Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 673) (1918 08 23)

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—— AUGUST 23, 1918 No. 673 = : wei SIX Cents Bess us inet cS CLAIM N27; oR A FORTUNE FROM A GOLD MINE. ant { PR “Come back here or it'll be worse for you!” roared Dave Hamlin, rushing into the water, followed by his two associates. “Stand back or I'll smash you!” cried Tom in @ resolute tone, flourishing the oar to cover Bob's retreat.

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FAMEAND FORTUNE WEEKLY — STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY Issued Weekly—By Subscription $3.00 ear. ee by Horry E. Wolf, Publis No. 673. NEW YORK, AUGUST 23, 1918. Entered at the New York, N. Y., Post Office as Second-Class Matter her, 166 West 23d Street, New York. Price 6 Cents. CLAIM No. 7 A FORTUNE FROM A GOLD MINE By A SELF-MADE MAN a CHAPTER I. A MEXICAN MAID. “Say, Tom, this Senorita Pepita is a peach,’ said Bob Gillette, nodding at the handsome sixteen-year-old daughter of Sebastian Castano, landlord of the little old-fashioned Mexican inn at which the two American boys:had stopped for rest and refreshment. _ This inn stood on the outskirts of a small rustic village in the foothills of the Sierra de Antunez mountain range, twenty miles east of the Sonora railway, and about seventy- five miles, as the crow flies, south by east, of Nogalez, Ari- zona, a town close to the Mexican border, where the Sonora line connected with the Southern Pacific railroad. scenery roundabout was characteristic of northern Mexico. The valley, through which a dusty road wound like a long yellow ribbon, was fertile with semi-tropical tress and vege- tation, with a detached hacienda here and there, its white- washed walls peeping out from amid a mass of green foliage. The inn was right beside the road, on a curve that faced the range. aS) ak: The two boys, seated zt a table under the spreading shade of a large tree which overlapped the low-roofed building, had the mountains, rising peak on peak, before them, in solitary grandeur. Upon one of the steeps, overlooking a deep ravine, stood a low rambling building, built of stone and partially sur- rounded by a high wall. - Above the entrance gate was a cross, large enough to be seen from the inn. ' This was the monastery of the Black Brotherhood, an order of mendicant monks, so the boys had been told at Magdalena, where they got off the train. “Bet your life she is,” replied Tom Hammond, in answer \ ne ae SN eee eR Ns Tht. St ites Ak dD prt EY 1 nie ease Atle ES Her attire, although made of ordinary materials, was on the whole rather chic and picturesque, and a jaunty head- dress of bright colors set off her dark locks to much ad- vantage. Tom motioned to her, and she approached the table. “So your name is Pepita?” he said, in Spanish. “Si, senor,” she replied, with a little courtesy. “ T suppose you have guessed that we are Americans?” “Si. But you speak my language beautifully, senor.” “My mother taught me. She was a Cuban.” Pepita smiled, : “Your friend—does he also 5 Ae Spanish?” “I regret to say he does not. He regrets it, too, but nevee so much as now.” : “Why, senor?” “Because he ts deprived of the pleasure of speaking to such a bewitching creature as yourself.” “Oh, senor!” cried Pepita with a blush, at the same time looking at Bob in a way that made him suspect he was the subject of his friend’s last remark. ; “Here, I say, Tom, what are you telling her about me?” he asked. . “T told her you called her a peach,” grinned Tom. “Do you want to make a donkey of me?” “Not at all. Nature has done that already.” “Oh, come off! Don’t get so funny!” : At that moment a distant ‘chant or chorus reached their ears. ; The boys looked in the direction whence it came. Filing down the narrow pathy that ran from the road to the gate of thé monastery they saw a procession of dark- robed men with cowls over their heads. At that distance they looked for all the world like a black caterpillar crawling along the circuitous path. One man walked a little distance ahead of the others. to his friends remark, as he sipped a cool drink with great} He bore a large white cross in front of him. : ce ane ge \coleg gern was hot enough to do credit} ‘The chant was slow and measured, and the monks kept 4 = _inferna A 2 pace with it. s a ss ae Ne * only got it on me,” said Bob. “I suppose those are the monks of the Black Brother- _ | “Why, you speak Spanish like a native, while I don’t| Popd: Pepita 2" said Eee og aes a dst Unk lie oft nce] “Tbe Sel im Gat Dung em the mountain ste?> we've been here, and she’s been ng eyes at you like a BAD nt do they live?” % ater “Oh, they live well.” “T'll gamble. on it they do. The clergy of all countrie take especial good care to do that,” laughed Tom. ots “What are you two talking about now?” asked Bob. “I wish you’d speak United States.” . “What did your friend say?” asked the girl, with wom- anly curiosity. : 2 : zc Senorita Pepita came to the door and ng. . ¢.

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D . CLAIM No. 7. > “He said your beauty has quite fascinated him, and he They continued their solemn chorus without intermission. * wishes he could talk with you,” F chuckled Tom. “Tt’s s wonder those chaps don’t get tired of that song,” Senorita Pepita blushed and turned a coquettish glance}said Bob. “They keep repeating the thing over and over on Bob. again. I suppose that’s a Spanish hymn of some kind.” “Say, cut it out, will you?” growled Tom. “No, that isn’t Spanish. “What's troubling you now, my dear fellow?” “What is it, then?” “You’re talking-about me again. That isn’t a fair deal.” “I judge it is Latin. The Catholic clergy use that alto- = “Go on, you’re dreaming! She asked me a question and 1) gether in their religious. exercises.” . answered it.” “So I’ve heard, but I never could understand it. Very few y “It was something about me, for after you answered. she | people understand it.” _ gave me one of her goo-goo looks.” “Tt’s the eustom of the Catholic Church, and as it’s the ' : “Maybe she’s mashed on your shape.” ‘oldest in the world we must assume that the priests know Mashed on nothing! Yl bet you two are making fun of} their business and what is best for the people. Religion me because I can’t understand your blamed lingo. and politics are two things I don’t care to argue about, so “Your friend seems to be provoked at something,” said | let’s talk about something else.” y Pepita, who noticed that Bob seemed annoyed. ; : “T think the chant of the Black Brotherhood yonder doesn’t suit his fancy. He remarked just now that it re- minded him of the tune the old cow warbled.” CHAPTER II. The girl looked puzzled at the latter part of Tom’s an- + swer. PRYING INTO THE MYSTERIOUS. me Sages Bg rain Be poss es ’ ieening sgl capi. In a few minutes the procession of dark-robed and cowled “I wouldn’t think of doing Ee op a thing, Senorita.” men, for even their faces, which they held down, as if look- “You haven’t told me your names, senor,” she said, after |im at the ia" were invisible, passed by, en route for 8 doubtful look. the little vil “Ah, mine is Tom Hammond. My friend’s is Bob Gil- “T’d hate "te pass my life ‘in that lonesome-looking build- lette; Make a bow, Bob,” he added in English to his friend. |} Be and put in my time singing and praying,” remarked _ “I’m introducing you.” looking after the monks. pe? Bob made a bow. “T believe in letting every one follow his own taste,” uf The senorita immediately courtesied. lied Tom. “They don’t do anybody any harm, and proba- ly they do a lot of good in their way. At any rate, the - “ come => Bo lew Reg Sate Se: ex did JOR) Coa GR abitants around here believe in them, I guess. Pepita _.. “We came from New York City.” Id me that they live well, and who knows what fun they a “New York City,” she repeated, as if trying to locate the | ™# aie have all by eigenen up in ia | nina a place. at is in the United States. e oe oe we go up ere ne th may De a roa “It was when we left there, and I don’t believe it has time to see place when most of them are away. moved away.” ae a pa rk = copnaety te nes it, and Pa just didn’t seem hum ying curiosi get in there a ook aroun SB aera to catch on to the humor of his re-| ""«Tten I'm afraid you'll be disappointed.” ot, ds a ive ty—yes ?” P ee mesa eh def lien ag a acter getting as enty thirty ar as 8?” as ob, with a loo ispleasure. slecias high.” ang Som Lalande these from. ty = “Me back out? Say, have you ever known me to be a ~~) Fe te poe? rags ie Es =~ go? z = : oe senor is joking,” she replied, with an incredulous reece dre yee daiking. ebook?” pe e “No. | That’s the truth. There are some—a fow—that PR al ve ett “3 shaper eee: E ite looked astonished. is s OD a if that wouldn’t jar you!” cried his companion, Ean wy, en there when we're home. “However if we can’t get inside, there is no fase I guess, > We ‘eame West to Tucson, Arizona, to see my friend's is from 2 father, who is in the mining business in that nelghborhdod. From the utside.” SE ae SS ne er Py vacation time. We have ten weeks in which to ‘m with you,” replied Bob with alacrity. J = Nave a. good time. After Dagger a week at the mine we “well let’s have shother refreshment first. ‘Thadidrink am ed, as We were so near Mexico, that we'd take a run| pepita fetched us to the right spot, There is nothing * along the Sonora railway and look at the country.| intoxicating about it, and it tastes good.” ae off at Ma — a ‘eierits ne gee hear-| “That's right. Tell her to foteh two m An Brothe , We con- = er and fake a look foes _ for the landlord are ay Ne pee o eit and I she cones over put up at last night told us it was two or) “wore years old, and a place of considerable in- Pepita,” said fom, after paying her. “That is, from the - ie, seeing we can’ inside. Senor Hammond,” said Pepita. “From the outside!” she exclaimed, ‘ ever admitted.” wi We've takin par jaunt for ° . » sas dav titre aa Wa Bg mustn’t go there, senor, replied the girl, a bit ” said Tom Yi eae eee to stop us,” sald. Tom. “The road, _ compliment. vajonds toi é us straight there without — Tom’s “good-looking face, and mo eee Wit oe aly thes tae ok Ge ae a one of those rocks and see you standing at the door of this eae! she a very feeling for Americans, for | inn.” | ber'moti, who wae dee, hal bet a native of the United no stranger who ie «ES PLES sey ae ‘ey “ee laughed ‘heartily. y fomyinnk edrg natiats pretty good, Pepita, What tort of @ monk ao you y 3 Ea. ve tien, vn ea Ie ee Bi es replied wich

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‘CLAIM. No. . 3 “Why, just think, if I became a monk you could have ina | oeetat Thekt to show us around after we get inside, and then for your father confessor. call on you.” . “You wouldn’t be allowed to come out except on certain Gays, like this, for instance. This is the fast day of their | butt. Patron saint.” “I guess I don’t care to become a monk. I’d sooner stay ~ in the world and work for my living like most people oO. 7 Pepita laughed. _ “Say, what are those big hampers for?” asked Tom, point- ing at a couple of great earthen crocks encased in wicker- work, with a cover that fitted snug and a wicker handle, that stood near the corner of the inn. “Those were brought here from the monastery by two lay brothers.” “What for?” - “To be filled with provisions and wine.” “Oh, I see. Where are these lay brothers now? I haven’t seen them since we have been here.” ’ “They went to the village to get something they want.” “They must be strong chaps to be able to carry those I’d come down every day and|let us out by a side gate before the monks get back.” “All right, old man, heave ahead.” Tom seized a good-sized fowl and threw it into the water- Bob relieved his hamper of a similar bird. > They worked rapidly, now that they had embarked in the hairbrained adventuré, and within ten minutes had emptied enough of the contents of the hampers to permit of their getting inside and putting the covers on. Z “It’s lucky Pepita has been detained inside, or we never could have worked this dodge,” said Tom. “When she comes out presently she'll wonder where we have disap- eared to, as She won’t see us on the road to either the vil- age or the monastery.” “We'll have the laugh on her when we get back, as you say she told you that we couldn’t get in there,” said Bob, getting into his hamper. ; “She'll think the American boys beat the world for nerye and daring,” replied Tom, clambering into the other hamper. “They certainly do. Hello! There are two chaps coming up the road from the village. They look like lay brothers. hampers filled up with bottles of wine and provender. Why | Get out of sight and don’t make a moye.” don’t they use a burro?” “They do. It’s in our stable.” “Are the hampers loaded now?” “Yes, all ready and waiting to be taken to the monastery.” At that moment a woman in the inn called to Pepita. “V'll be back presently,” she said. Tom called his companion’s attention to the hampers. “Let’s take a peep and see what's in them?” he suggested. They went to where the hampers stood, removed the covers and saw a lot of’ chickens and other things in the food line packed in straw. “The wine bottles must be at the bottom,” said Bob. “I should have thought they would have stowed them at the top where they wouid not be so likely to get broken.” They were about to replace the coyers when Bob said sud- y: gee Tom, I’ve a great scheme, if you’re game to work “What is your scheme?” Fea, like to see the inside of the monastery, wouldn’t “I wish I could; but if it’s against the regulations of the monks you and I will have to take it out in wishing.” “Not if my scheme works.” “You haven’t said what your scheme is.” “It’s this: We'll take two-thirds of this stuff out of the hampers and dump it into that rainwater barrel, then we'll get into the hampers ourselves and lie snug. The lay _ brothers will load the hampers on the burro and we'll have @ free ride to the monastery and be carried inside the walls. _ What, do you think of that?” po? t head, Bob. I wouldn’t mind trying trick on if I believed it would work.” he _harm in making the attempt. If we’re out of the scrape by making good the ketbooks, and we need oing to travel throt Beton and I feel it in my bones “But if we sue s+ ing Eg bends Die pa oat of lekking es I am,” ed Tom. oe st, No doubt we can get ae 7 more keeping for , it’s just one | The heys pulled in their heads, and, adjusting the covers so.as to have a little ventilation, they remained as quiet as two bugs in a rug. As the lay brothers came up Pepita made her appearance at the door. She was surprised to see that the boys were gone. enue looked up and down the road, but saw no signs of em. A look of disappointment rested on her pretty.face, for she had counted on another talk with Tom Hammond before he and his friend returned to Magdalena on the railway. “Are the hampers all ready, senorita?” asked one of the lay brothers in an humble tone, as he stepped up. “They've been ready this hour, good brother,” replied the girl respectfully. our way,” said the lay attache of the monastery. ,“We are already late. We must hurry in order to get back before e good monks return by the short route.” “Now, by our patron saint, but this hamper is plaguey heayy, Brother Anson,” said Brother Bruno, as he and his den to place it in the sling on the left side of the burro. ' “It is, Brother Bruno,” admitted the other. “It must carry a load of prime poultry this time, and plenty of wine, or such were the orders we left here to be filled.” “Now the other, and then we’re off.” The other hamper was. equally as weighty as its com- panion, and the two men chuckled over the anticipated feast all hands would have off its contents. Both hampers being well secured on the burro, the lay brothers bowed to the senorita and took up their march for the monastery, both walking beside the animal’s head, and talking together ina low tone. CHAPTER Uf, A NOVEL EXPEDIENT. All things considered, the inn up the mountain side pretty well, as they hack all the straw to oat the wine bottles und make them a soft seat to rest e only unpleasant part of the trip was the heat of the sun, which warmed up the crocks and made their quarters uncomfortably close. f y i ey secured ventilation by holding up the covers an( inet on ax With taal Auman, ake ee Sie ed ae on fairly well. / At le wi os } e it. phi | brotnare’tedthe Savthal fut a kine af Seoeys man who had opened the gate closed and lock Get the burro, Brother Bruno, and we will proceed on companion lifted the one in which Tom Hammond was hid- “No doubt, brother, no doubt,” replied Brother Bruno. the boys enjoyed their ride f bo ; had put

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4 The hampers were deposited before a door at. the side of the building, and the burro was taken to a small stable. The boys simultaneously and cautiously lifted the covers to take a peep at their surroundings. They found themselves looking into each other’s faces, a couple of feet apart. . “We’ve arrived,” said Bob with.a grin. “That’s what we have,” responded Tom. “We’re in the courtyard.” “The coast seems clear. Shall we get out?” “Not yet. Let the lay brothers carry us inside. You see, we’ve been deposited near a door. They’ll be back presently to move the hampers. If they found them suddenly turned light weight it would arouse their suspicion, naturally. They would examine the inside, and find a lot of nothingness in- stead of fat chickens and other provender. Then there would be something doing, and we might catch it where the turkey did the axe. Hist! They’re coming back. Get out of sight,” said Tom. Brother Bruno unlocked the door, and he and Brother Anson, seizing the hamper that contained Tom, carried it inside to the storeroom of the monastery, where they left it beside several empty hampers. As soon as their backs were turned Tom raised the cover and watched them go out into a passage. his seems to be the storeroom,” he thought, looking around. “I think I’ll get out of my close quarters and hide behind one of these other hampers.” He suited the action to the thought, and was hardly out of sight when the lay brothers entered with the second hamper, which they put down near the other. Then they left the room, locking the door after them. Bob lifted the cover and looked out. Tom saw him by the light of an old-fashioned lamp which hung from the ing. e decided not to show himself for a few minutes, and see what his companion would do. Bob stood up in his hamper, reached over and lifted the cover off the other, { a ‘Here, get out, Tom! Are you asleep?” he said. Tom chuckled from his place of conc t. As there was no movement in the hamper, Bob looked into it and ogee Sy berry not oe : “Where under is 6 muttered, springing out on the stone floor. Sst He looked around the room, but could see nothing of his __ “Great jawbones! Maybe—no, that couldn’t be. . He must _ be in here somewhere. I'll bet the lobster is hiding from me. “: ae come out, wherever you are. I’m on to your sce PAM that the joke, was at-an-end, no he showed hint- “onny boy!” ed’ Bob. “Thought you'd seare rou? ought I’d believe I was in here all alone. - ae peateriay. Now, Pape agile Ohad do ge ere, I suppose. This is only the Ba? Sn tS Scns What on, 4 ‘om. on @ moment ) yonder shelf? the shelf and found a pair of loaded re- monks 4 did uh! z need revolyers for?” said Bob in some .. “You take one and I'll take the the inn when we get back, to each thrust a revolver into their staggered he = it locked, when in!” said Tom, with a blank look. a replied Bob. “Is that so? What are we now , do can we do until somebody comes lets us out?” a dickens of a note. We'll be bu out of the able to see a thing after all the get in.” ss es r : " is CLAIM g. Th fifty The odor thai leasant, 1 earth] be when | trying gate. i No. 7. “Maybe there’s another way of getting out.” “I doubt it.” : “Let’s see, at any rate.” They examined the walls, but couldn’t find any other means of entrance or exit. “We’re up against it, all right,” said Bob, as they stood in a corner opposite the door. “Here we’ll have to stay until ~ —what’s that?” His foot had come into contact with an obstruction which, on examination, proved to be the iron ring at one end of a trap-door. “A trap-door. amining it. ae course it leads somewhere. Maybe to some dungeon cell,” , “What would monks want a dungeon cell for?” “Maybe it was used a long time ago, when the place was first built, to pomee some monk who broke his vows and went wrong. ts of queer things were done in the olden times, before people were as civilized as they are now.” “Let’s see where it leads to,” said Tom, stooping and seiz- ing the ring. The trap yielded readily to a pull, opening up on a pair of iat Ya Flashing a match down the hole, they saw a flight of nar- row, circular stone steps leading down into pitch darkness. The idea of penetrating that place did not strike either Tom or Bob as inviting. “Puts me in mind of stories I’ve read about the under- ground passages in the old medieval castles on the Rhine and elsewhere,” said Bob. “It looks rather cobwebby and mysterious down there, doesn’t it?” responded his companion. “T should remark. And a strong, dank smell comes out of it. I don’t know that I’ve got the nerve to tackle it.” “Not if I go first?” “Oh, if you go down I shan’t hold back.” “How is your match safe?” “Full.” “So is mine, so come on. Hold on, I’ll go down a bit and you let the trap down. J want to see if we can push it up easily from underneath.” e experiment was tried, and Tom found that. he could open the trap from beneath without any trouble. That fact being settled, they started down the stone steps, Bob pulling the trap down over his head. Tom counted steps as he advanced, striking a fresh match when the previous one went out, and then he faced a tunnel-like pemnks. They advanced along the passage for perhaps a dozen feet, when they came to a grated door. “I wonder where this leads to?” said Bob. This must lead somewhere,” said Tom, ex- The door was locked, but a huge iron key projected from the keyhole. ; Tom turned it and pulled the door toward him. t reached their noses was decidedly un- Pp “Shut the door and let’s sneak,” said Bob, “Heavens! That smell is enough to knock a horse down.” Tom wag about to do so in a hurry when suddenly a hol- ow groan struck upon their ears, It clearly came from the room, and sounded most un- y. “That settles it! Me for the storeroom fast : sei he ek e for the as as I can “Hold on, Bob, There’s some, one in here who seems to in a bar way,” said Tom, whose nerve held out under the circumstances, “Don’t run away. Let’s investigate.” He struck another match as he spoke and flashed it inte the small cell, - : The sight they saw made them start back aghast. CHAPTER IV. THE SECRET OF CLAIM NO, 7, straw lay the ghastly wreck of man,

