Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 533) (1915 12 17)

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DECEMBER 17, 1915 Ps / 5(onls. y. sTORIES OF BOYS THAT MAKE MONEY. AN EYE TO BUSINESS; i righ FLIP AAT AT AG 5 +) we ‘hen something the boy had not Galculeted, on happened. The ladder snapped in two beneath his weight. As Travers came tumbling to the floor he caught sight of several grotesque figures rising from behind the shelter of the empty barrels.

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Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. by Frank ame and Fortune Weckly STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Hntered at the New York, N. Y., Post Office as Second- Class Matter, ousey, Publisher, 168 West 23d Street, New Yorr. No. 533. CHAPTER I. _ SHOWS HOW TOM TRAVERS STUCK UP FOR PATTY PENROSE. “What's the matter, Patty? You've been crying, I can easily See. Same old story, T s’pose? Nathan Kemp or his sister has een abusing you, as usual.” Thus spoke stalwart Tom Travers, sixteen years old, to Patty Penrose, a pretty, rosy-cheeked miss, who came to a pause before the doorway of the blacksmith’s shop on the Suburbs of Barmouth, where he stood with his coat off and his sleeves rolled up beyond the elbow. - ‘Tom was a fine type of young, vigorous American boyhood, and we might easily fancy that his strong, resolute face, now eloguent with sympathy, was not one upon which a girl of latty’s years could look with indifference. On this particular afternoon, now merging into dusk, he had helping Jack Harding, the young blacksmith, put a new on a wagon wheel, and had kept the forge fire aglow while Harding fashioned sundry pieces of iron. into shapes for repairing various agricultural implements that lay about ‘7. ‘shop. “Tom was accustomed to frequenting the blatksmith’s, when x he wasn’t out fishing, or sailing pleasure-seekers down the bey his stanch, clinker-built boat Seadrift—not because he EE any idea of learning the trade, but because Jack Harding ‘one * his best friends as well as his prospective brother- we infinitely preferred the water to any occupation on -but that was because he had inherited the same love 1 ‘sea which his father had in his own youth. years previous to the beginning of this story Captain “Travers sailed from Boston for Rio de Janeiro, but his never heard from afterward. jarter-boat with the vessel’s name, Susan Dean, together some pieces of drifting wreck, were picked up off the coast Seige by an American ship bound north, and it was that the brig had gone down with all hands in a Mrs. Travers finally gave up all hope of ‘ever ey Be and again, she removed from Boston to her native -Barmouth, and with her husband’s savings purchased cenatitoent costae on the brow of a gentle slope the harbor. devoted herselt to her two children, Tom and Dora, in all Sbhage ae NEW YORK, DECEMBER 17, 1915. ‘sis would be glad to take you Price 5 Cents. AN EYE TO BUSINESS THE BOY WHO WAS NOT ASLEEP By A SELF-MADE MAN Tom, although ambitious and energetic, was not settled at any definite occupation, chiefly because his mother and sister had insisted that he finish his schooling at the Barmouth Academy. ; However, he managed to make many a dollar with his boat during the summertime, for, though he liked to enjoy himself in boyish sports as well as any of his associates, he still had an eye to business when there was anything to be made. Tom was a general favorite with the girls of the town, but he thought more of Patty Penrose, a sweet little orphan who had been brought up by one Nathan Kemp 4&nd his maiden sister, than all the others put together, Pafty led a bitter, hard life of it in the Kemp household, and her unenviable lot strongly appealed to Tom’s chivalric _ nature. More than once he had interfered in her behalf when Nathan Kemp had abused the girl on the street, and had thus oe the rooted dislike of that sour-visaged individual. Mr. Kemp had cautioned Patty not to have anything more to do with Tom Travers on the pain of a sound beating to be ad- ministered by his sister; but in spite of his threat, emphasized by certain remarks from Miss Priscilla Kemp, she felt loath to give up a friendship that was the dearest thing in all ae world to her. On the afternoon of the day our story opens, Patty, “an washing all the morning, set to work to iron the clothes she took off the line in the yard. She had almost finished the work, when she accidentals burned the corner of one of Miss Priscilla’s handkerchiefs. _ The maiden had, being in a particularly bad humor that day, — attacked the girl in a savage way and drove her from ee house. Patty fled down the road, and before she realized how far. she had gone was in the neighborhood of Harding’s smithy. She saw Tom Travers standing in the doorway, and in- A stinctively she ran to him for protection... He greeted her with the words that open this chapter. her face in her apron. “Don’t cry, Patty,” Patty looked at him with swimming epee on seen, shoei: 3 to be ashamed of themselves, but it I wish you'd pack up your things | “I can’t leave them, ‘indeed would me a “ay pti as. Ne Ae. > Mee. + Sie tegen rae maha te serene Se lw?

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2 AN you. You're foolish to put up with their abuse. They haven’t any hold on you.” .- “They took me from the poor farm, and Mr. Kemp says if I dare to leave them he’ll have me put in the lock-up.” “He said that, did he? He couldn’t do any such thing.” “He says he raised me fri.n a little girl, boarded and clothed me, and sent me to school, and that the law gives him power over me till I’m eighteen, at any rate.” “It’s fat board and a healthy lot of clothes he’s given you, according to your own account. You’ve earned the little you have received ten times over, for you're little better than a siave. As to education, I’ll bet he’d have cut that out if he had dared. The law says you have to go to school so long, and con- sequently he didn’t dare prevent you going. It would give me a heap of satisfaction to hand Nathan Kemp a first-class dress- ing-down, and I'd do it, only I don’t care to be arrested and {put in the lock-up for assault and battery.” At that moment Tom, happening to glance up the road, saw Nathan Kemp approaching at a rapid gait. The boy didn’t know whether the man had seen Patty talk- ing to him, as he was standing between the girl and her ty- rant, but he decided to hide her inside the smithy from his prying eyes in case he came up to the place. “Come inside, Patty,” he said, taking her by the arm. “No, no; I must go back.” “T wouldn't advise you to go back yet, fer Mr. Kemp is com- ing down the road as fast as he can, and he would probably make your return journey mighty unpleasant.” “Hide me,” she cried in a tone of terror, springing into the shop. “Don’t let him see me.” “T won’t if I can help it,” he replied reassuringly. “It’s get- ting dark, and that’s in your favor. Here, hide in that dark Renee behind the forge. You'll be safe there if you don’t Jack Harding, a big, strapping, handsome fellow, with muscles fitted to his calling, a hard worker, thrifty and kind- lhearted, was beating out a bit of glowing iron on the anvil. He laughed as he saw Patty fiy behind the forge, and easily guessed the cause that prompted the action. Both he and Tom had often talked about the pretty young hee and wondered why she didn’t give Nathan Kemp and virago of a sister the shake. At Patty disappeared, and Tom, to further shield her, took hold of the loose handle of the bellows and began to work it up and down, the Barmouth fire-bell began to ring, not an ‘alarm, but a merry peal, and the sound was immediately taken the church bells, and soon the early evening air quivered with their brazen throats. at the doorway. He wore a tight-fitting suit of some dark material, rather nae aa and his tall hat was of the fashion of ten years ore. He might have been taken for a lawyer who was not pros- , or a storekeeper on the ragged edge of adversity, or ats contons-eni sath plinte: stout Aesieler nits cheduic dyspepsia; but Nathan Kemp wasn’t any of these. Mr. Kemp was secretary of a Boston association which main- tained a furid for providing the heathen with articles tending to their mene oat wey brine ‘ He went to the metropo! ree or four times a week with _ unfailing regularity, and though he locked poor, he was not, _ for everybody in Barmouth knew that he had a fat balance in the town bank. He stood for a moment in the MNGood-evening, Mr. Kemp,” said Jack, cheerily. “I suppose you are prepared to enjoy our national holiday with “No. a ay egah amie, Nathan Kemp, sourly. in : P ‘ - : 4 ze e bells!! “She and Dora stand on the same level @#ih me,” said Tom, EYE TO BUSINESS. i The bedlamites who pull the ropes ought to be flogged for making such an unearthly racket. Bah! I have no patience with such nonsense.” “For my own part, I love the sound of the bells,” replied Jack. “They have honest tongues and never lie. To-night they are telling us of a nation freed from the yoke of tyranny over a hundred years ago—a nation which to-day is the great- est and most prosperous on the face of the globe.” “Bah!” snarled Nathan Kemp. “I hate such sentiments.” “It seems to me you hate everything that is kind and good, Mr. Kemp,” returned the young blacksmith, curtly. “What do you want here?” “I’m looking for that lazy, good-for-nothing girl of ours— Patty Penrose. I thought maybe she ran in here. It’s like her to do such a thing. Perhaps she is hiding here, for all I know.” Nathan Kemp strode forward as if to cross the forge, but Harding blocked the way. “What should bring her here at this time of the evening?” asked the blacksmith, with a searching look“at the unwelcome intruder, , “She ran out of the house half an hour ago and left her” work half done. because my sister chided her for ruining a pocket-handkerchief. She’s an idle, careless a “Stop, Mr. Kemp; you can’t abuse Patty Penrose in my pres- ence,” exclaimed Tom Travers, coming forward. P “Oh, I can’t, eh?” sneered the visitor. ; “No! 1 won’t stand for it,” said the boy threateningly, “I'd like to know what business it is of yours?” “It’s the business of every decent man or boy to protect the good name of an honest girl when the occasion arises,” replied Tom, stoutly. “You treat that girl as you would treat a dog,” if you had one—you and your sister. You both ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Mark my words: the blows and harsh, Words you hand out to her will some day recoil on both your heads.” np “How dare you talk to me in that fashion!” sputtered Na-@ @, than Kemp, in sudden anger., “I’m not afraid to tell you to your face what you old cormorant!” cried Tom, angrily. “Rasy, Tom, easy,” interposed Harding, laying his,hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You’re an impertinent young puppy!” roared Mr. Kemp, > glaring at Tom Travers. “If I had my way with you, you » should be flogged till you begged for mercy. It is a thousand, pities there isn’t a law that would punish you that way. . “Thank you for your kind wishes, Mr. Kemp, but things are not coming your way at present. You don’t like plain speak-"« ing, but it has done me good to tell you what’s in my mind. . If I had anything to say, Patty Penrose wouldn’t darken your , doors again. If she had no other place to go, she could have i the shelter of our home. I should like to see you try to tak | her away from there. 'I’d run you out so quickly it would make your head swim.” - “I'll pay you for this conduct, you young cub!” snorted Na-— than Kemp, in a rage. “I’ll remember everything you've said.’ I give you warning not to harbor that girl, d’ye understand? @ If you do I’ll have the law on you. As for her, the jade! my sister will attend to her when she gets back to the house. She’ll get something she’ll remember for a month,” cried the visitor, vindictively. “Priscilla will make her dance a lively step, I warrant you. She'll have cause to remember this after- noon for the rest of her life.” ‘ “If you dare to beat her,” shouted Tom, making a furious rush at Nathan Kemp, “I'll break every bone in your body.” Jack Harding grabbed the angry boy and held him, while the visitor, frightened by Tom’s words and manner, beat a hasty retreat from the blacksmith shop. a™. fe . I think of you, * . ® re CHAPTER II. e NATHAN KEMP CALLS AT THE TRAVERS COTTAGE. - “Cool down, Tom,” said Jack Harding, with a smile; “ \. let your anger get the better of you. If you had struck Nathan Kemp he'd have you in jail to-morrow, and you'd lose your Z holiday, not speaking of the disgrace it would be to your mother and sister as well.” | “That's right, Jack,” replied Tom, cooling off. “Thanks for . holding me in. I was mad enough to have smashed him in the jaw. I can’t stand it to hear him make threats against + Patty. She's the best little girl in the world——”" “Except your sister Dora, of course,” laughed Jack, who was engaged to Miss Travers. “vl ere - ag SP a ee . (Aree = ee : Se ee da Wy

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AN. EYE TO BUSINESS. f 3 with a flushed face. “Now, look here, Jack, we must persuade Patty not to go back to the Kemps, but come over to my house and stay. If she goes back, and they beat her, I swear I'll thrash that old villain within an inch of his life, if I do go to jail for it,” said the boy in a tone that showed he meant every word he spoke. “No. Tom, you mustn’t get into trouble on my account,” said a sweet voice at his shoulder, and turning, he saw Patty Standing there with a look of gratitude shining in her eyes. “Patty,” said Tom, “you heard what Mr. Kemp said?” “Every word,” with a little shudder. “You know what you've got to expect if you go back. You mustn’t go back.” Patty shook her head sadly. “Hew can I avoid it?” she asked plaintively. “No matter where I micht go, he would come after me and compel me——” “I'd like to see’him compel you,” burst out the boy. “No, no, Tom, you mustn’t interfere—indeed you mustn’t,” begged the girl. “It would make me dreadfully unhappy if you got into any trouble on my account.” “I can’t help it. Those Kemps have sat on you long enough.” “T'll tell you what you might do,” said Jack. “I don’t be- lieve that Nathan Kemp has any legal claim on Patty. She could g6 and stay at your house until the day after the Fourth. Then you could go to the magistrate and have Mr. Kemp cited to sppear before him to show cause why he shouldn’t be put under bonds to treat the girl decently, or give up all claim to her services. If Patty would tell her story I think the Kemps would look pretty small before the public.” nEbat's a good idea,” said Tom, eagerly. “Will you do that, Patty?” “{ don’t know,” she answered doubtfully. “I’m afraid——” “You don’t want to be afraid of anything. You've got Jack and me at your back, and Mr. Kemp won’t dare make any tronbie for you.” If he tries to, well, say, we wouldn’t do a thing to him.” Finally Patty, who was clearly afraid to return to the Kemp home, was persuaded to agree to the proposal suggested by the young blacksmith, and shortly afterward she accompanied Tom to his mother’s cottage, where she was kindly received by Mrs. Travers and Dora, who had long felt a great sympathy for the friendless girl, That night after supper it was agreed that Patty should make her home with them if an arrangement could be forced upon Nathan Kemp and his sister. ,_ Tom was tickled to death to think that Patty Penrose was probably going to make her home at the cottage. In that event he would be able to see and talk to her every ‘day, and take her out sailing with him in the Seadrift, and fcr walks during the long summer evenings. While picturing the fine times they were going to have to- . gether he fell asleep and dreamed that he and Patty were sail- ing around the world together in the boat, with nothing in « sight but the light blue sky and deep blue sea. “: A series of deafening explosions aroused him suddenly, to find that it was morning and that the Fourth of July had come. Tom popped out of bed and looked out of the window. ’ There were several of his Academy schoolmates outside in the backyard amusing themselves by tossing giant firecrackers just under his window. “Hello, fellows!” cried Tom. “What time is it?” _ “Five o'clock. Get up and come down.” So Tom dressed himself in a hurry, made a hasty toilet, and joined his friends. He had a box full of giant crackers himself stowed away in the woodshed. Peg Getting them, he started off with his companions for the _. public square called the green. For the next two hours the Barmouth green was a scene ef smoke, noise and general axcitement. __ By that time nearly all the boys had exhausted their supply of explosives, and the fun had come to a pause until they had had their breakfasts and touched their parents for extra money to buy a fresh outfit. 3 ‘Tom started for the cottage in company with a boy named ney Davis, who lived near him. ‘ see the Night Hawks have turned up again,” said Downey, rn _———<—{]_— 2 went—four of them—in a red auto. On the next night Deacon White’s house was entered and robbed of a lot of silverware and jewelry. It must have been the same gang, for four men, disguised with green birds’ heads, were seen crossing the bridge in a red motor ear.” “I thought they’d gone away for good from the neighborhood after the reward was offered for their capture three months ago.” “That's what everybody thought, I guess. They suddenly disappeared, and that was the last heard of them until the Stansbury post-office was robbed.” “I suppose they’re a gang of Boston crooks.” “They may be from New York, for all we know.” “That's right, too,” nodded Tom. “I wonder why they wear green birds’ heads?” “As a disguise, of course.” “I should think masks would answer ever so much better.” “That's their business.” “What do you s’pose those heads are made of?” “Papier-mache, I guess. That’s what they make those funny heads of they use in spectacular pieces on the stage.” “Is that so?” said Downey Davis. “What is papier-mache, anyway?” “It’s a hard substance, made of a pulp from rags or paper mixed with glue or size. In its soft state you can form it into any kind of shape you want by means of molds. After it gets hard it retains its shape like plaster-of-paris.” The two boys separated at the gate of the Travers cottage, and Tom went around to the kitchen entrance. Patty, looking uncommonly fresh and pretty, was making herself generaily useful in the kitchen. “Hello, Patty,” exclaimed Tom. “You look sweet enough to kiss this morning.” Patty blushed like a full-blown rose and escaped into the dining-room, where Tom found his motber and sister, and breakfast almost ready. “Say, Patty,” asked Tom, during the meal, “have you ever had trouble with the milk at the Kemps?” “Sometimes, when the weather had been extra hot, or after a thunderstorm.” “Why did you ask such a foolish question as that, Tom?” asked his sister. “Well,1 thought probably every time Miss Priscilla Kemp lodked at it it turned sour.” Patty laughed outright, while Mrs. Travers and Dora smiled. ag They had just finished when there came a vigorous ring at the door-bell. “I wonder who that can be?” asked Dora. Patty looked apprehensive. “Maybe it’s the old villain himself,” said Tom. “The old who?” exclaimed his sister. “Nathan Kemp.” Dora answered the ring. and, sure enough, there on the doorstep stood Mr. Kemp, his face looking like three days of rainy weather. “It Patty Penrose here?” he asked sourly. “She is,” answered Dora. “Then send her to me, please.” “Will you walk into the parlor?” “I have no time to spare,” he replied sulkily. “I will tell Patty you have called for her. Please walk in while I go for her.” Rather-against his will, Nathan Kemp complied, and was shown into the little parlor, which was ornamented with family portraits, marine paintings, and curiosities of all kinds from the South Seas that Captain’ Ezra Travers had gath- ered during his many years of seafaring life. After some delay Mrs. Travers entered the room with Patty, Tom hovering on the outside. Nathan Kemp jumped to his feet and glared at the trem- bling girl. “How dare you stay away from home all night?” he de- manded in a suppressed tone. “Miss Priscilla is very angry with you and sent me to bring you back. Come, we will go.” Patty shrank away from him, ; “I don’t want to go back.” “I don’t care what you want,” he said threateningly. “You “You are only frightening the girl,” interposed Mrs. Tra we ‘ ~ will have to answer for your conduct when you get back,” - ae be, artis PEs iy ss a a

