Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 567) (1916 08 11)
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\¥ : No. 567 AUGUST Ii, {916 PORTONE WEE STORIES OF BOYS THAT MAKE MONEY. THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK; OR, JHE BOY MINER OF DEATH VALLEY. Gy SELLS -MALE [UMN ND OTHER STORIES Se A “Beel” cried Tom Collingwood, pointing across the fissure. “The Giant’s Skull!” “My gracious!” exclaimed Bob. “So it is.” Sam, lower down, gave a startled gasp. The three boys u gazed awesomely at the curious rocky formation staring them in the face.
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g Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Ne: by I’rank Tousey, Publisher, 168 a STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Entered at the New York, N. Y., Post Office as Second-Class Matter West 23d Street, New York. No. 567. CHAPTER I. Ne IN THE GRASP OF THE STORM. ryt “This is simply fierce, Tom,” said Bob Preston, in a tone _ of disgust, looking out into the night through the partially Ss oper door of a small tool-house close to the tracks of the '_ Midland Central Railroad where he and Tom Collingwood had taken refuge from the storm three hours since and had in waiting in vain for a chance to resume their way back 9 Forksville. five miles distant, where they lived. “Bet your life it is,” replied his companion, with a saga- ‘ s still raining like cats and dogs.” “Thats what it ts.” 3d “A blowing’ to beat the band.” “q ages anapel h to ch d of nail “Tam hungry enoug chew a pound of nails.” Mintee tere,” “How are we going to reach town?” _. “Hoof it to the trolley when the storm lets up.” “When it does.. That won’t be before morning from the ¥ great outlook.” : -_ *Qh, not so long as that,” replied ‘Tom, encouragingly. ws “The trolley is two miles away.” 5 guess it’s all of that.” : And the road must be ankle deep with mud by this time, rout mentioning the puddles we’re liable to flounder into the dark,” growled Bob. m made no reply. , t before them of walking to the trolley line ‘ a particularly cheerful one. Ps } lywWay it was not to be thought of at that moment with Sixty rape gale blowing sheets of water against the wall the tool-house. Sollingwood and Bob Preston were both orphans who in the same house in Forksville, and worked side by ~eenme bench in the Forksville Cutlery Works. "were also sworn friends and companions. . branch of the cutlery business they had = ® manufacture of penknives, and after an = years at the trade they had become quite ex- bl “not compelled to work any stated number of in faethe mpeeing: hex could quit when it y PFOVI we tha da certain amount of work out on the average. : s they put * NEW YORK, AUGUST 11, 1916. Price 5 Cents. THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK ee, eee a - THE BOY MINER OF DEATH VALLEY ‘ By A SELF-MADE MAN. Until lately it had been their ambition to make all they could, and each had accumulated a nice little sum at the savings bank. But a change had come over them within the last month. This was especially the case with respect to Tom. He had got hold of a quantity of mining literature, had read every word of it with deep interest, and from that moment the cutlery business ceased to interest him. His ambition turned to fresh fields and pastures new. In other words, he longed to go out West and embark in the mining business. The fifteer? odd dollars a week he was making in the fac- tory looked insignificant when compared with the fortunes that other people seemed to be picking up in the mines of Resede and other places where the gold quartz was to be Boy like, he had only a very indefinite idea of how the gold was got at. He had lately read several stories about placer mining in the earlier days of the discovery of gold in California, Crip- ple Creek, and such places. when the first rush of prospectors and miners had confined themselves to the surface diggings, and he imagined that it was only necessary to secure a claim in some mining district where there was a stream of water within easy reach, dig up the pay dirt, wash out the gold dust and nuggets, and thus become rich in no time at all. He talked the matter over eagerly with Bob, and as his friend knew no more about the subject than himself, they both were of one mind—that digging for gold was an easy road to fortune. The question that was now agitating both lads was whether they should throw oP their jobs at Forksville, which was known as the Sheffield of America, and start out West to become miners. On the day our story opens they had taken the afternoon ; off to yo fishing in a branch of the Snake River, their favor- recreati ite on, rea a conclusion. The fishing md was about six miles from Forksville, near'the line of the Midland Central Railroad, and the trolley car took them within two miles of the spot. they had been fi an hour or so, boned ta fail 'ss briskly that they to take refuge in an old hut near the bank of the river. “i piles and to talk the matter over with the object of ee After leaving the trolley line they footed it along a coun- ob was rather an independent one as it was paid] try reas
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= it's only. three * s ‘ood and solid.” 2 THE PATH .TO GOOD LUCK. getting back to Forksville before dark, or even soon after, in ened lke a presentable condition, looked exceedingly sma} > Dusk came on about half-past five, and then the weather showed some signs of clearing. They took advantage of the fact to start down the rail- road toward the road leading to the trolley. As they passed a small toolshed used by the section men the storm burst-over the landscape afresh, and with greater fury than ever. The wind almost swept them off their feet, and in a few minutes they would have been drenched to the skin but that om’s sharp eyes noticed that through some oversight the tool shed had not been locked. Calling his ecompanion’s attention to the fact, the boys mede a dash for the shed and were soon under cover. Here they waited hour after hour for the storm to pass away, but it kept on as bad as ever. It began to look as if they’d have to stay in the shed all night. which wasn’t a pleasant reflection, as they were by this time as hungry as a pair of hunters. _ After the convertation with which this chapter opens had come to an abrupt halt, silence reigned in the tool-shed for a few minutes. Then Tom took his jack-knife out of his pocket and began to tap off a succession of sounds on the wheel of the hand-) ear on which the boys were seated. Bob suddenly pricked up his ears, took out his jack-knife, and when Tom stopped he began to tick off similar sounds on the wheel nearest to ue. What were they doing Simply this—Tom ne resumed the conversation through the agency of the Morse telegraphic alphabet, and Bob was answering him. In explanation of this curious turn of affairs we need only say that six months since Tom had got the idea into his head that he would like to be a telegraph operator. He had got acquainted with the night operator in the Mid- land Central train despatcher’s office at Forksville, and after several visits to the office he became infatuated with the sound of the telegraph instrument. He prevailed upon his friend, the operator, to instruct him in the art of transmitting words by sound. He was an apt and enthusiastic learner and soon had the rudiments down fine. After a while it became tiresome to practice by himself, so he interested Bob in the matter, taught him all he knew, snd for some time thereafter the bovs would do a large part of their talking by the Morse alphabet. It especially amused them to talk across the table at their se by using a forxane and a plate or saucer. Then they would sometimes make fun of the other boarders a to amuse themselves. One evening, however, this entertainment received a rude shock. A vinegary ng lady came to board at the house, pe the frat night ry eearal at the table, Bob piped her off in no very complimentary terms. The new boarder, unfortunately for the boys, happened to be a telegraph operator. _ She instan thy understood what Bob was saying about her. The moment he stopped to zeoeive Tom’s reply she chipped in with her own fork on her plate in rather loud and forceful ‘accents, and the few words she said in the Morse alphabet} A. a ae to any more amusement on the boys’ part on that MG rcatend Yhe tixban ‘ub cor atery, this is what Tom ticked “off to Bob: , Bob, what's the charg aly our ouiiene 5 the eq@od through the mud two es e miles further, and the roadbed is me when the weather clears,” Bob ticked back in the pag Fong Aygo hard-as it was five minutes ago.” oh apenas 5 mae -» A sounds _about their ies, ee fect, and’ Tom car, Tom sprang on to the other handle. Prag htt RE ote § Tom jumped off the hand-car and looked out at the nig! The storm seemed to be over,’ though the sky was still overcast. - “It's clearing up,” he said. “Let’s start off.” “Hold on,” said Bob; “what time is it?” Tom struck a match and consulted his silver watch. “Five minutes of ten.” ae ee “Then we can’t go yet a while,” returned Bob. i eA “Why not?” 3 “We ‘ight get run down by the night express.” “Not if we keep our eyes open.” * “Suppose it overtook us in the middle of the bridge? 7? “we can stick to the up track, can’t we, and let it go — “But there’s a local comes along that track about the same time.” “Tf. the local comes along first we can step across to the other track until it passes.” “They might both show up at the same time.” “Not likely.” “ “Suppose we miss our footing crossing the girders in the darkness? It’s a drop of thirty feet to the street below, and | that’s full of rocks.” “Any more objections to the railroad?” laughed Tom Collingwood, reseating himself on the hand-car. “T could mention several more. We might find a wash- = out, or the bridge down, or——” “The track under water.” “No; not much danger of that.” “Why not, where it skirts the marsh beyond the cut ting ?” | “That’s so. I didn’t think of that.” = “Well, Il could sweep away some of. your objections if you’re game to take a chance.” “What kind of a chance?” i ae the express to the cut. We’ve nem of time to it. *T don’t understand what you mean.” “What are we sitting on? “A hand-car.” “Exactly. Suppose we run her out on the track and werk | Ps her down as far as the cut, ee ee eee juarry branch until after the express passes, put her pee on the | line and continue on to the s at Fork e? That will warm us up, save shoe leather, Pe we'll avoid ——s the a bridge girders.” ia “Your idea isn’t half bad,” admitted Bob. “T should say not.” “But there’s one objection.” “What’s that?” “We are likely to meet the track walker who goes over this section of the line before the express is due to see otha 7 the track is clear.” - é Re ““Suppose we do?” ~ “eee “Hell 1 hold us up and give us Hail Columbia.” “We won’t give him a chance to head us off.. He won't see us in such a night as this until we’re right upon | him. Thea he’ll take us for section hands on special service.” st i “Weil, I’m game to make the run if you are.” é “That’s the way to talk, Bob. Kick the door open and we'll run the car out.” “Why not wait until the express has gone by, néedn’t ” derail at the cut?” “T don’t feel like iene | twenty minutes or half a more. I want to get alongside a good square meal soon as I can.” “All right,” said Bob, “I’m with you.” The two boys ran the hand-car out of the small s a from the main track were they had She storm, pushed it a e curving rai the roadbed: and then shifted it on to the down track “Get up and I'll give her a start,” said @ Tom to his fot as- Bob Preston mounted the car and seized which he began to work up’and down slowly from behind. ‘As soon as sufficient momentum - been papas te “Nowe then, let har go, Bob. Wo twelve m ‘om
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> THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. . CHAPTER II. * TELEGRAPHING WITHOUT INSTRUMENTS. The boys got down to work, for they had quite a distance . to to reach the steel girder bridge and the cut beyond. _ They had maybe half an hour leeway of the night express, ‘and they expected to let it pass them at the cut. : ' ‘Yhe Snake River ran whirling and boiling under the bridge, “and a hundred yards further on was a big stone culvert built a to accommodate a-narrow but swift branch of the same river. : The boys knew the road very well, for they had been over Fs it several times on a hand-car with the section men. of that 9 neighborhood. e foreman of the gang was a particular friend of Bob’s, and the boys sometimes went to the different places where = men Solos employed to level up the tracks and attend to e road This was a constant and very important duty performed on every mile of the division, just as it is done on every rail- road in the country, for the ‘ponderous locomotives now in use, well as the heavy sleepers and big freight cars, bear pon the roadbed these days, and to prevent accidents has got to be gone over, yard by yard, perpetually in order to keep the track straight. Bolts and fish-plates are continually becoming loose and be attended to, and the job of looking after such things . is up to-the section foreman. _ The hedges and fieias fiashed by in the darkness as Tom and Bob applied their muscular strength to the handles of the hand-car. \ Clickety clack! Clickety clack! : That was the kind of music the wheels made every time as Sg the dividing line between the rails. Z Way was dark, lonesome sod fies for the storm had At they heard the dull, rushing sound of the Snake River as it dashed along under the girder bridge. The ponderous arms of the bridge presently rose out of the gloom ahead, and in a few minutes.they were humming across the steel span. es The culvert was right ahead, and a quafter of a mile be- - yond that lay the cut where they were to. wait for the ex- -" press to pass them. ; . Suddenly the moon ‘sailed out for a moment between the Peeiliseiiul-tlicsmutanice: ami ittwas. nino forts a “was - were sharp and that they glanced down : up the handle of the ~car. ee er nao cee gee nee eek his hates into his gee gh sega g cry to his lips. Half e culvert had disappeared and a yawning hole in width lay in their path. 1e foundation of the part nearest the on-rushing hand- no doubt been weakened by the river, aided by the and jar of passing trains, and the swollen water the late storm had completed its undoing. was now a wreck. car could not be stopped aie eet we 4 Bob! For heaven’s sake, jump quick! The culvert gone.” He relinquished his hold on the handle and sprang off into “Space between the rails. __ went down on his hands and knees, but was soon on _ Bob turned a startled glance behind him, saw his peril _ He was not as fortunate as Tom, for he turned a complete _ somersaul ‘but for a-network of telegraph wire that lay ae of the break he might have slipped over co “Oh, you’re worth: a dozen dead boys yet,” replied Tom, cheerfully. d Bob looked into the chasm. “This is a bad break and no mistake,” he said. “Bad!” gasped Tom, who was alive to the exigency of the moment, “it means destruction to the express and the local, both due at this point in a very short time, unless the track- walker has been here, discovered the washout and notified the despatcher’s office at Forksville to hold the lecal and to telegraph Block House 16 up the line to stop the express at that point.” “ ' ty , Se ae fluttered Preston. Then he added: “Sup- pose he hasn’t got on to the trouble yet?” 2 “I don’t like to suppose any such thing. It’s his duty to go over the track in time to allow him ample leeway toyre- turn to his hut at the cutting and send in a telephone message.” “At any rate our further progress down the line is cut off,” said Bob. “No matter, about us. I’m thinking about those trains. x like to be sure that the news is known at the despatcher’s office.” “T don’t see how you can find-out,” replied Bob. Tom did not reply, but looked down at the tangle of -wires lying near his feet. e pole that had held the wires aloft at this end of the culvert had gone down in the wreck and the top end with the cross-piece had snapped off. All the wires appeared to be intact except the top one, which Tom knew to be-the railroad company’s wire. That was severed within a yard or so of the glass bulb around which it was insulated. “What are you looking at?” asked Bob, curiously. : “The wires,” replied Tom shortly. “If we only had instruments you could send a message to the despatcher’s office and let the pight operator know about the accident to the culvert,” said Bob. “What’s the use of talking?” replied Tom, brusquely. “We haven’t got instruments.” “Even if we had we couldn’t get the despatcher’s office, for neither of us know the call.” “T do,” answered Tom, sharply. “It’s JP—11.” “Ts it? Well, I’m thinking it won’t do us any good.” “T’ve got an idea,” went on Tom. “I don’t know whether I could work it.” “What’s your idea?” “Harvard, the night operator at the Seapetrher.s office, the chap who taught me how to telegraph, told me of a way by which a message could be sent without instruments, under certain conditions, in case of emergency.” “He did?” exclaimed Bob, eagerly. “How can it be done f» “T have no time to explain, but I’ve a great mind to try the plan, and then you'll see how it’s done. It may be only possible with an expert, in which case it will be a failure with me. The urgency of the case, I think, warrants a trial. Do you see the top wire? The broken one?” “Sure,” replied Bob. “Unwind it from the glass holder and pull it in so as to get as much slack as possible. Do you understand?” Bob understood and proceeded to obey-directions. While he was thus engaged Tom hunted for the other broken end and soon found it lying on the ground by itself. Interrupted communication he knew had al y told the operator that something was wrong somewhere up the line with the wire, : He had snag! surmised that the storm had blown a pole down and en the company’s wire at any rate. Tom hauled in on the wire and made as much slack as he could, and by that time Bob was ready with the other end in his hand. Before making another move Tom went to the broken top of the pole where he had seen a strip of insulating material fluttering in the wind. _ 4 He tore it into two pieces, wrapped one-piece around the part of the broken wire he held in his hand and the other about the wire Bob held. ver Tom repeated the call of the d e, doing it as skillfully as the. circumstances. teher’s e under
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- THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. When he, had repeated it several times he thrust out his : *“tongue, placing one end of the broken wire on one side of it . and the other end on the other side. For some moments the boy stood thus, his whole attention , seoncentrated on his experiment. _ .There was no result, and a disappointed expression came “over his features. : Yaking: the wires from his tongue Tom repeated the call __ over again. ~ Once more he applied the ends of the wire to his tongue. pecsenly he gave a start and a thrill passed through his __bo 2 a. night’ operator at the despatcher’s office had recog- nized and was answering his call. CHAPTER III. SAVING THE EXPRESS. Tom could feel the succesive shocks pass through his - tongue, which is an extremely sensitive part of the human * body, as the acti operator at the despatcher’s office an- swered the call. -. It was not easy for the boy to distinguish the dots from ; the dashes, but by centering his whole attention on it Tom - was able to make. out that his friend Harvard was askiny b anne was calling. ~Tom at onee removed the wire from his mouth, and by “fouling the points together slowly spelled out the following words: © “Tom Collingwood. Am working without instruments, } using the ends of the broken wire, Can you ‘understand? “Answer slowly.” ) 4 +sTom again applied the points of the wires to his tongue. + The answer came back to him; Harvard, no doubt greatly -.* astonished, ou 0. K. taken the tip to work slowly. “I get you O. Where are you, Collingwood, and what - does this mean? “At the southern end of the culvert, which has been washed ~ away. - All the wires are down. Hold the night local, for » ‘trains can't pass this point.” Bob in the meantime had been following his chum’s move- ments with the most intense interest and expectation. "cial soon as he hi Tom sending in words he knew that : ication had been established with the train de- és padre 's oifice, and he uttered an exclamation of astonish- ment as well as satisfaction. « He had sense enough not to interrupt his friend while he oe med onadeet Sa this important. bu tetioage. : “Do you mean to say the culvert is gone?” came back the words to Tom. “Yes,” answered the boy. -. “Great Scott!” ok pap Ty telegraphed Harvard. Peng the wire so I can call up Block House 16.” Tom knew that the operator intended to try and stop the seg “yin at that point and he quickly obeyed. I aed Harvard all vight, Bob,” said Tom, his voice quiver- ‘ excitement. in ne (Haw you did,” replied his chum. “What are you doing er “T’ve connected the circuit so the « perator can communicate with Block House 16 for the purpose of getting the express.” ew. he tbe if time?” asked Bob, Zeverishly. _ j g express lia passed the ‘tock house ean it be| faint distant scream.of a locimotive whistle from up sine was sid a verse walang’ so the ears of the twp om, almost dropping the thy siding near Prescott? t will ee nere in ys minutes,” He shaded his eyes and gazed eagerly through the dark- ness. “I believe there’s a lantern yonder,” tones. “That won’t do us any good if it is,” said Bob. the chasm.” Tom made no reply, but rushing to the edge of the nba a grasped the network of wires and swung one leg across them. “What are you going to do?” asked the astonished Bob. “Get that lantern if I can. The express must be signalled at all hazards, and the lantern is our only hope.” EW “You'll never get across and back in time,” said Bob. __ ei Tom made no answer, for he was already swinging over — the rushing river, making his precarious journey as fast as he could. The distance to be traversed was not far, but the wires swung and sagged under his weight, for they were not ac- customed to be put to such a purpose. Fortunately the broken top-piece of the lost pole was anchored to a small section of the culvert that still stood on that side of the stream, and by this means the wires were he said, in quivering hea “It’s across We held fairly taut. It took Tom just a minute to cross. As the boy dashed forward and reached for the lantern which stood burning between the down rails, where it had no business to be, he almost stumbled over the figure of a man ‘ stretched motionless across the track. % Tom Bee at once that this must be the track walker, who had been stricken down, probably at the moment the culvert had given way. The boy had no time to see whether he was dead or simply unconscious. : Grasping the lantern he rushed back to the edge of the broken masonry. With the lantern swinging on his arm he pulled himself across the chasm with the same feverish eagerness and a ey displayed in crossing from the other side. As he Scarhee the end of the break Bob bent down and — assisted him up on to the firm ground. Then Tom, without exchanging a word with his chum, dashed off in the direction of the steel girder bridge, 350 _ feet away. His feet fairly flew over the ground for the precious mo-- ments left to signal the express were very few by this time. In fact, Tom could hear the low vibrations of the rails the ponderous train came dashing along at a speed of ficty miles an hour. The engineer always slackeacd up a bit as soon as he around the long curve and ‘sighted the bridge, but even that the momentum of the heawy train, unless ch pe sufficient distance to enable its' velocity to-be fully overcome by the air-brakes, was likely- to eke it over the Sine between the bridge and the culvert into the riv The fate of the train and all on board depended Tom, and the boy fully realized that fact. r At last he reached the edge of the masonry that a the steel framework of the, bridge. cad The thunder of the SpRr roaching train was now in his How far it was away he could not judge, but he e to see the glaring headlight swing around the curve a distanee ahead at any moment. What was he to do? ei The situation was terrible. Tf he tried to cross the girders, which were wide ap: smothered by the darkness, he ere probably meet. locomotive holt way and he dashed to atoms. * If he stayed where. he was. and ‘engineer would hardly be able to check. his avoid disaster. He had no time to consider the matter. _ ; He must either push alee et once or remain. wh was. : He never knew af: how he uns up his what he did, but he had 2 dim recollection that. Hien, en a he Bone: wack: povortl dtm ni ie brake journey. mee « bth ‘oe, lantern wildly “th one mane Fear Bt om Pag
