Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 825) (1921 07 22)

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JULY 22, 1921 BOYS THAT MAKE MONEY. ieee a SO ae a eee sea yi The rascal] in the lead seized the horse by the bridle, while his companion flashed the lantern <t the dummy figure on the seat. Joe crept upon the latter. Swinging the mail bag aloft. he brought it down upon him.

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Tesued W: —Subscription price, $3.50 we West 280 treet. New york. kr > the Post-Office at New York, N. ~ No. 825 i RAO: i “es Bam 8 NEW YORK, JULY 22, 1921. r; Canada, $4.00; Foreign, $4.50. Harry E. Wolff, Publisher, 160 Entered as Y., under the Act of Second-Class of Mare eat thas 1911, “UN y) Price 7 Cents AYS ON TIME ERIUSOF A YOUNG MAIL® CONTRACTOR 3 ae MaeBY A SELF-MADE MAN eds C6 Sef eck at, 8 $4 wes cf * Pio e ? ery La ~~” CHAPTER I.—JoeGets the Mail Contract. “I’m after that job,” said Joe Fletcher. : “Not the mail route to Flushing!” cried Dick Spencer, in surprise. * *Yes. The coontreet is offered again to the lowest bidder.” ee “J see it is, by the notice in the post office. Jud Hopkins appears to be out of it. He’s the third man whe tackled the contract in three months. The route is too strenuous for the money that’s in it. [Pll bet you'll be the only bidder this time, so if you really mean business I'd’ ask a good figure. It’s worth something for a fellow to risk his life. I’m surprised you should think of go- ing for it.” - Well, a fellow can’t hang around and live on his father, especially when his father isn’t draw- - gng a princely salary as cashier of the Clifton . Bank, you know. y sister told me the other day it was time I brought in some’ money to the use.” “But you ought to be able to pick up a job dn this town. Like myself, you’ré a graduate of the high school, and you stood above me/in the ‘class. I’m going to work on the first of the -_ month to learn to be a surveyor. I don’t see why you haven't been able to catch on to something = ‘good, too.” si : : " “Lawyer Howe offered to take’ me into his office, with the view of making a lawyer of me some day, byt my taste doesn’t run in that direc- tion, and the wages, four dollars at first, was ES mighty small, so | turned it down, though my = father was in favor of my taking it.. In fact, we had a bit of a scrap over it last night, and we -- haven't spoken since, but that will wear off in a > day or two.” : : -_ *Four dollars isn’t much, that’s true; neither is _ the five that I’m going to work for; but I can = to take it, for my mother says I can keep be=e of it for pocket money. I dare say she'll y my clothes,.too, for she doesn’t really need other three.” ; “Your father is in business for himself and makes more than my father.” — < ‘ “Your father would make a good deal more if * small town, and since the Clifton National Bank was started the bank your father works for is “not doing so well as it was. At least so I’ve “That’s tight, but my father says it’s picking p again. Being the oldest bank, and never hay- he was cashier of a city bank. This is only a. ing been in any difficulty, the small tradespeople have confidence in it, and there’s no danger of it going under.” “So you really mean to take the contract for carrying the mail to Flushing if you can get it?” “T do. “In spite of the fact that three men, who ap- pore anxious to get it, have quit after a short rial? “Yes. The first two claimed that several at= tempts were made to rob them along the route, and that they narrowly escaped after being shot at; but detectives have been investigating the road and they found nothing to substantiate the men’s stories. It’s my opinion there wasn’t enough in it for them,-and they forfeited their bonds rather than continue.” “Well, if you’re determined to try your luck at - it you'll have to get your bid in before somebody else takes a notion to apply, though, as I said before, I don’t believe there'll be any rush of bidders for it now, The route is a lonesome one, and the quitting of three men in a hurry is enough to give it a black eye, -I suppose Hopkins is holding on until his successor relieves him. I wouldn’t take that contract for any price.” “I’ve just put in my bid, and haye arranged with the manager of the express company to take the express matter in case I get the mail con- tract.” “How about your bond?” “The president of the Clifton Bank has agreed to furnish it for me.” “Then your father is in favor ef you taking it?” “He doesn’t know anything ‘about it. I told Mr. Haywood to keep it quiet, as I wanted to pee steeper : “1 didn’t know you had a pul! with the -presi- dent of the bank.” P a “He owes me a favor.” “Does he? Then why didn’t you strike him for a position in the bank?” : “There isn’t any opening at present.” “If he’s willing to go on four bond, you're all : right, provided your bid goes. bid?” “I'd rather not say.” The foregoing conversation took place just out- side the Clifton post office, and the two boys were about to start down the street when Ted Barclay, the postmaster’s son, came up to Joe Fletcher. “I was just about to hunt you up, Fletcher. What was your My father wants to see you right away,” he said, ; er 1923

