Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 622) (1917 08 31)

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AUGUST 31, 1917 No. 622 SIX Cents or THE YOUNG SALES LYALL JULES TEN. APS’? AND OTHER'STOR, ~ ae * J . “Want to know what we're goin’ to do with you chaps?” asked Blizzard, glaring down at Vance Vinton and Murphy, the track-walker. “You'll be tied to them rails with yer back ag’in the rock. How d’ye like the prospect?”

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etaNr FAMEAND FORTUNE WEEKLY - STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Issued Weekly—By Subscription $3.00 per year. Entered at the New York, N. Y., Post Office as Second-Class Matter by Harry E. Wolff, Publisher, 166 West 23d Street, New York. No. 622. | NEW YORK, AUGUST: 31, 1917. Price 6 Cents. A BOY WITH GRIT THE YOUNG SALESMAN WHO MADE HIS MARK ~ 2 ™ Bee | s¢ ) id z By A SELF-MADE MAN. f N Erne CHAPTER I. Dumping his grip into the road without stopping he dashed : between the girl and the animal, and with a lightning sweep IN WHICH OUR HERO SAVES GERTIE GARNETT. of his heavy stick fetched the hound a blow between the eyes - that brought him down on his haunches. : “Help! Help! Help!” — . : Before, the animal could rise he swung the stick again, - It was the cry of a gitl in mortal terror, and was followed! and a second thud laid the animal out, stiff and senseless. _ by a succession of shrill screams. aking sure that the animal was hors de combat,‘ Vance These signals of dire distress came from beyond the turn| turned around to reassure the girl, who had fallen in a _ of a country road late on a bright summer afternoon. dazed hemp in the dust. : “They reached the ears of a stalwart, good-looking, but She sobbed and trembled violently as he picked her up. rather poorly-dressed boy who was walking along the high-| Though an exhausted and somewhat bedraggled little of Way with a small grip suspended over his right shoulder on| wreck of her natural self, Vance could see with half an eye _. the end of a stout stick. : that she was a bewitching little beauty. Daas boy’s name was Vance Vinton, and he was a stranger} “Brace up, miss,” he said in a reassuring tone. “You in that locality. ss are safe.” __ * The landscape roundabout was a typical rural one of hill! “Safe!” she cried with a shudder, “Where is Prince?” Le . ee auth ape serpentine stream sparkled in the; “Prince!” ejaculated Vance. “Oh, you mean the dog?” light of the declining sun. “« ” Re 1: Miles ove to the right ran the steel track and wooden} « oe bye out as flat as a pancake with my Stick.” 4 _ ties of a railroad which erossed the stream on a stone cul- yen did! How brave you are!” she cried admiringly. ~ velt, and finally disappeared behind a long stretch of woods,| “yoy saved my life.” . the dark green tint of which relieved the eye in that direc- rs : “I won’t say I didn’t, for he looked mighty vicious. Is Pe boy’s face, hands and garments gave evidence of a ; he your dog?” 4 sha 2 “No. He belongs to Arthur Hoover. Did you kill him?” a m8 oy ss ea A Shae ae ped Bic adh suddenly in upon| SP¢, *dded, glancing feeatully at the senseless beast. his monotonous walk, galvanized him into new life. Pr Rast age ok sr oe a ig a7! arrane ft es "ihe tired look van ed from his face as he looked up in ar cers ee eh yt Ric te a startled way, and his stride, which had lacked animation,| | ,Atthur boa Sigg Sestae oe: : ~~. quickened perceptibly. rag ' “I can’t help that. The dog would have bitten you— ve ‘ ere’s something doing. yonder,” he muttered, a bit ex- maybe badly. {[ suppose he broke his chain. edly. “Some girl is in trouble, and it seems to be mighty “Yes.” i ious, too. I guess it’s up to me to do what I can for her.” “He looks like a valuable animal, but the owner should He broke into a run. a" have taken extra precautions with such a savage brute.” “Help! Help! Help!”)came the strenuous appeal again, “Arthur says he’s worth $500. He'll be crazy if the dog D is dead,” : “Well, I’m not going to apologize for laying him out. It was your life against the dog’s, and | guess you're the most important of the two.”. 1 “Yes, yes. I’m very grateful to you. f ; “That’s all right. You’re welcome. Can I do anything more for you?” 4 ¢ *“] should like you to go home with me. I feel weak and F ee: Cae ee ens a ne ae CO ek eee hee an Pblooded frightened yet.” _ ‘ “I will ¢lo ‘so with ‘pleasure, ae Bae th _ “Thank you. My name is Gertie Garnett.” » pay _ “And mine is Vance Vinton.” _ ; es ; ph a stranger in this baa soni re ig aoe es. : ee: €- “Are you walking to the station? It’s a long di =

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, ae" FP 7, | dog 2 er A BOY WITH GRIT. “That is a mile ahead on this road. I live in a big house this side of it. My father is president of the Berkeley Bank. oy you coming to visit any one in the village?” “No, I’m rg Fd way to New York as best I can. “You’re not walking to New York?” she ejaculated in astonishm “Well, laughed. ») ent. I was under the impression that I was,” he New York is 200 miles from here.” I’m more than halfway there.” ess! You don’t mean that?” “Yes, 1 do. T come from Blanktown, and I’ve walked every step of the way.” “Why?” she asked, with evident curiosity. “Because I’m hard up, for, one thing.” “Haven’t you any money ? “T’ve ten cents.” “Is that all?” “That’s all,” he replied ‘cheerfully. “And where do you expect to stay ae the village?” “At the hotel, if there's. one there, if the proprietor will let me work out my supper, breakfast and a bed.” “You shan’t do any such thing. You shall stay at our house. You have saved my life, and my father and mother | will be glad to help you in any way they can.” “I’m much obliged, but I wouldn’t like to put them to vany inconvenience.” “How can you say that? Father will insist on your stay- — he insists I Bim gos I can’t help myself, but, I’m wae a shabby-looking person to accept the hospitality of the president of the village bank.” “Nonsense!” replied Miss Gertie, with a little imperious toss of her Son a om head, which showed that she was in the habit of eg her own way to a considerable extent. “Come, om let us go on.” ery well. I am at your service,” said Vance, picking that moment a dark-featured, ow jogging eae Fe the turn in t One of his hands was bound up with a handkerchief. Although good looking, his face could reid be called B.A hi ie rather handsome boy an attractive one. is habitual expression was not pleasant. e looked as if he thought | a wane ag of himeel?. en arthar Hoover now,” said Gertie apprehensively. say harsh things when ‘he sees his , there you Gertie,” said the newcomer. “So Prince didn’t hurt you, after all. Where is he?” “There,” id the girl, pointing behind. “Dead!” ae a black look coming on ea anak you touch my it him to save this young lady’s life. spring on her when I came up.” had no right to strike my dog,” snarled the boy . “If you've killed we Bag shall pav dearly for it.” He was 0," said | ke dh Aart feared » ’ me ’ Scenes tag 8 pt CHAPTER II. IN WHICH OUR HERO IS NOTIFIED THAT HE IS UNDER ARREST. “Why are you going to New York?” asked Gertie after they had ee a short distance on their way. “To make a start in life,” replied Vance. “Couldn’t you do that at home?” “IT have no home,” answered the boy sadly. “No home!” she ejaculated in surprise. “No, “Are your father and mother dead?” “They are.” “Haven’t you any brothers, or sisters, or relatives?” “I have no brothers-or sisters. I have relatives on my mother’; side in New England, but I believe they have never taken any particular interest in me, so I am not going to bother them about my future. I have had a good com- mon school education and I haven't any doubt but I’ll be able to make my own way in the world.” “So you’re all alone in the world,” thetically. “Yes, I’m all alone.” “l’m sorry, for I think you’re a nice boy. “Thank you for the compliment, Miss ae Ae and I think you’re the nicest girl I ever met.” “Oh, dear, how can you say that?” said the girl blush- ingly. “Look how mussed up I am. I am really ashamed to be seen by any one I know.” “You're not mussed up much.” “} aig I look frightful.” “Then I don’t know what I look like. That boy who owns the dog called me a tramp. I didn’t think I looked quite as bad as that, but——” , “You don’t look the least bit like a tramp,” said Gertie positively. “I’m afraid you ‘want to let me down easy. However, there is nothing of the tramp «eee Pe, = other than my shabby appearance. It is no disgrace tha t I know of for a boy to have to walk because he’s got no money to pay rail- road fare.” hs se will give you money to bpy a ticket to New Yo I wouldn’t accept it. As I’ve walked three-fifths she said sympa- “No. of hee way there now I can manage to cover the balance all ri “Oh, but you mustn’t walk any further. I shall insist that you ride the rest of the way.” me L, don’t know what good exercise walking is,” laughed “What did you do when the weather was bad?” “T stayed at farmhouses along my route.” “Wasn’t you ever caught in the rain on the road?” “Twice, but I found shelter.” _. “What dé you think of doing in New York?” d of work?” “J think I cr be willing to take hold of most anything as a starter. If it doesn’t suit me I'll look around for some- thing better, ARS boys like mvself cannot be “My father has a cousin in New York in a me stent furniture business. I'll tell» he must give a letter of introduction to- him. Ma. Mr. Agpléby Xl ‘ able to give you a position in his store.” “That would be very nice,” replied Vance eagerly. d be very much obliged to —_ father if he did ‘nat “T will see that he does,” said implied were ‘now draving near the village. Which taint ey were now drawing near the village yond a dip in the road. phere te OF Ibeibet sald the’ aie, ting at quite a _| pretentious mansion that stood back PO ige road in the — midst of yee grounds “That other house is where Arthur Hoover lives. Wis: txther tn’ ¢ lowyenanal to justice of the peace, and is well off. goes toa boarding ‘academy in yg he? Bete Mg Crag hs ey tie home on aber chae saph vacation. “T suppose y cular. friends? “No. I don’t like him Ce ee ae sot Ae Oneal ete ee ood, my father encourage wouldn't mind if he never came. sometimes.” Gertie led the way to her front gate Miss Gertie in a tone that~<

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A BOY WITH GRIT. 3 Vance felt kind of. diffident about going in with her, for he knew that he did not show up well in his attire, and he Was not without pride. : He opened the gate for her to enter and then hung back. _“Come,” she said, “don’t stand outside. My father is sitting on the porch reading a paper. I want to introduce you, and tell him how you saved me from a dreadful.death.” So Vance followed her up the graveled path to the porch. | | to your. house late yesterday afternoon,” he said in a re- | spectful way: ; | “She did. What of it, Mr. Tompkins?” “Is that the young fellow?” nodding at Vance. ne EE 468 | “Then I have a warrant issued by Squire Hoover for his arrest.” Mr. Garnett looked up on hearing the gate shut, and he) was surprised to see his daughter with a stranver, especially | -» Such a shabby one. 5 “Father,” said Gertie, as they ascended the porch, “this is Vance Vinton. He saved me from being killed by Arthur Hoover’s dog Princ e.” “What!” gasped the village banker. “He saved you} : Gertie at once explained how Prince, the Danish hound, ‘had broken his chain and chased her down the road. __ “TI believe he would have torn me to pieces only for this boy who came to my aid and knocked the dog senseless just as he was about to spring upon me,” she said. The banker got up and seizing Vance by the hand shook it warmly, at the same time expressing his appreciation of the boy’s plucky service.to his daughter. “Father, I have invited Mr. Vinton to stay with us till to-morrow. He is on his way to New York, and intended Stopping all night in the village. I wish him to stop here, so make him welcome.” Mr. Garnett at once told Vance that it would give him much pleasure to have his ¢gompany at the house. “Come inside and let me introduce you to Mrs. Garnett. Gertie, find your mother and send her into the parlor,” he| Said, leading the way indoors. ; Gertie hurried away, found her mother in the dining- room, and acquainted her with the particulars of the stir- ring adventure she had had down the road. en when Mrs. Garnett entered the parlor she knew how Vance had; probably saved her daughter’s life, and she _ thanked him in feeling words, and welcomed him to their home. _ Vance was shown to a room on the second floor and pro- vided with means to make himself as presentable as pos- e. Then Gertie took posséssion of him as her own particular company, and by the time supper was on the table they were talking together like old ,friends. , ._ Afterward Gertie told her father about Vance’s unfortu- nate age et condition, his purpose in going to New York, and desire. that her father should give him a letter of introduction to his cousin, the a, hy give Vance empl ‘boy money enough to pay his fare to the city bv rail, with a sufficient additional amount to keep him until he got a si on. . Vancé passed the pleasantest evening of his life with the Garnetts, and they, on their part, did everything they could to make him feel at home. furniture man, requesting if possible. His gentlemanly behavior and engaging ways impressed | them with the fact that, poor as he was, he still was no com- mon boy, and had evidently been well brought up. The more they saw of him the better they liked him. As for Gertie, she was more than half in love with Vance. gt bastime, while the boy himself was greatly taken ; made him promise that he would write to her when res om city, apg. let ben now aig he was getting ; ; @ wo nswe gs ayers bes ers my ald a r every one prepared to start on his way after breakfast. banker took him into his library and handed him the letter of introduction to his cousin, Wilford Appleby. =4 p Vance five ten-dollar bills. rst refused to accept them, but when Mr. insisted, he ge yo as a pee aoe ee banker admired s independent spirit, an would: Get song ip the rd all right. CHAPTER IIL |IN WHICH OUR HERO MEETS WITH A BUNCH OF TRAIN WRECKERS. : The constable’s words created surprise.ar.d some conster- nation. “Do you mean to say that you have a warrant from banker, “Yen, Bir.” “Let me see your warrant,” said Mr. Garnett. Tompkins produced it. “This is made out in the name of John Doe.” “Yes, sir. Arthur Hoover didn’t know his name.” “T see Arthur Hoover is the complainant. ‘Alleges that | the said John Doe, real name unknown to complainant, did wilfully and maliciously injure his dog Prince yesterday. Well, officer, the boy will go with you and so will I. It will be necessary for you, Gertie, to accompany us as a witness, | sO run and get your hat. You need not feel anxious over this ridiculous charge, Vinton. When you and Gertie have testified the squire will have to dismiss the charge.” on Main street, where they found the squire, his son Ar- thur, and quite a bunch of curious villagers. rete The squire was surprised to see the banker and his daugh- ter appear on the scene, but he made no comment. Arthur hastened to offer Gertie a seat, but she was so indignant because he had caused Vance’s arrest that she re- fused to notice him, much to his displeasure. Squire Hoover declared the court open as soon as the prisoner was brought in by the constable. “Prisoner,” he said sharply, “are you guilty or not guilty of nearly killing my son’s dog, Prince?” Vance had been instructed oyment, banker promised to write the letter and advance the|’ by the banker to plead “Not guilty,” so he did so. . “Arthur, take the chair. Put your hand on that Bible. You swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” The witness kissed the book and was then requested to tell his story. He had very little to tell. He said that on reaching a certain point on the county road late on the previous afternoon he had found his valu- able dog stretched out in the dust apparently dead. The prisoner and Miss Garnett were standing near the animal conversing. He demanded to know who had struck down Prince, where- —s the prisoner admitted that he had done so with his stick. “y Arthur finished by accusing the prisoner of insolent be- havior toward him. “Prisoner, what have you to say in your own behalf?” Bri ies on goto de: 9 Mr. Garnett, “I am “One moment, please, Tr. 4 ‘ Rete. to. wealines tits bos’s daficies of a FORGE al- though I am no lawyer. ou have heard the true story of this dog admit that the prisoner is episode you was fully justified in laying out the hound in auestion. Ger- | chair.” “tell your story.” She See her tale altered the complexion of affairs ma ei Use Sakae stam tiOi yuk ice ‘ain, celled “Now, your honor, I move the discharge of the prineavee After a whispered consultation with his son squire reluctantly set Vance at liberty. : _Mr. Garnett, Gertie and 4 Squire Hoover for this lad’s arrest?” asked the astonished” So the party of four proceeded to Squire Hoover’s office \ ‘ ha

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After he had walked two miles he saw he could save a mile or more by taking a short cut through a patch of woods. Halfway through the woods he sat down to rest with his back against a big tree. While seated there five rough-looking men came up be- _ hind him, and stopped on the other side of the tree. _ -his retreat was noti They did not observe his presence, and began to talk in rdinary tones among themselves. Vance heard their voices and was about to get up and re- sume his tramp when he heard one of them say something that attracted and held his attention. He listened intently, and soon discovered that the fire- men intended to wreck the west-bound express at a tunnel near by, where it was due in an hour. : Their object was to secure a box of specie which they knew was aboard the express car. Vance was amazed at the audacity of the rascals, as well as at the villainous character of the enterprise. - The problem that naturally occurred to him was how could he defeat the project? It was up to him to do his best to nt a train wreck in which many persons might lose their lives. But how was he to stop the crime? The rascals were five in number, and he was only one. The village whence he had come was nearly three miles away. By the time he had traversed that distance and brought a posse of men back with him the rascals would have ac- complished their purpose. The only thing he saw that he could do was to sneak out of the woods and try and flag the express somehow. He started to put at plan in practice; but unfortunately i by one of the villains and the men o started after him. Finding that he had been detected, he took to his heels as fast as he ‘could. Running in the woods has many disadvantages, and Vance discovered a few of them. His pursuers, however, were equally handicapped. Vance paid little attention to the direction he was taking, his sole object being to elude his pursuers. - When he finally burst out from among the trees he found that -he was close upon the railroad, with the river not far away. ,; He turned down the track in the direction the express was coming. ee a Cet oe co ee Finding that his grip was an obstacle to speed, he tossed it under a tree and spurted. have got clear off, as he was a fine He probably would ) runner, if he hadn’t caught his shoe in a mass of creepers which threw him to the ground with a great deal of force, half stunning him. _ Before he could up the big, of his pursuers came up and caught him y around the waist. He easily held the boy until the others arrived. gente Suse aaiised that the e@ was up. “So got you, eh?” growled big bee denen nage «hc Nat ghee sa . “Here, Grundy, tie this chap’s hands behind his back,” said the big fellow, who seemed to be the leader. The man addressed as Grundy pulled a piece of stout line out of his pocket and bound Vance’s wrists er, Then the big scoundrel yanked the boy on feet. Bg then, march!” he said, forcing Vance to keep pace In manner proceeded to the mouth of-the tunnel. “Well, have to _the track-walker before we can do — i ain't you?” ‘ge hie eee ae A BOY WITH GRIT. “Yes, I am.” “Then you’re the chap we want.” “What do you want me for?” “We want to keep you out of mischief,” grinned the leader. “Grab him, boys, and tie him so he can’t get away.” Before the railroad man could make any move he was tripped up and his arms bound behind his back. “Now, then, Gallagher, if you utter a sound I'll shoot you,” said Blizzard threateningly. : “My name isn’t Gallagher. It’s Murphy.” “It’s all the same to us,” chuckled the leader. “Now, boys, get the tools out of the bushes and sail in. Get a move on, for the express is due in a little while.” ee are you going to do?” asked Murphy, the track- walker. : “None of your business, Gallagher, or Murphy, or what- ever your name is.” “They’re going to wreck the express,” blurted out Vance: Blizzard grinned unpleasantly. “I knew you’d been spyin’ on us, that’s why we you,” he said, with a malevolent glance at the boy. “I reckon you won’t do no more buttin’ in after we’re done with you,” he added darkly. In the meantime Grundy and Slivers got a sledge-ham- mer and other implements out of a bunch of bushes, and they, with the other two, proceeded to tear up. a small sec- tion of track at the mouth of the tunnel. i It was soon apparent that these fellows had had experi- ence with railroad tracks. After they had removed four of the rails Vance expected to see them quit work, but they didn’t. They began digging up the sleepers, which the boy thought was quite unnecessary for their purpose. Then, to his surprise, as well as Murphy’s, they pro- ceeded to lay the sleepers down again in new spots. What were they up to? It was a puzzle to Vance and the track-walker until the men started in to relay the rails they had.torn up. = Then their purpose was apparent. Their diabolical object was to cause the locomotive of the express to run straight against the side of the rocky tunnel. That would bring about a tremendous wreck of the whole train, and in the confusion of the moment they expected to be able to secure the specie box, and make off with it through the tunnel. , Blizzard bossed the job and at the same time kept an eye on the prisoners. As the work was nearing completion he stepped up in front of them. . “Want to know what we’re goin’ to do with you chaps?” asked Blizzard, glaring down at Vance Vinton and Murphy, the track-walker. “You'll be tied to them rails with your backs ag’in the rock. How d’ye like the prospect?” The train-wrecker grinned maleyolently as the prisoners looked helplessly into his cruel countenance. “Dead men tell no tales,” the ceed an’ people are killed, the of you two would hang us if we are caught. To protect ourselves we intend to put you where you will never appear in court against us!” > . ~ * Blizzard turned away to watch the final completion of the dastardly wor! a he CHAPTER IV. IN WHICH OUR HERO REACHES NEW YORK AND SECURES A SITUATION. te 1 “Right,” whose name was Dick Blizzard.|. “We’re dead ” groaned Murphy, the perspiration eom+ “You the tunnel and catch him. ing out on his fo in great drops as he realized the . -hut at the other -end. fearful fate the Ys meant to mete out to time to lose.” and his young compani : t of his mouth before a me- supe theme’ 95> fom Soy © micaomat, Wat BS pag 3 bee ae of galways under his and not give up to despair even he struck — nen ee sg Pay el ge og ua eee pa os under arm. despera rope bound wrists, | bound boy lying onthe in dat ent ane’ Rhok aioped oot tibet ORS here?” to his feet, he seized the red flag the 2

