Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 515) (1915 08 13)

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ON THE SQUARE; —e OF AN HONEST BOY By A SEL FMADE Silas Cobb; cane upraised, followed in full chase. The boat had already started out of the slip, but Bob, measuring the intervening space with his eye, took a flying leap and landed safely with both feet on the dock.

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*, 4a; Sasioa Weekly—By > fake $2.50 per year. No. 515. ON THE pike CHAPTER 1 BOB KEANE’S AMBITION. 4 “I wish I had two hundred dollars,” said Bob Keane, wist- _ fully, as he and his cousin, Morris Cobb, stood looking at the following announcement posted up side by side with various vendue notices on the bulletin board in the Newtown post- office : . “For Satr—On account of the death of William Hazen, all he good will and fixtures (consisting of one two-year-old sor- 1 horse, Known as Jim Dandy; one set of harness in fair P Snattion, and one four-wheeled wagon in good order) of the Express Route. Price, $200. The same may be seén at any time by calling on Mrs. William Hazen, Bloomfield. 3S) _ “What do you’ want two hundred dollars for?” asked Morris, ‘regarding his companion in sonie surprise. bs “Td buy out Hazen’s Express Route,” replied Bob, promptly. “Ho!” exclaimed Morris Cob, contemptuously. you do with Hazen’s Express Route?” “Td run it and make money.” “1 guess you're crazy. Ive heard Hazen couldn’t make the ng pan out, so how could you expect to do anything with ‘it, even if my father would let you take hold of it, which he wouldn't, I know.” “The reason Hazen didn’t make a success out of the route was because he preferred to put in most of his time at the barroom down at the tavern instead of attending to business. He neglected nis customers, and put them to all kinds of in- ‘onvenience, so that they often had to go clear to Bloomfield emselves to get their stuff. I wouldn’t do business that way f I owned the route. I don’t think Uncle Silas would stop > from earning a little money on my own hook. I need it enough. He hasn’t any claim on my time. anyway.” “My father is your guardian, isn’t he?” said Morris. “Suppose he is. He doesn’t treat me any too well. Look - my clothes. Is this a decent suit for a boy with $10,000 to obliged to go around town in?” “You've got a better one. Why don’t you wear that?” =. ve: got a Sunday suit, yes. And your mother wouldn't er the shock for a month if she saw that on me any ay except it was a legal holiday.. She’d simply make ; owl, and Uncle Silas would back her up, too. I tell I'm tired of the way things are, and I'm going os = change if I can.” een to do? Run away?” to find come way of making money, so I Fe NEW YORK, AUGUST 13, 1915. “What would | x inal cytes court ih Babs uncle | F ime and Fortune Weekly STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Enterea at the Post dffice at New York, N, ¥., ae Recona- Class Matter, Frank Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 23d Street, New York. —— Price 5 Cents. SQUARE THE SUGGESS OF AN HONEST BOY be 4 | iBy A SELF-MADE MAN * five dollars a week for my support, but I guess he doesn’t spend half that sum on me. He’s too close to spend ajcent more on me than he can help. I heard a man say the othér day that your father was so mean that he'd boil a apg: skewer to get the grease out of it.” ¢ “Who said that?” asked Morris, angrily. “I’m not mentioning any names, but’ the man said it all right.” | “He deserves to be arrested for making such a remark as that,” said Morris, indignantly. “You ought to tell father who it was.” “And start a whole lot of trouble,” retorted Bob. “The man didn’t say it to me, so it’s not my business to carry the news home.” “Well, supposing you did start into the express business, it wouldn't do you any good. If you made any money father would take it away from you. “Why would he?" demanded Bob, shortly. “Because he has a legal right to take charge of all that be- {longs to you and keep it till you come of age.” “Well, if I make any money by my own efforts you can bet he won't get hold of a cent of it.” “How are you going to help yourself?” “That’s my business. ‘I’ve worked like a slave for Uncle Silas for a good many years—ever since father died, eight years ago—and what have IJ got for it, and for the five dollars a week he gets for my keep? I've got nothing but the short ¥ end of everything. Well, I’m sick of it. I’m sixteen now, and I’m going to stand out for a square deal. I'm willing to do the right thing by Uncle Silas if he'll do the same by me. I'd have no objection to letting him keep any money I'd make if he’d guarantee to clothe me right, feed me properly, and not interfere with my business arrangements. But. I'm afraid it isn’t in him to do that. I’ve lived eight years in your family, and I’ve got your father down pretty fine. I’m sorry to say, | Morris, that I couldn’t take his word to treat me the way I want to be treated, because I’m dead sure he wouldn't do it. |Your father is too old to change his ways now. What's bred in the bone comes out in the flesh. Your father can't change | ‘his disposition no more than a leopard can his spots, So- that’s all there is to it.” Bob Keane thrugt his hands down deep into the pockets ar his shabby trousers and strode out of the general store ans * post-office. His cousin Morris followed him as far as the door, and while gregated at times and, drawing a pack of cigarettes from: Weimer selected one, lit it and proceeded to enjoy — ‘fashion that wes habitual hos acca ae !

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ON THE 7 There was a mighty difference between those two boys. : Bob was strong, good-looking and endowed with lots of energy and ambition; Morris was thin, with little real stamina, rt sallow-complexioned, and handicapped with a constitutional E- aversion for anything that looked like work. ; Bob was dissatisfied with his position and was prepared .to hustle in order to improve it; Morris was discontented with his situation, too, though he was a hundred-fold better off at that time than his cousin, but he didn’t know how to secure the doubtful privileges and extra pocket money he craved, Silas Cobb, the uncle and guardian of the one and father of the other, was a man of economical principles, to put it in a mild way. ~ The villagers said he was mean and penurious—in fact, he was hated and despised by his neighbors and acquaintances. He hadn’t a friend in Newtown; but that fact didn’t, seem to worry him for a cent, for he went right on attendfng to his business of auctioneer and real estate dealer just as if he was the most popular man in town. When Edward Keane, Bob’s father, died suddenly eight years before, leaving property worth, after his debts had been paid, $10,000, and a motherless boy, the probate court favorably considered the application of Silas Cobb, his brother-in-law, to be made: the orphan’s guardian. Silas obtained control of both the property and the boy, got an allowance of $5 a week for the lad’s support, and then ‘proceeded to squeeze as much profit out of the transaction as it- was possible for him to do. As long as Bob’s real aunt lived she saw to it that her __-hephew was well treated; but she died a year after Bob be- came an inmate of Mr. Cobb’s home, and a year Jater Silas married an old maid, worth a little money, and almost as par- _ simonious as Silas Cobb himsélf, and thenceforward Bob found his path hard and thorny, and even Morris, the old man’s son, is found a big difference in things in geenral, against which he 1 put up many. a strenuous but not always effectual kick. Although Bob Keane had nothing particular on his hands that morning, he did not stroll up the street in the easy, care- less fashion that most boys would have assumed under the - circumstances. a On the contrary, he walked smartly along the tree-shaded 3 Main street, with his head erect and his eyes bent straight before him. Everybody in Newtown knew Bob, and not one but liked the __—scheery-faced boy, and was glad to exchange a word or two _-with him. : As every one knows, or thinks he knows, his neighbor's business in a country village, Bob’s bringing up under the roof-tree of Silas Cobb was no secret to the little community. There were plenty of people to say that the bright lad was treated meaner than dirt, considering his prospects. They thought that it was a shame, an outrage, and so on; but their sympathy did not make Bob's lot any er at his ; home, which, on the whole, was the most disagr le spot he visited within the twenty-four hours of a day. ‘It was the general impression in Newtown that if the boy was so fortunate as to meet with some fatal accident, or to - contract some malady that would carry him to the church- yard, Silas Cobb would look upon’ such a dispensation of Providence as a red-Jetter day in his calendar, since in the event of Bob’s death the $10,000 of which he was now only the custedian, under the stringent regulations of the probate court, would revert to him without question. X Of course what people think is not always the truth—cer- tainly there was no evidence that Bob’s uncle wished him out of the way; but there is no doubt he believed that the $10,000 - in question would -be much better in his hands for an indefi- nite period than in Bob's, even after he had reached the legal ee age. of twenty-one. Silas had utilized Bob’s services on his ten-acre farm until 3 “the boy got tired of being made a slave of and rebelled. Mr. Cobb was afraid to use force to compel the boy to con- tinue, because some one had told him that Bob could get a lawyer to go before the probate court and make a complaint f the way he was treated, and that if he could prove one- if of what the people believed he was up against, the court wouid remove his present guardian and appojnt a new one. That contingency frightened Silas, for it would mean the s of the profits he managed to get out of the $10,000; conse- y he let Bob have his own way. | n the boy threatened to go out and try to make some on his own hook, as he did.a day or two before the hat it story, Mr. Cobb offered no objection, for he gen trary any fund or other the ke: posnession. of it! The mare and the gelding were ‘doth SQUARE. in trust for his ward, provided, of course, that he could get his hands on it. As Bob walked up the street his mind, was full of visions of what he thought he would be able to accomplish if he could buy out Hazen’s Express Route. fl If Silas Cobb had been a decent kind of man the lad would have gone home as fast as his legs could have.carried him, and made a tion to his guardian to purchase the said express route in his interest and let him run it, in which case he would not haye objected to his uncle taking the profits and storing them up for him. But Mr. Cobb wasn’t that sort of man. It would have been easier to have squeezed a quart of cider out of the foundation stones of his shabby-looking cottage than to get $200 out of Silas for any purpose whatever—ex- cept maybe to pay Bob’s funeral expenses. Under such discouraging circumstances, Bob had no hopes of ever coming into the express business unless he could per- suade Mrs. Hazen to let him have the good will and outfit on credit, and he hadn’t yet thought of approaching her on such a doubtful mission. What is furthest from expectation is sometimes nearest of realization, and so it was with the express business, but Bob didn’t know it. CHAPTER II. E A THRILLING RESCUE. Newtown was a good-sized village in Ulster County, New York State. ' It was situated perhaps a mile south of the trolley road which runs between Highland, on the Hudson River opposite Poughkeepsie, and New Palz, on the Walkyll Valley Railroad. Many of the villagers and farmers in the neighborhood added to their income by taking boarders in the summer. As our story opens in the early part of June, there were already a number of city people at the different houses. Among these was a wealthy New York merchant named William Fairchild and his daughter Fanny, a charming little miss of fourteen. They were stopping at the home of a well-to-do farmer who lived about a mile outside of Newtown. Fanny Fairchild, being an only motherless daughter, was an especial pet of her father, who lavished on her everything that her heart wished for. Most young persons of her age under these circumstances would have been completely spoiled. There was so little waywardness about Fanny, and her na- ture was so gentle and affectionate, that it never occurred to her to take advantage of her father’s weakness. Sometimes, it is true, she was a little bit wilful, and would insist on having her own way; but these occasions were the exception, not the rule, Among other accomplishments Fanny was a fairly good young horsewoman. If there was one thing she enjoyed better than another’ it was to mount her pony Dandy, and ride through the high- ways of Centrai Park. When she and her father came up to Ulster County she wanted to bring Dandy with her, but her father objected to this, as it was his intention to go into the heart of the Cats- kills after a month's sojourn near Newtown, and he did not wish to encourage her horseback riding propensity in a section of the country where .she might meet with a serious accident. When Fanny got settled at Farmer Jordan’s she was de- — lighted to find that there was a beautiful though rather high- spirited little mare on the farm, and she insisted on using her — upon the road when she could persuade her father to accom- pany her as an escort, for she was not permitted to go out alone, On the day that Bob Keane read the “For Sale” notice of ; Hazen’s Express Route at the village post-office, Fanny Fair-— child and her father started out on a morning ride along the county road. fei Fanny, of course, was mounted on the little mare, which was feeling particularly festive on this occasion, while her father bestrode a brown gelding. They had gone perhaps a quarter of a mile from the tare house, in the direction of the village, when a big touring auto-— mobile came bowling along behind them. ft: aare é The chauffeur let off a weird and ear-piercing shriek as warning to them that he expected undisputed iabt-on-sneien : ead machine was humming: pet at a renbemagery Puy + lars bagi re ee beta e d . : ¥ & Z a a

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ON ___ rush of the red machine as it whizzed by them like an arrow _ from a bow.. Both ‘animals rose on their haunches, and, while the horse backed up against the fence, the little mare, with a snort of ‘terror, dashed offi down the road toward Newtown at a pace - that would:have made the famous Tam o’Shanter look like thirty cents: - ; Fanny ‘was now placed in a situation of great peril, because the bridie-reins had become unbuckled from the bit, and she had no control whatever over the spirited and terror-stricken animal on which she was mounted. = She could only cling wildly to the side-saddle with both hands and let,matters take their course. Bob Keane passed along up Main street until he came to its peneson with the county road, and then. kept on along the to He was going to call on a particular friend of his named Dan Griswold. ? Dan lived on a farm with his*parents, and helped to do his share of the work. ; The Griswolds had a good-sized strawberry patch, and Dan Was busy these days picking the fruit for market. _ ° A ¢reek crossed the road at the beginning of the Griswold boundary line, and afterward diverged through the property. i Bob and Dan often rowed up and down this narrow stream, Which emptied in a small lake two miles from the road. ¥ The county had built a substantial bridge over the creek connecting both ends of the road. The day previous, however, a heavy team, guided by an in- toxicated driver, had smashed into and broken down one of the _ railings of the bridge, leaving it in a dangerous condition. As the road turned kind-of short at this point a swiftly- _ riven team needed careful guidance to avoid being switched The boy’s sharp eyes not only saw that the bridle-reins were __ useless, but that the girl’s seat in the saddle was insecure, and it seemed every moment as though she would fall under the hoofs of the horse. hy To stop a frightened animal coming at you like a small ‘ty _ whirlwind is not a very easy thing to do, and no one knew that better than Bob. But the risk attending such a feat did not deter the brave boy in the least. - A human life was in peril, and the fact that the endangered one was a young and lovely little girl, appealed to all the chivalry in the lad’s nature. he first thing he did was to tear off his jacket, spring into the middle of the road and wave it at the mare. he animal saw the apparition before it and swerved aside. £ For the moment her speed slackened by one-half, and Bob - tock instant advantage of the circumstance to make a grab at the bridle4with his right hand, at the same time throwing his left around the mare’s neck. __ The animal sprang forward again and tried to shake the boy off, dragging him with her clear to the bridge. _ The wagon, which was approaching from the opposite direc- tion, reached the bridge at the same time. Fer a moment a collision between the parties seemed in- - evitable. ; _ Bob, however, succeeded in swinging the mare into the ze and stopping her at the very edge of the broken rail. It was en exceedingly narrow escape for Fanny, whose pitening face and staring eyes showed that she was on the ~ ap os pe THE SQUARE. 0 a RS NY GS Sc Sa SESS ATED SER SESE LN STEED SS at Sera. Se a ee Te a a aes iy _ the outlandish toot, and their fright was magnified by the in ier a 3 As soon as Bob had arrested the animal's flight he turned and caught Fanny in his arms as she was sliding out of th saddle. : : The man driving the wagon had reined in at the center of the bridge. At that moment Mr. Fairchild himself came dashing down the road at a high speed in pursuit of his little girl. His heart had been in his throat the whole distance he had traversed, for he realized the imminent peril his child was facing. He was just in time to witness the final act in the little drama—the stoppage of the mare at the end of the broker bridge by Bob Keane CHAPTER III. BOB BORROWS TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, Mr. Fairchild sprang from his saddle and ran up to his daughter. “Fanny, my darling,” he cried in a voice of agony, as he snatched her from Bob’s arms. “Look at me. Tell me you are not hurt. Tell me——” Her father’s voice revived the fainting girl, and she opened her eyes and threw her arms about his neck. ; “No, father,” she answered, faintly, “I am not injured. This boy saved me. I couldn’t have held on a moment longer. He is a brave——” . The reaction got in its fime work, and she fainted dead away. “My poor child!’ exclaimed Mr. Fairchild, in great’ dis- tress. “I'm afraid——” gi3 “Don’t be alarmed, sir,” chipped in Bob, reassuringly. “She’s only fainted. I'l] get some water out of the creek be- low. Better lay her on the grass.” oe The merchant obeyed the boy's suggestion and laid Fanny down on the soft turf by the side of the road, taking her head, with its mass of golden hair, on his knee. Bob climbed down to the creek, filled the top of his soft- crowned hat with water, and returned to the road. ; He held it while Mr. Fairchild dashed some of the Hquid in his child’s face and chafed her hands and temples. These simple methods presently brought the girl back to her senses. oa ae “Father!” she murmured. “Where am I?’ Then her eyes rested on Bob, and instantly memory re- asserted itself. She held out her hand to him and smiled faintly. “I shall remember you as long as I live,” she said. is your name?’ “Bob Keane, miss.” “Young man, you have saved my daughter’s life,” spoke up Mr. Fairchild, with considerable emotion. “I am very grateful to you.” “Don’t mention it, sir. I am glad I was able to stop her horse. I knew the bridge was broken, and with that wagon coming this way, too, 1 was afraid——” “I understand,” interrupted the merchant, looking down into the cfeek below with a shudder. “If the mare had gone off the bridge my daughter would surely have been killed or drowned.” “I saw the whole thing, sir,” volunteered the wagoner. “I must say it was the pluckiest act 1 ever saw in: my life. But it’s like Bob Keane to do just such a thing. He is the smartest boy in the village.” “Oh, come now, Fenton, no bouquets, please,” grinned Bob. “What “I am sure I never can thank you enough, Master Keane,” said Mr. Fairchild, as Fanny sat up and smiled again at the good-looking boy, whose bravery had much impressed her, as if she was not averse to cultivating his acquaintance. “I hope you will permit us to know you better. I and my daughter are stopping at Mr. Jordan’s farm, about half a mile from here. We shall be very glad to have you eall on us there as often as,you can make it convenient. You must join with me in this invitation, Fanny.” “Yes, father. *You will come, won't you?’ she said sweetly, turning to Bob. % “Yes, miss, if you wish me to. Who shall I.ask for?” he asked. » “My name is Fanny Fairchild. Now, when shall we expect to see you?” “ll come over in a day or so.” “Be sure that you do. I shall ‘be on the lookout for you. won't you?” Bob looked doubtful, al ugh he w2s anxious to say yes. — Come to-morrow, in the em and take tea with us, i

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+ ta Very. 1. pe ON THE “You will come, won't you?’ the little miss persisted, with such a bewitching smile that the boy said yes and took the - engagement. “Now, young man,” said Mr. Fairchild, “I hope you will allow me to testify my grateful appreciation of your services in a substantial manner. I owe you more than I could ever repay were I to give you my entire fortune. I should like ’ to.present you with $500 now, simply as a little testimonial.” “No, sir. I cannot accept pay for what I did. You are both welcome to my services, for I guess any one would have acted as | did under the circumstances.” “1 don’t know about that, Master Keane. It isn’t every- body that has the nerve, or even the inclination, to risk per- sonal peril to save another’s life. -Now as a favor you'll . gceept this money, won’t you?’ and the merchant tendered Bob a roll of bills. Fenton saw the roll of bills offered to Bob as he re- mounted his wagon and drove off. The boy shook his head. Then noticing that there was a big rent in his trousers, he said: “If you want to get me a new suit of clothes [’]] call it square.” : “ll buy you a new suit with great pleasure; but you must take the money, too.” ; “I wouldn’t know what to do with $500, sir. Besides, my Uncle Silas would take it away from me. He’s my guardian, and lays claim to all that belongs to me.” “You could take it to Bloomfield and put it in the savings bank in your own name. A minor is permitted to keep a savings bank account,” said the merchant, evidently anxious _ to find some way to induce the boy to accept the money. ‘His mentioning the name of Bloomfield suddenly reminded Bob of the Hazen Express Route, which he was so anxious to embark in. Here was the opportunity for him to get the necessary : sum ‘to purchase the goodwill and ‘‘fixtures’”’ which had been _. offered for sale by the widow of the late expressman. _ He had a strong objection to accepting any money for sav- “Ing pretty Fanny Fairchild from perhaps a fatal ending to her ride: but he was not averse to borrowing $200 of the amount her father seemed so desirous of pressing upon him in order to accomplish the desire of his heart. “Ll tell you what I'll do, sir. I'll borrow $200 from you, ‘if you will let me have it that way. I want to go into the express business between Highland and Bloomfield, The man who worked the route died awhile ago and his papi nets is for sale.” “But I don't want to lend you $200; I want to give you Fanny, who had been watching Bob intently during the fore- going conversation, now interposed. “Let him have his way, papa,’ she said, knowing that her father would not accept the money back if Bob offered to return it at some subsequent day. “Loan him the $500.” -.“1 will only borrow $200,” replied Bob, decidedly. *“That is ‘11 [ need to set myself up in business, and I don’t believe in borrowing a cent more than is necessary.” “Very well,” replied Mr. Fairchild, yielding the point, since saw no other way of getting around the matter. “I will loan you the $200 you want.” He handed Bob four $50 bills. I will bring my note for this around to v youn i A “Papa,” she said, “will you fix the pridle-reins. for me?” = will do that if you seat said Bob, eager to cay of further |. to the lovely Mttle fairy. ttached the reins in a secure way. l I help how pager he asked, a bit bashfully. hy, of course,” she aed ‘have her nephew carry it on.” | postoffice offering the whole outtit for $200. | borhood. grin, “He did.” SQUARE. —s —_ she said, extending her disengaged hand to him. “And, remember, I shall expect fo, see you~ to-morrow afternoon.” is “Good-by, Miss Fanny, ll be sure to call.” 4 ofo “Good-by, my lad,” said Mr. Fairchild. “You; may rest assured that I shall not forget what you did, for my daughter, | and I trust 1 may have the opportunity isome, day. of doing something more for you.’ Fanny and her father started theit-animals at a; brisk gallop back along the road they had come, leaving Bob delighted with the good fortune which had, fallen to him. “Good-by, Bob Keane,” CHAPTER IY. BOB. AND HIS FRIEND DAN. Bob, after he had watched Miss Fanny and her disappear around the bend in the road, contemplated the with a great deal of satisfaction. s “The express route is as good as mine,” he breathed, happily; “that is, if somebody else hasn’t purchased it al- ready, which isn’t very likely, for that notice was only put up this morning. Gee whiz! Uncle Silas wouldn't do a thing to this*money if he could get hold of it. He's gat | fingers like pot-hooks—they hang on to everything they clutch. © Well, he won’t get his optics on this stuff, you can bet your life.” ‘ Bob stowed the four $50 bills in one pocket and the $25 in another; then he kept on up the road till he came to the lane which led to the Griswold farmhouse. Dan Griswold was working industriously in the strawberry patch, but he was expecting to see his friend, as Bob had promised to come over to the farm that morning. “Hello, Dan,” exclaimed Bob. “I'll give you a lift while I'm here if you wish.” “All right. Pitch right inj; Anything new in the village? “Yes, There’s a new baby up at the Hitchcocks. It ar- rived last night,” grinned Bob, as he began picking berries. “Tom Hitchcock must feel as if he owned the town,” chuckled Dan. “You can bet he does. everybody around.” “Any other new thing?’ asked Dan. : a “Hazen’s Express Route is for sale.” “Is that so? Somebody told me Mrs. Hazen was. going to. - father 225 Se Ce oe ee S ov I saw him up at the tavern treating “Must have changed her mind, for there’s a notice in the “I guess it’s worth that. “T guess it is, too.” 3 “She ought not to have much trouble finding a purchaser.” “She won't.” 2 “You seem to be pretty positive about it.” oF am. ” “Do you know anybody. that’s going to buy it?’ | “T do. > “Who is it.” “Myself.” “Yourself!” exclaimed Dan, look'ng hard at his friend. “That's what I said,” answered Bob, y goolee, “You're joking, aren’t you?” _ “No, I’m not joking.” cs “Then you're actually going to buy Hazen’s Express es and run it?’ rimors right.” up with a cent to ‘help you——” “He didn’t,” interrupted Bob. “Then where do you expect to get $200 ” “ve got it already.” . “You have!” exclaimed Dan in great surprise. “T have.” . "Where did you get it? ‘ “I borrowed it.” . ~ “Oh, come now. Who would lend you $2007" “A gentleman named Fairchild loaned it to me.” “Pairchild? Never heard of such a person in ‘this neigh- “He's a “New York merchant who “is “poarding with Gamenter at Jordan's.” | “And he loaned you ning said Dan, wares “‘Meredu 2 : Pa, ong Fits