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4 AN replied the visitor, in a tone calculated to impress his hear- ears. “Patty says that she is not happy at your house, Mr. Kemp.” san “It makes little difference to us what she says, madam. Tf you knew her as well as we do you would take little notice a3 gf words. But I have no time to spare. Come with me, girl.” Patty turned and rushed out of the room. She had resolved to go to prison rather than go back to ; the Kemps. F CHAPTER III. HERMIT ISLAND. “Madam,” said Nathan Kemp, “I'll have to trouble you to bring that girl back.” “I am afraid she has determined not to return to your house,” replied Mrs. Travers. “If she doesn’t return voluntarily I shall get a constable to fetch her,” said Mr. Kemp, angrily. “If you do that she will certainly ‘appeal to a magistrate.” “A magistrate, madam!” exclaimed Nathan Kemp, aghast. . “Yes. She says that both you and your sister have treated her harshly, and she showed me last night marks on her back ’ which she says your sister inflicted with a heavy strap. If she takes her case before a justice, Mr. Kemp, you will have to appear in court to try and refute her statement. If the magistrate believes her story you will not be able to force her to return to your house. Now, I think the easiest way is the best for all parties. Let Patty-——” “Madam,” interrupted Nathan Kemp, boiling over with wrath, “I don’t wish any advice on the subject. I will send _ & constable here to fetch her. If she dares talk magistrate to us, I'll fix her, the minx!” He stalked to the door, followed by Mrs, Travers, and, hav- ing passed out, turned his steps toward the residence of Con- stable Spriggins, for he knew that official would not be at _ his office in the courthouse that day. : For fear that the constable would come after Patty, Tom 4 decided to take her down the bay in his boat. ae The girl agreed to go with him, so Dora put up a lunch for them, and they left the house about nine o'clock. Tom had to go to Deer Island, some eight miles distant from Ls _ Barmouth, anyway, late in the afternoon, to bring beck a e party he had taken there the morning previous to spend a P day and a half camping out on that picturesque island. re “Isn't it-a lovely day?” exclaimed Patty, as she stepped on board of the Seadrift. “Bang up, especially on the water. There’s just enough weight in the breeze to make the boat put her best foot for- ward,” replied Tom. ; “Are you going down to Deer Island?” 7 “Not right away. I’ve got to be there at four o’clock, so as to land the gentlemen in Barmouth in time to catch the 6.10 train for Boston.” Yom hoisted the sail and then cast off from the wharf. He headed for a small wooded island about two miles off “That's where Old Robinson Crusoe lived for so many ” said Tom, pointing the island out to her. “Who was Old Robinson Crusoe?” Patty asked in. surprise. “He was an old chap who took possession of an unfinished 2-4 that some hotel man started to put up on the island asa: inn for summer boarders, but somehow the scheme "fell through and the house was never finished. The old fel- low fitted up a portion of the lower story to suit himself, and ) there all alone for several years, and then disappeared ; as he turned up. The boys nicknamed him Old binson Crusoe.” “Is the house there yet?” asked Sure it is—exactly as he left : Patty, with great interest. ee Sed it EYE TO BUSINESS. which had come to nought. Tom and Jack Harding and numbers of the Academy boys had been over to look at the place after the hermit had van- ished for parts unknown. The recluse had made a table, a chair and other rude fur- niture for himself out of material taken from the uncom- pleted section of the building, and these specimens of his handiwork remained as evidence of his occupancy of the premises. When Tom pushed in the rude door which had been fitted by the hermit he was surprised to see four roughly fashioned chairs instead of one, and a table twice the size of the one he had remembered seeing a month before. There were other signs to show that the place was in actual use by several persons, or at least had been lately oc- cupied by squatters. Tom pointed out the changes which he noticed to Patty. “There’s the original chair—the one Old Robinson Crusoe made and used. The others are later creations. A new top has been added to that table, making it longer and wider. Those empty bottles, that jug, and a whole lot of things I see around were not here when Jack and I came over last.” “Do you think there are people living here, then?” asked Patty. “Looks as if there might be; but there is nobody around now, as far as I can see.” They walked all around the building, peeping in here and there at the ground floor, but nowhere save in the hermit'’s section did there appear to be any change to Tom. He and Patty strolled all over the little island, without finding a sign of life on it. “There’s no one here now, at any, rate,” said Tom at last. “Whoever has been living here since the hermit pulled up stake must have left also.” They sat on the beach in the shade and talked about one thing or another until midday came, when, feeling hungry, they ate the lunch prepared by Dora. Then Tom suggested taking to the boat again. The breeze was lighter and the water smoother than be- fore. From Barmouth were wafted to their ears faint sounds of the day’s celebration. * Over the bar, just beyond Deer Island, lay the deep blue waters of Massachusetts Bay, dotted with the white sails of many pleasure craft. The Seadrift reached the small wharf on the sheltered side of Deer Island about quarter-past three o’clock, and Tom suggested to one of the campers that it would be well to embark for Barmouth at once, as the run back, owing to the falling wind, was likely to be longer than he had counted on when he set the hour of departure at four. The party agreed to leave the island right away. About this time Tom noticed a peculiar haziness in the air which warned him of the approach of a sea mist. He hurried the movements of the party, and inside ef ten minutes the Seadrift had cast off from the wharf and had her nose pointed straight for Barmouth. ' Patty had retired to the cabin, where she amused herself with a book Tom provided her with. “Looks as if there was a mist rolling in yonder,” remarked one of Tom's passengers, pointing to windward. “There is,” replied the young skipper of the Seadrift. “That’s why I was in such a hurry to get under way.” The party*was quite a jolly one of Boston clerks, and the prospect of getting caught in a fog didn’t seem to worry them. The town was straight ahead, and, fog or no fog, it didn’t * seem possible for them to miss it if the boat’s course was — kept as it was at present. at They didn’t count on the influence of the tide, or the fail- ure of the wind, after it had come on thick, to upset their calculations altogether. Ten minutes later Deer Island, now half. a mile astern, the

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tion where the boy judged the - Others followed at intervals for a ’ f a : AN EYE TO BUSINESS. 5 - After covering what Tom judged to be several miles the wind dropped all of a sudden, leaving the Seadrift appar- ently motionless on the water. The tide, however, was bearing them slowly along in a diagonal direction towatd the small island once occupied by the hermit. 3 “We'll never reach Barmouth in time to catch the train at this rate,” remarked one of the clerks, trying to pierce with his eyes the wall of white fog which hedged in the sailboat, “Then we'll have to take a later one,” replied another. “What are the chances of our reaching shore in a reason- able time, young man?” the leader of the party asked Tom. “Very little chance until the wind springs up again and the fog lifts,” replied the young skipper of the Seadrift. “That's encouraging,” answered his passenger. “Well, I suppose it cannot be helped.” “You migit all whistle for the wind, like the sailors do sometimes,” laughed Tom. The five clerks who made up the party immediately began to whistle a popular air with all their might. An hour passed away and the dead calm still prevailed. The boat drifted. nearer and nearer to the hermit island. Nobody, not even the young skipper, was aware of the fact. At length the sun went down and dusk came on. The watches of the party showed that the 6.10 train was well on its way to Boston by that time. “Judging from present prospects, we may have to stay all night on the bay,” said a clerk, dolefully, “Then we'll catch it hot to-morrow for not-being at the bank on time.” At that moment Tom caught sight of a light shining dimly threugh the mist. CHAPTER IV. _ THE FOUR BIRDS. ‘ ~The light in question looked to be about twenty feet or more above the surface of the water, and Tom thought it came from a lantern hanging at the masthead of some pleasure craft caught in the fog like themselves. The others saw it presently and wanted to know where it came from. Before Tom could make any reply the light moved away a short distance and then came to a stop again, just as if somebody had carried it. Tom was somewhat puzzled at this phenomenon, for he was almost certain they were not that close to the main shore. - A large vessel, high enough out of the water to account for the light being on her deck, seldom put in at Barmouth— and only then when something was wrong with her. The only land he could figure on ms being in that neigh- borhood was the hermit island, and if anybody was ashore there the light would be much lower down. That is the way Tom reasoned it, until he suddenly thought ef the unfinished building. The light stood at about the height of the second story, just aboye the trees. : ‘At that moment the light moved again, suddenly vanished, and then came into sight aa disappeared once more, ap- again and remained. Aas George!” Tom thought. “I'll bet we are close to that island, and somebody is in the second floor of that house, Looks as if the people who have been living there are back again, They were absent on shore evidently when Patty and ‘I were there this morning. Now I know where we are at, and if there was a wind I could run right in for Barmouth without any trouble.” ; Even fog spoke a skyrocket ver in the air in the direc- town lay. eile and then ceased. “We are about two miles from Barmouth,” Tom told the leader of the party. “If you know that, can’t you-tell where that light comes from?” asked the man. ~ “Tf's on a small wooded island that you may have Be neon bered seeing when I took you out yesterday vtec a told No breeze came, however, and they steadily drew nearer to the light. Tom now went forward with a boat-hook to fend off from the shore, which he expected the boat would strike at any moment. ; In a few minutes he made out the dark outlines of the island close aboard. Then the boat floated right into the same cove he had put into during the morning. Tom jumped ashore with the painter and tied it to the same tree. “We might as well stay here until a wind comes up,” he said. “We can't better ourselves. I’m going over to the house to see who’s there.” Tom stepped aboard to get the lantern which hung in the cuddy. He found Patty stretched out on one of the lockers asleep. He lit the lantern, pulled the cuddy door partly shut after him, told his passengers he would be back in a short time, and then stepped ashore and started off in the direction of the unfinished building. The fog lay thick among the trees and the light Tom car- ried made little impression on it. He soon lost sight of the light on the upper floor of the house, but. as he knew his way pretty well, he had no trouble in going direct to the clearing. There the fog hovered in a palpitating mass, and through one of the upper window openings he again caught sight of the light. . He walked around to the end formerly occupied by the hermit and saw a lamp burning on the table. - A number of plates, with the remains of a meal on them, flanked by four cups and saucers drained of their contents, with four sets of knives and forks, and other articles in keep- ing with the general display, lay about on the board. The butt of a half-smoked cigar projected from the edge of the table, and there was a dying fire in the hermit’s old cook stove, on which stood a common coffee-pot. On the fioor lay a frying-pan in the midst of several broken” egg-shells. “Four persons have ea supper here not long ago,” mused Tom, as he looked around the room. “I wonder where they are at this moment? Maybe on the second floor where I saw the light. What can they be doing up there? I don’t hear a sound from them. they would be sure to make a noise. I’ve no time to wait here for them to show up. I'll just take a squint upstairs and see if they are there. and what they look like. Probably four tramps who haye stolen a boat and come over here to pass en summer. It’s very like that kind of gentry to do such a thing. So Tom left the hermit’s living-room and walked around to a doorway in the unfinished part of the building. There was nothing to prevent him from walking inside. The floor was littered with loose boards, and several large, empty barrels stood around. : In one corner was a large opening communicating with the cellar, while in the center of the rough ceiling was an oblong opening that was clearly intended to be reached by a stair- way. No stairway had been built when the work was abandoned. At the present moment a ladder reached up into it. This ladder had not been there when Tom and Patty looked in that morning. r Tom, after swinging his lantern at arm’s length and seeing nothing, began to mount the ladder to explore the floor above. He paused with his head just above the flooring, undecided whether he would go any further or not, for the room dark and silent as the grave. Apparently the island squatters were not there. The boy had an-idea that this was the room whence the _ light had proceeded from. There was no light. there row, at all events. He flashed his lantern around, but could see only the bare boards. ites “There’s nothing fo see up here,” said Tom to himself. He started to ! Then something the boy had not calculated upon happened. The ladder snapped in two beneath his weight. ue figures rising from behind the shelter of Z. ry be a ts E> ee kad fa wae If they were tramping around the building -. was “% :: a : ir.

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6 AN EYE TO BUSINESS. Ot eT He struck the floor with a resounding concussion that shook | staring white eyes and enormous beaks, the very counterpart the building. The lantern flew from his hand and rolled a dozen feet away. He lay there half-stunned from the shock he had sustained. Then as his senses came back to him he saw what appeared to be four gigantic birds’ heads bending over him. They had big, round, white eyes with black disks, and im- sae beaks projecting at least seven inches from their eads. It was a most astonishing sight to Tom, who could not un- derstand the -matter at all. The obscurity of the place added to the extravagant ap- pearance of the birdlike heads and completed the boy’s be- wilderment. Suddenly he felt himself seized and carried out into the open air by the four queer forms, from whom came not a sound. He. was borne across the clearing and into the woods, in spite of the struggle he put up to free himself from their clutches. . Finally he was dropped on the ground, his hands and feet secured in a way that seemed to be decidedly human, and then the four “birds” yanished, leaving him alone. CHAPTER V. THE NIGHT HAWES. ps lay a few minutes blinking up through the foggy x *The astonishing experience through which he had just passed had quite dazed him. What did it all mean? What kind of birds could these be that had suddenly pounced upon him in the unfinished building, borne him to that spot and left him bound hand and foot? “I must be laboring under some kind of a hallucination brought on by that terrible whack I got when I fell to the floor. Those must have been four men, not birds. I only imagined they looked like birds. Such birds as they appeared to be surely do not exist in creation, especially in the neigh- borhood of the Massachusetts coasf® It was just like a night- mare. Between the fog and the jolt on the head I guess my brains were in. shape to see ’most anything. Gee! I can al- most see those birds’ heads yet. One thing is certain: I’m bound hand and foot with cord, and birds couldn’t do that, I’m willing to swear. I’m satisfied that I fell into the hands of the four tramps who are living on this island. Well, just let me get away, and I'll bet I'll have the constable over here i to give them free board and lodging in the county a Tom tugged away at his bonds for a while to no purpose, but at length one of the strands came loose \and he pulled one of his hands out of limbo. . The other followed as a matter of course. _ Then with his jackknife he freed his ankles and stood up. ’ He walked to the inner edge of the clearing, whence he caught a view of the hermit’s living room, and looked across the opening. : He saw shadows moving around on the inside. “They're all in there now. I'll just go over and take a good look at those chaps, so that Ill know them again.” Between the fog and the gloom of the night Tom had little fear that his approach to that part of the building he was aiming at would be noticed, even if one of the occupants of the room chanced to look out of the window. _ He took care to watch that he didn’t stumble over some obstruction in his path and thus call attention to his presence. _ At length he reached the window through which the light shone and peered into the hermit’s living room. ae re he saw four men, sure enough. ‘They were seated around the table, from which the dishes hed been removed and a demijohn and four glasses substi- “There’s nothing birdlike about those chaps now,” mused “I wonder how I ever imagined they were gigantic Tom began to chuckle at his error his eyes rested on ur objects. upon a low came over his face. od Seam Goat pinced — as chuckle died away in his throat and a look of aston-|- of what he had so indistinctly seen after his fall in the un- finished part of the building. He gazed at them with open mouth and staring eyes. “Great Scott! The very birds I saw,” he exclaimed. “But those are only birds’ heads. What are they doing there? They were not there when I entered that room a little while ago.” He scratched his head in a perplexed way for a moment or two. Suddenly a light flooded his mind. “Why, those must be disguises worn by those men. Those chaps had the beads on when they grabbed me, and I didn’t imagine anything at all. What I saw actually existed be- fore my eyes. Those men don’t look at all like tramps. Two of them have watch chains. Now what do they want with those grotesque bird masks, such as are worn on the stage in certain spectacles? And why are they living on this island?” While Tom was trying to figure this problem out, some portion of the conversation going on within reached his ears, “How long do you think {t will be safe to stay in this neigh- borhood, Bentley?” asked the stoutest man of the four of his companions on the right, a tall, thin, billious-looking fellow. ; “How long?” replied the othery blowing out a cloud of cigar smoke. “Well, i calculated on staying here all sum- mer.” “You mustn’t forget that there's a thousand dollars reward out for us, and when to-day’s robbery of the Manson cottage oecomes generally known I shouldn’t be surprised if the re- ward was doubled.” “Gee whiz!” said Tom to himself. “These men must be the Night Hawks—the fellows who cleaned out several resi- dences on the suburbs of the town last spring, and who lately robbed the Stansbury post-office and Dencon Whit’s house. Downey said this morning that four men disguised with birds’ heads were seen crossing the bridge in a red auto on the night of the White robbery. There’s the birds’ heads on the shelf yonder. Yes, I am satisfied these are the Night Hawks.” He listened again to the conversation. “S’pose there is?” replied Bentley. “We can lie low here for a week until the people think we're gone off somewhere else, then we can tackle another one of the cottages. Judge Brown’s place, for instance, offers good swag. I've noticed that his women folks make a fine display of their diamonds. Then there is the Gilbert cottage on the point. He's presi- dent of the Mavernick National Bank, and is worth half a million easily enough.” “But that boy we caught nosing around here 4 little while ago and left bound among the trees. He may give us away as soon as we put him ashore. We made a mistake appear- ing before him in our bird masks. That was your idea, Baldy” —and the speaker looked at the man on his left—“and Pm bound to say it was a bad one.” “It prevented him from identifying our faces, didn’t it?” retorted the individual addressed as Baldy. “I vote that we keep the boy here until we are through with this island,” put in the fourth man. “Tt don’t like that plan,” said Bentley. “We'd have to watch him pretty closely to make sure that he did not escape. Then no doubt his people wouid come here looking for him, and that would give us more trouble.” “Why should they think he’s on this fsland?” asked Baldy. “He must have got ashore here by accident in the fog. What else should bring him to the island at this time of night?” “Instead of taking him ashore, as we decided on a while ago, I suggest that we hunt up his boat, drop him in it just as he is, and cast him adrift when the tide begins to ebb. Then he'll be carried out to sea,” said the stout man. *That looks too much like murder, and I object,” inter- posed the fourth man. “You're too particular altogether,” sneered the stout crook. “I'm not anxious to put my neck in a halter,” replied the other, warmly. “Oh, he’d probably be rescued before he reached the ocean,” replied the stout man, carelessly. “If he wasn’t, who'd be . the wiser as to what happened to him?” The fourth man, whose name was Sandy, did net take at all kindly to this way of getting rid of the boy. He wanted him put ashore, as originally determined on. “Well, never woe methine oe There's cee oh gt ee consider bim,” Bentley, who appeared to he leading spirit of the four. “We want to talk about -a hiding-place aed

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+ ee AN EYE TO BUSINESS. 5 . , a ¥ for our swag, so that if a search party should come over here it will not bé found. I looked the second floor all over to-night for a place between the walls that looked to be suitable, but could find none. I think the best thing is to bury it, after all.” “Where shall we bury it—in the woods or under the floor- ing of this room?” asked Baldy. .- “We'll pry up the hearthstone, dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the box the stuff is in now, and secrete it there. I defy any detective to nose it out. However, ’'m not look- ing for a detective to come to this island. We've been seen in that red auto of ours, you know, and the detectives will go searching for that in order to spot us. The auto is black by this time, and laid up in a Boston garage, so it’s my opinion they'll have a long hunt,” said Bentley, with a chuckle. The others agreed that under the hearthstone was a good place to hide their booty, so after they had finished their cigars Bentley and the stout crook started in and pried up the stone. A shovel that stood in a corner was brought into use and a considerable quantity of earth was removed, leaving a hole about two feet deep, the same in length, and a foot and a half wide. Into this was deposited a mahogany box which had been covered up in a corner, and the box fitted the hole snugly. “When that box is full we'll find another hiding-place for any additional plunder,” said Bentley, after the hearthstone had been replaced and all telltale signs carefully brushed way. rs The four men then resumed their places at the table, filled their glasses from the jug, and seemed disposed to make a night of it. - CHAYrTER VI. TOM DECIDES TO CAPTURE THE NIGHT HAWKs IF HE CAN. Tom concluded he had heard all that he wanted to. He had seen where the Night Hawks buried their latest booty. and knew he would be able to spot it again. The four crooks were reasonably certain to continue te make Hermit Island, as it was now called, their rendezvous for some time to come. ‘Phere was a standing reward of one thousand dollars for their capture and conviction, and: Tom, who was developing a great eye for business, mentally determined, with the help of Jack Harding, to earn that money. He had a business scheme in view which needed money evelopment, consequently half of*the proclaimed re- i eee user Soot in saat 2 while the other half would be equally acceptable to Harding, who was looking forward to an early marriage with Dora Travers. Tom did not believe in putting off until a future time what could be done right away, so he resolved to attempt the cap- ture of the Night Hawks as soon as he could. As the first step toward that desirable end, and to block the rascals from getting away from the island, the boy set out at once to find the boat they used to cross the streteh of water between the island and the main apart as + Wis the wood from the building un e s = Baetecie, ae this he followed, looking toward the little cove on the opposite side of _ His ve islan ference of the wooded isle was ie eee eens, wo A obk ‘take him long to row around 28 Beg “I got into a little trouble over at the house and couldn't get back any sooner,” replied Tom, as he tied the painter of the rowboat to a cleat in the stern of the Seadrift and stepped aboard of the latter. “What trouble did you get into?” asked his passenger, curiously. “Well, I had a tumble from a ladder that kind of knocked me silly,” answered Tom, who did not care to enlighten the young men regarding the real state of affairs. “I wanted to find out something about that light that was shining from the second story of the building. I started up the ladder, but the old thing snapped in two when I was near the top and I got a nasty fall.” “Oh, that was it, eh?” asked the head clerk. “It was a lucky thing that you did not break your neck—lucky for us, - too, for if you hadn’t turned up we'd have had to stay here all night.” ; Tom laughed as he swung the boom out so as to catch the light wind, then, seating himself on the weather side of the helm, he steered the sailboat out of the cove. By the time the boat had gone a quarter of a mile the fog had entirely disappeared. The stars were out in full force, and the skyrockets from i every section of the town were trying to rival their brfl- liancy. In three-quarters of an hour the Seadrift reached the main wharf, where her passengers disembarked, bade good-by to the young skipper, and started with their traps for the rail- road station. 74 When Tom hauled out from the wharf and headed for — home, Patty made her reappearance from the cabin. ; “Hungry, Patty?” asked Tom, with a smile. S The girl admitted that she was. Pat “So am I. It’s nearly nine o’clock—more than eight hours since we had our lunch. If it hadn’t been for the calm and the fog we’d have reached town around half-past five, and been home before six. When we drifted into the cove at | Hermit Island you were asleep. I guess you've had boating J enough for one day.” It didn’t take long to run over to the little wharf on the waterfront of the Travers property, if Tom made the boat fast, lowered the sail, but did not tidy it up, and put the stops about it, for he expected to run over to Hermit Island later on with Harding, and then, taking Patty by the hand, they skipped up to the house. 3 Ave “You’ve made a long day of it, Tom,” said his mother, xe who was sitting on the side porch watching the fireworks. — na “Couldn’t help it, mother. We were caught in the fog and becalmed at the same time. ‘ 9 I’m thankful we got here as soon as we have. Anything to eat? Patty and I are fam- ished.” i oi “Yes; you'll find your suppers in the oven and the tea on the top of the stove. I left a light in the Kitchen. You'd both better eat there, as the dining-table is cleared off.” — per “All right, mother,” replied Tom, cheerfully. “Was Mr. a Spriggins here after Patty?” ‘ “No.” ‘i : 4 “I guess he has too much respect for the day to do any | dirty work for Nathan Kemp,” said Tom. “The most he © could have done, anyway, was to have taken Patty over to — his house and kept her there if she refused to go back to the Kemps. To-morrow we'll bring her case before the magis- trate ‘ourselves and see if we can’t squelch Mr. Kemp and his — sister for good and all, as far as Patty is concerned. They — have forfeited all right to her services by their treatment | her, and I have no doubt that Patty will be allowed to sta with us, if she so desires.” ae Tom then went into the kitchen, to find Patty setting the | little table there for their supper, and in a couple of minutes _ the two young people were eating away as happy as they had not a trouble in the world. es “Where’s Dora, mother?” asked Tom, when he came ot on the porch after the “Off with Jack to see the: fi works?” aj a *Y