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CLAIM No. His garments were mere tattered remnants of the clothes he had once worn. “Great Scott!” cried Tom. “This is awful!” Bob tried to say something, but his tongue refused to wag. As Tom struck a third match he saw a lantern standing near the door. gee Picking it up, he saw that there was a piece of candle in it, and he eagerly jumped at the chance to secure a steady illumination. The unfortunate specimen of humanity looked with sur- prise on their features and forms revealed by the light. “Who—are—you?” he asked in hollow tones. He spoke in the English language. “Two American boys,” replied Tom. “Who are you, and how came you here and in this horrible state?” “How—came—you—here?” he replied, ignoring the boy’s questions. “Oh, we just dropped into this old monastery to look around,” answered Tom “The bandits—where—are—they ?” Ap msigd exclaimed Tom. “What bandits? I don’t know of any. The—villains—who—pretend—to—be—monks.” “You don’t mean the Black Brotherhood?” cried Tom, looking at Bob in some consternation. “Yes. They—are—not—monks—but—a—gang—of—ban- dits. I am—their—victim. For—months—I—know—not— how—many—perhaps—years—they — have — kept—me— here—a prisoner.” % “Why did they do this?” “To—learn—the—secret—of—Claim—Seven.” The secret of Claim Seven!” “Yes.” “What is Claim Seven?” “The—richest—mine—in—these—mountains.” “Gee! Is that so?” The man uttered a hollow groan. “Tom, we'll have to get out of this den of thieves, which ‘we thought was the monastery of an order known as the Black Brotherhood, and get help to save this poor old ‘man,” said Bob. Hanae Any > 1 Peeath said the’ “F -—for—a — two — will — finish — me. You—boys—shall—be—my— heirs. To—you—I _— will—give—the—secret—of—Claim— Seven. It—will—make—you—rich—for—there—is—a for- tune—in—gold—in—it, from—the—bottom—in a an Remove—it.” “Hold the lantern, Bob, and I will see whether this is a ite dream or not,” said Tom. e une hold of the stone and found no trouble in pulling shove the lantem this way,” he said, ‘The light revealed a small, thin memorandum book under- neath where the stone had res ‘ “Is BR iaghes what you mean?” asked Tom, holding it up be- ore FY es. Guard—it—well—and—read—what — is — wr'tten ” he answered, with increasing difficulty, ¢t Tom shoved it into his pocket. re “—-Now—go—and—may—heayen _- _Preserve—you—both,” said the man, Pd we can’t leave you in this hole,” said Tom. oa said the man eagerly. “I will—be—dead—be- man, ‘e “Hi r— rolled to one side, and his. jaw dropped. “He is dead,” cried Bob, ‘He went like the snuing out | aor a candle,” ‘had better fet out of this place as soon as we pious You Siae caab tee. chivas ‘This is ce our feet into it det We will be able to “the débr and take ig ora ea al M ar k—you—the—third—stone— ‘hbete of And now we)” = oda ge we LB ba | sid Bob. Reena wane vor a corner,” ct a dots” It : ae. ‘Door er exe tN aa ease the’ Spee. 7. : - 5 they come down here to visit him again won’t be able to get at his bones,” said Tom, taking the lantern. With the lantern to light. the way their return to the eg ves was rapid, and glad enough they were to get Tom closed the trap and blew out the light of the lantern. “Those bogus lay brothers haven’t come back to get the contents of the hampers yet,” said Bob, looking into one of them, and observing that the straw had not been dis- turbed. “How surprised they’ll be when they find them three-quarters empty.” “They'll be sure to suspect the cause, and knowing that this room has been locked since they left the hampers they’ll hunt around in here till they find-us,” replied Tom. \ “Now, I’ve an idea to throw them off the scent.” “What is it?” “We'll take the wine bottles out of the hampers and then fill them up with all the old rubbish we can find in this place. That ought to make the hampers as weighty as when they arrived here, they brought two curious American boys into this alleged mona They packed the straw nicely in at the top, just as the had originally found it at the inn before they conceiv: their daring project of entering the monastery. “I’m afraid Pepita’s father is the one who will get in trouble over the matter.” At that moment they heard the rattle of a key in the lock of the door, and they hastened to conceal themselves. - CHAPTER V. EXPLORING THE MONASTERY. The door opened and two men, who appeared to be con- e culinary department of the monastery, en- tered the storeroom. They went poagen*) to one of the hampers, took off the cover, and began pulling out the straw. After the straw was out one of the men reached in and and the lay brothers will not suspect that. drew out a canvas-covered ham which the boys had found ~ hanging from a nail and used to help fill the hamper. He looked at it in surprise and uttered an ejaculation in Spanish. : oe and Anson were not told to get smoked ham,” e sa tuimer OF tock see ah trains long = ier, , brought enty o ‘owl we will forgive them the ham. the other, reachin chicken he expec a siitlf. “El Demonio! “A is fs joing in this hamper?” Bruno and Anson will have to answer for this, It is one of their jokes, no doubt.” The speaker reached down into the ae This are he fished up a small bag with bottles in it. down and fishing out, instead of the , a ‘grindstone the boys had taken from What is this?” cried the astonished man. “Caramba! What is the meaning of this?” “Por Dios! If this is a joke it is a poor one,” said: his companion. “Let us look into the other.” They did, and thelr astonishment and rage was estes on discovering that it, too, was full of a miscellaneous collec- r the trick. ee eeait. atta ated oe a aut hurried away -and Antonio began nosing aro w that ‘were sure to be the sony Bruno or Ansons+ es As Antonio came within a foot or two of them, Tom Iver he carried. the The ‘bandit cook fell ee a eee replied three apy. and vowed that Bruno and Ay y sa they discovered, ‘inst hots ed to take the bull by the horns before wae returned ‘: indstone!” ejaculated his amazed companion, “What .

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a > CLAIM No, 7. They stepped to the narrow window that afforded light to the room, and looked out. Tee view they obtained was a wild and romantic one, with the peaks of the Sierra de Antunez glowing in the last rays of the sinking sun. “What a building for different kinds of passages,” re- marked Bob. “It might be better to go up to the next story and hide there. Maybe that is not occupied by the bandits.” “Go ahead, then, and I'll follow.” So up they went to the landing above. Here they found another corridor runriing the length of the building, with seyeral doors leading off of it. - Having nothing better to engage theiF attention, and not believing there was any one at ail on this floor, the boys proceeded to inspect the rooms. At the end of the corridor they came to a locked door. The key was in the lock, however, so Tom turned it and walked inside, followed by Bob. : They stopped with exclamations of surprise. The room was occupied by a lovely-looking girl, who sat beside the narrow window with her hands clasped in her lap, @nd her tea¥-dimmed eyes watching the tip of the ons yellow disc as it slowly sank out of sight in the far-off orizon. “Dump him into ‘one of these empty hampers,” said Tom, ‘ “and then we'll be off.” . 7 This was speedily accomplished, and the boys glided out : of the storeroom into a long passage. ; : "Say, Tom, let us hide in this niche and wait for those . chaps to enter the storeroom. As soon as they are in we'll : close the door on them and Icck them in. That will reduce : the enemy by two more,” said Bob. : Tom thought the idea a good one, so they took refuge in ‘ the niche and waited. rae : Presently they heard footsteps echoing in the distance, a door opened and thea slammed, and voices of two men in angry conversation reached their. ears. The men entered the e, went toward the open . door of the storeroom and walked in. Sige immediately slipped off his shoes and ran oyer to é@ door. Re ¢ Antonio’s associate was showing the dumbfounded Bruno __ the yarious articles that he and the head cook had pulled out of the two hampers. brought from the inn, and jabber- ing, a of what he considered a mighty poor practical joke Tom took advantage of their backs being turned to shut ) and lock the door on them. . Then removing the key, he rejoined Bob and put on his __ Bhogs. us ch way shall we go?” asked Bob. ‘ “Follow me,” replied Tom. He led off down the passage, which terminated in a wide * corridor. There were doors at each end of the corridor. The boys went to one of these doors. __ Opening it cautiously a little way, Tom. looked out on the courtyard. He shut it auickly, for he had seen half @ dozen hard- ps thrown back on their shoulders, within a couple of yards F The rays of the declining sun lighted up their srisgied, _ ountenances, and showed villainy written on every line. Tom dragged Bob away toward the other end of the corridor, g him what he had. seen. \ ie pot tg My Sem pear SF soap ie Kay wane it th , ys no di ty in letting themselves out on a wide ee Pas surrounded a low, thick wall. CHAPTER VI. THE TWO PRISONERS. The fair oceupant of the room, who was evidently a pris- oner, turned her head with an exclamation. As her gaze rested on the boys the look of fear in her eyes changed to one of surprise. She looked like an Américan, so Tom, who was in the lead, addressed her in English as he advanced. “Don’t be frightened, miss. You appear to be a prisoner here, so you can count on us ag friends,” he said. “Did you learn that I and my father were prisoners in the hands of the dreadful men who live in this monastery, and have come to save us?” she asked eagerly. “No, we have discovered your presence here by accident. You say that your father is a prisoner, too? In one of the rooms on this floor?” “In the next room. We are being held for a ransom, and threatened with death if it is not sent. How comes it you are here and not prisoners?” she asked, with a doubtful look in her eyes. “Are the robbers away?” ; “No; I wish they were. It would not then be a difficult matter for us to make our escape.” “Ah! You have been prisoners and m to get out of the place in which you were confined—is t it? n> a ee "Above them soared the three stories of the rear wall of the monastery, with a score or more of narrow windows _ overlooking the landscape. g os “Come, we will go inside again and see if luck will be- us, were doors right and left off the and came yol y into this bandit nest, thinking it was ie corridor. on the right and saw it was the/ occupied by the monks of the Black Brotherhood.” i. 55 ¢ LE a8 3 & 4 up must come here, as stran- narrow facing a door. edie apa oun. In fact, she made a remark and they entered a room, fur- to have impressed me, and that was that nobody a chair, and a half dozen pegs} who to visit this place ever returned from it. I ' ‘% asked her why, and she replied that, struck by the holiness pegs hung various articles of coarse monastery, became monks themsel Panama straw, a soft cowboy hat, and a som-| Tom then went on to recount how they had secured ad- of saddle, from for it,” Rgds" Atelier) = muda Te proves the butts rh go Boren means of a Fen and your father to freedom, it said Bob, take such a after too well armed in this den of do Chath dhe asked anxiously. tee i E “No, that isn’t jt. We simply made fools of ourselves

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CLAIM No. barf programme out, only we will take you and your father with us.” “You haven’t told mé your name,” she said, after a short pause. “My name is Tom Hammond, 2 this is my friend, Bob “Dora Ardsley. My father is Henry Ardsley, president of the Western National Bank of St. Louis.” “You say he is a prisoner in the next room?” “Yes, and he must be dreadfully worried about me.” “Bob, go and see if you can get into the next room. If you can, bring Mr. Ardsley in here, and we will consider a plan for our joint escape.” Bob left the room and returned in a few minutes with the girl’s father. -Dora rushed into his arms with a cry of joy. “You’d better go down \the corridor. and stand watch, Bob, so that we may not be’ surpriséd by the bandits. While you are on Bo we will arrange some plan for making our escape,” said T Bob left the SSoauk and then Tom gaye Mr. Ardsley a rapid outline of the brief trip that he and his companion had paid to Mexico, and the seriows adventure which had ‘the outeome of it. “Here, take this revolver. One will probably be as much as I can use to advantage. Can you shoot, Miss Ardsley?” “} shall be willing to try in my own defense,” she replied with a smile. “Then hit. I will get one of my cOmpariion’s revolvers. Thus the four of us will be in a position to make things interesting for the rascals,” said Tom. Tom then said that the best plan would be to wait till the bandits were in the eating-room at their dinner, and then they might count on the coast ining fairly clear for them to make a break fot the courtyard and try to escape by the main gate before the rascals could cut them off. “That is an excellent plan, provided we ean secure the key to open the gate,” replied Mr. Ardsley. “If we fail to do that we won’t be able to get away unless we can find means of scaling the wall in a hurry.” Ted, CoM On finding the key im-the loek of the gate,” said “Then you haye sae Pp for there seems to be a man who has opening and closing of the gate. He probably mecites re kéy.” While they were speaking they heard a great racket in the in wl were mingled the eries of a man. It was now nearly dark, and the cause of the tamult _ could not be.mace out through the sma!l window that af- - forded light and air to the room. Somebody, however, appeared to be getting scolded, and “Tom and Bob surmised it was one’of the two men whose er- _ rand to the inn and village had been to fetch the necessary ‘supplies. . Gillette. What is your name, miss The row Seeaier after a few minutes, but the voices of many the men could be heard in angry tones. ae way, do they feed you regularly?” said Tom to “Yes, they have treated us fairly well as far as food . es answered the gentleman. i is Coy. that one or two of thom py, in order up oe ‘room, Mr. Ardsley. We w wpe, eg pe aR “as we found “you, and conceal close by. the men have left you we. will your doors take this weapon, and when you shoot, shoot to} With a string of imprecations he seized the boy with his 3 Tom would have had little show with the — y 7 at the head of the stairs to listen for*the expected coming of a bandit or two with the night meal for the prisoners. , CHAPTER VIL. A DASH FOR FREEDOM. Half an hour passed, during which Tom and Bob sat on the top step and conversed in whispers, and then steps wére heard coming up the stairs from the ground floor. “Hist! I think some one is coming up here,” said Tom. Accordingly the boys retired to the room opposite the one occupied by Dora Ardsley. As it was quite dark now, they left the door ajar so they could look out. They heard the steps ascending the top flight, and soon Saw the faint flash of a light. The light grew brighter as the men approached that end of the corridor. At length the men came into view. The one in advance was a stalwart, sunburned chap with a dark mustache and a rather wicked look. He carried a lamp in one hand and a small tray of food balanced in the other. Mexican or Spaniard, but % He didn’t look at all like a rather greatly resembled one of the tough characters of the mining districts of our wild and woolly West. His companion, a man with many of his own popes 4 2 istics, appeared to be an American, too. He also carried a lamp and a tray of food. f The man with the mustache entered Dora’s room and the other went into the room occupied by her father. They shut the doors after them, and so the boys had no means of knowing what they said to the prisoners. The man who entered Mr. ‘Ardsley’s quarters soon came out without the tray or the lamp, and, after locking the door, went do The other remained so long in Dora’s room that Tom grew impatient. Suddenly a shrill scream from Dora awakened the echoed of the night. That was more than Tom could stand. He rushed across the corridor, threw open the door, and © saw the girl struggling in the-rascal’s cra ' He dashed to her assistance. _The scoundrel turned at the sound of his steps and saw With an ejaculation of surprise he released Dora. and — turned .to confront the boy. , “Who in thunder are you?” he cried in English. “And — how did you get here?” “No matter how I got here, or who I am, you are my te prisoner,” replied Tom, leveling his revolver at him ; “Your prisoner!” the an, with a an . laugh, not at all intimidated by the pointed weapon. “i rather ffuess you’re mine.” With that he made a spring at Tom and grabbed the i wrist that held the revolver. : Lom did not try to shoot, as he didn’t care to raise an alarm He struck out with his left fist and landed on the raseal’s other arm, a stalwart scoundrel not Bob, who was watching the — door, rushed in and t the man a stunning blow P on the floor. ad Bob. cad Tom, “we must g

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CLAIM ; “He tried to make love to me,” she replied, with flushed : face. “I begged him to go away. He said he would if I would kiss him. Of course I wouldn’t do anything of the kind. Then he said he would kiss me himself.. He grabbed : me, I screamed, and then you came in and saved me. [I am very grateful to you for doing so,” and she fayored Tom with a look that set his blood tingling, for she was a very pretty and winsome girl. “It is fortunate we were at hand to be of assistance to Vou. Go and let Mr. Ardsley out of his room, Bob.” His companion did so, and the banker joined them. ¥ He was quite nervous about his daughter, for he had | heard her scream, but was somewhat reassured when he heard Tom’s voice addressing the bandit. Dora was too nervous and excited to eat anything, so, aoe pretty hungry themselves, cleaned the plates em. Telling Mr. Ardsley and his daughter to remain in the -- room, Tom and Bob adjourned to the head of the stairs, where they took up their position once more to keep watch so that none of the bandits could come on them or their new | _ acquaintances unawares. -An hour passed, and nobody came upstairs. A sound of Ec age up from the ground floor, and _the boys concluded t the bandits were carousing in, the room where the altar was. _ “This would be a good chance for us to slip out if they - are all in that room,” said Tom; “but they| may be loung- - ing atound the main corridor as well, in which case they _ would be bound to see us as we made our exit through the door at the foot of the stairs.” ; “Tf it wasn’t that we had the young lady to protect I _ would be game for taking the chances,” replied Bo ¥ BAe tee chance it anyway, if I thought we could get z e gate.” _ » “Hadn’t we better go down and see how the land lies?” _ Suggested Bob fifteen minutes later. “Yes, I guess we may venture,” replied Tom. Fs ‘They removed their shoes and slipped down the dark stairway like two shadows. ~ _, The main corridor was deserted, all the bandits being » in the carousing room, talking and singing in a loud key. “The coast is clear. Go up, Bob, and fetch Mr. Ardsle his daughter down and we'll get out into the = § ell the old gentleman to remove his shoes and carry his ughter in his arms,” said Tom. ocked. to the staircase and waited impatiently for which they did inside of ten rridor still remained untenanted, Tom and Bob, eedivers, walked to the door, followed by the out into the open air and closed the door it best not to go toward the gate, at least observed by some bandit'who might be be the wal rather than let the food go to waste, Tom and Bob, who|h between No. her to make use of the holes in the walls to place her boots and her on ro ; ae Bob, reaching down as far as he could and still maintain a firm hold on the wall, finally caught her hands and raised her up by degrees until he got her on top. Mr. Ardsley followed, and Bob aided him, too. — only the agile Tom to follow, their success seemed assured. At ‘that thrilling moment one of the bandits, the door tender, in fact, appeared on the scene and spied them. He yanked out his revolver and fired a shot at them, the bullet whistling by Bob’s head, causing him to duck his head involuntarily. “Quick, Tom! Up with you, or you'll be nabbed!” cried Bob, as the man came running toward them, shooting as 6 ran. Fortunately his rapid movements did not improve his aim, and a shot from the banker’s weapon winged him, more by good luck than otherwise. As Tom came: scrambling up as fast as he could, Bob and Mr. Ardsley both gave him a hand, and he was soon on the top of the wall. “Drop over on the other side, Mr. Ardsley, and catch your daughter as we lower her to you, then cut down that road toward the inn as fast as you can go. We'll try and ar these rascals at bay long enough to give you a good s The banker didn’t lose a moment in getting down, and his daughter was soon in his arms. As they started off down the road on a run the bandits came pouring out of the building. CHAPTER VIII. IN A TRAP AND OUT. They saw the figures of the boys. astride of the wall, and at first they had an idea they were part of the gang. The only prisoners they had, barring the poor old wreck that lay dead in his underground vault, were the banker and his daughter, whom they were holding for ransom, and they considered them safely caged on-the top floor of the monastery. Therefore they could not understand that any one was trying to get away over the wall, but their impression was that their identity had leaked out, and that the Mexican oe were at their gate with a demand for their sur- render. ; This idea was dissipated by the wounded ran up and told them that a man and a girl, resembling their prisoners, assisted by two strange boys, were making their escape over the wall. _ This delay on their part gave the banker and his daughter time to get out of sight and secure a good start for the inn. ; ; < wet men as Tom saw they had disappeared in the distance e : : “Now we'll skip, Bob, but instead of following our new. friends, and thus drawing the bandits in their direction, we'll start its will ys. of ght we'd es all right,” now, we’ off up the mountain. that it isn’t,” replied Tom. advan 6