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ee “You don’t say! Tell me about it,” said Dan, ceasing _ Operation on the berry patch and eying Bob in an inter- ested way. Bob told him how Fanny Fairchild’s mount had run away ty her} and how he‘had fortunately been,on hand to save er, pied Ot u Dan grinned when his‘friend described how pretty the girl was. “Going! to cal on her‘to-morrow?’ he chuckled. “T hope'so.”.- i “You're lucky. When'are you going to Bloomfield to buy the express route?” “After dinner.” _ “What'll your uncle say?” “['m not worrying about what he'll say.” “Do you think he’ let you run the business?” “I don't see that he'll have any right to interfere with me.” “But he’s your guardian, you know.” “I know he is. And he’s a fine one, isn’t he?’ replied Bob, sareastically. “I look as if there was $10,000 coming to me -one of these days, don’t I? I’ve asked him a dozen times to buy me a decent every-day suit, but he won’t. He says I don’t need any clothes.” “I don’t wonder everybody says he’s the meanest man in Pe the county.” ac “Mean! Say, that word isn’t enough to express my opinion x of Uncle Silas. He’s so mean that I believe he’d have a fit if he mislaid a penny and couldn’t find it again.” “You told me once that he gets $5 a week to board and clothe you. IL don’t think that it costs him over $1, a week to feed you, so he could easily afford to buy you a new suit once in a while.” y “If you was to see the table the Cobbs set you'd say it 4 didn’t cost $1 a week for the whole family.” RE _ “Don’t you get enough to eat?’ asked Dan, in surprise, s though he had heard Bob complain on the subjeet before. = “No; except when the minister calls, which isn’t often.” os “Why don’t you kick?’ *T have: but it doesn’t do any good. He told me that he doesn’t believe in pampering boys’ appetites. That the worst sin in the’ calendar is gluttony. Now, what do you think of that?’ > “I think it’s the worst I ever heard. -How does Morris * stand it?” = “He’s always: howling. Occasionally his stepmother cooks 4 ‘something extra for him, just to keep the peace; but she $3 never does that for me.” Zi “I think you're an easy mark. I never could put up with 3 the treatment you are getting whether I had $10,000 coming __~ sto me or not.” <a “What would you do about it?” ay “I'd skip out, and hoe my own row.” ee: “Well, I'm not going to. skip out, but I’m going to hoe my _ own row just the same. I’m going to take hold of Hazen’s — business and build it up.” cs “If you make any money your guardian will but in and _ * take it.” S, “IT mean to keep it out of his reach.” eh “If you can do that you'll be all right; but I’m afraid you'll have trouble getting around it.” : “Uncle Silas has stood on my neck long enough. I’ve put up with it as long as I'm going to. I intend to have a little money in my clothes, so when there’s famine on the table I'll go up to Mrs. Kydd’s restaurant and have my dinner.” “Well, Bob, I hope you'll come out all right.” “It won't be my fault if I don’t.” - ; _. At that moment a horn sounded from the back door of the farmhouse. ~ “That means dinner,” said Dan, straightening up and look- ‘ing his satisfaction. “Come along and have a square meal. You'll find plenty on our table. Mother expects you.” All right. I won't deny that I’m hungry. We had a glass of milk, some very weak porridge, a piece of bread with a little butter, and anticipations for breakfast.” “What do you mean by anticipations?” asked Dan, curiously. -“Anticipations of what we would have for dinner,” grinned Bob. “Oh!” snickered Dan, picking up one of the tin pails of i berries, while Bob took the other. _ Mrs. Griswold welcomed Bob in a hearty way that was ‘positively refreshing to: the lad, and Mr. Griswold, when he came in from the fields, had something friendly to say to nad ‘any mistake when he said there would on his mother’s table. ’ ON THE SQUARE. 5 — ——————— There was heaps of it. It was a positive feast for Bob, and he required no second invitation to sail in and make himself at home. “Have another slice of pie,” said Mrs. Griswold to Bob, who was already as full as a tick. : ‘ “No, thank you. I couldn't eat another mouthful to save my life. I was just thinking you might have to rig a derti¢k to lift me out of this chair.” ; Dan let out a big guffaw at Bob’s remark, while Mr. and Mrs. Griswold both smiled. They had often heard from their son that his friend lived continuously on short rations gt the Cobb home. That was no surprise to them, as the parsimony of the Cobbs in every point of life was well known throughout the district. : “Well,” said Beb, when he and Dan had left the table, “T'll go home now, put on my other suit and go over to Bloomfield.” ‘ ' “I wish you luck, Bob,” said Dan, as his friend started off down the lane. CHAPTER V. MR. KENWICK SHAW. “Where have you been?’ asked Morris Cobb, when Bob walked into the yard of the mean-looking habitation he called home. : “Over to the Griswold farm,” replied Bob, “Well, you won’t get anything to eat now, for dinner is over and the things washed up,” grinned Morris maliciously. Bob's absence had enabled him to appropriate a double share of the meager fare and he was feeling good. “Don't want anything,” replied Bob, shortly. “Why not? Aren’t you hungry?’ in surprise. Ties “No. Just had a first-class dinner with the Griswolds.” “Is that so?’ replied Morris, Mm a disappointed and envious tone. : “That's so. They ‘had a fine layout,” grinned Bob, feeling in the humor of getting back at his cousin. “What do’ you s’pose was on the table?” , “How should I know?’ answered Morris, sulkily. k ; “Well, there was roast yeal and boiled potatoes, and asparagus, and string beans, and lots of bread and butter, and a pitcher chock full of milk, and strawberry pie. .I had two big juicy slices of the pie,” chuckled Bob, “and Mrs. Griswold wanted to help me to a third.” Morris listened to this luscious description silence. , It made him hungry to think abeut it and mad because his cousin had enjoyed such a snap. He kicked his heels angrily into the dirt, and then walked off behind the barn, where he could enjoy a cigarette without t his father’s knowledge. ; + Bob went into the house and started to go up into his rr! room to dress himself, when Mr. Cobb saw him and called K, him back. 5 \ -F “Where have .you been all morning?’ he asked, with a frown. : “Different places,” replied Bob. “Most of the time up at ~~ the Griswold farm.” i “What were you doing there?” ~ : Y 1 s i in dogged “Went to see Dan Griswold.” “I s'pose you had your dinner, because if you hain't you won’t get nothin’ till tea time.” “I had something to eat with the Griswold’s.” 5 “Where are you goin’ now?” “Up to my room.” pts “Put on your good clothes. I want you to go te High- land to meet the 3:40 train. There’s a man comin’ up to look at the Chadwick farm. I expect to sell it to him.” Bob couldn’t very well refuse to do his uncle's bidding, though he knew it would prevent him from going to Bloom- field that afternoon to make the purchase of the express route. . ; “Well,” he said to himself, as he was donning his Sunday suit, “Ill go over early in the morning. I can have my breakfast in bloomfield. Uncle Silas will be just as well pleased, for he'll save what I would eat, if Morris ‘doesn’t gobble it up himself.” ’ So half an hour later, Bob, having hitched up Napoleon Bonaparte, Mr. Cobb’s horse, called “Bony” for short—a namie — the villagers thought very appropriate because he seemed a veritable bundle of skin and bones—to the rickety wagon, drove out of the yard and took the country road for High-— Jand, a village on the West Shore Railroad. : *

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ON THE Bob reached Highland at three o'clock, and had forty min- wtes to wait for the New York train. The village itself is situated on an elevation about half a mile from the railroad station, which is down near the 9 river. Ey: Bob drove to the station, hitched his team and then strolled down to the ferry landing to watch the boat come across from Poughkeepsie. The train came in on time and the boy recognized his man by the description furnished by his uncle. His name was Kenwick Shaw. ’ “Are you the boy that’s ta,take me out to Newtown?” he asked, as Bob approached him. “Yes, sir. Let me take your grip.” The boy carried it out to the wagon and tossed it in. “Now, sir, if you’re ready, we'll start along,” he said. Mr. Shaw mounted to the seat, Bob followed, and Napoleon Bonaparte started off at a quick trot, as if he scented a bagful of oats’ at the end of his journey. “Where did you get this rig?’ asked the man, with a grin, noting the peculiarities of the team. “This belongs to Mr. Cobb.” “What makes that horse so thin? Don’t he get enough to eat?” “Well, sir,” replied Bob, without cracking a smile, “his name is Bony, and he likes to live up to his name.” B, “Oh, that’s it, eh?’ laughed the man. “I’m bound to say , that the name fits him like a new glove.” ~ “He's always looked this way since I can remember,” chuckled Bob. “It's a wonder how he holds himself together. When we first started out I expected’ every moment to see him spread himself over the road. I notice he can go some.” “He certainly can. Bony can make some of the sleek- looking nags up our way look like thirty cents when he gets down to business.” “I s’pose you know I’ve come up to look the Chadwick farm-over with the idea of buying it,” said Mr. Shaw. “So Mr. Cobb said.” “Do you live with Mr. Cobb?” Veg: “gin # 3 “Hired boy, I suppose?” “No, sir. Mr. Cobb is my uncle and guardian.” “What is your name?” “Bob Keane.” ie “Well, Bob, I rather like your face. You ‘seem to be a _ bright, honest boy.” _ “Thank you, sir, for yoyr good opinion.” “You're welcome. I always like to talk to a smart, in- telligent boy. Now what do you think of the Chadwick farm?” “I've heard that it’s a first-class piece of property, sir.” “That's what it was represented to me. I suppose I can thoroughly depend on whatever your uncle says, can’t I?” “I suppose you can, sir,” replied Bob non-committally. “Is he the only real estate man in Newtown?” “Yes, sir. He’s the county auctioneer, too.” “Then he must be a man of some standing in the com- Taunity. ‘tHe. iatunte about five feet six in his stocking feet,” re- plied the boy without a smile. - i eae Shaw stared at Bob for a moment and then burst into z a ugh. “You seem to be quite a humorist, Bob.” The boy made no reply. He looked straight ahead along the white road and chir- - Raped to Bony. “How far have we got to go?” asked Mr. Shaw, after a pause a ~ “About five miles, sir.” “Is Newtown a town or a village?” “It's a village.” _ “What's the nearest town?” 'There’s New Paltz, a good-sized place, about three miles the northwest, and ag amen four mallee or so to the on Mr. Cobb do any, farming?” ; “4 3 much as can be expected on.a ten-acre plot.” ee: — you work: daiapene ee pears soba you're he Ags Pras his" — ee cn ee eee “No, sir. I expect to run an express wagon route a a as we tic oc ged cas es oe Bloomfield and Highland.” “Going to hire yourself out as the driver, eh?” “No, sir. I’m going to buy the route and run if, as’ my own business.” [ “You don’t say. Think you can Shake it pay? 7 “T think so or I shouldn't go into it.” “TI thought you was a pretty clever. boy,” said Mr. Shaw, regarding Bob with a fresh interest. “Your uncle. must 80. consider you if he’s willing to start you up in business.” “He isn’t going to start me. I’m starting myself.” “You're quite an independent young man. I should think it would cost you something for your outfit.” “Yes, sir. I expect to pay $200 for it.” Mr. Shaw thought $200 was a lot of money for a sixteen- year-old boy to have, but he did not consider it just right to ask Bob where he got the money froin. It seemed natural to suppose that he came by it honestly. During the rest of the journey they conversed on differ- ent topics, and Mr. Shaw had conceived a very favorable opinion of Bob by the time the boy drove up to the front door of the Cobb cottage. CHAPTER VI. SILAS COBB'S MYSTERIOUS MIDNIGHT MOVEMENTS. Mr. Shaw was rather unpleasantly surprised at the third- rate appearance of the Cobb home. In a way it resembled Silas Cobb himself. It was dingy, unpainted and rather dilapidated, just as Mr. Cobb’s outward person was rusty, commonplace and unpre- possessing. Within it was cheerless and uncomfortable, quite on a par with the dispositions of Mr. Cobb and his spouse. The general aspect of the place prepared Mr. Shaw for what he might expect to see in the real estate agent he had come to do business with, and we are bound to say that he was not disappointed. Silas Cobb’s office occupied one of the lower front rooms. Over the door was a hy i satis: caprte sign which read: SILAS COBB, Auctioneer and Real Estate. Mr. Cobb’ came out to greet his visitor, whom he expected to stay all night, though the cost of the extra victuals was a severe tax upon his economical principles. However, as he expected to make a good commission out of both parties to the deal in prospect, he comforted himself with that_ reflection. “Step right into my office, Mr. Shaw,” said Mr. Cobb, serew- ing his countenance into as genial an expression as it was possible for him to do. “I can give you all the particulars of the farm before we go in to supper.” Mr. Shaw followed his host into his small and cheerless office, while Bob drove Bony and the wagon around into the yard, unharnessed the faithful, half-starved animal and led him into his dilapidated stall. Bob and Bony were great friends. Z The horse seemed to realize that the boy was the only one who took the least interest in his welfare. Bony would probably have gone to the bone heap long ago but for Bob, who by the greatest ingenuity managed to keep | the life in his attenuated frame by feeding him on the sly an — extra quantity of oats. " Silas Cobb was so blind to his own interests that he would have seen the animal starve to death before he would haye> — opened his purse-strings enough to buy him a proper amount ~ of food. : a eon So Bob, who had a heart in his bosom and not a stone like his miserly uncle, frequently begged 1 small supply of cats: 4 from the different farmers with whom he was on fri Yy "3 terms, and brought it to Bony unbeknown to his guardian, who had he discovered the circumstances Was mean enough to have docked the horse his next meal in order to save some- thing by it. : Bob never looked Bony in the face but he felt sorry for him, the animal had such a forlorn, hopeless” expression, | al- most human in its intensity, in his big, sunken eyes. He'd rub bis nose on the boy's hand and then look at him as much as to say that life for ning was ‘a strenuous ee. of business. Ou es oecasion Bob bad. stopped at as pure alo road got a small odder for a Sa cpedaeritage’ Me as au ay f . Rant - vhf

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ON THE SQUARE. 7? _. Morris Cobb was, for a wonder, making himself useful to _ his stepmother. _ The sudden interest he displayed in the culinary depart- _ ment was owing to the fact that the advent of a visitor neces- _ Sitated the preparation of a number of table delicacies not often seen in the Cobb ome, and the boy’s mouth was water- _ ing in anticipation of the coming feast. 3 His idea’ was to try and make himself solid with his father’s _ wife, so that he might hope to get a little more than his share of the good things. Bob met him at the well drawing a pail of water. - **You seem to have got busy all at once,” grinned Bob. _ “What's the matter? ‘Trying to reduce your flesh?” As Morris wasn’t overburdened with flesh, he regarded this - remark as sareasti¢ on Bob’s part, and he scowled darkly at his cousin. “Mind your own business, will you?” he snorted. “I usually do, but your sudden activity took me so by sur- prise that I couldn’t help saying something.” “I suppose you think you do all the work about the place?” Sneered Morris. “T do my share, I guess, and generally a little more.” “Not lately,” replied his cousin sulkily. “That’s because I’m getting wise.” “Ho!” A a _ stay all night,” said Bob. ta> ve “Tell me something I don’t know, smart Aleck.” 3 *¥ eould tell you lots of things you don’t know if I wanted to,” answered Bob coolly; “but I'm afraid the shock would be too great for you.” : “Is that so?” snarled Morris. “I can tell you one thing ie *ou don’t know.” ie “What is it, sonny?” chuckled Bob. z “You're not going to be allowed to eat at the first table,” triumphantly. % - “Who says so?” = “Ma says so,” maliciously. + +“ suppose there’s a reason, isn’t there?” 4) “Yes, because there isn't room at the table.” as “Qh, 1 see, the visitor has to occupy my seat.” “There won't be much left when you sit down,” said Mor- ris. with a grin of satisfaction. “I don’t s’pose you're hungry anyway, after the big dinner you had at the Griswold farm.” “You se to know all about it,” replied Bob, not pleased with the tlook. Morris laughed slyly, lifted the pail full of water and went inte the kitchen. “Tt looks as if I was going to come in for the short end a: in.” said Bob to himself gloomily. “What's the use of being worth $10.000 if one has to be half-starved?» Well. if they put it over me in that way to-night I'll go up to Mrs. ~ Kydd's and get my supper. It’s a good thing I've got money in my pocket.” That put Bob in mind of his $225. Tt suddenly struck him that it might not be quite safe for him to carry that amount in his clothes into the house. By Mr. Cobb had such a keen nose for money that it was pos- sible he might even smell it upon /his person. ‘Tm such an event he wouldn't rest until he found some way of getting hold of it. and that would be a dreadful ealamity for the boy. : So Bob sat down on the edge of the well and considered where he had better hide his money. “After some deliberation he decided to hide it in the barn. Morris hardly ever went in there, and Mr. Cobb very sel- Bob therefore went to the stable and looked around. ~ He found a loose board in one corner. and under the loose board he put all his money but a $5 bill. The $5 bill he stowed away in his vest. “When Bob entered the kitchen he was not surprised, after t he had heard from Morris, to learn from the sharp lips of Mrs. Cobb that he wasn't to have his supper until the had eaten theirs. - It wasn’t pleasant for him to*sit on the doorstep, while the rs were enjoying a good supper in the little dining-room, for Bob was hungry. in spite of the good dinner he had had at the Griswold farm. SZ But the boy didn’t kick, for it wasn’t his nature to revolt what he couldn't change. and so he waited patiently for ‘tocome. ; wa 1 inside the table looked as if it had ie: x + A 3 “We're going to have a visitor for supper, and he’s going to| h However, he fotind that by some good luck all the eatables had not disappeared, and that enough remained to satisfy his appetite. Morris was evidently disappointed that Bob really got a fair share of the provender, for he had been counting on see- ing his cousin go half supperless to bed. Mr. Cobb carried a pair of chairs outside in;front of the house, and there he and his guest sat and smoked and talked about the Chadwick property and other matters until the clock inside struck nine, and then the real estate man hinted that it was time to retire for the night. Mr. Shaw was shown to a room oceupied jointly by Bob and Morris. Morris’ bed, being the better of the two, was allotted to, the visitor while its customary occupant had to turn in with his cousin. Mr. Shaw had wondered why room hadn’t been made at. the supper table for Bob. He sized up Morris, and the estimate he formed of his character was not particularly flattering. However, he figured that, as the latter was the real estate man’s son, while Bob was only his nephew, Morris, when jt came to’ a pinch, had all the advantage of the situation. Mr. Shaw had brought several hundred dollars with him, to pay down on the contract if the Chadwick farm suited im. He had, three $100 bills and four $50 bills. He counted this as he sat on the edge of-the bed to see if it was all right. : Morris watched him turn over the ends of the bills one by one, and the figures thereon interested him greatly. Mr. Shaw divided the money, putting the three big bills in one pocket of his yest, and the four lesser bills in an- other. : Then he finished disrobing and went to bed, after blowing out the lamp as he had been requested to do. A couple of hours later Silas Cobb entered the room softly. in his stocking feet and listened intently to the breathing of! the three sleepers. Whatever his business was there he did not strike a light, and he moved about as noiselessly as a shadow. Finally he uttered a grunt of satisfaction and left the reom, as softly as he had entered it. Daylight was flittering through the window panes when Bob awoke. He jumped out of bed and started to dress. He noticed a pair of trousers on the floor near the hendl’ of the bed. i Picking them up. he found it was not his own. but was Mor- ris’, so he threw it on top of the rest of his cousin's clothes, finished dressing himself in his best suit. and then left thei. room without disturbing the other sleepers. He went to the barn, got his money from the place where he had concealed it and then started off on foot for Bloom-! field. CHAPTER VII. THE MISSING MONEY. It was about six o’clock when Morris woke up. : He burriedly dressed himself and left the house, making a, bee-line for the back of the barn. ¢ Looking carefully around to see that he was quite alone, he thrust his hand into,the right pocket of his trousers. He withdrew it with a disappointed look, and then dived into the other pocket. A look of blank amazement came over his features. Whatever he had expected to find was not there. He went through both pockets once more with the same result, and then he sat down on the ground with a look on his face that would have led an observer to suppose he had: just lost his only friend on earth. It was about this time that Mr. Shaw. turned over in bed, opened his eyes and discovered that it was morning. He looked at his watch and saw that it was twenty min- utes of seven. | _ y ee “Time to get up, I guess,” he said to himsélf, as -he put his feet out on the floor, ~ After he put on his vest he mechanically put his hands a the pockets in which he had deposited his two rolls of Ss. Y were missing. “That's funny,” he remarked. He dressed himself leisurely. aa ol ee ee The $300 wad was there all right, but the four $50 bills “I must bavesdropped them f ; ‘ - -'