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THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. 5 . Tom sprang forward, swinging his-lantern so that he could ’ disti sh the position of the next girder ahead and make the leap with sutfeient accuracy, The roar of the oncoming train seemed to shake the very The bridge trembled. The boy felt the vibrations growing stronger every ‘moment. : € was now half way across. Would he have time to complete the distance? A sudden glare shot up through the trees around the curve as the fireman of the locomotive opened the furnace door to row in more coal. As Tom alighted on the next girder the headlight of the engine shot into view. F F : He was caught near the centre of the bridge with but a few seconds in which to signal the engineer and make his lean for death or possible safety. ; He lost no time in swinging the lantern in the way he had seen the yard men do when at night they had to stop an engine somewhere along the track. ; Only his movements were more erratic and frantic. The wide-awake engineer, however, saw the flashing of the red light in an instant, and recognizing the signal which por- trouble ahead, he reversed the drivers and whistled Toa geo brakes,” at the same time setting the air-brakes hard ast. The cars jarred so heavily and suddenly one upon the other that sengers in the ordinary coaches were thrown about in heaps, while those who occupied the sleepers, and were either in their bunks orsprepering to get into them, were almost as roughly handled. The utmost consternation was aroused throughout the train, and the first impression that prevailed was that they had run into a train ahead. : ; d Forgetful of his danger, of the possibility of his soning, his balance on the narrow cross-bar which supported him, Tom continued to swing his lantern with the red side toward, the train, and to shout from sheer excitement, until the great locomotive thundered down the roadbed and jumped upon the girder bridge. - : : te Just as he made the leap that was to decide his fate he ‘saw the white face of the engineer, who was leaning far out ‘of the cab window glaring straight at him. * The fireman was swinging out by the iron handles attached ~ to the side of the cab and of the tender. ag 5, flinging the lantern from him, Tom sprang downward at the next iron girder. : . His fingers closed on the cold iron, his body picket under F ; and fora moment it as if his hold. would slip. . -, But no; his grip held firm long enough for him to throw » one arm across the. r, and: oscillated a few times like the pendulum of a d clock, and at last he hung straight downward above the river. . CHAPTER IV. TOM ESCAPES FROM A DESPERATE SITUATION. 4 Aes “Tom Keard the smash of glass as the lantern was struck by f of the locomotive and shivered to pieces. felt the steel framework of the girder bridge tremble r over him, the hot cinders girder | As he knelt clinging to the iron with both hands, shivering ah if with an ‘agus from the reaction which now set in, he er ned s misty eyes ahead for a sight of the train in the ! led and the.cars gone into the river? ee his + gpHtecoula ot tll got it soumed to hime be must have heard ont era: “would ; z thee ashy wom hve ma ali” the rails. his life he could not return to the solid ground by sy ci as he had done to meet the ie Sees ty sie i Py + ke . ~* Trae It was slow and laborious, but it was safe and sure. In this way’he finally reached the masonry and stepped up on to the roadbed. In the meantime the locomottive had been brought’to a standstill ‘within a yard or two of the broken culvert. The engineer and his fireman leaped to the ground and gazed down into the chasm whose ta they had escaped by the noble act of Tom Collingwood. “My heavens!” gasped the engineer, “we barely missed it. That signal alone saved us. It seemed to be a boy that swung it, and haeven pardon us, we ran him down.” “Nothing could have saved him out there on the girders,” said the fireman. “No power on earth could have stopped the train before it struck him.” “He is a fine young hero, whoever he is.” At that moment up stepped Bob Preston. “Hello, my lad,” exclaimed the engineer, almost startled by his sudden appearance out of the gloom. “You’re not— no, no, you could not be the boy who signaled me and saved the train.” “No, sir,” replied Bob, cheerfully, for he was rejoiced to know that the express was safe; “that was Tom Collingw my chum.” _“Then heaven save his soul,” said the engineer, taking off his cap with a feeling of respect toward the boy he supposed to be lying crushed and mangled at that moment. upon the girder bridge. “He is dead, my lad: We ran him down in the middle of the girder bridge. He could not escape unless he had jumped into, the river, and he did not do that, for I was leoking down at him when the pilot smashed the lantern and went, over him like a flash.” Bob grabbed the begrimed engineer by the sleeve, looked pathetically into his face, and then he burst into tears, * At that moment the conductor came running up; followed by the express agent, baggage men, one or two postal clerks and others. “What’s the trouble?” asked the train mogul. The engineer pointed to the broken culvert. “My gracious!” cried the conductor, “you were signaled just in time it seems.” . “Yes,” said the engineer, “I was. By a boy, the comrade of this young fellow,” pointing to the weeping Bob. “He saved the express at the cost of his life.” “At the cost of his life?” ejaculated the conductor. “Yes: He gave the signal from the center of the bridge, and—the locomotive was upon him before you could say Jack Robinson. It was hard luck for the young hero, but he should have jumped to the river and taken his chance.” “Poor fellow,” said the conductor, pityingly. ‘So hé was your friend, young man?” he added, looking at Bob: “Yes, sir,” replied Preston, gulping down his grief. “What was his name, and what is yours?” ‘ “Tom Collingwood, and mine is. Bob Preston.” “Tt will be sad news for you to carry to his parents, Where do you live?” _ “He had no parents, He was an orphan like myself. I live in Forksville, and Tom and I roomed together.” “T suppose you both discovered the break in the culvert, jand he went fofward to head off the express?” “Yes, sir. Tom crossed the river here on the wires to get a lantern we saw on the other side.” RS did not meet with the track walker, then?” “No, sir.” “T cen’t understand why we were not held up at Block House 16, unless the culvert collapsed but a short time ago, after the track man had been over the line.” “I can’t tell you when the break occurred. The ‘culvert was down when we arrived, fifteen or twenty minutes Tom telegraphed the train despatcher’s oifice at For and had the up local, No. 23, held back.” : “He did? He was an operator, then? How happened he to have the instruments?” “We had no instruments.” _ “You none!” exelaimed the surprised official. “How then did you get into communication. with the train de- spatcher’s office?” 3 . ¥ : words. “You do not mean that———” agge if along the rail, surmounting |from a glance at the broken culvert the danger they Pi a en See To ee "SERPS tape! eo 5 ie ie ate | : “What do you mean?” demanded Bob, turning white at i ; x , a ad
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6 » At that moment the whistle of a locomotive was heard on the north side of the break in the line. An engine and a single car, having on board the division superintendent and several other railroad men, were coming out of the cut. A great deal of anxiety was felt in the yards at Forksville over the fate of the night express, The operator in the train despatcher’s office had, as we have seen, tried to get into communication with the night man at Block Hoyse i6. ._ He hed just received the answer to his call when the ’ whistle of the express caused Tom Collingwood to disconnect the wire, and‘he did not bring the ends together again. The operator, therefore, could not talk to the man at Block House 16, and remained in ignorance of the state of affairs south of the culvert. The division superintendent was notified, and he ordered one of the yard locomotives to be hitched on to a car, and started for the scene of trouble. Bob had just finished his story of how Tom had tele- graphed to Forksville without instruments when Tom came up on the outskirts of the crowd. . He supposed that Bob was the center of attraction and! you’ve eaten all you want to, we'll start for home. sprang onto the pilot of the locomotive to see what was go-| f ‘ing on. : : oti there, Bob,” he shouted. : swung around as if he had been shot and saw his chum standing well above the crowd. i “Tom! Tom!” he cried, in great joy, “you were not killed, woz Then?” “Killed! Certainly not.” . The engineer, fireman, conductor and others turned their gaze on Collingwood. ; The two former fairly gaped at Tom, for it seemed to be the ga of the lad they thought they had run down. : “Is that the boy who saved the train?” asked the con- a... “The one you thought you ran down on the girder The engineer pushed his way up to Tom and saw that he was d fiesh and blood. . “Give me W pst hand, my lad,” he cried with earnest thank- fulness. “How ever did you manage to escape?” _ Tom explained. “Well, you have a wonderful nerve for a boy of your years,” said the engineer admirably, and every one present echoed the sentiment. Somebody called for three cheers for Tom Collingwood and they were given with a will. By this time the division superintendent appeared on the dge of the opposite side of the culvert. He had found the senseless track walker, whom he ordered to carried to the car. express had been Seite’ at the very a / . He saw that the night brink of disaster, and he felt mighty thankful. _. He shouted across the chasm, and the conductor stepped up and replied to him, detailing the circumstances as far as he knew them. “Where is the boy?” asked the super. “We've got him here.” ; ‘did you say his name is?” + “Tom Collingwood. He lives in Forksville.” __ “Tell him to call at my office to-morrow morning.” “Yes, sir.” : . _ “Notify the passengers that they will be transferred in zapeesibe: Ris have material +s ht here to tem- _ porarily ge Teak so * express : i punbcer ctit Be att Bah ion x across to this side.” t had Tom b: it. into smoking compa MPs eisacrs ax got the story from his own li “One of them went through the cars and collected $1 for ey themselves added enough to bring the purse up to hi was presented to him with the general acknow! of the gers for what he had in their £. E PATH TO GOOD LUCK. SO Ee eS RS Eee eae Ce eo Ee Meee | ee 2 2 ae os teoin Seat will be backed ‘up bere risk r|~ That is not sa . ~ In due time everybody and everything was transferred to the waiting train, which started north towards Forksville. inside of ten minutes the two boys were set down at the station in town and then the train went on. The very first thing they did was to make a break for an ali-night restaurant and order a square meal. ; The way they disposed of ‘the eatables made the waiter think they hadn’t eaten m a week. “J don’t think I ever ate anything that tasted half so good,” | said Bob, pushing his plate away. ; | “Nor I,” agreed Tom; “but that’s because we were so des- perately hungry.” | . “We were hungry, for a fact. Now I feel real comforta- . ble,” said Bob in a contented tone. “We had the adventure of our lives to-night, or rather you had, for I played only second fiddle in the affair. If we decide to go west, I’ll bet we'll not come across anything more thrilling. You had as narrow a squeak for your life in front of that locomotive as you'll ever have if you live’to tell the tale. I'll bet you couldn’t do it again and come out as you have done without a seratch.” “I guess you’re right, Bob,” answered Tom. King *m tired.” So the boys paid their checks, and half an hour later were sound asleep in bed in their boarding-house. . CHAPTER V. TOM AND BOB LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT THE MINING INDUSTRY. ; The morning papers of Forksville had graphic stories of the escape of e night express from destruction at the broken culvert. Full justice was done Tom Collingwood, who was called - a real hero, and whose thrilling experience in signaling the engineer of the express from his precarious foothold in the center of the girder bridge was set forth in glowing language by the newspaper men. In fact, Tom was the most ‘talked-of person that morning in Forksville. : ae He reported at the factory at the regular time, worked two hours, during which time he was the object of much admi- ration from his fellow workmen, and then left to keep the appointment with the division superintendent of the Midland Central Railroad at his office in the yard. : The superintendent had a long talk with him; at the’close-_ of which he assured Tom that he would be suitably rewarded by — aneees. for his eee cee a rp / ’ e division superintendent egra : z facts to the general manager of the road at New York city, <= and he now prepared a fuller aecount to be forwarded in an official envelope as required by the regulations. on At the next meeting of the directors Tom Collingwood-re- reived a vote of thanks for saving the night express, ; Sg the sum of $5,000, both beitfg forwarded in care of the divi- sion superintendent, who presented the money and the letter Z of thanks and commendation signed by the president of the __ road to Collingwood. at se a ie Pere -3 “You're rich, Tom,” said Bob, when his chum showed wis bs the check. ' “That’s $5,500 you’ve made by your nerve in the © face of a great emergency. Still it hardly pays for the great = you ran on the girder bridge. You came within anace SE i ae miles aap . “I didn’t do it with any expectation o ing. it, Bob. No amount of would Smeg = ted ioe irit might have willing, gene es I any rate, your cou questioned after what you did that night,” He pit the money in couple of sn tit: ae ag e put the money in a co of sa ban or ni honk: wenid accept over $3 rs etn oe diligen ever at his trade. Me ed eee ee hed evan Spiene idea Ba" ~
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Was as ten * One evening when Tom and Bob entered the dining-room found a new boarder at the table. e boarding mistress had given him the vacant seat along- side of Collingwood. f _The boys regarded the addition to the establishment with not a little curiosity. @ was an old man whose skin was tanned to the color and consistency of leather. . His small, bright eyes were deeply sunken under beetling _ His hair was an iron gray in color, and he had plenty of it, for it hung down several inches below the collar of his rough-looking sack coat. His seamed and horny hands told of hard work in the open air and lots of it. + : Altogether, he was a queer looking old chap and naturally attracted some attention. He looked at the two boys who, as we have already re- marked, faced each other across the table, and his twinkling eyes took them in from head to foot at a glance. ig 4 a tind mistress introduced the new boarder to them as Mr. Triggs. The boys acknowledged the introduction with their usual politeness, but as soon as they were seated, Bob carelessly took up his fork and telegraphed to Tom: : vf -looki ld chap, i i iggs 4 * ae ooking o ap, this Mr. Triggs, don’t you THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. 7 “Don’t you lads smoke?” asked the old man, looking at each in- turn: “No, sir,” replied Tom. acquire.” - “’ve always smoked since I can remember, and it hasn’t done me any harm,” said the visitor. “T had an idea’ that you might be from.the West, Mr. riggs,” said Tom, hoping that his surmise was correct. “Your idea is correct. I’m from Colorado,” replied the old man, striking a match and lighting his pipe. “Lived there some time, I suppose,” ventured Tom. “1 ain’t lived no place consecutive like. Been all over the West from the Missouri to the Coast, and from Rio Grande to the Klondyke.” “You must be well acquainted with the country.” “IT guess I can find my way about without a guide,” replied Mr. Triggs with a grim smile. ‘ “Been to the gold diggings, haven’t you?” asked Tom, eagerly. “A few. Young man, I’ve spent nigh to forty years pros- pectin’ and diggin’ in the gold districts.” “Forty years!” ejaculated Tom. “I should think you’d be a Monte Cristo by this time.” “A who?” “A Monte Cristo,” repeated Tom. “Never heard of him. Who was he?” * “He was the richest man in the world, according to the “T don’t think it’s a good habit to “Rather odd,” replied Collingwood in the Morse alphabet.! ee ER mine did he.own?” “Where do you s’pose he came from?” “Search me. Maybe from the West.” “Why don’t you ask him? mgs. “TI will after a while. Here comes our soup. I hope it’s better than what we had yesterday.” _ The boys got away with their soup in silence. - Then Bob signalled again to call Tom’s attention to the “Mr. ‘Tri is putting away the roast beef as though it ler as spring chicken and not as tough as the of a tannery. He must be used to such fare. I'll you a nickel he’s from the G. W.” G. W. meant Golden West with Bob, and his reading had him the impression that all miners subsisted on dried E and a few other things prepared after a primitive _ Tom. didn’t answer, as he was hungry, and lost no time in attacking the aforesaid roast beef, which was not quite as tough olen oo intimated, though it was not pp any means, for mistress never bought anything in this line but the round, it was cheaper than the cuts. j ; After the new boarder had finished his meal he rose from his. chair like a person afflicted with the rheumatism and slowly from the room. ; u is room adjoined the one ied by the. boys,,and he was so long. in geiting. mp-teaibs story that Tom, who left the e before Bob, caught up with him just as he th .” he said cheerfully. replied the new’ boarder. “I’ve mighty hard for me te bend yd, I think?” mm friend upstairs in a moment.” the jf Bd and when he comes call him in.” s the matter with you paying us a visit? Our room ‘ ‘De you object to smoking?” asked the old man. ° his pipe and‘tobacco pouch and accom- ‘to his reom. | ' 4 S04 the visitor was filling his » into his room, but I thought he’d It is the in the world, Ah ne greatest country in the “He didn’t own any mine. He found his money on a island in the Mediterranean Sea. It was hidden in a cave and he He might know something) discovered the secret.” “ um!” - “Have you been prospecting and digging gold for forty years?” asked Tom, not able to associate such an idea” with @ man whose seedy appearance showed that he was not abundantly supplied with money. “It might be nearer thirty-five,” nodded the vistor. “And haven’t you made your fortune?” said Tom in a tone of astonishment. : “Pye made several of them, young man.” “Several of them?” Mr. Triggs nodded. “Several of them, mostly, I’m sorry to say, for other* people.” / “Why not for yourself?” bn use s| men than me done me out of my rights.” “How could they? I thought when a man took a claim it was his, and all he dug out of it was his.” “That’s correct. But the best part of the gold ‘is way underground and must be got at by modern methods. A man who discovers a rich claim has got to have considerable” capital to make his property pay. The prospector who dis- covers a valuable lode is not always the person who makes the most out of it. He ought to, but he don’t. He has to interest capital to develop his claim, and the men with money see to it, as a rule,*that they get the lion’s share.” All this was news, and not encouraging news either, to both ‘om and Bob, and had a depressing effect on their golden visions. They thought that the only equipment a miner needed was a pick and shovel, cradle and a few other things, together with a blanket, a knapsack to carry supplies, and a revolver, knife and rifle for his protection. ‘ “Isn’t gold found near the surface 6f the ground?” asked ‘om. “Sure it is, in new districts never worked before. Those are called placer diggin’s. But the real gold ore, the rich veins and ledes, amountin’ to fortunes, rvn in all directions i below the surface, more times than not to the mill to be crushed and smelted. The gold and silver and other as shown in the assay of your samples, have So emeee: ond hort ak Mousre mitt 22 See business, young man, Ss growing greater every ‘day. have been made out of small suhag ane t this moment, and will be made in the future Having finished his pipe, said he felt sleepy. -
