Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 514) (1915 08 06)

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THE LADDER OF FAME; or, FROM OFFICE BOY 10 SENATOR By FE MOEMM Ano OTHER STORIES 1h y gee gre Bear @ nomen Seetitiell perenne : Rane) sam cee S828] Gécenemms Redmond, white with fury, struck the boy a heavy blow in the face, ‘knocking him down, and at- tempted a dash for the door. Stanton, however, recovered himself in time ‘to grasp the rascal around the waist. and a desperate struggle ersued.

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_ arm and assisted him 2 THE LADDER OF -FAME: ee _induced to quit Shoreham, he stifled his eager anticipations of |over the angry billows, George Stanton felt as safe in her as a more energetic life, contenting himself after a fashion with | he would in the kitchen of his mother’s cottage. the reflection that he was still young, and that things would come his way in course of time. As he and Mr. Deering walked down to the landing-stage they both realized that it was an awful night to go upon the water; but the boy had weathered some heavy gales on the bay before, and he was satisfied he could keep the Gull right side up in anything save perhaps an out-and-out hurricane. It was a pretty dark night, the wind rushed in from the big bay outside at a forty-mile clip, and the waves kicked up alongshore could be seen dashing their white, yeasty heads upon the hard sand with a measured roar that sounded any- thing but comforting to the ears of the fishermen’s wives whose husbands and sons were out at sea that night. , Mr. Deering, with a pardonable nervousness, questioned the young skipper of the Gull in regard to the boat in which they were t6 yenture upon the stormy bay and the dangers they would encounter on their trip to Coffin Island. George’s replies were so satisfactory that the gentleman ‘felt his courage rise to the occasion, though he never would have undertaken the watery passage but for the serious errand he was engaged upon. “You seem to be a thoroughly proficient boatman, young a& you are,” said Mr. Deering. “Indeed, Mr. Bates, the proprie- tor of the inn, assured me that you were well posted in the peculiar seamanship necessary for the safe. management of a sailboat, and that you knew every shoal and rock in the bay.” “Well, sir, I think he didn’t tell you any more than the truth,” replied George modestly. “T consider myself very fortunate in having met you, then,” answered Mr. Deering. “I should never forgive myself if I did not make a special effort to reach my brother’s bedside before he breathed his last. I pray heaven we may arrive at the island in good time. If you put me through all right, my young friend, I will not only double my original offer, but be much obliged to you besides.” -“T’ll do the best I can, sir,” replied George, delighted at the prospect of getting $20 for his services; “but you,can see that ‘it blows pretty heavy, and there is an ugly sea running. How- ever, the Gull is as stiff as oak and iron can make her, and she works like a lady in a sea. Now, sir, if you will step aboard, | we'll put off at once.” Mr. Deering showed that he was not much used to boats and salt water by the gingerly way he essayed to step into the cock-pit of the sailboat as she rose and then fell away under the action of the heaving waves. George saw that he was likely to lose his balance if he stepped down at the wrong moment, so he took him by the in. “Thank you, my lad. I’m rather a novice at this business,” said Mr. Deering with a smile. The young skipper pulled aside the sliding door to the cuddy and invited his passenger to enter and thus protect himself from the cold wind and dashing spray. The gentleman was very glad to do so. He found the little cabin was large enough to contain two berths and other conveniences, and that it was as clean and neat as a new pin. , George left him to get the boat under way. _ He first put a couple of reefs in the mainsail and then, hoisted it. ‘ Having made fast the sheets, he cast off from the wharf, and the Gull darted off seaward like a frightened bird skimming the surface of the water. _. At the very start she caught a heavy flaw and heeled over _ till her washboard was nearly submerged. “Don't be alarmed, sir,” said the boy, seeing the startled _ face of his passenger appear at the half-open entrance to the -euddy. : “There's no danger.” “I was afraid we were going to capsize,” replied Mr. Deer- of the boat nerves were somewhat shaken by the heeling over of the boat. “No, sir. That was an unexpected slant of wind, that's all. I eased her at once and she came up like a duck. The Gulf is | for a bigger blow than this. You see she jumps the like a feather. You'd better lie down, sir; you'll be 4 comfortable.” Deering thought the yo ung skipper’s advice good, and sp it 4% on Like a mass of solid oak, over her Hee x with his sou’-wester pulled | He reached it just as Mr. D for the thi weather side of the tiller |time, somewhat impatiently. oe —— eid . as she leaped \ The wind was east and the sky was overcast, which made the night exceedingly gloomy and dark. a The intrepid young boatman could only make out the som- ber outlines of the islands and the headlands of the main shore; but these were sufficient to enable him to lay his course. The roaring of the wind, the surging of the waves and the thumping of the boat against the choppy sea were the only sounds to be heard. On flew the Gull till the receding of a curving point of land, which somewhat sheltered Shoreham village from the full sweep of the Atlantic winds, opened up the bright glow of : Coffin Island light—a stationary white light. ¥ The young skipper headed directly for it. As the minutes flew by, if there was any change in weather it was for the worse. t The rain began to fall, and the gale seemed, to grow violent, tossing the Gull about like a cork. i > A small boat going before the wind makes worse weather — than on any other tack,.ahd George Stanton had his hands full to keep her up to her course. : : ; “This is a tough night,” the boy muttered to himself, “a good bit worse than I had calculated on. I guess it’s worth all of $20 to go off to Coffin Island on such a night. Still, i the mast holds, and I don’t seé why it shouldn't, we'll get th all- right.” The wind and waves seemed in league to prevent the summation of Mr. Déering’s purpose, but the young skipp was not frightened off. : Through it all the stanch little boat pushed her nose sea: ward, gradually nearing their- destination. + The island loomed larger and larger ahead, and the bright, ©. gleaming shaft of light grew bigger and brighter through the ™ steaming atmosphere. At iast the boat was sheltered from the fierceness of the blast under a bluff, and soon afterward came into the compara- tively still water of a little cove, where a small wharf, the only landing place on the island, projected to the west. By the exercise of the same good judgment which had enabled him to bring the little craft in safety through the darkness and storm to her destination, George Stanton laid the Gull alongside the wharf and secured her. c ; Mr. Deering had come to thé entrance of the cuddy as soon as he was sensible of the easier motion of the boat, and was therefore all ready to step on shore. : ‘ “Now, sir, you may come out, and I'll help you on the wharf,” said the boy. Z His passenger eagérly obeyed his summons. “You have done well, my boy,” he said, grasping George's hand. “I doubt if any boatman alive could have done better. I am very grateful to you.” be nc Then they stepped up on the wharf and started for the gray walls of the lighthouse, which rose through the driving rain a few yards distant. te CHAPTER II. ae 1 / THE RED POCKETBOOK. f As Mr. Deering walkéd up to the door to knock, ge Stanton glanced in through one of the windows on the ground — | floor. \ 1 He saw a young, ill-favored looking man standing by a stove with a red pocketbook in his hand, the contents of he seemed to be investigating with eager attention. a Just then Mr. Deering knocked loudly. George saw the’ man inside give a violent start and the wallet in the breast of his shirt while he turned a st look at the door. ; - He made no move to answer the knock, but stood in a listen- _ ing attitude, his features working in a strange, nervous man- — ner. : , te Howard Deering knocked again, louder than before. = _ George Stanton, whose attention was fascinated by the cus rious suspicious movement of the man inside, saw him g Gr suddenly and thrust the red pocketbook under an empty keg sae “ne against the circular wall and then come for o the door. “ho The man opened the.door a few inches. __ “Who's there, and what’ do you | ‘the: islani hour?” he asked in a surly wae ee sola 3

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THE LADDER OF FAME. Mas Ses atinay Deaebiite brother Howard, and I have come 1 Boston in answer to a telegraphic message that he was unto death and wanted to see me,” replied Mr. Deering. The man, apparently the assistant lightkeeper, opened the grudgingly and permitted the visitor, with George at is heels, to enter the lighthouse. “tls my brother still alive?” Mr. Deering asked eagerly. The man nodded. ‘Thank heaven for that,” said the gentleman, fervently. He is asleep at present,” the man said, watching his visit- » Gull did not much fancy. This fellow is not to be trusted,” he thought. “I wonder iy he hid that pocketbook under the keg? That wasn’t the * of an honest man.” _ “Where is brother?” asked Mr. Deering, with a pathetic around the room. “In his bed on the floor above.” ‘I may go up there, may I not?” _ The man nodded. _ “Are you the assistant keeper?” y am.” “Your name is——” ‘ “Jim Redmond.” . Redmond!” exclaimed Mr. Deering. “I have a clerk in my ploy named Redmond—Philip Redmond. Is he——” He is my brother,” replied the assistant keeper, without festing any particular interest in the matter. , indeed. I was not aware he had a brother. He never oned that fact to me. J] am glad to know you, sir. I Sains: go upstairs, if you wili pilot the way.” Jim Redmond hesitated a moment, : shot a suspicious glance out of the corner of his eyes at e Stanton, who was in the act of removing his oilskins sou’-wester, and then his look wandered oyer to the keg ath which he had hidden the red pocketbook. Se: seemed loath to leave the room while the boy remained ou ie skipper noticed both looks, though he did not ap- a Minere was little that ever escaped the notice of his es. would have made an excellent detective, for his powers on and deduction were remarkably keen. mond, however, saw that he could not well refuse to ea visitor upstairs, so he reluctantly led the way up the iron stairway which communicated with the ypper re- of the lighthouse. there’s something very strange about that pocketbook,” d George, looking at the keg in a thoughtful way. “Some- very strange, indeed. It is none of my business, and yet ething tells me that all is not right about it. Can it be allet belongs to the dying man upstairs, and that this d has stolen it and expects to make use of its contents patter Deering’s death? It is very possible. I don’t s looks for a copper cent.” “orge could hear the footsteps of the two men on the floor and then there was silence. ‘. strange fascination drew the boy nearer to the keg id the wallet. e no right to be so interested in this matter,” he ex- tly. “Probably there is nothing in it. Only amy pede aouon. And yet——-” es sought the floor around the keg. rim of red projected from under it, showing that in Redmond had not wholly hidden the pocketbook. however, would have noticed this unless, like the d seen what had occurred at the moment after How- g knocked on the lig door. yeaa his hands into his pocket and started to waik ‘indow to look out into the night; but he hesitated and ice hepa ounce more. . ‘t stand this,” he breathed at last. wallet.” e alertness of a person who was “afraid of being mean act, George knelt down, Attted. the end of the out the pocketbook. *f ing he noticed was the name “Rodney Deering” he ae = 1¢ OVE i ‘must have a 5 cote ath ae ar = eee etis “ie t pook. a. secat-and Bye is -? ih eR ae SG a ERTS EE aa aby a Sk BEES aE ee SR a 5 St Te Ee) See Se a a a re oe Te ne Le Cee eee eerie ee a boy looked through each compartment until he came to the last. Here he saw a piece of parchment, yellow with age.’ It had such a curious look that George drew it out to E- amine it. At that moment he heard the heavy boots of Redmond on the iron stairs coming down. In his haste to close the wallet and return it to its hiding place he failed to notice that the bit of parchment had dropped hi the floor until he had put the pocketbook back under the eg. It was too late then to replace the time-worn document, so he snatched it from the plank and thrust it into his pocket just as Redmond's head appeared below the level of the cefl- ing. Whether the lightkeeper’s assistant had seen the action or not Stanton could not say, but he certainly regarded the lad with a good deal of suspicion when he stepped inte)the room. He made no remark, however, but went over and sat down see if it had been moved. Possibly satisfied that it had not been disturbed,“he took out his pipe and a package of smoking tobacco and started to fill his pipe. “It's a rough night.” he growled out at last. feeling called on to say Something. “Yes.” answered the young boatmurn, I've ever been out in.” “Are you a boatman?” “I wight be considered as such, and I might not. IT own a catboat, in which I often take people out sailing and fish- ing on the bay. I wouldn't have ventured ‘here on such a night as this only that’Mr.. Deering was afraid his brother might die before morning, and he was very. anxious to. see him alive.” “He won't live till mornin’,” “He's most gone now.” “That's too bad,” said Stanton, “T dunno,” answered the man meditatively. ably be a good thing for his little girl.” “His little girl!” ejaculated George, prise. “Yes,” nodded Redmond. “He has a daughter about four- teen years old. His brother, who is well off, I understand— a Boston merehant—will look after her, I guess.” ‘ “Where is she?” asked the boy, interdstedly, Redinond jerked his. thumb upward as if to intimate knee she was upstairs with her dying father, “Her mother——” began George. “Dead these ten years,” replied Redmond, cloud of smoke. “How long has Rodney Deering been on this island?” “Six years, Three-as assistant and three as head keeper.” “What is the nature of his illness?” “4 kind of quick consumption. Caught a bad cold four months ago, and it’s fetched him.” “one of the roughest replied Jim Redmond gloomily. in a sympathetic tome. ~ “It will prob- particularly distressed by his comrade’s misfortune. wail floated down t6 them. George started and looked toward the stairs, while Red. mond half rose from the keg, his face turned an ashen hue,’ and the pipe trembled in his fingers. | answer would be. “That!” replied Redmond, recovering himself. Flessie’s voice. He's gone, I reckon.” “Gone!” answered Stanton mechanically, “Yes. Dead!” CHAPTER Iil. “TLL HAVE YOUR LIFE!” ta Jim podeeuna wa right. ; '¥ Rodney Deering was dead after a largely incline 4 1 Not that he had been a bad man; no, a“ hapaatteel tor ap impatient of restraint. : He had left home when quite young. a quar oh - he telegr: Boston mo word his father, and from that “antil the; his condition to his brother ee an be « er been received gee him. or some years. cinmon e this soe mut this: 3 on the keg, which he regarded for a moment attentively to — in a tone of some sur-_ blowing out a Judging from the speakers manner, he did not seem to “be * At that instant there was heard the soukstirring cry of a — mun above; a moment of silence and then a poignant girlish “What was that?" asked the boy, almbst knowing what the. a

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THE LADDER OF FAME. his family even after he got his position on Coffin Island, in Boston Bay. was a puzzle he did not explain up to the moment his breath failed him forever. He seemed to be glad to see his brother when, Howard ” “Deering's coming awoke him from -his last sleep on earth. What he had to say, however, during those few_ precious moments yet remaining to him, had reference entirely to his daughter, Flossie. who knelt in tearful sorrow .by his cot, Watching the sable pinions of the Angel of Death close in about her only living parent. The one soft spot in Rodney Deering'’s heart was ‘filled with his only child. In all probability he would have died without giving a sign of his existence to his family but for her. The certainty of his death brought the problem of her future before him so he sent for his brother Howard. And Howard in answer to his eager appeal promised to cure for the girl as if she was his own. ' “She is not penniless,” whispered the dying man, with a Strange light in his eyes. “No, no; not penniless. You will find in my red pocketbook—I have it here,” and he tore open his shirt and searched with a feverish eagerness for the wallet that Jim Redmond had stolen from him while he was asleep and Flossie’s attention was diverted. He could not find it, and his excitement grew intense. Every fiber of his attenuated frame trembled. Howard tried to calm him, but he might as. well have tried to still the storm that tore around the lighthouse. “Where is it?” he almost shrieked. “Where is it—Flossie’s treasure? My heavens! TI have been robbed, and by Before he could frame the name of the thief a racking cough seized upon him. ‘He struggled like a madman with ‘t. Then a gush of blood started from his lips, he waved his hands wildly in the air, gasped and fell back—dead. ‘Flossie, with a heartrending cry of grief, threw herself as upon her father’s body and sobbed as if her little heart would ~ break. Sulpaed > is oe - © Howard closed his brother's glazing eyes, and then tried to eae the orphan girl, who thenceforth was to live with n. ee But what words can alleviate such a sorrow as hers at its ~ acute stage? Tt must take its course, and so until the gray dawn light- ened up the eastern sky Flossie was inconsolable. es Then exhausted nature came to her relief and she closed site her eyes in sleep. ° * ne Soon after George Stanton became aware that Rodney Deer- a ing was really dead he began to feel tired and sleepy. He went to the window and looked ‘out. The rain had stopped and the gale seemed to be breaking “My, Deering won't want to return before morning,” he ‘es ed thought. “I may as well go down to the boat and turn in for the rest of the night.” : ‘So he told Jim Redmond to tell Howard Deering that he could be found on board his sailboat at the wharf. The assistant keeper nodded and seemed to be relieved at the idea of the boy leaving the lighthouse. Gecrge put on his sou’-wester, took his oilskins under his arm and left the place. _ Curiosity, however, induced him to glance through the “win- dow when he got on the outside. Jim Reduews still sat on the keg smoking his pipe, his Sexes “glued on the door. t length he got up, tilted the keg pnd took up the red bbétiook. He looked cautiously all about the room before he opened oa 2 Eagerly che examined each of the compartments until he -cume to the last, which he found to be empty. He stared at it in 2 dumfounded kind of way for several . Moments, then he threw the wallet on the floor pate si an angry -onth and sprang to his feet. ‘Stanton waited to see no more. — _ “It must be the bit ef parchment I have ax my dicta that after.” he said to himself, in an eager whisper, “What ly use can he have for an old time-stained bit of. paper? examine it at the earliest chance and see ‘if I can find ‘the key to his anxiety to possess it. At any rate, 1 am ave it, for Fy: rg x value. it is now. va eves ey iike Ss SES “LH place it for safety in my wallet.” He took out a small well-worn black pocketbook. removed the rubber band and placed the bit of parchment inside. “I'l look at it in the morning,” he said, as he started to return the wallet to his poc ket. , ; His hand struck on his hip and the pocketbook flew down- ward and disappeared -in a crevice in the rocks. “My gracious!” he exclaimed in a tone of consternation. He knelt down and tried to insert his fingers into the hole, but he could not» push them far enough in to even touch the Wallet, which of course he could not see. “What shall | do now?” he asked himself, not a little dis- miayed. “It would be fierce if 1 should not be able to re- coyer my pocketbook with that parchment. Who knows but it might represent a fortune for Rodney Deering’s daughter. ~ [ must mark the spot somehow and come back here after it in the morning.” He gathered a heap of stones together and made a littlé » mound. ae Then he took accurate bearing of the spot and stepped on> | to the wharf, which was close at hand, to go to his boat. An hour afterward a man slouched past that littke mound of stones, and stalking stealthily across the wharf stepped on board the Gull. This man was Jim Redmond. Putting his ear to the cuddy entrance, which was partially open, he listened. Seemingly satisfied with the state of things. he pushed the slide wholly back and softly entered the little cabin. ; He glided to the bunk where George Stanton lay in a tired” sleep and noted his deep breathing with great satisfaction. Then he took up his clothes, article by article. and searched them carefully, but whatever he was in search of did not seem to present itself. “What can he have done with it?” he muttered savagely.“ “TI am sure he has it, for I saw it in the pocketbook the mo- ment Howard Deering rapped at the lighthouse door, and I then thrust the wallet under the keg. What a fool I was not to have retained it about me; eng I was afraid Rodney would denounce me to his brother, for the moment he missed the paper I knew he would suspect me, in which case I should have been obliged to have turned my pockets out to © prove my innocence. Still, why should this boy have taken that paper from the wallet? Is it because it locks so old and peculiar that it attracted his notice? Still. | am puzzled how he could have known the pocketbook was under the keg. I have it!” he cried, with a smothered oath. “He was looking in at the window at the time and saw me hide it there. He is evidently no better than a thief himself. It's a wonder he didn't take the money, too. I wouldn't have cared so much if he had, if he had only left that piece of parchment, xe is of no use to him, but which in my hands——” The young boatman moved wneasily in his sleep and Af man drew back into the deeper shadows of the cuddy. Stanton, however, did not awake, and Redmond continued — his useless search, E “Blame him!” he cried at last. it?” The words aroused the boy and he sat up. His sharp eyes showed him that he was not alone. ] “Who’s there?” he demanded, reaching out and grasping — the intruder by the sleeve of bis jacket. _ “I'm here,” replied Redmond. drawing .a clasp knife from — his pocket and opening it with his teeth. ~ “Who are you, Redmond?” “Yes. Jim Redmond.” : : “And what do you want here in the cabin of my boat?” “What do I want? I want that piece of parchment which you took from the red pocketbook IT hid under that keg on — the ground floor of the lighthouse. Give it up. or by heave I'll have your life!” and he pressed the blade of his knife Santnet the lad’s throat. : : ‘ 5 “What has he done with . 4 ‘ CHAPTER Iv. STANTON) STEALS A MARCH ON REDMOND.* “What are you talking about, Redmond? Are me —hemeeeer asked Stanton, ~conpe jous that he was in a very ticklish poste tion. i “N No, IT am rp crazy, and you 7 a very well what I’ talking: about. I want ~~ piece of parchment, dye u un stand?” t ae haven't any | piece of parchment.” protested G “You can’t He. out of it. young fellow. You eam w me hide Sunder that

