Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 523) (1915 10 08)

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N° 523 ; OCTOBER 8, (916 5(enls. FA STORIES OF / BOYS THAT MAKE MONEY. THE ROAD TO SUCCESS; OA JHE GAREER OF A FORTUNATE BOY 4.4%2-mamw Ano OrHer STORIES N D aN 2 : SS Se SS Just as Joe r. the lid of the box, there sounded a up, they saw the mysterious Frenchman with a heavy cane in his hand. Pointing

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STORIES OF BOYS : Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered at the New WHO MAKE MONEY York, N. ¥Y., eg Office as Second-Class Matter : by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 23d Street, New ¥ i No. 523. bare aly be NEW YORK, OCTOBER 8, 1915. Price 5 Cents. THE ROAD TO SUCCESS | = — OR—— THE CAREER OF A FORTUNATE BOY : : By A SELF-MADE MAN 3 < ' ; CHAPTER I. farm, on which stood an*old stone house, a relic of Revoly e 7 : tionary days, for fifty dollars an acre, or seventeenshundred = THE MYSTERIOUS FRENCHMAN, “Look yonder, Sam,” cried Joe Page, suddenly elutching his companion by the arm and pointing at the wreck of an old stone house which loomed up grim and ghostly in the pale moonlight in the adjoining field; “there it is again—the same _ light I saw moving around there last night from the window al my room when I was going to bed.” “T see it.” replied his friend, Sam Parsons. “There's some- body nosing around that old building with a lantern. Do - You think it can be John, your hired man, looking for some- _ thing he’s lost?” $ “No.” answered Joe. in a decided ‘tone, “it isn’t John, for night, and asked him if it was he that was poking around the old ruin, and he said no.” | “Then who can it be? No stranger has any right on your ‘property. _Then, what object could any stranger have in = ee hour of the night?” , anyway.” ‘Tm svith you. We'd better carry a club apiece to pro- ourselves in case the stranger should turn out to be some cious tramp inclined to resent our interference.” e two boys were leaning over the side veranda rail of ‘Page fa rmhouse, which stood back some distance froin ‘road. * uneommonly bright-looking boys, about sixteen ‘without a speck of -hayseed in their makeup, shad been raised on Ulster County farms. Pre | ts m was situated about a mile from Pembrook t comprised about ninety acres, of which sixty were suit- oe. tillage, the remainder being about’ equally divided woodland and pasture. with the assistance of a hired man named John Jones, farm for his mother, who was a widow. tad" ‘three ters—nice, industrious girls—who were a place, especially in the summer, when father, madituild ; ~ boarders ih es season. mec 5 eer I spoke to him this morning about the light I saw there last | prying around an old, dilapidated building like that, especially ; dered who. the night visitor was. Ask me something easier, Sam. Let’s go over and see who | sitting together at the end of the front veranda that evening, | tient his body cut off the refiection of the light. : few boarders from’ New York City. Sam/|cape over his shoulders, and his frock coat wae Joe's particular crony, lived half a mile further out | close about him. one sister, and oe sia also | panion. and fifty dollars for the thirty-five acres, paying five hundred — and fifty dollars cash and giving a flat mortgage on the com- bined property for twelve hundred dollars to Squire Dalton, the village lawyer. The stone house in question, which stood near the dividing fence, was little better than an antique ruin, and within the last week or two Joe and John Jones had been pulling a 3 portion of it down. , They wanted the stone to build a substantial wall along f the road in front of the farmhouse in place of the dilapidated, 5 worm-eaten fence that had stood there for an indefinite num- ber of years, and which, in Joe’s opinion, at least, was a dis- grace to the property. On the previous evening Joe had seen a light moving about in the old stone house, and he supposed at the time that John Jones was out there for some purpose, John, on being questioned in the morning, denied that he had been there at the hour mentioned, and so the boy won- The matter slipped from his mind until Sam and he were soon after dark, when he told his friend about the circum- stance. He had searcely finished his story when his sharp eye dis- covered the same light again, moving around the partially dismantled floor of the ancient edifice, and he called his com- panion’s attention to it with the words that open this story. Having decided to investigate the matter, the two boys went to the barn, got a stout cudgel each, and started for the stone house. ak They approached the building with dune caution, though they tae failed to see the light any more, and finally reached a win- dow, bereft of sash, on the ground floor. Looking through this, they beheld a man of average aaah kneeling in one corner of the room, busily engaged with Fae trowel in detaching one of the flagstones that formed — floor. The laters stood between him and the wall, and conse The intruder wore a wide-brimmed felt hat, had a * “What the dickens is me up to?” whispered Toe to his ae to lift one of those stones

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“ walk when Joe reached the inn. i He had a slight acquaintance with the professor, having 3 met him one day along the road, and got in conversation with him as they walked along together. On the stréngth of this he took the liberty of addressing the learned gentleman, who shook hands with him and quite pleased to see the lad again. “Do you understand French, Professor Burgess?” aske¢ Joe, coming to the point as soon as possible. The professor replied that he did. ; “Then you would do me a great favor by translating a few — lines in that language for me,” said the boy, taking the paper discarded by the Frenchman out of his pocket and handing it to the gentleman. “I am very anxious to learn the meaning ‘ of that writing.” : Ie a “I will turn it into English for you with pleasure,” : Professor Burgess, after glancing over the paper. 27 into the writing-room.” ‘ Joe followed him into the inn. The professor seated himself at one of the tables, and, f ing a sheet of note paper, wrote out the following words, he handed to Joe: “Old stone house, near road, about one mile west of F brook village, Ulster County, New York State, U. S. A.” “Ground floor, kitchen, northwest corner, third sla onally southwest.” ; Joe read the translation slowly, and was rather d pointed at the result. — 5 ' “Ts that the whole thing, sir?” he asked. eee aoe ies That's all mre on the paper. Can you | wh t means now EME er ee _ “Not altogether, sir; but I may be able to get at t by ae yy! x a ¥ “iti at ad CE

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after I study it a while. Seems-like directions for discover- ing something, doesn’t it, sir?” “You might take it as such. In which case the object to be recovered seems to be under the third slab in a diagonal direction from the northwest corner of the kitchen on the ground floor of a certain stone house, near a road, one mile west of this village. Do you know of such a house in this vicinity?” “Yes, sir. The only stone house that I know of in this county is on our property, which is” just about a mile west of the village.” “Indeed? It must be the one indicated in this paper, then. All you will have to do is to follow these directions, lift the slab in question, and see it there is anything under it. That _ ought to be easy for you.” “It would, sir, if the house wasn’t a wreck, with nothing to show which room was the kitchen. I’ve ‘already pulled one side of the building to pieces to get stone to build a wall bere the front of a portion of our property.” ow did you come in possession of this paper, and why do you imagine that it has any special significance?” Joe told him about the mysterious Frenchman’s two visits to the ruins of the old stone house, and how the man’s con- duct had aroused his curiosity. Paper means anything, the Frenchman must have ng in the wrong room,” said Professor Burgess. you have no idea what he was looking for?” Judging from his actions and persistency, I < it was something important,” replied the boy. mn tauch of the building is still standing?” _ “About two-thirds.” “Well, if you have the time, and think it worth your while, you might look the ground floor of the house over in connec- tion with these directions and see what you can make of them. It is net improbable, but you might come upon some hidden treasure-trove, as it were. Money as well as other valuables have occasionally been found hidden away in old dwellings. These directions seem to point at some such conclusion with reference to the ancient building on your mother’s property. At any rate, I think it worth an effort on your part. You have nothing to lose but your time, and possibly something _ to gain, by looking into the matter. I advise you to do it. If you are fortunate in making a discovery, I should be glad to have you let me know about it, so that I may congratulate you.” “Thank you, sir. I will certainly do so, if I find anything; | m but I have no great hopes of any such luck.” _ “Then you will not be greatly disappointed if nothing comes of it,” laughed the professor. “That will be some satisfac- on, at any rate.” “That's right, sir,” replied Joe, as he raised his hat and walked away, while Professor Burgess started off in the « site direction. t Joe drew near home he took a short cut across an adja- field. ¢ close to a clump of bushes, he suddenly tripped over t he at first imagined to be a log, but instead of a log ved to be a leg. . to the boy’s consternation, the mysterious Frenchman eB ‘up with a fierce imprecation. cochon!” he exclaimed, shaking a big walking-stick : ngly. “You Americans are clumsy peegs!” te “I beg your pardon,” apologized Joe, hastily. “I didn’t your | I hope I didn’t hurt you, sir.” jah {” ge the foreigner, turning his back on the boy sintsing off, Je’s a fierce rooster,” muttered Joe, looking after him. onder why he was lying around in these bushes? He t be half-eracked.” : the farmer lad turned to go on he noticed something ening on the ground. ; reached down and pleked it up. ‘ t proved to be a sterling silver box, gold lined, partly filled a fine brown powder which proved to be snuff. the cover was an engraved inscription in French, the _words ot which Joe could understand were ‘Jules ux” and * ax:?" js must be the property of that crazy Frenchman, _ has he gone to?” poy. looked around pe. bar a ag no wae - eae why THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. 3 He had hardly reached the fence facing the country road, across which was the gate leading to the Page farmiouse, when he heard hasty steps behind him. He turned around and gave a gasp—the mysterious French- man was approaching him at a rapid gait, and with eyes’ that seemed to flash fire. “C'est un brigand—ma chere tabatiere!" he roared, mak- ing a snatch at the snuff-box, which Joe held in his hand. “By gar! You are von tief!” “What's the matter with you?’ it on the ground.” “You found him, hand him ovair.” “Sure thing. I guess it’s yours, all right. Jules Glorieux?” “Oui,” and he snatehed the box out of Joe’s hand. “Aha! C’est inestimable. I could not part wis dis for nossing. Allez!” waving his arm to the boy, at the same time turning quickly around and returning in the direction he came. © Joe didn’t understand what “allez” (go) meant, but, as | the Frenchman glared at him when he said it, he judged - that it was a kind of curt dismissal. 5 John Jones, who was working on thé stone wall, told him that Sam Parsons had just gone up to the house to wait for him, and so Joe hurried on to meet his friend. “Well,” said Sam, “did you find out the meaning of that paper?” cia “I’ve got a translation of it,” his friend replied. “Have you?” eagerly. “What does it say?’ “Read it for yourself,” replied Joe, taking the English aS copy made by Professor Burgess from his pocket and band- ing it to Sam. ARS “Ts that all it amounts to?’ asked Sam, in’a tone of dis- appointment. P “That’s all.” ‘ nts “It wasn’t worth the trouble of having it translated.’ Py “How do you know it wasn’t?” “ate “Well, I don’t see anything in it.” 5 “I don’t say there’s anything in it now, so far as the paper directions go, but I’ve an idea, just the same, that there is something of value buried somewhere under the foundation of that building. As soon as I get it all pulled down I'm go- ing to plough up the ground and see what I can find.” a “That’s a good plan. Still, if we knew which room was _ originally used as the kitchen of the old house, we might make a search first.” “The room where the Frenchman dug up the slabs doesn't _ look as if it had ever been used as a kitchen, but, just the same, it is the only one that is paved with slabs. That's why he tackled it, I guess. By the way,"what do you think? I came across that mysterious Frenchman a little while ago and had a run-in with him,” said Joe, with a gin. “You did? Where did you meet him?” asked Sam, with a look of interest. “In that field down yonder.” “You don’t say? What was he doing there?” ' “He didn’t seem to be doing anything but lying in the bushes. Taking a rest or a snooze, maybe. I fell over one, of his legs, and the way he went at me in French was a caution,” chuckled Joe. “He called me a clumsy peeg.” ~ “Ha, ha, hal” roared Sam. “What did you say to that?’ “I apologized for tripping over him. He said, ‘Bah! and skidooed.” “I wish I’d been there,” snickered Sam. “After he’d gone I found a silver snuff-box on the sees that he'd dropped. It had his name at se on it, with — the word pertetre: and something else in French that’. 3 couldn't rea F “Let me see it,” said Sam, holding out his hand. 32" “Sorry, but he discovered his loss and chased after me. He called me a brigand and a thief and snatched the box: = a: of my hand.” retorted the boy. “I found cas sty gh eh? It ees mine, comprenez yous? You Your name is e He did?’ Joe nodded. ; “What is the chap’s name, if you know it?” Ss “Jules Glorieux.” Se “That s6unds Frenchy enough, at any rate. I s'pose he hails from Bordeaux.” y) ie “Very likely. He ought to go back and stay there” “Looks as if he was still ground intending to re the old building ees ee wlesisat he means, {, we

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> i i ¢ i eS ret) = -_- A > > Wore Mig Pg f _. They exerted all their 4 THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. of that stone down to the road where John is building the wall. It will be a great help to me.” “All right, Joe. I’m willing to make myself useful.” The two boys then went to the barn to harness a horse to the drag. CHAPTER III. THE BRASS-BOUND BOX. For the rest of the morning the boys worked like beavers loading stone taken from the demolished walls of the old house to the drag and hauling it down to the road where John was working on the new wall. At noon Joe called a halt when one of his sisters rang a +. bell at the kitchen door announcing that dinner was ready. After the meal the boys returned to the work. It was about four o’clock that they were clearing away the last of the debris from a corner of the dismantled part of the stone house, when Joe noticed a slab sunk a little way in the ground. f It had not formed part of the original flooring of the room, now almost completely demolished, but had evidently been under it. Merely by accident had Joe observed it, for it was thickly coated with dirt and therefore resembled the hard ground all around it. The boy looked at it with some curiosity, wondering what it was doing there. Sam was just then returning with the drag, and Joe, picking up a crowbar and motioning to the other bar that lay on the ground, called his companion to help him dig the slab up. They Set to work at once to pry it out of the ground. “Is this slab part of the old floor?’ asked Sam. paate replied Joe. “It’s way below the level of the old “Then why is it imbedded in the ground? Looks as if it had been there some time.” * Saha aby any na why it’s there,” _ Joe. “rom ible we're hay to loosen it, I should say it was put there to stay.” Se Do you think there’s anything under it?’ asked Sam sud- cae gman in his work and regarding his friend with a “Why, what should be under it?” It just struck me that this might be the slab the French- -man was trying to find.” By Geotge! I plumb forgot all about that. Maybe it is,” added Joe, in some excitement. “Let’s get a hustle on and see if there is anything under it.” . Sam needed no further encouragement, but sinking his crow- bar under the edge of the slab, began to bear down with all his might. Soe Artes a fone! bar alongside of Sam’s and added his ov in ercome the resistance offered by the Slowly it began to yield to their united efforts and moved upward a fraction of an inch at a time. “It’s a mighty tough proposition, all right,” said Sa ping to wipe his “yp aren og Sd ' “It is that.. Just jab away some more of the dirt from that side while I do the same with this side. Maybe we'll be et aoaee out then.” ley dug the packed earth way until both side edges were exposed when they got busy once more with the crowbars. _ The slab now moved with more freedom and the boys, drop- ping the bars, grabbed hold of the edge and began to pull it “There’s a hole under it. I can see that,” said Sam. “Yes, and there’s something in the hole, too,” cried Joe, when they had lifted it up at a right angle with the surface of the ground. “Now, then, once more, all t y? gave way and over it t (at A on nen ato agree ave wen - on their bens enad — moa : ‘Heaver my head on one of those stones,” cried ng up with a grimace and rubbing his skull with — “There’s a brass-bound box down here, Sam. Get up quick and help me pull it out,” he cried excitedly. “A brass-bound box!” repeated Sam, staring at his com- panion. . Then he forgot all about his sore head and sprang to his feet, fully as excited as Joe Page. “May I be jiggered if it isn’t so,” he said as soon as he gazed into the hole. “Looks as if it was a money box. Ill bet that’s what the Frenchy was after.” “I’m sure it is. Wel], this is where he gets left. At any rate it belongs to me as it was found on our farm.” “Jingo! I wish I was you,” said Sam, enviously. “Never mind, Sam, I shan’t forget to do what’s right if rn tl anything valuable in the box, for you’re helping at the job.” “Tf that’s full of money there must be a small fortune in it,” said Sam. “Perhaps we'd better not crow till we're out of the woods. It may be full of old papers and documents of no value, except to the man who hid them here.” > “Oh, come now, don’t say that, Joe. I’ve made up my mind it’s money, and if it turns out to be nothing but papers I'll have a fit,” said Sam. “The quickest way to find out the truth is to get it up tere we can break it openjand have a look. Come now, lend a hand.” t They bent down and each seized one of the heavy, tarnished brass handles. “Now, then, up witb it,” cried Joe. The order was easier uttered than executed, for the box was decidedly heavy. : “That doesn’t feel like papers, old man,” said Sam, full of gold, bet your life.” “How much will you bet on it?’ laughed Joe. “I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut,” grinned Sam. “Bet your small change first, Sam. You're getting too reckless.” . “This is no food of a job lifting this box out,” said Sam, after they had tugged at it awhile, raising it a few inches only to let it drop back again. “If it hasn’t got gold in it it must have lead,” replied Joe, as they paused to take a rest. “Lead! What would it be filled with lead for?” “T was only joking. Of course such a strong box as this wouldn’t have lead in it. I’m inclined to think it may be filled with silver plate. Lots of people buried their plate while the Revolutionary War Was in progress whenever the enemy was reported to be in the neighborhood.” “But they took good care to dig it up again when the danger was over.” “Sure they did; but this may be a case where the family was wiped out either by Indians or a band of villainous Tories. , “That's right, There were lots of Indians up this way dur- “It's ding the Revolutionary times, and later,” said Sam, who had heard. something about the early history of the country. “Well, Sam, it’s getting late, and if we're going to get the box out of this hole before sundown we want to get @ move on.” ; “Well, lift your end and I'll jab the crowbar under it.” This plan was executed, and the other crowbar under the box also. : “Now we'll both get hold of the same handle and pull it up the inclined plane. Maybe we can get it out that way, said the resourceful Sam. ‘ Sam’ scheme was adopted with ultimate success, and the brass-bound box landed on the ground. Joe first proposed to load the box on the drag and carry — it over to the house just as it was, deferring the examina- tion of its contents till he and Sam got it up to his room; — but their eagerness to see What was in the box, and the fact bat that the heavy hasp holding the cover was loose decided Joe to break it open at once. ah ve He grasped a crowbar and smashed the hasp off with @- — ceeded to lift the cover while Sam, his tanned coun flushed with excitement, leaned forward to get a closer at the contents. $ eavy Ca single blow, then he dropped on his knees beside it and DEON a3 x os 2

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THE ROAD CHAPTER IV. WHAT THE BOX CONTAINED. The boys were rather staggered by the unwelcome and un- expected appearance of the Frenchman, and Joe let the cover of the box drop back again. Both stared at the fierce-looking foreigner without saying a word. “By gar! What are you doing wiz dat box?” he demanded. '“Dat ees mine, Ccomprenez vous? Het ees what I have hunt for dese one, two, t’ree nights. Parbleu, I take him wiz me dis minute.” “Hold on, Monsoo,” spoke up Joe. “Don’t be so sure about) _ it. This property belongs to my mother, and consequently everything on it and in it is ours. You haven’t the faintest claim to this box.” “Aha! Vat ees dat? Your muzair she own dees box?” “That's what she does,” replied Joe. “By gar! You are fonee boy,” answered the mysterious Frenchman, in a sarcastic tone. “She has nossing to do wiz dees box. Het ees mine. I come all ze way from la belle 4 France to get eet. I had ze papier dat point out ze way.” “2 “Perhaps you can tell us what’s in the box, you seem to know so much,” said Joe, with a grin. “Dat ees my beesness,” replied the Frenchman, impatiently. “Well, it’s our business, too, monsoo.” _“Non—non! Allez! Allez!” cried the excited foreigner. “What the dickens do you mean by Allay?” said Joe. “Go! Comprenez?” _ “TI comprennay, but I’m not going just the same. When you Say this box is yours you are through your hat.” = By Clearly the Frenchman did not understand what Joe said, _ but one thing was certain, he was growing more angry every - Moment. ™ _ He was bent on getting possession of the box, while the boys ‘were just as obstinate in their refusal to let him have it. Tm fact, the idea of resigning the box was the last thing in _ their thoughts. ' “Sacre!” eried Jules Glorieux. “You play wiz me. I feex pans He put his hand in his pocket and drew a revolver. . “Now we see whezair you give ze box or not.” _ Sam had been standing aside leaning on his crowbar, an interested observer of the breezy proceedings. If Joe gave the word he was prepared to jump in and help hustle the Frenchman off the lot. | When he saw the mysterious foreigner draw his gun, he gave a gasp of fear, then on the spur of the moment he lifted the erowbar and struck the man a blow on the arm, causing _ him to utter a pain and to drop the weapon, which Sam quick- ; y took possession of. ' nsieur Glorieux immediately turned upon Parsons and oa the cane he had in his left hand to strike the boy, but Sam jumped back and pointed the revolver at him. That stopped the infuriated Frenchman at once, and he stooa Sam. on the scene. ello,” he said, with a look of bewilderment on his face, 's the trouble here?” est } just found this brass-bound box in a hole in Pana that Frenchman stepped up and claimed it. Pee noe here a hundred years, I guess, so what t has he to it?” evair mind,” put in Jules Glorieux at this point, perceiv- | that he was at a great disadvantage. “Bet ees ze long lane not turned. Comprenez vous? I see you some ozzaire +. > ° th those words he walked away. They pean him climb the fence and take his way down road, and then said: in time, John, to make the odds too great “You came just r the Frenchy.” Vhere did you find the box, Jos?” asked the hired man. n that hole underneath yonder slab. Sam and I had a tuce of a time getting it out. I had hardly broken the lock ire that forelgmer. sppeared and had the nerve to say the TO SUCCESS. 5 “Gee whiz!” exclaimed Sam, with bulging eyes. “Bags of money or I’m a liar. Jumping grasshoppers! What a find!” John Jones gazed dumfounded at the unusual sight, while Joe, although he had expected a revelation of some kind, either in plate or money, was too surprised to speak for a moment or two. Sam dived his hand in and lifted out one of the bags. The impression of the coin upon the surface of the bag could plainly be seen and left no room for the least doubt ag to the character of its contents. The only question was whether it was gold or silver. Sam, anxious to solve this query, loosened the throat of the bag he held, and a stream of old gold coin, all English sovereigns, rolled out on the palm of his hand. “Good heavens!” he cried, “I never saw so much gold in all my life before.” As a Matter of fact, Sam hadn’t seen a dozen gold pieces, all told, since he knew what money was. “Put it back, Sam,” said Joe, “and we'll carry the box to the house. Then we Will count it and see how much the treasure amounts to.” >, Sam returned the coins to the bag and tied it up again re- luctantly. It was sad to reflect that none of this money was his. ; He had never wished for money so bad in all his life be- ore. John helped the boys put the box on the drag, and then the party took up their line of march for the farmhouse. When they reached their destination the treasure-box was lifted onto the veranda and then draggéd into the hall. “Tell mother and the girls to come here,” said Joe to the hired Man, and presently Mrs. Page, followed by Mildred, ; Fanny and Winnie, her daughters, came trooping out to the front door-to see what was in the wind. “See what Sam and I found in the foundation of the ol@ stone house yonder,” said Joe, pointing at the box. “Oh, my!” exclaimed Mildred, “what a funny looking box. What's in it?” 4 “Guess,” said her brother. “Books?” “No. What do you think is in it, “Old clothes.” “You're away off. Now it’s your turn, Winnie.” “Maybe it’s full of money,” laughed the youngest sister, though she didn’t really believe it was. “That’s a good guess, Winnie,” chuckled Joe. you know?” “What is in it, Joe?” asked Winnie. “Why, you guessed it—money, and chock full, too.” “Nonsense!” put in Mildred. “Do tell us what’s in it if you know. Can't you see that our curiosity is aroused?” “Then you don’t believe it’s full of bags of money?” : “Of course I don’t. That would be too absurd.” “All right.. Now I'm going to open it and show you Sime close Winnie came to the truth. Are you all looking?” “Yes, yes, yes,” eried the girls together. “There you are,” and Joe flung the cover back. “Oh-o-o!” screamed the girls, in great astonishment when a they saw the bags. That those bags were full of real money seemed too good to be true, and Mildred had her suspicions that Joe and Sam were playing a joke on them. “I don’t believe that’s money at all,” she said, tossing her, f. head. “You boys have made those bags and- filled them full! of something or another just to try and fool us.” Fanny, however, made a grab for one of the bags to test its weight probably, when the string that secured its neck came/ untied and a stream of coin fiowed out like a waterfall, and, danced and jingled all over the floor. : The girls shrieked in real amazement now. Joe and Sam hastened to recover the coins and return them to the bag. Fanny?” x “How did * “My gracious! It is money—real new gold,” cried Mildred. “Why Joe Page, did you really find that in the old stone — house?” “That's exactly what Sam and I did. We dug it iain Yor ie se under a big’slab of stone, where ~ a gandhn } dickens knows how long—maybe a “There must be thousands of dollars tn nthe that "box." "in ah the gor each bag