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8 | THE PATH) TO GOOD. LUCK. ial “We'll continue this conversation another time, young gen-| “Listen,” said Tom. “I believe that’s Mr. Triggs.” tlemen,” he said, rising. from his chair laboriously. “P’raps| It proved to be the old man’s yoice, and Tom went to see I can induce you to go West. with me when: I get better of | what he wanted. my rheumatism. Jf I can I'll make your: fortunes.” He proved to be very ill. With those words he bade them good-night and retired ‘to| He had a pain and a smothered feeling around the heart. his own room. , Tom decided that he ought to have a doctor. He called Bob and sent him out to fetch one who lived in ; the block. : CHAPTER VI. While he was gone Tom did everything he could to relieve | WHE UVARLEY' OF Cox’ ARD’ THD “Pa TO GOOD LUCK, wen Anes, and under his ministrations the old man grew Left. to themselves; Tom. and* Bob looked at each other; When he was able to talk he expressed his gratitude to like people just awakened from a pleasant dream of afflu-|the boy. : ence to find themselves still facing the stern reality of com-| | “That’s all right,” replied Tom. “You don’t suppose I’d mon. everyday experience. see you suffer without trying td help you all I could?” “He doesn’t talk like the books we’ve read,” said Tom,| Then Bob appeared with the physician. who was the first to break the silence. He talked to the old man and examined him carefully. _ “No. His conversation was all Greek to me. Mining must| Then he left a prescription. be carried on differently to what it was when those books} “What’s the matter with him?” Tom asked the doctor on were written. According to the stories it was easy to dig|the way to the front door. for gold. . Eyery time the hero washed out a pan of dirt he| “Rheumatism. It’s working up toward his heart. _ I've _got found some golden specks which he put away in his pouch.” ; to head it off, if I can, or it will be likely to kill him. You " “Yes, and he found nuggets of pure gold in pockets, where|had better not tell him yet that he’s in a dangerous state. the ion of the water had washed the little specks unti! | Time cnough for that if matters get worse.” they accumulated into 2 lump. Nothing was said about mill-| The boys agreed to take turns watching the old man that ing or smelting it to get other stuff out of it. It was the real | night. i oward morning he grew much better, but the chances th ? of his leaving his bed that day were remote. ’“How can I tell? I believe things were different then, : Tom notified the boarding mistress, and she said she would . I said before.” look after her boarder during the day. “Mr. Triggs said gold could be found near the surface in} Several days assed and Mr. Triggs held his own, then he new places. That must be what the storics referred to. I | had another bad attack. ; remember now that I read of the gold diggings in California and parts of Nevada, and hundrads of miners dug gold out * of the ground with pick and shovel, and washed it out in ; ge and cradles. I saw many pictures showing how they id it, so the books were true enough, I guess. If we go West we must. hunt up a new place, and dig gold as they used to do.” “He said if we'd go West with him he’d make our fortunes. 7% heard that, didn’t you?” ; es. The doctor, who had been calling daily, was summoned in a hurry, and he did what he could for the old man. Afterward he took Tom aside and told him that Mr. Triggs couldn’t live long. . “Another attack will probably finish him,” said the physi- cian, “and he’s certain to have it soon. Possibly inside of twenty-four hours. You had better tell him to settle his worldly affairs in anticipation of the worst.” : ‘om was sorry to receive this report from the doctor, and he didn’t like the duty. of breaking the intelligence to the “How can he make our fortunes when he can’t make his; sufferer. | « ‘ own after thirty-five years’ trying?” - Mr. 1'riggs, however, made it easy for him. eae | =e “Ask me something easier, Bob. He said he made several! The old chap had a strong suspicion that ‘his hours were ~ fortunes for other people.” ‘ : numbered, so when Tom returned to his-bedside he said: } “But those ple were smarter than him.” | “What did the doctor say to you?” : y ball 4 “It’s a wonder he wouldn’t get to be smart after being} “He said you are a pretty sick man,” replied the boy. thirty-five years at the business.” “Humph! He said I was goin’ to.die, + he?” the _“Some people are born chumps 2nd never get smart.” “He isn’t sure that you'll recover.” y ae “EY _. “That must be the trouble with him. I don’t think any-|| “He knows I’m to pass in my chips, I:saw it im his face. body could fool us out of a rich claim if we found one.” I know it, too. The rheumatism has gone“to my heart and it Pua f teas none © |will nish met . Pagelapia tine co AE tas onto such a thing with both fect.” ~ Tom made no reply. at peered. fe ; sae hang out i Fig “Look pales fl you’ve been very kind to an old chap ; “We must talk with him again on the subject. I want/|like me who's a stranger to you. So has your friend. Some- ~ _.to find out all I can before I make a start.? how or another I’ve taken a fancy to you. I meant to per-— “That’s idea. We don’t know any more about the West | suade you to go West with me if I got well. Lintended to and mining what we've read. It’s a good thing to pump| make your fortune as well as my own. It is too late now for a man who’s been on the ground.” me to make my own. The chance has passed away from me “There must be thousands of people around Goldfield, and| forever. But I can point out the path to good luck to you. = and and other places in Nevada engaged | Listen: A short time before this ‘disease attacked me I was : pectin’ among the mountains of Colorado, far the — think there was.” F beaten tracks. I followed it and it led me to the : saw a list containing the names of hundreds of persons} of the ra had rich by a few dollars in mining stock.” | sight of ld for myself than ” nted the way, I robably rd th told . oe cot oF re $6,000 if fot" moiths dat “of. w Fich|it-untll this eek way, sure of that I'd pack up and start West with yon | ag : | talk it over with Mr. ‘Triggs. T'guess TU go to . patter with same of pinot necessary. a
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Lf t gold. The valley was so small that when I had. staked out claims to which the law entitled me I had covered the whole place. a word, I had practically become the owner} of Death Valley. I had merely a prospector’s outfit with me, and therefore could do nothin’ at the moment save secure Samples of the outeroppin’s from different places in the valley. With these in my bag I left the valley, expectin soon to return with the necessary tools to work the surface gold over and thus secure the capital to enable me to sink:a| Shaft for the richer meta! below. It was fated that I never should realize my dream of wealth, for shortly after my return to Denver, where I duly recorded’ my right to pos-| sessidh of the valley, the papers provin’ which are in my} valise in yonder corner, I was taken down with rheumatism. | A physician advised me to go East’ for change of air, and) I came here, expectin’ to get well of my ailment. Instead of which I am now about to die. As I haven’t a relative in the wide world, I have decided to make you my heir. To make you the owner of the New Eldorado in Death Valley. Bring me pen and paper and I will draw up the paper that shall be my will,” Tom, much astonished at the remarkable turn of events, and hardly realizing the great importance to him of the document the old man was about to prepare, got the articles from his room. ; z “Now, prop me up on the pillow,” said Mr. Triggs. Tom did so. ; The old prospector and miner then wrote out a short will perraeverrpbing of which he died possessed to Tom Col-| li “Now, ‘my lad, go downstairs and ask the landlady and her| husband to step up to witness this paper that it may be a 1 document,” said the old man. om did so, and the parties in question presently made their apperance. : “Being satisfied that I am about ‘to die,” said Mr. Triggs to them, “I wish you to understand that this paper is my last will and testament which T have made out in favor of ‘ood here, in consideration of his kindness to a friendless o| man. Please sign it as witnesses.” They did so, wondering what their new boarder had to leave the boy. After hep had withdrawn Mr. Triggs asked Tom to open “his valise and take out the long, yellow envelope he would find there. - : Collingwood found it without difficulty and handed it to the old man. ‘ establishin’ ey iat to Death Val- to find what I have Giant’s Skull and the golden valley beyond. The oo hei must provide your- directly a 1 do is to descend by the path and the is paket seus . Do you understand?” “replied ‘Tom, who ‘was nevertheless rather bewil- See) facts presented to him. ; ‘i “all. 1 feel a bit exhausted naw and will try to ‘careful of the papers, and see that you do not ons pointin’ the ‘aig to a Mam at yr ight. or ‘or the ee night: search in vain years for man turned over on his side and closed his eyes, sat to : H) e af: We + : i ‘to think out the remarkable story about leading t¢ olden Death Valley ent Oe the Bow Brain ar the endorsement] _ have been recorded.} gold directio ‘It’s the only path that leads}: h he submitted f let oe dolete eee : ous he is dead?” rele ae eee) ae ee oe ee THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. 9 It was an old white-haired man, dying’ from’ the effects of long confinement.in the dungeons of the fortress d’If, that gave the hero of the story the diréctions to find the famous treasure. hidden-on the island of Monte Cristo. It was an old man dying from the rheumatism contracted in searching for the golden treasure of the, earth, who had just given the key to what he claimed to be a fabulous for- tune. : In each instance the treasure was only to be:got at*by fol- lowing certain’ directions. - Edmund Dantes, in the: story, became wealthy almost be- yond the dreams of avarice. : Was he, plain Tom Collingwood, the hero of no romance, fated to become the real Monte Cristo of actual life? It seemed too incredible to be true, like the dreams of a hasheesh eater. : And yet there was nothing unsubstantial about the title deeds to Death Valley, with the recorder’s stamp and signa- ture on them. _ He opened the yellow envelope and looked the documents in the case over carefully to assure himself that there was no fiction about them. As well as he could understand, they appeared to be* per- fectly genuine. : “<The Path to Good\Luck,’” he muttered. “The only way by which the valley of gold can be reached. It is well named.| If I was superstitious I could easily find a weird connection between the Giant’s Skull overlooking Death Valley and the fate of. poor Mr. Triggs.” While Tom was sitting in a brown study the door of the room, which stood slightly ajar, was pushed quietly open and Bob appeared. Observing that the old man appeared to ,be asleep, and, not wishing to disturb him, he tiptoed over to the side of his chum. “Tom,” he whispered, “you're not asleep?” “No,” replied, Collingwood, straightening up. “I was just dreaming.” “You were not asleep, but you wére dreaming. That’s pretty good. What were you dreaming of?” grinned Bob. “ “Yes. That I was the richest boy in the world.” “That’s a pleasant kind of dream.” “Yes, especially if you wake up and find it a fact.” : “You’ve woke up and discovered that it wasn’t a fact.” “I don’t know about that.. I may be the richest boy in the world in a little while for all you and I know.” “You may if you go out West and find a mountain of “A valley of gold may be as good as a mountain full of it.” “Hardly. I’d rather have the mountain.” “It’s easier to dig gold out of the valley than out of a mountain.” “Tf it’s near the surface, I suppose.” ‘Tom got up and looked at the old man. “He’ll sleep a while. He’s breathing easily. ‘Come im our room. I want to tell you something.” t So they adjourned- to the other room, leaving both doors partially open. ; “Mr. Triggs has been telling me a wonderful story.” “He has?” , “Yes. The doctor says he’s going to die, and the old man himself is certain of the fact. “That’s too bad,” replied Bob,. soberly. ; pa “Yes, it’s hard luck for him, for he has told me that he discovered a ving Sees with gold just before he was’ taken d with Sie es “He told. you that.. He must be out of his head,” replied Bob, incredulously, : pag as “I don’t think he is; I believe he told me the truth.” “What makes you think he did?” asked Bob, with awak- “Because I’ve seen the papers giving him title to the ground.” - . “You have? “T have.” 2 “And he said the property was full of gold?” said Bob, Yes. He's seen the gold wis his own ag He has samples in valise, assay receipt shows “Gracious! And who will come in for all this wealth when piel Ts OTe Nia Hy o a Poo. | ' ei et “al ae
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10 . “Me, and incidentally yourself.” “You!” gasped Bob. “He hasn’t a relative in the world to lay claim to it. Be- cause I’ve been good to him, he said, he has willed it all. to me. There is the document,” and Tom opened the yellow envelope, took out the paper signed by Thomas Triggs in a clear hard, and witnessed by the boarding mistress and her husband. and handed it to his chum. Beb glanced over it in a meghanical kind of way, aston- ished beyond measure. “My goodness!” he exclaimed. “If it’s only true about the valley of gold you will become a millionaire.” “I hope so. And don’t forget that you’re coming into a good share of it yourself. The old man expects me to let you in on it, and I would do it anyway. Here are the papers showing that he owns the property beyond any doubt. Own- ership is claimed under the Mineral Bearing Land Act of the government. Everything is regular down to the stamp and ‘signature of the proper official at Denver.” Bob was quite overcome by this evidence of good luck which had come Tom’s way, and, to a certain extent, his own. Tom then told him a few of the facts disclosed by Mr. Triggs, but he did not say anything about the valley being hard to find, or the “Path to Good Luck” with its wonderful natural phenomenon, the Giant’s Skull. ¢ On general principles, lest the secret might in some way get out, he kept that part to himself along with the paper of directions. : There was plenty of time to acquaint Bob with those im- portant details when they got upon the ground. Tom had barely concluded what he had to say before his sharp ears heard the old man moving in his bed and he| Pos _ hastened into the room. ; _ He gave Mr. Triggs his medicine, and some nourishment, ; and then sat in the chair. ; a, _ Bob came in after a while, but Tom told him to go to bed, “so as to be in, shape to relieve him around midnight. Tom didn’t go to work next morning, but remained at the house to care for the old prospector, as he considered it his = oe Se do now, and Mr. Triggs expressed his gratitude to e boy. 1 The doctor came in and looked at his patient, left a new P prescrintion and departed after telling Tom that the old man = would linger along until he got another acute attack, which was likely to\happen at any time. During the morning Mr. Triggs was unusually bright, and Tom told him that he thought he might fool the physician and “get well after all. The old man, however, shook his head. “I’m booked through,” he said, with a curious smile, “with- out, lay-off privileges. When the summons comes I must go. Then he went on to explain matters more fully about how Tom and his friend were to proceed in relation to the golden ig after they reached the city of Denver. “No one can dispute your title to the yalley,” he said. “But “as soon as the news gets out to the public there will be an immediate rush to e up claims on the surroundin’ hills.” - “Nobody will be able to find their way to the valley except by accident, according to your statement,” replied Tom. “At present that holds good, but as soon as you begin earryin’ your gold down the mountain you will soon leave a trail to guide any one to the right path, and once it is the secret.wiil cease to be one. But that fact need é pre The assay receipt eady have t well be backed ae by other assays of - fresh samples, on the strength of these you must make the terms you are able to with one or two experienced ' men. You must inyestigate the men before you ap- them on the subject. I Saupe vom unfortunate turned in favor of a pair of sharp- THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. any case, I think from my estimate of the ore likely to be found that you would be foolish to dispose of your rights even for several million. It is bound to turn in to you, and those associated with you in its development, immense divi- dends in the course of time. You should have a steady in- come from the property as long as you live. What more could a young man of your age ask?” : Tom listened eagerly to Mr. Triggs and resolved to profit by his advice. He asked matiy questions about the West, and received truthful answers that opened his eyes more to conditions as they were out there than any book, however well written, could have done. When Bob returned from work after five o’clock, Mr. Triggs was doing quite well under the circumstances, and See bad of the lads thought he would die for several days at east. Bob stood watch from seven to midnight and then Tom relieved him. F About three in the morning the old man was attacked again, and Tom sent Bob for the doctor in great haste. Tom used all the means at his disposal to rally Mr. Triggs, but his efforts were without avail. The old prospector and miner died before Bob got back with the physician. Tom told the doctor that he would see that he was paid for his services, though the physician had attended the old men without any great hopes of receiving any mony, for he saw that he seemed to be poor and without friends. Collingwood hired an undertaker and had Mr. Triggs buried in a respectable way in a grave that he bought for the pur- .* e. He took possession of all the old man’s effects, and settled with the boarding mistress what she claimed to be her due. After paying the doctor, who cut his bill in half, Tom found he had laid out altogether about $400 on the old miner. = Then he hada long talk with Bob, during which he pro- posed that they should proceed to Denver without delay, and there make preparations to << to the mountain range where | the Black Triplets were and search for the path that led E past the Giant Skull to Death Valley. i : Bob agreed to the proposition, so they threw up their jobs at the nm packed a couple of suit-cases, and after bidding the rding mistress and boarders good-by, took a 4 train one morning for Denver via Chicago. ; CHAPTER VIII. TOM’S NERVE SAVES A LIFE. $3 rn Tom and Bob remained three days in Chictgo to see a few of the i of the big Western city, and then started for 7 Denver via Omaha and Council Bluffs on the Missouri River. They were landed in Denver in less than twenty-four hours after leaving the Windy City, and went to a hotel frequented — by commercial travelers, theatrical people and the like, where the tariff was reasonable. é There was much to interest the two boys in the capital and chief city of Colorado. ; ; It oceupies a series of plateaus, facing the mountains, and commanding a grand and beautiful view. WS ed Through the clear mountain atmosphere may be seen the snow-capped range extending more than 200 miles, its rich purple streaked with dazzling white, and-here’ and there — fapeed in soft, transparent haze. ‘ hé~tngst OO [he boys were especially interested in the bi mint, which was employed in the melting and assaying of a which is returned to depositors in the form of bars with weight and fineness stamped upon them... _. : “How long will it be before some of our : in here?” said Bob, yeti ebm piles of w metal. “It makes -mouth water to look J Just think what tl worth in coin or good bank “Tf half of what Mr. big “rod me about the Death Valley out to be true, we'll have wedges some of this yonder to burn,” SS lied Tom... - 7 ee : e: ~:
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THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. - a thts to the Peeperty. : _They spent two days sightseeing and then got down to busines S. __A portion of their outfit, which consisted of a suit and! several dark blue shirts for roughing it in the mountains, a knapsack apiece for carrying a change of underwear, sup- and various odds and ends, a pair of good revolvers _ and a plentiful supply of cartridges they ‘purchased in Den- ver and packed the same for transportation by rail to the! Clear Creek mining district, where they proposed to purchase ac tools and supplies for their expedition to the Black| : ets. _ It was only a comparatively short ride by the train to the Reationient at Claxe. Creek, which they found to be | \ Being bul town, but distinctly rough in its general character, built mostly of one-story wooden buildings fronting efly on one long, main street. ‘ : ' It was a busy, wide-awake place, and it looked as if there was something doing here all the time, night and day. Here they got their first insight into the real wild and! _ woolly West. = The town was overrun with all sorts and conditions of men, from the well-dressed gambler down to the roughly ap-| pareled mining man and pros _ . The boys put up at the Clear Creek Hotel, a two-story) - building, the ground floor of which was laid out with a big! bar-room, with a dining-room attached, and a kitchen in the} rear. _ The office, so-called - second floor. : -— “Say, there is considerable difference between this shack __ and the second-rate hotel we put up at in Denver,” said Bob, _ after they had been shown to their rooms by an easy-going ja ttache of the establishment. __ “T should say it,js,” replied Tom, looking around the apart- ment, which was not much larger than a -sized box, and seemed to be built on the same principle, board walls and the being without plaster, and merely covered by a r. ~ There wel ag room for their trunk, but they had been told PE, Sn proprietor that it would be placed in a storeroom at i ‘end of the floor, where it would be accessible to them at! parlor and bed rooms were on the "The bed was a collapsible iron one, barely wide enough to ace te. twi the wall with a shelf duty for a dressing- # completed ceeding to wash his face vy of i oe ligt peerinide I s’pose we'll have to ‘send our ore ‘some day when we get down to real mining.” t about it. This town is the terminus of the; All the ore dug up around about this district and shipped ; ‘from here to Denver.” t momen sounded downstairs. hat the naebel asked Be in a fone of anti i hope it is.-for I id of empty around the ss ‘ in Hell, what hi Ayla ue ed > writing d found that it indicated the | us upstairs at,the hotel, and the The order which he had sent addressed to himself from Denver, and Bob had one also to collect, they walked inside to get the’ mone Considering @hi suposed yea gy nn a this otel in ‘Creek, there isn’t much le about it,” grinned Bob, pro- later on,” said Tom. prietor the quandary they were in over their mo: money a hey wanted it. 11 the Forksville court-house, Tom laid claim to Mr. Trigg’s| by way of a long hallway and a door at the end, thereby avoiding the barroom by which they found that most of the diners entered. ; _ They were told by a. woman at a desk near the main door to Rice out seats for themselves at either of the two long ta- es They did so, and a young waitress immediately brought two plates of soup for them without waiting for orders. Then she offered them their choice of roast beef or boiled mutton. “Mutton for me,” said Bob. “Vl take roast beef,” speke up Tom. The meat, with a good supply of vegetables, canned, of course, was laid before them in short order. They finished up with rice pudding and coffee. The dining-room filled up while they were at their meal, all present being men. They came in singly, in pairs and in groups, and seemed to be known to one another. Very little conversation was indulged in, all being intent on satisfying their hunger and getting away as soon as possible, The majority had meal tickets, which were clipped by the woman at the desk as they passed out. “This seems to be a restaurant as well as a hotel,” re- marked Bob. “I guess it is. Things are run differently here to’ what they are East,” replied Tom. “I suppose we’ve gt to show the card that the man esk when we go out,” said Bob. “Sure. That’s what he told us to do.” f “No chance of getting any free meals here, is there?” chuckled Preston. : “Don’t look like it,” said Tom, leading the way to the desk, where the woman merely glanced at the cards and nodded. “I s’pose we’d better do the town this afternoon and eve- ning and make. our purchases to-morrow,” said Bob. “Nes. We'll have to get the hang of things first, make some inquiries, and especially find out where we can buy the horses we need.” “Well, come on, then. Everybody is bound to pipe us off as tenderfoots. I shall be glad to get into our rovgh togs, if only to escape notice,” The boys left the hotel and started to make a tour of the long street. They found all kinds of businesses in full blast. There was the Clear Creek Bank within a few doors of the express office was next door to it. was next to that, and as Tom had a postal gave ae Then they discovered that they would have to be identi- “How are we going to manage that?” said Bob to Tom. “Nobody knows us here.” “We'll have to return to the hotel and see if the proprietor - can help us out,” replied Tom. So back to the hotel they went, but the proprietor had gone somewhere and it was impossible to see him for the present. — “Well, we'll have to let the matter stand till we see him Accordingly, they devoted a couple of hours to walking up one side and down the other of the street. “There are a lot of barrooms all right,” observed Bob. “The halls announce long vaudeville shows at night. We'll have to take one of them in this evening. I should imagine that this is a red-hot town after dark.” “You can gamble on it that it is. That’s when the games of chance are on in full blast. The men who work hard all ea oe under lampligh en ve ; they got back fo the hotel they stated to the pro- ° He asked them a few quetsions and then said he'd cash their orders himself. ed them an said they’d draw on him for the y couple of food hore ra their j M Mies edie a ) r the ourn : fisREY said Bob. “Dinner, twelve to Fripints, and. the landlord referred then: to n stale wes eee to - I wonder what’s on the Sart of toe Sager giving them : note 2 the propr ‘ Ade he sas | $. early, an U Vv SORES mi: | ea Gark, when they wartad Sat to take On 'the, ights ang eM cada oy a tee