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2 ALWAYS “All right,” said Joe. “So long, Dick, I'll see you this evening, maybe.” Dick nodded and walked away, while Joe ac- companied Ted into the post office. The post- master was sitting at his desk in a corner of the room and Joe = resented himself before him. “Sit down, Fletcher,” said Mr. Barclay. “You have submitted a bid to carry the mail between this town and Flushing and it has been indorsed by. Mr. Sparks, the pany, while Mr. Haywood, president of the Clif- ton Bank, where your father is cashier, has agreed to go on your bond.” “Yes, sir.” “Your bid is all right, and if you were a man I’d accept it at once, for the defection of Hop- kins has embarrassed me, and the mail has got to go through. I'll have to send it by my son this evening.” “Tll carry it for you to-night, whether I get the contract or not.” “Ym much obliged to you for your offer, but I couldn’t intrust the mail bags to any unauthor- ized person. If you can satisfy me that you can carry out the cantract, and that you won’t quit like the others during the term of your agree- ment, we may be sue to “fix things up in time for you to make your first trip this evening. Are you acquai the route? “Like a sir. I’ve been over the road be- tween here Flushing several times on my wheel,” replied Joe. \ “But never been over it after dark?” “ “I admit that, but that doesm’t make any dif- ference with me,” “It’s a lonesome road.” “} know it is; but I don’t mind that.” “Im ease you met with an obstacle along the road, what would you do?” “Go through or over the obstacle if I couldn’t get around it.” The postmaster nod@led approvingly. ; “You would have the right to do that, for the _ United States mail always has the right of way. You will requive a weer Have you looked one up?” “I can have old Si iahes’ rig at the post office inside of an hour,” Se suppose your father. will guarantee your efficiency ?” “J guess so. I haven’t made any such sugges- tion to. him, as I supposed the bond would cover everything.” “Practically. it does, but as you're under age your father—however, we won ’t consider that now. All I want is to assure myself that I can depend on. you.” = “You can depend on me from the ground floor _ up. Do you mind telling me why Jud Hopkins = as tehed his chi _ The postmaster scra is chin, . _ “'m afraid [ can’t. It’s a matter between him tid me. tras Fletcher, I rey ot seows sour i , and give you the nee make gnats sie s the nh "rake it to the president : him to sign it. When you the contract in duplicate. arrangements about your -you_can report ymake your frst trip. i er of the express com- * here at seven, ON TIME “All right, sir,” said Joe, pleased that he had come out ahead. *_ He carried the bond to the bank, asked for ~ Mr. Haywood, and was told he had gone home — an hour since. There was nothing for Joe to do z but go to his house, which he did. Mr. Haywood was in his library and the boy was shown in there. “Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Haywood, but the postmaster has accepted my bid, and he wants me to make my first trip ¢e Flushing this eve- ning, as soon as the night mail gets in from the East. It is therefore necessary that my bond should be executed right away so as to close the matter right up. I brought the bond around to you to sign, as you kindly promised to do me that favor.” “It will have to be executed before a notary, so we will go around to Mr. Hay’s office and fix it up,” said the banker. “It is very kind of yop to put yourself out for me, sir,” said Joe gratefully. “Don’t mention it, Fletcher. I would do a great deal more than that for you. When you saved my little daughter from drowning in the lake you won a-‘claim on my gratitude which can never be fully repaid.” With those words the banker put on his hat and they left the house together. The bond was duly executed and Joe delivered it to the post- ‘master. The contract was then signed in du- plicate and that settled the business. Joe im- mediately notified Mr. Sparks, the manager of the express office, and signed an agreement