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A BOY WITH GRIT. 5 “Stop, or I'll fill you full of holes!” he roared, raising| the company after the matter had been reported by the con- $_revolyer. ' ductor of the express. ; Vance had no idea of stopping. It was after six in the evening when the train rolled into It was better to be shot down than meet the more terrible| the depot at New York, and when Vance stepped out on the fate designed for him. street, grip in hand, he realized that he was alone in a great Crack! crack! crack! city. : Three sharp, whip-like reports broke the stillness of the} He asked the first policeman he saw to direct him to a -midday air, and as many bullets sped after the boy. |cheap and respectable hotel, and as there was»such .a one _One hummed by his ear; a second perforated the top of| within two blocks the officer walked with him there, handing his derby, while the third went a bit wide. him out a lot of advice on the way, as Vance admitted that Before Blizzard could fire again Vance darted in among! he had never been in a big city before in his life. the trees, and the rascal could not get a fair shot at him.} Next morning he asked the hotel clerk if he could tell With many execrations the ruffian started in pursuit, but} him how he could find Mr. Appleby’s place, of business. Vance was running not only for his own life but the lives of} The clerk picked up a business direetory, and looking up others, and he put every ounce of energy he possessed into! the wholesale furniture men, he pointed Appleby’s address his legs. : out. y He soon distanced “Blizzard, coming out on the track a} Vance wrote it down, and after breakfast, which he took | quarter of a mile away from the tunnel. at a restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel, he started Then he heard the distant whistle of the express as it} out to find the store, which was downtown. ; passed a crossing three miles away. A Broadway surface car took him within a few blocks of When Blizzard reached the track himself he saw that the} his destination, and then by inquiring his way he finally fleeing boy was out of pistol shot, and could not be recap-| reached the store. tured. Entering, he asked a clerk if Mr. Appleby was in. _ fm sg was the reply. “Do you want to see him?”, es. “What name shall I tell him?” ; “Vance Vinton. Tell him I’ve brought a letter from Mr. Garnett, of Berkeley.” Vance was invited into the private office and found him- self in the presence of a portly man who looked full of business. Sit down, young man, and let me see the letter vou say you brought to me from Mr. Garnett,” said- the furniture man. e. Vance presented the letter. Mr. Appleby read it and then inspected his caller. “You come from Blanktown, eh?” =. “Yes, sir.” is . “Parents living there?” ne “No, sir. My father and mother are dead.” ; a “Had any business experience?” ws “No, sir.” . a “How came you to make Mr. Garnett’s acquaintance?” Vance told him how he had saved Gertie Garnett from the fangs of a ferocious Danish hound. | The story made a good impression on the merchant, and he understood what the banker meant when he wrote that he was under a deep obligation to the boy. " “Well,” he said, “the —— I have at present is sinlbadeh pecker! el wabeeni: ce boy. If you wish to ac- _ He gave up the pursuit and hurried back to his men. “The game is up,” he snarled. “That cub will flag the express a mile from here and save it. All we can do now is » to light out as fast as we can.” : With many imprecations the others tossed the tools back into the bushes, and started to retreat through the woods, leaving the track-walker where he was. In the meantime Vance kept on down the track till he saw the locomotive of the express come into sight, then he stopped and began to wave the red flag to and fro. engineer saw the flag, as a matter of course, and shutting off steam whistled down brakes. The train came to’a stop close to the spot where Vance “What's the trouble?” asked the engineer, leaning out of the cab window. be , “The track is torn up at the mouth of the tunnel,” re- plied the boy. 5 bone up!” ejaculated the engineer. “How did that hap- “Train wreckers did it.” “What!” exclaimed the engineer. _ At that moment the conductor came running up to learn why the express had come to a stop. ance explained the situation to him, and he was aston- ~ “Jump on board,” he said to Vance. re _ The boy s: into the cab, followed by the conductor. es wage gre can have : hyo,” ss ss gga righ i “You'll have the chance here; it remains for you to make - best: nse of your opportunities. When did you arrive in = evening, sir.” ’ “Where are you stopping?” ; - “At a small hotel on Third avenue, near Fortieth street.” “Of course you don’t expect to remain there. Take the — afternoon to look around and find yourself a cheap room. ~ The East Side near Third avenue is full of them. Look — for a place near one of the Third avenue elevated stations. — ‘The trains run up and down every few minutes all day and — eR ee ee ey le mo you re to tt head porter ready to go to work. de Pad mali oo The merchant tapped a bell and a clerk entered from os the counting-room. ‘ eas wh. _-« When they drew near : page Send entrance they saw that Vance had spoken the ‘tru ‘waltaa cas ‘a fireman and Vance sprang down and orward. rie ots ‘ Ss at Bad of rushed to Murphy, the track-walker, and released | He confirmed Vance’s story of what had happened. will report at seven in the morning when you open up. tion. |g The cor ghd tell: y etanee ‘ez uld give th Appleby. Young a tell .him to come here, nal BAG oc a time the porter made his appearance. 2 he &y, wy Koen e Vinton, your new assistant. | 3

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“Good-afternoon, Mr. Hoover,” “I see you have come for your mail, replied Gertie coldly. like myself,” he She. made no reply, but continued reading Vance’s letter. 6 A BOY WITH GRIT. CHAPTER V. ; ; went on. IN WHICH OUR HERO IS REWARDED BY THE RAILROAD | COMPANY. | Vance was at the store promptly at seven next morning, | ror the porter set him to work sweeping out the office and the store. The clerks and salesmen began to arrive just before eight, | and then Vance was sent down to the posioffice to get the | bulk of the mail, which he got out of a box. After turning the mail over to the head bookkeeper and cashier he went up to the top floor to help the porter stow away a consignment of furniture that had arrived that morning. He was kept busy until noon, when he was allowed half an hour to go out and get his lunch at a cheap lunch house in the, vicinity. Then he had all he could do until the whistles announced six o’clock, which was the hour the store closed. Vance received a full week’s salary on Saturday after- noon, though he had only worked four days, but he had -acquitted himself well, and Young had made a favorable report to Mr. Appleby. Vance spent Sunday in getting acquainted with the upper part of New York. He did not forget to write a lengthy letter to Gertie Gar- nett, detailing all that had happened to him since he parted ‘company with her and her father in front of the bank. ‘The Garnetts had seen the fact reported in a New York paper about how a boy named Vance Vinton had saved the early west-bound express from wreck at the mouth of the tunnel, and they were oy much surprised “S the news. “It’s _just like him to do that,” asserted Gertie. “He’s | 3 It isn’t every boy who would have “ Prince to save me like he did. The a railroad company ought to reward him for what he did.” 5 “Very likely,” replied her father. f Gertie left the room wondering when she would hear Soom os in whom she felt a very strong interest. So anxious to get a letter from her new’ ac- quaintance that she walked to the post-office Monday after- _ moon and inquired for the family mail. “T ‘was just about to send it over to the bank, as usual, Miss Garnett.” said the apa eit politely. “Will you take | it with you? 2” she repliet: “Certainly, So he handed her several letters, a magazine and a news- oy looked the letters over and found one for herself ae a handwriting strange to her, and waemareed ew big a jump, for she felt ‘sure that letter was inton. _ While on was standing in the general store pending’ it Arthur Hoover walked in. * He eame after mail, too. He saw Gertie and stepped up --Gihe ‘had treated hima ‘with marked ‘coolness since the dog _ avoided him as nama as possible, he of one of the richest residents of Berkele bast pa litte ine-| 3 return home from the academy for a ten weeks’ than usual, and even be- ‘on the banker’s daugh- es him ever since his dog Prince, who had attacked her. changed greatly when he found | better go He tapped his polished shoes with his natty cane and felt kind of uncomfortable. “May I have the pleasure of walking home with you, Miss Gertie?” “T am not going home at present,” she answered shortly. “Oh, I’m in no hurry. I have lots of time.” j “T intend to make a visit before I go home,” she said, | hoping to shake him off. “T can go with you part of the way, then, can’t I?” “Tt isn’t worth while.” “Will you go riding with me to-morrow, attermeon?”* he asked after a pause. “T have an engagement for to-morrow afternoon.” “Then the day after?” “I don’t care to make any arrangement so far ahead.” “That isn’t far ehead,” he persisted. “You will have to excuse me now,” she said, st. “Good. letter up half read and putting it in her pocket. afternoon,” and she swept out of the store with the air of a little queen. Arthur looked after her angrily. - - hogs rd wasn’t so pfetty, and old man Garneitt’s daugh- er, He clenched his fist, and then walking up_to the counter asked the postmaster in a haughty way for the family mail. He received several letters and two magazines. “You’d better send the magazines to the house when your son calls for orders in the morning,” he said in a patroniz- ing tone. The storekeeper said nothing, but took the magazines back. “He’s a regular dude,” he said to himself as he watched Arthur stride out of the store. “If he was my son I’d take — a few of the airs out of him with the soft end of a strap.” On Monday ers an oblong letter. bearing the im- print of the N. Y. C. & H. R. Railroad Company, and ad- dressed, to Vance Piasion care of Wilford Appleby, was de- livered at the store by the mail-carrier. The letter was handed to the merchant and he sent for Vance. “Here’s a letter for you, Vance,” is said, wondering what communication the railroad colapany could have to make to his office boy. 7 “Thank you, sir,” replied Vance, taking it and retiring. When he returned upstairs again he a ae it, and found that it was a typewritten note signed by the president of the company requesting him to call at his office in the ened Central, Depot as soon as he could find it convenient 0 sO, When he came in from lunch he went into the private office and showed the note to Mr. Appleby. “Are you looking for a situation with the railroad com- pany?” asked the merchant in some earprise, and not much ay page at the thought. ; “No, sir.” “Then why does the peeribert, wish you to call at his office ? “T suppose he wishes to see me because I saved the ex- “| press.” “Saved the express!” exclaimed the merchant, rather puz- zled. “What do you mean?” Then Vance told him what occurred at the mouth of, the tunnel on the morning he left Berkeley for This was the first that Mr. A wil had heard about the: matter, and he was not a little “Upon my word, you are a Sochatkebla boy,” he said in a tone of some admiration. “First you save pi cousin’s daughter from 4 vicious dog, then you saye an from being wrecked by a gang of miscreants. ell. | I pose you'll have to call on the president. Probably lives and the company from numerous damage suits. You my right uptown now.” | receive a from the company. At any rate, you serve something for what you did. You surely saved Vance told the head porter that he was obliged to be away and then he left the store. Grand Central the city. * a

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ae, 4 a 2 A BOY WITH GRIT. Vance ‘said he had received a letter from the the company asking him to call. “What’s your name?” asked the boy. Vance gave it, and the youth told him to take a seat. He went into an adjoining room, and when he came back he motioned to Vance to follow him. | . Then Vinton was ushered into the presence of the presi- | dent of the road. The great mogul received the Koy very graciously, shook hands with him and complimented him on his grit in get- ting the better’ of the train-wreckers. Then he asked Vance to go over the incident as it ac- tually happened, and the boy did so. The president complimented him again and handed him the company’s check for $1,000 as an evidence of the cor- poration’s appreciation of his services. He added that if Vance ever wanted a favor in.the future he must not hesitate to write or call upon him, and if it was) possible for him to grant it he would do so. Then he shook hands with Vance once more and dis- missed him. * Vance felt several inches taller and several degrees more} important when he left the building than when he entered it. The thousand-dollar check in his pocket made him feel like a man. ; It seemed an enormous sum of money to him at that mo- ment, for he had never had re than the $50 that Banker Garnett loaned him in his pocket in all his life. That night after supper.he wrote another letter to Gertie, told her about his interview with the president of the rail- road company, and about the check, which he said he was going to put into the bank as a nest-egg for the future. : } president of / CHAPTER VI. “IN WHICH OUR HERO PROCEEDS TO LEARN THE BUSINESS ON i THE QUIET. eved that he couldn’t iture and he pos 1 no >] ; p of fu theo picking up during 2 tong experi ’ F ing it. Fb cot 1 7s = posi tion to ya salesman in unloading 4 ee 7 he thought the salesman omitted particulars that he would have called to the customer’s attention, and when, in such instances, the salesman failed to enthuse the buyer, and | missed a sale, Vance told himself that he would have done better. : With the ardor and inexperience of youth he no doubt overestimated his abilities, but for all that the boy had the right stuff in him to make a capital salesman,“and it only required development to bring it out. One evening Vance stopped in front of a second-hand book store on Third avenue and began looking over the well- worn volumes that lined an outside stand. He was quite a reader and thought he might pick up something that would interest a spare hour. Among the books he handled was one that treated about furniture, | It struck him that this would be useful to him, so he asked the storekeeper how much he wanted for it. The man said a quarter and Vance purchased it. When the boy got back to his room he spent the rest of the evening reading the book. It proved to be quite a valuable text-book on the manu- facture and upholstering of furniture, and it greatly in- terested Vance. He gained more theoretical information out of it about the business he was in than he would have picked up in years in his present position. What he learned created a strong desire for’ more infor- mation of the same kind, and when he finished the book he went back to the store and asked the dealer if he had any more books on furniture. The man had another one, though it was not so good as the other. Vance also found a volume treating on upholstery as ap- | plied to furniture. He bought both books, too kthem home, and studied them diligently. ; ; About this time a young man whose acquaintance he had made took him to the Mechanics’ Library. This was a free library, bet to secure the privilege of taking out books one had to guaranteed by a member of the society. é ‘When Vance said he’d like to take out books his friend said he’d fix it so he could do so. He got his own guarantor to endorse Vinton and so Vance became a member of the library for a year. ; He found several books on furniture here, books that were up-to-date and too expensive for him to have bought. Some of the books treated on medieval furniture, that is, furniture of the middle ages, and so on down to modern times. . Vance studied in turn with great care every book on the subject, or connected with the subject, in the library, and by that time he knew more about furniture from a theoreti- eal and artistie standpoint than any one else in the store. Whenever he had the chance he examined the various kinds of furniture in the store on the second, or ps floor, and studied their make-up and upholsteri lly. time a new design of furniture arrived he wouldn't _ ~* ahaa rest till it had receivéd his earnest attention. ¢ : No a say BL gee Fst gy ert Ayre Dg Fe =e om e paid very little ai guring ol- > lowing out instructions the merchant to pot B : } uainted with all the details of the business. ok Thus another six months passed into the dim and misty pe past, but during it Vance had acquired an of knowledge that only the most painstaking’ have secured, 3 store effort could The boy had made himself 4 : the escheat Fan thinking about advancing in the counting-room. ais i Ber Had Vance consulted og the subject he would ha intimated that he preferred a chance to show what he do_in the salesroom. © ‘ 4 That chance, however, came to him in an accidental and One day when th pocket sd to be me One day w he m ppened to quite a number of customers ‘so solid with Mr. Appleby that _ a

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Z consignments that had arrived a few days before from one of the manufacturers with whom Appleby traded. Business had been so brisk for several days past that none of the salesmen had had an opportunity to get acquainted with the merits of the new stuff, and consequently it was not yet on sale, though tags had been attached with the wholesale price in the office numbers, which were, of course, not intelligible to outsiders. ‘ Vance, through Young, had made himself acquainted with the meaning of the secret code governing prices, and he could tell at a glance just what the furniture cost Mr. Ap- pleby and what the merchant was asking for it. He could do even better—he knew exactly what every piece of furniture in the house was worth though an ex- amination of the make-up of the samples. and a comparison | with facts and figures he had learned outside the establish- ment, not from ks simply, but from practical talks he had had now and then with furniture men well up in the manufacturing business. Many of these men, selling agents for the different bi manufacturing establishments throughout the country, call frequently on Mr. Appleby, and by degrees Vance had man- aged to make their acquaintance. His intelligent talk and ingratiating ways mede a favor- able impression on the agents, and they often took him out bas aig to the theater and elsewhere when they were in e city. Vance took advantage of these opportunities to pump his acquaintances in an offhand way about their end of the business. He found he was most successful when they were some- re mellowed with whisky, which he never touched him- self. Then their tongues loosened up, and’ frequently they be- came quite confidential with him, regarding him merely as a very pleasant young companion, In this wer he learned secrets they never would have otherwise let slip. These secrets, however, were quite safe with Vance, but they gave him an immense advantage, not only over the salesmen of his house, but the merchant himself, in sizing up the goods that came in and gauging their real value. In fact, by'this time Vance was a perfect walking author- ity on the subject of furniture. _ As we have just remarked, on the day that Mr. Appleb Was short-handed in salesmen and he had to turn to himself, Vance,,was called to the sales floor to make himself useful, and proceeded to do so in a quiet, unobtrusive manner. It was now that the chance of his life turned up in the person of a little old gentleman named George Winter, one _ of the most important customers of the house. had dealt with Appleby for twenty years, and the were like chums. merchant always waited on him personally, whether e had idle salesmen or not. sang froid of a partner in the house, Appleby was Se te oan ee need te very well Jeave him, so, after giving Winter ing, he told him to take a seat for a little ook around himself wmtil he was ready to take Winter didn’t care to sit down, to look “ samples, so he moved slowly about the fat cigar and making mental notes of wanted. - CHAPTER VII. IN WHICH OUR HERO IS PROMOTED TO BE A SALESMAN. By degrees Winter came to where Vance was moving the es : ; man’s were particularly attracted to - rry y ‘ad ee " ine the furniture. | tr new, isn’t it?” he said to Vinton. A BOY WITH GRIT.. Winter, though a connoisseur, hadn’t noticed the fact, and he looked at the boy in some surprise. : “You seem to understand the design of furniture pretty well, young man,” he said. Saki “I don’t pretend to have a great knowledge of it, sir, as yet, as I am young, but I have devoted a great deal of study to the subject of both furniture and upholstery. For in- stance, I saw when this set arrived here that it was up- holstered in a special kind of silk tapestry made only in Lin- gerie, France.” / , “How could you judge that?” asked Winter, regarding the boy with interest. : “I recognized it by the design. That design cannot be duplicated anywhere, that is, exactly enough to deceive an expert.” “Then you consider yourself an expert on the subject,” replied the old gentleman with just the suspicion of a smile. Well, sir,” answered Vance, somewhat embarrassed, “1 won’t say that, but I do know a whole lot about the various kinds of goods used to upholster furniture. Now that set over yonder is upholstered in a kind of brocatelle that is usually used to line the interior of swell carriages. It is manufactured by a certain Springfield house, and they have a patent on all the designs they put out. I can tell that brocatelle anywhere, as I presume you can yourself. You see here is another set fixed up with an imitation brand-of the Springfield output. It looks just like it, doesn’t it? im many ways, yet there is a whole lot of difference in the | make, texture and quality. This set we sell for $874 net, while the other costs the dealer $992 net. Yet I have heard that some furniture men have palmed off the imitation for the real, because it requires an educated eye to tell the real difference between them.” Winter listened to Vance with much interest. The boy was quite a revelation to him. He had seen him seyeral times about the house, but had never seen him attempt to sell a single article. : Apparently this lad was well able to act as a salesman. At any rate, Winter liked to he talked to in the way Vance was doing. The boy, under the enthusiasm of the moment, forgot that he was overstepping his line of duty, and he kept on showing different sets and pieces of furniture to the best customer of the establishment. yeh i Winter, seeing that Mr. Appleby was still’ very much en- gaged with his new caller, and finding that Vance appeared to understand. how to talk furniture from a very entertain- ing standpoint, decided not to wait for the merchant to be disengaged, but to let the boy take his order. ¥ “By the way, what is your name, young man?” he asked. “Vance Vinton,” : “How long have you been with Mr. Appleby?” “A little over a year.” J “Well, go and get a.pad, I want you to sell me a bill of goods. se © “I am not a salesman. Mr. Appleby might object.” | “Nonsense! Get the pad. I know a salesman when I meet with one, and I'll warrant you’re-as good as any in Mr. Appleby’s employ.” Thus encouraged, Vance sot a pad and returned to the old gentleman. “Put my name down at the top—George Winter, Buffalo, New York.” - Vance wrote the name and address down. “Now we'll begin with that combination Charles XII... and Louis XIII. set. What is the price?” vA i —— = Vance told him. 3 : band offered him $100 less, but the boy said laugh- . ingly: ; Appleby was at liberty. ' “Sorry to have kept you waiting so |