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AN _ ‘tion of the fireworks than to stand for a couple of hours in a hot, perspiring crowd, in order to get a fleeting glimpse of the whole show.” 3 “T guess you’re right, mother. the crowd.” And they did not, for they were soon wedged into the thick- est of it, watching the fizzing design of “Washington Cross- ing the Delaware.” But Patty and I won’t mind CHAPTER VII. TRYING TO EARN THE REWARD. When Tom and Patty got back to the cottage they found Jack Harding and Dora standing at the gate. “I want to see you before you go home, Jack.” said Tom. “You'll find me sitting on the kitchen doorstep.” Atl right,” replied Jack, laughingly. Eg Fifteen minutes later he joined Tom at the spot men- tioned. “Well, Tom, here I am at your service,” - geat beside his future brother-in-law. ““T’ve got something important to talk to you about,” be. Tom. “I'm ready to hear it.” “Something that will put five hundred dollars in each of our pockets if we can get it throngh.” .“Five hundred dollars, eh?” replied Harding. bce What is this scheme?” “You've heard about the Night Hawks, of course—the four crooks who, disguised with birds’ heads, robbed a num- ber of houses in this neighborhood last spring?” ' “Of course, I heard about them at the time.” _ “Did you hear that: they had turned up again—that they robped the Stansbury post-office the other night, also Deacon _ White’s house?” “No; 1s that a fact?” eyes; and they went through the Manson cottage this after- he said, taking a “That sounds : “You don't say!” “Sure thing. There’s a standing reward of one Housgan lollars for their capture.” “So I heard.” “Well, it's up to us now to earn that money.” ‘ 1s to us! What do you mean?” asked Harding, in sur- —# Ba “1 “mean I know exactly where those four rascals are in 2 iding.” “You ae in astonishment. do.” Hermit Island.” w do you know that?” saw them there to-night.” ‘You did?” Poca, You know that Patty and I were gone all Say on bay in the Seadrift?” heard when I came after Dora this ‘afternoon. ML: put ashore at Hermit Island about ten o'clock.” fi you saw the four rascals there, eh?” t then. They were away, but I saw evidence that four whom 1 thought to be tramps, bisbicqe ied in site old for Deer Island to take off those Boston bank clerks ed down yesterday ie: nodded. ching the island and ‘come up. and it pir a ‘before we had dla eatiig our’ facsinis on the’ 4stand, I er off down taking them pinion the ak ne a EYE TO BUSINESS. a “You carried off their boat so they couldn't get away from the island?” Tl vdid.” “That was a clever move,” replied Harding; “put when they find themselves cooped up they'll be uncommonly watch- ful against capture. There are four of them, probably armed, and may be expected to put up a desperate resistance. How do you think that you and I can do them up? It’s teo pig a contract, Tom, for us to undertake.” Tom now began to think so himself, but he didn’t want to admit it. “But there's to lose my share of it. ness.” “I’m willing to help you earn it, Tom,” replied Jack, “but I’m afraid that in this case the odds are too great against us. We'd better take Constable Spriggins with us and divide the reward in thirds. Even with him we’re more than likely to have our hands full, unless we can take the rascals by surprise.” bd “My idea was that if we went down to the island to-night we stood a good chance of catching them off their guard,” said Tom, “I left them drinking and enjoying themselves. They feel pretty safe there at present. Suppose we go down and see how the land Hes, anyway. You've got a revolver at your room, and I'll get father’s. Are you game to do it?” “T am if you are,” replied Jack; “but T still think it would be wiser for us to take the constable along. There is con- siderable power in the majesty of the law, Tom.” “Majesty of the law is good, Jack, but I think a six-shooter is better,” laughed Tom. “You go and get your gun and I'll wait for you at the wharf.” Jack, although he regarded the adventure as a rash one, was prepared to back .Tom up, and so he departed for his home to get his weapon. Tom went to his room and got the revolver that had be- longed to his father and then made his way down to the boat. It was about midnight; a fresh breeze was blowing that promised a quick trip to the island, and the sky was now somewhat overcast: Jack returned in about twenty minutes; then they raised the sail and started down the bay at a merry clip, Tom at the wheel. Inside of another twenty minutes the Seadrift put into the cove where she had already been twice that day, or rather the day before. as it was now nearing one o’clock. The waves plashed noisily on the shore, and the wind, which was steadily rising. soughed through the trees that heavily covered the island. Tom and his friend Jack jumped ashore, tied the painter to the tree, and then started for the unfinished building in the clearing. When they reached the inner line of trees they paused to reconnoiter the house. : There was a light in the room occupied by the crooks. ae “The rascals are still awake,” said Harding. 7 “If they are moving around we ought to see them through. that windaw,” said Tom, after the lapse of five minutes. “Maybe they’ve fallen asleep and left the light burning.” » After waiting a while longer and seeing no sign of 5 through the window, Tom proposed that they creep 0 ae 4 look in to see what the men were doing. To this Harding agreed. ' $o they advanced across the open ground with due cam na tion, holding their revolvers ready for instant use. Glancing in through the window, they saw the four sprawled out asleep, with their arms on the table and hea buried in them. *T wonder if they’re ‘arunk?” queried -Tom. hw one thousand dollars in it, and I don’t want I need the money to start my busi- By and by the wind eid entirely and we, , when we hae into a cove of -4was we saw a light shining through ’ edt that it cape See Ee B40 |! hotel build he cae a I at me pen T took phe “They look as if they might bee but fg ean't tell for cae replied Jack.

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AN EYE TO BUSINESS. 9 The raseals were lying about in such an awkward way that “Now what do you think of that?” said Tom, as soon as they it looked impossible to tie them in any effective manner with-| had entered the room. out disturbing them. “T think it’s first-class. Those two chaps will play right into While Tom and his companion were considering the diffi-| our hands,” replied Harding. “Come back to the window and culties of the situation, the man known as Baldy moved, raised | let’s watch them.” his head and finally sat up. Tom and Jack resumed their former positions under the win- He Jooked at his companions a moment or two, then got up | dw. and shook the fellow called Sandy. They saw Baldy and Sandy bending over their companions. Sandy sat up, and Baldy made a sign to him that he seemed In a moment or two each had a revolver in his hand, which to understand. _ |e stuffed into his pocket. Both picked up their hats and walked toward the door. Then they got some of the rope and tied Bentley and Bud “We'll have to hide, Jack,” warned Tom. “They're coming | Smith to their chairs. Suis = Jack punched Tom in the ribs and chuckled. They hastened to get behind a small pile of debris nearby| “They're doing the job for us, Tom,” he said. “We'll only and then awaited further developments. have those two to tackle, and we ought to be able to knock them both cut by catching them off their guard.” Baldy and Sandy, having secured their dangerous asso-- CHAPTER VIII. ciates to their satisfaction, lost no time in removing the hearthstone and getting the mahogany box out of the hole. UAPTURE ‘OF HE NIGHT HAWKS. It had a handle at each end and was comparatively easy to Baldy opened the door, and he and Sandy came out and} C@try. closed ne otter them. nie When Baldy turned the light low Tom and Jack concluded Then both, after a glance at the cloudy sky, moved de- it. was time to change their base of operations. liberately toward the pile of debris and sat down. “Where did you find their boat, Tom?” asked Jack. Had they used their eyes to good advantage they must have “Over yonder, tied to a stake in the beach.” seen Tom aud Harding crouching behind the mound. “Then we'd better get over there and lay for these chaps, But they didn’t, for they had not the slightest suspicion that| As ‘soon as we have captured them the game will be in our 9 any intruders were on the island at the moment. hands.” “Sandy,” said Baldy, in a confidential tone, “are you and} So Tom and Harding made for the wood as fast as they me of one mind?” | could, and soon reached the vicinity where the boat had been “I reckon we are, Baldy,” was the reply. tied. “We are both agreed that the best thing we can do is to get; “Pick up a club, Tom,” said Jack, looking around for a stout our flukes on the swag already secured and light out for New | piece of wood for himself. ““Then when they come along with York, leavin’ Bentley and Bud Smith to shift for themselves.” | the box we'll spring out of the shrubbery and knock them “That suits me, if the thing can be safely done,” replied| down.” Sandy. “How are we going to secure them?” asked Tom. “it's got to be done, pal, and to-night is the time to do it. “We'll get their guns away from them, and I'll stand over ‘All we have to do is to dig up that box, take it down to the| them with my revolver while you run back to the house and boat and make off. They won’t be able to follow us, so we} get some of that rope.” kin get a good start.” , “All right,” replied Tom, and they concealed themselves and “if they should catch us tryin’ the dodge on, Baldy, it} waited. » wouldn’t be healthy for us.” In a quarter of an hour they heard the two crooks coming “We niust’t let ’em catch us, Sandy. I'm determined to cut} with the box between them. b loose from them chaps, Bud is too bad-minded to suit me.| Just as they passed the hidden watchers Tom and Jack rose He ain’t got no respect for human life, and we have, Sandy. | up behind them and dealt each a stunning blow on the head. I'm not achin’ to have my neck stretched. I draw a line at} Down they went, box and all, and lay where they had fallen that kind of thing. Bud wants to do cp that boy we ketched in| without a movement. the buildin’ to-night, and Bentley won't stand in his way. It| “I hope we didn’t kill them,” said Tom, a bit anxiously, as them two hadn't got blazin’ drunk with the contents of that/he locked down at the white faces of the two rascals. demijohn I'll bet that boy would be floatin’ out to sea, bound! “Not much danger of that,” answered Jack, coolly. “Those hand and foot, by this time.’ bullet heads ought to be able to stand a policeman’s locust, “I reckon he would,” admitted Sandy. and that’s harder than these bits of wood. Come, now, let’s “Tt ain’t certain, as things stand, but Bud and Bentley will| disarm them before they come to.” 4 carry him into the cellar in the mernin’ and shoot him. I They found four revolvers on them, two of which belonged wenldn’t trest neither cf them. When we get the box aboard} to their companions. the rowboat we'll go and cut the boy loose and tell him to| “We have quite an armament now,” laughed Jack. “Help mosey 2s Secon as he kin. He's got a boat somewhere along-|™me drag them down on the shore and prop them up against shore, ‘cause he couldn’t have walked here. Then we'll make | that rock.” , “a for the p’int yonder, steal one of them sailboats that's an-| The unconscious rascals were placed in the position indicated rr. -__ ehored there,,and sail around to Nanticoke, where we'll arrive | by Harding. pe {nm time to take the first train for. New York. We kin check| “Now hustle over to the house’ for that rope, Tom, then we'll _ nd: the box through as baggage.” ; have these two-foxy chaps dead to rights.” __* “It’s a good scheme,” assented Sandy, “if it will only work.”| Tom was back inside of five minutes with the cord, and he “It’s got to work, Sandy. Them two chaps are b’ilin’ drunk | helped Jack tie the two Night Hawks in a way that rendered and won't know what we're up to.” them completely helpless. ; “Ave you sure they’re as drunk as that?” “Now we'll tackle the other two at the house,” said Har-— 4 “Tf they ain’t, they kin stand a heap more liquor than I} ding, “and then we'll bring them down here and leave them think they kin.” _ while we sail the boat around.” “7 don’t like to take no chances, Baldy. I reckon if they In spite of the fact that the two scoundrels were stupidly — woke up too soon we might feel an ounce of lead in our in-| drunk, Tom experienced a feeling of nervousness while he as- — Zz ? sisted Jack in cutting them loose, one at a time, from the. “Well, Sandy, we kin try and see how drunk they are.” chairs, and retying them in a more secure fashion. “How are you going to do it?” At length the job was done and the four Night Hawks were — “Give 'em a shake-up.” : in their power. ee And if they wake up, what then?” Taking one of the crooks at a time, they carried them to the | We'll tell ’em it’s time to turn in.” thst shore where their two companions were still in a state of in- It’s a good idea, Baldy.” a f ie sensibility. ; i ee Sure it is. If they won’t wake easy, then we'll get their| Then they went to the cove, boarded the Seadrift, and way to make sure we don’t get hurt. After that we’ll| her around to that part of the island. os . the box and mosey.” . After placing the mahogany box in the cuddy, they dumped . ; get about it, bcos ie can’t get away too quick from <r crooks in after it, pushed off and started for Bar to suit me s ahi . ene 1 eS] 7 oN, ay

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i “ | AN EYE TO BUSINESS. It was nearly three o’clock when Tom aroused Constable Spriggins from his bed to tell him about the capture of the Night Hawks. tae The officer could hardly believe his ears. He knew, however, that Tom Travers was not a practical joker, so he hitched up his light wagon and drove with the boy down to the Travers dock. oes The four rascals were puiled out of the cuddy and loaded on 2 the wagon, then the mahogany box with its valuable contents followed, and last of all came the papier-mache birds’ heads, which Tom and Jack had taken care to bring along as evidence of the identity of their prisoners. With this load the constable drove off for the county jail, while Tom and his friend Jack separated for the night, after congratulating each other over the prospect of soon pocketing the reward for the capture of the Night Hawks. fot CHAPTER IX. a THE INVENTION. , The Barmouth Daily Courant next morning printed a column story, embellished with a formidable scare head, of the capture : of the Night Hawks by Tom Travers and Jack Harding on ‘Hermit Island. oh 4 The particulars were furnished by the constable and put in _type by the foreman of the paper, for the editorial force had ‘retired when the news reached the Courant office. The editor and proprietor of the paper was therefore as much ‘surprised as any one else when he saw the story in print. Tom and the young blacksmith were naturally the heroes of the hour, and quite a crowd of curious townspeople visited the _gmithy to learn further particulars of the astonishing affair. _ Byery boy in town who knew Tom tried to hunt him up for a similar reason, but, as he was taking a good, long sleep in his room, he was not visible until the afternoon. Age A Courant reporter had to make three calls at his house be- fore he got the desired chance to interview him for the after- cae ‘hoon edition. ys Nathan Kemp also made another call at the cottage in an ineffectual attempt to get Patty Penrose to go back to his ¥ house, but the girl refused to do so, and he retired greatly - chagrined, for the magistrate had refused td entertain his a complaint against Patty, ruling that she had a right to secede _ from his household if she chose to do so. ‘5 The court-house was crowded when the four crooks were brought up for their preliminary examination, at which Tom and Jack were the star witnesses. - 3 . There were a dozen complainants against the rascals, most of whom identified a considerable portion of their stolen prop- erty among the plunder which the mahogany box contained. - The evidence was conclusive, and the magistrate held the men for trial. We may as well say here that they were duly tried, con- _ yieted and sent to the State prison for a term of years. _-_ Everybody agreed that Tom and Jack had fairly earned the one thousand dollars reward, and it was paid over to them. Mr. Manson, whose cottage had been robbed, was so pleased . to get his property back that he sent Tom and Harding each _@ hundred-dollar bill, so that altogether they pocketed six dred dollars each by their night adventure on the island. During July, Aagust and September Tom earned a good many dollars with his boat, and when not so employed he - was. perfecting arrangements to launch his patent unexcelled - -phoe ae on the market. _ his polish was something new and unique in its line. _ Tom, while trying to manufacture a shoe luster with a re- he had picked out of an old almanac, had accidentally ed a wonderful kind of compound that gave a waterproof ess to even the oldest and most dilapidated-looking shoe. ¥t all came about through inadvertently emptying the con- ts of a wrong bottle into the liquid mass while mixing it. ‘did not discover his error until the polish was ready for ng, and before throwing it away in disgust he applied ee et ee eee the garret, just e what effect it would have on them. result wi sa ae astonishing that he experimented fur- T, to ‘sure that the effect was as it appeared to be. iy ee ee . wonderful oss thal one wood and e also discovered that vias kes Rote yaghi it deri bh ; of aimm shoe Tom had not yet been able to tell, for after two months’ wear in all weathers he found that a sample pair of his own shoes was still capable of appearing in polite society after’ a good rubbing with a damp rag. From present indications one bottle of this polish would last a person an indefinite time. “I’m afraid the thing is too good,” he remarked to Jack one day, “for it looks as if once a pair of shoes is properly coated with it they will never require a second one.” “Are you going to put all the bootblacks out of business, Tom?” laughed Harding. “T wouldn’t be surprised but I may in time.” “What is the name of this remarkable preparation?” “It hasn’t any name yet. I am hunting for one. Perhaps you might think of a good title for it yourself.” Jack, however, shook his head. “IT am not good at such things. I wouldn't think of a suit- able name for your preparation in an age.” ed “I was thinking of calling it ‘Polishine.’ ” “That isn’t so bad. It certainly does not seem to come off, no matter what you do to it.” “That's both the advantage and disadvantage of it—the ad- vantage to the user, the disadvantage to the seller, for he never can expect to sell a second bottle to the same customer un- less the bottle is lost or leaks.” “Are you going to make it yourself and market it, or lease your patent out?” “TI am going to make it myself, or rather Patty is, at first. As soon as I get up a demand for the articles I'll hire somebody to manufacture it. Patty will take charge of the office and salesroom, and I’ll go on the road in earnest.” . “How do you expect to create a demand?” “By advertising it in the newspapers, giving public demon- strations of its superiority as a shoe polish, and placing sam- ple bottles on sale at the appropriate stores, not only in this town, but in Boston and all the large neighboring places.” “That will take a lot of money, Tom. Your six hundred dollars won't go very far.” “Oh, I’ll have to creep before I can walk—that is, I'll have to go slow at first. I’m young yet, and have a lot of time ahead to build the business up.” “When are you going to start in?” “Right away. I’m not going to sleep over this thing, bet your life. I’ve got all my plans laid out. I'll have a gross of wide-mouthed bottles down here in a few days from the Nanticoke Glass Works. I've given an order for twelve gross as a starter. Patty will have all the work she wants manu- facturing and putting up the polish, while I devote my time to outside business. I’m going to canvass this town thoroughly so as to get my hand in.” “Well, Tom, I wish you all the success in the world in your new enterprise. You and Patty ought to make a good team. She thinks the world of you, and you can depend that she'll do all she can to help you along.” “Patty is all right. She takes to the polish like a duck to the water. She thinks whatever I get up is bound to go.” “It’s my opinion, from what I know of you, Tom, that it — won’t be your fault if your polish doesn’t go. You've got the greatest eye for business of any boy I ever knew.” CHAPTER X. PUSHING THE MAGIC POLISH. A few days later the inhabitants of Barmouth noticed that during the preceding night a new poster had been posted up all about town. In size it was 24 by 36 inches. It represented a brilliantly red sun with rays shooting out — from it all around. F On the disk was printed in big black type the word “Pol- — ishine.” Beneath the sun was the legend: “Magic Shoe Polish—the : Greatest Ever.” am That day show cards appeared in all the grocery stores, shoe — 4 aoe and divers other stores, bearing a reduced facsimile of e poster. They were flanked with bottles bearing an attractive label, whose distinguishing feature was a small reproduction of the ‘These advertisements attracted considerable atten le began inquiring about the new oe: a ee abottletotry, — YW % ) ya) OT ee et ON re nae ae ee A