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" ae . > at otal 4 A +i. ; THE ROAD. TO SUCCESS. ———————— ee tinennenennenenneernnnenerenene wean ai fresh chorus of astonishment arose at this rough calcula- on. I “You're not going to keep it yourself, are you?” said Mil- dred. “You're going to give it to mother.” “f think I will divide it up after Sam and I count it. Sam is entitled to a bag, at least, for helping me dig it up. Then I might put a bag in the bank for each of you girls, which would make you heiresses in a small way.” “And how much are you going to give mother?” insisted Mildred. “As much as she wants. We’ll be able to pay off that mort- gage now, and get new carpets, and furniture, and we won't need to take any boarders this summer.” “Won't that be a blessing,” exclaimed Fanny. “Come, Sam, help me upstairs with the box,” said Joe. “I’m anxious to count this treasure and find out what it foots up.” The girls were quite crazy with delight as they followed their mother back to the kitchen where preparations for sup- per were going on, and they couldn’t talk of anything but the nice things they expected to have now, the new clothes they ean going to buy, and the splurge they intended to cut in the village. As tor Joe and Sam, as soon as they got the box up in Joe’s room they barricaded the door against visitors and sat down to count the money, Tt was all in English sovereigns of a date previous to 1780, and they looked as if they had come fresh from a mint. . Hach bag contained exactly £1,000, or about $4,840, which being multiplied by twenty, the number of. bags, made a grand total of $96,800. 2 “You could buy the whole village up with that,” said Sam. You folks will be the great moguls around here after this. Squire Dalton will have to take a back seat. I shall be glad to see him taken down a peg or two. He and his son put on altogether too many frills to suit me.” “Well, Sam,” said Joe, “just help yourself to one of these gel You ve earned it, and $5,000 will be quite a little stake ‘ ju. “Do you mean that, Joe?” asked his friend, almost paralyzed at the idea of possessing such a large sum of money which he could call all his own, __ “Sure I do, Take your choice, though they're all alike as far as their value goes.” .“But it’s all English money. What shall I do with it, the bank won't accept it.” “Take it down to New York and have it changed into U. S. notes at the current exchange rates. That’s what I’m going to do with these nineteen _ _ “Pll go with you,” said Sam, and it was so arranged be- tween them, CHAPTER V. THAT DREAM WAS NOT ALL A DREAM. “Ninety-two thousand dollars!” exclaimed Mrs. Page that Mie wes at the supper table, when Joe told in round numbers the result of the count, while his three sisters held their breath at the magnitude of the amount. _ “Yes, mother, or to be more exact, $91,960, at the current rates of exchange,” replied the boy, with a happy grin. “It’s ‘a lot of money, isn’t it?” iy le ont, money to have in a erin omage even A s ” answered his mother. shan’t s a wink all night.” - “Neither will I,” cried Mildred, with an anxious look. _ “Nor I,” exclaimed Fanny and Winifred with one breath. pot tt onsense!” laughed Joe. “Who will know that we've _ He had prudently refrained from mentioning the adventure with the mysterious as he knew the recital would only serve to make his mother and sisters extremely nervous. “Sam Parsons will be sure to tell his folks, and then the li get all about the neigh “You must take John with you as a guard,” said his mother. “I should think you'd have a great deal of difficulty in mak- ing the exchange of such a big sum of English money,” said Mildred. “I may and I may not. I’m going to take the gold to a safe deposit company first for safekeeping, and consult with the president of that institution as to the best way to exchange it for bills.” “That's an excellent idea, Joe,” said his mother. “I was going to suggest something of that kind. It seems to me the only proper and business-like way to conduct the matter.” “That's right, Mother. I have an idea that the safe de- posit people will attend to the whole thing for me for a com- mission,” “How are you going to carry the money to New York?” asked Fanny. “In that box?” “Oh, no, Fan; that would look too conspicuous. I mean to box it up in those four sfhall starch boxes we have in the eellar. It will look like ordinary merchandise then.” “Are they strong enough? It would be dreadful if they broke open in the handling.” “Ill prevent that by nailing several iron bands around each of them. They keep that stuff on a roll at the big store in the village, and you can buy it by the yard. You've seen it nailed around the edge of cases, haven’t you?” “I think I have,” answered Fanny. “I hope you'll put plenty of it about them, for you can’t be too careful with that money.” “Leave that to me, Fanny. than I can help.” After supper Joe started for the village general store to purchase a liberal supply of the thin iron box binding, and while he was away John Jones was stationed in the boy’s room to stand guard over the treasure chest, with the Frenchman's revolver within easy - As soon as Joe returned home the four starch boxes were got out of the cellar, and as fast as the boy packed a box with bags of money, filled up the vacant places with excelsior pack- ing, of which they had a quantity in the house, and nailed on the cover securely, John put six iron bands around it. The boxes were as weighty as a person would care to lift, for three held each about $24,000, while the fourth footed up something over $19,000. “I guess they’ll hold, all right, John,” said Joe, viewing the iron-bound boxes critically. “They’re pretty heavy. Would you carry one of those to the village on your shoulders if I gave it to you?” ? “T’ll bet I would,” replied the hired man, emphatically. “How many times would you have to stop and rest,” grinned Joe. .“A hundred times, I guess.” “I'll bet it would take you all night to get there.” “Supposin’ it did, it would pay, wouldn’t it?” The boxes were piled up in a corner of the room and some old clothes thrown over them, while the brass-bound chest was shoved under Joe’s bed for the present. : The house was more carefully locked up that night than I'm not taking any more chances +¥ usual, while Joe put the Frenchman’s reyolyer under his pil- low. While he didn’t exactly expect any trouble, it was the part of prudence to be prepared for it if it came. It was true that the mysterious foreigner had as good as handed him out a threat when he withdrew from the scene of action that afternoon, but Joe couldn’t see how the French- man would be able to do anything towards getting possession — of the treasure of the old stone house, as he seemed to be alone in the scheme. Me “Why, he couldn’t carry a single box of that stuff any dis-_ horse and wagon, and everything his own way. His threats amount to nothing. He said he came from France to hunt for the box. That’s a long distance for a sane man to.come . on a wild goose chase. He must have picked up his knowl- edge over there from some person acquainted with the facts — of the case, who furnished him with the directions on that ~ ty tance even if he got a chance at it; that is, unless he had a _ ft’

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THE = pompous lawyer who considered himself the whole thing, not only in the village but the county as well. “Tt will be a huge take-down for him,” thought the boy as he put out his light and jumped into hed. Then he began to think about next day’s journey to the _. metropolis with his treasure boxes in company with Sam Par- sons. “After we get through with the business end of the trip, Sam and I'll have the time of our lives for a few days before coming back home. We'll take in all the sights, go to the theater, and enjoy every five minutes to the utmost. I tell you money makes the mare go every time.” With these pleasant refiections on his mind Joe fell asleep. Joe’s slumbers were seldom intruded upon by dreams—he Was too sound a sleeper, as a general thing, for that—but the present occasion was an exception. His brain was excited by the golden experiences of the af- ternoon, and though it was many hours before certain odd fan- cies took shape and reproduced themselves upon his sleeping thoughts, the fact that they did so at last was no great wonder under the circumstances. His first dream was a pleasant one, for in it he seemed to _ have evolved from a comparatively poor farm boy to a young Monte Cristo with money to burn, and he was burning it at a great rate, and with intense satisfaction, when the scene changed and he found himself walking along a dark and lone- some country road, whieh he seemed to recognize, with all _ his pockets stuffed to overflowing with gold coin that he had just found somewhere. . A sense of undefined terror now seemed to be upon him, for he felt sure that he was being followed by-an enemy who in- tended to get the money away from him. ) _ The journey seemed to be endless, and while he didn’t see lee he owe 4 _ suer knew where he was and was biding his time, the better _ to accomplish his dark design. ; Finally he came to a wood that stretched away for miles and miles in either direction so that he could not avoid en- _ tering it in order to reach his destination. _ As he progressed through this wood something whispered to him that his enemy was now closing in upon him—that their _ -Meeting could not long be postponed. _ At this thought his terror grew upon him till he could hardly drag one foot after the other. _ At length he reached a clearing and felt compelled to sit 4 down here and rest. + $uddenly he was conscious that somebody was creeping pail him from behind. Jntil this moment he had had but a vague idea of who his enemy really was. ra _ Now, although something prevented him from turning his head, or making any effort to escape, he instinctively under- b "a : d that the person who was stealthily advancing upon him 3 /a mysterious Frenchman, who carried a heavy stick in if one hand and a long, keen knife in the other. ‘Strive as he would he could not break the spell that held ‘powerless. At last he could feel that the man was right behind him, that he had dropped his stick and put the knife between his teeth so that he could have his hands free to seize him by the Now the man bent over him and glared into his eyes, with look. of such malignant satisfaction that the horror of it hot through his nerves and awoke him, 4 Yes, Joe was now wide awake, but the horror of his dream reproduced in dread reality, for bending above him, with ster looking knife in his teeth, and his bent fingers raised in the act of pouncing on the heretofore sleeping boy, Ss . ules Glorieux, the mysterious Frenchman. ae : di : - CHAPTER VI. THE THEFT OF THE GOLD. ha! You awake, eh?” hissed the Frenchman, seeing the boy’s startled, wide-open eyes fixed upon his face.. “You ake one leetle sound, by gar, and you are a dead boy!” sed one hand on Joe’s windpipe, and with the other ed the knife from his mouth and pressed its keen point the tender.skin of the lad’s throat. ‘as now conscious that Jules Glorieux was not the uder in the room, a another whose form was thrown into relief by an Glourlenx ‘Sercely.. tena F : ly. Dat + ; the man who was dogging his steps he was confident his pur- | DP h I’ di ROAD TO SUCCESS. vi speak about has come to ze turn. I have you, mon petit homme, where ze hair ees short. You move one leetle bit, poof! zis knife vill do ze beesness. I come for ze box dat ees mine. I get him dees time.” The Frenchman turned his head and said something in a peremptory tone to his companion. The man advanced softly, at the same time taking a strong cord from his pocket. : With this he proceeded to bind Joe’s arms to his side. Then he tied a towel tightly around the boy’s mouth. “Now look for the box,” said Glorieux to the man in French. The pair hunted about the room. They pulled the clothes from the four iron-bound starch boxes, and Glorieux was about to lift one when his compan- ion called him to the bed and pointed at the end of the treas- ure chest which lay underneath. “It is heavy, Gaston,” said Glorieux, in his native tongue. “We must use care in removing it.” They both got hold of the handle and pulled with all their, strength. : As the entire contents of the chest had been removed, as the reader knows, the box naturally offered no resistance. In fact it shot out so quickly from under the bed that both Frenchmen lost their balance and tumbled over on the floor! with a shock that could be felt through the frame house. Jules Glorieux swore roundly as he picked himself up, while his companion, who had barked one shin, growled angrily in a subdued tone. . Joe, who had been lying in helpless silence since he was gagged and bound, chuckled to himself as he thought he saw the rascals’ finish. But he congratulated himself too soon. Jules Glorieux was a man not easily turned from his pur- ose. While he was afraid some of the inmates of the house had, been aroused from their sleep by the noise, he was prepared! to. take the bull by the horns. He knew that if the present enterprise failed the chance of his ever getting his hands on the treasure from the old stone | house would be very small. He had already informed himself that with the exception of the boy and the hired man, he had no one to fear but four females, and he did not anticipate that they would interfere with his plan. : The two rascals stood as silent-as statues waiting to see the outcome of their mishap. Presently their alert ears caught the sound of some one as- cending the stairs in slippers. Glorieux said something to Gaston in a whisper and the fellow glided to the door, ran his hand over the wood and shot the bolt he found there. Then came a knock on the door and the voice of Mrs. Page was heard outside. “Joe—Joe,” she said. “What is the matter?” Glorieux tore the gag from Joe’s mouth and placed the knife at his throat. “Ansair. Say dat you had ze nightmare and take ze tum- ble out of ze bed.” There was a murderous look in the Frenchman’s eyes that intimidated the boy, and so he did as he was told. ; “Are you in bed now, Joe?” Mrs. Page asked as she tried the door and found it bolted, somewhat to her surprise, for her son was not in the habit of securing the door against intru- sion. “Did you bolt the door?” . “Yes, mother, I am in bed, and I bolted the door.” ‘ “Are you sure everything is all right, my son?” she asked ory - 'e “Yes, mother,” answered Joe, with the glitterin 8 pricking the skin of his throat and thventetsiog mtn or if he hesitated or equivocated in his replies. ; it was a trying situation for Joe, but he couldn't help him= self. : ’ Jules Glorieux evidently meant business, and the risk was too great for the lad to venture to thwart him, Pe In this manner the crisis was and the als averted discovery, for Mrs. Page turned away as if satieee ¥ and her steps were soon heard descending the stairs. “It is well,” said Glorieux to his companion, in French; 2 “gag him again.” ‘ eS The towel was replaced about Joe's mouth and the knife — withdrawn from his throat. Ms me a % eS

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8 e I “Now, where is the money?, Ah, those boxes in the corner. This boy is a shrewd one. He has lost no time. He intends to ship the money to New York, it is likely, and there change t into the script of the country. We will save him the trouble, Gaston,” with a wicked grin. His companion nodded intelligently. “You are sure these boxes contain the money?” he said. “Lift one of them, and its weight ought to satisfy you,” pevited Glorieux. “They were concealed under these old elothes. I will take the risk that these boxes hold the money. We must carry them away at once.” “Tt will be a job,” answered his associate. “It shall not be so difficult. You get out on the ladder, then T will hand you one of the boxes on your shoulder. You will carry it down to the wagon in the road. When you come back you will take a second the same way. There are but four of them, so we will make the last trip together. A few hours of fast driving will carry us to the river where our sloop is moored. Once we have the boxes we will hoist the anchor and sail for the city, where we can slip them on the ‘La Burgundie for Marseilles. She sails the day after to-mor- row, so. we have plenty of time to secure a stateroom.” This conversation was carried on in a low tone and, of course, in French, so it was impossible for Joe to either hear or understand a word that passed between the rascals. ' The plan as outlined by Glorieux was immediately put into effect, and poor Joe was in despair when he saw the iron- bound boxes of gold, on which he had bulit such glorious air castles, removed from the room one by one until the last one had vanished out of the window and. the mysterious French- man approached the bed for the last time. There was a look of triumphant satisfaction in his eyes as he gazed down on the helpless youth. “Tn one leetle moment I will say to you adieux. It is neces- parece that I feex you so dat you will not fall out of ze bed and give ze new alarm. I vill tie your feet to ze post, den you vill oe you call him?—ah, oui, all to-ze bon, I mean ze The Frenchman uttered a wicked chuckle, and then pro- ceeded to tie Joe’s ankles securely to the bedpost. , “Now you are like ze cochon—ze peeg—when we take him to the market.” The rascal chuckled again. “You have said adieu to ze monee, I hope, for you will not {see it again, I assure you.” The mysterious Frenchman then made an elaborate and Sarcastic bow to the unfortunate Joe, walked softly to the win- dow and disappeared. ‘ He did not take the trouble to close the window, or remove jthe ladder, but, picking up the last box of English gold, lifted t on his shoulder and started after his-companion, who had already preceded him to the road. Gaston was waiting for him. He dumped the box into the wagon up against the other three ard, mounting to the seat alongside his associate, the rascally pair whipped up the horse and drove off down the ‘county road toward the Hudson River at a rapid pace, CHAPTER VII. THE MYSTERIOUS FRENCHMAN IS UP AGAINST IT HARD. It was two o’clock in the morning and Sam Parsons was _ standing at the window of his room looking out into the bare jand silent road which ran close by the house. Sam had gone to bed as usual at nine o’clock, but somehow or another he couldn’t get to sleep.. , That bag of English sovereigns which he had received from his: chum Joe Page, and stowed away for safekeeping in an inside niche of the wide-open fireplace in his room, kept danc- i ‘ing through his head, setting the drowsy god Morpheus at ance. x ‘Sam had never owned five whole dollars in his life, and here he had suddenly become the possessor of the equivalent ‘of $4,840, every penny of which was honestly his own prop- ‘Why, he was now worth almost, if not quite as much, as his father, which was truly an astonishing state of affairs poe 8 under .the circumstances would not have felt as .is happiness, and|ever, served to guide the boy right to the nonin, ana | meee gue ea ag THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. —<—<—$—<— “Pr OOO that bag of money as soon as he learned it was absolutely the property of his son? Wouldn’t his parent demand its custody, and then use half or more of it to put up a model farmhouse he had long had in mind, but the realization of which he had been obliged to defer for want of the necessary funds? Sam was of the opinion that the chances were 99 to 1 that his $4,840 would go at once to his father’s credit in the vil- lage bank, and that he wouldn’t get a sou-markee to lay out on his own personal enjoyment. So Sam made up his mind to say nothing to his folks at all about his windfall. He had managed to secure permission to go to the metropo- lis next morning with his friend Joe Page, and this was an ex- traordinary concession on his father’s part. He had decided that after he got his money.changed into bills he would open a savings bank account in Poughkeepsie, across the river, with $4,800, and hide the book and the re- maining $40 in the chimney. He could. have a swell time out of that $40, which would last him some time, and he would always have the satisfaction of knowing there was More to be had where that came from. All this planning and calculation helped to keep sleep from Sam’s eyes, and when he had settled everything to his own satisfaction he found he couldn’t go to sleep any way. He turned and twisted in bed, to no purpose, and when he finally heard the clock downstairs strike two, he got up and looked out of the window. A He didn’t do that because he expected to see anything. There wasn’t much to be seen even in the daytime from his window, while at that hour of the morning the road and the country side were absolutely dead. It was therefore with considerable surprise that Sam heard the rapid sound of wheels mingled with the chug, chug of @ horse’s hoof on the still night air. He wondered if it was the village doctor on an emergency errand. The vehicle soon came into view in the distance and Sam saw that it was an ordinary road wagon, with two men on the seat. ; They seemed to be in a hurry, for the driver frequently aP- plied the whip to the horse. Before passing the Parsons farmhouse’the wagon had to cross a short bridge which spanned a narrow but rather deep creek. { Just as the vehicle struck the bridge, after rushing down an incline, the rear right-hand wheel came off and the wagon dipped with a crash, as if heavily loaded at that end, and Sam heard a succession of heavy smashes, as of weighty articles striking the bridge, and then a similar number of splashes, — as if the said articles had continued their flight into the water. Sam could also hear loud exclamations from the men, and saw the driver pull in the horse. Both men dismounted and walked rapidly back to the bridge, where they stood by the rail and looked over into the “Ges whiz!” exclaimed Sam. “Whatever they had in the wagon has been dumped into the water. They ll have 4 nice time recovering it, for the water is all of eight feet deep there. The stuff must be heavy from the noise it made on the bridge, so the chances are they'll not be able to get it out of the stream without ropes and a stout windlass. At any rate. | they're stuck for the balance of the night for fair.” . | Sam saw one of the men pick up the wheel which had ‘, pair held a consultation. One of them, Whose personal appearance interested Sam — greatly, for he put him in mind of the mysterious Frenchman, gesticulated wildly. ' aa “We've got stout ropes and a winch in the barn,” said Sam sc to himself. “I’ve a great mind to dress myself, go down and see if I can’t arrange a deal with those chaps. I'd just a8 soon earn another dollar as not.” rr. r As the boy never felt more wideawake in his life, he de- cided to carry out his idea. ee He got into his clothes in short order, but instead of leaving the house by the front door and walking down the road, he a left it by the kitchen door, and cut across a bit of pasture which would land him at the corner of the bridge. a The line of heavy bushes growing beside the road fence prevented the men from observing his*approach and, of course, he conldn’t see them any better. — cae ; The loud and excited voice of one of the individuals, part of the fe caused all the trouble and roll it up to the wagon, then the — i oF 3 o 3 a