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12 THE PATH TO Clear Creex was a widely different-sort of place at night from »what it was during the daytime. If, anything ‘it appeared. to be more lively. The s2zloons, gambling houses and music halls were wide open to the public, with flaring. lights to attract attention. Nearly all-of them. had jsome, kind, of a vaudeville show going on upon a small stage at the back of the: barroom, and a distant view of the stage could-be had from the street. Chairs and tables were scattered around where the patrons could sit and drink and view the show at the, same time. There was one notorious hall called “The. Eldorado.” _ It was situated well up the main street, and was not patron- ‘by the better element. om and Bob wandered into it because they didn’t know any better. ey saw a show going on and that enticed them, so they took their seats at a table and ordered soft drinks when the waiter came around. If they hadn’t been boys this would have attracted notice and sarcasm from the habitues in their vicinity. - It happened that their table was well off to one side and within earshot of another table occupied by four of as des- erate looking ruffians as the boys had ever seen in their ves. The leading spirit was a six-foot rascal with red hair and .He looked capable of any crime in the calendar. As a matter of fact, he was a desperado of the first water, and was wanted by the sherif of the county for a murder which had been traced to him. : His name was Bill Higgings. He showed his nerve by coming into the town that after- noon and taking up his quarters at “The Eldorado,” where he would be surrounded by friends. Two poputy sheriff's had got wind of his presence at the — and went there to capture him at the risk of their ives. They were disguised as miners and approached the table where Héegings sat with his three companions without their ca peg ge suspected. Tom and Bob were watching a nimble-footed song and dance artist doing a lively turn on the stage, when pti, Ran the place was thrown into confusion by the daring action of the deputy sheriffs. Both had drawn their revolvers when they stepped up to the table where the red-headed ruffian sat, and while one cov- Sienna aeenciates, the other called on Higgings to throw up Ss. “Great Scott, Tom!” cried Bob,’ in some dismay. “Let’s & As the boys rose from their chairs a revolver cracked near and the deputy who had the drop on Higgings staggered and his arm. instant the rascal’s hand went to his’ his gun. wink he pointed it at the officer, and it would over with him in a moment but that Tom, horri- probability of a murder taking place within a him, snatched up his empty g! and threw it accuracy at the ruffian’s thon sg _simultaneous. ¢ the rascal’s aim was jarred and the ball missed the brain by the fraction of an inch. Es an hip ‘and he crt ne CHAPTER IX. " OFF FOR THE BLACK TRIPLETS. ‘Tho giass thrown by Tom had broken on the ruffian’s hand Rae Cxuken Kinde ditey tha seve hich struck iver, W: k of his chair and bounded toward the spot where this one the privilege she enjoyed. GOOD LUCK. on his heel and dashed through an open doorway near at hand, followed by a bullet from the gun of the wounded deputy. 4 Whether the ball reached him or not it failed to stop his retreat, and a subsequent search showed that he had got clear off. Tom and Bob left the place under the wing of the sheriff's arty. ; ry Both the deputy whose life he had saved, and his com- panion, were loud in their praises of Tom’s nerve and cour- age. ; eYou clearly saved my life,” said Deputy Jordan. “But it was touch and go with me even at that. You can see where the rascal’s ball cut a furrow along my cheek. Why, boy, you did what scarcely another man in Clear Creek wou d have dared to do. That’s one of the most desperate scoun- drels under the sun. His name is Bill Higgings, and he’s known far and wide as a dead shot—a man who has killed a lot of men, for he’s quicker than greased lightning with his gun. Had your aim not been true, causing him to drop his gun, we would both have been subjects for the coroner, while my companion and your own would probably have suf- fered the same fate. Young man, I am proud to know you. You can count me as your friend for life. My name is Jack Jordan. Shake.” Tom and the deputy shook hands. a The news of Tom’s remarkable act in “The Eldorado against such a notorious villain as Bill Higgings was cer- tain to be known all over town by morning, and hé was sure to find himself an object of universal attention and interest, and rated as the nerviest lad who had ever stepped foot in Clear Creek. “We're right in it, Tom,” said Bob, when the boys had re- tired to their room. “Or rather you are, for I’m only a side issue.” “Well, it is a great satisfaction to me to know that I saved a man’s life to-night,” replied his companion. “It is true that I didn’t know I was up against the worst desperado in the State, but even had I known it I shouldn’t have acted dif-_ ferently. When I saw him yank his gun out I felt it in my bones that he was going to kill the officer, and on the spur of the moment I did the best thing I knew. how to try and prevent the tragedy.” eid “Tt was a good thing that you hit the mark fai If vou hadn’t—you know what the deputies said. “T'll bet I’ve marked him for life.” “I’m glad we’re going away in a day or two. The rascal, or some of his friends, might lay for us and try to get square.” “We must carry our guns after this for protection. I think I’ll use his revolver. It’s heavier and more formidable than the one I boueht for myself.” - Tom drew out Bill Higgings’s weapon and looked at it. “Tt’s a corker,”' said Bob. “I wonder how many men he’s killed with it?” “More than one, I'll wager.” The bovs talked for some time over their strenuous experi- ence in “The Eldorado.” ‘ They realized that thev ought not to have rone into the resort in the first place, but,they had supposed that all the places were about alike in character. Next morning when the boys appeared in the dining-room there a a craning. of necks to get a good look at them, Col- and square. ge MA especially. ‘ e girl waited on Tom with considerable deference, and seemed to be overcome with admiration for form and good-looking face. There were three waitresses, and they evidently envied the meal the boys started out to purchase their horses. All along the street they attracted attertion as a most * extraordinary pair of tenderfoots.
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6 eee country in the direction of the Black Triplets, and was abun- _ man from the direction of the mines,” ¥ supplied with information. ey decided to set out soon after dinner and put up over tt at the ranch of one William Spencer, to: whose hospi- y they were warmly recommended by Sheriff Bartling. Deputy Sheriff Jack Jordan, who came around to see them, gave them lots of good advice, and helped them pack their things on their horses in proper shape. He advised them to get a long, thin and tough rope for mountain climbing, as he said it was bound to come in handy. _ Rifles, being an unnecessary ineumbrance, were not con- sidered in their make-up. Jordan said*that their revolvers ought to afford them suf- ficient protection, ¢ ‘ py were not likely to meet with any special. peril from the inhabitants of the district, unless they ran foul of Bill Higgings and some of his crowd. j _“T hardly think that you'll run across that gang in the direction you’re going, as the rascals have been operating | efly between here and Denver. However, you should keep your weather eye lifting all the time, for there’s no telling it where the scamps may turn up. After what you did to iggings last night it would not be well for either of you to meet him. He can draw a gun quicker than any man in the State, and he is counted a dead shot. There is a reward of $5,000 standing for his capture, alive or dead, and $1,000 apiece for lar members of his gang.” : The boys thought that they would prefer not to run across ~ the desperado, even with the chance of winning. one of the rewards. A crowd gathered to see them off and then, all being in readiness, they took their leave of Clear Creek and headed for the distant mountain range. CHAPTER X. TOM AND BOB MAKE A NEW FRIEND. They were soon out of sight of town and riding among the vurious mines of the district. “This. is simply by side. “After we have ey dpe it a while things will look differ- ent,” replied Tom. “At present we are enjoying a-new and movel experience, 2nd even the bare plain and. commonplace foothills interest us. When we return to Clear Creek I we will have evidences of unlimited wealth. in our saddie bags ” _ “shall be greatly disappointed if we do not,”. replied Bob. i Tom. “Here comes a solitary horse- - “Hello!” exclaimed — # AS i as it isn’t red-headed Bill Higgings a don’t care,” Jeawing: slong at a slow pace the e em, om Clear Creék, I’ guess?” he THE PATH TO GOOD .LUCK. 13. “We are the chaps,” replied Tom. “I’m glad to meet you, pards. the Alpha Mine, where I just came from. Tom Collingwood?” his eyes resting on Tom’ as if he’ sus- pected he was the person. ‘ “That’s my name,” said Toni. Iheard about you up in “Shake, pard. I’m proud to make your acquintance. My name is Sam Munson.” “Glad to know you, Munson,”” said Tom. chum, Bob Preston.” The boys nodded at each other. “When -I heard that you fellows had been seen riding out this way I hurried’on to meet you, for I wanted to know'the fellow who had the nerve to stand out against Red Bill Hig- gings. You’re a wonder, Collingwood.” “Oh, I don’t know,” replied Tom. “I’ve had so many bouquets thrown at me since last evening that it’s a wonder I haven*t a swelled head py this time.” “How did you come to go into ‘The Eldorado’? know that it was the toughest saloon in town?” “No. They all looked alike to Bob and me.” “That’s where Bill Higgings used to hang out before the town got too hot for him. chap he is when he had the nerve to venture back there in the boldest kind of way with a big price on his head.” “T guess Ke’s about as hard as they come.” ioe can bet he is. It’s a marvel to me that you escaped alive.” “It was the sheriff’s appearance that saved our bacon.” “You boys are from the East, of course?” “We are. From good old New York State.” “Come here to rough it?” “That’s what we have.” - “You look as if Bip might be going prospecting.” “We’re on a gold digging jaunt.” “You'll haye to find your gold first,” smiled Munson. “We're looking for it now.” “Been studying mineralogy, I suppose, and have come out here to practise what you learned from your books.” “No, I can’t say we’ve done any of that kind of studying. We’ve been working in a cutlery ‘works for a matter of three ears,” 2 } . “Don’t you know anything about the properties of mineral substances?” asked Munson in no little surprise. “Not a thing.” “Then how do you expect to distinguish the presence of “This is my Didn’t you r.| gold-bearing rock?” “By seeing the specks of gold in it,” replied Tom, rather innocently. Munson laughed heartily at his answer. “I’m afraid you'll only waste your time if you try to pros- pect on that line,” he said. “A would-be prospector oaght to acquire all the knowledge he can, both theoretical and prac-' © tical, pertaining to the business before he starts out on an actual trip. He should learn in what rocks and under what conditions he may reasonably hope to discover certain min- erals, so that he may not look for gold and silver veins in the unaltered rocks of the flat prairie: where one may get an idea of the ores, how they occur in nature and their relative value.” “You talk as if you knew considerable about the matter,” said Tom, regarding their new acquaintance with interest. “I ought to. I’ve studied the subject on the lines I’ve men- . tioned, and I’ve done some. practical prospecting to test my roma ag But I came out here chiefly to rough it for my ealth.” “Where do you hang out?” “At my uncle’s ranch, about fifteen miles from here. I can ise you that you'll receive a hearty welcome.” We expected to stay. over night at William Spencer’s ranch,” said Tom. “That’s my uncle.” “I’m glad to hear it. I’ve a note,to him from Sheriff ' “Well, the best introduction you could have is the record ‘ The rascal has a Which of youis © It shows you what a desperate mi ) One of the best pre- ° liminary educations is actual work in the mines and mills, . - was beaten © puts Red Bill under the sod will get $1,000 from * a rey eantered along over the trail, and Sam seemed to bs» ast night ?”| y attracted to them. — i ORI a hey tes 35 sung aracel bound, anyway?” asked Munson. ©
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14 THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. | “We're making for the range in the neighborhood of the Black Triplets.” “The dickens you are. That’s a mighty wild district. I know several prospectors who have been down that way, but they didn’t find any indications of gold, and they were men of great experience. One of them stopped over night with uncle on his way back to Clear Creek some weeks ago. He was an old chap named Thomas Triggs.” “We knew him,” said Tom. “Did you? Where did you meet him? In Denver.” " “No. In -Forksville, New York, the town where we were ivine.” “You don’t say. I never thought he’d go East. He’s been thirty-five years. aceording to his own account, in the West, Southwest and Northwest. Those sort of men scarcely care to return to civilized haunts.” 4 “He went East because he had the rheumatism bad, and he thought he’d get better of it there. But he didn’t. It went to his heart and he died.” “So he’s dead, eh?” “Yes. Look there, Munson, I rather like you. I think you're 2 pretty decent kind of fellow. If I tell you why Bob and I have come out here will you keep it to yourself?” “J will, upon my word.” ; Lovey would you like to come with us to the Black Trip- e ? ” / “Yes, I’m willing to go with you, though I think you’re bound on a wild-goose chase.” “You mean in our search for gold?” “Yes.” “Suppose I told you we've come all the way from New York State with the expectation of finding lots of gold in the Black Triplets?” “Then I’d say I felt sorry for you, as you’re bound to be disappointed. Did you?? P “We did. And we have a definite object in view. Did you ever hear of a place called Death Valley in yonder range?” “T’ve heard my uncle speak of such a place, but though it’s been hunted for by many prospectors, it’s never been found. So LE goers its existence is a matter of considerable doubt.” ; y did prospectors look for it?” “Because there is a story that it was rich with gold.” “Well. there is such a place, and it is rich-with guld. lt’s alive with it.” / “How do you know that?” asked Munson in surprise. “Because Mr. Triggs told me all about it. e’s ~been + there, and I saw the samples of ore he brought away with him. They assayed $600 and $700 a ton.” “When did he tell you that?” : “Just before he died.” “When he stopped with us that night he never said’ a word 2 about Death Valley. Are you sure he was in his right mind?” “T have plenty of evidence to show that he was. He heard the story of Death Valley from an old Indian twenty years Z Since then he made seven attempts to locate the place. like. business, doesn’t it?” P , admitted Munson. erty to me an me full directions how to find the path leading to the chance of seeing this mysterious pee negr ne rock that old man Triggs Valley?” ; ; oBeb and I saw it all right, and we've got some of the see carennee tm ae nee whee wo telh at She: hovel in Clear see them if we don’t find this valley and I thinking you’ nd rocks and it will grow. People will ‘settle along the line of the road, and my uncle’s ranch will cease to be in the wilderness.” The sun was now setting behind the mountains in the west: Munson looked around the landscape. “Another hour’s ride will bring us to the ranch,” he said, and Tom and Bob were mighty glad to hear it, for it gave them visions of a good warm meal with a bed to follow— cacy that they didn’t expect to participate in again for some time. CHAPTER XI. LOVE’S YOUNG DREAM. ? Before the hour had elapsed they were riding up 2 wide path to the porch of a two-story, rambling sort of building. that looked to be at least twenty-five or thirty years old. . Tt was flanked by a number of outhouses, the whole col- lection looking decidedly lonesome where you couldn't see pace! ig house for miles no matter in what direction you gazed. This was the ranch of William Spencer, to whom Tom bore a letter of introduction from Sheriff Bartling, of Clear Creek. Their approach. was noted by Mr. Spencer himself, who was sitting on the porch. ‘ He easily made out that his nephew Sam was one of the party, and he presumed the other two, whom he saw were bovs algo. were friends of Sam. They dismounted near the porch steps and an employee of the ranch came forward and led the three animals away. “Uncle Will,” said Sam. “let me make you acquainted with Tom Collingwood (Tom bowed) and Bob Preston.” Bob also bowed. “Glad to know you, young men,” said the ranchman. “Take off your knapsacks and make yourselves at “home. My nephew will show you to a room presently. Dinner will be ready shortly.” : Tom presented the sheriff’s letter to Mr. Spencer, who opened and read it. ; Sheriff Bartling gave the bearer an uncommon reputation for nerve and pluck. j He had written a brief account of Tom’s run-in with the notorious Bill Higgings at “The Eldorado” the night before, through which the boy had saved Jack Jordan’s life. “Young man,” said the ranchman, after he had read the letter, “allow me to shake your hand again. So you actually took vour life in your hands to save a stranger from being shot dead by Red Bill Higgings?” He regarded his young visitor with a look of admiration. “You dared to face that scoundrel with only a tumbler for a weapon. And you came out first best at that. There must be 2 svecial providence watching over you, young man, Had you deliberately wished to commit means of turning up your toes than by doing what you did, The fact that vou did not become a subject for the coroner ig that you had the benefit of the one chance in a thousand. I admire your pluck and self-possession in a trying ordeal, and feel proud to have you as my guest.” . Mr. Spencer told Sam to take the boys to a certain, test * on the second floor, and grabbing up their knapsacks the way up a wide entrance. “ Their conductor showed them into a low-ceiled, chamber, where they proceeded to get rid of the dust dirt of their afternoon’s ride, while Sam went to his own room to freshen himself up likewise. When he returned Tom and him downstairs. The boys were now introduced r daughter Jessie, a very pretty, dark-eyed young girl They evaeted ey 1 the way they particularly i that the ranchman had communicated to them the riff’s letter. : cg ain ce to Mrs. Spencer: ant et regarded Tom it was easy to s€ a Bob were xeady to accompany > of six- ee ae their visitors with great cordiality, but from_ e ee suicide you ‘could scaresly have taken a surer — ny i-~