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AN EYE TO BUSINESS. polish on their footgear and talking about its remarkable properties. Tom Travers received so many congratulations upon the wonderful properties of his product that if he hadn't been a level-headed lad he probably would have got a swelled head. It was’soon noticed that the cowhide boots of the neighbor- ing farmers and even their help had lost their customary rusty tint and sparkled in the ‘sun like the glass slippers of Cin- derelia. Before long nobody had the nerve to appear abroad without the shine. As a matter of course the Daily Courant printed an article about the astonishing hit oye 73 in the pedal attachments of the good people of Barmouth. This caer being circulated throughout all the adjoining vil- lages, caused a rush of orders for “Polishine” to the stores that handled it. In a local way Tom’s shoe polish was becoming quite cele- brated. Tom now decided to enlarge his field of operations. So he went to Boston with a large supply of his stuff and advertising matter and began a systematic canvass of the ap- propriate stores there. He got out a fresh supply of posters and had a bill-posting company placard them on every available board throughout the ity. a he tock out a peddler’s license, hired a horse and wagon, took up a position at various prominent corners and began to give demonstrations of his polish. He was a convincing and energetic talker, and found no difficulty in disposing of hundreds of small bottles of the stuff at ten cents each. "The regular-sized bottles, sold at the stores, were twenty- five cents each, the profit to the seller being forty per cent. Wintry weather coming on, he gave up this strenuous method of advertising and tock to the road, visiting every town of importance from one end of the State to the other before the balmy atmosphere of a new spring came around again. While he was away Patty Penrose bore the burden of the manufacturing and shipping end of the business in a way that called for his most enthusiastic approval. If Tom had an eye for business, she seemed to have two. She developed an amazing amount of energy for a girl, espe- cially of her years. She thought of nothing outside the interests of the “Magic Shoe Polish,” unless it was Tom himself. When she talked about “Polishine” her face shone as if it reflected the shining qualities of the compound Tom was push- for all he was worth. hae demand for the magic preparation gradually exceeded Patty’s ability to produce it, and so, with Tom’s approval, she rented a small store in the business section of Barmouth for a sales depot and hired two girls to make the polish and put it up in a big rear room. As Patty was growing prettier and more vivacious every day, the store soon became a popular resort for young chaps who several hundred applicants. really beauties, and he had a difficult job lady soon appeared in the show window of the in the city—a store owned by Mr. spent his summers with his fam- net forgotten the debt he owed Tom for the recovery of many valuable the shoe are Raed ag renege r As ohne on 1) The result was that a throng of ladies and gentlemen gath- ered every day in front of the window, and the demonstra- tion soon proved to be a winner. The magic polish began to sell like hot-cakes. The men stopped to look at the girl, and soon got interested in the unfadable luster that looked them in the face from the display of shoes on the glass shelves. The young lady would take a shoe at random from a shelf, thrust the polished part in a fancy pail of water and then rub it vigorously with a cloth. Instead of dimming or destroying the shine, it only made it glow the brighter. Then she would hold up a show card with the words: “Try a bottle of Polishine. One application will outlast the shoe. Twenty-five cents a bottle.”. Tom opened a branch office on Washington Street in a big building, as he was now making a good profit. He advertised for canvassers to sell the polish from house to house and soon had a dozen men at the work in the resi- dential sections of Boston. Mr. Manson recommended the polish to the attention of the heads of the big shoe factories in Lynn and other places, where. he purchased his stock-in-trade. Tom made a personal call at each establishment and gave a demonstration of what his magic polish would accomplish. He caught three factories right off on a year’s contract, an others fell in line when their managers saw the superiority o: “Polishine” over the standard polishes on the market. The consequence was Tcm had to increase his facilities for the manufacture of the ‘magic preparation. A dozen girls were employed to make and put it up for market, with Patty Penrose as general manager of the plant. She was no longer seen in the little store, but had a desk in the shipping and packing department in the big rear room. Her host of admirers missed her, and there was a great fall- ing off in the store sales of ten-cent bottles. ; Tom was making the business hum, though he was not mak- ing very much money yet, as he put nearly all his profits into advertising his preparation and keeping it before the public. He was working for the future, not the present. — It would take years of energetic work to shove his “Polish- ine” into such prominence that it would sell itself all over the country. Long before that dream was fully realized he would have, to put up a factory capable of turning out cases on cases of bottles of his polish every working day of the year. However, things were going very well at present. His sales were steadily on the increase, and the prospects. ahead were bright and rosy. CHAPTER XI. TOM DEMONSTRATES THAT HE IS NOT ASLEEP It was in the early days of summer that Tom Travers packed his grip and took a train for Fall River that connected with a boat for New York. A large case of his “Polishine” had preceded him by ex- press. : He planned to remain two or three weeks in the metropolis to introduce his magic polish to the trade, and incidentally to the general publie also. : On the boat he read a paragraph in an afternoon daily which stated that Bud Smith, one of the Night Hawks he and Jack Harding had captured and helped convict, had eseaped from the State prison. “He was the worst of the bunch,” he mused. second-class hotel, had his breakfast, and then started to do business. He had enough samples and his regular paraphernalia commence with, and having taken down the addresses of the — wholesale grocery houses, he began operations with them. He spent two days trying to convince the management of | these establishments that “Polishine” made every other shoo polish on the market look like a superannuated sides a spick-and-span new recruit. 7 He found that it isn’t the best always that comes to front until there is a good-sized demand behind to enf an appreciation of its merits. ae However, he got one house to take hold of it, and that a anne om veteran be- — Per ae AY enforce

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A ie 12 AN EYE TO BUSINESS. duce a demonstrator, and he advertised for a pretty girl who could talk well. He got one to his liking, instructed her in the business of bringing out all there was in the magic polish, and estab- lished her at the department store in question. This proved to be one of the most effective ways of in- troducing his preparations to the attention of the ladies of New York, who in turn soon made their husbands acquainted with its fine qualities. It was such a success that Tom succeeded in getting a demonstrator into three other big department stores. He also introduced demonstrators in the windows of prom- inent shoe and other stores with equal success, and had to increase the working force by six more girls. By this time Tom had got three more wholesale grocery stores in line, and a score of large shoe stores to handle his Magic shoe polish. After spending a month around New York he opened an agency for his “Polishine” and hired a smart young man to look after his interests and push the preparation for all it was worth. When Tom got back to Barmouth he found that Patty was looking tired and overworked, “T’m afraid the business is getting too much for you, Patty,” he said in a tone of some concern. “I am doing the best I can, Tom,” of her winsome smiles. “I know you are,” he replied earnestly. “You've been doing fine ever since I started—as good as a man, every bit; but you're not as strong as a man, and you'll have to take a vaca- tion.” “How can I, Tom?” she asked wistfully. “Unless you mean to stay here for a time and look after matters yourself.” “Well, I ean do that, of course, but I have different plans.” + “Then how can I leave the business?” “T’ll manage somehow. I can't afford to have you get sick; Patty. You're the best littie girl in all the world. You've taken as much interest in this business as if you were a full partner instead of a mere employee. I know you have done that for my sake. Isn’t that so, Patty?” “Yes,” she replied. “Well, you’re going to be a full partner some day, aren’t you?” “Me?” she exclaimed, opening her pretty eyes in surprise. “Who else? You’re going to marry me, aren't you, by and by?” “Oh, Tom!” hiding her face in her hands. She didn’t resist when he pulled her head down on his shoul- der and kissed her. “It’s yes, isn’t it, Patty. You’re going to be my partner for life?” “Yes, Tom, if you wish me to,” a happy light in her eyes. “Of course I wish you to. Haven't I always wished it?” “I suppose so.” “You mean you know so,” he persisted. “Yes. ” “That’s right. Speak up like a little woman. going to take avacation, do you understand?” “Yes, Tom.” “To-morrow will be the Fourth of July again. The hot weather is on, and if you persisted in carrying on the business as you have been doing for these nine months back there'd soon be nothing left of you but a grease-spot.” “Oh, what a fib!” she cried. _“Or else you'd be down in the bed sick. Of course, I’m not - going to stand for any such thing as that. There’s only one - Patty in the world, and I can’t afford to lose her. It is just said the girl, with one she answered gently, with Now you're a year ago since you emancipated yourself from the clutches of Nathan Kemp and his sister.” “Thanks to you, Tom.” “Well, I'm happy that I had a hand in it, and you have re- » paid me several hundred times over. Now, I’m going to have _.@ talk with Jack Harding to-night. . soon, and I think he can do better for himself and me as the He's going to marry Dora manager of the Polishine Works than as a blacksmith. I can offer him a future worth while, and he’s going to accept, or _ Tl know the reason why not.” “Then you won’t want me any more?” she said wistfully. “Sure I'll want you, after your vacation. You shall take charge of the money end of the business. I’m going to make company out of this thing. I'll be president and general ; you'll be the treasurer, and for a while the book- a gataat aerk. while Jack en, be superintendent of the factory and general boss when I’m away. He'll attend to all the heavy work and help you out when the business grows bigger than it is now.” “That will be nice,” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “Of course, we are not going to get married for a while yet, for we're tco young. You're only sixteen now, and I’m only seventeen and a half. Besides, I want to put this business squarely on its feet before I can settle down. I’ve got lots of traveling ahead of me. I’m going to visit the big cities, even as far fest as San Francisco.” “Oh, Tom, as far as that?” “Sure thing. You can’t go to-sleep and build a paying busi- ness up. A fellow has got to keep on the hustle. You ought to see how hard I had to talk in New York to catch and hold the attention of the business men there. They have no time to lose, and you’ve got to show cause every time, or you'll get turned down hard. I made up my mind not to be turned down in the long run, and I wasn’t. No one in Néw York had heard of ‘Polishine’ until I brought it to their notice. It’s hard to get a hearing there, for somebody is trying to introduce some kind of.a novelty on the market there every day in the year, and working overtime, at that. But I just wedged myself in. I knew the polish would take if it got to the front, and I just made it my business to drag it there. I studied the situa- tion and got busy. Well, to-day it’s being sold like hot-cakes in four of the big department stores. Three wholesale grocers have taken hold of it, and are distributing it among their cus- tomers, while two hundred shoe stores have it in stock, and I’ve got a smart young fellow established in an office who will keep the ball rolling at top speed, and will give no storekeeper who ought to have it rest until he takes hold of it. I'm going to work the same tactics in Chicago and in other big cities, with variations to meet all circumstances. I tell you, Patty, this shoe polish is the best thing of its kind in existence, and nothing short of a universal business upheaval, which isn’t likely, is going to prevent me from making the public cotton right to it. A good thing is bound to reach its level, whether it’s a man or a product, and Polishine is a good thing, every day in the week, Sunday included.” “My gracious, how you can talk, Tom!” exclaimed Patty, ad- miringly. “I don’t wonder you have made the business boom.” “I believe I talk right to the point, Patty, whether I'm push- ing Polishine or making love to you.” “You are certainly very convincing,” she replied shyly. “When a fellow has an eye to business he generally is con- vincing in his arguments. But there are other ways of con- vincing people, too.” “What are those?” “One, for instance, is to let actions speak louder than words.” With that he grabbed the girl in his arms and gave her sev- eral kisses. “Oh, my, aren’t you a bear!” she cried, making a feint to poe his ears, and then rushing out of the room to hide her ushes. CHAPTER XII. THE ESCAPED CONVICT That night Tom had an interview with Jack Harding. “I’m going to offer you the chance of your life, Jack,” he said, getting down to business, “The chance of my life, eh?” laughed Harding. “Yes. I want you to give up blacksmithing and come in with me.” “Into the shoe polish business?” “That's right. It’s going to make a fortune for me, and I want you to share it.” “That's a pretty liberal proposition, Tom. Anybody would be a fool to refuse sharing another’s fortune if the chance was offered to him. I know you've been making out fine so far with Polishine, and I’ve no doubt there’s a big future in it. If you will show me how I can help you make a success of it I am ready to talk business, I've got a thousand dollars saved bs that I could put in. Have you spoken to Dora on the sub- lect?” “Yes, and she’s in favor of you taking hold with me.” “That will go a great way with me, for I feel bound to con- sider your sister’s views to a considerable extent.” “Well, Jack, my idea is for you, I and Patty to share equally in the fruits of Polishine. She’s already done a man’s share in helping-me put the business on its feet, and I am bound that she shall have full recognition for her services, apart from the small wages she has been drawing.” Harding nodded his approval. “The business is already making money, but the most ot that ee eg en ao & a Re 2

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AN EYE TO BUSINESS. 13 Money must go right back into it for some time to come in order to increase the volume of business. So far I have done scarcely any advertising in newspapers to speak of. I can’t afford to do it in the way it ought to be done, and spasmodic advertising doesn’t pay.” 3 “What part of the business do you expect me to look after? asked Jack. “The manufacturing part. In fact, I want you to take gen- eral charge with Patty of this end of affairs.” : “I'm afraid I'll have a heap to learn. You see, I’m a black- smith, all right, because I have been educated up in it, but I'd be all at sea at any other vocation at first.” “You're a smart fellow, Jack, and it won’t take you long to get into harness. Patty is going to take a month’s vacation, and I'm going to stay right here till she comes back to work. I want you’to take all the responsibility off her shoulders. She'll have enough to do to run the financial end, look after the books, and keep track of the shipping orders. I want you to pull right in with her and attend to all the details. Ill post you in your duties while she’s resting, and then when I start for Chicago, in the early part of September, I shall look *to you to take full charge of affairs here. Patty will help you out if you should feel the need of her advice. You can’t go wrong with her at your elbow.” “She’s a mighty smart girl, Tom,”- nodded Jack, “and be- tween you, I and the post, the brightest thing you can do is to ma her after a while.” “Thanks, old chap,” laughed Tom. “That's exactly what I mean to do.” “Is that right? her?” “TI have, and she said yes.” ; “I'm glad to hear it. I’ve been watching her off and on since you put her in charge of this end of your polish busi- ness, and I told Dora more than once that you would miss a lot if you let another fellow win Patty away from you.” “Well, let’s get back to what we were talking about,” said sh gave Jack a general idea of the methods he had been us- ing to push the business and the results he had developed so far. He also outlined his plans for the future. Jack was an enthusiastic listener. He easily saw that Tom had been born with an eye to business, and that he was a boy who was not asleep at any stage of the game. There were certainly great possibilities in Polishine, and if any one could realize on them, that one was Tom Travers. Here was a chance for him to get on the band wagon, and he was to accept it. : Swackauithing was all right in its way, but it wasn’t the road to fortune. ‘So he and Tom came to 4@ complete understanding before e interview was over. ater was to sell his smithy and put all his money into Pol- ishine, which, with his services, would entitle him to a third interest in the growing business. sation In a day or two Patty retired from the respons es had Jately tried her brain and nerves to their limit, and devoted herself to recuperating her energies for the demands of the coming year. F ; Tom decided that she must take two instead of a month’s rest, as he intended to stay around Barmouth until the first of September, when he proposed to go West. ; _ Orders continued to come in for the shoe polish in satisfac- tory quantity during July and August. : The New York agent was evidently doing his whole duty and eent of his salary, while Tom made frequent to keep the pot a-boiling. are going all right, Jack, and the business, as far ed it, is holding its own; but just you see what Have you really popped the question to wan here ie de yohe pet ONT rabies’ “after wanted back , it may mont! ore I return. = fe with the West I’m going to take in Philadelphia, Balti- ‘and the big places South, but I shall return to Barmouth - I shall want to see such confidence and enthusiasm that Jack week in August Tom persuaded his mother . a ) with him and spend a few days at the quiet little town of Plymouth, on Cape Cod Bay, about forty miles south of Barmouth. It would be a change for them in a way, though the town possessed none of the advantages of a seaside resort like Bar- mouth, The fourth day of their stay was a stormy one, and news was brought to the town that a big bark had gone ashore on a sand bar some miles to the south, in the neighborhood of an unfrequented stretch of shore. *Tom, having nothing to do, decided to tramp down to the vicinity of the wreck. The clerk at the small hotel where they were stopping di- rected him to follow a certain road out of Plymouth, which would take him within a mile of the bay. “It’s better for you to go that way than along the shore, for it’s more direct,” he said. “You can’t go wrong if you turn off by the lane close to the Plymouth roadhouse you'll see about seven miles from here. It’s the only house for miles on the road, so you couldn't miss it if you tried.” -Tom thanked him and started. It was a bleak afternoon, as we have remarked. The sky was still piled up with clouds, though the storm was practically over, an€@*the wind from the bay blew keen and cold across the country. It proved to be a lonesome walk for Tom, but he didn’t mind that in the least. He tramped sturdily onward until he sighted and finally came up with the roadhouse referred to by the hotel clerk. ‘ ae lane leading to the bay was close by, and Tom turned nto it. A mile down the lane he came to an apparently deserted building a story and a half high. Within the last half hour the air had been growing darker and darker, as the clouds from the sea rolled thicker and thicker upon one another. : Tom was satisfied it was going to rain, and so he hailed the house in question with a feeling of satisfaction. f “T guess I'll have to give up my trip to the shore, though I’m almost there. I don’t care to risk a bath with my summer flannels on. I’ll stop at this shelter and rest a while. Maybe the weather will brighten by and by.” Tom entered the building and looked around. An old-fashioned wide, open fireplace stood at the back of the single room that composed the lower floor, and there was the remains of a recent fire on the hearth. There were also a rough deal table and three stools in the room, while on the table stood a black bottle with a piece of candle stuck into the n There were liquor stains, fragments of food and fine pieces of smoking tobacco strewn about on the table, showing that some one had tarried there recently. The floor was full of cracks and holes, and was covered with the dirt of many months. Tom tried one of the closed doors he saw, and found it opened on an empty, roomy cupboard. A ladder which stood in one corner communicated through an open trap with a loft above. Tom crept up to see what the place was like. There were two piles of dry hay there that looked as if they had been used as beds by a pair of homeless wanderers. Between the beds lay a couple of bundles, which seemed to indicate that the men who had slept on the straw intended to return for a night’s lodging, at least. Tom was on the point of retracing his steps to the floor be- low, when he heard yoices outside the building, and presently two rough-looking individuals entered the house. “Blast the weather!” growled one of them. “It’s comin’ on to rain again.” “Dash my vig!” answered the other, with a strong cockney accent, “if hit ain’t gettin’ blacker nor the hace of spades.” The two men took their seats at the table, and the thick-set man struck a match and lighted the candle in the bottle. Tom, peering down through the trap, had a good view of both of them. The one with the London accent was short and thin, wore | ree cap, and had his threadbare jacket buttoned close around s body. ; He lIcoked like Famine’s youngest son, so drawn and ca- daverous were his features. x rested his attention. There was something strangely familiar about him to the Tom gave him but a casual glance, for the other man ar-.

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et 14 in AN “he had filled his features were thrown for a moment into bold reule. Then it was that Tom recognized him as Bud Smith, one of the Night Hawks, who had escaped from the State prison. CHAPTER XIII. THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE WRECK “Well, Jimmy, things look kind of queer with us,” Bud Smith, with a scowl. ~ “Queer! They couldn’t look queerer,” answered his compan- ion, whose name was Jimmy Gubbins, disconsolately. The speaker was a London sneak thief, with a record at the Scotland Yard detective bureau, and he had come to America because he couldn’t keep out of jail at home. “We haven’t a nickel between us,” growled Smith. “Never a red,” replied Gubbins. “And we hain’t ’ad nothin’ to heat all day.” “T should like to raise the wind somehow,” said Smith. “Should you?” returned the cockney crook. “Vell, then, I’m precious glad you can’t—the vind is too ‘igh already for the tuinated state of my wardrobe. I’m blessed if the vind don’t blow in at this ere ’ole at the top of my cap, and comes hout at this ’ere ’ole at the bottem of my shoe.” “Don’t be so funny. You know what I mean. We've got to have money, or we don’t eat.” ‘“ “Oh, Lor’! Don’t mention heatin’. heat a ’orse, tail and hall.” “Neither do we drink anythin’ stronger than water unless we can find the price. My throat is as dry as a chip.” “And mine is as dry as a salt ’errin’.” “I’ve never known it to be otherwise, Jimmy, since we come ‘ together,” said Smith, with a sardonic grin. “T can’t ‘elp it. It’s my mother’s fault—she weaned me on salt fish.” “She did, eh?” chuckled Smith. “It’s a wonder you didn’t become a sailor, then, instead of a sleight-of-hand artist.” “Sleight-of-’and artist! Is that wot you call perfessional gents like mein this country? Never ’eard the name before.” “It fits you, don’t it?” remarked I'm that * ungry I could “It ain't ‘arf bad. You wouldn't believe, maybe, but my | ‘at you sce, if I was shipwrecked.” i grandmother wanted to make a hangel of me. She used to \ say that the ‘aypenny a veek she allowed me for hextras was better’n a sovereign a day not come honestly by. But she was a hignorant old cretur. Many a time she’d say to me, ‘He who prigs vot isn’t his’n, ’e vill surely go to prison.” But ’e von’t if ’e hain’t caught at it.” “You've been pinched often enough know how it feels.” “Vell, powder me blue if I hain’t the insides of hevery jug within a ’undred mile of'Lurnon. The beaks knew me so well I couldn’t valk ’arf a block but von of them ’ad ’is ‘heye on me.” “So you shook the old country and came to America.” “T ’ad to. It got too ’ot for me hover there.” “You won’t find it any cooler over here unless you stand in with the cops.” The foregoing conversation was not very interesting to Tom Travers, as he looked down from the loft at the pair of ras- ‘cals at the table. He wondered how long they intended to stay there. He didn’t relish the nearness of their society, and he enter- : _ tained serious doubts as to how they would act if he made an attempt to leave the premises while they were in the build- a b ing. 4 At length Bud Smith knocked the dead ashes from his pipe, blew out the candle, got up and moved toward the door. _ *Come on, Jimmy,” he said. “I’m goin’ up to the roadhouse to beg a meal. I can’t stand this gnawin’ at my vitals. I'd about as soon be in jail.” “Dash ad vig, but I’m with you,” cried the English crook, ‘jumping to his feet and following his companion outside. “Thank goodness, they’re gone!” breathed Tom, slipping down the ladder. “I'd rather take a good soaking than have a run-in with those chaps in this lonesome place.” He went to the door to watch their retreat, but was rather _gtaggered to see them standing just outside, looking in the - direction of the bay. “ Wondering what they were looking at, he turned his gaze ‘in that direction, too. A bearded, square-built man, dressed in a pea-jacket and a ‘nog clearly indicated that ss a was connected with oo ‘eros seemed to watch his. nee 4 with wench eine treat to a Arst-rats meal when we reach EYE TO BUSINESS. interest—Tom with a certain amount of apprehension for his safety, for he easily believed that the two rascals were des- perate enough to attack the stranger on the chance of find- ing money in his pockets. “Hello, messmates,” said Smith, when the newcomer got quite close to them. “Where bound?” “I'm bound for a town called Plymouth,” said the stranger. “Perhaps you can tell, me if I’m likely to fetch it on this tack.” “Plymouth is eight miles away,” replied Smith; “but as me and my pal is goin’ there, we'll see to it you don’t miss your way.” g “Well, that’s kind of you. I haven’t been in these parts for ten years, and the country looks kind of strange to me, though I don’t believe it’s changed any. You see, the bark Shenan- doah, in which I shipped at Buenos Ayres for Boston, got caught in a fog last night somewhere off Beston- Light. We lost our reckoning, drifted about all night, and this morning went ashore on a sand bar yonder,” and the speaker waved his hand toward the bay. “I was the only one saved, for the sea pounded the vessel so hard that she broke up. I floated ashore on a spa® and was hauled out of the surf by the life-saving crew of the station below here. They pulled me around after a time, and I made up my mind to walk to Plymouth, where I was told I could catch a train for Boston. I’m afraid, though, that the last glass of hot whiskey I drank has kind of muddled my brains, which ain’t very strong since I came out of the hospital at Buenos Ayres.” “Don’t you worry about that, messmate,” replied Smith. “We'll see you right on your road with a great deal of pleas- ure.” “I’m obliged to you for your kindness, my friend. I hope you'll allow me to make it all right with you. I always like to pay for any favor that’s rendered me, especially as in this case yeu both look as if you’d seen hard luck.” “We don’t want to rob you, messmate,” replied Smith, in a friendly way. “You’ve been shipwrecked, you know, and ean’t have much about you.” “That’s where you make a mistake, my friends. than a thousand dollars in a belt around my waist. I’ve more i saved “Oh, blessed saint of the mint! ,. Did you hear that?” Tom heard Jimmy Gubbins say in a low tone to his companion. “A thousand dollars! Oh, crickey!” “Poor man! They will rob, perhaps murder him,” breathed the boy, with the greatest anxiety. “How can I put him on his guard?” At that moment it began to rain, and the drops came down big and fast. “It’s rainin’. Looks as if it-would come down hard in a few minutes. We'll just take shelter in this old house, mess- mate, till it lets up,” said Smith catching the stranger by the arm and leading him toward the door; “then we’ start for Plymouth.” 7 “All right, my friend,” said the mariner, hearlily. “I'm not aching for another wetting, although I dare say it woulda’t hurt me, seeing as I’m used to it.” “T mustn't be seen,” said Tom to himseif. loft again.” He found, however, that he had no time to retreat above if he hoped to escape observation, so he made a quick dive fer the shelter of the cupboard and pulied the door tc after hime “I must save this stranger somehow,” thought Tom, as he watched the two crooks and their prospective viciim enter the room. “He's evidently the mate of the bark. lest on the sand- bar. It is my duty to do by him as I should have wished an- other to do by my father if, during his lifetime, he had been placed in a like situation.” “How do you like our humble shed, messmate?” asked Rud Smith, after he had relighted the candle and pointed at one of the stools—a mute invitation that the stranger accepted. “Unfortunate circumstances have compelled my pal and myseif to live here for a week past.” “T thought you'd seen hard iuck, my friend,” replied the mariner, in a tone of hearty sympathy. “I suppose a five-dallar note divided between you two would be welcome? You leok as if you were hungry.” “"Ungry!” chipped in Gubbins, placing one hand on his stomach. “We hain’t ’ad nothin’ to eat worth mentionin’ for a_ month.” “That's too bad. Is times so hard in this country now that you can’t get work?” “They couidn’t well be ’arder,” replied Jimmy, dolefully. “Is that a fact? I suppose neither of you'll object to my Plymouth? “Tll get up to the

