, had recommended the construction of 16-in 50-caliber guns for.the new fortifications at the entrance — to the Chesapeake Bay. Such a piece would be superior to the 15-inch naval guns on every point of comparison. — The Elswick 15-inch nava] gun fires a 1,925-pound she with a muzzle velocity of 2,500 feet per second and a mt zle energy of 83,425-foot tons. A coast defense 50-caliber 16-inch piece, firing a 2;500-pounds shell with equal veloe- ity, would have a muzzle energy of well over 100,000-foot tons : moreover, because of the high degree of elevation which could be given, it would greatly outrange the 15- inch gun. In view of the extraordinary increase in fight= ing ranges developed during the war, it will be good policy to mount some some 16-inch guns at all our existing de- fenses, and particularly at Panama, and in the FREE, pines. The phrase “Not worth a continental” came into during the Revolutionary War, and referred to the a ciated value of the continental currency, which, at close of 1779, had become almost worthless. On June 2 1775, the. Continental Congress, soon after the receipt oj the news of the Battle of Bunker Hill, authorized t! issue of continental currency for current war expense not to exceed $2,000,000 ; and the twelve colonies, Geo ; not then being represented, pledged themselves for its a demption. From time to time new issues were made, til the close of 1779, when the total issues a $242,000,000, and the bills had so depreciated in vali that $100 in specie weuld purchase about $2,000 in p: money, In 1781 they still further. depreciated. Co: tried in vain to build up its waning credit, but w
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Sec ee a Pete ad ee mel pee “INTERESTING ARTICLES * | RUSSIA'S NEW DREADNOUGHTS.. An important fact affecting: the naval situation in the Baltic. of: which little public mention has been: made, is “that the’ Russian fleet in those waters will shortly: sbe. * “augmented by the addition of eight new dreadnoughts of great size and power, which are nearing completion and iL penny go iuto commission during the present year. tava and Gangut. are dreadnoughts of 23,026 tons dis- acement, 23 “knots speed, carrying each twelve 12-inch and sixteen 4.7-inch guns. They were launched. be- ween June and Oc tober, 1911, and work upon them. hav- Q g been accelerated, they should be in commission before Wy Inonths have passed. The other four will be the e st battle-cruisers afloat. mburn, Borodine “and Nayareno. é ships is 32,200 ions, the speed 24 a Will earry the enormous battery velve 14-inch guns and twenty-one 5.1-inch guns. a displacement of knots, and each of : "REMOVING SPLINTERS FROM WOUNDS. ‘or removing spliniers of iron or steel from wounds the pean hospitals are using a magnetic machine that has. in practice in some of the great industrial plants of ttsburgh for more than a year. “Lhe first was. installed the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Com- jn its relief department, where, says the Scientific They are named the Ismalia, - for a battle-erniser: pected. A Chinese elm particularly adapted for dry see- > 4 io . .* ~ tions for windbreak purposes’ has proven very satisfactery and will be more generally introduced. a>Chinese butternut also have grown well here. It is hoped that these all may prove as ornamental and useful — as the gingko tree, also known as the maidenhair fern tree, which ‘has grown so well along 2 number of the streets of our capital. A peach which bears an edible fruit containing a smooth stone, something quite unknown heretofore among peaches, — has been brought from China and our commercial peach. A tte t grows in roadside — thickets in parts of China bears a fine variety of quince, golden on one side and reddish on the other. has ‘lone well in its new environment. ay be used to improve — Py A pine tree and — re This also — So have a new — 4 hazelnut bush bearing barge nuts, and three new varieties of holly. BEGGARS WITH HOARDS. There has long: been a suspicion that many supplicants for charity might not be so destitute as they seemed, and the case of a Syrian peddler, named Lukisi Habab recently — fined in Brooklyn confirmed the suspicion for once at least. Habab happened to make his pitiful pleading to — Magistrate Maguire, who. gave him 50, cents to buy food. Later Habalb was carried to a Long Island City hospital, merican. “it has proved the most useful device ever | Where a search of his clothes revealed $350 sewed up _ 5e- 3 ed, and the big magnet is here used for removing | ‘embedded in the flesh or in the ball of the eye. e machine is really an electro-magnet. It requires watts for its operation, or enough power to supply hundred 32-candle power Mazda lamps. * Before this machine was installed it was necessary to fora steel splinter. This was udcertain and always I. In the case of the eve ‘the probing Was as likely ) ive the splinter further in as to draw it out. The enet remoyes such particles instantly and painlessly. half an inch- from the end and remained stuck in avity. It looked as if the only way to remove the would be to, pull the tooth. But the magnetic ma- rew out the drill instantly. 