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THE Although Sam was not afraid to show himself, still he con- cluded to take a sight at them first. * Nothing like being on the safe side any way. So Sam, when he reached the bushes, pushed his head | through with as much caution as if he expected to find an enemy on the other side of the fence. The moment his eyes took in the man who was doing the talking he was glad he had not rushed things. It was for a fact the mysterious Frenchman. And his companion was another, although not at all mys- terious-looking. Monsieur Jules Glorieux was jabbering away to beat the band, and gesticulating like a monkey on a hot stove. Sam at once lost all desire of proffering the services of the rope and winch at the barn. Had he been able to understand French he would have learned something that must have opened his eyes; but as any other language than English was as pure Greek to him, their conversation was quite lost upon him. » He wondered where the man of mystery had picked up his companion, and why they were driving’ up the road at race- horse speed at that hour in the morning. He also wondered what was the character of the freight they had lost in the creek. “Tt seems to be important, whatever it is,” he said to himself, “for Monsoo Glorieux, of Bordeaux, looks as if he wanted to “tear his hair out by the roots.” In good truth, the mysterious Frenchman was acting as if he was a candidate for a madhouse. And with good reason, a8 the reader will guess, for the four jron-bound boxes of English sovereigns they had taken such risk and trouble to abstract from Joe Page’s chamber, were now resting out of sight in the creek, and Jules Glorieux could ROAD TO SUCCESS. 9 t of the treasure chest hidden in the foundation of the old stone house. ; When he discovered that the boys had found the chest, andj they had naturally refused to let him have it, he had doubtless} spotted the place they had taken it to and then made his plans’ to steal it that morning. ; : BS ele the way Sam argued and, as the reader knows, he was; right. “He brought that other chap to help him do the busi- ness,”. mused Sam; more and more convinced that he was on the right track. “They found that the money had been re-| moved from the chest and nailed up in the starch boxes, so, they carried off the boxes. No doubt they worked the game slick enough to avoid discovery. Well, I’m going over to Joe’s, anyway. If the money is safe there’ll be no harm done.” { Having decided the matter, he pushed his way through the} bushes, jumped the fence and started down the road toward! the Page property. He walked fast, and fifteen minutes’ later he was marching, up the path that led to the front door. “Hyverything is quiet around here,” mused Sam, beginning to} think he was wrong in his surmises after all. “It seems to me if those chaps had been here they must have awoke somebody; in the house. It’s no fool job to carry off several heavy boxes without being detected in the act, I guess I’ve made a donkey of myself, coming over here.” He stopped at the foot of the porch steps and scratched hi head. To pound on the door and arouse the Page family, only to! find out that nothing had happened, would make him look foolish, and Sam dreaded holding himself up to ridicule. “I won’t knock,” he decided. “I'll go around on the sid and fire pebbles at Joe’s window. It won’t do any harm to wake him up. If he chooses to give me the merry ha-ha, why, * ‘see no immediate chance of recovering them. CHAPTER VIII. SAM GETS OUT OF A PICKLE, ‘to make out where the boxes lay, but the water was too deep and dark, especially at that hour, for them to see anything in the depths of the creek. - It was clear to the watchful Sam that they were at their wits’ end. ‘ - Finally they gave the problem up and returned to the wagon, _ the rear axle of which they found to be fractured. 3 ey put the wheel into the forward part of the vehicle, and "mounting to the seat drove over slowly toward the village of Highland, four miles distant. : “They'll be back in a few hours, I dare say,” said-Sam to self, as he watched them depart. “I’d give something to know what those boxes contain. They are heavy, all right. wouldn't be surprised if they had stolen them from some ‘place. That Jules Glorieux, of Bordeaux, seems a sort of sus- ous character to me, At any rate he tried to do Joe out of nat treasure chest yesterday afternoon. Had the nerve to draw a revolver on us. We could have him arrested and put n the lock-up for that. Well, ’m coming down here the first z after I get up to see if I can get a glimpse of those ~ - Thus speaking, Sam started back for the house. _ Suddenly he stopped short as if a startling idea had struck gracious!” he exclaimed. “I wonder if those rascals a. visit to the Page house, and got away with Joe’s money? id me he was going to box it up in four small starch so it could be the more easily handled for shipment to ; rovk this forenoon. The wagon came up the road from ae of Joe’s place. They were driving at breakneck ed at a suspiciously early hour and making for Highland. whiz! It looks as if there was something wrong, for a act. I’ve a great mind to run over to the Page farm, wake Joe up and tell him what I’ve seen.” . m stood a few moments in an undecided way. $ « might be nothing in the idea after all, and Joe would the laugh for coming over at that hour in the morn- circumstances were sufficiently suspicious to demand ous Frenchman had clearly shown that his ob- g to that part of the 18 mee dn get Dossession __‘The two Frenchmen went down to the water’s edge and tried | I guess I can stand it.” So he marched around to the ell, in the’ second story of which was Joe’s room. As he turned the corner the first thing he saw was the ladder | siapdink under Joe’s window, which was open to its widest extent. “Hopping toads! That doesn’t look right,” he cried, coming. to a pause and staring hard at the ladder and the open win- dow. “Joe-wouldn’t do anything like that—a clear invitation to any tramp in the neighborhood to walk into the house— even if he didn’t have a dollar in the house. He would cer-’ tainly be crazy to stand a ladder under his window in this fashion with nearly $100,000 in his room, or at least some-, where in the house. I am sure there has been something doing mee all right, and I’m going to climb that ladder and wake oe up.” € Sam didn’t lose a moment making his way up the rungs, and inside of a minute he had his head inside of the window. “Joe, Joe!” he cried, “wake up!” There was a movement-on the bed, and Joe Page, bound and gagged as he was, sat up. He could not get out of bed, as his ankles were tied tight to the bedpost. ; As it was rather dark in the room, the moon having swung around, Sam did not at first notice his chum’s predicament. He saw that he was awake, however, and that was enough for him. : t “Say, old man,” he said, “what is this ladder doing under your window at this hour? Looks as if thieves had been around. Is your money all right?” ; Joe couldn’t reply on account of the towel about his mouth, but he tried to attract Sam’s attention to his helpless condition. “What's the matter with you?” continued Sam, rather aston- ished at the dumbness of his friend. “Haven’t you woke up enough to use your tongue?” Still no answer from Joe—only a suecession of odd jerks of the head and body. E “Oh, come now, you know it’s me. What arg you giving me that dumb show for? What have you got around your face, — anyway? A towel?” as he looked more keenly. “Got a tooth- ache, ch? That's why you don’t open your mouth. Well, — you've my sympathy. A toothache is about the worst—hello! — what the dickens have you around your arms and chest?” Sam stepped into the room and walked up to Joe. I “Why, you’re bound up and gagged, and you're tied to the bed. My gracious! what’s happened?” as he tore the towel from Joe’s face. “Has that mysterious Frenchman been here ~ Soph moter ee ew ae = 3 HOt pers ‘He ) “YS

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10 into his eyes. “Robbed by that villain! Help me to get free, will you?” _; “Sure I will,” replied Sam. “Go on and tell me all about it.” And while Sam labored to untie the knots, Joe told him the whole story of the visit paid him by Jules Glorieux and his companion, and how they had stolen the four boxes containing ‘the English sovereigns. , Sam had him free before the story was finished, and Joe ‘ ‘Wound up his mournful tale while hurriedly dressing himself. : “We must wake up Jchn, get a horse put to the wagon and chase those rascals, It’s the only thing I can do. I’ve no doubt they went toward the river. We may find them at High- and waiting for an early train,” said Joe, feverishly. “But tell me,” he added, almost wonderingly, “how is it you came over here at this early hour? It is just three o’clock.” “I came over here because I got an idea into my head that something was wrong.” “How could you get such an idea as that?’ asked Joe, in some astonishment. “Had a bad dream?’ No. The fact is, I haven't been asleep to-night, and that’s the luckiest thing for you that ever happened.” ~ - “You haven’t been to sleep?” cried Joe. ae “Nary a wink.” “Why. how was that?’ “Oh, I was too excited over that five thousand you gave me. I went to bed at nine, but when the clock struck two I ‘was still awake. I got up and looked out of my window, and what do you think I saw?’ ‘ “How could I guess what you saw?’ Me I saw a horse and wagon coming at a red-hot pace down ; ; ofl ee from this direction. There were two men on the “That must have been the wagon that was carrying off the boxes, and the two Frenchmen.” “That's right, it was,” nodded ‘Sam. ; “Did you recognize Jules Glorigux?” 2 “Of Bordeaux?” grinned Sam. “Bet your life I did.” ; ers ‘They Were going toward the Hudson, as I thought.” = “As hard as they could put.” > “They must be there by this time,” said Joe, dolefully. m coo they are; but the boxes of sovereigns aren’t with “Why, what do you mean?’ I mean the wagon met with an accident at the bridge near our place.” . _ “An accident?” “Exactly. One of the hind wheels came off suddenly, and those boxes of money, every one of them, tumbled over into the creek.” “What!” almost shouted Joe. “Tumbled into the creek?” “That's What they did, and they’re there at this moment. All we've got to do is to go down there and fish them out.” Sam Parsons, are you telling me the truth, or is this one of your jokes?” It’s the solemn truth. That’s what caused “Nary joke. me to come over here. Those boxes having been in the hands of the mysterious Frenchman, who left us yesterday after- On. with a threat on his lips, raised my suspicions, and I = intght here to see if he and his companion had paid you a t visit for the purpose of ge ssession of that money. was right, and I’m glad omg Foe ss : “If the boxes are in the creek, as you say, we'll get them out somehow,/you may depend on that,” returned Joe, en- thusiastically. “We must look out for those Frenchmen. They are sure to return as soon as they can with ropes and other tneans.to try and recover the boxes. It’s up to us to get ahead “If I was you, I’d send for the constable and have those _ ebaps arrested on the charge of burglary as soon as they ‘showed up at the creek.” “That’s just what I mean to do.” ‘TH go for him if you want me to,” volunteered his chum. “No. I’m gotmg to wake John up now and send him.” “The four of us ought to be able to capture those monsoos. After we have them safe in the lock-up we can take our time up the boxes.” _ “We'll need pone By lift of some kind to raise them out of — THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. .| Dalton has had these chaps before him, for you and 1 will the | obliged to give our testimony at the examination,” replie _| spilled Joe left the room to arouse the hired man, leaving Sam to complete in his mind his plans for getting the boxes of money out of the creek. CHAPTER Ix. CAPTURE OF THE MYSTERIOUS FRENCHMAN AND HIS COMPANION. At sunrise Joe Page, Sam Parsons, John Jones and Constable Snodgrass were concealed in the shrubbery near the ereek bridge, waiting for the two Frenchmen to show up. They had not been there more than fifteen minutes before they heard the sound of wheels come from the direction of Highland. “T’ll bet that’s them,” said Sam, in some excitement. The others said nothing, but waited, Jones drawing out the Frenchman’s revolver to intimidate the rascals when they came up. “This is a dandy ambuscade,” grinned Sam. “We'll give those chaps the surprise of their lives.” Pretty soon the vehicle hove in sight and, sure enough, the two foreigners were on the seat. Joe, who was peeping down the road, announced the fact. The wagon drew up nearly opposite them; then the French- men got out, and the first thing they did was to scramble down the bank of the creek to look into the water for some sign of the boxes. As the water was clear, they could now see them quite plainly eight feet below the surface, Returning to the wagon, they busied themselves getting out ropes, with a pole and hoisting tackle which they had brought from their sloop anchored in the Hudson. They intended to rush things, for they couldn’t tell when, as they figured it, Joe would be discovered bound and gagged in bed and a pursuit started. ra While they were thus occupied the constable and John Jones, followed by the two boys, quietly made their appearance from the shrubbery. : “Throw up your hands,” ordered Constable Snodgrass, Pro- ducing his revolver. “Sacre!” exclaimed Jules Glorieux, starting back in surprise. His companion started to draw a revolver, but Jones stepped up and shoved his, at full cock, into his face. ae “Surrender, you rascal. I’ve got the drop on you,” thum- — dered the’ hired man. ~* s “By gar! Dees is von outrage,” cried the mysterious French- man, glaring at the constable. “I demand dat you give an explanasheeon.” . — “I place you both under arrest,” said Constable Snodgrass. “Comment!” (what!) exclaimed Glorieux. “You arrest ust ep “J do—on the charge of burglary.” or ae “Burglaree! Sare, you make one grand mistake.” ae “Well, I shall take you before the squire, and if I have made ints a mistake he will discharge you from custody,” replied the — village officer. 2 “But, sare, him—squire.” at I have no desire to go before ze—what you call a “Sorry, monsoo, but I shall have to take you, whether you i: like it or not, Hold out your hands,” and the constable se a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. ‘ % Jules Glorieux put up a big kick against the steel wristlets, but he had to give in, for the officer was inexorable. His companion’s hands were bound with a rope. — \ They were forced to get into the wagon, all hands followed, and John Jones drove the rig into the village, where the Set Frenchmen were locked up, pending their examination before the justice. " 3s “Well, we've got them, all right,” grinned Sam. “There's evidence enough against them to send them to the county Seat for trial, so they Won't bother us any more.” Z “We might as well go home for breakfast now,” said Joe “We'll have to walk, for Mr. Snodgrass has taken charge | the Frenchmen’s outfit. That tackle in the wagon would just the thing to haul those boxes up with.” 9 “Then we must persuade Snodgrass to let us have the of it,” said Sam. le “Well, we won’t be able to make a move until after Sq “T guess the boxes won’t walk off, and the water wont hw the gold,” said Sam. “It’s a good thing you put plenty of bands around them, otherwise they’d have broken open : of their valuable contents.” re Mi “They'd have got smashed more or less, anyway, only ¢ 4 ‘4 ON c4.s) a ‘ ;

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THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. 11 landed in a separate spot in the sand,” answered Joe. “That saved them.” Joe had a stirring story to tell h:- mother and sisters when he et home for breakfast, and they were greatly startled. e had to go into all the particulars about the movements of the mysterious Frenchman from the time he had first seen the light in the stone house. “Were you not dreadfully frightened when that man held the knife at your throat, Joe?” asked Mildred, with a shudder. “Well, I didn’t feel very good,” he replied. “T am so thankful I came right downstairs without making a fuss because the door was locked,” said his mother. “It’s a great mercy that he did not kill you, my son.” “T don’t think he had any intention of going as far as that, mother; but he’s a desperate kind of chap, just the same.” “Would you like to go to the village and be present at the examination?” asked Joe. “Squire Dalton will hold court at ten o'clock.” Mildred was the only one who cared to go. She was curious to look at the.mysterious Frenchman and his associate. News of the arrest of the two desperate Frenchmen who had broken into the Page farmhouse during the night circulated with great rapidity throughout the village of Pembrook, and as a consequence a big crowd of the villagers, both male and female, gathered outside Squire Dalton’s office some time be- fore the hour set for the examination of the prisoners. When John Jones and the two boys appeared they were bom- barded with questions, but they declined to say a word on the subject till they went on the stand to give their sworn testi- mony. At length the squire appeared and took his seat, the wit- nesses were admitted and took chairs provided for thém, and then as many of the outsiders crowded into the small room as could find space to stand. The prisoners were led in by the constable and the proceed- ings began. The Frenchmen were charged with housebreaking, and both pleaded not guilty. Joe was the star witness against them. He was duly sworn, and then told his story in a cool, straightforward manner. “What was in these boxes that you accuse the prisoners of stealing?” asked the justice. “Valuable property belonging to me,” replied Joe, not caring to confess the exact nature of their contents as long as the boxes were at the bottom of the creek. — these boxes found in the prisoners’ possession?” 0, sir.” “Then I’m afraid the charge of robbery won't hold unless your statement can be corroborated,” said the squire. “Sam Parsons is ready to testify that he saw the boxes in possession of these Frenchmen at two o'clock this morning, shortly after the robbery took place.” “Where are the boxes now?” “At the bottom of Goose Creek, alongside of the bridge.” “How came they to be there?” “These men were carrying them toward the Hudson in a light wagon; which broke down at the bridge, and the boxes fell out into the creek.” . “Constable Snodgrass, if I find that the evidence is sufficient . to warrant me in remanding the prisoners, you will see that __ ~ these boxes are produced at their trial,” said Justice Dalton. : Joe looked rather blue at those words. : The custody of the boxes would be taken out of his hands _ entirely for some little time, and he could not tell what might _ happen to them during that interval. The constable would be responsible for them, of course, and Joe knew that he was a thoroughly conscientious man; but if even one of them should be accidentally lost, Mr. Snodgrass would never be able to make its value good. therefore decided, while Sam was giving his evi- that he would take the constable into his confidence in respect to the actual nature of the contents of the boxes, and o send them to the village bank for safekeeping until necessary to produce them at the trial, when no doubt he would be obliged, anyway, to swear to the value of z the close of the testimony against them the prisoners _V asked if they had anything to say, but both declined to _ make any other defense than a general denial of the charge. ___ Justice Dalton decided to hold the prisoners for trial, and a _ committment was made out.. _ Constable Snodgrass took them that afternoon to the county seat and turned them over to the warden of the jail. The constable allowed the boys to take the Frenchmen’s rig, just as it stood, for the purpose of recovering the boxes from the creek and bringing them to his house in the village. After dinner the boys, assisted by John Jones, started in to raise the money boxes. Inside of an hour they had them out of the creek and in the wagon. “Tt’s tough,” remarked Sam, “that we’ve got to turn these over to Snodgrass, isn’t it? Are you going to tell him they're, full of money?” “T’ll have to.” “He’ll want to know how you got all that gold.” “We'll give him the whole story about our finding the treas« ure under the old stone house, pledge him to secrecy, and then get him to deposit the boxes in the village bank. That’s the! only way out of the difficulty that I can see.” And so that plan was duly and successfully carried out. CHAPTER X. JOE’S BUSINESS SCHEME. “Well,” said Sam Parsons, as he and Joe Page sat on the veranda of the Page farmhouse on the following night, “TI) suppose our trip to New York is indefinitely postponed.” “Oh, I don’t know,” replied Joe. “You've got a matter of five thousand dollars worth of English gold to change into. United States bank bills, and the sooner you do it the = oner) you'll feel like an American capitalist.” “That’s right,” admitted Sam. “You haven’t told your folks about that money?” “No. I don’t feel like giving it up, for that ts what I'd have; to do if my father knew I had it.” : “He’d only take charge of it as your natural guardian to prevent you from making a bad use of it.” “That’s right,” grinned Sam, “but I'd never see it again, just/ the same.” “Why not? You'd get it when you reached twenty-one with the advantage of five years’ interest.” “Don’t you believe it. That money would go into the family, pocketbook and would stay there. I know my old man better’ than you do.” “Well, what are you going to do with the money when you get it changed into bills?” i “I’m going to put it into a savings bank in Poughkeepsie) myself. Then I’ll be able to keep a line on it. I’m sick of farming. If I should see a chance’to go into some kind of business that would suit me better, I'd have the money to} back myself—see?” ’ “TI see, but I’m afraid the possession of so much money would be a temptation for you to embark in schemes that might in the end land you on your uppers.” “Do you take me for a chump?” “No, I hope not, Sam. I’m only giving you a slight warning. Where did you hide that bag of sovereigns—in your trunk?” “No. I put it in a niche inside that wide chimney in my; room. If the house was to take fire and burn down, the chim- ee 3 would stand and the money would be as secure as if in a eg “Well, that’s one of the advantages of those wide, solidly built chimneys of our grandaddies. That house you live in must be one of the old guard.” :. “It was built over eighty years ago. “Why don’t your father tear it down and put up a new one?” “He would if he got his fingers on my five thousand dollars.” “He could put up a good house for half that money.” “I suppose when your boxes of sovereigns are released you will make a model farm of your place here. You could easily build a place that would make Squire Dalton’s place look like thirty cents. That’s what I would do if I was in your shoes.” | “The first thing I’m going to do with that money, Sam, is to give you another bag of it for what you did for me yesterday morning.” “Another five thousand dollars!” gasped Sam. “Yes. I might never have recovered those boxes but for you. I want you to tinderstand that I am grateful to you. I cer-| tainly would have remained bound and gagged at least three’ hours longer if you hadn’t come over here and released me.” “Ho! I didn’t expect any pay for that. We're chums, aren we? Well, I'd expect you to do the same thing for me if thought anything was wrong in my direction.” “And I’d do it, Sam,” replied Joe, promptly. “Five thousand is little enough by way of a present for saving my money! boxes, and so that’s what you'll get. You can hand your father over half of it, if you want to, to build a new house.” ; “T’d do it, if he wouldn’t insist on getting the other money.”

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12 eae “Well, Joe, I'll tell you how you can find use for that money in a way that I think would suit you.” “How?” “By going into a business partnership, with me.” ne business partnership with you!” exclaimed Sam, in sur- prise. x “Yes. I've been talking the matter over with my mother, and she approves of the project.” “Does she? Then it must be a goed one.” “I think it is. I’ve had the idea in my mind for nearly a year.” “What is it?” “The produce commission-.business in. New. York.” “Gee! that isn’t bad. We both know something about that.” “We only know it from the producer's point of view in a ,Practical sense; but I picked up the whole theory of the com- mission end from a smart young chap who boarded with us a couple of weeks last summer. As he saw that I was inter- ested in the business, he gave me points to burn, and I haven’t forgotten a single one. Now that I shall be able to handle a good bit of money, I’m going into it. Why, with the capital I'll have I'll be able to make the fur fly.” “Any business you were in would. suit me to the queen’s taste,” said Sam, enthusiastically. “I’d like you for a. partner first rate, I wouldn't be afraid of getting skinned out of my ig Come, now, tell me something about the commission end. Joe at once explained to him how the business was con- ducted in New York. The farmers of New Jersey and certain counties of New York sent their produce consigned to different commission houses located in the wholesale provision district west of Hudson street and below Fourteenth street, New York City. These selling agents in turn disposed of the consignments to wholesale dealers in lots to suit at the best prices they could get, and rendered statements of the transactions to the farmers. The men who managed the New York end of the business in the interest of the country producers were supposed to be con- tent with a straight commission for their services. That was a simple and straightforward method of doing the business. ; The young man who had boarded at the Page farmhouse during the early half of the preceding September assured Joe that he knew, from personal experience, that the farmers, who were compelled to trust the commission people, were the vic- tims of a systematic bunco game. “He told me that the producers got it in the neck all the time,” said Joe. “How do they?” asked Sam, much interested. “He says the commission men figure up all kinds of charges against the consignments, in addition to their regular com- mission, and that the balance rendered in favor of their cus- en looks very dizzy after the head bookkeeper has footed t up. “Is that a fact?” “It is, if Dickson—that was the name of our boarder—told the truth.” “Why, that’s a swindle,” cried Sam, indignantly. “That's what it looks like. I think there is some truth in - what he told me, for I have heard a number of farmers up this way complain of the way they had been treated by the com- mission houses of New York. I know of farmers who let lots of fruit and vegetables go to waste because they said it didn’t pay to ship it to the city for sale.” “Gee! that’s fierce. But I should think a farmer would shake a commission man after getting one or two hard deals from him and try another.” ; a “He does, naturally, but it doesn’t help him any.” i “Why not?” “Because Dickson told me that the chief commission houses are banded together and every one worked along the same ~ lines. The producer is up against the same scale of charges, no matter what house he favors with his stuff, and, in addition, is kept out of his money for an indefinite time.” _~*No wonder so many farmers cry poverty,” said Sam. “I’ve heard my father squeal about the little profit there is in his fruit when he sends it to market.” : ay “Now, Sam, I propose to start in the commission business on strictly an honest basis. Dickson said there was a good profit on a flat commission of ten per cent. Of course, there / sometimes charges, but these are the exception, not the when the country preducts are shipped in proper shape. farmer is careless in this respect he is, bound to be a , and nobédy is then to Blame but himself.” ‘ no est ‘ nn dust as this one is.” - THE ROAD. TO. SUCCESS. “That's right,” nodded Sam. “We'll open an office in the right location, or as near it as we can find a suitable place. ‘Then we'll take turns drumming up the farmers in different sections, assuring them of fair treatment. As soon as business begins to come our way we'll canvass the retail dealers in the city, the larger ones person- ally and the small fry by circulars. Then, when things get fairly started, we'll try for the hotels—the smaller ones first, and so on up the ladder. In fact, I don’t mean to stop at the ordinary produce business. I’m going into the canned in-~ dustry as well. With my capital I’ll be able to handle large consignments of goods—outbid many houses in our line whose capital is either limited or tied up. Cash talks every day in the week. If you’ve got the money to pay down on the nail the stuff comes your way every time. I shall be able to make contracts with steamship companies and other large interests and do a swell business. In fact, that is what I’m out for. The country produce will be the opening wedge. If through honest dealing and quick returns we can get control of a large part of the farmers’ business, we'll be able to establish a fine trade, and once we have secured the confidence of the pro- ducers we'll be able to hold it against all comers. What do you think of it, Sam?” “Fine!” cried his chum, enthusiastically. going to start in?” “Right away, if you don’t mind letting me use your five thousand dollars to set the ball rolling until I can get control of my own funds.” “Let you use it? Well, say, just freeze on to every cent of it. I’m with you in this thing from the ground floor up.” “You'll never regret it, Sam. It will be a. start in life for you as well as for myself. But, remember, it will be a case of hustle from the beginning. You can’t expect to sit in an office and look for things to come your way. We'll have to'get out and work like beavers early and late. One of these days, when we’ve built up the business, we'll be able to take things easier, But that won’t be for a long time.” “P}] hustle, bet your life. Anything is better than everyday farming in New York State. I’ye had all I want of it, and T guess you know as well as I that there is no future in it. “Well, it’s after nine o’clock, Sam. Time you were going home. Fetch over that bag of sovereigns by eight in the morn- ing.) We'll take the 9:10 West Shore train at Highland for Weehawken.” The boys parted for the night, Sam departing with his head full of visions of the future, and feeling as if he had suddenly become a full-grown man. “When are you CHAPTER XI. PAGE & PARSONS, COMMISSION MERCHANTS. he boys reached lower Broadway next morning after erga clack iio led the way to a well-known trust and safe deposit company, to which he had: been recommended by the president of the village bank. He sent in his letter of introduction to the president and was admitted to that gentleman’s private office. » fa To him Joe told his story of the finding of the twenty thousand pounds of old English sovereigns under the founda- tion of the old stone house on his mother’s property. ; ey! He recited the adventures he had had with the mysterious Frenchman, who had come all the way from France, by his own account, with a clue to the buried treasure, but had failed to locate it. gen The president was very much interested in his story, “Noy,” said Joe, “I have here a sample of the treasure, One — ib of the bags which I gave my chum before I boxed the rest up. It contains one thousand pounds. I want to exchange, Ag fag that for American money. Then, as soon as the authorities release the four boxes after the trial of the two Frenchmen, ~~ I want to sell the other nineteen thousand pounds. Now will — you undertake to do this for me for a suitable compensation?” : The president said the company would do that for D ; if the gold was genuine. j Fe J “This bag is an exact sample of the others, for my chum and myself have handled every coin when counting it. ~“ The president examined the money Closely and was satis- fied it was the real thing. i $ origin al ei 4 * " “Wasn't there ony we ty bes give a clue to the owners of this gold?” as the gentleman. tac if “No.” answered Joe. “There was not a thing in the oT. but the twenty bags, each one carefully tied at the mouth x

