Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 608) (1917 05 25)

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No. 608 MAY 25, 1917 SIX Cents Fane PONTO VEE MAY. sTORIES OF = THAT | Ae mone In spite of his resistance Ted Brown was lifted into the car and tied there. Then the aaa copper miners proceeded to push the car away from the mouth of the shaft toward the incline leading to the river.

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~FAMEAND FORTUNE WEEKLY STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Issued Weekly—By er ly $3.00 er year. Entered at the New York, N. Y., Post Office as Second-Class Matter y Harry E. Wolff, Publisher, 166 West 28d Street, New York. No. “608. The NEW YORK, MAY 25, Boy Copper Miner 1917. Price 6 Cents. TED BROWN’S RISE TO RICHES By A SELF-MADE MAN. CHAPTER I. Ss THE BULLY OF THE MINE. “Gee! But I’m glad work is over for the day. fagged out.” c Thus yo Ted Brown, a sturdy, good-looking boy, with , a deeply tanned countenance, as a shrill whistle resounded ; through the narrow, rugged tunnel, deep down in the ground, where a group of copper miners, each with a small lamp in the front of his hat and a pickaxe or shovel in his hand, were following up the operations of a power drill that was * boring a way further and further from the perpendicular main shaft which led up two hundred feet or more to the . surface of the earth. Ted had been working in the Lookout copper ‘mine near ‘Carson, Montana, for about three months, and in that short time he had learned what it was to hustle for a living. He had been born and brought up on a small farm in ‘Petersville, Iowa, and knew what it was to labor by the eat of his brow during the busy season; but hard as he had found farm work, it was to a certain extent child’s play beside copper mfing in the dark and noisome regions under I’m about » “y F Graber i . ; 4 a ~) : a 3 Satie had come West four months before to look up a piece wee ce in the vicinity of Carson which had been left ess Bg! his late uncle, Hiram Brown. e was under age, his mother held it in trust for him. 4 a after the the ake about * me + roperty had come to him, Ted read in e new discoveries of copper ore in Mon- : Pa eaching that there were copper mines in operation in the neighborhood of his property, he bagat to figure that there might be copper on his ground as well ~ ai there was, he felt that he was in line to meee 3 a rich e the more he thought the matter over the more eager he oe e to investigate the question. for himself. S “Sot without difficulty he-persuaded his mother to let him - go West in order to satisfy his curiosity. os ‘He brought a copy of the deed and the official survey of 3 with him, and after reaching Carson he found le in locating his land, which. had been duly re- his name a short time before. a couple of weeks making inquiries among the d and woolly district around Carson, but h the surface. » far as its upper atid went, he could see that for him- ae x fe ely <p shee, wae A deep creek, that some people would have called a small river, formed its eastern boundary, and ran southward for a mile, when it emptied into one of Montana’s numerous big streams. Ted found that the ground would have to be thoroughly prospected by an expert before any reliable opinion could be passed on the copper question. This would cost money, and Ted had no money to spend on such an investigation. Having reached the end of his tether, most boys would have turned around and gone back home. Ted, however, was different from most boys. He was a lad of grit and determination. Having got the idea into his crop that there was copper on his property, he determined to remain West and push the matter to a finish. Not being overburdened with cash, it was necessary for him to get a job in order for him to pay his way. He had the choice between going into a store in Camis or tackling copper mining. He chose the latter because, though the work was infi- nitely harder, he would gain a whole lot of practical experi- ence in a line he was deeply interested in. So he applied for work at the Lookout mine and was em- ployed. After making the remark with which this chapter opens, Ted slung his shovel over his shoulder and turned his dirt- begrimed face toward the main shaft, where a stout wooden cage attached to a wire cable was waiting to carry the day shift in sections to the surface above. “Hello, Ted; glad you’re alive?” asked a boy of about his own age who had been working in the same tunnel, and was waiting to accompany him to the main shaft. “That’s about all I am, Jesse,” replied Ted, as they started along together. Ted. and Jesse Dane had become sworn friends since the first few days of the former’s employment in the mine. Jesse was an orphan, the son of a miner who had lost his life in the Lookout mine a year since. He had worked long enough underground to be quite ex- perienced at the business, and his advice and assistance ri roved of great value to Ted during his first weeks on-the lob. “Tired, ch?” grinned Jesse. “I should say I am! It’s been a hard Gay.” “I don’t see that there’s much Dikerence between day and another. They’re all hard enough. The copper pple sicher even, white, they're line on, the tt

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at’s right, there isn’t. Well, maybe some day I'll be rich myself.” “You’re always thinking about that land of yours.” _ “Why not? You agree with me that there may be copper! in the ground: The whole region around here is said tu be more or less affected by the veins of ore.” “I’ve advised you to talk with the superintendent on the subject. He might interest the owners of this mine so far that they might be induced to have your ground prospected. If it showed outcroppings of the ore, they’d buy it from you at a good price.” “Of course they’d buy it if they had some evidence of the presence of copper ore on it; but they wouldn’t give . — anything near. what it was worth in that case. It might | prove to be a valuable copper mine, worth a million or more, but I’d come in for a mighty small share of its real value. copper barons are out for everything in sight, and as they have the coin behind them they have a bulge on the - situation.” “That isn’t any lie, I’ll admit,” replied Jesse, as they walked up to a crowd of men awaiting their turn to be lifted up the shaft. : The cage came down and a rush was made to get into it. Jesse sprang in and Ted was following, and had put one leg over the side, when a big, surly-looking miner named Tug Ralston grabbed him bythe shoulder, pulled him forcibly back, and coolly took his place. _Those in the cage regarded this wanton act with evident disapproval. , It was might against right, and not according to their code of honor. “What did you do that for, Tug Ralston?” demanded Ted » : 4 _. “Because it suited me,” grunted the stalwart miner. . “You wouldn’t do it to one of your size, you big bully!” cried Ted, who was hot under the collar over the act. “Don’t you give me none of your sass, young feller, or I'll wring your neck,” answered Ralston menacingly. “You won’t wring neck—not if I know it,” replied Ted - pluckily. me Won’t I?” snarled the man. F e hauled back and deliberately struck Ted in the face 7 h the palm of his horny hand. Ted staggered back from the force of the blow, then as _ the signal was given to hoist away, he rushed forward and % smashed Ralston a blow in the eye with the full force of his fist, and Ted’s fist was not a soft one, either. The man uttered an imprecation and made a spring to reach the boy. Ss ej: Ted eluded his grasp, though he reached far over the side of the cage. - : + _ At that moment the cage started with a jerk, Ralston rf. lost ba balance and fell out head first, taking a drop of a ae . _. The ground was much harder than his cranium, and so deprived him of consciousness. Neither Ted nor the men who were yet to go up felt much Pp,” said the miner, favoring Ted “We all agree that Ra accustomed to di arrel with him. vindictive when opposed.. me advise him, and at the same time fo be ‘on your _ best to THE BOY COPPER MINER. nothing was done; but he’s regarded as an eyesore at the mine. No one tried to bring Ralston to his senses. ; He was propped up against one of the tunnel walls and allowed to remain there till the cage came down again, when he was lifted into it. “Get in, my lad,” said the miner. Ted got in, the rest followed, and they were scon brought up to the mouth of the shaft. CHAPTER II. A RUN IN WITH TUG RALSTON ON THE STREET. Jesse Dane was waiting,near the mouth of the shaft for. Ted to come up. e* He and Ted roomed together in the same house on the suburb of Carson about half a mile from the mine. A dozen of the single men boarded there also. The place was called the “Miners’ Rest;” and the front room on the ground floor was fitted up as a saloon. The dining-room was just behind, with the kitchen in the rear. The rudely furnished sleeping-rooms were on the two floors above. ; “Is he dead?” asked Jesse, observing the ghastly look on Tug Ralston’s face as the fellow was lifted from the cage and borne to one of the sheds close by. ; : “No such luck,” growled one of the miners, who privately detested the bully. “The roof of the mine would have to fall on him to give him his quietus.” “You had a great nerve to hit him the way you did,” said Jesse to Ted. “He'll be down on you after this like a thousand of brick.” “IT can’t help that,” replied Ted. “He struck me a cow- ardly blow, and I gave him back as good.” : = “He'll get square with you some day, I’m afraid,” said Jesse, shaking his head. “T'll watch out that he doesn’t.” . “You'll have to keep your eyes skinned all the time.” “T mean to. I know what he is.” “He killed a man in the mine seven months ago.” “So Theard. Fractured his skull with his shovel.” “He said it was done by accident, but the men think dif- ferently.” : ; ea “He ought to have been discharged on general principles, for he carries things with a pretty high hand.” : j eae the super doesn’t care to have a run-in with ‘m. “The men seem a bit afraid of him.” hee “They are. They don’t care to make an enemy of him.” “T suppose I have.” “There isn’t much doubt about that.” “He’s the biggest man in the mine. Only a coward and cur of his size would try to get back at a,boy like me.” “That’s what he is.” “Tf he tackles me I’ll do my best to defend myself.” | “You won’t stand much chance if he goes for you.” __ “I wish I had a gun. I’d be justified in using it against m. : “If I were you, I’d buy a small revolver in Carson to-night. _ If he attacked you and you shot him nothing would be done ~ to you.” “Tl'd be Pe in jail and would have to prove that I did it in self-defense.” : : “J guess you could prove that easily enough. His size and - reputation would be in your favor.” I don’t like the idea of being obliged to shoot, even such a brute as Tug Ralston.” a ee , “Better that than be killed yourself.” “Would he dare go as far as that? It would go pretty hard with him, I think, if he did me up.” “I guess it would, but that wouldn’t do you any good. It’s on the safe side.” sor “I don’t intend to let the matter worry me, at any rate, — He doesn’t work in our tunnel, so I don’t think he'll be able to take any advantage of me below. The men wouldn’t let | him attack me openly.” ,

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“ _ THE BOY COPPER MINER. 7 They had now reached their boarding-house, so they hur- ried in to wash up and then go to supper. : e long table was crowded, but their places were waiting for them. Two rosy-cheeked young women acted as waitresses. > Ted was a favorite with both of them, but Maggie Moss, the smaller of the two, regarded him as her especial prop- erty, for she always waited on the boys. See Maggie; how’s things?” ad Ted, as he took his sea : “Lovely,” she replied, with a smile, “So are you,” grinned Ted. “No compliments, please. There’s oxtail and vegetable soup to-night—which will you have?” “Give me the oxtail.” Jesse said he’d have the same, and the girl presently brought two platesful. _“Roast beef, or boiled mutton with capers?” asked the girl. “Mutton for me,” same for him. Coffee followed, and the meal wound up with rice pudding full of raisins, : The boys ate heartily and left the table feeling good. of They got their hats and took a stroll into Carson. ' There were a couple of dance halls in the town, and a _ vaudeville show which commenced at eight o’clock. plain saloons there were aplenty, and all were well patronized after dark. ' oe was a Methodist church and a Catholic school. = An entertainment, a quarter admission, had been announced to take place that evening*in the basement of the former. It consisted of moving pictures descriptive of Oriental lands, interspersed with music ip ng by a phonograph. “Ted and Jesse decided to take it in, ; The show proved to be ee Flys the money, and the _ boys enjoyed it very much i answered Ted, and again Jesse said the 4 t was over at ten o’cloc ok Ap When they came out of the church and walked back to- __ward their boarding-house they found the saloons on their ey way in full blast. Soy As they passed one of them Tug Ralston, with his head bound up, came out with two of his cronies. ay ic Wi corey well loaded, but not so drunk but he rec- at Gi By = a howl of concentrated rage, he made a spring for he y. the face of Tug Ralston, loo more disreputable than ever. Bia bad bene selanped Pree, Sail thet wowing eal Sa to make himself scarc Ha -hadi np tutention ol aking Slee? wraien sailiial had revenged himself on the boy whom he considered the cause of his recent troubles. That. oa gente mea vy Mle le Baye oe ‘ that the boys had been seen going into the hills with a podots oir and after borrowing a revolver he oat to trai ; 2 cages to kill or seriously maim Ted—he didn’t care whi would tosis ane for M nag though he had no great ies for th pop oer? ag : how baa eal with fa enna re cut. * sa | he whipped out his weapon and fired at Ted. y The boys were surprised as well as aghast at the unex-— ; | Th “th it nim stl i al ae ey thoug! ; They realized their disadvan’ in' the presence peg Pgs Pi were unarmed and he had a revolver. ae See nm!” cried Jesse. “hed he's NO 8 X55: ‘What shall we do? The case looked rather —ligaec a seg for they were — icicreqneaded part of the country, a mile from the a eae Sunday, sais nigh eee

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% him. “That shot was intended to let you know that I was on hand. The next may mean somethin’ different. I’m waitin’ to see you both get down on your knees and beg me to let you off.” _ He uttered a disagreeable laugh and advanced toward | them, holding laa cocked weapon ready for instant use. t you doin’? Lookin’ for copper ? Whet good would | it do you if you found it? Is the owner of this property payin’ you to prospect for him?” ' He spoke sarcastically. “Why are you molesting us? Why did you shoot? You might have hit one of us,” said Ted, without showing a bit of fear, though he felt that matters were critical. The rascal laughed grimly at the boy’s speech. _. “I guessed you didn’t know I was out of jail, so I thought I'd surprise you. It’s a way I have sometimes when I’m feelin’ good,” he chuckled. There was a wicked leer in his eyes which showed that his mirth was assumed. “Glad to see me, ain’t you, both of you? You look it,” and the sonmanel laughed again, as though he thought it a good joke. “What do youswant with us?” asked Ted. “Well, I don’t want much with your friend, though he did do me dirt in front of the Mornin’ Glory Saloon a month ago; but I think you and me has an account to settle, and I reckon this is about the time and place to settle it.” “Are you thinking of murdering me?” asked Ted, his blood running cold at the bare prospect of such a terrible thing. “Murderin’ you! Haw! haw! haw!” laughed the ruffian, who was playing with his intended victim like a cat does With a mouse. “If I intended doin’ that, wouldn’t I have _ done it already without wastin’ my jaw on you?” _ “Then what do you mean to do?” Ralston looked at him with an air of fiendish triumph. _ “You can go,” he said, waving his revolver at Jesse. “Not without Ted,” answered Dane. ' "Go, I tell you!” roared Tug menacingly, Jesse didn’t move. t walked over and» struck him a blow with his fist in the forehead which stretched the boy senseless at his feet. _ “Coward!” eried Ted, springing on him like a wildcat. - The turned on him in a towering rage. “Tl kill you, you infernal young varmint!” he gritted, Bia es. revolver and seizing the boy with both of his Tt fed aux. to him like a leech, winding both of his legs : = one of Tug’s, and getting his head around under his | Ralston clawed at him viciously, more like a wild beast Gt ae a man. _ For some minutes the desperate s Ted felt that he was fighting for his peugele continued. , e, with the chances all against him. a At length the ruffian managed to pull himself clear by his if ‘tremendous strength. =a Then he threw the boy on the ground and put one of Ree his boots on his chest. Sih e me, will you, you young catamount! I guess you don’t know who you're monkeyin’ with.” He glared down at the helpless boy with malignant satis- he removed his foot and picked uw) aA to hinder me blowin’ your, b maxing bie at Ted’s head. h uddered Fog hegee cote henas Te fully expected hour come. S' mr iocphed | handbiy: er was on the ices. but he didn’t 1 it. snjoyed the pleasure of seeing his in éed victim his revolver. © ns out?” said Tug, ning ultimately ensue, but -he was in no hurry ee es ee es oe Bh eebine seein wed en es ms * THE BOY COPPER MINER | in from his head down with a quick, Suga kill him, or perhaps wound him so badly that do.” “You’re a coward! If you kill me, you'll swing for your crime.” “Tl take ymy chances of that. | two—three!” He moved the weapon a trifle and pulled the trigger. flash—a report—and the ball plowed into the ground “ aha to the boy’s ear that he could almost feel the sting ge : “Missed you, did I?” grinned the scoundrel, who hadn’t intended to hit him. “Next time I’ll do better.” : “T don’t think you will!” said a clear, girlish voice at that moment. Tug looked up clearly startled and found himself covered by a cocked revolver in the hand of a swarthy-looking maiden of perhars sixteen, The minute is up. One— CHAPTER IV. . TESS COOKE. Ted lay. still and uncertain as to the issue, but his heart thrilled with hope. He had heard the girlish, voice, and there was a deter- mined ring to it that meant business. The top of his head was toward the newcomer and he couldn’t see her. He could see,,however, that her words and attitude had a strong effect on Ralston. “Drop your gun, pard,”. spoke the girl again, “and drop it quick. This gun of mine has a habit of going off sudden- like on occasions, and it never misses. When I see a big chap like you taking advantage of a little fellow it makes me nervous. As my finger is on the trigger, and it’s a hair one, something is liable to drop in short order if you make me more nervous than I am.” The girl spoke coolly but significantly. Tug saw she had him dead to rights and was not to be trifled with. With a deep imprecation he let his reyolver drop to the groun?, “You’re sensible, pard,” spoke up the girl. “Now, step back a couple of feet. Don’t go too far, for something might | happen if you did.” ; Ralsten unwillingly obeyed her mandate, but then -he ( couldn’t help himself. He had been having his fun with Ted, now the visitor was having hers with him. Turn about is fair play, but it isn’t always satisfactory to the person who has the short end of the game. The moment Tug moved back Ted sprang to his feet and . looked at the person who had saved him. a She was an uncommonly pretty girl, with a sylph-like figure, and was dressed in wild Western style, her head cov- ered by a soft cowboy hat.: She had seated herself carelessly on a boulder and held her weapon pointed at Ralston in an easy way that was not. comfortable to the rascal. : E ; f “I’m much obliged to you, miss, for helping me out,” said ae gratefully. “You saved eny life, for the rascal meant to f kill me.” a “You’re welcome, pard,” replied the girl, taking the boy aay comprehensive glance. “Better pick up that gun. It will be safer in your hands — than his.” a Ted took possession of prea weapon, and then felt . that he feared: the man no :4 “What's baxnency to him oe asked the girl, indicating Jesse. “Not shot, I hope?” Bs “No, Tug Ralston struck him down with a blow in the Ag face with his ae ee iti’, pans 1a Soe diaiont I’ve I ain’t yates at anything Be “Oh! my, dad tell of him. eae yh Vd give him th The girl noted his words wi She saw that Ted