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THE LADDER OF FAME. 5 I went upstairs with Deering you took advantage of my absence to take that wallet out from under the keg and ex- amine it.” “You seem to know all about it.” “T do.” “All right, then, have it your own way.” “Hand over that parchment,” hissed Redmond. “How can 1 hand over what I haven't got?” “I say you have got it. You've hidden it somewhere about this cuddy. ‘Tell me where or——” and the speaker pricked the skin of Stanton’s neck with the point of his knife. i “Hold on there, Redmond. You're carrying this joke too ar.7 “You'll find this isn't a joke if you don’t do as I tell you,” said the man fiercely. “if you don’t take that knife away from my throat you'll find this isn't a joke either,” replied the boy, in a determined tone. “Are you goin’ to give up that parchment 2” “T can’t give up what I haven't got.” “That bluff won’t work with me.” , “I'm not trying to bluff you. I haven't got what you're after.” Redmond found that he wasn't accomplishing much, and he was furious. He was satisfied in his own mind that Stanton knew where ‘the precious piece of parchment was, and he was determined to make him own up. He gripped the’ boy closer with his left hand while with his right he again pricked. George’s neck with the sharp _ blade. - At that critical moment steps were heard on the wharf. 7 ‘The sound distracted Redmond’s atténtion for the moment and the young boatman, fully alive to his own interests, took edjiate advantage of the chance. With an upward movement of one of his arms he sent the eee spinning across the cuddy and grasped Redmond by both arms. 2 Just then Howard Deering stepped aboard the boat and _ poked his head in at the cabin ‘door. As it was pitch dark in the cuddy he couldn't see anything, j put it seemed as if something strange was going on in there— something like a struggle between two persons. He took a match safe out of his pocket and struck a light. He was astonished at the sight which met his view. George Stanton, in very scant attire, was trying to hold his own against Redmond, who was fully dressed. “What does this meait?” asked Mr. Deering, lighting a sec- ond match. His words and presence caused a cessation of the conflict. Stanton let go of his aggressor and squirmed out of his ch. Wig “Tl get square with you yet, my young boatman,” hissed ‘Redmond, sutisfied that he could do nothing more just then <7) Sean getting his hands on the coveted piece of parchment. haven't seen the last of this thing by a jugful.” re th those words he brushed by Deering, pushed his way out of the cabin and left the boat. . * What's the trouble, my lad?” asked the Boston merchant, after he had watched Redmond retire from the cuddy. . _ “The trouble is that I woke up to find that fellow in here ging around the place. He came after a bit of parch- nt which he says I took from a red pocketbook he had en under a keg in the ground floor room of the light- house.” ““A red pocketbook!” exclaimed Mr. Deering, recalling his rother’s dying words. “The last words my brother spoke re- erred to a red pocketbook on which he seemed to place great ch He was Liat to show it to me, when, not finding it ; is person, W he evidently had been accustomed to eep it, he frantically declared he had been robbed by some whose name he was unable to mention on account of a Slotent + spell of coughing, which ended in his death.” board was Jim Redmond, the man who just left this ° ee. know?” ae wuse I saw a red pocketbook in his hia and I ‘after- discovered that the name of Rodney Deering was ob 4 must ae made to yield it up, since everything that ‘is now the Benttal property of his daugh- mn, sit, Ly 1 tell you how, ane to know of the red pocket = Deering was not only interested, but somew vhat exe ‘ited over: al So “Certainly IT will listen to you.” ‘Thereupon Stanton told Howard Deering all thatthe reader is familiar with in respect ‘to the stolen wallet up to the mo- ment George placed the piece of parchment in his own pocket- book and then accidentally let it fall-into the hole among the | rocks. the recital. “It must have been the parchment, and not the sia amount of money in bills, to which my brother referred. ment contains some valuable secret, Redmond, The parch- otherwise that rascal, would not be so eager to get possession of it,” “That's the way I looked at it, sir” And now, owing to my carelessness, it is liable to be lost. However, I marked the spot with & small pile of stones and am in hopes of re- covering it in the daylight.- Should I be so fortunate as to be able to do so IT shall hand it over to you at once. It would not be safe for me to retain it a moment longer than neces- sary, for that fellow believes [ have hidden it on this boat, and he will not rest till he has made another and more thor- ough search.” A slight noise at the opening of the cabin caused Stanton and Mr. Deering to turn their eyes in that direction, and, just in time to see a dark object. the head of Jim Redmond, which they knew must be draw away from,it. : “The rascal has been spying on us, and he has probably. heard every word of our conyersation,” said George, in a tone of disgust. “I doubt if it will do him much good. so far as getting on the track of the lost parchment, for I did not men- tion the exact spot where I dropped my own wallet. The best thing you can do is to demand your brother's wallet, containing the money, from him. I am a witness to the fact that he has it. Should he refuse to turn it ‘over to you you can threaten him with arrest.” “T will do that; but he may defy me. I ‘shall have ‘to re-— main on the island while you go to the village, notify the government authorities of the death of my brother and bring — over an undertaker to take charge of his remains, The ras- cal may make his escape in a boat while you are away.” — “I shall try to recover my pocketbook before I go. As you — will have to remain on the island with Redmond it would be © better for me to take the parchment with me if I find Vy sae otherwise he would certainly attack you to get possession of it.” ; ; “You are right.” agreed Mr. Deering. by all means, if you recover it. “Take it with you It might be of sufficient.value — to tempt the scoundrel to murder me for it while you were absent.” Morning was now beginning to dawn, so the young pee en oi put on his clothes, as further sleep was out of the question, | Mr. Deering said he would have to return to the lighthouse _ to look after his niece. ie After he had gone, Stanton sat on top.of ‘the boat's half- deck and watclied the sky lighten up. By this time the gale had blown itself out. The water of the bay, however, was still very much agi- tated and dashed quite noisily upon the recky shore of the island. The sky was fairly clear of clouds and premixed a tine day. ; George looked around for some sign of Redmond, ‘but he was not to be seen. 4 | “I wonder what will be the rascal’s aot move?” thought’ the boy. “He knows now that I had the parchment and lost — it. He is hidden somewhere in this vicinity beh for me to begin the search for my wallet, and itl find it h prepared to pounce upon me and try to gét possession, of it at all costs. I think Fl fool him. I'll start for the shore at once, get the undertaker and another man to'come back with me, and then hunt for the pocketbook on’my return” three men on the island he wovld not dare ‘attaek nie. sides, I'll) bring over father’s revolver as an- preston cn? Ly. Ae hag tection. “at ye. Having decided that this plan was the Dest, ‘Statiton seers to ers it into immediate execution. red the Gull from the wharf,’ ran wet sian ‘in a “eit vy and steered out into the bays) © Hardly had be got clear of the wharf seo annie he: saw mond running rapidly down the rocks.) =) © “whirthe: saw As soon as the rascal struck the | young boatman had escaped bim, and so-he stopped and his fist at him, shouting ou rords’ tha {pot understand. Aes wv Fi

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CHAPTER V. REDMOND SCORES A POINT. ‘The young boatman made good time on his return trip and reached the landing-stage in front of his home a little after ‘seven o'clock, His mother was up and watching for him. % "With the aid of her husband's spyglass, she had made out ‘the Gull soon after she rounded the point. and she then has- tended to get breakfast on the table, for she guessed George ony would have an uncommonly good appetite that morning. 4 oy ‘on me tained at the Ighthouse. “Well, mother,” her son Said in his usual cheery tone, as he entered the kitchen, “you see I’m back all right.” - “And I thank heaven that you are, my boy. I am sure that cies found it a very rough night on the water.” “It was, indeed. mother. I don’t think I've ever seen a Duh more one afloat. It was a good thing that I carried Mir: Deering over to the island, for his brother died a short --the after we reached the lighthouse.” ar “Tam very sorry to hear that,” said the little widow sym- a pathetically. “His name was Rodney Deering, and he has left a little girl of fourteen for his brother to look after.” “Then the poor child is an orphan?” “She is. Her mother died about ten years ago,” f “ft is fortunate she has this uncle who is willing to take - @harge of her.” _.. “Yes, mother. ton merchant.” _ “The change from the island to a comfortable city home _ must prove advantageous to the child, though of course she bound to miss her father. Sit up to the table now and eat your breakfast. 4iverything is ready and waiting. I dare MY you are hungry after your sail.” “I should say lam, ‘Che sea air is uncommonly bracing this ; morning, and puts a fine edge on a fellow’s appetite... Be- _ sides, I've got to return to the island as soon as I ean,” “Yo bring back your last night’s passenger and the little girl, 1 suppose.” “Probably so; but I’ve got to carry the undertaker and a - coffin over with me, after I have. notified the lighthouse inspector of the district that Rodney Deering, who was the _ head keeper of the light, is dead. By the way, mother, Mr. ie Gvcepe promised me $20 for last night’s trip after he saw _ how rough the weather really was. He looks on it as a great He's pretty well off, I guess. He is a x that I was willing to carry him over in such a gale.” “Twenty dollars will come in very nicely at this time.” “indeed it will,” replied the boy, attacking the viands with "> great relish. The boy said nothing about his ‘adventure nace Jim Red- mond, fer that would only worry his mother, particularly as he was going back to the island where the man was. _ After breakfast he called on Mr. Mold, the village under- , and told him he had a jeb for him. “Why, who's dead, George?” he asked in some surprise. . - -“Pbe head keeper of the Coffin Island light. I'll take you er to the island in my boat after awhile. You'll want to coffin, of course.” Ww t size man is he?’ -+Now you've got me. Mr. Mold. 1 couldn't tell you because t nt ae him. 1 should — he: was about the average ul take a box rer, and fit hin ‘with a casket after we g¢ him back. Who pays the expenses?’ ‘The man’s brother, who is over at the island now. He's a a merchant.” ss oe Patt Bios : in about an ae ” ” replied the bor: hips take Ie . yeady for you.” p a be the address of bn Tighitionse isisposton’ wesesint i ad ea that morning. d his assistant ¢ noes back Maes 1 ee ~ George paid no attention to the fellow, but laid his course | with the corpse in it in the way it ought to be carried. ea for Shoreham village. hidden behind a distant point of you get a larger boat?’ .” replied Mr, Mold. “When will you be veady to} | he sent him a dispatch notifying ne — Rodney ty THE LADDER OF FAME. Can't “Well, there’s C aptain Mason's sloop. Perhaps I can induce | him toe take us over. The boy went to Captain Mason’s house and found that he was willing to go oVer provided there was something in it for him, and that George helped work the craft, as his son and assistant had gone to a neighbouring town. Stanton-agreed, but before they set off he got his father’s revolver and placed it in his hip pocket, so as to be prepared to defend himself in case Jim Redmond was looking for trouble. They reached the island about half-past ten o’clock and the undertaker and his helper carried the box at once to the lighthouse. Redmond was nowhere to be seen. Mr. Deering told George that the assistant light keeper had She also noticed that the passenger he had carried to the) been hunting about the rocks ever since he (Stanton) lefi the fsland was not visible in the cockpit, so she judged he had re-| island. Of course, he was looking for George's lost wallet with the | parchment in it, but there was ne evidence that his search had so far proved successful. While Mr, Mold and his man were attending to the body of Rodney Deering, Flossie was brought downstairs by her uncle Howard and introduced to Stanton. She was a very pretty girl, with fair hair and nut-brown complexion, and a sylph-like figure. Her eyes were red from weeping, and the expression of her countenance was very sad and depressed. \ Stanton proposed that while thea, andertaker was getting the dead man ready for removal they go down to the sport where the lost wallet lay and see if they could recover it. Mr. Deering agreed. “Do you think you can Jocate the spet?” great interest. “lL marked it with a pile of stones, of the wharf.” The stones were found just as George had described them, He moved them and disclosed a crevice in the rocks, at the | bottom of which the wallet could be seen, The fissure was too narrow for a person to insert his arm, so George told Mr. Deering that he would have to go downs to the sloop and get a boat-hook that he had seen on board, In a few minutes he returned with the article and tried to , probe the wallet out. This was no easy job to accomplish, and their attention was ; so much absorbed in the work that they did not observe the cautious approach of Jim Redmond, who had been on the — watch behind a rock ever since the sloop made fast to the | wharf. “Iedon't know whether I can get it out or not,” said George, — after he had failed a dozen times. “It's a most exasperating job.” “Let me try,” said Mr. Deering. The boy resigned the boat-hook to him, but lis efforts were not rewarded with any degree of success. , Finaily he gave it up and the young boatman took another try. 33 At ‘the second attempt George succeeded tn catching file “point of the. hook in the rubber band. “I’ve got it,” he said triumphantly, a little dexterity he brought the wallet to the surface. you are,” he said, holding it out to Mr. Deering. Before the gentleman could take it, Redmond dashed for- ward, snatched it from the boy’s hand, and dashed sway aeross the rocks with a derisive jJaugh. ’ sl he asked, with It is not far to the right and with the use of a “There CHAPTER YI. Wiest THE PARCHMENT REVEALED, The unexpected appearance of Jim Redmond took Mr Deering and George completely by surprise, and for a monient — ae they could only stare after the fleeing rascal, then the ae F boatman recovered his self-possession and started in pursuit. He was as active as a young monkey on his feet ; Redmond soon saw that he was being rapidly overhauled. | “T'iAead him away to the easterh end of the island and then put his nose out of joint,” muttered the scoundrel, as | he sprang forward from rock to rock, with an occasional ‘brief glance over his shoulder at his young pursuer. 2 ae heed reveal ryt o fig ep eneates r strength to rane ; 4 PhS oe ‘

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THE LADDER OF. FAME. $8 —_ —— / bes at the proper moment, then with the parchment again in| had come, and soon reached the top of the rocks, whence he possession he intended to get away from the island in a} could see the lighthouse again and the advancing figure of. small boat belonging to the lighthouse, which was tied down| Howard Deering, who had heard the pistol shots and was at the wharf. much concerned for the safety of the brave boy. : Stanton followed on Redmond’s heels with the dogged “Thank heaven you are safe!” exclaimed Mr. Deering, when “ resolve to wrest his wallet from him at ail hazards. he-eame up and grasped the young skipper by the hand._ : He was thoroughly aroused against the fellow’s. perversity | “What were those pistel shots I heard?” . ; in trying to do the daughter of Rodney Deering out of what} ‘They were fired by me,” replied George. ___ rightfully belonged to her alone. “By you?” se Redmond presently struck a path that carried him dovn to| “Yes. I brought over my father’s revolver this trip, for __ the shore and out of sight of the lighthouse. I feared that 1 might have occasion to use it to defend myself +The boy was close at his heels when he turned a projecting | against Redmond. Well. it eame in handy. I came upon the, > reek and: disappeared. rascal under the bluff, where I guess he expected to do ‘me e; As Stanton himself rounded the rock he found Redmond up, and I compelled him not-only to give up my wallet, but — > crouching behind it ready to attaek him. also your brother's pocketbook. Here it is,” and the boy; The raseal struck George a stinging blow alongside of the handed it over to Mr. Deering. ce, é head which staggered him, and immediately followed up his “You are a boy in a thousand,” exclaimed the merchant. “IT advantage. did not expect to get. that pocketbook unless [ succeeded in “2 ahve got You now where I want you,” he hissed malig-| rounding that man up with the help of a constable.” : nantly. “If you will butt in where you haye no business| While he was speaking George was taking the parchment — ‘you've got to take the consequences.” out of his own wallet. aan _ He sprang at the boy with a fierceness that clearly intimated He tendered it to Mr. Deering. his intention to do him up then and there. “No one would think to look at that bit of paper that it was 7 George saw that he would not be’ in it with this burly| worth taking care of.” said the boy. “And yet Redmond has: — Fascal if he once got his hands upon him, so he dexterously| made several strenuous efforts to get it and hold on to it.” . evaded a hand-to-hand conflict by leaping aside. The merchant contemplated the soiled, creased and ancient- 4 Then he picked up a stone and fired it at Redmond. looking document with much interest. i ‘The missile took effect on his shoulder, partially disabling It was a piece of paper, which from its two folds looked ‘to iy his right arm, and wringing from him a how! of pain and| be about six inches one way by four and a half the other, fury. perfectly regular in its oblong shape, as though it had been’ “PH kill you fe that, you little monkey!” he roared, steop-| prepared for some purpose. | ing down fo retaliate on the same lines. . The paper was firm, thick and whole, and seemed like a kind m “Drop it! commanded George, coolly, displaying his re-| of vellum. : volyer and covering the man. “Drop it, or I'll put a ball into] “It must be pretty old,” Mr. Deering said, thoughtfully. ; “No one sees any such material nowadays to write upon. Fy 5 Redmond straightened up surprised and discomfited at the] was considerably used a hundred years ago by those- who: ™ appearance of things. could buy it, scarce and dear as it was.” Tt was not a pleasant sensation to look into the menacing “If it was so very expensive,” said Stanton, “I should think tube of a revolver leveled within a yard of his head. only important matter would be written upon it.” It gave Redmond the cold shivers, for he was not over- “Very likely this contains-a secret of some value, or my : burdened with sand when the game was going against him. brother would not have set such store by it as he seemed — _ Purn that gun away, will you?” he snarled. “It might go| to do. There is hardly $100 in money in the red pocketbook. yO Gt | When he spoke of Flossie not being penniless his manner — _ “If it goes off it will be your lookout,” returned the young} indicated that her expectations represented more than that _ boatman. meager sum. Well, we will open it and see what this wonder- =< ome ~~: you ge me ag do?” growled _ raseal. ful secret is.” eee : » (“I want you 'to give that wallet,” demanded Stanton.} fe unfolded the bit of parchment with due care, George — f _ “it’s my private property, and you have no right to retain it.’ watching the operation wik intense ‘interest. _ - . “You can have it after I've taken out that piece of parch-| He naturally looked for some remarkkable revelation. © a that I want,” replied Redmond, taking the wallet from) Pye Boston merchant was not a little curious himself as to _ _ his pocket and starting to remove the band. whiat the document. contained. . - “You kave no claim on that parchment,” said George. “It Having spread it out carefully against the smooth face ot a : _ belongs to Flossie Deering, and you shan’t remove it from my rock, they both gazed on it with eager curiosity. 7 we wallet.” “To their surprise and great dsappeleaen nothing met) “Then you don’t get. your pocketbook,” cried Redmond,! their eyes. = a motion to return it to his pocket. The piece of parchment was blank. : “Throw that wallet to me or'I’ll pyt a ball through your HS dele x arm, .’ cried Stanton, in a determined tone.. ; Dee “You wouldn't dare,” blared the rascal. CHAPTER VIL : er iA 7H “Wouldn't 1?, PU give you three seconds to do as I tell you. ae aa Portes FROM SHOREHAM VILLAGE TO BOSTON. = wi Redmond sullenly refused to comply, whereupon instead of} “Why, there’s no writin’ on it,” cried the young boatman pa a aiming at the fellow’s arm Stanton fired apparently directly| some astonishment. 4 at his head. “It is certainly very. singular,” said Mr. Deering, — His object was to thoroughly unnerve the rascal if he could,| blankly at the paper. “The writing must have fad and he succeeded. - “Then the parchment isn’t worth all the trouble. it as The ball whizzed so close to Redmond’s face that he! caused us.” : be dropped the wallet with a howl of fear and started to run. “Apparently not, If is an interesting relic, however, “ids “Stop!” shouted the young boatman after him. as such I will keep it. Possibly some chemist might beable | He emphasized his command with a second bullet, which} to bring out the writing again, for the ink used in olden times’ ought the villain to a terrified pause. Was more substantial than our modern article. Still I have “Now,” said George, after picking up his wallet and ad-| no great faith that what was once written on this piece of ‘ing on Redmond, “hand out Rodney Deering’s red pocket-| vellum will ever be reveal , or | promise you the third bullet won't miss you.” Thus speaking, the merchant refolded the bit of parchment mond glared furiously at his antagonist, but the revelyer| and returned it to the red pocketbook. ' i oblige persuader, and be slowly and reluctantly; “Let us return to the lighthouse and help Flossie get raul man's hgh and beng it on uthe ground things in ordér for taking away,” said Mr. Sestaceet ‘ é the red wallet in an inner pocket of his. coat. . it Half an hour later George and Mr. Deering carried 1 to »| Small trunk with all her worldly seems she to sloop, where the box eee aor Las ren already been Pepe pel Sr 3 Jim- mond did not. ‘ ~ replied leat ge, oe after taking al SEE S55 .

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THE LADDER Se In the offing a government tender was to be seen heading ‘toward the island from the direction of Boston. ~ With Slaton's assistance the captain of the sloop hoisted the mainsail and subsequently the foresail. - The ropes which held her to the wharf were then cast Joose and she glided away from the island under a fair breeze. _ Flossie and her uncle sat on the extension roof of the cabin, with George Stanton, while Captain Mason steered. © Undertaker Mold and his men remained forward with the YT pox r = “Lam very glad to have met you, Stanton,” said Mr. Deer- ing, when the boat was well upon her way. “1 don’t think T could have got another skilled boatman to have taken me. to the island last night. Therefore, I feel that it is due to you ‘that I was enabled to see my brother before he died. The sum of $20, which I promised you, scarcely expresses ny senti- ‘ments, so I shall insist in making it $50.” : “No, sir. I cannot take so much from you for my services. Iam perfectly satisfied with $20.” “But it is my wish to give you $50. Shoreham you will have lost the greater part of to-day, and for that you might receive some compensation.” _ “1 think $20 will cover everything, sir,” smiled George. ‘The merehant shook his head, pulled out a well-filled pocket- hook and tendered the young skipper of the Gull five $10 bills, which the boy finally accepted with considerable reluctance, ‘nich as the possession of this amount of money meant to him- self and his mother at that time. ; “Now,” continued Mr. Deering, “if there is anything I can ‘do for you hereafter, I hope you will communicate with me,” ‘and be handed the lad his business card. “I suppose you do not intend to remain “permanently in such a small place as Shoreham. <A bey of your evident abilities ought. to seek a 3 der field of usefulness.” - “EL should like-very much to get a start in Boston, or some "ot er\large city,” said George, voicing the desire that was Fibs By the time we land at ot ae I am arranging to-open a branch establishment | in’ New York. I am going act as resident manager. et my mother’s permission for me to go to Boston I will dly accept your offer.” - ; f «1 avill speak to your mother myself, if you wish, and point out the undoubted advantages that would acerue to you hy tting a proper start in the world. I should think she would e no great objection to moving to Boston herself. There are many nice places to. live in the suburbs of the city, and the electric cars afford quick and satisfactory communication with the business center.” _ “Well, sir, I should be pleased to have you do so. You and “Miss Flossie can stop at our cottage, instead of going to the n, while Mr. Mold is preparing your brother's body for hipment to Boston. Will you do so?” ; pee -aecept your invitation with pleasure and shall be glad ; o meet-your mother. I think I shall be able to convince her the proper field for your talents is the city of Boston.” hen the sloop arrived at her wharf George Stanton piloted pring and his bereaved niece to his mother’s cottage. Mrs. Stanton received her visitors with all courtesy and eeded to make their brief stay as pleasant as possible. was all sympathy and kindness to the young orphan, lossie’s heart warmed to her at once, »repared a nice dinner for them, and during the meal 1 Deering opened up the subject of the young boatman “to Boston and taking a position in his office. Eeoay hile Mrs, Stanton was obliged ,to admit that Sboreham 1 comparatiyely no inducements for an ambitious, boy, med loath to consider the proposition of moving to a d been born, brought up and married in Shoreham, | the station, “I shall expect to hear from you in a few days, Stanton,” OF FAME. This was putting the matter right up to her in a way that she could not very well evade, and so she promised to think the subject over, at the same time thanking the merchant for the interest he was taking in her son. At five o’clock a buggy was brought around to the cottage to take Mr. Deering and Flossie on to. the next town, where they would eatch a train for the city, a wagon conveying Rodvey Deering’s body in a casket, enclosed in a plain box, to said the merchant as they were about to part. “At any rate 1 shall keep a place open for you.” “Thank you, sir. 1 hope I shall be able to go to work for you.” Flossie cried on leaving, for she had taken a great liking to Mrs, Stanton. “Whatever your decision is, Mrs. Stanton,” said Mr. Deering, “vou must call and see Flossie after she is settled with my family.” Then the buggy drove away. That night after tea George and his mother had a serious talk about his branching out in life, but no decision was reached. A day or two later Mrs. Stanton received a letter from her only sister, a widow, in which the latter said she had decided to move to Shoreham, so as to be near her, and asked her to look up a sma-. cottage for her and her two children. . This letter suggested a plan to George. . “Mother, why don’t you have Aunt Bertha come and live Then I could go to Boston, and you need not leave Shoreham at all. I could run down once a week and remain with you till Sunday night. The distance is not far. Don’t you think that such an arrangement would solve the whole difficulty?” 4 " “But. I don’t like to have you away from me for a whole week at a time,” objected the little widow, stroking her son’s “I should miss you dreadfully.” with you? hair. “You'd ‘get uséd to that, mother, especially as you would — know it was for my good. There is nothing in Shoreham for me. I am only wasting my time here. It has been my dream for months to break away from this village and get into the bustling world, where a fortune is to be made by those who have the grit and determination to push their way to the front.” “And you would really be contented to go away from mother and live among strangers, (ieorge?” she asked tearfully. “I must do it some day. Why not new, when such a fine opportunity has presented itself,” he said, putting one arm lovingly around her. ‘Remember you are not really losing me. Boston is only a short distance from here, and you will know that I am in good hands when I am with Mr. Deering.” Mrs, Stanton, like all fond mothers, hated to part @vith her only son, even under such exceptionally favorable cireum- — stances: but in the end she yielded to bis solicitations. x Her sister agreed to come and live at the ‘Stanton cottage, and then George wrote to Mr. Deering that he had obtained his mother’s sanction to his coming to Boston. ; And so ten days later George Stanton beeame office boy for Howard Deering, and took up his home with a respectable family in East Cambridge, not far from where Mr. Deering lived himself. - . , CHAPTER VIII. GEORGE STANTON’S EXPERIENCE AS OFFICE BOY. Howard Deering was general sales agent for a big hosiery mill in a Massachusetts factory town, and his salesrooms and counting-house, was in the heart of Boston's busiest district. His trade had grown extensively in the last few years, as throughout the country. He had just established a branch sale office with samples on exhibition, —_ y Mr. Deering had taken a great liking for George S He saw that the boy had the making of a smart m him, and he determined to push him ahead as fast as in he 2" P cal d would be brough chad been 4 vr the product he controlled became more and more in demand : in New York, with a full line of stock, where heretofore he had only maintained a small ys