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THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: 13 “And it was found on your mother’s property?” “Yes, sir. I have brought a note to that effect. from her,” and the boy showed it to the president of the trust company. The gentleman sent the bag outside to the cashier to count it and compute its exact value in American money. When this formality had been completed, Joe was paid about forty-eight hundred dollars in bills, and took his de parture, promising to call later with the rest of the English money. After a good lunch the two boys started for the wholesale provision district of the city to look the ground of their pro- posed business venture well over. -They found a store for rent in the heart of the district, with the office partition standing, and Joe hired it at once for a year, with the privilege of renewal at the same rent. ‘He then gave an order to a sign painter for a board sign to go over the door. “Page & Parsons, Commission Merchants, will look fine, you bet your life,” said Sam, enthusiastically, as they left the painter’s shop. “It is the first step we are taking on our road to success,” replied Joe, as they started across town toward Broadway. “Before we make our next move we might as well register at the Sinclair House, for we shan’t leave the city for. two or three days.” * “That ll suit me all right,” replied his companion, with a pleased chuckle. ‘ So they went straight to that hotel and engaged a room. “Now, Sam,” said Joe, as they started uptown along Broad- way to take in a few sights of the metropolis, “the next thing well have to do—and it is a matter requiring considerable judgment, is to secure a competent and trustworthy man to _help us launch this businesss of ours properly. We want a man with practical experience in the produce commission line —a man who can run the city end of the concern while we are out in the country drumming up trade.” ~ “That’s right,” nodded Sam. “How are you going to get him?’ : “['m going to put an advertisenient in one of the big dailies stating just what we want, and then it will be up to us to pick out the right man. We've got to be very careful in making our selection, for a whole lot depends on our choice. We can’t rely altogether on references, for nearly ' eyery applicant for the position will be prepared to furnish - a bunch of apparently gilt-edged ones. We must size our man up from his shoes to his hat, take particular note of his manner in dealing with us, and try to form a correct opinion of his honesty and business ability. You see, a great many sharp persons will be inclined to take advantage of the fact _ that we are boys and fair game for them. If we make the mistake of employing one of these kind of chaps we'll be apt to suffer for it.” * Sam agreed with his chum that the problem was a serious one. _ Joe put his advertisement in the Herald, then they walked up Sixth avenue to Central Park and spent an hour there. bare They took a Broadway car back to their hotel, had dinner, *, - and afterward went to the theater. _ forced out of it because, as the-boys learned at the interview Joe arranged with him, he had tried to run the business on lines the two boys contemplated themselves. “I did very well at the start,” he went on to say, “for the were looking for a square man to do business with; the other commission men saw how things were combined to drive me out of the district. I was rm in their sides, because I was steadily making inroads their trade. They sent out representatives to try and off my customers; they cut down their commission to the farmers and made all kinds of temporary concessions in order to wipe me out. Finally they resorted to many under- devices that hurt me greatly. In the end they won out ; I had to retire from business.” ; _ His name was William Black, and his manner and con- -yersation made a favorable impression on both boys. Joe had a long talk with him, and was convinced he was every respect a desirable person to engage. 2 . promised to give the lads the full benefit of his experi- in the business and to take as much interest in its devel- as though it were his own. he found the boys proposed to run matters on the as he had tried to do himself he expressed a strong of their success; but Joe told him they would have = ee Se eS EI OA ES RN eT ee SORA cere A Re AE aes cab * TP an asd ea A ais SON OE ae ae oc CE We hak 5s, RIOD AT SR SP Sci ERAS I age RE, capital to burn, and that they intended to burn a good bit of it, if necessary, to- force themselves to the front and fight the oppositicn. “We're going to win out, too, Mr. Black,” said Joe, in a decided tone. “Sam and I are hustlers and fighters from the basement up. We're young, it is true, but the opposition will find themselves badly fooled if they fancy we're going to be easy marks. We will have to depend on your experi- ence to a considerable extent at the outset, and we hope you will do the best you can in our interests.” “T certainiy shall,’ replied Mr. Black. “At any rate, this will give you the chance to get back at the men who did you up. ‘That ought to be some satisfac- tion, at any rate. With our capital and energy, backed up with your experience, we propose to make things hum. in the produce district. If you prove satisfactory, as we think you will, you'll find that Sam and I will do the right thing by you.” Mr. Black was engaged, and he started at once to get things under way. He looked after all the necessary details, made suggestions that the young firm adopted without question, and soon proved they had made no mistake in hiring him. “He’s all to the mustard,” said Sam, as they were preparing to return to Pembrook to make their final arrangements for an indefinite absence from their homes. “He’s a good, conscientious man, thoroughly up in the busi- ness, and will handle all the stuff we can drum up in first-class shape. We couldn’t have landed a better man if we'd tried for a month.” OO site right,” replied Sam. “We were dead lucky to get m. ! The boys spent only a day or two at their homes, and then started out to hustle among the farmers. ’ It was arranged between them that Sam should work up agreements among the produce and fruit growers of Ulster, Orange and Rockland counties of New York State, while Joe devoted his energies to the farmers of New Jersey. It was a new experience for the two lads, but they had pluck, energy and ambition to burn, and both felt confident that they had started upon the road to success. CHAPTER XII. THE RESCUE ON THE LAKE. Before he started to work up the New Jersey trade, Joe crossed the river and took a car down to his place of business, on Fourteenth street, west. Mr. Black was in the office, reading a newspaper. He was all ready té attend to business, but there was noth- ing doing as yet. But, of course, this state of inaction was not expected to last very long. He confidently looked to see consignments of produce and fruits arrive in a few days, just as soon as the young pro- prietors of the business secured a few patrons. Joe only stopped a short time, just long enough to hare’ a talk with his manager-bookkeeper, and then he started for the Desbrosses street ferry and was soon in Jersey City, where he took a train for the point he intended to begin operations. ; Both of the young partners of the firm of Page & Parsons met with success from the very start. Joe’s proposition of a flat ten per cent. commission, with no bogus charges tacked on to reduce the farmer's profits, and a ten-day settlement, captured the producer off-hand, and he readily agreed to sign an agreement to send all his stuff to the new firm. j Most of the farmers that the boys first talked into send- ing introductory consignments to Page & Parsons were in- clined to think this new deal they were promised was too ~ good to be true. They soon discovered that the house which promised them a “square deal” was keeping its word to the letter, and. naturally they were so pleased that they made the fact pub- Me, and many producers that the boys had been unable— to call on in their neighborhood tried the experiment also of sending their stuff to the new commission house. The result. was that the old commission men began to notice a steady drop off in their business, and, looking around to discover the cause of this, they saw that firm of Page & Parsons, which had but lately invaded $ ‘ict, Was Hb

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14 them. As this state of things got worse instead of better as the boys Covered more ground, the opposition people came together to sée what could be done fo remedy the evil. The first thing they did was to send agents into the coun- try to head off Joe and Sam, as well as to counteract the success they had already achieved. The boys were prepared for some such demonstration, and they began to tell the farmers that they might expect to hear from the representatives of their late commission men. and advised them to pay no attention to wily promises of reform on the part of the old houses as long as they were getting their full ninety per cent. returns on a ten-day basis. The farmers who had already done business with Page & Parsons were satisfied with the treatment they were now receiving, and the agents of the other commission houses found it a difficult job to make any of them return to the old fold. The fruit season was now commencing, and the very best of the early products found their way to the new house, so that the wholesalers and stewards of the big hotels had to come and see Mr. Black if they wanted any of this stuff, ‘ which, as a matter of course, they did. There was one big and influential fruit grower in New Jersey that Joe tried to reach, but it was some little time before he was able to secure an interview. On account of his trade the old commission men had been in the habit of treating him pretty decently—eaech and every one of them that enjoyed the privilege of handling consign- ments from his great farm and orchards were only too eager to try and retain his good will. As soon as their early fruit business began to suffer from the encfoachments made by Sam and Joe, the commission ‘men who handied Mr. Walton’s fruit got together and dis- -patched one of their brightest agents to fill his head full of distrust for any proposition submitted to him by Page & ‘Parsons. '. Unfortunately this man reached his ear before Joe was able to make his acquaintance, and the result was ‘that the bright boy got a cool reception and a flat refusal of business when he did appear with a blank agreement to which he had hoped to secure Walton's signature. This was Joe’s first important setback, and he retired feel- ing much disappointed. He recognized that the opposition had got in ahead of him and that their representative had lied about him; but he couldn't do anything, and had to accept his first signal defeat with the best grace possible. That, however, was not the worst of it. Mr Walton’s heighbors, having great respect for his judgment, followed his ‘lead in the matter of commission houses as in other matters, and Joe found his work cut out for him in that section of New Jersey. It was a big card for the other houses to be able to control the Walton fruit, for it had a standing among the wholesale trade that put all similar fruit more or less in the shade with the higher class of customers. Walton fruit fetched the highest prices and the reel on:its arrival in New York. The opposition therefore scored an important point against Page & Parsons when they cut the new firm out of the Walton business. _ Joe was a bit discouraged to find that he could not secure even a single customer in the Walton locality, where the best fruit would come from as the season advanced. eat) “T hate to give the fight up here,” he said to himself, “but Tye done the very best I could in this locality and I can’t make the least headway.” He was just coming away from the last fruit farm on his _ list in that neighborhood, after receiving the usual turn-down. He started down the road on his bicycle toward the village where he was stop while he vassed the district. ‘He had to pass the Walton farm at the point where a lake of some size bordered the road. . - As he drew near this body of water, which was ruffled by sal afternoon wind, he noticed a pretty little sailboat, in ow! was 4 lovely miss of perhaps fifteen and a well-dressed y a year older: ‘boy was steering the boat, and from the actions of e small craft it struck Joe, who knew something about sailing, that the lad was a novice in the art of handling e on the craft as he rode along. — vs as much about sailing a boat as » F sold right off a donkey se é getting business that by right, they argued, should come to THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. does about dancing. Even if he did know something, it was rash of him to put out on the lake in this wind, especially with that girl for a passenger. J shouldn’t be at all sur- prised to see him capsize any moment.” The words were scarcely out of his mouth before a sudden flaw struck the sail. Not being a skillful boatman, the boy was wholly unpre- pared for it, and the boat upset. , Struggling in terror and confusion, the lad struck out for the nearest shore, leaving the screaming girl to her fate. She could not swim, and the suddenness of the catastrophe had unnerved her. : With a ery of dismay Joe sprang from his wheel and rushed down to the shore of the lake. By this time the girl had sunk out of view, her natty straw hat alone floating upon the surface of the troubled water. “By George!’’ breathed Joe, “I must save her if I can, but I’m afraid it’s a case of touch and go.” He was an excellent swimmer, fortunately. He kicked off his shoes, cast aside his jacket, and sprang into the lake. With strong, sturdy strokes, hand-over-hand fashion, he worked his way out to the drowning girl. “She’s coming up,” he said. “If I can only reach her be- fore she goes down again.” The distance he had to cover was too far, however, and her struggling form went under for the second time before he got within a dozen yards of her. In the meantime the boy had reached shore and was run- ning frantically toward a fine-looking mansion not far away to get help. : ; This mansion was the residence of Mr. Walton, and, as it happened, the girl who was now in such desperate peril : was his only daughter, the pet of the household. Joe put on an extra spurt and reached the spot where Jessie Walton had gone down for the second time just as she reappeared in a semi-unconscious state on the surface. He grabbed her at once and skillfully lifted her head above the waterline, while he swam out with one hand for the keel of the overturned boat. t He reached it after a great effort, and, getting a good hold on it, held the pallid and motionless girl as far out of the water as he could, while he rested himself. : As the moments passed he found his situation growing more and more uncomfortable, for he could only use one arm to hang on, while the other was employed in supporting the girl, who was gradually regaining her senses. This brought a heavy and awkward strain on his left arm, and he was afraid he would soon have to let go 4nd swim with his burden for the shore. At this point, however, Mr. Walton and his gardener came toward the lake at a run, the father nearly frantic With anxi- ety at the thought that his beloved child might now be lying stark and dead at the bottom. a The gardener’s sharp eyes made out Joe clinging to the bottom of the sailboat with Jessie in his arm, and he called Mr. Walton’s attention to the fact. There was a rowboat tied to the shore a short distance — away, and to this both men repaired as fast as they could get there. x They pushed off and the gardener pulled at the oars with all his energy. ; . The overturned craft with its living freight was being blown further and further away from the shore, a fact that J, soon woke up to. ar “I’m afraid it’s too long a distance to swim with this girl,” he said to himself. “I'll have to try and manage to get astride of the keel and haul her up alongside of it. Somebody will be sure to come out after us before long.” : reese He was about to put this scheme into practice when he heard the sound of oars, and looking back across the water saw the approaching boat. é - CHAPTER XII. JOE CAPTURES A BIG CONTRACT. ‘Shouting words of encouragement to Joe, and urging his — gardener to his best efforts with the oars, Mr. Walton stood up in the boat with his anxfous eyes fastened upon his si reviving daughter. ; Sra oS At last, after what seemed an age to the distressed fathe the boat shot within reach of the capsized race alge ol é 2 Walton bent down and grasped his child under

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Thank heaven!” he breathed, as he drew her into the row- ; boat, “you are safe, my Jessie.” : ¢ _ “She murmured, “Father,” and feebly tried to throw her arms around his neck. In the meantime the gardener assisted Joe into the boat and then pulled out for the shore. ; Mr. Walton thought of nothing but his daughter until they were within reach of the solid ground, when she was so far recovered as to be able to walk ashore on his arm. “Young man,” said the big fruit grower, “I am under the deepest of obligations to you for going to the assistance of my daughter when that sailboat upset. I feel sure that but for your promptness and courage my child would probably have been drowned. You must come to my home at once, for you are drenched, and your clothes will have to be dried. Besides, I could not think of letting you depart in an off-hand way after what you have done for us.” : “Very well, sir,” replied Joe. “It will, of course, be neces- sary for me to have my clothes dried, as this is the only suit I have with me. I will get my coat and shoes and my bicycle, which are only a short distance away, and follow you to the “No, no,” replied Mr. Walton; “my gardener will get your things. William, go for this young man’s wheel and other articles.” “I hope you are feeling better, Miss Walton,” said Joe to the pretty but water-soaked miss, as the three walked up toward the mansion. _“Yes, thank you,” with a blush and a smile, as she stole a shy glance into the face of the boy to whom she knew she owed her life. “I am very grateful to you,” she added in a low voice. 7%, “Don’t mention it, Miss Walton. I am very happy I was able to reach you in time to prevent you from sinking the third time.” _ “Great heaven!” exclaimed Mr. Walten, “was she so near death as that?” “I'm afraid she was, sir. I was fully twenty feet away _ from her wher she sank the second time. I barely got to her as she rose once more to the surface. However, as long _ as she is safe it doesn’t matter how close she came to drown- ing,” said the boy, with a light laugh. “A miss, you know, is as good as a mile.” hous “I hope you are not thinking of offering me any reward, sir,” _Joe, hastily, “for if you are I must decline to receive it.” “No, my lad, I am not thinking of doing that. It would be utterly out of my power to pay you for a service that is beyond price. But I shall insist that you accept some little _ token as evidence of my esteem and friendship for you.” “You have already thanked me in a way that shows your titude, and I think that covers the matter,” replied Joe. “I don’t see that I have done more than my duty under the reumstances. As long as I am a good swimmer, it was up ) me to do the best I could for the young lady. I am sure abybody equal to the emergency would have done just as I did.” They had now reached the house, and Mr. Walton turned daughter over to the anxious-looking housekeeper, who ed the girl to her room. , grateful father led Joe upstairs to a chamber and told to undress. ught him a suit of his own underclothes and a pair ‘Put these on for the present,” he said. “I will have your clothes dried and pressed; but of course it will take a ttle while. You must consider yourself my guest for the at least.” ; After he had carried Joe’s wet things downstairs to the - laundry-room, where a servant was instructed to attend to a n, Mr. Walton returned to the boy and took him to his _“{ think we have met before, have we not?” asked the it grower. . t} “Yes, sir,” replied the young commission merchant. “I led on you two days ago to secure your fruit trade, but,” a smile, “I had very poor luck. - I could not induce you n consider my proposition.” : es, I remember. e is=—” ; ze—Joe Page, of the produce*tommission firm of Pa , No. — West Fourteenth street; New York, My THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. 15 partner and I have only been in business a short time, but |long enough to let the trade know that we're alive and hustling for our share of the fruit and produce that comes to the metropolis.” Mr. Walton smiled good-naturedly. He now regarded Joe in an altogether different light than previously when the boy had addressed himself to him in the guise of a canvasser for his trade. “I am afraid I treated you rather churlishly at our last in- terview,” said the fruit grower. “If you will permit me I shall be glad now to make amends for it.” “Well, sir,” said the bright boy, taking advantage of the circumstances, with an eye to business, “I shall be bappy’ to repeat my propasition if you care to hear me.” “TI will listen to you with pleasure,” Joe at once launched into the object which had brought him into that part of New Jersey, and he talked earnestly and. — right to the point. Mr. Walton listened attentively, and when his guest had finished he told him the reasons for his refusal to negotiate ‘ with the new firm. x He had been dealing with his present commission people. for years and had no fault to find with them. , Besides, one of their representatives had lately called on him and made statements regarding ‘Page & Parsons that did. not appear to be to their credit. “Those statements were all lies,” replied Joe, a bit botly., “We are stepping on the toes of the old commission men, and they have evidently combined to freeze us out. But it won't do them any good in the long run to run us down. We have the capital at our back and have come to stay. If; they go too far I am going to make thing so hot for them, that they’ll be glad to haul in their horns. They ran one man out by crooked methods because he cut into their trade. That man is now our bookkeeper and manager. If they try the same game—as I expect they will—on us, there’s go-| ing to be something doing they won't like. I'll put every: man in jail that I can reach on a criminal charge. We may be boys, but we're out for our rights, and we're going to get them, in spite of every produce commission man in New) York.” Joe looked fight all over, and Mr. Walton rather admired his pluck. “Well, my young friend,” he said, “you have won my life- long gratitude, and I am going to take advantage of this op-| portunity to repay you in part for your invaluable services! this day. I will sign an agreement with you to send you all my consignments hereafter, and take the risk of you doing as well by me as the other commission people.” ‘ “You’ll take no risk whatever, sir,” replied Joe, promptly. “If we can’t show as good results as the others, I'll tear up your contract and release you from any further obligation to patronize us.” “Well, that is certainly very fair on your part,” smiled the, fruit grower. “Now, have you done any business with my neighbors?” “No, sir. I haven’t caught one. They all seem to follow. your lead, and what is good enough for you seems to suit them. I hope to have better luck with them when I take your agreement around with me and show them.” “I think there is a better way than that.” . “What is it, sir?” y d “If you will remain all night with us here, I'll take youlg around in my auto to-morrow morning and personally urge — my neighbors to sign agreements with you. I think I will be able to secure you the entire output of the district.” . “I shall be glad to accept your generous invitation, Mr., Walton,” replied Joe, overjoyed at the brilliant prospect. “It will be the biggest kind of victory for the firm of Page & © Parsons.” + a Sie the fruit grower. “Yes, sir. Th in our ages.” \tndpucouragement you ean receive. rea inently before the trade. * ~ ‘sg right, sir.