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THE BOY COPPER MINER. 5 “What’s your pard’s name?” “Jesse Dane.” “What are you doing out here? Prospecting ?” “Yes, miss. This is my property, left me by my uncle. Jesse and I were looking to see if we could find indications of copper on it.” “I suppose that fellow surprised you?” “He did. He hid behind that rock and fired on us.” Se try and bring your pard to his senses,” said the gir Ted agreed with her. He went to a spring near by and brought the crown of his hat full of water, which he threw in Jesse’s face. pues he chafed the boy’s temples and he presently re vive “What happened to me?” asked Dane, in*a dazed way. “Who is that?” he added, as his eyes rested on the girl. “That is Miss Cooke, 1 oe mind the ‘miss,’ pard,” said the girl. “Call me : ess. ; Dane then saw Tug Ralston standing against the side of the pass in sullen impotence. “I remember everything now,” “Ralston struck me down with his fist.” “He won’t do it again in a hurry.” '“What’s happened to him?” “Tess Cooke has him nailed. See the revolver in her hand? yl did the business for Ralston just as he was going to e. _“Then he intended to shoot you? a ane did, but Tess Cooke saved me.” heard of her, but never saw her before.” “She's a dandy from Dandyville. She, called him down so * hard that he just chucked up the sponge.” “She’s a wonder,” said Dane, casting a glance of admira- tion as well as respect at the girl, who seemed to be paying = attention to them, but just keeping the big ruffian under : er eye, “Yeu, she’s a corker, and a mighty pretty girl, too,” he said, said “I'd like to shake hands with you if you don’t object.” “I haven’t any objection,” she replied, rising from the boulder and approaching him. They shook hands “T hope I’ll see you again, miss,” he said. “If you want to see me, you'll find me over at dad’s house, a mile up the creek.” : “Jesse and I’ll call on you next Sunday afternoon, if you'll be home.” “T’ll be there if you say you'll come.” “We'll come.” Whether it was that Jesse had made a bungle of his job of tying Ralston, or that owing to his strength the handker- chief failed'to hold his wrists, certain it is that Tug freed himself, and, taking advantage of the momentary inattention of the boys, made a sudden break for the end of the cut in the hi Jesse gave the alarm, and Ted swung around. “Stop!” he shouted to the rascal. The fellow Lr Ro attention to him. Ted fired at hi Bf the bullet went a trifle wide, and before he could Ralston had disappeared around od from behin which he had fired his first shot at e boys. CHAPTER V. CAUGHT UNAWARES. Ted rushed after him as fast as he could. When he reached the boulder he caught sight of the fleeing 9“ ruffian some little distance away. Ted fired at him asain 5 and pent as before. Ralston turned, shook his fist back at him, and then plunged into a thick clump of bushes. ~ a gave up the pursuit and returned to Jesse and e Tess Cooke explained how she had heard the first shot at s . hed beaut by no means ble to the girl’s unques-} a distance and walked over to the cut to see what was going on UW ons 1, pard,” said Tess Cooke, “what are you going to do ust after the second shot she came upon the scene which with thie man? You’ve got his gun. ney ght amuse rtd ‘iad interrupted. scm shooting a few holes through him “It seems to me that you’re a pretty nervy girl,” said She spoke in an easy, careless way, as if such a perform-| Ted. ance was the most sarc erggl thing in the world. “You “et mean that, I guess,” replied Ted, regarding her earnes me apr mia he was going to do to you when I came up stopped him,” she answered. “It’s your lead now. You pe a full flush. He’s played his hand and lost. If you let B _ 8° he’ll pick up a gun somewhere and do you up. Bet- ’ the game while per hold the cards.” ‘ ere wondered if the girl really meant what she said. = ; ae —— at Ralston and saw that the fellow was decid-| and bog Ages thought he’d test Tug’s nerve, though he didn’t think had much. man m eit Ralston, you meant to kill me a while ago. If I " let you go, you'll try to work the same game over again. I iF have to oe eecee Spee Ree: Ses.” shoot!” gasped the man, his face turning livid. off and Pll cry quits.” Oy gaia ene se el : "ll let you alone after thi ry have I that you will?” Es Sd teal knees and swear you’ll not interfere ‘uture.” swore in his own, peculiar way that he’d tha Cian ‘ines, taesieenee: owt. at is ‘yoeiet d his back.” ’ to do with me?” asked Ralston. and Seles ens Sete te the ie rio bad’ pub op who her revolver, saving that and 4 ai! sie The girl tossed her head with a laugh. “It’s my way, I guess,” she replied. ‘#T’ve been brought up to look out for myself, and I opine that I can do it.” “T’ll bet you can, as well as any man,” said Jesse, They talked with Miss Cooke for perhaps half an hour longer, and in she bade them good-by, saying she would cue to see them at her dad’s place on the following Sun- Tea and Jesse gathered together their prospecting tools . started for Carson. Both were satisfied that their search for copper had been successful at last, and they decided Pe. pay another visit to the cut on Sunday morning, bringing their lunch, and after- a isn’t any doubt about it. mn never have a closer call for my life. I could read yey: in that scoundrel’s eyes. He meant to do me up and then skip the Aig espe 4 after that it wouldn’t have been safe for ) this es oat apart “You psy to notify the sheriff about his attack on you, ou?” “Yes, es, it’s Vthe best thing I can do, for it won’t be safe for us to go around the country here as long as he is at arge.” “That’s right. He ought to be taken care of. It’s safe to bet that some day he’ll be strung up for murder.” ; “I wouldn’t be carprived. e’s a nut.” BCD ate Sauer He’s one of the bad men you read ¥ a ae The boys reached their home without further adventure, — and soon after had cleaned themselves and s apres up i. a bit the supper rang and they went down to dining- room. After the meal the boys went into town and called at the ee ae

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, 6 ; THE BOY COPPER MINER. didn’t lose any time getting back to his old tricks, Well, I'll look after him, and I don’t figure he’ll escape me unless he’s already made tracks for the next county. If I get him, you'll be wanted as witnesses.” 3 , “You can send to the mine for us, or to our boarding- house, the Miners’ Rest,” replied Ted. “That’s a right smart gal—Tess. She’s the daughter of old man Cooke, a prospector and mining expert,” sai e sheriff.. “She’s accounted a dead shot, and can draw a gun quicker’n any man I ever met. I saw a specimen of her shooting at ten yards one night at the Wyoming Saloon, where she went to fetch her father, who has a periodical weakness for crooking his elbow. The old man didn’t want to _go home with her, and the gang who had him in tow backed - wad pret resce aes piedbel him up. She drew her gun on the ringleader, but he only laughed at her, and said he guessed she was only good to be kissed, and he calculated he’d honor her by giving her the first smack. ‘I'll show you what I’m good for!’ she said, in a tone that rang business. ‘Tack a five-spot on that wall yonder, and if I don’t nail every pip square in the center you can keep my father here and kiss me into the bargain,’ ‘Done!’ replied the chap. ‘If you win, the old man goes with mu.’ ‘I guess he will,’ she replied. coolly, ‘for I’m going to ened one shot for the man that tries to prevent me taking him.’ Somebody put the card against the wall and the crowd looked for fun. Well, blame me if that gal didn’t that card in five seconds with five balls, every one as as a die. The crowd was paralyzed. Then she called her old man and told him to walk. ‘Has any one got any ob- ions!’ she asked, looking around with her smoking gun her hand. Nobody had, and so she led the old man away, — tea that day the whole town takes its hat off to Tess ‘00 | “I don’t wonder Tug Ralston gave in when he saw who he was up against,” laughed Ted. “How came she to learn to shoot so good?” “Tl never tell you. It comes natural to her.” ats heky for me that she had her with her to-day.” “She always carries it. She needs it for her protection, for a pretty girl like her attracts a whole lot of attention. It is that no man but her father has ever kissed her. Several men have boasted that they were going to do it at the first chance they got, She heard about it and sent them word that if they could kiss her quicker than she could draw her they were welcome to, but she gave them to under- nok B j t the man who failed would be a subject for the undertaker. Probably that’s why she carries her weapon. At any rate, no man has yet had the nerve to tackle her, for her old man said he’d better make his will first.” “Tess Cooke seems to a corker,” said Ted to Jesse on their way home. “She is, for fair. I’ve heard a whole lot about her since [ple in the mine, but to-day is the first time I’ve seen “I wonder why she the creek?” said Ted. ww. Maybe it’s on account of her old man.” “You mean she can’t trust him where theré are so many saloons? ly Map 3 It’s not so hard to keep him sober when he’s away temptation.” ensuing week passed away all too pte for Ted. about Tess Cooke, Sunday afternoon, . ae Knew Bagg ied — girls in gn ks cae gp Do e farm where he was raised, but none. em Be icid s condis to Teen y Then her fearlessness appealed to him. _ was a girl after his own heart—a girl who could face the world inchingly. rd, she was one in a thousand, and that was the he took his hat off to. , no word came from the sheriff with n, must were on th don’t live in town instead of up along}. “Tf Lag curious to learn, you'll have to ask her, for I ~ don’t d the to pay her on the following | creek. serif So he took a few’ of the tools after dinner, bade Jesse » “I-should say not. He’d shoot you as quick as a wink. He only played with you last Sunday bezause he thought there, was no escape for you. If he met you again, he wouldn’t take any more chances.” a “That’s just the way I look at it. I’m not yearning to become an angel yet a while. I’ve a whole lot to live for.” *A copper mine, for instance,” grinned Jesse. : “Yes. If I’ve dreamed once I’ve dreamed every night about that mine,” said Ted. “Last night I thought I was worth a million. Had a fine office in a big city, owned a private car, two or three automobiles, a steam yacht, and I don’t know what.” “That must haye been a dandy dream.” “It was while it lasted; but when I woke up and found I had to go to work in the mine just like the rest of the boys, I tell you the reality tasted mighty bitter in my mouth. I’d rather not dream such things.” “Maybe your dream may come true one of these days.” _ “IT hope it may. It can’t come any too quick for me. This kind of life is too strenuous for my blood. I like to move around in the sunlight. I’ve been used to that all my life. This delving down in the gloom of the tunnels is something fierce. I mean to stick it out, though, for I’m not a quitter. T'll stick to it till Fortune takes a turn in my favor.” “What does your mother say about you staying out here?” “She doesn’t like it. She’s always begging me te come back home. Says she misses me terribly. That I’m her only boy, and so on. I tell her to have patience. I wrote her Sunday night that we had found every indication of copper on my property, and that in my next I hoped to be able to assure her of the fact beyond any reasonable doubt.” “Don’t you worry but there’s copper on your land. It’s there. The only question is whether it’s in quantities large enough to warrant working. I'll find that out for you next Sunday, I hope. I’m almost sure we struck a big vein in ne ull. If the vein amounts to anything, your fortune is made. “And so is yours, Jesse. You shall ride in your own auto- mobile, too.” ‘ “Gee! I hate the blamed things. Give me a horse for mine. I like to feel flesh and blood under me, Those machines are always breaking down when you aren’t looking for it, then you have to crawl under them in the dust and fix up some- thing with a wrench, or put more gasoline into the tank, or do something else.” ! “Oh, you’d get used to them after a while and you wouldn’t give your machine up for a farm. I’ve heard people talk like you before, and sooner or later they eat their words. An auto is the greatest thing on earth. Get a high-power one, and it will make half the railroad trains look like thirty cents for speed. When I get rich the first thing I'll buy will be an auto, and the best I can find.” At length Sunday came around, but it brought an unex- pected change of programme, — Jesse met with an accident in the mine Saturday after- noon, and the doctor said he’d have to stay in bed for sev- eral days till his leg mended. — if. Ted would have postponed his trip to the cut on his prop-» ae only for the fact that he was impatient to see Tess Cooke. The girl was on his brain, and nothing would satisfy him but he must keep his engagement. _ Under those circumstances he decided that he might as well look in at the cut on his way over to her home on the good-by, and started. He reached his property and made his wa) There he spent an hour picking up s intended to take over and submit to Miss Cooke’s father’s inspection. awa an old and experienced prospector, and his judg- ment on the ore was to be relied on. Ted filled his bag with bits of the ore he secured from the cut and then started for the creek. His way took him through a wood, and ‘the afternoon ing warm, he sat down to rest himself for a while. lolling in the shade of a,big tree with a thick, round trunk, he examined his specimens with a feeling of satisfaction, in these rocks beyond doubt. Plenty is by time. I ‘ :

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THE BOY COPPER MINER. 7 say about me—that is, if I become one of the copper barons. cs the foot of which he had been sitting; but in this he failed,| ‘Theodore Brown, the wealthy Something after this fashion: a e , Copper king, was once on a time a boy copper miner, Ted didn’t get any further with his castle-building. He suddenly heard a noise in the bushes in front of him, and wi BR in that direction he saw to his dismay the vil- _ lainous-looking countenance of Tug Ralston within a couple of rods of the spot where he sat. i CHAPTER VI. TREED BY THE ENEMY. ~ Ted sprang to his feet with extraordinary agility, but | Tug had seen him and was evidently prepared for the en- counter. “Stop where you are!” he roared in a hoarse, snappish Voice, raising himself and covering Ted with a rifle. “If you move an- eyelid, I’ll drill you quicker’n a flash of light- nin e boy, realizing that he was in a bad box, made no further movement, but watched his enemy with a wary eye. Ralston looked cool and impudent as he stood there gloat- ’ ing over the situation. He also looked very much the worse in general appear- ance. His. face was drawn and enadverous, and somewhat resem- ; wa) a famished hyena. His tangled hair and a ten days’ growth of beard added to _ his fierce look. “I guess I’ve got you at last, Ted Brown,” he growled. “T’ve been waitin’ a week for the chance, but I knew it would come, for I ccunted on that visit you was goin’ to pay to she-cat who saved your life last Sunday. Well, she won’t save you this time, you can gamble on it. Lightnin’ don’t strike twice in the same place.” ‘Ted looked at the rascal with critical attention. _ He saw that he held this rifle in his hands in such a way ‘that the muzzle of it could easily be brought to bear on his ‘ _ The boy was rapidly reyolving some plan in his mind _ that would help him to escape his vindictive pursuer. In order to gain time, he opened up a conversation. “T guess you’re joking, Ralston, aren’t you? not to interfere with me hereafter.” ea “spose I did. I’ve changed my, mind since.” “But an oath is an oath. You’ve no right tv go back on 4, it.” “Pye a right to do as I please.” ete ay depose that’s the reason you've peen letting your beard ae 4 eeeDon't you worry about my beard. I shaved before you was born, and I sha’n’t shave again till after you’re dead; but guess I won’t have to wait long, for you ain’t got more three minutes to draw your breath.” _ “How long?” Ga minutes.” _ “That isn’t very long.” ; - long enough for you Aes wie te tot ant" I tu mean to say youre go me ‘* I wasn eh T’d be the worst liar on two feet,” Ralston grim Soy will that do you?” ron leno ‘that would be deliberate imbrder 2” won’t be the fir—the minutes are up. If p and say your prayers, I'l give you two more.” Rhos? me, you’ll-make the mistake of your life, prove it to you in less than five minutes,” said eh: don’t waste your time tryin’. If you ; ra,can ravers, blaze away lively, as I'm tired You swore a ; but I gale like you “sesontt to much, peas werkt oe re the re for Tug never for a moment took his eyes off him. Several times the scoundrel half raised his rifle as if to fire at the boy, but dropped it again. Ted, finding that his enemy was watching him like a cat does a mouse, began to lose hope. It didn’t seem possible that he could escape the fate Ral- ston had evidently marked out for him AS a last desperate resort Ted adopted an old, threadbare ruse, It required good acting on the boy’s part to make it pass into it” but as his life was at stake he threw his whole soul into i “Quick, Jesse!” he shouted earnestly, looking straight be- hind Tug, as if he saw his friend in the bushes. “Hit him!” Tug ston was deceived and thrown off his guard. He swung around to ward off a threatened rear attac but saw nobody there, nor did he hear the slightest soun in the bushes. Then he realized he had been deceived by Ted. With a terrible imprecation, he turned back again, only te find that his vietim had disappeared. Ted had slipped behind the tree, which was wide enough to conceal him completely. Ralston was deeply chagrined at the march the boy had played on him, and he swore like a trooper. His first. impression was that the boy had rushed for the bushes and hid himself, and he prepared to start after him, A moment’s reflection altered that view. There was quite an open space around and behind the tree, and the ruffian calculated that Ted could not have coy- ered it and vanished in the short space of time his ruse had given him. The only other refuge in sight was the tree, and there he judged the boy was hiding. “I’m on to you, Ted Brown,” he growled with a ring of satisfaction in his tones. “Come out from behind that tree.” Ted. refused to accept the invitation. “All right, 7 eet ad if you won't come out, I'll have to go there and blow your roof off.” Thus speaking, Ralston moved toward the ‘tree. Ted’s ruse would only have gained him a few minutes of life but for the fact that on this occasion he was armed. He had taken the ee hi on general principles, to fetch Ralston’s revolver alon: It was fortunate, indeed, that he had done so. Had the rascal entertained any such suspicions, he would have been more cautious in his movements. 2 As it was, he adopted none of the precautions which such a knowledge would have imposed on any reasonable Ee Ted heard his heavy footsteps in the grass and stood with the cocked weapon in bia hand awaiting the climax of the desperate sy ugar h He didn’t dare | aroudi the tree to see how close Ral- ston was, lest such an exposure of his person might lead to fatal results ok could he tell around which side the scoundrel was Oe. Could only trust to luck. Ralston, however, made a bad mistake at this point. He stopped and spoke again when within a yard of the — tree. “T’'ll give you one more | chance to come out and five min- utes to say your prayers,” he said. ily’ note of the location of the voice, — thrust his revolver around the tree and fired. ‘A howl of owe and rage followed the shot. Ralston, slightly wounded by the bullet, hurriedly retreate to the bushes, where Ted could hear him swearing growling like some disappointed wild beast. ed a Ted, however, had only checked, not defeated him, 3 The boy listened with - intense anxiety to discover the next movement of his wily enemy. ‘ He was afraid to look around the tree lest Ralston might be on the alert for such a move on his part and put ounce ball in his brain. 4 The villain, having a wh esome respect for a weapon another person’s re. E mnder cover of the a ted for Ted to do som : rifle _—, for t

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He wondered angrily how long Ted proposed to remain behind the tree. The boy was willing to remain there indefinitely in order to escape the bullet of his foe. That was a natural conclusion, but it didn’t jibe well with Ralston’s feelings. He cursed himself for not having shot Ted in the first place when he had him under his eye. The truth of the matter was that it was his nature to play with his victim, and for a second time by yielding to that temptation his quarry had escaped him. However, he hadn’t actually lost Ted this time. The end was only deferred. While he was snarling under his breath at the lapse of time, a brilliant idea occurred to his mind. He wondered why he had not thought of it before. With a grim smile at his own astuteness he rose from his crouching ition and began to circle around the tree. _He calculated that when he reached a certain point of the circle he would be able to see Ted behind the tree. It was impossible for him to carry out this plan in com- plete silence. Ted’s sharp ears heard the rustling of the dried branches th his tread, and the occasional snapping of a twig. He wondered what game Ralston was up to. As he listened, the sound at length told him that the man was trying to outflank him. As soon as Ted realized this move on his adversary’s part. he began to move an inch at a time in the reverse direc- tion. : In this way he was able to easily defeat Ralston’s tactics, which were singularly deficient in range, for nothing but a se could make them successful. e the rascal was moving~a hundred rods to secure fe, on, Ted could foil him by taking a single step. ée In the course of a short time Ralston discovered that he was not so bright as he thought he was. Finally, fully satisfied that his strategy was a failure, he down again in the bushes to await a demonstration on the part of his victim. _ Ted, finding that his enemy had grown tired of pursuing an unprofitable game, remained where he was. py Bey while he could hear Ralston cursing at the . the man’s impatience did not worry him any. _ though he was self anxious to bring the contest to a conclusion, for his perilous position was calcul ‘on his nerves. ‘A game, however, promised to be prolonged to a most _ unreasonable length. ? While he listened intently for any sounds that might in- Ralston’s part, Ted kept up a lively knew his enemy was watching the opposite side of the tree with great intentness, and the happy though to him to try to draw the man’s fire by a bit of strategy ‘which was as old as the hills. He had read of the scheme in some boy’s book where it had worked successfully. : He wondered if he couldn’t Gove Ralston by it. 5, ee off his jacket, he rolled it up so as to form the 1 of a head. E his cap upon the top of the bundle, he cautiously the dummy on one side of the tree, withdrawing it P Ay or = mins times to increase the delusion in the s enemy. ; ; At first no results followed, and Ted began to think that Ralston was not to be fooled this way. _. After repeating the operation several times, he slowly _ pushed the Y around the opposite side of the tree. _ The of ston’s rifle broke the silence of the wood. SS felt the blow of the ball when it struck the cap. The critical moment had come, and without the loss of a Ted left the security of the tree and-darted off in of the creek.’ ¢ : i; ated to wear hi Lookout mine, and left Ted at the door of his THE BOY COPPER MINER. Although strong and big, he was no match for Ted as a runner. Seeing that his victim was bound to get away, Tug stopped, shoved. another cartridge into his gun, dropped on oe ae and fired just as Ted vanished around a clump of ushes. The bullet passed within a yard of the boy, who kept on till he reached the creek. 4 Then he ran up the stream for a quarter of a mile, when he saw a neatly built, story-and-a-half house. In a few minutes he was knocking smartly on the door, while he kept his eyes over his shoulder on the lookout for Ralston. The door was opened by Tess Cocke, and Ted staggered inside and sank down exhausted by the run and the tense excitement through which he had just passed. ; “What’s the matter, Ted Brown?” asked Tess, in some concern. “I was nearly shot by Tug Ralston,” gasped.the boy, as he tried to pull himself together. “By Tug Ralston!” cried the girl. “I thought——” “He had skipped the neighborhood? Well, he’s fooled the sheriff and everybody else into that belief.- He’s been in hiding—waiting to catch me to-day when I called on you. He heard Jesse and me make the arrangement with you last Sunday afternoon at the cut, and he kept it in mind. This time he’s got a rifle.” “A -rifle!” ‘ F : “Yes. I wouldn’t have cared so much if it had only been a revolver, for I had one myself, and am not afraid to meet him on even terms; but a rifle put all the advantage of the situation in his hands. He caught me off my guard, and had me dead to rights. He could easily have killed me while we stood talking.” “What prevented him?” “The same thing that held him off in the cut long enough | for you to come up and save me—his desire to play with me before he did me ~ He wanted me to suffer the anticipa- tion of coming death. Well, I fooled him with an old trick.” wen ioe told the whole story of his strenuous adventure to e girl. She heard him in silence, expressed her sympathy for him, and then went outside to the kitchen where her father was smoking and reading a magazine. She brought him into the room and introduced Ted to m. f “Now tell your story over again to father,” she said: The boy did so. The old man knitted his brow during the recital. “Then he knew that you were bound here?” he said. Ted nodded. “He’ll lay for you when you,start to return. But don’t be alarmed. Tess and I will see that you get back to town all right, and the shee shall be notified that the rascal is hanging around here trying to get back at you.” Ted soon got over his scare and passed several hours very pleasantly with the girl and her father. He had supper with them, as a matter of course, and during the meal the young copper miner told old man Cook2 ~ about his property and the plain evidences he had found of copper on the ground. “I brought a bag of spetimens to show you, Mr. Cooke, but left it under the tree where Ralston attacked me.” Ted described the tree and told the prospector he would — find the bag there if he looked for it during the week. “I should like to have you examine the specimens and tell me what you think about them. I should also like you to go to the cut on my property some time when you have the time and look at what my friend Jesse says is the be- ginning of a vein of copper ore. Whatever trouble you're — put to I’ll make, it all right with you.” ; “Dad will do it for you without charging you a cent,” — spoke up Tess. rie ; . She showed an interest both in Ted and his hopes of a copper harvest, and there is no doubt that if her father was not particularly interested she intended to make him investi- ~ gate the matter for the boy. Seek When Ted said he guessed that it was time for him to go. - Tess and her father got ready to accompany him. pe The old man got his boat out and the three slipped quietly down the creek to a point below Ted’s property, Then they cut across the country, passing close he =