9 ~ forth’ ened seems to be the - yeason for the suce- has attended the. introduction of many Chinese 0 thi -Conmtty; at least” this is the opinion of lists “of. the erage. States eee erement of et rr} feet high, whose leitves arn a a ane a eee ;curely in an otherwise very ragged garment, He was ' promptly arraigned and fined $5. a i Tellers at some of the savings banks declare that de- E posits are frequently made. by men and women who are — wretched and woebegone in appearance. These deposits = are not always for small sums, either. bank books are net unknown to the workers for charitable institurions, but they have learned that there is no use exposing them. Even when charitable men and women fare warned against giving to those who may have more money than they have themselves they declare. the sum they give is tec smal! to quibble about, ‘and that it is even ‘|smaller business to prosecute them. For several years after the Spanish- AtieMogre war fever- stricken tolks—at least they looked “as if fever-stricken- collected money by asserting that they had contracted curable troubles while serving in Cuba. - guardsmen were especially easy victims. They also, whe a culprit’s raseality was heme to their attention, refu 5 z little piece of Lewy at a time from. a of the Cuban campaign ‘ge te them that he had lost a leg—he was minus a leg all rig through the maltreatment of a young army surgéon did not know his business. When he was finally arres it. was yshown that he had never been. in the § vi me a r, but-had lost bisted in az il aashup Beggars with | to. prosecute, scoffing at the idea of anaes a. fuss ee a ; The national, r.
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TRICK PURSE One of the most in- nocent - looking little saw. j friend, and tell him to help himself. As he unfastens the button a spring inside causes x. 4 the purse to fly open, Sending several coins up in the air before his ) 88tonished gaze. This is a real fun maker. ou cannot aoe: to be without one. y + BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., York City. SHOOTING CIGARETTES Do not show this trick | ice, 23c. each, by mai!, postpaid. New ous. He might have a) fit. It is a genuine box | of high-class cigarettes. The only trouble is that | when you Hght one of the cigarettes It goes off like a fire-cracker, and is in the middle of the ropean war. A sure cure for the smoking habit. Price, 25¢. a box, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. ES ee eee the smoker thinks he SNAPPER PENCIL Sometimes your jo- cose friend helps him- self to the pencil stick- ing up from your vest pocket. Let him take this one. When he at-. tempts to use it, a pair ef springs shoot out and rap him so smartly on the knuckles that} 1 + “Jandy 1ttl trick " er people’s property. A dandy little tric _ affording no end of amusement. H. Price. e. each, by mail. postpaid. MH. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. TANGO TOP A brand new More fun than a circus. You spin the post with your fingers, and the snake tan- goes all around the top of j the circular metal box, with- | out falling off, although it! p is not fastened in any way. $= When the post stops spin- mine, the snake drops from the lid. What is the secret of its great attraction to the post? © marvel of the age. nM Price, 10c. each, by mail, postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. een es ee ee ee ee DICE WATCHES One of our best novelties. About the size of a watch, with a nickel case. A” glass face encloses several ivory | dice. On the rim of the case} is a spring. By pressing it the | dice are spun and scattered. The most intensely interesting games can be played with it. It caiy be carried in the vest pocket. For- Meriy sold for $1.00. = Price, 30c, each, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N.Y. PERPLEXITY PUZZLE One of the most : exasperating puzzles, calculated to make a saint swear. It is very hard to do this puzzle, but it can be . me. It ‘is made of highly nickeled metal. he trick is to so arrange the buttons in the _ Slots that the letters spell the word “per- _ Plexity.” Your chance of succeeding is very Slim until 7 get the hang of the thing. > . rico 15¢c. each, by mail, postpai -__ FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y. STRING PUZZLE This puzzle is a won- der. It