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16 THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. a here to make a try for you, though every one I spoke to fold me I hadn't a ghost of a show to catch you.” “Then everybody will find they miscalculated your per- suasive powers,” laughed Mr. Walton. “['m afraid it is more luck than ariything else, sir. If I hadn’t been so fortunate as to be on hand to rescue your daughter I am satisfied I would have taken the train to-day back to New York empty-handed.” Joe’s clothes were dried and pressed in time for him to go to dinner looking as he usually did. He was then formally introduced to Jessie Walton by her father, and he was quite impressed by the girl's good looks and yivaciousness. She had not suffered in any way frum her involuntary bath, and he voted her the most charming young lady he had ever met. CHAPTER XIV. PAGE & PARSONS ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. Joe found Jessie Walton very entertaining both at dinner and in the parlor afterward. She played quite brilliantly on the piano, and sang with bewitching effect one of the latest musical novelties. Then she sat alongside of him on a lounge and talked about the fine fruit farm her father owned, how he must go over it in the morning, and how very glad she was that he was in the’ commission business and able to handle the Walton brand, which she had no hesitation in declaring the best on the market, as it undoubtedly was. “Your father’s trade will give me a big boost,” said Joe. > wicca to thank you for putting me in the way of securing ” “Thank me!” she exclaimed, opening her eyes with sur- prise. “Why, I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know you were in the commission business until father told me he had signed an agreement to send you all of his fruit.” -*But if you hadn't fallen into the water, and given me the opportunity to pull you out, I should never have got the con- tract,” he said, smilingly. “Oh!” she exclaimed, archly. ing in vain, did I?” “It was a mighty risky ducking, wouldn’t advise you to repeat it.” “I won't go out again in that boat on the lake,” she said, with a positive nod of her head; “at least, not with Archie Davis. He told me he could sail the boat all right.” “I am afraid he has an exaggerated opinion of his abilities in that- direction,” replied Joe. “I was watching the boat for some minutes before she upset, and I am bound to say he doesn’t know the first thing about it. It was very foolish _ for him to try such a dangerous experiment on so windy an - afternoon.” “Well; I just dote on the water; that’s why I allowed him to persuade me to go out. He insisted that it wasn’t blow- ing too hard, I shall give him a piece of my mind when I see him. He ought to have been ashamed to leave me to drown, when he can swim. He might have helped me get as far as the overturned boat. Then we both could have ‘ held on till some one saw our predicament. If it hadn't been for you”—and she looked gratefully into Joe’s face— I am sure I would never have come ashore alive.” ; PEA op you did get ashore alive, so we'll let the matter go a _” ; “And you believe I am truly grateful to you, don't you?” “Sure, I do.” “I am so glad my father was able to put something in your way. You may be sure y e his custom for good as long as you are in the comy iness,” “IT am giad to hear that, we expect to de- serve it by handling it right k. If: we couldn’t do that we would have no. right, to hold it, for ‘business is busiuess, and your suffer in pocket and reputation if his fruit was n r Amarketed.” “Father hasn’t any fears of that. He told me you were the smartest boy he ever talked to.” ; ; “T*ani anuch obliged to your father for his good opinion. hope’ to deserve it.” tide ae “you deserve it,” she replied, demurely. y ‘Miss Jessie. too. “Then I didn’t get a duck- Miss Jennie, and I ¥ *“There’s no fear of that, either. you did for me as long as I live.” Mr. Walton now came into the parlor and the conversation became general. Next morning after breakfast Joe was shown over the big fruit farm, and he was willing to believe that it was the finest in the State of New Jersey. Mr. Walton then took him around to his neighbors in his automobile, and Joe soon had half a dozen signed agreements in his possession. They returned to the mansion in time for lunch, after which Joe said he must return to New York to make arrangements for the reception of the big consignments that would be com- ing his way in a day or two. He found Sam at the office when he got back. “You didn’t do so bad in Jersey, Joe,” said his partner, with a grin. “You don’t know yet how well I did,” replied Joe. “IT know there’s a lot of produce coming in every day from that State, and it wouldn’t have come to us unless you had been handing the farmers out a pretty stiff game of talk.” “T did the best I know how in that direction. I find Tm not a bad talker when I get down to business. You didn’t do so bad yourself up-State.” “T had to talk some of the people deaf. dumb and blind. before I could make any impression on them, Some folks are awfully thick,” remarked Sam. “Well, as long as you get them in the end, it didn’t matter how much trouble you had. They'll stick all the closer to us for it.” “I hope they will. Well, how about the Sunbury section? Mr. Black said you made a4 break for the Walton Fruit Farm and neighboring places. How did you make out?” “What chance did Mr. Black seem to think I had?” asked Joe. “Very slim. Jackson & Cornish, Bailey & Co., and Cooke & © Denning have a mortgage on the whole of that district.” “Who said they have?” “Why, Mr. Black, of course.” “I won’t deny that he had good reason for his opinion. It — was the hardest proposition I've been up against. | Yester- day noon, after having talked to every grower in that section, I was ready to throw up my hands in disgust. The ether - commission houses got 2 man down there before me, and what he didn’t say to queer us isn’t worth mentioning.”. “Is that a fact?” asked Sam, indignantly. wre “Yes, that’s a fact. I had it from Mr. Walton's own lips.” “Then your trip was 4 failure?” said Sam, glumly, 433 “No, it wasn’t. Something happened that changed the whole complexion of matters.” “What happened?” asked Sam, with a look of interest. — “Well, a very pretty girl tumbled into the lake adjoining — the Walton Farm just as I was’ passing by on my wheel. I jumped into the water and saved her life.” ; “The deuce you did!” “J did for a fact.” “Gee! you are quite a hero,” with a chuckle. girl) ‘too. I wouldn’t mind savin myself, Is it a case of spoons?” ae “Nonsense!” "Nee “Well, awhat did that have to do with your business?” ‘ “A great deal.” ue “Oh, come, now, don't keep a fellow on the rack. How did the fact that you saved the girl help your business?” | > “She happened to be the daughter of Mr. Walton.” te “You don't say!” whistled Sam, es - ie “Mr, Walton had turned our proposition down hard a I shall never forget what ~~ “A pretty g the life of a pretty girl % 7 ¥ days before. He would hardly listen to me, After I sa as his daughter he couldn't do enough for me.” ee “T should think not.” By ae. “Well, he signed an agreement to send every crate of fruit and produce he ships hereafter direct to us.” oe “That's fine. He's a big shipper.” gt Ne “and that wasn’t all he did for me.” ie 15 *What else did he do?” : ‘ty tes oer “Took me around in his auto to all the neighboring farms and talked the proprietors into signing similar agreements.” — “You don’t mean it!” gasped Sam. ‘ ape Are “T wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.” 2 Gon “Gee whiz! There'll be war-in the provision district over this. Why, Jacksqn & Cornish, Bailey & Co., and Cooke & Denning will be wilds won't be healthy for us to walk by their stores.” Ar eet, : io 2 about them. They tried todo us @ mean sem “Don’t you worry 3

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> 1%: ' trick in that district, and I'm glad they have got it in the neck. Some other firms I might mention will get it in the neck. too. if they aren’t careful.” ; » “Pl call Mr. Black in and you can tell him the good news.” said Sam. __ Mr. Black could hardly believe his ears when Joe told him - that hereafter they hada steady customer in the Walton _ Fruit Farm. and also that the six other Sunbury farmers had signed regular season agreements. “Young gentlemen,” said theit manager, “you have made the greatest coup in the history of the commission business. Page & Parsons is bound to go right to the front. “You bet.” said Sam, emphatically. “And we're going to Stay at the front, too.” ‘ CHAPTER XV. PAGE & PARSONS BREAK INTO THE CANNED GOODS TRADE. _ If an earthquake shock had struck the wholesale provision district south of Fourteenth street it couldn’t have created greater consternation among the produce commission houses than when the fact became generally known to the trade that ze & Parsons, the new firm of commission mInerchants, had tually captured not only the Walton Fruit Farm, but every _ other fruit grower in the Sunbury district. What Jackson & Cornish had to say on the subject would hardly bear repetition in print. Bailey & Co. and Cooke & Denning were also heard to use Tanguage that was more forcible than polite. ‘Then the trade made another discovery—that Page & Par- ‘Sons were only boys not yet seventeen. - Before they found that fact out they. had imagined that eir old rival. William Black, who had been observed in ge of the new concern, was masquerading under a new ‘ow two boys could start in the commission business and A UP Such a good trade inside of a month was a rel to the men who had been in the trade for years. he young firm was now handling a remarkable amount - gpm considering the short time Joe and Sam were trade, \fter this Joe Page remained at the office, while Sam took , trips throughout New Jersey drumming up additional ‘Black had proved to be invaluable to them, and the ised his salary half as much again as had been origi- agreed upon between them. iS about this time that the boys received a note from ble Snodgrass, of -Pembrook, notifying them that their e would be required at the trial of Jules Glorieux is Companion, Gaston, which was to take place two Tater at Dexter, the county seat. ee telegraphed his mother to send John, the hired man, a rig to meet Sam and himself at Highland on the ar- of a certain train over the West Shore Railroad. -ybody in Pembrook knew that Joe .Page and Sam Par- ad gone into the produce commission business in New ‘ity, and had heard they were doing well. tefore when the boys appeared in the village, in com- “With John, on their way to Dexter, the day after their home, they were objects of much interest. trial of the Frenchmen did not take long. y were defended by a town-lawyer, but the evidence bem was sufficient’ to secure their conviction. and Sentenced to five years in the Auburn Penitentiary. PCL an order from the judge for the return four boxes of English sovereigns which had 1 feature of the trial. ° on the witness stand of the character of ents Of the boxes, as well as his story, corroborated ad John, of the finding of the treasure chest under ation Of the old stone house on his mother’s prop- - aroused a good deal of excitement in court. he news reached Pembrook ahead of them, and the vil- almost mobbed the boys: in an effort to find out ad- particulars about the remarkable discovery. _ nd Sam iurtied the English money to New York, ‘they turned it over to the trust company, and the received a check for something over ninety-one thou- lars. z oe, Ae eived the additional five thousand dollars his chum se_ him for his services the night the boxes were ‘the Page home, and he immediately turned it into a. ’ ak y e: hy a IF ten thousand dollars himself, which put the x Fee . THE ROAD’ TO “SUCCESS. boys on an equal footing, with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. Joe now turned his attention to the handling of canned goods and laid in a hig stock of Western goods. The firm then notified the wholesalers who supplied the numerous summer hotels, just opening up for the season, that it was in a position to supply them with canned goods at the lowest market figures and without delay. In fact. Page & Parsons proclaimed the fact broadcast that they made a specialty of rush orders, and this announcement brought a flood of orders for canned goods to the young firm when the first hot wave caused the hotel proprietors to clamor for instant delivery of extra supplies, which the wholesalers were unable to obtain in time from the com- mission people they were accustomed to patronize. “I tell you, Joe, we're doing a bang-up trade now, aren’t we?” said Sam one morning, as he watched his partner go- ing through the early mail. “I don’t know as we have any cause to complain,” replied Joe, “but I hope to see it grow still better. In fact, I haye ¢ already got my hooks out for some contracts to supply canned goods. There’s no reason why we shouldn't work up a very large business, for I have fifty thousand dollars in bauk to loan the firm at any moment.” “Well, we can’t do too much business to suit me,” an- swered Sam. “The more the merrier. We've got several of the old produce houses skinned to death already. That pri- yate detective we employed kind of discouraged the crooked work our rivals expected to practise to put us out of busi- ness. I guess they are satisfied now that we are too smart for them.” *T hear some of them have adopted our square method of doing business in an effort to coax some of their old cus- tomers back.” “I’m not surprised to hear that,” replied Sam. the tide pretty strong against the old method.” | “Want to see the plans for our new home up-country, Sam?” said Joe, taking down aq roll of blue prints that lay on the top of his desk. “Sure, I do,” replied his chum, eagerly. “We're going to build it on the thirty-five acre plot.” “The one where the old stone house is, eh?” “Yes. Mother is going to have a fine lawn ail around th house. it will be one of the sweliest residences in the county.” ‘ “Well, you've got the stuff to make it so.” ’ “Mother is going to put it up herself with a part of the $20,000 I gave her.” . At that moment Mr. Black opened the glass door, “There is a young lady in the store wishes to see you, Mr. Page,” he said. “Wishes to see me, eh?” said Joe, jumping up from his desk and wondering who it could be. “IM be back ina minute, Sam.” When he walked into the store he saw a handsomely dressed girl standing near the door. ; As he approached her she turned around and Joe, to his se surprise, recognized Jessie Walton. “Why, Miss Walton!” he exclaimed, “this is an unnexpected pleasure.” “Am I welcome?” she asked, laughingly. “As welcome as the flowers In May and the roses in June,” he exclaimed. “Come right into-the office and I'll introduce you to my partner. He’s been crazy to see the young lady I pulled out of the water.” : Joe led the way inside. ‘ Le “Miss Walton, this is my chum and partner, Sam Parsons.“ My Sam, this is Mr. Walton’s daughter.” foes Sam bawed and motioned Jessie to take the chair beside the desk he bad just vacated. Jessie stayed half an hour and then declared she must take the Desbrosses street ferry in order to catch a certain train for Sunbury. oe F “She’s a peach for fair,” remarked Sam after she had taken ‘ her | sategthe wg “I would like to have the inside track with — - such a girl. I guess you're pretty solid with her. At any rate, You ought to be, after saving her life.” : ra netted i u +. “We turned “Oh, I dare say she likes me well enough,” replied Joe, an offhand way. ghakte “And how do you like her?” grinned his partner. x much,’ “Come, now, you want to know too Joe, flushing up. . ey Sam chuckled gleefully, for he saw he had

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= . tien m, CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION. As the summer advanced, Page & Parsons had all they could do to handle the fruit and produce that came their way. . “Say, Joe,” said Sam, bursting into the office one morning at the end of the summer, “it looks like a sure thing that the United States is going to interfere in this Cuban mix-up. The paper is full of it this morning. Now, if the Govern- - Ment sends troops to the island there’ll be a sudden call for canned meats and vegetables. How do we stand to fill a rush order in that direction if some contractor should hap- pen to interview us on the subject?” “Well, Sam,” replied his partner, “we can deliver $100,000 worth of such stuff inside of twenty-four hours, and $50,000 worth more right on top of that.” “Whew!” whistled Sam. “Do you mean to say you have bought that much stock? You couldn’t have paid for it.” “I’ve bought it after a fashion. ‘That is, I’ve ordered $100,000 worth of the goods to be held for a certain time Subject to our order. This cost us $5,000. I’ve also spoken for’ the $50,000 worth provisionally.” _ “How did you come to do that?” “Soon after the first suggestion appeared in the papers that President Roosevelt might consider it necessary to shake the “big stick’ over our sister Republic I found out that a cer- tain contractor had received a tip from a big official that bids for commissary stores would soon be called for. On the strength of that I negotiated for the stuff I have.mentioned and then put in an offer to the said contractor to supply him with $100,000 worth of goods at a figure that would give us a fair margin of profit. I received a non-committal reply from him, but I concluded to risk $5,000 on the chance of get-- ting the order, The goods are ready to be shipped from the Middle West on a telegraphic notice, and arrangements can be made to send them on by fast freight if necessary. If the Government should make a quick demand for supplies I think we can meet the emergency in shorter time than any one else in our line.” “Joe, you’ye got a long head, upon my word, you have,” said Sam, admiringly. _ “The times are so swift, Sam, a fellow has got to see some distance ahead or he isn’t in the running.” “That isn’t any lie. By the way, I see you've got your grip here this morning. Where are you going over Sunday? Home?” “No. Got an invitation out to Sunbury.” “That's the third,” snickered Sam. “Things are rushing in that direction.” - “Oh, you get out. This invitation is from Mr. Walton.” - “Sure, it is,” laughed Sam. “Miss Walton hasn’t the least idea you’re coming. No, of course not. Won't be at the sta- tion to meet you in her pony phaeton, like she did on the other occasions. Ho, ho, Joe, you can’t fool your old pard,” and Sam walked chuckling out of the office. : _Joe took an early afternoon train for Sunbury and found — Walton waiting for him at the station with her dog- ~@ar - She drove him to her home herself, as she was quite a "whip in her way. _ He enjoyed himself immensely during his short stay, and was y sorry when Monday morning came and he had to leave for New York.’ “What do you think, Joe?” said Sam, coming into the pri- “vate office that afternoon; “Jackson & Cornish have gone into the canned goods business.” _ _ “Who told you they had? It’s the first I’ve heird of it.” __ “Johnson, bookkeeper for Tibbetts & Co. He and I are kind of friendly. He told me Jackson had nailed a big con- %ract this morning, but he couldn’t tell me any of the par- did Johnson get his information from? Do you 'S Teliable?” : ' “He got a hint from one of Jackson’s employees.” _ “Well, I suppose we shall find them trying to cut into our They’re pretty sore over the way Mr. Walton shook If they could turn the trick on us once and a r Joe was walking down the street and if THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. - eae ——— wee: <<< r goods & Cornish had ordered from Chicago to fill their Sosas cae soe ater ras SEND POSTAL FOR UR FR Saw * , is . frie bs Sera ‘3 Cea Then he passed on, leaving Joe in a state of great aston- ishment, for this was the first time Jackson had ever ad-— dressed him. 38 Next morning the papers had the news that certain troops of the Department of the East had been ordered to hold themselves in readiness for a sudden departure for Cuba. That meant, if true, that supplies would be needed at once, so Joe called up the contractor to whom he had submitted a bid and asked for information. The reply came back that a contract had been made al- ready with Jackson & Cornish to furnish all that would be required. : a This was a severe disappointment to the boy. Pes “Well, Sam, Jackson & Cornish have managed to get back, at us at last,” he said when his partner came into the office — later on. : “They have?” cried Sam, in some astonishment. “How is that?” B Joe gave him the particulars ad his chum was disgusted. “That's fierce. Shall we lose that $5,000?” j “Tt looks like it just now., But don’t worry, we can stand — it. I took chances on a long shot, and a screw worked lose somehow. ‘That’s the whole story.” , eh About two o’clock a newsboy brought an afternoon paper | into the office. ; ee Joe picked it up and the first thing he noticed in big type — was a railroad accident on the Lake Shore Railroad. e A fast freight had been derailed east of Cleveland, and — about twenty cars had gone down an embankment and been © smashed into kindling wood, The accident had been caused by a defective switch. __ The story had wo particular significance for Joe, and he soon tossed the paper aside, sr% It was getting on to five’o’clock when a man he had never © seen before was admitted to his room. : aes “You have the réputation for being able to fill rush orders — for canned goods, Mr. Page,” said his visitor, coming directly — to the point. “Now, can you deliver in Jersey City a pretty — big order—say $100,000 worth of a. preserved meats and _ vegetables—in twenty hours? If so, let me have your price.” — “Who do you represent, Mf. Pratt?” asked Joe, curiously. “That isn’t material,” replied his caller, “I want your Spot — cash figure. Money talks, doesn’t it?” : Si “It usually does,” replied Joe, who then quoted the n a price which his visitor accepted conditional on a delivery — of the goods within twenty-four hours at the outside, — a twenty if possible. . Wet. “Here is a certified check for $10,000 on account,” said man, “as a guarantee the goods will be taken on arrival within the specified time. Send your representative with documents to my office to-morrow the moment you recel word the cars are in the freight yard, and the balance be paid in bills.” Se The man took his departure, after laying bis card on desk, and then the young commission merchant rang up Dundee concern on the long distance wire, and completed h purchase of the $100,000 order, conditional on arrival of goods at Jersey City within twenty-two hours. — Next morning Joe learned that the cann , pil =p: man ment contract had gone to. smash in the Lake Shore wreck, and then he smelt a mouse. : Jackson & Cornish in a roundabout way had place same order with him to fill, sacrificing their profit in to be able to fill their contract. ; The goods arrived in time and Page & Parsons go money for them, and then the two young partner quiet laugh at the expense of their rivals. Pee a5 \As this event happened only the other day, we m our story at this point, leaving Joe Page and his friex Parsons, in full swing on their road to suecess, two smartest boys in the city of New York. - We We need only mention one more fact which Joe to the author the other day, and that is Jessie Wa with her father’s consent, promised to marry him reaches her eighteenth birthday. Pe = With those words we close the career of a fort Next week’s issue will contain “CHASING POL OR, THE LUCKIEST BOY IN WALL ] ies 2)

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he OS ng Ae el _ provide aeroplanes for use on the British front. Last De- ~ cember he purchased the steamship Empress of India as a hospital ship for Indian troops: Soon after the war be- gam he offered all his troops and resources'to aid the _ British. The Gaekwar of Baroda has contributed $160,000 to _ According to the London Times, the German authorities at Brussels have offered a reward of $2,500 for informa- _ tion as to the location of a wireless telegraph station sup- “posed to be working in some private house in that city. ' For nine months it has furnished the people of Brussels with war news which the Germans desired to keep from _ them, and the search for it has hitherto been unsuccessful. _ Gold has been discovered in the town of Diana, Lewis County, N. Y., according to a claim filed the other day with Secretary of State Francis M. Hugo by Nathan L. ‘Dike, a resident of that section.,, “Take notice,” the claim “reads, “that this day Nathan Dike has found gold in the ' rocks on or near the south line of the old Barber farm in ‘the town of Diana.” The dimensions of the claim are set forth. A dollar bill accompanied the communication. ‘The disabled Japanese cruiser Asama, which went ashore x Turtle Bay, Lower California, early in February, is expected to arrive in a day or two. She is being convoyed the Japanese naval repair ship Kwanto Maru, which will be permitted to take on coal enough to carry her to nearest home port. The cause of the Asama’s ground- has not been made known. Her hull was damaged and ths were required to raise the vessel and repair the he g pa Sere one ‘of a series of articles in the New York Sun on . Mexican situation, Ray G. Carroll says: “Many an iean army officer has told me of his heartsick feelings seeing boxes of cartridges, rifles and machine guns the Rio Grande. Army officers know that at a time distant they may be called upon to lead their men gainst these same munitions of war. They point to the omparatively recent situation at Vera Cruz, where Mexi- ridges of the latest American make.” y | The age of the “horseless farm” has arrived. G. T. Wreoff, of Crivitz, Wis., who! moved to Marinette County om Bloomington, Til., two years ago, works an improved exclusively with a tractor. He also cleared the farm ‘made it ready for cultivation without the use of es. His “horseless farm” consists of eighty-acres. He p eleven-ton tracter, which takes the place of horses armwork. He drives an automobile and generally for trips to markets, but when heavy loads are taken the tractor is used to pull trains of two or three - = oh ey Ware <a FAME AND FORTUNE WEERLY. CURRENT NEWS sentries faced our men with military rifles and 19 The Pennsylvania railroad will offer the United States Government an army of 100,000 men. It is the biggest move ever made by any company in the world for na- tional preparedness. -It comes from the highest Pennsyl- vania railroad authorities, who are maturing a plan to let every employee take a month’s vacation and go to a train- ing camp for military instruction. The size of the army depends upon how many employees will accept this offer. If everybody went the Pennsylvania’s legion would greatly outnumber the army which Meade commanded at Gettys- burg. The Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company, of Yonkers, N. Y., made its ninth semi-annual distribution of bonuses to its older employees recently. Approximately $65,000 was distributed among 2,500 men and women, making a total of $600,000 which the company has shared with its employees since the plan was put into effect, Em- ployees who had been with the company ten years or more received checks equal to 10 per cent. of their wages in the preceding six months, and the five-year employees got checks for 5 per cent. of their compensation in the same period. Tearful eyes, some of them those of American specta- tors, locked at the wedding in a Paris hospital of the Cor- sican lieutenant Cantora, who lost both-eyes and his left arm during the Marne fighting, and his fiancee, Mlle. Pat- trion, a fellow-countrywoman, who came from Ajaccio for the ceremony. Immediately after being wounded Cantora wrote to his fiancee returning her the engagement ring and offering to release her from her promise. She refused the offer, saying she felt all the more bound to keep faith with him. At the wedding Cantora wore the cross of the Legion of Honor and the much-prized military medal, both awarded him for his bravery. To handle the largé number of submarines which are to be built for the navy it has been suggested that the Government should construct small drydocks which could be kept at submarine bases. These small floating dry- docks, about 300 feet in length, would not only be adapted to use for submarines, but for destroyers and large naval tugs. As they can be taken from one port to another, they could be utilized in establishing temporary bases for — submarines and in the development of a general scheme for their mobilization and distribution. It is suggested that it might be possible under certain weather conditions to make use of such docks in raising sunken submarines, possibly using two, one on either side of the submarine. After -they were attached by cables they could be pumped out to lift the submarine, much as pontoons were used in raising the F-4. It is estimated that a 300-foot floating drydock could handle a 5,000-ton Ship. The 550-foot floating drydock at New Orleans is able to. 2 2 i. . bier 5 oh