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THE BOY COPPER MINER. 9 néss, and accepted an invitation to call at their house soon again. _ Next morning the sheriff was informed about the incident in which Ted had nearly lost his life the preceding after- noon, and, calling a larger force of deputies together, the posse started to beat the neighborhood up with the view of capturing Tug Ralston. The rascal, anticipating such a move, took time by the forelock and disappeared, and the strictest search proved unfruitful. Of course, Jesse was surprised and much concerned when Ted related his adventure to him. “That villain seems determined to get you,” said Jesse. “He’s taken a fearful grouch against you on account of that little incident in the mine. It would have been better if you had not resented his act of pulling you out of the car. You had to wait for the next cage, anyhow. I’m mighty sorry that thé fall he got on his head didn’t kill him. It would have been a good riddance if he had been planted in the cemetery. As it is, you’ll never feel thoroughly safe until he’s shot or put behind the bars for a long term.” “There is no use crying over spilled milk, Jesse. Al- though I’m sorry that I put my foot in it,’I don’t much re- gret that smash in the eye I gave the villain. I only hope that the next time we meet it may be on even terms.” “He’s not a chap that’s willing to give an enemy a fair show. He’s a born coward, even if he is as strong as a small son. I doubt if he would attack anybody without get- ting the bulge on him beforehand. That poor fellow he killed in the mine had no show to defend himself, I’ll bet. You are uncommonly fortunate to have eluded him twice after he had you in a corner.” Ted agreed with him, and after that he made it a point always to carry his revolver. On the following Sunday, Ted and Jesse went over to call on Tess. a : The girl gave Ted a particularly warm welcome. It was evident that she had taken a great fancy to him, and the feeling was reciprocated by Ted. Old man Cooke also showed a friendly attitude toward the boy. It soon developed that he had been over at Ted’s property and had made investigations that proved beyond doubt that there was a rich lead of copper ore on the boy’s land. “Tf you want me to bring the facts to the notice of the officers of the Lookout mine, you’re bound to get a good offer for ground. I should say that it will not be under a h thousand dollars.” f : ere heart jumped with satisfaction, and Jesse’s eyes “TI would suggest, however, that you keep the matter dark : for the present,” said the old man, “The copper won’t run away. I will make further investigations later on which I hope, for r e, will prove the ground to be’ much more valuable than I figure it at present. You are young yet, ful ‘obtain much larger results than you would secure by selli sc; achat ndlabi at cette ati peand ie nay Ted thanked Mr. Cooke for his advice, and told him that to follow it. they said to each other , but there proved very It not necessary to record what : wouldn’t interest the aren, oe i or oe themselves. : CHAPTER VIII. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TESS COOKE, Several weeks passed away and nothing more was heard from Tug Ralston. Every Sunday Ted and Jesse walked over to the Cooke home together and took supper, after which Tess and Ted invariably disappeared together. Jesse didn’t say an ng, neither did the old man. Both seemed to understand how the wind blew. eg tea prospector had any objection, the boys didn’t hear of i At any rate, it wouldn’t have counted much, for Tess ran nes ranch, and whatever she said or did was law with her ather. He loved his daughter as much as any parent, but unfor- tunately he also had a strong regard for bug-juice. Tess succeeded in weaning him away: from the Car- son saloons by a compromise which permitted him to keep a private jug at home. M But it was against orders for him to get a jag on. Tess had gauged the number of drinks he could take from morn till nightfall when he was at home and keep sober, and set the limit, beyond which he did not go, He had his orders when away from home, and if he over- stepped the mark the girl generally found it out and read him the riot act. : : Although the sheriff was of the opinion that Tug Ralston was a long way from the neighborhood of Carson, such, however, was not the case. a He was in hiding not many miles north of the Lookout mine. His retreat was an underground cavern in the midst of a thick wood. Entrance to it was to be had through the hollow trunk of one of the giants of the forest. Tug discovered it one day by accident. While trying to throw the sheriff’s posse off his scent, he entered a thick clump of bushes, and while squeezing him- self as far back as possible he found an aperture in the outer bark of the tree big enough for a man to pass through. He lost no time taking advantage of this refuge, but as the interior of the tree was as dark as pitch, he did not notice there was a big hole there, through which he tumbled before he knew what had happened to him. : When he recovered his wits he struck a match to find out what kind of a trap he had fallen into. To his amazement he found himself in a subte room which was evidently the work of man. “ The place had been dug out and roofed with boards braced like the tunnel of a mine. It was divided into two sections by a bulkhead, with an opening for communication. The floor and walls were of earth, beaten hard. The only means of entrance and egress was through the hollow tree, and Ralston found a rope ladder hanging down from one side of the hole through which he had fallen. Clearly this retreat was the work of men, probably out- laws, who required a secure haven of refuge when pursuit was hot. Tug found rude wooden a rough table, capable of seating a dozen men, a supply of pots, pans and other seeking Wendie, quite. 03 0 of coarse crockery piled up in a cheap-looking closet with shelves, a small keg nearly full of whisky, a rifle (the same that he used subsequently ~ against Ted), a cartridge belt, and various other things of a miscellaneous nature. Sth i The place had evidently been deserted for months, if not for years, and Ralston was tickled to death over it, - “T can lie here as snug as a bug in a rug for as long as I please and the sheriff will never smoke me out,” he said to himself in a tone of satisfaction. .“All I need is grub, and I guess I'll be oaths ay Boe 3 a supply bales while ese’s whisky enough here me six mon or more. call this a find. I’m safer here than I was in a dozen litters of lank

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iicrs © before. the 78 a Bed hours without: result. 10 descended in the dead of night and supplied himself with eggs, poultry, and even a sheep. There was a pit not far from the tree in which he made a fire and cooked his food after dark. It was not necessary for him to do this more than twice a week, and he only did it once in the week immediately after his last attack on Ted, and during that interval he seldom ventured to the surface. Although he beeame grouchy for lack of congenial so- ciety, he did’ not dare notify any of his old cronies of his proximity, so he amused himself playing solitaire, filling up on whisky and sleeping off its effects. As time passed he began to figure again on getting back at Ted Brown. He also felt a strong resentment against Tess Cooke be: | cause she rescued Tom from his clutehes. _ He would have liked to get square with her, too, but he knew her reputation as a pistel expert and a fearless girl, and was afraid to tackle her. Tess had the habit of taking long walks or rides around country. One day she, rode out to visit-a girl friend who lived on a farm not far ae the wood where Ralston’s subterranean retreat was situated. On her way back home she skirted the wood. Tug happened to be airing himself above ground at the time, and saw her coming. He shrank back among the bushes so that she would not recognize him. He didn’t dare molest her, for he knew she carried her oe al with her, and he had no desire to stop a bit of cold opposite to when a dog suddenly burst through a in et and sprang Se at the horse. The animal, taken by surprise, shied, and the girl, though a fine rider, was thrown to the ground. The shock partly stunned her Ralston saw his advantage, and availed himself of it. es sore forward, took the revolver from the small ed by a belt around her back, then gagged and a the gin with his own Rancleapehiet and hers. er in his arms, he quickly carried her to the The girl and her mare were near hollow tree, dowi the rope ladder, and threw her on one of the stra There he left her to recover her senses. An hour later the mare turned up at tee Cooke home. reese errs Spey at once that something was nie. hardly believed that his daughter had been thrown by the was his impression that somebody, probably two or three men, had attacked her unawares, and after robbing ~ Si the few dollars she always carried, had let her go to voted Pagan i ar for her to tu he started to an hour for r m up, he s toa rod wu taking the got to o the gy Bang vig Bag SpE a, ees he kept on to the farm. learned that she had started for home seyeral His anxiety over her was so great that the farmer and two of his help mounted horses.and accompanied him They looked everywhere along the route et she was bé- to haye taken, but found no signs of h en they ance ao La cr ge it was dock and silent, r ‘ooke was now seriously alarmed for or child. He and the farm people rode back and scoured the coun- disappearance of Tess was a great mystery, and her _ father had never -been so broken 2 er, unless it was when his wife died some years before, road he knew she had followed to| sharp ‘body in THE BOY COPPER MINER. The officer ealled his biteds together, and off they went to the neighborhood where the girl had vanished. Ted heard the news about the middle of the forenoon. “Say, Jesse,” he cried, rushing up to his chum, his face ablaze with anxiety and excitement, “I’ve just learned that something has happened to Tess Cogke.” ; “Something happened to her!” ejaculated Jesse. “They say she’s disappeared, and her old man is erazy about her.” “Why, where could she disappear to?” “That is what is bothering her father. Get your coat on; we must go out to his house and find out if this report is really true. I couldn’t rest a minute if anything has hap- pened to her.” “You think a whole lot of her, don’t you, Ted?” “Bet your life I do. Why shouldn’t I, when she saved my life?” “You'd be willing to save hers, too, if that was neces- sar oe guess I would. I’d go through fire and water for her.” Ted set a hot pace, and inside of an hour they reached the Cooke home. They found the old man and several men who had just returned from another unsuccessful search. In a few words the prospector told the boys the little he knew about the disappearance of his daughter. He also told them about the close search he and several men had made of the country, and how the sheriff and a considerable force were still at it. . “You can’t tell just where she might have met with an accident; can you?” said Ted. “No; but she disappeared somewhere between here and the Golding farm.” Ted asked where the Golding farm lay, and then the and Jesse started off in that direction. When they reached the wood, they stopped to rest, and, as luck would have it Ted sat on the grass in the very spot where the girl was thrown. While fanning himself with his hat, he saw something sparkle in the grass, He picked it up and looked at it. He recognized it. at once as the locket, containing his picture which he had lately given Tess. “Look here!” he cried to his chum. “Tess has ‘been here. This locket belongs to her. I gave it to her last Sunday. See where the thin chain snapped off? We must hunt around here. If she was thrown.by her mare and hurt, abe may have crawled some little distance in the grass, 5 then been Soe to go farther. You hunt in that ped ow and I'll take this.” BF bere age coupe = immediate petshhemnone eat zeal, and sgradu ecame separa’ ee took him close by the great hollow oak. fi sharp eyes detected that the erases and earth there- about were well trampled by heavy boo He ase found a small piece of A hs dress hanging to a ig as if she was grerpowered 8 and carried off b men,” he muttered. “They seem to have passed these bushes.” He worked his way in that direction and presently cone face to face with the opening in the tree “This old tree appears to be hollow,” he breathed. “Can it be peat Yi bbe srpupdrels have killed the girl and shoved her there iis heart stood still at the bare supposition of such a ‘ He “looked in at the opening, but could see nothing... Then he flashed a ma inside. ic: Berveived at once the hole“teading downward through e* roo ; ae lighted a second match and os it down the hole. His astonished eyes dighted on the rope ladder, egeinst the wall Be te: ebend aunpivailection wan bottom of the hole. There mu be some reason for that fact. ring what the meaning of it all was,

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THE BOY COPPER MINER. 11 Having come to this resolution, he crawled Hing for the upper rene of the rope ladder, an to descend into pitchy darkness. ay seemed to widen out around him, but he could nots last he he touched the solid ground. Turning around, he was about to strike a match when he saw a faint gleam) of light twenty feet away. That indicated that there was somebody there, and Ted ped and put his hand on the butt of his revolver. As an intruder, he was liable to be up against trouble, and he wanted to be prepared to meet it. It struck him that it would be more prudent for him to return to the surface and summon Jesse to back him up. He began to entertain a strong suspicion that Tess Cooke might be a prisoner in this place. no other way could he account for her mysterious dis- nce. de the tree, e he stood undecided as to what he should do, he} h heard the gruff tones of a,man’s voice where the light was. The place appe ared to be divided in two parts, the man and the light hein; ng in the farther one. By decided to risk striking a match. * He did it on his trousers leg, and he caught a brief sur- vey of the mieneecnd room before him, and the outline of the bulkhead beyond He located the long table, the benches and other impedi- _ menta before the match went out, and had satisfied himself that there was no one that side of the bulkhead. 4 Peng Ted listened, he heard another voice reply to the gruff it sounded as if it might be a girl’s. “a The very suspicion that as was thrilled the boy. He determined to make With great caution he viate his way to the iden ry Pi into the section beyond the bulkhead, holding his revolver in — he reached it he had heard and recognized Tess’s vo: The man’s voice also had a familiar ring. ‘It hardly needed a sight of the fellow’s villatndns features to satisfy him that it was Tug Ralston who was threatening think that the girl of his heart was at the mercy of such a scoundrel. then began! and he dropped ’s revolver descended on the rascal’s head, The butt of T ike a steer stricken in the shambles. CHAPTER X. THE FIRST KISS. “Tess!” cried Ted, pushing the insensible scoundrel anid’ with his foot. “It is I—Ted, come to save you!” wae raised her in his arms, and as her eyes met his in pe as éven of the place, she knew him, and uttered a the nd ery of delight. Ted!” she exclaimed, and dropped her head on his bi alt He thrust his revolver back into his hip pocket, and set to work to unloosen the knot of the handkerchief that held er wrists together. “Yes, it’s me, all right, and Jesse is outside, too,” he said as he worked away. “Oh, Ted, I’m so glad you’ve comé to save me from that brute. Had she succeeded in kissing me I believe I should have killed him the moment I got a weapon of any kind in “Never mind, Tess. Calm down. He didn’t kiss Fon: I’m afraid I should have shot him myself if he had so. As it is, if I haven't broken his skull it’s because it’s an uncommonly thick one.” As soon as her arms were free she threw them impulsively around Ted’s neck and looked lovingly into his face. Then, before he knew what was coming, she kissed him full on the lips. “There, I’ve done what I never did before in my life to any one but my father and mother,” she said with a rich flush on her face; “but I eouldn’t help it. I love you, Ted, and I don’t care who knows it.” a I love you, too, Tess, with all my heart.” s he uttered he kissed her as she had kissed bien and she smiled contentedly in his face. “And nd now let us get away from this place,” he said, leasing her. “But first we must secure this rascal so h by ie be able to escape until the sheriff comes after him.” ed tore one of the blankets in strips, and bound the PR ad arms behind his back, both at the elbows and at the aE ae it shouldn’t be for many ‘moments more if he could} wrists, a, ho cing through the doorway, he saw Tess lying with her bound behind her upon one of the ed el captor and tormentor with her custom- ac yord contest went, Ralston was getting partially wie oe of liquo cre til Pe shot thet youn foo, = i back to and me can go (Bed Brown, you'd better order your Tess, in oe tense tone. You little spitfire!” tna the rascal. “I be- a ido i, but t I’ll take good care that you never BRET tind fon WF te took me years to do ft, and.when I did ~ si so many holes into ‘you that you’d look more like a SP eins talk to hear yo purse, gal,” ste sneered Ralston, we caged eran. Well, I reckon tm quit to kiss i op our consent. el gure as My name is Tess heresy. wher ‘eyes aye flahing fie. Reales y what's ~ inal ig hevage | T’m goin’ to Shee Fen pr on t the oa BS, with an unsteady step, and, lean- iva tae est abe cul, tf Grade the pottaton arms” her strength would have availed her nothing decidedly the worst y ‘ seemed 4 “Well, I’ve to keep man,” Ralston % “Tf you should Shoot 4 A at the same worst to be Sou Til 5 to your! leading her toward the rope ladder. en he tied his legs together le he was doing the latter Tess spied the butt of her from Ralston’s hip pocket, and she imme- i of a bo it ‘the underground cav He placed the bottle on the table. “This is a wondéftfully: retreat, Tess,” seems to be through a hollow tree a to which is hidden by bushes. It was made *. uman hands, you can easily see, and it must have taken a bunch of men be do it. Has Ralston any companions to your knowl- “I have neither séen nor heard any one ocite him since I was brought here yesterday tnoon,” she answered. “Then he A have accidentally found A “place and was — it alone until he captured you. and by how he managed to get you in his Ree ee ne re ae 0h Be Pater ig Bergh through this wood on my return ding aris. yesterday afte be = startled “Well, here is the rope ladder. Will you go ? Don’t mind the darkness, You wi in before you. Step right out into the bushes, Tll be with you in a moment.” “Sacer rhs ep a repamabetist nn tite = 2 climbed _up.

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ies 5 a i. ‘ 12 THE BOY COPPER MINER. P agra he followed and found her standing just outside e opening. Pushing their way through the bushes, they reached the bridle-path. “Jesse! Oh, Jesse!” shouted Ted. “Hilloa!” came back from his chum at some distance. “Tell me, Ted,” said Tess, grasping the boy’s arm lovy- ingly with both of hers, “how did you find that cavern, and how did you know I was down there?” “J found it by accident and I did not know you were down there. It was this that caused me to hunt around here for some evidence of your presence,” and he took from his pocket the locket he had found in the grass and handed it to her. “My locket!” she cried. “I had not missed it.” She opened it and kissed his + “I'd rather you’d kiss me my picture,” he said. “Would you?” she asked with a coquettish glance. Then she threw her arms around his neck and once more their lips met. : And aes a long kiss, too, for Jesse hove in sight as separated. ; ‘urrah!” shouted Dane when he caught sight of Tess. "You've got her, have you?” “Looks like it, doesn’t it?” replied Ted. “Where in creation have you been, Tess?” asked Jesse. _ “You’d never guess,” replied Ted. “She’s been a pris- “A prisoner in an . And who was Tug Ralston. almost gaeped Jesse. to say that Ralston is in neighborhood ?” “I do. I knocked him out with the butt end of my re- volver a few minutes ago.” egy pace fe sheernpetr ie tanteinelbetiant “You ‘ate og he A pes seen the snug hiding-place he’s got.” “Do you see that big, thick oak tree yonder?” Jesse nodded. “The trunk is hollow.” “The dickens it is!” “The roots are also hollow. Im fact, a deep hole leads under The sheriff “Do you dently a pat eh x eget It a sor nished -| e, benches and a zen raw touches covered ‘with blankets. It looks like the tls s3 4 ze 3 H time only for Ted Brown. He found me and rescued me from the rascal who had captured me.” _ “Who is the rascal who treated you this way, and where is he? If we catch him we’ll hang him to the nearest tree.” “No, you mustn’t hang him, dad, though he deserves it. You must turn him over to the sheriff. He’s been looking for him for a week. It’s Tug Ralston.” “Tug Ralston!” gritted the old man. “He shall suffer for this outrage. Where is he?” “Ted will show you. He made a prisoner of him. You must thank Ted, dad, for saving me.” The old prospector grabbed Ted by the hands and thanked him with gratitude in his heart. “Now,” he said, “lead us to where this scoundrel is. We'll — with him in mighty short order,” added the old man y- “I will on condition that you promise not to make it a ene bee,” replied Ted. “I can’t be a party to turning that fellow off in such a way, bad as he is.. You must agree to turn him over to the sheriff.” The prospector didn’t want to agree to any such thing. In his younger days he had been used to lynch law for offenses far less serious in his opinion than this attack on his daughter. _. The very idea of that rascal depriving ‘his daughter of her ay even for an hour was beyond pardon in his estima- ion. The other men, more cool-headed and less interested, backed Ted up. They declared that as long as Tug Ralston had not ac- = harmed Tess Cooke, they could not go to extremes With everybody opposed to his summary plan, the pros- pets reluctantly agreed to hand Ralston over to the au- orities. He took Ted up behind him on his horse, and while Tess and Jesse walked on to her home, the mounted party, guided by Ted, proceeded to the hollow tree in the wood. CHAPTER XI. TED STARTS FOR HOME. Less than an hour later the mounted party rode up to the Cooke home. They had Tug Ralston, who had regained his senses, strapped on the back of one of the horses. pr looked like the hard case he was—dirty, unshaven and en. Ted dismounted and rejoined Tess, while the rest of the toda after finishing the contents of the old man’s whisky em for Carson with their prisoner. e young people entertained one another until Pop Cooke returned. Ted and Jesse helped the girl prepare dinner, which was all by the time the prospector got back with a glow of satisfaction on his rugged countenance. During the meal Tess told her story to her father, and then Ted told him how he had discovered the entrance to the secret retreat underground. “It’s a whole lot of satisfaction to me to know that the rascal is under lock and key at last, with the pretty certain al te-og th allie ema etka aime ok. ss: Bee prison,” said Ted. . “I’m so glad,” said Tess. “I was always afraid that he would harm you, Ted.” Wary Sgt: too,” put in Jesse. “I was always nervous about T d Late that night, after the boys had gone home, the sheriff and his posse drew up before the Cooke home and the of- ficer rapped on the door. The was aroused and looked out of the window. i winding up with the statement that he’d find Ralston safe in the calaboose at Carson. “That’s good,” replied ‘the officer. “That ns ee re gee Toe poe Sagede meagan ges deserves thanks of the ti rode away and the prospector went back +o bed. posse ae poring Rolie te rought before the Carson