with him covering the express matter. “T start for Flushing at seven,” said Joe. “There will probably be several express pack- ages come down by the mail train,” said Sparks, “so stop here on your way to the post office.” E- “I'll be here,” nodded Joe, who then started off — to arrange with the Widow Jones for her late husband’s horse and wagon on the terms she had mentioned to him when he told her that he was — going to put in a bid for the mail route to Flush- ing, and would need the use of the rig if he con-- nected with it. There was a barn on his father’s — property where he intended to keep the horse — when not in use, while the wagon, which was a ~ covered vehicle, could stand out of the way in — the yard. He had no trouble in concluding the deal with the widow, and after paying her the — tad week's dollar, he hitched up and started for — ome. 4 Lg wf < ¥ bins RA i RR ee ee ee a eth N gains oil CHAPTER II.—The Startling “Reeognitien. S It was half-past ‘five when Joe drove his xi a 4 into the yard of the little cottage where he li with his father and sister. bse a blanket over the animal and placing a pail half full of oats under his nose, Joe went into the tie & where he foutd his sister preparing ps4 pean Z table was set in the little living room and the meal was almost ready. “i “Where’s father?” ead Joe, after locking <i into the living room where his father was in the _ habit of reading his paper before suppe “He hasn’t come home yet,” re | Doris os NO? H late, isn’t he?” ) e is sn “Yes. a eee the bank to =

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ALWAYS ON TIME 3 * do something. He ought to be home, though, for old man like Si Jones could do, Joe felt that he he is going to Chester by the express which stops could equal. At any rate, he intended to equal it, here at 6.20, and he will barely have time to eat and do a bit better. Joe was wide-awake and his supper and catch the train.” watchful as he pushed on toward Flushing, be- “What's taking him to Chester?” cause whether he believed the former contractors “Some important business for the bank.” , or not, he wasn’t taking any more chances than After eating his supper, Joe told his sister he could help. At last he reached the difficult about the mail contract and saying he was going stretch of the route. Here he had to go slowly. to Flushing and would be gone all night, he It was on this part of the road that the alleged started for the express office with the wagon. attacks had been made, and it was the best suit- There were half a dozen express packages wait- ed for a hold-up. ing for him, and he hustled them into the wagon As Joe approached a turn in the road that of- and took the receipt book. Then he went on to fered favorable chances for a surprise, an idea the post office, picked up the mail and started for suddenly occurred to him. What put the plan in Flushing. his head he never could tell, for he did not seri- f “You have a five-hour journey ahead of you,” ously believe that he would be stopped that night, said the postmaster. “It’s the character of the though the unusual darkness favored the commis- road that takes the time. You've got to go slow sion of such a project. He tied the reins to the in! places. See that you reach the Flushing post front post of the covered top and then, with a office on time—at least fifteen minutes before blanket, his overcoat and an old hat of Si Jones’ the boat is due there, so as to give the night mar he had found in the wagon, he made a dummy a chance to handle the mail. Hopkins missed the figure upon the seat, which he kept upright by "boat so often that—well, I mustn’t keep you for means of some pieces of wood. He made the you have no time to spare.” : reins fast to the seat and jumping out of the It was dark when Joe drove out of town into vehicle he tramped behind the rig, watching first the county road, which he followed a short dis- one side-of the road and then the other. tance and then turned off into the Flushing road. Suddenly out of the darkness loomed two in- For half the distance the road was good at that distinct figures, one of which carried a lantern season and Joe made good time. He was per- half hidden under his coat. Scenting danger, Joe ag A familiar with it, and the difficulties that pulled a light mail bag out of the wagon. This Tay farther on. Some of those difficulties he had one, he knew, held the registered mail and money -an idea he cotld surmount later, for he had dis- orders. His first intention was to drop it where covered a wee the last time he went on his he would be able to find it again. But when he : hing which he believed could be saw there were