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- vs . steel girder bridge, and then leaping down between the gir- coming locomotive. ~ “So you came all the way from the East to hunt for gold in the mountains of Colorado?” said Jessie to Tom, as she was walking with him not far from the house on the second 7 ~ 7 = of his visit. —< ey ot ® nodded the boy. “And I expect to find it, too, some- _ where in the neighborhood of the Black Triplets.” _. Father is afraid that you'll be disappointed. ~ . “If we are able to find don’t think we’ll be eath Valley di ointed.” :. Ss ars t father doesn’t think there is any such place.” _ “He admits that he heard of it often when he first came to live on this ranch,’ replied Tom. - . “Byery prospector who has been down this way has looked for the valiey, but none ever found it.” : p a. t’s where you’re wrong. One p ector did find it.” “We. heard the fact mentioned. ' Nearly all the pros- pestors dropped in on us both to and from the range, and if one of them hed found the valley I think he certainly would "have mentioned it, for he would have considered it as quite er: p feather in his eap, whether there were indications of gold * “ who accidentally discovered the only path that S 3 = di ne Ge valley called here on his return to Denver, but the secret to himself. He was an old fellow n 3 < ” eee him well,” she replied. “It is’ not so long again. He is dead.” on of his property df it shows rsuaded your cousin Sam to ac- its. e’ve THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. ders to save himself from being crushed to death by the on-! amed hand?” ; ans out he shali have-a share} Shoving the muzzle into Tom’s face, he cried: , . it the valley? ; “Drop your gun, or [’ll blow the roof off your head!” '% love to go along, too,” she said, with spark-| Tom had cocked his weapon, but that was as far as he had ce , Pcan’t or I’m only a girl. How I} got. ; : : 5 t std, * tik wee saw he mene show Hi all, but if ane act cost oan ‘7 . i sh e you half so} life he determined io second Jessie’s cry by a pistol s » not tox: 3 : he h would call attention to the spot. ; g 15 what it was to care for any girl, though I’ve met lots of them. Now it is different. My heart has gone right out to beng I don’t know whether you care anything for me or not, ut I do know that you have become all the world to me. I know that when I leave you all the pleasure I had counted |on in this trip to the range will disappear. I will be only able to think of the little girl I left behind on this ranch. | Now I want to know if you will miss me even a little ‘bit.” They came to a pause in an open space in the wood and Tom looked earnestly down at the sweet face that was turned awav from him. Although she did not indicate by words that she would miss him in the least, there was something in her manner that encouraged him, and he slipped his arm around her slim waist. She made no move to draw away from him, and this em- boldened him to proceed. “Aren’t you going to answer me, Jessie?” he asked in a tone that fell thrillingly on her ears. ‘Perhaps I have of- | fended you.” ~ | “No, no,” she said, half turning toward him in evident confusion. “Then tell me—do you or do you not care for me?” Then he lifted her face, hot with blushes, with one hand, and gazed into her averted eyes. “Is it yes or—no?” he asked earnestly. For a moment she was silent and then as he pressed her still closer she said in a scarcely audible tone, “Yes,” and buried her face on his shoulder. “You do care for me,” he exclaimed joyfully. “With all your heart as I care for you?” “Yes,” she replied. ant bent his head, and gently raising hers, kissed her on the lips. But at that moment love’s young dream was rudely in- truded upon by a hoarse, jeering guifaw behind them, whose hi jarring note speedily awoke them to the realization that = only they no longer were alone, but there was danger in the air. Jessie released herself with a stifled exclamation. As they turned around to see who the intruder was the were confronted by the leering, wicked countenance and stat. wart form of Red Bill Higgings, whose treacherous eyes glowed upon them with a sarcastic, triumphant expression. “CHAPTER XIl. IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE. “A pretty pair of turtle doves, upon my word,” he said sardonically.. “It’s almost a pity to have trapped ’em. So feller, you and me meet again, eh? you see that he went on menacingly, raising his bandaged right fist. “That’s your work: Besides, I was’ almost caught on your account. Well, them that butts in must pay the piper. grab ’em, boys. This here is Spencer’s darter, and we'll make him pay a siiff price to get her back. As for the boy, I'll at- tend to him when we reach the range.” A pair of villainots locking rascals appeared from among the trees and advanced to do their leader’s bidding. Jessie uttered a terrified scream, and Tom pulled his re- big se to ee her. koe \ ~ . iggings, however, had his gun out so quick that it took the boy’s breath away. So he pulled the trigger. of and The revolver went the bullet went into the ground. ‘Phen he the wea : “ The ruffian not t his object, but supposed he had | his revolver fright. San teak sald rl with a handkerchief and earry her ye :
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16 In a few moments they were unhitching their animals and preparing to retreat. “Take the boy, Norris,” he said to one of the men. “I'll carry the girl myself,” He sprang on his horse, took "the struggling’ Jessie from the man holding her, and spurred off at full speed in the direction of the range. Jessie’s scream and the pistol shot alarmed Mr. Spencer, who happened to be riding along the edge of the wood a short distance away. Fearing some trouble threatened his onlv child he dashed toward the wood just in time to see Red Bill Higgings riding away from it with Jessie in his arms, followed in a moment by his two rascally followers. The ranchman recognized the abductors with a groan of anguish. He knew it was useless for him to follow. them alone. So noting the direction they were taking he turned his horse back toward the ranch-house, firing his revolver as he went. This raised a general alarm and half a dozen of his men came running up. Bob and Sam were not present, as they had gone fishing some miles away. Mr. Spencer hurriedly explained the situation to ‘his*men, pnd told them to get their rifles and their horses and follow im. The ruffians were well mounted on stout mustangs, and they set a hot pace for their pursuers, whom they led by nearly three miles. , After half an hour’s chase it seemed to be certain. unless some accident happened to the villains, that they would surely —— the fastnesses of the mountains in time to hide sonie- where. ’ It was dark when Tom came to his senses and found him- lying on the rocky floor of a cave in the mountain side. oo away a fire was burning hidden behind a big Bill Higgings, looking fiercer than ever in the fitful glow of the flames, was seated with his back against the rocky wall, smoking a pipe and talking to one of -the men, while the other one was employed cooking something over the fire. “You must have hit the boy a good clout, for he shows no signs of coming to,” Tom heard the villain’s associate remark. “That’s what I meant to do to keep him quiet till we got out here. He'll come around by the time the moon is up,” replied Higgings, with a wicked laugh, “then I'll take him down the stream, blow his brains out and chuck him into the water.” : “Better wait till mornin’,” said.the other. “The shot might attract the attention of the ranch crowd who are lookin’ for us.” ’ “They’re not around here. I saw them go in the other direction. Thev’re, miles away beating up the bushes some- where around the Black Triplets.” “T wouldn’t take no chances unless you’re sure, Our skins is more valuable than the death of that kid. If I was you I'd tie him hand and foot and leave him in the inner cave where the girl is now to starve. You’d get a heap more satis- faction out of that. at least I would if I was doin’ the thing. What's a ball in the head? He’d never know what struck him. Starvin’ is different. He’ll suffer for days and die little by, little. That’s the way to get the good out of revenge. i : 5 “T don’t know but you’re right, Norris. I'll think it over. At thet moment the other man announced that the meal was ready. “Then dish it out, Walker. Leave enough in the pot for the gal. Lhe got phe out for her, as she’s worth sev- ; ousand us,” Higgings. j v then ig filed with what senained itr th r ti was w 3 d in the an Diivings taking % Migslknd witked away tote the hack disa) ing around of rock. Preciosa bear hot talkiag ts come tndin thers, sid’ he knew that someone was Jessie Spencer. ; eens Stee be rete eee teeny te Gi call one as soon as he saw him coming pretended to be (Une at ngwood he returned to ‘the , daly, of the lng fg where he Wega il Nomis } here, Tve rare scheme, Soe onaeee Fon Ma et es : 1ey’ve eX- every possible chance of "the gal. Now don’t ah. f ge. THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. then one of the} fai — — i? you see, my laddybucks, that leaves the ranch with hardly a defender. Probably one: man and the two young chaps are all that’s there now. My idea is for us three to ride over there, take the people by surprise, knock ’em on the head to keep ’em quiet, plunder the place and then set fire to it. We'll gain a lot of valuables, and I'll have a full revenge on Bill Spencer for past favors. The light of the burnin’ ranch is likely to bring the crowd that’s after us back to the prop- erty. We'll swing around and return here along the foot- hills. Then after I dispose of the boy we’ll take the gal with us and go south to some safe place from which I kin make terms for the gal’s return. How does this strike you?” “First rate,” exclaimed Norris. “I vote we carry it out.” Walker also signified his willingness to fall into the plan. “Then that’s settled. The sooner we start the better, for it won’t be no darker than it is now. Get a piece of rope, Norris, and'tie the boy so he ‘can’t get away when he comes to his senses, I'll fix the gal so she’ll be safe enough here. Then we'll move on for the ranch.” Bill Higgings and his men got on their feet, and Norris, getting the rope, came over to Tom. He shood the boy roughly, but Tom acted like a dead one, and satisfied that their prisoner was still out of his senses, he proceeded to bind his legs together. Then Norris turned Collingwood over on his face and tied his arms just above his wrists. As he worked in the dark, and Tom artfully held his wrists in such a way -that reversing them would cause a certain amount of slack in the rope, the job was, on the whole, rather- a bungling one. While Norris was engaged with Tom, Higgings went in to the inner part of the cave and secured Jessie. Satisfied that they would find their prisoners on their re- turn just as they were leaving them, the rascals left the cave, mounted their horses and rode off toward the ranch, six. miles away. CHAPTER XIII. THE END OF RED BILL HIGGINGS. Tom didn’t waste a moment after the scoundrels had de- parted in making a strong effort to free himself. As he felt that his‘ life ultimately depended on his suc- cess, he worked away with feverish eagerness. s His ruse at the time Norris was tying him, as well as the smallness of his hands, worked in his favor, and inside’ of a uarter of an hour he had worked one hand out of limbo, and it was easy to release the other. / The jack-knife he always carried was in his pocket, the rascals not having searched him, and five minutes sufficed to free him wholly of his bonds. Then he stood up with a sigh of satisfaction. “Now to release Jessie; but without horses I don’t see how —- we can return to the ranch in time to outwit Higgings and his men. Let us st, Bob, Sam and whoever else may be there, will be able to hold them off. I fear, however, that the $ may succeed in surprising them, and then the worst is likely to happen.” ; He had his matchsafe in his clothes and he struck a lucifer as soon as he had felt his way around the corner of the ledge, As the light flared up tre saw the huddled-up form of Jessie close by, gagged and tightly bound. Her eyes‘lit up with surprise and joy when she recognized Tom coming to her. But she could not. utter a word on account of the hand- kerchief which Higgings had bound tightly across her mouth. Tom, however, quickly released her from. the handker- ne 2 and she could only exclaim, “Oh, Tom!” whea she carried her out of the cave. a ~ Perceiving a running mountain stream near by, Tom bore her to its benks, and ed the clear, cold water in her fae? until he d in restoring her to consciousness. . asked her what had happened after he was struck n He cut her bonds, and taking, her in his arms, Jessie. We “ey will tell hace: Chae singe St the Villainé are’ seey bp isting et Fo
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THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. 17 on their way, I’m sorry to say, to attack, rob and burn the asia which they believe to be unprotected at the present e.” Jessie was greatly’ distressed to learn that news on her mother’s account, knowing that she would be exposed to probable’ indignities in case the ruffians were suecessful in achieving their object. Tom reassured her as well as he could. 5 @ main issue with us now is to make sure of our escape. The ranch is six miles away and we can do nothing to save it. If we could meet your father and his men, matters could be arranged differently.” The words were hardly out of his mouth before they almost ran into the arms of two of Mr. Spencer’s cowboys. They did not recognize the men in the gloom, and their first impression was that they had unexpectedly run foul of their enemies. ; Jessie uttered a scream of fear and fell back with Tom, but the identity of the men was at once:established when one of them cried, in a tone of satisfaction: “Hello! If this isn’t Jessie and Collingwood I’m a liar.” “Will Anson, is that you?” gasped the girl, recognizing the man’s voice. “Tt’s me all right, miss,” replied the cowboy. “How did you escape from those desperadoes ?” “Where is my father?” asked Jessie, without answering his question. “Hoe’s somewhere around in the neighborhood. We’re out in’ for you in small parties. I’ll have them all here in no time.” He drew his revolver and fired three shots in the air. Three answering shots were fired a short distance away, and other reports followed further away. Almost directly two more cowbovs came up, and the party started to walk in the direction indicated by Anson. In five minutes they weré joined by the ranchman and a fifth cowboy. The seventh member of the party was watching the horses some distance away. : The meeting between father and daughter was a joyful one. . Explanations ensued and Mr. Spencer learned that his daughter’s safety was due to Tom Collingwood. - *You’ye conferred a lasting obligation on me, Collingwood,” " Said the grateful father. “Be sure I shall not forget what I I did the best I could for her, and able to rescue her. But we have no time F 3 here and talk. “Your ranch is in from those - yaseals. They’ve ridden over fo attack and destroy it while vou and i better our men are-here searching for us. You’d eee returning. I'll tell you how TI learned this the horses, Mr. Sveneer took his daughter in front Reachin speed the ranch. ee ee a mile of the place they heard two rifle shots saw the figshes of the same from the windows of the * rh rged them on to an extra spurt of speed, and thev s Ta Tecokced ches from behind one of the outhouses, which showed that the rascals were firing at the defenders of the building, who it appeared had not been taken by surprise, ton soci <r rie a great 1 down the villains one by reinforcements, they sprang on surrounded’ Red Bill Higgings he put up a e was Terteited f anyhow. em badly, be- cae eee oe In the meantime Tom Collingwood became the hero of the ranch, and no one there could do too much for him during the next three days before he, Bob and Sam Munson set out for the Black Triplets. CHAPTER XIV. THE GIANT SKULL. During the first two or three hours of the journey Tom looked dewn in the mouth. It was something of a trial for him to tear himself away — the fascinating influence exercised over him by Jessie pencer. The girl herself was similarly affected, for she had learned to love the manly-looking boy with all the strength of a first attachment. Bob and Sam understood Tom’s feelings, for they. had not been blind to his evident preference for Jessie’s society dur- ing his stay at the ranch. wx Ae They stopped for dinner among the foothills, within sight of the three dark-colored mountain peaks, and they reached the long, narrow valley which circled around the base of two of the Triplets shortly after sundown. eae. Here they established their camp for the night, picketing their horses and starting a fire. Sam Munson volunteered to act as cook and his services were accepted. : He soon prepared a pot of coffee and fried a mess of bacon and eggs, which with the fresh bread and butter they had branes with them from the ranch, made a first-rate al fresco meal. + They were up with the sun and Sam prepared the breakfast in good shape, after which Tom got out his compass and paper of directions. . . “J must find a certain black stone,” he said. ‘“That’s where I start from. So keep your eyes skinned for such a thing. They proceeded slowly up the valley, watching out for the stone in question. At length Sam caught sight of a tall, dark-colored stone jutting out of the ground near the base of Triplet No. 1, as they called it. oi “There’s your black stone,” said Sam. “If it isn’t exactly black it’s next door to it at any, rate.” ae es “T guess that must be it,” said Tom, putting the compass to PER a the southwest side of it. “At any rate if it isn’t the right one I’ll soon ag : “Byerything is O. K. so far,” he said, in a tone of satis- faction. “Now we must picket our horses. All we'll take with us is a pick, shovel, a pan for washing the gold, our knapsacks and cooking utensils. I'll strap the. pick. on | back. You’d better carry the shovel, Bob. The pans an other things I'll assign to you, Sam, After we discover the path to Death Valley, and get the hang of the way to it, we ean come back here and carry back with us the rest of our supplies and other things.” oe i: om called for the long, thin rope, which he threw over s arm. As an extra precaution Sam strapped his rifle on his back, and thus pre , they started their ascent, following an exact course by compass. : After a while they struck a dense thicket, through which Tom led ee way. | naling HG After an hour’s climbing way grew so rugged that Tom thought it advisable to use the rope tied around Bist ane wee ene apart, so as to help one another They soon Found ‘it of great ‘assistance. “If this is the only way to the golden valley,” said Bo “we oing to have a e lot of trouble to fro, and carrying such a heavy weight as gold.” “A little e will make the road much easier.” ngineering “You don’t call this a path, dor you?” asked Bob, with a ’ as the old man called it, : all the Ww. 1
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18 . THE PATH TO GOOD LUCK. because he was searching for an entrance to Death Valley,|_ A number of pans full of surface dirt was washed out, first where he believed gold was to be found if anywhere in the| by Sam to show Tom and Bob how to do it properly. Triplets. : The two Forksville boys soon saw that the manipulation of _ At length the boys came to a deep fissure in the mountain the pan, while quite simple, required considerable practice side. along one side of which ran a narrow footpath. before one could become expert. With Bob in the lead now they ascended this, and gradually| Sam filled the pan about half full of water from the stream, approached the highest point of Triplet No. 1. and then threw into it a shovelful of dirt, after first picking Suddenly Bob was arrested by a tug at the rope. out the larger pebbles. ; ‘ See!” cried Tom Collingwood, pointing across the fissure.| _He worked the whole mass thoroughly with his fingers tiil The Giant Skull!” : all the clay was reduced to a fine sand and mud. “My gracious!” exclaimed Bob. “So it is.” Then he carefully poured off the muddy water and refilled Sam, lower down, gave a startled gasp. the pan with clear water. The. three. boys gazed awesomely at the curious rocky “That's simple enough,” remarked Bob. ‘Any fool could formation starin them in the face. do oe i: ees “The Giant Skull.” repeated Tom, his b ing wi “Now watch me,” said Sam. : é excitement. “The old man's story ts feta oa “The Path He took the pan in both hands, one on cither side, and in- to Gooa Luck’ lies before us, and at its foot is Death Valley— clining it slightly away from him, gave it a peculiar circular the New Eldorado—the Valley of Gold.” motion. : ; f At each revolution of the pan a portion of the water slopped over the depressed edge of the pan, carrying with it some of the sand and lighter minerals, the gold, owing to its greater specific gravity, remaining at the bottom. ; He continued to do this until only a small quantity of sand was left. in which they all saw the specks of gold shining. Sam then poured nearly all the water off, and moving the pan to and fro, the gold gradually collected by itself, when a final tilt and jerk of the pan disvosed of the sand, leaving the gold in an orange-yellow streak. Tom and Bob then tried the process and succeeded very well after several trials. They camped for the night on the claim, and next morning made their way back to the valley outside and brought back with them the rest of their supplies and traps, including a small tent provided by Sam. They remained two weeks in the little valley washing gold, and by that time had collected a considerable quantity of the precious metal. A number of good-sized nuggets were found, too. They then returned to the ranch for fresh supplies, and pstonished Mr. Spencer with the news of their discovery of Mr. Triggs’ valuable claim, now Tom’s property. When they went back to Death Valley the ranchman ac- — companied them. 3 om decided that the matter should be kept a profound — secret until they had washed up a sufficient quantity of gold to give him a good working capital to mine the claim in the CHAPTER XV. THE VALLEY OF GOLD. They were now exceedingly anxious to press on to the valley that apparently lay snugly tucked in between the three dark-colored peaks. - A few yards further on, after rounding the ledge, they came on a well-defined path leading downward. “Hurrah!” shouted Bob. “Here’s the ‘Path to Good Luck.’.” - They followed it without difficulty, and in half an hour stood in the long-sought-for Death Valley. Almost the first thing Sam noticed on the trunk of a tree which stood on the bank of the narrow and swiftly-flowing mountain stream which passed along one side of the valley was the following notice: “DEATH VALLEY LODE. “The Death Valley Lode, discovered by Thomas Trigegs, May 27, 189—. Claim 750 feet northerly and 750 feet southerly from discovery. - “THOMAS TRIGGS.” \ Mr. Triggs had staked the claim out in due form by monu- ments of stone. latest manner. Sie There were seven of these altogether, one being near the! Sam and Bob staked off a claim apiece, one on Triplet No, of the claim, close to the discovery shaft which the| 2 and one on Triplet No. 3. - labor succeeded in sinking to} Three months later the other claims were recorded with — old p r had with — the ite depth and width as required by law. the recorder of the county, and then the news of the dis- _ Sam saw that Mr. Triggs had left nothing undone to estab-| covery of gold in the heart of the Black Triplets was circu- — lish his legal right to the claim, and he so notified Tom. lated far and wide. i Tom and Bob found Sam’s services invaluable. Mr. Spencer helped Tom form the “Death Valley Gold — j Mining Company,” the company taking in the four claims on a basis of sixty ver cent. stock-for Collingwood, and forty ‘surface gola per cent. divided between Bob, Sam and the ranchman. = : of . velopment purposes, and before long a modern mining plant” could searcely Setect rt =~ ” Within a year sacks of gold ore were being sent to Clear Creek for shipment. . ie ee The value of the output soon gave the mine a great repu- tation, and no one was surprised at the high dividends de-— io — sed ee gee pete tac ms = pe se ery little e “Death ey Mining Co.” stock could be bought, though it was occasionally quoted on, the changes at $40 a share, which was double the price asked f sheres of some of the erack Goldfield and Tonopah rine Bob ; : cd To-day Tom Collingwood is a rich young man, i oe 4} Preston and Sam Munson are*on the road to } fortunes. Mr. Spencer is also gathering in fat dividends on his eet of the stock, all of which will eventually return Tom’s through Jessie Spencer, who is now the happy and wife of the Boy Miner of Death Valley. a iy s = é ; a may work such veins on their the distance between the parall Next week's issue will contain “MART MORTC MONEY; OR, A CORNER IN WALL STREE®.” | | a ge