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—— as shown by her black gowns, appealed to their — Her naturally vivacious nature occasionally showed itself in Thus Stanton came into contact with Flossie very often, and | flashes through the somber atmosphere w hich her father’s death had drawn about her. Every one could restd‘ly see ihat she was bright and clever, Be 4 THE LADDER OF FAME. = : pair = oe ON SSS ee - ~ the ae a good home not far from his own, and he further} ment, invited George to call at his home at least once a week to} sympathies. take dinner and spend the evening. they soon became very warm friends. a Me. Deering had no objection to their growing intimacy: ‘indeed, he rather encouraged it, for he knew that a pure.) lovable girl can exercise a powerful influence for good over a _ bey thrown constantly in her society. | } Gcorge found his duties as office boy congenial enough, for| he had many chances to learn the business. He did not have to get down at.an unusually early hour to} ia “sweep out, as some office boys had to do, as there was a) porter to attend to that. The first thing he did every morning was to take a small) leather bag and go to the post-office for the early mail, which | he deposited on Mr, Deering’s desk for that gentleman to g0| rs through when he arrived at about ten o'clock. His time wés chiefly taken up running errands, and this at first was a difticult matter, for he was unfamiliar with the Boston streets, which in the city proper are not the straightest in the world, although the big fire partially remedied the 3 “cow-path” nuisance of Old Boston. Fis He also assisted “the cashier and carried the day's deposits to the bank. He was likewise at the beck and call of the bookkeepers and higher clerks. _ George, being naturally obliging and even-tempered, soon made himself popula with his associates. _ There was one exception, however, as always seems to be the case in a big oftice. - ‘This exception was Phil Rédmond, the brother of Jim Red- ate. with whom Stanton had had the run- -in with on Coffin ni edmond was one of the bookkeepers, a rather good-look- ing, dashing kind of fellow, up-to-date in his manners and ae in fact, he was the best-dressed clerk in the office. received a Very fair salary, out of which he could easily ‘ saved money had he been of a sensible, provident turn mind, for he had no family responsibilities to make inroads put resources, ut Phil never seemed to have a cent except on salary | rhe trouble was Redmond was something of a fast young _ chap. 4 He associated with a pretty rapid crowd, and had acquired “number of expensive habits that obliged him to scratch hard o make ends meet. As a matter of fact, ends d'd not meet with him and were etting further and further apart every day, . He frequented gilded pleasure resorts at night, drank freely, smoked good cigars, played the races with varying luck, er missed a good show, aud conducted himself generally might be expected of a young man about town re he possessed cash enough he would have been a high- : of the first water: but not being so fortunate he had to content himself with putting up as good an imitation of the al article as he was able. Recently be had taken to gambling to try and better his jal Condition. had skill and nerve, but more often than not he was a of sharper men at this business than himself, and ently he was gradually getting deeper and deeper into jes, as a good part of his weekly wages went to square elf with his creditors. st why Redmond took a seated dislike to George Stanton uld be hard to explain; but the fact remains that he did. Ata Barn eee ediig some fault with the bright office ris ; guawtae: popularity in the. office annoyed him, y because he was not exactly popular himseif. : any rate, he lost no rye to make. life rapa > lad, as the saying | ‘ly for George, | ond was not such an Senpoxtasit the: entablidhment that os could me te Bey; ‘any great ‘kind of laugh, “but just the same I wouldn't take any ch church” regularly and I never ee i> ste ae ot) th grin. and all the clerks liked to exchange a word with her when | she appeared at the office. . Phil Redmond, as soon as he found out that she was Mr. Deering’s niece, tried to make himself particularly agreeable to her; but somehow or another Flossie did not fancy him for a cent, and she made no secret of her feelings on the subject, — much to the bookkeeper’s disappointment and annoyance, for - he prided himself on being irresistible with the fair sex. : The clerks soon began. to notice Flossie’s partiality for Stanton’s society, and then they began to twit him about ~ her. ; Of course they did not know that he met her once, and. sometimes twice, a week at Mr. Deering’s home. George took their fun good-naturedly, and after awhile they got tired of roasting hin. It was different with Redmond. Non He resented the boy's familiarity with Flossie, the more — particularly because he could not help seeing that she liked — George better than anyone else. He made remarks about their intimacy to his fellow clerks — me in a way that showed he was jealous of the office hoy. | “Mr: Deering ought to know about it,” he remarked one — Saturday afternoon, when Flossie was talking to George, : while he was copying some letters at the press for the cashier. “He wastes a whole lot of the boss’s time with that — girl évery Saturday. Look at him now. He's been fifteen minutes monkeying over that letter-press and chinning to ae It ought to be stopped.” “{ don't know that it is any of our business, Redmond,” replied the bookkeeper he was addressing, who was, very — friendly toward Stanton. “it s up to Mr. Deering to find it out for himself. .He’s got eyes.’ “Oh, he’s wp to his eyes in business these days. He dbeuntt see all that’s s going on out here. How could he, when pie ins his private office most of the time? “That's all right, bat there isn’t much that escapes Pea just the same.” nodded the other bookkeeper in a conclusive: way. “Well, that seems to escape him,” growled Redmond. That © kid makes me sick.” “Why do you call Stanton a kid? I think he’s a pretty healthy- looking lad.” “He's too fresh.” “it seems tO be that you're down on him for some reason.” = “Well, I'm not struck on him,” replied ried Se with a sneer, haat “What's the matter with him? As far as I can see lie’s the smartest office boy we've had since I've been here.” ~ i “Bosh!” “AN the fellows like him except you.” ss hl cy? have the right to dislike him if I chose, T don't care i. his face.” “Why not? Now that is just what I do like about > He has got 2 wonderfully attractive face—a face that reno confidence. Ud be willing to trust that boy with every cen I possess.” Ze uae “You would, eh? Then that shows what a chump you” Don't you know that the records of the police peegiecy show that faces are the most deceptive things one can go by. Those chaps, and he is one of them, whp look as if: ae wouldn't melt in their mouths, are the ones who do yow on the quiet, and then light out to alma to save themseh from going to jail.” “I am sure you wrong Stanton if you entertain ‘any suspicion against him.” “Maybe L do,” replied Redmond, with a “short, wed “* with him. 1 am always afraid of church-geers, and» Tu stand he attends church and Sunday-school every S “Then you ought to fight shy of me, Redmond, for 1 was ounger.” cphere are exceptions to évely rae” answered Phil it you ought to give Stanton ‘the benefit : weet ATA af he oars nce ot Mr. ‘pani: in the counti oe moment in the ?)

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THE LADDER OF FAME. ~ ‘They Hoth noticed that though he looked directly at Stan- her own way with her Uncle Howard, who had grown very ton and Flossie, whose heads were close together at the|fond indeed of his dead brother’s child. moment, he passed them by without a word. “Here’s Mr. Richards now. I'll speak to him.” Sere Stanton stated the case and the cashier told him he could go . ; ——. to lunch then. guess I had,” replied the cashier, coming out of the en- The two were almost inseparable—that is, they were never | wjocure and slamming the wire gate to after him. ces _ tired of being in each other's society. ; The P F “eas , gate to the enclosure was provided with a spring catch, ae qoxl continged to-visl. et:the, ailee,, but mot 96-offen a8. o pion always held it secure, so that the cashier was obliged - ;to use a key to let himself in. This was a necessary precaution during business hours, as Ss . about half-past twelve. Mr. Richards frequently left his den for one reason or another. She had been shopping on Tremont street, and the idea had leaving his safe open and his money-drawer in the desk un- Mt “occurred to her that she would run down to the office and get | jo -6q, _ George to take her to lunch. Of course there was not much danger that any one but Stanton, whose desk was within the enclosure, and who also carried a key to the lock, would attempt to enter the ae $ aus “day Flossie appeared at the counting-room unexpectedly Me Ps ‘Stanton was in his den, as he called the cashier’s enclosure, es and Flossie came to the little window and peeped through ‘at bin. domain. } “I see you,” she exclaimed, with a merry laugh. None of the other clerks had any right there. 4 _ “Goodness! Is that you, Flossie?” said George. “I didn’t} Besides, any one in the counting-room could have seen an ae expect to see you to-day.” intruder had he made an attempt to go in there. * oe er Dian't you?” she’ replied, roguishly. “Well, I thought I'd| still, as we have remarked, it was considered a necessary erg axe you a surprise.” 5: precaution to have the spring catch on the door. ie “You've done it for a fact,” he answered, putting his hand |” Gn this occasion Phil Redmond was looking directly at the through the window and shaking her little gloved one. “I’m _ awfully glad to see you.’ “Are you, really 7” ' ~ “Don’t you know I am?” _ “Well,” she said, cocking her head demurely on one side, ha not telling everything I know.” “That's a very wise resolution,” he laughed. “Are you very busy?” she asked. _ “IT am always busy during office hours, Flossie.” i mean are vou very busy at this moment?” she persisted. “Why do you ask that question?” "Because I want you to take me out to lunch.” hat, right away?” _, tYes, right away "You didn’t come all the way from Rast Cambridge just to c me to take-you to lunch, did you?” he grinned. **Of course not, you foolish boy! I've been up in the retail district shopping. 1 thought I'd sooner lunch with you than go alone into a restaurant, so I just came after you—there! ” i ee a nly done me a very great honor, Flossie,” eee “but I’m not sure I can gef off right chards, the cashier, usually goes to lunch before hasn't started yet.” ae ech ‘him to let you go first to-day. I’m cashier’s.enclosure in a dreamy kind of way when Mr. Rich- ards slammed the door to, as we have seen. For some reason or another the catch on this occasion did not grip as usual, and the door swung open an inch and 5 a mained so. Mr. Richards, being ‘in a hurry to reach the ‘phone, did not notice what happened, but Redmond did, and a peculiar alert expression sprang into his eyes. He glanced about the empty counting-room and listened for'? @ moment intently. The coast was clear apparently. The fact of the matter was, Phil Redmond needed a certain sum of money badly. He needed it to prevent the exposure of certain things he was connected with, which exposure might ruin him by lead-— > ing to his discharge from his situation, in spite of the length. = of time he had been with Mr. Deering. He had been taxing his brains for the past week in a frait-— less effort to devise means to secure the money in question. — : He had about reached the despairing stage, and was won-— dering how he wouid come out of his difficulties, when the failure of the spring in the cashier’s door to catch most unex- | pectedly pointed out a way for him to secure the rk de wanted. It was a desperate expedient, it is true, but. Redmond woul y be fair to joke advantage of his 08 feeling desperate enough just then to attempt most an som It was a rare chance that would probably never with a little will- again, and on the spur of the moment, urged ony, kia ‘retty much af ey ae eeeenmhonte NE nen ef Ite te

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THE LADDER OF FAME. sol - At that momeénf theré was apparently no one about to see | was trying to choke him into releasing his hold upon his him, and by a little agility he felt he could reach the cashier's | person. _money-drawer and get away with whatever money was in it at| The combatants swayed about, each desperately bent on ac- the time, which he believed would amount to more than enough |complishing a certain purpose. to help him out of his scrape. As soon as Flossie recognized that George was one of them, Casting another sharp look around the counting-room and |and that he was seemingly getting the worst of the encounter, ’ feeling reassured. he darted over to the enclosure, pulled open |She sereamed and rushed to his assistance. the gate, reached out to the cash drawer, opened it and The officer, however, stepped in ahead of her, and grasping grabbed a big pile of bills he saw there. Redmond's two hands, tore them away from the boy's neck. _He thrust them into his pocket as he retreated and closed| “Don’t let him get away,” gasped Stanton, as he sank back. the Bate softly. exhausted and panting for air. _ This time the latch cavght all right, and Redmond returned “Oh, George! Dear, dear, George!” cried Flossie, throwing to his desk in guilty triumph. her arms impulsively about his neck and ‘bursting into tears. iw Redmond thought he had abstracted the money from the |*What has he been doing to you?” ; cashier's Sate unperceived, but such had not been the case.| Stanton offered no objection to her embrace, but he made * George Stanton’s eye had been on him from the moment he |no reply, for he could searcely speak. rg entered the enclosure till he withdrew with the money in his} At that exciting moment Mr. Deering entered the office. ~ fist. He was astonished at what he saw, and of course wanted an The way it happened was this: explanation. «George, after washing up and brushing his hair neatly, had | Redmond, after making an ineffectual struggle to get away © entered Mr. Deering’s privaté room by a side door to notify |from the policeman, gave up the fight and stood sullenly _ Flossie that he was ready to go out. awaiting his fate. __ Flossie had left the door facitig the cashier’s den partly open.| “What's the meaning of this, Redmond?” asked the cashier, Stanton happening to take up his position at the proper |cléarly surprised at the situation, while Mr. Deering also. angle to command a view of the enclosure, and accidentally |Showéd his astonishment in his eyes. - easting his eyes in that direction at the critical moment, had! The bookkeeper made no reply, since he had none that seen Redmond’s guilty act, and for a moment was too amazed would stand muster. tO move. Then it was that Stanton, releasing Flossie’s arms from his ___ He could searcely believe the evidence of his eyes, so utterly | Neck, made his charge. “unprepared was he for this diseovery of Redmond’s crooked-| “If you will search Mr. Redmond you will find a bundle of ness. money of his petson which he took from your cash drawer.” ‘But he récovered his self-posséssion in a moment. “Tmpossible!” ejaculated Mr. Richards. “How could he “Excuse me a. moment, Flossié, I want to seé the cashier,” |réach the cash drawer? I was only away from the enclosure he said, and hurried toward the telephone booth. a moment, and the gate was locked.” p Mr. Richards was too busily éngaged at that moment to be; “Nevertheless I saw him pull open the gate, steal into the - disturbed, and Stanton waited for him to come out to impart |placé and grab a bunch of money. He cannot deny it.” to him the astounding revelation. “Is this true, Redmond?” demandéd Mr. Deering, sternly. Bh: While he was waiting Phil Redmond got his hat and started| The bookkeeper was silent, but his face admitted his guilt. to leavé the office. “Look into your drawer, Mr. Richards, and see if the monéy __ George detected his purpose in a moment. is missing,” said the head of the house, quietly. _ “He mustn’t leave the office with that money on him to dis- “There is no occasion to do that,” sullenly spoke up Red- ‘pose of or I shall never be able to prove that he took it,” he | mond, putting his hand into his pocket. “I admit my guilt. breathed, as Redmond passed outside of the counting-room | There is your money,” and he held the roll of bills out to the enclosure. cashier, who Mechanically accepted it. “I suppose I shall The resolute boy therefore hurriedly followed the thieving | have to go to jail for this, so the sooner it is over with the _ bookkeeper. | better.” As Redmond turned the outside corner of the counting-| “Why did you take that money, Redmond?” asked Mr. Deer- reom partition, Stanton glided up behind him and laid his ing, more in sorrow than in anger. and on his shoulder. “Because I needed the money.” The bookkeeper furned as if stung by some venomous in- “Are you so badly off you must steal?” séet, and fis guilty conscience showed in his face. “I am,” replied the culprit, gloomily. “What do you want, Stanton?” he asked in shaky tones, as| “Walk into my office, Redmond. I'd like an explanation of — on as he recognized the boy. |this matter.” Aas , “I want that money you on from the cash drawer a mo-| “I have nome to give you. I have ruined myself, and that ent ago,” he replied, gtern /is all there is about it.” “What do you mean?” er eod Redmond, his face turning! “I'd like to talk with you at any rate. I am very sorry that ~ gy paler. this has occurred. I did not expect it of you after your many mean just what I said. You stole into the cashier's en- years of service in my office.” : just now and helped yourself to all the money you} Redmond uttered a reckless little laugh, glared savagely ‘ “grab.” at Stanton, _and then followed his employer into the private ou're a liar!” snarled Redmond, taking a step toward the | room. ee door. “Tt suppose I had bétter remain, hadn't I?” suggested the “Pm not a Har, for | had my eyé on you all the time.” policeman. : How could you, when there was ot a soul in the countifig-| “f think you had,” replied Mr. Richards. “I should be glad ff \t6 Hear your account of this unfortunate affair, Stanton,” he a othe ou forget the door of Mr. Deering’s private room. That | added, turning to the boy. oe oe wi 3 partially open and I was in there with Miss Flossie.” George. ‘made his statement, which, of course, was very brief. is “Blame you! Take that!” “I can’t understand how Redmond opened that gate,” said __ Redmond, white with fury, struck the boy a heavy blow in |/the cashier in a perplexed tone, “unless he has been contem- __ face, ‘knocking him down, and attempted a dash for the | plating this crime for some time and had a key made to ‘fit mee lock.” , i > CHAPTER X. | “Then he must have had a key,” said the boy. ‘> SLE yy Bea | “T'll show you how Tf slammed the gate,” said the caabier a - oy when he and George returned to the ecounting-room. : sacar blutside the counting-room ‘immediately at-| He opened the gate with his key and then shut it to as ‘he ry i notice, and both the cashier, who was leaving the had done when he was one 2 the booth. ete t the oment, and’ “Flossie, Fan out to see what was| Then to his s was unraveled, for. the : gate failed to cate met et ee bona jas gah in the corridor outside also peer: AS tt i on ‘on Stanton’s throat and ioe the ne tok m ret os ‘

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THS LADDER OF FAME. and dismissed him. with a-$5 bill. Phil Redmond never returned to his desk. He was quickly .dismissed from his position, and aattbes : clerk was. promoted to fill his place. Mr. Deering told Stanton and -his cashier to say nothing: about the affair, but te leave the other clerks. to believe that Redmond had resigned of his own accord.: « > The matter having been thus permanently disposed of, Stan- ton took Flossie out.to their belated. lunch, and he did not fail to tell the blushing girl how much he thought of her for _ making that effort of coming to his>aid. : Stanton was rather glad than otherwise. that Phil Redmond ; was out of the office, because he had long since given up the idea of ever getting upon a friendly footing, with the book- _ keeper. ae Flossie was also pleased to think he was Sone, because she did not like his face. » None of the office force regretted his departure, because no- body liked him much. So, on the whole, he was not missed even a little bit. __ Flossie’s unpremeditated demonstration that day in the of- fice had duly impressed Stanton with the cheerful idea that ‘the girl really thought a good deal more of him than appeared even on the surface. He hoped ‘this was true, as he had come to think a good ‘deal of Flossie himself, and young as he was he had built air eastles concerning the future in which the charming little miss figured conspicuously. _ Things went along in the office very nicely now as far as| Stanton was concerned. He seemed to be growing smarter and brighter every day, and Mr. Deering was correspondingly well pleased. Thus another year passed away and George, now eighteen, - was trying to coax the down on his upper lip into something y that faintly reseinbled a mustache. Flossie had also adyanced another year on the road of life, and was now sweet sixteen. _. Stanton continued to call on Flossie at least once a week with unfailing regularity. was about to lose her for a time. Flossie imparted the intelligence, with tears in her eyes, that Uncle Howard had arranged to send her to complete her education at a well-known boarding school for young ladies, situated fifty or sixty miles from Boston, “Isn't it too mean for anything that I shan’t be able to see you at the office any more after next week,” she said, with a es little lump in her throat. “But that isn't the worst of it. You won't see me Thursday nights any more after next week,” said George, soberly, feeling § as if life would not be worth living. __.“Will-you miss me?” she asked, her pretty eyes filling up. _* “WillI? You can just bet I shall. You are the one friend _ 1 think the world of, and when you leave Boston I shan’t care ’ , ingen whether school keeps or not.” “Do you think so much of me as all that?” she asked, wist- - fully. “I think more than that of you,” said Stanton, stoutly. “I ‘Tike you next to my mother. I like you just as much as if you was my real sister. Don't you wish you was my sister?” _ Flossie was going to utter yes when it suddenly occurred apt that another girl in that case would be sure to take away: from her some time, and she didn’t feel as if she ranted to give him up at all. “You must write to me once a week, Flossie,” he said, after Es ‘they had. talked the matter over a little while, “and I'll write a fn seg to you.” twice a week, too,” ” said the girl eagerly, smiling igh her tears. ybe you won't have time to do that, so I'l. only ask you me ee letter a week, bbs that one re expect.” ite “ re es a week from next Monday, ¥ you come : and. ‘Tuesday, and bias teenaneas Sunday. Mr. Deering called the officer inside, told him he had Pee * cided not to press a complaint against his recreant bookkeeper, in the world, and that they would be sweethearts as pers as On one of these occasions he learned to his dismay that he! gasoline torches. ‘and “speil” for the club's Aldermanic candi | date. ; ; Then George kissed her, said she’ was the finest littie girl — they lived, CHAPTER XI. z THE FIRST ROUND OF THE LADDER OF FAME. George Stanton felt like a fish out of water after Flossie had departed for the boarding school. - Mr. Deering soon observed the change in the boy, and he decided to carry out a plan he had in view: for some weeks. His New York office had been growing more. extensive in. its operations, and the manager had requested additional help. What he particularly wanted was a clerk familiar with the ~ : financial end of the business, so the merchant called Stanton into his office one day and asked him how he would like to g0 to New York as cashier of the branch office. This was an unexpected and important advancement for the boy, and he was taken quite by surprise. “T should like to go very much, sir, if you think I am com- petent to fill the position satisfactorily,” replied George. “T haven't any doubt about that whatever.” said Mr. Deer- ing. “Well, had better write to your mother about it at once. When you go down to Shoreham on Saturday you can remain a week and then I shall send you right on to your new duties.” Mrs. Stanton did not like the idea at all of having her son go so far away as New York, but as the die was cast, and the change. too important for the boy to miss, she yielded to the inevitable. Two weeks later George Stanton reached the metropolis of America and gazed upon the skyscrapers and other won- ders of the big city for the first time. He went to board with a very nice family in Harlem, near- One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street, and it was not very long before he began to feel quite as much at home in his ‘ new surroundings as he had in East Cambridge. He soon got acquainted with some very congenial Fis men who lived in his neighborhood, most of whom were mem- bers of a select social club that had rooms on Seventh avenue. He was proposed as a member and duly accepted. The Manhattan Social and Literary Club soon. developed a political bias in favor of a gentleman well known in the dis- trict who was a candidate for nomination for the Board of Alderman. The club gave an entertainment once a month. one of which, being a “stag” affair, went, under the name of a “smoker.” It was at one of these “smokers” that the name of the gen- tleman who had the office “bee in his bonnet” forward, eulogized and a resolution introduced and carried. that the club support him in the event of his receiving the nomination. we will look upon the matter as settled. You every other was brought This was Stanton's first insight into politics, and thence-_ forward he became very much interested in the outcome of the matter. Finally the geutleman in question received the nomination, whereupon the club members got busy to help secure his” election at the polls. Stanton was of very little use in that direction. as he was ~ a comparative stranger in the district, and such people as he knew weré friends of the candidare But there were other ways he could help along the 00d | ied cause, and as he proved both a willing and enthusiastic worker, he made himself well liked in the club. -He was introduced to the candidate, with whom he had the honor of shaking hands, and from whom he received words” “ of thanks and encouragement. He received invitations to attend “smokers” given by other clubs, generally purely political in character, some of which he aecepted. At a grand ratification meeting, held at the rooms of the =. district headquarters, he listened to the first political speeches he bad ever heard in his life. S This style of cratory rather fascinated him, and he was easily induced to accompany a party of friends who had volun- | teered to visit different sections of the district in an ex wagon, rigged up with painted cloth signs, and a co oO Stanton wasn't expected to make any remarks. himself, he had not been coached in the campaign issues, but he had yeet-| charge of tbe literature, and navel upon to see that. + [of the mene a. boys” we favored the opposition spetiy ei ate-a hg