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8 ON THE SQU ARE. at ee ——— on the floor last night when I thought I placed them in my | “I should hope not,” she answered vigorously. “‘Silas is pocket.” that honest he wouldn’t keep.a penny if he found 4t on the So he looked around the rag carpet for some trace of the! street and could find its owner.” + DU bills. “Tt seems strange, Martha, where his money could have . There was no sign of them anywhere, though he shook out} gone,” said her husband. ak " the bed-clothes under the supposition that they might have| Mrs. Cobb asked Mr. Shaw the same questions her spouse lodged on the coverlet. already propounded to him and received the, same an- Then he searched all his pockets very carefully without} swers. the least result. “Haye you see Bob this ieee mated thet indy sud- “The money evidently is gone.” he said, with a frown. “TI| denly. “No,” answered Mr. Cobb. “T heard him go downstairs at: daylight, and&: 4 Rasen seen nothin’ of him since. It ain’t usual for him to get up so early,” she added suspiciously. She went over to where the boy’s clothes were hung on the wall. . “Why,” she exclaimed, with a sort of acid surprise, “if he ain’t dressed himself in his best suit. What does that mean?” “Tt means he’s gone visitin’, I s’pose,” grunted Silas Cobb. “Gone. visitin’ at half-past four in the mornin’! Fiddle- de-dee! It’s my idee he’s gone for good. He's been threat- enin’ to do somethin’ -desprit for a month past.” “Why should the boy want to run away?” asked Mr. Shaw, in some surprise. “This is his home, isn’t it?” “Of course it’s his home,” snapped Mrs. Cobb. “And we've treated him jest the same as if he was our own son, hain't wonder if that young Cobb could have stolen it during the night? I saw him looking at me while I was counting it. This matter will have to be investigated, for I can’t afford to loose $200.” He completed his toilet, “went downstairs, found Silas Cobb in his office writing and reported his loss, “What's that?” exclaimed the auctioneer, looking up in a startled way. “You say that $200 was taken from. your vest pocket during the night?” “That's just what I mean to say,’ sir.” replied the. visitor brusquely.. “I brought up $500 with me to pay down on the contract if my inspection of the Chadwick farm proved satis- factory. Last night as I was undresssing I counted the money to see if it was-all right. and found that it was. I. separated it into two parts, placing the three 9100 bills in one pocket and the four $50 bills in another. This morning I found that the four bills had vanished during the night.” we, Silas?” “Four bills of $50 each?” gasped. Silas Cobb. his hand un- Her husband backed up her statement. ‘ consciously making a movement toward his trousers pucket. “Then I don’t see why you should think he has run away *¥es, sir. Four $50. bills.” just because he put on his best suit this morning and went a Mr. Cobb looked very much. disturbed. elm The fingers of his right hand twitched as he drummed with - . them nervously on his desk. ) “This—is—most Gstreasing news,” said the auctioneer, in out unusually early,” said the visitor. , “Pecause I’ve ‘suspicioned he meant to do somethin’ like that. He hain’t been no good about the place for over a month. I eouldn’t get him to do nothin’. He’s got to be a ~ lazy, good-for-nothin’ boy, that’s what he has,” said the lady — spitefully. ike “He didn’t look like a lazy boy to me—quite the opposite.. | an agitated voice. SS “It is certainly not pleseant for me,” replied Mr. Shaw de- fag iad. SE haven't so much money that I can afford to lose be $200. In fact, I don’t think that I ever saw a brighter and smarter “Are you sure when you were counting your money that appearing lad,” replied Mr. Shaw, who was clearly prepos-- _ you didn’t drop the four ‘fifties on the carpet? TU go up with! sessed in Bob’s favor. you and we'll search the room.” “That’s because you don’t know him,” snorted Mrs. Cobb, “I looked the carpet.well over, but I saw no sign of the tossing her head. 1 missing bills.” “Tm not far wrong in my first estimate of a boy,” replied “I hope you don’t think that I or any member of my family the visitor,’ firmly but politely. _ took your money?” said Mr. Cobb hastily. as he got up| “7yh!” she sniffed. “I from his chair with the intention of going to the chamber) contin’ Saae aie: pega’ pier rca ie Faye = ang searching for. the lost bills. | a lot of it he waited till you was asleep, got up and helped I have accused no one in particular of taking it as yet,”| himself to a share of it. ‘Then he laid his plans for leavin" replied the visitor. at daylight afore any of us was up. He wouldn’t have put — “Have you examined all your poc ‘kets carefully? You ‘ey on his best clothes if somethin’ wasn’t in the wind. You _ have put those bills in a different pocket than. you supposed.”| can’t tell me nothin’ about that boy. I’ve always suspicioned) Fat have gone into all my pockets, and even looked the) jo was a sly one. and now I’m sure of it,” and the lady ’ _earpet and bed-elothes well «ver to make sure, before I brought | nodded her head emphatically. ze rd loss to your attention. I am a careful:man, and sows, “Madam, I am sure you wrong the boy,” protested’ Mr. often go off half-cocked.” Shaw warnuly. 4 3 Agee pga Sg a apts tes vee te eed him betaine to “‘Thén who else could have taken your money? Mr. Cobb. Zl "a room where he slep e preceding n They both made a thorough search of the room, but their ponent eat iy te eal aoe ae We belong to the forts availed nothing toward bringing the missing bills to o steal other folk’s property.” light. “There’s no more reason for accusing this boy Bob of tak _“L ean't imagine how you could have lost your oman. You | ing my money than of suspecting your stepson who also slept are sure that you placed those bills in your vest pocket?”|in this room, and whom I saw watching me when I was 4 said Mr. Cobb, placing an emphasis on the word vest. counting the bills.” am positive that I did,” replied Mr, Shaw. “In any “The iden! Just as if Morris would think of takin’ eae: “< rent, they are not in any, pocket of my clothes.” money!” exclaimed Mrs. Cobb indignantly. “Morris is a good — This some reply caused Mr. Cobb to scratch his hed in| boy. Silas!” sharply; “why don’t you defend your son?” Mr. Cobb hastened to assure his visitor that Morris was” ; “And you are positive that you had. those bills when you} one of the best boys in the county, and that stealing ‘money Snaoqestp ertainis. money?” a iuinciea el was not in his line. — y. or I should instan ve noticed “their oF _ “I beg your pardon,” replied Mr. Shaw hastily. seein ce es ; ; g that’ lied the visitor impatiently. : he had stirred up a hornets’ nest. “TI did not intimate that — nile they were talking Mrs. Cobb went) to the office to I-thought your-son had robbed me.” them to breakfast. “ * 1 Not finding them there, and hearing their voices up in the ie Speech nine: per ts bie 5 dete eared “B hamber, she A stag the stairway gah och them that the! fe was down in the yard when I come up here. If he stole ing meal, was: Fa our mi he would have rumaway, wouldn't he?” r sharp ‘eyes ected that dking was wrong. | triumphantly, rie ‘a ctiPher to her » cui pes ; anager’ a+! Bae rouble ie te lag ee “TI think we had better go to breakfast,” suggested ested the # estate man, who looked ee and titre. look into the ‘Inatter afterward is teat yon te ns ie tase wite ei ingly te Cob ae es i. a

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. 9 —_ ON THE SQUARE. - ing-room. where the lady of the house hastened to dish up a round-steak, with fried potatoes and hot biscuits. She called Morris, who appeared to be in a disconsolate humor, and then the four sat down to the morning meal. Yo , ca tacts + CHAPTER VIIL. iN Waid 92's DkcIED THAT BOR KEANE IS A THIEF. a Although» nothing was said at the table about the theft of the $200. nevertheless Silas Cob was doing some tall think- ‘ing on the subject. 4) REPOS Bob was the person who had surreptitiously taken the four bills soon after the mun had gone to sleep. Why was Mr. Cobb so cettain in his own mind that his hephew was the guilty party? r. Let us explain. ¥ On the preceding afternoon, while Bob was at Hilands - awaiting the arrival of the 3:40 train from New York, Mr. Cobb met Fenton, the wagoner. Fenton told him how he had seen Bob, at the risk of his life. resene the little daughter of an early summer boarder at <ae named Fairchild, from almost certain death, and a he had seen the grateful father tender the boy a roll of ills. _ Jordan's, x ‘ 3 _ off,” Fenton said. “I thought he was a fool, but it wasn't - any of my business.” : “But he might have taken it after you left,” said Silas _ Cobb eagerly. : * _ “that’s true. He might have done so. him since morning?” aes _ of money.” “Maybe he didn’t want you to know anything about It.” “He hain’t got no right to keep such.a thing to himself. ‘If he has a roll of money in his possession I have a right to know it. I'm his guardian, and the law says I must take eare of all his property. I’m goin’ to speak to him about it to-night.” It happened, however, that Mr. Cobb, being fully engaged _ with his visitor, found no chance to talk to his nephew on the subject. ‘ He did not forget the matter, though. Several times he asked himself if Bob really did get a roll of money from the grateful™gentleman, and if so how much did it amount to. - Tt must be econsiderable—probably as much as $100. Finally Silas Cobb decided that he would wait till after _ Bob, his son and his guest had gone to bed and had had ‘time to get to sleep. ; Then he meant to go softly up to the chamber and search ‘Bob's clothes for the money, which he more than ever be- - lieved he had. * But there were other forces at work that Mr. Cobb never dreamed of. When Mr. Shaw was counting his money he noticed that Morris Cobb’s eyes were on him. _-He thought little of the matter and in due time dropped asleep. - Morris, however, didn’t go to sleep as Soon as he naturally would have done. The sight of so much money in the visitor's vest interested him greatly. He needed money badly himself, for his father seldom gave him a cent, and when he did it came from him like the draw- ing of a back tooth... Here was a chance to get a good sum, and he thought with- ut suspicion attaching himself, for he meant te get up be- fore the visitor awoke and hide the money. FEE So, with this purpose in his mind, he waited.for an hour listening to the man’s deep breathing while he was trying /summon up enough courage to steal the bills. At last he got out of bed, crawled softly to Have you seen 4 Z 4 ~ t the visitor's and as he had carefully noted where Mr. Shaw had hung ‘yest, he inserted his fingers Into one of the pockets, felt » bills and hastily drew them. out, : 3 He had no idea how much the notes amounted to, nor did » care, but he guessed they represented a sum sufficient for returned to the bed, thrust them hastily into one of his L a and after a while fell asleep, ae ok - _ If his yisitor had really lost that’ sum of money, and there | _ Seemed to be little doubt but he had, he was satisfied that | “Pob didn’t seem inclined to take the money, as I drove | |“He knows I won't dare to squeal. ; but he didn’t say nothin’ to me about havin’ a roll’ ‘ and told his story. Fifteen minutes afterward Silas Cobb came into the room like a shadow. He went directly to the boy’s bed, and taking up Bob's trousers searched them without success. Then he thought maybe he had hold of his son’s trousers by mistake, so he took up Morris’ pants, and going through them his talon-like fingers closed on the bills. With a grunt of satisfaction, he threw down the trousers and left the room. 3 When he got to his own room he examined the bills and saw there were four of them, each of the denomination of $50. “So this is what he got from that Mr. Fairchild. eh?” he muttered grimly. “Well, I guess I can take care of them bet- ter than he. T'll: tell him to-morrow that I've got ’em, and that when he gets to be twenty-one, if he lives so long, he can have ‘em back.” With this comfortable reflection, Mr. Cobb turned in for the night. , In the morning when Morris rushed behind the barn ‘to count his ill-gotten money he was astonished to discover that the bills he had stolen bad taken fiight during the night. At first he couldn't account for the mystery, but not see- ing Bob anywhere about the premises, he came to the con- clusion that Bob had not been asleep when he took the money; that he had seen him do the deed, and then foxily waited for him (Morris) to get asleep, when he had abstructed the money for himself. ; “That's why he got up before me,” snarled Morris furiously, Oh, the villain! I’d like to kill him!” When Mr.’ Shaw reported his loss to Mr. Cobb, and stated that he had. lost four $50 bills, just what he (Cobb) had found in what he supposed was Bob’s trousers, the real es- tate man became perplexed and nervous. Was it possible that Bob had not received any money, after all, from Mr. Fairchild, but had deliberately robbed Mr. Shaw of the four bills? It certainly looked that way for Silas knew that: neither he nor his wife had taken the mams money, and he did uot even suspect his graceless son. : Mr. Cobb argued that Bob would return as soon as he dis-- covered that the $200 was missing from his pocket. “He'll probably think he’s lost it some way.” chuckled the old man. “It won’t do any good to have the constable ar? rest him and charge him with the theft, as nothin’ can be proved agin him, since the money he evidently stole is in my pocket, and not in his.” As matters stood, it was clearly up to Mr. Cobb to make an explanation of the circumstances as he saw them, and restore the $200 to Mr. Shaw. : There were two reasons, however, why Silas Cobb hesi- tated to clear up the mystery—the first was that he was ashamed to acknowledge to his visitor that he was mean enough to creep upstairs in the dead of night and go through his nephew’s clothes in order to deprive the boy of money which he supposed he had earned at the risk of his life; the second was that Mr. Cobb, who loved money better than anything else in this world, was sorely tempted to take ad- vantage of the mix-up to retain the $200 in question, for he hated to give up a dollar once he got his fingers on it. : After breakfast the real estate man and his guest ad- journed: toe the office. here was one thing Mr. Cobb wanted to know before he’ | finally decided whether he would hold on to the $200: : Pointing toa chair, he cleared bis throat and then asked the gentleman if he thought he would be able to recognize the missing bills if he saw them again. : “Yes, sir,” replied Mr. Shaw promptly. “The four bills were all issued by the same bank—the Manhattan National of New York City, and I have their numbers in my memoran-: dum book. “That is a precaution I always take when carry-— ing bills of large denominations around with me.” This reply seemed to disconcert Silas Cobb, and for a mo- ment or two he said nothing and drummed nervously on his desk. #«K “It is very strange my nephew should absent himself im ~ such a mysterious way,” he said presently. “I'm afraid——"* ) PM, ; At that moment Mrs. Cobb burst into the office in a tri- ulmphant manner. " “What did I tell you? I know’d Bob Keane took that money. Come.in here, Morris, and tell your father what Bob a said to you in the post-office yesterday mornin’.” 5 -4 ag F Morris, who was at his stepmother’s heels, came forward — @ bf 2 5 yack

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10 . ON THE SQUARE. . He said that he and Bob had gone to the post-office the _ previous morning, and while there had seen a notice which CHAPTER IX. stated that Hazen’s Express route was for sale and could be IN WHICH BOB FINDS HIMSELF IN A GRAVE FIX. bought for $200. It was with an elastic step that Bob left the Cobb yard : “Bob said he wished he had $200,” went on Morris, ma- : > c z - liciously, satisfied that his evidence would get a cousin por ole a walked ap Main street, ‘and took ne se seed a peck of trouble, for he was sure Bob intended to use the E 5 money (which Morris supposed his cousin had taken from diay Sec lida imagine waa bel e-Gebt oon his trousers pocket while he slept) to purchase the express / ction he would take out of being his own ea: route, “so he could buy out the route and run it himself. He ay “nheht to mak ood thin 3 hatiling’ tis +rdfike of the 4 id he was certain he could make a raft of money.” ous ae & 1s : i rth rs * M Cobb. whén- Morris had: con- summer boarders to and from Hiland’s this Season, and oad, ar Ronan ae ed gets - -aitegs of: Intanse sate carrying some of the boarders, too. I can fix it with the : faction ~ me you'll believe what I say another time. I farmers, who hate to hitch up a team to go all that distance ‘s’pose you know what’s come of your money now. It’s as Mad i Sy 1b te geese oe iy a two. ener é resi Pin $ P ,|leave the job to me. can charge a quarter a ; Lorem ants hag sone? ie ‘mind a os. $200 es bay yee quarter for a trunk, and carry a whole lot a pe bog ey -youwte. Why didn’t he take the whole of your money while Sane ae tn Je Bile is cat yo rs aad paw as 2s he was about it? Because he only wanted $200. Now, mark | +), tT oe oy i pier. .. tt) chin’ Oe nia eke my words, he’s gone to Bloomfield, and has bought that out- he dishppointed. ain ready a ‘4a ‘he’s quate thing iy aia fit by this time. It’s easy enough for you to go to that place, f _ : ba? 1 vee ; eel on: the. Widder “Elasen;and-seo, if Inbain't eight. > You'll |so"'Ue? than that, pixy. Hes Bal On me ae iP Pea aritines ‘find them four fifties of yours in her pocket. Then all you ing to, now I’m going to make a man of myself. I'm bg need do is to have the constable arrest Bob. He’ll confess to pay him for the use of the stall next to gap Tn fact, soon enough when he’s in jail. After that the widder ‘ll have | 1 ne wie oA eee the ea a for Poet Thatll a S be money and take her rig back.” uncle a decent-looking animal in place of the scarecrow B a Lite han stated the case like a female lawyer, and she | 22 ie Stag oe re pa Or ears cat he'd : Pied aj soon lose a s angles and. n 00 ke a decent horse. ee aed certain she was right as that the sun shone at that I’m willing to stand the expense, and the guying I'll get at Things certainly did look black against poor honest Bob, rie: teat Toca peg Sg Si popes animal, and I know he she always prided: nimselt ae Oding ea thevaquers. Thus figuring on the future, and building many air castles, Eyen Mr. Shaw began to have some doubts, after all, con-| Boh reached Bloomfield and directed his steps to the cottage cerning his estimate of the boy’s character. of Widow Hazen, which was on the suburbs of the town. Mr. Cobb, however, chuckled to himself as he listened to) [t was seven o'clock when Bob knocked on Mrs. Hazen's his wife’s deduction. door. , 2H! While he had little doubt but she was right in her con-| We announced his mission and was asked to walk in. __ elusions, he knew that it would be only a waste of time to| Mrs, Hazen and the little Hazens were at breakfast, and go to Bloomfield on an investigation tour, since the money 0D | the boy was cordially invited to sit up at the table and par- __ “which Bob depended to ‘buy the route was now in his uncle’s |take of the frugal breakfast. : possession; therefore it stood to reason, thought Mr. Cobb, that; Bob politely declined on the score that he was in a hurry, b, not having the price, could not buy the route. , so Mrs. Hazen took him out to her barn and showed him the Still if Mr. Shaw, influenced by Mrs. Cobb’s logic, insisted | horse, wagon and harness that went with the route. ; ‘on probing into the matter he (Mr. Cobb) would agree that} The boy could judge a horse as well as an experienced {ft was the proper thing to do under the suspicious circum-| dealer, and after a critical survey of the outfit decided that stances. it was worth the money asked. ~ Until his wife had brought Morris forward with his story} \fany persons in the boy’s place would have tried to beat of the express route, Silas had been a bit puzzled to account the widow down in her price, and probably would have suec- for Bob’s theft, as in his heart he had believed his nephew | ceeded, as she needed the money badly, but Bob prided him- — to be a thoroughly honest boy; but now he thought he saw the| seit on being “on the square,” and as he honestly believed the horse, wagon and good will of the route was worth more than Mrs. Hazen asked he scorned te.resort to the dickering process. “I’}l take the route at your figure, Mrs. Hazen,” he said finally. The woman looked pleased and apparently relieved, for she had expected to have to take possibly $25 off in order to make the sale. “Who is it for?” she asked. ‘ = “For myself,” replied Bob, in a business-like tone. sig The woman looked a bit surprised. : 4 “You seem young to run this business,” she said. “How = old are you?” : “Sixteen.” J + “Well, you look stout and hearty. Maybe you'll get along.” bs 3 _ “nigger in the woodpile,” and it strengthened a notion he ‘j had long entertained that the most honest people in the Well," snapped Mrs. Cobb impatiently, “why don't you | get busy, Silas? It’s your place to hitch up Bony to the ~ wagon and take Mr. Shaw to Bloomfield, I calculate he’s anxious to get his money back.” As Mr. Cobb was ruled by his wife in every particular ex- cept in money matters, in which, fortunately for their do- - mestic felicity, they were both of a mind, he got up and pre- pared to follow out her suggestion. “You'd better take the constable with you, pa,” Morris shouted after him, “or Bob ‘ll be sure to cut his stick when he sees you are after him.” - Morrts also had some intention of asking his father to let ifm go along, so he could enjoy the satisfaction of gloating ever Bob when he was captured. Mr, Shaw was the only one of the quartet, though he was ‘the most interested in the recovery of the money, who had lit- _ tle heart in the journey. miki ‘He was a good-hearted man, and it made him sad to think that the boy who had so favorably impressed him by his hon- st face and upright talk was a mean thief. _ It only went to show how littie dependence could be placed 70n personal appearances, and how a smooth tongue is one the most deceptive things in the world. world will yield to certain temptations. * “Have you a list of Mr. Hazen’s customers?” i “T have his memorandum book—that has all the names in — it—which I'll let you have.” f “Thank you, ma’am. We'll go back to the house now. I want you to make out a bill of sale—my name is Robert Keane — —and then J’ll pay you the money.” a Mrs. Hazén made out the bill of sale in proper shape and — handed it to Bob. _ Sa He passed over the four fifty dollar bills he received from _ Mr. Fairchild. ae. “Boys like you don’t often have $200 to invest in a busi- ness,” the woman said with a smile. - She was of an unsuspicious nature, and did not dream asking the boy ph vast he got = wy me LS. “That's right, Mrs. Hazen. only came tnto possession wn the road,|that money yesterday by a piece of good luck,” said B ; : and then he told her how he rescued Fanny Fairchild. * t, too, as a hog on ice. ‘father ayanted to give me $500 outright; but I wouldn't shed he could only stand and stare|!t. I don't belfeve in accepting money under those ached. = ~~ ~=~———sS Stance, I borrowed those four fifties from him b