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AN EYE TO BUSINESS. 1B —= Tt isn’t my nature to see any man go hungry while I’ve got a shot in the Iccker—that is, a dollar in my pocket.” “Tt’s some distance to Plymouth, messmate. If you don’t mind, we’d consider it a favor if you’d loan us the price of a couple of snacks of bread and cheese and a quart of beer. Perhaps you'd prefer whisky for yourself?” said Smith. “Loan you! Why, I'll give it to you, man,” replied the mariner, breezily. “But where are you going to get it around here? I haven’t scen a house in sight, except this old shack, since I left the beach.” ; “There's a public ’ouse at the ’ead of the lane,” said Gub- bins, with alacrity. “I'll fetch the things from there.” “What's the use of taking all that trouble? We'll all three go there and get a meal shipshape,” said the stranger, rising. “We can’t go there now,” objected Smith. “It’s rainin’ hard.” “Then how do you expect to get the bread and cheese an beer?” asked the mariner, sitting down again. * “Oh, I don’t mind a vettin’,” replied Gubbins. “It von’t be the first von I’ve ‘ad. Vhy, vonce I vos ducked six times in an *orse pond for bonin’ a child’s——” Smith cut his reminiscent remark short with a punch in the stomach. “Oh, crickey! Wot did you do that for?” “It was an accident,” replied Smith, with a scowl. “Vell, don’t do it again. You nearly made a ‘ole through my innards.” “If you don’t mind givin’ my pal half a dollar, with a trifle extra for a small pocket flask of whisky for yourself, why, Tll be much obliged to you,” said Smith to the mariner. “I haven't got less than a five-dollar bill,” replied the man, unbuckling his belt, opening a water-tight compartment in it, and removing a wad of money. The two crooks gazed with longing eyes at the roll of bills as the stranger peeled off a five dollar one and tossed it on the table. “There you are,” he said in a friendly way. want of it.” “Won't I?” muttered Gubbins, making a grab at the bill as the mariner replaced the money belt around his waist. He dashed up the ladder and presently returned with a thick gunnysack, which he drew over his head and shoulders. “This vill do for a humbrella,” he grinned. “If the vater comes in at the top of my shoes it'll run hout again through the ‘oles at the bottom.” f With this parting remark he ran out of the doorway into the gloom of the dreary afternoon. “Use what you CHAPTER XIV. Ni ON THE EVE OF A CRIME “I suppose you’ve been all over the world, shipmate?” re- marked Smith, when the English sneak thief had departed on his errand. “Pretty near,” replied the mariner. “How long have you been at sea?” “Ever since I was a boy.” _ That's a long time. Bound home now, eh?” 5 Home!” exclaimed the stranger, with a start. “I hope so.” i <a fire ugh both disasters?” __ ‘Bud Smith nodded, and sucked at his pipe, which he had ‘refilled and lighted. 1 “Where was you shipwrecked?” _ On a small island off the coast of South America.” souk where my father was lost,” thought Tom Travers, was listening intently. x x opt ee are ten years aie Smith. did,” repli stranger, solemnly. 7 qracious!” breathed Tom. “His vessel was lost about the as my father’s, too.” ead mz were you onthe island?” asked Smith. hear enough fér me to signal them after a fashion, but they — never paid any attention.” “That was hard luck, shipmate.” “I thought so until.one day a brig put in and took me off. She left me at Buenos Ayres, where I was at once taken. down with brain fever and sent to the hospital. When I re- covered I was not quite the same man I had been, at least about the head. I shipped for Boston as chief mate of the bark Shenandoah, although I had been a capt’n for a matter of ten years. But my il! luck attended me still, for she was driven out of her course when within sight of port and lost on the sand-bar yonder, as I told you before.” ; “Well, shipmate, I reckon your hard luck is over now. You'll soon be home,” said Smith, with a wolfish chuckle. “Ay, ay, if I can ever find a home to go to,” replied the, mariner, sadly. ; “Why shouldn't you find it? You ain’t forgot where it was, have you?” “No; but many changes happen in ten years.” “That’s right, they do.” “TI have doubtless long since been given up for dead.” “Very likely.” j “My wife and little ones”—his voice broke and he wiped a tear away—“may be dead, or have moved somewhere else.” “They wouldn’t stay in one place ten years,” nodded Smith. “And so you see how I'm fixed. I'll probably have to look them up before I can hope to meet them again. But if they're) alive I’ll find them, never fear—oh, yes, I'll find them.” ; At that moment Jimmy Gubbins came back with several, packages in his arms, a big tin pail in his hand, a bottle of whisky in one pocket and three glasses in the other. ¢ He laid everything out on the table and took the center stool himself. “You'll join us in a glass first, won’t you, shipmate?” said Smith, proceeding to fill the glasses. “There’s nothin’ like sociability, you know, to promote good friendship.” “Very well,” consented the stranger, genially. “’Ere’s to your wery. good ’ealth, Mister Sailor,” said Gub- bins, grabbing his glass. “May we meet more numerous, but never less respectable.” The glasses were quickly drained, and those of Smith and his pal refilled. “Now, shipmate, help yourself to the whisky. Where's the gentleman's change, Jimmy?” b “Vell, blow me tight if I didn’t forget hall about it,” said the sneak thief, slowly taking some silver from his pocket with one hand, while he ravenously devoured a chunk of bread and cheese held in the other. “Wot was it that you give me—a two-dollar bill, wasn’t it?” : “No, Jimmy, it was a five-plunk note,” said Smith. “You have a very bad memory.” : “So my grandmother used to say when I boned her purse That makes $3.50 altogether. That’s correct, isn’t it?” » peared down their throats with surprising

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_ putation in accounting for the unexpended balance of the five- _ dollar bill, he would have suspected him and compelled his - comrade to disgorge the difference. While he was stowing away his share of the sandwiches Smith was thinking how he could get pdssession of the stran- ger’s valuable belt with the least trouble. -. He was prepared to murder the chief mate of the lost bark, _ df necessary, to get the thousand dollars, while Gubbins had ‘no objection to help him do it for haif of the swag. ' $mith, however, had not the slightest intention of letting his companion have more than a tenth part of the money, nor even that much, for he proposed to shake him as soon as possible after the contemplated crime. Outside it was raining steadily, with little prospect of a let _ up for some time to come. “T guess the rain is good for another hour,” remarked Smith, at last. “You look fagged out, shipmate.” “T feel so,” replied the stranger, a bit wearily. » “Then you'd better go up into the loft and lie down for a while. We'll wake you when the weather clears.” “There’s a lot of straw hup there,” put in Gubbins. “You'll ‘sleep as sound as a toff in a feather bed, blow me tight if you won't.” *T think I’d feel better if I lay down for a spell,” replied the chief mate. “I suppose it’s quite a walk from here to Plym- ‘outh?” : “It’s all of eight miles,” answered Smith. _ drink, shipmate. It'll steady your nerves.” “No, no; I’ll drink no more. My head won’t ‘stand it.” “Well, please yourself. You're the doctor. Shall I help you up the ladder?” “No. I’m a sailor, you know.” _ “Ail right, shipmate. Make yourself at home up there.” _ The stranger took off his pea-jacket, threw it‘on the stool and started for the ladder. Tom saw him slowly mount to the loft and disappear through uy ‘the trap in the ceiling; then he watched the crooks to see what they were going to do next. “It’s werry aggravatin’ that he didn’t leave ‘is money in _ "is jacket, for then we'd ‘ave no trouble ’ookin it, and we ‘could be miles avay vhen he voke hup.” “It doesn’t make any difference, we'll get it, anyway, just as soon as he’s sound asleep. I'll slip up and take the belt off him. It’s a fine thing for us that he’s his own banker.” ; “Nothin’ like bein’ your hown banker,” grinned the sneak a Seg “I mean to hopen a bank some day myself.” “What with? A crowbar?” chuckled Smith, sardonically, “Did ’e put that change in ’is pocket, or in ‘is jacket?” asked ‘Gubbins, taking up the garment and running his nimble fin- ers through each pocket with professional celerity. “Not a oshain’ copper!” throwing it upon the table in disgust. He a good jacket,” said Smith, picking it up and look- “rm goin’ to keep it. Hello! WHere’s his name “Take another “tps Cres CHAPTER XV. BACK TO LIFE. ie did you say?” said Smith, turning to his pal. 3 /aidn't ‘say hanythin’,” replied Gubbins. Ye You said BAe gp about a father.” F staietn’ ae gettin’ down to aS ing a revolver out of his hip pocket.” ae goin’ to shoot ’im, are you?” asked Gubbins. ‘so ‘ard now. meg might be comin’ this ’ ’e'd ’ear 7 ae report. Better stick ‘im vith this ’ere t you've got to settle im,” and the London crook took pocket a seat Sent which he pulled a six-inch with it and he'll be none the wiser. id} “My dear, dear boy, how you ha |' back and con pan se right, Jimmy. Give me the a arms. AN EYE TO BUSINESS. he had heard the mention of his father’s name, now woke up to the urgency of the situation. Whether this stranger really was his long-lost father or not, A was determined to save him even at the risk of his: own e. It' was not surprising that he had not recognized the mar- iner, if the man was his father, for he was only seven and a half years old when his parent left Boston on his ill-fated voy- age, and he had only an indistinct recollection of what his father looked like at the time. Then the changes that take place in a person in ten years would have to be considered also. All these points had flitted through the boy’s mind as he strove to believe that the man who had gone into the loft to sleep was really his dear father actually come back to life. Tom opened the closet door wide and stood for a moment undecided how to act. Smith was already halfway up the ladder, with the knife in his teeth. ‘Then it was that Tom saw the revolver lying on the table. With a cry of satisfaction he jumped out and secured it. Cocking it, he pointed it at Smith and cried: “Stop! Another step up that ladder and I'll put a ball through you.” Gubbins turned around and gave a gasp. The two crooks were fairly taken by surprise. In order to wake up the man he supposed might be his father, as well as to impress the rascals with the fact that he meant business, Tom pulled the trigger and sent a ball whiz- zing close by Smith’s ear. With a smothered imprecation the crook slid to the floor, and, grabbing the knife out of his mouth, stood as if unde- cided whether or not to make a sudden rush at the boy, who seemed to be master of the situation. The report of the revolver awakened the stranger, and he stuck his head down through the opening. The tableau he saw below rather astonished him. “Hello! What's the matter?” he asked in a bluff tone. “The matter is that these fellows intended to rob you of the money you have in a belt around your waist,” replied Tem. “Rob me!” exclaimed the chief mate. “It’s a lie!” snarled Smith. : “Vel, powder me blue if I hever ’eard the like of that! Ve vouldn’t rob nobody of nothin’ whatsomdever,” asserted Jimmy Gubbins. “That man with the knife in his hand is Bud Smith, an es- caped convict from the State penitentiary.” said Tom. With a snarl like a wild beast’s, Smith made a sudden dash at the boy; but Tom was not off his guard in the least. He jumped behind the table and fired at the arm that held the knife. With a roar of pain, Smith staggered back, the weapon dropping to the floor. ; Jimmy Gubbins, panic-stricken, dashed out of the back door and sped across the meadows as fast as he could go. 3 With the flash and report of the second shot from the re- volver the stranger put: his foot on the upper round of the ladder and was presently standing on the floor of tne room. “Who are you, my lad?” he asked in a tone of puzzled won- derment. “I don’t quite understand this matter. You say this man is‘ an escaped convict, and that he and his companion _ meant to rob me?” . “J did say so, and it’s a fact. He got away from the peni- tentiary with a companion about three months ago. You asked me my name—well, it’s Tom Travers.” “Tom Travers!” exclaimed the mariner, slowly. “Tom Travers!” he repeated, an indescribable look coming into his eyes. “It cannot be that you are—who was your father, boy?” _ he asked, taking a step forward in his feverish eagerness. “My father,” replied Tom, in a trembling tone, Bp 85 tain Ezra Travers, of the brig Susan De——” “My son!” cried the stranger, rushing forward with | stretched arms, “My boy Tom. I am your father.” Sh “Father, is it indeed you, come back to life?” os In a mpment. father and son were locked in each other's ra The discomfited convict stared at the tableau in Then, as if he perceived the advantage in it for he stole toward the door, holding his mae arm port it, and in another moment was gone. Tom and his father saw him disappear. i t re ROWE’ : “his:

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Known you. And your mother,” well? And little Dora. Where are they? this neighborhood now?” AN EYE TO BUSINESS. he added eagerly, “is she| was extremely anxious to see Dora, and so next morning they Are you living in} took the first train back,to Barmouth. Our hero telegraphed word of their coming ahead, and thus “Mother is quite well, and so is Dora. But as we long ago|it happened that Jack and Dora were at the station to meet received news of the loss of the Susan Dean, and never heard| them when they stepped out of the cars. tidings from you or any of the brig’s company, we naturally came to look upon you as dead.” “Dead!” said Captain Travers. the world for ten long years. But, thank heaven, I have at last returned to life and my dear ones again.” “I will have to break the news to mother before you can meet her, father.” “Yes, yes. I will go with you at once.” “We live at Barmouth, a few miles south of Boston.” “Barmouth! I know the place. down in this neighborhood, then?” “I brought mother down to Plymouth for a few days’ change of scene. We have rooms at the hotel there.” “Plymouth! That is but a few miles from here,” said the captain, eagerly. “Let us start at once. I am nearly wild to clasp your mother in my arms again.” “T am ready, father,” replied Tom. I think. It will be dark long before we can reach town. see both of those rascals have got away. Well, it doesn’t matter—they will be captured sooner or later, that’s pretty certain. Come, father.” As Tom spoke, the candle in the neck of the bottle on the table gave one last expiring gasp and went out, leaving them in darkness. The father and son, so strangely reunited, left the miserable and deserted shanty arm in arm, and turned their faces up the lane toward the road that led to Plymouth. CHAPTER XVI. HARNESSINE. “Mother,” cried Tom, rushing into the room occupied by his mother and Patty at the small inn at Plymouth two hours later, “I have wonderful news to tell you.” “Indeed, my son? at is it?” “Do you think you can stand a sudden shock, mother?” “A shock, Tom?” asked his mother, apprehensively. “What do you mean? Surely nothing has happened to your sister? “No, mother. This shock is one of joy—a great joy. Can you stand it? Suppose you Reerd that father was alive?” © Alive?” Mrs. Travers clasped her hands over her heart, while her face went white. _ “Your father—alive! ” she whispered in a strange, tense tone. - “Tom, is this true? Is it really a fact that he is not dead, after all?” 4 “Tt is really true, mother. not far away.” The little woman, who had for so many years regarded her- ‘self as a widow, trembled violently as the news forced itself through her brain. Then she would have fallen had rates Tom sprang forward and caught her in his strong arms, E pir He is both alive and well, and preconcerted signal between them, the bearded mariner rushed vite the room yee in another moment had his half-fainting _ wite in his arms. Bases “Come, Patty,” said Tom to the amazed girl, who had been spectator of the unexpected scene, “let’s go outside for a while.” ss Tom and Patty went downstairs to the office, where the boy sent a dispatch to Jack Harding, telling him that Captain 3 Travers: had turned up in a remarkable manner, and request- him to break the happy news to Dora. - That night the husband and father learned all the particu- lars of what had transpired since he left Boston in the Susan n, on the voyage destined to be her last. ote zine th *t a happier little L = = Ww eve ere wasn’t a to California than that gathered in PA pcg Inn that night. 1 eayteg presenter of Bud Smith, escaped prone serie tes Gubbins, in that locality, _ “Father!” he cried loudly, and as if the word had been a} label, and necessitated another increase of the working ante also told him about his polishing business, and what | ar agp EERE Sg ott Be pe vin net - Next day the Barmouth Courant printed the story of Cap- tain Ezra Travers’ ten years’ sojourn on the little island off the “Yes, I have been dead to} coast of South America, and the story reappeared in the promi- nent Boston dailies, as well as in many other newspapers throughout the.counitry. Tom deferred his trip for a week in order to longer enjoy the society of the father from whom he had been so long separated. Captain Travers decided that he had had enough of the sea How happens it you are| for the rest of his life, and expressed his intention of settling down at the @ottage his wife had purchased with his savings. It was the habit he had practised from boyhood of carrying his money strapped around his waist in a waterproof belt that enabled him to save the $1,000 odd when the Susan Dean went ashore, a total loss, on the South Atlantic island. When Tom reached Chicago with his supply of samples he “Tt has stopped raining, | started to boom his “Polishine” on a somewhat similar scale [| as he had followed in New York. He canvassed the leading wholesale grocers, and the better class of retail shoe stores. \ In several of the latter, and in department stores, he intro- duced demonstrators to show the public what the polish could accomplish, He also succeeded in interesting the heads of two great nov- elty houses—the biggest in the country—in his magic polish, and made big contracts with them to furnish a special sized bottle of the stuff for their exclusive trade. He spent a month in the Windy City, and before he left established an agency in a prominent street to keep the ball rolling in that locality. : The result of his Chicago hustling was a rush of orders that 7 compelled Jack Harding to move the manufacturing depart- fee to roomier quarters, as well as to enlarge the working orce. Tom spent two weeks in Cincinnati and three weeks in St. Louis, establishing a branch office in-each city, with a wide- awake young man in charge of it. Kansas City and a dozen other cities of the Middle West were’ \ visited, and the Polishine forced upon the attention of the merchants and general public with great success. ° Zs thy Tom returned to Barmouth the day before Christmas. He found the business going on in accordance with the tenor of Patty’s letters. Ny Jack had his hands full keeping up with the orders that were Sake now coming in every day for the magic compound that was — taking like wildfire everywhere it became known to the enti Fa His New York agent had succeeded, after many attempts, in _— catching a big Broadway novelty house on a large contract. The manager of this company had turned Tom down ~ three times while he was in New York, and the young man had left the capture of the house to his hustling agent to ac- on a with instructions to keep at them till he got a con- rac The first order was for 200 dozen bottles, special size and rote in the Barmouth factory. ry Altogether, the outlook for the magic polish was very en- couraging, 3 Tom, during Christmas week, discovered that he had another string to his bow. He experimented with Polishine on harness leather, and aie found that it was equally as effective as on shoe leather. hind He decided, therefore, to put up a special brand for the | har- ness trade, which hereafter he mons make a side issue wit Polishine proper. ; It was practically the same article, but Tom’s object was to make it appear to be a special compound for harness makers’ — use only. rc