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THE LADDER OF FAME. 13 _ He listened very intently to -the speeches made by his | friends and other,more important orators that were occasion- ily introduced. and soon was letter-perfect in all the im- * ant points advanced by the party whom the aldermanic Nominee represented. | A few days before election there happened to be a. dearth f speakers on the express wagon, and Stanton volunteered help fill the awkward) void. He was permitted to do so, and his first political speech su rised not only himself but the two vee friends who Were on the cart with him. / “You're all fo the good, Stanton.” was the. verdict of his mpanions. when he sat down and the wagon started for| Gnother corner to hold forth to a new audience. “You've bt the issues of the campaign down fine. Who coached © nu?” “Nobody.” replied the boy. “I've kept ‘my ears open and in all I heard you fellows and the other speakers talk | _*Upon my word,” remarked one of the two, admiringly, | “you didn't miss anything of any consequence. If our al-| fermanic candidate had heard you put it all over his op- Ponent he would have been tickled to death. You've got a Mhe voice. all right, old fellow. It’s a pity. we didn’t have Yon on the stump from the start-off.” They put him forward at all the other stopping places, so t he made six speeches that night. _ After that Stanton spoke the remaining nights of the cam- PAign. and was highly complimented by various professional kers who heard him. _ On election day he was appointed as one of the“ watchers” the polls, and it was noticed that he proved’ to be one of most earnest- and consistent ‘workers for the organization | at supported the club's aldermanie candidate. He carried the results of the election district *af which he d served to the clubrooms where the candidate received the Pau mene ‘, amed a pleasure for him to report that in that district ‘candidate had a clear majority of the votes cast. Finally about midnight. when it became clear that their an had been elected. a procession was formed, headed by a nd of music, which had heen engaged as soon as it he- ne evident that things were coming their way. and that aldermian-elect at the head of the line, and the club mem- rs and other enthusiastic partisans walking behind, Stan- ‘and his associates paraded the principal streets of the Strict and made Rome hew! for a couple of hours, at the end which the successful gentleman “set ‘em up” for every- Th election was now a thing of the past and politics was z ated to the background once more in the club, but Stan- i “did not forget his small elocutionary triumphs, and re- ‘ed to be there with both feet the next time his services ld be called upon. b fact. polities had in that brief time acquired such a fas- ‘tion for him that he joined the regular district organiza- n. at the suggestion of the captain of his election district. ing the winter the organizition, to keep the interest yoters alive, gave monthly “smokers” at which enter- nt was provided by professional vaudeville talent, in- sed by three-round bouts by clever amateur boxers, of whom aspired to pugilistic honors. forge never failed to attend these affairs, and at the last : was induced to get up on the platform and make a «ch on the political situation generally. Y was his first notable effort in jaf line, and he ac- himself with such general satisfaction that he was alled to say a few words more. my of the prominent politicians of the district were pres- or 1 the platform on this occasion, and they were so favor- impressed with his oratorical powers that they made a the fact with the view of using this budding Demos- Nes when the occasion presented itself. e leader of the district had Stanton introduced to him, he in turn made the boy known to the other ig lights, it was generally. admitted by the knowing ones that the Was a comer. spring came around every yoter in the district had or heard about young Stanton, and he had actu- any popular, although he was unaware of the - entered the organization clubroom of a night at It of those acorn nodded to him in a familiar way. ! while the ledder and his aides always had a pleasant word to exchange with him. His attractive personality had of course a great deal to do with this popularity. , He had such a sociable way about him and seemed ack a good listener when any one was airing his private sentiments that no one could fail to like him. During all this time Stanton gave great satisfaction to the manager of Mr. Deering’s New York office. He attended strietly to business during office hours, never made mistakes, and was considered the star clerk of fhe branch. He maintained a regular correspondence with Flossie, who often bewailed the fact that he was so far away from her. They met. however, during the Christmas holidays. George } and his mother being guests at the Deering home for a week. jand a very happy time the two young people had together, re- newing their vows of eternal constancy.” ‘ CHAPTER XII. _ STANTON BECOMES CAPTAIN OF HIS DISTRICT. In the latter part of the month of May Stanton received a letter from the leader of-the assembly distriet asking him to cal] at his house. Wondering what the big politician wanted with him, George made the visit. “I should like to have you accept the captaincy of your election district, Stanton,” said the leader, “I find that you are a smart young fellow, well up in local polities, and by long odds the most popular person in your immediate neigh: borhood. What do you say?” “What's the’ matter with Murray, asked George. “He has just handed in his resignation. West.” *T hardly think I am equal to the responsibilities of the position. Besides my business——” He is going out “This won't interfere with your regular business in the .- least. I can guarantee that. We want men for captains who ave well liked, and who show seme energy in handling their districts. You have been recommended to me by several of the inembers of the Manhattan Social Club, with which you are connected. But I may also say that I have had my eye on you for some time as a promising young man of my dis- trict who deserves to be encouraged. I wish you to nnder- stand that our organization appreciates and rewards such services as you have already ‘rendered us.” “But, sir, I have had no experiencé as a captain.” “That's all right. you next to all that you require to know. Then it will be up to you to make a good showing. You will receive all the help from me that I can render. You will. of course, be handi- capped by the fact that your district shows a majority in favor of the opposition. This majority was at one time much greater than it is now. Murray succeeded in cutting it down somewhat, and I have no doubt but that you will do even bet- ter. At any rate I have decided you are the man for the place, and I want you to accept it.” the present captain?” Murray will take you in hand and put)’ “Will you give me a little time to consider my answer?” “Certainly, if you insist, but J shall be much disappointed - if you turn the offer down.” “J will let you know inside of a week.” “Very well. I shall be at the General Committee rooms next Wednesday at eight o’clock. Let me have your reply then.” “Very well, Mr. Partridge.” The first thing George did was to call on Murray, the pres: ent captain. and have a talk with- him. He wanted to find out just what would be expected of him, then he would be able to figure as to whether he thought he - would be able to fill the bill or not. “Oh, you won't have any trouble at all Stanton. I'd take it if 1 wes you. It will give you a standing with the organiza- tion and help you to a job if you ever want one. The leader > himself has got to treat his captains well if he expects to © keep at the head of the district. -Partridge is liable to haye n Contest at the next primary in September, and it isn’t im- ~~ _ It all depends who = possible but he may be turned down, goes up against him.” “Well, let me know what Tf have to re as captain.” F " replied ti ai ai then er to outline the’ “Sure.”

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i more important things an election district ‘captain has to look arter. “Partridge will take you around to the Harlem Police Court and introduce you to Magistrate Dunne. It’s handy to know him sometimes when one of your voters gets into a little difficulty that lands him at the station and he is afterward hrovght before the court. For instance, the other day Janitor! MeNuity. of the Bensinghurst Apartment House. in my dis- . trict, laid a man out with a club, and the fellow had him ar- ~ rested and swore he'd put him through. But he didn’t. Mc- Nutty sent for me to come to the police station. I found him in a cell and had a talk with him. On his own showing the case looked a little difficult of adjustment: but I wasn't dis- ecuraged. I had a talk with the sergeant at the desk. and he assured me McNulty was sure to go up she river. That didn't seem encouraging, did it?” “No.” admitted Stanton. “Well, after I had got hold of all the facts, I ealled upon lie chap whose head had been opened up and found him in a very bad humor indeed. I talked to him a while and finally convinced him that it would be to his interest not to press the complaint. I assured him that McNulty had a good pull and would get off with a fine. Instead of having the city collect the fine, which I thought would be about ten dollars, I sug- gested that he'accept that/amonnt and an apology from Mc- Nulty and call it off. He agreed, and so next morning when the janitor was brought up in court he was discharged at my Yequest because tlie man was not in court to maintain the charge.” George grinned at this little story, and thought Murray Was quite a dipYomat in his way. “As captain you will have a little patronage to dispose of -in the way of appointing two élection inspectors, a poll clerk und a ballot clerk. These little jobs are much sought after by persons who wish to evade duty, and cannot conscientiously Swear that neither they nor their wives are not worth more ‘than $250, either in personal property or real estate. Then on election day you will employ six or eight helpers to stir up lazy voters, and attend to such other work as you will find necessary for them to do. On the night before election the leader will furnish you with funds necessary fo cover’ these expenses, Some captains hold out a part of this as a personal n -perquisite; but I never do, as I always find uses for the whole ie of the money. The captains are not asked for an accounting, - for it is presumed the money is spent as intended.” ’ Murray told Stanton a lot more on the subject, and. the boy went home with lis head full of details and pointers, all based on the present captain’s personal experience in the district. Stunton on the following evening consulted with many of his club members, and they aH advised him to take the cap- ‘tainey if he had a real leaning toward politics. So on the following Wednesday night he went around to the General Committee rooms at eight o'clock. Leader Partridge had not yet arrived, but the secretary of the organization had a confidential talk with him and seemed to be much pleased that he had decided to accept the cap- tainey on trial. Partridge didn’t show up fill nearly nine. There was a mob of small political heelers and others wait- ing to buttonhole him, and it was some time before George ' gota chance to speak with him. _.. At length Partridge called him over and asked him what decision he had arrived at. _ “I'll accept your offer condftionally, sir. “All right. What are the conditions?” A 4 elnat if I find I can't handle the district as well as I 1 ought to you will accept my immediate resignation.” don't think you'll have any trouble making good. Have aes Murray?” Ne He put_you up to the ins and outs BS the job, didn't Mone aero ¢ e didn't say Reais to aconrnse you?” ’ ie iewane into bis” sane tum, where the . and our hero was, Spud enrolled as cap- ct of t assembly dis- few days. - up the political pet of fame to THE LADDER OF FAME. Certs eee a a By CHAPTER XIII. ON NAHANT POINT. On the first of August Stanton was twenty and he received a three weeks’ vacation. He went directly to Shoreham and spent the first week with his mother. The other two weeks Flossie expected him to spend in her society at the Deering cottage at Sandwich Beach, Nahant, on Massachusetts Bay. Although George had had little to do’ with boats for three years, he had not forgetten his old-time skill in handling a sailboat. The Gull had been leased to a fisherman during its young owner's absence. but the boy easily, obtained possession of her for a fortnight’s use, as he intended to sail over to Sand- wich Beach in her, and use the craft for little excursions with Flossie as the chief, if not sole, attraction. As Mrs. Stanten had also been invited to spend the balance of thé season at the Deering summer cottage, she prepared to accompany her son on the Gull. “Well, mother, are you all ready?” asked George at nine o'clock on Monday morning. as he came downstairs with his suitcase in his hand. “Yes. my sofi,” she replied. “You may carry that small trunk down to the boat, and by the tine you return I will have my bag ready. Fifteen minutes "ate the Gull left her wharf and headed for the point. An hour and a half later she was off Coffin Island, with ‘ifs gray lighthouse shining in the morning sunshine. It was nearly noon whén they passed to the south of Deer The wind had been so Hight that it had taken the Gull more ; than two hours to sail about seven miles. “At this rate it will take us half the afternoon to reach beach,” said George impatiently. “I guess we'd better to lunch, mother. What have you got in the provision R a bottle of milk.” * “All right. Spread ‘em out on the half-deck. PH tie - tiller So as to keep her head to the wind and then we'll lunch. — This is like old times. To say the truth, although I hav tt been out here in three years, and that’s a good long time, it to escape a heavy blow, becatse I was loaded down > ee fish and didn’t want to lose any overboard.” About one o'clock the breeze freshened, much to the boy's satisfaction, and the Gull made a dash for Sandwich Beach, which was in plain view. Island and entered the big bay. “Some sandwiches, a small pie and a piece of cake, seems as if it Was only yesterday that I put in at Swamscott — Nahant is a bold promontory connec ted with the repro England, but after the destr point the, tide of pleasure-seekérs went elsewhere, Swamseott. The Deerings liked Sandwich Beach because it bad. af advantages and none of the disadvantages of a su sort. ‘Phe long beach was hard and smooth. shelving. gently with a splendid surf. The picturesque cottages and villas gave it a gay ap ance. : It was three o'clock when the Gull pulled in at a Ww and George made her secure. It was but a short walk from there to the Deering and the two visitors were received by their friends with arms. ; George and Ilossie took a short walk together, and joined the afternoon bathers. After disporting a short time in the very light su ‘ dressed and reached the cottage in time to dress fer ii After the meal every one sat out on the veranda u began to grow dark. when George and Flossie a & wandered off together. : ‘This time their stroll led them toward the rocky bluff, rears Its head 150 feet above the level of the bay. “Do you know. George, it seems ages and ages first saw you on Coffin Island.” the trl ae, to the boy's arm. Ape years.” very long years.” age “Why, it’s on “They are th

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= — y haven't seemed so long to me. I was remarking to nother, while we were eating our lunch within plain sight this beach. that it appeared almost like yesterday when I Was last sailing in these waters aboard the Gull. Then T was merely an every-day boatman with no prospects. Now I hope + am on the highroad to fame and fortune.” _ “Why, are you really looking forward to becoming famous le day?” she asked, with a smile. y not? I think it’s a great thing to make a name for self as well as mere wealth. I should like to be some- ing above the average. For instance, if I could become ssident of these United States, it would suit me very well oO » “Why, the idea!” and the girl gave utterance to a ripling “Do you really aspire as high as that?” “Well, I believe in aiming high: then maybe you may hit _ | Something worth while. For instance, if I found it unattain- |} able to get myself elected President I shouldn’t turn up my | nose at a Goveruorship. If that was out of my reach I ouldn’t refuse to become a Senator if the position was ered to me.” And if you couldn't get that?’ she asked roguishly. “I'd take anything I could get to begin with, of course; in the end the office of a United States Senator would what I should covet.” 2 Phen you’d have to live in Washington. “For a part of the time, yes. I suppose that would suit y wotldn’t it?” “Me! Why. what would I——” You'd have to live where your husband did.” My husband!” she exclaimed in some confusion. “That's what I said. I thought it was understood between t you were going to marry me some day. Have you YPRr ~ sie blushed and looked down on the sand. you sure that you really want me to?” she asked . As ay, Flossie, how many times do you want me to answer uestion? Nearly a year ago, a few nights before you for your boarding-school, I told you that you were only girl in the wide world that I ‘cared for. I meant ras I mean it now, and as I shall mean ita year or years for that matter, from now. Of course if you ‘out you've a right to do it. If you've seen some or better than me——” haven't, George,” Flossie protested, with burning 1, Pm elad to hear it, for I shouldn't care a rap whether ad or not if you went back on me.” ‘rll never——” ’ yes off with a suppressed scream as two men sud- amped out into the path before them from behind the of the rocks at the extreme end of the point which ly unpleasant. io you want?” demanded Stanton, drawing back Flossie behind him. Re -you’ve got about you, Bi les ons, a replied the foremost 7 ended strangely familiar to his ears, and he gets gloom at the speaker. ap?” he asked coolly. 1 it what you please. Hand over your money na . or we'll make things mighty unpleasant dady.” niet before, and that your name is Jim Red- ‘not at all dismayed by the threatening n. i hel jon oath. ‘ 8 snarled, taking a step forward and by the ari. — is arm off. erence Who I am, but it will make a whole > you and your associrte if you don't sheer ne.” , and let's see who this chap is,” be said Mipanion struck a match, and as the light p recognized not only Jim Redmond, but his 7 j poked to be in pretty hard luck. oa ' : if - THE LADDER OF FAME. x 15 The flash of the match also served to bring George's face, and Flossie’s, too, into bold relief for an instant. “George Stanton and Flossie Deering, by all that’s lucky!” exclaimed Jim Redmond, with something like a note of tri- umph in his tones. f CHAPTER XIV. THE TRIGMPH OF THE REDMONDS. As the match flared out and the gloom of night enveloped the four figures once more, Jim Redmond grasped his brother by the arm ani held a whispered consultation. Stanton, paying no further attention to the intruders, drew Flossie’s arm within his own and started to leave the spot. But they had barely taken a dozen steps before Jim and Phil Redmond followed with rapid strides and placed them- selves in a position to cut off their retreat. Stanton, seeing that they meant mischief, prepared to de- fend himself and Flossie. . He was a strong and stalwart youth, and was confident he would be able to beat off both of these men in a hand-to- hand conflict unless they were armed, and he did not think they were. “Stand back!” he exclaimed in a determined tone. “If you lay a&hand-on either of us it will be at your own risk.” “You talk big, young fellow,” laughed Jim Redmond taunt- ingly; “but you'll find that wind don’t go down with us. We beth owe you a grudge of long standing. You did me out of a fortune and my brother out of a job and a wad of money. Now the time has come when you've got to square up, see?” “You ought to have been grateful that Mr. Deering did net prosecute you for rebbing his brother of that red pocket- beck. Im any case it would have done you little good. The piece of parchmeyt which you thought so valuable amounted to nothing, for thére was no writing on it.” The man laughed mockingly. ; “It was of value to me. Perhaps Deering has saved it as, ja curiosity; if so, he can hand it over to me with a few bones that we need in exchange for his niece.” “What do you mean, you rascal?” cried Stanton angrily. “T mean that now we see a chance of getting a hold on the old man we're goin’ to make the most of it. This young lady will go with us and stay with us till her uncle antes up the parchment and a thousand plunks. Then we'll let her go. As for you we'll let you off this time so you can carry our message to him, and you can thank your lucky stars that I've changed my mind abeut layin’ you out.” On hearing these words Flossie clung in terror to her com- panion's arm. “Don't be frightened, Flossie,” whispered George reassur- ingly. “These rascals shan’t molest you as long as I ¢an pre- vent it. and I fancy they'll bave their hands full trying ‘to polish me off.” The gaunt and haggard appearance of the Redmond broth- ers had given the boy the idea that they were not as formid- able as they looked, aud conséquently he believed he was a. match for them both. Ek Put Stanton underestimated his opponents, as he presently discovered to his chagrin. : Their desperate situation, and the prize they saw within, easy reach, nerved the two rascals to Complete their purpose at all hazards. . ; While Phil Redmond advanced to secure Flossie, Jim Red- mond elosed with Stanton. i The girl uttered a thrilling scream, while George made a plucky fight in her defense. - Phil dragged Flossie away from her young protector, clapped one hand ever her mouth to stifle her cries, and then bore her off out of sight around the bluff. : Stanton, furious at the success that seemed to be attending the scoundrels, fought with all the energy he was capable! of, beating Jim Redmond almost to a_ standstill and -pre- venting him from waking his escape. : But at the moment victory, was in his grasp his foot slipped | on the damp rocks and he went down head foremost, striking - his forehead a blow ggainst a sharp rock that partially stunned him. Sip Aran 3 hoe Re Jim Redmond, his face puffed and bleeding from the pam- meling he bad Rader Sag gan advantage of the oppor tuaity thus afforded him. aud when Stanton pulled himself’ together a minute later his antagonist had disappeared. A . a we 4 a) wa i . Met re