but two men to deal with he the wagon. If that was possible, it changed his mind. The rascal in the lead seized would save an hour’s time and avoid the worst the. horse by the bridle while his companion ‘section of the road. : ‘ flashed the lantern at the dummy figure on the ; oe drove along he 7 his eyes wide open, seat. Joe crept upon the latter. “Swinging the rae not only the road ahead but the dark mail bag aloft he brought it down on the man’s fine of bushes on either side as well as he could head. The fellow uttered a ery as he collapsed, in the darkness. His first trip was being made that attracted the other’s attention. The lantern under disadvantageous circumstances, which he and the revolver of the stricken scamp rolled knew would affect. him the most along the diffi- together. Dropping the mail bag, Joe picked up 2 cult stretch of the road—the night was very both, flashin the former at the other man as 3 is the sky being’ overcast with clouds that he covered him with the latter, ; ~ thre ed rain. ve was nothing in his con- nN al!” h “ad ¢ = es i _ tract allowing him any latitude because of storm Pea See aig coe cs two claimed to have been attacked at r : spots along the route, and that they struck ape he the face be F 7 -™ t had been nst a _simil pocorn wh eg oa t a similar companion, who ha e fact was not eirediated. What an the arm, dragged him off into the busbes. FFs at wee

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4 ALWAYS ON Joe recovered himself the second vehicle was close behind. “Hello! Who’s there?” cried the voice of a man out of the darkness, when he saw the flash- ing of the lantern in Joe’s hand. The young mail contractor was in such a state of mental confusion that he made no reply. He had been attacked by two men, whose purpose was clearly criminal, and one of them had proved to be his father, whom he supposed to be at ~é Chester. = “Hello, there! Are you deaf?” cried the voice behind again. This time Joe took notice of it. “Who’s there?” he asked. “Dr. Jinks, of Flushing. Now oblige me by letting me know who you are.” “I’m the mail contractor,” said Joe, in unsteady tones. “How can you be the mail contractor when Jud Hopkins has the route?” “He is out of it. I’m on it now.’ “And that dark thing-I see in the road is the mail wagon?” “Yes.” “What are you’ stopping for? accident ?” : “The wagon was held up by two men, but they bed away when they heard you coming up be- ind. > *: “Attacked by two men, eh? That’s the same experience the two contractors before Hopkins had, or at least reported. You have a lantern; Met with an did you get a good look at them?” “TJ didn’t get much of a look,” said Joe, in a hesitating way. Y. “Too bad,” said Dr. Jinks. “Their description might enable the police to catch them. Those fellows must be hanging around here somewhere.” : Joe didn’t want to talk on the subject. = was still confused and mystified over the occur- rence. - “You'd better get on your way, young man, =e for there isn’t room enough for me to pass you. on I’ve been out ever since two o’clock and I’m in.a ; hurry to get home,” said the doctor. Conscious that he was not only blocking the road at that point, but also wasting time that might count against him, Joe got in the seat, upset the dummy, seized the reins and drove on. His thoughts were so jumbled up that he seemed to be the victim of an ugly dream. That his own father should be away out there on the Flushing road’ was to him preposterous. Had “any one told him he had seen his father there, he wouldn’t have believed it for an instant. But he couldn’t go behind the evidence of his own "eyesight, ae a Joe’s enthusiasm over his job had fallen to a low ebb. So occupied was he, mentally, that. he did not notice the horse, left to himself, turn off, ’ © Fest before the worst part of the road was reach- eG, and take a narrow trail to the left. “The _- horse was simply following the course ‘he had “=> always qoeened when driven to and from Flush- E _ ing by the late Si Jones. But for that fact Joe _* would have been late at the Flushing post office _ on his first trip and would have missed the boat, was the secret of time. It saved him He- TIME at least thirty minutes and a lot of rough tray- olng- e€ young mail contractor, however, woke up after a while to the fact that he was not en- countering the obstacles that lined the rough part of the regular road. He looked around, and in ‘spite of the darkness he realized that he was off the right road. The existence of the wagon path he was following puzzled him not a little. He had never heard anybody speak about it, though he had made many inquiries in Flushing concern- ing