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 19 CURRENT NEWS © It looks very easy to break an egg, but it is re-|days en route from San Francisco. The best previ- markable how great a pressure may be exerted upon | ous record was thirty-five days and nine hours. The the egg shell before it will break, if the pressure is| party of United States Marines left San Francisco exerted on the end. It was found by experiment|via an Army transport, and at Guam, Marianna that the pressure required to break eight hens’ eggs | Islands, transshipped to the U. S. S. Brooklyn, which Was between 400 and 675 pounds to the square inch.| brought them directly to Shanghai. They went from : Shanghai to Peking by rail. LS NE CE Oe ee ee here freighter Cicoa has loaded pig iron at the a and docks for Buffalo, using powerful mag- Rise : nets to lift iron on board and doing away with long- ee brans—¢ specially the canned ; ee _ shoremen labor. The Cicoa is equipped with three ai e as scarce as the proverbial hen’s weet 2. | magnets, each capable of lifting 1,500 pounds. The | cording to an announcement made at Pittsburgh ae anwer is. ecnsihe En walla. cacacky by one of the largest canning companies in the . ; : -|world, which has notified its salesmen to take no ; Only four men were engaged in loading—-one man a ‘ aie! - at each dynamo and one at the motor. The Cicoa is fahire orders, For this the reason is given that the SR seeacl on the:lakes se equipped. Government is buying all the beans it can find, and Soar : agin the raw product will probably not be oer: = : pees i _ {able for public use. With the increased demand, the __ Explosive bullets are being used in the machine/pean, heretofore eonsidered plain, substantial fare, RE fi oe I Ese engages & ore atiata sina ae weird ee Ait nite among the principal foodstuffs used in the army _ the order to fire explosive bullets from aeroplanes 5 rede _ has been given to all German aviators. If this be true, it gives the Teutons a distinct advantage over _ their adversaries, for one hit scored on the enemy’s _ petrol tank would almost always cause a disastrous ~~ explosion. Miss Dorothea Roberts, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. M. B. Roberts of Waverly, Kan., met with a very unusual and peculiar accident which almost cost her life. With her father she was riding in their car— a Sorc Gade the girl in the rear seat, the father in the wee os ae 7 ps é driving. In passing over a culvert at g s __ & bill authorizing. the New York World to raise,| :h, irl was Pampa the top of the automo- by popular subscription, $30,000 to install apparat-|}ije and a strong chain which she wore about her iene ig gems scr of — Statue of Pane sind neck caught over one of the bows in the top. There Deswiee ‘A Sv “A * Pre n introduced before! he hung unti! the father noticed that she failed ss. At the present time the statue is prac-| ¢> answer his remarks. When he looked around he tically invisible at night, and its lighted torch at-| ¢ound her unconscious, hanging to the top of the acts but little attention. "For its efficient flood) .utomobile. He stopped immediately and did what v ; projectors to the intensity of from 6 to 12 foot| Her mouth was full of blood caused from the chok- idles will be required. ing of the chain. She will probably recover. electrically-operated cleaner for blackboard a9 aS Bey ie fais a hair yy SORE, Serer meee a, iufacturer. It consists essentially of a vacuum jure oy speak insultingly of the American flag, th _ fan operated by a 1-25th horsepower electric motor. nenaity to be imprisonment for three mate a Not only is the chalk dust removed by the strong/harg labor, It is proposed that a person hauling suction of the fan, but the ayia’ of —_ eraser 18/ down the American flag should not be shot on the id by a rotating bristle brush. The chalk is| spot, after the methods of General Dix, but should d into a box, from which the air escapes! he sent to an insane asylum to have the question of eet © ‘fine muslin-filter. It is claimed that no! ni, sanity determined, Bills for the protection. of. 3 alk: escapes into the room. _° the flag, along the lines of the paragraph in the Na- Seer i tional ense Act of June 3 that protect the service ghting it is estimated that light from concealed) },. could, but she was unconscious for several hours.
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20 FAME AND FORTUNE REEDED F TURNED OUT WEST R THE BOY WHO eee A GOLD MINE By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY) CHAPTER III (Continued). “Explain quick, then, for I don’t want to stand here.” “Now you keep yer aire on, boy. We don’t want to harm you. It’s like this, Back thar they’ve got the wust dancer of the fandango thar is in ‘Arizona, I say. A week ago to-night, I offered to bet fifty to five that any tenderfoot could beat him all out, and I placed a lot of them bets. It was agreed that the first tenderfoot what showed up should be used for the purpose of deciding the ‘affair. We expected cme was a proposition. To ninety-nine boys out of a hundred it would have been a most strenuous one, for what tender- some drummer in hyar to-night, and we are hyar ' to meet him. I expect that’s about what you'll be.” “Tt’s what I’m not,” replied Leon. “Do you ex- aes pect me to dance here on the bar?” me “Not much! On the stage with Larry Burns _. dancing against you. Question is, how bad kin yer Es ce? Mebbe yer think yer can’t dance at all, but | Ps 'm bettin’ yer kin dance better nor him!” } offhand? : dredth bo : _As has se stated, Leon’s mother was a Mexican, ain fandango. trical oxzhibitions, Leon had performed = that very dance and had’ sone Stein two other boys + Tp thecart =~ hus: the thing which was: aiow demanded ot him |. -d to be the very thing he could do, and ‘the |; rhe fe scrape sei ab to be to do it. psp - it was not hearty by Sy ON \in- | “So this is eh Toes. son »|when Leon was dropped upon it. : ‘eet could be expected to dance the Mexican fan-' But as i happened, Leon ‘Mack was that hun- |. his childhood she had taught him to dance a tier. at the military sckeol on the occasion of | tenderfoot onto the stage and let him show what he can do.” Leon’s time had come. : Rough hands pulled him off the bar, and Leon was placed upén the shoulders of Jake Penny and Tom Ivory. ; Thus supported and with the crowd following, he was carried to the stage. The news of his coming had evidently gone _— k him, for the way was cleared. , The orchestra, used to this sort of thing, were — banging away and the little stage was deserted rs Burns!” bellowed the miners and cow- m Bring on Gage “Burns! boys. “Bring out Larry Burns! the gals. Lively, now!” A young man popped out from behind the stage. tb, “Jack Fox, you hyar!” gasped Buck, falling back. _ “Yes, Vm hyar. + What of it?” growled the young > man. “What's ‘all this row about? Who’s runnin’ — this house, anyhow ?” Goes “Hold on, Jack,” said Buck. “It’s only. my. bet. You knew about that; but you better look outsfor — yerself, old man. The vig is after yer. Seva re show yerself in public to-night.” “T’ll do as I please in my own ieee ; the young fellow, who had evidently been rae ; “7 dunno nuthin’ about the old man.” “They think you do.” “Waal, I don’t.” “All right. ’Tain’t none of my funeral. — my bet go. I don’t want to make no Nhs J Jack. fl hap ain man and ag father a an Pp | There was some pha from the au
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~ aE AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 21 “Here’s your partner, an’ her name is. Pepita,” | But not.so Leon. Mack! "said Jack Fox to Leon, introducing one of the ladies.|_ There stood the son of his father’s old friend “Lottie, you will dance with Larry,” he said to,the| facing his enemies alone. ~ =O Leon had a revolver—he knew how to use it, too. Jack Fox then advanced to the row of lamps}. “I'll stand by you!” he cried, springing to Jack’s 7} which served as footlights and explained the bet/side; “but just the same, we had better light out.” ; to the audience. *on. next +h was the situation, when all at once there Fiat ices ot tie xt few erin tea mye bah oad in the bar-room and a crowd of men, They fled to a rear door and down a flight of steps ne black masks as ‘their faces, came rush-| 5, the’ outaide. ) the variety ha This brou pe ys ght them to an alley, and they had n eae The vigilantes!” the miners more than gained it when Pennie the vintiebbes ’ coming down from the main street. pyc aa these men opened fire upon them. ox fired twice and Leon once, but the darkness Ee hee Care mr Sie back;| prevented damage from being done on either side. ‘ipped rit 4 th ° two Mexi-|! ming tet pel — or alley to the back ; ceased street. Leon at his and more shots flying ed behind the ‘screen, after them. ' "ih Here there was a broncho standing ready saddled into the ‘orchestra. ate ‘TWwory and several others of| #74 hitched to a post. e stage followed his example. y hung: back for the moment ae 8 hs eae 3 ae WE He iy 3 waste time here.” _ “Pair play now. gentlemen!” he shouted. “You! the vigilance committee, ‘pushing toward the stage. . r glances told him that he was doing it well./can follow if you like. They will kill you if they- . ‘Cant you ride; boy?” paxited Fox. “Quick, now! ut Shere i=-duly' an instant hetwoen: us boil deathyal wae 7
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST. GRASS GROWS: IN TREE. In the E.. W. Thornburrow yard in Wetmore, _Kan. ., is'a large bunch of blue grass growing in the fork of an elm tree ten feet from the ground. Every fall the residents of Wetmore, who are watch- ing this curiosity, expect the grass to be winter killed, but every spring it shows up green and strong and matures seed. The grass has been ON ing in the tree for three years. — ELECTRIC PORTABLE SAW MILLS. It is reported that electrically operated mills of the portable type are rapidly gaining in favor among lumbermen. In localities where water power is abundant and has already been partially convert- éd. into cheap electric power, the portable saw mill is: especially popular, According to the president of a firm which is manufacturing electric portable saw mills, the demand is fast increasing in the South and West at the present time. P . $3,500 FOR MULE KICK. The Supreme Court, in an opinion received at Pottsville, Pa., approved of the award of $3,500 to Joseph Kiorkosky for injuries received by the kick of a mule. The Kaska William Supply Company was the defendant, and, while Kiorkosky, who is a boy, was not employed by it, Judge Koch ruled that it) was the duty of the company to keep the boys away from their mules. The boy’s teeth were knocked out and his jaw was fractured. WOMAN SHOOTS BULL. | Mike Zimney, a farmer living east of Thief River Falls, Minn., was saved from being trampled to death by an enraged bull by the courage and prompt - action of his wife. The animal took offense at the flapping of Mr. ‘Zimney’ s raincoat and attacked him, throwing him : Me the ground ip breaking several ribs and his | Mrs. Zinmey, seeing the ‘plight of her husband, ly secured a shotgun and some shells. While > had never attempted to use firearms of any kind > managed to load the gun and shoot the animal, him sufficiently to enable her to drag her unconscious husband out of danger. Mr. .Zimney (yes brought to Geboanites here for prentmpenh, Oe nie aaah jah “HOW PIGEONS CARRY MESSAGES. e genera al notion that al! that has to be done in pnt pac eye is to catch the tas. tot aha hans x is nes of mich vi si pitched ball the birds must have been thoroughly trained; other- wise, , if the distance to be traversed be great, the pigeon will in all probability lose its way, as it de- pends more upon observation than anything else for guidance in its flights. Prior to the siege of Paris, the method of affixing the message to the bird had not received that atten- tion which it demanded, and consequently many dis- patches were lost in transit. At first the message was merely rolled up tightly, waxed over to protect it from the weather, and then attached to a feather in the bird’s tail. But it was soon found that the twine which kept the missive in its place cut or damaged the paper, and therefore, 4) order to prevent it from being pecked by the pigeon and from being injured by wet, the dispatch was iIn- — serted in a small goosequil! two inches in length. The quill was then pierced close to each end with a red-hot bodkin, so as not to split it, and in the holes waxed silk threads were inserté¢d to affix it to the — strongest tail feather. By attaching the message to _ this part of the bird’s body its flight was not in any — way interfered with. wg cas 4 WHY DOES A BALL BOUNCE? si When you throw 4 ball against the floor in order — to make it bounce the ball gets out of shape as as it comes in contact with the floor. As much not it as strikes the floor becomes ‘perfectly flat, and — because the ball has a quality known as elasticity, which means the ability to return to its proper — shape, it returns to its shape at once. In doing s ven it forces itself back into the air, and pr. is 1 1 | bounce. : Of course the first thing we think of wae 1 we consider something that bounces is a ball, and in ¥ ¥ most cases a rubber ball.. We are most fam nilian | with the bouncing qualities of a rubber ball. eos balls, like the standard baseball, are not so as the rubber ball filled with air, but a solid 1 ber ball is more elastic, and some golf balls” much more elastic than a solid rubber ball. principle is the same when you drive a golf except that when you bounce a ballon the f floor does the flattening, and when you drive a ; ball, the golf club does the flattening. A | flies away from the bat for the same reason. W. you meet a fast pitched ball squarely on the with a good swing, it goes farther and faster 1 when you hit a slow-pitched ball with 2 swing. The reason for this is that in th the fast pitched ball you flatten the. ball it has so much more to do to recover that it oe aus from a et ie
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 23 _ THE ADVENTURES CHAPTER XI (Continued) we ter. Mind what I say, they won’t try it. We are ‘on that score.’ Terry was very nervous. could hardly sit still in the boat. Poor Quash was too much used up to move. Specs I doan care whether de dawgs git me or * he moaned. “I’s played out, 2222. Kain’t do mo’, no mattah what happens. Dat’s right.” fal paddled on. As yet they had not been seen, he began to hope they never would be. he man-hunters were doing their work thor- y, however.- were provided with big, flaring urshoe of ots, which they kept flashing about. ay moment the light might come their way, “trouble wep begin. But stay! The had begun already! are dis yere boat’s done sprung a-leak! gt; enly exclaimed. ’s what it has!” added Terry: ) up ognd my feet!” ow! I know!” replied Hal, paddling all the “The water a thing. The best we can do is to make island, I think!” °.. \ ation was worse than he thought. the bottom of the dugout was all rotten. r the trunk of a submerged tree. there, was a eo, grinding when Hal ugout over a t he was all right when he , for he did not know all exposed. HAL, THE By ED “If we only had something to bail with, but} . But Hal did not know. veri solving, and the ime tow gph emigre ten “aay i gre de: reopen POOR BOY OF TWO ORPHANS KING (A SERIAL STORY) + ; The water rose higher and higher, coming in “Yes; but bloodhounds don’t take naturally to| Very rapidly at last. Hal made no talk, but shot away from the shadow of the overhanging cypress trees, and made for a small island which lay off shore a hundred yards or so. Fa had no sooner done so than the light was on him. ae eThar they be!” bawled Ben Bowser. The dogs bayed furiously. “Gee! We are goners!” cried Terry. A big section of the bottom dropped away alto- gether. It was every one ror himself now. Hal paddled furiously, and just succeeded in driv- ing the nose of the dugout up against the island when the whole thing sank in three feet of- water, | leaving the boys to make their way ashore the best | they could. “It’s all up with us, Hal!” groaned tem, “They'll get us now, sure!” ’ CHAPTER XII. THE FIND IN THE HIDING HOLE. \ Hal and his companions were now in a sad plight. When they got into the dugout, they did not stop to put on their clothes. The night was warm, and they did not feel the away from the shore, Hal drove the| need of them. The consequence was when the dugout went down, een something of a shock when it| the clothes went, too. The boys were now, prisoners on the island, as naked as the day they were born. ae 2 n into! On shore the bloodhounds were barking rartoaay, t half| and the man-hunters shouting to each other, every word being easily heard. = “Let’s lie still and listen to their talk,” said Hal. a oad ed among
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24 FAME, AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. said. “It was just the waving of them branches| Back a, little, the ground rose higher, and here a down close to the water’s edge.” J 3%: thick elump of eypresses grew. “Do you mean to tell me that I’m so far gone that As Hal came in among the trees, he saw the re- I don’t know a tree from a boy,” snarled Bowser. mains of a hut, very rudely built. “Stop your jawing! Make the dogs take to the}. poy sag aS 4 thston is wh water if you can!” the voice of the under-foreman Wie CORR ee ered. held it together. “It won’t do,” spoke another voice, which Hal rec- ven ed as that of the superin sig phase cane It all looked very old, and in some places the logs © these boys being torn to pieces. You wanter ketch Fe en ae them alive and give them a durned good licking. j|. Hal pushed in through the open doorway, and as say that there is going far enough.” he did so he instantly went flying out again, for a “Oh, what a lot of jawing!” groaned Gidish “y huge rattlesnake went gliding over the broken floor. wish dey’d settle what dey oii gwine ter do wid us.| Lhere were some old sticks of furniture in the hut, I want ter know de wust.” Fee altogether the place offered better shelter than “We want to build a raft, that’s what,” Captain the canebrakes. Bowser now said. “Bad luck it is there hain’t an ax| Hal went. back, and finding Terry and Quash both among us all. What we’ve got ter do is to wait till| awake, they all returned to the hut. we can send back to camp and get a couple. That’s| @Quash was now in a high fever, and the boys had all.” to carry him. Between these logs had been piled up, and over the tops others laid, to form the root. “Sooner or later they are bound to eek us,”| There were no more snakes to be seen when they thought Hal. “What is to be done?” — got back to the hut, and they laid Quash down on But the whole affair was destined to take an en-! an old bench. tirely different turn from what any one expected. =| The boy was talking wildly, threatening the un- The discussion went on for a few moments longer, | der-foreman with all sorts of vengeance. . and was getting pretty hot, when all at once the} Hal saw that he was delirious, and he drew Terry, sharp cracks of rifles rang‘in the distance. away. i Aig “What’s that?” shouted Captain Bowser. “We'll let him alone for a few minutes,” he said ob “Crack! Crack! Crack!” _ |“Perhaps he will quiet down.” Again and again the shots were heard. “He’s crazy,” replied Terry. “Do you think he is. is Then suddenly came the distant clang of the big’ going to die?” gong bell at the convict pen. } “T shouldn’t wonder. He is terribly cut up.” nae é ; Once! Twice! Three times! So on, up to ten! “Isn’t that awful. Oh, Hal, I am so hungry. Wag Be ere __ a 12a hae pan ren are we ever going to do?” fe ry meant a general uprising of the convicts. « 7 Par te: the Madang the oy wan lit Gp, There will be a way out, Terry. Be sure of that. A a “I wish I could think so. How shaky thi “Tt’s up to us now!” bawled Bowser. “They’ve all Who do you suppose ever built Bea paces " = riz. They knowed our coming out left the guards iu crak ara wencaniad maacee / short-handed. . We'd better ay hangs boys ge and.git “In slave times—before the war?” : Beek Jest ez quick ez syer We: kie “Tt looks old enough for that. I was thinking— “And this was the decision they acted upon. |. “Oh! What’s this?” aoe minutes later, Hal and his friends had heard the last of them. Suddenly the floor board gave way beneath E ‘feet. Without clothes, without food, unable to swim, the It was but'a thin difair, and as rotten as. punk. et ___. boys were left prisoners on the island, in the midst) own Hal tumbled into a hole about six feet Se eis he eg en rheads, the boys square and four feet deep. Eoin a Vat dare to move.’ . Ebel re | Terry, who stood farther along ‘the oor, + Many shots, loud shouts, wild yells. Those were sgrssap spas m _ the.sounds they heard during the next hour. =; _ “Are you hurt?” he cried, sas Then it all! quieted down, and nothing happened| “Not_a bit,” said Hal. “Oh, Terry, up to the time the sun rose over the swamp. ° here! This is a great place!” brs Patra: - Terry slept some, and so did Quash, but Hal never “What have you struck, Hal! peat his eyes. “A-regular hiding hole._ It’s all am of As the ae re broke, the boy, Pen his sleeping| Terry jumped down into the hole. - ne started out uA Palais the With poor Quash shou 53 to do to the foreman, an unconscious ¢ on about him, the Rene a around, pein ; ures “(To be was ri e oS ee ee eee) te ee eS i) —., <x?