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THE NINE WONDERS — ey ge A = ee ; FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. : Ee: THE ROUGH RIDERS OF THE DIAMOND FIELDS By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY) ; : : CHAPTER XXI (continued) breath. He quickly delivered the ball, and another strike “Out!” yelled the umpire, and the home team retired | W8S called. to the field without having gotten beyond first base. Again he looked at the mascot, then turned and sent the In the second inning Zeb Martin was the first at the bat, ball "ai the batsman with an old-time curve. The latter and the first ball delivered: he smashed to left field, and was smashed it straight back at the pitcher, who reached out promptly caught. and caught it without having moved an inch from his po- “Out!” called the umpire. sition. Harry Moofe followed with a ball to right field, on| “Three out!” yelled the umpire. which he reached first base. Jimmie Elliot sent him to} The visitors once more went to the bat, with Dick Cren-— second on a ball to left field and he rested at, first. shaw the first to take it up. He smashed the first ball to Teddy smashed a high ball after one strike had been} right field and was caught out. as called on him and was caught out by the center fielder. | Ed McCoy followed-with a hot grounder to left field and a “Two, out,” called the umpire, and Knatt took up the| $°t to first. Jack Tilman.sent him to second with a hot ~ bat and, after two strikes had been called, smashed ont a|°Pe to right. Martin knocked one straight to center, — hot grounder to center field, on which Harry reached third where it was collared by a flying leap of the outfielder. and Jimmie second. Harry Moore smashed a ball out to right, where it was We Patten smashed a high ball to right, where it was a mufted, and Eddie got to third, whilst Jack reached lared by the right fielder. second. “Three out!” called the umpire, and the nine retired! Jimmie Ellict, after two strikes, smashed it to conics to the field with no runs. field, and Eddie bounded across the home plate, and Jack Again the home team faced the young sioler of the| was put to sleep at third. Nine Wonders and this time the trepidation of some of “Three out,” called*the umpire, and the boys retired to . them was plainly perceptible. ‘Their best batsman was the field with another run to their credit. be pitched out with ease. The next one to follow, after two} When the home team went to the bat, their captain ae - strikes, smashed the ball straight to center field into the structed them to strike at every ball, even though ar hands of Eddie McCoy. little chance of bitting it. - rae “Two out,” called the umpire. The first man with the willow followed his tees i | __- ‘The third one at the willow smashed the third ball like| smashed the highest ball that had been so far struck ; the crack of a rifle, sending it bounding along the ground| ing the game. Jimmie Elliot collared it, and he was out. to left field. It got away from the fielder and the bats-| The next man had three strikes called on him se man dashed to first and sprinted to second with a speed | had as many times smashed the air. i . that sustained the old-time reputation of his nine. The next one got to first base on balls. The man ae “He reached there by a slide just as the ball arrived. It followed him smashed out a two-bagger to right field that — ‘was a two-bagger that elicited rounds of applause from the|Janded the man at first base on third amid a tremené crowd, hundreds of whom roared out to the next man at crys of one from the crowd, whilst he himself la _ the bat: at secon “Bring him home—bring him home!” The next smashed out a hot grounder to right fela an “He can’t do it,” called out Eddie McCoy, “for our the man at third bounded across the plate amid a roar mascot is looking at the pitcher!” applause, but the batsman, im attempting to reach s There was a roar of laughter at the expense of the beau-| Was put to sleep ten feet away from it by Eddie M of ie: tiful mascot, who laughed and blushed behind a huge sie The nine retired with one run to their credit, _quet of roses. | Rough Riders began their fourth inning with two! Tom turned, looked over his shoulder at the girl, and| their score. Terns bales ‘one of his fluttering spirals. The fourth, fifth and sixth imnings developed & ~ air, and the umpire « called out: work by both nines, yet without either adding? , P _ | but goose eggs to their score. ia ; min he Iadked Gver hie shoulder Tu the setenth.the home. teas made one run, tb - pases i ics Ming lies, ne Sis ors, ee St A a

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Ny a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. a, 8 nine fade one run, and the ninth inning was opened by| Tom turned and cast a quick glance at her. Like a i the Rough Riders with a two-bagger by Dick Crenshaw: | flash she sprang to her feet and threw the huge bouquet of ~ MeCoy followed with a ball to right ‘field that sent Dick! roses she had been holding in her hand as far as she could to left, while he rested at third. Then Jack took up the| in his direction. ‘bat to bring Dick home, but was caught out by the left It fell on the ground, but no member of either nine : fielder, and Zeb Martin quickly met a similar fate. dared leave his position to take it up. _ But Harry “Moore smashed a ball to center field, on| “That settles it, Tommy,” cried Eddie in a loud voice, which Dick pounded over the home plate, while Ed fell in| “let *er go.” pag to reach third. Tom wheeled and delivered a puzzling zigzagger, and “The nine retired to the field with four runs to their| the vast crowd rose up and gazed with bated breath as they Set, and the home team went to the bat with the knowl-| Watched him. ed that they went la ga Px Seen oe bai to eat Swish went the bat, and the ball nestled in the hands The first man at the bat got to first base on balls. His| f the catcher. successor went down before the pitcher, whilst the third A great roar went up from the crowd that drowned the man smashed out a two-bagger to center field, landing the umpire’s voice, as he called: an at first on third, “Out. ‘The interest of the vast audience in the game now The Rough Riders had won by a score of 4 to 3 after one hed fever heat, for if the man on third safely reached of the most spirited games that had ever been played in home plate. th uld b: that city. os P $ us eit ihre The cheering continued several minutes, during which the captain of the home team went up to Teddy and ex- tended his hand, saying as he did so: “You have beaten us fairly, but I think it was aiehe more by your pitcher than by the work at the bat or on bases.” “Thank you,” said Teddy. “We always try to do our. best, and it is a pleasure to play such a nine as yours.” While the captains of the“two mines were shaking hands and exchanging compliments, the Rough Riders made a dash for the front of the grandstand, where they showered thanks and blessings at their beautiful mascot. ° She was almost overcome with excitement, for hundreds of enthusiastic people of both sexes crowded about her of- fering congratulations. The boys lifted Tom on their shoulders to enable him to climb over the grandstand and reach her side, “Tt is all your work, Miss Coppinger,” said he, as he grasped her hand. “Indeed, no,” she replied ; “it was your work that did it.” “You can’t make us believe it,” he laughed, “because all our boys are great believers in the mascot idea, and all the crack teams of the country seem to believe the same et thing, if what I have read about it in papers is true.” oF “Tom, my boy,” exclaimed Parry Parton, who was with the mascot all through the game, “it was hot work, and the finest game I ever saw.” ri “So it was,” assented Tom, “and we were so pushed Mit that I entirely forgot my lame leg.” te “J was thinking of that all the time,” said Miss Cop-. pinger, “and kept wondering if you were suffering any ain.’ ns “Thank you,” said he; “I don’t think’ I felt a single = twinge of pain after the ‘frst inning. But say, Partoni,”. aay and he turned to the manager, “you remember the man who presen the unknown solitary batsman after the game, Rey 3 at St. A : “Yes,” said Parton; “what about him?” tae goat td elie tee Ls ee ah) CHAPTER Ath. THE BOYS VISIT THEM MASCOT. “man on third base was ‘one of the brightest mem- of the home team. He was also a splendid base- Te As Knatt stood in the box facing the batsman, n on third base advanced some fifteen feet or so to- the home plate, when a sharp whistle from Kd y near second base caused him to glance quickly over t shoulder. noticed, the baserunner’s position, and quick as a of lightning he wheeled and sent the ball whizzing rd base. The baserunner was evidently startled by enness of it, and he made a dash for the home ead of returning to third. Had Harry muffed he. would have made the run safely, but he caught a re it to the pitcher, who caught it and pressed be back of the baserunner’s neck as he was sliding 3 plate. _ His right hand was within two feet of the as Patten pressed the ball down on him. 5 >ealled the umpire, but the crowd roared~its ap- tion of the baserunner’s pluck and speed, as he had dit only by one brief second. of the backers of the team were disposed to find prise for taking such a desperate chance, while red that the chances were desperate, anyway, the narrow margin by which he lost the run fully ed his judgment in making it. was another man on first base, and the next bats- j him to second by a hot grounder sent to right one following moved him up to third. best batsman, took: up the willow, and after had been ealled on him, Eddi MeCoy sung out iful mascot on the grandstand : u pretty thing, give us some of your es pe ae of his call startled the girl, sew ast crowd turned and gazed at her. ‘They all tood that if the batsman y

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~> | ; a Fis re! Pr ‘it oe ee whi ee t e ay ip lan . ws T= : . , heed cy s * ee $559 wii eps by he “ ; Nee : ” ° a + ITEMS OF FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. —__ eae ITALIAN ARMY SHOES. The C. A. Eaton Company, of Brockton, Mass., has re- ceived a heavy order for shoes from the Italian Govern- ment. While the size of the order was not stated by the firm’s local manager, it is understood to be for 2,000,000 pairs. The contracts have been signed and the firm’s fac- tories at Brockton and Augusta have begun work on the order. The terms of the contract call for the production at the two factories of 15,000 pairs of shoes per day, it being necessary to run the factories night and day. The Eaton Company, with its present day shift at the two factories is now turning out 250,000 pairs of shoes a month, With the new order they will be required to pro- duce 375,000 pairs in the same period. The latest contract to be awarded the Eaton concern is the third received by the firm. Other Brockton shoe manufacturing firms are looking for foreign army orders. The Italian Government purchasing commissions now in this country will probably place additional shoe orders with Brockton manufacturers in the near future. MILLION FOR BALL PLAYER. William Buck Kenworthy, second baseman of the Kan- | ‘sas City Federal League team, has fallen heir to a million dollars from the estate of his uncle, Joshua Kenworthy, ‘late of London, England, who was burned to death in a hotel in Connecticut a year ago while touring this country. ‘This uncle inherited $30,000,000 a number of years ago, and at the time of his death he had increased this fortune to $50,000,000. He had divided the money among rela- y _ tives, both in the United States, England and Ireland.» , Buck Kenworthy’s father and mother and three brothers put in a claim for a share of the estate, and definite word has been received from London that the claim has been allowed. Kenworthy admitted the story. Five million dollars was allotted to his family. He said that the estate would have been settled and the money paid before this had it not been for the war. __ Kenworthy is single and was born at Cambridge, Ohio. He played his first professional ball with East Liverpool, Ohio. Next he went to Zanesville, in the Central League, where he played in 1908-10. In 1911 he went to the Den- ver club, and the Washington American League club picked him up in 1912. When Clark Griffith sent him to Sacramento, in 1913, he jumped to the Kansas City Fed- eral League team. The day he received the word of his good fortune he made a home run. ah QUEER HAPPENINGS. ‘ House of tery: M. vege school ee at Willington, ws, receives err 2 eit wore women’s serene A blue heron pecked out left eye of Lonis Ellenson, — twelve, of Asbury Park, N. J., when he tried to capture it. Mrs. Violet Bimont hid heroin in loaf of bread for hus- band, prisoner in Bronx; caught and arrested. Morris Hisner, seventy-five, No. 151 Norfolk street, fell eight inches; fracturing skull and died. ; George Greego, farmer near Mineola, L. I., refuses Te- quest. for bushel of potatoes from stranger, who shoei @ him, in abdomen. Flealth Inspector Tremallo, Passaic, N. J., empties 1, 500 bottles of soft drinks into sewer, seized from ‘bottling works that violated law. Prize pony of John C. Voight, Morristown. N. J., will | have artificial foot when it exhibits at horse show this fall. ee Some one put shunk in, grand piano—and then forgot — about it—at autumn dance of Free From Care Club, Win- sted, Conn. $ New York City gains 80,000 hours’ work daily, at no : extra cost, by putting into effect winter schedule for em-— : ployees. es Morris Schultz and Joseph Lach held in $2,000 bail, | charged with offering paper for making Gols -bili at $50 a yard. +, ee Tortoise, five feet in diameter, washed ashore on ‘the beach at Freeport, L. I. “T came to clean up New York,” said Antonio Mad seventeen, of Providence, when arrested at =a Line pier. Had revolver, cartridges, flashlight, jimmy % screwdriver. x. Subterranean lake on farm of Johnston Cornish, Harmony Township, N. J., has resulted in his'y ve garden sinking twelve feet. Boy horsethief captured at Winsted, Conn., wears cq boy hat, has rifle strapped to saddle. Seymour, Conn., man gets injunction to odes \mour Manufacturing Company’s plant from operas night. Says it disturbs his sleep. John’S. Whitesell, Allamuchy, N. J., is dragged ter of a mile by runaway horse and hangs on va tires and stops. j Charles Buck, Jr., four, Jamaica, L. I., eats ink in Forest Park ‘and dies. ; District Attorney Cropsey, Brooklyn, finds rats ch up documentary evidence, and indicts them with” traps. mk Ethel L. Lawes, matron of Belknap Home, Fa away, L. I., awakens at dawn to find stranger kiss has him artested: ; William Schember, of Glendale, L. L. _ compat r lice of loafers on near-by corner, and first person: is his own son. Richard T. Cronin and Philip Ahearn, cous' same hospital at Hartford, Conn.; both» from pole vaultin ah Charles Miller, arraigned in dresses at Yo a we

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> CHAPTER III (continued) ‘The grass which adorned the slopes was white and pecu- brittle like glass. Unlike the grasses of the earth, iis Toots were uppermost, and seemed to derive nutriment om the atmosphere. In fact, everything in the moon ed to be exactly opposite to that which exists upon 2 earth. _ The trees had fungus-like roots,, which apparently drew eir life from the air. The. foliage was all next the n’s soil. trary to the general supposition of the earth’s scien- ‘there Was no mountains in the moon. The supposed pee Upon which our voyagers had landed was but the mon level, ‘There were various deep sink holes, some them to enormous depth, and it was upon the verge ne ae these that our voyagers now were. Of course, e all anxious to leave the Moonbeam for an ex- g our, but there was some precautionary steps to be a “What ensued was surprising caghnte , CHAPTER IV. + ee IN THE MOON. pt AAD arhag: se, Prof. Benton was not disposed to risk the all by venturing into the atmosphere of the moon had first determined the fact as to whether it id support human life or not. e got out his instruments and began experiments. ometer evinced its same susceptibility to changes nm ¢ earth. A match burned in the Lunar at- pher = and chemicals responded to experiment | e same as upon earth. of. Benton finally arrived at these very sage con- + idee re the same component elements in the moon’s s that of the earth. Whether there exist oth- t yet determine. ‘Life-giving elements are tiful, however. I ‘think it is safe to breathe lunar air.” el id ‘Dick, oe aa byaling to be the one to try FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. IX WEEKS IN THE MOON aera A TRIP BEYOND THE ZENITH (A SERIAL STORY) Ko ¢ By ED. KING of any such great risk as that. We will proceed by de- grees to test the lunar atmosphere.” With which he opened a slide window on a crack and cautiously applied his nostrils to it. The result-was most gratifying. “Tunar atmosphere is all right,” he cried. the same as that of the earth.” “Hurrah!” cried the boys. All reserve was cast aside. The generators were shut off, and the windows and doors of the shell unsealed. Then all stepped out. If anything, the moon’s air was more stimulating and less depressing than that of the earth. “J believe it is more conducive to longevity,” declared the professor. “In fact, it is an atmosphere well suited to people with pulmonary complaints. I believe they would find a cure here!” “Let us then be the first to establish a health resort in the moon!” cried Dick. “With our system of quick trans- portation hither, it would quite outdo anything on the earth.” “Indeed, it would!” agreed Benton; “all the population of the earth would be found to make the trip. It would be necessary to establish regular lines of rapid-transit shells and poleographs. Is it not wonderful to think of?” All instinctively glanced back at the earth. It was merely a small moon in the blue ether, and, in- ‘deed, seemed at that distance to be oval instead of spher- ical in shape. This was no doubt an optical delusion due to the natural flattening of the poles. Instinctively the travelers thought of their home and their friends in that distant globe. It was a tremendous realization and made them faint and giddy. Would they | ever see them again? | However, they plucked up spirit and banished the mat-— ter from their minds for the time. There were all-engrossing topics immediately befor : them, which now claimed their attention. All else was for- gotten for the time. ; Of course their stay in the moon was as yet so brief that they had heen unable to learn whether it was i habited or not. This question first occurred - - balsa abas at “Tt is about tee vis. “Have yous seen any living thing yet?” ] he asked ; shall we find ners ees baie

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the curious brittle grass. “Hello! What was that? question, Ned!” Something had leaped out of the white grass at the pro- fessor’s feet. It was now upon a single stalk and plainly visible, Its character was that of the grasshopper common to the earth. But its conformation was a trifle different. It was a bright cardinal hue with emerald ey; and wings which were transparent. Its forward Jegs were the longest, and ‘had double the number of joints peculiar to _ the ordinary grasshopper. The grass was full of these in- sects, if such they could be called. There were also curious- - looking flies and bugs and earthworms totally unlike any species known on the earth. oe In truth, the moon was as well stocked insectivorously = as: ‘the earth. For a time our explorers were busily engaged in discov- ering these curious creatures, and the professor even tried to classify them. But as this was threatening to take up - too much time, he abandoned it for the while. “I believe we shall find all types of life in the moon, and in fact more than upon the earth,” declared the professor. “But before we go further let us make all arrangements for a tour of discovery.” - “That is right,” cried Ned; “let us consider what we need for equipments.” _ “Something to eat, for one thing,” cried Dick. “Weapons, for another,” said Ned. “Oh, certainly,” replied the professor; “but, first of all, BEN what shall we do with the Moonbeam? Shall we leave it ~~~. There ?”? “By all means,” said Dick. for it will not travel in any direction ecb upwards. j et leave it here.” “What if some harm should come to it?” asked Ned. “We: would never be able to get back to the earth, then.” _ “T don’t see how harm can come to it if we leave it in a safe position,” said Dick. “We will put out the anchors, shut off the dynamos, close the doors and windows and then I would like to know how it can come to harm!” _ “Only from some inhabitants of the moon who may chance to come upon it,” declared Ned, This was ‘certainly well worth a The ; ex- e plorers exchanged glances. 3 oe me it” 8 ce Dick. He gave a great start ai cried: “We cannot take it with us, We a: hoe: it was not as yet known the quality of the game to be. esareg in the 1 moon r human ption. — filer at ‘the ued Pi a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. * Here is an answer to your |shape, was but dimly visible. t . ae v7 hi eee oe te, & ee Pn a: ss The sun had already risen and the earth, with its oval Tt was not as clear to the — gaze as when the sun was beneath the horizon. Another peculiar thing about the days and nights of the* moon was that the sun pursued an exactly opposite course from that witnessed on the earth. : At high noon the sun was at its highest angle, and in-— stead of being directly overhead was but a few points above _ the horizon. Its course extended along the very verge of the horizon line, until at nightfall, or “after its circuit, it : sank out of sight and darknéss reigned. But the light from the planets made it quite light in — the moon, save when clouds obscured the sky. Then the darkness was of the most intense description. Ree Y All these facts our explorers were soon to learn. They 3 left the Moonbeam and struck a straight line along the” 4 ridge of a mighty depression, and for a forest of gurantee = looking trees, not half a mile distant. ce Just before reaching the forest they passed to their ene . a curious-looking growth of jungle plants. These seemed to have no connection with the spongy soil, and were es sentially an air plant. : But their crystal-white shoots and spears were excomely = dense, and not easily penetrated. The quéstion as to whether bird life existed in the me or not was here quickly answered. From the jungle there-suddenly flew forth i in alat rm strangest looking festhexeak bipeds that any i. our had ever seen. 2 They were of a strange salmon and blue color, wi size were about equal to a crow. But their shape was Ve ly different. Their heads were of abnormal size, and their Ving a attached’to their feet, much like those of the common When they descended to the ground they sim their canopy-like wings and fell. Pyrevious to fiying, would roll over and over for fully a yard, ke a | cotton. “Well, I never!” cried Ned, raising his ite sort of outlandish creatures are those? I have am min give them a shot.” Md “Kill one for a specimen,” cried the professor, who, with all his other accomplishments, was a mist, “Do you: really wait one?” as: ag Ned blazed away into the flock of Pe bina T was @ scattering of feathers, and two Sroppets The ot! flew away with strange cries. The professor hastened to secure his specimen. The noise of the rifle, however, created a trem commotion in the jungle. re There was a deafening series of barestead the air rose an immense number of the ‘strany birds our adventurers had eyer seen. " To describe them in detail would requ pyenes but one among them deserves special Unlike the others, it did not rise. nPost oe: wih =z

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Passenger trains on the Mahoning division of the Erie road have been equipped with a device which records the speed over the entire distance traveled. If at the end 9f the run the device shows that the speed has exceeded that prescribed by the rules the enginemen are suspended. pains are permitted to travel sixty miles an hour, but engineer has a margin of six miles above that speed. > r 4 One of the factories that runs at the State penal farm, astle, Ind., six days in the week is the one that s out the chewing tobacco for the 700 inmates. The soners receive chewing tobacco, but no smoking. In er to minimize the cost of the great quantities of “chew- used, the trustees put in a tobacco press and the raw erial is bought and the licorice and other ingredients put in the mixture, and it is all pressed on the farm. e inmates say the home-made “chewing” is as good as made in the large factories. > the Chinese Government tried the experiment ting the building of nine gunboats to a Chinese , the Yangtse Engineering Works, Limited, at kow. Three boats have been completed, and they have uuched. The remaining are under construction. are stated to be about 100 feet in length, are in- for river use, and, while smaller, are like some of er boats employed by foreign Governments. a) ed States Lighthouse Service has retently de- m of printed postcard for the use of mariners rting unsatisfactory condition of aids to naviga- hich, it is believed, will be useful in obtaining information as to defects in aids. The card is n such form that it is simply necessary to insert of the vessel reporting, with name of aid to navi- nd date and time when observed, together with le additional remarks, and forward to the light- tor concerned. This arrangement will be in the fitth lighthouse district, with head- timore, Md., and if found satisfactory, its ded to other districts. cipal picnic in the United States was ati, Ohio, the other day. It was an event nd children. The streets of the city were 1ough 360,000 persons attended four exercises were held, not a single aeci- ne ee * reserve reservoirs, which has been undergoing s floor, Nearly “ani ‘turned into a hv ge dancing sons were dancing when the bugle sounded, : se vigil Finn ta Cai 5 tte ation. One of the most inspiring’ y's attracti s was a dance in Eden Park. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. TIMELY ‘TOPICS lover writes villages where the horses ha 25 of Thomas Maxwell, now serving his forty-fourth year for a murder committed in Marinette County, Wis., in 1872. He was convicted of murdering Walter Foster in an alter- cation over a woman and given a life sentence, and for many years has been a trusty in Waupun. He is now nearing the age of ninety. It is reported relatives have died in England and have left him a large fortune. © His parole will be asked. Two small alligators, each about three feet long, but nearly twenty-five years old, are causing the city water department of Anderson, Ind., some concern because of their meat bill, although the cost has averaged not more than $20 a year. The last bill just presented for meat was $15 and because that bill was for only one feed, City Clerk Collins and City Comptroller Richter were aston- ished. It was explained, however, that the alligators had fasted since October last. It is regarded doubtful whether the alligators will again manifest hunger until next spring, but the records show that perfectly good meat for the two alligators has cost the city about $400. William Bernshouse, who is known as “the grand old man of Hammonton, N. J.,” attributes his almost perfect health to the fact that he is an enthusiastic pedestrian and that he never has indulged in intoxicating liquor. He set- tled in Hammonton in the forties, at a time when there’ were less than a dozen houses in what now is the second largest municipality in Atlantic County. Although in his eighty-second year, Bernshouse averages from fifty to sixty miles of walking each week. About a year ago he was one of a party of surveyors who inspected and appraised the damage done to a timber tract where more than 4,000. acres were burned over by fire, supposedly caused by sparks. from a locomotive. _ Last autumn the storks left Russia and Galicia earlier than usual; they were noticed in flocks of thirty to a hun- dred on their way through Austria, where they alighted on the roofs and chimneys of the houses to rest before me continuing their journey south. Other birds of passage have deserted their old routes of flight and have chosen new air-roads along less disturbed regions. Both going and returning, these birds were observed in places where they were never seen before and were missed in the locali- ties where battles were raging. In Luxemburg, where ofhie >: erwise millions of birds congregate in the leafy.foresti there are now scarcely any to be seen or heard. _ pepsi: stance how the birds have deserted Luxemburg, a nature that “whole oat fields have sprung up alon, the roads and in the market squares a