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Saw that the Hazen route was for sale and I wanted to get hold of it.” _ Bob did not take any special note of the bills, though he _hoticed that one of them was on the First National Bank of Albany, and that it had a red cross marked on the back. The deal having been settled, Bob went back to the barn, _ hitched up the team and drove out of the yard. _ He had. asked Mrs. Hazen to direct him to a sign painter and she had told him he would find one next to the Times _ hewspaper. office on Main street. _ Bob droye down there and arranged with the painter to put his name “Keane” in place of “Hazen” on the wagon, and the man promised to have it done when the boy returned from the restaurant where he was going to get his break- fast. =. : Before Bob left Bloomfield he bought a supply of oats for _ his horse and for poor, abused Bony as well. _ Then he started off at a brisk pace for Newtoarn. On the way back he prepared himself for the expected run- in with his guardian. ?. The prospect was not encouraging, but be intended te stand by his gun like a little man. . - “Tf Uncle Silas gets too frisky I'll take up quarters at the Griswold farm. Dan said I could come over there any time I wanted to.” - Comforted with the reflection that Silas Cobb didn’t cut 4 great figure in the village, and that he could count on the _ sympathy and encouragement of the people of his neighbor- - hood, Bob chirruped to his horse and felt as cheerful respect- ing the future as if he owned a farm. _ He wouldn't have been quite so happy if he had known what was awaiting him at his uncle's home. Morris noticed Bob’s approach almost as soon as his father did, and he yelled to his mother to come out and look. - Bob was not much surprised at the sensation his appear- ance created, but he aid not dream of the true reason there- a : for. He stopped in front of the office and waited for his uncle to come up, for he wanted to have matters settled then and ey there, so he could tell where he stood. “So yon've got back, have you?” said Silas, not able to un- derstand how the boy come to be in possession of the Hazen express wagon when, according to his point of view, he didn't have the money to pay for the outfit. -* #¥es, sir.” replied Bob cheerfully. “fT needn't ask if you have been to Bloomfield, for I see ‘on have,” said Mr. Cobb, eyeing the horse and wagon ask- ce. TeYex, sir: I went over this morning to buy the Hazen Ex- ress Route for myself.” Bob expected to see his uncle fly into a fit, but nothing f the kind happened. _ Silas Cobb merely regarded him with a sardonic smile. “Gee! I wonder what's in the wind?” muttered Bob, al- - most overwhelmed by his guardian’s unexpected calmness. “So you've bought Hazen’s Express Route, have yow?” re- plied Mr. Cobb, with a sneer. “P’raps you don’t mind tellin me where you got the money to pay for it.” _ *t have no objection to telling you, sir. I borrowed $200 - from Mr. William Fairchild, who is stopping up at Jordan's, 34 rday morning.” 7 Teewhat's that?” roared the real estate man, hardly believ- 7 his ears, Bob was so obliging as to at his words. . “Don’t you believe him, Silas!” shrieked Mrs. Cobb, shak- ing her fist in the air. “He bought that there horse and wagon with the money he stole from Mr. Shaw.” Bob heard Mrs. Cobb's words in blank astonishment. He thought she must have suddenly gone crazy. Cobb knew that the boy hadn't used the money in estion to buy the Hazen route because he (Cobb) had it his pocket at that moment; but he ju that Bob had srsuaded Widow Hazen to let him have it on credit. eourse he didn’t believe that Mr. Fairchild had loaned erie te hed, Mr. Shaw wouldn't have lost his $200, because, ording’ to his way of thinking, the temptation for Bob to al the money would not then have existed. is 1s Cobb, however, was shrewd enough to see that he must ust as if he had not gone up to the chamber at midnight stracted that $200 from the trousers he supposed be- his nephew. ; ry, Robert,” he said in a mild, hypocritical tone, “ in ordi bstri ON THE SQUARE. W . “Why, what do you mean?” demanded Bob, amazed at the turn affairs were taking. “I mean that Mr. Shaw lost $200 last night while he was asleep, and the evidence points to you as the one who took it.” “I took $200 from Mr. Shaw while he was asleep last night!” gasped Bob, turning red with indignation. “That’s simply ee I didn’t even know that Mr. Shaw had $200 about ™m,” “I wish I could believe you, Robert,” replied Mr. Cobb, try- ing to assume a sorrowful look, “but things look pretty black agin you.” “Mr. Shaw,” cried out Bob, energetically, “have you charged me with taking $200 of your money?” “No, Bob,” replied the visitor, “I have not charged you with the theft, but I am sorry to say that appearances seem to fasten the guilt on you.” “What do you mean by appearances, sir?” “Well, you left the house very early this morning, which your uncle’s wife says was something unusual for you to do. When I got up I found that $200 of $600 I had brought with me from New York to pay down on the Chadwick farm was missing. Your cousin Morris says that you wanted $200 very badly to buy out the Hazen Express Route. Well, you seem to have bought it. If you can satisfy me that you came hon- estly by that horse and wagon I have nothing further to say, and will apologize for having suspected you of taking my money.” “T can easily prove that the $200 I paid this morning to Mrs. Hazen rightfully belonged to me,” replied Bob, promptly. “Do you mean to say that you paid $200 in actual money to Widder Hazen this mornin’ for that outfit?” gasped Mr. Cobb, who could not understand how such a thing could be, though the others could easily understand it. : “I did,” replied Bob, while Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Cobb and Morris looked at Silas in some surprise. Mr. Cobb saw he had made a bad break and covered it up by telling Bob that he hoped he could prove his words. “Sure I can. If you and Mr. Shaw will jump in my wagon I'll drive you up to Jordan’s, and you can put the matter up to Mr. Vairchild.” Bob appeared so confident that Mr. Cobb began to feel more puzzled than ever, and to experience an uneasy sensation. “That's fair enough,” admitted the visitor. “Come along, Mr. Cobb, it is only right the boy should have a chance to clear himself as speedily as possible.” Mrs. Cobb sniffed contemptuously, and said it was her opin- ion that Bob Keane was up to some trick, for since it was plain to be seen that he had stolen the money it was utterly = aang for him to show that Mr. Fairchild had given it ta m. Kowever,.Bob carried his point and drove his uncle and the visitor to the Jordan farm. “T want to see Mr. Fairchild,” said Bob to Mr. Jordan, when he reined the team up in front of the farmhouse : “Tm afraid you'll be disappointed,” replied the farmer. - “Why?” asked Bob. F “Because Mr. Fairchild and his daughter left for New York on pres’ eight o'clock train this morning,” was the unexpected reply. itis ‘ee. 2 © | Ar Oe | 9) LPs —> a ee ee ee eT ———- CHAPTER X. MORRIS AND HIS STEPMOTHER ARE DISAPPOINTED. “Went away this morning!” exclaimed the boy in genuine amazement. “Why, Miss Fanny made me promise I would call and see her this afternoon” ; “So she told me,” replied Mr. Jordan, “and she left a note __ that I was to hand you when you came. I will get it for u. — reer hte is fierce," said Bob to Mr. Shaw, so earnestly that the __ gentleman felt he meant what he said. “As Mr. Rairchild is gone, it will be impossible for me to prove the statement made to you. But he certainly loaned me the money that paid to Mrs. Hazen.” tt “I am truly sorry the gentleman has gone,” replied Mr. Shaw, and he really meant it, for he did not wish to believe — ‘that Bob was guilty of taking his money. ik Silas Cobb was very much relieved to find that Bob could ~ not show that Mr. Fairchild had given him $200, because his ability to do so would have complicated matters Cr. He made no remark one way or the other, and presentiy Mr. Jordan brought ont the note and handed it to Bob. — The boy tore it open and read it eagerly. == Tyre. It ran as follows; Wye ley 5 t3 z a eat ~ *

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‘ ON THE . “JorpAN Farm, June 16, 190—. “Dear Bor Keane: Papa received a telegram from New York early this morning calling him back to the city on urgent _ business, and, of course, I have to go with him. I am very sorry to disappoint you this.afternoon, but it cannot be helped. We expect to be back in a week, and then you and I. must make up for lost time. Good-by. I shall never forget, nor will papa, that you saved my life yesterday. Please under- stand that we are both deeply grateful to you, and will be as long as we live. Yours sincerely, “Panny FatrcHrp.” When Bob finished reading the note he handed it to Mr. Shaw, who glanced over and returned it. “It is evidently not your fault,” he said, “that we have failed to meet Mr. Fairchild; therefore I think you are entitled to the benefit of the doubt.” “Thank you, sir,” answered Bob, gratefully. gentleman.” There was nothing more to be done at the Jordan farm, so Bob turned the wagon around and drove back. On the road he learned all the particulars of the loss of Mr. Shaw’s money. “Well, sir, all I can say is that I didn’t take it,” he said earnestly. “It is a curious thing that you should happen to lose the exact amount that I paid for this outfit. That makes the affair look bad for me.” “That is true,” replied Mr. Shaw; “but I think I see a way of proving your statement without the intervention of Mr. Fairchild.” “How?” asked Bob, eagerly, and Mr. Cobb was not less in- terested in the “way.” “T prefer to keep my. plan to myself for the present,” replied the gentleman, greatly to Bob’s uncle’s disappointment, if not uneasiness. * They _ found Mr. Cobb and Morris eagerly awaiting their re- turn. Noticing that Bob had lost something of his confident air, the lady immediately jumped to the correct conclusion that the mission had been unattended with results. “Well,” she exclaimed, with a triumphant air, “you found - out that Bob was lyin’ about Mr. Fairchild Syn him $200, a. you?” A Oo, madam, we did not,” replied the visitor, rather dis- gusted with the lady's insistence that Bob-was guilty of the theft. “We'found that Mr. Fairchild had ‘been unexpectedly - ealled to New York this morning.” “Then [I'll bet Bob knowed about it, that’s why he was so _ Yeady to carry you up to the Jordan farm. He knowed Mr. Fairchild warn’t there.” To these unfriendly remarks the gentleman made no reply. _. He was beginning to shift his suspicions from Bob to the _ whole Cobb family. _ Their eagerness to make out a case against the bright boy ‘looked as if they had something to conceal themselves. At least that is the way it now struck Mr. Shaw, and what- ever plan it was he had hinted at he was more than ever de- Seawall to carry out. : “Well, Mr. Cobb,” he said, dropping all further reference to his missing money, “let us go over and look at the Chad- wick farm.” “Hain’t you goin’ to have that boy took up for stealin’ your $2002” asked Mrs. Cobb, in great astonishment. “Not at present, madam,” replied Mr. Shaw, coldly. . ba Morris and his stepmother looked their disappoint- “You are a x se i* ? ‘cilas Cobb appeared to be rather relieved than otherwise, for to tell the truth, he ais not care for an official investigation the case. me :heped ‘that his- visitor might let the matter go by de- > readily agreed to accompany Mr. Shaw to the Chadwick ei as Bony was still standing hitched to-the wagon in f'the office the two men got in and drove away. Cobb returned to the kitchen in a huff, but Morris re- outside eyeing with no kindly expression. — : Lane! whether it was safe for him to accuse the $200 eut of the ‘trousers pocket. it. ta 5 too Rg a for he did not doubt but wena ut would immediately report "and th ut den of the a SM Aa, 2 AL SE As 0 SE EEO shoe Seo bile e aBces ea an En on nD ae gant? ae ‘up in the ag bens 2X Teele Tek Eh Alaris SR DBR A ae 8 Ss AT ALE eS ae kee ER SE eck TR ae SQUARE. the matter would serve to help Bob out of his predicament, and he earnestly hoped that Bob would be eventually con- victed, as, in his opinion, he deserved to be. “I s'’pose you’re happy now,” he finally said to Bob, with a sneer. “You managed to get the $200: you wanted so bad, and you've bought the express route.” “And you think with your stepmother that LE stole; ithe $2 flashed Bob. “Well, you know whether you. ‘stole it or- not,” replied More. ris, pointedly. -7 “T know it was loaned to me by Mr. Fairchild,” - “You ought to be able to-prove it, then.” “How can I when Mr. Fairchild has returned to New York?” “What did he go to New York for at the very moment you want to see him? Looks funny to me.. Just as funny as that Mr. Shaw should lose the exact amount that you wanted to pay for the express route.” “I don’t deny but the whole thing looks queer; but it will ‘come out all right in the end,” said Bob) confidently. “T hope it will,” said Morris, nodding his head. the person that stole that $200 will get showed up.” “T hope he will, too.” “Well, if he hasn’ t a nerve,” ‘thought Morris, as he turned on his heel and was about to re-enter the house, when he stopped and turned around. “What are you going to do with that horse and wagon?” he asked his cousin. - “What do you think I bought it for? To look at it?” “You've got to keep it somewhere, provided my father'll let . you keep it.” “T don’t think he’ W have anything to say about it.” “Why won’t he? He’s your guardian, If he objects to you having that horse and wagon he can take it away from you and sell it.” “No, he can’t.” “Why not? What's to prevent him?” “That horse and wagon practically belongs to Mr. Fairchild until I have paid him the $200 I owe him.” “That's all rot. You’re a minor and can't own nothing.” “That's just what I told you. The outfit belongs to Mr. Fairchild till it’s paid for. Maybe it won’t be paid for till 'm twenty-one,” grinned Bob. Not being able, to answer that argument, Morris switched back again. ; “Where are you going to keep your rig?” “T’d like to keep the horse in. our barn. your father for the accommodation.” “Maybe he’d let you if you swopped horses with him,” grinned Morris. “That would suit me,” said Bob. “I'll give him this animal _ for Bony and a year’s rent of a stall in the barn.” “You would?” “T would.” ¢ “T'll tell him what you said; but before anything is done about it you'll have to prove that you didn’t pay for the rig with Mr. Shaw's money.” “T expect to be able to prove that in a week.” . “How will you?” Pea Fairchild will probably return to Jordan's by that time. “How do you know he will?” “Fanny, his daughter, told me so in a note ‘she left at Jor-- dan’s for me explaining the cause of their sudden departure.” Morris was satisfied in his own mind that Bob was bluffing, just as he was sure that Bob had taken the money which, be- longed to Mr. Shaw out of his pocket. 7 Nae say Mr. Fairchild loaned you $2002" went on Morris, “Yes.” “How long have you known him?” “I only met him once, and that was yesterday morning.” “And you had the.nerve to ask him for the bir of ‘sont ¢ “He offered to give me $500.” : “What for?” * “Saving his daughter from possible death.” _ “And you refused to take $5007" said Morris, iuencaaibaaits 1a sf te ot a to believe anions “T don’t care whether you lieve it or not,” replied independently . Pot: “Well, I don’t,” replied Morris, erty, entering the house. “T hope I'm willing to pay turning around canal i" ‘CHAPTER Xi. i BOB STARTS IN TO DO .BUSINESS..” ob droye to the post-office and took down bea Mrs. saree fh pints he

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. , a ON THE SQUARE. 13° 7 t a TE Pe se ne ee aN In place of it he tacked up the following, announcement, “No, sir. All I remember is that there were four $50 bills, which he prepared in the store: and I think one of them had the name Manhattan National . \ J Bank on it.” 68 KEANE’S EXPRESS. | This information was by no means conclusive, but it had % « Dotan (Formerly Hazen’s.) two points against Bob—first that the bills were $50 ones, and a . j second, that at least one of them was on the Manhattan Na- : - On and-after the 16th day of June the undersigned is pre-| tional Bank. pared to undertake the prompt delivery of all kinds of light “When do you expect Mrs. Hazen back?” he inquired. eases, trunks, “packages, -et¢e.; between Highland and. Bloom-| “The day after to-morrow.” ; field, inclusive—two trips, morning and afternoon. Also, by “Did she deposit the money in a savings. bank before she special arrangement, to any ‘point within a radius of six'miles| went to Poughkeepsie?” j of. Newtown and five miles of Bloomfield. Charges moderate. “No, sir; she took the money with her.” e paneer Bob- Keane, Newtown Post-office. “It is a matter of the greatest importance that I should. see those bills before she disposes of them. Can you tell me where- _ Duplicates of the above bill Bob tacked up in the Bloom-| she is stopping in Poughkeepsie?” Sey Darlington and Highland post-offices before night and The young woman gave her brother's address. gave an order to a Bloomfield printer for 250 circulars which Mr. Shaw thanked her and left. _he subsequently mailed to all the customers of the late Mr.| He immediately went to a telegraph office and sent a mes-. Hazen and to every farmer within the limits of his route. | sage to Mrs. Hazen, care of her brother. _ He carried his first freight that afternoon—a dozen crates| Bob arrived in Bloomfield before dark and delivered his. load : of strawberries and four crates of asparagus from the Gris-| of freight. wold. farm to Highland station enroute to New York City. He had done pretty well on his first day, and was delighted _At Highland he picked up a full load of general merchandise with his success. for Bloomfield. As £00n as it became known that the express route was in B ay He stopped at his home in Newtown to have a talk with his| the hands of a person who would conduct it along business _ uncle about using the vacant stall next to Bony’s in the barn.| lines he was satisfied he would get all the carrying he could | _ *T can't make no arrangements with you until it has been} handle. settled whether you bought that outfit with Mr: Shaw’s money; Bob had his supper at a restaurant. or not; but you can use it to- night if you want to. Maybe the “While eating he studied over his business plans for the fu-" thing will be straightened up to-morrow.” ture. a “Where is Mr. Shaw?” “Tf ['m going to carry out my running schedule as I have “He has gone to the hotel. Where are you takin’ ‘that load arranged it I've got to live at Bloomfield. It would only be 1 gl a waste of time and energy to stay at Uncle Silas Cobb's place. | To Bloomfeld. ¥* I’d sooner pay my own way and get decent victuals and enough - “Well, you can't expect Mrs. Cobb to save tea for you. At/of them.” rate, I reckon she won't do no such thing. ; After supper he hunted up a small room, which he engaged “ “I shall have my supper in Bloomfield.” to rent by the week. ; “You'll have to pay a quarter for it.” He paid down $1. for the first week and took possession’ of. *T expect to.” it. “It's a waste of good money. Mrs. Cobb will get you some-| He also found a place where he could keep his horse and it n’ to eat now if you'll give her that quarter. It's only right] wagon cheap. 3 : uld come to us. Are you goin’ to turn over to me what After an early breakfast at the restaurant he drove to dif- Ts : iv ‘ou make?” | ferent places in Bloomfield looking for stuff to carry either to~ ‘We'll talk about that another time, Uncle Silas.” | Highland or to places in the immediate neighborhood. ‘2 e “T ean look after any money you make better than you can He caught two or three orders for nearby farms, and one for ‘ urself. You don’t want to forget that I’m your guardian, | Newtown. that if I think it's best to sell that horse and wagon that| After delivering, them he found a letter at the post-office $i] claim to own the law will let me do it.. The law is all on| from a farmer whose place was a mile outside the village ask-_ ¥ ny side, so be eareful that you don’t get gay or somethin’|ing him to call. ee ight happen that you wouldn't like.” He drove out to the farm and found eight crates of berries — ir. Cobb's words evidently veiled a threat, the meaning of|and several of vegetables that the farmer wanted delivered af Bob could not fail to understand. to the railroad company at Highland. we uncle intended to assert his authority. if Bob was found Bob was glad to take the order, and his price for cartage a to te the rightful owner of the express route. was quite satisfactory to the shipper, who said he hoped the ;. intended to demand an accounting of the business} boy would make‘the business pay. ye ed each day, and would expect the boy to turn over n every cent he collected from his patrons. ucee Bo had no intention of yielding to any such ar- The boy drove past the Cobb home without stopping and Poti saw his uncle Silas harnessing up Bony to the wagon. ; “I wonder where he is going?” Bob asked himself. = - CHAPTER XII. SILAS COBB'S MISSION. Silas Cobb was going to Bloomfield to call on the witow Hazen. iy His errand. pan ‘to find out if his nephew had really paid. rat her $200 for the express route. a He could not understand how the boy could have done this, ; as the results of Bob's presumed theft was in his own Still, if it proved to be a fact, it would substantiate his Re ward's story that he had received $225 from Mr. Fairchild, though it would’ not, in his mind, relieve Bob of the guilt of having taken Mr. Shaw’s $200, Silas had received a curtain lecture from his wife the nigh -| before for not having insisted that Bob should be and brought before the justice on the charge of stealing. thei visitor’s money. or him He } ched that he had gone sf Bloomfield on business. The b ness that took Mr. Shaw to Bloomfield was con- with the Widow Hazen, wanted to Seapect the bills that the lady had received la identify bis own missing bills, therefore if the bills the boy for the express business were. not the bills in : , then Bob's story was true; if, on the contrary, Mr. recognized the bills received by Mrs. Hazen, then the d and he was guilty of the theft. Mr. aw’s little plan by which he hoped to ex- he failed to get a raced to his apeing Mrs. Cobb insisted that as long as the thief was at large, gentlem: reached the “Hazen co cottage ‘he was|and the. bills unrecovered, a certain . soe: oat an rest on oe find that the widow had gone to Poughkeepsie « geecans : her brother. | a was in charge of the house. . Hazen received! for: om