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“A BOY WITH CRIT. “So he told me; but if I were you I’d make him one with-| out delay.” “Make him one! He’s only my office boy and general} helper. It will be some time yet before he learns the busi- ness sufficiently to qualify for a salesman.” ; “Think so, eh? I was not aware that you were so blind) to the merits of one of your employees. If I had this boy in my store I’d make him my head salesman.” | “You’d do what, Winter?” ejaculated the astonished mer-) chant. : “I'd make him head salesman. He’s got all the qualities of one in him, and only needs a little practice to make a) corker, you can take my word for that.” : Mr. Appleby looked at Vance and then back at Winter, | hardly knowing what to think. i Vance, blushing and much embarrassed, handed his em- . ployer the pad with the order he had taken from Winter, | ‘oat excusing himself walked away to finish what he had been | ' engaged about previous to Winter’s coming. Pte - He could see the merchant and the old gentleman talking quite animatedly together, and he guessed he was the sub- | fet under discussion. } After Winter had gone away Mr. Appleby came back and_| hunted Vance up. 4 : ; ‘ ae = ung man, where di ou learn sO much abou Ptah Eg Mr. Winter says whik you don’t seem to know about the goods on this floor isn’t worth mentioning. The very first thing you sold him was this new set that came in| yesterday. He says you called it a combination Charles XII. and hee 8 XU. Tell me how you make that out. What do you know about the set, anyway? I haven’t looked into it myself, and consequently it isn’t on sale.” “Then I shouldn’t have sold it, I suppose. I thought——” _ “Pm not finding any fault with you for having put it on ' Winter,. for if you’ve made any misrepresentation I can Vance followed the merchant to his office, and thus in an |hour the boy jumped from the lowly position of general helper about the store to that of a salesman. CHAPTEER VIII. IN WHICH OUR HERO MAKES A STRANGE DISCOVERY. When the information leaked through the house that Vance had been promoted to the position of salesman it was received with astonishment and not a little incredulity. He was immediately buttonholed by one of the regular salesmen. “Say, Vinton, what rot is this I hear about you having’ been made a salesman?” he asked rather aggressively, for neither he nor the other salesmen relished the idea of the boy being advanced on a par with themselves. “No rot at all, Mr. Cooke. It happens to be a fact,” he- plied Vance coolly. “Oh, it is a fact, is it?” sneered Cooke. suddenly gone dippy ?” “You’d better ask him, Mr. Cooke.” “Don’t get cheeky, young fellow,” replied the salesman angrily. “If you start in to put on any airs with me, or the rest of us on the sales floor, we'll take you down so quick it will make your head swim.” : “I don’t intend to. put on any, airs. I intend to stick strictly to business.” “What do you know about selling goods, I’d like to know?” “If I asked you such a question you’d consider me imperti- nent,” replied Vance, : _ “I certainly would. Do you mean to say you consider me impertinent for putting the question to you?” “T think you are treading on delicate ground.” “Oh, you do?” snarled Cooke. “Do you know that you’re nothing but a boy?” “T am fully aware of that fact. What of it?” “ a iy oa miatices Wits HE.) What tase te understand | saci? Benson, myself, and the others don’t want kids i nd where you got all your information. Winter sy tage got style, quality and everything about the * goods down finer than silk. Now you certainly must know a) bit, for Winter is an expert in furniture himself. He d me that you told him things he never dreamed about. - He further says that you have the history of furniture at your ’ ends, that you are the most entertaining talker he ever met. In fact, he cla:ms that he bought more from you than he intended when he came to the city. He couldn’t. resist your eloquence. That’s considerable of an admission, for I never knew Winter to buy a single piece ore that he hadn’t more or less decided on before he struck the store. What did you tell him about this combina- tion set, as you call it?” Vance at once about the set. i ; Gs ed in thunder did you acquire your knowledge about it?” asked the puzzled merchant; “that is, assuming that you ‘are correct. That set hasn’t been. over twenty-four hours in this establishment.”, . Vance then explained to Mr. Appleby how he had made up ‘his mind to learn the ness from A to Z, with the idea ef eventually becoming a competent salesman. : He told him how he had been reading up the subject for the i ths, and‘then trying his best to ce his ~ knowled six mon i ge to practical demonstration. How he had asked for information from reach qualified to enli, it? 4 : ° men. oving their oars into our department.” Pe you refer to me?” 0.” “Then you had better see Mr. Appleby about it. I shall ~ enter on my duties as a salesman here next Monday ac- cording to my present instructions.” “Then you won’t remain long in the store, I can tell you,” replied Cooke darkly. “Why not?” demanded Vance sharply. “You'll find out why not in good time.” “You seem to entertain a grouch against my becoming a salesman. “We don’t want boys, especially a hoy who sweeps out the store every day, to stand on a par with us. We are boy? “It’s none of your business what I did when I was a boy. I’m not a boy now. I have been a salesman ten y né I was ten years reaching that point. Here you’ve only been in this store a year, and the boss makes you a salesman. Why, it’s enough to make a jackass Jaugh.” “I don’t see that you are laughing much over it.” “What’s that? Do you compare me with a jackass?” roared Cooke. ‘ 25 Oe MOREA. Sheet Trey “smears :°0 eek a, Ie a m ” a” 4 * ~ “You meant it, you y whipper r!” snorted th waa{ta,meant i, you young. whinperenapper!” snorted the such , Mr. Cooke,” replied Vance indig- to me in that way over with wrath. _ ‘ The salesmen were not the ‘ “Has Appleby 4 \ Jt ; ears, and — we'd —

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——e ee eo ‘ ; f 10 A BOY WITH GRIT. his advancement had raised about his ears; “but I can’t help it. I shall stick it out just the same. this establishment as long as Mr. Appleby says so, no matter how the rest of the employees feel about it. They’re jealous, that’s the matter with the whole lot of them. ous of my success.” And with those words he expressed the exact truth. Vance told Young about his promotion, and the head porter congratulated him. : Y “He, at any rate, wasn’t jealous. : E Then the boy mentioned the change of bearing of all the salesmen and junior clerks toward him. : “Don’t you mind them, Vinton. boss, not for them. You follow instructions from head- quarters and let them bag their heads,” said Young. As Vance tiptoed down the aisle he saw the light burning I shall sell goods in| on the other side of the glass partition. As far as he could make out he did not see any intruders. He kept on, however, to find out, if possible, if thieves They’re jeal-| had been there. Reaching the glass door of the office he looked inside. It was empty, and nothing appeared to be out of order. To make sure he opened the door and stepped inside. _ Then he caught the gleam of light through the crack in the private office door which stood ajar. Vance also heard the sound of voices in the little room. "The thieves are in there,” he breathed. “What shall I Slipping off his shoes he crept over to the door, pushed it cautiously open far enough to admit his head and looked in. You’re working for the/ do to put a spoke in their wheel?” “The salesmen’ will try and make trouble for me so as| There were two men squatting before Mr. Appleby’s pri- to get me bounced if they can; but they’d better not let me| vate safe, one of whom was working at the combination lock, catch them at any underhand tricks, for if I do I’ll make/ occasionally consulting a slip of paper in his hand. tae r. them sweat for it,” said Vance resolutely. “That’s right. I-wouldn’t take any nonsense from-any of them.” f “I don’t mean to.” A new office boy appeared ut the store on Monday morn- ing, and Vance didn’t come down until eight o’clock. The other salesmen came straggling in soon after, and gathering in a bunch at the rear of the second floor they held an indignation meeting. While they were thus employed an early customer made |” his appearance, and Vance, being wide awake, took him in tow before any of the cthers came forward, and he was soon selling the man a bill of goods that amounted to several thousand dollars. , 4 He captured several customers during the day and his aggregate sales amounted to more than that of any of the other salesmen. ; : This fact was conveyed to them by one of their friends in the office, and it further embittered them nst Vance. The boy kept a sharp lookout for trouble from the mal- contents, but nothing happened during the week. Vance was left entirely alone, but that fact didn’t worry ‘any. v As long as the le in the store were sore on him he ded, noticing “Tt ane my duty to investi- _tampered with,” chuckled Cooke. The light from an electric lamp held by one of the in- truders shone full on the same door, but the reflection lit up sow faces of the men sufficiently for Vafce recognize them. : : The man fumbling at the lock was Mr. Appleby’s trusted cashier, while the other was Cooke, the salesman, - CHAPTER IX, IN WHICH OUR HERO SAVES THE BOSS’ MONEY. Vance was very much astonished to see Cooke and the eashier in the store at that hour of the night, and especially monkéying with Mr. Appleby’s private safe. They had no right at all to be there, and therefore their presence and their actions were decidedly suspicious. _ “They’re\up to something crooked,” thought the boy. “It is a good thing I came this way and noticed that the front door had been forced. I reckon these men will have an ex- planation to make to-morrow.to Mr. Appleby, and rt more ng worse happeas.--* than likely they’ll get. the bounce, if not to them. The cashier seems to have the figures of the com- bination in his hand. He must have found them some- where.” - ’ “Can’t you get it open?” asked'Cooke. “Sure, I can. It’s open now,” replied the cashier, seizing _ was willing they should take their own time to get over the the handle and pulling open the heavy door. Cooke fiashed the light inside the safe. ure “The money is in one of these drawers,” said the cashier. “They’re locked, aren’t they?” “Tl be able to force them with this thin steel jimmy.” The speaker immediately began operations, and presently Vance heard a snapping sound, like a pistol shot. The cashier had broken the tongue of the lock of the’ up- per drawer. “Here’s the money,” he said exultantly, “six thousand dol- lars—three thousand apiece. We'll divide when we reach your room.” : He swung the safe door shut and both stood up. “The old man will wonder how the drawer got broken and the money disappeared with the safe lock apparently not What. do we care? “Let him wonder. Neither he nor hveghe else can suspect us,” said the cashier. “Now let’s Vance slipped away from the door just in time to avoid béing seen. Unfortunately, one of his feet came in contact with an crash just as the cashier, a

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th Y a ie 2. . aoe - — * (ae: , A BOY WITH GRIT. il “But we didn’t lock it, nor the glass door, either,” said} Making his way to the front door he looked out, but there joke. was no sign/of the salesman outside. é “Because we couldn’t, as the porter has the keys.” “I guess he’s gone. I’ll have to stay here and watch the “Somebody might have tried the front door, and finding it} store till a policeman shows up. It would neyer do for me unlocked walked in.” to go away and leave the place open in this way, even if I “Not one chance in a hundred.” have to stay here on guard all night,” Vance said to him- “That one chance might——” self, “Don’t talk so much. I'll turn up the gas. That will be} He stood there for nearly an hour before he heard the better than your electric light. Shut the door of the private| sound of footsteps echoing along the sidewalk. Office,” A patrolman was leisurely approaching, carelessly swing- _ Vance knew that when the gas was turned on full he| ing his night-stick. would be discovered, so he dashed out from under the desk} As soon as he got near Vance hailed him. and butted the cashier in the stomach, upsetting him on the| When the officer came up to him the boy explained who floor. he was, told where he had been spending the evening, and The man uttered a cry as he went down. how on his way home he passed by the store and found the Cooke also uttered an exclamation, for he saw the dark | outside door ajar. ob pop out and bump into his companion. “It was all right when I passed here two hours ago,” sai¢ ance fren. took advantage of the confusion into which he) the cop. “Somebody has been here since.” had thrown the two unfaithful employees and darted for the}. Vance proceeded with his story, and told the policeman alf glass door gpening into the store, picking up his shoes on| that the reader knows. the way. ‘ { 4 : F The officer was much astonished. vey He alawined the door to. after him, slipped on his shoes,| “You say that you caught one of them?” he said. and awaited further developments. a Os : “Yes. I locked him up in the boss’ private office.” _ He chuckled as he thought of the consternation into -which “I suppose you’re prepared to make the charge of bur he had thrown the two men, and he wondered how he could] glary against him, so I'll take him to the station.” finish the job in a way that would redound to his credit. “I am,” replied the boy. : The cashier had stolen $6,000 from Mr. Appleby’s private} “Then I'll go in and get him,” said the officer. safe, which he expected to divide with Cooke. They both entered the store. 6 Vance clearly expected it was his duty to recover that; When they came to the spot where the settee, lay in their money and return it to the merchant when he came down to th, Vance restored it to its proper place and put the stool his office. . : ack where he had found it. He thought first of rushing to the front entrance and} Then they went on to the counting-room. looking for a policeman, but on reflection he knew the} When Vance opened the private room door they found the chances were against one being in sight. cashier sitting in Mr. Appleby’s chair. If he left the building to find one the cashier and Cooke “You are under arrest, my man,” said the officer. would escape while he was away, and Vance would then have| The cashier made no answer. ; only his uncorroborated statement to bring against the ras-|_ The unexpected ending of his enterprise seemed to have ““‘eal8, which they would naturally brand as an absurd lie. knocked the wind completely out of his sails, so to speak : Ga pia op krone the crime home to them the money| _ He offered no resistance when the policeman marched him - would have to be found on either one or the other. through the store to the street. ; Vance could see the two men consulting inside the office. “Find a couple of small boards and a hammer and nails,” _' They were seemingl aired to come out into = store. pid the officer. “We must secure the door before we A time t id not dare remai in the| leave.” , ei eien 2 as shige ay Bae el pavance Knew that he would find what was needed in the The | knew that it woul foolish in him to attack| basement, so he went there and looke m up. the men. single-handed dim ti ‘a weapon of some kind, and Five minutes later he was nailing the door up under the even at that he wou king chances. cop’s eye. : eae the same he was resolved that they should not get "You know the chap who got away, I think you said?” away. i ‘“ ig 4 +i faces 5 Peed ae Gee one, of our salesmen. I ier 2 companions now ere he lives?” Se mr ll conga sl cave! «f do not, but we've got his address at the store.” _ Vance shoved the cane settee he had been sitting on across . Fie SOY was marched to the station and lined up at the dark passage. TT , flat un Vance told his story to the desk man, and charged the ee Se oa ae the Gtk eat nd that his]. Nalor with rebbine Mr Apploby's private safe of $8000... “pie tro sedently Sad decided fo make auc break for| AUP "'wtlzte hat bone ie hes eked ps a fb deor, witsone paying ayy, yon to the person | 464) and then Vance went home well satisfied with his night’s © : knew was in the ; ; egy hurried forward the cashier collided with the set-| WoT: : a ft and both we~t over in a heap on the floor, Cooke tum- E _ Bling on top. ; he 2 s “Oh, oh,” groaned the cashier, “I’ve broken my shins, and CHAPTER a you nearly knocked the wind out of me.” : HERO GERTIE GARNETT 4 Wir nearly broke my. neck.” howled Cooke. “That villain, sas ga ape ever he is, put this blamed obstruction right in our] When Young appeared at the store a few minutes before. me up, will you?” asked the cashier. nailed up. & . tenet stool caught him in the middle of the back, and! pi KEP ! ie ard on his eee With a fear of pan that his further surprise that the inside door was t e store. Se t : i ’ concluded at once that the place ha __“What’s happened to you?” inquired. the cashier, strug-| been entered by crook: eign Ba pene aie He started for the counting-room ies thing, expecting to _ Prme te, 4 f | aling $e ES srcaning-on the ground, for the blow ‘had been find a scene of m there, but nothing had seemingly =H one. ~ ; n d A ‘ behind the cashier and struck him a on this beat must have nailed 0 id ho went down like a ninepin, | “is a sign that he found it or gg” the dazed man in his arms and) ragged | r away as they were all ready to e office where he ti his arms behind him < rate, t is no indication that any robbe up s ‘= ai od fe