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Herbie Coover and a red tablecloth saved the lives 01 two scores of passengers on Cumberland Valley One of its pranks was to blow a big oak tree across the railroad tracks at Britton’s Woods, near a sharp curve. Young Coover, whose home is near by, @rabbed the tablecloth and flagged the train not a moment tco soon. a huge bear was trapped at Stony Bottom, near Marlington, W. Va., recently. Though poor, he sighed nearly 400 pounds and had a wonderfully skin. He carried the trap a long distance and house. The animal was an old sheep killer, and had Deen fed so much strychnine in bait he had become b fiend, and his flesh“ was considered too poi- son nous even for dogs. hen Mrs. Silas Johnston’s hundred ducklings to show up for breakfast the other day she 2 an investigation and found them securely d to the ground in the rear of a stock feed fac- » m Union City, Tenn. A faucet to a molasses at the factory had been turned on, allowing 00 gallons of the syrup used for the stock feed esc ape, | = it spread over Mrs. Johnston’s -poul- “use Dad zine wire in Germany is a subject, of discussion at present inthe electrical peri- of Germany, due to the increasing scarcity and because iron wires ate not always sat- Considering the conductivity’ of copper 100 per cent, that of aluminum is 58.4, that is 28.5, while that of iron is 12.5. Rules are n the use of zine wires in house installations ‘on thé use of zinc cables and zinc bus bars, in an periodicals devoted to the electrical seems to have wreaked vengeance, on an that plied the Yaquina River Cig” Ore., according to Wilmer Nelson, n the. bank. The boy noticed the bird to the surface an unusually large ‘ensued a ‘batile royal, the fish trying e toe frying to swallow its prey. ed the boy FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. TIMELY TOPICS —_—_— | SSS Bae oe eae Sy er gma ear erreur er reeead 25 It was worse than riding a bucking broncho. Then some one yelled to the rough rider to hit the fish ‘ain No. 9, two miles east of Shippensburg, Pa., re- |OVer the head. He picked up a stone and kept pound- cently. A heavy storm passed over the valley ‘and |ing-until it was.stuntied.. Then it was taken into a mill and ‘eut up. But the rider suffered a badly bruised knee from being thrown against the rocks. It is unlawful to catch sturgeon, but it is not known that there is any law against riding one to death. When is a one-round beggar not a one-armed beg- gar? Patrolman John J. Mullin learned the answer when he went to the hospital. Mullin caught Rus- sell Head, who says he is a waiter, begging alms on Market Street, near O’Farrell, San Francisco. as caught in a wire fence not far from a farm |One sleeve of the alms-seeker’s coat was empty, and the arrest caused murmurs of sympathy for the woebegone beggar to well from the lips of passers- by, Mullin took Head to a nearby patrol box. With bewildering prestidigitation, Head produced a sec- ond solid, substantial arm from under his coat. At the end of the ‘new” arm was attached a fist which resembled a ham. Before Mullin could recover from his astonishment, Head leaned his fist against the former’s jaw and Mullin fell) to the pavement. Head ran away from there, with Mullin in hot pur- suit. A brisk battle followed, during which Head seized the patrolman’s third finger of the right hand in his mouth and nearly bit it off. Head is now in the City Prison charged with begging and resisting a policeman, and Mullin is in the hospital with a lacerated finger. Dancelion, once looked upon as Cut a weed, is rapidly becoming a plant of commercial importance, for it is valuable in many ways: The Scentific Ameri- can prints pictures of a dandelion farm near New Haven, Conn., and of the crop, detailing at the same time some of the manifold Virtues of the plant. “The use of dandelion leaves as a pot herb or salad in the early spring is well known in this country,” it says. “The country people make from them a tonic recommended for purifying the blood. Its use for the table has become so universal that in a number of places large fields are devoted entirely to its cul- ture. The leaves when boiled form an agreeable substitute for. the spinach and other greens at a much earlier period of the season than that in whieh’ any other plant is found to ripen in this climate. The Jaa bird | dead, with hes Moon yeaa and fees every Seg or tops. ‘They are dug up in the. “nag ben A Heater tac eat am dict ar oneal of. their n
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iH 2 sf =) 26 Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, AUGUST 11, 1916. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS ' |) One Copy Three Months One Copy Six Months One Copy One Year POSTAGE FREE OW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. 0. Money S er. Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other were at your risk. We accept Postage Stamps the same as oon When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece per to avoid cutting the envelope. Write your name and Address letters to FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher 168 West 23d St., N. ¥. S ress plainly. Harry E. Wolff, Pres, _ N. Hastings Wolff, Treas. . Charlies E, Nylander, Sec. Good Current News Articles Twenty-five American locomotives of the most modern type have been purchased recently in this country by the Madrid, Alicante & Zaragoza Rail- way of Spain. The last locomotives bought by the company were secured from Germany. A Johannesburg despatch says that a diamond _ mine has been discovered eighteen miles from Pre- - toria, near the Premier,'which produced the Cullinan . John Stark, a merchant of Evansville, Ind., struck at a rat in his stable and his glasses fell in such a position that they formed a yoke in the path of the rat, into which it ran. The glasses stuck and the rat escaped into a hole, carrying Stark’s favorite Stark dug into the hole, but found no trace 5 ‘. Buffalo, N. Y., 6n June 15, the Preparedness| ;. of American Dentists opened a registration in the hope of enrolling 20,000 dentists who prepare free at least one applicant each to meet > requirements for enlistment for the Marine Fl requires the applicant to have at least twenty d teeth, with four opposed molars and four op- geass Piepreety Mia, sorily ar, counted 38 ; The eianscteaed Cacia, bars. that's! omd of in sacrifice is reported from a Hindu temple at Ft rome lanes certain perantyl gine Ms The standard of enlistment for the Marine FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. —- New light is thrown on the question of rats in the trenches along. the western front in the present Eu- ropean war in a letter written to the New York Times by James T. Clarkson, of Montreal, who seems to have had practical experience with rodents — in warfare. “True,” he writes, “there are thou- isands of rats in and out of the trenches, but I have © yet to hear of one live man who was bitten by them. Tt used to be quite a sport to put a piece of cheese on | the end of a bayonet and put rifles over the trench | tops, and when, through the periscope, a rat was i seen eating the cheese, to pull the trigger and it was all over with Mr. Rat. But it was discovered that rats could smell gas long before the men could, so to- day, as soon as the men in the trenches see the rats getting uneasy they know that gas is coming, and on go the helmets in time to ward it off. Also the - rats eat up all decayed matter and have cut down foul smells to a minimum.’ Grits and Chuckles “Don’t you find that a baby brightens up a house-— hold wonderfully ?”. “Yes,” said the parent, with a sigh; “we have gas going most of the night now.” “Mamma, what do they mean when they s of ‘information in a nut-shell’?” “It must be | kind your father carries around in his head.” Didn’t I tell you if I ever caught you “Yes, ma, but you Jimmie Smith done is - Pa “Willie! fighting again I’d whip you?” don’t need to do it this time. it already.” “So Jones is still living at the same boardi house where he was ten years ago. I should th he’d get awfully tired of it.” “He does, but- married to the landlady.” x. Grea “I can’t help that. It isn’t my fault if the insists on making faces at him.” - “And what is your son William doi Bjones?” asked the visitor. ‘Oh, Willie, he’s : tor, and doing very well.” “William an actor the visitor. “Why, I thought he was de dumb?” “He. is,” said Mrs. Bjones, doesn’t make any difference. - He’s pings “ae this week in the movies.” . : An old fellow on his death-bed, in mz will, murmured to his lawyer: “And to e: employees who has been with me twe Ge ae owe y exclaimed.
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ae _ FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 27 professed . to love me,” said the Indian prince, bit- KUHLA’S MOUNTAIN. terly. The indignant prince walked away without an- By Horace. Appleton other word. Poor Zulema stood for several moments ‘in -si- Bian Enelish regiment in India, a few years ago, lence. The dark look of Kulah was far more fore- had an officer in it named Harry St. Clair. boding than his threat. _ Captain St. Clair was what is sometimes in this} That very evening, as Captain St. Clair was in ( untry termed a lady-killer, a heart-crusher, and| his quarters, a little native informed him that a r American phrases, to denote that class of|iady wished to see him. ity desirous to make themselves particularly] The young captain arose and followed the boy, eeable to ladies. who led him directly to a palmetto grove, where - When he arrived in India he found but few ladies! Zulema awaited him. on whom to practice his coquetry, and, it is said, “My lovely Zulema, this is indeed a surprise,” e tall, handsome young captain pined for some} ..; : . ‘ful oi and even taiked of resigning his commis- said the: young captain, taking ‘the: beantt girl Rocks, returning to England. is arms. f - - : ege ae en or you aptain Oo Warn you,” aid the But his usually jolly disposition got the better sacar , Ps ot . nF ‘his homesickness, and he became once more the e of the camp. is regiment removed from Calcutta to another down the coast, where the thrilling adventure | about to relate occurred. aptain St. Clair, flirt as he was, was not invul- 2 to beauty. was the daughter of one of those Indian kings was destined to completely captivate the young A, ‘as she was known, was that peculiar type n beauty that never fails to captivate. me ates ah ckehlowe fone The captain spoke assuringly, and, in fact, he had a'had a native lover named Kulah, one of the utmost confidence in the native. : princes of the interior, and noted all over|_ “Yu are mistaken in him. He is cunning; he y as a great beast tamer and charmer. [ !® Soe and eon ages ond he le ¥ you ery # wa y, my dear Zulema, he is to go with us to-. eres igs Aol pk begst-tamer, morrow on our grand hunt. He is to bring his Ss bly too well who has wot you aie me,” tamed leopards, and give us an exhibition of their lah to the princess, as they stood beneath asin in catching the deer.” uding branches of a large palm-tree. “It} “Do not go'with him, as you value your life do glishman who has crossed the seas to win| 2ot go. ee no wet sweet gana Kulah will do me unlike her more civilized sisters.| 20 harm,” and pressing a kiss on those warm, ruby = her suitors in doubt as long as|!ips, the young officer, laughing at the fears of the was rather vain of the number of girl, went away. ‘ The day of the grand hunt came. Zulema., You certainly once loved me.| : Horses, elephants and carts were brought into a mee Englishman, the enemy of our| requisition. fi ‘ om toc: on our soil, won your A score of the natives, including mostly young Be men, and six officers, were in the pa an Kulah, with his hooded leopard in the cart, re- Ur ported himself ready. bid oie Among the natives was one shy asked to be a member of the hy ee Through jungles, over plains, and on down to. the great rere shot ip bags -| _ Tigers were shot in the jungles, dow chased sa th ies at tai, geome eA " -“To warn me of what?’ asked the captain. “Is there likely to be an outbreak among the natives?” ~“There is personal danger to yourself.” “To me; how am [in danger?” “There is danger of one man, who will take your life.” “Who Kags “Prince Kulah,” was the reply. “Prince Kulah?” said the brave young captain, with a'smile. “Why, he is my most steadfast friend. He would sooner think of harming his parents than myself.” Gaicte life and liberty, Kulah, de not ‘to wipes that will put them in jeop-
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23 FAME. There were two of the hunting party who seemed to vie with each other ie bet nd i ua aps to Captain St.. Clair. They were Kulah, the prince and eet. tamer, and the boy. The latter was never far from the captain’s side. When the boy seemed to grow weary with run- ning with the natives, the young Englishman sym- ’pathized with him, and had him: placed on his own elephant. It was the afternoon of the second diag Kulah had just removed the hood from the head of the leopard, and started the fierce animal after a deer. ’ Creeping slowly along, cat-like, his belly almost touching the ground, the beautiful animal made to- _ward the small herd of deer. He seemed likely to succeed in the capture, when the animals took fright and flew to the jungle, with the leopard hard ;at their heels. At this moment a herd of buffalo was discovered, -and the officers, grasping their rifles, mounted their horses and dashed into it. A few ringing shots brought down one or two, and the rest scampered away. . Captain Harry St. Clair had selected a large, fine bull, and fired at him, but failed to bring him down. Determined to capture so fine a prize, he gave chase. Away over the plain he flew, the distance between himself and his friends growing, greater every moment. The afternoon pass¢d in the chase before, by a well-directed shot, he brought down the buffalo. It was only when he had triumphantly swooped down on the animal, and cut its throat, that he dis- covered he was lost, and_ his horse thoroughly blown. The horrors of that night will never be forgotten by Captain St. Clair, and it was only by sacrificing his noble horse to the wild beasts, and seeking ref- uge in a tall tree, ‘that he managed to escape. When morning came he set out to find his friends. He had not traveled more than an hour, when he came out on the great rocky coast. ‘ One of the dogs that had been with the party came bounding toward him, and fawned at his _ feet. “Some of the guides must be near here,” said the captain. “I will take my seat on this rock that projects out over the water, and let them hunt me, as I am thoroughly ti Mae Poe He walked to where'a great flat rock projected es: » out over the sea. ; sph anfelor Sythe ea e--4ny dy aw bullet crashing through its. brain. gle, and the next moment he is confronted by. Hulse with poised lance. all, and raising his gun once more to his face, h fires. prince, and he fell dead. wounded boy, and tore open his jacket to see badly he was hurt. Ww darling. Zulema, given her life for mine,” the brave, strong man. Kulah, had disguised herself to protect hae Yo names, and pressed his lips to hers. was gone forever. ing for him, and hearing the gun-shots, the spot. the camp, and there buried, while the Kulah was left to feed the Mica beasts. ‘AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. He did not see a sharp, keen pair of eyes peer forth, and glare with infernal hatred on him. He did not sce the treacherous Kulah bring his leopard to the edge of the jungle, remove the nood, and start the fierce animal toward him. . Slowly and cautiously, without noise and with — all the motions of a creeping cat, the leopard glided over the space, stopping now and then, crouching — to the earth only to arise and glide forward more cautiously. : Half the distance has been passed by the deadly beast, ‘and the young officer, in his strange Highland — costume, sits unmoved, gazing seaward. Will no one give a cry of warning? Yes; the ery is given. It is one shrill scream, and the boy who had ac- — companied the captain the day before leaps over a rock. behind him, and. with only a boar spear, at one bound, places: himself before the deadly leop- | ard. The animal, ‘perfectly furious at being balked, — leaps upon him, and bears him ‘to the earth, with — a death cry gurgling from the youth’s threat. When Captain St. Clair springs to his feet and seizes his double-barreled gun, he discovers a leap-— tearing the throat of the beautiful boy who had fol-” lowed him. so faithfully the day before. Springing down from the rock, he placed the mua zle-of his gun at the leopard’s ear, and sends a A yell of hatred and despair issues from the jun- no In_an instant the young officer comprehended i : The ball pierced, the heart of the ti a her‘ Captain St, Clair dragged the leopard from th “Heavens!” he cried, “starting back, “Tt is yan. Oh, it ‘is—how was I so blind ?—it is It was Zulema, who, fearing the trea He "raised her head, called her by andes a The girl smiled, essayed to speak, but the The friends of Captain St, tar: who w The remains of the beautiful girl ‘were | i
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_ Although the United States Marine Corps has no serve, hundreds of former members have volun- ed for service in the old corps in case of emer- gency, it was announced at Marine Corps headquar- ters. About 4,000 of the less than 10,000 “soldiers _ of the sea” are now actively suppressing revolution and restoring order in Haiti and Santo Domingo. _ It is reported that a preliminary survey has been made with a view to develop a power plant on the Bay of Fundy by utilizing the bay’s high tides. A “recent experiment with a current motor is said to - have resulted satisfactorily. If the plant is estab- lished, it may result in the creation of extensive new terprises in Nova Scotia and Southern New aswick. . From a reliable source it is learned that practi- ly all French observation or “kite” balloons are ovided with parachutes which may be used by the vers in cases of emergency. Recently some 15 cons broke away from their mooring during a h wind and drifted toward the German lines. is reported that the majority of observers suc- ded in alighting behind the French lines by the y use of their parachutes. from the short-circuiting or grounding of ansmission lines by birds coming in con- th the wires, power companies are confronted the problem of protecting switches and bus- from rats and mice. Recently, in an American tbbalis ‘oil switch and came in contact with the “live” ent-carrying members. Not only was the rat tely burned up, but the switch mechanism a beyond repair. high schcol girls, stenographers and other n their way to Portland, Ore., weré thrown ¢ when two mice invaded a Sellwoo2 ‘In the confusion two girls fainted, sev- to leap from the car, and a number sus- uises and scratches. After. a ca e screaming, mostly from safe places on seat: ewe een caught the mice and the . The mice were discovered on the car by a school girl, who screamed and 41 scramble for places on top of seats, Le Bc Saar _ FAME AND FORTUNE. WEEKLY. INTERESTING ARTICLES © y-house a rat succeeded in reaching the interior. penters for work with the English military forces, because of their great skill in building all sorts of temporary shelters and bridges. Russia has drawn upon China for large numbers of laborers to work in Siberian mines, to build railways and replace white labor in agricultural districts robbed of their men by the war, and France has also ‘drawn upon China for agricultural labor. Siberia is no longer thought of as a land of -deso- late ice fields and barren steppes. On the other hand, it is known to be one of the most wonderful lands on earth. The rich prairies of the middle Amur and the. Udai region, where the wild vine grows freely, and the fertile black-earth plains of the Tobal and the Ishim—not mere patches of rich land, but steppes covering tens of millions of acres—and vast tracts densely covered with forests, predict for this far northern country a remarkable future: Its popu-— lation is steadily increasing, and it is already begin- ning to be one of the great grain centers of the earth. a pana ‘ While hundreds cf summer visitors on the beach and in the South End pavilion at Spring Lake, N. J., looked on helpless, Charles Bruder, a bell- boy, was attacked by a shark the other afternoon and before help could srrive lost both his legs. He died ten minutes after being brought to shore. Bru- ‘der was 100 feet beyond the life lines when he was heard to shout. The guards launched a boat and were soon at his side. Hé told them “a shark bit me” and then became unconscious. Examination of the body showed that the shagk had bitten Bruder in the side before taking his legs off. The left leg was cut off above the knee and the right leg just below the knee. <