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_ He wanted to know when she would return home, and was tela she was expected the next day. Silas Cobb looked at Mrs. Hazen's sister thoughtfully. “Do you know anything about the sale of the Hazen Ex- press Route?” he asked her. “I know my sister sold it to a boy named Robert Keane yesterday morning,” was the reply. “Do you know whether he paid her the $200 she asked, or whether she let him have it on credit?” ‘He paid her the $200.” “Did you see him pay her?” “Yes, sir.” Byidently Bob's story was true, then; but it was a puzzler to Mr. Cobb why the boy, with $200 honestly acquired in his pocket. should then deliberately steal another $200 for which he had no immediate use. Silas Cobb's attitude, taken in connection with the visit of Mr. Shaw the preceding afternoon on a similar errand, somewhat alarmed the young woman. “Is there anything wreng about that money?” she inquired. “Why do you ask?” replied Mr. Cobb, who was not pre- pared to say whether the money was right or not. “Because you are the second gentleman who has called about the matter.” “The second gentleman!” ejaculated Silas, nervously. ' “Yes, sir,” “Who was the other man?” “He said his name was Mr. Shaw.” , A shock went through the real estate man's frame, His visitor was evidently investigating the case on the quiet, “and he didn’t like to learn that. “What did he want to know about the matter?” he asked, eagerly. “He wanted me to describe the bills my sister received from the boy. He said it was of the utmost importance that he should know before she let them out of her hands.” -" “Did you describe them to him?” asked Mr. Cobb, anxiously. ay "Not very well. sir, as I had taken very little notice of = themg All I could tell him was that there were four $50 7 bills———” Ss “Yes, yes,” said Silas eagerly. ‘Four $50 hills. What else?” : “And that one of them bore acest name of the Manhattan _ ‘National Bank.” , : s “Only one of them?” _ "I only notieed that one.” ‘ “Then you couldn’t say whether the other three were also on the same bank?” : “No, sir.” “You say Mrs. Hazen is in “Poughkeepsie?” -“Yes, sir.” “If I went to Poughkeepsie do you think I could see her?” “I will give you my brother's address and you could eall bias; IT am sure you would find her.” “Very well; let me have it.” Mr. Cobb wrote the direction down in his notebook. ." Did you, ahem! give her address to this Mr: Shaw?” “Yes, sir. He asked for it.” That was another shock to the real estate man. _- Mr. Shaw bad stolen a march upon him, and he might al- ready have seen the widow Hazen, or be even then on his way to see her. 7 He hastily took his leave of Mrs. Hazen’s sister with the et _ intention of losing no time in going to Poughkeepsie. oie Po ag hoped-the lady had either banked the money or other- wise disposed of it, for he was more than ever anxious that “Rob should not be able to establish his innocence. Tf he found that Mrs. Hazen still had the bills about her, and had not yet seen Mr. Shaw, he’ would represent to her Ef: how foolish it was to earry so much men around and sug- Rest that she hank them at once in Poughkeepsie. ~ While he was following out this line of ; bet some eyil spirit. whispered a brand-new suggestion into his willing ear. ‘n had the ‘four $50_ Dills, why eouldn’t he, cf “3 Rs to examine them, substitnte the adh $50 | © rhich he had taken from the boy's trousers? _ fiat they were the bills his late visitor had lédts for sg aah had described them perfectly, while he asserted ut had a tc of ee 3% paiters in his memorandum mar Seibel whion would block T notice pooreeckeing substitution. — ON THE SQUARE. was believed to have been stolen by the boy who bought the route and that the bills might have to be shown in court. “It’s a splendid scheme,” said Silas Cobb to himself, rubbing his skinny hands together with great satisfactiop, “It's a splendid scheme, and I’ll work it if she has the bills and Mr. Shaw hasn’t yet called upon her. It will relieve. me of the risk of getting rid of four bills which can be identified, while at the same time it will fasten the guilt on that young rascal.” It was a contemptible piece of husiness, thengh worthy of such a man as Silas Cobb. The only exeuse for it he could have offered was that he honestly believed Bob had stolen the money in the first place and eught to be punished for his crime. He was simply aiding justice to accomplish its rightful mission, ; As Mr. Cobb drove down Main street in Newtown, before stopping at his home to inform his wife that he was bound for Poughkeepsie on important business, he thought he would — stop at the hofel and see if he could get a line on Mr. Shaw's movements that morning. He found that the gentleman had left the hotel after breakfast without leaving word as to where he was going. “He’s surely gone to Poughkeepsie to see that woman,” gritted the real estate man uneasily. “I’m afraid he'll get there before I will. In that case. my little scheme will go to waste. It’s a shame to think that that boy may be able to evade the consequences he so richly deserves.” With this charitable feeling toward his nephew in his” heart he drove on. : CHAPTER XII. A FIGHT TO A FINISH. Bob Keane picked up several more erates of berries on his road to Highland, where he turned his load over to the railroad company for shipment to New York. He then drove around the neighborhood and found that there would be nothing in his line until the afternoon. “I s’pose I ought to return empty to Bloomfield in order to follow out my schedule, but I don't like the idea of doing that. I guess ['ll let the schedule slide to-day. I’m hardly started yet in the business. I think I'd better run over to Poughkeepsie and see if I can't drum up some trade among those people who sell goods to the Bloomfield merchants. It — will fill in time, and perhaps widen the scope of my opera- tions.” Bob obtained permission to put his horse and wagon in a nearby shed till he returned from across the river. “ was about this time that Silas Cobb drove into High- lan He put his team up at a sniall stable and walked down to the landing. As he was crossing the tracks near the station he came face to face with Bob. “Soe When one contemplates inflicting an injury on another per-— son his feelings towards his victim is not usually of a very. pleasant kind. It was so with Mr. Cobb. He was on the road to Poughkeepsie with the express purpose of trying to fasten the guilt of the $200 theft “on: his nephew, and in so doing he was trying to persuade him-— self that he was performing a duty ‘that he owed to the community. “Let no guilty man escape,” was his motto. He was satisfied Bob was guilty, therefore the ate ought to be exposed and punished. He had also worked himself up to the fever pitch” of righteous indignation over Bob's action in buying out oe express route without first consulting him. The boy clearly proposed to break loose from his anidin 2 strings. a He had as good as said that he was tired of the way things — were going, and meant to alter them to suit himself. a This was rank rebellion, and Mr. Cobb did not propose to stand for it Ms. Y ealbas He had no objection to Bob running the route if he har al} his reeeipts over to him; but it looked very much as his nephew had no intention of doing this. i The boy had actually squandered money on a suppe breakfast and bed at Bloomfield when he ought to hay home and paid that money over to him (Cobb). — : Bob had carried a big toad of stuff trom Highland § to Bloomfield, not to speak of the crates, f berites cae i? now

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undoubtedly squander on more dinners, suppers and break- “fasts, as well as beds, unless his legal guardian stepped in and prevented such a sacrilege. Mr. Cobb therefore was fully resolved to lie in wait for ‘the boy,/after he returned home from Poughkeepsie, and get _ whatever money Bob had in his pockets away from him. _ And he proposed to repeat that process on subsequent oc- _casions if her nephew managed to keep out of jail. If Bob still persisted in living away from home, and hid his money, then Mr. Cobb proposed to take.the horse and ‘wagon away from him and sell it, as he understood he had a perfect right to do. Silas Cobb was thinking of his designs on his nephew at the very moment he ran into him at the station. _ His face wore a savage look, the very intensity of, which iatartled the boy. The encounter was a surprise to both, but did not prevent ur. Cobb from grasping Bob by the collar and dragging him into the waiting-room of the station. “Now, you young villain,’ exclaimed Mr. Cobb, “I want you to give an account of yourself. Why didn’t you come _ home last night?’ “Because it was more convenient for my business to stay at Bloomfield,” answered the boy, who then jerked himself - out of his uncle’s hands and retreated to the other side of a small table covered with time-tables, and on which also stood a fair-sized package. “It was, eh?’ roared the now thoroughly aroused real estate man. “Well, I want you to understand that I won't have no such didoes as that. You had to spend somethin’ for a bed and for your supper, as well as for your breakfast _ this mornin’, didn’t you?” . - “I did,” replied Bob, calmly. a as’! rank waste of good money,” groaned the miserly old man. “You would have saved all that by comin’ home. How much did it cost you?” . “One dollar for a room——” ‘*One dollar for a room!” howled Mr. Cobb, dismayed at hat he considered the extravagant price. “Not for one night, but for a whole week,” replied Bob, feeling almost like laughing at the expression on his guar- . dian’s face. — + “Do you mean to tell me that you hired a room for a week?” “Yes, sir.” “Phen when you return to Bloomfield this afternoon you'll as) ‘ight back to that place and tell them to refund you the ; : eat of the money, as you don’t intend to stay there no “But I do intend to stay there right along,’ answered Bob ; “Don't tell me what you're goin’ to do, you young rascal. ow’ll do as I say, d’ye understand? I’m your guardian, and _ what I say goes.” _* Bob thought it wise to make no reply to this outburst. + “You brought a load of fruit and vegetables to town yes- erday, and took back a big load of general stuff, didn’t you?” “That's right,” nodded the boy. “You might just as well tell the truth, for I know all about hat you're doin’,’ said Mr. Cobb, nodding his head ener- etically. “Well, ‘you got paid for your haulin’, didn’t you?’ 5 +E aid.” -. *And you've got the money in your pocket now, haven't iy pu, less what you squandered on your stomacH and a bed?” =o #¥es," sir,” replied Bob, truthfully. “How much money have you got now?” _ Bob out a roll of bills and began to count them. Mr. Cobb’s eyes fairly stuck out of his head as he watched boy. He ‘seemed to be fairly made of money. fe couldn't wait for Bob to count the money, but gasped - hungrily: “You didn’t get all that money for carryin’ stuff capa ie dal ‘where did you get it? Have you been robbing Ba * man, you villain?’ No, sir. I haven't robbed any one so far that I know of.”| half. + nana two —— Seay from Mr. Shaw, and I ou destona very sure Peas: Res 5 and if ft hadn't been ee in your pants’ pocket: after you | 3 : : oD hen =e: yo fella? pe * a ~ Braiae ON THE SQUARE. money in his clothes at the present moment which he would t up I ike a ‘am, fo x suddenly realized Therefore he fought tooth and wail to prevent iim 15 “If it hadn’t been for what, Uncle Silas?’ asked the boy, eyeing him strangely. “None of your business, haven't yet been able to prove it agin you. before long,” shaking his head meaningly. ‘T never stole a dollar from any one in my life,” asserted, Bob, indignantly. “I don’t intend to argue the matter with you here. to know now where you got all that money.” “Mr. Fairchild made me a present of most of it—twenty-five dollars in fact—to buy a suit of clothes.” “He did?’ with a sneer. “Seems to me Mr, Fairchild is uncommonly liberal with his money, especially to you.” “He is a liberal man,” replied Bob, warmly. “He offered You stole the money, but we P’raps we will! I want ‘me $500 for saving his daughter, but I refused it.” “You refused five hundred dollars!” gasped his guardian, hardly believing the evidence of his senses. ‘ike did. I don’t take pay for such a service as I rendered m.” “But you said yesterday that he gave you two hundred dollars and that you spent it for that express route.” “He loaned me two hundred dollars. It was only on those terms I would accept the money.” Mr. Cobb looked at Bob as if he was some new species of the human family. This boy had actually refused to accept $500 as a gift, but had accepted $200 as a loan. It was simply incomprehensible to him. The sight of the roll of bills in Bob’s hand, however, recalled his thoughts to the business in hand. “Hand over that money to me,” he said sharply, reaching hee age table with the talon-like fingers in all eagerness to grasp it Bob drew back and returned the bills to his pocket. “I’m going to use a good part of ‘that money to buy a suit of clothes,” he said. ; “You're goin’ to do nothin’ of the ‘kind. You don’t want no clothes.” “I need them, all right. every day.” “You won’t use them no longer when you get home to-night. : You'll put on your other clothes. What d’ye think Mrs. Cobb I'm using my best suit now for | would say if she knowed you was wrastlin’ with boxes and! packages and crates with them best clothes of yours?’ “I don’t care what she’d say. This suit is none too good for every day.” : “Are you goin’ to hand that money over to me, or shall I take it from you?’ demanded Silas. Cobb, ‘flereely, making a ‘ move to get around the table. ;n “I don’t think either will happen,” ahothed Bob, rather defiantly. “You don’t, eh? Then I'll show you, you young villain!” With that Mr. Cobb, with unusual agility, sprang around the table after the boy. Bob had no idea of being caught, so he made a dash to escape around the other end of the table. He would easily have got away if he hadn't stumbled. 5 - Before he could recover himself his uncle had him by the collar once more, ;. “Let me go, Uncle Silas!” cried Bob, backing up against the 4 side of the table. F. “T’ll let you go when I’ve got that money,” replied Mr. Cobb, , 3 in a tense tone, trying to get his disengaged hand into the’ — boy’s pocket. ; Bob was alarmed for the thirty-odd dollars he possessed, for he knew if his guardian once got his fingers on it he might as well say good-by to It. ; While he was quite willing to concede his uncle's legal right to take care of his money, he did not care to let him enjoy that right if he could prevent it. a It might be law for his guardian to take his propentyed put F under the circumstances it would not be justice. > So he put up a mighty game fight in its defence. : He did not intend to go back and live at Mr. Cobb's home, “ because from past experience he knew only too well what a- nae of treatment he might expect to receive there. since he came under the Cobb roof-tree he had been haltfed and half-clothed, in spite of the fact that he was heir - to $10,000. = That programme would be continued in the event that he ‘| yielded to his uncle’s demands, but he didn’t intend to yield. To maintain himself in ind he needed money. _ If Mr. Cobb deprived him of that he would be helpless. —

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ON THE eer Silas Cobb was equally determined to have his own way. The sight of so much money in his nephew's hands had roused his ewpidity to the boiling- -point. ; He would have it if he half-choked the boy in order to get it. Mr. Cobb was not a very powerful man, as he was small and spare in stature: but when his passions were aroused, as on the present occasion, he was a dangerous opponent for a hey like Bob. The boy's back was against the table, and in his desperate efforts to release himself he had doubled himself up under it. When Mr. Cobb bent down to get at his pocket, Bob tried fo squirm out of his grasp, and when he discovered that he couldn’t do that he tried to rise up, whereupon his uncle gave him a violent shove, which resulted in unfortunate conse- quences—the table tipped over and everything upon it slipped off on the floor. ‘This so far as the time-tables were concerned amounted to nothing; but the package, which had been standing on the table, was a horse of another color. li struck the boards with 2 crash, fractured parts of an elegant table lamp for sround. At that moment the owner of the package appeared on the scene, He saw the ruin of his property and fairly gasped with rage. He was a big man, too, and consequently presented a for- midable appearance. Rushing forward, he seized Mr. Cobb, who had let go of Bob, by the arms and shook him violently, as a terrier might a Fat... es J hat do you mean by upsetting that table and breaking my lamp?’ he demanded furiously of the real estate man. “Poy * gasped the frightened Silas. “Pay me for it at once, or I'll hand you over to an officer. ~ Pay me twenty dollars instanthly or to jail you go.” Bob took advantage of the situation to make good his escape. split open and spread the several feet CHAPTER. X1V.' CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP. i a number of people were attracted to the walting- -room of the station by the racket. ‘The owner of the broken lamp was so mad that he had very little mercy on the hapless real estate man. _ Ife started to drag him to the station door when several of the newcomers interfered, saying that it was a shame for a “Dig man like him to intimidate a small person like Mr. Cobb, Who looked Dale and frighteneed. “But look at my lamp!’ exclaimed the irate man. “A Le _ twenty dollar lamp gone to blazes, and all this man’s fault.” eed tT NOD HOP? whined Silas Cobb. “It wasn’t my fault. It was ent a wer had What boy?” asked several. ‘There’s no boy here.” e ran away after pushing the table over.” — “You meat-after you pushed him against the table,” growled the man whose lamp had been smashed. “Are you going to pity for that lamp or are you not?” he cried threateningly. * Silas would sooner have risked a Beating than have parted with one of his ‘darling dollars. _. Seeing an opening in the small crowd, he made -a sudden break for the door. Stop him!" roared the man, starting in parsutt: ‘o one, however, made any attempt to stop Mr. Cobb, who the ferryboat, ‘which was on the point of “putting out. © sueceeded in veaching her just in time to get aboard, the big man was shut out. — king with fear, he made his way to the other end of the und there he’ remained until the boat reached the other ‘up the street, much relieved ‘to know that he had na ‘his formidable antagonist: consulted his notebook for the address of the house s. Hazen was: stopping, and thei be a policeman direct | “t street, | steps wight almost. deed ‘to discover that he really was the thief, He says he got the © “ "f hepe your nephew didn’ t steal the money,” she said; Hpparent concern. 2 tis tale man; consequently he reached Mrs. Hazen's brother's abode half an hour ahead of Mr. Cobb. He explained his mission to the widow, and as- she still had the bills in her possession that she received, from Bob Kenne, she got them _for Mr. Shaw to look at. ».!) He saw at once, and to his credit we will sayyanuch to his satisfaction, that the four fifties were. not the bills he had lost, law 3 One of them was on the Manhatfan Nations: ofzNew York: the others on different banks of other. cities—the most notice- able being the -First National of Albany on account 7 the red cross on its back. The widow had watched the examination of the, bills with» some anxiety. “Is there anything the matter with this money, asked, nervously. “No, madam, the bills are perfectly good. The fact of the matter is that four fifty-dollar bills were stolen from me, and the boy who paid this money to you was accused of the theft. — I came here to see if I could identify those bills as the ones f lost. Though I really can’t afford to lose two hundred dollars, — still Iam bound to say that I am glad those are not my bills, — for I have taken a liking to young Keane, and | would not like oy sir? she. 4 bills he gaye you from a rich gentleman named Fairbanks, to © whom he rendered’a signa) service, and it seems evident that — he told the truth.” “I remember he told me that he saved the life of the gentle- — man’s daughter,” said Mrs, Hazen. 3 “That's quite true, madam. He is a. brave lad and an enter-— prising one, too. Iam very much obliged to you for your | kindness in permitting me to look at these bills,” he said, handing them back to her. “I will now take my leave. As he rose to go he happened to glance out of the window, 4 and to his great astonishment he saw Silas Cobb walking up — the steps to the front door. 3 “What has brought him here?’ Mr. Shaw asked himself. e “Tt must be that he, too, has come to get a look at these bills. — lf he expects to criminate - his nephew with them he'll be 4 greatly mistaken, Madm,” he said, turning to the widow, — Who Was about to answer the ring, ‘if I mistake not this visi- — tor hus come on the same errand as myself. As he is the_ boy’s uncle, and not fayorably disposed to him, I should like to be present at your interview with him, but. without his” knowledge.” ~¢ The widow hesitated, but finally pointed to the tapestry cur _ tains whieh separated the little parlor from the room beyond. “You may stand behind those, sir. I trust I am doing right — in permitting you to do this.” pee Set “You may place every confidence in me, madam,” said Mr. Shaw, hurrying to conceal himself. A moment or two later the widow ushered Silas Cobb into E: F- m the parlor. apes “My name is Cobb, ma’am-—-Silas Cobb, of Newtown.” The widow bowed and asked her visitor to be seated, ; “I have called in relation to the sale of your late feds express business to my nephew, Robert Keane. You see, 2 mia’am, the night before you sold the horse and wagon to him a visitor [ had stoppin’ at my house was robbed of four fifty- — dollar bills. He slept in the same room with the boy, and Mrs. — , Cobb and me is afeard that our nephew took the money out of | : ‘his clothes, for it can't be found nowhere about the room. It _ is a very suspicious. circumstance, ma‘am, ‘that next mornin’ the boy goes to youeand buys your husband’s business for the identical sum that the gentleman lost.” : aie The widow acknowledged that the circumstancee ooked suspicious. “AO i" “What is the name of the gentleman who lost the money “His name, muvam, is Kenwiek Shaw. He ain't been here, has he, to look at the bills?" ‘A This was somewhat of «an, embarrassing question for widow to answer under the circumstances, and in order avoid answering it she Brctanses to see something out of. windows) * ee ae When she returned to her chair Mr. Cobb did not. the question, much to ber reliet, taking, it for Saee Mr. Shaw: had not yet showed up. Y “Cin afraid, solemn look. ma‘am, that he did. | ‘eal ‘Mr “It is very sad ‘to rgeaerele Fan gays: tender years should be Mrs, Cobb aud me have brough