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THE | LADDER OF FAME. SSS ee ‘j vyacdDhe rascals!™ he muttered, as he got upon his feet and ! wiped the tric kling blood away from his forehead. “They've carried Flossie off. But they shan't escape me as long as I have breath in my body. Tl follow them and wrest her from their grasp at every hazard.” _ He knew that Jim Redmond must have followed his brother around the blaff. That was their only safe path to escape observation for the lime being at any rate, But by following close upon their heels he did not see how ‘they could ultimately make good their escape, burdened, with their fair prisoner. ks fact that they might have a boat at hand quite escaped mn The boy hastened to follow what he judged to be the track taken by the villains. He jumped from rock to rock and sped across little patches of sand until at last, after rounding the bluff, he came in sight of them again. They were standing close to the water's edge. and one of them was hending down and seemed to be pulling on some- thing. As Stanton dashed forward, with blood in his eye, he saw that Jim Redmond had the painter of a rowboat in his hands, |, while his brother was in the act of stepping into the boat with f Flossie in his arms, pA The girl had ceased ‘to struggle, und from the position of her head. which lay inertly upon Phil’s shoulder, it Was ap- _ parent she had fainted. With a shout of anger, George rushed at them. Jim turned his head at the moment, and seeing how near Stanton was, he give the boat a shove off, waded out a few feet and sprang into her, ‘Then seizing the oars, he began to row toward a small sloop that lay a short distance out upon the throbbing waters. “Come back, you scoundrels!” shouted the boy furiously. dashing into the surf as though he had a mind to swim after z -the. boat. A mocking laugh from Jim Redmond, that was echoed by his brother, was the only response he received, It would have been a vain and foolhardy attempt for George ‘to have made any further effort to overhaul the boat, for she Was now a dozen yards from the shore, in deep water, and ; * the sturdy arms of Jim Redmond was rapidly widening the of distance. : i He could only stand there, almost up to his waist in the boiling surf. and watch the abductors of Plossie glide up alongside the sloop, lift the unconscious girl on board and | fellow themselves. Jim: attached the rowboat’s painter to a cleat on the stern-| rail. while his brother carried Plossie into the small cabin, HGR - Swhere he left her and returned to belp Jim~ haul up the AE sails. = ="Phey then both went forward and lifted the anchor by *2ameins of a stall drum windlass, when the sloop’s head fell > off, and she drifted away under the influence of the tide = quad light wind. . As soon as the anchor was on deck, Jim went to the tiller aud put the craft on a course that would carry them up along the northern shore of Massachusetts Bay. “Stuuton groaned as he watched the sloop gather headway, and finally disappear in the gloom ef the night. He saw that the rascals had the best,of him, and that he , Was powerless to interfere further with whatever iniquitous ; * project they had in mind. } ... “My heavens!” he ejaculated, almost despairingly. “To think those two ruffians have Flossie in their power. “How Wet phe will suffer when she comes to her senses! Can I do nothing te rescue her? Nothing to defeat the villains?” Pen oN (ddenly. like an inspiration from heaven, an idea flashed ; TOSS Stanton’s MB va gn “3 His boat was Deg cat wharf a mile below. se was an unusually fast craft for her size. He would follow the Redmonds in her, Fifteen minutes later he jumped on board the Gull, cast Bass the sails, hoisted them and cast off from the wharf. = 1 hen he weaiaed the sailboat for’ ‘Nahant Point. ee S| “CHAPTER XV. 5 IMR ae. Ges ; He followed the same tack he had observed them takes at. approximately the same distance from the shore. The wind was so light that George fumed with impatience, sinte the Gull made very little headway as the moments dragged slowly by. “The folks must be wondering what has become of Flossie and I,” thought the boy as he struck a match, looked at his watch and noted that it was nearly eleven. “I'm sorry now that I didn’t delay long enough to send a note to Mr. Deering, — briefly explaining matters. Well, it cannot be remedied now. — They won’t see anything of me again until I fetch Flossie — back with me.” After midnight the breeze freshened a bit, and the Gull © made better progress. The sloop ahead, however, had the same advantage, the only question being which boat covered the most water. All night long Stanton sat with the tiller in his hand, every once and a while straining his eyes into the night in the hope that he might catch sight of the chase. The gray light of morning at last began to lighten up the sky, and George now became more alert than ever.. A thin mist lay upon the surface of the water, which pre- vented the boy from making anything out at a greater distance than fifty or sixty yards. At a little before five the sun peeped above the distant | watery horizon, and the mist began to melt and scatter under — its warm rays. ‘ The first thing Stanton saw was the shore about half a mile iH away on the left; then as the seascape broddened he made out the sloop he was in quest of. She was a mile and a half ahead, out. The possibility that he might be mistaken in his identity “4 was small, as she showed a new white patch on her mainsail, — a mark he had particularly noticed as she got under way off the point, , George secured the tiller and went down into the cabin to — get a small telescope which was strapped to the forvere: end Z of the cuddy. Returning with this to the cockpit, he leveled it at the: dis- tant sloop, and then all doubt was set at rest, for he easily recognized Jim Redmond seated at the tiller. : Phil Redmond was not in sight, so the boy guessed he was taking a snooze below. There were quite a number of four-and-afters to be seen in — different directions, most of them making directly for Boston. — Jim did not seem to pay any attention to the Gull, which © was trailing him, as he had not the slightest suspicion that — Stanton was a foot nearer than Nahant at that moment. — Thus an hour passed by and the two boats, under a bétter breeze, were drawing closer to each other, which showed hat | the Gul) was easily the faster craft. pepiae The wind continued to freshen since sunrise, and at seven — o'clock the sailboat had cut down the space between her- and — the sloop by half a mile. wae The Gull was now going along at a lively pace ay sparkling water. ‘ 4 Though a little spray broke over the half-deck at times, not a drop came as far as the cockpit. The wind was abaft the beam and the sail hardly needed attention. There was a_ short boathook, which made a fobs weapon in the hands of a resolute person, lashed aeaar seat which circled the cockpit, and George cut it loose’ to have it at hand for instant use. His intention was to run alongside the sloop, board her trust to luck to do up the Redmonds, It was a risky proceeding in light of the odds against but he was in that mood that nothing, short of a D! loaded weapons pointed directly at his head would him to waver in the part he had marked out for hit At eight o'clock the’ sloop was less than three-q a mile from the Gull, and George noticed that ee cast frequent glances at her, though he appeared have no suspicions as to her true character, By peeping under the boom once in a while Geor to note what was going on on board of the eck a » Presently he saw that Phil had come on deck Fei ing the sailboat intently. The sloop was still half a mile in ad tabla : taking another look at her, saw Flossie ‘step up oe and look oe ; i and half a mile further Ui ;

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THE LADDER OF FAME. NO Uae. ITS SE SS LS | t | 80 that she began to stand out to sea. That move compelled Stanton to disclose hig true colors. He moved the tiller over and pointed the Gull’s bow directly for the chase. : Of course, the Redmonds discovered at once that they were _ being followed, and they showed considerable excitement. Flossie, too, took a sudden interest in the proceedings, and _ began to wave her handkerchief at the Gull. -. The new point of sailing proved to be advantageous to the Sailboat, and she closed in very fast now on the sloop. Tt wasn't long before the two boats were within speaking distance of each other. ___ The Redmonds now were able to make out Stanton at the _ tiller of the pursuing craft, and Flossie made that pleasing _ discovery at the same moment. Phil grabbed Flossie and tried to force her below, but the ' girl was equally determined that she would not go down into ‘the cabin again, for she put up a strenuous fight against it, Struggling with all her might against the man. __ Phil could easily have overcome her if he had wanted to be Tough enough, but he was evidently afraid to hurt her, for ' fear of future consequences, so he soon found he had his hands _ full in trying to get her down the short companion-way. _ In some way, when the Gull was within fifty feet of the _ Sloop, Flossie managed to escape from Phil’s grasp, and then _ she jumped on to the roof of the cabin and ran forward. : Phil looked after her a moment, and then, evidently making up his mind that she must be recovered and secured below, hether she would or not, he leaped on the cabin, too, and started for her. _ Flossie uttered a scream when she saw him coming, and find- ing herself cornered deliberately sprang overboard as he Te hed out to grab her. “My gracious!” cried Stanton, in dismay, heading the sail- at directly for the spot where she had gone down, and grab- bing up the boathook. ‘The sloop, with the aghast Redmonds, flew on her way with-, ‘Sut making any attempt to come about to her rescue. _ Flessie came to the surface a few yards ahead of the Gull, - and with wonderful presence of mind she began to swim for the sailboat. _ Stanton threw his boat up into the wind, and as she drifted yard the girl he held out the boathook toward her. I When it came within her reach she grasped it, and George | ew her close to the side of the boat; so that he could reach | er with his hands. : ' “Let go of the hook now, Flossie; I’ve got you safe,” he aid, catching her by one of her arms. - She obeyed obediently. > ‘Then with both his arms he drew her, dri “of the waters, into the cockpit. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed out: “Dear, dear George!” and fainted dead away. € sloop containing the Redmond brothers continued on Way out to sea. { ; i @ a pping like a nymph CHAPTER XVI. _ Two HEARTS WITH RUT A SINGLE THOUGH?. ime - 4 - With the Gull to look after, and an unconscious girl on his nds, Stanton was in a quandary. _ He allowed the sailboat to drift and attended to Flossie. By chafing her hands and temples and dashing a tin cupful water into her face, he succeeded at last in bringing her to nses.. ~ , oo Flossie,” he -said at last, “you -will get cold if you 'y out here in your wet clothes. Go down into the cuddy, ove all of your garments and cover yourself up in the of one of the bunks. You'll have to stay there till we to Sandwich Beach, which won't take long in this ” ne b ‘ ‘ es, George; but do tell me first how you managed to over- t vessel.” x that she was determined to know all about her res- e she went into the cuddy, Stanton gratified her cu- few words as possible, — > ue Flossie then went into the cuddy, he shut the slide over until she had had a reasonable time to take off her dripping garments and turn into the bunk, and then he opened it up again to give her plenty of air. ; : George could dimly make out her head from ‘where he sat at the tiller, and they managed to carry on a conversation, though both naturally had to speak in a louder key than ordi- nary. It took about two hours for the Gull to run up the coazt to Sandwich Beach. There was quite a crowd on the wharf when the boy ran the sailboat in and made fast to the inner side of the pier. George wrote a brief note to Mr. Deering and sent it over to the cottage by a messenger. In a short time Mr. and Mrs. Deering and a servant, with a bundle of clothes for Flossie, came down to the wharf and went on board the Gull. While Mrs. Deering was in the cuddy helping her daughter to dress, George told Mr. Deering the story of their thrilling little adventure. “The miserable scoundrels!” commented the Boston mer- chant, with considerable feeling. “To abduct our Flossie in that high-handed manner. You're a plucky boy, George, and you have placed us under a debt of gratitude we shall not for- get. We were up all night in a state of anxious suspense over your and Flossie’s absence. When the Gull wcs reported miss- ing from the wharf we raturally thought you had taken Flos- sie out for a sail, and we felt somewhat relieved until mid- night came and you did not return. As the wind was very light we believed you had sot almost becalmed off shore; but still we were very anxious as the hours went by and there was no sign of you. After sunrise this morning we became thorougkly alarmed when the two men we had sent on the bluff to look out for the sailboat returned with the word that she was nowhere in sight. We could not understand it, and I telegraphed up and down the coast—over to Swamscot, down to Marblehead and other nearby places in my eagerness to ob- tain some trace of the Gull. Well, thank heaven, everything is all right now; but we have had a great shock.” “By the way, Mr. Deering, what have you done with’ that piece of parchment that was in your brother’s red pocket- boox?” , “It. is still in the wallet in my house safe. Why do you “Because Jim Redmond was going to include that in the rice of Flossie’s ransom.” “Did he say so?” “He did.” ee “Of what use would it be to him? I suppose he thinks, as we did at first, that it contains some secret writing.” “I told him that the parchment was no use, that it was en- tirely blank: but he laughed, as if that fact did not disturb him. Do you think there is some secret about it that he is acquainted with, but which you and I could not see through at the time we examined it?” : é Phy “It is possible. I will re-examine it carefully when I get a chance, and see if I cam make anything out of it.” “It would be a good idea, sir, for I think there must be something in the parchment, after all.” : Flossie and her mother now came out of the cuddy, and the entire. party started for the cottage. Next day Mr. Deering went to Boston in the little excursion steamer and swore out a warrant against the Redmond brothers for abduction. : It was three weeks before they were caught tective, who spent that time searching for them. They were jailed and subsequently brought to trial, when pie cake§ had to come on from New York: to appear against t em. , >> 3 « The jury found them guilty of the crimé sent'to the State prison for a term of years. ESS: In the meantime George spent a very enjoyable two weeks at Nahant with the Deerings and took Flossie out many times on the Gull. gs ake ees ba The Sunday night before he left he interyiewed Mr. Deer- ing, with Flossie’s permission, on the sub: nearest both their hearts, and obtained the merchant’s consent to their en- gagement. So he and Flossie were now definitely engaged, with the un- derstanding that their marriage was to come off after three He bought his sweetheart a lovely diamond ring in New | York when he got there and sent it on to her, © Bg E p by the de- and they were

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THE LADDER OF FAME. CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. When Stanton returned from his vacation he was enthusi- astically welcomed back to New York by all his friends in Harlem. The primary election was coming on and Partridge was con- fronted with an opponent, a well-known young lawyer, for the leadership of the assembly district; consequently he looked to all his captains to do their best to have him re-elected for the ensuing year. He sent for Stanton as soon as he heard he was backvin town and had a heart-to-heart talk with him on the subject. The boy promised to see that he got the majority of the votes to be cast by the party voters in his election district. He kept his word, induced the bulk of those entitled to vote _. at the primary to come forward and put in a ballét for Part- ridge, and thus carried hig district for the regular leader by an overwhelming majority. fs Partridge, who was re-elected, complimented his new cap- tain-on his showing and thanked him for the earnestness and zeal he had displayed in his interest. At the November regular election George worked hard to roe the Murray yoters in line and to add a few more to the ota ; His success was greater than was looked for, and his ser- vices in the party’s interests were duly lauded at a meeting of the General Committee, on which occasion he was called on the platform and presented with a diamond breastpin as a prize reward in consideration of the fact that his district had made the best showing out of the fifty -three in the assembly district. At the social club election just before Christmas Stanton Was elected secretary by a unanimous yote, and assumed the office when he returned to New York after spending the holi- days at his home in Shoreham. Late in the month of May William Miller, the manager of the New York office, was taken seriously ill. As soon as the news was communicated to Mr. Deering he notified Stanton to assume charge of the branch until Mr. Miller was fit to resume his duties. — --This threw a lot of extra work and responsibility on George’s shoulders, but he was equal to the emergency, and business na went on with the regularity of clockwork. 'Mr. Miller returned to the office in season to relieve Stanton for his regular August vacation, but as he was not the same man he had been before his illness, Stanton, it was understood, > would hereafter help him out. 43 Partridge, the district leader, had another contest that year at the primaries, and barely held his own; though Stanton at worked like a beaver in his interest. rs “The opposition candidate did everything he could to win the boy over on his side, but George was true blue and would not desert Partridge. The leader was grateful to him for his exertions in his be- half and promised to stand by Stanton if the occasion ever presented itself. That November ‘George cast his first vote, and was quite _ proud that at last he had attained all the privileges of a fuil- "fledged American citizen. B _At the regular annual meeting of his club he was elected its pr president by a good majority. . e’ll be putting you up for the Assembly hext,” said one of the members. jokingly to him. ageny laughed and wondered if he ever would see his on a regular ballot. 3 e graduated that year, and Stanton was present, with ‘the jer ay at the commencement exercises. . he sent his promised wife flowers enough to bury her under. 0 ‘spent the entire month of August with her at Sandwich —_ time, and their wedding was set for the middle of Mr. Miller liaving decided to retire permanently from the _ Mahagement of the New York office, Stanton succeeded him on the first of Much to George's” surprise a Movement was developed that year in the district to have him nominated for the Assembly, fut he declined to run on the ground that the growing busi- ae ranch office of the hosiery business demanded his was married to Fioewls, and they Speer a -Plorida. # ment which had remained ever since Rodney Deering’s death in its compartment in the red pocketbook. When Flossie became Mrs. George Stanton he handed the wallet over to her as a remembrance of her father. One night George came in and found her looking at the blank piece of vellum, which had also slipped his mind. He took it out-of her hand, and then told her how Jim Red- — ) mond had made such a strenuous effort to get possession of it at the time of her father’s death. “What could he want age an old time-stained piece of blank paper like that?” asked her husband in surprise. “That’s what I would like to find out. There seems to be some mystery connected with it that I cam*t understand. Your father placed\ great store by it, I know. In fact, he claimed on his death-bed that it represented your fortune.” “My fortune!” she exclaimed, incredulously. oat “Yes, dear.” “Why, there isn’t a single mark on it—it’s nothing but a blank piece of vellum,” she said, tapping it with one of her pretty fingers, “T believe it once contained some writing, and that the ink has faded out for good,” replied George. “Once your uncle suggested taking it to a chemist’s and seeing if he could re: vive the ink; but he never carried this idea out.” “Let us experiment ourselves,” suggested the young wife, “Tf sympathetic ink was used, heat may bring it out.” “That’s right,” answered Stanton, very much interested. “We might try a hot iron as a starter.” ¢ They went into the kitchen and a flat-iron was put on one of the burners of the gas-stove. After it had become hot enough a thin piece of cloth was placed over the bit of parchment and the iron was applied. ~ They waited the result with some little excitement. ; In a few minutes the cloth was removed and the vellum was found’ to be covered with writing. George wrote it all down on a sheet of white paper before the vellum cooled and the writing faded away again. |. ~ It proved to be explicit directions as to the locality where J a barrel of Spanish doubloons had been buried in the sands of aS a certain cove on the Isle of Pines, about fifty miles off the southern cost of Cuba, in the year 1665. 5: “This is evidently what your father meant by your foram: ye Flossie,” said George. “He obtained this bit of parchment z from some person who was unable to make use of its se¢ret ~ himself. Strange that your father made no effort to hunt for — % 2 the treasure, either. It is clear that Jim Redmond in some — way ‘found out about this thing and laid his plans to get hold of the doubloons after your father died. To that end he stole the pocketbook before the expected arrival of your uncle’ should thwart his purpose. Only that I fortunately happened © to look through the lighthouse window that night he would — have been able to have carried out his design. Well, dear, some day we'll go on a liitle trip to the Isle ot Pines and a whether we can unearth those Spanish coing.” It was two years before the opportunity came for them to carry out this play. ‘ Me oo J Stanton had just been elected to the New York Legislature, a and he concluded to take a winter vacation. : = So he and Flossie made up a little party for a Caribbean ed trip, a rich friend having loaned Stanton his schooner-yacht. z The barrel of coin was discovered in the spot described in the parchment, and Flossie suddenly found herself worth $20,000—quite a little fortune in its way. Once in politics, Stanton became more popular than ever, — His name was now frequently mentioned in the newapanere, ; and always to his advantage. Two years later he was elected a State Senator by d very large majority from the Harlein Senatorial district in which he lived. He has since been re- ~sloctelt three times, and may be said to carry his district in his yest pocket, so solid is he ee " quarter. Still his ambition Is but partially satisfied, for he he some day to Pepremeat New York State in the Upper Ho der of Fame.” Next week's issue will contain “ON THE SQUARE; THE SUCCESS OF AN HONEST BOY.” :

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FAME e condition of the United States Treasury at the ose of business July 10 was as follows: Net balance “general fund, $73,963,616; total receipts, $1,899,574; payments, $2,614,049. The deficit this fiscal year is £241,156, against a surplus of $13,872,406 last year, exclusive of Panama Canal and public debt transactions. “The longest flagstaff produced in British Columbia is on to be sent to Great Britain as a gift from the Provin- Government, and it is planned to place it in the Kew anical Gardens a few miles out from London. The from which it was made was a perfect specimen of fir , and the staff, which is 216 feet in length, is without * ‘ests with thermometers have been made to show how hygienic men’s top hats are. ‘A thermometer kept in a top hat showed an inside temperature of 90 degrees when outer air stood at 77 degrees and of 108 degrees when ‘temperature rose at noon to 90 degrees. In the “ there was a temperature outside of 68 degrees and the protection of either the patient or the surgeon camining physician, a simple protective mask or shield per has been invented by a German surgeon. It is ed by a gummed edge over the nose. The advantage this form of mask over the usual oilcloth shield, is is used but once and then thrown away. Its cheap- and the fact that several may be carried by the physi- without trouble adds to its utility. s and the Man notes the fact that in 1898 Spain the United States with weapons made in large in Germany and loaded with German made ammuni- . This Government at that time, well aware ofthe sions of international law on the subject, made no ~ Neither did it take into account the fact that distinguished Austrians, obtaining commissions in nish army, fought against the United States in that Se otal mumber of passengers who sailed for Europe s country week ending July 10 was 278 first, 641 “3,658 third class. In 1914 in the week ending 7 first, 7,089 décond, and 16,278 third class sailed. ~The difference caused by the war to antic traffic in that period was 4,811 first, 6,448 nd 12,620 third class passengers, a decrease in 727,680 to the steamship lines. vA : trying an experiment om a large scale with zebu : have. been introduced for the purpose of with the native and hybrid cattle of the “ey aepenlagad attention from anima! a ie ‘ }- . ~ ~ sani r ets of the world, in edb ie a eRe AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. CURRENT NEWS eluding Texas and other southern section of the United States, largely because of its relative immunity to the disastrous Téxas fever. “The zebu is a native of the Indo- Malayan region, and experts declare that it was domesti- cated thousands of years before the Christian era. According to L’Echo de Chine, the following is the text of a young Chingman’s summary of the events which led up to the war: Now there is a great battle in Europe: This began because the Prince of Austria went to Serbia with his wife. One man of Serbia killed him. Austria was angry. and so write Serbia, Germany write a letter to Austria, “I will help you.” Russia write a letter to Serbia, “I will help you.” France did not want to fight, but they got ready their soldiers. Germany write a‘ letter to France, “You don't get ready, or I will fight you in nine hours.’ Germany to fight them, pass Belgium. Bel- gium say, “I am. a country; I am not a road.” And Belgium write a letter to England about Germany, to help them. So England help Belgium. “The Nile, besides giving fertility to Egypt, tempering its climate, and promoting ils commerce, is an inexhaust-- ible reservoir from which the inhabitants draw no incon- siderable portion of their food. Fishing boats are seen continually, and although the fish caught around Cairo are very soft and flabby, with a muddy flavor, the natives show no disgust in eating them, even after they have reached a stage which Europeans would consider spoiled. In a “feluka,” as the native boats are called, a fisherman - prepares his hooks for to-morrow’s catch, bread or old meat being used for bait. The hooks having been baited, they are attached to lines and in the evening are put out in the stream with gourds for buoys. Some of the hooks are not baited, and many fish are caught on these when the lines are drawn in the next morning. A man living near Litchfield, Minn., has a horse that takes his children to school in Litchfield every morning, says the “Springfield Republican.” When the “kiddies” get out of the buggy they tie the lines to the dashboard and the horse goes home alone. He always makes the re- turn trip without any trouble. When he arrives home he always stops at the same place and waits there until someone leads him to the barn, A number of horses wera employed to haul material from a large building excavation to a point some squares away. It was only necessary to station men at the loading and unloading points, the in- telligent animals passing betwéen the two places without the direction of drivers, thus effecting a considerable- economy in wages. Another horse, the property of a Chi- cago man, which was recently stolen, after the lapse of a few days turned up at his proper home, drawing a spick- and-span wagon and proudly wearing a brand new har- ness. Inquiries by the owner of the horse for the proper owner of the-wagon and harness have evoked no response, which, upon reflection, should not cause any surprise. —