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THE BOY COPPER MINER. 3 Tess and Ted were on hand to give their evidence. 4 Ralston had nothing to advance in his own defense, so -he was held for trial at the county seat. fo The sheriff lost no time in taking him to the county jail, _ where he was provided with a cell till his day of trial. Before that event came off old man Cooke had thoroughly prospected Ted’s property and told him that the facts war- - ranted his proceeding at once with the formation of a com- ' pany to take over the ground and begin mining operations on an up-to-date principle. So Ted decided to start for home to have a talk with his | mother and set the ball rolling. =F The nearest town on the railroad to Carson was Truxton, _ fifty miles distant, and Ted had to go there on horseback to - ¢atch a train East. “Tess hated to part with him, even for a few weeks, but she realized that she had to do it. “You won’t forget me, will you, Ted?” she said tearfully, _. the night before he was to begin his journey. “You won’t let - any other girl come between us? Promise me.” “Of course I'll promise you,” he said, kissing her. as if any other girl stood the ghost of a show alongside of you.” ‘ ; ; “J should want to die if anything happened to take you away from me,” she said. “Oh, nothing is going to happen to do that,” he an- swered. “You're the only girl 1 ever had, anyway.” : “Am 17” “Yes, you Ps “I’m so glad of that. _ tried to come between us. > self.” ; é __—- “Don’t talk nonsense, Tess. Are you going to be jealous of every girl that looks at me?” S + *No-o; but I want you all myself. Well, you’ve got me all yourself.” ; Fy “Not when you’re away from me—hundreds of miles away.” " “Can't you trust me?” ~ “Yes, of course; but——” “But what?” : : ; “Pm not like other girls. I’ve seen pictures of them in _ the magazines that dad takes. They dress in fine clothes, and they look prettier than me.” : “Don’t you believe that they’re prettier than you. I think -you’re the loveliest girl in all the world. ~ “Do you honestly believe that, = “Bet ot life I do. Just wait till I’m ‘president of my copper mining gorepant, and we’re married one of these Saas Pu get you ¢ ri} Your father says that I’m bound to make a million or more out of the mine in time. A million is a whole lot of money. ' Fhe interest on it alone would give a man a good income. Well, that million will be as much yours as mine. If I be- ‘ou, my money will, too.” : tong dont Bee aathing about your money. I’m satisfied to have ~ “Byen are.” I think I’d shoot any girl that I’d shoot her and then kill my- t= Se By holding on to me Poke get and the fine house, and servants h, dear, 1 don’t know what I should do with servants. for dad myself.” (en don't worry. about the servant problem till you’re ast it. I’m going to write you two or three times et Same Jats eaener at least half my letters.” l answer them all.” _ #39 much tter. I’ll be on the lookout for them.” she, athe <a ride out in the morning to bid her a ood-by, and then he took his leave. ve of absence from the mine to see his chum ae at the mine after his last wie together as far as the town ng from Tess, of Dunkirk, nine “Just | 13 was a good one all the way to Truxton, and was the route taken by the teams carting the copper ore to the railroad. 2 — calculated on reaching Sedgwick, a small town, about ark. He intended to stop there for the night. His animal, however, stepped into a hole and wrenched his foot, and the boy had to lead hima mile, till he came to a brook, where he bathed the limb and gave him a rest. The horse, however, limped a good bit after that; so that pon og to favor him all he could lest he break down alto- gether. The consequence was that darkness caught him many miles west of Sedgwick. Futhermore, the sky had grown overcast and every mo- ment looked more threatening. “This is kind of hard luck,” he said to himself. “Looks as if I’m in for a wetting. I don’t know how far Sedgwick is from here, but I judge that it’s quite a distance. It’s liable to take me three or four hours to reach it at this rate, If I saw a house anywhere in sight, I’d apply for supper and a night’s lodging for myself and beast. A good night’s rest ought to bring the animal around all right. But this seems to be a particularly lonesome stretch. Not a solitary light in sight. Oh, I’m wrong. There’s a light now, but it must be a good half mile away, and a bit off the road. I'll have to make for it. I hope it’s from a farmhouse, though I haven’t seen the sign of a farm for the last three hours. It’s too mountainous about here, I guess, for a farm to be productive.” : Ted pushed on, keeping the light in sight. He was not riding, but leading the horse, as the animal went better that way. The light continued to shine clear and distinct through the night, and Ted found no difficulty in keeping it in view. That it came from some house, whose outlines the boy was not yet able to make out, was almost certain, and Ted welcomed any old shelter with pleasure, for the rain had begun falling in a kind of drizzle which promised to become heavier presently, while the wind was rising and soughing through the many trees in the vicinity. At length Ted came to a half-opened gate leading inte a short lane. He took the liberty of entering it with his horse. The fencing and general aspect of the place, as well as he could make out in the dark, did not impress him with ere. “I don’t believe I'll find much of an accommodation here,” he mused; “but any kind of a roof is better than no shelter at all on such a night as this. It’s going to rain pretty othes that will make your head swim.| hard before a great while, and if I were obliged to push on to Sedgwick I should resemble a drowned rat by the time I got there. Who would have thought when I left Car- son this morning that I should run into such conditions as these? It looked then as if it wasn’t going to rain for a month. However, that wouldn’t have made any difference with me if my horse hadn’t met with that accident. We should both be snugly heused in Sedgwick by this time. Well, a fellow must take things as they come in this world and say nothing.” 5; The light vanished as Ted continued on up the lane, but a dark blot upon the gloomy landscape indicated the posi- tion of the house he had been counting on. ag Sh The lane ended at a tumble-down gate, and pushing this open on its rusty hinges, boy and horse found themselves in a yard overgrown with weeds and other kinds of rank vegetation. Had it been lighter Ted would have seen a weather-beaten two-story building that showed every evidence of neglect and 2 uy comparative poverty. : In the darkness and rain, however, most of its shortcom- i temporarily concealed from the young visitor, — ings were porarily ale % ‘ who was not curiously enough disposed to e with a critical eye. Ted walked up to a door in a single-story addition at the rear, where he saw a light and which was evidently the kitchen, for a stovepipe rose through the roof, and knocked _ loudly. ’ CHAPTER XII. - .. | the worldly importance of the person or persons who lived © Ted?” she asked, nestling | th boss ”: RF bat a - + bide ee ik DR ee VR ae Se

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14 THE BOY COPPER MINER. _ Was unbarred and opened on a chain, and the outlines of a t ee’ —— of middle age, with a lamp in teat appeared e narrow space. “Who are you and what do you want?” she inquired in a tone that iid not speak well for a hospitable reception. a ere tareyceiaeiie bees e rain. I am on | my way to , “Why don’t you go on to Sedgwick, then?” ; “Tm Y fraid it’s too far.” | “It ain’t more’n seven miles by the road.” = “My horse has broken down, and as it’s raining harder oped moment, I’d rather stay here a while if you'll let me. oF Liat <a me a bed and something to eat, with shelter y for my animal, I’ll pay you well.” wiwhet will you a asked the woman, her eyes lighting up “Pat oie fon at the wo: a idler mie you think that’s fair,” replied Ted. “A tere exclaimed the woman. “Yes, a dollar.” “I haven’t any accommodations for strangers in the house,” she answered, after a pause, during which she eyed the boy closely under the gleam of the lamp. “Besides, my hus- band wouldn’t stand for =. bein’ here, nohow. I expect him home any moment, maybe drunk, and he’d break my bones if he caught sight of you. Still, I want that dollar mighty bad. I don’t see money very often, and a dollar would be a windfall to me. If you wouldn’t mind puttin’ up with the hay the loft of the barn—you could put your horse in one of the vacant stalls—and some meat and bread with a jug of milk, and will pay me a dollar for it, you kin stop; but T can’t do no better.” “All right,” replied Ted, who was glad to make any kind of an sore = age! that offered shelter from the inclemency of “The barn will do, all right.” “It ain’t much of a place,” said the woman, in an apolo- “but it'll keep off the wind and rain. You'll of hay for a bed in the loft, and you kin give hoss as much of it as he kin eat. oo a bucket or floor. You ‘kin fill it with water Ss = e yard. Ill let you have a lantern if ta, be careful with it, and fetch it back as soon your hoss. Then you kin give me the dollar, you the food and the jug of milk.” y that = satisfactory, so she got the latin, lit it and handed it to him oul ty the barn yonder,” she said, ts ber hand yea, ms/um, I'll find it.” angie four th the: building easily enough, and it was truly a wondered if it really would keep the rain out. Mied on door was held shut by a leather strap attached to a Bone ea walked in first and pra re around the ground floor. : * ihe wt. ee oe ty er ts 4 roy: ts rh iis ee 7" oot ba He saw two stalls, in one of which was a fodder rack. _A rickety bu stood at one side held together by ropes, Is lea’ ifferent ion. 7 wo BA, ming in a Me a pts hung about, but there was no sign of arious {nec implements, much the worse for use, bye: e flight of stairs he saw in the corner and there that would make a soft 5 . covered oblong box, which might or might » and various odds and ends connected ¢ THEE, as Fira hn A gf as he Beet would satisfy tg, then Jo goer it in th k, gh the animal ito th — me ate gt re - A Ted hanted op the bucket and ‘illed it at the trough. the animal had ate his fill the boy watered abana h lantern. ; milk, and retired to the barn to make asegee but could not fasten it on the in- Sober ane veges | Ee her | the him, and} The rain, whichthad stopped after his conversation with woman, now came down in earnest, while the wind piped up and whistl the es of the barn. “Gee! But I’m glad I’m under cover. It’s a beastly night to be out in. The rain doesn’t seem to come in through ~ the roof, that’s one satisfaction. As for the wind, I don’t | mind that, for the weather is warm. If it was winter, I’d have to burrow under the hay to avoid being frozen. Well, I’ll turn in now, hoping that there may be a change for the better by morning, so that I can go on to Sedgwick.” Ted threw himself upon the pile of hay, and was presently lulled to repose by the wind and rain. A couple of hours passed, and then there was a noise outside. — Two men were crossing the yard toward the barn. Both were of powerful physique, and hard-looking chaps. The one who led the way carried a lantern in his hand, = it was the same lantern Ted had used to attend on his orse. The rain had stopped to some extent, but the flashing light showed that it was still coming down in a heavy drizzle. The men were pretty well soaked, but neither seemed to mind it much. The man with the lantern opened the barn door and walked in, followed ie his companion. As neither glanced in the direction of the stalls, the horse escaped their attention. “Look out that you don’t stumble over that there plow, Zhe," said the man who appeared to be the owner of the’ rn. “T’ll look out, don’t you fear,” replied his companion, none other than Tug Ralston, who had escaped, with a couple of other prisoners, from the coun jail early that morning. “You think this place will be safe for me to lie low in for a while?” “1 will be safe enough for to-night, I guess. In the mornin’ I'll a you to a place in the woods where you'll be. - ht as long as you choose to stay there.” on I struck luck when I met you, Higgins,” said Ralston as he followed the man up the stairs to the loft. “It must be nigh on to two years since we was pals.” “It’s, all of that, Tug, and I’m right glad e. meet. you raYoute doin’ me a good turn, Higgins, and I shan’t for- gi “T never go back on an old friend if I can help it.” The two men were now in the loft, and Higgins flashed his lantern carelessly around. : ony pas revealed to him the outlines of the sleeping boy on the “What in thunder have we here?” he ejaculated with an ‘ imprecation. e stepped guickly over to the spot and turned the lan- tern full upon Ted, who was sleeping with his head buried in the hay. “A boy,” he said. “I wonder if he came in here on his ote hook or whether my missus gave him permission to sleep ere ? “Is she that soft-hearted?” asked Ralston with a sour loo e she isn’t. ang have to rout him “Not to my knowled out or it waphe be safe for you to stay “If you rout him out he’ll see me, anyway.” “Not if you hide yourself while I’m doin’ -i:.” “Where will I hide?” “Get into that corner.” Ralston did so. Then Higgins grabbed Ted by the arm and pulled him a into a sitting posture. r “What are ee doin’ here, young feller?” he asked he boy in a fierce Ted looked os him in sleepy bewilderment. ; “What’s the matter?” he asked. ; “I asked you what brought you here?” demanded Higgins crustily. ‘ “Are you the.man who owns this place?” “Yes, I’m the man who owns this place. You pra no | right here, so just ski on’t you let me aa. till morning?” ape I bach rs won’t nee 2) you inv and pal came out o: bia an Ted stopped as fT saadenly oe or ihc Sle Saar bes i husband. w that she had received a and the of the

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“What’s that? You paid what?” “Nothing,” replied the boy, who would rather lose the benefit of his money than get the woman in trouble. and couldn’t carry me. Then it got dark and came on to} rain. So I put in here to rest the horse and keep dry.” “Where’s your hoss? ‘dag “Downstairs in one of the stalls.” “J didn’t see him. Well, you’d better take him and go. You ean reach Sedgwick in an hour, hossback.” ~~ “T don’t-care what you ‘do as long as you get a move on.” “Til give you half a dollar if you'll let me stay till morn- ENO, you won’t give me nothin’. Just make yourself searce, d’ye understand?” Ted realized that further argument was useless, and he got up from his straw bed. Higgins raised ‘his lantern and flashed it in his face. As the boy’s features were plainly illuminated, Tug Ral- ston uttered an exclamation of surprise and anger. Ted turned and looked in the direction of the sound. Ralston dashed forth from his place of concealment and grabbed the boy by the back of the neck. *“T’ve got you Be have I? Well, I reckon I'll fix you keeps now, blast you!” > fore a a revolver from his pocket, cocked it and pressed it against Ted’s head. Tea AE, Re eS Eee a ses ¥? ane hous ; , a CHAPTER XIII. : HOW HIGGINGS SAVES TED’S LIFE AND THE BOY RETURNS THE Brae FAVOR. Hold on, Tug!” exclaimed Higgins. )“What in thunder are you up to?” He knocked up his companion’s arm just as the rascal ed the trigger. Pelbore was a flash, a stunning report that staggered Ted, and the bullet yent Tag Rasheat por of the barn. “Are you mad, roared Higgins, grabbin, - the revolver and wrenching it trom a ae anion 6 hand. 5 Benet Spersation, dh you try to shoo s boy for?” a ’Cause I ra Eien Mig. pet Ralston vindictively. oe ou hate vif ggins in eaRRPISe, : ' Ein I hate him. pon me bg A to. oe eae him,” - mean to se ou know this bo “ve “a I know him, and rh neyer rest Pi he’s planted,” “What have you got 5 him ?” “That’s my business. had him twice dead to rights, Sais each time he got pile nite shan’t get away now if | have to le him.” - He a with compressed fury and made a grab for Ted. i all however, interfered. ” of he said in a determined voice. “I won't stand - for no murder business on my premises. Do you s’pose 1 a mone ee round iy neck on your account? bie = and get back to your house. if - You needn’t eget: Bild _ after you’re gone,” tell you I won't have We ’ like ’round here,” Higgins ys thru revolver into his pocket. ell, if you don’t like bl ed I can wring his neck as well as not. % Gon ticare how 1 Ax Him 88 Ane 8 it,” said said Ralston sullenly, you let the boy alone.” 35 ht you was a friend of mine,” growled Tug. « ? you a friendly turn in savin’ you from the Sprotty guick if you’ this bo t woul? gu ee te ae the nce ak ga conte, wi The dickens has he done to yon that you're so dea ee 7 +1] "3 git block.” don't care what a ty epion goin’ to settle this boy whether ey or fot." , Skip along, young 3 his opportunity, moved iy do i arg fellow, while you’ve ed tt THE BOY COPPER “I’m afraid the horse won’t bear me, so I’ll have to walk.” MINER. pes) In a moment the two cae grappled. Both were of about equal strength agd ly sique, and they “T was | swayed to and fro about the loft. bound for Sedgwick. My horse sprained one of his forelegs | AS Ted had no interest in their encounter, though he felt | grateful to Higgins for saving his life, he rushed down- stairs, unhitched his horse and led him out into the night. The rain had ceased, but there was no sign thatthe weather was clearing up. As Ted. passed through the barn door he heard a.crash up in the loft, and saw a flash of light through the small, sash- less opening. He hastened to lead his limping animal away, and had got as far as the gate of the lane when, looking back, he saw the loft was on fire. “Well, it’s nothing to me,” he muttered, leading his horse into the lane. “Still, I wouldn’t like to see any harm come to that man who saved me from having my brains blown out. T’ll wait here a few moments.” The words were hardly out of his mouth before he saw one of me men dash out through the door and run towards the woods. “That must be Ralston. The man who owned the place would not run away like that.” He watched to see Higgins appear, but he didn’t, and the fire was increasing fast. “I shouldn’t wonder if Ralston knocked him senseless and then left him behind to burn up. He’s coward and cur enough to do just such a thing. I’m going back ‘to help oe man myself. I owe him a good turn, and will pay it if can.” Ted, after hastily tying his horse toa big spreading tree, ran back to the barn, which was blazing away at a great rate. The smoke was pouring out of the window, which was outlined against the glare. of the flames, and was rising through the interstices of the shingle roof. Very little was coming through the doorway, and through that entrance Ted rushed. It looked like a risky matter to venture up the ladder to the loft, but the boy, feeling that a life was at stake, was not deterred by the danger. He bounded up two steps at a time and thrust his head into the thick minke that filled the upper story. Almost within h lay the unconscious form of the owner of the whi. stretched at full length. Ted stepped up and grabbed him by the head and shaul- ers. ; He was a heavy weight to move, especially under the cir- cumstances. At that moment he heard the screams of the woman of the house, who had just discovered that the barn was on fire. Whether she had any knowledge that her husband had gone to the building with the stranger he had brought with him, or whether she was merely concerned about the safety of the boy she had sent there to sleep, certain it is she ran toward the barn in great excitement. She reached the door just in time to see Ted dra her insensible husband down the stairs as he might a of goods. With a shriek the woman rushed forward to help him. ; As she caught her husband in her sinewy arms the boy staggered against the plow and fell over it. ; Then the floodgates of heaven opened of a sudden and a heavy downpour of rain descended u the landscape. Under this deluge the ite an to and splutter where it had broken through th Through it all the winnie gos her husband to the house and, unmindful of the boy who had really saved him, started to bring him to his senses. This was nat o difientt $0by-and be was soon'Gn his feet, looking out the door at the bara where the fire was making little headway in the pouring rain. The woman purriedly, told him how the boy, to whom now admitted having given permission to stay all night the loft, had pulled him downstairs from the burning but she had not seen him since. “He probably went off in the rain,” she concluded. - “He needn’t have done that now,” wled the man. iss GE te 8 good turn, I’d d have Ick im stay in the Kitchen. polly pee FS e (Se Seeing that while