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CLAIM Son to alter their opinion, as the dozen or more _ scoun- drels dogged them with a persistency that showed they did not mean.to let them escape if they could help it. — ‘If they, and the two prisoners whom the rascals believed were with them got away, their secret would be out, and the monastery would no longer be the safe hiding-place for them it had been for several years past. The leader of the band was not with them, because he was bound and gagged in the room on the third floor of the monastery where Tom had left him locked in. Tom did not know it was the redoubtable head of the band| h whom he, with Bob’s help, had overthrown, nor did the ruf- fians themselves know that their captain was in trouble. He was a Western desperado, named Dave Hamlin, who had drifted to Mexico some years before, because his crimes had made his old stamping grounds too hot for him. : Two companions, as bad as himself, had followed him, and they had collected a crowd of villainous Mexicans around them, and the whole outfit, under Hamlin’s leader- ship, terrorized northern Mexico for a hundred miles around, a defied all efforts of the government to exterminate em. - During a raid into Sonora, Hamlin conceived what he and his companions considered a brilliant idea. That was to take possession of the monastery of the Black Brotherhood and pose as the monks, whose faces were always hidden under their cowls when they appeared in public. fo carry this plan out it was, of course, necessary to get vid of the monks. Hamlin found an easy and effectual way of doing this. : There were several abandoned mines in the Sierra de Antunez Range. After surprising the religious men one day in their mon- astery and making them prisoners, he marched them into. @ particularly inaccessible part of the mountains and shut them up in the mine which had its outlet there. He took care, however, to strip them of their coarse dis- tinctive black outer garments, for it was necessary, in order to keep up appearances, to maintain the monkish attire when occasion called for it. Thenceforth the band of rascals always appeared in the clerical garb of the Black Brotherhood, except when en- gaged in their lawless business. : Thus their presence in the monastery on the slope of the Sierra de Antunez Mountains was never suspected. them at a timely moment the boys would have been cap- tured, and capture, under the circumstances, would have Meant death, swift and certain. ; -*J'm afraid our name is Mud,” said Tom, as he and his companion, exhausted by the hard flight they had been put to, looked around for some place in which to make a des- ate stand against the ruffians who were closing in around 4 on almost every side. ‘The round tip of the full moon was just ‘rising in the oa: ce, and its silvery rays would presently reveal their whereabouts to the vengeful rascals who had cornered them im a kind of cul de sac, or quarry-like indentation in the - Fange, from which there appeared to be no outlet. “Well, we’ve got six shots apiece with which to defend ourselves. If we can’t escape some of them will never live to gloat over our capture,” said Bob, with a tense ring in his tones, “I shall a hy to_the last ag ie That’ we can do, Bob, old chap. There’s no telling our fate might be if we were taken alive. They might down in that dungeon where we saw the old man us to starvation as they did him. Death by is far preferable to such an end as that,” replied say so.” reminds He gave 2 ] hole abo hil mine, probably guessing that they| you had disappeared to and came down 30 quick that. 2. the way,'@ ae y breath away.” — Te te ae ‘ hide it in inte us” rg ale Cg =. rascals ing there. They ar \ | Was no sign of their quarry anywhere. No. 7%, 9 ee some fissure of these rocks so it will not be found on me when the end has come.” Pi Su As there was no time.to be lost, Tom set about doing it while Bob kept watch for the appearance of the bandits. Looking around for a suitable receptacle in which to place the book where it would defy discovery even in broad day- tight, Tom saw a.small hole in the face of the rock above his head. He stepped on a smooth, round stone in order to reach it. _His weight caused the stone to slip and roll from under im. Losing his balance unexpectedly, he fell sideways into a clump of bushes, through which he-shot with a smothered ery like a pantomime imp through a stage trap, landing ,on a bunch of some soft material a dozen or more feet under ground, and in the midst of intense darkness. Bob saw his plunge, and rushed over to the bushes when his companion failed to scramble’ to his feet. The bushes had closed in over Tom’s head, concealing the hole completely, and so Bob was astonished to See no sign of him. “My, ious! Where did Tom vanish to?” he said to himself. “He fell right into these bushes, and yet he ain’t here at all. Tom, Tom! Where are you?” No reply came to his low hail. . “He must have been stunned, and yet if he was I should see him. I don’t see any hole where he could have fallen in. This is the most myste——” He took another step forward as he spoke. ‘ The bushes yielded under his weight, as they had under Tom, and down he sank below the surface like a shot, fetch- ing up alongside his ng eg ike er adit _At the very moment he disappeared several of the ban- dits appeared at the opening of the cul de sac, and two or three more came out on the ridge which formed its sides and back. a The moon, rising higher, threw a broad shaft of light into it, illuminating the greater part of it. “We've got ’em trapped at last!” cried a smooth-faced Mexican, rushing forward with his cocked revolver, ex; ing to see the boys, as well as their late prisoners, crouc! down somewhere in the semi-circular spot. ‘ ¢ + His. companions pressed eagerly forward behind him, | ba those above looked down to see the finale of the long ase, Piet y To the surprise and disappointment of the rascals there — “Caramba! They did not come in here, after all, but “If you did, ey would be here.” , They may be hidin’ behind them bushes.” : Three of the ruffians raised their revolvers and fired into the patch of bushes, and then dashed forward, stopping on the edge and parting the shubbery with their arms. Ape Had they stepped into the mi of it they would have been treated to the same vig oss experienced by Tom and Bob; but they did not, for they could see that the ane did not shelter those they were in search of. 1 oe After a hurried consultation the bandits left the e a and, dividing into two parties, hurried off up the mount: a in two directions, : Pe CHAPTER IX. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A DEAD MAN. “4 oie Ben ry 5 $ ° ‘ “Oh, heavens! re am I at?” ulated Bob, when he _ lentes oe the yiel mass of i Nay, at the boten ee e e. . + Pe: “Hello, Bob! I see i »” replied a yoice — is-hiscalow. you have joined me,” re a ‘i looking to see v

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10 CLAIM They groped their way a few yards from the bottom of the Sola es and then stopped, for in the darkness they f they might. tumble into some pit. After waiting in some trepidation for one of the bandits to come shooting down into that pit of darkness in the same way they had come, and no such aw and unwelcome _ intrusion happening, they lsegan to breathe easier. “I gue#s we’re not going to have a visitor, after all,” venid Tom. *T hope you don’t feel disappointed,” growled Bob. “Not in the least. This is an instance where two are company and three or more an unpleasant crowd. I gu it’s safe to strikq a match and see where we are and haw we're going to get out when we think it time to make attempt.” Tom fished a match out of the little safe he always car- ried around with him, for though he didn’t have much use for them himself, somebody always was asking him for a match e light © pipe or ® cigar, ua’ Wied $0: be dc co: 3 Un ~~ the present circumstances a safe full of matches ~ ¢ame in handy. | Tom struck one, =f when the light flashed up the boy saw that they were in a hole about a dozen feet square, one side of which a solid rock, while the others were a _ ‘mixture of rock and dirt. -._ Nearly in the center of this excavation they saw the dark hole a which they had made their involuntary de- ae the solid rock was another hole, which looked like the mouth of a tunnel. _ _ ‘That they Were a the only icy? who had been in that was rig from the presence of a lantern with a piece of ee soak _ “A lantern!” cried Bob. “We’re in luck.” : ' Tom thought so, my for he lost no time in lighting it. The dull gleam i made the place more _ though it showed them the almost utter impossibility of _ returning to the surface by the pays nd of the hole. F Bio ac! are we going to. make ur ype from this hole?” d Bob with a glum look. mS ls henge gl ‘ confined in that monastery vault.” “The person who brought this lantern here must have body would be in evidence. 1 t tunnel yonder must lead somewhere.” ' ict should imagine it led into the mountain range, and I think we are likely to escape that way. The man ges brought the aabare. was probably lowered down and 3 Dh up again by companions on the outside.” af) 2 Why should he leave. the lantern behind him in that ie not a fortune teller, so I can’t answer your conun- ot * é} The boys tried to think of some ar by which they could return to the cul de sac above yia perpendicular e, but they couldn’t figure it, out. afraid this is our finish,” said Bob oomily. “Oh, I don’t know,” replied Tom with a cheerfulness that not actually feel. “We were lucky enough Tad pt ca bandit nest with our nog an help his daughter to freedom as well, why should our luc back on us now that we’ye given our pursuers slip “Well, I don’t feel as if Pwas g ee eee ee ee ta, while, and T take that ae @ favorable omen. ae t are you going to do?” Ase up’the mountains, and I should think you would the lantern poe aeeerer breity fale writer he said. “I Samed | we discovered a rich goid mine. y the tunnel route and see where it will lead us to—|- , after we get rested. I’m and Tah much fagged out by) had : ane Ege oa landed ia a moet of SOLA ee Ph Jee N67; wonder if he put down what’s in this book while he was a prisoner in that vault? He must have had a light to write “We foun “I suppose cecupied,” said with his fingers. “Very likely. Let’s hear what he says about this secret mining claim, though it isn’t likely to do us any good from the way things look at this moment.” “Tt would be a fine thing if, after we got out of- here, We’d be made for life.” “I'd give my chances of it to be back in Magdalena in the same bunk I occupied last night.” “Perhaps I would, too, if I told the truth. However, Vil read you a bit of this. What do you suppose he called it?” “*The secret of Claim Seven.’ “No, the title is rather creepy. He called it the ‘Auto- biography of a Dead Man.’” “*He must have known that his goose was cooked when a lantern in his cell.” e filled this book’ up just to keep his mind Tom, running the numbered leaves over he wrote it.” “So it would seem. Listen: ‘I, John Boland. “His name was John Boland, eh?’ : : “Must have been if he says so himself. ‘I, John Boland, of Dundee, New York, fifty-three years of age, a prospec- tor by oceupation, being a prisoner in the hands of a bandit band, whose leader is Dave Hamlin, an Arizona desperado, and face to face with certain death in an underground vault ~ of the monastery of the Order of the Black Brotherhood, now in possession of the said bandits, who are masquerading in the garb of the said order, the members of which they have probably murdered, for not a single one of them is on the premises, do hereby write down the facts concern- ing my capture, and the reason why I am the yictim of a horrible. fate.” | “So the leadér of the bandits is an American named Dave Hamlin,” said Bob. “If we are so fortunate as to get away from this place we'll avenge John Boland’s death by put- ting the authorities up to the fraud that is hidden within the monastery’s walls.” “If we don’t do it Mr. Ardsley will, so we may calculate that the bandit gang will have to abandon their snap and take to the wilds, or else stand a siege that would end in their capture,” said Tom. $ “Go on with that autobiography.” Tom accordingly proceeded. Boland gave a brief sketch of his life from ‘the time he left Dundee his wife’s death to the day when he acci- dentally discovered the secret of Claim No. 7. He stated that many years ur an old peon accidentally discovered gold in the Sierra de Antunez Mountains. As soon as the news spread a rush was made by a num- ber of people to secure claims in the favored district. Twelve claims were staked out in the mountainside, and . work was begun on all of them. 3 afts were sunk in some places and tunnels bored in others. More or less gold was found in all the mines, nak Spajly all _petered out and became dead ones but Claim N For several years this mine yielded a rich all 3a = ‘its fortunate owners. There were three of them, and after a time two of the ”| three sold out to the third, and for many months he worked it alone, making a rich harvest. The possession of so much wealth finally turned his brain. One day he disappeared, and though a long search was made for him he was never fo Strange to say, soon afterward the rich golden vein which | e the ¢ famous gaye out abruptly, and after’ pee attempts to relocate it fie mine was abandoned as a one. , Y J ae rae ohn zrgpt came to the ‘Sterra Ge to fe, (purpose, and was on the paint ous accident which Nae san very in connec- ee 23 he manuscript went on, “I wandered ‘the mountains. While easing ied nia a bunch of bushes, snd the next

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CLAIM 11 No. 7, “The description answers to this place,” replied Tom, now intensely interested himself. “Listen; ‘Unable to return to the surface by the way I had come, I hunted around for an outlet, feeling that if I failed to find such a thing that I should die of starvation. Alas! Better had such been my- fate, than the refined tortures which have since fallen to my lot. As I groped my way about I suddenly found myself at the mouth of what appeared to be a tunnel. followed it. It led me down through the mountain for a long distance to what appeared to be an old disused mine. While seeking to make my way out to the open air I walked into 2 roomy section of the mine that appeared to have no outlet save that through which I had entefed. I trod on something that flared up with a snap. It was a match. I picked it up while it was still aglow and found myself close beside a table on which stood a lantern with a partly con- sumed candle in it.’” “Say, this is getting decidedly interesting,” said Bob. “*] managed to light the lantern at the expense of a scorched finger, and then proceeded to survey the room,’ ” went on Tom, reading from the book. “‘On a bunk in the corner I saw the moldering remains of a man whose identity was disclosed by certain documents on the table to be Senor _Antonio Diaz, the missing owner of Claim No. 7. In the opposite corner I beheld numerous bags of pure gold quartz. worth a small fortune. From the senor’s diary I learn that he himself had obtained all this gold from the mine, which was Claim No. 7, by cutting into the vein of ore ata certain point ahead of the spot where the miners we ing. It was evidently a crazy freak on his part. ¢ eet that as soon as he heard the miners approaching € point where he had been surreptitiously working, at night, for many weeks, he immediately seale continuation of the vein in such a way as to indi the lode stopped at that point. His scheme succé the mine was soon after abandoned as having petered out.’ ” Boland then went on to say that after ee managed to find his way to So out into the air, wit which he intended to avail himself ey once hunted up the heirs of bought the claim as it stood for a : : Then he looked around for a man he could trust to help him remove the hags of carts. nfortunately, his selection fell, u chap who was acting as a spy for the b - as an honest man. ; Boland, however, was too prudent to tell his ne ate where the bags of quartz were hidden in the de Claim dit band while pos- nat he had discovered the place where the vein which had/| came. riven out started anew. in removing sundry oe 1 prospector had dug out himself, and would not confide the seeret location of ti te Here he w: d he would be kept unt location of the gold vein in Claim No. 4 Pogniie. t the bandit would not release if he the required cont easton she determined to go to hogy ate igpege eg: ee Spe > day ound | ne the § was loose, and could easily , worked out. For several days he amused himself in it ldose. Then he decided to: write this statement of his case in a m book he had in his possession, with a lead I dalena Bank, willed all his rights to chiefly | width, but was always large enough for them to up the} an upright position, though they frequently h te that| their heads to dvoid contact with some stone projecting ed, and|from the roof. a valuable secret in hi sion | dred yards into the bowels e range. ra seine Rad 1 should ay tt would take & whole’ of. Sehor Antonio Diaz and| lot of nerve to penetrate this tunnel without knowing how associ-| dicament. If it hs of| depths he could No. 7, but he told enough to. giye the rascal the idea| have just left. At any rate, he could return the way he in one of the holes of the e explained how the person who reached the mine de sac route could find their way out by the main entrance, and: could after- ward return by the same way if they took particular care to note the guiding marks he had made on the rocks and walls. On the last page Boland, after stating that the. papers showing his title to Claim No. 7 were deposited in the Mag- property to the person into whose possession the memorandum book fell. He signed it with his full name, and at the bottom added, “And may the good Heaven have mercy on my soul. Amen.” “That’s all,” said Tom, closing the book and looking at his companion. .“What do you think about it, Bob?” “I think it is a wonderful yarn.” “The tunnel seems to point the way for us to get out of this place.” “Then we’d better lose no time in following it, for I can’t eg the open air arty too quick,” replied Bob, springing to is feet. FB CHAPTER X. CLAIM NO. 7. With the lantern in his hand, Tom led the way into the tunnel, which looked as if it had once upon a time, ages be- work-| fore, perhaps, been a natural water course, for it was un- is diary | doubtetly the work of nattire, and not of man. proceed: ed they found it varied in height and roceed in to bend As they “As Boland came down here, the first time, at least, with- - difficulty he| out a light, he must have made much slower progress than e main part of the mine, and/ we are doing,” said Tom, after they had gone several hun- of thi “Pll bet he did. one is going to come ovt in the end,” replied Bob. “A person will take most any kind of a risk when his life is at stake,” said Tom. . “Boland saw he could not return a smooth-tongued|to the surface by way of the hole through which he en- in the same accidental manner we did, and the tunnel offered the only posible avenue of escape from his. pre- opie in a blank wall somewhere in the not be thuch worse off than in the hole we 1 Even if this riemorandum book had not referred to this place I intended to follow the tunnel on a bare chance that it would lead us to the open air.” “Tt seers a most remarkable ciretimstance that we should tumble into the very place that the book speaks about, doésn’t it?” : “Tt certainly does.” ; i “Even with the description of the locality for a guide; we might have hunted the mguritain range over for weéks be- - fore we would have found the eul de saé, as he calls it.” “That’s right,” nodded Tom. : “Tt will be great if we which Boland says represent a small fortune.” ~~ a to go to Magdaletia and hire a team.” - we hs t “I'm that the bandits will havg all they can at- tend to in trying to avoid being gobbled up themselves by e@ police 0m we shall put on their track.” ; “It is probable that the authorities will send a an re are. seems tection. Those bandits might come on Jae ~~ weer # find those bags of gold quartz mo el

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12 CLAIM No. 7. “Mayhe there are other vaults in the monastery where the} me we've been long enough in this tunnel to walk from the dead bodies of the monks will be found when the place is Harlem River to the Battery.” : : thoroughly searched,” said Tom. You’re dreaming, Bob. We’ve only been forty minutes in “I wouldn’t be surprised. No doubt the whole bunch wasj the tunnel. I’ve been keeping tab on the time with my shut up and allowed to starve to death. Don’t speak any watch. ; more about it. It gives me the shivers.” It has seemed like two hours, at least. The tunnel had as many curves as, a snake. “What are you going to do with your share of the quartz Sometimes it made abrupt turns, almost at right angles,| after it’s turned into money?” asked Tom, trying to divert but as a rule when it deviated from a straight course the Bob’s thoughts. ; Se turn was a roundish one. I never count my chickens before they’re hatched. “T wonder how far down into the mountain we are now?” “But suppose your chickens were hatched?” ieee asked Bob, after they had gone on for some time. “Well, I’d suggest. that we should buy an automobile, if “You know as much about the matter as I do,” replied we could find a zood one down here, and tour the country in ™, 1 20m. : “ . “135 “« ; ; reached the mine.”| , | That woul¥ be a good plan. I think T would be willing to “We may an be Bier eiaet thliter-aeeoe even that.” Join you if the roads were good enough. “Qh, heavens! Don’t say that. I’m sick of this.” : After that I’d be in favor of buying a yacht, or some *Biace up. We've got plenty of time. It’s just one other small vessel, and sailing back to New York instead of o'clock by my watch.” returning the wey we came.” “Ts that all? I thought it was three or four.” “That isn’t a barl scheme, either. Though, on the whole, 1 “Just think what a story we'll have to tell when we get — yp to return by the way of St. Louis,” back home.” aut s § bao a « % , i I'd like to see Miss Ardsley and her father again in case ee Poe pat_reepber: we're: Det ont ek Yee we should not meet them before they leave this country.” « : ; ; “Ho! I see how the land lies,” chuckled Bob. “You're a PAE Saag by following the directions givey by Beland hedonthat oni.” pa ; in his directi “Nonsense! How could I be mashed on her when I’ve only I hope so; but suppose we get mixed up in his ig eae seen her once, and under rather strenuous circumstances?” _ or something has blocked up the road since he was here—|" “once is enough where a girl is as pretty as she is.” 3 what then? : b. Al the bright “Oh, she isn’t the only pretty girl in the world. There’s acer ube, ssi, Bobs Aways 1k on the beh | Rept, for instance. tine you called her a peach” - Bob oe er, and’ they i tn wee Be ot She js, I think she’s all to the mustard. I wish I could speak sh. eo “ , “i is the light? Do you think it will last?” asked Bob Tf_you could you’d go back to the inn and make love to at length. her, I suppose?” laughed Tom. “I wouldn’t mind doing it if you didn’t butt in.” “You are welcome to her. I don’t want her.” “You wouldn’t say that if you hadn’t met Miss Ardsley.” “Never mind about Miss—hello! I guess we’ve come to the end of the tunnel at last,” said Tom in an animated tone. “Have we? Hooray!” cried Bob excitedly. A few steps farther on carried them into a rough-looking cavern, the floor of which resembled the rocky bed of a stream that had run dry. “Now, let’s see how we shall proceed,” said Tom, stop- ping and consulting the directions furnished by John Boland. ‘On reaching the rocky opening at the end of the tunnel,’ ” he read, “ ‘turn to the 1 till you hit a narrow passage, which follow, and it will take you direct to the room where the bags of quartz are standing. There you will find fresh candles, matches and a sack of sundry provisions. By this time everything but the canned meats and the two flasks of whisky are rotted away.“ They turned to the left, picking their way over the stones, and finally reached the narrow passage. “Now for the room where the bags of quartz are stored,” said Tom, once more leading the way. “And where we shall find fresh candles, which I think as much of as the quartz, because it would give me the hor- rors to be in the dark down here,” said Bob. The passage was a tortuous one, but not long. They soon came into the rocky cavern that Boland re- ferred to as a room. oe ining into the place with the lantern held above his head, Tom gazed around, and Bob did.likewise. There was a small table and a chair in the center. On the former stood a lantern with a fresh candle in it, ‘and beside it several candles and a box of matches. 3 On the chair lay the provision bag. In one corner stood a dozen or fifteen small bags full of - what the boys knew must be the gold quartz referred to by One of them was open at the top, and it took but a glance | to show the boys that it was the richest quartz they had ever. seen. “That should pan out mony omen of dollars to the ton,” said Bob, who, because his father was a mining man, e| prided himself on his a of matters. “Tl bet it will. Bo says there is a small) fortune in | those bags alone. There is a greater fortune for us in the ing lode which Boland says he found and marked with a cross.” of. f we are allowed to take possession sh 7 “Not say worse than Boland the first time he came here.” __. “But Boland was a prospector and miner, and accustomed _ to underground places.” _ , “Oh, we ought to reach Claim No. 7 some time before the ren foes out.” ) eee ne cent te do and what we will do are two dif- > er—— -- “Cut it out, Bob. Your talk is enough to give one the - nightmare.” Another spell of silence followed, during which they made _ considerable progress along the monotonous tunnel. ; - Santis dad ott senx biockad-and Baws te me. tank A: ol take us a year,” said Bob, who couldn’t keep silent long. Tom didn’t answer him. He had no idea that they would have to go back, and in ny case it wouldn’t do them any good to go back, for the hole they had left above was like an old-fashioned rat-trap —very- easy to get into, but practically impossible to get » do but tag on after him. 3 : “Say, why don’t you say something?” said Bob, after an- uathe Tvs t nothing to lied Tom. . ise. no say,” repl: Mea might wail ts keep a fellow from having the dumps.” “Why don’t you think about those of gold quartz we ct to find when we reach the S25, , ain’t sure we'll find them. It seems too good