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ON THE SQU ARE, Worse sin on the calendar. paid you, Mrs. Hazen?” “Yes. sir. Do you wish to examine them?” “Yes. tha’am; I shall look upon it as a favor if you will let ‘Me see them.” The widow produced ‘them from her pocketbook. “I suppose you have ¢ximined these bills carefully, ma‘am, and know what banks they're on?’ asked the wily old miser, S he adjusted his glasses: upon his nose. “No, sirpl only looked atthe figures.” “Hum!” ejaculated Mi ‘Cobb, spreading out the pitts on his knee. “Would you mind raising that blind a bit, ma’am’’ _ Mrs. Hazen complied with his request, and the instant her back was turned the artful old raseal quickly substituted the = stolen fifties for the ones the widow had received from Bob. _ He made the change in a pretty slick manner, but as the concealed Mr. Shaw was, looking directly at him when he did t he saw the whole thing. _ “So,” muttered the gentleman behind the curtains, “it is just s I suspected. Mr, Cobb was the thief himself, and is now trying to fix the guilt on his ward. ‘The contemptible rascal! is mighty lucky for both Bob and myself that 1: managed to tipate Mr, Cobb’s visit here.” “Well, ma’am, I can’t say positively that these are the iden- al bills that Mr. Shaw lost,” said Silas, hypocritically; “but 0 Rimiiove they are. However I dare say the gentleman him- elf will be over here shortly‘and will be able to identify them tfectly. In the interests of justice, ma’am you must hold m for the present. If my nephew should be arrested, as I sonsider probable, ourt.”’ ut L wish to change one of these bills to-day. the money,” she said. ; You must not do it; ma’am,.. It might enable my nephew to pe his just deserts.” “You seem anxious to have the boy punished,” said the widow, in an indignant tone. ‘tI should think that, as his a nncle, you would rather wish to screen him.” ustice must be done, ma’am, though the heayens fall,” Mr, Cobb, sanctimoniously. “Well. sir, I must say that Robert Keane does not look se a thief. I think you may find that you are wrongfully specting him.” T think not, ma’am. ‘The evidence all points to him. It he conclusive if them bills he paid you are the same ones t Mr. Shaw lost.” hope the really guilty person will be discovered, * said Hazen, hope so, ma’am, with all my heart,” coincided Silas Cobb. ou ‘shall have your wish, Mr. Cobb, * said Mr. Shaw, step- ¢ from behind the curtains. “I accuse you of the theft of wo hundred. dollars, and T think T shall pare no difficulty ing | the “matter home to you.’ Have you got them bills the boy I want to ‘too CHAPTER XV. hs “UNDER MR SHAW'S THUMR. say that Silas Cobb was fairly paralyzed by the unex- “appearance of his late visitor would not exaggerate uation. stared at Mr. Shaw with open mouth and starting eyes. tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he could not sound to save his life. - Shaw regarded the miserly oldiman with silent contempt moment or two, then he spoke, while the widow Hazen Fat ‘them both with surprised attention. _ ve'u nice man to be the guardian of a decent boy, word you are. You ought to be arrested for con- iw attempting to fasten thé crime of theft upon an ‘However, I shall have you arrested for stealing : andrea dollars, and bi think that will answer just! ped Silas Cobb, turning white and trem- wHate” me attested for stealin” your » sardonic sally. ‘saat Haden, win late ou hold tm your hand and tell these bilis will haye to be produced in}. cleverly nistieiiclaia by Mr. Cobb w hile her back was tur ned, obeyed Mr. Shaw's request with some surprise. : “Why, no,” -she replied, much | astonished. different. bills.” “How do you know they are different?” f “Because they are “all on the one bank, while those I showed you were on different banks, and one of them had a eross in red ink on it. I don’t understand——" “Of course you don’t understand, madam, because you didn't see the bit of sleight-of-hand that this man per formed whea you went to raise the blind at his request. He substituted four other bills for the four you received from Bob Keane, and the four he substituted are the four that were stolen from me in his house.” ; “It's a lie,’ whined Mr. Cobb. “Is it? Mrs. Hazen, I want you to witness the fact that I identify the four bills that you now hold as the four that be- long to me and to make the identific ati on Complete,” taking his memorandum book from his pocket, “1 will read off the run- ning numbers on each of those bills.” Wherenpon he read the numbers, at the same time request- ing the widow to note if the numbers he read corresponded with those on the bills, and she admitted that they did in each particular. “Now, Mr. Cobb, you will please produce the four bills that Mrs. Hazen showed you when you asked her to let you examine the bills that your nephew paid her for the ir? sus 3 route.” Silas Cobb, though driven hard and fast into a corner, did not want to comply. “If you don't do as I say I will send for a policeman and place you under immediate arrest.” Mr. Cobb then brought forth the bills, and Mrs. Hazen identified them as the ones she had received from Bob Keane. “Now, Mr. Cobb,” said Mr. Shaw, “what have you to say for yourself 7" - “I didn’t steal your money,” he said in quavering tones. “I pockets on the “These are took them bills of yours from my nephew's night you was robbed.” me “That's a yery pretty story, indeed,”’ replied Mr. Shaw, in- credulously. “Do you think a jury would believe that in the face of the circumstantial evidence against you? Not on your life.” “But it is the truth!” cried Mr. Cobb, so earnestly that hh accuser decided to ask him to explain his side of the case. Then Mt. Cobb, with many protestations of his innoceneé, told his story as the reader knows it. Mr. Shaw listened to it patiently «nd felt that the ‘man might be telling the truth. ¢ “You say you took those bills from Bob Keane's trousers?” he asked. ; Pic “I did.” wae “How do you know that those trousers belonged to your nephew? Might they not have been your son's trousers? The boys were sleeping together, and their clothes were met far apart.” Silas Cobb was not a little startled at this suggestion. Such a-contingency had not occurred to him before. Set eit at “My son wouldn't steal your money,” he replied doggedly. y “How do you know he wouldn't?” asked Mr Shaw shortly, “Are you willing to go into court and swear you handled were your nephew's?” acy Mr. Cobb hemmed and hawed, and finally ape wits =: hat he conidn't swear to that fact, “Your son is tke guilty one, you can-take my word a T saw him looking at me when I was counting the mon while Bob Keane seemed to be asleep. It seems me just how the case is. Your son stole my money it In his trousers. intending to hide it in the morning. . he fell asleep you came upstairs, as you have described. wel to the boys’ bed, picked up the wrong trousers, found’ money you suppose Bob had recétved from Mr. Fairchild. an carried it wtWay with you. On the strength of that you believed your nephew guilty. Why didn't you tell me all t in the morning; then this trouble would have been a No, you thought you saw the chance to keep my $200 yoy mee throwing suspicion on your nephew. But Sthe! 08 le part of all ts your actof calling: here on Mrs. B rpos i en the bills, ats at sii pw na them us the ones voided, ioe sea that those oe Fae

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och yas ON THE SQUARE. . ———= — He looked as mean as he felt, and had nothing to say ini mndosdring the intervening space with his eyes, took a flying si own defense. leap and landed safely with both feet on the dock. £4 Now look here, Mr. Cobb, I'm going to have a talk with Mr. Cobb stood behind the iron guard rail and shook his” Bob Keane. It’s my opinion he’s not over-anxious to have| cane at the boy as the boat receded from the dock; but Bob you continue as his guardian—certainly, after your present, didn’t mind that exhibition for a cent now that his rene conduct, I think you are an unfit person to have charge of |couldn’t reach him. his property. If I find he is really disposed to cut loose from) The boy hung around the neighborhood until the boat re- you, I am going to help him do so.” | turned from Highland, when he boarded her and in due time You can’t do nothin’,” snarled the real estate man, “I’m! reached the other side of the river. . his guardian accordin’ to law, and I’m goin’ to remain so.” Pefore he landed he cast a wary eye around, thinking his: Now just listen to reason a moment, Mr. Cobb. All Bob| uncle might be on the watch for him., , : a will have to do is to petition the Probate Court to remove you He saw no sign of him and hurried ashore. | as his guardian and appoint another. He can make his own) He went to the place where he had left his horse and selection, and if the court approves of the person he will be| drove to the store, the owner of which had engaged him to appointed in your place. I have no doubt but Mr. Fairchild,| take a load of furniture to a house on the suburbs of Bloom- being grateful to the boy for saving his daughter, will ac-| field. . eept the trust, and he is evidently a proper person, you will The employees of the establishment loaded the stuff on his” keep his engagement. . “That depends on yourself. If you make no further trouble “ Wow!'"Ben- snid Mir! Shaw, “do-¥od !whiticts remetnee for Bob I'll agree to let the whole matter drop ‘just where have to admit.” wagon in the most approved fashion that would economize Mr. Cobb remained silent and dejected. space, and then Bob started for his destination in good spirits. a He was no fool, and easily perceived the force of Mr. Before he had gone very far he was overtaken by Mr. ¥ Shaw's remarks. Shaw, who was driving a rig which he had hired in New- e But it was a terrible blow to him to contemplate giving up | town. ; . _ the profits he was earning out of the boy. The gentleman told Bob that the stolen money matter had 7 posed the plan. the hotel in Newtown that evening, when he said he would .. “What are you goin’ to do about your $200?” he asked, make everything Clear to him." 3 suikily. After Bob had had his supper he walked in to Newtown to it is. I have my money back. I'll let you make your com-| der Mr. Cobb’s control?” a Mission on the farm, which I have about decided to buy, and “No, sir,” replied the boy emphatically. “He threatened a no one outside of Bob, Mrs. Hazen and myself will be any| to-day to take my horse and wagon away from me and sell it _ | wiser as to your conduct in this matter. Is that a bargain?”| unléss I gave him every cent I took in.” . Much against his will, Silas Cobb agreed to the condition. “Then I will assist-you in the matter of a new guardian. 2 “For fear you might change your mind I’m going to have| Wheti do you expect to see Mr. Fairchild?” . all these bills fully identified before a notary, and I shall “T expect he and his daughter will return to Jordan's in a also take a sworn sthtement of the circumstances from Mrs.; week.” se Hazen.- I guess that will hold you down pretty tight. 1) “Then we will let the thing stand until we can speak to . think that is all now, so we will not detain you any longer.”| him about it, I am sure he will take a great interest in your aa Mr. Cobb took up his hat, and, without a word, left the) future welfare.” fflouse a sadder and wiser man than he entered it. | Fotr days later Mr. Fairchild and Fanny came back to the ta He proceeded straight to the ferry and boarded a boat for! farmhouse, and the girl welcomed Bob like a brother, and as _ @ighland. ; , the truest of friends. ; 3 3 gles Phe Pob introduced Mr. Shaw to Mr. Fairchild, and then the lad’s. future was fully discussed, with the result that at the CHAPTER XVI. next session of the Probate Court Silas Cobb was remoyed » THE SUCCESS OF AN HONEST BOY. and Mr. William‘ Fairchild appointed Bob's guardian, a change 2 Bob Keane reached Poughkeepsie on the boat ahend of Silag| that the bey relished greatly, Cobb, and immediately started to look up the few customers) . Keane's Express Route acquired an enviable reputation and : _who had occasionally patronized the late Mr. Hazen'’s country | became 2 very profitable business under Bob's skillful man- we e S, agement, So much so indeed that he had to puta second wagon oy boy interviewed them all, and impressed them with | 0n before the summer was over, which wagon was driven by Dan Griswold, who preferred that work to farming. : He received enough encouragement to feel satisfied that his| Bob purchased Bony from Cobb, fed him up and made trip across the river had not been wasted. a new horse out of him, and we have no doubt but the animal The ferryboat was on the point of leaving her stip for| felt an equine gratitude to the boy as long as he lived. | Highland when Bob rushed on board. During the ensuing winter Bob arranged with Dan to carry In his eagerness to reach the front of the boat he began r his business-like ways and progressive ideas. i on the route for him, for one wagon could attend to all al pushing his way through the crowd at the entrance to the, carrying during cold weather. ae men’s cabin. i Bob himself went to New York and attended school there. _ .:It sometimes happens that “the more haste, the less speed.” He lived at the Fairchild home near Central Park until ’ late in the spring, when the increasing business jof his press route called him back to Ulster County. a That summer Fanny spent altogether at Jordan's, so as to be near the boy she had learned to think a great deal of. — This is Bob’s third season with his express, and he is do- .| ing finer than ever, having quite a comfortable bank account in Bloomfield. ae He is eighteen years old, and a fine, handsome young man Fanny is proud to be seen in his company, and thinks ther is not another boy in the world who can hold’ a candle him. ‘ Unless she should change her mind in the near future seems pretty certain that Bob will eventually handle share of the Fairchild money through Fanny. - a _.. Then he stopped short aghast, for he was face to face with the one man of all others he least desired to meet at that mo- -ment—his guardian, Silas Cobb. -» “You young rascal!” exclaimed his miserly relative. “You did that on purpose. You want to kill me, you little villain!” __. _He looked so aggressive and sour that Bob thought it was of wisdom to get out of his way. — : drew back Silas made a grab at him, with some pur- be - his uncle be rte get back at him w -room, turned as quick : nis “dines Next week's issue will contain “AFTER A FORTUN} OR, THE PLUCKIEST BOY IN THE WEST.” ' wet in uli chase. SEND POSTAL FOR OUR ee ee aah Mer te ag eye's Oe Se a

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Provision for an effective patrol of the ocean along the east coast has been made by Canada and Newfoundland to prevent the Germans establishing submarine bases in these regions. Recent reports in the Canadian and Ameri- can press that Germans were planning to extend the range 3 - of their undersea vessels to the St. Lawrence route have Peter Smith, a farmer residing near Warsaw, Ind., lost| been taken seriously. There is now so much field ice in ‘a valuable cow as the result of his poor marksmanship.|the North Atlantic that submarine craft probably would - Vast expanses of grazing land and immense forests await ‘exploitation i in the northwestern part of Paraguay; known ‘as the Gran Chaco, which is inhabited mostly by nomadic tribes of Indians, It is estimated that Paraguay has a Population of 1,000,000. Angered by the constant raids of chicken hawks, Mr. Smith| not venture. into these waters, and if later fishing vessels ° ook down his-old musket and went’out to make a killing.|on the Grand Banks and a great number of smaller boats He missed the hawk but hit his cow, which was grazing| will make difficult their approach. ; near by. Joe Oeschger, the former Philadelphia National pitcher who was obtained from Manager Moran on an optional agreement, pitched a no-hit-no-run game for. Providence against Toronto in the International League series July 14.. Rain fel] intermittently throughout the closing in- nings, making the performance all the more remarkable. Providence won by only one run, and Oeschger scored that tally. Only twenty-seven batsmen faced him and but one man reached first base, Luque, the Cuban, drawing the only. pass in the ninth inning, and he was thrown out on an attempted steal. Bi After a day's fishing by ten of the best local fishermen armed with the latest equipment for fishing, and securing no results, Walter Cooper, eleven years old, of Sabetha, K an., With a penny’s worth of fish-hooks, a can of angle worms, and a ball of twine fished in the same pond and “cap tured a string of twenty-two. - The -motion-picture ribbon is the only unit that is standard in every country, according to a statement made ently before the University Club in Washington by C. rancis Jenkins. He pointed out that railway gauges, Sree Om ee ‘ example, vary in different countries; that units of} When the German army moved in and took possession of : alue, volume, length, weight all differ, “but the motion-| Laon. last fall they found a curious shortage of wine in a £ icture film, is the same the world over.’ sectidn of France where wine ordinarily. is about as plenti- = Si witi te; Ge O. ful as water. Then one day a French shell landed inad- _ A garnishee ease resolved itself into a fistic encounter vertently on what appeared to be the grave of a French in Judge Rei'and’s Court at Indiana Harbor, Ind., recent-| soldier, and its explosion was followed by the sound of h when L. W. Saric and Marcus Herschcovitz, lawyers, breaking g glass. The Germans investigated and found that. ceil the lie. The court refused to call time. In fact, | the “grave” was in reality a small wine cellar. The French ge Reiland adjourned court to give the belligerents all|had merely buried their wine and erected a cross to dis- time they wanted. They took ten minutes and then an! arm suspicion. A careful scrutiny of the numerous ~ istice was declared and Judge Reiland went on with “graves” around Laon kept the hospitals supplied for some Bedi trial ‘of the case. Saric looked as though he had time, but eventually the supply again gave out. it with: ‘a bearcat. a Ree Ngo Probably none of the countries at war, not even Ger-. » hundred dollars is the amount asked by Frank | many herself, entered the conflict with such a clearly- awicy, a Pole, for the loss of a mustache, in a suit defined plan of campaign and so perfectly prepared with | against A. D. MeClintick and Gus Begley, of Bartles-| ¢he means to carry it on as did Italy. The redemption. of kla. All ere smelter workers. W. alkawicy was or-| the lost territory has been the dream of Ttalian statesmen od to quit drinking out of a pail of water other workers | and soldiers for half a century—a fact which was per- : {uF less he used a cup or cut off his mustache. The! fectly well known to Austria, “who had strengthened b; “hot heed the warning. Then some of the men every artificial means of a military character the natu falkewicy: to the floor ‘and amputated his mustache. strong defenscs afforded by her soounigicritbed tiers. The Italians were well’ aware that there was but 83 9 Je att” McPherson, aes -aine. years old, and|one way to break through the fortified passes of the . af the jionecr citizens of Dade County, and Miss and across ‘the strongly defended river Isonzo, Suh ns, nineteen years old, of Hig; ORT ANSs ‘Mo., were|the battering power of heavy and well-served- at the > Courthouse, Green field, Mo., recently, The| The steady progress of Italy in the extremely difficult ta a s, performed by the Rey. William Shaw of] she has set herself would indicate that the stories. 4 ' Lt young pride arrived at Lockwood, where) heard of the excellence of the Ttalian artillery. > es, ona train. “Uncle Matt” was at founded, Thus f. , the cam i sarge, a few hours ihe Matt” been one of Dane owitze s in) C fantry .

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Pal : as FAME oe o 28S CHAPTER XIX (continued) And Jack told all. Mr. Lozee listened with deep attention. ; “7. see,” he said at last “Thev held me a prisoner. They wanted to get me to sign a will in that woman’s fa- vor, and then they would have killed me, and she would _ have been free to marry Shellbover. This began when JT started in to find my daughter by my first wife, wlio “has een missing many years. Jack, T am worth over sixty million dollars. It is a‘stake worth working for. You say wat I disappeared from Spohn over a year ago?” « ~ “That’s what I understand, sir.’ “Tt seems but vesterday. My wife inveigled me here under pretense of benefiting mv health, and here I have been ever since. My mind is weak, but 1 am no longer intane. The blow on my head has restored my reason. Help me, boy, and T will make you a rich man—richer than. you ever dreamed. Listen. (iet me safely out of this. and take me to New York, and 1 promise to investi- te your story. If it proves true and after a vear or twe ju prove. faithful to me, I will adopt you as my son, and ‘make you my heir.” k caught his breath. : prospect was a dazzling one, | _ Still, his answer was quite characteristie of Jolly sees ones, "nd he meant it, too ee “Mr. Lozee, I am very sorry for vou,” he said. “p he- 2 You have heen terribly “wronged, TH do all yon ask, T don't do it for money. Tf you were not worth one ar ‘I would help you just the same.” ob] spoken! exclaimed Mr. Lozee, “and 1 believe say is true. Come, let us go. Shellbover wil! = e bloodhounds on our_track sooner or later. We ; oy a ho a ee now we eeent y. He -|low me!” . 1 : afi ‘then b he ae off his own. ns walk ig ene the ‘bee: of the brook fae - Ti Si through. .| But. there was det ahead, cee Jack was ere heunds and see me torn to pieces. AND FORTUNE , iW yEEKLY. JOLLY JACK < JONES © eee at a pees” KNOCKING ABOUT THE WORLD KING By ED. (A SERIAL STORY) Hall before my last fatal visit. I was preparing to make — a fine place of it when this thing come upon me, and now— Hark! Wasn’t thata dog?” It was nothing else. 4 The deep bay. of a bloodhound could be heard in the ay distance. — : “Stand by me, Jack Jones!” gasped Mr. Lovee. “It’s a Shellbover and his dogs. The man is a perfect fiend. E2 took him out of the guiter and made him a millionaire. 3 This is’ his gratitude.. He would hunt me with blood-— On, boy.: On! Pro-_ tecting’ Powers, show us which way to go! And as Monte hurried forward over the slippery: stones in again. HAPTER XX. CAPTURED BY MOONSHINERS. “They are close upon us, Jack! Oh, what shall we do still in the valley. Kyen taking to the water had not saved Tac from bel closely followed, Lawyer Shellboyver had procured three bloodhounds, an engaged the assistance of two men, whom he. employ about High-Top Hall. They traced Mr. Lozee and Jack tothe brook, and ets ; finding the trail lost, followed along its course. oe The barking of the dogs and the shouts of the men could be heard not two hundred yards away, when Mr Lozee seemed in despair. a pag They had come to the end of the valley now. oe i The mountain rose like a wall before them, and _jeither side were precipices too steep to climb, “This way, sir,” breathed Jack. “I sec a way out! . Tt was just a narrow re in the Soaks ahead of them, It could hardly be called a cave, for it was not enough to stand - Le in and barely. wide enough D

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iP Rh ea SO type ee,” FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. a1 > _ “Links” these are called in Tennessee. “The dogs will follow us !” gasped Mr. Lozee, getting n his feet. _ 4X 0, they won’t, nuther!” exclaimed a voice right along- ide of them. PA tall, slab-sided fellow,.with.a yellow beard hanging from his chin, and a long duble-barreled.shotgun, letépped in front of them coming out from among the trees. “No one will foller’ you, neither man nor beast !”-he drawled. “No more will you uns get outer this Place alive ! Yer in the Devil’s Punch Bowl now, and the rule is, once nto it never out of it. Stand still, whar ye be, or I'll blow fou to blazes!” t-“Oh, what shall we do?” gasped Mr. Lozee, clutching fack’s arm. “Take it easy,” replied Jack. ight yet. Don’t say a word.” 2 he mountaineer glared fiercely at them, Then he rolled a big rock in front of the opening and y. down beside it. [f yon uns think of escaping look behind yer!” course they looked. re stood three more slab-sided Tennessee Crackers, onless as statues in their ach had his douhle-barreled shot gin; and all three guns cocked and leveled at Jack and Mr. Lozee. came the bloodhounds. could hear them. sernmbling re the cave. “We will come out all better be careful, se ? a voice answered. “Folks y ez how thar’s moonshiners around hyar, and they. like strangers none!” uckling laugh broke behind Jack and Mr. Lozee. re double-barreled shotgun behind the® rock had A followed. yoann, dead bloodhound. d the rock. “Leave this place onless you want death of them dawgs.” nS was a great serambling then, puld be heard barking i in full retreat. t up to us,” thought Jack. | sae. must jolly these r only chance.” — shy a! Hal” he laughed. “Good shot, mister !| , ay alt all right for this. snbigly pane” them. ne a cried the one who had 1? What brung you hyar?” ee Lin Didn't you see ?”” g) A | High-Top Hall. ez youse looking for ain't hyar!” shouted the} > THe third blood- heard in your lives. Ha! Ha! than any feller 1’ ever run oe. against,” exclaimed oa rai Hh the men. Mighty Torky we topper. _ years ago. Wili yer pay cash pres 7 cried Jack|me, but it shall sans Get en Syot ‘Ha!} has “Laffing-in ther face of death!” ¢Pzhaw ! You wouldn't kill us ?” “Wouldn't we 2” “Get out! You're only joking. I'll give you some music. , Want to hear me play the banjo, boss?” “Play nothing! Who be yer? “My good friend,” said Mr. Lozee, “I am the owner of Probably you know the place.” “What! Be yew Martin Lozee what disappeared a year ago?” “Tam the man. I have been held a prisoner in my own house by the man who set those dogs on me. ‘This boy is my friend. He has helped me.to escape. Show us the way out of this place. Help us to get to the nearest rail- road station, and I'll give you a thousand dollars apiece.” . The men consulted together in an undertone. we Jack sat down on a stone and began to play the banjo and to sing. - , Of course, the men could be nothing but moonshiners. Jack knew it, and he realized their danger, but he: des: : termined to put on his old jolly front and see what came: of it. year SE “Tf they are going to shoot us ru die playing the banjo). he thought. “They shan’t scare me.” pea “By gum, that thar boy plays fine!” dasa one of the men, after a few moments. Megat Sood 4 Seats z “An’ sings better,” added another. gman th Si They stopped talking and gathered about Jack. en) 1G Sis og They made him sing again and again. 137) When Jack did his bell piece, swinging the banjo to an on fro, they. were lost in admiration. ian “Mr. Lozee, although terribly anxious, took it all very.) 3 quietly,. until at last he could endure the suspense NO: “3 m longer. “Enough of this, Jack! > he eried. “Gentlemen, what is’ tac your decision? Are we to be murdered in cone blood or et ee you accept my offer? Speak !” we “Let Ike Hopper speak,” said one of the moonshiners, xf ; looking at the man who had killed the dogs. ; WATS oe “Waal, I’ve been a-thinkin’ ez heow ef they'll let thei? 4 selves be blindfclded it mought be eae erlong ies ee ‘wards midnight,” the man replied. “We consent | to that,” said Mr. Lozee. “And Tl play the banjo all the evening for vou? chuckled. Jack. “I'l! give you such music as you. iyo. ‘FE Ha!” erat. “Say, you've got more. laff to the square inch into yew" ay ’ “Tie a string around yer laff, and choke it,” rematbd : “Mister, be Dae sally Old Man Lozee 2” . “Ty am. ” ee Yi ie ans VF “T can believe yew, “for T see vew onct at the’ station tew “My good friend, I can’t do that: ¥ have no money ii ii it n2