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a 16 THE BOY COPPER MINER. ' \his horse, he saw the boy getting up from the plow on which he had been lying, knocked out. “Hey!” cried Higgins. “You here yet? Run to the house and ask the old woman to give you a tin pail. I want you to help mé put out the fire.” , ; Ted got the pail and he and Higgins worked vigorously ; for the next fifteen minutes carrying water from the trough up to the loft and throwing it upon the burning hay and\ smoldering wood. . At the end of that time the flames had been entirely subdued. ary — Now that the need of further exertion was over, Higgins . turned to Ted, and said: “My old woman says you. saved my life when I was un-|-’ conscious in the burnin’ loft above. Well, I’m obliged to you. » Tf I can ever do as much for you I'll do it.” “You’ve already done as much for me. from having my brains blown out by Tug.” “That’s so. I forgot about it. In fact, you were the cause of the racket between us, which ended by his laying me out as stiff as a poker. He’s got a fist that has as much power in it as a mule’s hind legs.” - 3 While they were talking the rain eased up again to a smart drizzle, but that made little difference to them, as they were as wet as though they had been in the nearby You saved me river. : Sih A “Where did you leave your hoss?” asked Higgins. ’ “Under a big tree in the lane.” : “You’d better go and bring him back. You can stay in = the house for the rest of the night. The old woman shall ~ make you a shakedown in the kitchen, and build a good fire to dry your clothes and*mine.” . “Pm much obliged to you.” ; : By the way, what is this grudge that *“You’re welcome. Tug had against you?” ; : fed told him about the incident in the mine which had led to Ralston’s animosity. ; ~~ #§o he’s been workin’ in the Lookout mine, has he? I S never knew that before. Well, I didn’t think he was such a tough chap as he seems to be. He and me used to be pals ‘once, about two years ago. Then he disappeared all of a sudden and I didn’t see him again till to-night, when he ‘came into the saloon at the Corners and asked for a drink. He seemed kind of nervous like, and when I went up and him on the shoulder he jumped as though he had been shot, and put his hand to his hip pocket where he car- ried his gun. When he recognized me he called me outside and asked me to hide him up here, as he said he had broken _ jail that mornin’. I-was willin’ to do him a favor for old _ time’s sake, so I fetched him on here. I was goin’ to let him sleep in the loft, not supposin’ it was occupied by some- body else. I would have let you stayed only I°wanted you ~ out on his account. If he hadn’t jumped on you the way he _. did there wouldn’t have been all this trouble, and you’d have been on your way to Sedgwick.” : - Ted brought his horse back to the barn, gave him a rub- ping down, with the help of Higgins, and then accompanied - the man to the house, where a bed was prepared for him * on the kitchen floor, and his clothes with Higgin’s were hung to dry before a roaring fire. CHAPTER XIV, A FIENDISH SCHEME OF RALSTON’S. Ang ; was as best he 4 ar 32 thet time breakfast was ready, and he was invited by ; to sit down and eat with them, which he was glad on the meal was concluded he announeed his intention P mcnidiad fo baiseoume, 3 He had covered perhaps one mile when a man jumped out from the cover of some bushes and confronted him. Ted had no difficulty in recognizing him as Tug Ralston. The fellow grabbed the bridle of his horse and then seized the boy by the arm. “I s’pose you thought you wouldn’t see me again,” said Ralston grimly; “but I ain’t so easily shook off. I’m sorry that I ain’t got no weapon with me, but I reckon I can fix, you without one.” Ted was unarmed, having left his revolver with Jesse. He had not the slightest idea of meeting Ralston when he left Carson, as he supposed the rascal was securely housed in the county jail. Therefore he was placed at a great disadvantage in the presence of the husky scoundrel. Ralston yanked him off his saddle, and held him while he bound his wrists behind his back. ma “Now walk ahead of me or I’ll smash your head in with a stone.” Ted, much against his inclination, felt obliged to comply with the fellow’s orders. “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t let up on a fellow after all the trouble you’ve given me,” he said. “Tll never let up on you till I’ve finished you,” replied Ralston savagely. : Tug, leading the horse by, the bridle, marched the boy ahead of him, up a path away from the road and into the mountains. 5 The rascal had nothing to say, and Ted was in no mood for conversation. It was a fine sunshiny morning after the rain, and nature seemed to be in a chipper mood, as far as she could be in such a desolate region. 3 Ted wondered where his enemy was taking him, but he knew that it was useless for him to question the man on the subject. After a walk that lasted perhaps an hour, they came to a swift mountain stream. The banks were rocky and without verdure of any kind. Here Ralston ‘stopped and tied the horse to a nearby tree. “Sit down!” he roared at Ted. 5 The boy did so, for he judged the order would have been followed by a blow from the rascal’s sledge-hammer fist had he refused to obey. Tug paid no further attention to him, but went nosing around among the boulders as if in search of something. Whatever it was the rascal was after, he did not find it, and he looked disappointed. © : Finally he took out his pipe, filled it with tobacco, lit it ~ began to smoke, regarding the boy with a malignant ~ 00 ; “I s’pose you’re achin’ to know what I’m goin’ to do with — you,” he said at length, ~ : “I can imagine that it isn’t anything good,” replied Ted wearily. “You'll find out by and by, when the sun gets a bit hot- — se snarled Ralston with an, expression of sinister satis- — action. : “Look here, Ralston, can’t I buy you off for a good sum of money?” asked the boy after a pause. “I'll also agree not to appear against you jn court.” : j “Tl guarantee you won’t appear against me in court, if — I ever get there, whether it suits P he or not,” he replied — significantly. “As to buyin’ me off, you ain’t got money “i % to do that. a; “T’ll have plenty of money in a short time if you let me * go.” : if “Where are you goin’ to get it?” eee “Out of the copper mine on my property.” a2 “On your property?” sneered mn. : Z “Yes. That is my property where you came across Jesse — Dane and me that Sunday you first tried to shoot me.” eS “Your property, eh? Did you think you can stuff me with such a story as that?” : ; is “Y'm telling you the truth,” replied Ted earnest! : eer, es y. “If that’s your property, and there’s a co mine why Ware: 700. WOU. Ske 8: amar reet rest of the Lookout? Answer me m “JT didn’t know that there was co. on my | the Lookout to get a recently. knowl ot

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THE BOY COPPER MINER. 17 I eet a8 ee i, Bee eee eee “And you expect me to believe that tommyrot?” jeered the rascal. “I haven’t any reason for telling you what isn’t so.” _ “Yes, you have. You want to try and hoodwink me into lettin’ you off. But it won’t work, not for a red cent,” and the ruffian laughed sardonically. “That isn’t so. I want to convince you that I’m worth a lot of money, and that I’m able letting up on me.” “How much do you want to pay me?” “T'll give you the first $1,000 I’ll get hold of.” . “If I knew you had the money in good coin or notes at this moment I might talk business, but as you haven’t I’m not goin’ to e any chances.” “You won’t be taking any chances. I’ll give you my word that I'll pay you inside of six months.” “Your word ain’t worth nothin’ to me. any lie in order to give me the slip.” “If you take my life it won’t benefit you the least bit,” Ted in desperate earnestness; “but you could get a whole lot of satisfaction out of $10,000.” “I know I could if I had it; but as I haven’t, I’ll take a whole Jot of satisfaction out of doin’ you up.” “And you want to kill me just because I gave you one smack in the eye down in the mine that evening.” “I don’t allow nobody to get the best of me if I can help it. It wasn’t the blow you gave me alone. You made me — out of the cage, and I came within an ace of passin’ my “That was your own sae f “That’s a lie! It was yours,” replied Ralston savagely. “Well, even if\ it was, you wasn’t hurt much. You were around Carson drinking that night.” “That's because I was lucky. I swore then I’d have your life, and I’m goin’ to have it, so you might as well close your trap. All you can say won’t alter my intentions a bit.” Ted looked at his relentless face and felt discouraged. The rascal had brought him there to kill him and could not be turned from his purpose. Just why he was delaying the commission of his crime Ted could not understand, but he wasn’t kept long in ignor- ance. to pay you a good price for You’d swear to Ralston could have knocked his brains out with a storie and pitched his body in the stream, but he made no such pt. He had hit on a more malignant mode of accomplishing his object—a mode that could have occurred only to such a Ralston cut off part of the hitching-rope attached to the With this he now proceeded to bind Ted’s ankles together. Then he pushed the boy back on the flat stone just above the water on which he had been seated. “Lie there,” ue a? with ae ail = ee kane y y. en you’ll understand how you’ve go “We i shan’t have to spill your blood this time. In fact, there won’t be no blood 1 ” at all. these rocks will take the job off my “What do you mean?” asked Ted, not understanding what was in store for him. £ t do I mean?” replied Ralston with a fiendish grin. that I can count five rattlers comin’ out of their oment. y’ve ny fet fi s Hf : h 2 7. Z was It The Snags his The warning rattle of one of the snakes sounded sharp and distinct above the swishing waters of the stream. The rascal threw more stones at them. Whir-r-r! Whir-r-r! The rattlers were throwing off their torpidity. They began coiling up, ready to dart their heads, or even their entire sinuous folds, at the enemy they scented some- where about. Tug laughed discordantly as he noticed the effect he had produced among them. “They will soon have you, Ted Brown,” he gritted. “Lie still there! Don’t you dare get up or I'll make a target of your head, too.” Whir-r-r! One of the snakes sprang his rattle seemingly so close to Ted that the lad, with a cry of fear, turned over to roll as far away as possible. The snake was not quite within striking distance of the spot where the boy lay, but it saw him move and rapidly uncoiled to glide nearer. “Stop!” roared Ralston, springing forward, for he saw that another move would precipitate Ted into the stream and rob him of the special entertainment he had counted on. As the boy made the move in his terror of the rattlesnake, bay reached for and grabbed him just as he was falling. 5 phe may himself he grasped the edge of the rock nearest e § ., IN a moment the snake stopped, coiled itself and arched its glittering head. Its keen, beady eyes were centered on Ralston’s hand. “You thought to escape the snakes, did you?” gritted the man. “Rather drown, eh? Well, I don’t blame you, but I was to quick for you that time. Come back here and take your medicine. I wouldn’t miss seein’ you squirm among them snakes for a mint. What a circus it wi ~ The sentence ended in a hoarse cry. Just as he pulled Ted back on the stone he raised his fingers from the rock. That movement was what the rattler had been waiting for. With the quickness of light its head shot forward and its nas of were buried deep in Ralston’s hand. es eyes ed and turned around with the cry on ps. He saw the rattler and realized that he had fallen into the pit he had dug for the boy. His face went ashen white with terror and despair. Another rattler was close upon him, too. While he was engaged with Ted they had singled him out as their enemy and came toward him. The whir-r-r sounded and the fangs of the second snake were buried in the fleshy part of his thigh. is un scream startled Ted into a sitting posure. The exertion of the act loosened the cord that bound his wrists so much that one of his hands came out and both were then free. The proximity of four of the rattlers caused Ted to get is j e out of his pocket in a twinkling and cut the rope that bound his ankles. Then he sprang on the rock and looked around to see how he could best evade the: snakes. Their attention was all turned on Ralston, who had fal- quite dead, his heart paralyzed ee te i that had been injected into te he had such that T lived. recovered his faculties he made haste so many attempts to kill him was the mountain vultures ed for his victim, never forgot that

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18 THE BOY COPPER MINER. It took him two hours to reach it, and another hour to cover the distance to the town. As soon as he got there he inquired for the deputy sheriff. He learned that he was away with a small posse trying to round Tug Ralston up ag the boy told te constable how Ralston had met his ea! The news/ was immediately telegraphed to Truxton, the county-seat. Ted registered at a hotel for dinner, and after the meal started for Truxton at a smart gait. He arrived there too late to. connect with the afternoon train, so he put up at the nearest hotel to the railroad sta- tion, and put in his time that evening wares = long letter to Tess Cooke, in which he detailed all his lling experi- ences since leaving Carson. Next morning he took the east-bound train, and in due time arrived at Petersville and was welcomed with open arms by his happy mother. At her suggestion they both called on Judge Harper, a retired lawyer living in the village, who was a sort of i of the family, and Ted laid the project of forming a com- pany to mine the copper before him. Ted showed him the specimens, and the written report of old man Cooke, The evidenee produced by the boy was sufficient to cause him to take a lively interest in the matter. He communicated with an expert mining man in Trux- ton, requesting him to go, to the Brown property, and to call on Mr, Cooke for full details. e t was a report so perfectly satisfactory that Judge Harper no longer had any doubts as to the advisability of helping-Ted form a company for getting the ore on the |- market. The Brown property was turned over to the company, and Ted was elected president. CHAPTER XVI. TESS COOKE SHOWS THE STUFF SHE’S MADE OF. “Say, Ted,” said Jesse one morning. walking into the office Ue the Montana mine in one of bui s on the mom “matters have come to a focus at last at the Look- “What do you mean?” asked the young president of the Montana Com aie on at the Lookout.” ejaculated L Lagge “There's a oie Vor Linker ease onl bliarter 's You kn “Yes. ‘or ours, f) ow Sil tietsis ats home ca, Oe hoeked tow’ maton trae” A 0 mg ger had waited on the superintendents of both withe jniug companies were not im favor of granting the pig conspapien ‘wane, 20t te avor of eran the eir workers, and thro cae of Fs their superin' had given them to understand that A secret meeting had hoses held by the committee working in the men’s soiabony os preceding S "pny ome coche daarare dade ‘The spokesman delivered the ultimatum, giving As soon as the girl entered the office Jesse said he had some business outside to attend to. Fifteen minutes later he came rushing back in a state of great excitement. _ “Ted,” he cried, “a committee of Lookout strikers is out~ side. They have been down in, the mine and about a third of our men have been induced to quit work.” “That so?” replied Ted. “That isn’t a square deal. I must look into this.” A crowd of demonstrative men was gathered near the mouth of the main shaft. “What’s the meaning of this?” demanded Ted, walking up to the men. “It means that we’ve quit until your company gives us what we want—more pay and less hours,” replied a big chap in sulky defiance, “Your committee said nothing to me whatever.” “Oh, you’re only a boy. You don’t count,” replied the fellow sneeringly. “JT guess you’ll find that I count some,” replied Ted reso- lutely. “I order you all to go back to work and then submit the matter to Mr. Cooke when he gets back from Truxton.” “D’ ye hear that, fellers?” roared the man. goin’ to put up with his sass?” “No, no!” eried the others angrily, surrounding the boy. “Tumble him into the cage and send him down into the mine.” “We'll do better than that,” shouted the ringleader. “We'll give him a free ride to the river in this here car. Seize him, some of you. Hand me that rope yonder and we'll tie him in so that he can’t get out.” In spite of his resistance Ted Brown was lifted into the car and tied there. The steel ore car in which the boy was speedily secured by the wrists to each end of the rope passed down under the center of the vehicle, ran on rails that reached from the mouth of the shaft down a long, though not very steep incline, to a small dock on the creek, or river, as some called it. As the car emerged from the crowd with its living burden, Jesse ar sprang forward to his chum’s aid. As he laid his arm,;on the steel car to stay its progress he was seized by a couple of the miners and hurled back — yards. however, had another defender—one who was i ‘to give her life if to save him, but not “Are we “en -she had made things exceedingly any for the crowd about the car. That defender was Tess Cooke. Bounding forward like a fawn, she placed herself, drawn revolver in hand, right before the moving car. “Stop!” she cried imperiously. “Stop that car or I'll shoot, = . A Bose one of you out of six you can tie me in the_ vith an imprecation the leader started forward, put both hands on the car, and was about to give it a pow erful shove that would have sent it against the girl and thence over the brink on to the incline, when Tess fired. The fellow uttered a terrible cry, put his hand to his ehest and swung half around, of the company at dro. like: a stone. i Then the committee called at the Montana mine, tpeek. “ll oe cried Tess, darting up to the oi ify Ted met the delegation. menacing the crowd with her smoking weapon, “Back, I - Whe spokesman for old man Cooke and was told} gay!” __ that the superintendent had gone to Truxton and would| ‘The mob of miners stampeded in a momen not be back for days. Jesse, knife in hand, sprang into the car and cut Ted loose. The men decided to wait till Coo ae hope ra mdidn’t kill Gleason, Tess,” said Ted as he ‘ On the morning this chapter opens, the forty- ever the unconscious ringleader. eight hours allowed the people exp and the bene I didn’t shoot to kill, but to give those men a lesson.” RX. ttee called on the su of the mine for} Gleason was dangerously, but not fatally hurt,-and he their answer. recovered in time, but he never saw Tess Cooke after that, The su tendent told the men the dent of boy be kept hor. at @ distance, Z ad company being away at New Y: could be ccompanied b ess and 2 Jesse, Ted tackled the miners ts e un Visto te _ This answer was not eonsidered satisfactory ang got them to they A. ba veig to work again. Wes. . The ——. was pear gegerl given to strike, and every! The strike went on. * the gH and a company of worker in mine once. State militia was sen protect company’s a ge Braet gpeme. Dane was ey the beat nme yo Poseetatengent Evontuall a pasnprvating was agreed on similar to the - “Then we may for trouble here,” said the young ai Hed married Tess Cooke, took up his resi = aM: I come in?” she po ya va ra ext week’s issuevwill contain “TIPS OFF sci on, THE BOY WHO STARTLED WALL ST.

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 19 CURRENT NEWS __ The Navy Department announces that the total _ enlisted strength of the Navy on March 23, 1917, was 61,089 men; gained in March, 2,058; gained Since act of last year’s authorized increase, 6,873. : This Ancrease is due to the “standardization of re- cruiting methods, especially the system of district- 7 , ny country.” The shortage of officers is placed One-half of Vida, Ala., has gone to war and two- thirds of the remainder is preparing to enlist. Vida isa peaceful little town near Montgomery. A re- . cruiting officer ‘of the regular army arrived and found thirteen young men of military age. Six join- ed and came to Montgomery with the recruiting ‘Officer, leaving behind four others who promised to join them when their private affairs could be ar- ranged. e Willifred A. Wetherbee, State agent, who codified | the flag laws of Massachusetts, made public on Mar. - 15 in Boston a recommendation that worn-out Amer- ican flags, whether publicly or privately owned, be burned, with due reverence and some ceremony. He said that Federal and State laws forbidding mis- use of the flag, made no provision for its disposal when frayed, but that navy and coast guard regu- lations decreed its burning. In the belief that Herbert Reeves, former counsel of the Model Building and Loan Association, will _ repay a substantial amount of the money he stole - from the association stockholders have appointed a ~ committee of nine to deal with him and his counsel. Reeves, who pleaded guilty to grand larceny, is in _ jailin Brooklyn, N. Y. Theassociation was wrecked _ by the losses he caused. District Attorney Martin of The Bronx heads the committee. Several indict- - ments against Reeves and John S. Hanson, presi- - dent of the association, have been returned in that county. The losses ‘amount to $96,000, and Reeves has asked for'two months to make the amount good. ~ Carnegie Institution has been making studies on the Ipceeakion: phenomena of the Salton Sea continuous- ly since 1906. About_half ‘of the original depth of $4 feet has now been lost by the excess of evapora- and seepage over inflow and underflow, while yearly rate of fall has been reduced from over hes to less than 40. During the winter, of , the loss was less than the amount received ins and the overflow or irrigation systems, the lake instead of steadily falling has now The Department of Botanical’ Research of the vid e o three or four cubie miles, and its The original volume of water eu. duction by about one-half has been accompanied by a concentration of dissolved salts from about 0.33 per cent. to 1.6 per cent. It is a badge of patriotism in Hungary nowadays’ to weat a coat with the side pocket on the right hand side, revealing that the garment has been turned so as to make it presentable, thus saving the labor and expense of a new suit. In fashionable restaurants and hotels one sees many prominent people thus attired. Nobody, not even a war mil- lionaire, can afford many new suits nowadays, and the tailors are reluctant to make clothes even at their own price, which is now about $50, cash in advance, for a suit which would have cost about $20 in peace time. The tailor generally tries to dis- suade a would-be customer from ordering a new suit, at the same time offering to turn his old suit and make it look like new for $10 or $15. The Du Pont Powder Company issued the follow- ing statement regarding the ability to supply mili- tary powder to the government from its Wilmington, Del., offices on March 25: “The Du Pont Company is in a position to meet any demands that the gov- ernment may make for military explosives. Its capacity is such that it believes it can take care of both of its present foreign contracts and any United States government requirements. It is now installing at its various plants, and will have ready _ for operation about May 1, additional capacity of 95,000 pounds of smokeless powder a day. The dif- ference between the capacity needed to meet foreign contract requirements and the full capacity will probably satisfy the government; in any event the home needs will be given every consideration.” The President on April 24 signed the War Bond ~ bill authorizing the sale of $5,000,000,000 in Gov- ernment bonds and $2,000,000,000 in treasury cer- _ tificates, the larger sum intended as financial aid to the allies of the United States in the war against _ the Central Powers. Treasury certificates to the — value of $200,000,000-were offered for subscription _ at three per cent. on April 21, and were oversub- a scribed by nearly the same amount within twenty- _ 7 four hours. An additional $50,000,000 was author. _ 2 x a eee

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20 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. OUT FOR EVERYTHING THE BOY WHO TOOK CHANCES By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY.) CHAPTER III (Continued). “Thank heaven!” muttered the man, standing up. “Find out what’s wrong if you can.’ Down on his knees went Chug, inwardly praying that the job would not be beyond him. “Acting as your own chauffeur?” asked Ned, while his chum investigated. “Yes, for to-day,” answered the owner, a pleas- ant-looking, middle-aged man. . “I have had three drivers in a month. They are a rascally crew. Two of them stole and the last man drank.” ot “That’s because you didn’t have a genius at the work like my friend,” nodded Ned. “What’s that?” wondered Chug, cocking up his ears. . “Your friend a chauffeur?” asked the owner. “One of the best in the land!” Ned declared, en- ee Seamaescally.. “Licensed!” sniffed Ned. “He wouldn’t bother 2 with a license. That’s for amateurs ‘who aren’t ‘sure of themselves.” “Could your friend be induced to change?” asked > the owner. Be: “He isn’t doing anything in that line just now,’ - Ned went on. “He meant to take a week's rest Cia then take up with some new employer.” _ « “Why, you young men don’t either of you look to be over seventeen,” broke in the owner’s wife, pleasantly. “We are, though, both of us,” Ned replied, lifting his hat. Which was the truth, sines both had passed their pepeereett birthday. all that was out of order,” said Chug, , rather red-faced, for Ned had been laying it Feats: “Now the machine will run all right, s Shall I run it down the road a little way or you, sir?” “Tf you will,” assented the owner, quickly. “Both bic of you climb in in front.” > Soi ae Peesidlar gts g He was in his ele- : Egg ke ergs him that this was a Though not by any means a chauf- fog kilew enough re be able to start, i steer the machine. 1 a loud and creamer Aentahenk — ‘chance to take!” The big car ran along perfectly. “Want speed, sir?” Bailey called back. ; “Quite a little,” the owner replied. On that little-traveled road Chug let her out for thirty miles an hour. It was glorious sport. . They ran through a village, Chug slowing the car down nicely until they had left the village behind. Then again he let out the speed. And now at thirty-five miles an hour they raced along, Chug thrilling with the mastery of the huge, magnificent machine. And then things happened with a startling sud- denness. Rounding a bend, they came close to a railroad track. - The noise of their own machinery had drowned out the rattle of an express train that was whizzing down to the crossing at a rate of a mile a minute. It seemed certain that express and auto must meet at the very crossing. Chug tried valiantly and like lightning to obey. “Reverse!” shouted the owner. . But like.a flash Ned Warren leaned over, struck Ned’s wrist sharply, then crowded the speed lever forward. Whiz-z! They struck the track, with the huge locomotive fairly at their elbows. ~ It seemed like an eternity, that fraction of a second, sae Then they were past the track, whirling down the road. But the locomotive had passed within six feet — of the rear of the car. iS “Gracious!” shouted the owner. “Why on ensiie didn’t you reverse?” “Tried to,” Chug called back, “but my sr was smarter and crowded on speed.” “Why did you do that?” gasped the owner. 5 “My motto,” replied Ned, turning and looking < back, “is always to take chances. If we had re- versed, we couldn’t have stopped. Either the engine would have struck us, or we’d have crashed date. the train. ” 1 . “IT guess you’ re sok admitted an owner, voice trembling. “But whew! It was fe