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si +, “Pm afraid our failure to appear there has given them the| as ' r _ Ones in a short time if we h Sac.” oy > - it all up between _ Of the place, “T suppose << — CLAIM No. 7. 18 “We won’t do anything about that till we have a consul- tation with your father. If the matter can be arranged he will fix it up. At any rate, we hold the secret of its exist- =? and it isn’t likely anybody else will be able to get at it.” “lll light the other lantern,” said Bob, “and then we'll try to get out of here by the marked route described by the prospector.” “Let’s take a look at the provisions. If there is anything pty Wrage I want a bite, for I’m as hungry as a hunter,” said Tom. Emptying the bag of its contents they found a dozen cans! Marked “Corned Beef” and “Roast Beef,” each bearing the | label of a noted Chicago establishment. _ There were also the two flasks of whisky, quart size, men- tioned by Boland. Tom found a can opener in: the bag and opened one of the tins of roast beef. The meat one to be perfectly good, so the boys ate em. “That tasted good, but it would have gone better if we had had some bread or crackers,” said Bob. Tom agreed with him, and then referring to their direc- tions again, pointed out the way they were to proceed in order to reach the main part of the mine. CHAPTER XI. BACK AT THE INN. ee route they were to follow was not easy to keep track | They found themselves continually running against the blank wall where there appeared to be no outlet. How Boland had ever got out of the maze in the dark,| line by the river. who worked the twelve claims in this neighborhood. The road ought to take us straight to civilization.” The boys walked to the end of the ravine, passing the six abandoned mines in that direction, and then they saw that they were close to the foot of the range. They saw that the road terminated at a small wharf on the bank of a river that ran northward. ; Evidently the ore taken out of Claim No. 7 and the other. mines had been transported to its destination by water. The boys walked down to the wharf and saw that it was fast going to ruin. Underneath it Bob observed a large rowboat, partly full of water. “Here’s just the thing for us to get away in,” he said. “There’s a pair of oars in it. All we have to do will be to dump or bail the water out of it, and then we can make off. The bandits, even if they see us, won’t be able to get at us, unless they try to head off by swimming out, and in that case we can fill them full of lead.” Tom stood and looked at the boat reflectively. “That’s a good-sized. boat,” he said. “Do you know 1 have an idea.” “What is it?” “I was thinking it would be just the thing for us to carry. away those bags.of gold ore in.” “I guess it would answer first rate for that purpose, now that you mention it. But where could we carry the stuff to? We don’t know what river this is, nor where it leads to.” “T thought you knew that the only river around this part of the country is the Santa Cruz, which runs straight up into Arizona.” : “You’re right. I forgot about it. Then your plan is to carry that ore up the river into Arizona?” “T was figuring the matter in my mind.” “It would be a pretty long pull.” “Yes. It is. probably close on to 100 miles to the border That would take us all of four days, I and without the guiding marks the boys had the*ddvantage| Should judge, taking things easy. Then it would take us all of, was a mystery’to them. | “It was just luck,” said Bob, and Tom guessed it was. of another day to go to Rawlings, on the Southern Pacific, which has several smelters. In fact, we must calculate that _They were out of their real troubles and in the mine| it would take us the best part of a week to carry that ore Proper some little time before they became aware of the|fror here to. Rawlings,” said Tom. fact. Finally, when Tom’s watch po*nted to the hour of five they saw an opening right ahead of them, and walking out _9f it found themselves in a small ravine with the starry “Glory hallelujah!” cried Bob in great glee. “We’re out of the blamed mountain at last. I never was so'glad of any- int in all my life.” ‘om was glad, too, but he didn’t make such a fuss over it as his friend. : - They blew out their lanterns and sat down to take a rest. b: A cool breeze came up the ravine and fanned their heated rows. Be : , They rather enjoyed the wild solitude and perfect silence and for several minutes neither spoke. jf ‘Mr. Ardsley and his daughter have been snooz- _ Ing away these. six or seven hours,” remarked Bob. ~ idea that we were captured by the bandits,” replied Tom. SE al be surprised. e did have a narrow squeak rit. ry, ane hole in the ground saved our bacon at the critical _ “Bet your life it did. Aad wpa! would have been dead ’*t disappeared from the cul de “It’s m to - “And how long is it going to take us to get out of that “It was no fool of a job for us. - inner cavern?” said Bob. to find our way out without anything. We'd have to make at least a dozen trips back and forth, for we couldn’t carry more than one bag of the ore at a time between us. It would take us the whole day, working hard, even if we were 7 lucky enough to get through in that time.” “Even so, it’s worth it, isn’t it?” “Yes, it’s worth it, all right; but we couldn’t do much to-day, for I’m about fagged out. I feel like turning in somewhere now and having a good eight hours’ sleep. I should think you would, too.” : Bob yawned as he spoke and looked sleépy. “Qh, brace up!* Can’t you stand a little hardship?” “Why, we've been on our feet since early yeste ing. Do you take me for a horse?” “You haven’t had any harder time of it than I have.” SF Say say I had. I should think you’d feel it as much I do. and taking a good, solid rest.” “T have a better plan than that.” “Let’s hear it.” “Well turn to and get that boat from under the wharf, — og fete : dump the water out of it, and row down the river to a somewhere near the inn. Then we'll tie it up, go to and turn into a good bed. When we wake up we can sit down to a decent. We will also be to learn if y morn- — I’m for returning to the mine, hunting up a soft ~ spot where we’re not likely to be surprised by the bandits, ; eal, and at the same time enjoy a bit _ ee Pere“) 5 ee

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14 “Then we'll-start right in and-carry it out.” ‘a eg now daylight, but they couldn’t see a human being sight. They turned to, hauled the boat out from under the wharf, got the water- out of it, and getting aboard shoved off the shore and headed down the stream. After pulling pretty steadily for a couple of hours they caught a distant view of the monastery on the slope of the Sierra de Antunez range. They judged that the inn wasn’t more than tivo or three miles off from the river, so they hauled in to the shore, moored the boat in a seeluded spot, took the béarings of the place, and started off across the unoccupied country at a smart walk. - It was an hour before they came in sight of the inn, squat- ting drowsily beside the road in the sunshine. Another fifteen minutes brought them to the door, and the first person they saw on entering the public room was Pepita, busy at some household duty. ' She uttered an exclamation of surprise on beholding them. _ “Buenos dias, senorita” (Good-morning, miss), said Tom, raising his hat to her. “Why, Senor Hammond, this is a Pepita Sreplied in Spanish, “and you don’t am to see you and your friend back again.” “You aren’t any gladder than we are to get here, after what we’ve been through since we left here yesterday after- - noon for the monastery yonder.” _ “We've heard a dreadful story about that place from an _ American senor and his daughter, who reached here last evening. We—my father and myself—could not believe it _ at first, for it seemed lé that the monks of the Black - Brotherhood should turn out to be bandits and not the re- ligious men we have always supposed them to be.” ' “The real monks weré no doubt murdered by the bandits when the rascals took possession of the monastery. When that event happened I have not the least idea, but it must ~ have been two or three yeaes ago. Since then the bandits ae peye hoodwinked the pe one _. themselves as the real mo of the monastery. They must ar pets the trick well to evade the discovery of their true 5 hes “The American senor and his daughter told us they had been prisoners at the monastery for four days, and that it was through the help of you and your friend, who had in some way entrance into the place, that they were enabled to escape. They said that you came away with them, but when you and your fiiend did not follow them - here last night they appeared to be much, distressed, and f _ they feared you had been captured by the bandits while g their retreat.” “No, we were spot captured, else’y we would not be here now talking to you,” replied Tom. “We were pursued up the a mountains for a long distance, and that accounts for our not reaching the inn until this hour.” rate See races now appeared ony the scene, and he ex- Bag Sa e on seeing the’ o boys who were Sup- on oe be e hands of the bandits of the monastery. He told them that Mr. Ardsley, after waiting two hours is or them to appear, had ‘his team and gone on to + surprise to me,” t know how glad I Me that town bg the state of affairs at the monaste : , and he ; (the landlord) was ese for a squad of mount ‘troopers |, j 4 es @ CHAPTER XIL.. THE ATTACK ON THE BANDIT BAND. to world for the rest of the day, a See ta to the We faot that a strong party of esa had passed the inn about noon and made gate of the monastery. : was found ds for be bn vi and no attention was spared the Ales iyo CLAIM No. 7. around here by representing} g as fast as possible to notify the authorities of. the monastery, and from all the windows of the third floor. bearing on the scene of action. 7 The attack of the troopers was repulsed with considerable loss on their part, and their commander, feeling that his force was not strong enough to capture the place, withdrew his men to the shelter of a near-by wood, and proceeded to invest the bandits’ citadel with a view of cutting off any at- tempt they might make to escape, after which he sent a messenger post haste to Magdalena for reinforcements, and his dead and wounded to the inn. A desultory fire was kept up by the bandits at intervals, and occasionally answered by the troopers when any of the @nemy exposed themselves. ‘Such was the state of affairs when Tom and Bob came downstairs with a good appetite for dinner about five o’cloc'x. Pepita told Tom all that had happened so far. They’re.a pretty nervy bunch to hold out against the sol- diers,” said Bob, after Tom had translated to him the girl’s explanation of what had happened at the monastery. “That monastery, with its thick walls, and high surround- ing wall, is as good as a fort. It can only be attacked from — two sides, as the entire rear is protected ‘by the ravine, and from that point the Building is inaccessible. With a good supply of provisions those scoundrels may be able to stand — quite a siege.” “Not if the troopers brought up one good piece of artil-— lery. That would batter their citadel about their heads, and — ‘make the monastery untenable for the bandits,” replied ~ 0 “I guess you’re right; but it seerhs a shame to destroy such an ancient building, which is one of the landmarks of old Mexico.” “Well, it isn’t our funeral whatever the troopers do. It is up to them now to exterminate a band that has given the country a whole lot of trouble in the last two or three years. I reckon they’ll do it, even if they have to raze the entire building to the ground.” “If they clean those rascals out it will relieve us of any . anger of meeting them in the mountains when we return — for those sacks of gold quartz.” “That will be an ig ela advantage for us, so I hope not a mother’s son of them escapes.” . Pepita now called the boys to their dinner: They had a tender roasted chicken, vegetables and fruits, and made a hearty meal. : Then they returned to their seats under the tree and watched the slow progress of events at the monastery. : A puff of smoke occasionally issued from the bushes or | behind a rock, when a trooper fired at some bandit who had — incautiously : exposed himself, or a similar puff spurted at | intervals from one of the wiridows of the monastery; in eee cases the distant crack of a rifle treched the ears of the Oys. Finally the sun set and darkness fell on the face of ‘ot j landscape, but the gloom was not very intense, because of the cloudless and brilliant sky. to learn how the boys had got Pepita was very anxious to into the monastery. The contents of the hampers which Tom and Bob had thrown into the water barrel had not been discovered, so no — ae icion of the means employed by the young ‘Americans occtirred to either the girl or her father. “So you want to know how we got in there?” smiled Tom, as Pepita took her seat between the boys. “Si, senor.” “Nothing is impossible to us Americans, senorita, We are the people. When we set out to do a thing you may con- aes 2 it as good as done. We'll get there if we have to * break a leg.” He then explained to Pepita how he and Bob got into.the ! | .| monastery. and all +. happened to them there, including ~| how the y found Le Piaer ad waist a ek to bee =o s the third floor, and afterw: “You Americans are a brave and smart AB ie. Peaid the . te a smile. our life we are. Thete are no flies on oN © hie on eae nae fata, I do oa what fone mean,” e eo a who was not | pom erica slang i E se guess ig ee are no flies on you manner a h, eno, you sare maka fan Wf a tats

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CLAIM No. 7. 15 _ “I wouldn’t think of doing such a thing,” answered Tom, who then explained as vel as he could translate the ex- pression into Spanish the meaning of it. — “fhe senor is so funny,” laughed the girl, 4 ss “j’m not half as funny as my friend Bob here,” he said, “Are you very funny, Senor Bob?” she said in Spanish. “What did she say, Tom?” asked his friend, looking em- barrassed. “The bandits are peppering them good from the windows,” replied Bob, as the flashes increased from the windows of the second story. “Oh, the jig will soon be up,” said Tom confidently. Five minutes later the firing ceased entirely, and after that no more shots were heard. ? “They must have surrendered,” said Bob. ie “They may be fighting inside the monastery,” answered ‘om. ; “That’s true enough, but their name is Mud by this time.” After a while they saw a bunch of black figures rush down the slope and run over to the ravine, which they en- tered and were lost to sight. Other figures were seen ascending the mountain in the direction the boys had taken the night before. “Looks as if a part of the rascals have managed to es- cape from the scene of combat,” said Tom, “for the soldiers appear to be off in chase.” _ The watchers now saw a string of objects that the forged were the horses of the troopers, which had been ti the woods, being led into the monastery courtyard. That showed that the premises were in possession of the attacking party. > Half an hour passed without further developments, and Tem end Bob became impatient to learn the results of the conflic “Let’s go up there and find out how things stand,” ‘sug- gested Bob. “I'm with you,” replied Tom pany 0 : Pepita objected to their going on the ground that it would re for the dan 94 lied T WwW th gh for the ger,” repli om. “We went throu real peril last night during our flight from the bandits, You don’t know how close we came to turning up our toes with our boots on, senorita. Remember, American boys neyer turn tail in the face of danger. Come on, Bob.” So they started for the monastery, but were halted by a sentry at the gate. Tom asked to be allowed to enter and see the officer in charge, explaining who they were. . They were permitted to pass, and made their way inside the building to the dining-room of the building, where the commander of the troopers was holding forth. Tom introduced himself and companion, and then inquired as to what had been accomplished. <a The officer pointed to four corpses that lay in a corner, and to three wounded bandits, and said that the rest of the band had made their escape through an underground passage that led into the ravine. . My. men are in pursuit of them, however, and I hope to capture most of them before daylight,” he concluded. (. His reply was rather disappointing to the boys, for they realized that three-quarters of the band had got a 3 they judged that most of them stood a chance of “J ting off entirely, for they did not doubt the is. thn igh af ie oO GP Ge plone Cota Gee Jaugh at the e of uers then “| This wouldn't have ha wae if the commander oy oh the start thrown a etachment into the i ee keep a lookout in Be aekion: asta’ 52 the boys returned to the inn, set er reporting the — wen unsatisfactory end of the ' . soundly till tins ba bel’ ond om “She forgot you do not understand her language, and ee you if you didn’t think it was a fine night,” grinned ‘om. “Si, senorita,” said Bob with a smile, Pepita smiled roguishly at him, _ “Gee! I wish I could speak Spanish!” blurted out Bob. “It’s a blamed bore to sit alongside a pretty girl and not be able to converse with her.” : Tom translated his words for the girl’s benefit. She was.pleased with Bob’s reference to her as a pretty girl, and favored him with one of her most bewitching ‘ glances. . : “Say, did you tell her what I said?” asked Bob, “I did,” replied Tom. “Why don’t you talk to her through me? She thinks you are all right.” é “T would if I t you would tell her just what I said, and not put up any job on me.” “Ti do the right thing, honor bright,” answered Tom. So Bob ventured on a talk with Pepita, Tom acting as a faithful interpreter. The moon rose earlier, that evening than the night pre- vious, and its silvery rays brought the mountain range and the out in bold relief. < Presently the young people heard the rapid gallop- ing of .F force of approaching horsemen from the direction . _ of the ‘3 _ | “Who- have we here?” asked Bob. “More troopers, I guess,” replied Tom. _ *Reinforcements, eh? Now there’ll be something doing gy Ag Se dash* d ae orce 0; y. moun’ so came “ng up an PP helted ix front of the inn. atthe officer in command dismounted and called for the _ landlord. Oy. ae ws nypste ange a ffi -. Ai a wo e officer or- meee his men to dismount and enter the inn for some liquid reshment, This was served to them by the landlord and Pepita, who _ Was called upon to . _ The troopers remained about a rter of an hour, then remounted and d “1 at a gallop for the monastery. Z ae boys F non y vid reg’ rte, Slope, G4 finally . em diverge a rom uildin where is- inearen among the teen. & iE ae _ “Phat erowd, with those al y on ought to ‘be able to settle the hash of Bandits said oe : “The nerve in § eir groun Bob. “I should tak they would the pena * the first A vgeaia em ig advantage over the sol- cs a A k AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE BANDITS. ; ; When t tae down to breakfast Pepita told them » boat Aeteth it of the troopers had passed an previous with about a dozen prisoners, some of whom were _ _ the monastery.” “If the Mexican soldiers are any kind of fighters they _ ought to be able to carry that place in short order.’ They’re Econ Beg try it now,” said Bob, pointing at the scattered = hes of dark figures that issued on foot from the shelter made ‘sash sh for the front wall of the mon- met by a succession Bi rifle flashes from the . 1e Wi; ; a9 Bees Pe eae eer. : 3 exci ;” said Bob, as be, Tom, and Pe~ oes = stood in Sie. Gogeper ted f shment looked on from the 3 were soon seen ascending the white outer Oo xe oe bags of ove to our boat,” replied Bob. ee ee 4, settled, all right, presence of a “Ee bandits in e'vange 1s Tot going to seare us from var port pur- of m is with them. we soldiers into the courtyard,” said Tom. '” He also selected a supply of fruit, , . ‘ < +3 ra 2 os é Ethers - - Ps at Fs "7 < i ae : Pe —<W ars a? t x a eh} tt