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CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. New Year’s Day dawned cold and cloudy. People when they looked out of doors that morning said it would probably snow before night. ' Tom, who expected to start on his southwestern trip in a few days, decided to take advantage of the timme-honored cus- tom of making calls on that day, somewhat out of vogue in Barmouth, as well as elsewhere, to visit his numerous circle of friends, who had-seen very little of him since the preceding summer. He was welcomed with open arms, and made eat deal of. His popularity with the girls would have been greater but for the fact that it was generally known in town that he was engaged to be married to Patty Penrose—whose luck in catch- ing him all the young ladies of Barmouth envied. erybody wanted to know if Tom was making a fortune out of Polishine, the general impression being that he was, be- of the increasing amount of business people noted about the polish factory. It was snowing quite hard when Tom tore himself away from the house where he made his last call. It was close to midnight, and he started off briskly toward his home a mile away. The air was thick with heavy flakes of snow, which, as there : was little wind, fell straight down and lay in an ever-increas- ng mass upon housetops, field, and roadway. ‘s Tom had to pass Nathan Kemp’s dwelling. The secretary of the Boston Missionary Society had never forgiven Tom for the part he played in helping Patty Pen- rose cut loose from his family rooftree. He had had several girls since in Patty’s place, but none stayed very long, as they couldn’t get on at all with Miss Priscilla, whose domineering ways they resented. > They couldn’t find a second Patty, and Mr. Kemp and his , sister laid the blame of their loss upon Tom’s broad shoulders. ' The girl's prosperity since leaving them was also a thorn in their sides. : - Had she been obliged to work as a common factory girl in one of the nearby towns it would have been something of a satisfaction to them. _ Instead of which she was high up the ladder of successful employment, and it was known that she was actually a partner in the “Polishine” business. ; aes - Nathan Kemp’s property had a frontage of a hundred feet on the road, with a thick hedge on either side of the house. en Tom neared this hedge he heard voices on the other side - The boy stopped and listened to see if one of the speakers was Nathan Kemp. he first words that struck upon his ears were spoken in _ the familiar cockney accents of the London sneak thief with ‘whom he had come into contact last August in the deserted _ shack down the line in Plymouth township. “Vell, dash my vig, if ’ere hain’t a go,” Jimmy Gubbins was Saying, in a tone of disgust. “So you've been and gone and lost the bloomin’ jimmy ve vor dependin’ on to bust the door in vith. Vot are ve goin’ to do now?” _- “Tt can’t be helped,” growled the voice of Bud Smith. “I - dare say we can cut away the wood around the lock with that knife of yours, and get in that way.” _ “But ’ow habout the bolts? If I vos doin’ the job alone, I’d vork at a vinder. They hain’t so ’ard as doors to hopen if you work ’em right.” “Well, we'll tackle a winder, then,” consented Smith. “I ’ope you hain’t made no mistake habout ‘is havin’ money ; the ‘ouse, cause ve need it wuss than anything I know of.” _ “He’s got a wad all right. I saw him countin’ it in the train from Boston last night, and he couldn’t have banked it : to save his life.” at ’e ’as a strong-box in ‘is bedroom.” If it isn’t too big and heavy we'll carry it away and break up at the blacksmith shop.” onder if ’e’s a light sleeper? If ’e should vake up——” have to silence him,” answered Smith, grimly. do that vithout killin’ ‘im, Ve could stuff a rag matter with you? Gettin’ a weak backbone all : «hee te nother——” ee reasticall andmothe AN EYE TO BUSINESS. “Ow could I ‘ang her vhen she’s been dead these twenty years back?” : “Shut up your trap, and let’s get about the business.” Tom didn’t hear any more, and concluded that the rascals had* gone toward the house to begin dperations. Tom pushed the hedge aside and saw the two crooks just disappearing around the corner of the one-story kitchen an- nex. “Tt will take them a little while to get into the building,” thought the boy. “I'll have time enough to run over to Con- stable Spricgins’ house “and rout him out of bed and into his clothes. Then we'll come back and do these chaps up.” It didn’t take Tom but a few minutes to reach the con- stable’s domicile. He pounded loudly on the door, and presently Mr. Spriggins came downstairs in a suit of tropical-looking pajamas. : : Tom told him in a few words of the burglary that was on the tapis, and that woke the constable up to a sense of his duty. : Five minutes later he and Tom, each armed with a revol- yer, left his house en route for the Kemp home. They cautiously approached the rear of the premises and found that the kitchen window had been forced. Tom Travers looked at the window a moment and then went and tried the door. It was unfastened. Byidently the slight and agile London thief had got through the window and then unfastened the door to allow his com- panion, who was a thickset fellow, to enter. Tom and the constable made their way softly upstairs to the second floor. Here they found one of the doors ajar. They pushed it open and entered the room. A lamp was burning on the table. Both the rascals were in the room, with their backs to the door—Smith in the act of prying open a bureau drawer, while Gubbins was holding down the gagged figure of Nathan Kemp in the bed. “Surrender, you rascals!” roared the constable, covering Smith with his weapon. “Heavens!” gasped Gubbins, releasing his victim, “ve're scragged!” Bud Smith sullenly yielded to the force of circumstances, and Jimmy Gubbins followed suit when he saw that the game was up. They were being handcuffed when Miss Priscilla ran into the room in rather light apparel. She screamed and fled, when she saw that the room was full of men, as it seemed to her. Nathan Kemp glared at Tom Travers as if he suspected him of unlawful intentions, and was surprised to learn that it was all owing to Tom that he was saved from being robbed. He expressed no gratitude, however. Tom helped march the crooks to the lockup. Next day they were brought before the magistrate and ex- amined. In the end, Smith was returned to the State Prison to fin- ish his sentence, with a new indictment hanging over his . head, on which he would be arrested and brought to trial as : soon as he had served his term as a Night Hawk. Jimmy Gubbins was tried, convicted, and sent to keep him company for a number of years. : After the trial Nathan Kemp thanked Tom in a grudging manner for what he had done in his behalf, but they never became friendly. Two years elapsed, and then a three-story brick factory was erected by the Polishine Company, which was now doing 2 land office business, On Tom’s twenty-first birthday he and Patty were married, ; but the young wife continued to act as secretary and treas- x urer of the company. : ¢ Jack Harding and Dora had been wedded two years be fore that happy event. f Tom is now quite a man, but he has the same wonderful eye for business as he had as a boy, who was not asleep at any stage of the game. : *; ‘Next week’s issue will contain “TIPPED BY TICKER; OR, AN AMBITIOUS BOY IN WALL GnskuX ae ce SM Nveck. Prin pe x

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Sas - FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. xs Tt was while a number of the workers on the job at| Although many thousands of wolves have been killed in Greensbore, N. C., were preparing to put a storm sewer on; Texas since the new scalp. bounty law went into effect last the proper grade that an astonishing discovery was made;} June, there is still enough money in the fund appropriated @ find for which many solutions have been offered, but) for the purpose to last several more months. Many profes- none accepted. An alligator boesting a growth, or length;sional hunters are making considerable, money killing of twelve inches, was found~ reposing and snoozing| wolves, both of the lobo and coyote varieties. An investi- in the mud at the bottom of this storm sewer. gation of the predatory wild animal pests was made by SE a aes representatives of the United States Department of Agri- Robert Carr, Milton Junction, was.cighty-five the other| culture, and ranchmen and farmers have been -provided > day. He walked the nine miles to Janesville, Wis., and| with a formula for killing, poisoning and hunting wolves, ate his birthday dinner at a restaurant, as he has done for| as follows: “The stock killed by wolves is mainly cattle. years past. “It’s an easier walk for me even to-day,” says| Calves and yearlings are generally selected, but if these are the spry old man, “than the hikes with musket and pack| Dot available, cows and even full-grown Steers are killed. in the *60s.” He lives alone at the junction in a spick-; They are usually attacked from behind and literally eaten and-span house with a pretty garden that is the pride“of| alive. Occasionally an animal will escape the wolf with’ — the neighborhood. . a great piece torn out of its ham, while the wolf goes on to catch and kill another.” - An amusing story was told recently at the annual mect- Pa PT peat 43 ing of the actors’ orphanage fund by Sir J. Forbes-Robert-! Tle French naval authorities, like those of the United son, who said that a sturdy-youth once accosted Lady Ban-j States, have not hitherto favored the construction of battle — — croft with a long, whining story. “Oh, lidy, won’t you help| cruisers; but the fine performance of these vessels under me?” he said, “I’m only a poor orphan.” Lady Baneroft,| Beatty in the North Sea and under Sturdee at the Falk- with her quick ait, looked up sharply and asked: “Where| land Islands has aroused the French admiralty toa sense do your father and mother live?” “Up this ’ere court,! of the wisdom of building some ships of this type. A dia- lidy,” was the prompt response. placement of 30,000 tons is suggested, and, because of the fine results shown in the test of the new French long-cali- A darky who was fishing had‘a little boy about two years| ber 13.4-inch gun, it is probable that the battle cruisers old at his side, and as he threw the line into the water the| Will be armed with this piece, which will be supplied with i little chap fell in also. The old darky plunged in and|2 somewhat heavier‘shell. Another reason given for hold- — brought out the youngster, squeezed him out, and stood |ing to an existing type of gun is the time which would him up to dry. A clergyman who came along happened necessarily be lost in building a new type gun and experi- __ to see him, and said: “My man, you have done nobly—}; menting with it. On the other hand, it should be remem- ~ you are a hero. You saved that boy’s life.” “Well,” said bered that the 15-inch gun of the British navy was built, the darky, “I didn’t do that io sabe his life; he had de bait accepted and shipped abroad without being tested. Never- ~ im his pocket.” } tlieless, it has proved to be a most excellent weapon. ~ — 4 ae ae <7 aR es » it j When Elmer Norton, of Minneapolis, Minn., was ar-! Wireless telegraphy has opened a polar sea route from __ rested for begging a charge of yagraney was placed against| Central Russia to Great Britain. Wireless stations estab- "him by Detective T. J: Kelly. The detective searched the) lished by the Russian Government in the arctic keep the — onétegged man and found a little: book bound in red] vessels advised as to the channels freest from ice. Acting leather in Norion’s pocket, which showed that he not only} on their information, two large vessels chartered by a Si- _ kept-a minute record of every mile traveled, every cent |berian trad ing company have just arrived at Grimsby with __ which the police can only hazard a guess. rivers with a-great depth of water, taking steamers of any ae _|size. But it was not until lately that their navigation was. - Poisonous weeds on the ranges along Klamath River,} put into practise. Owing to the use of the trans-Siberian i ‘California, and its tributaries are said to,have killed cattle| railway by the Russian Government for war supplies, there ~ at many thousands of dollars during the last year} are 3,000,000 tons of wheat held up in Siberia, besides — d the cattlemen of this vicinity have decided to ask the| enormous quantities of other products. If this can be got — ederal Forest Service for assistance in eradicating the} out, it will improve Russian exchange, which is now a se- diy vegetation. J. F. Wetzel, former Horticultural} rious problem among the Allies. Next year the company missioner, told the catile owners that four distinct) proposes to take about thirty steamers over the new Wh s were responsible for the trouble. Two of the weeds,} Sea route laden with Siberian products. Even if the w aré Noe »cisonous-if eaten separately, but are dead- Wetzel said, was possible, f

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20 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. SIX WEEKS IN THE MOON — OR— A TRIP BEYOND THE ZENITH By ED. KING ome {A SERIAL STORY) CHAPTER XVIII (continued ) had reckoned upon. Here was one of the peculiar nautilus shellboats and aboard this they went. Dick was laid in the bottom, while the: Modites made no _ effort to push the boat from the shore. They rather made 2 preparations for spending the night on the’ spot. e ___ Nor did the boat leave the shore until the morning of the next day. This was just about the time that Elias x and Ned were taking the trail. But prompt with the sunrise the Modite vessel glided aan toward the sea. Out upon the crimson expanse it finally sailed. _ Then in due course it made its way dk the coast, and soon turned into the pexgtatal little bay on which was situated the Modite city. Up to one of the storm-swept quays the boat glided. 2 . again upon their shoulders. The ae city had been in a small measure put to ~ When. it was known that one of the accursed visitors from the Dark One’s Kingdom had been captured the ex- nent was intense. From = “eyie of the town they to the quay. into the great square ‘befois Pris Moda’s palace ic was carried. In an incredibly abort oe of time the ‘eatinall of h was again summoned. z ‘ ck turned white to the fips, ey By Jove !? he muttered, “they mean be ie short } k of me, don’t they ?” where At that soe and for the first time att Lat 4 ; prayer. ae settled tat he should not see the earth terrible w isa cinsetin bonds. 1 him | “make break Then the moon natives leaped out and took their captive ; 1|his friends, His heart thrilled. death. How he was to escape such an alanee dites seized him and carried him to a platform, which was ‘This brought them to the big river quicker than Dick]}a part of the original one erected for the other sacrifice. Upon this Dick was placed before the surging mob of bar- barians, for such they were. : His fate was to be swift and sure. A giant Modite with an ax advanced and swung it aloft. That moment Dick would have been decapitated but for an interposition. The gidnt reeled, dropped his ax, a blood-red jet of liquid burst from his forehead, and he fell dead on the in- stant. For a moment the situation was one beyond descrip- tion. CHAPTER XIX. IN CAPTIVITY. The fall of the giant executioner was so sudden and startling, and, withal, so mysterious, that even Dick him- self was unable to understand esly what had hap- pened. The vast crowd were for a moment stupefied. Then fearful excitement ensued. The roar which went up was like the swelling roll of thunder. | Then Dick saw the truth. The blood was flowing in a silent stream from the hole in the executioner’s skull. That hole he knew had been made by a bullet. The boy captive was thrilled with surprise and eager ey hope. It told him that his friends were near and that — succor was at hand. ‘In the excitement of the moment he was ignored by his” captors. They had pressed about the executioner who reat been so mysteriously slain. rsa Dick’s gaze instinctively turned to the height above ae depression in which the city lay. He knew that the shot had come from that direction. He tried to locate the spot where he knew Elias and Ned must be in hiding. at And as chance had it, he saw a white hand held abor clump of foliage there and knew that it was a ol The opportune shot had at least prevented his in was at a loss to Lapa itt

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3 re . FAME The effect upon Prince Moda of the executioner’s death it was not ‘easy to describe. _ For a moment the moon prince seemed utterly unable _ to grasp the situation. ~ He looked about him in a startled and apprehensive manner as if he half expected to see the Dark and Evil - One appear on the scene with a legion of fiends. Tt was plain that the death of the executioner was a mystery to him, and that a great fear was upon him, pos- sibly that he: might also become a victim to the unseen dead!y power. This was the turning of the tide. Fierce and savage men surrounded Dick, and it seemed as if they would, like beasts of prey, rend him to pieces. But, just as they were certainly about to do him harm, Moda stepped forward and gave loud and stern orders. Instantly the attitude of the moon people changed. Moda proceeded to make them a long and eloquent ad- dress. When he had finished, guards led Dick away into a part of the ruined palace which had been partly restored. fn the little copse on the hill, where they had been!*© watching the scene with much apprehension, Ned and the professor drew a deep breath of relief. “Hooray!” exclaimed Ned, “they have changed their minds and are not going to execute Dick, after all. Do you suppose the good shot you made was responsible for - J do!” said Elias, emphatically. “We have stirred up : their ‘superstitious fears*again. They do not understand the p power which can so secretly kill, and it is even chances _ that Moda is afraid that it may strike him next. Thank : heavens, Dick’s life is safe for the present.” i > ae _ “But how are we going to complete his rescue?” “I don’t know. We must find a way. I think it more than likely that he will be confined in the palace under grand. It is our forte now to try and get in there and him.” actly,” said Ned, eagerly ; “but how can we do it?” “I think our only time is at night. You know none of Modites dare to go abroad after that regular peal of AE that a we cin work’ without fear of molestation, d if we cannot find a way to get Dick out of his prison we are fools—that is the best I can say.” ne e can at least try it,” agreed Ned. “Heigho! What ; tl Ae. : attention. of both was drawn at this moment to & the lunar natives who were advancing slowly up loam was seen to be slowly encircling the hese of a e-Was Ee Tt was, if postible, to learn y rere in hiding there. It was plainly necessary d and Blias Lc their position and that im- ye Bis ae” saci us,” Sim Ned. “We the quickest AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. To Dick’s surprise, there was a reassuring smile side and ‘beating the bushes as they proceeded. oaks face and he held in his hands the dissected _| chemist, and the third was one of the patriarchal experts—for pacity—seated. themselves about the room. - ession and | gain that ridge over ¢ 21 hill, and soon were beyond the encircling line of foes. They were for the nonce safe. : It was new only in order to wait for the coming of darkness to carry or their plans. Meanwhile Dick had been led away into an upper cham- ber of the palace by the giant guards. Here he was placed in a small room with a window which opened out upon a balcony. The distance to the ground beneath was fully. thirty feet, and it would have been a dangerous feat to attempt a leap, for the pavement of the courtyard would break one’s bones. Dick, however, did not meditate anything of this sort. ; Intuition told him that the tide had taken a sudden turn in his favor. “The new view of affairs entertained — by Moda warranted him in this. . The youth was left to himself for a time. No guards were with him and he was at times tempted to knot the hangings of the arras together and attempt a slide to the ground from the balcony. cs But after a time an attendant came in with food and drink. Dick did not scorn this, for he was exceedingly — hungry. Then he went to the balcony and watched the low. The moon songls were busy as bees restoring heir Z wrecked city from the effects of the tidal wave. And the work went on as if by magic. eee Gradually the sun sank lower in the sky and soon the af lunar night began to settle down. Then Dick saw that the — gates of the palace yard were closed and construed this - rightly as a precaution to prevent his escape. He smiled — grimly. a + ne id é n ee 7 7 He could not help but wonder what would be the out = come of all this. Would his friends come to his rescue? Were they not even now waiting for him and for a — to give him aid? forts. So he lived in hope. é Night came and passed. For three lunar days “ena nights Dick remained a captive in the prince’s palace. During this time he had hit upon no feasible plan of mecnpes had he heard from‘his friends. ; Neither had he been visited by any messenger frot Prince Moda. Upon the morning of the fourth day, how-. ever, the arras parted and a form wit ~ the ~. It was the moon prince. located parts of Dick’s rifle which. had been taken him when he was captured. Sa. Behind Moda came three other lunar natives. ‘On ra plainly an artisan, for he carried a bag of tools, second was synonymous with what we call on e ; These three patos stood before Dick a moment, “omit Dick was astonished w

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. TWINS SENT BY POST. The four-year-old twins of Postmaster Waugh and wife were visiting in the country about seventeen miles out from Ewing, Neb., and suddenly becoming homesick they wished to return home.: Mr. Waugh, being unable to go after the young scions, telephoned for their return by parcel post and accord- ingly Perry Saiser, who runs route No. 2, brought the - youngsters home safe and sound to anxious, waiting pa- rents. The twins weigh thirty-seven saat thirty-eight pounds, respectively, and their safe transit home cost the trifling sum of only twenty-three and twenty-four cents on each, a total of forty-seven cents. HARD-SHELLED BUGS. A hard-shelled bug with an appetite for leadpipe is re- sponsible for the perforation of cable covering for which telephone experts have blamed ‘electrolysis, according to _ Albert Schuler, of Santa Barbara, Cal.,° who exhibited three of the insects to the convention of the Independent Telephone Association of America, in session at San Fran- cisco. - “Here is your electrolysis,” said Schuler. “Their scien- tifiemame is sinoxylon declive and they have cost us be- ‘tween $300 and $500 a month in Santa Barbara for re- pai When we find a way to Geateoy them we will have solved one of our big problems.” Ww, WOMAN FIGHTS COUGAR. __ By giving battle with a piece of iron pipe to a cougar, - which had attacked her, Mrs. E. Burckhard saved her _ babe’s life and her own near Taholah, thirty miles from Aberdeen, Wash., according to word received’ by her pa- Ngan _ Mrs. Burckhard was walking along a mountain trail, her babe, toward a place where her husband was cae wae when she came across a cougar pursuing a fox, As Mrs. Burckhard came opposite the cougar abandoned chase and made toward her. Seizing a piece of pipe be- de the trail, the woman faced the infuriated animal as it plunged, tearing away part of her gown. A fierce battle ensued, during which the cougar ripped woman’s clothing to ribbons. The babe clung tightly er ‘neck, but she managed to wield her weapon to such that the cougar was finally ae to flight. it PLAY CHECKERS BY WIRE. menage “all-night trick” signal tower men of the lvania road employed on the New York and Phila- ten have been playing checkers by telephone h during the last three months. They are sev- apart but that makes no difference in their they get ready to indicate them. ITEMS OF INTEREST wires are not in use for railroad businéss. . Each move is prefaced with a code word, so that the figures announced can have no possible significance that could connect them with train movements. The playing began during the summer just to relieve the tedium of the night tour. As the players became more pro- ficient they bought standard works on draughts—each at first unknown to the other—and now they feel that they play like champions. They do a great deal of studying, and a game at night, between their other wirework, is their average. EXAMINATION FOR SIX-DAY RIDERS. A departure from the manner in which the event has been handled in former years will be inaugurated this year by the management of the six-day bicycle race, which is scheduled to be held in Madison Square Garden during the week commencing Dec. 6. The management this year has selected a number of eminent physicians to pass upon the physical condition of the riders before the beginning of the long grind, and those who do not come up to the requirements of the examining physicians will be rejected. The management will also start a new system of condition- ing the participants in the race one week before its begin- ning. A feature of the programme of races which will be decided on the Saturday night preceding the start of the six-day event will be a motor-paced race in which four of the leading exponents of this hazardous sport will eom- pete. They are Bobby Walthour, Clarence Carmen, George Wiley and Victor Linart, and they will attempt to make a world’s record for the race. Frank Mihlon, president of the National Cycle Association, has donated a cup to be given to the winner of the ten-mile race in addition to the $500 prize money for first place. GERMAN DIGGING EQUALS CHINA WALL: Some genius for figures has estimated that the German — soldiers who have had to bear the ‘burden of trench dig- ging since the beginning of the war have excavated a quantity of earth in eubie feet equivalent to the Great Wall of China. He arrives at his conclusion in the follow- ing way: Ghe Great Wall in 2,450 kilometers long, 16.5 meters high, 8 meters wide at the bottom and 5 meters wide at the top. The German lines in April extended 650 kilo- meters in the west and about 1,300 kilometers in the east. Behind these first lines, however, extended secondary and in most cases third or fourth lines, all connected Ls oe i. : miles of “Laufgraben,” or communication trenches. z Since April the German positions have es changed, necessitating the construction of new trenches. _ Each trench is usually from six or seven to a dozen feet in depth and little narrower. Connected with each one are countless underground shelters. Taken altogether, deed timator parr: the Pier csi Sa teow of a Ge ast a