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° FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. CHAPTER IV. JUMPING INTO TROUBLE. “T’ve seen enough of you young men to know that you’re a remarkable pair.” So declared the auto’s owner, Mr. John Craddock. The ride had terminated at the Craddock home, a handsome country mansion in the middle of some thirty acres of grounds. Mrs. Craddock had fainted at the moment of erossing the track in front of the locomotive, but she had been revived without much trouble. Their home was some ten miles beyond the scene of what had come so close to being a fatal accident. ' “Would you like a trial as chauffeur?” Mr. Crad- _ dock went on, looking at Chug. _ Would he? There wasn’t anything else on earth _ that Bailey wanted half as much. “The pay is thirty dollars a week and keep,” went on Mr. Craddock. Thirty dollars a week! Chug knew that men _ who drove good cars got that much, but the figure - almost made his head swim just the same. “Why, I think I'll try it, sir,” Chug answered - coolly. “Then take the car around to the garage at the - rear of the house;” ordered Mr. Craddock. “Your _ friend will stop here with you to-night, I hope. Your room will be comfortable for two.” “Thank you, sir,” Ned acknowledged. “Say!” quivered Chug, as he drove the machine _ slowly around behind the house. “Isn’t this great? _ But how about you? We would have to part, Ned, if I took this job.” _ “We'd have to, anyway, wherever you got a job. - Take it, Chug, until something better turns up.” “Well, I’ll think it over,” replied Chug. “I can change my mind in the morning if I want to.” _A man came to open the garage for them. Chug 4 ran the machine in, took care of it, and then the man took them to the house. i ‘Mrs. Craddock was waiting to see them. ~ “My housekeeper tells me that the chauffeur’s room needs cleaning before it’s fit for you to go - into,” announced Mrs. Craddock. “So for to-night. "shall have a room in the main house. James vi show you up now. Your meals will be sent * o the room.” Which was a polite way of showing the young- y s that they were not to be treated as guests. ete gl will not usually eat at the servants’ ; neither is he invited to the owner’s table. So ) uf ‘eur’s meals are usually sent to his own room. st you think that I am foolish in + 21 | they had been assigned, proved to be all that could be wanted. “People know how to live here,’ commented Chug, as he and Ned ate. “Say, this is a little dif- ferent from our cooking, ain’t it? And thirty a week as a chauffeur—for me! Think of it!” “Keep cool,” urged Ned. “You ought to be look- ing for something better by the time you’ve learned enough to really know an automobile.” “But what are you going to do, Ned? I feel like a sneak to fall into a job and leave you in the cold.” “Don’t worry about me,” retorted our hero, blithely. “I shall hustle into something, and it’ll have to be something good for me to take-it.” Their long tramp pup “rash had tired them. Both boys were ready for at an early hour. Nor were they long in dropping asleep in the big, soft bed in that elegant guest-room. But Ned awoke with ‘a start some time in the night. He had a sense that something was wrong before he opened: his eyes. And surely enough there was. In the very little light that the stars sent into the room he saw a masked man at Chug’s side of the bed. Almost instantly the fellow turned and stole noiselessly to the window. Bending out, he made some kind of a gesture with one hand, then turned and stole back into the hallway. “Gracious! What does that mean?” palpitated startled Ned. “But get a grip on yourself, boy! Take a chance on finding out what it means.” Though his legs trembled under him, Ned slipped out of the bed, making softly toward the window. As he passed a chair on which his trousers lay Warren stopped to pull them on. Then, barefooted, and with nothing on above the waist but his undershirt, Ned gained the opgn window. } He glanced down, then shook. For beside one of the dining-room windows, right underneath, he saw clearly two masked men stand- ing. While one was looking cautiously around the grounds, the other stood looking in at the window. ~ Bach had a revolver in his right hand. “Burglars!” quivered Ned. As Ned peered, he saw a heavily-loaded sack i passed out through the open window. “The family plate!” muttered Warren. Then he heard a whisper from inside the dining- room. “What’s that?” whispered one of —s in front of the window. * In the awful stillness of the night Ned could hear the answering whisper: “The plate’s good enough plunder——” “T should say it was!” “But I got into the missus’s room——” {To be continued.)

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FAME AND FOR HIGHEST DWELLING HOUSE IN THE WORLD. “The loftiest habitation in the world is in Peru,” writes Isaiah Bowman in The Andes of Southern Peru, published by the American Geographical Society. “Between Antabamba and Cotahuasi occur the highest passes in the Maritime Cordillera. We - . erossed at 17,400 feet and 300 feet lower is the last outpost of the Indian shepherds. The snowline, very steeply canted away from the sun, is between 17,700 and 17,600 feet. At frequent intervals dur- ing the three months of wihter snowfalls during fhe night and terrific hailstorms in the late afternoon drive both shepherds and flocks to the shelter of lee- ward slopes or steep canyon walls. .At our six camps, between 16,000 and 17,200 feet in September 1911, the minimum temperature ranged from 4 degrees to 20 degrees F. “The thatched stone hut that we passed at 17,100 feet and that enjoys the distinction of being the _ highest in the world was in other respects the same as the thousands of others in the same region. It sheltered a family of five. As we passed three rosy- cheeked children almost as fat as the sheep about them were sitting on the ground in a corner of the corral playing with balls of wool. Hundreds of alpacas and sheep grazed on the hill slopes and valley floor, and theit tracks showed plainly that they were frequently driven up to the snowline in those valleys where a trickle of water supported a band of pasture. Less than a hundred feet below them were other flocks and huts. SEARCHLIGHTS GUIDE PLOWS. - _ Tractors on Long Island farms are now equipped _ with searchlights and the plowing carried on long into the dark hours. General Director A. A. John- son, of the Food Reserve Battalion says: “We are going to get all this good land\in condi- _ tion for planting if we have to ‘send a man ahead of the tractors with a lantern at night. This plow- ing is not being done by horses that must rest at night, and we intend therefore, to make each tractor do the work of two by working at night.” _ But lanterns will not have to be resorted to. The tractors will be equipped with acetylene tanks and automobile lamps. Young men now studying agri- culture here—city boys for the most part—are being _ rapidly instructed as tractor operators so that no ‘unexpegged shortage in labor will hinder this branch f the battalion’s work. Rani Island ion would rather have! a0 . ats - ITEMS OF INTEREST mg otgonme TUNE WEEKLY some .private individual assume this task, but if none is willing the machinery of the battalion will operate the farm, from plowing to harvesting time. E. D. Morgan, of Wheatley Hills intends to put 100 acres of virgin soil under cultivation, planting it with potatoes. That means about 15,000 bushels in the fall that would not otherwise have been dug. A MONSTER ALASKAN VOLCANO. Katmai, the tremendous volcano on Shelikoff Strait in Alaska, has at once gained new fame for itself and upset the general rule among volcanoes. | An investigator for the American Geographic Society, who has succeeded in reaching the crater, pronounces the vent of the fire mountain one of the largest in the world. Katmai was already famous for one of the great- est and most violent eruptions of historic times, the explosive outburst of June, 1912, which buried the country for 250 miles around under several feet of debris, absolutely shut out the sun from a great part of Alaska for the whole summer, and sent such an enormous quantity of fine ash high into the at- mosphere that some of it settled in Northern Africa. ; Now, the scientist, Robert F. Griggs, who has just reachéd Radiak from the first visit to the mountains, says that the resulting crater is miles across and thousands of feet deep, with a sputtering lake at the bottom. These two facts in conjunction are wholly unusual in modern volcanic history, according’ to the San Francisco Chronicle. All the other known violent voleanoes have small craters. Concentration has been supposed to have accounted for much of the - oe” ‘violence of their outbursts. Mount Pelee had a = erater only 2,500 feet in diameter; the Soufriere of St. Vincent and Vesuvius have small craters. That of Krakatoa on the Sunda Straits, which had in 1883 the only other recent eruption comparable in mag- nitude to that of Katmai, was only a moderate crater. | The great craters, like those of the Hawaiian vol- canoes, are ordinarily only simmering cauldrons. The largest of them all, Haleakla, on the Island of — Maui, with a bowl twenty miles in circumference, _ has never, so far as is known, shown symptoms violence. 4 So Katmai seems to have the unique distinction _ of the most violent and at the same time one of the _ largest craters in the world. Unfortunately, the re- port of Greggs’ investigation does not tell just how the crater is. But we do know that no other crater can be described as “thousands of feet deep.” \_ So the sight of the vent of Katmai, “miles acr and thousands of’ feet deep, with a blue-gree simmering and sputtering on the floor,” must be of the most stupendous spectacles of the world. . os <a, te | n ert 5 cyt se fp a oo \ coe tS Lae A tg :

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. BEN AND THE BANKER’S SON ‘THE TROUBLES OF A RICH BOY’S DOUBLE By ED KING. 23 (A SERIAL STORY) ‘ es CHAPTER VII (continued) “Tt may be so.” _ “Your wound is now healed. I saw it last night while you slept. It is a very fair imitation of the _ birthmark.” _. “That’s all right; but there is another objection Which you don’t seem to take any account of.” _ “There you make a big mistake. I take account _ Of every objection. To what do you refer?” _ “Where is my memory of the past?” ¢ “Pshaw, my dear boy! The easiest of all things to get around. I saw your father-to-be only yester- day. I explained to him that my system of cure had been such that your memory of the past was _ practically obliterated, and I charged him above all _ things to permit no attempt to be made to revive it, otherwise you were certain to return to your Ha mer erratic ways.” Ben was silent. \ ; _ “This man thinks of everything,” he said to him- a er just wait till I see the banker. He shall ) palit? ’ “And so you see,” continued Doctor O’Grady, “you ve nothing to worry about on that score. You 1 nize your father and your sister. You will well to show them affection, but beyond that you need not go. If any attempt is made to question _you as to the past complain of a violent pain in the back of the head, and they will let you alone,” “You are in dead earnest now?” - “Sure I am; but where do you expect to come jn this?” — told you before. I shall render a bill of $5,000, shall collect it, too. Then when your respected -croaks I expect from you two millions. There be no crowding. I shall give you time to turn f, but I want the dough when the time comes, you play me false look out for trouble; it will - “Gog _ “What do you know?” -Is he actually my uncle?” ‘speak of My. Benjamin Leslie as my uncle,” Thave gone to both trouble a brother Thomas, who was cast off by your grand- father for marrying an actress named Pearl Pod- more.” “Good heavens, doctor, that was my mother’s maiden name.” “Exactly. You do not remember her?” “No.” “And no wonder. She only lived with your father three years. When you were two years old she deserted him and went back on.the stage. He then settled in Fuddebackville, Pa., and opened a coun- try store. Later he took to farming. Failure seem- ed to follow him, and he died in poverty about a year ago.” “It is all true. Is my mother then alive?” “T even went to the trouble of finding that out. She is not. She died in San Francisco several years ago.” Ben was silent a long time now, and Doctor O’Grady let him think. \ : ‘ “Why not?” he kept ‘saying to himself. “7.4 am really the banker’s nephew, why should I not be a son to him, in place of this beautiful cousin of mine, who has made so much trouble? He doesn’t __ avant the job, and he don’t seem to know the value of money. Why shouldn’t I jump into his shoes?” “T think I can about read your thoughts,” said — “You are more than ever determined — the doctor. to push this thing now.” | “I am if what you say is true.” “T tell you it is true. I have even been to Fudde- . | backville and looked you up. Qh, there is no doubt whatever that you are the nephew of old Leslie. He got your father’s share of your grandfather's estate. Your father was too proud to do anything about it. By rights a big share of these millions ” . so himself. : “How much further is it?” he mao 8 : “We are just leaving Hastings,” was the reply. The Leslie house is on the heights back of Tarry- “I can’t see why y: deuce, when I to ene Sie re ar a p ots * helong to you. . 5 And ahout-this time Ben was beginning to think

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24 “Perhaps I made a mistake, but I was taking no chances of a scene. Here, I’ll fix you all right.” The doctor opened a medicine case which he took from his pocket, and producing a small vial ex- tracted a pill. “You needn’t be afraid of it,” he said, as Ben drew back. “What is it?” “A hair of the dog that bit you—morphine. me “Was that what I had before?” “Sure. I put it in your meat.” “Tm not going to take any more then.” “Now, kindly allow me to know something about medicine. If you will take that pill you will be all tight before we get to Rio Vista, as your uncle’s tountry seat is called; if not, I put it back in the dottle, and you can go on féeling like the deuce.” Ben took the pill. In a few moments he felt like another boy. _ Now, as is well known, the use of morphine dulls the conscience. a The professional morphine fiend simply has none. Thee to will lie and steal without the slightest compunc- tion. : _. There is no doubt that Doctor O’Grady had a oS A double motive in drugging Ben. Now, with this second dose in him, it seemed to _ the boy that there was only one thing to do, and = 2 ent was to go straight ahead on the lines his ei » tempter had laid down for him. During the rest of the ride they continued to . chan details, and to lay plans. _ The doctor suggested that Ben have very little to say at first, but as the days went on he should ually resume his natural manner. om - “T have heard from your former friends in Fud- “debackville, how generally popular you were,” he said. “You can make yourself beloved by your father and sister here beyond a doubt. If you work your cards right in a week’s time you will be so es Fomty installed that it will be impossible for your cousin to dislodge you even if he was to try.” 5 “Honestly, where do you suppose he is, doctor? ‘ The doctor shrugged his shoulders. ‘He may have been drowned,” he said. “You w he dove into the East River from the top of ay wall. I think I told you that. We heard that a answering his description came out of the water | his clothes on near Hallet’s Cove, and was B€ Soca Ny Capt git i This story may ave been false. At all events, if he is alive you I Be aig his being “somewhere in the Tender- the gang of crooks he travels with.” | sr 1 have k a writing a eon FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Wiis: as she led the way into the hall. but 1 hardly think likely. If it) the head of the table, after showing Ben a aN sc how bic ire eins you look, bi out, Ben saw that it burned before a pretty little building covered with ivy. “This is the lodge,” said the doctor. “Here we go. Brace up now, Ben. I am depending upon you. For your own sake as well as mine there must be no slip.” The carriage turned in at a gateway, and went rolling along a smooth, level road, lined with trees and shrubbery. In a few moments it brought up before a large mansion built of gray stone. The front door stood wide open, revealing a bril- liantly lighted hall, while at the head of the broad steps stood a young girl of considerable beauty, whom Ben instantly recognized as the same person he had met on board the steamer Wilchester months before. As Ben followed Doctor O’Grady out of the car- riage she ran down the steps, exclaiming: “Oh, Ben! Welcome home, brother! Welcome home!’ a ‘ CHAPTER VIII. THE MIDNIGHT SUMMONS. _ Their coming had been telephoned from the lodge, — and now, before he fairly knew where he was at Ben Leslie found himself countenancing the dace : tor’s fraudulent scheme. But what could he do? Here was a young and beautiful girl thier her arms about his neck, kissing him, calling him brother, and welcoming him to this palatial home. — There was nothing to do then, that was certain. _ “And if I can make this girl and her ‘edie happy why should I do anything?” Ben was were. himself, as Alice turned to welcome the doctor. He determined to peathone explanations mi a events. “And now you must both have supper,” d After sf long ride you must be hungry. Isn’t it so, Ben?” 3 | “TL certainly shall now object, Miss leaker: said the doctor. “Nor will Ben, I think.” %, , .Ben said nothing. oe He had scarcely spoken. He could not trust ime w self to speak. “We will go to the breakfast-room,” said \ “IT have ordered supper prepared for you. — : just ten o’clock, and that is the time To stated ae se would arrive, you know, doctor.” She led the way to a cozy room, where was already set. is Touching an electric bell she placed h ok fe fi . aie i Ne RT eis PR Re Pa OR a 1s .| doctor where they were to sit. ys

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Tak eo ee eee TIMELY . During a heavy fall of rain a friend of mine carry- _ ing a very wet umbrella entered a hotel to pay a call _ to some one upstairs. After placing his umbrella where it might drip he wrete upon a piece of paper and pinned it to the umbrelia: 7 “N. B.—This um- brella belongs to a man who strikes a 250-pound blow. Back in fifteen minutes.” He went upstairs, and after an absence of fifteen minutes returned to find his umbrella gone and in its place a note read- ing: “P. S—Umbrella taken by a man who walks _ ten miles an hour—won’t be back at all.” The corps of African military workers behind the lines in France is to be very largely increased this spring. By summer it is expected that the native , army will be multiplied to many times its _ original size. The experiment, according to army _ reports, has been a brilliant success. The chief fear, _when the first detachment of natives were sent to France, was the climatic conditions would prove an _ obstacle, particularly the rigor of the European winter. The mortality last winter, however, was very low and the disease that was most dreaded, pneumonia, hardly existed among them. a The Government of Peru has offered a prize of $500 for the best textbook teaching temperance ‘for use in the public schools of the country. In- _ temperance has became a serious problem in the _ republic, especially in the mining regions, and it is _ hoped that the introduction of the teaching of temperance in the schools will have salutary effects. _ The texts submitted, which must be in the Spanish _ language, will be passed upon by a jury composed ES pf: the Director of Public Instruction, the Director _ of the Normal School for Men, a member of the _ ‘Temperance Society, and one teacher from the ‘Lima public schools. £ The Portland Oregonian states that the Secretary the Navy will send to Congress during the pres- t session another report from the commission on . establishment of additional navy yards, recom- ding the establishment of a submarine and avia- base on the Columbia River near Astoria, Ore., will recommend an appropriation of $300,000 acquire a site and prepare the same. This au- ty states that the commission, in this report, -emphasize the necessity for adequate naval mses at the mouth of the Columbia River and avor the acquisition of a site on Cathlamet Bay. e are, naturally, many fresh water springs on ttom of the ocean. Some of those on the coast ) pany, angela Saat ge bhiypo FAME AND FORTUNE Ze mre Toned lg \: 3 WEEKLY. 25 TOPICS shore of the Mediterranean, issuing at a depth of 150 feet, send fresh water to the surface, where fisher- men are in the habit of filling their water barrels with it. The island of Moharek of the Bahrein group, in the Persian Gulf, depends upon a sub- marine spring for its water supply. Divers plunge into the ocean with goatskin bags, which they fill with fresh water and carry to the surface, where the water is poured into casks. An agreement was reached on April-25 between the Navy Department and representatives of oil producing companies whereby the Navy will be sup- plied with an “adequate and uninterrupted store of gasoline and other petroleum products at a rea- sonable cost.” The arrangement is along the same lines as that reached with copper and steel pro- ducers recently and is regarded by Naval officers as of no less importance than either of the first two. Paymr. Gen. Samuel McGowan, U. S. N., represented the Secretary at the conferences. The oil companies were represented by a committee of seven headed by A. C. Bedford, president of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. The following true story of a retriever dog seems to show that animals are able instinctively to be of much help to one agother. A well-trained retriever dog, named Nero, owned by a boy and girl, was in the habit of being taken almost daily for a walk through some fields beside a river. One day in the Christmas holidays, notes the Christian Science Monitor, he was as usual, accompanying his young master and mistress, when, to their surprise, he suddenly dashed off among a flock of rooks feeding in the field. All the birds flew away, with the ex- — ception of one, which seemed unable to fly properly, and presently the dog caught it, and, bringing it to the children, laid it at their feet. They picked up the rook, and found it was none the worse for being carried by Nero, so they decided to put it up on the branch of a tree by the river. The rook seemed quite pleased and happy on its perch, .and there it was left. The next day the children returned and saw a solitary rook on the ground. Off went Nero, and this time the rook made little attempt to escape from him. The bird was put in his usual place in the tree, and for three mornings this performance was repeated, each time the rook allowing itself to be caught quite easily. After that, though, rooks were often seen. Nero made no attempt to chase — them, and when the boy and girl made them fly on purpose, there was not one left on the ground. They therefg soon came to the conclusion that Nero’s 2s was now. able to fly, so that his scl =