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ARTICLES OF ALL KINDS NEST ON SCHOOLROOM CLOCK. For the tenth time in as many years a linnet has built a nest over the clock in the Peachtree school in Monterey County, California. The windows are let down from the top to admit the birds, who appear about the same date every year to build their nest. At present there are five little birds in the nest, and the eyes of the pupils are on the nest most of the time, as the mother bird comes about every five minutes with food for them. - The male bird refuses to feed the young birds, but gets on the clock and sings, much to the amuse- ‘ment of the pupils: : CONVICTS’ BAND LED PARADE. ‘The feature of a big preparedness parade at Mar- quette, Mich., as part of the Fourth of July celebra- tion, was the appearance at the head of the column of the Marquette State Prison band, which was requisitioned by the committee because one of the other bands had disappointed it. It was the first time the band had ever played outside the prison walls and the first time in years that many of the members had seen anything of the ou onvicted of murder. Six of them were from Detroit. - The shortest term men among the twenty-three bandsmen is serving sentence from two and a half to five years. The men were on honor and were ac- companied only by Deputy Warden Catlin and one 3 officer, who went along to make the arrangements a for transportation. The men were greatly pleased with the applaaes ‘they, eet sabe the ine of ~ A YOUTHFUL MARKSMAN. _ Thirteen-year-old Kirk Shearer of Carlisle, Pa., has issued a challenge to any person under 15 years, from anywhere in the East Atlantic States, to meet him at a clay pigeon shoot. This challenge covers New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Ohio. | Kirk, although 13 years old, has been shooting rom the time he was able to hold a gun, and is fast to the t as one of the best amateur shots his part of the country. His father has for over ty years been an enthusiastic lover of field and ream, and his large family of boys, of which Kirk ; easily-the best shot, follow in his footsteps. __ Several years ago, when with great difficulty he \ > «4 ‘ world. In the band were eight. life prisoners, |. rach s of member of the Laurel Rifle Club Kirk helped to kill — five live deer, and, although so young, he never — missed a drive or was laid up during the hunt. — Recently in a match in Harrisburg, where the best — Philadelphia team was shooting the-best of the Har- — risburg gunners, in a special shot, Kirk “got” 13 out of 15 “birds.” PETS OF FAMOUS MEN. George Washington was very fond of horses when a boy. One of the stories that the children read first is about the spirited young colt that George tried to ride. You remember, perhaps, how he injured the young horse. Then Weems tells us that his — father said he would rather have a truth-telling son than all the fine horses in the world. Another famous American who was fond of horses when a boy was Ulysses’S. Grant, says a writer in — “Something to Do.” Even when he started to school — at West Point he was noted for his hone No animal was too wild for him to tame. ward for his skill and. kindness came when he be- came a great general, because his horse once save him from being captured’as prisoner of war. fs Lincoln, we know, was particularly fond of birds. — rs There is a pretty story about his dismounting from his horse, and going back to replace some young» birds in a nest from which they had fallen. Audubon, the first great friend of the birds in country, loved them when he was a child. Ins’ of playing with other boys, he used to spend hoi after hour in his father’s big garden, watching t birds, noting how they built their nests and g their food. Even then he began to try to paint the: Louis Agassiz, whom we think of later as knowi: about the deep sea, was also a lover of birds, he was a student in college, he was visited in room by about forty birds who made their home in smal pine tree he had set up in the garden, Whittier, the poet, was a farm boy. — he very young he learned to drive oxen inst horses. They were so tame and gentle he u sit on their heads with his legs in their faces then lie back and rest between their horns. — weer a Pea * lover of birds. One day in autumn he fas one of the wings of a migrating swallow piece. of oiled paper, on which were wri words:’ “Swallow, little swallow, I wonder you pass the winter.’”’ The next spring hoe came back to his nest in Thompson’s double-barreled shotgun, he defeated at) usual time. The t saw something ted feo ot the eee cer one “of : ees He caught nt Sed and found a small to eld S. piesa Recently in a| paper on w wer: “F the house of ite, Cordial fee A i 3
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HAPPY HOOLIGAN JOKER. With this joker in the lapel of your coat, you can make a dead shot every time. Complete with _rub- ber ball and tubing. Price, 15c. by mail, postpaid. H. F. Lang, es 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N.Y The Bot- tle Imp.— The pecu- Harity: of this little i, bottle is that it cannot be made to lie down, and yet by simply passing the’ hand over it, the per- former causés it to do so. This at ee) pore great of convenient size to carry Se re cee strc. ccs. Price, 10e C. Behr, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. ie: : . % \ MAMAS, This interesting toy {s one of the latest novelties out. It is in great de- mand. To opé@rate it, the stem is placed in your mouth. You can blow into it, and at the same time puil or Joris dence : ing. The mouth opens, and it then Nemes just éxactly in dhe tones of a |, sve ‘yore The sound is so human that ve ‘would anybody. “9 “4 Price 12c, each by mai, F. Lang,1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N.Y. 4 ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY eg : Gripping Stories, ba the plays. : and Hints : Te Pre | BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVER DESIGNS - = * ‘ ‘New portraits of actors and actresses every week - THE INK BLOT JOKER. Fool Your Friends —The greatest novel- ty of the age! Have a joke which makes everybody laugh. More fun than any other novelty that has been shown in years. Place it on a. desk, tablecioth, o1 any pi¢ce of furniture,’ as shown in the above cut, near some valuable papers, Or on fine weartig apparel, Watch the rTe- sult! Oh, Gee! Price, lic. each, postpaid. H. F. Lang,1815 Centre St., B’klyn, Ni Y. THE MAGIC CARD BOX. One of the best and cheapest tricks for giving parlor or Stage exhibitions. The trick is performed as follow: You pirequest any two persons in mv your audience to each select m & card from an ordinary pack of cards, you tmen produce a small handsome box made te imitate pebbled leather, which anyone May examine as ¢loeely as they will. You now ask one of the two who have se- lected cards to place his or her card inside the box, which being done, the lid is shut, and the box placed on the table. You then utate that you will cause the cards to disap- pear and upon opening the box the card has vanished and the box found empty. The other card is now placed in the box; the lid is again closed and when the box its opened the first card appears as strangeiy as it went, Other tricks can bé performed in various ways. You may cause séveral cards to disappear after they are placed in the box, and then you can cause them all to appear at once. You may tear a card up, place it im the box. and on lifting the cover it will be found whole and entire. In fact, nearly every trick of appear- ance and disappearancé can be done with the Magic Card Box. Full printed tnstructions, by which anyone can perform the different tricks, sent with each box. Price, 20. by mati, postpaid WOLFF NOVFLTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. _WE WANT You “Moving Picture Stories” Bes g@ae- PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY <p - - - 7 - - EVERY NUMBER CONTAINS d the names of ail the companies who may buy the plays you write, ingles, Jests and every bright fcature caleulated to interest both young and old. A copy NOW from your newsdealer, or send us 5 cents in money or postage stamps, and we will = a FINE HALF-TONE FRONTISPIECE Get a copy of this weekly magazine and see what it is PICTURE STORIES,” Inc. OS See reeieg he eer | x is FAME AND FORTUNE’. WEEKLY. 31 ONE YEAR 10 Boy g Send 10e for 3 year'e subscription to magazine chack ll of dandy stories, big sy nts on Mechanics, S: om -) GREENBACKS Pack of $1,000 Stage Bills, 10c; 3 packs, 25e, Send for a pack aud show the boys what 4 WAD you carry. .C. A. NICHOLS, JR., Box 90, Chili, N. Y. * 2 to $500 EACH paid for hundreds of old Coins. Keep ALL money dated before 1895 and send TEN cents for New Illus- trated Coin Value Book, size 4x7. It may mean your Fortune. CLARKE COIN CO., Box 95, Le Roy, N, Y. SURPRISE MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE. It consists of a smal! nickeled meta! tube, 4% inches long, with a lews eye-view, which shows @ pretty ballet girl or any other scene. Hand it to a friend who\ -wilt be delighted with the first Picture, tell him to turn the screw on the side of the instru- ment, to change the views, when a@ stream of water squirts in his face, much to his surprise. The instrument can be refilled wi water in an instant, and one filling will suffice for four or five victims. “Price, 30c, each by mail, postpaid; 4 for $1.00, C. Behr, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. THIRTY-TWO PAGES
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FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 168 WEST 23D STREET, NEW YORK No. 923, NEW YORK, AUGUST 11, 1916. Price 5 Cents. 4", STANDISH gle tatty
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 7 , —LATEST ISSUES—— 541 The Road to Wealth; or, The Boy Who Found It Out. 542 On the Wing; or, The Young Mercury of Wall Street. 543 A Chase for a Fortune; or, The Boy Who Hustled, J with the Market; or, The Boy Who Made It Pay. 514 The Ladder of Fame; or, From Office Boy to Senator. 545 Cast Adrift; or, The Luck % 511 Doing His Level Best; or, Working His Way Up. 512 Always on Deck; or, The Boy Who Made His Mark. 313 A Mint of Money; or, The Young Wall Street Broker. Jugglin 515 On the Square; or, The Suecess of an Honest Boy. a4 (16 After a Fortune; or, The Pluckiest Boy in the West oAT 517 Winning the Dollars; or, The Young Wonder of Wall Street. 548 = aged page Bonin or, rn, = ee ogg Nea po a 549 1g eir to a } on; or, The Boy Who Was Born Lucky. , - 520 Lost in the Andes; or, ‘The Treasure of the Buried City. oe ae ee 621 On His Mettle; or, A Plucky Boy in Wall Street. n52 622 A Lucky Chance; or, Taking Fortune on the Wing, 558 $23 The Road to Success; or, The Career of a Fortunate Boy. r 524 Chasing Pointers; or, The Luckiest Boy in Wall Street. 525 Rising in the Worid; or, From. Factory Boy to Manager, 526 From Dark to Dawn; or, A Poor Boy's Chance. 527 Out for Himself; or, Paving His Way to Fortune. 528 Diamond Cut Diamond; or, The Boy Brokers of Wall Street. 529 A Start in Life; or, A Bright Boy’s_ Ambition. | i #30 Out for a Million; or, The Young Midas of Wall Street. n61 531 Every Inch a Boy; or. Doing His Level Best. G2 532 On to Success; or, The Boy Who Got Ahead. Playing the Market; or, A Keen Boy in Wall Street, A Pot of Mouey; or, The Legacy of a Lucky Boy. From Rags to Kiches; or, A Lucky Wall Street Messe On Uis Merits; or, The Smartest Boy Alive. A Million in Gold; or, The Treasure of Santa Cruz. ¥ Bound to Make Money; or, From the West to Wall Street, 7) 5 The Boy Magnate; or, Making Baseball Pay. - 554 Making Money; or, A Wall Street Messenger’s Luck, A Harvest of Gold; or, The Buried Treasure of Coral Ish On _the Curb; or, Beating the Wall Street Brokers, A Freak of Fortune; or, The Boy Who Struck Lueck. The Prince of Wall Street; or, A Big Deal for Big Starting His Own Business; or, The Sc A Corner in Stock; or, The Wall Street Boy Who First in the Field; A Broker at Eighteen; or, Roy Gilbert's Wall Street Ca 333 An Eye to Business; or. The Boy Who Was Not Asleep. 344 Tipped by the Ticker; or, An Ambitious Boy in Wall Street, 5235 Money to Burn; or, The Shrewdest Boy in Wall Street. 536 A Bid for a Fortune; or, A Country Boy in Wall Street. 537 Bound to Rise; or, Pighiny His Way to Success. . Smart Boy in Wall Street. The Boy Who Won Both. 540 A Wall Street Winner; or. Making a Mint of Money, 538 Out for the Dollars; or, A 539 For Fame and Fortune; or. IF YOU WANT ANY BACK of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out and fill in your Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will-send them to you by return mail: POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SA FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher . D63 DG4 Street. brits) 566 From «a Dime Boy. 567 568 E AS MONEY. Only a Dollar; or, From Errand Boy to Owner. ‘ Price & Co,, Boy Brokers; or The Young Traders of Wall A Winning Risk; or, The Boy Who Made Good. to a of a Homeless Boy tame Wall Street Boy. a »y Who. Caught Ol YOR. or, Doing Business for Himself. Million; or, A Wide-Awake Wall Street The Path to Good Luck: or, The Boy Miner of Death Valley. Mart Morton's Money; or, A Corner in Wall Street Stocks. NUMBERS 168 West 23d St. N. Y. = OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS 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 HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great e and card tricks, containing n on all the leading card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical illusions as performed by ourdteading magi- «ians; every boy should obtain a copy of his 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 Contains a full list of the language and sentiment of flowers. . HOW TO DANCE is the title of this little book. It contains full instructions in the art of dancing, etiquette in the ball- room aud at purties, how to dress, amd full directions for calling off im all popular ware dances, — 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A com- plete guide fo love, courtship and marriage, piving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to 1 observed, with poems earious and interest- ing things not generally known, No, 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE, —Giving fuli instruction for the use of dumbbells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, hori- yontal bars and yarious other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; contain- ing over sixty illustrations. No. 7. HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Hand- somely illustrated and containing full in- peer: Sn for the management and training of the canary, mockingbird, bobolink, black- Wird, paroquet, parrot, ete, No. 9. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILO- QUIST.—By Harry Kennedy. Every intelli- gent boy reading this- book of Instructions ean master the art, and create any amount of fon for bimsr’f and friends. It is the ‘greatest book ever published, No 10. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self- defense made easy. “Containing over thirty illustrations of guards, blows, and the differ- ent ition of a good boxer. Every_ boy should obtain one of these useful and in- structive books, as it will teach you how to box without ayn instructor. No. 11,. HOW TO WRITE. LOVE-LET- TERS.—A most complete little book, contain- ing full directions for writing love-letters, and baad to use —_ giving specimen let- ters for young and old. No, 12, HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO LAD iving complete instructions for writing letters to ladies on all subjects; also letters of introduction, notes and requests. No. 13. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF ETTE.—It is a great life and one it bats Ags Man desires to know all about, re’s happiness in it. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, No, 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A com- plete hand-book for making all kinds of candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc. 7 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 costiess, No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVE- NING PARTY.—A complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, comic recita- tions, ete,, suitable for parlor or drawing- room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any book published, No. 21, HOW TO HUNT AND FISH,.—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full instructions abou guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping. and fis ing. together with description game and fish, No, 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.— Heller's second sight explained by his for- mer assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the secret dialogues were carried on be- tween the magician and the boy on the Stage; also giving 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 instructions for writing to gentlemen on all subjects. No, 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. —Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic sports aid athletic exercises. Embracing thirty-five illustrations. By Pro- fessor W. Macdonald, No. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT.—Fully illustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, to- gether with instructions on sw ing and riding, companion sports to boating. No. 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECITATIONS,—Containing the _most yopular selections in use, compr sing Duteh Gihect, French dialect, Yankee and Irish dia- leet 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 happi- ness or misery, wealth or poverty. You. caa tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be convinced ‘No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVEN- ever published. recipes for cooking meats, fish, game, and orators; cakes and all kinds collection of recipes. No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAK- 3 ER.—-Containing fourteen illustrations, oh ing the different positions requisite to come a good speaker, reader and elocutionist. Also containing gems from all the popular authors of prose and poetry. _No, 32. HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE.— Containing instructions for beginners, cheice of a machine, hints on training, ete. A comales book. Full of practical fllustra- tions, No, 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A com- plete and useful little book, containing the rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle;” backgammon, croquet, dominoes, ete. bg No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRU a —Containing all the leadink conundrums of jy the day, amusing riddles, curious cate > and witty sayings. igi No, 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN | DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, con , useful and B oid information in the ment of ordinary diseases and ailments com= mon to every family. Abounding in nag and effective recipes for general complai No. 39, HOW TO RAISE DOGS, = TRY, PIGEONS AND RABBITS.—A a instructive book. Handsomely ill No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND TRAPS.—Including hints on how to © moles, weasels, otter, “rats, squirrels ‘ birds. Also how to cure skins. Copious illustrated. No, 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK FE) MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a @ variety of the latest jokes used by the famous end men. No amateur minstrel complete without this wonderful little No, 42, THE BOYS OF NEW STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a vi 1 as sortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dut and Irish. Also end men's jokes, Juste thing for home amusement and shows, “a No. 48. HOW TO BECOME A MAGIC) ~—Containing the dest asso 2 magical illusions ever placed before public, Also tricks with cards, incantat! etc, J No, 44. HOW TO WRITE IN AN BUM.—A grand collection of Album suitable for any time and oceasion, emb ing Lines of Love, Affection, Sentin - mor, Res . and Condolence, also Suitable for Valentines and Wedd Be ~ No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORE | STREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOO - thing new, and very instructive. should obtain this book, as it instructions for organizing strel troupe. - copy, in money or postage 168