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Ree 16 CLAIM No. 7%, When everything was ready Tom had it packed in two They rested for fifteen minutes, then Tom got up and Wicker baskets, and the landlord agreed to send it down to| pulled the boat from under the wharf. their boat at the river on the back of a burro in charge of a servant when the boys were ready to start. E They partook of an early lunch, and after wishing Pepita and her father good-by, they started for the stream, Pepita » standing under the tree and waving her handkerchief at them as long as they were in sight. They reached the river in due time, and found their boat ; just as they left her. ‘ ‘ After the two baskets were put into her the servant wished ‘them “A mas ver” (good-by), and returned with the buzro the way he came, while the boys boarded their boat and Tom took the first spell at the oars as they headed up the stream. It was two o’clock by the time they reached the dilapi- dated wharf. Shoving the craft under out of sight, and tying her to a spile, they started for Claim No. 7 with one of the roast fowls and a supply of bread and fruit to furnish them with 8 couple of meals. They made their way up the ravine over the hard road that had been built years before for hauling purposes, and . 30on reached the entrance to the mine. Entering, they lighted the lanterns and then proceeded to find their way back to the secret cavern by following the si made by the dead prospector. time “y took careful note of the way, leaving ad- ; ditional marks that they could not mistake, and in the course . of twenty minutes re-entered the cavern where the bags -were stored. _ “We'll first convey these bags one by one into the mine proper,” said Tom. “That will be as much as we can do to- day and well:up in the evening. Then to-morrow we'll carry them down to the entrance of the mine. And when we get them there we will take them down to our boat.” “All right, Tom; whatever you say goes,” acquiesced Bob. “Then we'll begin right away with bag number one.” When Tom’s watch indicated six o’clock they had carried eight bags into the mine, and Bob suggested that they knock ‘off for supper. They cut the fowl and the bread with their jack-knives, and made an excellent meal, washing it down with water _. from a spring they found in the place. Ou After a rest they resumed their work, and by eleven o’clock “i they had all the bags in the mine. “That’s enough for one day,” said Tom, going to wash his hands at the spring. ies “I should say so,” returned Bob. “Our bed to-night will not be so soft as it was last night, but I guess we can put up with a little rough experience, considering what we're going to make by it.” _. They talked over their luck for a while, and what they _ expected to do with their wealth when they got it, and then, it being a little after midnight, they lay down, each with a blanket around him, which they had found in the caver, ' and were presently asleep. They awoke about seven, breakfasted off the chicken, with ie and fruit, and then made their way out to the place where they had carried the fourteen bags of gold ore, taking ' the remains of their provender with them. -. _ It was close on to noon by the time they landed their - fourteenth bag at the entrance of the mi e mine. biped Ay down and finished the chicken, and most of “Tt will take us all the afternoon to get these bags down ___ to the river,” said Bob, shying a ‘stone at a brilliantly tinted d lying asleep in the sunshine. ' “It can’t be helped if it does. We’re not burros, and have to take things easy. Now, if you’ve rested long enough, 11 start in. One basket of provisions was placed in the bow and the other in the stern, and the bags were put in so as to “trim ship,” as the expression is—that is, the weight was evenly distributed fore and aft, leaving two vacant spaces for the boys to sit and row. “Now we'll eat supper if it’s all the same to you,” said | Bob. That suited Tom, so they got out a meat pie by way of variation, and made a meal of it, with bread and fruit. “I guess we’d better do a good part of our rowing at night, and lie up in some shady nook during the heat of the day,” said Bob. , “Your suggestion is all right, and we'll adopt it if cir- cumstances favor it.” a f “Say, Tom,” said Bob suddenly, “there’s something mov- ing through the bushes yonder. Whatever it is, it’s heading this way.” Tom looked in the direction indicated by his companion and saw that the bushes were agitated in more than one place by the passage of some living objects. These objects were coming toward them. “We haven’t seen any wild animals since we’ve been here,” replied Tom, “but that isn’t saying there may not be plenty. I don’t like the idea of letting anything come close enoush to pounce on us unawares. I guess we'd better get aboard and shove off into the stream.” Tom jumped into the boat and seized an oar to push off with as.soon as Bob got in. ‘ Before the latter could make a move three hard-looking men sprang up out of the bushes and, with wild yells, started for the boat. : The boys recognized the chap in advance as the bandit whom they knocked out in the room on the third floor of the ’ monastery. , ; ; “Quick. Bob, jump in, and. push off at the same time... — Never mind if you do get wet. It-will never do for those rascals to catch us!” cried Tom, giving the boat a shove with his oar. Bob helped matters by pushing at the stern, wading out after the boat. “Come back here, or it’ll be worse for you!” roared Dave Hamlin, rushing into the water, followed by his two asso- — ciates. : “Stand back or I’ll smash you!” cried Tom in a resolute © tone, flourishing the oar to cover Bob’s retreat. : Hamlin drew his revolver and fired at Tom, whose posi- tion in the boat made him an excellent mark for a bullet. Although the range was short, and Hamlin an uncom- monly good shot, he missed the boy by a hair. t Before he could fire again Bob yanked out his gun and blazed away. The bullet hit Hamlin in the arm, and with a roar of pain he let his weapon fall into the water. F As the boat drifted away from the shore the other bandits, seeing their prey was getting away, pulled out their re- volvers and began to shoot. | ; Fortunately the falling night and the dark background beyond the boat prevented the ruffians from getting a good aim. . While Bob returned the fire, Tom got out the other oar and pulled for all he was worth. sae was the most exciting moment in the lives of the two Je. : ae CHAPTER XIV. WORKING UP THE RIVER. rdeal, . = By degrees Tom got the boat out of range, and then he atBy Geo | ae x a rge! That i © ene ae ae * Eee a” your life it t lu : yee “They couldn't conn inuch loser and mise an wo of tha ye ee Nee = — dF keep on atross - river, and we are bound up or down the river.” a

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CLAIM No. 7%. 17 The bandits stood up to their waists in the water and! legs and sink ’em in the river, and then we’ll take the boat. watched them, no doubt cursing their ill luck in failing to| It’s just the thing we want to escape from this blamed coun- ture the boys. } try in.” J inally the boys saw their fading figures] and on the gars “You owe one of them somethin’ for the bullet you got in and then they lost sight of them. } your arm.” As soon as it was as dark as it was likely to be, Tom| “Owe ’em somethin’! Well, I rather guess I do! It was turned the boat’s head up stream and began pulling in slow,} them that made me a prisoner the other night in the room measured strokes. | where I had the girl confined. Afterwards they helped our a The boys pulled alternately until] midnight, by which time} two prisoners off. The escape of the old man and his daugh- _ they were so tired out that they had to put into the shore, ter is what led to the attack on our stronghold by the troop- land. ers. I shan’t rest until I’ve had full revenge on the boys. They secured the boat to the bank, and as neither felt in} What puzzles me is how they got into the monastery without ee TO a ee ed - eondition to stand watch, they decided they would have to! being discovered. Villanos, who was in charge of the gate, risk going to sleep at the same time. They crawled into some bushes close by, and almost before they had stretched themselves out they were fast asleep. The sun was shining when they awoke, and crawling out of their retreat, they hastened to see if everything was all right with the boat. _ To their great satisfaction nothing had happened to it or its cargo, and they proceeded to eat their brea swore that they didn’t come over the wall, nor through the gate. He only opened it once during the afternoon while we were away on that procession, and that was to let in Bruno and Anson with a burro laden with provisions, which disappeared in a most mysterious way after they left the inn. “What’s the diff'rence ? They got in somehow, and their gettin’ in done us up. The band is broken up, and ‘them as The country around was but thinly settled, for they saw| isn’t dead by this time are captured. The soldiers are scour- two small houses in the distance. reakfast over, they shoved off and continued their way up the river. About noon they came to a wooded district on the nearest and as the sun was now pouring its rays straight down on the landscape, they were glad to land and seek the shel- ter of the trees. _ ag # they remained for several hours, and then resumed ip. : ee Soon as it got dark they tied up on the bank and had _- supper. to Ngee See in ane ly, gon Bawe gv Rubs gd ess in variou ons, an _ houses scattered about the eee ! nee ek ae * The Sierra de Antunez range still stretched along the op- posite shore, and as far north as they could see. s Fs on rene maze — ereiioe, and under io eaiow ao e boys resum r toilsome journey to the land of the Stars and Stripes. . : of Tom wondered if he held a place in th 1 poraragie a place in the thoughts of Dora onl -* ; ibtless she and her father are waiting to receive news t us. GRE Sr tha _ little chance of them finding that fact out,” thought Tom, as RM ae es op last evening are “and what's thilyhee's here.” 's worse, u a ‘tom wpe Bob pated tha’ todler shake ive them ‘a warm mi . x drawing his revolver. we : =f m A pees ghee ruffian stuck his head up into the ae 5 The Seomat stone bes ek, Pe made the place very bright, so that the bandit had no diffi- ty in was up there. >. eas iste: He uttered an jon when his gaze rested on the — « SWocgutlig puchenm, &x 06, iank plenaeediag ti dash: aS or c : . v ihe bape: wore eipeil be upeienn, uke Sie kt. pao ender, you ng imps!” he” cried, his re- volver with his left: for his right arm was bound and somewhat out shot f sabia . TS Tom’s reply was a rom , . gh 3, Be with a hoarse ery. / . he oe ae te

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- » South eighteen 18 “Get hold of his revolver, Bob. There are two others be- low who are likely to give us a lot of trouble,” said Tom. One of the other rascals was in the act of following Ham- lin up the ladder when the shot rang out, and the bandit’s fali shook the rickety building. He stopped and looked at his companion. $ “Whoever is up there has shot Dave,” he said. “Then we'll go up and ayenge him,” replied the other, drawing his gun. ? ‘ “They'll have the drop on one of us before we kin get into the loft,” said his associate, pausing irresolutely half way up the ladder, “Bah! Let me lead the way if you're afraid,” sneered the other ruffian. Bob, peering down through a crack in the floor, decided that the speaker looked pretty dangerous, so he shoved the muzzle of his revolver through the opening and fired at him. The ball struck him on his pistol arm, and his weapon fell ea yg h for the d d disa ith a cry of agony he sprang for the door and disap- peared into the night. The other bandit, left alone to face the trouble, decided that discretion was the better of valor, and, jumping from the ladder, made for the door. Tom fired at his legs. The fellow uttered a howl and went limping off, which showed that he had received some kind of a wound, even if it was only a flesh one. The boys examined the ruffian leader and found he was not dead. He seemed to be badly ‘wounded, though. With considerable difficulty they lowered the wounded and unconscious bandit to the floor below, and there they left him to be found by his companions if they returned, or the soldiers, if they came that way, as they were likely to do. - Though the boys had slept a little more than two hours, they were wide awake enough now to proceed on their way, for their exciting encounter had thoroughly aroused y and they couldn’t have gone to sleep again if they had tried. They were vastly different-looking boys from what they ‘were when they had passed through that town on their way days previously. en they looked spruce and natty, now they were tou: * and sunburned almost to the tint of a «ly nl while ra _ clothes were much the worse for wear. om hastened to arrange for the to the nearest smelter. The stuff was pronounced to be extremely rich in gold, re it came transfer of the gold ore , “gaa they were asked many questions about whe ; + ’ eet north for the district where Bob's m™m. _ ‘Phey wouldn’t give any information away, as a _ course. Receiving a receipt for the ore ey ot cate Leak. & train 1 er was in charge extensive mining operations. ¥ _ : Mr. Gillette was ished still more at they darian me LOOK! LOOK! CLAIM No. | at their changed appearance, | 7. After reading John Boland’s autobiography, he decided that Ciaim No. 7 was worth investigating. _ ; Taking the boys vith him, he paid a visit to the mine, and he soon assured himself that this lost lode was really where the dead prospector had located it. é “You boys have got a fortune here,” he said. “I will see that it is secured to you by authority of the Mexican gov- ernment, and then I would advise you to sell out the mine to persons able to work it. I will make it my business to get you a fair price for it.” : “All right, Mr. Gillette, we’ll leave the matter in your hands,” replied Tom. ; It was nearly time now for the boys to return to New York, so they did not continue their original plan of going down the Sonora railroad to Guaymas, on the Gulf of Cali- fornia, as they originally intended doing. > On their way back East they stopped over at St. Louis and called on Mr. Ardsley and Dora. They were delighted to meet the boys again, and of course Tom and Bob had a long and thrilling story to tell them of their adventures from the moment they parted from the banker and his daughter that eventful night outside the wall of the monastery of the Black Brotherhood. e boys rem for several days as guests of the banker, and Tom made good use of the time to make himself solid with Dora. When they pares’ it was with the private arrangement that they would correspond regularly, and this agreement was faithfully kept up. Tom and Bob received nearly $10,000 each out of the gos ore they had so laboriously rowed, up the Santa Cruz iver. Later on their rights in Claim No. 7 were disposed of by Mr. Gillette to a couple of Mexican capitalists for a hand- some royalty on the output of the mine. When this royalty had panned out $50,000, the capitalists offered to the mine outright for three-quarters of a mil- lion, and their offer was accepted, Thus both Tom and Bob became rich boys, and when the former offered his heart and hand to Dora Ardsley he was apomene i Badin the girl and _ me n due e they were married, and Tom went into business pif Bob in tata far y are living to-day, rich and prosperous, but they la all their good a hy the start they receivéd from the aa pector’s legacy. im No. 7. .- Next week’s issue will contain “OUT FOR BIG MONEY; OR, TOUCHING UP THE WALL STREET TRADERS.” —————OO EE g@ae~ SPECIAL NOTICE —@e Please give your newsdealer a standing order for your weekly copy of “FAME AND FORTUNE matter of WEEKLY.” The War Industries Board has asked all publishers to save waste. Newsdealers must, there- fore, be informed if you intend to get a copy of this weekly every week, so they will know how many. copies to order from us. LOOK! ~@y Exciting Detective Stories in Every Number are this of PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY FOR SALE AT ALL’ NEWS DEALERS - now being published in “MYSTERY MAGAZINE,” splendid publication, for besides the big feature de- short stories and interesting articles, and all kinds young and old. It is the only real detective story read it, be sure to tell all your friends about it, for ones in this magazine 3

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. .. - 419 HELP YOUR COUNTRY! —_———_——_ THIS LITTLE LADY WAS A BLONDE AND WEIGHED ONLY 105 POUNDS AND CLERKED IN A DEPARTMENT STORE FOR $12 A WEEK. SHE HAD NEVER BEEN TO CHICAGO, YET SHE SANK A GERMAN U-BOAT. IS THAT FIGHTING? YOU BET iT is! By GUY HUBBART Her name is Lilly Frill. She sells laces in a|hKer share of the fighting and started out to sell small department store less than 300 miles from}War-Savings Stamps up to that amount at Chicago. She had never been to Chicago. It took | least. too much money. Her beau, one of the boys in| “Money ’Il stop those pirates,” Lilly said to her- the store, marched away to war. Lilly wept for a'self, “and I’m going to stop one. I am going to]. day or two, of course. She missed her beau. Any |sell a Thrift Stamp or a War-Savings Stamp to girl would weep. 2 every customer who comes my way.” But Lilly didn’t weep long. She laid aside tears} Lilly Frill did it. She’s doing it yet, a little and began to fight. She fought right there in her |girl, blonde and slender and net so very pretty. little home town. She began to sell War-Savings | Think it over a moment, Mr. Merchant! How Stamps, alone with taces and neckwear and (pean Lilly Frills have you got in your store who things. She had read that one depth bomb would | would like to fight? You’ve got a good many. shatter the biggest U-boat afloat, and she knew} Help them.to sell stamps to get money to crush the U-boats were lurking for the transport that |the German army and the German U-boats. We'll carried her beau overseas. She asked someone|win if you do. how much it took to manufacture a depth bomb,| Remember what Lilly said: “I’m going to stop and when she found out she took the amount as |one U-boat.” She did—with Thrift Stamps: a a a RECORD W. S. S. SALES. perform, an individual syare of the responsibility. — Receipts of $16,431,933, July 9, from War Sav- |The more powerful and effective the American forces ings and Thrift Stamp sales were the largest of any |are the shorter will be the war, and the shorter the single day since these securities were offered to the |War the fewer lives lost, the greater the number of public. Sales during the first nine days of July |American soldiers who will return home victorious. totaled $46,522,529. Every American who economizes in consumption — ——————— : of material, who increases production, who saves PATRIOTISM WITHOUT HESITATION. and lends savings to the Government, does some- If our soldier boys deliberated as long over doing |thing to help win the war. their duty as some of ne at hb en? oo doing theirs, the victory would be doubtful. Tt is cor’ of financial cowardice to hesitate to HOLD YOUR LIBERTY BONDS. ut your money in United States Government securi-| To successfully finance the war it is necessary that ies, and to deliberate over the wisdom and patriot- |Owners of Liberty bonds hold their bonds if possi- _ ism of the investment is to hesitate in support our |ble. Where for any good reason it is necessary for soldiers. them to turn their bonds into cash they should seek © Raa ‘|the advice of their bankers. ; ‘LOANS TO OUR ALLIES. | Liberty loan bonds are very desirable investments, The United States has now loaned to our allies |and crafty individuals are using various means to — $6,091,590,000. The advances average about $400,-|secure them from owners not fatniliar with stock — 000,000 a month. values and like matters. One method is to offer "These loans to our allies afe analogous to lending |to exchange for Liberty bonds stocks or bonds of © weapons to friends who are aiding you in the de- doubtful otganizations represented as returning a -fense of yotir own home. The money is being tised |much higher income than the bonds. ees to defeat our enemy, to maintain armies fighting _ There are various” other methods used and likely — side by side with our soldiers, aid fiéets patroling| to be uséd, some of the gold-brick variety and others _ s & ith otir sailors. less crude and probably within the limits of the law. — ; = ame oceans sg eer: he All offers for Liberty bonds except money and at ‘ INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. market value should be scrutinized carefully. The . ; R : 9 is is to be won not by one man or one|bonds are the safest of investments and have non- ‘ iaccaild Oe one Sapte ra, or one million people. |taxable and other valuable features. 5 heen It is to be won by the united efforts of the individ-| To hold your Liberty loan bonds, if possible, } Ks ‘of many nations. _ |patriotic. To consult your bankers before selling _ Every American citizen has an individual duty to them is wise. - ese eters

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29 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. THE STARS AND THE BARS THE RIVAL SCHOOLS OF ROXFORD By GASTON GARNE (A SERIAL STORY.) They returned upstairs. right.” “What! Isn’t ot Sas here?” cried Ran. “It’s the uncertainty,” replied Hattie. “Just as I Tom explained. . thought I saw a way out for poor father here it “Tt may be as you think, ” said Ran, “but T don’t Bas ss again. Will it never end?” know. There are no tracks on the sand which have Bound to! Don’t you care. I am sure that the fide : in. : as end is close at hand.” n made since the rain. I was looking just now | Ten minutes passed, and then came the change. CHAPTER XXII (Continued). | “Don’t worry,” said Tom. “It’s all coming out : ith th 4 i ; , ; pase it ¢ Jantern. I hardly think they. have been First a light puff against their cheeks, and the sail : aie 7 » oazq| began ‘to fill. | "Sagan probably got the time twisted,” said Then all at once there was a strange whistling “Yes, but even so he couldn’t have started much eeo and ane gale ‘ya B sary aay _ sooner than we did. How would he be able to . 3 aa or it ao tes RRP, Drewes sneak out of the Institute before eleven? I.don’t) [0m said not a wor imagine that he asked permission.” | He had all he could do to look after the boat. and __ “There’s a whole lot in what you say,” replied "ne ae was inky black, but every now and then - Tom. “Perhaps in some way your father got wind 4 flash: of lightning broke the darkness. of the detectives being in the neighborhood, Hattie, dtaae ie ‘aart noite the sea broke over them _ and has gone away of his own accord. But in any | y ‘ fe cease:-we must ihe going:back. for 1’ don’t -like the| Tom began to wish that he had stopped on the EB “Jooks of things. To me it seems to be fixing up for | island, but there was no turning back now. Fe something more than an ordinary storm.’ 2 peat sais: ar along the coast would have said ; CHAPTER XXIII. . The rain had ceased, and the wind now died away _ completely; there was a certain breathlessness about u pies rants i aod rea like iro ee 3 “Hark! Did you hear it then? There it goes et oi ical bs aks wind a shout to make himself heard. To Tom it seemed casi that they were to catch|, The Ruby was past Pot Island and the cry which _it with renewed fury later on. “We-cat't sail without wind,” said Ran. “We ek eat Ran’s ears seemed to come from that Shall have to wait.” ~ | Suddenly the whole heavens were lighted by a _ “We will push out,” replied Tom. “We will get | fash of lightning, and while it lasted all hands were > aeind enough presently. If we do not make a move |treated to a startling sight. we are liable to be stuck here all night, and that| Directly ahead of them was an ‘Sealed Lont: would 1 never do.” / clinging to the keep of which they saw a man! ee _ They pushed the Ruby off, and got’on board. “Look! Look!’ roared Ran. _ Searcely had they done so when the wind started; “Oh, my goodness! What can we ever do to_ siness again. save him!” screamed Hattie. _ It was only a flaw, but it sent them flying while it} And then the thunder came rashing peal upon ae sted, for this time it was a breeze astern, and allt ha n ; a What indeed? _ when they én ake ti Pot Island it died out To do anything seemed next to impossible. | 1, and they lay becalmed. But Tom Black was all there! | @ was very silent now, all her ‘enthusiasm | During that brief instant of light t!.e brave boy ‘BLOWN OUT TO SEA. passed pers Mie ER ce xot his bearings, and made up his mind how toact.