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26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. is abstracted and exported in large quatities for Fame and F ortune Weekly use in cooking, as a substitute for olive oil, and =. | largely in the manufacture of soap. The value of peanut oil exported in 1915 exceeded by more than 50 per cent. the value of all peanuts shipped. After the extraction of the oil the product remaining is formed into cakes, which are used as fodder, poul- try feed or fertilizer. A large part of the peanuts f NEW’ YORK, MAY '25, 1917. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS : Pikls Copies is diss sich csv .babededbbs sencds exported to Europe is used in the manufacture of d med ies Se ee res ie cm {| oil and soap. The greater part of the peanuts of One Copy One Year .....c-sscccsseccctsenecersete’ B00 China used commercially come from the provinces of Shantung, Honan and Chihli. Shantung peanuts are ordinarily larger in size, while those from Honan and Chihli ate said to be somewhat richer in oil. and consequently usually bring better prices. : . . Fi Grins and Chuckles “Jimmy, what branch of learning do you dislike the most?” “Dat one de teacher cut f’m de apple- trée an’ brung inter de schoolroom!” POSTAGE FREE HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. 0. Money Order. Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk, We accept Postage Stamps the same as . When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece = porer to avoid cutting the envelope. Write your name and address plainly. Address letters to HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, 166 West 23d St., New York Good Current News Articles Crazed by the loss of their seven sons, the last one of whom was killed on the western front re- cently, Frank fRiegelmann, an aged stonemason of Kempton, Germany, and his wife have ended their lives, Their bodies were discovered in a deep hole of a mountain ‘stream. Nip—What was the greatest luck you ever had hunting? Tuck—Once when a fellow shot at me in mistake for a deer and missed me. “Oh, policenian, do stop them bad, wicked, cruel boys from he that kettle to that pore dog’s tail.” 0 Seven of the twenty-five 14-inch rifles recently |“Is it your dog?” “No, it’s my kettle.” ordered by the Secretary of the Navy have already been forged by the Bethlehem Steel Company. This _. company also has an order for twenty-five 16-inch guns, but the smaller type will be rushed to com- a etion as they are intended for the battleships of the Pennsylvania class, now approaching the stage where armament may soon be installed. ‘Work has been started on other order's for similar weapons. Mamma (at breakfast table)—4You should always use your napkin, Georgie. Georgie—I am using it, mamma, I’ve got the dog tied to’ the leg of the table with it. j Tommy’s Pop (explaining the mysteries of coun- try life) —Yes, a hen will sit on an egg and hatch it. Tommy—Gracious! I should think it would hurt to sit on a hatchet. i i ; The annual report of the Bethlehem Steel Com- pany for 1916, which was issued recently, showed net profits amounting to $61,717,309, which were more than six and one-half times greater than in - 1914, and more than seven and one-half times larger _ than the net in 1915. Compared with 1915, a year in which war orders helped the Bethlehem’s income account, last year showed a total more than two and = one-half times larger. The corporation had a bal- ance of $43,595,968 available for dividends, com- red with $17,762,812 the year before and $5,122,- }in 1913. The corporation’s working funds were increased to approximately $100,000,000. The aver- e number of employees last year was 74,013, com-. ared with 22,064 the year before. Wages and sala- ries last year arnounted to $51,499,733, against $21,- 800,664 in 1915. Frlky nuts are not indi igenous to China, having been| -Husband—What makes you yell so through ef p kerghaes previous tothe eahteenth phone? Do you think the machine is deaf? Wif y are | ow grown in all parts « the | No; but I want that woman in the next flat to f regions, : rede say outa Beet oe Berievolent Patty—What will you be when you grow tp, my little man? The Little Man—I wants — to be one of dem mutts what alters your face. “Ah, a dermatologist!” “Not much—a prize-fighter.” Ascum—He’s got a good job, hasn’t he? He tells . me he’s working for the government now. Newitt— _ Huh! The next time he tells you that just substract “for” from it. ae A chains / ‘a “Dear,” said the melancholy wife, “if you die — first you will wait for me there on that far shore, _ won’t you? “I-guess so,” replied “her hus wearily. “I’ve always had to wait for you .every- > ~ i ma! Ye op es eae ed bg 7 rf

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 27 STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE. By Alexander Armstrong My name is Peeks, I-own this house and grounds. | paid five thousand dollars for the estate. I made e money in one night. I will tell you how it was. I was an engineer on the G. & P. Road. I ran the night express. I used to stop at Tigerville at 1,27 in the morning for water. It was a large town, and _ the road ran through the very heart of it. Opposite _ the water-station was the Tigerville Bank. Gayle, who fired for me, had been suffering, as he said, during half the run down for a piece of tobacco, and had gone oyer to the postmaster’s store __ to obtain one. The tank of the engine was full. I had thrown up the pipe, taken my place, and was ready to start the engine. While I was looking for Gayle I discovered three men running with all their might toward me. I had no doubt the fireman was _ one of them, though it was so dark I could not make _ him out in the gloom. -. One of the men ran to the rear of the tender and I supposed he intended to get into the baggage-car, The other two came directly to the cab of the en- + gine. One of these had a trayeling-bag, and I con- eluded that he was a friend of Gayle, who desired to _ ride with him to the next station on the machine. _ But I was soon made to understand that all my supe _ positions were wrong. The two men leaped into the _ cab, and before I suspected anything they dragged from my chair, stuffed a handkerchief into my Daith, and strapped my hands behind me. » “All right, Bool, start the machine, I can hold ‘this man,” said the man who held me. “All clear,” added a man, whose voice came from _the.rear of the tender, \ z As my arms were strapped ‘behind me, I could do nothing. I had no doubt the man that held me was armed, and it was not prudent for me to make a fight, even if I had been in condition to do so. I was thrown back on the coal'in the tender, while - the fellow in charge of me sat on a stool and held me by the collar of my coat. “Where is the fireman?” asked Bool, whom I could djstinetly see at the throttle by the light of _ the! “bug.” % + #fe is not here; the engineer was the only man on the ma¢hine,” replied the fellow that held me. “Let her drive, Bool.” ? “Have you the bag?” asked Bool, who seemed be in no hurry to start the engine. “We mustn’t without that, Saywood.” : “The bag is all right, Bool. Go ahead, or we 1 all to grief,” replied Saywood impa- ¥. ¥ 4 q F ihge tempt was pulled it out! was no ee and the engine started with a jump and a jerk. “Stop her, Bool!” cried Saywood. tumbled off the tender.” ~ The third villain had seated himself on the rear of the tender, after unshackling it from the train, and the violent jerk given by the sudden start had thrown him to the ground. I saw Bool shove in the throttle; but the engine had reached the down grade from Tigerville to Manly, and it would not stop. Saywood left me and climbed to the rear end of the tender; but he could not see his companion in the darkness. ; ne don’t you stop her?’ he demanded with an oath. “I have shut off the steam, but she won’t stop,” answered Bool, whose tones indicated that he was sorely tried by the situation. “Engineer, how do you stop her?” asked Say- wood, coming to me again and pulling the handker- chief out of my mouth. “Throw over the reverse lever,” I answered, will- ing to assist in ending this exciting trip. “Throw over the reverse lever, Bool,’ repeated Saywood, “T don’t know how to do it!” exclaimed my sub- stitute in the cah. “I have got-enough of this sort of thing.” “Put on the brake,” I suggested. Saywood went to the brake on the tender, and after he had studied the thing for a time he suc- ceeded in applying it and bringing the machine to a stand. j “Now run her back,” said he, highly excited. “T can’t do it! I don’t know how!” pleaded Bool. “Bragg may have been hurt; and we don’t want to léave him there. The beaks will have him.” “T can start the thing ahead, and that’s all I can do,” added Bool. “It won’t do to run back, either; we are sure to be taken if we do.” After a little argument; Saywood assented, and it was decided to go ahead again. This time Bool made a better start, letting on only a little steam. The machine went along very well under this more moderate treatment. But it had on a full head of steam, which was screaming as it escaped through the open safety valve. This noise troubled Bool; it seemed to indicate to him that something was wrong, when just the reverse was true. Saywood asked me about it, and I told him it was all right. As the fire got low, the eeased. ; ed from my mouth, I “Bragg has

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. 28 But the job had now been done; the traveling- | bag at my side contained the bonds and money stolen from the bank; and the amateur engineer and his companions were the robbers. All the t pluck I had came back to me as I thought over the : matter. We had run about ten miles and reached an up-grade; the engine was getting out of steam, and Saywood was directed by Bool to throw more coal into the furnace. I answered the questions he put to me, for I did not care to have the machine | ruined by the villains. Tee While Saywood was thus engaged, I strained my | 2 arms by degrees, in order to ascertain the strength | of the strap that bound me. To my great surprise and joy, it snapped under the strain I applied to it. I was free; but I made no movement to inform ‘ my captors of the fact. I had hardly accomplished _ this partial deliverance before Saywood seated him- self on the stool at my side. I was afraid he would examine into my situation, and I asked him whether the pumps of the engine were working properly. I told him the boiler would burst if the rbrtesg in it got too low. He was alarmed, and asked Bool Reside the mat- ter. I explained the gauge cocks to him, and he went to the cab to look into the condition of the boiler. When he returned I assured him we were coming to a steep grade, and that he had not steam enough to carry the engine up the ascent. I told him and Bool what to do till they had a good head _ of steam on, and I thought it was time something was done. _ “Tf you will help us out we will make you a hand- some present before we leave,” said Saywood as he seated himself on the stool. _ “TI will help you out,” I replied. “But you haven’t _ steam enough. We stuff the furnace as full of wood as we can.” _ He rose to put in more wood. As he did so 1 freed my arms from the strap. He picked up some sticks of wood and turned to put them under the _ boiler. At that instant I sprang upon him. He was a tall man, though rather slender built. I seized him in a savage embrace, for I felt like a ‘ti ‘I got my left arm around his body, outside his arms, which were thus pinioned to his + frame. ‘Passing the other arm around his legs, I lifted. him up and bore him to the footboard; with Thad helped him ‘out! At this point the road was ble on a high em- bankment, at the foot of which was a large pond. had no- doubt the bank-robber would roll down e steep declivity into the water. It did not seem ‘me that he could escape alive. “What's the matter, Saywood?” demanded Bool; nd he eetes not - gies of ae had trans- him, for he was perched up in ithe | the crashing of the m: FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. I dragged him’ from the chair, hitting him a heavy blow on the head with a monkey-wrench as he came down. , He seemed to be stunned, and my vic- tory was more easily obtained than I had antici- pated. I shoved in the throttle and put on the brake, for I did not care to go any farther from the — train of cars which had been left at Tigerville. I had some rope in the tender, and I spent some — time in binding my prisoner to my satisfaction, for I was willing to profit by the blunder of the robbers. The engine had come to a full stand. I looked at my watch and found it was seven minutes past two. -The locomotive had gone about twelve miles under the guidance of Bool. Three miles back there was a station where I could use the telegraph, for I was afraid the train I had left might have procured a locomotive and started again. As I ap- proached the pond where I had “helped out” Say- - wood, I shut off steam and put on the brake, for I was curious to ascertain his fate. I knew the very spot, for every rod of the whole line was as familiar to me as my own door-yard. I tightened the brake when the engine came to the place. I opened the furnace door to obtain a little light; on the embankment lay the prostrate form of the bank-robber. I examined it. He was not dead, as I supposed, for the declivity where he had struck was covered with fine sand; but he was insensible. © I picked him up and carried him to the tender. I tied him hand and foot with the greatest care, and — then laid him on the top of the tank of the tender. With my two prisoners I started for Tigerville. At the station I found that the train had not yet departed. In fifteen minutes more I ran my engine © up to the train I had left. The bank robbery had” been discovered, and the whole town was alarmed. — My prisoners were conscious when I reached id 3 water-station, and were handed over to the sheri “Here are two of them. Have you caught third?” I inquired as I showed the official my wo robbers. “We knew nothing about the matter till we got q the telegram from the station where you stopped. replied the sheriff; and I told him all Bragg. a og “Do you know what they did with the money the . took from the bank?” asked the president of the — institution. “They got ares with over a h thousand dollars.” Se oe “The money must be in this bag,” I answe “a ; handing it to him. Before morning Bragg was captured i in the fi ; near the town. neg was so much injured by sy, om Fin reg

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 29 a FACTS WORTH READING LUXURY ON A TANKER. A notable addition to the American merchant _ marine, the new tank steamship William G. Warden, arrived here recently from her builders and was _ placed in the New York, Mexico and South America _ oil carrying service. The William G. Warden is _ the largest tank steamer yet built by the Standard ' Oil Company and was named after the founder of _ the Atlantic Refining Company. She is 517 feet long and 68 feet beam and has a cargo capacity of 15,000 _ tons dead weight, or 5,000,000 gallons. Like other vessels built by the Standard Oil Com- _ pany, the Warden is finely fitted and has the most -Taodern equipment and accommodations. She is a __ twin screw steamer and her 3,000 horse-power en- _ g-nes can propel the vessel at twelve knots under _ good conditions on either coal or oil fuel. In her fuel oil tanks 2,000 tons may be carried, giving a _ steaming radius of 10,000 miles. __ Sixty officers and men make up the complement of the Warden. The living accommodations are un- _ usually complete. There are private baths for the captain, chief engineer, doctor and purser, as well - as large baths for the use of the deck hands and fire 3 room crew. A hospital is one of the modern features of the vessel, which is equipped with a strong wire- plese plant. | The Warden is larger in tonnage than the Charles Pratt and the H. H. Rogers, which preceded her in Eepemraction at the Newport News Shipbuilding mpany. Two additional tank steamers, fully as 1 a ye as the Warden, are nearing completion. All five would make excellent naval auxiliaries, Bee my ay _ LAUNCH OF THE U.S. S. NEW MEXICO. _ The 32,000-ton battleship New Mexico was suc- fully launched at the New York Navy Yard, in Borough of Brooklyn, at 9.55 a. m., on April 23, er the direction of Naval Constr. George H. ek, U. S. N., who had charge of her construction, d by Naval Constrs. John A. Spilman and E. Roneeld U. S. N.g¢ Other departments of the yard also contributed their full share of work. x The huge vessel slid down the ways into the water n the most perfect manner. She was christened With a bottle of champagne by Miss Margaret C. aca, of Las Vegas, N. M., daughter of the late ¢ Bae Baca, a former Governor of New Mexico. e Baca proved a perfect bottle thrower and e when it struck the steel side of the ship, on parc bow, was smashed to bits and the Grande and Pecor rivers against the side of the New Mexico. Others in the launching party with Miss De Baca were Miss Helen Kelly, of Las Vegas; Miss Irene Molinari, of Portales, and Miss Hildegarde Hurley and Miss Katherine French, of Santa Fe. Rear Admiral Nathaniel R. Usher, U.S. N., received the special guests. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt represented Secretary of the Navy Daniels and Senator A. A. Jones, of New Mexico, represented that State. Just before the launch Chaplain Walter G. Isaacs, U. S. N., offered prayer and a band played suitable airs before and after the launching. Just after the New Mexico was water borne, Assistant Secretary Roosevelt made a short speech, praising all those who took part in the building of the New Mexico; from the highest officers down to the mechanics and helpers. He thanked them in the name of Secre- tary Daniels for their fine work. The most extraordinary precautions were taken to insure the safety of the ship and the yard generally.’ Police outside the gates kept all people away who had no passes and inside the yard bluejackets and marines were patroling everywhere. In Wallabout Bay and out in the river Navy patrol boats kept the waters clear of craft. Tugs guickly took hold of the New Mexico after she entered the water and was borne up stream by the tide and she was towed alongside a dock where she will réceive her boilers, engines, armor, guns, etc. The vessel is nearly seventy per cent. completed. She has a length be- tween perpendiculars of 600 feet and her breadth on load water line is 97 feet 414 inches. She hada mean draft of thirty feet, her length over all is 624 feet, and her full-load displacement is 33,000 tons. Her designed full-load draft is 31 feet and 14% inches, and her estimated speed is to be not less than twenty-one knots. The engines of the New Mexico are to be of the electric drive type, and she will burn oil fuel. The total estimated indicated horse- power of her main engines on trial is to be 27,500. Her complement is twenty-five wardroom officers, eighteen junior officers, twelve warrant officers, forty chief petty officers, 911 bluejackets and seventy-five marines. Her batteries were designed to be twelve 14-inch guns, twenty-two 5-inch rapid fire guns, anti-aircraft guns and four 6-pounders for saluting. She is equipped with four 21-inch sub- marine torpedo tubes. She will have two cage masts, and one funnel. Her keel was laid Oct. 14, 1915, and the contract price of hull and machinery © was limited by Congress to $7,800,000. The total a weight of her machinery is estimated at 2,275 tons. pekeabanis ets she New Mexico may be completed by the © The keel of the battleship Tennessee Ga

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Bs $0 b GET $3.53 AFTER YEARS. , The Spokane Chamber of Commerce Freight Bic Rate Fund has been increased $3.53 after a lapse of _ Nineteen years. Gordon C. Corbaley, managing sec- retary, has received the following letter from D. L. Huntington, President of the Washington Water Power Company: “In looking over some old files we have found ers. As it does not belong to me, and I do not know what else to do with it, I am sending it to the Chamber of Commerce to be added to the Freight ‘ Rate Fund, and I doubt if any one will question the large instead of small.” SWEDES MAY EAT OAT BREAD, : The Bakers’ Association of Sweden presented a % memorial to the State Economic Commission setting forth the difficulties of obtaining sufficient rye and or barley flour in bread. The bakers assert that the propriety of so doing. I wish that the amount were| learn to do their FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. INTERESTING ARTICLES “Steeplejane. That ain’t a man. It’s Mrs. Doody.” And it was. With nothing between her and the crowd but her chair and 200 feet of air, Mrs. Doody, wife of a steeplejack of New York, was painting the chimney with a disregard of the danger and of cer- tain theories regarding the proper place of woman. When Doody found that he had more work on his hands than he could accomplish, his wife put on $3.53, which is evidently the remainder of $10.78 ad-| overalls, kissed John, jr., goodby and started in to vanced to me some nineteen years ago for expenses | keep as Secretary of the Spokane Shippers’ Association. | 2OW : J It was evidently put aside and forgotten, being too| much at ease as though she were in her rocking small an amount to return pro rata to the subscrib-| Chair at home. the business in the family. Six days a week she is aloft on steeple, chimney or flagpole, as At 4 in the afternoon she was lowered from her perch and started home to cook supper. “T’m only doing what we all will have to do when our men go’ to war,” she said. “All of us women will have to work.” ENFIELD RIFLES ADOPTED BY U.S. The War Department has made it possible to ac- } | quire rifles at the rate of nearly 950,000 a month by the expedient of adopting the Enfield rifle of the British army to supplement the Springfields in use in the United States. Within three months, if the wheat flour and asking the authorities to permit) Government wishes to use the production of all and to order them to use a certain proportion of oat| the rifle factories in the United States, it can pro- vide nearly 3,000,000 rifles for its army. t situation indicates with certainty that such a meas-| ‘The Department announced that it not only had __ ure must be eventually resorted to and point out the! adopted the Enfield rifle for the present emergency, — js. advisability of doing it now instead of delaying un-| pyt had under construction types of the heavy field ! ___ til the time when the proportions of barley and oats| a >tillery that have wrought havoc against the Ger- _ aOw. : j in large calibre mobile artillery. The largest at — A body of female factory workers, estimated at| pyesent in service is the six inch howitzer. Two 4 3,000, marched to-day in an orderly manner through | types of foreign manufacture are under construc- _ _. Southern and Western Stockholm to the office of| tion for this Government and others may be adopted — the largest local milk company, where they demand-| jater, The War Department will not disclose the eda better distribution of milk and lower prices. number or the calibre. Hunger demonstrations continue at various places) ]t was said that the Enfield rifles are not in any- 9 ; oat ‘ A mt in the kingdom. Demands are being made for more| sense displacing the Springfield rifles, which by — \ bread, an immediate commercial agreement with) American army officers have been considered su __ England, a prohibition on the exportation of all) ior to the British weapong, The adoption of tak _ foods, lower house rents, and similar means to lessen | Enfield for the period of the emergency is be- the cost of living. cause of the great a ison manutertinss ¥ ve a factories in this country supplying rifles to the Brit- STEEPLEJANE HELPS KEEP WORK _IN | ish being able to cre tne 30,000 a day. The Spe ae Tee: FAMILY f fields are manufactured at the rate of only 1,500 A man is the crowd who was watching the figure | a day. oa: Sa inging from the top of the Merchants’ Refrigerat-| The Enfields will be rechambered to take t ompany’s plant in Jersey City unscraned his| American ammunition, but in other respects will re- for a moment and remarked sagely to his|main the same. They are not liked so well in or: ta t ro erly ae America because, according to army officers, : nai on Ce eee lejane,” he an- greater power. The army has ; \. e MSE { tr 4 i? sie : rifles on hand. Of these 800,000 are o ) : 0 of old style Krags. oe 9 i? id ix 4