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‘ de ree FAME AND FORTUNE. WEERLY. | ITEMS OF INTEREST UMBRELLA 140 FEET HIGH. | the Art Students’. League. in, Ney. York,.fipishing his Plans have been submitted and are being considered by | | studies in the Julien Academy cand the Whistler Scheel: the management of Luna Park for the erection of an um-} in Paris. brella of enormous size, which will cover more than an His pictures have been shown in the Gailerie Mesa acre of ground and afford ample shade during the hot| Venice; the Luxembourg, Paris; in the Modern (Gallery, — days and provide shelter when it rains for several thousand Odessa, and in various cities in Germany and in this: persons. ~ country. He wor a gold medal in Munich in 1904 and The plan under consideration calls for a steel shaft 140} # silver medal at the St. Louis Exposition, and has had __ feet high, with ten strong steel ribs, each 120 feet prizes in various regular art exhibitions. the ribs when lifted to cover an area of 240 feet in diame-| Other jury honors in the American section were awarded — ter." The covering of the structure will be light water-| to Willard S. Metcalf, W. E. Schofield, the late J. W. proof canvas, such as is now used for cireus tents. . At} Alexander and Richard E. Miller. Sargent’s works were — night the mast and ribs will be lighted with thousands of| not considered, as his contributions are few and com- _ colored electric bulbs. Two proposals have been made for) paratively unimportant. Hassam, Chase and Melchers the masthead, one a powerful revolving searchlight, operat-| Were omitted from mention because of the special dis-— ed from the ground, and the other an intermittent*flash-| tinction extended to them by assigning individual rooms | light, which will answer for a beacon to incoming ships on| to each of them. The jury wished to confer extraordinary — _ the coast, as it is poasible to see such a tight, thexty miles | honor upon Frank Duveneck of Cincinnati for his dom-_ at sea. inant influence in the development of American art, and eee se a special gold medal was awarded to him. iMag cea eens IE ey WHALERS FIGHT SHARES. On July 17 there arrived at New Bedford, Mass., two open boats containing twelve men of the crew of the whaling vessel Joh R. Manta, who had hecome separated _ from their ship in a fog off Cape Henry. According to _the men, a whale was sighted off the Virginia coast. Two boats were lowered for the chase, one in charge of Mate Brown and the other commanded by the second mate. Each crew put a harpoon into the quarry, but while they __ were making their capture the Manta became lost to sight in the fog. \ ‘The whale was lashed between the two boats and the mates laid a course toward the coast. (reat schools of : ‘sharks were attracted by the carcass and for two davs the No navy in the world has a better weapon of the ki men fought these scavengers with lances and oars. Finally than the Ordnance Bureau has evolved, according to ‘they became exhausted and the whale was éut loose and| Secretary. The carriage, it is explained, operates som _ given over to.the sharks. “what like those of disappearing guns in shore batteries. The men were without food and water when they were he -FApe Aa. Thiet Papongh pests to, the sagek by ele icked up by the Norwegian steamer Skard, bound for machinery, and after firing is carried quickly back. in Spats They were transferred to the steamer Pied- ste pliee,-under: the’ water digas hatghs The byt : mont, which Yan into Vineyard Sound, where the whale- made shorter than the regular three-inch navy rifle to | f _|space limitations, ‘Phis reduces its range somewha’ mei bri Bey tthe prt. own boats and a scrom sb it has been fitted for very high angle fire, which will g : - hit some chance for use against aeroplanes, ; ae No submarine now in commission in the United ner 5 oe ee ; Nayy¥ mounts any outside defense . A numbe GRAND PRIZE GOES TO WESTERN ARTIST. | man submarines have outside guns. All new subma ____. Frederic Carl Frieseke has: received the grand prize at|in the United States navy are to be equipped with | __ the Panama-Pacific Exposition from the jury of awards vith This is considered an important matter, | ae 1 the American. weenie Panoa ce: Sistas has | wit t 0 such ban a it bassin for a he cag: ; the Palace of Fine Arts, all of lumin- aad en quality. a are ovr “The Garden PERFECT 3-INCH GUN FOR OUR SUBMARINES, — Secretary Daniels announced recently that the ordnance ~ experts of the navy had designed and that the naval shops had built a new type of 3-inch rapid-fire gun which — would be installed in. Submarine M-1, seon to be lars in commission. Mr. Daniels said every test had resulted satisfactorily, and that the gun and its carriage would be sent from th e ordnance factory in Washington to New York for moun bad ing on the submarine under constriction at the Electri ic Boat Company's plant. ae B —{e war, and it was only when the Germans began _| into action iti Sapea ine, mannting. di that it became the: ar

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THE FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. NINE WONDERS aR => CHAPTER XI (continued) Er Bed them all to me,” he added, “for I don’t wish to ae Shem worried by strangers.” In less than ten minutes after the boys had retired to their rooms sporting men began besieging the clerk for “permission to go up and seé them, but they were all refused with the statement that the manager alone could be seen. “Where 1s the manager?” one man asked, Eee i is in the crowd about here somewhere,” replied the ue ~ “Point him out to me.” _ Ina few minutes Parton was pointed out to him, and the man pushed his way through the crowd until he reached side. “Are you the manager of the Rough Riders?” he asked. Bis* Yes,” replied Parry; “what can I do for you” ; ‘Lavent to have a‘ talk with your pitcher.” Well, you may talk with him as much as you please,” said Parry, “when he has hada bath, changed his clothes and come down.’ “But I want to have a private talk with him, so I ‘would go up to his room.” “Oh, well, now,” said Parton, “give him a charice to up and change his clothes. If we allowed people to n on them just whenever they wanted to they would no chance to eat, sleep or change their shirts. What d ~ want to see him about, anyway ?” n private business.” io you know him?” Parry asked. 0.” ; hen you can have no private business with him.” ‘hat’s all you know about it,” retorted the man. es,” assented Parry very coolly, “it’s all I want to about it,” and he turned away and walked from me coolly walked to the foot of the stairs, where k up _ his position, ev idently with the intention of z until the boys came down, Parry watched him manner, however, told that he eleibet to the ra of the extreme West. © "Uy ~se see Tom,” Parry said to innselt, OS a Sr ee Na Ee Te Daan ee His |. THE ROUGH RIDERS OF THE DIAMOND FIELDS ‘By GASTON GARNE (A nttioe STORY) which he instructed the others to say when asked where their pitcher was that they guessed he was about some- where. They agreed to do so, and Parry returned downstairs to again mingle with the crowd. Presently the boys began to come down by ones and twos, but the pig sport at the foot of the stairs was on the look- out for the pitcher. Tommy passed him dressed in his business suit, and the mian didn’t even look at him. By and by he became tired of waiting, and asked Teddy where his pitcher was. “Qh, he’s about somewhere,” was the reply, and that was the answer he received from everyone he spoke to. Ffhally he was heard to say that he would give fifty dollars to any man who would find the pitcher for him in the crowd. ; “What’s the matter? Can’t you find him?’ Tom asked, who was standing close enough to hear him, “It seems I can't,” returned the man. “Do you know him ?” , “Yes; ’ve known him all my life.” “The deuce you have. Do you live up in the woods, too?” “Yes; I was born and reared in the same village win: him.” “Well, take me to him where I can have a private talk with him, and I'll give you fifty dollars.” “Hand over the money, said Tom, reaching out his hand, “Not so fast, young man. I want to see that pitcher first.” “Fland. it over to the clerk here then,” suggested Tom, “with the understanding that he is to give it to me when I point out the pitcher ‘to you.” The man went over to the clerk, accompanied by Tem saying as he handed him a roll of bills: “(ive that to this young man here after he has brought the pitcher to me.’ “What pitcher?” the clerk asked. “Why, the pitcher for. the Rough Riders’ nine.” « “Oh, yes, that’s all right,” laughed the clerk, as he took the money. “There you are now, | young man,” said the sport, turning - Tom. “Now bring on your ball twirler.” “Tm the pitcher,” quietly remarked Tom. “What!” gasped the man in open-eyed wonder. “Yes,” said Tom, “my name, is Tom er pecmbhce cocoa won the game Rete ee OF Kuatt, “and” Pa to-day.” et, tee Pg Pe pres, Se ap ee

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NEW YORK, AUGUST 13, 1915. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS HOW TO SEND MONEY--At our risk send P.O. Money Order, Check or Registered -Letser; en gy eg shen in any other way are at your risk, We Stamps the §: as cash, When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate ploce pee poche! to avoid oe the envelope. Write your name and address plainly. Address letters Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 23d St., N. Y. Ror L. McCARprt.t, cuore rons N. Hastixos Wowrr, Manat E. Wourr, President t Coances KE. WYLAWaER, mocaliry GOOD CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES The United States holds property in the City of New York valued at $66,331,000. For the first time in the history of the San Jose, Cal., high school all the girls who graduated wore simple’ Gre- cian robes, costing only #1 apiece. Newark has planted 27,000 trees in ten years. Jjersey City has,set out 10,900 in eight vears. East Orange, South . Orange, East Rutherferd, Passaic, Irvington, Belleville, Nutley and Montclair have each done considerable tree- + pisating. _ . Ceylon, according to the Jast-census, has a peaedgticn of tir. dy 110, 900. the ich element numerically being the Singha- dese. The area is 25,000 square miles. _The. prineipal ex- ea ports are tea, coffee, cinchona, rubber, cocoa, cinnamon, ~ cardamoms,,ebony, and the products of the cocoanut palm, + A large source of wealth is also found in precious ,stones _. and pearl fisheries. oa _ Loretta Kennedy, who is seven years of age, and who lives in Paterson, N. J.,:catme home acting in a strange -.manner. Outside her home she almost collapsed. from Jaughing. It was thought she was hysterical. -Neighhors yan to her and found tucked away in her blouse a -half- emptied bottle of whisky. After considerable questioning, Loretta was forced to admit that she had found it, and be- cause it tasted so nice she drained half the bottle. In St. _ Joseph's Hospital a stomach er restored her to her _ senses. » Spent Valley. is a: beuazt valley in Iny6 County Cali- fornia, lying between the Panamint range on the west and the Funeral. Amargosa and Grapevine ranges on the east. prohably got its name from the fact that its bed is. de- of any form of life save in places a. scrubby growth was once" the: bed of a salt lake. is aximum Fame and Fortune Weekly In the}- FAME AND FORTUNE ‘WEEKLY. A Chinese steamship line to operate from Shanghai and other ports in China to the United States is about to be established to compete with the Japanese lines which now dominate the transpacific trade, according to advices re- ceived by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. The Pacific trade is seriously disturbed because*of the re- cent order reserving for the use of Japanese shippers all” space in ships under subsidy from the Japanese’ Govern-— ment. According to the bureau’s advices, Fung Sui, repre- senting a syndicate of Chinese capitalists, is on his way to the United States to close contracts for material to con- struct a fleet of five vessels for freight and passenger ser- vice, The ships will make Shanghai a terminal port, and it is expected that the service will be extended to Hong- — kong and Manila. Honolulu will be a port of call on both east and west bound trips. In order to take advantage of the congested freight situation in the Far East, due to the — withdrawal of space in Japanese ships, the report says, two vessel probably will be purchased in the near ee to start the new service. t GRINS AND CHUCKLES Teacher—Can you tell me what a dromedary is, Tom-_ my? Tommy—Yes, ma’am; a dromedary is a two-masiedas camel. “But, mamma, he ¢alled me a pie-face.” ; hurt vou, did it?’ “It didn’t, mamma, until he ears mash the ernst with his knuckles.” Ted—What makes you think old Monevbags doesn’ intend to let you marry his daughter. Ned—The tip h gave me on the stock market was a loser. “Can you lend me twenty, old chap? I’m going on 7 vacation and need it badly.” “Wait till you get back, old 5 fel; yon’ll, need it worse then.” P “Have you ever had ‘palpitation of the heart?” asked ri insurance examiner. “Well,” replied the young eae re blushing vividly, “I’m engaged to be married.” ie “Did vour father tadeh you to do sueh things?” sith €: the minister of the boy w hom he caught pummeling a com panion.” “Huh! J should say not! Dad can’t even wi me. > { 3 vt “By ince: that Mrs. Ka Flippe is a stunning wom n, isn't she?” “I should think so. She hit me with automobile the other day and it was three hours before woke up.” Maud—See this ring? Archie gave it to me'thé evening. Irene—I thought I recognized it. You'll has a rough place just under the a — will your finger sore. Mistress—Mary, go to the » door at once. Some rung three oats

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eee.” RAMAN MORPUNE WEREEY 8 FORTUNE WEEKLY. er “Henry upbraided Edward for his lack of honor in wins. ning her away from him. But the outside world never knew of his resentment, and they were, to all appearances, friends, although it has ever since been an understood thing that Edward would never handle a dollar of at brother’s money.’ This, then, disposed of any suspicion of Edward. If he ere neyer came in a very difficult case, or a case which| had known what the will would be, he would never have verybody else had given up, that I wasn't at once put| committed the murder. However, I was satisfied that it ee ee A HOPELESS CASE. on it. ad been done by somebody who would benefit by his ay 3 aay. D. W. Stevens yg don't, wish. my readers to think that I am self-con- ed or, egotistical. for I only state a plain fact when I that.during my active years on the detective, force Few detectives like to take up a case which has been| death, orked on before, or in which the lapse of time has al-| “How about Arthur?” I asked. low ed of the loss of clews which might easily have been} “He has known for years that he was his. brother’s eis? 5 und in the beginning. “Then he must be the man,” I thought. . ~ One of the worst of all cases came into my hands in this} I hunted up every scrap of information possible which e concerned him, and on learning that he had been a little “fast,” as it is termed, I was convinced that I had a hold. on the right man. But how to prove it? There was the rub. Arthur now occupied the house where the murder had been committed. I visited it, told him who I was and re- quested: permission to examine the room where the murder had been done. I. was staggered by the readiness with which he ac- quiesced, and the earnestness of his tone in wishing that I might be successful in unearthing the murderer. T exam- ined the room to my heart’s content—it had not been changed since the murder, Arthur said—and then I began to glance about at the walls, the pictures, the articles of _ vertu, anything, everything, was scrutinized. ; 2 At one side of the reom adjoining, into which I went, was a desk. “This belonged to your brother?” I said, scans myself before it in the stuffed chair. , “Tt did.” “Has it been overhauled ?” “I have touched nothing, in the hope that by leaving things as they were found, some possible clew might be the result,” he answered. “Even the waste-paper basket has not been emptied.” shad just brought to a successful issue the chase after rger, and eniered the office after an absence of over two nths. I saw that the chief was troubled, but he no ner saw me than his face brightened. fust the man I want,” he said. “Clark, here is ‘A He ppeless Case’ for you to work up.” re “What's the good of my wasting my time on it if it is hi ppeless ? 2’ _ “We've got to appear to do something,” he said, desper- “The newspapers are going for us bald-headed. is a murder committed six weeks ago, and not a clew the faintest kind. I have had seven men on it, and ey've all given up beat. Don’t talk back and try to rea-. on with me—for you must take it.” I was under orders. What could I do? Only iv ‘pridle my disgust and go to work. as soon in possession of all that was known. Henry iry had been found dead i in his bed one morning. his having been crushed by a pair of heavy iron tongs, ‘or a wood fire in the grate in his bedroom. obbery had not been the motive, so far as could be seen, hing had been taken that was known of. Henry y was wealthy, fifty years of age, and a bachelor. t was all there was to, tell me. once going to work, determinéd to do the best I aabeety about his family and learned that he had I glanced at the basket, then stooped and picked up a rothers, Arthur and Edward. crumpled bit of paper and straightened it out— hur, like himself, was a bachelor, of forty-five or six, A letter from a man begging for charity. the terms of Henry Salsbury’ 3 will, was made sole| — I opened another— of his wealth. . ene he want to buy a eh seat ? , ht, “here is a motive or at least a possibl smoothed out another, still— : ‘ as ee . met A broker advised him to purchase Erie. Be hy was Edward, younger and a married man, left| .. “ill be back presently,” said Arthur Salsbury, as I a ple Had Henry and Edward been on bad| Picked up another. [f.so, here was another motive. . Becoming absorbed in my work, I did not notice his ab- red jnto the matter, and from authentic sources | sence; it was Incky he was absent, for finally I gave a , to all outward appearances, Henry and Ed-| start, and uttered a cry of joy. I held in my hand a letter, friends. But niet leaving i anything! How evidently commenced by Henry Salsbury on the morning — plained? | of the day he had been murdered. ole said a ‘person. who ‘new them well, of “Sir: ‘Time was when I at least believed you ho ett, r “Henry met and loved a beautiful girl, ‘though T have good reason, heaven knows, to doubt you than himself. She liked him, although I/ honor. Dishonest! You dishonest! It breaks my: , An how 3 are you going to save yourself? | ut he thought she did, te s intended wif. | hel ee ere alee Hing eee

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* se La. ot ¢ “-PAME AND FORTUNE” WEEKLY. INTERESTING ARTICLES AN INDIAN MARRIAGE. Eunice Holmes, a full-blooded Indian whose triba! name was Laughing Waters, was married the other day by Alder- man William F. Quinn in the Marriage Chapel in the Municipal Building, New York City, to August Charles Erbach, a German farmer of Summit, N. J. The bride, who is ‘o4 years old, was born in Charekes. Indian Terri. tory. She does not know the names of her parents, both having died when she was a small girl. Until several months age, when she came East, she lived with relatives. Erbach is 25. years old, and has been in this country five years. He gave his address as 312 East Fourteenth street, New York, but has a large farm in Summit. The couple will make their home on the farm. * HOW TO KNOW MUSHROOMS. As everybody knows, a deplorable amount of good food goes to waste because the public ‘is familiar with bit few of the many edible species of fungi. It is true that the nutritive value of fungi has been much exaggerated; they are by no means comparable in dietary value to meat, as is often claimed ; but, on the other hand, they are more nu- tritious and when properly cooked decidedly more palata- ble than many things that enter into the everyday menu. A desultory propaganda in behalf of mycophagy has been earried on for years, both in this country and abroad. The latest contribution to this campaign is Bulletin No. 175, issued by the Department of Agriculture, entitled “Mushrooms and Other Common Fungi.” In this useful manual the authors, Flora W. Patterson and Vera K. Charles, tell us, among other things, of the efforts which accompany reconnoitering parties and carry messages. The dog is able to perform this duty more quickly ‘and safely than a man, and thus permit a patrolling party to main- tain communication with the main force. It takes only ten days for a dog to learn to perform this service like a trained soldier. The. trench dog is taught to maintain silence until the enemy is within 200 yards, and then to give warning by a low growl. Many attempts of the enemy to make surprise attacks in the night have been detected by dogs. The ser- vice is as dangerous as that of an advanced sentry, and the dog often shares the same fate. Clarion, a remarkably intelligent sentry dog, which became the glory of his.com- pany before he was killed by a bomb, was buried — pomp and honored with a cross. True, a little fox terrier, which sought out 150 voundl men in concealed places during the battle of the Marne, was recently sent back to the front after a well-earned rest. Truc stuck to his post during the pursuit of the Germans‘ until his master was killed, when he lost his com= pany. He turned up later, exhausted and footsore, at the kennel of the dog society, where he had been trained. HISTORIC MARKER DESTROYED. The mound of rocks which has been the only marker for the southeast corner of Kansas since its admittance asa State and the northeast corner of the Indian Terri< tory since the Territory was reeognized has been razed and — a real marker placed. in the ground. Z The mound was placed there to mark the dividing lines between the Osages and Cherokees at. the time of the Mis-— souri Compromise in 1823, and ever since it has been re, spected and observed as the boundary between Missouri, — Kansas and Oklahoma by red men and white. A rock road — was proposed recently, and the county surveyor of Cherokee F. County was called to bury a marker and erect witmess — markers so that the road could go directly over the corner= a: stone instead of around it. i The southeast corner of Kansas is a quarter of a mile- south of where the Government ordered it located. Co- ineident with that fact is the legend among the pioneers — in that locality to the effect that one of the Government’s _ surveyors who had charge of the expedition to make per- a ot Mushrooms trom China. . * manent boundaries ‘in Rgnkes when it was admitted fo me wth ] ontains descriptions, in language as " fo ‘ & Dew ‘tulletin: contains descriptions, guns the Union in. 1861 was suffering a headache the morn non-technical as the circumstances admit, -of more than i * , d a 150 species of fungi, together with splendid photographs the wor Laie begun, due to a late session with a relati of’at least half of the species described. ‘The poisonous = iat arleycorn ihe night before. + ae species are carefully ‘pointed out, and several recipes for The Government ordered the boubdary to begin cat 5 a ooki point where the thirty-seventh parallel crossed the western a mB) ap other kinds = *PPe nded. boundary of Missouri.” Instead, the surveyor began 1 the pile of rock, which some Indians told him was boundary line, instead of at the parallel, which was aq ter of a mile north. The surveying party got back to parallel at a point south of Coffeyville, says the Toy Capital, leaving a triangular strip of ground in s Kansas that should have belonged to the Indian T. | But aha Jand. ite pape gist it to Soy tc : certain European Goveriments have made to teach their _ - ¢itigens the food value of mushrooms. All over France i exhibits of the more desirable species are held; while at - Rouen during the season there are daily lectures on. this subject, illustrated by fresh specimens. In Saxony sys- tematic instruction concerning mushrooms is given in the public. schools. The French have taken to canning many wild mush- rooms, in addition to the familiar Agarcius campestris be. wn in mushroom cellars, and these are now exported =f fe ‘the United States, which also receives tons of dried + peti ee ic: SOCIRTY OF AMBULANCE DoGs. _. The National Society of Ambulance Dogs of France i now has eight kennels where experts are busy training a dogs, a ‘carriers, | soomk: pune and ambu- tor se