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Around jibed the sheet, and Tom stood in a little —it was all he could do. . “Stand ready to grab him, Ran!” he shouted. | “Catch him by the collar or by the hair! Look out ow that he don’t drag you overboard or upset us. pettis, crowd over all you can! Hold tight on to an.” His words were almost lost on the wind. Ran sat ready, peering out into the darkness. “It’s up to you, Ran!” shouted Tom. “It can’ only be a matter of a few seconds, now.” , The time had come. Suddenly Ran made a gtab at something. _ The next they knew he was holding someone by the hair. -- “Help! yelling. Ran threw himself over until he almost lay across the thwarts, and the rescued one, seizing the gun- ‘Whale, climbed into the boat, very nearly. sending them all to their death in the operation. Who was it? It was too dark to distinguish faces. The rescued one sank down in the bottom of the “boat all in a heap; he was panting like a dog. “Hello! Who are you?” cried Ran. “T_T am one of Professor Steel’s boys,” was the | Save me! Oh, oh!” that someone was . : reply. : § And then they knew him. The voice was Joe White’s. f Nobody answered. ' _ They knew that as yet he could not have eran nized them, for it was simply impossible to see a : thing. : . __ “Take hold here, Ran!” cried Tom.. “I must take _ in another reef.” . ‘ Ran took the tiller and Tom got busy with the _ halyards. _ He had the sail half down when there came a rush 4 of wind which laid everything that had gone before it in the shade. 3 The mast snapped like a stickof candy. The next they knew the sail was flapping in the "Water, and the Ruby was lying on her side. It was a ticklish moment. — ~ But Tom was right on the job. Whipping out his knife, he cut away the ropes _ and the Ruby righted. : _ Then came the rain! It struck them in blinding sheets, and would have drenched them to the skin but for their waterproof Coats; but even as it was they got wet enough. - “Bail! Bail!” bawled Tom. - Ran got the can, and rushed it for. all he was ae a 4 .r ‘Conversation was impossible. Tom was in despair. : He knew that they were being blown out to sea, nothing that he could do could possibly prevent or more than half an hour this state of things FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. plied Joe. “Where is Mr. Judd, may I ask?” have betrayed my poor f we know it. You has repented give him a show.” 21 lasted, and then this singular storm, which was long se be. remembered on the Maine coast, took another urn. The rain ceased as suddenly as it had come. The next they knew the clouds had all cleared away, and the moon shone out at her full. But the wind held on for some time after that, although it had now shifted to the northwest, and still, owing to the contour of the coast at this point, it continued to blow them out to sea; but it didn’t blow so hard, and now for the first time they could make themselves heard. “Tom, what is going to happen to us?” demanded Hattie, being the first to break the long silence. “Hard to tell,” was the reply, “but I am hoping for the best.” Cue “We ought to hit the coast again after we pass Rockland if this wind holds,” said Ran. “IT am thinking of that,” replied Tom. “And now, Joe White,’ he added, “what have you got to say for yourself?” Joe, who had got up on the edge of the cockpit, had never uttered a word. “What can I say?” he answered in a different tone from anything Tom had ever heard him use. I am here, and Ran Jones saved my life, which was some- thing I did not deserve.” And this last admission came upon them all as a surprise. “You can thank Tom for saving your life,” said Ran. “I merely pulled you in; you would have been a dead duck now all right only for the way he handled the boat.” is “T suppose that is so. I would have deserved it if I had drowned. I thank you both.” He had disarmed them all. “But I suppose you don’t know what I mean,” continued Joe bitterly. “You don’t know what a mean, contemptible fellow I am. I didn’t realize it myself until I was face to face with death. Then it all came tome. If we ever do get out of this snap alive I hope I shall live to some better purpose than I have done. I know what I am now.” ; For a few minutes all were silent. This was not the same old Joe. . A new and better spirit seemed to have taken pos- session of the leader of the Bars. , Tom broke the painful silence. “T’ll tell you frankly, White, that we “I supposed it must be something of the sort,” re- “You have no right to ask,” flashed Hattie. “You ather twice for money, and | ” { ‘ : ‘ ie in Tom. “If Joe “Hold on! Hold only!” broke : ev _ (To be continued.) ‘ know more than you think we do,” he said, “and we may as, well come to an understanding. Your conversation at Fort Campbell was overheard and reported to me. i That’s why we are here.” 4

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22 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. CURRENT NEWS FISH BREAD USED IN NORWAY. Fish bread is the latest product of the war, and it is said by those who have eaten it to be palatable and nourishing. 'The Royal Norwegian Provisions Department, which in Norway fulfills some of the functions of our own Food Administration here, has officially announced that recent experiments at. Ber- - gen to produce bread ontaining 20 per cent. fish roe have been successful. Machinery for the prepara- tion of a flour made ftont cod roe, which will be mixed with bread grain, “will be installed to increase the bread rations in Norway. entered. One of the men seized her, but despite his struck her and carried her unconscious into a back room. then walked out, stepped into a waiting automobile utes arid released her brother. He said the robbers had taken jewelry valued at $30,500. GERMAN DESERTERS AID AMERICANS IN a MAKES CITY FARMING PAY A ea, F - = German soldiers who have deserted into the Amer- < __ Clifford Zetterberg, a teacher of Greensburg, Ind., |ican lines of the Lorraine front have made disclos- is putting into practice some of the intensive farm- | jpo5 indicating that news of the great American ing plans he has been teaching, and at a considerable | egort is slowly filtering into some sections of the profit. } ‘ German army, despite the dfficial effort to belittle ___. A crop of early peas, raised on four city lots, two-| 4 merican participation in the war. One prisoner thirds of an acre, has been sold for $170, and now |.aiq he had heard that there were only 300,000 5 the ground is available for late beans. The pea crop | Americans in France. Others, however, declared 3 aggregated 1,700 pounds and was sold at from 9 to/+noy knew the figure totaled 900,000, the majority aes 12 cents a pound. Zetterberg says if the conditions.|o¢ whom were brought to France “for other pur- : are propitious the bean crop will earn him equally poses,” Be as much money. He is now working out a plan to|" From the deserters it was learned also that the = _ protect his crops against dry weather and will irri-|throe Landwehr groups in Germany had been gone ; Oana the ground from wells he has sutik. over with a finée-tooth comb for fresh material to throw on the western front. © On their own initiative the deserters have enabled the Americahs to’establish not orily the exact makeup of the enemy opposite them, but to keep track of the shifts on the other side. Fa CIGAR MADE MONEY. ww e “A $1 bill rolled in the shape of a cigar and wrap- ped with a cigar band camouflaged one of the gifts a received by the Red Cross Salvage Department at - their new location, No. 515 Marquette Avenue, - Minneapolis, Minn., recently. A workingman presented the gift. He was P ‘atenied i in overalls and there was a reserved dignity in his approach to Mrs. T. S. Buttles, to whom he Eg presented the gift. He wanted to do something for on the new shop, he said, and left without giving his Their enthusiasm in increasing the available name. He had been gone some time when the 4 t of castor oil in thé colntry was awakened —eclgae” Was opened and thé shop reveived: ite wut. |2POUMt of castor oil in the eotintry was a : when it was found that the Government néeded it for the Army airplanes, which some day will be Five $20 bills were carefully rolled inside the $1 flying by thousands over the Gefman lines. ‘ my AIRPLANES NEED CASTOR OIL AND SCOUTS ARE GROWING IT. The Boy Scouts of America are also raising the castor oil bean. This is by Government request. CY Faery 4 iar: Bt Be katy _ {ture says it is hoped’to secure a large crop of castor OLD CHICAGO BANDITS GET GEMS WORTH |oil beans, to be used in the production of oil neces- ,000. sary for the airplane service. __ Four men entered the Sandock Jewelry Company’s| Castor oil appears to be the most satisfactory can “at 63d and Halsted Streets; Chicago, the other |lubricant which has yet been found for certain types = aadinaaie crowd of busy people. ‘ supplies of castor oil than have hitherto been avail- wing revolvers the men made Sandock a pris- able. mi locked him in back éloset under one man “The Boy Scouts are interested in the castor bean 3, opened the safe and riffed it. While they | der to our aviators, ne andes ipeedy paramere rtha sezionn 9a old. becneed e arae ee foe —— command for silence she screamed. The robbers — They proceeded until almost everything was taken, and escaped. Miss Sandock recovered in five min-— W. W. Stockbridge of the Department of Agricul- ; g when Louis Sandock, a young brother of lof airplane ines, and for this reason the War | owner, was alone. got on thé sidewalk |Department finds it necessary to secure much larger ‘The others threw diamonds and jewelry | plant because of the great service which it can ren-_

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. 23 _A FEW GOOD ITEMS : \ARRESTED FOR BICYCLE THEFTS. _ Frederick Dudo, nineteen years old, who gave his address as 195 Clifton Place, Brooklyn, N. Y., was arrested the other night by Detectives Myers and Pitzpatrick, of the Prospect Park station, Brooklyn, Charged with larceny. He is alleged by the police to have stolen sixty bicycles from boys in the Flat- bush section. The police also say Dudo, who was in the uniform of a United States soldier, is wanted at Hazelhurst aviation field, Long Island, for theft. in retail stores, I direeted a nationwide inquiry into this subject, with the following results: At most places no discrimination was found. At | many points there is a more or less marked tendency to give discounts to soldiers. Instances of discrimi- nation were found, though, as a rule, not among the best class of dealers. Apparently the most frequent discriminations occur in articles of necessity for of- ficers. The results of the examination which are be- fore me show identical articles sold to civilians at one price and to soldiers*at a high price, the differ- ences sometimes being as great as 50 per cent. against the soldier. Conduct of this kind can not continue, I think, P in any community in this country, if brought to the . 4 LARGEST SHOW WINDOW. __ What is believed to be the largest “show window” the world is ah et connirtes at Great Lakes, ae pak ae abn Taran ehh pepenrs es attention of the people there. I have accordingly p THE TAPIR. * directed by g@neral order each camp and post com- mander in the United States to cause from time to time fresh examiantions into this matter, and to post on the bulletin board for the information of all soldiers the names of such shops and dealers as © are found discriminating against soldiers and offi- ° cers; and to hand to the president of the chamber of commerce in each city, and to the editors of the local newspapers, copies of such lists. Purposes by Uncle Sam’s finest man-o’-wars-men. _ It is the big open field between the electric rail- Way and Camp Dewey and-capable of furnishing enough room for 10,000 sailors to drill at one time. Passengers on trains passing by are treated to a “sight of battalions at drill and the strains of martial pmusic are almost continuous from one or another of the many detachments of the great navy band. ew a __ Even to this day the exact position of the tapir in the animal kingdom does not seem to be very well established. Naturalists a century ago classified it as a “pachyderm,” together with the hog, the _ horse and the elephant. . Conference in London. A resolution in favor of -_ This was really funny, inasmuch as these three |constructing the tunnel was adopted unanimously. _ beasts belong to different generations. Besides, says} It was estimated by the sponsors of the resolution the Public Ledger, man ought surely to have been | that the passenger traffic from France alone will be included as a “thick-skinned animal and a non-|3,000,000 persons annually instead of the 100,000 | _thewer of the cud”—such being the accepted defini-| that traveled by steamer beforethe war. The prob- tion of a pachyderm, is able passenger and freight traffic between Great Goldsmith, in his “Animated Nature,” says that | Britain and the Continent was figured at a profit of the tapir “may be considered as the hippopotamus | $5,600,000, or seven per cent on the tunnel com- “of the New World.” More commonly it has been re-| pany’s capital of $80,000,000. garded as a giant species of pig. But science nowa-| he tunnel, which should be completed within five days is inclined to look upon the animal as a New| years after begun, will be worked, ventilated ‘and’ World representative of the elephant. ; pumped by electricity supplied from a power sta- Fie _ It is a mild, harmless, sluggish, stupid creature, |tion in Kent, possibly ten miles or more inland. It with a snout that is in effect a short trunk. Brown-/.,., suggested that the tunnel should be maintained ish gray in color when full grown, it is in infancy | wnder the authority of the War Office, anda dipin idorned with conspicuous stripes and splotches of | the jevel of the rails forming a water-lock, so in case — glee etek |of emergency the tunnel could be flooded from floor 2 y to roof for a mile, and would be under control ofthe “Lists OF SHOPS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST | commandants at Dover Castle and neighboring forts. - , SOLDIERS TO BE POSTED va could be SS from oo CS oe "he 7 ‘has made the following | depth bombs or mines by a covering of the chalk bed "cede catia Wee-tek. med og the channel of saeiais tlehaes of 0 tue, ae y attention having been called to instances e water depth above the tunnel would at no vul- nina fon against soldiers in the prices charged|nerable point be less than 180 feet | os, ee es Pater CHANNEL TUNNEL GETS NEW BOOST. Strong support for the English channel tunnel scheme from the French and Italian delegates was voiced recently at the International Parliamentary

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- 24 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. INTERESTING ARTIC! ES HONEY IS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR SUGAR. attack its prey. Accordingly the bear entered the With plenty of honey for ordinary table use a |water through another hole a considerable distance great amount of sugar can be saved for other es-|away, swam under the ice to the hole through which sentials, says C. E. Sanborn, entomologist of the |the seal had emerged and seized the luckless animal, Agricultural and Mechanical College, and he advises | which naturally was taken entirely by surprise. that bee culture be expanded in Oklahoma as a solu- © tion of the sugar problem. “With necessary attention a crop of honey can FLOWERS MAKE SUGAR. be grown, harvested and disposed of before a crop| A flower is a sugar factory on a tiny scale. It that can be made into sugar is really in harvest,”|makes sugar for the purpose of attracting sweet- he says. The honey crop can be manufactured at/|loving insects, which, thus lured, carry pollen from home, it is argued, and it can take the place of many | blossom to blossom, and thereby accomplish the things for which sugar is used. cross-fertilization of plants. TSE Nes sae Some kinds of flowers secrets much more sugar SIMPLE WAY TO DISTINGUISH IRON FROM|than other kinds; the quality secreted is also in- STEEL. fluenced by climate. ‘ The repairer of machinery often has to select The honeysuckle is a familiar example of high pieces of metal from the scrap heap to make re-| Production in sugar. : , ; pairs on various machines, and is at a loss to know| , Try, suggests the Public Ledger, to think of the whether the metal he has selected is iron or steel. |total quantity of nectar produced by all the flowers By the following method wrought iron, cast iron|that bloom within the limits of the United States ‘and mild steel are easily distinguished from each|in a single summer. It is almost beyond the grasp other. File a bright spot on the metal and place|of the human mind. aS : ; : a drop of nitric acid on the metal and leave for aj _ T° put a definite figure on it is obviously impossi- _ few minutes. ble. But the experts of the Department of Agricul- The spot will appear ash-gray on wrought iron,|ture venture the estimate that its actual content of brownish-black en mild steel and a deep black on|SUgar must far exceed the total of sugar (cane, beet east iron. and other) consumed by the people of this country Pte ia cal k by which th There is only one known agency by whic e A WISE BEAR. sugar output of the flowers can be harvested. That ae According to the stories told by Arctic explorers| agency is the honey bee, and (as such things ordi-- and whalers, polar bears—like many other animals; narily are reckoned) it is not very efficient. a sf of the Far North that have a hard time finding food| The average bee colony consumes for its own _ =show an unusual reasoning faculty. ' |maintenance about 400 pounds of honey per annum. A whaler tells of planning to, capture a polar bear |Its surplus (which is what comes to the beekeepers) _ by means of a slipnoose arranged about a bait. Thejis perhaps fifty pounds. A well-managed apiary a noose caught one of the bear’s paws, but the animal jof 100 colonies, gathering twenty-two and one-half _-_ worked itself loose and carried away the bait. ‘The|tons of honey, may yield a net crop of two and a sailor set the noose again, but this time the bear half tons. _ pushed the rope away before venturing near the| There you have it. The margin of profitable pro- — bait. The third time the sailor covered the noose duction is not great. Yet there is a fair return to with snow, but the bear scraped about till he found |be obtained from beekeeping, well conducted. the rope and again dragged it to one side. The; The honey bee gathers her sweets from an area fourth time the sailor put the bait in the bottom of|within two miles of the hive. The fact that 100 a hole so the bear would have to crawl partly into|colonies of the busy insects can find inside of such ___ it. ‘Then he put the noose entirely around the hole/a radius nectar enough to yield twenty-two and one- rage and covered it with snow. - This did not deceive the'half tons of the concentrated sugar product we call _ bear, however, as the animal carefully uncovered|honey gives an idea of the enormous quantity of _ the rope, knocked it aside and carried off the bait. | sugar produced by flowers in, let us say, the smallest _ Then the sailor gave up. ; State of the Union, Rhode Island. __. Another story tells cf a polar bear’s cleverness in} And yet the annal honey crop of the United States _ catching a seal. The seal had climbed through a hole jis not more than 250,000,000 pounds—a small frac- _ in the ice, but was keeping near the edge in order |tion of what it ought to be. ~The beekeeping indus- to be able to plunge in ‘at the approach of danger. |try, relatively speaking, is neglected in this country ; Saw the seal from a distance and knew|and thereby an important source of sugar production @ was no chance to steal across the ice and ‘lacks adequate development. eee) . es ‘ eye “ wk ae PTS Me is ~~ en ee ae ee

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FROM ALL POINTS GIRLS PROUD TO BLACK SHOES. ESKIMOS HELP RED CROSS. c We are proud to release men for active war serv-| The world war has even extended to the polar re- Ice,” said one of the girls who have taken over a|gions and jarred the Eskimo into making some com- Shoe blacking stand in Yakima, Wash. The two} forts for soldiers, it was learned through William T. young women declare the work is not hard, and,! Lopp, chief of the Alaskan division of the Bureau although they do not exactly like the name “boot-}of Education. black,” they are willing to do their share to help| “The Eskimos raise money by selling furs, cut- win the war. Their’ stand is liberally patronized ting ivory and longshoring for ships that visit their asians jisolated homes,” said Mr. Lopp, who has iust reach- § DEEPEST LAKE. 'ed Washington from Alaska. A lake known as the “Great Sunken Lake” is re-| “One village which has been saving up for years ported to be the deepest lake in this country, and| for a sawmill and had accumulated $130, gave $100 perhaps in the whole world. Located in the*valley | of its scanty hoard,” he added, to indicate the way of the Cascade Mountains, about seventy miles north | the peaceful Eskimo is sacrificing for the savage of Jacksonville, Ore., this lake, which is about fif-| white man. teen miles long and four miles wie piss deep _ DEL See its Since its depth cannot be measured. It is situated so far below the crest of the nape ag = ore vag COST Ok SEE ee RBeD COnCR ss reach it, and its surface is like a sheet of glass. : ae <b . 9 The estimated cost of building a wooden ship is PE meeeunte calles the bake of Mysery- about $165 a ton complete, and that of Seige X a RPE er OR steep ship about $180 to $220 a ton complete. e MAN WwiTH BROKEN NECK GETS MARRIED. naeuatoe cost of concrete ships is between $100 and _ Miss Alice-Faulks of Annandale, N. J., and Henry $110 a ton complete. The difference is brought B. Bowlby of Lebanon, N. J., were married at a pri-| "14 by the saving in equipment, time, labor and vate hospital at Easton, Pa. . F material. Compared to steel materials, the saving Five weeks ago Mr. Bowlby met with an aceident |), the use of concrete often exceeds fifty to fifty- in which he dislocated his spinal cord at the neck. i. of cent, x comarehe Whew in dae ha wale of - Since then his head and neck have rested in a mold. redion igi Tt cana ti in meebautod that Wes Wedaht ai The young couple had decided several months ago Sah we se ed for building a steel ship is perhaps to be married and decided not to postpone the wed-| ten per cent greater than that of the steel which is ding. The bridegroom is not yet out of danger. actually used in construction. This loss in steel ; ‘comes from waste in cuts of plates, angles, rivet ECLIPSE RESTORES ASTRONOMER’S ‘holes and in other adjustments. EYESIGHT. | iest man in Southern California to-day os ea Fret Oris, « oiriey astromoner. SWINGING TARGET IS NOT DIFFICULT TO “Despite the fact that he was practically blind, HIT Otis, accompanied by a number of other astrono-| It is a strange thing that the novice will almost mers, went to Selma, Cal., in the hope of viewing the| invariably try to hit the bull’s-eye of a swinging recent eclipse of the sun. He was overjoyed when |target when it is at the center or in the lowest posi- he was able to view the sun’s corona during the|tion. This is decidedly the incorrect method, and eclipse. the expert knows better. He knows that the time _ His sight has been gradually improving since that|to shoot is at the end of the swing. In fact, any date. one will arrive ultimately at the same conclusion, ; for a little thought will convince him that a target ' GIRL DOES FARM WORK. is Mie most ear hit when at a standstill, or at the Miss Nancy Fehring, aged twenty, living four|end of a vibration. re Y Sie soathanes of Wincheatar, Ind., has set the pace| The moving target as a rule has the largest bull’s- - - for the girls of Indiana in the way of doing a man’s |eye, and is often one of the easiest to strike, if you work. This spring she has planted fourteen acres|happen to know how. =, in corn, sowed seventeen acres in oats and has done| Simply aim at the point where the center of the the chores on her mother’s farm. Her father died | target stops and wait till it returns. Then, bing! | a few yedrs ago and since that time the young|Your friend gives one of those sickly smiles and woman has managed the farm until this year. Be-|pays for the shots. Then he wastes another quar- ing unable to hire help, she is now doing the actual|ter trying to do something that he does not com- farming herself. a the oa prehend, . “Simple if you only know how, ee a ae dt é | 5 5 ; ‘3 = Tet orem J r, 1 eee 1g » ’ “Si ieee —- pe! Sn eo © 45 Sis er es a ae co tak Z »