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TOKIO CARD TRICK. You place five cards in a hat. Remove one’ of them and then, ask your audience how many remain. Upon ex- amination the remaining four have vanished. A very clever trick. Price Wc, by mail, postpaid, with directions. Cc. BEHR, 150 W. 62d Street, New York City. Sr ee 2 MEMORY TRICK. This amusing and in- teresting trick is per- formed ath Sve —- ntaining squares, which contain 100 dif- MARVELOUS ferent . numbers. ‘name a og of Fay ag *s notice by reque any 5 De most. marvelous mete of mind-reading ever invented. So easy that a child could perform the trick. Price 10c, * tpaid, with directions. w F vane, 815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. x. WILLARD-JOHNSON PRIZE-FIGHT PU ZZLE. D RR in So arranging the rd - though the ace, deuce and oo trey are shown plainly, it is utterly impossible for any one to pick out the ace, Price, 10c, by mail, postpaid, with The solution in the puzzle Exceedingly mystifying. Al- *Pour strips of cardboard, each three inches by one and a half inches, showing Willard and Johnson yarious absurd postures. strips that they show Wil- in the complete picture, the heavy- va ht champion. Price, l0c, by mail, postpati, with directions. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. ¥. THREE-CARD MONTE. directions. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. ee TWO-CARD MONTE. This famous trick. gets them eard and yes pol thou ou js Price 100, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 23d CHANGING CARD. : One card is shown, The performer passes his hand over it and changes the card from a jack of spades to a seven of hearts. he second time he blows on the card and changes it to a queen of clubs. Quite easy to perform. Price 10c, by mail, postpaid, with directions, H. F. LANG, 1815 Centrd St., Brooklyn, N. Y. PAPEL BLANCO. Four cards are placed in a bat. One card is removed and the balance are now shown to be_ changed to blank cards. The cards can be thoroughly examined. Price 10c, by mail, postpaid. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. é D BOLT PUZZLE. A very ingenious puzzle, consisting of a nut and bolt with a ring fastened on the shank, which can- not be removed unless the removed, ‘Fhe question is how to re , 15ce, by mail, postpaid. x Ave., N. ¥. nouT nut is move the nut. “Price FRANK SMITH, 383 _-—s«¥FLIPPING CIGARETTE BOX. It looks Hke a box of Between the Acts cig- but when you 15e, by mail, WoLEr NOVELTY co., W. 28d St, N. ¥, The | performer can instantly | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 8 MIKADO BLOCK PUZZLE. Imported from Japan. This neat little puzdle “consists of six strangely cut pleces of white wood unassembled. The trick is to so assemble the blocks as to form a six- point cross. Price 2c, by mail, postpald. 5 G, 1815 Cen- tre St., B’kiyn, N. Y. JAPANESE BANK PUZZLE. . Built up of a large humber of grooved pikes of wood. Very ifficult to take apart, and very difficult to put together. It can be so dissected as to make a bank of it and when re- assembled would defy the most ingenious bank puspiar outside of prison. Price 35¢, by mail, postpaid. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y¥. THE TANTALIZER PUZZLE. Consists of one hsi- ge and pong m endic- ular piece or 1- ished metal bent” is duch a@ manner that when as- sembled it seems utterly impossible to get them apart, but by following the directions at bs Yet sesily: Recousee oon. This one is rain twister. ce od by m < paid, with directions. Aonthcsen fam C, BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. THE QUESTION PUZZLE. Two links in the form of Bw marks, fas- tened together at the top. The object is to disen- gage one Hnk from the other. It cannot be done ig Is sipenees. ce mail, - paid, with directions. e = WOLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 28d St., N. ¥ Lock PUZZLE. thout exception, this is the hardest one of all. And yet, if you have the directions you can very easily do it. Jf sists a ring pa through two shafts. The shanks of this puzzle are the postpaid, with directions. 15e, by H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. mail, THE WAR FOUNTAIN PEN. A very handsome fountain case to which is attached a poc! holder neatl made of metal and highly nickel-plated. When your friend de- sires the use of your pen and gets it, he is very much astonished when he removes the cap by the sudden and loud noise of the explosion that oc- curs, and yet a little paper cap does it all. Price, 35c, by mail, postpaid. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., N. Y¥. ——— THE KAZOO. Made in the exact shape of a sub- marine. With this comical little instrument you can give a bride and groom one of the finest seren- ades they ever received. Or, if you wish to use it as a ventriloquist, you will so completely change your voice that your a will not recognize ft. Price, 12e, by mail, , postpaid. WOLFF Novelty Co., 163 W. 234 8t., N. ¥. MAGIC LINK PUZZLE, A number rings. Th them to- ae just ex- actly the same way magi s link their Bocuse. It looks dead easy. But we dety any ‘aa to #F Salta they P secre rice » post § WOLFE No W. 28d St. N. ¥. of |, e a ’ ‘o1 nd sizes s Deliver i. Sy 2 to $500 EACH paid for hundred old Coins. Keep Rt money datel ia fore 1895 and sénd Ten cents for New a Illustrated Coin Value Book, size 4x7 It may mean your Fortune. CLARKE COIN Co., Box 95, Le Roy, N. ¥. ™ To the Wife of One Who Drinks I have an impectant confidential message for you. It will come in a plain envelope. How to conquer the liquor habit in 3 days and make home happy. Wonderful, safe, lasting, , reliable, inaepenaize methods, guar- anteed. Write to Edw. J. Woods, 229 L, ot pie E, New York, N. ¥. Show this to others. THE JOKE SPIKE. This eh, spike is an ordinary {ron spike br very large nail, the same as is found in any carpenter's nail box. At the small end is a small steel needle, n length, firmly set in spike. Taka our friend’s hat or coat and hang t on the wall by driving (with a panneen) the spike through it into the wall; the needle in spike will not ure the hat or garment, neither will it show on wall or wood where it has been driven. The deception is per- fect, as the spike appears to have been driven half-way through the hat or coat, which can be left banging on the wall. Price, 10 cents, or 3 for 25 cents; by mail, stpaid, postpal 150 W. 62a Street, N. Y. ERNK THE LINK PUZZLE. The sensation of the day. Prenounced by all, the most baffling and scientific novelty eut. Thousands have worked at it fer hours witheut mas- tering it, still it can be done in two seconds by giving the links the proper twist, but un- less Pa now how, the harder you twist them the tighter they grow. Price, 6c.; 3 for 15e.3 one dozen, 50c., by mail, postpaid. FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave. N. ¥. THE RUBBER DAGGER, ; On account of the war we have substituted this novelty for the Magic Dagger. It is eight inches in length, made to look exactly like a steel weapon and would deceive. al- most anybody at whom you might thrust it. But as the blade is made of rubber, it can do no_ injury. Price 15¢, by mail, postpaid. H, LANG, 1815 Centre Street, : Brooklyn, New York. CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S CIGARETTE. The simplest trick out. All you have to do is to Ret the cigarette into .\ arlie’s mouth. na tionary head and a loose cigarette in a metal box regret it, that’s all. Price I12¢e, by with a glass top. you don't get one you'll FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave, N. Ys i ‘ 2” A = a+? ? wr : , = Coe i ee - , sill eo ea Pee ee ae ee.

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er Fa. ee ee ~~ IMITATION GIANT DIAMONDS. Diamond rings or studs of half-inch» and one inch in di- ameter are heard of in stories only. We have them imitated by prodigious sparkling stones which will deceive the glance of any spectator. Price, by mail, postpaid, small size, 25e each; large size, 35c each. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. MONGOL PLAYING CARDS. An exact imitation of a pack of the finest quality playing ecards in a Very neat case. You hand the package to your friend, requesting him to shuffle the cards, and as he attempts to do so a ca inside expuodes loud enough to make him see stars. Price 25e, by mail, postpaid. Cc. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. PHANTOM CARDS. Ay fy. From five cards three are mentally selected by any one, placed under an ordinary handkerchief, performer withdraws two ecards, the ones not se- lected; the performer in- vites any one to remove the other two, and to the great astonishment of all they have actually disappeared. No sleight-of-hand. Recommended as the most ingenious car dtrick ever invented. Price 10c, by mail. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. "ITNEY BUS GAME. ~ A circular metal. box with a glass top. In- side is a tiny garage fixed at one side and a loose traveling little Ford. It requires an ex- pert to get the swiftly moving auto into. the garage, This one grabs ~~ your interest, holds it, and almost makes you wild when you find after repeated trials how hard it is to do the trick. Price 12e¢, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 23d St., N. ¥. GREAT BURGLAR PUZZLE. The latest a most fascinating puzzle ever placed on the market. Patented May 30. It consists of four revolving dials, each dial contain- ing 16 figures, 64 figures in all. To open the safe these dials must be turned around un- til the figures in each of the 16 col- added to- { ehh night, 80 interested have they be- fo this - ting puzzle this fascina fo key which we send with each puzzle the fig- ures can be set In a few minutes 80 as to total 40 in each column. Price 15 cents; mailed, postpaid. HH. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kliyn, N. Y. This handsome pocket piece is made of alu- minum, resembling somewhat in size and appearance a dollar. In the center of the pocket piece is a new one-cent U. 8. coin, inserted in such a way that it cannot be removed. (U. S. laws prevent our showing this coin in On one side of the pocket “Lucky penny bit and the design | LUCKY PENNY POCKET PIECE, | | silver | our engraving). piece are the words, cl piece; I bring good luck, of a horseshoe. On the opposite side, our mascot,” “Keep me and never go roke,” and two sprigs of four-leafed clover, “T am These~ handsome pocket pieces are believed by many to be harbingers of good luck. rice 12 cents; 8 for 30 cents; by mail, postpaid. A. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn. N. Y. ! and HALF MASKS. “ False-faces beaten a mile” : Yhere are 7 in a set and repre- sent an ludian, a Japanese #itl. & clown, Foxy Grandpa, an English Johnny Atkins and an Automo- bilist. Beautifully lithographed in handsome colors on a durable quality of cardboard. They have eyeholes and string perforations. 3 Price, Gc. each, or the fuil set of 7 for postpaid. |C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. Mer THE LUNG TESTER. We have here one of the greatest litle nov- elties ever produced. with this instrument you can absolutely test) the strength of your lungs. It has an indicator which clear- ly shows you the num- ber of pounds sou can blow. Lots of fun testing your lungs. Get one and see what a good blower you are. Price 15e, by mai postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d -St., New York City. ELD casks ee ire J oe i eee ee GOOD LUCK GUN FOB. The real western article carried by the cowboys. It is made of fine leather. with a highly nickeled buckle. The holster con- tains a metal gun, of the Hisame gee as those used iby all the most famous scouts. Any boy wearing one of these fobs will at- tract attention. It will give him an air of western romance. The prettiest and most serviceable watch fob ever made. Send for one to-day. Price 20 cents each by mail postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn. N. ¥. READ THIS ONE! “Moving Picture Stories” | . A WEEKLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO PHOTOPLAYS AND PLAYERS oe PRICE 6c PER COPY THE BEST FILM MAGAZINE ON EARTH ye BUY A COPY! “aa ie , PRICE 6c PER COPY ENJOY YOURSELF? Magnificent Colored Cover Portraits of Prominent Performers! f 32 PAGES OF READING EACH NUMBER CONTAINS New Portraits and Biographies of Actors and Actresses Six Stories of the Best Films on the Screens Elegant Half-tone Scenes from the Plays Interesting Articles About Prominent People in the Films Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studios and while Picture-making Lessons in Scenario Writing, and names of Companies who buy your plays Poems, Jokes, and every bright Feature of Interest in Making Moving Pictures | THis LITTLE MAGAZINE GIVES YOU MORE FOR YOUR MONEY THAN ANY OTHER SIMILAR PULL ' Its authors are the very best that money : cles are by the greatest experts in their particular line. _ No amount of money is being spared to make this publicati _ Buy a copy NOW from your newsdealer, or send _ any number you desire — ig Os st ame, CATION ON THE MARKET! 7 Be ni = can procure;its profuse illustrations are exquisite, a-d its <pecial artic’? on the very best of its kind in the world,, | us 6 cents in money or postage-stamps, and we will ‘mail you OUT EVERY FRIDAY | HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher. 166 West 23d Strect, New York City . - a eek. oe bn

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY —LATEST ISSUES—— 574 Jack Merry's Grit; or. Making a Man of Himself. 575 A Golden Shower; or, The Boy Banker of Wall Street. 576 Making a Record: or. The Luck of a Working Boy. 577 A Fight for proney: or, From School to Wall Street. 578 Stranded Out West; or, The Boy Who Found a Silver Mine. 579 Ben Bassford’s Luck; or, Working on Wall Street Tips. 580 A Young Gc:u Kius; or, The Treasure of the Secret Caves. 581 Bound & Get Rich; or, How a gs Street Boy Made Money. 582 yoy arg V¥rank; or. e Boy Who Became Famous. 583 A $30,000 Tip: or; The Youn Weazel of Wall Street. 584 Plucky Bob;.or, The Boy Who Won Success. 585 From Newsboy to Banker; or, Rob Lake’s Rise in Wall Street. 586 A Golden Stake: or, The Treasuré of the Indies. 687 A Grip on the Market; or, A Hot Time in Wall Street. 588 Watching His Chance: or, From Ferry Boy to Captain. A Game of Gold; or, The Young King of Wall Street. ’ . 590 A Wizard for Luck: or, Getting Ahead in the World. 591 A Fortune at Stake; or, A Wall Street Messengers Deal. 592 His Last Nickel: or. What It Did for Jack Rand. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy. in money or postage stamps. NOTICE—The following numbers PRICE SIX CENTS. 593 Nat Noble, the Little Broker; or, The Boy Who Started a Wall Street Panic. 594 A Struggle For Fame; or, The Gamest Boy in the World. 595 The Young Money Magnate; or, The Wall Street Boy Whe Broke the Market. 596 A Lucky Contract: or, The Boy Who Made a: Raft of Money. 597 A Big Risk; or, The Game That Won. 598 On Pirate's "Isle: or, The Treasure of the Seven (raters. 599 A Wall Street Mystery: or. The Boy Who Beat the Syndicate. em Dick Hadley’s Mine: or. The Roy Gold Diggers of Mexico. #01 A Boy Stock Broker: or. From Errand, Boy to Miltionaire. 602 Facing the World: or, A Poor Boy's Fight For Fortune. F 603 A Tip Worth a Million; or, How a Boy Worked It in Wall Street. 604 Island. Billy, the Cabin Boy; or, The Treasure of Skeleto 605 Fame and Out With His Own Circus; or, The Success of a Young g 608 The Boy Copper Miner; or, Ted Brown's Rise To Riches. i Just His Luck; or, Climbing the Ladder o Fortune. 606 ~ Barnum. ~ 607 Playing For Money; or, The Boy Trader of Wall Street. 609 Tips Off the Tape; or, The Boy Who Startled Wall Street. 610 Striking It Rich; or, From Office Boy to Merchant Prince. “a fe iia dies li aon aan 8 FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - + = = 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 SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - No, 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELEC- TRICITY.—A descri en of the wonderful eee ee electricity and electro magnetism ; to- , with full instructions for making tric A‘M MD." Conte etc. ace y rge D. Containing over fifty il- : No. Ay, * now TO BREAK, RIDE AND DRIVE A HORSE.—A complete — on the horse, Describing the most useful horses 4 for business, the best horses for the road; 4 also valuable recipes for peculiar to the horse. No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL 4 GANOES.—A handy book for boys, —— ‘a -ing full directions for caneseey tee f and the most popular manner failing them. Fully illustrated. = No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules rees for pxocuring ‘ormation on the q@ ogee plgeeon HOW TO STUFF BIRDS ‘AND Annas. ——A valuable book, giving instruc- tions in collecting, preparing, mounting and preserving birds, animals and insects. ‘No..51, HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Containing e ilghteofba of the eee mee of sleight-of-hand appli- cable to ecard tricks; of card \tricks with ordinary cards, and ‘pot requiring sleight- of-hand; of vans Greateiun 2 sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepa eards. L- “ fustrated. rs No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS,—Giving ae the rules and full directions for playing '. Euchre, Cribbage, . Casino, Forty-Five, ie Rounce, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction ‘A Pitch, AM Sos. and many other popular y games of cards, if No. 53. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS—A Las rpg hil little book. telling you how to te to your sweetheart. your father, moth- ¢ er, sister, brother, employer; and, in fact, ee everxbody and anybody you wish to write _ No. 54. HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.—Giving complete information as to _ the manner and method of raising, keeping, _ taming, breeding. and managing al! kinds 43 ig also ving foll instructions fo eages, ete. Fully explained b aty-eteht Ah igen we 55. TO COLLECT STAMPS te AND COiNS-—-Containing valuable bern a regarding the collecting and arran stamps and coins, Handsomely itlus : 56. HOW TO BECOME EN- NEE: how by all newsdeales, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, reeaeatines a eae =) OUR TEN- CENT HAND BOOKS — No, 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOG- RAPHER.—Containing useful information regarding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic Magic Lan- tera Slides and other Transparencies. Hand- somely illustrated, No. 62. HOW TO BECOME A WEST a MILITARY CADET—Explains how in admittance, course of Stu y, Exami- ns, Duties, Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Police Regula ons, Fire Department, and all a boy should know to be a eadet. By Lu Senarens. No, 63. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET.— Complete instructions of how to gain admission to the Annapolis Naval Acad- emy. Also containing the course of instrue- tion, description of grounds and buildings, historical sketch, and everything a boy should know to become an officer in the United States Navy. By Lu Senarens,” i No. 4. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES.—Containing full directions for making electrical machines, induction coils, dynamos, and many novel toys to be worked by electricity, By R. A. R. Bennet. Fully mac 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.—The most oriztnal joke book ever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor. It contains a large wteehaten of songs, jokes, conundrums, etc., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, hu- morist, and practical joker of the day. No. 66. HOW TO DO PUZZLES.—Con- taining over three hundred interesting puz- zles and conundrums, with key to same. A complete book, Fully illustrated. No. 67. HOW. TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS.—Containing a large collection of instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, together with illustrations. By A Anderson, No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS.—Containing over one hundred sad Me aa and instructive tricks with chem A. Anderson, Handsomely filustrated. No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT-OF- } HAND.—Containing over fifty of the latest and best tricks used by magicians. Also ba tee the secret of second sight. Fully illustrat : No. 70, HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.— Containing full directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. Fully lustrated. No. 71, HOW TO DO MECHANICAL J teapot — Containing complete illustrations performing over sixty Mechanical Tricks. Bul illust 2. HOW TO DO SIXTY bbe pinterd ARDS.—Embracing all of the latest deceptive cara tricks, with illus- 268 West 23d St. N. ¥ ar NUMBERS e “ “g Loh 168 West 23d St, N. Y. 4 4 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH a NUMBERS. —Showing many eurious tricks er be a eel = eee, Pt with figures and the magic of numbers. By A. Anderson, Fully illustrated. No. 74. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY.—Containing full imstructions for writing letters on almost any subject; "a also rules for punctuation and composition, —— : , with specimen letters, a reg No, 45. HOW TO BECOME A CONJURER,. ws —Containing tricks with Dominoes, Dice . Cups and Balls; Hats, ete. Embracing thirty-six illustrations, By A. Anderson. No. 76. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND.—Containing rules for telling fortunes by the aid of lines of the hand, or the secret of palmistry. Also the secret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, sears, ete, Illustrated. No, 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed by leading eenjurers and cae Rt pr cme for wc J _— ment, Fully illustrate No, 78. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART —Containing a complete description i mysteries of Magic and Sleight-of- gether with many wonderful expe By A, Anderson, Illustrated. No, 79. HOW TO BECOME AN icwaiats : —Containing complete instructions to make up for various characters on the stage; together with the duties of the jan- ager, Prompter, Scenic Artiag and Property| No. 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK— Containing the latest jokes, anecdotes and ~ funny stories of this world-renowned Gera _ man comedian. ber at -four pages; handsome colored cover, containing a) half-tone phote! of the author, No. 81, HOW TO MESMERIZE.—Contain- ing the most approved method of mesmer- ism; animal magnetism, or, magnetic ene ing. By Prof. Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S., thor of “How to Hypnotize,” etc No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.—Con- taining the most oer methods of read- ing the lines on t hand, together with a full explanation of their meaning. Also ex- plaining phrenology, and the key of telling characters by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.\S. Fully illustrated. No. 83, HOW TO HYPNOTIZE.—Contain- ing valuable and instructive information re- garding the science of hypnotism. Also ex- Siaining the most approved methods wh bich are employed by the leading hypnotists of the world, By Hugo Koch, A.C.S. No. 8. HOW TO BECOME AN AUTHOR. gp ‘ ‘ an eral composition of le pence oF Went 234.5,