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onl 54) ° a Livy SiS - “T am not a vagrant, your honor,” FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, OCTOBER 8, 1915. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS HOw TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. 0. Money Order, Check or ee Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. t Postage mps the same as cash. When sending silver Ai sane Coin core a mb bg gow tt plece of paper to ohn rth ties the envelope. Write your name address plainly. Address Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 23d St., N. Y. Hanny E, Wourr, President t . N, Hastixes Worrr, ‘Treasurer Cusacus E. NYLaxbex, Secretary GOOD CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES - A vessel with 200 Detroit liquor dealers as passengers was recently refused permission to land at Goderich, On- _ tario, because many of those on board were of German birth or extraction, and the local Canadian authorities were of the opinion it was a “German invasion.” Rk 75 bitheictroncasi ' Declaring his white hair a deceptive ruse of the years, - Hugh Cooper, tinety-three, begged Acting Judge Charles Clark of the North Side Municipal Court, Kansas City, to give him a chance to “come back.” Cooper has been at the Jackson County Poor Farm, Kansas, for: five years. Cooper said. “TI left the farm beeause I hate to depend on charity for my live- lihood. I left because I know I can come back.” “Go and _ try it, and good luck to you,” said the judge. Tactics borrowed from the trench warfare’ in Europe ae enabled three robbers to loot the Farmers’ State Bank, : Jefferson, Okla. . into a hardware store and stole several coils of barbed Before entering the bank the men broke wire with which they erected entanglements about the _ bank. Four charges of explosives were used to wreck the safe. The first explosion aroused. the townspeople, but be- _ fore the citizens could devise a way of overcoming the “Wie barrier, the robbers had taken $2,000 and escaped in a motor car. Posses followed them as far as Hunniwell, Bin me hong emg lost the trail. the American merchant marine has been building up rapidly since the outbreak of the present great war in Eu- Be “The flag of the United States now flies on more essels than at any time since 1863. Edwin F. Sweet, : of Commerce, made public on Aug. 30 iy fone for the fiscal year ended June 30, showing that on that date there were 2,768 ships, with a gross tonnage of 1,813.775, under American register in the foreign trade. of 363 ships, with a gross tonnage of bu Sweet regards the increase as ; laws . aT 37 Pal ;do you manage to work it all off? _| for the company for twelve years now. i-| Car ope r dunno. — taken sick, ar thousand years old. The growth of these dragon trees is very slow and they throw out no branches until they have blossomed, which seldom takes place before their fifteenth year and sometimes not until their thirtieth. The oldest dragon tree known in the island was that at Orotava, which was at, least 6,000 years old—some botanists Say 10,000. It was about sixty feet high, with a trunk forty- eight feet in circumference at the base. The ancient in- habitants of the island, the Guanonos, performed their re- ligious rites in its hollow trunk. In 1867 the upper part of the tree was broken off during a storm, and though — every effort was made to preserve the remainder it gradu- — ally decayed and there is now no trace of it left. The sap — of the tree, a resinous substance like dark treacle, is called dragon’s blood. Ii becomes brittle and crumbling when dry and is an article of commerce used in’ medicine. There are other kinds of dragon trees in different parts of the world, but this particular species is peculiar to the Canary and Cape Verde islands. : a ee rss GRINS AND CHUCKLES ign “Oh, John, dear, don’t you hear?” said Mrs. Kidby. “How ‘delightfully the baby crows!” “Crows? Humph!”? — said Kidby, “I’d crow myself if I were boss of the house.’ | ; 4 4 Pastor—It would surprise you to know how much coun- — terfeit money we receive in the contribution boxes in. ‘the course of a year. “Thoughtless Friend—I suppose so. * Little Ned—Don’t take away the light. Ae want you to learn to sleep without a light. Li poe Must I sleep in the dark? Mamma—Yes. Little Well, then, wait a minute. I guess I’ll get up and = my prayers a little more carefully. A. abel ge Edward—Isn’t Dick going off in his witings Forrest —1 hadn’t noticed it. Edward—It seems to me h lost that exquisite delicacy of touch he used to have: rest (ruefully)—By Jove! You wouldn’t think 80 ii had seen him work me for a ten this gai 4 4 we A Sri applied for help to a eam gave her a note to the manager of a certain club. as follows: “Dear Mr. X.—This woman wants wa Very shortly the answer came back: “Dear Sir—I say she does, but I don’t fancy the job.” ~3 yi “Witness,” said a lawyer in the police court the day, “you speak of Mr. Smith being well off. Is $5,000?” “No, sah.” “Two thousand?” “No, hain’t worf twenty-five cents.” “Then how is he 1 “Got a wife, sah, who s’ports de hull fam’ly, sab.” ; Car Driver—Me and that off Borsa has- so? The company must think a great deal Last w

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FAME AND FORTUNE . WEEKLY. 27 THE MIDNIGHT SPECTER. By Horace Appleton _ ‘Iam a young clergyman. T shall call myself Howard Dane. ' What I am about to relate actually happened to me; at Teast, my senses tell me that it did. I was not asleep and dreaming. Of course, it is possible that I was mad; but that I should have been mad for just two hours and with no- body’s knowledge I cannot believe. Tam, however, so suspicious of myself whenever I think ‘upon the facts that I have never told them to my nearest _ I narrate them now under an assumed name, and feel- ing positive that they will come to the ears of no one who _ ean possibly connect me with them, hoping in this way to ” be rid of a sort of nightmare that has haunted me for jore than two years. t that time, having a summer vacation, { resolved to nd it in visiting certain picturesque places of which I heard much, and ‘of which I had never yet looked And, first of all, to go to a place which I shall call udise Springs, though I must not allow you to think T have given it its proper designation. lt was a sort of quiet watering-place, and there was a = hotel near the springs, but I did not purpose stop- there _ I intended to seek some more secluded lodging-place, are I could dress as I chose, and really recruit my entered the postoffice and inquired of the postmaster ther he knew of some quiet family who might be will- to take a boarder. t the same time I informed him of my name and my he postmaster, a good-natured sort of man, rubbing his lin for a while, said, slowly: , “Well, sir, I don’t know many that haven’t their houses ft ll at this season of the year. There’s one woman, to be ‘Sure, a decent widow, who has plenty of room, and would mg enough to do for you; but the question is, You'd like it? Perhaps, though, being a clergy- , you'll laugh at me when | tell you why; but, to be with you, the place is said to be haunted. Old Gan- ley, who owns it, hasn’t been able to let it for ten years; ‘and when Mrs. Ridge, poor soul, had a mortgage fore- slosed on her farm and was turned out of the old home- : d, neck and crop, as one might say, why, old Ganley just to her and_says: ‘Now, Mrs. , Ridge, if you Choose to try my house rent free,.you can. You can have r ‘year for nothing, if you can live there that long. And that we'll talk it over.” And Mrs. Ridge, poor thing, ‘Why, Mr. Ganley, I will, and thank you, too; you more, I'll scour the ghost out of the house - Ghosts, in my opinion, Mr. Ganley, are mostly apo says that, » wie ow went over to the house, and she has kept | without the paling. — BoP BOOS rE re) enough, and sees queer things, too, she’s not afraid of ’em; but this summer she’s tried to take boarders, and she’s had half a dozen come and go. They stay one night; never any more. One of ’em had a fit and one a fever from what they saw, or thought they saw; ard so, though | the widow would like boarders, and is as tidy a house- keeper and as good a cook as any woman living, her rooms are empty. It would be a charity if you could try ’em— and ‘if Satan is in that house, as some folks say, perhaps you could send him flying, being a clergyman.” “T will take Mrs. Ridge’s address, if you will give it to me,” said I. “At least I am not afraid of ghosts. If the house does not appear to be unhealthy I will brave what- ever haunts it for a while.” Then, having been told to go straight on until I reached the churck, and then turn to the left past the church- yard, and walk until I came to a red house on a hill, I thanked the postmaster and started on my way. “It was late in the day; the shadows already lay long beneath the irees that were set upon either side of the road. At last I reached the house and opened the gate. A woman instantly appeared on the threshold. She was a tall, lean, worried-looking person of middle age, but she had a kind face, and, when I had explained my business, she smiled pleasantly, and answered: “Well, now, it was kind of the postmaster to send you, and, since you know the ghost story, why, there’s no need of my talking about it. I’ve always had a fancy that if I had more education I could find out all about it. Ghosts I never believed in, and this ain’t a damp house built over a marsh. Its cellar is as dry as a chip, and the founda- tions are all right. A builder came up here one day to examine ’em, and he said so; but I think—I think——” said Mrs. Ridge, rubbing her hands, “that it’s something— scientific—very likely, that causes all these things; and when I hear a groan or so, and see something white I can’t account for going upstairs, I say that to myself, and it quiets me down.” T bowed. Oddly as she expressed herself, I knew very well what poor Mrs. Ridge meant. . Natural and not supernatural causes had frightened away her boarders, and proper investigation might reveal the secret. — Perhaps such investigation might be amusing. Meanwhile Mrs. Ridge lived rent free, and the ghost might be regarded as her benefactor. ; I took possession of my room at once, choosing the oue that was pre-eminently the haunted chamber. Then, while my hostess was preparing tea, I wandered out, end without premeditation turned my steps toward the church—an old, moss-grown edifice—and leaning over the railing looked at the quiet graves that now lay in heavy shadow. I did not care to go in, or to read the epitaphs that doubtless gave, as they usually do, unmerited meed of praise to those who, while living, never had their due; but, turning away, I glanced down at my feet and saw that I had nearly trodden on a little exiled Lng was ret 5 te ne ae

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os Never in my experience had I seen a grave in such a position. The grass grew thick upon it, wild roses neatly covered it, and, stooping low, I read upon the rough, gray stone at its head this one word—Jane. Nothing else. No age, no date, no praise. ‘ Jane—and no more. S And who was Jane? I asked myself. . Some one too humble to-lie amidst her betters in the graveyard. there. Somehow I breathed a sigh for re as I turned away ‘from her resting-place. -. The sun was quite gone now. Twilight lay gray upon the scene; only a silver line _ kissed the purple tops of the distant hills. As I walked on I remember now that several times I feaanea I heard a light step following me, but turning I _ ‘saw no one. We had our tea in the kitchen, at a tiny table covered with a snowy cloth. Fe It was a good and comfortable meal. >. Soon after, weary with my journey, I asked for a candle, BE and bade my hostess good night. In ten minutes I was sound asleep. It was midnight when I awakened, with a strange sen- _ sation creeping through my veins—a thrill rather than a ~ chill. , _ I did not feel ill, but I confess I did feel frightened. ‘The room was almost perfectly dark, but through the darkness I saw a white shape pass and repass the foot of ‘6 t No scrap of verses. my bed. a «It was slight and low, but after a little I saw it more iy plainly. It bore the likeness of a human form, and it carried “something in its arms. “Am I dreaming?” I asked myself. No, I was certainly wide awake. ‘My impulse was an ignoble one, I will confess it. It was to cover my head with the quilts, “You shall not do it,” I said to myself. “You shall ook and know what it is that you have looked upon if ch knowledge may be had. It may be that it is vouch- ‘safed you to see what mortals call a ghost. It will not , again. Make the most of so fine an isin ad tely I sat up in bed, ; ght came to me. - e widow Ridge might. well tira to live rent free for n der. of her life. worth her while to ads Ne ‘role of ap- = w the figure plainly. m5 of a ela a rate of a Jeune and FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. -|grave without the churchyard paling—the grave on As I touched it I knew that it was my own prayer-book, — open at a certain place. : It was open at the burial service. “You are not well this morning, sir,” said my indie at the breakfast-table. “Quite well now,” I answered. I had resolved to keep 2 my own counsel. Ry That night, after long rambles in the woods and pleas- ant idleness “ander the orchard trees, I retired to be haunted chamber once again. ,: I threw myself outside of the counterpane, fully bie aac but slumber overcame me. Again I awoke, this time to see a figure, fully Pee: as by clear moonlight, very close to me—a girl in her : shroud, with a babe in her arms. She had taken my prayer-book from the i and held it toward me. ai Again it was open atthe burial service. ¢ This time I took it from her boldly. RG “What do you want?) Why do you come here? | do you show me this?” I asked. And then came an answer, a strange, faint, ao whisper. “T want you to bury me!” “To bury you?” I repeated. ‘Who are you? P agi Fainter and fainter still came the voice, oa am and the figure vanished. — ia And now there arose before me a memory of the headstone that little name was written. p Led by an impulse I could not resist, Ie still k the prayer-book open in my hand, left my room going downstairs, unbarred the hall-door and found self in the open air; bareheaded I walked through the light to the graveyard; oe. "T heard gentle footsteps eerie an the way ut I did not turn to see who followed. i 33 At last I stood. beside the exiled grave—and, s : ing the impulse that moved me against my judge reac aloud the burial service. ; t its close I heard a faint sigh, ‘but’ © aw “noi When some weeks had passed thus Y mee my hostess a few questions, “Who was the ghost who haunted this house ?” “and why was he said to haunt it? Ts there” a! concerning him?” y “It was said to be a young woman’s ghost,” Ridge, a faint blush rising to her cheek. were very strict. Her husband, that she’d cretly, ran off, and she couldn’t prove her ma thing! and they would not let her lie within yard ground. Her old grandfather buried he babe just outside the paling. You can see the! there with her name—‘Jane’—upon it. The m would not bury her lived here’ when ‘the. about. It used to be the parsonage. ree ag returned home at the end of my re of eas aa gee ?

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. _ According to statistics published by the Pan-American ' Union, there were on January Ist, 1914, 232,816 tele- “phones in Latin-America, as compared with 9,542,000 in _ the United States. Argentina stood first among the Latin- _ American countries, with 74,296, but Uruguay led in the proportion of telephones to population, with 1.05 per 100. __A neatly dressed, smooth-shaven man, about 60 years old, ‘wearing spectacles, crossed the New York Central tracks between Hastings-on-Hudson and Dobbs Ferry the 0 afternoon. Slowly he undressed on the river bank and put on a bathing suit. From a pocket he drew a quart “bottle of whisky and when he put it down it was empty. Then he waded out and fell face downward in the water. Yohn Ryan dnd James Higgins, small boys in a rowboat, ed the man by his bathing suit, while the other rowed, 1 thus they towed him to shore. ert E. Peary, who was retired by act of Congress he rank of Rear Admiral in recognition of his dis- ery of the North Pole in 1909, has offered his services 3} the Navy Department for any duty he may be called m to perform. It was learned recently that he had ten to Seeretary Daniels, offering to take the necessary examination and perform any services which t be required of him in the development of the pro- mme for national defense and military and naval pre- NESS. ‘ ; ¥ ciel ' * , cost Herbert Holman, a young automobilist, who said ie lived in a small town in Pennsylvania, $25 the other to gain a ge mada as to the area of the “Vil- Brooklyn.” In the Flatbush Court, the young Was charged-with overspeeding his motor on the 1 Parkway. “Why, judge,” he said, evidently puzzled the complaint, “I was away outside the village limits ‘ime I put on speed.” “Well, my young friend,” he court, “you are now to learn that Brooklyn age and the tuition fee will be $25.” The ist from the Keystone State paid the fine away to buy a map of New York City. 01 he American golden plover arrives in ine in the bleak, wind-swept “barren grounds” of above the Arctic circle and far beyund the tree , while the lakes are still icebound, hurriedly “a shabby little nest were willing to pay high prices for the best furs and | they now require furs having the same artistic effect, at a very moderate price. Black furs will be rand in Buropo and elsewhere because of the couver has pointed out that when times were good oe rs “but NEWS OF THE DAY Dislike of the publicity that attended the efforts of physicians to stop the hiecoughing of Cortland Brooks, of Greenport, L. I., ten months ago, caused his relatives to keep secret the fact that the affliction had finally caused his death. Mr. Brooks became seriously ill almost a year ago, and began to hiceongh. Greenport physicians tried in vain to halt the convulsions, and tken called in special- ists. Their efforts were also unavailing, and Brooks was finally taken to the Brooklyn Hospital last Thanksgiving Day and placed in a’plaster.cast, but he continued tovhic- cough, even when asleep. ‘The surgeons decided that he had tuberculosis of the spine, and that the diseased bones were pressing on certain nerves, causing the convulsions. The case was pronounced unique, although tuberculosis of the spine is not uncommon. The inferiority of the German aeroplane was made apparent in the early days of the war, as they were wholly unable to cope with either the French or the English ma- chines in speed or in climbing abilities, and, as a result, the Taube flyers have been seen but seldom this year, and when they appeared they were careful not to venture near the firing lines. Now, however, it is stated that a new type of machine has appeared that is fully equal to any- thing the Allies possess. Little is known of the nature of the improvements in these new machines, but from their observed evolutions, it is quite evident that they are pro- vided with engines of a power and reliability not here- tofore possessed by the Germans, and those who have seen them have been much impressed with their speed and climbing abilities. ‘ With an almost complete absence of demand from Eu- rope, which is the chief market for furs, from the costly black fox and glossy beaver to the humble skunk and musk- rat. combined with a material decline in the values of the higher priced pelts, the lot of the fur dealer or trapper in the Canadian Northwest is not a highly remunerative one at present. The supply is very good, according to re- ports from the North, which fact may tend to fottce prices . still lower. One business house which has been doing-con- siderable trade with Northern trappers and fur dealers re- ; ports that many of the well-known fur traders in Northern . British Columbia and the Yukon are unable to pay their pills, because they have been unable to obtain anything. like reasonable prices for their furs. It is anticipated, however, that there will be a demand for moderate-priced furs in the near future. A prominent dealer. int Vase 4 ~ Other (ur; . % will be ay oe Byer

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ay BARK ENDS WHALING CAREER. Pa The old whaling bark Morning Star was sold. recently to.the Eastern Coal Company of Providence, R. L., to earry coal from Southern ports after being in the whaling trade since 1853. when she was built at Dartmouth, Mass., by Matthew Mashow & Co. She is 238 tons burden. The Morning Star sailed on her first voyage from New Bedford Nov. 10, 1853, under command of Captain Wm. Cleveland, and returned May 18, 1857, with 1,503 barrels of sperm oil. She came back from her last voyage on Sept. 17, 1914, under command of Captain Valentine Roza with 3,085 barrels of sperm oil after being away two years. During her sixty-two years of blubber hunting the Morn- ing Star has been in every ocean, and is one of the last of the old wooden fleet of sailing whalers which filled the harbor of New Bedford fifty years ago. Se $3,000 SEWED IN SKIRT. a Mrs. Emma Shute, of Somerville, Ohio, fifty-six years old, expensively dressed and of evident refinement, who we was found wandering aimlessly about the steamship piers at Twenty-third street and the Hudson River, is New York City, is in Bellevue Hospital. When she arrived the hems of her garments began to break with their weight of wealth and out rolled $1,500 in gold coin and jewelry worth at least $1,500. In an undergarment she had sewed two bank books, showing cash deposits of $10,000 in the Ger- 2 man National Bank of Cincinnati and $16,000 in the Bank of Cincinnati. She was unable to say how she came to be in this city or where she was stopping. The bank books revealed her identity and the fact that her husband, Henry Shute, is a resident of Somerville, Ohio. Policemen had seen Mrs. Shute wandering about the piers and asking senseless questions. From each pier she was turned away, the employees not having time to talk with her. She was-in an exceptionally dangerous part of e city. Across West street are many sailors’ drinking- . houses and there is a rough element in the side streets. 1 ae gt int: ihe jae there,” gaid Dr. Gregory at Bellevue. “She easily could have been robbed of everything she’ had and perhaps her body would have been dropped into the river.” MEN AVAILABLE FOR WAR DUTY IN NEW YORK. _ There are 2,500,000 men in New York State between the ages of 18 and 45, and, therefore, available for war duty, - Secretary of State Hugo announced recently in one of his FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. > INTERESTING ARTICLES “Tt was fortunate that she did not lose consciousness: ers and 6,800 erilisted men at the 60 officers and 1,300 men in New and 16,080 men ides th _ The June enumeration shows, he says, that there were ae show little change in the strength of the National Guard — in fifty years. At present it stands: Officers, 1,009; en- listed men, 16,080; total, 17,069. In 185% it was: Offi- cers, 1,827; enlisted men, 14,608; total, 16,434. Taare The possible strength of the division under the present Federal regulations is: Officers, 743; enlisted men, 21,- ec 930; total, 22,673. occ To give more men at least the rudiments of a military — training, Lieut.-Col. E. V. Howard, of the Adjutant Gen- eral’s office, favors what he terms a “mild conscription.” _ Every young man on reaching the age of eighteen years sf would he called to serve under the colors for three years, — during which time he would give thirty days of active _ service each year. A call to arms would find then thou- — sands of men better fitted to serve their country, = THE BAKER’S THERMOMETER. | “Bakers have a curious way of telling just wha temperature of the oven is,” said a baker who had bee the business for more than.a quarter of a century, they can: tell, too, with almost marvelous accuracy. — take a man who is an expert in the business, and he tell what the temperature of the oven is by simply t ing the handle of the oven door. In nine cases out of ten — he will not miss it to the fraction of a degree. ae “Bakers have other ways, of course, of testing the of the oven. For instance, when baking bread they ; times throw a piece of white paper into the oven, @ it turns brown the oven is at the proper temperatum when baking other things they will throw a little cornm flour into the oven in order to test the heat, But baker’s fingers are the best gauge, and when you come 1 think of the different temperatures required in ba ferent things, it is no small achievement to even appra mate the heat of the oven by touching the handle o ‘oven door. . ae ae “Baker’s figure that during the rising time of. bread, after it has been placed in the oven, it ong in’ a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Durin baking process, in order to cook the starch, expand bonic acid gas, air and steam and drive off the alcoh inside of the loaf must register at least 220 deg baking rolls, buns, scones, tea biscuits, drop cakes, New York cakes, muffins, puff cakes and thing: that sort the oven must show a heat of 450 degree higher. a “When the oven is at 400 degrees it is fit for ¢ sugar cakes, queen cakes, rock cakes, jumbles, rough-and-ready and jelly rolls. At 350 deg cakes, cup cakes, ginger nuts and snaps, pies , gins spice cakes, such as raisin, currant, citron, pou ond po may be baked. It requires a sti perature 8, kisses, things i > Z, Cat yt a. ;