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Young Fresh from ’Frisco— — 0OR— THE BOY WHO BOSSED THE MINE By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY) CHAPTER X (continued) He had grabbed his clothes as he ran. _ ; Arthur followed him more slowly, carrying his shoes and stockings in his hand. ‘ “Now, don’t you go to blaming me, Jack,” he said. “T didn’t know where you were. I’ve been doing the best I eould.” ; “Sure you have,” replied Jack. “And I’m not blaming you. I'm only worked up a bit.” “You swim like a duck.” - © fellow learns to swim in ’Frisco. That’s what the Sutro baths are for. Besides, there’s always the docks. How about yourself?” ~ Qh, I ean swim—after a fashion. Where’s the wagon?” “Don’t know exactly. It was gone when I got here, but that barn is the place where it disappeared.” “They drove into the water?” . Yes; it is only about three feet deep.” “What took you across?” “My arms and legs. My wind helped.” © Pshaw! You know what I mean, Jack.” ~ “There, I won’t joke with you any longer, Arthur, To cut the story short, I heard the horses splashing in the water. Sam Calaway yelled out ‘Open the gate! Of ~ course I didn’t understand at the time, but I know now.” eWhat do you mean?” ‘. et mean where the wagon — _ “Well, where did it go, then: - “Tp under the barn.” _ “The deuce! How did it get there when the barn stands ight at the water’g edge?” - “Tt could not have got there if the barn had stood any- where else. Look across there. Don’t you see that the bers on which the barn rest extend down into the wa- I suppose whoever built that trap intended it for a ghty secret, but it’s plain enough tome” “You have been down under the water investigating?” es; and found that the foundation of the barn at this ‘nothing but a big gate; that opened, there is noth- ) hinder the muleteam from driving right in under lever enough. Might deceive some all- right, but Y fool me.” > bi 5 ould never have guessed it.” Say, Arthur, where did you come from? We Jack now leisurely dressed himself, watching out through the bushes all the while. Nothing happened for the next hour or more. Day began to dawn. : Arthur, weary with his exertions, had fallen asleep on the grass. Jack was the one who ought to have slept; for two nights he had scarcely closed his eyes. : But Jack was playing for a big stake, and he realized that not until he understood just what was going on could he hope to boss the High Rock mine. » Morning came at last. It was not a pleasant day by any means. On the con- trary, the sky was dark, and soon the raindrops began to fall. . Arthur woke up growling. > “If it’s going to rain, we shall be drowned out in this hole,” he declared. “I don’t see what we can do.” ‘ “Wait,” said Jack quietly. “How about grub?” “We shall have to wait for that, too. Hold up, now! Something is coming. Don’t you hear?” Voices reached them from across the lake. They came with a muffled sound. ns All at once Jack saw the logs under the barn swing out into the water. 22 “Hi, thar! Hi! Git-ap! Git out of this now! Git!” A whip snapped as the shout came, and in a second the ~ big ore wagon was dragged out in the shallow water of the — pocket. Pa Sam Calaway and the others followed. 4 They crossed the pocket, and, moving up the gorge trail, — were soon Jost to view. +e “There you are,” exclaimed Jack. “The coast is clear now, as far as they are concerned. Now is our time to in- vestigate, Arthur. That’s the next job on hand.” net “Lo you propose to swim across?” asked Arthur, doubt-_ fully. - ia a 2 “That was my intention.” oer “Well, I don’t think I can do it.” “What’s the matter with wading across? You can t off your clothes and carry them with you. At no point the water over your head.” , Bez: “Boles.” 2 36s aR ot May “Then you can swim.” pr pecebae ah doubtful. 3 te

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he said no more, and proceeded to undress. It was very evident that he could not swim at all from the gingerly fashion in which he made his way along. Jack struck over to the barn and climbed out on the bank beside it. It looked as if there had originally been a pier in front of the barn, which could hardly have been used for any- thing but the storage of ore. - “Come on! Come on!” called Jack, beginning to dress. “Why don’t you strike out?” ~“J—I can’t!” shivered Arthur. =f -“You can’t swim at all, I guess.” 2h “This water is so cold it will give me cramps.” At the same instant a sharp whistle rang out, echoing back among the hills. _ _. “Some one is on to us! Jack yelled. _ Arthur was now within a few feet of the barn. _ Buddenly he gave a wild cry, threw up his arms, and _ sank beneath the water, dropping his bundle of clothes, which remained floating on the lake. _ “By thunder!” gasped Jack. __.. He threw off his shirt and trousers, which he had just oe. drawn on, and plunged head first into the lake. yo? Quick! Come out of that! popes CHAPTER XI. i< JACK AND THE STRANGLER. ae was thinking of cramps as he dove into the lake, for e water was icy cold, ~ But he knew in an instant that cramps had nothing to do with Arthur’s sudden disappearance. ‘He rose at the spot where the boy had vanished, and was: just reaching out for the floating bundle of clothes hen a coffee-colored man rose directly in front of him. ‘He looked like a Mexican Greaser, or a Kanaker (Sand- wich Islander). Such an ugly face Jack had never seen. The man flung out his hands with the evident intention f seizing Jack around the neck and dragging him under. : “Young Fresh! Me do you!” fe hissed. He didn’t, though. ae esides rifle and revolver hist: there had been a lit- tle slugging done at the Kearney street shooting gallery, Jack had done some of it. . Coffee-color got it squarely in the nose, and as he down the water was dyed red. — grabbed: Arthur's clothes and swam back. to shore The shoes | had been carefully tied to the bundle, 80, he a all. bs A the band ! !” he gasped as he crawled out on the ‘up against a hard gang. Have = done for ellow? be afraid they wrt a at - ‘FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Perpendicular ledges came right down to the water’s ee jmen of honor. | to get on my clothes.” “That will do now!” spoke a deep voice off to one side. Jack wheeled around toward the ore barn, from. which direction the call came. There, in one of the windows opening on that side. stood . a man wearing a fur cap and a deerskin coat, with long hair hanging ‘down over his shoulders. He held a rifle resting on the window ledge, with the muzzle pointed directly at Jack. “Chuck down that ar’ shootin’ iron, boy, ef you want to live!” he called out. “Thar’s no one allowed on this side of the lake.” Jack hesitated. THe was almost tempted to fire. The firing came from the other side. Instantly a bullet whizzed past Jack’s ear so close that he could hear it hum. “Next one means business,” drawled fur cap. “Chuck down that ar’ gun. I’m the deadest kind of a dead shot. Never known to miss.” Jack threw down the revolver. He felt that his hour had come. If this man was in Tom Barnacle’s pay, then, indeed, there was no help for him. “Nothing can save me but bluff,” Jack thought. “Say,” he then called ont, “where have I seen you be- fore?” “Yer never seed me before, Young Fresh.” “Young Fresh from ’Frisco—that’s me.” “Yaas, that’s you. How well you know your own name.” : “T don’t know yours, but I’m sure I’ve seen you in *Frieco. ~Didn’t you used to come into a shooting-gallery on Kearney street, near Jackson, a couple of years ago?” : *“No, I never sent into no shooting-gallery, and you know it blamed well. These here mountains have been my shooting-gallery. I learned my trade afore you was bass. I’m an old forty-niner, I am.” = “Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself.” “How? How? Do you dar to sass me, boy?” 7 “I dare to tell you the truth. The forty-niners were | ys They didn’t draw on an. unarmed boy. ; When they shot it was in a fair fight, as you pro obably bes nth very well. = “Waal, I dunno about that,” said fur cap with a de! at the same time g apne a great squirt of tobacge: Tee out w of the window. har were gcod and bad among * some es fit square, an’ some as fit fol. But, ez you say, — I ought to be ashamed of myself, for until mee I’ve pr . been one of the aquare kinds.” oe ie 2 a tend to shoot me, 80 put up your gun and. give me ae ~ “Chuck the revolver over this way, out of reach. yourself. Ill let up on you a spell, any how.” Jack threw over the revolver, “Thank you for that mach,” he said. | you about my partner. Is he dead 3

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. TIMELY Twenty bullet-holes were bored into the body of a 500- pound bear, killed on Beaver Creek, Ore., near the La Grande water supply. The bear, of unusual size, has, been @ menace to sheepmen, and a band of stockmen organized to kill it. When cornered the bear gave battle and it took twenty bullets to kill it. Mrs. Margaret Foley, of Minot, N. Dak., has the dis- tinction of being the oldest person to register for an op- portunity to take part in the distribution of the Fort Berthold lands. Mrs. Foley confessed to ninety-four years when she enrolled her name. Federal officials, who are in charge of the registration here, believe Mrs. Foley is the oldest person who has ever registered for a land draw- ing. According to the story of a traveler returned from Ja- pan, reported in The Army and Navy Journal, more than 3,000,000 Japanese-made rifles, with sufficient ammunition for an extended campaign, have been received by Russia in | the past three months. He also says that about 500 trained Japanese officers are engaged in instructing Rus- sian artillerymen in the use of new high-powered field - guns. ie Fe = eee George Giddens, a well-known farmer living a few miles from Adel, Ga., had a mule and buggy stolen from him. He tried in vain to get some trace of his team and the thief, but could not do so. Finally he consulted a fortune- ler at Moultrie, who told him that his mule and buggy d be found at Monticello, Fla., and that a negro had en it. Mr. Giddens made the trip to Monticello, as di- ed, and found the team. ) girl swimming wonder has suddenly come to light in igland, and, like a real topnotcher, she has at once ed to smash women’s records. Miss Connie M. Jeans the name of the new “phenom.” She is a member of Nottingham Ladies’ Swimming Club. Recently she -attack on the 360-yard mark of 4.25 2-5 seconds en held by Daisy Curwen. Miss Jeans covered nce in 4.23, thereby knocking 2 2-5 seeonds off the rk. The Nottingham youngster uses the most up- style of crawl. It is said that her staying power velous. =o , . ‘of bees being brought to Williamsport, Pa., Run by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bender, who m along with a large amount of game while ir Oregon Hill, took possession of a passenger Northern Central train. The bees had been oard box and on aezount of the cold had trouble, but when the steam heat of TOPICS | : One of the unlooked-for developments of the naval war has been the revival of the monitor. Particularly service- able has it proved in the shallow waters off that portion of the coast of Belgium which is in the hands of the Ger- mans; for monitors can operate in wates too shoal to ad- mit the submarine. From time’ to time, two of these craft which had been built for Brazil and were taken over by i the British navy at the outbreak of war have attacked the German submarine base at Zeebrugge, and, by making a violent demonstration on the right flank of the German line, have materially assisted the left flank of the Allied line which is held by the Belgians. It was two monitors, also, which were sent to the east coast of Africa, and, by 5 ascending the shallow river where the cruiser Koenigsburg had sheltered, succeeded in destroying her. According to the handbook on British India just pub- es lished by the United States Bureau of Foreign and Domes- a tie Commerce, good results have attended the efforts re- cently made in India to prepare antidotes against the bites — of certain species of poisonous snake that have caused , © great mortality in that country. At Parel Laboratory, Bombay, venom from live cobras is injected into horsedie gradually increasing doses for a period of two years, until the animal acquires immunity to the poison, and, accord- ing to the familiar principle of serum therapy, the serum _ of the immunized horse constitutes an antivenin, which is - said to be an infallible cure for cobra bite if injected — promptly enough into the patient. This laboratory also prepares an antivenin against the bite of the Russell’s viper, but has not yet produced any against that of the krait. During the twenty-five years ending 1911, more cet half a million human beings were killed by snakes in India. ays hen There are now between 350,000 and 400,000 purely ama- teur wireless stations in the United States, according to H. Gernsback, editor of the Electrical Experimenter, There are not more than 15,000 such stations in all the rest of the world. And he goes on to explain the value of these hundreds of thousands of amateurs, most of whom are schoolboys, as follows: “The average amateur must of needs have a higher intelligence than his card-playing, dance-hall resorting classmate. Indeed, when your aver- age radio amateur has mastered all the intricacies of a wireless set, he has obtained a pretty thorough knowledge __ lands the job over young man.” The

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Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, DECEMBER 17, 1915. TCORMS TO SUBSCRIBERS . HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. 0. Money Order, Chee’: or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. We accept the same as cash. When sending silver paper to avoid cutting the envelope. ps : Sirlts nar ouetank staan sale ‘Address ietters to t Frank Tousey, Publisher oo spend panei 168 West 23d St., N. Y. GOOD CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES ‘The newspaper Stifts-Tidende, of Ribe, Denmark, says it learns that Zeppelin No. 18 was destroyed as a result of an explosion while it was being inflated in a shed at Ton- 3 -. ern, Prussia. One Germay soldier was killed and eight} -__ were wounded, and the roof of the shed was blown off, adds Sg the paper. £9 ' Reports have reached Rome from the Lipari Islands that thes eruption of Stromboli is increasing in violence. Streams of flaming lava fiow from the crater at the top and are visible far out to sea. The lava is now pouring out of the crater, crossing the intervening land between it and the sea and disappearing in the waves. N. C. Burriss, of Anderson, 8. C., said large numbers of came into his store recently and bought peas, the ies table peas, and usually in small quantities. The large number of such sales excited his curiosity, and he asked one of the negroes what it meant. He was told that the negroes believed that if they ate peas on the first day of the year they would have money all the rest of the year. | A bullet-proof stretcher cover has been-invenied for use by the British Red Cross, and is now in service in northern France. It consists of a long metal shield arched at the top, and high enough to enable the attendants to stand up- right within, At the front end the shield is rounded and sloped: backward to deflect bullets, and two “eyes” are pro- - vided, through which the attendants can see to direct their se and locate the wounded, wre + Ch rie Swayne, dir authority for the statement that Germany has still ne to ten million men between the ages of eighteen y-five. He admits that large numbers of these are unfit for irmy and numbers of others 2 regu a abil Sateaits m workers; but he be- err many millions of men who ‘director of recruiting, north of Eng- FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. The body of a minister who preached the funeral ser- mon of Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln, is buried in Lawrence County, Ind., in a little neglected country graveyard. Several miles west of Bedford and Mitchell is a little gravestone almost hidden by the weeds that bears the inscription, “David Eikins, 2 8. C., Mil. War 1812.” The Lincoln family moved from Kentucky to Spencer County, Ind., in 1816. A year later the mother died, and in those days it was a difficult matter to get a minister at the time of a death, and the funeral services were often preached later at a convenient time. A few days after the death of his mother, young Lincoln wrote to Mr, Elkins, who was a neighbor of the family in Ken- tucky, requesting him to come and preach his mother’s funeral sermon. Mr. Elkins started on horseback for the Lincoln heme to comply with the request of Lincoln. The minister traveled nearly 100 miles. Lincoln, becoming impatient, started to visit Mr. Elkins and they met on the road, returning to the Lincoln home together. GRINS AND CHUCKLES Husband—Are you aware, my dear, that it takes three- fourths of my salary to meet your dressmaker’s bills? Wife —Goodness gracious! What do you do with all the rest of your money ? Teacher—What do you know about the stars, Willie? Willie—They’re married. 'Teacher—Married? Who says so? Willie—My ma. Teacher—How does she know? Willie— Cause they stay out all night like pa does. Kitty—You didn’t look a bit pleased when Fred told you you were the best girl in all the world. Esther—Had I shown how pleased I was, it would have so tickled his vanity that he’d be saying the same thing to every girl he met. 4h Old Gentleman—So you think my daughter loves you, — sir, and you wish to marry her? Dudleigh—That’s what I — called to see you about. Is there any insanity in your — family? Old Gentleman—No, sir, and there’s not going — to be any. POEs “Why did you strike the plaintiff?” was asked of a pris- _ oner in the police court the other day. “Because he said — I was no gentleman.” “Well; are you a gentleman?” “T , don’t suppose I am, sir, but it made me mad to be told of — it, all the same.” . “What are the respective ages of the father and the son?” “Well, I judge that the former is over fifty, because I 1 nc tice he likes to be called ‘my boy,’ and that the latter is. to be =, ee Vis ere é » > g $s coli the Di hice 9 ey Ps ate .

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THE LACY JEWELS. By Kit Clyde “What is that?” It was a female’s voice, the hour midnight, and the place a bedroom. “What do you mean, Julia?” asked her husband. “That; do you not hear it?” “No; hear what ?” “Oh, a noise; I can’t tell what it is.” “Can you not tell what it sounds like?” “Like—like some one in my dressing-room.” “Oh, nonsense; you were dreaming.” “No, I was not, husband,” said Mrs. Lacy, emphatically. “T have been laying awake here for more than an hour listening to it.” “You are getting nervous.” “No, Lam not; I tell you I heard some one.’ “Tt was only your imagination. You “el all your time studying about your jewels.” “Listen, then; did you not hear that?” “What was it! py “A clink of metal.” _ “No.” “But I did.” x “Where rs - “In my boudoir.” ee tell you, Julia, my dear, it was “ll imagination. "Hush up, now, and think no more of it. Do try and go to » . on Mr. Donald Lacy turned over in the bed, and composed himself to sleep. er rs. Lacy lay for some time hearing strange noises, and hen fell into a feverish, fitful slumber. ge forning came at last, and the Lacy family were aroused e breakfast bell. . Lacy was a ae a ee uptown merchant, and eRe y hours. s business required his presence as early as eight k at the very latest. . arose hastily, dressing himself and arranging his ‘or breakfast. He had forgotten all ebout the slight noises his wife had d during the night, and already ‘his mind had preceded his business uptown. ‘so, however, with Mrs. Lacy. She “se, and, put- cher morning wrapper, hurried int: 2 boudoir. - shriek brought Mr. Lacy at once to her side. room was in a confused condition. thing was topsy-turvy, and in the center of the the jewelry-case broken open and empty. ey fainted outright at the loss. cy himself carried her to the bed chamber and - assistance. ~ 29°05) thedtressing chamber .he left his wife in kee ond ran with all at to ‘the FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 27 “I want your most experienced detective at once,” gasped the almost breathless man. “What have you lost, Mr. Lacy ?” “My witfe’s jewels.” “What do they amount to?” “Some fifty thousand dollars.” “What, so large?” “Ves. > “Well, then you want it worked up mS once?” “Ves, ”» “When was it done?” “Last night.” “Has any one else worked on it?” “No. 2”? “You came as soon as the loss of the jewels was discov- ered ?” “Yes.” “You did well in that case.” “Will you take steps at once to find the thief?” “Certainly.” “Send your best man to my house.” “T will. in a few minutes, and we will send him to your house as soon as he comes.” Mr. Lacy returned to his home and found his wife al- most distracted at the loss of her jewels. He did all he could to console her, assuring her that everything that could be done would be at once. The breakfast was not enjoyed by the family. - Scarcely was the morning meal over, when the door- bell rang. Mr. Lacy arose himself to answer the summons. < He found at the door a rather pale man, with light hair, smooth-shaved, and carrying a cane in his hand. “T was sent here,” he said. “By. whom?” asked the astounded merchant. “The chief of police,” in a low voice. aoe “Oh! I beg pardon, you are the——” “Yes, sir, and I had better see you in your room.” They went at once to a private room, and there the man informed him that he was the detective sent by the chief to work up the case, and that his name was Crump. Mr. Lacy then proceeded to inform him all that he knew about the burglary. He told how his wife had been disturbed during the night by a noise, and then missing the jewels in the morn- ing. They had been the Lacy family jewels, and were prized quite highly, outside of their intrinsic value “Do you suspicion any one?” asked the detective, after, = examining the room from which they had been taken. “No.” 2 “Is there not even a shadow of suspicion?” “Not even a shadow.” The detective bias silent for a _ moments, and said: “I will endbubaiee this case, and in ess thief Mr. Crump, our shrewdest man, will be here -