Page 14

—— > 12 A BOY WITH GRIT. ] _ The merchant was just coming downstairs in answer to the breakfast bell when Vance rang the door-bell and asked for him. ' “Why, Vance!” he exclaimed in surprise when the boy Was admitted to the hall. '“T have no doubt that you are surprised to see me, at your house, especially at so early an hour, when I should be _at the store, but I have called on a matter of gerat im- portance.” : / “Indeed!” replied the merchant, looking at him curiously. “Yes, sir. Your store was broken into last night by two_ — and $6,000 taken by one of them from your private 6? This was startling and unpleasant news for Mr. Appleby. “Were the thieves captured?” asked the merchant eagerly. . “One of them was, and the money recovered.” “Good!” replied Mr. Appleby, much relieved. “It was I who found the store door open at half-past one this morning,” said Vance. “You!” ejaculated the merchant in surprise, “What were you doing faci there at so early an hour?” “J attended Young’s wedding anniversary last night, at his flat, on the lower West Side, and on my way to the nearest Third Avenue station I passed the store.” | Vance then proceeded to tell everything that had hap- ' pened after he entered the,store. _ When the boy disclosed the identity of the thieves to him Mr. Appleby received his statement with some incredulity. “Do you mean to say that one of these thieves was Mr. _ Smith, my cashier, and the other Cooke, one of my. sales- : men?” he said. , “I do. Mr. Smith unlocked the safe and took the money out of one of the drawers, the lock of which he broke to. ' get at it. Cooke was to get half of the $6,000.” m Vance then went on with his story, telling how he cap- _ tured Smith, and later on turned him over to a policeman. __ “He is now locked up at the Church Street station, and wili be refnoved to the Tombs Police Court for examination this i r . I will have to go there to give my evidence against him. The police have your money.” ice “What about Cooke?” ; , ih 3 “He got away while I was making a prisoner of Smith.” “He must be arrested as soon as possible. The unfaithful- ness of these two men is a terrible shock to me. I placed every confidence in Smith. He has been with me for several years. What could have induced those men to rob me?” As Vance didn’t know their reasons for committing the ‘erime he said nothing... rise ; _ “Well, Vance, I am under great obligations to you for _ saying my money, and I promise you that I will make it all right with Sage ; “That’s all right, Mr. Appleby. It was my duty to act as ap and I am not entitled to any special: thanks,” replied the boy. . “While I admit that it was your duty to investigate mat- ters when you found the store door open, still. the service : ed. You are also entitled to some substantial evi- dence of my appreciation for saving that $6,000, and you shail. get it. Now you'd better go to the store. I'll be down as soon as I have eaten my breakfast.” Great was the excitement among the employees of the ere when the news of the arrest of cashier Smith spread g them. rt tte iY 1¥ was held for the action] ‘was an unusual one, and therefore you are entitled’ to be]. he oule find the opportunity, 7 én your vacatio. | it with us,” said Gertie; “that is, if before a city] pleasure. and chain and $500 in cash as an evidence of his appreciation of his services. Vance, who had already written Gertie Garnett about his promotion to the position of salesman in the store, wrote to the girl the full particulars of how he saved Mr. Appleby the sum of $6,000. She wrote back saying that nothing he did in the strenu- one line surprised her, for she knew him to be a boy wjth grit. t Vance’s night adventure at the store had the effect of breaking up the ill feeling his promotion had aroused, and by the end of the week he was on fairly good terms with everybody again. Cooke was really the head and front of the opposition to Vance, and his involuntary withdrawal from the establish- ment took the backbone out of the adverse sentiment. Vance soon demonstrated to the satisfaction of Mr. Ap- pleby that he was a good salesman, and bound to improve with experience. : The boy took a great interest in his new position, and did everything he could to show that he was able to fill the bill. A few weeks went by and then Vance received a letter from Gertie telling him that she and her mother were com- ing to New York for a short visit, and that they were to stay at Mr. Appleby’s home. _ Vance was delighted at the news, for he was very anx- ious to see the little beauty of Berkeley village again. He judged that she must be greatly improved in every way, as it was something more than a year since he parted from her in front of her father’s bank. He wondered to what extent he shared her thoughts. = “Tf she only thinks half as much of me as I do of her | I'll be satisfied,” he said to himself. ‘“She’s a fine girl, and I haven’t seen a city girl yet'that can hold a candle to her.” Vance waited with considerable impatience for Gertie’s visit to Néw York. Finally Mr. A pplchy. called him into his private office one morning and told him that Miss Garnett and her mother had arrived in the city the previous afternoon and they had expressed a wish to see him that evening if he could make it convenient to call. : Of course Vance could make it conyenient to call, and he~ told the merchant so, At eight o’clock he presented himself at Mr. Appleby’s residence and was shown into the parlor. In a few minutes Gertie appeared, looking radiant in her fresh beauty, which was well set off by a new gown. Their meeting was a bit constrained at first, although each was delighted to see the other. x This feeling soon wore off, and they were chatting gaily together on the sofa when Mrs. Garnett made her appear- _ ance. ; ‘As Vance was regarded as Gertie’s especial visitor her mother did not remain long after expressing the pleasure she felt at ing Vinton again, and complimenting him on his improved personal appearance. © = =~ c Sa “Mr. Appleby seems to regard you as one of his most promising and smilingly. “I am very glad to hear such a good report. about you, and I am sure*that Mr. Garnett will feel the same way when I tell him. We both take an interest in y progress, for we have not forgotten that you saved our © dear child from a very serious, if not fatal, peril.” Vance thanked the lady for her kind words, and afterward Mrs. Garnett retired. The youRE salesman spent a delightful evening with G and before cane made an engagement to take her to eaters to see a popular play. = 7 os during which ch . tion time comes you with a sidelong glance that was simply irresis Vance hastened to say that: nothing would give him A. i But before that time you cer Coen y employees,” said Mrs.. Garnett —

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"A BOY WITH GRIT. 12 “Of course I would like to have you do so.” “Then I will speak to Mr. Appleby about it.” “He won’t put any obstacles in your way, for he thinks |. ‘ow’re one of the smartest, if not the smartest, employee he as in the store. I heard him say so.” : ‘I am very much obliged to Mr. Appleby for his good opinion.” 3 “Qh, you deserve it. There aren’t many boys like you.” “I’m afraid you are throwing a very large bouqeut at me, Miss Gertie,” laughed Vance. : ; “And what have you been throwing at me ever since I’ve en in the city?” she said demurely. ' ; : “T’ye only been telling you the truth. I think you're the nicest girl in the world, and can’t help telling you so.” Gertie blushed vividly. $ aca not displeased at my frankness, are you?” he -. “Oh, no,” she answered with a pleased smile, for to say the truth she liked Vance to compliment her. “I don’t mind what you say. You are a privileged character, you know.” “Perhaps it’s a good thing that you don’t live in the city,” 4 “Why?” she asked in surprise. . ; “Because I’m afraid you’d take my attention away from val business. I wouldn’t be able to think of anything else ’ é ” ou. “onl she exclaimed with another deep blush. “You don’t ag Lara know.” . id oO. _ my eh When I heard youwere coming to visit Mr. Ap- pleby with your mother .I was on pins and needles until you came. Now that you are poing back to-morrow I’ve got a _ touch of the blues. I-shall miss you a good deal,” he said soberl Gertie made no reply, but looked steadily at the rug,on ‘which her shapely boots rested, as pattern attentively, which, however, was not the case. __ Finally Vance got up and said it was time for him to go. ~~ Miss Maine! minutes before he could reach the last word. She bo ter after him as he walked down the street, and ‘wished that she was living in New York so that she could see him right along. g z “Van so wished she was going to stay longer, and he nonce & with her, which only _ wished some other things connected y E _ Went to prove that he was very much in love with her. — é : {it | —— me CHAPTER XI. IN WHICH OUR HERO IS GIVEN A CHANCE TO SHOW WHAT IS Ne Mee IN HIM, ; at a ow. As it is, ’m thinking of you more than half if she were studying the rtie accompanied him te the front door, and it took . Mr. Ward, however, was taken -Vance’s proposition that he d ed it; suited him toa T. AM ce for you to spread yourself, young man,” too hard for interest. The furniture is ‘to be designed for the whole house, I believe?” “That’s right.” “Then, sir, I shall want to find out just how the rooms are to be painted and decorated in order to turn out the proper color effect,” replied Vance. “I should also like to have a personal interview with Mr. W ard, the gentleman who is going to give the order.” ' “T will give you a letter to Mr. Hughes, the dealer, in- troducing you as an authority on fine furniture, and you can tell him what your plans are.” “All right, sir.” Accordingly Mr. Appleby wrote the letter and handed it to the young salesman. Vance spent two evenings at the Mechanics’ Library be- dd he presented his letter to Mr. Hughes at his store up- wn. _His interview with the dealer was very satisfactory to him, and Hughes gave him a letter of introductnon to the rich Mr. Ward. ; Next day Vance called on that gentleman. He had a long talk with Mr. Ward, and greatly interested that gentleman with his knowledge; concerning high-class furniture of the different ages—ancient, medieval and mod- ern, espécially that of the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- turies; and his ideas of applying up-to-date ideas to the — best productions of the past. Mr. Ward. gave Vance a letter to the head of a well- known Fifth Avenue decorative firm who was to produce the decoration and painting of the new house. “He will show you designs in color for each of the rooms which have been approved by me, and you will thus be able .to find out. how you will stand in the matter of shade,” said Mr, Ward. “My idea is to incorporate into the furniture of each room some hint of the decorative design of the room itself,” said Vance. “I want to produce, if possible, something that has never before been shown in a house. If I can work my plan out successfully your son will have a house that will be a dream in its outfitting.” “That’s what I am looking for,” said Mr. Ward. “Spare no expense in this matter, youn¢ man, and do your very best. » Your designs will be submitted to an exnert in artis- ia tn i oie and they will stand or fall on his re- port.” Vance called on the decorator and explained what he wanted to know. : - The designs approved by Mr. Ward were shown to him. “It will be necessary for me to have a duplicate set of these for consultation,” said Vance. “They need not be fin- ished complete, only in sections so that I can have the actual design always before my ¢ye.” ; : . The decorator promised to furnish him with what he wanted and did so in a short time. ’ Vance then got down to business. It took him two weeks to study out the salon furniture, ; Sail most important set, which he proposed to submit as a Tf he failed in that there was no use of his going further. Vance made the rough drawings, but he was obliged to employ a skilled draughtsman to reproduce them in proper artistic shape. ete ; He filled in the color design himself, and when he had a sample of each article of furniture intended for the salon, -or grand parlor, he called on the millionaire and submitted — | the drawings for his inspecti on. nady st oss Vance had evolved what the draughtsman and Mr. Appleby both declared to be a magnificent idea in the furniture line, the boy felt decidedly neryous when he visited the magnate, notwithstanding that Mr. Ward had id that he was not going to pass final judgment on the designs him- taken set will be?” he said. easil ; you've got with the result of

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14 : ! “All right. I doubt if the house will be ready for the decorator before that time, and he won’t be able to do his ' work inside of three months, so you will have pelnty of time.” Vance estimated that the lowest figure that Mr. Ward could calculate on for the furniture complete was $100,000, as the wood was to be the finest obtainable and the carvings alone would be something exquisite. _ The best European wood-carved artists would be called on to turn out the Secs furnished by the boy in his drawings, as Vance was determined to have things done up brown. — Vance was told to go ahead with the rest of the designs, and he did so, Mr. Appleby allowing him to give his whole time and attention to the work. In due time the designs were passed upon favorably, a neral and provisional estimate submitted of the cost, and r. Hughes received the signed order to go ahead. He communicated with Mr. Appleby, and the merchant called Vance into his office. “Young man,” he said, “you have hit the chance of your life. If the ultimate results agree with the promise afforded by your designs your fortune is made. As a salesman you e@ your mark in my estimation. For a de- ve y m signer and originator of artistic furniture you seem to be best fitted. unusual point is that you are starting at the top of the ladder in that direction instead of at the foot, as might naturally be expected. But yéu couldn’t do t To reproduce your designs to your satisfaction it will, of course, be necessary for you to give your entire attention to} supervising the manufacture from start to finish. You will therefore start at once. You are to assume the entire re- sponsibility of order. You may have to go to Europe and give your personal attention to the proper repyoduction of your upho designs. After getting your estimates from the manufacturers in this country you may find it ad- visable to have a of the work done in a foreign coun- ry and shipped here to be finally assembled or put to- like the parts of a machine. It will be up to you to ’ ent, for the ultimate credit or blame, be, will rest on r shoulders. I have ne Il come out all right, for you are a boy with lous to succeed ir a great venture. By: giv- something new, ar. ‘ic and superb in the fur- ine-——something that is bound to *> illustrated in the nes and E you will m >a reputation for that will lead to both fame and fortune. Upon my at this stage of the matter, I feel proud to have the means of starting you on the right road to suc- was very much gratified to hear his employer talk i ,and he resolved then and there not t the expectations that Mr. Ap- his ultimate triumph. , 34 $5 5 i 5 : BE ie’ : Fuge : 4382 HH <a? a i : E se? =e g CHAPTER XII. Gertie had wasn’t an ibt in her mind but that he at the top. . been accepted and Mr. Ward es to ahead with the work, lant letter to the girl telling as she had prophesied. a 4 the ocean can ee & titled to occupy the doubl him encouraging letters in which | y dou troduc Sie. ‘hh ; x r “: A BOY WITH GRIT. self. My idea was also to visit the famous carving mills at Milan, Italy, and another at Turin, but by accident I discoy- ered that an Italian family of expert wood and ivory carvers and turners, from Turin, has lately arrived in this country, and has been hired by the Springfield Company, so it strikes me that I'll be able to get all my work done here, which will save considerable expense.” Vance having figured that the Springfield Company had the facilities for turning out what he wanted, he packed his grip, and taking his designs in a preg arms case started for Springfield, Tlinois, to consult with the general manager of the company. : No one in Mr. Appleby’s establishment was supposed to know the business that took Vance out West, but it happened that one of the junior clerks; who privately felt very jealous of Vinton’s success, overheard an interview between Vance and the merchant, and thereby learned a secret not intended for his ears. "3 This clerk, whose name was Moss, was a second cousin of the rascally Cooke, Mr. Appleby’s late salesman, who had been implicated in the safe robbery, but had escaped by skip- ping out of the State, going to Philadelphia, and changing his name. : Cooke kept up communication with Moss, whose fidelity he believed he could rely onj and he got all his personal be- longings out of his rooms in West Thirty-fourth Street and Oss. When Moss discovered that Vance was going West, and the nature of the business taking him there, he lost no time in communicating the facts to Cooke, telling him that here was a chance for him to get square with the boy who had queered the business of looting Mr. Appleby’s private safe. “He is carrying designs of great value with him in a small, flat, black case,” wrote Moss. “If yeu can get that case ward gi : ; R : Gili faa ate ialtted ‘with real penids for the’ work. et warded to him in Philadelphia through the connivance of away from him somewhere between Philadelphia and Spring- ; field, T1l., you’ll put him in a mighty bad hole. He is going to take the 7:00 p.m, limited for Chicago over the Pennsyl- vania road on Thursday next. This train reaches Philadel- phia about nine o’clock, so look out for it if you’re game to get on the job.” ~~ : Cooke duly received Moss’ letter under his assumed name, and after reading it over decided that he would buy a ticket as far as Pittsburg, and try to steal the case of designs from Vance before he reached the Smoky City. The boy would be traveling in one of the sleepers, and, if possible, he would get a berth in the same car, and try his game on after Vance had turned in and was asleep. Of course he would have to disguise himself in order to — prevent Vinton from reeognizing him, so when he got aboard the train at the North Philadelphia station he was made up as a white-haired old man of sixty-five years. ; He walked slowly through the Pullman cars at the end of the train, and located Vance in the last one. There happened to be a vacant berth in the car, and Cooke secured it from the conductor before the train pulled out for the West. . This berth happened to be the upper one in the same sec- tion as that secured by Vance, and Cooke therefore was en- tm facing the boy. Vance was reading a cu issue of a monthly magazine when Cooke took possession of the seat to which his man car ticket entitled him. "The young salesman looked up and saw that his new eling companion appeared to be an inoffensive-looking old gentleman with white hair. - 2 He did not dream that the white hair and mustache bogus; the florid complexion and Gaeice made aid of Bsa face preparations, and th go assum ' pro’ abe : Pulls tray. oa manners — ¢

Page 17

oe aa aS poi fh ed A BOY WITH GRIT. 15 | I | vs He saw it on the seat beside Vance, between his body and _ the side of the car. : y: pag leaving Philadelphia the porter started in to make | . eats into beds. ; "Cooke, while he pretended to be reading an evening paper, | Was watching Vance in 9 furtive way. 2 i ga >" - “T guess we'll have to move, young man,” he said as the Porter came up. : The boy nodded and left his seat as Cooke did the same. He was careful to pick up the case containing his designs and take it with him. They walked back t the car. Cooke produced a cigar-case. | “Do you smoke, young man? Vance, ee s “No, thank you, I don’t indulge,” re _ “Would I be presuming too much if “Vance Vinton.” 2 “Mine - Gregory Gallup. Illinois. : me mer) teplied Vance, with some interest. “Furniture line, too.” : ou don’t say! t | | | o the smoking compartment at thé end he asked, presenting it to| lied the boy. r asked your name?” I’m a furniture dealer from is m Have you q store of your own?” Sith the wholesale house of s ir. I am_ connec “Wiltaea ‘Appleby, No. — Blank Street, New York.” 5 “Pye heard of the establishment. It’s an old house in ” “Yes, sir. Mr. Appleby has been in business about thirty years.” | - Zak FS d to converse for a time and then Vance a If saying that he guessed he would turn in. k himself to the rear platform, where there the accommodation of the passengers, and turning over in his mind the best avail- advantage of position, the boy put up such a struggle. that the disguised furniture salesman was unable to make any headway. The noise they made attracted the attention of the col- ored porter, who at that moment came into that part of the car to collect the shoes, which it was his practice to polish for the customary tips he secured thereby from the passen- gers. “Hello!” he exclaimed, coming to the section.* “What’s the trouble here?” “Catch hold of this old man,” replied Vance. “He’s been trying to drug me.” ‘ Before the astonished porter could do anything Cooke sprang up, pushed him aside and rushed forward into the next car. _ Vance jumped out of his berth, and while he hurried on his trousers and jacket, which he had removed when he turned in, explained matters to the porter. “Where is the conductor?” he inquired of the darky. “In the fust car, I guess, boss.” “You mean the first of the three Pullmans?” “That’s right.” “I must see him at once. That old rascal must be caught and turned over to the police at the next stopping’ place. I'll bet he’s some professional that makes a business of rob- bing passengers in the sleeping-cars.” Vance ‘then hastened to the third Pullman forward and found the conductor in his private compartment in the car. He told his story, to the man’s surprise, and requested that the train be searched for the white-headed rascal. The conductor considered the case serious enough to take the matter in hand right away, and he called to his assist- ance the regular conductor of the train, who was forward in- the baggage-car. Several of the train-hands were pressed into service, and after Vance had accurately described the personal appear- ance of the man who had tried to drug him, for the pre- sumed purpose of robbing him the more easily, the search was begun of the cars. Cooke, knowing that he could not escape from a train running over fifty miles an hour, felt that his. only chance would be to remove his disguise and trust to luck. He dashed into the lavatory of the middle Pullman, hur- riedly got rid of his white wig and beard, and washed the make-up from. his face. \ When he had resumed his natural appearance he looked nothing at all like the.old gentleman character in which he had been masquerading. : baer a crack in the wash-room door he saw Vance go orw: He noticed that Vance did not have his case of designs _ | with him, and a daring idea tock possession of his brain, head out through the folds of the curtain| which was nothing less than to venture back into the rear coast was still clear. Pullman and search the boy’s bunk for it while he was handkerchief from his pocket and began! absent. ? : = put this idea into practice at once, for he had no time to lose. at case ay. : , iter gta until eleven, by, which time everybody in the car, except the porter, was in his bunk. : Then he went to the section, the upper berth of which was A thick and curtain veiled the bunks. “8s Be ae he tgertes: was not visible he got behind the curtain and looked into the lower berth where Vance lay aaee ign of the flat black case and concluded that - ng Shan niawed it under his pillow for greater safety. He fumble for it lest he wake Vance up. _ a drug him,” he muttered, putting his hand in : bottle of chloroform. aired man pouring some from a bottle; The rascal went directly to Vance’s berth, pulled the pil- Ye ae oes lows aside and saw the coveted case lying on the top of the D the presumed old gentleman was} mattress performance for his own benefit. bottle and returned it to his pocket, his intended victim, was awake and his hand forward and pressed the ’s mouth and nostrils... . ‘He grabbed it and rushed out on the rear platform, where he began to consider whether he dare take the desperate risk of leaping from the swiftly moving train. In the meantime the search went on through the cars, be~ ginning with the smoker and continuing thence to the day coaches, and finally back to the sleepers. 2 : ' he search became more careful than ever when the party struck Ahe Pullmans. th ties They looked into all the wash-rooms and other compart- ments, but did not disturb any of the every vacant of which there were only a few, was exam- saw the searching whistle for down brakes 2 ting of the car 1 i au CHAPTER XIII. WHICH OUR hand aad poet g or ein nis Past and though not before he ca a ug, whi de him feel confuse izzy. iia, gen en WA: : d arrest were| lowest step, by Seema: Leit that expepare an el emeaeae on he threw himself upon the boy and