consists of two / pieces of wood. A hole is bored through the up- per end of both. A red string passes through the ieee cake a knjfe, insert t etween he Wooden blocks and cut upwards. You separate y: pieces of wood, and the string is ap- Parentiy cut in two. Close the blocks to- ether, seize an end of the string, and you ©an pull the entire cord through the holes, ee nent a Very mystifying. - ce, c. each, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY Co., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. eS a Se Ane ee ee novelty. FLY-APART PENCILS = ¥ The party who monkeys with this pencil suddenly finds it falling to pieces In his hands. You ean . scare the wits out of os him by saying he wil) ‘Rave co pay tor it. But it is easy to assemble te pencil again in readiness for another vie- & oa ‘You can have 60 yards of joy to the ute with this innocent-looking little device. Price, 35e. each. by mail, postpaid. 150 W. 62d St, New York City. Vato ©. BEBR, to any one who is nerv- | taking | * GREENBACKS pocketbooks you ever | Pack of $1,000 Stage Bills, 10c; 3 packs, 25c. Send fo: Hand it to your | a pack and show the boys what a WAD you carry. Cc. A. NICHOLS, JR., Box 90, Chili, N. Y- CRAWLING BUGS These gidnt beétles are beauti- fully enameled in natural, brilliant colors. -There is_a roller under- neath, actuated by hidden springs. When the roller is wound up the bug crawls about in the most life- like manner. Try one on the maid if you want to enjoy yourself. Price, 12c. each, by mail, postpaid. C. BEHR,; 150 W. 62d St., New York City. | THE IRON CROSS There are lots of people who want to bring the Buropean war into this country. But we don’t want it. When you find a foreign patriot shooting of his mouth, just pin one of these iron crosses on his Guaranteed to cork up the most blatant Price, 1€c. each, by lapel, troublemaker on earth. mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. TRICK CARD CASE A simple looking ease like those con- taining an ordinary pack of playing cards. But the top card is only a dummy. Hid- den inside the seeming Pack is an ingenious mechanism; when you pull out the pack a trig- | ger is released and explodes a cap with a loud report. Perfectly harmless and yet a source of no end of fun. Price, 25c. each, by mail, postpaid. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y. Every boy who wants a whip-lash, pair of reins, or any other knitted article of similar kind should have a Knitter. Anybody can work it. signs can be made by using colored worsteds with this handy little object. It is handsomely lacquered, strongly made, and the wires are very durable. Price, 10¢e. each, by mail, postpaid. Cc. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. BASEBALL PUZZLE Here is a tough one. looks like a watch. Inside the glass is a diagram of a baseball field. At each base there fs a smal! depression. Rolling around are a number of tiny bird-shot. The trick is to get a single shot in each of the depressions on the bases. It can be done, if you know how; but if you don’t. the task seems impossible. Price. 12¢.-each, by mail. postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St.. B’klyn, N €ARD THROUGH THE HAT TRICK With this trick you bare row a hat, and appar- ently shove a card up through the crown, without injuring the card or hat. The oper- ation can be reversed, the performer seemingly pushing the card down through the crown into the hat again. It is « trick which will puzzle and interest the closest observer and detection is almost impossible. It is so simple that a ehild can learn how to perform it in a few munutes, Price 10 cents each, by mail, post-paid C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. BUBBLER. The _ greatest invention of the age. The box contains a blew- Pipe of neatly enameled metal, and five tablets; also printed di- rections for play- ing numerous Floating Bubbles, , Double Bubbles, Supported Bubbles, Bubbles, Bouncing s0ap-bubble games, such @ Repeaters, Surprise Bubbles The Boxers, Lung Tester, Bolling pebbles, gueke ubdies, and many others. Ordin: b blowing, with a pipe and soap water, be Met in it with this scientific toy. It produces larger, more beautiful and stronger bubbies than you can get by the ordinary method. The games are intensely gw rice, 12e. by m: WOLIF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th a The most beautiful de-'| It St., N. ¥ Enterprise Music Co., Electrically Lighted! FLA “is GAINS, lew Motorcycle T pad fo the J YP ee for our new 1915 em: i s this bi viipe 2 ents above. Nothing like this bicycle cai | jpetore. hee vipatesrce too. oe for value ever built. Ali sizes Se baee ce and women, Pay as You Ride it ht i riding it fight _away—pay just a little while