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298 “Whatever is necessary for me to do, I will ie so cheer- fully.” “Well, then, there will be a young man here in two or three hours to seek employment. He will be clothed in dark clothes, wear black, bushy hair and beard. Employ ‘him. Let him have the utmost freedom about the house, “and do not discharge him, even if he grows a little. wild. This employing must be bona fide, and payment made as » regularly as to any of your servants, If he does nothing, ~ it will be all right. ig “I understand,” Mr. Lacy replied, and the detective left the room. - At tea o’clock the doorbell rang, and Mr. Lacy, who _ “apewered it, found a stranger there. ~ His whiskers and hair were black, and he had a rather * polished look about him. ~~ *“T am seeking employment, sir, and was told you want- - ed a man as butler, or ostler, to attend to things gen- erally.” _-\-" Mr. Lacy had so far forgotten himself as to be on the “point of declaring that the stranger was misinformed, _. when he remembered his promise, and. employed the strange young man. % obey servants were astounded to know that the master taken in another man. Among those most indigpant were old Rupert and Pow- Age two old family stand-bys. ST don’t see what he’s a-thinkin’ about,” said Rupert. “Jest lost all the jewels o’ the missus, an’ now goin’ to hire a strange man what he never seed afore.” -- “The two old men sat down in their accustomed chairs, and began to nod and wink at each other in a way very _ intelligible. _ In spite of the opposition to the new man, ‘Brake he soon, by his own power, Soa to be a great pati with wi in ithe house. pi ave a , bottle of sent about him, with which he treated rt and Powell. 4: They loved the brandy dearly, and, by treat drinks ily, soon came to love the donor. — , all of which went unnoticed by his: master. in there was eee went up pene him with ‘a th Rupert and Pome the new man constantly friendship. _ evening, rani Hswall was in the kitetion, tipsy the ssleug ona seas: 3 Lio on you.” FAME Sa ics iit WEEKLY. “He sont give two old trusties like you as much as he ought.” “N-no; not ’alf—hic !” “No one could blame you if you laid by soiokiains for the future.” “T guess not.” , “But you'd have to be very careful so as not to be caught. And you ought not to tell any one.’ The jolly young fellow plied the old villain with brandy until he became quite mellow, and then played upon his confidence until he confessed that which he would not have done under any other circumstances. Powell and Rupert were the thieves. They had stolen the jewels and had them concealed at a house which Rupert owned. Rupert was there now. The detective, for the dark-haired man was no other, obtained all that he desired, and then let old Powell sleep off the effects of his brandy, and the next morning when the old scoundrel awoke and he found the young man at his side he was not a little alarmed. “Get up,” said the detective. “We must go house and get those jewels.” “What do you mean?” asked the old wretch, beginning to tremble. “We've got no jewels.” “Do not deny it, Powell: we may let you turn State’s evidence if you wiil help us to return the jewels and con- vict Rupert.. Here is what you said, a schedule of the stolen goods, and a complete description of the place where they are concealed.” After many humble prayers for mercy, the old sinner agreed to go with him to the house where Rupert had been staying. They found om portly, bald-headed Rupert sitting in his armchair in front of the grate. “What do. ye want?” he demanded, nervously, springing from his chair. “The Lacy jewels,” the detective answered, ~The old rogue began to tremble, as Mr. Crump @ forth a paper containing the description and location as them. , He read it to the old sinner, and, pointing to Powe: to Rupert’s a rit pal who, humbly holding his hat in his hands, stood pte $i the detective, he added : “This man says they are here.” “It’s all a pack o’ lies,” cried Rupert, trembling. ‘ie 5 ‘| lently from head to foot. The detective seized him; snap, snap, cuffs, and Rupert was a prisoner. Turning to Powell, Mr. Crump said: 5 _ “Now show where they are quickly or Til pats . a ‘The trembling putes led the way to the there in a niche in the wall the costly jewels w God ‘ The astonishment of Mr. Lacy can better be than serene when his eapoenien 4 ‘was return — A rey iy

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FAME John D. Rockefeller lost another barn by fire recently. The barn was on what is known as the old Coutant Farm in the heart of Sleepy Hollow and was used to store hay and farm wagons. The North Tarrytown firemen respond- ed. but lack of water prevented them from saving the structure and they devoted their efforts, to keeping the flames from spreading to nearby houses. The barn was a complete loss. Whether it was set on fire by some enemy AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. | | 29 NEWS OF THE DAY om It is reported that the Germans are laying mines from submarines. This is perfectly feasible and is not improba- ble. The mines are carried one above another in a vertical airtight chamber within the submarine. When they are to be laid, water is admitted to the chamber and a door in the outer shell of the hull closing the bottom of the chamber is opened. The mines are then released, one by one, through proper appliances. The mine anchor sinks or was due to a careless employee dropping a match is not \to the bottom and, by suitable mechanism, the anchorage known. American manufacturers of musical instruments, with an annual output valyed at about $100,000,000, export only $300,000 worth feoually to foreign countries. Ameri- can pianos are chiefly exported to Canada, where they con- stitute about 90 per cent. of the total imports of that class to Great Britain, for reshipment to other parts of the world; and to Central and South America. Our player- pianos are sent in about equal numbers to Australia, Eng- land, Italy and Argentina, and in much larger quantities to Canada. : re Acc aw The usual crowd of small boys was gathered about the entrance of a circus tent in a small town one day, pushing ich other and trying to get a glimpse of the interior. A standing near watched them for a few minutes, then, walking up to the ticket-taker, he said, with an air of ority : 3.” The gateman did as requested, and when the last d gone he turned and said: “TI'wenty-eight, sir.” od.” said the man, smiling as he walked away, “I ht I guessed right.” “Acco vine earthquake shocks that rocked the South- : Brick verldiiies in Mexico and the Imperial Val- , and hurled pedestrians from their feet, a volcano at ndrade, Mexico, across the line from Yuma, became ac- * recently. The Coronado electric plant was crippled wires were shaken down. Shocks caused by the erup- vere »re or less heavy in all pa e minutes. At Calexico walls were cracked and at ‘o pedestrians were hurled into the street.’ 5 —_—— c die” wine is described 2s a new product of the onents of the latter except alco- ains all the comp istry.. This beverage is quite different from un’ ed grape juice. It is made from ordinary wine, «Tet all these boys in, and count them as they | y north as San Diego and were reported lhints at more severe restrictions upon pie oe rts of the Imperial Valley. | the continuance of students who are willing to get thr ico severe shocks were also reported. The tremors |by hook or crock, petites: cable is unwound to permit the mine to float at the desired depth below the surface. This method of mine-laying is absolutely secret, and therefore is proportionately danger- ous to the enemy. . The well-known naval writer, Archibald Hurd, considers that the German stibmarines are really torpedo boats capa- ble of submerging. They are now as large as some scout cruisers displacing 1,000 tons or more, having an arma- ment of a similar character and using the gun as well as the torpedo. The vessels which have been employed in the sinking of unarmed merchant ships at sight are not sub- =» marines at all, but submersible cruisers. Because they are” capable, as ordinary cruisers are not, of diving under the water at will, the Germans claim that they can set aside aa the laws of naval warfare relating to search and capture as applied to ordinary cruisers, and that they are justified in setting up a new code marked by ruthless outrage. *5 = » Dean Frederick P. Keppel, head of Columbia College, in his annual report, looks forward to the time when motion — pictures and the phonograph may play an important part in teaching. Dean Keppel speaks of the Columbia stu- dent’s classroom time costing him $1 an hour or more, and refers to the need for using every available device to give him as much as possible for that money. The print- ing press and multigraph have been employed and the talk- ing machine and movie are likely to come next. Dean Keppel sees in the rapid growth of Columbia’s registration an approach to ihe limit of the university’s capacity, and admission and upo: r? In the Electrical World there is a story of how the Ger nians supplied the Allies with current for several months without being aware of the fact. When the Germans firs occupied Lille, while the Allied troops held possession o! Armentieres near by, the soldier-engineers of the er’ army discovered the abandoned Lille electric-li and, according to the story told by a Bri letter home, shortly had the generators

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. INTERESTING ARTICLES NEW PENNIES IN DEMAND. So great a demand was made for new Lincoln cents the other day at the Subtreasury, New York, that very small allotments were made. The total received at the Wall Street depository was only $5,000 worth. The new coins bear a “D,” indicating their mintage at Denver, and are the first cents to be so marked. It is said that the bulk of the supply thus far has gone to the Panama-Pacifie Ex- position for distribution there. SHE KILLED EAGLE. Mrs, J. H. Arthur, who lives near Laquey, Pulaski County, Mo., probably enjoys the distinction of being the only woman in Missouri to kill an eagle without the aid of =, & weapon. Recently she heard a noise in the chjcken yard and saw} Eoeudes eagle swoop down on the flock. A watch-dog rushed ah the eagle and knocked it to the ground. _ Mrs. Arthur grabbed a long piece of wagon tire and a struck it with all her might, breaking its neck and right wing. The eagle measured six fect four ao ese from tip to tip. COLLEGE GIRL AS A NURSE. Twenty-five cents a day for wheeling a seven-month- d baby about the streets and parks in New. York is the e offered to any strong, willing and capable Barnard girl ee sah of working her way through college, This offer was made known when a postal was sent to Paul. C. abia, asking for an applicant. A number of students on the lookout for winter work of one kind or another, many are already occupied. Two students recently ified as house painters, while two others decorated the or of a church. GRAN DPA OF WOLVES. the largest timber wolf ever seen in the county was pped_ by Deputy Sheriff Andrew Anderson near Twin ‘Wis. deputy brought: the animal’s body to Gagen where _ he had it on display for several days. Mr. Anderson, who : trapped for forty years and has captured more wild . ds than almost, any man in the State, declares that he : before seen a wolf anywhere near as large. eines been, ca 119 pounds, the body measured six feet from the Seed the tip of the tail. The animal was 2 ee before, |with oil fuel. | Rts Nicaraguan officials are understood to have decided against granting the concession at present, but have indi- cated that it might be granted later if the United States Senate failed again at “the coming session to ratify the Nicaraguan treaty, designed to rehabilitate Nicaraguan finances. The State Department has been apprised of the facts in the case and is watching developments. SMOKE PIPES. Over 20,000,000 smoke pipes are manufactured an- nually in the United States. The wooden pipe is probably more distinctly national than any which finds its way into * the markets. Ranging in between the aristocratic meer- schaum and the plebeian clay, it is rarely expensive, while at the same time its manufacture calls into existence a considerable industry. The roots of the mountain laurel and rhododendron are most generally used for pipe-mak- ing, they being selected for the purpose on account of their durability, hardness, and the light polish which they are capable of taking. Thev are found throughout the South- ern States general} ¥—the best material is said to come from North Carolina and is sent to the market in large ~ pieces, which vary in size from that of a man’s fist to the dimensions of a good-sized keg. The material costs from $40 to $60 per ton, the price ‘depending upgn the quality of the wood. In addition to the domestic material used i in pipe-making immense quantities of brier root blocks are~ shipped into this country annually from southern France ‘ folter, secretary of the Students’ Employment Bureau at and Italy. NEW SUBMARINES BIGGEST OF ALL. - ‘ The two new fleet submarines, bids for which will soon be advertised hy the Navy Department, will. exceed the Schley, the world’s biggest underwater craft so far 0s is known, by 300 tons displacement. They will be 1, a eraft on the surface as against the Schley’ s 1,000 tons, and will exceed by 200 tons the biggest of the cruiser eee ers of the navy. Congress gave navy designers a hard task when it said that these two new fleet submarines should have a curface speed of twenty-five knots an hour, “if possible.” ' Schley will be a twenty-knot boat when completed, an will have more than 4,000 horse power furnished by oil engines. Experiments with models of the new show that they will require between 8,000 and $4 00 horse power to make the additional five knots. Navy experts have worked out a Practical soluti the mechanical obstacles in the way of using steam 4 have no doubt of its success. The boilers” ie os red The tis will mount dbapesrng gun fr ; Shay ti tich on proba

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QS CU PEN.—Patent glass pen, with nice ‘ip, writes like any ordinary pen; each put up in wooden box. Price, 10c., postpaid, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th Bt., N. ¥. MAMAS, This interesting toy is &, one of the latest novelties I out. It is in great de- . Yo, mand. To operate it, the ‘al stem is placed in your mouth, ou can blow into it, and at the same : time pull or jerk lightly on the string. The mouth opens, and it then » cries “Ma-ma,” just exactly in the tones of a eal, sive yd fe i lie is so human that eceive any y- ye Price 120, each by mail. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre 8t., B’kiyn, N. Y. ° =o ». MAGIC CARD BOX.—A very cleverly mada box of exchanging or vanishing cards. In fact, ,*any number of tricks of this character can be ) performed by it. A very necessary magical ssory. Price, 15c, ° © RANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. ¥. f THE JOKER’S CIGAR. t sell of the sea- So pe cigar made of n. A real os tobacco, but secreted In the ¥ Ls f pa center of cigar about one-half * t for either song or plano ascompentnbat or by itself alone. You place the whistlephone in the mouth with half circte out, Diace end of tongue to rounded part and blow gentiy ae if to cool the lips. A few trials will ena- bl one to play any tune or air. Price 6 cents ¢ch by mail, post-paid ¥. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N, ¥ na 8 ARETE! MAGIC DIE BLOcK. : A wonderfully de- i. ceptive trick! A solid block, two inches square, is made to ap- pear and disappear at pleasure. Borrowing a hat from one of the audience, you. place the block on top, sliding a cardboard cover (which may be examined) over it. At the word of command you lift the cover, the block is gone, and the same instant it falls to the floor, through the hat, with a solid thud, or into one of the spectator’s hands. You may vary this excellent trick by passing the block through a table and on to the floor beneath, or through the lid of a desk into the drawer, ete. This trick never fails to astonish the ators, and can be repeated as often as Price, 85¢., postpaid. WULEF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y, . WE WANT YOU |“Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine devoted to Photoplays and Players + Absolutely the finest little publication on the news-stands a PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY Sf ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESICNS » 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 itis 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. ET A COPY NOW ‘rom your newsdealer, or send us 5 cents in money or postage stamps, and we will mail you latest number issued. | t68 West 23d Street “MOVING PICTURE STORIES,” Inc. | New York | hie

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FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 168 WEST 23D STREET, NEW YORK Se ee nn —————— — ———————————————————— No. 882. NEW YORK, DECEMBER 17, 1915. Price 6 Cents. 1S oF CHINATOWN ‘ih £ La eS) Ppa 2,

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a 5,4 s : ; nm Record. TEST ISSUE 304 es ost Die : cae "toune moecenee of ae Valley 471 The Little Castaways; or, The Fortune That a Wreck Brought | 505 Boss of the Market; or, The reatest Boy in Wa Lerma Vt RS aking ances; or, e o Saved a Town. e ance 0) 8 e: or, e Yor 472 Taki Big Ch Th Boy Who Saved Town. 506 The Ch f His Lif The Young Pilot of Cryta ee ee oo ln Merits ier Oe serene ee, ee Balen to dee Fanaa F ut for Business: or, e Smartes y 5 $73 The Winning Trick; or, How a Boy Made His Mark. 509 A Favorite of Fortune; or, Striking It Rich in Wall Street. — ig Depot itor asc a ee Oe seg B10 Through Thick and Thin; or, The Kdventures of a Smart Boy g Stroke; or, e d Who Made a Record. Best; or, Working Bis Way Up. 478 In the Copper Field; or, The Mine That Made the Money re: oe Bie he on iphe Bos Wie Made His Mark. Bt 4 :g7> eA a tere =. A jo caage zoe s Great Scoop 513 A Mint of Money; or, The Young Wall Street Broker’ a n Life; or, ‘oor Boy's Rise to Fame. 4 3 : _F R to Senator 481 A Wide Awake Boy; or, Born With a Winning Streak. ere nthe figuare : or, ‘The. Pnieot ae Honest Ko 482 Capturing the Money; or, How Ben Bailey Made His Mark 516 After a Fortune; or, The Pluckiest Boy in the West. 481 A 'Tioy With Grit! or’ Earning An Honest Living B18 Making® His’ Mark’ or, “ine Boy. Who Wectine’ Mveaidedt »_ OF, - 5 Mark; or, is ee aoe ar: cr. Rising to ihe Top 519 Helr to a Million; or, The Boy Who Was Born Lucky. ist pov ene One ee eg gy ao A = a ae Pogeter 520 Lost in the Andes; or, The Treasure of the Tturied City 7 Lucky . the ce Boy: or, The Nerviest La : 5 ttle: or, A Plucky Boy in Wal) Street. 488 Sure to Get Rich; or, A Smart Young Messenger 28 T iaey Chace, orci Pakios Pontone on the Wing. ae 489 Pushing it Through: or. The Fate of a Lucky Boy. 523 The Road to Success; or, The Career of a Fortunate y 49c - Born Makfetetar- or, Ane Sens age of So Street 524 Chasing a oka Se oe te Pia! bo beg tian 491 The Way to Success: or, e Boy Who Got There 525 Risi in the World; or, From Factory Boy to 492 Struck Oil: or, The Bov Who Made a Million 326 From Dark to Dawn ; or, A Poor Boy's Chance. { 494 & Rive Winner. of, The Horn Went out Witk'e'ciecos | 334 Bila Ut Piaing Nees Aue Hol? Atoka wat Stze tre nner. or, e Boy ° 5 amon ‘u amond: or. ) Gol 2: or, The Boy Brok f Wall Street 529 A Start in Life; or, A Bright Boy's Ambition. ipa Wertaces Ronan: or. The Roe Treasure: Hunters of Coces Islana _ every args a on Being tle tote se hy Street. drif: the World: or, Working His Way to Fortune. Be ov. ne “Boy: or, zB . 408 Pfarine to Win oF, ithe Foxiest hoy in Wall Street 532 On to Suecess; or, The Roy Who Got neg yl : S} : 533 An Eye to Business: or, The Boy Who Was Not Asleep. $00 rg oe ode Clie or The Wichest Boy In the World a4 ‘Tipped hy the Ticker: or, An Ambitious Boy in Wall Street. 501 Won by Pluck: or. The Bovs Who Ran a Railroad 535 eMoney to Burn: or, The Shrewdest Boy in Wall Street. 502 Beating the Brokers: or, The Roy Who “Couldn't Re Done ~ 536 A Bid for a Fortune: or, A Country Boy in Wall Street. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, s cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, D FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out fill in your Order and send it to us witk the price of the weeklies you want and we will send ‘hem to you by return m POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - ou R TEHEW-CENT Ez No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND 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 rds. oe. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great book of magic and card tricks, containing full instruction on all the leading card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical f!lu- 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 the various methods of handkerchief, fan. glove, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it bap tte full list of the e@ and sentiment of flowers. ne ea 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 directions for calling off in all popular square dances. ’ No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A com- Plete guide to love, courtship and marriage, wing sensible advice, rules and etiquette to observed, with many ic, Teed 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 @ good, healthy muscle: containing over sixty illustrations. 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- et, 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 seif- 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 instrue- 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 ru when by all newsdealers. or will be sent to any address ETIQUETTE.—It is a great life secret, and 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 candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, ete., etc. No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL. —One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world. Every- body wishes to know how to become beauti- ful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost costless. No. 26. 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 ide ever published. It contains full instructions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fish- ing, together with description of game and fish. 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- ing all the codes and signals. No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS,— This little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky days. No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN .—Containing full 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. Macdonaid. No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT.—Fully illustrated. Full 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. 28 HOW TO TELL FORTUNES,— Everyone is 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 conyinced. No. 20. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR, —Every boy should know how inventions o: inated. is book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hydraulics, magnet- ism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc. AWD Books on receipt of price, 10 cts. per copy, ur 3 for 25 ” alhccagtele tnd - - a - 168 West 23d St., New Yo - 168 West 23d St., New Yor No, 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of the m instructive books on cooking ever publish It contains recipes for cooking meats, fi game, and oysters; also pies, puddings, cak and all kinds of pastry, and a grand collec: tion of recipes. No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAK —Containing fourteen fllustrations, giving different positions requisite to become a speaker, reader and elocutionist. Also co taining gems from all the popular authors prose and poetry. TO RIDE A_ BICYCLE, No. 32. HOW Containing instructions for beginners, choi of a machine, hints on training, ete. A © plete book. Full of practical illustrations, No, 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A com plete and useful little book, containing th rules and regulations of billiards, baatel backgammon, croquet, dominoes, etc. No, 36. HOW SOLVE CONUNDRUM —Containing al) the leading conundrum: the day, amusing riddles, curious catches witty sayings. No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR oO DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, containing u: ful and practical information in the treat of ordinary diseases and ailments comm every family. Abounding in useful and e tive recipes for general complaints. No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POULTH PIGEONS AND RABBITS.--A useivi and h ructive book. Handsom py aps D SET No, 40. HOW TO MAKE F —Including hints on how to catch mo! weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds, how to cure skins. Copio illustrated. No. 41, THE BOYS OF NEW YORK ED MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a great riety of the latest jokes used by the me famous end men. No amateur minstrels — complete without this wonderful little : No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW Y@ STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied sortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch a Irish, Also end men’s jokes. Just the thi for home amusement and amateur shows. No. 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGIC) —Containing the grandest assortment of m {cal illusions ever.placed before the pu Also tricks with cards, incantations, etc. No. 44. HOW TO AN -strel troupe. —