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ic. = '. ee x FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY NEW YORK, AUGUST 23, 1918. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS BINPte Copies >, cdadcccctdacdccsseseses Cecees tocces } One Copy Three Months One Copy One Year POSTAGE FREE HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P, 0. Money Order. Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk, We accept Postage Stamps the same as cas of Aper to avoid cutting the envelope. eddress plainly. Address letters to HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, 166 West 23d St., New York GOOD CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES A live deer was caught the other day in Hazle- wood,'a suburb-of Anderson, Ind. The deer es- eaped from the Weslow Deer Farm. When seen in Hazlewood it was run down by a crowd of men and boys. When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece Write your name and 7 For absenting himself without leave and stealing | a motorcycle, Horace F. Cote, a soldier in Camp Devens, was sentenced the other day to ten years in the Federal Penitentiary at Atlanta. He was ar- Pete at Binghamton, N. Y. EC The Board of Trustees of the town of Sellersburg, i Ind., has turned over the town jail to the Girls’ Can- = ning Club. The first afternoon of the club’s activi- ties was devoted to canning. rhubarb. The place ‘proved as satisfactory for that purpose as for can- _ ning the “stews” for former days. had actual cold water dashed on his hopes of a pro- | longed wet spell. Also he was fined $10 in police court for being intoxicated and stealing a barrel of supposed whisky from the rear of a saloon. Wladis- ’ law said he didn’t mind the disgrace, but that he was terribly disappointed when he got the barrel =e home and found it contained nothing but water. / . Experts ‘ewe estimated that one rat will consume : forty to fitty pounds of food in a year. It has also been figured that it requires the continuous work a a and other equipments to supply the food- zo is destroyed annually by rats in the United _ States. In addition, rats destroy other property, ainly of agricultural origin, the production of ‘requires the work of about 50,000 men. This a total of 200,000 men whose economic output solely to bg ree wg otherwise providing ar Peis catty ta Tune the of | es for the Army wll exceed 1,50, Convivial Wladislaw Giera, Springfield, West ae of about 150,000 men with farms, agricultural im- | 000, divided as follows: Of the new modified En- fields, 1,140,595; of the Springfields, 176,796; rifles made for Russia ‘but not delivered to her, 251, 270. Also there is the equivalent of 100,000 Enfields and 100,000 Springfields made up in spare parts. The Russian rifles are being used for training purposes and for the equipment of the Home Guards, and all the rest of the guns go into the hands of the soldiers destined for service in Europe. In addition to the irifles made since war began, 600,000 Springfields, a |most excellent weapon, are in use. About one-half ‘the soldiers in an army carry rifles, hence the War Department has rifles for an army of 2,000,000 |men, allowing ‘wastage for one year. GRINS AND CHUCKLES. “Did the prisoner offer any resistance?” “Only a |dollar, Your Honor, and I wouldn’t take it.” “Clinker—Did I understand you to say that there is nearly always something broke about your motor |car? Blinker—Yes, Clinker—What is it, as a rule? Blinker-—Me. Bachelor (sadly)—I dreamed last night, that I was married. The alarm clock woke me. Benidict (more sadly)—I dreamed last night that I was sin- gle. The twins woke me, “Going to make a garden this year?” “No, I have boarded grubs, worms and insects long enough. “Huh?” “Dll keep chickens this year and let the aforesaid grubs, worms and insects board them.” “How often have I told you not to ask for a second » {helping of desert?’ said Tommy’ s mother. “I was only doin’ what they told me in Sunday school,” re- plied the boy. “Well, Tommy! What do you mean?” “Well, the Golden Text to-day was ‘Ask, and you shall receive,’ and I’m askin’, ain’t 1?” “For ten years,” said the new baleen “my habits were as regular as clock-work. I rose on the stroke of six, and half an hour later was at breakfast; at seven I was at work; dined at one; had supper at six, and was in bed at nine-thirty. Ate only plain food, and hadn’t a day’s illness all the time.” “Dear me!” said a hearer, in sysapathietic tones ; “and what were you in for?” A carpenter sent to make some repairs to a pri- vate house, entered the apartment of the lady of the house with his mate. “Jane,” the lady called to her ant, “see that my jewel-case is locked at once.” — The carpenter understood. He removed his watch — and chain from his waistcoat pocket with a signifi- — cant air,‘and handed them to his mate. “Bill,” he — remarked, “take these. right back to the we It seems wg this Bsmeg i ae safe.”

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SOLD BY HIS SWEETHEART 2 ; J By Colonel Ralph Fenton My friend Thompson, the English Scotland Yard _ detective, whom I have mentioned before, paid me a visit lately, and he told me one of his remarkable _ adventures while smoking our pipes together. Some twenty years ago, on a cold winter’s night, _ Thompson was sent down to the city of Birmingham, _ from the head office in London, with instructions | to work up some daring burglaries lately commit- » ted in the former city. : The principal sufferer at Birmingham was an old _ Officer who had served in India, and who had made a large fortune there. When Thompson arrived at Birmingham he was received by Colonel Crandall as an old merchant friend from London, and not even a hint was given as to the nature of his business at the hospitable - Mansion. “T can’t make out for the life of me,” commenced the old colonel, “how the robbery could have been effected. There wasn’t a single window or door broken open, yet all my plate, jewels and money id FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, 27 perfectly willing to intrust his daughter to O’Con- nor’s keeping for life, if Lucy would accept him as her husband. The young lady was somewhat of a coquette, how- ever, and it was said that she was partial to her cousin, Frank Crandall, a young man who was study- ing for the ministry, but who spent most of his time at Crandall Hall. The detective took as much of a dislike to Captain O’Connor as he did a liking for the young student, and he mentally wished that the latter would out- strip the former in the race for the beautiful heiress. On the third evening, as the detective was sitting in the drawing-room listening to Lucy singing, he saw the reflection of a female face in the glass in front of him. “What's this?” said the detective to himself, as he watched the face peering in at the back window. “Tt is not one of the housemaids, as I know them all. I must stroll out and investigate a little.” When he reached the back of the house, he saw the strange woman hurrying away toward a row of | sheubbery skirting the lawn in the rear of the hguse. The woman was soon on the main road leading into the city, and the detective continued to follow were whipped away as if by magic; and, what is|her until she entered a tavern on the outskirts, the worst of it, every guest in my house suffered as| which was a well-known resort of boxers and bad -Well.”’ “Do you suspect any of the servants?” asked the - detective. “T would as soon suspect my own daughter, All of the servants haye been with me for years, and I will swear to their hanpatys and I tell you I’m not easily deceive “Of course it. would be an inant to ask you if you pink it possible that any of your guests would be the burglar. ms Cag gil would be an insult. My guests are all gentle- *. “You are acquainted with the other three gentle- characters of the neighborhood. After locating the woman, the detective hastened back to the mansion, put on a suit of. rough clothes and sallied out again. When he entered the barroom was full to over- flowing, as a “free-and-easy’’ was in full blast, it being Saturday night. On looking up at the waitress, he recognized the face of the woman who was spying in at the mansion window. “Sallie is very glum to-night,” remarked a fellow near the detective. “That’s because that blasted Hirish captain ain’t men whose houses have been robbed in a similar |here,” replied another. _ manner?” ee “Oh, most assuredly. friends of mine.” ; “Then it will be necessary for you to introduce me to their houses. _ _. “Certainly I will, Mr. “Call me Larki » if you Please, while I am your ‘They are all particular a % = _ The delssities was not many hours in the colonel’s mansion before he discovered that a charming daughter was the principal attraction there—for the _ bachelors, at least. ~ Lucy Crandall was a splendid girl in every way, not | to speak of the large fortune she ae receive from her wealthy father. Among the guests who first attraeted the detec- e's attention was a certain Captain O’Connor, a gy Trish soldier, who had served in India onel Crandall. ae As the man spoke Captain O’Connor and Frank Crandall entered. A special table had been reserved for them, and Sallie was soon at their side, her face beaming with smiles as she asked: “What is your pleasure, gentlemen?” “If I had my pleasure, be the holy power, but I'd have a taste of your own sweet lips, my darling,” responded the gay Irish captain. “As it is, I'll have to be content with a bowl ®f good hot punch. What's yours, Frank?” “T’ll share the punch with you.” The detective had taken good care to disguise his features before leaving the mansion, and so he Be ode not noticed by his two fellow guests, _ But there was one man in the room who did recog- nize Thompson, and that man was a famous London — Durglar named Jack Edwards, who had a bed grudge against him. eaceet in ee that the colonel Iwas] ‘The first intimation the detective had of the fo

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Crandall were the only guests remaining in 28 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ing against him was when a great burly fellow ap-| “The fellow must be arrested at once,’ proached him, saying: “Blast my eyes if I don’t believe you’re a sneaking | of arresting him i in the mansion here. spy, and I can wallop the very life out of you.” The burly fellow made a blow at the detective, but the latter parried it, sending out his left at the same time, and knocking the fellow flat on the floor. The next instant all was uproar and confusion, and at least half a dozen roughs sprang at the dis- guised man. “Blood-an’-’ouns! is this what you call English fair play? Six upon one! boys! Here’s to give a hand to ye, my brave fellow!” It was Captain O’Connor who spoke, and as he uttered the protest he dashed in among the roughs, “To be sure; but we must spare uncle the disgrace I understand from him that he is going up to London to-morrow. Could you not go up ahead and arrest him there?” Before leaving Birmingham the detective set two of the local detectives to watch the captain. On the morning after his arrival in London the detective received the following dispatch by tele- graph: “Your man is on the train due at London at Shame! shame on you,/3 p. m.” Soon after the arrival of the train the gallant captain sauntered into the place, holding a valise in one hand, while the other, which was stuck in his overcoat pocket, grasped.a heavy walking-stick. Be- striking right and left, and sending his man down |fore the captain could be seated, the detective arose, at every muscular blow of his arm. While the Irish captain was doing his work in splendid style, the English detective was not idle. In less than two minutes they had cleared a space around them. “Gome here and take a glass with us,” cried Captain O’Connor, addressing the detective. “And ’tis I’d like to see the man who’ll say boo to you again this blessed night.” On his way back to the mansion, he said to him- self: 5 “Captain O’Connor is a brave man, but I’m afraid he’s in league with Edwards and his pals. I'll have to watch him closely. I think he’s doomed.” - While the detective was sleeping that night two men entered the bedroom noiselessly. One of them advanced to the bedside, and held a -moistened handkerchief to the sleeper’s nose, while they proceeded to appropriate his watch and his purse, In the morning it was discovered that another _ extensive raid had been made in the mansion, and _ that Lucy Crandall was the principal victim. © When the detective was able to be up and around again, he found that Captain O’Connor and Frank thea veiw house. Frank Crandall drew him into a secluded corner, saying: “I want to speak to you on a very delicate subject.” “About the robbery?” “Yes, about the robbery. Have you any sus- _Picions as to who the culprit is?” “T have.” saying: “Captain O’Connor, I have an unpleasant duty to perform. You are my prisoner.” “The mischief you. say. What in the name of blazes is the trouble?” The captain let fly with his right hand as he spoke, and knocked: the detective clear off his pins. Thé Irish gentleman was overpowered, however, after a very severe struggle. When he was dragged before the magistrate, the charge was made against him by the detective and Frank Crandall. When the captain’s valise was opened, and some of Lucy’s jewelry was taken out, he grew quite furious altogether. On the night of their return to Birmingham, the detective and Frank were seated in the drawing- room with Lucy and her father. They had been speaking of the damning evidence against the prisoner, when Lucy gave expression to her feelings in a loud voice, saying: “I care not what the evidence may be, I'll never believe that Captain O’Connor could be such a base wretch.” rs, “And you are right, young lady,” cried a voice be- | nind them, as the window was opened and in sprang. Sallie, the waitress at the tavern. “What do you want here, young woman?” de-. manded the colonel. “I want to\denounce a base villain, and there he stands.” And the young woman pointed at Frank Crandall, “T mean to say—and I can prove what I say—that “And so have I. I did not dare to speak to my:/your nephew there is the real robber, and not Cap- “uncle on the subject, but I will be plain with you. Captain O’Connor is one of the robbers. I am cer- 4 ae. of it.” “What. proof. have you?” “On the night of the last robbery I was not fast Saeetrunte tain O’Connor, who is a brave, generous gentleman. Do you know that ring, Miss Crandall?” Lucy recognized. the diamond ring presented to her by her father. “That crawling scoundrel there gave me that ring,” cried the girl. “I was his sweetheart, and

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GOOD LUCK BANKS, Ornamental as well as use- e STAR AND CRESCENT ful. Made of highly nickeled PUZZLE. brass." It holds just One Dol- Touast "itea anee — bd Eee’ lar. When filled it opens it- The puzzle is to separate Large Premium. Send $10c. tor New self. Remains locked until the one star from the Tistater Cola Value woes relilled. arm Money refund- ered Star sak ee Get Posted at Once. : watechcharn. oney refund- without using force. Price, ed if not satisfied. Price, 15¢, @ x0 cents; 3 for 25. cents. CLARKE COIN CO.. Box 33, Le Roy. N. % mall. y t s a ESP SS Bk a dy a aE »y mail, postpaid BOYS—TYPEWRITER FRE IRLS In the next three months we shall give away 1,000 typewriters, absolutely free, to boys and girls who do a little pleasant work for us in their spare time at home. For full particulars address F, E. BANSEMER, 6034 S. Winchester Ave., Chicago, LiL. E ; $83 Lenox Ave. FRANK SMITH, : “iTH, 383 Lenox Ave., New York. ee POCKET SAVINGS BANK. : A pertect little bunk, nandsomely nickel lated. Holds just tve do:lars (50 dimes) t cannot be opened until the bank is full, when it ean be readily emptied and relocked, ready to be again refilled, very garent should see that their children bave a small gavings bauk, as the early habit of saving their dimes is of the greatest importance. Habits formed in early jiie are seldom for- otten in later years. Price of this little yank, 15¢c, mailed, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., FRANK . POCKET SIGNAL CHART international Morse Code on i and Semaphore Code a other, issued with booklet, “SIGNALING INSTRUCTIONS” MAGIC LOCK-CUTTER. HINSTRUGTI Onan! Bi B’klyn, N. Y- —————- This clever little trick consists of a small nickeled padlock in the side of which there is a cigur cutter. The lock cannot be opened unless you know the, secret. In opening it, a blade in the cutter clips your cigar. There is no keyhole. The fingers must ou it. Price, 25 cents each’by mail, postpai THE FRIGHTFUL RATTLESNAKE! To all appearances it is a harmiess piece of cosled paper with a = mouthpiece attachment, but upon. placing it to 0 one’s mouth, and bjow- * ing into the tube, an imitation snake over two feet in length springs out of the roll like a flash of lightning, preducing a whistling, fluttering sound that would frighten a wild Indian. We guarantee our rattlesnake not to bite, but would not advqse you to play the ioke on timid women or delicate children. f 2 ch snake packed in a box. Price, 10c; 3 FRANK SMITH, 383 Lenox Ave., New York. for 25; mailed, postpaid. 2 <2 Bs: FRANK SMITH. $83 Lenox Ave., New York. THE PRIZE FORD JOKE. SIGNALING) a | ——_— ture DIAMOND SQUIRT RING cee . Book- Looks !ik A handsome Gut ring} for, story-book, but set with a brilliant, a and it contains a cap close imitation of a dia- both and a trigger. mond. Connected with sides The moment the ring is a small rub- of pS r innocent wales Teaekehe is be psn f th Deak ta" Tread the * 4 . the use of this Chart w . ac the cealed hee Wreay palm of | in Y onal the Coins are ee ee: interesting story your hand, As your/ After a briet study of the C rt, sanals are Pep! Geog! The friend is admiring the | read and veritied immediately. Can be oper- explosion is: Chart and Booklet, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 168 W, 23d St., N. ¥. stone In your ring, @/ ated with one hand while the other w tes. pope te prenmere on om This 1s the Chart in use by Boy Scouts, oe ees but ball will throw # smal, | Gitl Scouts, Lone Scouts and similar organi- “_ make... bim a a rh ee ° 9 zations, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, Schools, think the Ger- ace. 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Pe agpber conteine Five Stories of the Best No, +» LHE SILKEN SHEATH, by Cy trom Crivecndyn Marriot 6A wpuUKtENw - 1nLLER'S tective Elegan the Piays—l SEUKu I, by Gladys Ball. Story, by Gladys About Prominent People In the Films—De _ 1a MYSTIC kMGLLM, by | —— A MILLION—A De- Actors and Actresses the Studios and While pa seen PR etive Scenario “! . Stor. Captain Howard. 1” rayon 16 BHADOWING THE BLUR THIANGLH, by - € bulten Oursler, o ew uw CASH OF CA Poksisyix, by Medaala Murie Cooildge Kask— 8TH CAKDS OF FALE, by © William Goode, OMK, BACHELLOR'S PARTMEN'S, by William tou Caleene. Be Tes . . BL, by -tavius Roy Cohen fi THE VOICE OF THE VAL a by Hobert Cariren is T Pit’, by Re DED 13 Tun sf szvex | _ Fupper, felis BS “SHAS, ee ae » 19 5 oR ae iZSTERT,, by _|e®RANK TOUSEY, Pub., 168 W, 23d St.. New York City, THIS LITTLE MAGAZINE GIVES YOU MORE FOR YouR MONEY THAN ANY OTHER SIMILAR PUB LICATION ON THE MARKET! 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DETECTIVES WAKE BIG MONEYI aravel and KODAKERS! 32 Pelee gree eOaiT | alt anne, (We ferruct rou af namunel Soe ihe ee wit tere ag 4 sex Wisi fe a Detroit, Mich. metre eras FRE E TO ASTHMA SUFFERERS A New Home Cure That Anyone Can Use Without Discomfort or Loss of Time, We have a New Method that cures Asthma, Paitin ‘Learn by mail, Big money Write for special offer. American 1 of Aviston: 451_ So. Dearborn St.. Dept. 985-C, Chicago, Til. by] $900 py 1,600 oe Bh cater Rail- Mall, P. and o exams’’ under former cfyil service examiner; ek tree free, “ son Ciyil Service School, Bor 8031, * Fatt: THE UNIVERSITY 0 ° ICAGO offers eres = vnivesiy of Gi detatied informa: ar, address For of Chicago (Div. NL), Chica ni. FOR THE HEALTH REDUCE WEIGHT H ely: if = too fat, mg We want you to try it at ons expense. send a. interesting - a ee ie davola ment, Heather it eaelobe icone Go Kylee 9 BF. pent pl or recen' TOBACCO HEA a present as Hay Fever of cbr rove Asthma. aap i weak ey wap eye, tober Gu Your heart ; should send for a ‘free trial of our now m9 feath oF bit lindness, i fie aot ers. ‘cHimat ou A A Ii Eg 7 ho tue nay wooderfully. ed ire. no matter what your age or occupa- ae a4 zen arg jroubles < pero our me shou ve you promptly. We paranthy hope want to send it to those praised. society, If cured you pay us only §1, Pw a cent. Write for 4A-601, Station F, New York. hopeless ¢ a where all gous HELP WANTED oplum preparatio . & GOVERNME wants help. Men, women, Fe rent smokes,’ rete. ve failed. = War prepara cotmpelling thousands oe ant to ne oI ° r. own ex- Sutter Chen Basy eeicat Fag Short 3 Fehon te “iat this ex new method a med to Weoations ee, rae ta ation eulicheut, | Writ Write end vail reathing, all w . and | iin Institute, Depi. P- ‘namin 0 ey ose terrible paroxysms at i and for | free o me rete tty rapt to peg lect EARN $25 weekly. spare ete, » Writing for newspapers, ecessary ; mgt details free. 70. etngie day. SS Re a begin’ the | WEN, WOMEN, 18 or over, wanted 4, amediately for 4g no ‘money. Sim oo ernment sitions, al “) . It Today. iad petllicts Hg $100 month. Easy & suman cece Se mail coupon he HS, - FREE ASTHMA COUPON ons. Many advantages to beginners, B 155, Rochester, Pa to SCOTT & 5 “|\LITTLE ADS Write to Scott & Scott, Inc., Advertising Offices, 144 East 32nd Street, New York City, or 29 East Madisou Street, Chicago, for particulars about advertising in this magazine. MUSICAL WRITE THE WORDS FOR A SONG. We write. music and guarantee publisher's acceptance. Submit poems on i“ leve or any sub) e ter Music Comipany, 538 So. Dearborn St.. 243, Chicago, Tilinois. PERSONAL YOUR LIFE-STORY IN THE STARS. Send birth date and dime fer trial reading. You'll be delighted. Address: Janus, 712 Fountain Place, Kansas City, Mo. ALL YOUR QUESTIONS answered! pend questions, birth date, $1. Dreams interprete cents. Neille Lewis, Psychologist, Box 8S, Silver . Ore. MARRY AT ONCE—Thousands of lonely, congenial Deople, all ages, worth $5,000 to $350,000, se early marriage. Big list of descriptions free. s, Hyde, 2533 Minna St., San Francisco, Cal. DO UNEEDA SWEETHEART, w or husband! Our illustrated plan representing hundreds some worth $1,000 to $50,000 and Write = free in- Cal. published, Pa. new, reliable, desiring marriage, more, Tells you how to get yours. formation. Messenger Club, Los’ Angeles, GET MARRIED. Best matrimonial magazic Mailed free. American Distributor, Llsirsvilie. STAMMERING : $ST-STU-T-T-TERING and stammering cured at home. Instructive booklet free. Walter McDonnell, 15 Peto- mac Bank Building, Washington, D. C. ; WANTED TO BUY WANTED TO BUY typewriters, any make. Give de- scription. M. M. Seide, 142 EB. 32d St., New York. WE BUY old gold, diamonds, watches, platinum, silver, jewelry. We will pay up to $35 per set for discarded false teeth (broken or not). Cash sent at once—goods held 5 to 15 days and returned at our expense if offer is refused. Certificate granted us from State of Wis- consin. Absolutely responsible, liberal and reliable. Ad- dress: United States Smelting Works, Inc., 401 Gold- amith Bidg., Opp. P. 0., Milwaukes, Wis. UNITED CIGARS, Schulte and other certificates, to- bacco tags, coupons bought at highest prices. Send all you have; payment will come promptly. Reliable concern, Kotal Co., 148 BE. 32d St.. New York. BEAR FAT bought. Will take all any hunter can supply. Kotal Company, 150 B. 32d St.. New York. MISCELLANEOUS BOYS, GIRLS, EARN THRIFT STAMPS. We will send you 4 stamps or let you keep $1 after sell 30 pottioe of fine perfume at 10 cents exch. Boys girls in every state find it easy. Requires no money. Perfume sent prepaid. Be first in your locality. Eckhow Laboratories, 2018 Grand Ave., St. Paul, Mi as ee YOU CAN MAKE GOOD, durablc paints and varnish 15 cents gallon: Write for details). Emmelmann Bros, Manufacturing Co., Dept. J, Indianapolis, Ind. SERVICE FLAGS for clubs, school, church, home, col- lege, fraternal societies. Cotton, wool, silk. AH sizes. Wholesale prices. Write to-day for prices. S. Blake Wilisden, 25 E. Madison St., Chicago. DEN PICTURES. Real photos from life. Fascinating Art Models’ poses. Sample ‘ ‘Bathing Girl” and cata- log, 10 cents. Simpson Co., Wheeling, W. Va. MARVEL MENDER. For perfectly repairing rips and tears in clothing, umbrellas, gloves, silk underwear or stockings, etc. Quick, Jasting. War better than sew- ing and more convenient. “Packet, postpaid, 10 cents Albro Society, AB-601. Station F. New York. ELECTRICAL TATTOOING BAGH ES 3 2 Boe outfits 50 cents. Catalogue Free 17 Central Ave., Cincinbati. Ohio. EL-MIT Bad KAISER PIN. Latest war novelty. a est hit — Oxidized ae Thor 4 £0) Sample with agents’ terms, 10 cents. O. Finch Company, Dept. G, Grand | Rapids, Mich. PRESIDENTIAL TIAL PUZZLE. Mi ting, {nstruct- ive and interesting; complete in neat box, postpaid. ©. S. Michel, Box 293. Newark. N. J. MAGIC WORDS! Secret method of secking = you want. Post; for dime. Money back antee. Lids Sme 145 Miller, Brooklyn. N. _ ae canta iN FRRNCE " Great war picture. hit. Make $10 dally. Regular 25 cents, Sample an% 10 cents, rapes Send now. Address: Publisher School News, Egyrt. N. J. PUZZLES. Iron and wire puzzles, 6 cents and catalog. Western Puctie Works, St. Paul, Minn. ARS BASKETS. Wholesale, retall; = free. gree 2. Me Sinem, Samed eee oa KE MONE starting Mail Order Business; ai Sa y me a Lindhorst Magic Shop. St. Louts, Rio. AUTO-KAMP-KGOK-KIT. Write for of vTO- utdoor cooking outfit you ever saw. Prentians Wabers Mfc. Co., Grand I Rapids, Wis. ~ : best ASTHMA CO., to t rich is by advertising. You "os m 6s T. BECOME A MILLIONAIRE "2 can sell” some’! hing by mail at a profit.” Please Z and Jeane Sts. . *Ppyour seed tag ern and t ay ~ Mg Ba char ig your goods to others. Employ agents. One or two - Shgary ne boys haye in 1 way and built up a large business. Dick Genre if . roa ios a rallsoad office whep he began to sell novelties. by mail. He Spt te tat « of your method tes | eres HOUR C tart with @ Of wid ty ins Suis Mctecine. Wate tor tioemetion t., FOO e wee sere eeeeseetosmeeueee 8t., Chicago, Ill. PTT TORO Tee ee teen ress eseeenee Cee teerecserecrecseseccses TW, 164 Bast "Thirty-second Mazazing. Write for information or 0 New 3 York Clty, or 29 East DOUBLE CHIN ftays'h & a aan te Wea Se