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mi ets: 7 ¢ jo boyer. miei know de. hoss. Ef he hears de banjo played like dis right out ob ¢ de woods an’ up to de music. Say, i a it _ be worth trying something like dat?” - ng “That's what it would.” growled Shellboyer. Gq tort un | FAME AND FORTUNE. eo eS JOLLY JACK ae = ee ae KNOCKING ABOUT THE WORLD | ae is | | 2 By ED. KING ¥ (A SERIAL STORY) kes . ta CHAPTER XVIII (continued) The -whistle sounded sharply and at no great distance away. Daskinyy on down the steep path, they soon came up with the negro, who stood leaning against a tree, panting like a dog. “Well. Caesar? Well ?”- cried Shellboyer. you stopping here for?” “He done gone an’ wanished somewhere “bout here, marse!” panted the negro. “Whiéhsidehe went I dunno.” “Where did you see him last? 2s" f°. “Rightsabout. here. I tought sire I had him, but just den I done gone stub mah toe and tumbled over on mah nose. -Gosh a-mighty, it hurt, dough! When I got up he were gorn! Yo’ kin see clean way down de road a mile or more, boss, and dar’s dem pressipisses below ‘here, so if he tuk, to de side ob de mountain, which he muster done, dis vere muster been de place.” ~ Jack saw a clew at first glance, but he hardly ietoge whether to call Shellboyer’s attention to it or not. ‘His sympathies were all with Mr. Lozee, but then the man ‘was unquestionably a maniac, and to leave him to wander about the mountain alone would be only to Teave him to:his death. So Jack. reasoned, and he pointed out the broken twigs on the ground on the right-hand side of the path. “You're right, boy, pak one of you, too,” ae Shell- | _ boyer. “Come on!” “Say, Marse Shellboyer, may I be “lowed to Pree one suggestion ?” asked Caesar, holding back. / Well, what is it? Out with it quick,” snapped Shell. “We are losing time.” “What are yere boy kin play it, wouldn’t s ‘prise me none ef he come 1d get ae our banjo, Jack. Tell that cracker with the tia i Ww Lose no time, boy. You will be well in this case. ‘Here, take the whistle. | and.) we'll answer. Now BT . ful strength. | sack of meal, and then started down the n niac. -- to me in my royal palace. You shall be the b march across the sea with my army of a billio went upstairs and through into the other part of the man- oe sion, got his hanjo and returned. me “What's that for?” growled the ores as ay passed 4 out, ; 5 us “That's the boss’ orders,” replied Jack. “Huh! He better hev’ taken me along. I'd-eoteh him, growled the cracker. ““That nigger Spas know nothing - i about the mountains, and the boss does, More’n likely he’s , S ¥; a $3 3 tuk to ‘Bijah’s Cave. : hae? Jack made no answer, but ran on down. the steep slope as fast as he could go. He soon reached the place where he had left Shell and Caesar, when he stopped and blew his whistle. — The answer came promptly from a sopaiieeab le ait : away. Jack plunged into the woods and’ ran on. It was rough going. ie Besides the fact that the place was a perfect t trees and bushes, it was all rocks, and one misstep’ wo have sent him rolling down the mountainside. Again he stopped to blow his whistle, but before | cout raise it to his mouth two hands were sudden thrust 0 and seized him. aN, In an instant Jack was tumbled bathe on the the woods resounded with a sag yell. Jack looked up to see Mr. Lozee bending over h “Ifa! I've got you! Tye got you!” exclaimed “The boy with the banjo! Good! You Like most Junatics, Mr. Lozee Was possesse He ‘seized Jack and slung him over his sh uld _ But-don’t think for a moment that ‘at of the sort. jo. . ‘ thing mgd t the Keys” in a his teeth ne

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r ted every instant to be dashed to pieces. ed not call for help, and so try to attract Shell- ention. He lay half resting on Mr. Lozee’s back, shoulder. dman had his right hand across his throat. stop my wind ina minute,” thought Jack, “and, j mene won't do. I must keep quiet, for if he misses what he dreaded most. e of the mountain was densely wooded the trees n to pick their way ae it all would have ya ae there, and again springing up upon lew stone to stone. “ay ‘men from ote Mr. Lazee caié/al- in safety, when all at once he stumbled, - and he and Jack went over a trifling de- fifteen ag falling heavily upon the rocks k jee for the moment, for he struck rf his. head. t Jones \ Was riot the kind that die easily. t he was on his ‘feet again, a bit dazed and pat otherwise all right. ; a wonder I wasn’t killed,” he gasped. right. though! My banjo! Hello! Here a bit, thank goodness ! What's to be. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. it over again. to stop!” He had just finished when Mr. Lozee opened his eyes. There was an entirely different look in them. He fixed them upon Jack and muttered: “This must be death! _Oh, 1 am so glad.” He continued to stare at Jack, who picked up the banjo, thinking to. quiet him with the music. “Yes; yes!” murmured the maniac. “Play, boy! Playd” Jack started right in ona lively ragtime song. Mr. Lozee listened with close attention. The puzzled look in his eyes increased. When the song was ended and Jack started on another, he held up his hand. he exelaimed. “The same! The same! Sing the same thing till I tell you “No;:no! Now this was-all very different from what had been. Before he had kept calling for different songs and in- strumental pieces. And while the millionaire was intensely excited, he was *| still very quiet, compared,to what he had been. Jack could not help. feeling that some change was work- ing in his brain, and so it was. Jack did the Stew — six times before attempting to speak. handkerchief, with which he carefully bound up the - | wound. Play As he started in on the sixtie Mr. Lozee’s eyes closed and 3s Bi bottom of the deep valley lying below csie sgiey sans eee, AF It was only for a minute, however. Suddenly he opened his eyes again when the music stopped. “Boy, have 1 been crazy?” he asked. “You have been sick, sir,” “Sick! Yes! replied Jack. How did I come here?” — ‘Tt was-hard to answer him. Jack did his best. Mr. Lozee had not wholly forgotten what had setpinsdgait He spoke of one thing and another—he .reemed to Te member as ane remembers a dream. He asked Jack his name, and then before Jack could cre it he called him Jack Jones. “He asked about the other boy with the hanjo. He played it over and over for more than half an hour, and still Mr. Lozee never raised his head. Jack thought he must be asleep, but when he stopped.” at last Mr. Lozee suddenly looked up. “Jack Jones,” he said, “listen tome. I’ve been eae where was the nurse? Then he sat up and buried his face a2. in his hands. , Jack began playing a fandango very softly. rw yo, ts ¥ ‘but. my reason is now returning. I think the blow on the — see ae head did it. What has happened lately at ‘High-Top Hall : is drifting away from me, and I am remembering nigral rT had forgotten. T have had a terrible experience, boy, and ‘| my wife-is the cause of it all. She is a wretch. A wicked, wicked woman! ‘Tell me, have you pi ees Shaltoyer atthe Hall? Waa vies z 1 certainly have, sir,’ ” repli ‘lp to clear your mind.” von iver. bY ‘

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FAME ITEMS OF INTEREST NO TENTS IN GERMAN ARMIES. Tt may or may not have been noticed by our readers that in the photographs of the theater of war, at least on the Gérman side, no tents appear. That is one of the innova- tions which modern warfare has brought in the’ German army. ‘Tentage used to form a not inconsiderable part of the impedimenta of. armies, and this elimination | - lightens not a little the task of the quartermaster’s de- partment. The German plans contemplate always an offensive, presumably to be carried out in the enemy’s country, and involve the billeting of the troops in. the homes of the inhabitants of the conquered country. GOT GLASSES AND ‘TRENCH, TOO, J. H. Morgan, lecturing at University College, London, on “Five Months with the Expeditionary Force.” said that he had heard the following story, of a subaltern who now has the Victoria Cross: — , The subaltern had a pair of, fialg aes of which he was extraordinarily proud. One day his company had been compelled to fall back on their support trenches owing to a sudden German attack. ~All at once the subaltern ut- faved an exclamation and bolted through the communica- tion trench. A sergeant went after him, and eame back to the commanding officer to report, “Sir, he has recaptured the trench.” The commanding officer eollected his. men . and again advanced to the fire trench, where he found the subaltern holding up the Germans with two revolvers. The commanding officer congratulated the subaltern, but pointed out the recklessness of his action. “Sir,” was the reply, “I wanted to get my glasses back.” —_——. USING NATURAL DYESTUFFS. - Manufactures of natural dyestuffs report a decided stiffening in the demand for their products... _ During the past fortnight inquiries have been pouring in to the domestic color makers from fabric manufacturers in all sections of the country, many of whom heretofore have _béén users of the German coal tar products. Several of ‘the natural color plants are running at full capacity in order to keep up with the demand. According to the président of one of the largest and oldest natural color concerns, manufacturers of: cotton goods anticipate no great amount Of trotible in changing their dyeing processes so as to use the natural products. As a matter of fact? this man said, the bulk of orders received by his plint tre fromthe cotton cloth producers. An improvement is in the supplies of dyewood, fustie and other dye- woods from the West. Indies and Central America, as well _ agein the amount of dyewood extract being imported. While heavy supplies have heen contracted for by the color ‘hanufacturers; hy rte of ad 3 ss scutes to he of * AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ° , barrels as if er were struck by losions ait ne, x opt ~ “ alti a in size, and has a population of about 450, says the “Lon” dom Herald.” It was uninhabited until the confinement — of Napoleon at St. Helena, when it was oceupied bY small British force. It is 2450 miles northward of St_ Helena. Vast numbers of turtles are found on the shored and it serves as a depot and watering place for ships. % Ascension is governed by a captain appointed by t British Admiralty. There is no private property in land_ no rents, no taxes and no use for money. The flocks 2 herds are public property, and the meat is issued rations. So are the vegetables grown on the farms. WI an island fisherman makes a catch he brings it te guard room, where it is issued by the sergeant maj Practically the entire population are sailors, and — work at most of the common trades. The muleteer ye Jack tar, so is the gardener, so are the shepherds, stockmen, the grooms, masons, carpenters and i Even the trapper, who gets rewards for the tails of rat isa salon. ; v4 D grown. THE DEADLY HOWITZER. Surgeon-Major Lesghintseff, who is back from ¢! battle in Galicia, says that seven-eighths of the were from shells, half of these were from big caliber and the rest from field howitzers and field guns,, ing shrapnel shells. “Bullets,” say this authority, no role. The rifle is the infantryman’ tov. tryman does not fight. When the big guns haye the fighting he occupies the trenches Which won.’ ; The effect of the Skoda 42-centimeter guns: “the Pilseners,’ is worse than the effect of th ; “Thick Berthas.” The Skoda shells weigh 2,8 Their normal trajectory is seven kilometers, i ground they penetrate twenty-feet before exp explosion oeeurs two seconds after impact. seners” are howitzers and, except in diameter, r, di semble the Krupp 42-centimeter mortars, A “Pilsener” shell kills every one within 15 kills many who are further off. The m gas breaks in the partitions and roofs of ters. Scores of men wlio escape metal and showers of earth are killed, laces 1 the pressure of the gas. Men who are onk tance away are torn he bits. ‘The gas cavities and expands, tearing the flesh Sometimes only the clothes are strip] taet the boots; of men close by not a | The clothes disappear and only small found. If the shell is very near the | 9

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-FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. | THE NINE “WONDERS | —- OR — E ROUGH RIDERS OF THE DIAMOND FIELDS By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY) CHAPTER X (continued) to Las ; tae sent fire e eg by smashing the ball to * 9 " “ ght fleld, resting himself at first. vre 5 ire, “and. 1} "gh , g i c : oo es abehes hee “MeCoy after two strikes were called on him, smashed the a ae Teddy, “I never kick,” where- ball away to right field, and sprinted like greased lightning We athoed Man on hie grand stand sprang up to first and thence to second. The ball was sent to the oy 8 F home plate to head off Crenshaw. » ; By a strange mishap it bounded away from the pitcher ' I A 5 ae ‘ ’ ; es os eee =~. cot ieait re - who attempted to catch it, and Dick got home. a To the astonishment of the thousands who were looking Every member of the Red Stockings waved : : i on, McCoy dashed to third, and the ball was sent to put wile aa Rees Seceten Fae ee him to sleep there. He slid oVer the plate on his stomach, ok his hand. . and in doing so his shoulders knocked the baseman’s feet ‘all right,” said Teddy, laughing. “It was a 3 al from under him, sending him’ rolling in the dust, whilst but I thought I could make it. Better Inck| tne pall bounded away nearly fifty feet. on Quick as a flash “Ed sprang to his feet and dashed like took up the bat, and after one strike was lightning to the home plate, across which he sprinted as 1 smashed a high ball and was caught out.|the vast crowd stood on their feet roaring out encourage- pavickly. met with the same fate, and the nine ment. He had made*‘a four-bagger in spite of the des- e field. perate efforts of the Red Stockings to head him off. in the box Tom Knatt stood perfectly still) \'The home team was dumbfounded, whilst the Rough ute, waiting for the batsman to get ready. Riders seized Ed, raised him to their shoulders, and began e yall at him with a zigzag course that so puz-/y bit of by-play that set the crowd roaring. They tossed ) he did not attempt to strike it, The second went |him about to each other as though he were a baby, after y, but the third he struck at and missed. which they laid him on the ground and rolled over on him ¢ the umpire, and the batsman threw down’) jike g jot of playful kittens on a bed of catnip. piagust. The hilarity of the crowd was almost hysterical. Even man to take it up g got to first on a bunted!the rattled Red Stockings had to laugh, though the score rd wens him to second by a hot grounder to} now stood against them four to nothing. Many of their th: backers became panic-stricken and made desperate . efforts Ge balls were called on him, smashed }to hedge thefr bets. dase it was caught out by Jack Tilman./ Jack Tilman was the next at the bat; but was promptly a splendid. ball to center field, and the | caught out, and the nine retired to the field. passed third and sprinted for home.| It was a rare thing for accidents to happen on the he home plate, caught the ball and put | grounds with such skilled players as the Red Stockings, three feet of it. but to have two take place in the space of a few brief ~ cerestas and the Red Stockings retired |seconds, giving their opponents two runs was something ~ absolutely stunning. For,the first time in their career as rested i in no run for either side. The |a nine they were ‘completely rattled. Their chagrin was ent the same way, alfhough both sides'|all the more keen on account of the taunts they heard from _ eliciting round after round of applause |some of their losing backers. lo make it still worse the youngest member of thin of ‘the sixth the ar Stockings~had |team was older than the eldest ‘sinaag the Rough. Riders. e board, while the Rough Riders had} “Say, you red-legged fellows!” yelled. aman in the » runs to their credit. crowd, “what in thunder is the matter with you. that you rst at the bat for the Rough jlet a lot of galoots come out of the woods and hoe up be 1 to ~ field where it was | the field with you?” faite ae the lands | ri Rois ste mtepibaiet Bs ae mess so Laie tain see gi: hus B ea E = a5 3S) ol ee c<J

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“You ought to be ashamed of yourself to strike a whole nine when they are down. They are doing the best they ean.” ; “It looks to me as if they were doing the worst they know how,” returned the sport. “It isnt that,” said Eddie, our best, and we are going to keep on doing it. didn’t you put up your money on us?” “Oh, shut up,” was the reply; “you make me tired!” “Don’t get tired yet,” laughed Teddy, “Wait till the last inning is played and then you'll want somebody to fan you.” “Play ball!” sung out the umpire, and Tom Knatt in the box began delivering spiral puzzlers that ee sent the nine to the field, Not a ball was touched by. the three |« who took up the willow. No! wonder the Red Stockings were demoralized, never before had they run up against such a snag. In the seventh inning three of the Rough Riders were caught out on high balls, while the Red Stockings managed to twice knock out two-baggers and make one .run, on which they received rounds after rounds of applause from the crowd. : Tn the eight inning the Rough Riders failed to make a run, whilst the Red “Shockgags agai succeeded in adding ‘one more run to their score, leaving it at the beginning ‘of the ninth and last inning 4 to 2 in favor of the Rough Riders. . * This suddenly revived the hopes of the Red Stockings and their backers, and the excitement increased to a fever heat. “Once more at the bat at the beginning of the inning, -Teddy Robinson got to first base on a ball sent to left field. -Knatt sent him to second, but was himself put to sleep at. first. Patten sent him to third, and stopped at first himeelf. - *_ Crenshaw smashed out a two-bagger . for himself and Why for ‘Billy, but ‘Teddy was put to sleep within a foot of the home plate. Patten and Crenshaw were now on second ‘and third bases, when McCoy took up the willow to bring them home. He smashed the ball to center-field, but was caught out, and Patten and Crenshaw had to return to their bases. a ots Pad ee a Be 7 CHAPTER 9 eee et baka: _WHOW, TOM, 2 BAL TWIRLER.” ‘SE tAete eu. * sary eats tee ee * said Teddy, as. “Tilman took up the bat, “bring em. esl ‘hottie and #un mp the score = a round half pees 1 do m best,” fae SY Sack, and the next moment he 4 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. “but because we are doing MADE PITY. NOLLARS—“ Now, BRING ON your ja long time in the inclosure in. the hope o at me,” heereplied, at whick there was a grea laughite YY. and: Patten sania across the ee latest “Ont,” yelled the umpire, as the fielder caught if, _ “That settles it” said Teddy, “and the score stands fo to two,” “Oh, we have another chance yet, * said the ole the Red Stockings. ‘ “So have,” good,” : *We'll see about that,” ings went to the bat for the last time. The first man was quickly pitched out, but th Gne smashed out a two- hagger, reaching second. jus cs mk of time be a (remendous Bigs. assented Teddy, “but itll do yor : you was the reply, and the Red | ae him to ‘fain within a few inches of The’ niles? plate zl “Two out,” called the umpire, as the fifth man t the willow and smashed out a two-bagger that sent a on the second base across the home plate. ‘It electrified the great crowd, for it narrowel: down to 4 to 3. The sixth man smashed out a hot grounder field, moving the man on second wp to third. A meu yelled to the seventh man at the bet home and tie the. score. Two strikes were called on the batvanang smashed the ball skyward. Jack Tilman near quietly stepped forward, gazing up at the ball - it to come down, Not one of the Rough Riders near him, knowing that Jack would collar trouble. , In the meantime the man on third base date d home plate. Men, women and children chee ed, who had staked money on the game back ings groaned wav down in their’ shoes, depen nded ori whether Jack Tilman would ce no ot. It nestled snugly in his hands, were beaten. A wild tumultuous scene ensued ines not risked anything on the game. ‘They w! and cheered a over the yee eee Auta i The vast crowd slowly dispersed Ah hoi view of the Nine Wonders. {t was hard work to get the boys off t of the inélosure to their carriages. When their hotel they found such a crowd in fr police were compelled. to make a passa , ‘Phey at once retired, to their rooms ed their dust-coverc uniforms fo. ees ased in Utica. tare n the office of the hotel Kani n, had. sige. clerk.

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FAME TIMELY Ma faster railroad has adopted the suggestion brought id by one of its engineers, that engine inspectors be ima gnifying glasses, in order that they may the sadly detect such damage and imperfections on nd wheels as flaws and cracks. In this is seen the| value of the safety-first campaign, in that the| ion came from an employee, and it is to be noted » he company suitably rewarded him by presenting th an “honor button,” and granting him a month's ; qf absence with pay. 915 fe Saalinin is to Suna the Secretary uiture in his relations avith the state agricultural : cia experiment stations, and to carry on the work nent jin connection with farmers’ co-operative products. used for food, clothing and other home, and the maintenance of agricultural - in Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico and rt Office of Experiment Stations be- ae the new service. y! es f to fishermen is a novel contrivance re- | for using a single live minnow for an en- shing for maskinonge or bass. A strong, clear < equipped with metallic rings, to which are . clusters of hooks, and a loop wire. A live min- ine is attached to the wire loop. attracts the large fish. Fresh water is con- ed into the tube, and the minnow jis not lated nor burt in any way, no matter how is cast. The glass tube, filled with water, moment it is submerged, . 12, of 98 Heyward place, Passaic, Tead er” with a number of his friends i fernoon. He wax the leader, About dusk to some tallest telegraph pole in this section “Made of two poles spliced together, it is One of the boys dared Stephen to climb e went. He reached the first” cToss-arm, f comrades shelow, touched a live wire, 2 800. volts of electricity were flowing. His moment and then plunged to the ground. sure Stephen was killed by the electricity hone was broken by the fall. They ran for rot Ssh a The doctors found a burned. patch on AND Ce eee | within the tube, which is filled with water, presets Upon cast-| mow into the water, the tube magnifies the | arg a smoker you will have used about a fatten of te- possible: villages WEEKLY. 25 TOPICS _ The South African war lasted for two years and eight months, and cost in all $1,250,000,000. The forces of Great Britain numbered 448,000 and were made up. of 337,000 from these countries, 49,000 from the colonies, 52.000 raised in South Africa, and 10,000 of a garrison. This number seems quite smal] when compared with the army which Britain has in the field at the present time. The number of officers and men reported killed amounted to 7,782, while 23,342 were reported wounded; and disease and accidents were responsible for 13,773 deaths. These accidents were of almost every conceivable kind, and included men killed by the bursting of guns, derailing of trains, kicks from horses; while it was also asserted that several had been devoured by lions. The majority of those who died from disease were victims of: enteric fever and dysentery. In all, the number of deaths. was under 22,000. ; work, investigations relating to agricultural) © — ers” institutes, the relative utility and economy | If you are of average weight, height, and appetite and live to be seventy-five you will have eaten fifty-four tons of solid food and fifty-three tons of liquid. That is about 1,300 times your own weight. If you were to stack the bread you will -have consumed in this number of vears the pile would equal a fair-sized building. Tlie amount of butter you will have used on this bread would come to a ton and a quarter. If you are a lover of bacon and were to stretch that which you have eaten out in sin- gle slices four miles would be the length. Five tons’ of fish and 12,000 eggs would stand to your credit, while the normal cheese eater would easily have consumed 400 The vegetables you will have eaten would fill a train three miles Jong. You will have consumed some 10,000 pounds of sugar and 1,500 pounds of salt. If you bacco-in_ pipes ‘and will have smoked 1,000,000 cigarettes. ; * The use of aeroplanes for bringing diamonds from the mines to the coast is one of the features in the big develop- ments in aviation now being planned for German South- west Africa. This country is a difficult and dangerous one to traverse by land, not only on account of the jungles and. other natural obstacles, but because of the robber hands with which it is infested. It is now necessary to send troops to guard each~shipment of diamonds, and the aeroplanes. which will-carry mail as well as diamonds, will be a saving both in time and money. ‘In addition to this service the German Government is arranging ‘to establish an aeroplane service for scout work ‘and. other military duty in the interior, and with this in view aero- planes are being shipped to Afriea and soldiers are being trained in the art of flying. An important part of the airmen’s. work will be the carrying of. doctors about the colony, and, with this means of transportation it will -be or to reach, within - a few em, Shae,