Write for rock: offer. WRITE TODAY $=!.c0", pow free cet of thy won. offer. No obligations. Dea’t delay ‘rite . Arrow Cycle Co., Dept, 3394 California & 19:h St., Chicago, Il GREENBACKS $1570 in Stage Money for 10c. Get a bunch of Stage Greenbacks (not counterfeits), Wrap them around yourownrolland show yourfriends whatawadyoucarry. Big bunchof $1570 FOR 10 CENTS. ENTERPRISE Co, TW-3248 LOWE AVE., CHICAGO | | Without a Cent of Cost to You I give you 4 very fine pure wool sweater ; double collar and cuffs, your choice of color. Just handle for me your club’s spring order for baseball goods—at special discount, and this jersey is yours. Send for complete catalog of my best grade goods at wholesale prices—basketball, atseball, tenuis, golf, etc. Write me pow, 19 for JACK SHANNON Write at ence . provements. 4 nary vaives in our 1915 price mers afford to buy wit! equipment, sundries and every- a halt wena ice 1pactory es. Chicago CLE CO., DEPT. ii 188 Bere posi- tively is ee tol theciee ot a peomas afte : in a simalation watch to te from Gamaags x —__ Watch, Typewriter or Cash P: F R er: for selling Postcards. Lock Box 28 Elk River, Minn. EIGHT GAMES FOR 10e¢ eese. Nine Men Morris, Chess, Checkers, Fox and @ Authors, Introduction Game, Spanish Prison, Domi- ent and noes; a whole year’s amusem ne orp rake for only...... + en Cents today and get all eight Games — ALCO COMPANY = a 617-619 Main Street, Buffalo, N. ¥. | REZEDY sent to you on/FREE If it cures, send $1.00; if not. & Give expressoffice. Write teday. W.—. Sterline, 837 Ohio Ave., Sidney- Okie,
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JAPANESE TWIRLER, A wonderful imported paper novelty. By a simple manipu- lation of the wooden handles a number of beautiful figures can be produced. It takes on several combinations of magnificent colors. Price, 10c., postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CQO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. NEW MASKS Half-face masks with mov- able noses. A distinct nov- elty which will afford no end of amusement. They come in 6 styles, each a different Desperate Desmond, etc., and CoS SS ies face, such 2s @re beautifully colored and splendidly finished, | with patent eyelets to prevent tearing. Price 15 cents apiece, by mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiynm, N. ¥. WIZARD’S PACK OF TRICK CARDS. A full pack of 63 cards, but by the aid of th: instructions given, anyone can perform the most wonderful tricks, Many of the feats exhibited are truly marvelous, and astonish and | amuse a whole audience. Posi- tively no sleight-of-hand. The whole trick is in the cards. Price, 35e. by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. LIGHTNING TRICK BOX. A startling and pleasing illu- sion! “The ways of the world are devious,” says Matthew Arnold, but the ways of the Lightning Trick Box when properly handled are admitted to be puzzling and uncertain. You take off the lid and show your friends that it is full of nice candy. Replace the lid, when you can solemnly assure our friends that you can instantly empty the x in their presence without opening it; and | taking off the lid again, sure enough the candy has disappeared. Or you can change the candy into a piece of money by following the @irections sent with each box. This is the est and best cheap trick ever invented. ce, only 10c.; 3 for 25c., mailed, postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. —- SNAP BACK MATCH SAFE. Just cut! A trick match safe. It is a beautifully nickelled b of the size to hold_ matches. when your friend presses spring to take out a match, lid flies back, and pinches finger just hard enough to startle without hurting him. This is a dandy! Price, 15¢. each by mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, N. Y. SURPRISE MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE. It consists of a small nickeled metal tube, 4% inches long, with a lens eye-view, which shows a pretty ballet girl or any other scene. Hand it to a friend who will be delighted with the first picture, tell him to turn the screw on the side of the instru- ment, to change the views, when a stream of water squirts in his face, much to his surprise. The instrument can be refilled with water in an instant, and one filling will suffice for four or five victims. Price, 30c. each by mail, postpaid; 4 for $1.00. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. aE : A new and startling take from your pocket gize, saying, you are very sorry, but that it ally disappears so suddenly that it is impossi- THE DISAPPEARING CIGAR. trick. You ask a friend if he will have a cigar; if he says yes (which is usually the case), you or cigar case, an ordinary cigar, and hand it to him. As he reaches out for it, the cigar instantly disappears right before his eyes, much to his astonishment. You can apolo- Was the last cigar you had, and the chances are that he will invite you to smoke with him if you will let him into the secret. It is not done by sleight-of-hand, but the cigar actu- ble for the eye to follow it, and where it has gone, no one can tell. A wonderful illusion. Price, 10c.; 3 for 25c. by mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. | two cards. any person, and in it is iound the identical IMITATION CIGAR BUTT. It is made of a composition, exactly resembling a lighted cigar. The white ashes at the end and the imitation of to- bacco-leaf being perfect. You can carelessly place it on top of the tablecloth or any other ex- i pensive piece of furniture, and await the result. After they see the joke everybody will have a good laugh. Price, 10c, each by mail, postpaid; 3 for 25¢. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, N. ¥. THE PEG JUMPER. = ver Va effectiva pocket trick, easily ') amend *O be perfermed by any one. A miniature paddle is shown. Cen- tral holes are drifled through ic. A wooder peg is inside of the upper hole. Showing now beth sides of the paddle, the performer causes, by simply breathing upon it, the peg to leave the upper hole, and appear in the middle one. Then it jumps to the lower hole, back to the middle one, and lastly to the upper hole. Beth sides of the paddle are repeatedly shown. Price by mail, 15e. 62d St., Cc. BEHR, 150 W. New York City. “KNOCK-OUT” CARD TRICK.—Fire cards are shown, front and back, and there are ne two cards alike. You place some of them in | @ handkerchief and ask any person to hold them by the corners in full view of the audi- ence. You now take the remaining cards and request anyone to name any card shown. This done, you repeat the name of the card and atate that you will cause it to invisibly leave your hand 2nd pass into the handxerchief, where it will be found among the other cards. At the word “Go!” you show that the chosen card has vanished, leaving absolutely only The handkerchief is unfolded by Price, 10 Cc. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. WE WANT YOU nip Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players rs TO READ “Moving Picture Stories” Absolutely the finest little publication on the news-stands S@ PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESICNS - - New portraits of actors and actresses every week - Bix plays. ‘ ‘Thotographs and Biograptsies of the most celebrated Photoplay actors and actresses. EVERY NUMBER CONTAINS ~ , THIRTY-TWO PAGES FINE HALF-TONE FRONTISPIECES Geta copy of this weekly magazine and see what itis Gripping Stories, based on the latest and best films, each profusely illustrated with fine half-tones of scenes in the . 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. : : _ Seenario Hints and the names of ail the companies who may buy the plays you write. ‘oems, Jingles, Jests and every bright feature calculated to interest both young and old. “ you the latest number issued. GET A COPY NOW trom sour uewsdeaier, or send us 5 cents in money or postage stamps, and we will maii FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher
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a »; ~ ¥ Petts Rv Linbaee ds “4 2 Z
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=, FAME AND FORTUNE WEERLY —LATEST ISSUES—. 471 The Little Castaways; or, The Fortune That a Wreck Brought 472 Taking Big Chances; or, The Boy Who Saved a Town. 3 Always Lucky; or, Winning on His Merits 74 Out for a Corner; or, A Smart Chicago Boy. 75 The Winning Trick; or, How a Boy Made His Mark. 76 The Young Editor; or, Running a Country Newspaper. 77 A Big Stroke; or, The Lad Who Made a Record. 78 In the Copper Field; or, The Mine That Made the Money. 79 From a Cent to a Fortune; or, A Chicago Boy’s Great Scoop. 445 The Secret Chart, or, The Golden Treasure of the Crater. : ‘ sae The Boy Behind the Deals; or, The Luck of a Wall Street Broker. rest a Wide jay inoy's pti Fong O78 Rise lanina tinea: 448 A pole on the World; or, Starting Business on a Dollar. 482 Capturing the Money; or, How Ben Bailey Made His Mark. pete peculater at 16; or, The Lad Who Worked His Brains 483 Digging for Gold; or, The Luck of a Boy Miner. 450 Saviy the Steeple Jack; or, Winning a Living by Nerve. 484 A Boy With Grit; or, Earning An Honest Living. aving a Million; or, Ben and the Wall Street Brokers. 485 Andy. the Mill Boy; or, Rising to the Top. 451 Down and Out; or, A Hard Boy to Beat b Sec. . 3 F Bef he F ights; or, The Boy Who Bossed the Theater. yor The Boy Banker's Double; or, A Strange Wall Street Mystery. ast fod es "She Cee ie: a “he Nerviest Lad in New York. ‘ 453 The Young Beaeh Comber; or, A Fortune From the Sand. 488 Sure to Get Rich; or, A Smart Young Messenger. bi poe ae i, or, ae ae We Bet money Kings. 