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ie tae ty ae Cigarette Habit How to Overcome It Quickly and Easily Unless you have been exceptionally careful the cigarette habit has a hold which you cannot shake off by will power. The lure of the cigarette is powerful. Is it the nicotine that is Peg your system, making you nervous, heart weak, dyspeptic, eye strained and irritable? lowish liver, a chance to be frees from the mean slavery of nicotine. Get rid of the vicious habit. Lengthen your life. Become contented and spread hap- ween: among others. Enjoy tranquillity com- ined with forceful thought and real efficiency. I know what will conquer the tobacco habit in Watch sent on simple request, The Sere Pay et ais month. You get the watch at the same price even the wholesale jeweler must pay. Write Today for Free Watch Book in three days. You gain the victory com- pletely and privately at home. My new book will be very interesting to you. It will come to you in a plain wrapper, free, postpaid. You will be surprised an delighted if you write to Edward J. Woods, WT-103, Station F, New York, N. Y. Pink Cameo Ring 12.Cts. Cameos are set tn fine rings. uaranteed 16 ‘ kt.1/20th gold filled. Ret Wear 3 years. | f= To getacquainted with rouw sl send yout KS correct size, postpaid, upon receipt of 12 cts, 27 Auction Co., Dept. 505 Attleboro, Mass. Are you troubled with sleeplessness at night and dullness in the morning until you have doped yourself with the nicotine of cigarettes or pipé, or chewing tobacco? They're all the same, you know. -¢ Give your erg ye body, from your pale yellowish skin right into your pale yel- ) He Quit Cigarettes See designs Aeriaree ord ocarene > ites today: nich Co, Dept €-279 19th é Man B® SLENDER (ts. Peasy Fyonih 30 S08 a fer sen Nigar Pesos Se sina Seater sf a liege F, New ¥ Walle Bipsiis’* to Korein © e 3 : 7, af Le ts . GAINED OVER 30 POUNDS **T’ smoked cigarettes ever since a boy. Prom six to eight sacks of tobacco I used weekly,'' states Mr. 8. H. Forguson, - ttes were doing me harm. I became so noryous that I couldn’t sleep until I smoked, Esch morning I had an awful taste in my mouth, ss times I tried to quit by will- power, but it just seemed that I would go wild if I couldn't havo ¢ ttes. “Tt had almost given up hope of ever quit- ting until one aay I sent for a free book by = —s that “ me ae to i. Aza earg the wa easily 8 and haven’t touched a cigarette in a ears. I hare “fained ‘over, 90 Dounds and camnct | «* What other men have done with the help of the International Cor- respondence Schools, Ican do. If the I. C. S. have raised the salaries of other men, t. ys can raise mine. If they have helped others to ad- e every without y ‘ol. vance, they can help me. To me, I. C. S. means ‘] CAN SUCCEED.’”? vethe fe The foregoing remarks are like those of -. Many ether men who have been freed from arettes, pipe or wing tobacco or to Edward J. Woods, at once Wwe- Station F, New York, N. ¥. a dollar-an-hour man, a long-hour man or a short-hour man—there’s a better CISALESMANSHIP job ahead and the I. C. S. will prepare Window Triwenet you to step into it. Sian Pelee 4 Railroad Trainmen No matter where you live, what you (arn dt bie now do, or how little time or money Seecogrephar a=8 Syteh you may have, the I. C. S. have a Course eRe: Lecce of Training to fit your needs. Commeiiel lee Hundreds of thousands of ambitious men have achieved success through pith ete ae ee SeiBitvut ovsirixe 00,000 are mow studying, getting ready ~-d for the big jobs ahead. Join them and tonubtisces [rere make your life something to be proud : of—you can do it. ~ Mark and mail the coupon TODAY Sst and find out how; it won't obligate you . in the least. =,

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WAS DAVIT ve HAIR GROWTH 4 While completely bald on the top of my head as shown in my, i eg which 44 accompany- ng this affidavit, I sdopt- ed a hair cosmetio and formz- ula given me by an old Cherokee Indian, Within six months my head was covered with @ new and luxuriant growth of hair, I now supply Ko-tal-ko, a pomade prepared according to the origi- nal formule which resulted in my own hair growth. The state- ments in my advertisement are true and my photographs are correct ’ Meth - soy Personally appeared before me, Youn Hart Brittein, this firth dey of June, 1917, who signed the foregoing in my presence and who being duly erorn, at- tested that sam is 23 ’ ipa ome Notary Public From former photograph of J. H. Brittain So positive am I that Kotalko is absolutely unsurpassed for aiding in hair growth 2 tee. that I offer it under $300.00 cash isk Noting printipie by sendink ie 45 ene compounded aceording to the orig in silver or stamps to the above address. Here is our New Style E. D. L. Phonograph—the latest BALD = FULL HAIR GROWTH NOW In early manhood I was troubled with dandruff and my hair began to fall out. _ Being naturally proud—call it vanity if you will—I used one hair tonic, lotion, etc., after another, in the hope of preventing the loss of my hair. Nothing saved my hair, however, and I resigned myself to the probability of lifelong baldness. eee ig , The engravings here printed are from actual photographs. The bald- ness was greater than apparent in the earlier picture as it extended over the back of my head. fh In the course of my career, I hadbusiness with certain members of the Cherokee tribe of Indians and met a “medicine man” who gave me a po- made which I agreed to apply to my scalp. To my surprise and joy, tiny hairs be- gan to appear and gradually a growth of hair was developed all over my scalp. It Was amazing to observe the improvement from week to week. A prolific hair growth tesulted and has never left me, although many years have passed, FREE TO YOU The Cherokee wisard’s secret or principle Was imparted to me and I am ling to Send the recipe free if you merely write, asking for it, enclosing stamp. Address John Hart Brittain, 150 East 382d S8t., BM-103, New York, N. ¥. Some marvelous results lave been reported. The pomade ls called Kotalko. It is for men, women and children. Kotalko is different from all the liquid fotions and hair tonics, washes, shampoos, ete. It is in a class by itself. It to be applied with the finger tips where the hair is weak or wher the scalp is bald. You may obtain a testing box of Kotalko Would you like to add several pounds of * ONDERFUL PHONOGRAPH OFFER|ADD 10 YOUR WEIGHT improvement—without the horn. It is a perfect beauty. Mahogany finish, tone arm black japanned, nickel wind- ing crank, accurately constructed, smooth running spring miotor, speed regulator, stop lever and 6% turn table. New improved sound box with mica diaphragm. machine in a few hours’ time, - ; E. D. LIFE, 337 Ww. Madison St., healthy flesh? Do you long for the joys of tranquillity and robust health? Do you wish to add to your etliciency—to become able to do better work, thereby increasing your earning power? Here’s a prescription: Avena sativa, a highly concentrated extract of the most pow- erful nutritive principle of cats; phosphorus, the renowned nutritive nerve stimulant; nux vomica, the widely recognized stimulant tonic; muira puama, a strong vitalizing root extract. These ingredients should improve the appetite and aid in the development of health, flesh and muscle when taken in properly prepared form in connection with special simple directions. These ingredients, in carefully compound+ ed proportions for your safe personal use, are found in Woods V Tabules, of which you may obtain test packet, by sending 10 cts. to E..J. Woods, Inc., VB-103, Station F, New York. Also remember that Woods V Tabules are sold by many Geng atets. c For underweight, lack of deve’opment, gen- eral weakness, brain fag, exhaastion due to overwork or excesses; to combat bad effects of smoking or chewing or snuff yea SA nervousness, spelis of depression, after effects of long strain upon the nerves or organs of the body, paleness, for overcoming the de- pressing effects of secret bad babits, for Dept. 7T46 Chicago timidity, feelings of fear, lack of good b ___ | enervation and numerous other forms < SE Y ; To accelerate the growth of a Moustache use KOTALKO.| Weakness, try Woods V_ Tabules- . y _A small box will be mailed for 25 cents; a large box, for re : Parts cE gg in plain package. Cash or stamps. John pee SRE ; Hart Brittain. 150 East 32d St.. (BC-102). New York. N.Y. ne AA cote f a —

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—LATEST ISSUES $85 The Little Wizard; or, The Success of a Pi) weg — Golden Eagles; or. A Lucky roker. 637 A Lucky Lad; or, The Boy Who Made a Railroad Pay. 838 Sg? Good to Last; or, Six Months In the Wall Street Money 2 639 Dick, the Boy Lawyer: or, Winning a Big Fee. 640 Broker Dexter’s New Boy; or, A Young Innocent In Wall Street. 641 From Mill to Millions; or, The Poor Boy Who Became & Steel Magnate. 642 Three Game Speculators; or, The Wall Street Boys’ Syndi- cate. ¢ 643 A Stroke of Luck: or, The Boy _Who Made Money In Oil. 644 Little Hal, the Boy Trader; or, Picking Street. 645 On the Gold Coast: or, The Treasure of the Stranded Ship. @46 Lured by the Market; or, A Boy’s Big Deal In Wall Street. Tom; or, The Boy Who Bought Everything. by Fortune; or, The Youngest Firm In Wall Street. 49 Jack Jasper’s Venture: or. A Canal Route to Fortune. 50 aor Big Money; or, Turning the Tables On the Wall Street 647 Tradin 648 Favored rokers. 1 A young Lumber King; or, The Boy ay " @52 Ralph Rey's Riches; or, A Smart Boy's Luck Young Inventor. Young Wall Street 665 The Million. Up Money In Wall Who Worked His Run of Wall Street @53 A Castaway's Fortune: or. The Hunt for a Pirate’s Gold. @4 The Little the Market. loney Maker; or, The Wall Street Boy Who Saved FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 655 Fough and Ready Dick; or, A Young Express A 656 Tippea Off by Telegraph; or, Shaking Up the d rs.” t’s Luck. all Street 657 The Boy Builder: or. The Rise of a Young Mason. 658 Marty, the Messenger; or, Capturing Coin In Wall Street. 659 The Stolen Bank r= cl 660 Digging Up Dollars; or, The Nerve of a Young “Bull” Oper- ator. ote: or, The Career of a Boy Merchant. 661 A Runaway Boy; or. The Ruried Treasure of the Incas. 662 The Old Broker's Heir; or, The Boy Who Won In Wall Street. 663 en to Fortune; or, The Boy Who Made Money In 664 Rag Rob of Wall Street; or, $50,000 from a Dime. Railroad Magnate; or, The Contract That Brought a 666 Deer Dick, the Boss Boy Broker; or, Hustling for Gold In il Street. 667 Caught by Cannibals; or, The Treasure of the Land of Fire. 668 The Little Operator; or, Cornering the “Bears” of Wall Street. 669 Air Line Ed; or, Building a Telegraph Line. 670 A Boy of the Curb; or, The Secret of a Treasury Note. 671 From Foundry Boy to Steel King; or, The Rise of a Young Bridge Builder, . u 672 The pueeae Ox of Bullion; or, The Boy Who Solved a Wall e Street Mystery. 673 Claim No. 7; or. A Fortune from a Gold Mine. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 6 cents, per copy in money or postage stamps, by HARRY E. WOLFF. Publisher, - - 166 West 23d St.. New York. IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS these weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from the publishers direct. Write out of and fill in your Order and send it with the price of the weeklies mail. POSTAGE STAMPS TA want, and the weeklies will be sent to you by return THE SAME AS MONEY. OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS No. 44. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELEC- TRICITY.—A description of the wonderful and electro etism ; to- instructions er making ectric Toys, Batteries, etc. y Geo Trebel, AM, M.D. Containing over fifty il- trations, orse. Ne. 48. HOW.TO BUILD SAIL CANOES.—A handy book for bo contain- ing full directions for co canoes and most popular manner sailing Fully illustrated. No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE—Giving rules for conducting debates, outlines for debates, questions for eee, and the best seurces for procuring ‘ormation on the Question given. sNe. 50. HOW TO BIRDS AND STUFF .—A valuable book, giving instruc- in collecting, preparing, mounting and birds, animals and insects. 51, HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH paces SATE tne copie = - n a - card card tricks ath aH ex P tricks ; of . 88 F - | Cribbage, Casino, Forty- Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, ‘Aueti Fours, and many other popular HOW TO WRITE LETTERS —A littlé beok, telling you how to = 4 geet your ben gg Bigs ng and anybody you wish’ to write ve, PaRit, eee | : COINS.—Con regarding the stamps and HOW TO BECOME AN EN- | GINEER—Containing fall instructions how to become a locomotive engineer tions for 3 a model locomotive: to- orden cheuld toe For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to a FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, : d 2 tial Pas 53 . Ss xe ~ a ~~: 2 “ ae — is.” Se on Ce en 2s He ee a ene Wee No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOG- RAPHER.—Containing meet YS - regarding the Camera an ow to work it; also how to make Photographic Magic Lan- tern Slides and other Transparencies. Hand- somely iilustrated. No. 62. HOW TO BECOME A WEST POINT MILITARY CADET.—Explains how to gain admittance, course of Study, Exami- nattven Duties, Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Police lations, Fire Department, and all a boy should know to be a cadet. By Lu Senarens. Ne. 6&. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET.—Complete instructions of how to gain admission to the Annapolis Naval Acad- emy. Also containing the course of instruc- tion, description of grounds and buildings, historical sketch, and everything a boy should know to become an officer in the United States Navy. By Lu Senarens. * Ne. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAyY, MACHINES.—Containing full directions for making electrical machines, induction coils, dynamos, and many novel toys to be worked by electricity. By R. A. R. Bennet. Fully ustrated. No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.—The most original joke book ever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor. It contains a large collection of songs, Jokes, conundrums, etc, of Terrence Muldoon, the bag 3 wit, hu- morist, and practical joker of the day. ‘Ne. 6. HOW TO DO PUZZLES.—Con- taining over three hundred interesting puz- zles and conundrums, with key to same. A complete book, Fully illustrated. Ne. 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS Containing | 4 et, Gagne. of structive electrical te the Nustrations. By . A. me “aie atute Cader eee ae TRICKS. ‘ontain' one lLundr highly amusing and instructive tricks with chemicats. By A. Anderson, mely illustrated. Ne. 69. HAN and containin in HOW TO DO SLEIGHT-OF- D.—Containing over fifty of the latest best tricks used by magicians. Also the secret of second sight. Fully No. 70, HOW TO MAKE MAGIC Toys.— Containing full directions for making M Toys and devices of many kinds. Fully ifl- Justrated. » Ne. 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS.—Containing cornpiete illustrations for performing over sixty Mechanical Fully illustrated. No. 72. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Embracing all of the latest and most deceptive card tricks, with illus- trations. No. 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH NUMBERS.—Showing many curious tricks with figures and the magic of numbers. By A. Anderson, Fully illustrated. No. 74 HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY,—Containing full instructions for writing letters on almost any subject: also rules for punctuation and composition, with specimen letters. No. 744. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND.—Containing rules for telling fortunes by the aid of lines of the hand, or the secret of palmistry. Also the secret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, scars, etc, Illustrated. No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed by leading conjurers and magicians. Arran for home amuse- ment, ly illustrated. = No, 78. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART. —Containing a complete description of the mysteries of Magic and Sleight-of-band, to- gothes with many wonderful experiments. y A, Anderson. Illustrated. No, 79. HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR. —Containing complete instructions how to make up for various c on the stage; together with the duties of the Stage Man- syer Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property Neo. 8. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK — Containing the latest jokes, anecdotes and funny stories of this world-renowned Ger- man comedian. Sixty-four pages; handsome colored cover, con’ ng a half-tone photo of the author. No. 81, HOW TO MESMERIZE —Contain- ing the most approved methed of mesmer- ism; animal et or, magnetic heal- ing. By Prof. Hugo Koch, AC.S., au- thor of “How to Hypnotize,” etc. No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTERY.—Con- taining the most yg beer methods of read- ing the lines on the hand, together with a full explanation of their meaning. Also ex- Plaining phrenology, and the key of telling characters by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. Fully illustrated. No. 83. HOW TO HYPNOTIZE.—Contain- - Ing valuable and instructive information/re- garding the science of hypnotism. Also ex- plaining the most approved methods which are employed by the leading hrpnotists of the world, By Hugo Koch, A.C.8. Ne. %. HOW TO BECOME AN AUTHOR. —Containing information regarding choice of subjects, the use of words and man- ner of pre g and submitting manu- seri ning valuable - pts. contal tion as to the neatness, lezibility and gen- eral composition of manuscripts. . any address on receipt of price, 10c. per copy, or 3 for %5c., in money or postage mamps, by 168 West 23d St. N. ¥ »*