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6. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. eats =. oe tete Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW “YORK, UGU st 6, 1915. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Pectage Free HOW TO SEND MONEY--At our risk send P. 0. Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. We accept Postuge Stamps the same as cash, When sendiny silver Wrap the Cofn in a separate piece of paper to avoid entting the envelope. Write your name and address plainly. Address letters to beater E. Wourr, President } Rov L. McCaroutt, Vice Preatdent GOOD CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES C. E. Jones, a farmer, of Petersburg, Ind., noticed for some time that something was cutting off young corn near the ground. Recently he discovered crawfish pinching it with their claws and taking the stalks to their holes for food, he says. ; Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 23d St., N. Y. N. Hasrrves Woirv, Treasurer Cisarrs EK; Wrismpen, Sec A. syndicate of Norwegians has accepted a commission from the German meat trade to furnish 10,000 live rein- deer, which are to be deliyered alive in Berlin during the summer and fall, for slaughtering. An experimental shipment. has already been made, and proved entirely satis- factory to the Berlin. butchers. “Phe Russian Government has purchased the ice-hreaking steamer Bruce from the Reid Newfoundland Company, St. Johns, N. F. It is understood the Bruce, with her sister ship, the Lintrose, bought by Russia last winter, will be used in the White Sea to keep open later than usual the channel to the port of Archangel. The department of defense has awarded a contract for the saving of the German cruiser Emden which was sunk off Cocos Island, in the Indian Ocean, by the Australian cruiser Sydney. The contractors say the raider can be easily floated. and will be in Sydney, N. S. W., by Christ- mas.. The Emden will be exhibited. Recruiting in Vic- toria has been very successful, and New South Wales is about to begin a campaign for men. When grass roots and mother earth come in contact with bare feet there is a sort of soothing electrical current transmitted through the body that rebuilds and invigorates the entire. system, is the theory and practice of J. M. Halger, of Carlfon, Okla. Hight months in each year he spurns the pressure of leather on his feet, and with): trousers rolled up nearly knee high, attends to his farm. He has been in Kansas City with no shoe or boot aceom- pafiiment and did not feel half as strange as people who Weked at him. Charged with the murder, in 1868, of a Wealthy cattle man and his son, and facing the allegation t that he was a ber of a notorious See ae wi operated in this section during the period just subsequent to civil war, Bates Huntsman, seventy, member of a fami prominent in this section, was arrested in Redford, low Two other warrants were issued. The issuance of the wa rants fellowed an attempt by Samuel Anderson, of Luca lowa, to file a civil suit against the men named in t warrants, forcing them to give him a fourth share $90,000, said to have been found twelve years ago in chest buried on a farm near Siam, Iowa. A gang of co terfeiters, in the fall of 1868, it was said, attacked am killed a wealthy cattleman and his son, took the $90,00 and. buried it on Anderson’s farm. According to res dents, Jesse James and his ‘hand made a foray into Loy in an attempt to find the treasure, but failed. GRINS AND CHUCKLES “Bridget, what did you say to Miss Smith when s called? “I told her you were out this toime for sur ma’am.” . “T wish,” she sighed, “that I could see myself as othe see me.” “Gracious,” replied her fond friend, “why are you satisfied to let well enough alone?” Nell—Maude has suddenly exercise, Yes, discovered that she so she goes out for a walk every day. I heard that she had a lot of new clothes. n > Bb Sunday-school Teacher—Now, Johnny, why ‘did children of Israel sigh for the flesh pots of Egvp Johnny—Maybe Moses gave them breakfast food. <8 Husband (in an aside to his wife)—If you can’t of some more anecdotes of our children’s smartness le go home right away, for they're getting ready to tell things about their own. * Bae Jenny—Here comes Jack, auntie. I wish you~ come down and stay in the room. Auntie—Why? Jen I'm afraid he’s going to propose and I can’t trust 1 m1 he looks so poor and handsome. : Mrs. Green—Now, tell me truly, do you believe it any benefit to punish children? Mrs. Berch—Ce | You cannot imagine how much better I feel after given Tom and Mabel a good trouncing. Las Willie—Say, pa, didn’t you tell me the other « it was wrong to strike any one smaller than Pa—yYes, Willie, that’s what I said. Willie—W aiidacity to book into this man’s a house at rob him? Prisoner (piteously)—But, your v time T was before you you tvanted to know haye the audacity to rob a man in broad day do you expect me to get in my work? RAT ae . r.! raat? he

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FAME THE FRAGMENT OF A BOND. By Horace Appleton seen the man often before, but couldn't call him __ knew me better, which, on the whole, isn’t to be ‘rec at. ; . Mr. Bright!” said he, grabbing me by the arm, ya u heard the horrible news?” J was just on my our lodgings. I -want to retain vot in this mat- T want the whole thing thoroughly sifted to the tom, even if I have to pay every cent of the ex- rou forget. sir,” said T, “that you haven’t yet told this horrible news is—I don’t even know your urse—of course,” said he, “that’s: very true; my Creigg—John Creigg. I’m a broker and house yes; I’ve heard of you,” said T, and, indeed, so most everybody in our town, for Mr. Creigg stood igh” as a man, of strict integrity and ample means. Tit loubtedly,” said he, sand you've also heard of ‘+k of Grand avenue.’ 27, said i ed Creigg, “last night he was foully, in fact yr, murdered.” pe paid E very st astonished. “eh a ; aa it is true,” said my informant; ebut it a * discovered about a half-hour ago, by his valet, direct tome.” said I, “then the police know nothing of it as been to the station and notified them, and it ‘ e that I happened to think of you, and de- © secure your valuable services at once,” n to take a great deal of interest in this utat? ige” said 1, curiously. @iouldn’t 12” said he; “Mr. Whitelock was 1 had charge of all his real estate matters | all his rents, besides doing much other ie his vast pamiediiend was a “little grand- ‘ously who was now_at a anise boarding- r 1 to pay a visit to bis little grand- 1 upon which his body was dis- so Seana AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. aera za : portant private message for Mr. Creigg, at the same time telling his valet that he need not return to the country as he would come home by himself during the next day. This man whose name, by the way, was Augustus Walker, had faithfully delivered the message to Creigg, and then returned home to the house on Grand avenue. Creigg had said that he should be obliged to call there in order to carry out his employer's instructions, and about an hour later did so, and remained in Mr. Whitelock’s private room for the better part of two hours, when Walker him- self showed him out of the house, and locked the door, A Jittle later Walker retired for the night. The two female servants had already done so. None of the three was in any way disturbed until morn- ing. A little before half-past seven, Walker started to put his master’s private room in order, Wishing to have it ready when he should return. Before going to bed the night before he had turned the key in the lock. He was now’startled to find the door un- fastened. “ He entered the room. What a sight met his gaze! ; There, upon the floor, lay his master, whom he had sup- posed to be fully forty miles away. His clothing was terribly disordered, and there was a’ wound, made by some heavy instrument, extending from the front part of the head down the foreheud to near the bridge of the nose, and his throat had literally been cut from ear to ear! In one of the hands of the dead man, which were tightly clenched, there was found the merest fragment of paper that appeared to have been torn from a greenback or a United States Government bond. This was the information I received at police head- quarters. I asked for that fragment. It was at once delivered to my keeping. Then, turning to the superintendent, J asked: “How many know about this little piece of paper?’ “Only Batler and myself,” was his reply. On arriving at the house T found everything just as it had been described to me; but in the meantime a very im- portant discovery had been made. e A safe that was built into the walls of the private apart- ment had been openedand robbed--of how much it could not immediately be ascertained—but of a large amount it was certain; a part of which must have been in Govern? ment bonds, as Whitelock was known to be a large holder of those securities. I went to work on the case, as I theught, ipetdannticailen but, as I must confess, for a good while with poor results, Months passed, and still we seemed no nearer the tiuth than at first. Creigg always steod ready to give me advice and assistance, but neither. resulted in ‘throwing any light on the mystery. None of the stolen erp: had are traced. : We had long since learned the amount and athens of. the bonds, but we could not learn ne had ever been put upon the market. T had had a close wateh kept on Walker, ‘but we never one ee although Creigg_ cavtct to Ten * aime eet - ie ae nts : ee SaaS, ie rv. * Se &- c PEs mae x AY ek bets & yi = t =

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28 to the opinion that he knew more of tle matter than we appeared to suppose. The case was at this stand, Creigg burst into my room before I was dressed, eager haste, cried: and, in He’s off !” Where’s he off to” _ “Walker's gone! “Gone where ? sort of way. “To Europe—l’m sure of it,” “All right; there, too.” “And if you go, I shall go with you,” said Creigg. As I entered the superintendent’s office that day, looked up, and with more interest than he generally mani- fested, said: “Oh, Bright! I-suppose you'ye heard that Walker’s off?” “Where has he gone to?” “Took a steamer from New York to Liverpool. you think of it?” “T don’t like to say just yet, Mr. Markham, if you'll be so kind as not to press me,” and. then, looking at him earnestly, [ asked: “But what do you think of doing?” ? T asked, in an absent said my eager visitor. it, Til g and if there’s any occasion for he What do FAME AND FORTUNE Redes ee } doors. when suddenly one Scorn “[ want you to follow him by the next steamer, and so | ‘for, to tell the bring this matter to a focus,” said he, . truth, it’s a disgrace to. this office.” “TI am likely to haye a companion on this trip.” “What—who?” he exclaimed in wonder. “Mr. Creigg?’ ae "Very well,” he said again in that tone which told me to go. ; - And I went—went directly to my private room, locked myself in, sat down on a low chair, placed my elbows on my knees, and thought—thought for two long hours as man never thought before. _ At the end of that time the whole thing was plain as day - tome. But I saw one thing; I’d got.a cunning customer to deal with. That night I started for New York, Creigg . went with me. The next steamer that sailed for Europe took us as passengers. We reached London in ten days after we had started from home. I soon paid a visit to Scotland Yard, and ar- ranged everything with the authorities there, I was alone on that occasion. We had put up at a third-rate hotel, not far from Scot- _ and Yard, and much frequented by those connected with ~ the police, This was to have things handy, you know. Our __, Fooms were adjoining. There was a door of communica- tion between the two, but, of course, this was kept locked. A night or two after my visit to Scotland Yard, I heard _ mysterious sounds that seemed to come from Creigg’s ~_ Poom. It set me: to thinking. The next night, while we together i in the barroom, I said: | iy , this is a little dull, ain’t it?” “Suppose we have ee see warming?” _ _~**'*Pve no objections,” said he. Phe witead “3. “And | 30 I asked the barmaid to let us have a private wat " Foom. We were soon accommodated, and the materials hi mixing a punch were placed before.us. I took it upon myself to do the mixing: I said nothing, beta in Jess than * ( ~~ rel bed. ? * >. immediately. ‘hind me, to keep an eye on things at the hotel, NN SER Se Se a eS ee a SSE EL ee ae eee EY CDSE eT Teer Eee |derer’ seemed no more than a si munication between our rooms open, pe fadicna the out Then I went into a systematic examination of man’s room and property: “What did I find?’ Wait and you’ll soon hear now. Luckily, the next @ he was too sick to leave the hotel.. But he never el seh what I had been up to the night before. | received a message from Scotland Yard and vai the But [ left an officer, in titizen’s dress, b As 1 expected, Walker was in the hands of the polie and I soon got to the bottom of all he knew; but 1 quested that,-for the present, he might be detained att otfice, : : I also requested that one or two more good men show be sent to the hotel. I then paid a visit to the Uni States Minister's. The. reason you will easily gue After that I went back to the hotel, I asked for C “He’s in the private room you ata last ev said the barmaid. ; I went there. He was one in a high-backed art chair, his feet spread out before him, a pipe in his mout and on the table at his side were all the necessaries mixing a cheerful beverage. ior “Hallo, old boy, where have you been all day? ae greeting. “Oh, just looking around a bit,” said TL 3 Well, take that other chair,” said he, “and age’ and have something. Here, just let me ring for anoth glass and pipe.” ; : x “Creigg, I believe I’ve found out He “Ah! said he, carelessly, taking his. pipe mouth, and blowing out great w reaths of smok in ‘languid tones, he asked : “And what may it be?” “T’ye matched a piece of paper,” said I. ; “The deuce you have!” said he, with a little Ta gh, still pulling away at his pipe. “Well, Bright, tinued, after a moment or two, “I really shoulda’t ; if you made a stir in the world yet—before you die? “Stranger things than that have happene taking my pipe in my left hand, and at the s holding up a bond, from the top edge of which the fragment had been torn. “Do you see that?’ Yes, what of it?” he asked, without taking t to remoye his pipe. “Why—nothing,” said I, “only I took that, wit! worth more, and a number. of things belonging from under the flooring in your room while drunk last night, and the missing fragment’ of was taken from the hand of Walter Whitele ing he was dead on the floor of his privates Well, in a word, he wilted—gave’ right. peacefully as a lamb. Told me all about it. Got into a tight box. Saw his way out of i Whitelock. Opportunity offered. Fixed the he was there in the early part of the evening. the house was quiet. Managed to get the was\ just looking over the bonds when he was s Whitelock. From the time he knew that his’ in the room to the time he knew he elf

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on lap ona 41,000-mile course, which it took him > Years to run, was finished the other week by Harry. ho: se of Edwin Bailey, city mail carrier Beloit, Wis. +. animal actually died in the harness while making the tit made for nine years. new acrological station of the Weather Bureau is y established at Drexel, Neb., and its staff is busy kite field. At the auxiliary station, at Fort Omaha, ations haye been made for a series of observations ballons-sondes, including the installation of a gas Mt, at which the hydrogen for the balloons is produced Since the closing of Mount Weather, the office of the bureau's upper-air work has ee Rubber Dorks’ of Hartford, Conn., has that it will pay full wages to all its employees re “member: of the Connecticut National Guard ey are absent from its factories on duty with iments. The National Surety Company, of New "performance of duty will not be deducted from time. This is the proper and practical attitude | citizen soldiers o perform their military basics 0 la hess and an . acquaintanceship with tiers abroad, John McLaren, A.B., A.M., is ag a stone cutter in Cambridge, Mass., for $2.50 ‘Both his degrees are from the “University of Glas- he speaks seven languages. He was a prominent ganizet in England. He is a friend of George rd Shaw and adviser of Kier-Hardie, the labor leader or of Parliament and a great admirer of Mrs. His present employment is due to his ‘of life. He is known as No. 287 and has been for six months. af ‘te al, oaks old, an Italian, of Little Rock, 0 has amassed a fortune in the United States in ssion busipiess, has twelve small potatoes that $U 0. According to stories Repetti told the pe- Ww ut that sum as the result of the operations of in named Ricci, for whom a warrant has been eGand Repetti deposited secprities in boxes of zarance, but when Repetti opened«his box he vitched and instead of his money being wer: twelve seteinen’ cee has not ims to. have one of the oldest ! er Haden will be 105 years mg for a person of such advanced x Pagina FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. NEWS OF THE DAY 29 1810. Her name before her marriage was When 20 vears old she was married. to Richard R. Hayden, about her own age. Soon after-their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hayden moved to Greene County and settled in the woods when this country was a wilder- ness. Eight children were born to them. She assists in the household duties; and often spends a morning hoeing in the garden. ginia, July 17, Sarah C. Doan. An all-metal extensible picture hanger is now in use which seryes instead of the usual cord. To a ring which serves to suspend the hanger from an upper nail are at- tached two decorative tubes of gilded copper containing telescoping rods at the.lower ends. Such rods are ¢urved into hooks at the bottom so'as to be attached to eyelet screws in the back of the picture. This gives a good means of adjusting the height of the picture by the sliding of the rods in the tubes, and: they are, fastened by set screws. The present device gives a more decorative effect than the usual cords and uniike these it it not subject to deterioration. és ~t . A pile of more than 60,000 pounds of prism powder, which had been condemned and was used as fertilizer at ‘the Naval Academy dairy farm, at Gambrills, twelve miles trom Annapolis, exploded the other day and caused the death of John McCleary, a young Scotchman,’ and Alfred Addison. a negro. The powder was being ground ima special crusher. The explosion was communicated to the main pile, 200 feet away. The two men were at work at the crusher and were instantly killed. The powder was used as fertilizer on account of its large proportion of nitrate of potash, It is believed that a stone or nail was thrown into the crusher with the powder and caused a spark. Wood-flour to be mixed with the fodder of domestic animals and even afded to the diet of human beings was advocated by Prof. G. Haberlandt in a recent addrgss be- fore the Roval Prussian Academy of Sciences. The Liter- ary Digest primts a synopsis of this address, from which it appears that “there is a large amount of nutritive -sub- stance in the wood of deciduous trees, a less quantity being found in that of conifers.” Especially in winter the sap-wood of the elm, beech, maple,’ poplar, alder, ash, birch, aspen, linden and others contains, sugar, Starch. and oil. Prof. Haberlandt found 23 per. cent. of starch in the sap-wood of a thirteen-year-old elm” in March, The dead heart-wood is almost destitute | ‘of these autri- tious substances, but the smaller branches and twigs are rich in them, while the bark contains too much tannin, The human stomach cannot, however, dissélve the® “tough cellulose coating of the cols that contain the starch, oil and sugar, so the wood “myst be ground _ “a flour before it can be The of eud-cl ewitl hy tower Pepe ary ti an i

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FAME INTERESTING ARTICLES GRENADES REPLACE BAYONETS. The fierce and costly fighting at Festubert has brought into the open more than any other eyent during the war the absolute supremacy of the explosive. nades—metal canisters at the end of a wooden handle. They use these even on occasions when our men would use the bayonet, throwing them point-blank at a yard or two distant. But in spite of their skill in the use of these ex- plosives and the generous supply the British win by per- sonal dash when it comes to a question of close fighting. It is not till the trench or breastwork that now so often takes the place of a trench is won that the Germans get the ful! reward of their skill in -explosives.. They inflict the greatest loss by the skilled use of the double explosive shell, that is the shell which conrhines the high explosive with shrapnel. NEG FRO TURNED WHITE. A negro wht in fifteen years had become as white’ as the purest bleoded white man was seen at the Frisco sta- tion, Muskogee, Okla., the other night. The man was recognized by a negro acquaintance of former years. The negro’s name was given as Sam Williams from Parsons, Kan. As’ the white. negro turned from the ticket window he saw and spoke to ancther negro, who immediately recog- nized’ him: - Williams’ face and hands are perfectly white and his hair, though woolly, is white. The story of the marvelous change of color was quickly told. Almost twenty-five years ago when Williams was a boy..about fourteen he was afflicted with scarlet fever. Whén he recovered white spots, no larger thaw dimes, were visible all over -his body. For years the spots increased in size, until finally, at the end of fifteen years, the négro _was perfectly white. INDUSTRIES FOR THE IGOROTS. ‘Steps are being taken by the United States Govern- ment-to furnish Igorots and other mountain peoples of the Philippines with means of obtaining a livelihood when the work upon: the public improvements on whieh many of:them have been engaged is completed. “Special efforts are being made to extend the interest of these natives in agriculture. Meetings with the head- men of the various mountain folk are being held by the Government agents, at which the problem is taken up. For some time the Bureau of Agriculture of the Philip- pines has been: upplying selected seed rice and the blight- : hasta coffee to all of these people who will be r i to plant them. This practice will be continued. moun yples, plans are being per- productions of te Fatal tor it AND FORTUNE SS The Germans} a bean crop from India, which is widely used for enrich- appear to possess an unlimited supply of bombs or. gre-} ing the land; corn, which already forms an auxiliary food addition to these efforts to increase the agricultural Beiter el: horses, Bird and hogs| WEERLY. lat the disposal of as many as will avail themselves of their use. New crops are also being introduced, including mongo, crop to rice, and camotes, a kind of sweet potato, Silk culture is also being introduced. At Bontoe, Kian- gan, and other points in “the Mountain Province the in- dustry has been started by the use of silkworms furnished by the Bureau of Science, mulberry trees supplied by bee Bureau of Agriculture, and teachers 5 by the reau of Biadura tion. 4 a QUEER HAPPENINGS. ©" 0 George Harmon, Jr., nine, ne child of Mr, and Mrs. George Harmon, Hempstead, L, 1..shis dather also — a thirteenth child, is struck by auto and unhurt? a Women Sunday-schoo! teachers at Ceda® Manor (Ni Chapel quit because they cannot choose saperinten Arthur Williams, caught in $1.85 theft in Man jumps from w indow and suffers two broken legs, spine and three years in prison. : Louisa: Boehnert and her father, Henry Boshi saad marry on same hight, in same house, No. %3 c street, Jersey City. yes = Celesti. Ferrer’s will leaves two parrots to niece $300 for maintenance. : Liars’ Club, of New York business and se men, opens clubhouse at Sea Gate. Burglar at Bryn Mawr (Westchester Counts. railré station leaves note congratulating woman agent who removed cash. Par paige d Joseph Mulligan, irenworker, No. 2430 Broupiies tains mere bruises by eight-story fall betause he on John Garrick, who is in Knickerbocker Hospital. Will of Mrs. Hwlda Ann Wickes, of Patchogue, provides money for funeral procession, with al horses. ae Paul Goldsmith, of Commack, L. I., by lightning, and is uninjured. 1f John Whiteman, of New Brunowiele N. de make a home for mother-in-law, she will recover years’ salary as domestic under his wife’s will, — William Van Horn, “Rattlesnake Bill,’ arres 156th time. is freed from jail on or ‘to nei Stanhope; N. J.. again. ey Frank Ryan, ‘Jamaica, L Nay Sy pinants on Wi ry flying Trish’ flag. savs he was only giving the b bu airing. Decision reserved. + has shirt : Residents of the Bay end of River avenne, - f.. 1., annoyed by bathers who disrobe in the der a bedsitect, are erecting signs “Bathin ~ When Mrs. Concino Sivio, of Hobok [late she: was a a aa ae r