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16 A BOY WITH GRIT. Three toots from the engine and the brakes were removed | pose a fellow has to take the bitter: with the sweet. But from the wheels. The train began to regain headway. the jolt I’ve got is simply the worst ever.” As he breathed the thought he came out of the woods to Cooke knew he had to jump now, if ever, and he sprang} a road. into the darkness. A ‘considerable distance ahead he' saw a faint light which As he did so the search party came out on the rear plat-| he guessed came from a house. form and Vance, who had discovered the loss of his case, saw the shadowy figure leap from the last step. He was satisfied that it was the little old man who had outwitted them up to that point, and that he had stolen his precious case. - ; - Without waiting to consider the question further, for it was absoliftely necessary that he should recover his case with the designs, he rushed down the steps nad sprang from the train, too. CHAPTER XIV. IN WHICH OUR HERO IS TREATED TO A SURPRISE. Vance landed on the roadbed with a shock that nearly knocked the senses out of him, although he had taken the precaution to jump with the train. His nerve, however, didn’t desert him, and he picked him- - self up in time to see the light from the doorway of the last Pullman vanish around a curve. ; Without the loss of many moments he started back along the track for the purpose of getting on the track of the little old man who had taken his case. He hurried along in the gloom of the night, peering ahead for a glimpse of the man he was after. - The ess of the night was against him for one thing, as the sky was overcast, and both sides of the four-track road were lined with trees at that point. _ Fortune played somewhat into his hands, because Cooke was dazed by his pans from the train, and was sitting along- pe the tracks followed by the express when Vance came ong. ; ; . . Cooke saw him, but did not recognize him in the dark- _/ ness. ; He posed that the newcomer was sdmebody tramping : the , maybe to his home in that vicinity. - ..-Vanee stopped in front of him. =! He didn’t recognize Cooke, but he could see one thing, af 7 a a ory i ata gcn gaea tgs lan a Ab: ol tae His first impression was that the man was drunk. “Hello! What’s the matter?” he said. _ Cooke recognized Vance’s voice in some astonishment, and ot ed at him closer saw that it was indeed the boy him- A ooke was immediately seized with ‘& funk. ‘He looked around for the case of designs, which had Anda cigs sods waendion Goal for tes eeedanos eae aha / nt a P i rae BRI le a sudden or the w on one side Dark as it was, Vance recognized the case with no little _ surprise, for his mind associated it in vith the old a Seite dived "renenl tethers iegle. _.. “Come back here with that case!” he yelled at Cooke, j as he , attention to him, all his energies being de. . paid voted to putting great a distance betw imself and Bot the owner of the ease as possible. , te ee ’ 7 ¥ up, however, case of < a ps 1 was forced to admi yood in the Fifteen minutes later he saw the outlines of a two-story building looming through the gloom. The light came from a window on the ground floor. The house faced right on the road, and a wide veranda ran the entire length of its front. Vance walked up to the window and looked in. One glance caused him to utter a gasp of astonishment. Sitting at a cheap wooden table, with a bottle of liquor between them, and glasses in their hands, were two men, one of whom the boy easily recognized as Cooke, Mr. Apple- by’s former salesman who was wanted for his connection with the safe robbery, while the other was the scoundrel Blizzard, who had bossed the train-wrecking job on the New York Central road which Vance had prevented from coming to a head. “Well, who’d think of seeing Cooke way out here in the wilds of Pennsylvania?” breathed Vance. “Hobnobbing with that rascally train-wrecker, too. They are talking together as if they were old friends. Great Scott! If that isn’t my case of designs lying on the floor beside him. How in thun- - der did it come into his possession? Why, he must have been the fellow I ran against along the railroad, and after- ward chased and lost in the woods. He must have seen the white-haired man jump from the Pullman. Maybe the shock knocked him unconscious, and Cooke took advantage of the fact to’secure the case. I’d like to hear what they are talk- ing about.” : The top sash was open a few inches, but the bottom one was closed tight, and only a faint murmur reached Vance'’s ears. ] He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his jack- — knife. : Opening the big blade he jabbed it under the lower sash and pried it up a little. Repeated efforts enabled him to raise it high enovgh for him to get his fingers under it, then he pushed it up a couple of inches. Placing his ear to the opening he was now able to hear all that was said in the room. The very first words that Vance heard caused his face to : ‘assume an unconscious expression of astonishment. _ Cooke was telling Blizzard how he had been masquerading on the Chicago Limited as a white-haired old man in order to capture the case of valuable furniture designs now in his possession. He described how he had taken advantage of Vinton’s -absence from the last ear to go to his berth, grab his case, which he found where he suspected it to be, under the pil- lows, and then hie himself to the rear platform with the half-formed intention of leaping from the train at the risk of his life. : , =); The rapidity with which the train was going discouraged that plan, but at the critical moment the speed of the ex- press slackened up for some reason unknown to him, and he finally ventured to jump, gétting a bad shaking up, but re- ceiving no injury. e) Then when he thought the worst of his troubles were over who should ear on the scene but the boy himself, argeee. must him jump and had followed him. ith a chuckle of satisfaction he went on to describe how he had eluded his young pursuer in the wood, a light shining in the distance he had i refuge in the house he supposed the light “Guess my surprise on you here, concluded with a grin. t I expected to run across. Well, I’m mighty glad to see you, emanated = Dick Blizzard,” he bet your life. If Vance Vinton should find his way to ph house we'll give him a reception he won’t forget for the rest of his life.” “eer and hurried forward to take. ~ “The yery last person in the world — je A neta? 28 who, he —

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— Sn ox +) ee A BOY WITH GRIT. @ chuckle. “I fancy he won't hold his head so high as he’s hed That was enough to insure success, for thrusting his hand lately been in. the habit of doing, and Appleby will change| into his pocket he got his jack-knife into action, and the his opinion about him being such a paragon of smartness.” | cords fell away from him in speedy succession. “ I wish I could get my hands on him,” growled Blizzard. | “He wouldn’t get back to New York in a hurry.” _ £ r - out of “What would you do to him?” ‘ “What would I do to him, ch? Oh. I wouldn’t do a thing to*him,” he grinned malevolently. “I’d——” At that moment there reached their ears the sound of a racket outside the window. CHAPTER XV. IN WHICH OUR HERO DISCOVERS HiS PROPERTY. Both men sprang to their feet, rushed to the window and looked out. As they couldn’t see very well through the glass what was going on Blizzard threw up the sash. He recognized one of the two pals who were living with | him at the house struggling with a boy. “Hello, Slivers,” he asked, “what’s the trouble?” : “T caught TT spyin’ at yer through the winder, so nabbed him.” etent that the boy you were talkin’ about, Cooke?” said lizzara. “That’s him, ep I can’t see his face very well,” an- swe the ex-salesman. : Tank him into the house, Slivers. You can do it with- out help, can’t you?” said the train-wrecker. The rascal, securing a fresh grip around the boy’s body, pushed him around the building to a back door which was opened by Blizzard with the lamp in his hand. A moment or two later Vance found himself in the room he had been inspecting through the window, and in the pres- ence of Cooke, who greeted him with a derisive smile. “Glad to see you, Vinton,” chuckled the ex-salesman. “This is an unexpected pleasure, upon my word.” Vance eyed him without saying a word. “You don’t seem particularly happy, my youn grinned Cooke. “Did you sprain your suspe off the express es Se reer “T suppose it gives you a lot of satisfaction to have some fun at og expense,” replied Vance with some dignity in his tone. “I don’t where you have anything on me except salesman,” ers getting the possession of my property which you stole from my| q berth in the Pullman, and of which you can make no use Loa a whatever.” — : j “That’s enough to have on you. Your journey out West will now be a failure, and when you sneak back to the store “with your yarn about how you lost your designs there will ‘be something doing between you and the boss. You won't be the curly-headed boy any more, I'll bet a hat.” » you went to the trouble and expense of following me Philadelphia just to gratify your feeling of malice > | | an , (hee | 2 - , : this. chap by the arm. I’m goin’ to lock him in the pot tt till we want him,” said Blizeard. With a stout rascal on either side of him Vance felt that make any resistance ghiy handle him ae ard might re- j ‘getting rou dled, so he walked upstairs ft io a order, and soon found himself a prisoner in ed square room at the back of the house. at that moment, as the reader elding to despair and lett - LJ + 7 4) abet di it to get! square on you, and I guess I’ve suc- | were not the pleasant- | shor 2 left him a free boy so far as physical action was con- cerned. He had yet to escape from the room, the door of which he supposed was locked. Vance slipped off his shoes and glidéd over to one of the windows. ; He found no difficulty in raising the lower sash. Looking out he judged that it was a twenty-foot drop to the ground. He wasn’t afraid to attempt that, and he was about to get out when he thought of his case of designs. He hated to leave the house without that, yet he did not see how he could regain possession of it as things sto He wondered if the door really was locked. . He tip-toed over to it and found that it was not, because there was no key to it. Suddenly a daring rg ore to the boy’s mind by which he thought he might fecover his case. He slipped across the landing and opened a door on the opposite side, ‘ This was furnished with a double bed, chairs and other furniture, and was undoubtedly the sleeping-room for one or two of the occupants of the, house. a» Then he returned to the empty room. : He knew that it was right above the »»artment where Cooke, Blizzard and probably Slivers were still enjoying. themselves over their liquor. ; ; Seizing a chair he raised it and then threw it on the floor, | making a racket that was certain to attract attention, and no doubt would draw Blizzard and Slivers upstairs to in- vestigate. ; The oven window would suggest how their missing pris- oner had left the house. Vance figured that the three mem would then rush outside to recapture him. : That would give him the chance to slip downstairs and secure his case. The idea was clever, but risky. It worked out-all right, however. — } The noise brought Blizzard upstairs, by which time Vance had retreated to the room opposite. j Blizzard uttered a roar of rage when he ovened the door of the vacant room and found that his prisoner had ap- parently decamped from the house through the open win- 0 y . He rushed to the window and looked out, then he dashed downstairs. Confusion ensued in the room below, and then Vance heard all the men talking outside, Vance ran across into the vacant room again and listened at the window. He heard Blizzard direct Slivers to go in one direction, rd route himself. __ was ide occupied by Cooke. 5 ‘ : it_and slip out of the apartment was the work of © a moment with Vnace. . , To grab CHAPTER XVI.

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18 ‘ A BOY WITH GRIT. knew that we were going to tie him down on the track used by the night freight.” “Look here; Blizzard, how far is the nearest station from here?” asked Cooke. “Ten miles west.” “He’s certain to inquire his way there. We ought to go and hang around in a vicinity of it. Then when he comes along we could grab him.” “He won’t get there till after daylight, and then there’ll be too many people around for us to work any game like that successfully,” replied the train-wrecker. “He'll give information against us and tell the police we’re stopping at this house,” said Cooke. “Then we'll all be pinched if we remain here.” Blizzard evidently had not thought of that. He swore like a trooper when he realized what was likely to happen. “Come one. We must make another attempt to “catch him before he can find-his way to the station. He’s no doubt walking along the track westward by this time looking for the nearest station dn the line. There’s a block-house with _ an operator about a mile from here. He’ll inquire there and will learn how far ahead the station is. e must chase after him as hard as we can. There is a chance that we way overtake him before daylight if we lose no time,” said - ; The recapture of the escaped prisoner being a matter of paramount importance to the three rascals, they set out in _ pursuit at once, quite unconscious of the fact that the boy they wanted was in the house all the time, and had heard every word they said. Vance chuckled to himself as he watched them start for the railroad. He waited a good quarter, of an hour before setting out, then he retraced his steps in /the direction of the woods. Although he had lost his night’s Sgoah he felt quite chipper because he had got his precious ease b. ‘He had had a pretty strenuous experience since leavin spuadeiphis, but he felt. sure it would do him good, an make him more cautious in the future about taking up with chance acquaintances. Cooke had managed to deceive him completely, but he felt satisfied that the rascal wouldn’t try the game on him a second time. Vance took occasional rests along the road during the next Se. pent and then dawn began to lighten up the eastern the people were up Ber oe oa the He stopped into the first store he came 0 and inquired his way to the nearest station in that direct; _ He found it was at the town of away. “Til have to hire a rig to take me there,” he thought. : He ha to the small hotel in the place and registered for AF og Soe he made arrangements with the proprietor for a nage Sad buggy to carry him to Dundee. at reached the eafirond town at ten o’clock. He went directly to the station and told the agent about he night’s experiences. : cmaiteabe is on the Pullman car ‘ Bs rong’ The train ust be within a few hours run of cago by this time. It is due there about three this afternoon. A despatch ought to be sent to the Pullman conductor telling him to * when the suitcase over to the ‘baggage-master at Chicago en he gets there, so I can reclaim: it on my arrival.” dee, twelve miles urtesy, telephoned the Slivers, who, he said, the express for singer e, ‘of the house down the| On Vance’s arrival at Springfield he went at once to the Springfield Furniture Manufacturing Company and had his first interview with the general manager. The order he had to place was such an important and expensive one that he received the greatest consideration from the manager, He was shown over the establishment, which occupied a block of ground, and made a careful investigation as to the capability of the house to turn out the order in the high-class way he required it to be executed. Vance had a second interview with the manager before he finally decided to give the order to the establishment. He received a written guarantee that the work would be made exactly according to his designs and specifications. He found that the Springfield Company was apparently able to turn out everything except the special upholstery material for the saloon set. It was necessary to have that manufactured at Li in France, which has a world-wide reputation for de and expensive work of the kind. So Vance, after starting the order, returned to New York to enter into negotiations with the French house. The désigns and specifications were forwarded to Lin- e and the boy impatiently awaited a reply from the other side It came in due time. The French establishment agreed to fill the order to the letter, but the price was a heavy one. Before giving’ the order Vance called on Mr. Ward and told him that the salon set would cost him $11,000 more than the original estimate if the upholstery material was. made according to his idea. He received permission to go ahead and the order was ac- cordingly sent to France. The furniture was ready for delivery two months before the house was ready for it. When it was finally received in New York, every piece carefully packed in a pee crate, Vance personally at- tended to its delivery and unpacking at the expensive dwell- ing on upper Fifth Avenue. When it was placed in the different rooms avnitine its reception Mr. Ward was on hand to view it, and he admitted that it was all that Vance had claimed for it. ~ He invited a number of reporters and artists to yenees the house d its wonderful furniture and im of art, and the printed accounts, illustrated with sre graphs, created a sensation among connoisseurs. Many multi-millionaires, after seeing the results of his genius, commissioned him to design furniture for them, though on a less expensive plan, The result was that Vance found enough work to set up a studio in his special line, while still continuing his con- nection with Mr. Appleby. ; It was about this time that Cooke, Blizzard end Slivers were captured in St. Louis and brought on to New York. The former.was prosecuted by Mr. Appleby while Bliz- zard and his associate were put through by the New York Central Railroad Company. The three were eanvicted ot Vance’s evidtbics and re- cieved long gig: in Sing S ; Vance was on the highr arg e both fame and fortune when he asked Banker Garnett and Mrs. Garnett forthe hand of their daughter in marriage, and received a favorable reply from them. A few months later he and Gertie were married and spent — their honeymoon in Europe, where they did not fail to visit — Lingerie and inspect the establishment that had furnished, the upholstery for the salen set in the Ward mansion. x To-day Vance’s name is a household word in the artistic furniture trade, and everybody who knows him refers to him — as the young salesman who made his mark, ps erie, cate

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 19 HELP YOUR COUNTRY! __ “The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality.”—George Washington’s First Inaugural Address. ; { “The man who does not give his fullest coopera- tion to his country in this hour will die unhappy.” — Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States. “This flag which we honor and under which we - serve is an emblem of our unity, our power, our ‘thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from genera- tion to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic silence abové the hosts that execute those choices whether in peace or in war.”—Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States. “The liberty loan should be first in the mind of every citizen now as the most pressing step toward victory and the establishment of a lasting peace. The obligation to subscribe rests especially upon the members of the League to Enforce Peace. Victory means in their view something more than even the a of the United Statees and our allies. Service a @ the league is inseparable from service to our coun- _ try, and the way to serve our country just at this time is to buy her bonds.”—William H. Taft, ex- President of the United States. “6 not be fought without money. The 7 rial first re in this war, the most effective step * that we could take, is to provide money for its con- duct. *** ’ “This money is not going to be taken out of the country. All of this financing is a matter of shift- ing credits; it is not going to involve any loss of eek it is not going to involve any loss.of values. ; These moneys are going to be paid back into circu- - lation, paid back properly into the channels of busi- ‘ness and circulated and recirculated to take care of the abnormal prosperity of the country, a prosperity ‘that will be greater in the present year than ever before in our history.”——Secretary McAdoo in a speech at Des Moines in June. | aes ' ‘ purty ANDINTEREST. © y holder of a every “gies if nt lish nt of the United States, helps the citizens of the United States and helps the purchaser as a citizen as well as being at the same time a splendid private invest- ment. Moreover every purchaser of a Liberty Loan Bond serves humanity itself. One can not serve his country or serve his fellow citizens without serving himself, his family, and pos- terity. The purpose of the Liberty Loan Bond is to make the world safe for Democracy, and every pur- chaser of a bond does something to that \great end by which not only the present but future generations are benefited. AIR CORPS OF 150,000 MEN NEEDED. Mr. Howard E. Coffin, of the advisory commission of the Council of National Defense and chairman of the aircraft production board, has issued the fol- - lowing statement: _ Dominance of the air has become vital to the suc- cess of any and all military operations. Both bat- )teries and troops are under the modern conditions of war, wholly dependent for effective direction upon the eyes of the air service looking down upon the field of operations from thousands of feet up in the clouds. This dominance of the air is vital, but may be achieved only through the presence of aircraft of all kinds and in overwhelming numbers. This domi- nance may be achieved only when pilots are available of proper quality and in sufficient numbers. More over, manufacturing equipment for quantity produc- tion of machines must be available. ; America is the last great reservoir in the world, not only for men of the right quality but for the materials and the equipments for quantity produc- | tion as well. The permanent supremacy of the air must be America’s greatest single contribution to the cause. Whatever we do must be done quickly. All world’s records for industrial development in a new art must be broken. Whatever of crimes there may be later laid at the door of the aircraft production board, that of inaction must not be one of them. Minor mistakes here and there because of speed may be forgiven, but lost time through inaction, never, One hundred and fifty thousand officers and en- listed men, an army of the air great as our standing army of only a few months ago, will be needed. before us is a stupendous one. It is a ire: task ch appeals to our American people. All ae 7 4 Fe 4 problems to be solved are industrial ones. The re- *— sources to be called into play are not such as will otk Anan naan me work. | ican industry can make no gr contribution to the cause than throt fhe of the supre SE Ane Ole, . mafic in other lines of war ara tad