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THE BURNING CIGARETTE. - The greatest trick joke out. A perfect ‘Zl imitation of a smoul- dering cigarette with bright red fire. It fools the wisest. Send 10c. and we will wnail it, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. IMITATION GOLD TEETZ, i tg Gold pfated tooth, shape made so that it will ft ny tooth. Price, 5c., postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. —— 2 GOOD LUCK PUZZLE. It consists of three horse- shoes fastened Only a very clever person ean take off the closed horseshoe from the two Inked horseshoes. But it can be done in a moment when the secret is Price, by mail, 10c. each. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. ——— SEE-SAW PUZZLE. The most absorb- m ing puzzle seen for years. The kind if you sit up half the night to do. The ; z ane is to get balls, one in eac ocket. oom Price, 10c.; 3 for Bsc. by mall, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. Y. MARBLE VASE. A clever and puzzling, effect, easy to do; the apparatiis can be minutely examined. Effect: A Marble can be made to pass from the hand into the closed ;? poor aon a Sage ag pele +e P, w own empty. his 1s @ beautiful enameled turned wood vase. i Price. 20c. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. DELUSION TRICK. ™ A magic littie box in three ts that is very mystify- ing to those not in the trick, A coin placed on a piece of paper roa ag by dropping a nickel ring around it from the magic box. Made of hard _ wood two inches in diameter. Price, 12c, v5 F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. THE MAGIC NAIL, A common nail is given for examination, and then in- - startly shown pierced through 4 the finger; and yet, when taken out, the finger is found to be perfectly uninjured, and the nail is again given to be examined. Nicely finished. wa Price, 10c. by mail, postpaid. c BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. JAPANESE TRICK KNIFE. You can show the knife and instantly draw it across your finger, apparently cutting deep intoythe flesh. The red blood appears on the blade of the knife, giving a startling effect to the spectators: The knife is removed and the finger is in good condition. uite an effective on. Price 10c. each by mail. __ FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y. RAVELLING JOKE. Yards upop yards cf laughs, Don't miss jt! Everyone falls for this one. It consists of a nice lit- tle bobbin around which is wound a spool Of thread. You pin the bobbin under the lapel of your coat, and pull the end of the thread through your button hole, then Watch your friends try to pick the Piece of thread off your coat. p said! Ge: cue! Price, 12¢, eath, by Postage stamps taken same as money. F NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th 8t., N. ¥. GIANT SAW PUZZLE. This puzzle contains twenty-one pieces of wood nicely finished; take them apart and Put them together Same ag illustrated. Everybody Would like to try it, as it is very fascinating. Price, by mail, postpaid, 25c _BEBR, 150 W. 624 St. New York City, a ius together. | HOW TOE, ror HYPRETIEAA Loy 1 SharsStories 8 Love Making 9 Secrets of the Harem 18 Gay Lite i 6 Mormonism Exposed 6 Guide to Happy Marriage 8 How to Get Rich 10 Fortune Telling 11 Detective Stories 13 Guide to Etiquette GLASS PEN.—Patent glass pen, with nice | dip, 1 ear wooden box, Price, 10c., postpaid, , WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th BSt., N. ¥. NAME CARDS The newest fad in picture postals. They are beautifully lithographed in a variety of colors and have various names, such as Harry, Edith, ete. printed on the reverse side. Just the thing to mail to your friends. Price 6 for 10 cents, by mail, postpaid. H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn. NV. ¥. ' | TRICK CUP. Made of natural white wood turned, with two compartments; a round, black ball fits on those compartments; the other is a stationary ball. By aj} a> Nttle practice you. make : ’ the black ball vanish; a great trick novelty and immense seller. Price, 10c., postpaid, H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre S8t., B’klyn, N. Y. SURPRISE PERFUME BOTTLE. Those in the. joke may freely smell the perfume in the bottle, but the uninitiated, on removing the cork will receive the contents in his hands, This is a simple me elie gros rice, . each by mail, post- paid; 3 for 25e, H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, S. I, DEAD SHOT SQUIRT PISTOL. If you shoot a man 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 best thing to do then is to pocket your gun and run. little joker, which looks like a real revolver, trigger, cock, chambers, barrel and all. Price only 7e.; 4 for 25¢.; one dozen 60c. by mail postpaid. H, F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. Four cards are held in the form of a fan and a spectator is requested ic mentally select one of the four. The cards are now shuffled and one is openly taken away and placed in The performer remarks that he the card mentally selected by the j his pocket. has penen: | ator. Sand. the selected card ic found to be missing. Reaching in his pocket the erformer removes and exhibits the chosen card. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th 8t., N. ¥. Ayvad'’s Water-Wings Price 26 cents, Postpata take up no more room thane Theve water-wi pocket-haakerchief, They 7: ® ounces and sup- Witk & pairaryone can en oe ee one es See you have oniy to wet them. blow them up, Wogether wr (Moe necks under the mowhieen H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., Biklyn, N. ¥. j - 4 ‘ 19 Secrets for Women 81 Get a Gov't Job 20 Conundrums 21 White Slave Girls $5 Spiritualism Ex’pd 51 Secrets for Married Address all orders to L. A. SUN Co., writes like any ordinary pen; each put | There are “loads of fun” in this wicked | The three cards are now displayed | Price, 15e. | BOOKS ONE CENT EACH 3 pas ta le i BkiWg Tre gil | a= Ni] Great Bargain. We will send ANY TEN BOOKS for 10 cents Post A ® Sa cty sg ‘| : | Py» Paid, or ALL 30 BOOKS for 25 cents Post Paid. Order by number. va i ry) i | + 14 Miller's Joke Book 22 Counterfeit Money 26 Startling Information * gt Wat ied RP Da 16 Parlor Tricks 28 Eclipse Song Book 48 Rovelations of Artist's ¢ 17 Unique Sto 28 How to Hypnotize 52 Witty S ayings (Model) 53 How to wae Love Letters 58 American War Stories 60 Doctor's Private Book Book a Faris 80 Funny Stories 84 Special Secrets TRICK MATCHES. Consist of a Swedish safety box, filed with matches, which will not light. Just the thing to cure the match borrowing habit. Price, 65e., Harrison, Mich, REMEDY sent to you on FREETRIAL - If it cures, send $1.00; if not. don’t. Give expressoffice. Write today. W.K. Bterline, 837 Ohio Ave., Siducy- Obie, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. LINK THE LINK PUZZLE. The sensation of the day. Pronounced by all, the mest baffling and scientific novelty out. Thousands have worked | at it for hours without mas- | tering it, still it cam be done in two seconds | by giving the links the proper twist, but un- less you know how, the harder you twist thent the tighter they grow. Price, 6c.; 3 for 15e.§ | one dozen, 50c., by mail, postpaid. | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. X | POCKET SAVINGS BANK. ! | A perfect little bank, handsomely nickel plated. Holds just five dol- lars (50 dimes). It cannot be opened until the bank ifs full, when it can be readily emptied and re- locked, ready to be again refilled. Every parent should see that their children have « small savings bank, as the early habit of saving their dimes is of the greatest importance. Habits formed in‘early life are sel- dom forgotten in later years. Price of this little bank, 10c.; 3 for 25c., mailed postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y, SURPRISE MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE. It consists of a small nickeled metal tube, 4% Inches long, with a lens eye-view, which shows @ pretty ballet girl or any other scene. Hand it to a friend who will be delighted with the first Picture, tell him to turn the Screw on the side of the instru- ment, to change the views, when a stream of water squirts in his face, much to his surprise. The instrument can be refilled with water in an instant, and one filling will suffice for four or five victims. | Price, 30c. each by mail, postpaid; 4 for $1.00, | #. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. ——= SURPRISE KINEMATOGRAPH. The greatest hit of the seasen! It censists ef a small metal, nickeled tube, with a lens eye view, which shows a pretty bal- let girl in tights. Hand it to a friend, who witl be delighted with the first pic- ture; tell him te turn the screw in center of instru- | ment to change the views, when a stream of water squirts into his face, much to his dis- gust. Anyene who has not seen this kinema- | tograph in operation is sure to be caught every time. The instrument can be refilled with water in an instant, ready for the next customer. Price 25c. by mail, pestpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY C@., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥. EGGS OF PWARAOH’S SERPENTS. 4s wonderful and startling novelty! ‘Pharaoh's Serpents” are duced from a small egg, no lafger 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 egs. Each serpent assumes a different eae positfon. One will appear to be : gliding over the ground, with head erect, as though spying danger; another will coll itself up, as if pre- paring for the fatal spring upon its victim. while another will stretch out lazily, appar- ently enjoying its usua] noonday nap. - mediately after the egg stops burning, the gerpent ane nee sone death i = t as an amusing cur ‘y- ey are put wu wooden boxes, twelve e. in a box. Price, 8e., 3 boxes for 20c.; 1 for 60c., postpaid. t |WOLEF NOVELTY “0.. 2 W, 26th St. BX 4

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SUMPING CARD.—A | pretty little trick, easy to perform. Effect: A select- | ed card returned to the/| deck jumps high Into the! air at the performer’s com- | mand. Pack is held in ene hand. Price of apparatus, with enough cards to per- ferm the trick, 10c. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. | DICE WATCHES novelties, | One of our best About the size of a watch, with a nickel case. A glass face encloses several ivory | dice. On the rim of the case} is asp By pressing it the | dice a pun and” scattered. The st intensely interesting with it. For- farmes can It can be carried in the merly sold for $1.00. Price, 30c. each, by mail. postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. TANGO Tor A brand new novelty. More fun than a circus. You Spin the post with your fingers, and the snake tan- goes all around the top of the circular metal box, with- out falling off, aithough it ts not fastened in any way. When the post stops spin- ning, the snake drops from the lid. What is the secret of its great attraction to the post? Ihe marvel of the ace. Price, 1Ge. ench, by mail, C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York STPING PUZZLE this puzzle is a wone der. It. consists of two pieces of wood. A _ hole is bored through the up- | per end of both. A red be. 1 vest layed pocket. postpaid. City. ' string passes through} the holes. Take a knife, insert it ‘between the wooden blocks and cut upwards. You Separate the pleces of wood, and the string is ap- | parently cut in two. Close the blocks to- gether, seize an end of the string, and you can pull the entire cord through the holes, absolutely—not cut. Very mystifying, Price, 12c. each, by mall, postpaid, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. THE FIGHTING ROOSTERS. A full blooded pair of fighting game _ cocks. These liliputian fighters have real feathers, yellow legs and flery red combs, their movements when ural and lifelike, and the secret of their movements is known only to the operator, who can cause them to battle with each other as often and as long as desired. Independent of their fighting proclivities -they make very pretty fighting are perfertly nat- | there js ! mantel ornaments. Price for the pair in a strong box, 10c.; 3 pairs for 25¢. by mail, | postpaid. WOLFE NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, INITIAL WATCH FOB. It has a neat enameled black strap, and Small secure buckle, that no watch can slip oif. tortoise shell pendants are gfraved with any initial you desire. The handsome beautifully en- The letter is fire gilt, cannot rub off, and is stucé@ed with | Tnese fobs are the nine Barrios diamonds. Price, 25¢c. each, biggest value ever offered. by mail, postpaid. by mail. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y. THE DISAPPEARING CIGAR. A new and startling ae trick. You ask a friend if he will have a cigar; if he says yes (which is usually the case), you take from your pocket or cigar case, an ordinary cigar, and hand it to him. As he reaches out for it, the cigar instantly disappears right before his eyes, much to his astonishment. You can apolo- gize, saying, you are very sorry, but that it Was the last cigar you had, and the chances are that he will invite you to smoke with him if you will let him Into the secret. done by sleight-of-hand, but the cigar actu- ally disappears so suddenly that it is imposs!- ble for the eye te follow it, and where it has ho one can tell. A wonderful illusion. Price, 10c.; 3 for 25e. by mail, postpaid, C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. gone, with a patent catch so} It is not |} SMALL COLLAPSIBLE PENCIES The name is a joke. It looks small enough while it is hanging on your watch-charm, it is very handsome in design, prettily nickéled, and ery compact. But jus$ hand the end of it to your. friend, and it begins to untelescope until he imagines ho end to it. Besides its ability to make fun, it is a good useful pencil, too. Price, 15¢. each,-by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. and KNITTER Every boy who wants a whip-lash, pair of reins, or any other knitted article of similar kind should have a Knitter. Anybody can work it. The most beautiful de- signs can be made by using colored worsteds with this handy little object. It is handsomely lacquered, strongly made, and the wires are very durable. Price, 10¢. each, by mail, postpaid, C, BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. CRAWLING BUGS These giant beetles are beauti- fully enameled in natural, brilliant colors. There is a roller under- neath, actuated by hidden springs. When the roller is wound up the bug craw7s about in the most life- like manner. Try one on the maid if you Want to enjoy yourself. Price, 12¢, each, by mail, postpaid, rn WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, ) & git Z THE MULTIPLYING CORKS.—A small round box is shown to be empty and one of the spectators is allowed to place three corks in it. handed to_one of the spectators, who, upon removing the cover, finds six corks in the box Three of the cons are ines 0 e yanie as mysteriously as they came. ery decep ee Price, 15e. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St, B’klyn, N. 1. Yo WE WANT YOU TO READ “WMioving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players Absolutely the finest little publication on the mews-stands 2 PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY @ ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESICN _ New portraits of actors and actresses every week EVERY NUMBER CONTAINS THIRTY-TWO PAGES FINE HALF-TONE FRONTISPIECES Get a copy of this weekly magazine and see what Six Gripping Stories, based on the latest and best films, each profusely illustrated with fine half-tones of scenes in the . plays. «Photographs and Biographies of the most celebrated Photoplay actors and actresses. Special Articles relating to Moving Pictures, written by the greatest authorities in the film business, News Notes from the’ studios about the doings of everybody of prominence connected with the Photoplays. Scenario Hints and the names of all the companies who may buy the plays you write. Poems, Jingles, Jests and every bright feature calculated to interest both young and old. GET A COPY NOW from your newsdealer, or send us 5 cents in money or postage stamps, and we you the latest number issued. | NK TOUSEY, Publisher The cover is put on and the box is :

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phn ta ay

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEE —s es 495 Golden Fleece; or, The Boy Brokers of Wall Street. 4 LATEST ISSUE 496 A Madcap Scheme: or, The Boy Treasure Hunters of Cocos Island » 462 Hitting it Rich; or, The Luckiest Firm in Wall St. . 497 Adrift on the World; or, Woe Way to Fortune 453 Sam, the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Tongue. 4¥8 Playing to Win; or, The Foxiest Boy in Wall Street 464 Playing in Lack; or, A Plotter’s Dangerous Deal ~ 499 Tatters; or, A Boy from the Slums. ; #65 After a Big Stake; or, Brains Against Brawn 500 A Young Monte Cristo; or, The Richest Boy in the World. ~~ 466 Faci the Mexicans; or, The Secret Of the Aztec’s Gold. . > . , 407 Figntiag For Fame’ of; The’ Lock Of « Young Conergctor, [50 Won by Pluck: or, The Boye Who Ran a Rallvoad, | 68 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 Young Surveyor of Happy Valley a 470 Among the Ice Peaks; or, The Voyage That Made the Money | 505 Boss of the Market; or, The Greatest Boy In Wali Street. hey See har neers 0c, She Mexcine That 6 ioe Brought | 506 The Chance of His Life; or, The Young Pilot of Crytal Lake. a i emcee teks ago Tose Rigas yt ies 507 Striving for Fortune; or, From Bell-Boy to Millionaire 474 Out for a Corner: or, A ‘Steart Chicago Boy 508 Out for Business: or, The Smartest Boy in Town. P 475 The Winnin Trick : ‘or, How a Bo Sade His Mark 509 A Favorite of Fortune; or, Strikin It Rich in W all Street. 476 The Young Editor; or,’ Running a Conners Newspaper 510 Through Thick and Thin; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy 477 A Big Stroke: or, The Lad Who Made a Record. 511 Doing His Level Best ; or, Working His Way Up. ‘ 478 In the Copper Field: or, The Mine That Made the Money. 512 Always on Deck; or, The Boy Ww ho Made His Mark. 479 From a Cent to a Fortune; or, A Chicago Boy's Great Scoop 513 A Mint of cog or, The on all Stree . nenee 480 A Start in Life: or, A Poor Boy’s Rise to Fame. 514 The Ladder of Fame; or, From Office Boy to Senator 481 A Wide Awake Boy; or, Born With a Winning Streak. 515 On the Square ; or, The Success of an Honest Loy ‘ 482 Capturing the Money : or, How Ben Bailey Made His Mark 516 After a Fortune; or, The Pluckiest Boy in the West. 483 Digging for Gold; or, The Luck of a Boy Miner. 517 Winning the Dollars; or, The yous Wonder of Wal! Street. 484 A Boy With Grit; or, Earning An Honest Living. 518 Making His Mark; or, The Boy Who Became President 485 Andy, the Mill Boy: or. Rising to the Top 519 Heir to a Million; or, The Boy Who Was Born Lucky. 486 Fame Before the Footlights: or. The Boy Who Bossed the Theater |520 Lost in the Andes; or, The Treasure of the Buried City. On His Mettle; or, A Plucky Boy in Wal! Street. A Lucky Chance; or, Taking Fortune on the Wing. 523 The Road to Success; or, The Career of a Fortunate Boy Chasing lointers; or, The Luckiest Boy in Wall Street 487 Lucky Lee, the Office Boy: or, The Nerviest Lad in New York 521 j 488 Sure to Get Rich: or, A Smart Young Messenger. Pushing it Through; or. The Fate of a Lucky Boy. 3 49C A Born Speculator: or, The Young Sphinx of Wall Street. : The Way to Success: or, The Boy Who Got There : 492 Struck Oil: or, The Bov Who Made a Million. : 493 A Golden Risk; or, The Young Miners of Della Cruz. A Sure Winner, or, The Boy Who Went Out With a Circus a For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money Or postage stamps, py FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - .- - - - - - > 168 West 28d St., New York. IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write ont and fill in your Order and send it to us witk the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, : - - : - = a ° ouR TEN-CEWT HAND BOOES No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND No. 30, HOW TO COO 168 West 23d St., New York. — ETIQUETTE.—It is a great life secret, and © of the most — DREAM BOOK.—Containing the great oracle of human destiny; also the true meaning of almost any kind of dreams, together with charms, ceremonies, and curious games of cards. No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great book of magic and card tricks, containing full instruction on al! the leading card trichs of the day, also the most popular magical Illu- sicns as performed by our leading magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book. No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.—The arts and wiles of flirtation are fully explained by this little book. Besides *he various methods of handkerchief, fan, gluve, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it contains a full list of the language and sentiment of flowers. No. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of this little book. It contains full instructions in the art of dancing, etiquette in the ball- room and at parties. how to dress, and full lirections for calling off in all popular square dances. No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A com- plete guide to love, courtship and marriage, giving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to be observed, with many curious and interest- ing things not generally known. No. 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE. —Giving full instruction for the use of dumb- bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars and various other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; containing over sixty iilustrations. No. 7. HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Hand- somely illustrated and containing full instruc- tions for the management and training of the canary, mockingbird, bobolink, blackbird, paro- oquet, parrot, etc. No. 9. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILO- QUIST.—By Harry Kennedy. Every intelli- gent boy reading this book of instructions can master the art, and create any amount of fun for himself and friends. It is the greatest book ever published. No. 10. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self- defense made easy. Containing over thirty illustrations of guards, blows, and the differ- ent positions of a good boxer. Every boy should obtain one of these useful and instruc- tive books, as it will teach you how to box without an instructor. No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS. —A most complete little book, containing full directions for writing love-letters, and when to use them, giving specimen letters for young and old. No. 12. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO Giving complete instructions for writing letters to ladies on all subjects; also letters of introduction. notes and requests. _ No. 13. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF _ For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10 cts. per copy, ur 8 for 25 cts., !n money or postage ? _ FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, — - one that every young man desires to know all about There's happiness in it. No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A com- plete hand-book for making all kinds of eandy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc. No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL. —One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world. Every- bedy wishes to know how to become beauti- ful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost costless. No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVEN- ING PARTY.—A complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, comic recita- tions, etc., suitable for parlor or drawing- room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any book published. No 21 HOW TO HUNT AND FISH,—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full instructions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fish- ae together with description of game and sh. No. 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.— Heller's second sight explained by his former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the secret dialogues were carried on between the magician and the boy on the stage; also giv- at all the codes and signals. o. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.— This little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky gs No. 24. OW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.—Containing ful! directions for writing to gentlemen on all, subjects. No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.— Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Em- bracing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. No. 26. HOW TO ROW,-SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT.—Fully illustrated. Ful! instructions are given in this little book, together with in- structions on swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. No, 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECITATIONS.—Containing the most popula selections in use, comprising Dutch dialect, French dialect, Yankee and Irish - dialect pieces, together with many standard readings. No. 23 HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.— Everyone ig desirous of knowing what his future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be convinced. No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR. —Every boy should know how inventions orig- inated. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hydraulics, magnet- ism, optics, pneumatica, mechanics, etc. instructive books on cookiBg ever pu It containg recipes for co§king meats, fish, game, and oysters; also pie’, puddings, cakes end all kinds of pastry, and a grand collec- tion of recipes. No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER —Containing fourteen illustrations, giving the ; different positions requisite to become a speaker, reader and elocutionist. Also con- taining gems from all the popular authors of prose and eel g No. 32. HO TO RIDE A_ BICYCLE.— Containing instructions for beginners, choice ot a machine, hints on training, etc. A com- plete book. Full of practical illustrations, No. 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—a com- : plete and useful little book, containing the rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle. backgammon, croquet, dominoes, ete. 7 No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS. —Containing al] the leading conundrums of the day, amusing riddles. curious catches and witty sayings. No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, containing use- ful and practical information in the treatment of ordinary diseases and ailments common tc every family. Abounding in useful and effec: tive recipes for general comp/iaints. Pr No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, PouL PIGEONS AND RABBITS.—A useful and structive book. ee ge ME re No. 40. HOW TO MAKE D SET TRAPS. —Including hints on how to catch weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds how to cure skins. Copiously Sllustrated. No, 41, THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a - riety of the latest jokes used by thé mos famous end men. No amateur mis ls complete without this wonderful little boo No. 42, THE BOYS OF EW Yor!) STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied - sortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men’s jokes. Just the thi for home amusement and amateur shows, — No, 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIA! —Containing the grandest assortment of mm: fea] illusions ever placed before the. ie, Also tricks with cards. incantations, ef No. 44. HOW TO WRITE IN Al! BUM.—A grand collection of Album suitable for any time and occasion; r ing Lines of Love, Affection, At, © mor, Respect, and Condolences ait . 2° Dep for Valentines and Weddings. ‘o, 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YO STREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOC - thing new and very instructive. ’ al putatS this book, as it con J nstructions for organizing an amateur strel troupe. 168 West 23d St., New ¥