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y" TRICK MATCHES. Consist of a Swedish safety box, filled with matches, which will not light. Just the thing to cure the match borrowing habit. Pri ; postpaid, vey Peaaee ia NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. : IMITATION GOLD TEETZ. «BB old pfated tooth, shape made so that it fit Say tooth. Price, 5¢., postpaid. fF. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. E MARBLE VASE. A ¢lever and puzzling effect, éasy to do; the apparatus can be minutely examined. Effect: A marble can be made to pass from the hand into the closed cee @ moment before own empty. This is @ enameled turned wood vase. Price. 20c. 150 W. 62d St., New York City. THE MAGIC NAIL. A common nail is given for examination, and then in- sStartly shown pierced through the finger; and yet, fen out, the finger is found ) be peérfectly uninjured, ¥oE ' , the nail is again given 7 : Pay | Nicely finished. te. 10e. by mail, postpaid. 62d St., New York City. AE) LO PUZZLE . 2Can you get the ring off? - puzzle is the latest cre- h of Yankee ingenuity. parently it is the easiest ‘hing in the world to remove the ring from the block, but | it takes hours of study to v the trick, unless you know how it is Price by mail, postpaid, 10¢.; 3 for 25e. fF NOVELTY CO., 29--W. 26th St., N. ¥. JUMPING CARD.—A Pretty little trick,«easy to Perform. Effect: A select- ed card returned to the deck jumps high into the air at the performer’s com- mand. Pack is held in one hand. Price of apparatus, with enough cards to per- form the trick, 10c. f NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. | SMALL COLLAPSIBLE PENCILS 7—~ = pane The name is a joke. It looks small enough while it is hanging on Watch-charm, and it is very handsome sign, prettily nickeled, and very compact. : hand the end of it to your friend, is no end to it. Besides its ability to P ium, it is a good useful pencil, too. i Price, 15c. each, by mail, postpaid. NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. YINK THE LINK PUZZLE. a Th sati f th a 4 RO e sensation o: e day. os = instructions ven, anyone cali 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 -g in the cards. Price, 35c. by VELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. SLIDE THE PENCIL, The pencil that keeps them guessing. Made of wood and lead just like an ordinary pen- cil, but when your victim starts to write with it—presto! the lead disappears. It is so con- structed that the slightest pres- sure on the paper makes the “Tead slide into the wood. Very 100. funny and a practi ea by Pp cal joke, mail, postpaid; 3 for 250 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. : when | begins to untelescope until-he imagines | APPEARING BILLIARD BALL.—A solid billiard ball, beautifully madé, can be made | to appear in the bare hands with the sleeves rolled back to elbows. Very fine and easy | to do. Price, 35c. THE JOKER’S CIGAR. The biggest sell of the sea- son. A real cigar made of . tobaéco, but secreted in the Je center of cigar about one-half cir he ii” inch from end is a fountain of sparklets. The moment the fire reaches this fountain hundreds of sparks of fire burst forth in every direction, to the astonishment of the smoker. The fire | | | | elething. After the fireworks the victim can | eontinue smoking the cigar to the end. Price, | 10e.; 8 for 25e; 1 dozen, 90¢., mailed, post- WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. | j ig stage fire, and will not burn the skin or. GREENBACKS Pack of $1,000 Stage Bills, 10c; 3 packs, 250. Send for & pack and show the boys what a WAD carry. ©. A. NICHOLS, JR., Box 90. Chil New. ! | Wizard Repeating LIQUI | Guaranteed Will stop the most viciousdog (0° fiamaand man) without permanent injury. Perfectly safe to carry without dan- ger ofleskage. Fires and recharges by pulling trigger. Loads from aus liquid. No cartridges required. Over six shots in one loading. All dealers, or by mall, 50, Pistol with rabber- covered holster, 55¢. Holsters separate, 10¢. order or U. 5. stampa.- No coins. PARKER, STEARNS & CO., ~- 273 Georgia Avenue, - Brooklyn, N.Y, Wanted. $1 to $60) paid tor Old Coins hundreds of coins da befors 189%. Send 10c forour illustrated coln value boo! 4x7; get posted, Clarke «& Co., Boxs, Le Rey, N. ’ Money = ¥. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. Astonishing, wonderful, and perplexing! Haye you Any child can and yet; what | THE CANADIAN WONDER CARD TRICK. seen them? work them, they do is so amusing that the sharpest people on earth are fooled. We cannot tell ~ you what they do, or others ‘ * Would get next and spoil the Just get a set and read the directions. friends and utterly aed ge Brg A la sng sping ou wish to have no end of amuse . =e Price by mail, 10c. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. | fun. ne results will startle your STRING PUZZLE This puzzle is a wone- der. It consists of two pieces of wood. A hole is bored through the up- per énd of both. A red j string passes through } the holes. Take a knife, | insert it between the | wooden blocks and cut upwards. You separate | the pieces of wood, and the string is ap- parently cut in two. Close the blocks to- gether, seize an end of the string, and you can puil the entire cord through the holés, absolutely—not cut. Very mystifying. . Price, 12¢. each, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. THE SURPRISE FOUNTAIN PEN A moveity of the om == Sreatest merit! It looks just like a gen- | sled natal i 9 uine fountain pen. But it isn't. That's where the joke comes in. If | you take off the cover, a nice, ripe, juicy lemon appears. Then you give the friend you lend it to the merry “ha-ha.” You might call it an everlasting joke because you can use it over and over again. Price, by mail, postpaid, 10c. | H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St,, B’klyn, N. ¥. NEW TEx-CENT FOUNTAIN PEN. eS Qne of the mest peculiar and mystifying pens on the market. It requires ne ink. All you have to do is te dip it in water, and it will write for an indefinite peried. The secret can only be learned by procuring one, and yeu can make it = source of both pleasure and amusement by claiming to your friends what it can do and then demonstrating e fact. Moreover, it is a good pen, fit for practical use, and will never leak ink into your pocket, as , defective fountain pen might do. | Price, 10¢,. cach by mail. | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. To all appearance it isa harmless piece of cofled paper with a. mouth- Piece attachment, but upon placing it to one’s mouth, and blowing “ ‘into the tube, an imita- | tion snake over two | feet in length springs out of the roll like a fash of Nghtning, producing a whistling, flut- | tering sound that would frighten a wild In- We guarantee our rattlésnake nét to : but would not advise you to play the | joke on timid women or delicate children. Each snake packed in a box. Price, 10c.; 3 for 25c., mailed postpaid. | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. | THE FRIGHTFUL RATTLESNAKE‘ = EIGHT GAMES FOR 10c Chess, Checkers, Fox and Geese, Nine Men Morris, Authors, Introduction Game, Spanish Prison, Domi- noes; a whole year's amusement and Ooo the whole thing for only.........-.+.- Send 10 Cents today and get all eight Games JOS. M. WAGNER, 3537 13th St N.W., - - Washington, 0. C. DUPLEX BICYCLE WHISTLE. i. This is a double whistle, pre- ducing loud but very rich, har- monious sounds, entirely differ+ ent from ordinary whistles. It ig just the thing for bicyclists or sportsmen, its peculiar double | and resonant tones at once at- tracting attention. It is an im- ported whistie, handsomely nickei plated, and will be found i & very useful and handy pocket j companion. Price, 10c.; for 25e.; one dozen, 75c., sent by §i.. N. Ze | Ayvad's Water-Wings _ mail, postpaid. , WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th . ‘’. Learn to swim by one trial Price 25 cents, Postpatd These water-win take op no more room - They wel s sup- to wet | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. Something new for the A top you can without a string. is a decided nov- It is of large made of brass, and | SPRING TOPS { | : ; has a@ heavy balance thm. The shank con- j tains a erful spring ard has an outer casing. he top of the shank has a milled edge for winding it up.. When wound, you merely lift the outer cas- ing, and the top spins at such @ rapid speed _ | that the balance rim keeps it going @ long time. Without doubt the handsomest and | best top on the market. } Price 12 cents each, by mail, post-paid H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. AED 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 ecard or hat. The oper- It is a trick which will puzzle and interest the closest observer and detection is almost impossible. It is so timple that a ehuld learn how to a perform it in a few Price 10 cents each, by mail, post-paid C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St. New York City.

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7 ¥ . SrAR AND CRESCENT | INDIAN FINGER TRAP. { FLY-APART PENCILS PUZZLE. A couple can be joineé The party who The puzzle is to sepa- together and their strug- | monkeys with this rate the one star from ms gle to be released only | encil suddenly finds the Hnked star and cres- ; makes matters worse. It | { it falling to pieces in cent without using force. | will hold them as tight | his “hands. You can Price by mail. postpaid | 98 @ rat-trap, and the more they try to pull Ps) f scare the wits out of 10c.; 3 tor 25c. away, the tighter it grips. Our traps are | him by saying he will the pencil again in readiness for another vic- ; eee Be mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., postp tim. You can have 60; yards of joy to the extra long. Price, 10c. each; 3 for’ 25e. by have‘to pay tor.it. ‘But it is easy to assemble o > On . op Cc. ; 5 r ¢2 = ¥ u _ hi 29 W. 26th St., N.Y. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St.. New York City. | minute with this innocent-looking ttle device, een é , Erice 0c aa by mail, postpaid. WINDOW SMASHERS. PIN MOUSE. ‘Wass BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York Clty. The greatest sensation, just ; It is made of cast metal and | from Paris. A most wonder- has the exact color, shape and | . ful effect of a smashing, ee of a live mouse. Pinned on | ; . breaking, falling pane or your or somebody else's clothes, | AN glass. It will electrify every- A ety com m epee effect upon | body. W 4 > hom ctators, he screaming | stars hee oar’ wiret tnd at fun had by this little noveity, especially in the ee Ad the same time throw the | Presence of ladies, is more than can be im- o* discs to the floor. Every pane of glass in the | ®Simed. If a cat happens.to be there, there's VANISHING COINS.—A _ coin held | house will at once seem to have been shat- git reed fun to be compared with it. palm of the hand is made to vanish tered. Price, by mail, postpaid, 35c., a set rice, 10c, each by mail, postpaid; 3 for 25¢, } the hand is closed. Only one hand u practice required. Wonderful effect. P of pix plates. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St} H. &. LANG, 1815 Centre 5t., Bklyn, N. Y. TRICK CARD CA Aa ple looking case like. those con- RAVELLING JOKE. | Yards upon yards c! laughs. TRICK HOLDER. — x Cesena taining an ordinary | Don’t miss it! Everyone falls for coin holder * ae pack of playing ca ‘ this one. It consists of a nice lit- tached to a SSE But the top ecard is tle bébbin «round which is wound made so as to fit ‘Seis, only a dummy Hia- | | & spool of thread. You pin the anyone's finger. den inside the seeming | bobbin under the lapel of your coat, The holder pe is an ingenious | and pull the end of the thread tightly a 26¢, piece. mechanism; when you pull out the pack a trig- through your button hole, then When the ring is wer Is released and explodes a cap with a loud watch your friends try to pick the placed on the finger with the.co ; on . report! Perfectly harmless and yet a source piece of thread off your coat. the palm of the hand and offered eit of no end of fun. Enough -saia: Ge, cue! Price, 12e. each, by cannot be picked up. A nig . - eo 4 Price, 25e. each, by mail, postpaid, | Mail. Postage stamps taken same as money. Price by mail, postpaid * , - - > 7 ow NOVE Oo 9 , + ° FRANK SMITH, 385 Lermox Ave., N. Y. i WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 A THE YWITYLE GEM TELFPHOYE. IMITATION CUT FINGER. | JUMPING JAC : The transmitter in A cardboard finger, | r this telephone — is carefully bandaged | ‘ This made from the best with linen, and the nm. hg imported parchment: side. and end. are SEE = look ae blood-stained. When | jook at it. The natneal you. slip it on your | write with it, and jjust ond ; a as soon finger ane show Sane tries to write, thetention june OF teen paeait waur Sn ae aint files bark like a jumping jack, and “Mr. give ty and pati | Nosy” will be frightened stiff. It ts one of nu se it up, Pp | our best pencil tricks and you will have a with ordinary use will last a long time; can be made in any length by adding cord; the only reat telephone for the thing to ‘do money; each one put up in a neat box; fully a look of pain. You wiil get nothing but | flustrated, with full directions how to use sympathy until you give. them the laugh. cee te eae th to keep it nour triends will them. © Price, 12c., postpaid. Then duck! Price, 10c., postpaid. | ia ae e it trom you. Price by mail, post-— WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. H. FF, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. ! FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. ¥. ; ‘ WE WANT YOU TO READ “Moving Picture Stories” | A Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players : Absolutely the finest little publication on the news-stands -* 9@ PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY @ : ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY : - - = THIRTY-TWO PAGES ? : BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESICN 4 FINE HALF-TONE FRONTISPIECES New portraits of actors and actresses every week - Geta copy ofthis weekly magazine and see whatitis EVERY NUMBER CONTAINS ? Six Gripping Stories, based on the latest and best films, each profusely illustrated with fine half-tones of scenes in the plays. net | Photographs and Biographies of the most celebrated Photoplay actors and actresses. RAS Special Articles relating to Moving Pictures, written by the greatest authorities in the film business. 5 News Notes from the studios about the doings of everybody of prominence connected with the Photoplays. ae Scenario Hints and the names of ali the companies who may buy the plays you write. ‘ Poems, Jingles, Jests and every bright feature calculated to interest both young and old. og ‘ : GET A COPY NOW from your newsdealer, or send us 5 cents in money or postage stamps, and we will mail you the latest number issued. a LO Si ata FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher 168 West 23d Street — pi 3

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—LATEST ISSUES— 486 Fame Before the Footlights ; or, 452 The Boy Banker's Double; or, A Strange Wall Street Mystery. | 468 Suse te Get Hicks or. a) Simert Ye 453 The Young Beaeh Comber; or, A Fortune From the Sand. 489 Pushing it Through - or, The Sate of @ 454 The Little Boss; or, After the Wall Street Money Kings. 49C A Born Speculator ; ‘or, The Young Sphi 455 $250,000 in Gold; or, Hunting a Hindoo Treasure. 491 The Way to Success; or, The Boy Who 456 A Corner in Money; or, Beating the Wall Street Money Sharks 492 Struek 3; "Bov i157 Going it Alone; or, The Boy Who Made His Own Luck. : 458 Little Dan Tucker: or, Making Big Money in Wall St. ret 4 Bote Winns’ ‘Of The Boy 459 Fighting for Business; or, Beating a Bad Start. 495 Golden Fleece; ‘or, The Boy Brokers of W. 460 A Boy Money Maker; or, In Wall Street on His Nerve. 496 A Madcap Scheme: or, The Boy Treasure 461 Buried Gold; or, The Treasure of the Old Buccaneers. 497 Adrift on the World: or, Workin 462 Hitting it Rich; or, The Luckiest Firm in Wall St. 498 Playing to Win; or, The Foxiest 463 Sam, the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Tongue. 499 Tatters; or, A Boy’ from the Slums 464 Playing in Luck; or, A Plotter’s Dangerous Deal 500 A Young Monte Cristo; or, The Riche 465 After a a, Bes 4 or, Brains Against Brawn : Ya eae 466 Facing the Mexicans; or, The Secret Of the Aztec’s Gold. 501 Won by Pluck; or, The Boys Who Ra 467 Fighting For Fame; or, The Luck Of a Young Contractor. : | 502 Beating the Brokers; or, 468 Seeking a Lost Treasure; or, The Nerve Of a Young Explorer |503 A Rolling Stone; or, 469 Matt, the Mechanic: or, The Boy Who Made His Pile. 504 Never a Die; .or, £ 470 Among the Ice Peaks; ‘or, The Voyage That Made the Money |505 Boss of the 471 The Little Castaways; or,’The Fortune That a Wreck Brought | 506 472 Taking Big Chances; or, The Boy Who Saved a Town. 507 473 Always Lucky; or, Winning on His Merits ;= 508 “ 474 Out for a Cornet; or, A Smart Chicago Boy. . 509 A Favorite of Fortune; or, Striki 475 The Winning Trick; or, How a Boy Made His Mark. 510 476 The Young Editor; or, Running a Country Newspaper: 511 Doing His Level Best; or, Working His 477_A Big Stroke: or, The Lad Who Made a Record. 512 Always on Deck; or, The Bo: 478 In the Copper Field; or. The Mine That Made the Money. 518 A Mint of Money; or, The 479 From a Cent to a Fortune; or, A Chicago Boy's Great Scoop 514 The Ladder of 480 A Start in Life: or, A Poor Boy's Rise to Fame. 515 On the Square; or, The Success of an | 481 A Wide Awake Boy; or, Born With a Winning Streak. 516 482 Scat cing | the Money; or, How Ben Bailey Made His Mark ¥ 483 Digging for Gold; or, The Luck of a Boy Miner. 484 A Boy With Grit; or, Earning An Honest Living. 485 Andy, the Mill Boy; or, Rising to the Top. a ae FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, . - . - - IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and, cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this offic fill in your Order and send it to us witk the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - - ° ou R TEN-CENWT HAND EBC No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELEC- TRICITY.—A description of the wonderful uses of electricity and electro magnetism; to- gether with full instructions for making Elec- RAPHER.—Containing useful information re- garding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. TO BECOME A _ WEST Boy Who Bossed the Theate: iest Lad in New York essenger. mart You 1; or, The Bov Who Made a Millio Miners of Delle Cruz. yYho Went Out With a Circus. Street ters of Cocos Island | His W oy in e Boy Wh of Happy Va Market ; or, The Greatest Boy in Wall Str The Chance of His Life; or, The Young Pilot of Cry Striving for Fortune; or, From Bell-Boy to Millionai Out for Business; or, The Smartest Boy in Town. ng It Rich in Wall § Through Thick and Thin; or, The Adventures of a Sm wae Up. Who Made His Mark. treet Broker. to Senator. onest Boy. After a Fortune; or, The a ae in the West. oung Wall ‘ame; or, From Office For sale by al] newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, : = ° 168 West 2 e dir 168 West 23d St., New York. Ss with figures and the magic o bers. By A Se ae illustrated. ; No. le TO WRITE L ER! CORRECTLY.—Containing full instructions for writing letters on almost any : also rules for punctuation and com ~™ &F Handsomely how tric Toys, Batteries, etc. By George Trebel, illustrated. A.M ME. Containing over fifty illustra- No. 62. HOW tions. POINT MILITARY CADET.—Explains No. 47. HOW TO BREAK, RIDE AND to gain admittance, course of Study, Examina- the horse. ‘Ne. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.—A handy book for boys, contain- ing full directions for constructing canoes and the most popular manner of sailing them. Fully illustrated. Ne. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for conducting debates, outlines for debates. questions for discussion, and the best sources the question for procuring information on iven. x Ne. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND AN- IMALS.—A valuable boek, giving instructions in collecting, preparing, mounting and pre- serving birds, animals and insects. Noe. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Containing explanations of the gen- eral principles of sleight-of-hand applicable card tricks; of card tricks with ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of tricks involving egg Sag oe or a use of specially prepared cards. ustrated. No. 52. HOw TO PLAY CARDS.—Giving the rules and full directions ‘or playing Euchre, Cribbage, Casino, Forty-Five, Rounce, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Pitch, All Fours, and many other popular games of card =. Ne. 538. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS.—A wonderful little book, telling you how to write to your sweetheart, yeur father, mother, sis- ter. brother, employer; and, in fact, every- bedy and anybody you wish to write to. No. 54. HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.—Giving complete information as to the manner and method of raising, keeping, tam- ing breeding, and managing all kinds of pets; also giving full instructions for making cages, etc. Fully explained by twenty-eight illus- trations. Ne. 55. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND COINS.—Containing valuable informa- tion regarding the collecting and arranging of stamps and coins. Handsomely !llustrated. No. 56. HOW TO BECOME AN _ EN- GINEER.—Containing full instructions how to become a locomotive engineer; also directions for building a model locomotive; together with a full description of everything an en- gineer should know. No. 6. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOG- tions, Duties, Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Po- lice Regulations, Fire Department, and all a boy should know to be a cadet. By Lu Senar- ens. No. 63. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET.-—-Complete instructions of how to gain admission to the Annapolis Naval Academy. Also containing the course of instruction, de- scription of grounds and buildings, historical sketch, and everything a boy should know to become an officer in the United States Navy. By Lu Senarens. No. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES.—Containing full directions for making electrical machines, induction coils, dynamos, and many novel teys to be worked by electricity. By R. A. R. Bennet. Fully illustrated. No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.—The most original joke book ever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor. It contains a large collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, ete., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, hu- morist, and practical joker of the day. No. 66. HOW TO DO PUZZLES.—Con- taining over three hundred interesting puzzles and conundrums, with key to same. A com- plete book. Fully illustrated. No. 67. HOW TO ELECTRICAL TRICKS.—Containing a large collection of in- structive and highly amusing electrical tricks, together with illustrations. By A. Anderson. No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS, —Containing over one hundred highly amus- ing and instructive tricks with chemicals. By A. Anderson. Handsomely illustrated. No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT-OF-HAND. —Containing over fifty of the latest and best tricks used by magicians. Also containing the secret of second sight. Fully !llustrated. No. 70. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.— Containing full directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. Fully illus- trated. No. 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS.—Containing complete instructions for performing over sixty Mechanical Tricks. Fully illustrated. No. 7%. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Embracing all of the latest and most deceptive card tricks, with illus- trations. No. 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH NUMBERS.—Showing many curious tricks D.—Containing rules for telli tunes by the aid of lines of the the secret of palmistry. Also the 1 telling future events by aid of moles, n scars, etc. Illustrated. No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY WITH CARDS.—Containing deceptive Tricks as performed by leading conjure magicians. Arranged for home Fully illustrated. No. 78. HOW TO DO THE : : —Containing a complete descri n of ti mysteries of Magic and Sleight-of-Hand, gether with many wonderful experiments. Illustrated. am A. Anderson. No. 79. HOW TO BECOME AN ACT —Containing complete instructions how make up for various characters on the st: comedian. dso: ored cover, containing a half-tone photo the author. —: No. 81. HOW TO MESMERIZE.—Con' ing the most approved methods of m ism; anima! magnetism, or, magnetic | ing. By Prof. Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. aut! of “How to Hypnotize,” etc. F No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.— taining the most approved methods of | ing the lines on the hand, together with a full explanation of thelr meaning. Also exp! ing phrenology, and the key for telling re acter by the bumps on the By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. Fully illustrated. o. twat mgs z= . = —Cont. ing valuable and instructive information garding the science of hypnotism. 0 plaining the most approved methods | are employed by the leading hypnotists the world. By Leo Hugo Koch,. A.C.8. No. 8. HOW TO BECOME D —Containing information regard chot subjects, the use of words and the m n preparing and submitting manuscript containing valuable information as neatness, legibility and general cor of manuscript. For sale by all newsdealers. or will be sent to any address op recelpt of price, 10 cts. per copy, ur 8 for 25 cts., in money or postage stamps, ov FRANK TOUSEY,*Publisher, - , 4 wy <Rag ty + = an ash ee a TPS | 8 ee Se ~ ey! - 168 West 23d St., New ¥ ork. 4