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. OUT FOR EVERYTHING THE BOY WHO TOOK CHANCES By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY.) CHAPTER XX (Continued). Toot! It was much nearer now, and then Chug, seeing the little group in front of the hotel, ran slowly up. As he brought the car to a stop the head constable darted out of a doorway, darted forward and leaped in beside Chug. “You’re my prisoner, Bailey,” said the officer, briefly. “The charge is helping a fugitive to escape from me.” “Well, I’ll be—blowed!”’ gasped Chug, innocently, and then immediately added: “I beg your pardon, ladies!” “Good night, ladies!” called Justice Helmsford, stepping from the hotel. - “Hold on, please, Mr. Helmsford!” Mrs. Fulham broke in, hastily. “I think we shall need you once more.” “Eh, madam ? i “Here is another young man who wants bail.” Chug had taken.it all:coolly enough. Now he went through the forms of being ‘admitted to bail as indifferently as if he were not much interested in the matter. John Craddock, looking as if he would burst, _ waited until the justice was through. Then he demanded brusquely: “Ts this charge true, Bailey?” “Partly,” Chug admitted, cheerfully. : party away who was in a hurry.” : “A fugitive from justice escaped in my car!” . - blazed Craddock. ah “Why, I didn’t ask him the nature of his business, ; sir,” Chug slowly admitted. “He seemed to be in a : hurry—that’s all.” cage “Where did you take that fugitive?” demanded _ the head constable, breaking in. We igs F don’t believe ri say any more,” Chug retorted, coolly. “You'll have to,” stormed the officer. - “T don’t believe that,” sniffed Chug. “T took a Vemtonwige Pe “T’ve been | ate on a charge. I’m not obliged to say any- | “Answer the officer!” stormed John Craddock. “Not part of my duty as chauffeur, sir,” Chug Bailey replied, firmly. “You no longer are my chauffeur,” snapped Mr. Craddock. “As you wish, sir. I’ve planned to make a change soon, anyway.” “Will you answer my question?” insisted the constable. “No, I won’t!” Chug rejoined. “I’ve told you that already. I don’t mean to say any kind of a . word that could be used against me. Mr. Craddock, shall I drive the car home, sir, before quitting your employ?” “T’ll take the machine home myself,” was the cold answer. “You can come to-morrow for your clothes and your wages.” \ “Thank you. Good-night, sir.” This time Mr. Craddock lifted his hat very stiffly to the ladies before walking over to the car and _ driving off. “T hate to hurt him,” quivered Ned. first good friend we had.” “He’ll understand later on,’ Chug predicted, con- fidently. Very little was said there before the coachman and footman. But the four entered the carriage and were driven toward the Fulham home. “He was the CHAPTER XXI. A NEW TRICK BY OLD ENEMIES. “T was pretty sure you’d be all right, Chug.” | “And I don’t care a hang whether I am or not!” Bailey retorted, defigntty, “Yes, you do!” _ “Well, you know what r mean.’ = “What do you mean?” ge “Why, Ned, you are the fellow I used to talk to about the need of pluck. You're the fellow to whom T used to preach the gospel of not being nm abew! to take chances. And now you're nothing but pluck. ~ e |If there’s a chance_on earth too big for you to hase he ey Sy geile looks like.” 3 - * ot Mi estoy tla bras

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ‘Well?” <3 “T mean, Ned, that if you can smilingly face all | you’re up against, I guess I can endure the little) things that are thrown in my path. The lawyer says | ‘that you haven’t any show to keep out of prison. And as for me, he says——” aah _ *That’s what I am so glad about, Chug. I didn’t - put you in such a terrible scrape.” The two boys were talking in low tones in a room | in the Fulham house. It was nearly noon. That forenoon the Fulham family lawyer, Mr. _ Grice, had been there, and had been earnestly con- sulted. ~ To our hero the lawyer did not hold out any hope of escaping the penitentiary. Chue’s oie, however, was differen® Chug could ‘Say that he had acted impulsively on his friend’s request and without waiting to understand what it _ Was that he was doing. A good lawyer would be able to clear Chug before the average jury. ett fe _In Since A Bailey had persisted in his re- 4 fusal to say where he had left Grace’s uncle, _ But Palgrave had not been found. ‘That much the public knew. What ‘else was mown about the fugitive was confined to the two boys and to Grace and her mother, _ Mrs. Fulham had telegraphed for her husband to return from New York. He was due on the follow- 4 ing day. ie _ Tap! came a knock at the door. “Mrs. Fulham would like to see the young gen- _tlemen in-the library,” was the message that the Servant brought. ~ Not a moment did Warren and his chum lose in - presenting themselves at the library door. * Mrs, Fulham was there. So was Grace. But ere was a third party with them whose presence : ‘ ~ mr) ban through for you and-your mother. 21 “That’s the confession!” “This is by all odds the silliest business that you’ve been engaged in around here yet,” our hero retorted, scornfully. “When are you gving to stop believing in fairy tales and Mother Goose?” “You’ve got your nerve still with you,”. the con- stable admitted. “But you'll have to come along with me, just the same.” “On that absurd story?” “Yes; and you can make it out as absurd as you | want to before a jury!” “Talk about a limit!” gasped Chug. ‘Who'd ever have thought that Slippery Dan’s crew, however badly they wanted to get square, would give them- selves up as a part of their scheme?” “They didn’t give themselves up,’ retorted the head constable, with dignity. “We caught ’em after a mighty clever bit of work.” “You can tell that to the jury, too,” leered Chug. “That you country cops, who for months couldn't stop Slippery Dan from operating under your noses, finally became brilliant enough to bag two of the gang just at the moment when the gang had a ‘con- fession’ that it wanted to make! Bosh!” “You’re all ready to come along, aren’t you, War- ren?” asked the officer. “It isn’t necessary,” Mrs. Fulham broke in... “I have telephoned, Justice Helmsford, and he is now on his way here to take bail.” And so, twenty minutes later, the constable had departed, and Ned was once more free, though with . another penitentiary charge hanging over his head. “Tt has been nothing but trouble for you since you began to serve us,” cried Grace, tears spring- ing to her bright. eyes as she shook Ned’s hand. “Oh, taking chances is my chosen specialty, you know,” laughed the boy. “Anyway, I haven't been through the tenth part yet of what I would go There’s a bit more that I’ve got to do, too, before we are through.” He and Grace wandered out into the broad : ’ ‘grounds on this beautiful warm day. Chug, a little lonely,.truth to tell, at no longer having a car to tend, strolled off by himself and. eH ced briskly down to mee handing Ned a note, touched his cap and was

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. CURRENT NEWS Mrs. John Lusk, who lives near Shelbyville, Ind., was running from a large blacksnake which had at- tacked her, when she fell, dislocating her left elbow and shattering the bones in the arm. Mrs. Lusk saw the snake making a raid on her poultry. Arm- ing herself with a hoe she started after the reptile, but when it turned to strike at her she fled. A hundred years ago a Rocky River farmer dump- ed a wagon load of potatoes into the Cuyahoga River because tight-fisted Clevelanders would not pay him more than 3 cents a bushel for them. Tom Kelly got wildly excited the other day because retail grocers, deluged by an immense increase in carlot receipts from the Dixie potatoe belt, cut the price from a mere $4.40 a bushel to $3. 60. " “My son is with the American boys in France and I have no one to support me,” pleaded Mrs, John M. Grant, who is blind, before the City Council, Colum- bus, 0., while seeking permission to sing on the street for the pennies that may be given her. The Council had just accepted a new anti-begging ordi- nance. As a result of Mrs. Grant’s appeal, which moved several of the Councilmen to tears, the ordi- nance may be modified po blind persons may seek ans. * , By taking medicine without protest during a re- cent illness, J. B. Fox, of Endis, Okla., the two-year- old lineal descendant of Betsy Ross, designer of the American flag, earned money* with which he paid for a Red Cross membership. His brother, Bernell, aged eleven, earned his membership by carrying pa- pers. The third brother, Dick, seven years old, got his seapey ty selling garden truck. ‘The mbther of the boys, fore her marriage, was Miss Jessie Pearl Ross, fourth in line from Betsy Ross. : _ Metal obtained from the two bells stolen from the Catholic church at Fingal, Barnes County, N. D., one night recently and from the church at Saunders, _. four miles south of Fargo, the following evening, will net the thieves about $1,500, according to State Architect Sam Crabbe, Bell metal is made of cop- per, brass, bronze and aluminum and some tin, which have soared in price since the war. Bell metal now should bring between 60 and 75 cents a A oad” Mr. Crabbe said. It is believed the thieves 3 Bion ds nem Fargo their headquarters, and that after ying the church at Fingal they worked their way ye es and then into this city. chin Pest Simos the amount due in every costs in far less time than the most expert clerk can deduct them by pencil and pad. A twist of the wrist gives the product of the most involved payroll frac- tions—whatever the rate per hour or the hours worked may be. Perhaps most remarkable of all is the fact that the machine does not compute prod- ucts ; instead, it has 18,340 computed products which cover all conventional payroll figures. The machine occupies little space and is compact and portable. In the addressing of envelopes on a typewriter a considerable amount of time and labor is expended in feeding the envelopes into the machine. This or- dinarily requires three operations: Picking up an envelope from a pile, placing it in the machine, and straightening it. Fitting all machines and sold at a reasonable price, there has of late been introduced a machine which automatically feeds envelopes into a typewriter, one by one, and each in perfect aline- ment. The machine takes one hundred or more en-. velopes at a time, and feeds them automatically so that there is always an envelope in position. To meet any possible coal shortage in the West next winter, more extensive use of fuel wood from - the National forests is urged by the Government’s foresters. The supervisors of the 153 National for- . ests will afford all possible facilities to local resi-- dents wishing to obtain cord wood, which settlers may obtain free for their home use, and whichis. sold at low rates to persons cutting and hauling in order to sell to others. During the last fiscal year more than 30,000 permits for the free use of Na- tional forest timber, mainly,in the form of fuel wood, were taken out by local residents. The amount of timber involved approximated 250, 000 cords, Arrangements have been completed by a fish cor- poration for the erection of a number of cold storage _ plants at various places on the coast of Newfound- — land. The principal plant will be erected in the city j of St. John and will occupy ground space of about — 245 feet by 90 feet. The plan calls for a six-sto building, but only three stories will be erected fe 3 present.. The basement Will be of concrete, and 4 above this the walls will be constructed of local — brick, of which about 725,000 will be required. The | lower flat will contain the freezing apparatus, hav-~ ing a refrigerating capacity of 150 tons, where — fresh fish will be frozen in about two hours. The ammonia plant for making artificial ice for preserv- — ing bait and for use on cars and steamers will be on the same floor. The second and third stor jbee taggeen pegs tocar

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. BEN AND THE BANKER’S SON : = : : b THE TROUBLES OF A RICH BOY’S DOUBLE ae 3 a By ED KING ' ; (A SERIAL STORY) ; CHAPTER XXIII (Continued). away from you last night. They kept me a pris- _ And so they continued to talk. oner and were going to use me to make Ben Leslie B Fierce as they had all been for making an imme- |tell where he hid ‘>t stolen cash.” diate sally upon Rio Vista, they were now seeing Ben let it all « all sorts of objections in the way. He haf grown . .Jifferent. 3 _ “Tl tell yer what, boys,” said Pop Dusenbury;} Whichever way thihgs went, it seemed to spell _ “everybody around here«knows me, but nobody |trouble for him always. “Blame me ef dreams dat I have a record in de past. De only feller I really fear is Detective Bob Bender, and it’s not likely he is anywhere about these parts. Let’s all sneak up to de woods, and while youse two =e with dis lad, I’ll go boldly to de house and ask for his nibs. I’ll tell de servant what answers de door dat I want to see him about a boat privi- onl at de foot of de Rio Vista estate, or some ex- cuse like dat—see ?” “And what den?” demanded Pat. ‘I see jest where your point comes in,” oat comes in dis way: If I can jest get his ear Tl put a flea in it. I'll tell him dat we’ve got his ; double, and dat if he don’t come down to de woods an’ have a chin wid us we are going to get him out of dere some old way and put de double back in his -place—see?” - “Not so bad,” said the Kid, lighting a cigarette. “7 tink it might be made to work if you don’t slop over, Pop.” 5 _ “Oh, youse kin ives me for dat. I guess I know when to talk an’ when to hold me jaw. Is it a go?” “Yair,” said Pat. “J don’t see no better way,” chimed in the Kid. _ “And now, young feller,” said Dusenbury, turn- az to Ben, “had we best leave you locked in here e you along with us? What do you say, boys?” 3 “Oh, he goes, of course,” replied Pat, promptly. we leave him here we take chances on his es- > us. If we lug him along an’ he tries to pe I’ll put a bullet into him, dat’s all.” nd so it was decreed by these interesting arbi- of Ben’s fate that he should go along with them. was not until they got. into the woods that Pat or Fox. m said the Kid. “Lok here, young. he doing along y ed pie rte ith _ lied B sc 1 doi wi rep) en, P. Mie ons ae He was sick and tired of it all, and his only thought now was how to make his escape. “It’s back to the woods, for me once I do get away,” he resolved. : And then came the thought of Alice, and he was not quite so sure that it would be back to the woods, : after all. Meanwhile his companions were talking as usual. “Who's de other detective?” asked the Kid. “His name is Firman,” said Ben. “Bill Firman!” cried Pop Dusenbury. “Gee, he knows me, too!” “Did he go up to de big house?” inquired Pat. “Yes,” said Ben. “He can’t be dere now, anyway,” said the Kid. “T say, let de scheme stand as we fixed it.” They had now reached the scene of Ben’s capture. Pat peered out on the road and declared that he could see nothing of Jack Fox by the gate. : “I give him a good crack,” he remarked, “but I guess he got up and skinned out, all right. Now den, Pop, if yer a-going, why, go.” “All right, boys,” replied the old rascal. Crossing the road, he walked boldly in through the gateway. They watched him until he had covered about . half the distance to the house, where the road | turned, and there he vanished among the trees, “Pop’s a boid,” said Pat. “He'll get dere, all right. What’ll yer bet he don't fetch Ryan back wit’ him?” “Y’m willing to bet dat he don’t, if dat’s what yer mean,” replied the Kid. “Til bet he gets trun down.” 5 ou do, hey? You agreed to de. scheme, all tight.” <5 Pi cee oe ‘cause T didn’t wanter kick, B ie 7 Se Genet tnseee ite ake i. ‘Have Pht got anny c¢ ” terbacker about ll trouble y

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24 a sudden they saw Pop Dusenbury come sprinting | down the driveway as though all the detectives on | the New York force were at his heels. “Hully Gee! claimed Pat. “Jim’s set de dogs onto him!” cried the Kid. “We'd better skin out den.” “Hold on! I don’t hear no dogs a-barkin’! he comes!” — ; Dusenbury dashed in among them, all out of breath. “What’s de matter?” demanded Pat. “Bender!” panted Pop. “Bob Bender?” “Yair. I seen him at de winder, seen me.” “An’ like a fool you run?” “Didn’t run a step till I got outer sight. you bet I sprinted to beat de band.” “Do you t’ink he’s after you?” Op say. I t’ink we'd better do so: nething qui ” “We'll get back to de boathouse.” “Not on your life!” squeaked Pop. fust place he’ll be lookin’ for us.” “Den what shall we do?” demanded the Kid. “T’ll tell yer,” said Pop. ‘“Let’s skin up to de old Van Duyn house and lay low dere for a spell. It’s near home, I know, but it’s de last place dey’d t’ink of lookin’ for us in—see?” “Where is de old Van Duyn house? ” asked Pat. “Follow me,” said Pop. Once more they got on the move, and this time they were heading for the deserted farmhouse where Charley Taylor had his adventure at the old well. But Pop Dusenbury need not have been alarmed. Bob. Bender had not seen him from the window, after all. Upon arriving at the house, Alice summoned the butler and asked that her brother be sent for. “He is not in the house, miss,” was the reply. _ The butler seemed nervous and ill at ease. “Where is he, then?” demanded Alice. “He went away with a man who came here a an’ T t’ink he Den “Dat is de little while ago,” was the reply. “I saw them walk- ing about the grounds, talking to eath other. I don’t know where they are now.” “Well, tell him I want to see him in the library as soon as he comes i in,” said Alice; “and send Mrs. pe to me now.” Tm afraid I can’t do that, miss,” replied the very eek looking still more troubled. night.” sat ile bt to tell it, but nust petty if 3 ut ‘dy ; |away last night. I give you warning. . What’s de matter wit’ Pop?” ex-|here another day.” Here | had closed the door. “Mrs. Wilton ; real se led her it. Ot course Bob Bi Bender fad hit ie of oboe: AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. my head what would have brained me had it hit ime. It’s dreadful, miss. I don’t wonder you went I won’t stay “Leave me, Felton,” said Alice, her face red with shame. “You see, Mr. Bender!” she cried, after Felton “Can I live with such a man, even if he is my own brother?” “You certainly cannot, Miss Leslie,’ ’ was the re- ply. “Your life would not be safe.” “Exactly so. I not only cannot, but I will not. I have endured enough. This wretch killed my dear mother with his wickedness; he has brought my poor father to his grave. He-won’t kill me, though. If I give up the whole estate, I leave this house with you, unless you can prevail upon him to leave it, and I shall never return.” 3 “There will be no such necessity, Miss Leslie. — Leave your brother to me. If you are willing that I may make a threat of Sing Sing a big stick to down him with, I shall soon succeed in bringing him to terms.” “You can use it if you like,” said Alice, bitterly. “You may put him there if you will. I shall not interfere. Remain here until my pirat Mr. Ben- der, I must see this unfortunate woman at once.” Alice swept from the library then, and Bob Ben- der sank into a chair. He had scarcely seated himself when a carriage. came whirling up to the door, and an instant ears the bell was heard to ring. © “Doctor O’Grady asking for Mr. Leslie, sir,” aia the butler, looking into the library. 3°3 Bob Bender sprang to his feet. “Show the doctor in,” he said. “T’ll do it,” he muttered. “Here’s big stick No, 2! CHAPTER XXIV. _ CONCLUSION. _Enter Doétor 0’ a dy For, as it reso Bob had once had occasi to arrest the doctor for crooked work, and he was” a man whom the sanitarium keeper thoroughly — feared, seeing that an old indictment still eh ars his head. ; “How are you, O’Grady?” pielanaiil Bob, cO0 Ih eS “What the mischief brings you here?” > iF: “I didn’t come to see you, then,” retorted doctor, turning pale. | oe “Certainly not. You eames here for Dir. of v0 reasons, both known to me.” = “What do you mean?” “You came here either to attempt to b the false Ben Leslie, or to play the same § ga the Ben Leslie—whichever one you mig

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 25 NEWS OF SIMPLE DIET MAKES LONGEVITY. |. Mrs. Marion Sparks Banister of No. 5917 Maple _ Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., celebrated her 100th birth- day the other day. She attributes her longevity to the fact that she has subsisted upon & simple diet, she has been cheerful and unworried in the face of _ adversity. She is an inveterate tea drinker, and her favorite dessert is old English plum pudding from a recipe said to have been made fam Peter Einarsen, and the chief:

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ff r > y . 26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, AUGUST 31, 1917.: TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS —_— Bingle Copies ...1s-cssccccsecsccvccce dcvapensbeee 06 Cents One Copy Three Montis ......-.++ Geecccecsoccece 15 Cents One Copy Six Months ......eeeseccecerrevecceces 1,50 One Copy One Year o..0.ccecccccccccsecstesoosocec 3.00 POSTAGE FREE HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. O. Money Order. Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other — are at your risk, We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the. Coin in a separate piece ot paper 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 George Rimsky, an assistant section foreman for the Jersey Central Railroad, is the most successful trout fisherman in the Lehigh Valley this season. Almost daily he catches the limit allowed per day, which is forty. Miss Dagne Brathen, a member of the 1917 grad- uating class of the Hayward High School, has a perfect mark for regular school attendance, as she did not miss a day, nor was tardy; from September - jn 1905, when she entered the kindergarten of the | local schools, until this year, when she received a high school diploma. a * - When E. B. Griswold started to recruit his em- ployees recently to reopen his pencil factory here he discovered that all the girls who had formerly work- ed for him were married. He will have to find an entirely new force. During the three years that he has operated the factory twenty-six girls who work- ed for him have married. ‘ \ ‘Michael Schiller of Freedom, Mich., is in receipt of a postal card, mailed to him for the second time . from Imlay City. Schiller first received the card the day before the cyclone struck his farm recently. The wind carried the card northward, till it finally land- _ ed sixty miies away in the yard of an Imlay City man, who considerately mailed it back to Mr. Schil- ler. gre aS . 4 ve m Sie D. Gwin of Sharon, Di. tne has-a “orandfather” ~ eh k. He is able to trace its age back 127 years, The wheat harvest in Australia for the present season of 1916-1917 is the largest on record. One result of such favorable conditions is that the Euro- pean field mice in this colony have increased to such an extent that they are doing enormous damage throughout the “tates of New South Wales, Victoria and-South A ‘ja. Their ‘attacks upon the wheat lying stacke. .1 bags awaiting shipment alone threaten loss to the extent of millions of dollars. To save this wheat all the stacks are being surrounded with mouse-proof fences of galvanized iron with openings left every 16 feet, in which are placed kerosene tins, sunk in the ground with 6 inches of water in the bottom. The mice already in the stacks when this miniature fortification is put in place must go out for water, and when they try to do so they fall into the tins. At one country railroad station nearly ten thousand mice were caught in this way in a single night. The experiment of driving the pests out of a stack by using the fumes of car- bon bisulfide has also been tried with some success. | In some districts the mice are dying in large num- bers from skin diseases. , Grins and Chuckles “Harry is ee hie by a railroad company now; I — understand?” “‘Yes; he has charge of the puzzle |department.” “The what?” “He makes out the time-tables.” “What are you going to bring your boy up as, Ezekiel?” “Think I'll fit him for a position in the Weather Bureau.” “Why so?” “Oh, he’s always complaining about his corns hurting him when a_ storm’s coming.” ‘ . “Does’ the man drink,” asked a prospective em-— ployer of the solid citizen who had recommended a— ‘friend for a position. “He drinks like a fish.” “Why — do you recommend him, then?” “That’s why—a , fish drinks only water.” Physician (looking into his ante-room, where a . number of patients are waiting)—Who has been — waiting longest? Tailor (who has called to present : a bill)—I have, doctor. I delivered the clothes to you three years ago, ey 3 : “When that bad boy threw stones at you why didn’t you come and tell me instead of throwing back | at him?” said the good little boy’s pious mother. - “Tell: you?” said the good little boy. “Why, y couldn’t hit a barn door.” Bae . “Who gave the bride away?” asked Mrs. Jon |her daughter, who had just returned from the ding. “Her little brother,” replied the dau ;of|“he stood up in the middle of the corem ur yelled, ir? hoes Blancle, you've got him io

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NED DUMFREY By Col. Ralph Fenton Mike Dumfrey was a longshoreman. Finding it. difficult to get steady employment, he shipped as a green hand for a whaling voyage on the Walrus. x When Mike sailed, he left behind him in New York | a wife and three children, one an infant. _ He gave his wife the greater part of his advance pay, and for some time she managed to live com- fortably, for she was a hearty, industrious woman. i Her two oldest children were of considerable serv- » to her. Bridget, her daughter, was a careful, a ntelligent girl, large enough to take care of the ba by, and Ned, though he was only ten years-old, full of mischief and fond of play, was made useful ee various ways. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. _ For a while after the Walrus sailed, she was heard of from time totime. Then vessel after vessel came ‘from the South Pacific Ocean, where she was sup- P osed to be cruising, but brought no news of her. The winter set in, and to make matters worse, . Dumfrey slipped and fell upon the icy pave- y ment , injuring herself so severely that she was con- fined "to her bed for several months. __ Ned behaved like a hero. Procuring a brush and acking, he made himself a box, and was out early i late i in all kinds of weather, shining boots and He was so industrious that he overworked him- ‘Self, and that, with exposure, made him siek. _ Mrs. Dumfrey’s little savings melted away, and fore spring. came she had to sell most of her and part of the clothes of herself and ‘en to get food. _ Being unable to pay for apartments in a tenement hou: eee he -sixth: street. : s boxes, and conten with pieces of sheet iron. The fireplace was made of pieces of unhewn rock, } ‘the top of the chimney was a barrel plastered haps inside with mud. Mrs. Dumfrey rented it c | dellar a month. hankfu that Ned and herself had recovered their alth “steep ee cine Lahn to work taking in wash- to do a day’s house- She ae ett eae new address at the office of of the Walrus. CO -ontinued blacking boots and shoes, but found De Sie steed. aba: aientiin inter: tent , about six months after Lee t up, and ee 2 sToueuhippomh tied scents. -¥ rebel 27 | companied by two companions, came out, got into a carriage, and drove off. Just after they left, Ned saw something sparkling ‘in the gutter. It was a breastpin. He put it in his pocket and resumed his lookout for customers. In the meantime, Jim Stanton had not proceeded but a short distance when: he suddenly discovered his loss. Stanton was very much worried, and when he got to the hotel, said to several persons that were loung- ing around the door: “T’ve lost a breastpin, either in the hotel, or as I was getting in the hack, and I’ll give five hundred dollars to any one who will return it to me.” Ned was standing near by and heard the remark. Taking the diamond out of his pocket, he held it up and asked: “Is this yer breastpin?” “Yes, said Staton, eagerly,, taking the pin. in luck this time sure. Where did you get it?” “It was layin’ in ther street, an’ I picked it up.” “Well, you are a made boy. I offered five hundred dollars for the recovery of the pin, and you get it.” Telling Ned to follow him, Stanton went into the hotel, procured paper and pen, asked Ned what his name was and where he lived, and then wrote a statement about the finding of the diamond. Having affixed his name and address to the paper, Stanton enclosed it with five hundred dollars in an envelope, and handed it to Ned. Ned thanked him, and left the hotel. Alf Sims, a heavy-set man tith a villainous coun- tenance, paid close attention to what was said and done. : So, when Ned left the hotel, Sims followed an kept him in sight. Sims lived on Fortieth street, and, as Ned went in that direction, he was in no hurry to overtake the unsuspecting boy. Ned struck into Third avenue, amd at the corner of Fortieth street was overtaken by Sims, who said: “Hello, bub! Would you like to make a quarter? “What do you want me to do for it?” asked Ned. \ “I want you to carry a letter up to Highty-fifth street and Third avenue. Ali ,ou will have to do will be to leave it, and I will pay you in advance.” “Where’s ther letter? Pm goin’ that way.” Sims led the way to a dilapidated-looking house, opened the door with a latch-key, and bade “Ned come in, The moment Ned stepped into the corridor Sims locked the door. : Ned followed him to a back room upon the second 3 floor, upon entering which his conductor was asked : pi aa ¢ “T’m “Well, Alf, did you make a raise?” “Yes,” he replied, “a splendid one. What edie aad Ae weet eee

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ' “I’m not a beggar,” replied Ned, indignantly. “I work for my livin’.” “No, you are not, my boy,” assented Sims. “You've got plenty of money, so I’ll trouble you for | that five hundred dollars.” He grabbed Ned by the shoulder and took the en- velope containing the money. Turning to the table, Sims tore open the envelope, spread the bills upon the table, and asked his wife what she thought of that. ' “Tt’s a windfall, indeed,” she replied. will you do with the boy?” “Lock him in the cellar, when we are ready to leave, which will be in a few hours.” On hearing this, Ned, who had been completely dumbfounded by the expeditious manner in which | he was robbed, slipped out of the room, intending to | get into the street and run for the police. But he had scarcely moved before Sims uttered an oath and rushed after him. In the confusion of the moment Ned turned to the left, on the landing, and did not discover his mis- take until he found himself at the foot of the flight “Rut what of stairs leading to the story above, instead of at the | top of those that extended from the lower floor. Without reflecting where he was going, he darted up the steps closely pursued by Sims. After ascending two flights of stairs, Ned found himself at the scuttle opening on to the roof. He raised it, stepped out on the top of the house, and found he could go no further, as the house was isolated from those adjoining it. , Ned had scarcely made this unwelcome discovery, when Sims made his appearance on the roof, closed the scuttle, and tried to catch him. “Now, you little villain,” said Sims, who was puffing and blowing, seizing him by the collar, “I guess your running days are over.” Then the pursuit commenced again, and continued until Ned, seeing no other way of escape, jumped into the top of a chimney, and commenced to des- cend. For a short distance he got on very well, then coming to where the flue widened, he slipped and went tumbling down, until he struck in the fireplace ‘of the room where Mrs. Sims was. ; _ She had just got through counting the money and it in the envelope, when Ned, black as charcoal from head to foot, bounced out of the chim- ney in a cloud of soot. He darted toward the door, and seeing the enve- lope with the money in it on the table, instinctively grabbed it as he passed. He fairly flew downstairs, threw open the front door, jumped into we street, and never paused until | farm would at. overjoyed, when she saw the|Government rather than make a present of it | the water in the kettle was boiling and bubbling, when the door of the shanty was cautiously opened band Alf Sims entered with a dark lantern in his hand. Putting the lantern on the table, he drew a knife, and awakened Mrs. Dumfrey. About this time, Ned, who slept on a pallet in one corner of the room, waked up, and saw what was going on. Slipping to the stove, he got a large dipper full. of boiling water, and swish it went on the back of Sims’ neck, making him yell and wheel around. ‘He jumped at. Ned and seized him, but before he could do anything more Mrs, Dumfrey was combing | his hair with a three-legged stool. | Sims tried to beat a retreat, but he was met at the door by a man in sailor’s garb, who tripped him up and secured him. The newcomer was Mike Dumfrey, who had ar- rived in port that evening, and had just found his way home. The Walrus was caught in the ice, but finally got out safe, and returned with a full cargo of oil. Sims was tried and sent to the penitentiary. With his own savings and Ned’s five hundred dol- lars Mike Dumfrey went into business and prosper- ed. he ae «eee SPECULATORS HOLDING ALASKA FARM . LANDS, ° Several real estate speculators are arranging to establish offices or connections in Eastern cities of the United States with a view to selling Alaska farm lands. A decent regard for the best interests of this Territory justifies the publication of the fact that the only Alaska farm lands for sale are the homesteads which have been patented, many of which have passed into the hands of speculators for merely nominal considerations, and are to be offered to the outside public at prices of $50 to $100 per acre. i Of course there is not a chance on earth to sell Alaska farm lands to anybody but a sucker, for the simple reason that any man can get 160 acres abso- lutely free by merely going to a land office and sign- ing his name to an application, and the land thus acquired will be fully as good and often better than any land the speculators have for sale at eae rice, | Any number of cases could be specifically where newcomers have bought land in pee Be pay-— ing from $10 to $75 an acre only to discover later that the land across the road was free to anyb for the asking. The man who contemplates coming to Alaska to r keep his money for improvement and take a piece of free land from the United S ~ some agreeable gentleman to offer for aah than the Le Paes gladly. sy

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CAUGHT BABY IN MIDAIR. Mrs. Mary Lopiccola, of Stony Road, Cal., and her two babies y = saved when Joseph Stinger, a liv- ery-man, che__.-d a runaway horse. The horse strug- _ gled a moment and then came to a sudden halt, the _ impact of the stop hurling the six-months-old child of Mrs. Lopiccola into the air. At this moment Jack _ Greggs stepped into the scene, catching the baby in peet-air as it fell. CAMEL IN BIG DEMAND. Along the banks of the Suez Canal and thence _ along the old coast road to the east you will find to-day between the endless series of British en- -¢ampments caravans of camels passing to and fro _ With their burdens or lying patiently at their man- gers and chewing the cud with that tranquil ex- pression of the beast, which no stress of war can . edisturb. _ There are more camels gathered here than ever iakére assembled in the bazaars of Cairo or Damas- “eus. Though the defence of Egypt has been carried aes from the canal itself to the hills and dunes - of the Sinai desert and to the Land of Promise be- yond, the canal is still an integral part of the de- out he scheme. Roads and railways, it is true, run here and there eastward from the bank, but there remains a ~vast hinterland unreclaimed from ue h O “move. “e __ FISHING FoR SHARK, NEW HAWAIIAN - ‘Hawaiian waters t ee fishes in infinite vari- ty of form and color, and there is splendid fishing island waters. There is a constantly increas- cuiaber of enthusiasts who are finding great with rod and line from boats along the reefs . from rocky points in the swirling surf. - The Hawaii Tuna Fishing Club of Honolulu offers tional. facilities to the angler in reaching the UR Peg 24g a i i ae 8H dc ee take eg has brought the sport into national promi- ion it “Tt ee record for tuna catches was made in iian waters by mainland sportsmen. The Tuna fiel tink a well equipped rendezvous at Kihei, ile similar nae Se is ogre from Hono- : = vii Anioniy FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. THE NEWS IN SHORT ARTICLES e desert waste, in. “which our troops continually | : s game fishing grounds, and under its direc- med ie tne om lon and Sword th: |trolling an animal carcass a mile or two. offshore the day before. Almost daily in the tourist seasons parties of ho- tel guests are made up for this most exciting sport. A power launch is used for the purpose. Cautiously approaching the quarry, a harpoon is thrown into the back of one of the monsters or he is induced to snap a baited hook. In either case the excitement begins at once, and the boat is often towed for a long time by the pow- -lerful fish before it is killed. ‘The spice of adventure adds to the fascination of this sport. URGE RAISING OF RABBITS FOR MEAT. Rabbits, which have proved a valuable source of food in Europe during the present war, may well be raised more extensively in America by way of re- ducing the drain on the ordinary meat supply, ac- cording to biologists of the United States Depart- ment of) Agriculture. The business of growing rabbits, the specialists . point out, can be carried on by youths and adults not engaged in military or other national service, or in regular industrial employment. The animals may be raised in back yards of cities and towns as well as on farms. The Belgian hare, says a statement by the United States Department of Agriculture, breeds rapidly, matures quickly,and produces a palatable and highly tritious meat. The cost of production is less than that of any other meat, not excepting poultry. The supply can be greatly increased within a few months, without requiring space that may be needed for the production of crops. Practical experience has demonstrated that rabbit meat can be produced in unlimited quantities at a cost of about six cents a pound; and by utilizing lawn cuttings and other vegetation that would otherwise be wasted, the cost can be made even lower. The Belgian and Flemish giant rabbits are rec- ommended for meat production, as the ordinary tame rabbit is smaller and develops more slowly. Stock of Belgian hares may be bought from breeders in nearly all the States at $1 to $3 each. They may occasionally be had from pet stock dealers. Fancy pedigreed stock is not required for meat production. Rabbits are pred kept, eyes experts. ed eat hay, grass, lawn cuttings green vegetation kinds. Females should be allowed to bresd n eight or ten months old, and during the year

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‘ VIOLATED BONE DRY LAW. A local shoemaker of Independence, Kan., was. brought into Police Court one day charged with vio- lation of the Bone Dry Law. He was accused of slipping small bottles of whisky into the shoes of favored customers. “The drinks are on me,” he said when confronted with the evidence and wit- nesses. FISH HAD ‘FOUR FEET. While fishing in the Iowa River Raymond Peter- son caught a strange thing. Local scientists have pronounced it a “hicoperotisbygoshaway,” but some of our best posted Nimrods say it is a mud puppy. _ Anyway, it was'a strange looking critter with a body shaped like an eel. It was 24% inches long. It had a head like a fish with the exception that instead of gills it had a collar of fur just back of the head. It had four legs and in some respects resembled a baby alligator, The little animal put up a pretty game fight for a while, but it soon died when exposed to ’ the air. It will be sent toa New York museum. { COWBELLS SAVES CHERRIES. W. A. Bull of Igo, Cal., saved his big cherry crop with cowbells operated by a water wheel. Bull has an orchard up South Fork Creek. His cherries ripened, but as fast as they matured birds . picked them off. Bull rigged up some ordinary! _ scarcecrows. ‘They did well enough for a day or so, or until the wise birds detected:-the fraud. As a last resort Bull tied several cowbells in. the treetops, and to the tinklers attached strings, which he jerked from his front porch. The cowbells’ jang- ling scared the birds away all right and bid fair to save the cherry crop, but Bull got tired of jerking the strings all day long. Now he has a water wheel that runs his wife’s - churn. So Bull attached the strings to the churn ' dasher. As the water wheel went its rounds the churn dasher bobbed up and down and the cowbells kept up their jangling in the treetops all-day long. The birds were scared away effectually and Bull Saved his nOREY crop. HAS THE BIGGEST BELL. a Moscow claims the distinction of possessing the largest bell in Christendom to be in actual use. Its “weight is 128 tons. The qualifying phrase “in ‘* ~ Christendom” is used because China claims to have 2a ag two ay aia in nena use, which are even Pas p » f S*. may be seen in the § great | far from Canton. Pal aa a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ARTICLES OF ALL KINDS ss = ~— end of the fourteenth century by command of the Emperor Yung-lo. During the process of casting eight men lost their lives. : On both sides it is covered with an inscription in embossed Chinese characters about half an inch in length, covering even the top piece from which it swings, the total number being 84,000. The sec- ond bell, which is three feet shorter than its rival at Canton, hangs in a temple of its own to the north of Peking, almost on the way to the Great Wall of China. HOW WAR IS USING UP TONS OF OUR METAL. Up to date the warring Allies of Europe have placed orders for 35,000,000 shells in the United States. This means a lot of valuable metal going to waste, for these orders require a total of 101,000,000 pounds of copper, 46,750,000 pounds of spelter and 173,250 pounds of lead. ; A British 18-pounder, or 3.3-inch shrapnel, re- quires 5 pounds 9 1-8 ounces of brass, containing 66 to 70 per cent of copper, or nearly 3 3-4 pounds. A small copper band around the shell adds 4 3-4 ounces, making the total copper 4.04 pounds. Spel- ter consumption per shell of this size is about 1.87 pounds. Lead bullets weighing 7.92 pounds consti- tute the metal load of the projectile. One pound of copper is used in making 24 Lebel — rifle cartridges. Every 125 of these cartridges con- — sume 1 pound of spelter and a small amount of — nickel. Steel consumption p@ shell varies more widely with the different types. SOMETHING ABOUT POWDER AND GUNS... Just 33 complete chemical‘and mechanical opera- tions have to be gone through with great accuracy, precision and carefulness, before white cotton, mixed with sulphuric and nitric acids, becomes smokeless powder. And after, with elaborate processes, the powder i is made at the Picatinny Arsenal, it must travel from_ Dover, N. J., to the Frankford Arsenal} outside Phil- adelphia, there to be but an element in the 40 the : at plete manufacturing and assembling operations are required to make an American rifle cartridge. © A rifle is a more or less simple-looking mec me but to make this rifle 1,223 separate ay " operations must be executed. aa One round of 3-inch shrapnel means 355 ope’ tions; to make an automatic pistol, 614; and for terrible little mitrailleuse or machine gun, 1 990. lightest 83-inch field gun costs $1,400. ‘. ‘The eer coast-defense gun is made at Wa or al near yensien weighing when finis