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MAGIC MIRROR. Fat and lean funny faces. By looking in «hese mirrors upright your features become narrow and elongated. Look into it sidewise and y»vur phiz broadens out in the most comical manner. Size 3%4x2% inches, In a handsome imi- tetion morocco cage. Price, 10¢, each, postpaid. TRICK PUZZLE PURSE. The first attempt usually made to open it, is to press down the little knob in the center of the purse, when a small needle runs out and stabs them in the fin- ger, but does not open it. You ean open it before their eyes and still they will be unable to open it. Price, 25c. each by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. X. THE IRON CROSS There are lots of people who want to bring the European war into this country. But we don’t want it. When you find a foreign patriot shooting off his mouth, just pin one 3 of these iron crosses on his Guaranteed to cork up the most blatant Price, 10c. each, by lapel. ete ig earth, mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. X-RAY WONDER This is a wonderful little optical illusion. In use, you appurently see the bones in your hand, the hole in? a pipe-stem, the lead in a pen- ceil, ete. The principle on whieh it is operated cannot be disclosed here, but it will afford no end of fun for any person who has one, Price, 15 cents each, by mail, postpaid. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y¥. TT . SNAPPER PENCIL Sometimes your jo- cose friend helps him- ing up from your vest pocket. Let him take this one. When he at- tempts to use it, a pair of springs shoot out and rap him so smartly on the knuckles that he swears-off taking Other people’s provers: A core’ little trick rding no end of amusemen 7 % Price, 10c. each, by mail. postpaid. i. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. COIN PURSE You cannot lose your change by carrying one)of these handy purses. They are made of the finest Morocco, with a clasp that simply will not unfasten itself, Within. are heavy rubber receptacles for hold- ing nickels, dimes, and quarters. Each compart- Ment holds a number of coins. They cannot be abstracted unless you take them out your- Self. Pickpockets hate these purses, ¥ Price 25e. each, by mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. 2 MINIATURE COMPASS CHARM. f A beautiful charm, to be . consists of a true and perfect é compass, to which is attach- 2 ed, by a pivot, a powertul magnitying glass. When not le Compass and is not seen. The compass is Protected by a glass crystal, and is hand- Somely silver-nicke] plated and burnished, pre: ting a very attractive appearance. ere ing glass, anc a handsome charm, all in It is a Parisian novelty, entirely new. 25e. by mail, vostnaid. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. worn on the watch chain. It . use the magnifying glass fits closely inside ‘ou have a reliable compass, a powerful mag- “HE DEVIL'S CARD TRICK.—From three rds held in the hand anyone is asked to ly select one. All, three cards are d a hat and the performer removes hat_ the andience did not select e hat to them their card has vanished. A great. climax; ne Price, SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave... N. ¥. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. x. | self to the pencil stick- | .TRICK CIGARETTE BOX. This one is a corker! Geta box right away, if you want te have a barre} of joy. secret: It nary red box of Turkish ciga- rettes. But it contains a trig- ger, under which you place a paper cap. Offer your friend a smoke and he raises the lid of the box. That explodes the cap, and if you ere wise you will get out of sight with the box before he gets over thinking he was shot. Price, 15¢., postpaid. U. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y THE MULTIPLYING CORKS.—A_ small Tound box is shown to be empty and one of} | the spectators is allowed to place three corks | in it. The cover is pout on and the box is handed to one of the spectators, who, upon } removing the cover, finds six corks in the box. Three of the corks are now made to vanish as mysteriously as they came. Very deceptive. Price, 15a, H. F; LANG, 1815 Centre St.. B’klya, N. ¥ SURPRISE KENEMATOGRAPH. The greatest hit of the season! It censists ef a small metal, nickeled tube, with a_ liens eye view, which shows @ pretty bal- let girl in tights. Hand {t to a fricnd, who will be delighted with the first pic- ture; tell him,te turn the screw in center of instru- ment to change the views, when @ stream of water squirts into his face, much to his dis- gust, Anyone who has not seen this kinema- | tograph in operation is sure to be | every time. | with water in an instant, ready for the next customer. Price 25c. by mail, pestpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥, HANDY TOOL Every boy should 3s one of these handy litte in- struments. It consists of a buttonhook, a_ cigar-cutter, scissors, key-ring and bottle- opener, all in one. steel is absolutely guaran- teed. Small catches hold it » so that it cannot open in the pocket. Price by mail, post- paid, 15 cents each, FRANK SMITH 283 Lenox Ave. New Yerk City : GOLD PLAITED COMBINATION SET.— With square turquoise stones. Price, 10c., postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. \. \ AUTOMATIC COPYING PENCIL. The importance of earrying a good re- liable pencil need not be dwelt upon here. re nt an ore ne- essity wit us_ all. The holder ot this pencil is beautifully nickeled with grooved box-wood handle, giv- ‘ing a firm grip in writing; the pencil auto~ | matically supplies the lead as needed while | a box of these long leads are given with each | pencil. The writing of this pencil is indelible | the same 93 ink, and thus can be used in writing letters, addressing envelopes, ete. | Bills of account or invoices made out with this pencil can be Fopiag the same as if copy- | ing ink was used. It is the handiest pencil }on the market; you do net require a knife to keep it sharp; it is ever ready, ever safe, and just the thing to carry. Price of pencil, with box of lends complete, only pF ——____] ESE We. ; 3 for 25c.; one dozen We. postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26t &t. N. ¥- . : A cn es = septs gees Here's the | looks like an ordi- | caught § The instrument can be refilled | The ! Dalay FR EE = 074 are | | RUFLE and many other dandy articles given ab- ; sotutely treoty bors whe’ will do a small Ww. es Snares cnt al Greer, Sp, B® BUNT & C0., A, E., 160 N. FIFTH AVE. CHICAGO, ILL. @& HAY PEVER RE sent express to you on Free Trial. itcures send $1; if not, don’t Give express office. A 837 Poplar St. Sidney, O! Pack of $1,000 Stage Bills, 10¢; $ packs, 25¢. Send for 8 pack and show the boys what a WAD you carry. Cc. A. NICHOLS, JR., Box 90, N.Y. Ss Almost anyone can learn it at home. Small cost. Send en 2-cent stamp for particulars and proof. A. SMITH, Room | D133, 823 Bigelow St., Peoria, Il. ——— | foo DEAD SHOT SQUIRT PISTOL. If you shoot a maa with this “gun” he will be too mad to accept the ancient excuse—‘“I didn’t know it was loaded.” It loads easily with a full charge of water, and taking aim, press the rubber bulb at the butt of the Pistol, when a small stream of water is squirted into his face. The beast thing to do then is to pocket your gun and run. There are “loads of fun” in this wicked little joker, which looks like a real revolver, trigger, cock, chambers, barrel and all. Price only %e.; 4 for 25¢.; one dozen 60¢. by mail postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥, Ayvad's Water-Wings Learn to swim by one tri Price 26 cents, Postpald These walee_wtae take up no more room thans pocket-barkerebief. They w 8 ounces aad sup- trom 68 to 250 pounds. With a pairanyone can to swim or foat. Foruse, you have oniy to wet them. blow them up, sad ero | Ring marzs under the m | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. BUBBLEE. The _ greatest invention of the age. The box Sy fg DiS pipe of nea enameled Weta. five tablets; also printed di- rections for play- ing numerougr soap-bubble games, such a Floating Bubbles, Repeaters, Surprise Bubbles, Double Bubbles, The Boxers, Lung Tester, rted Bubbles, Rolling Bubbles, Smoke Bubbles, Bouncing Bubbles, and many others. Ordinary bubble- blowing, with a pipe and soap water, are not in it with this scientific toy. It prod larger, more beautiful and stronger bubbles than you can get by the ordinary method | The games are intensely interesting, too. | Price, 12c. by mail. H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. EGGS OF PHMARAOH’S SERPENTS. A wonderful and. startling novelty! “Pharach’s Serpents” are preduced from a small eggs, no larger than a pea. -Place one of them on a plate, touch fire to it with a common match, and instantly a large serpent, a yard or more in length, slowly un- coils itself from the burning egg. - Each serpent assumes a different position. One will appear to be gliding over the ground, with head erect, as though spying danger; another will coil itself up, as if pre- paring. for the fatal spring upon its victim, while another will stretch out lazily, appar- ently enjoying its usual noonday nap. Im- mediately after the egg stops burning, the serpent hardens, and may afterward be ke as an amusing curiosity. They are put up in wooden boxes, twelve eggs in a box, 8c., 3 boxes for 20c.: 1 dozen boxes for 60e.. sent by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO. 29 W. 26th 8t.. W. x.

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VANISHING AND RE- APPEARING EGG.—Very ROUGH RIDER DISC PISTOLS. ; NOISY NANDIERCHIE?. | fine, easy to perform and LN Made of nicely col- A great deal of amusement dred woed 5% inches | may be had with -this little } long. The potver. i+ | article. It imitates the blow- | at her =) marvelous furnished by rubber | ing of the nose exactly, except | and mystifying effect. Egg bands. Ten dises of | that the noise ‘= magnified at ae 70a dS | tO. ar. aud vanish right ore the SS eyes. Beauly fF made. ~" » Price, 25¢. FRANK SMITH, 3383 Lenox | | | cardboard with each least a dozen times, and | . pistol. Price, 6e. each, | sounds Mke: the bass-horn in a | : postpaid. German band. This device is Hi. .F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. used by simply placing it between the teeth | “4 7 4 | and blowing. The harder the blow the louder | the noise. Price, 10c. each by mail, postpaid. | > MAGIC PIPE. | H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St, Biklyn, 8S, THE PHANTOM, FINGER. Made of a regular corn > = a | As these fingers are cast in cob. vipe, with rubber figures SHOOTING CIGARETTES j miele “in Which PA pergon’s fin- inside; by blowing through | ot Do not sli@w this trick gers hare’ been entased, they are the stem the figure will jump | i aa to any _oneswho 1s nerv- a liféliité model of the same. The out. Made in following fig- oe Dex2 oon on ey, nevese ‘finger’ can ~be made }to pass th “a person's) hat) or coat without injury tothe hat or gar- ment,“ It apmars to besyour own NS eine 5 ot high-cl cigarettes, Big City in an English very amusing to cthers, the owner of the hat walnut shell, prettily This interesting toy is one of the latest novelties out. Jt is in great de- mand. To operate it, the stem is placed in your hinged with ribbon, to which a small tag is at- tached. The nut con- tains 25 beautifully ithe; “ raphed views of the — - oo — mouth. You can blow Srnciial points of in- MYSTERIOUS PLATE cIFTER, into it, and’ at the same terestaievend ‘meouni ae Made of fine rubber, | 4 time pull or jerk lightly i York City. You can ad- with bulb on ‘one end/| on the string. The mouth opens, and it then | gress the tag, put on a stamp, and mai! it. A and inflator at other, | cries “Ma-ma,” just exactly in the tones of ®@ | hice souvenir to mail to your distant friends. — Place it» under a table | real, .1ve baby, The sound is so human that | prog, py mail, 1c. each. does hot see the joke, but thinks it meannesg ry i@ destroy his hat, yet when it is returned it @ perfectly uninjured. Price, i@e. each by mail. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 25 W. 26th St., N. X. 5 > a | it would deceive anybody. EEF NOVELTY CO., 29 . 26th St., N. \ Siaas’ and bulb fe pressed |v va wovnary critep te ooh by mail. | NOLES Novem ce = = underneath, object rises | WOUEF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. ° BLACK-EYE JOKE. - mysteriously; 40 ins. long. Price, 25c., postpaid. THE MAGNETIC Tor. Ne® and omusing soker. The C. BEHR, 150 W. 67% St., New York City. ; i» bandpaine, metals victim is tol¢c to hold the tube close to his eyg@ = Price by mail, postpaid, 12c. each, paid. / Netty a ne Price by mail iSe.- ¢ach3 . LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y¥. WOLEFE NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥ - WE WANT YOu | TO READ _|“Moving Picture Stories” | oh ‘Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players = Absolutely the finest little publication on the news-stands § a Bt Aas f f 3 3 West 23d Street

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DD FORTUNE WwHEEBHRIY aS 486 Fame Before the Footlights; or, The Boy Who Bossed the Theater. 487 Lucky Lee, the Office Boy; or, The Nerviest Lad in New York age Wall Street Mystery. 488 Sure to Get Rich; or, A Smart Young Messenger. —LATEST IS 452 The Boy Banker's Double; or, A §& 453 The Young Beaeh Comber; or, A ne From the Sand. 489 Pushing it Through; or. The ate of Lucky Boy 454 The Little Boss; or, After the Wall! reet Money Kings. fing eS hie Sanne pb wall | tree! 485 $250,000 in Gold; or, Hunting a H 49C A Born Speculator; or, The Young Sphinx of Wall S t. . 491 The Way t ; or, The B Who Got Th 456 A Corner in Money; or, Beating the Wy }Street Money Sharks 492 Struck ag Bov Who Made a Million. ai 457 Going it Alone; or, The Boy Who Made “his Own Luck. 493 A Golden Risk; or, The Young Miners of Della Cruz. = aad — bo ind or, Making Big Mon}> in Wall St. 494 A Sure Winner, or, The Boy Svho Went Out With a Circus 450 ight ng for ~ rise or, en . or Be 495 Golden Fleece; or, The Boy Brokers of Wall Street. 461 Buried Goae ae oe n . th Old Seep od erve. 496 A Madcap Scheme: or. The Boy Treasure Hunters of Cocos Island. 462 Hunts ao Rick ae one Fe rest Fi ee ' bE ee 497 Adrift on the World; or, Working His Way to Fortune. 463 Sam, the Salesman ; or, The Boy With ‘the ‘Silver Tongue ree ah tn BAe gs 0g oe i ae w= robs 2 orggpas — fe oy ie Luck: et, A fan tent oe tet 500 A Young Monte Cristo; or, The Richest Boy in the World. 466 Facing the Mexicans; or, The Secret Of the Aztec’s Gold. 501 Won by Pluck; o1, The Boys Who Ran a Railroad. oe 467 Fighting For Fame; or,’ The Luck Of a Young Contractor. 502 Beating the Brokers; or, The Boy Who “Couldn't Be Done. 468 Seeking a Lost Treasure; or, The Nerve Of a Young Explorer 503 A Rolling Stone; or, The Brightest Boy on Record. . 469 Matt, the Mechanic: or, The Boy Who Made His Pile 504 Never Say Die: or, The ged Surveyor of Happy Valley 470 Among the Ice Peaks; or, The Vosvage That Made the Money | 505 Boss of the Market; or, The Greatest Boy in Wall Street. 471 The Little Castaways; or, The Fortune That a Wreck Brought Hre4 The Chance of His Life; or, The Young Pilot of Crytal Lake 472 Taking Big Chances; or, The Boy Who Saved a Town 07 Striving for Fortune; or, From Bell-Boy to Millionaire. 473 Always Lucky; or, Winning on His Merits 508 Out for Business; or, The Smartest Boy in Town. 474 Out for a Corner; or, A Smart Chicago Boy. 509 A Favorite of Fortune; or, Striking It Rich in Wall Street. 475 The Winning Trick; or, How a Boy Made His Mark. 510 Through Thick and Thin; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy 476 The Young Editor; or, Running a Country Newspaper. 511 Doing His Level Best; or, Working His Wa y > 477 A Big Stroke: or, The Lad Who Made = Recon 512 Always on Deck; or, The Boy Who Made His Mark. . 478 In the Copper Field; or. The Mine That Made the Money. 513 A Mint of Money; or, The Young Wall Street Broker. r 479 From a Cent to a Fortune; or, A Chicago Boy's Great Scoop. 514 The Ladder of Fame; or, From Office Boy to Senator. S 480 A Start in Life: or, A Poor Boy's Rise to Fame. 515 On the Square: or, The Success of an Honest Boy 481 A Wide Awake Boy; or, Born With a Winning Streak. |516 After a Fortune; or, The Pluckiest Boy in the West. 483 Digging for Gold; or, The Luck of a Boy Miner. 484 A y With Grit; or, Earning An Honest Living. 482 vem the Money; or, How Ben Bailey Made His Mark. | ‘0 485 Andy, the Mill Boy; or, Rising to the Top. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, 1m money or postage stamrzs. D FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, . - - : - . : - - : 168 West 23d St., New York IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS ot our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out and fill in your Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send ‘hem to you by return mail POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, : - - : . . . - - : 168 West 23d St., New York. ouR TEeENW-CEWT FAN YD Boo kes No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND ETIQUETTE.—It is a great life secret, and No. 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of the mus: OREAM BOOK.—Containing the great oracle | one that every young man desires to know all | instructive books on cooking ever published of human destiny; also the true meaning of about There's pO Se in it. It containg recipes for cooking meats. fish. almost any kind of dreams, together with No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A com- | game, and oysters; also pies, puddings. caker charms, ceremonies, and curious games of | plete hand-book for making all kinds of | and all kinds of pastry, and a grand collec cards. candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc. tion of recipes. No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great No. 6 OW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL. No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER. book of magic and card tricks, containing full | —One of the brightest and most valuable | —Containing fourteen fllustrations, vin: ie oe all the leading card tricks of | little books ever given to the world, Every- different positions requisite to nln ~y om the day, also the most popular magical fllu- body wishes to know how to become beauti- | speaker, reader and elocutionist. Also con- sicns as performed by our leading magicians; | ful, both male and female. The secret is | taining gems from all the popular authors of every boy should obtain a copy of this book. simple, and almost costless. prose and ya fe ©. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.—The arts and No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVEN- No. 32. HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE.— wiles of flirtation are fully explained by this, ING PARTY.—A complete compendium of | Containing instructions for beginners. choice ttle book. Besides *he various methods of | games, sports, card diversions, comic recita- | of @ machine, hints on training, etc. A com- handkerchief, fan, gl-ve, parasol, window and | tions, etc., suitable for parlor or drawing- | Plete book. Full of practical illustrations. hat flirtation, it contains a full list of the | room entertainment. It contains more for No. 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A com- language and sentiment of flowers. the money than any book published. plete and useful little book, containing the No. 4 OW TO DANCE is the title of No 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The | rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle. this little book. It contains full instructions | most complete hunting and fishing guide ever | backgammon, a he dominoes, etc. in the art of dancing, etiquette in the ball- | published. It contains full instructions about No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS. room and at parties. how to dress, and full | guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fish- | —Containing all the leading conundrums of lirections for calling off in all popular square | ing, together with description of game and | the day, amusing riddles, curious catches and dances. fish. witty sayings. No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A com- No. 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.— No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN plete guide to love, courtship and marriage, | Heller’s second sight explained by his former DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, containing use- ving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to| assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the | ful and practical information in the treatment observed, with many curious and interest- | secret dialogues were carried on between the of megs | diseases and ailments common to ing things not ng knewn. magician and the boy on the stage: also giv- | every family. Abounding in useful and effec- No. 6 HOW BECOME AN ATHLETE. | ing all the codes and signals. tive recipes for general complaints. —Giving full instruction for the use of dumb- o. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.— No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POULTRY bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal | This little book gives the explanation to all PIGEONS AND RABBITS.—A ; s¢ful and in- : bars and various other methods of developing | kinds of dreams, together with lucky and | structive book. Handsomely illustrated. a@ good, healthy muscle; containing over sixty | unlucky — No, 40. HOW TO MAKE AnD SET TRAPS, {ilustrations. No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO | —Including hints on how to catch moles, No. 7 HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Hand- | GENTLEMEN.—Containing full directions for weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also somely iilustrated and containing full instruc- | writing to gentlemen on all subjects. how to cure skins. ‘opiously {llustrated. tions for the management and training of the No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.— o. 41. THE BOYS OF N YORK END canary, mockingbird, bobolink. blackbird, paro- | Containing full instructions for all kinds of | MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a great va- uet, parrot, etc. gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Em- | riety of the latest jokes used by the most °. 9. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILO- | bracing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor | famous end men. No amateur minstrels is QUIST.—By Harry Kennedy. Every intelli- | W, Macdonald. complete without this wonderful little book. gent boy reading this book of instructions can No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD THE BOYS OF NEW No. 42. master the art, and create any amount of fun | A BOAT.—Fully illustrated. Full instructions STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied a for himself and friends. It is the greatest | are given in this little book, together with in- sortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and book ever prblished. structions on swimming and riding, companion | Irish. Also end men’s jokes. Just the thing No. 10. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self- | sports to boating. fer home amusement and amateur shows. defense made easy. Containing over thirty No. 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF No. 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN. illustrations of guards, blows, and the differ- | RECITATIONS.—Containing the most popula | —Containing the grandest assortment of mag- ent positions of a good boxer. Every boy| selections in use, comprising Dutch dialect, | ‘cal illusions ever placed before the public should ebtain one of these useful and instruc-| French dialect, Yankee and Irish dialect | Also tricks with cards. incantations, etc. tive books, as it will teach you how to box | pieces, together with many standard readings. No. 44. HOW TO WRITE IN AN A 2 No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.— | BUM.—A grand collection of Album Verses No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS. | Everyone is desirous of knowing what his | suitable for any time and occasion; embrac- —A most complete little book, containing full | future life will bring forth, whether happiness | ing Lines of Love, Affection, Sentiment, Hu- @irections for writing love-letters, and when| or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell | mov Respect, and Condolence; also Ve to use them, giving specimen letters for by a glance at this little book. Buy one and | Suitable for Valentines and Weddings. 4 5 g 5 H ¢ 8 8 3 young and old. be convinced. No. 45. TH No. 12. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR. STREL GUIDE aD SORE BOOK se : LADIES.—Giving complete instructions for —Every boy should know how inventions orig- | thing new and very instructive. Ev. a parks § ere to ga are all ee ee, aes ae week. Saenles nem all, giving | should obtain this book, as {it ooukeanee = a : tters of introduction, notes and reques' examples in electricity, hydraulics, magnet- t gan No. 18. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF ' ism. optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc. ts sear teeeee: ane izing an amateur min- For sale by all newsdealers. or will be sent to any address on recelpt of price, 10 cts. per copy, ur 8 for 25 cts., tn money or postage stamps, by FRANE TOUSEY, Publisher. : : : - - : - - . : 168 West 23d St., New York,