489 Pushing it Through ; "or, The Fate of a Lucky Boy ; n Gold; or, Hunting a Hindoo Treasure. = ay PT. ro 3 ‘ Be ee eee tag Saree Money Gharke, .. | (00 aera cee iene econ Who G teehee - ay to Success; or, The Boy Who Got There. 7 457 Going it Alone; or, ‘The Boy Who Mage His Owe St 492 Struck Oil; or, The Bov Who Made a Million. 459 icktiay tos Muceotio’: bee. “Bas 3 ‘one a en St. 493 A Golden Risk; or, The t aaoe Miners of Della Cruz. 460 A Boy Mone: Maker: in W. I St at aril N 494 A Sure Winner, or, The Boy Who Went Out With a Circus. 461 Baried Gold 2 ps The Treasure fo the Ola Buce = ne Ss 495 Golden Fleece; or, The Boy Brokers of Wall Street. - 462 Hitting it Rich; or, The Luckiest Firm in Wall hee 496 A Madcap Scheme: or, The Boy Treasure Hunters of Cocos Island. 463 Sam, the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Tongue. 497 Adrift on the World; or, Working His Way to Fortune. , 464 Playing in Luck; or, A Plotter’s Dangerous Deal. 498 Playing to Win; or, The Foxiest Boy in Wall Street. 4 A : 499 Tatters; or, A Boy from the Slums. d i68 Racin aeaid oe "The eet ot the Aatec’s Gold. 500 A Young Monte Cristo; or, The Richest Boy in the World. 467 Fighting For Fame; or, The Luck Of a Young Contractor. 468 Seeking a Lost Treasure: or, The Nerve Of a ue Explorer ; 469 Matt, the Mechanic: or, The Boy Who Made His Pile. 44 470 Among the Ice Peaks: or, The Voyage That Made the Money : j For sale by al] newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, DY FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - - - - - - - : 168 West 23d St., New York. Goa cineca art eam Beslan’ eee Sa). oe Ne eee eee IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out and’ fill in your Order and send it to us witk the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, : : - - - +, - - - - 168 West 23d St., New York. “ouR TEN-CEWT HAND BOOKS No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND | ETIQUETTE It is a great life secret, and 3 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of jhe most DREAM BOOK.—Containing the great oracle | one that every young man desires to know all | instructive books on cooking ever published. ‘of human destiny; also the true meaning of | about. Theres happiness in it. It contains recipes for cooking meats, almost any kind of dreams, together with No. 14. HOW TO ‘o. 9. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILO- bracing thirty-five illustrations, By Professor | famous end men. No amateur rels is , QUIST.By Harry Kennedy, Every intelli- W. Macdonald. Fi complete without this wonderful little _ ‘ gent boy reading this book of instructions can| No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD THE BOYS OF NEW yout No. 42. Svaster the art, and create any amount of fun | A BOAT.—Fully illustrated. Full instructions STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied as- for himself and friends. It is the greatest | are given in this little book, together with in- | sortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and . zt. book ever published. a structions on swimming and riding, companion | Irish. Also end men’s jokes. Just the | | No. 10. HOW TQ BOX. The art of selt- boating. : + for home amusement and ainateur ens ia - @efense made easy.. Containing over thirty RECITE AND No, 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGI = eo of ey uaa ae a al Le antag yaa ’ aaahins the grandest assortment of m ee =—s -% positions 0: ‘Every boy | selections in use, compr Dutch | dii ca usions 1 blic. | xf should obtain one of these useful and instruc- oe ™ ¢ > a pardg. fadarieationns t “4 French dialect, Yankee and Irish Also tricks with cards. incantations, pre 4 tive books, as it will teach you how to box] pieces, together with many standard read! No. 44. HOW TO WRITE IN AN without an. instructor. N 8. ‘OV ELL FO BUM.—A grand collection of Albu : ‘No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS. | Everyone igs desi : | = _—A most complete little book, containing full | future life will brin 7 in - Girections for writing love-letters, and when e ‘ to use them, giving specimen letters for by a glance at this young and old. eo be convinced. — “No. 12. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO No. 29. HOW TO %, IES.—Giving complete instructions for | —Every boy should _—swriting letters to ladies on all subjects; also | inated. This book _. letters of introduction, notes ane requests. examples in elec _ Ne. 18. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF ' ism, optics, For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on FRANK receipt * —_—-