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MYSTERIOUS PLATE LIFTER. z, Made of fine rubber, with bulb on one end and inflator at other. Place it under a table under plate or glass, and bulb is Pressed underneath, object rises mysteri- ously; 40 inches long. rice 25¢., postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St.,;.New York City. GREAT BURGLAR PUZZLE. The latest avd most fascinating puzzle ever placed on he market. Patented May 30. Tt consists of four revolving diais, each dial contain- dials must. be turned around an- til the figures in each of the 16 col- rh umes a ia gether total! 40. e puzzle is made on the Jan of the combination lock on the large m safes that open on a combination of figures. Persons huve been known to sit up all night, so interested have they be- come trying to get each column to total 40. im this fascinating puzzle. With the printed key which we send with each puzzle the fig- urés can be set in a few minutes 80 as to total 40 in each column. Price 15 cents: mailed, postpafd. HH. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., Bklyn, N, ¥. THE BALLANCING BIRD. It measures more than four inches from tip to tip of wings, ond will balance per- fectly. on the tip of your “finger nail, on the point of a lead pencil, or on any pointed instrument, only the tip of the Dill resting on the nall or Pees pencil arena! ae body of the oird being suspended in 8 air With nothing to rest on. It will not fall off unless-shaken off. A great novelty. Wonderful,, amusing and instructive. » Price 10 cents, mailed postpaid. . WOLFF Novelty Co., 163 W. 23d St., N. Y. iene > tetra AS ade li a aa RE SHERIFF BADGE. With this badge at- tach to. your coat or vest You ean show the boys that you are a sheriff, an if they don't behave them- selves you might lock them up. Itisa_beantl- ful nickel-plated badge, 24% by oth inches in size, with the words “Sheri it, Aegis nm the face of w a pin - 2 Micke! deck for attaching it to your cloth- x" foc. Send for one and have some fun with Eee cents, or 3 for 40 cents; sent by mail, postpaid. i. ¥F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. : : 7 ELK HEAD PUZZLE. Just out and one of tha most fascinating puzzles on the market. The stunt is to separses the antlers and re- them. It looks easy, but 4 it ond you will admit’ that fs without exception the best puzzle you p ever seen. ou can't leave it alone. le _ eoeret, es oe 12e.; 3 for sent by mail. postpaid. _ ©. BEHR, 150 Weta Street, N. Y¥. ‘THE SPIDER WED PUZZLF. A very Interesting Iit- uzzle. It consi tle t sta _ of z heavily uickeled "Hs® object ia to" get ee the ¢ from the side to the center and back. This is very hard, but we sive BS ag on Bronte each, by oat pOANK SMITH, 883 Lenox Ave., MN. ¥. {THE CANADIAN WONDER CARD TRIOK. | same pattern as those used § FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. Astonishing, wonderful, | and perplexing! Have you seen them? Any child can work them, and yet, what they do is so amusing that the sharpest people on earth are fooled. We cannot tell you what they do, or others would get next and spoil the n. a@ set and read the directions, 6 results will startle your friends and rly mystify them. A genuine good thing you wish to have no end of amusement. Price 10e. by mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. Just get RUBBER SUCKER. es Rubber Vacuum Suckers The latest novelty out! Dishes and plates will stick to the table, cups to the saucers like slue. Put one under TD. oye and then try to lift it. You can't. ts of fun. AJways put it on_a smooth surface and wet the rubber. sigs other tricks can be accomplished with this novelty. Price 12 cts. each by mail, postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d Street, N. ¥. 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 by 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 eoch hy ail nostnaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. SECOR SPARKLER. Hoid dises in each hand and twist the strings by swinging the toy around and around gbout 30 times. m moye the hands. apart, pulling on the dises and causing the strings to untwist. This will rotate the wheel and catise.the sparks to y. The continued rotation of the wheel will again twist the strings. When this twisting commences slacken the strings — ey until they ahe full twisted, then pu ‘ Price 25 cts. each by mail, postpaid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. BLACK-EYE JORE. New and gmusi eye The victim is tolc to noid the tube otf tek his 30 as to ex all light from back, and then to remove tube until in the center. In Ease" ult plete x ceive the finest black ‘tl fornish a qual e can be used § Fee 2 Hi will be caught Price 81 a 2 to $500 BACH paid for hundreds of old Coins. Keep ALL money dated be- fore 1895 and send Ten cents for New Tilustrated Coin Value Book, size 4x7. 1t may mean your Fortune. CLARKE COIN Co., Box 95, Le Roy, N. ¥. STAR AND CRESCENT PUZZLE, The puzzle is to separate the star from the star and crescent without using force. Price, 10 cents; 3 for 25 cents, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 23d St., N. ¥. = — S MAGIC CARD BOX.—A very cleverly made box of exchanging or vanishing cards. In fact, any number of tricks of this character can be Performed by it. A very necessary magical accessory. Price, 15e. FBANK SMITH, 883 Lenox Ave., N. Y. LUCKY PENNY POCKET PIECE. This handsome pocket piece is made of alu- minum, resemblin somewhat in size an appearance a_ silver dollar. In the center of the pocket piece is a new one-cent U. S. coin, inserted in sypch a way that it cannot be removed. (U. 8. laws prevent our showing: this coin in On one side of the pocket piece are the words, “Lucky penny cket piece; I bring good luck,” and the design of a horseshoe. On the opposite side, “I am our mascot,” “K me and never go roke,” and two sprigs of four-leafed clover. hese handsome pocket pieces are believed by many to be harbingers of good luck. Price 12 cents; 3 for 34 cents; by matl, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥, — ~ = our engraving). LOCK PUZZLE: Without exception, this is the hardest one of all. And yet, if you have the directions you can very easily do it. It con- sists of a stag ae through two links on shafts. The shanks of this puzzle are always = in the way. Get one and learn how -to take the ring off. Price, 15e, by mail, postpaid, with directions, H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y¥. ELECTRIC CIGAR CASE, This handsome cigar case ap- pears to be filled with fine cigara, If your friend smokes ask bim to bave a cigar one the cigars, like a flash, in- stantly disappear juto the case en- tirely out of sight, greatly to his surprise and astonishment. You ean beg his don and state you t there were some cigars left In the A slight pressure on sides of case though case. uses gars to disappear as if by magic. Oy Tons a wire at bottom of ease the cigars instantly Mgt 4 again fo As real renee a Rear srs sure to deceive any one, 't one of best practi es of season. A novelty with w the ou can bave lots of fun. 35 cents, sent by parcel post, pust- C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St, N..X. ¥° dl

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E KAZOO. TRICK CIGARETTE BOX. The simplest trick out. inbag | his one is a corker! Get a bor right All you have to do is to Made in the exact shape of a sub- | away, if you want to have a barrel of joy. et the cigarette into | marine. With this comical little Here’ ec. : ri , t s the secret: It looks like an ordi harlie’s mouth. Ah, ha! instrument you can give a bride ary red bo ? Turkish elearette But do it? We and groom one of the finest seren- | a : ‘ et it. Anyhow, you | ades they ever received. Or, if you pate pac gent Eee. eee ie ane might try. It’s a safe bet Wish to use it as a ventriloquist, | smoke and he raises the lid of tne box. your friends can’t work | you will so completely change your | myo¢ explodes the cap, and if you are it. The trick is a_ sta- voice that your best friend will not | wise you will get out of sight with the tionary head and ge A recount it. Price, 12e, by mail, | 44. before he gets over thinking be was cigarette in a meta postpaid. shot. . Price 15c., postpaid. with a glass top. If you don’t get one you'll | ores Novelty Co. 168 W. 23d St.. N. ¥.| WOLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 23d St. N. ¥.- regret it, that’s all. Price 1c, by mall, postpaid. MAGIC LINK PUZZLE. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. | A number of / rings. The| JITNEY BUS GAME. lake Fahad oc) A circular metal box | panes just ex- with a glass top. IM- | aeiy the same way wmagitians link their side is a toy ae hoops. It looks dead easy. But we defy fixed at one A e little |anybody to do it unless they know the af ES) w—\) loose Be cea an ex. | Secret. Price 10c, by mail, postpaid. ee oe the swiftly WOLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 23d St., N. ¥. THE MODERN DANCERS. hese dancers are set in a gilt frame, the size of our engraving. By lighting a mateh and moving it in circular form at the back they can be made to dance furiously, the heat from the match warmin them up. If you wan HENTU, -to-date moving auto into the x to see an up-to rabs THE LUNG TESTER. tango dance send for - garage. This one We have here one of hoy pretty charm, o your interest, holds it, and almost makes you wild when you find after repeated trials — how hard it is to do the trick. Price 12c, | by mall, postpaid. AEs the greatest litle nov- y Price, 15 cents, or $ cltles sre produced: | for 40 cents, sent by mail. postpaid. ‘ s ent | ww few: > 99 a you can . absolutely | Wolff Novelty Co. 168 W. 23d St. N. ¥. test the strength of | WOLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 230 5t. ; your :ungs. It has ar THE QUESTION PUZZLE, 2 —— clear- wo huss fn the form ‘ y shows you the uum of questivi warks, fas- ROUGH RIDER DISC PISTOL. / ber of pounds you can tened together at: thecten Made of nicely col- blow. Lots of fun fhe object is to disen- ored wood 5% inches testing your lungs gage one link from the long. The power is | Get one and see what other. It cannot be done furnished by rubber | a good blower you are. Without the directions. bands. Ten discs of | Price 5c, by mail, Price 10¢, by mail, post- pistol. Price. 6c. each, FEANK SMITH, . N. ¥. - > Nov : by mail, vostpaid. H. 383 Lenox Ave. ~ OLFF Novelty Co., 168 W. 23d St., N. ¥. WOLFF Novelty Co.. 168 W. 23. St. N. ¥. THE WAR FOUNTAIN PEN. THE RUBBER DAGGER. A very handsome fountain pen case Ou account of the war we have cardboard with each | postpaid, fe with directions. | to which is attached a pocket holder / / FORTUNE TELLING CARDS. substituted this novelty for the The most comical fortune telling cards Magic Dagger. It is eight inches in heatly made of metal and highly ever issued. Every one a joke that will length, made to look exactly like a nickel-plated. When your friend de arouse screams of laughter. They are shuf- steel weapon and would deceive al- sires the use of your pen and gets it. fled, and one is drawn—red for ladies, white Most anybody at whom you might he is very much astonished when be wok entionen. On the drawn card is a thrust it. But as the blade is made removes the cap by the sadden and -provoking picture, and a few words of rubbe, it can do no injury. | loud noise of the explosion that oc- revealing your fortune. Price 5¢., sent by Price .15e, by mail, postpaid. ; curs, and yet a little paper cap does mail, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre Street. | it all. Price, 33e, by mail, postpatd. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d Street, N. ¥. Brooklyn, New York. i .tANK SMITH. 383 Lenox Ave, N. ¥- READ THIS ONE! “Moving Picture Stories” : A WEEKLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO PHOTOPLAYS AND PLAYERS PRICE 6c PER COPY “2a Mo PRICE 4c. PER COPY THE BEST FILM MAGAZINE ON EARTH | | BUY A COPY! ENJOY YOURSELF! Magnificent Colored Cover Portraits of Prominent Performers! : 32 PAGES OF READING OUT EVERY FRIDAY. ; EACH NUMBER CONTAINS New Portraits aad Biographies of Actors and Actresses Six Stories; of the Best Films on the Scrcers ve Elegant Half-tone Scenes from the Plays esate Articles About Prominent People in the Films , Doings 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 PUBLI- CATION ON THE MARKET! Its authors are the very best that money can procure;its profuse illustrations are exquisite, and its special arti- cles are by the greatest experts in their particular line. this publication the very best of its kind in the world. your newsdealer, or send us 6 cents in money or postage-stamps, and we will mail you yet ew ‘ wir ag my any number _ HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, 166 West 23d Street, New York City - ib teehs » ys: ~ rf yh Ae at At Pk ee

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- - LATEST ISSUES—— 593 Nat Noble, the Little Broker; or, The Boy Who Started a Wall Street Panic. 5a A Struggle For Fame; or, The Gamest Boy in the World. 585 The Young Money Magnate; or, The Wall Street Boy Who Broke the Market. a A Lucky Contract: or. The Boy Who Made a Raft of Money. ‘OT A Big Risk; or..The Game That Won. SOR On.Pirate's Isle: or, The Treasure of the Seven ‘raters. 59 A"Wall Street Mystery; or. The Boy Who Beat the Syndicate ern Tick Hadtier's Mine: or. The Ray Gold Diggers of Mexico. *0r A Ror Stock Broker; or, From Errand Boy to Millionaire. 02 Facing the World: or, A Poor Boy's Fight For Fortune. 03 A Tip Werth a Million; or, How a\Boy Worked It In Wall Street. “04 Billy, the Cabin Boy; or, The Treasure of Skeleton Island. 605 Just His Luck; or, Climbing the Ladder of Fame and Fortane. 606 Out With His Own Circus; or, The Success of a Young. arnum. €07 Playing For Money; or, The Boy Trader of Wall Street. 608 The Boy Copper Miner; or, Ted Brown’s Rise To Riches. 609 Tips Off the Tape; or, The Boy Who Startled Wall Street. 610 Striking It Rich; or, From Office Boy to Merchant Prince. “FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY — 2 i 612 In_a Class By Himself: or, The Plucky Boy Who Got to the Top. 613 Bulling the Market; or, The Messenger Who Worked a Corner. - fil4 After the Big Blue Stone; or, The Treasure of the Jungle. — 615 Liftle Jay Perkins, the Broker: or, Shearing the Wall Street “Lambs.” > 616 The Young Coal Baron; or. Five Years With. the Miners. 617 Coining Money: or. The Boy Plunger of Wall_ Street. = 618 Among the Tusk Hunters; or, The Boy Who Found a Dia= mond Mine. E — a 619 A Game Boy; or, From the Slums to. Wall Street 620 A Waif’s Legacy; or, How it Made a Poor Boy Rich. Sel 621 Fighting the Money Kings: or, The Little Speculator of Wall Street. 622 a Boy With Grit; or, The Young Salesman Who Made His Mark. 623 Ted, the Broker’s Son; or, Startin 624 Dick Darrell’s Nerve; or, From Office. 625. Under a Lucky Star; or, The Boy Who made a Million In — Wall Street. Out For Himself. cngine-House to Manager's 611 Lucky In Wall Street; or, The Boy Who Trimmed the Brokers. ‘ For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 6 cents, per copy. in money or postage stamnx. he ; HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, - IF YOU WANT ANY of these weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, and fill in your Order and send it with the price of the weeklies mail. POSTAGE STAMPS T 166 West 23d St., N. Ye BACK NUMBERS - 2 they can be obtained from the publishers direct. Write out ou want, and the weeklies will be sent to N THE SAME AS MONEY. you by return — OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND DREAM BOOK.—Containing the great oracle of human destiny; also the true meaning of kind of dreams, together with onies, and curious games of book of tricks, con ing full instru on all the leading card tricks of , also the most Sherr: magical illusions as performed by. our leading - clans; every boy a copy of this ik. No. 3. handkereb pare. window aud hat ntetation” con! a full list of the lan and sentiment of flowers. guage No. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of this little book. It contains full instructions in art of Saneine, Meroette in the ball- room and at parties, how to dress, and full directions for calling off in all popular uare dances, ae F aS 5. HUW, SKE LOVE—A = plete guide to love, courtship and marriage, ving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to observed, with many curious and interest- ing things not generally known, No. 6, HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE. —Giving full instruction for the use of dumbbells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, hori- zontal bars and yarious other methods of “developing a good, healthy muscle; contain- ing over sixty illustrations. No. 7 HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Hand- somely fllustrated and containing full in- structions for the mana nt and training of the canary, mockingbird, bobolink, black- bird, paroquet, parrot, etc, No. 9.2 HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILO- QUIST.—By Harry Kennedy. Every intelli- gent boy reading this book of instructions can er the art, and create any amount of fun for himself and friends. It is the greatest book ever published, ‘No 10. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self- defense made easy. Containing over thirty illustrations of rds, blows, and the differ- ent ition of a good boxer. Every boy should obtain one of these 1 and in- structive books, as it will teach you how to box without an instructor. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LET- sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10c. per co No. 4. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A com- plete hand-book for making all kinds of eandy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc, etc. No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL, —One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world. Every- body wishes to know how to become beauti- ful, both male and female. The secret is o. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVE- NING PARTY.—A complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, comic recita- tions, ete., suitable for parlor or drawing- room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any book published. No. 21, HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full instructions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, Large and _—— together with description o: game and fish. No, 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.— Heller’s second sight explained by his for- mer assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. ol gered how the secret dialognes were carried on be- ‘wea, the .mosician.onAr+he boy on) the stage; a a0 prs all the codes ms. signals, 23, OW TO EXPLAIN DREAMsS.— sip, and almost costless, No. 23, This little book gives the explanation to all | kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky days. o. 24, HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.—Containing full instructions for writing to gentlemen on all subjects. “No, 25. OW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. —Containing full instructions for all kinds of Fy muaatic sports and athletic exercises. Embracing thirty-five illustrations. By Pro- fessor W. Macdonald, No, 2. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT—Fully illustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, to- gether with instructions on swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. No. 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECITATIONS,—Containing the most ut selections in use, comprising Dutch ialect, French dialect, Yankee and Irish dia- lect pet together with many standard rea will pring forth, whether happi- ness or misery, wealth or tell by a glance at this little book, Buy one and be convinced. No. HOW TO BECOME AN INVEN- TOR —Every boy should know how inven- tions originated. explains them all, giving examples in , hydraulics, sm, op pneumatics, mechanics, No. 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of the most instructive books on cooking ever published. It contains recipes for cooking and oysters; mea! ‘and. : also = Senee and all kinds 1p oP 5 5 eran ; py, or 3 for 25c., in money or postage Stamps, ; iss 23a collection of recipes - [ce at te te . - - . No, 31. HOW TO BECOME A fe ER.—Containing fourteen illustrations, gir- ing the different positions requisite to come-a good speaker, reader and elocutionist. Also containing gems from all the popular authors of prose and poetry. 5 No, 32. HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE— Containing instructions for beginners, ¢ of a machine, hints on training, ete. oe book, Full of practical ill 18. No, 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A ¢com-_ plete and useful little. book, containing rules and regulations of billiards, bagat backgammon, croquet, dominoes, ete. No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUND —Containing all the leading conundrums 4 the day, amusing riddles, curious catches” and witty sayings. . No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN DOCTOR.—A_ wonderful book, containing — useful and B pata information in the treat- ment of ordinary diseases and ailments com- — mon to every family. Abounding in w . and effective recipes for general complaints, “Ko. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POUL-_ TRY, PIGEGN, AND RABBITS.—A u aan instructive book. Handsomely iilustrat- — No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS,—Including hints on how to cateh ~ moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and - birds, Also how to cure skins. Crienaly” illustrated. aoe No, 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a great — variety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amatevr minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book.” . No, 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK — STUMP SPEAKER.—Contain a .a8- sortment of stump apecthen rile = egro, and Irish. Also end’ men’s jokes. Ju thing for home amusement and ama shows, No. 438, HOW TO BECOME A MAGT —Containing the grandest assortment magical illusions ever placed before pubiie. Also tricks with cards, incanta’ Cc, No, 44. HOW TO WRITE IN AN BUM.—A grand collection of Album Ver suitable for any time and occasion, emb: Lines of Love, Affection, Sen : mor, Res and Condolence, also Suitable for Valentines and Weddings. No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORE : ret ie