a shorter route than the regular road. The more he thought about the matter, the more cu- rious he became to learn why the horse had turned into it on such a dark night. “Jerry has been over the route so often that one would think he would follow the road he was accustomed to,” muttered Joe. As he gave utterance to the thought, the truth suddenly flashed across his mind. 4 “By George! Maybe this is the route that old Si really followed instead of the regular road,” he exclaimed. “If so, it’s a short cut as sure as eggs are eggs. I have heard Postmaster Barclay remark several times that he never could make ~ out how Si Jones managed to make the trip in less than five hours with his old horse and heavy wagon. When the difficult section‘of the road was well-nigh impassable after ea heavy snowfall, Si used to go through just the same within the regulation five hours. When asked to account for it, he used to cock up an eye, squirt a stream of tobacco juice and say that Jerry was the finest swimmer through snowdrifts he ever saw — in a horse. That was all you could get out of ~~ him. T’ll bet Si got on to this wagon track somehow, found it saved him considerable time, and then kept it to himself. He was a foxy old duck, Si was, from all I know and have heard about him. Now his horse has put me on to the secret of making time. Good for you, old boy! You shall feast on sugar every day for this.” ~ Well, the long and short of it was Joe out into the main road again, two miles this side of Flushing. He knew where he was now, and he stopped Jerry to make a note of the spot so he eould connect with the path again on his — return trip. He might have saved himself the’ trouble, for’ Jerry was bound to turn off there of his own accord when driven back, as Joe subse- quently discovered, to his great satisfaction. Looking at his watch again, Joe saw that it was twenty minutes past eleven. Twenty minutes — more would bring him to the post office. So Joe drove on, feeling mighty geod, and the clock in the opm: post office pointed to seventeen min- als utes of twelve when he halted the mail wagon at — 7 the door. f ; ee CHAPTER IV.—On Time. Sg “eee “Who’s there?” asked the assistant to the night man when Joe pounded on the door of the post — office. : Dh tee “Joe Fletcher, with the mail bags from Clif- ton,” answered the boy. < i The assistant looked at the clock. - ee “Say, Dockerty, here's the mail from Clifton, and it isn’t twelve rae by fifteen minutes. A ~ new man has brought it, and he must have a

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ALWAYS ing team to make the trip on such a night as this inside of the time limit.” With those words the young man threw open the door and Joe walked in with the mail pouches, which he threw down on the floor. “Did you bring the mail yourself?” asked the assistant, surprised that a boy had been intrust- ed with the job. 5 : “Me and the horse Jerry, with old Si Jones’ nm,” grinned Joe. “what's the matter with Jud Hopkins?” “Was he here last night?” - “He was, and missed the boat by twenty min- utes contract. Has the job been taken from him? I’ve been expecting it would, for we can’t stand that kind of thing. : “He’s out of it. I’ve got the contract.” - Dockerty came over and was also surprised to find a boy instead of a man. “Have you got the contract between here and Clifton?” _ “JT have,” replied Joe. “What’s your name?” . Joe Fletcher.” “Belong in Clifton, I suppose yA = I’ve lived there almost.all my life. My == *¥es. - father’—Joe stop for an instant with a gulp 5 “— Bank. The president —“js cashier of the Clifton of the bank, Mr. Haywood, went on my bond.” — _ *[ guess you're all right, then. My name is Phil Dockerty. Glad to know you,” and they shook hands. “I’m the night man, and this is my helper, Jack Sage.” Joe shook hands with Sage. ' Any of the packages marked for the steam- Ser?” -- #No. They all belong to this town.” . “fhe express office closed at eight, so you can’t go there at this hour. You can leave the pack- ages here till the morning and deliver them just go around with Old Si and the he se overhead. You can wake him u you where to find the key. You'l have to attend oO yourself, and you can make arrange- ‘ments with the stablekeeper in the morning. As yaar _ ~4 back here. There is ) “Thanks,” replied Joe, who then went out after ex) bundles. ‘The steamer’s mail bag was ready that night n minutes a the at: ee was and during that interval Ja around to the stable.and aroused the stable- s is a new mail driver, Mike, and he wants ut_up his horse here. ere is the key? rr the stabl “He can } horse in any one of the t stalls and 1’ll to him in ; morning.” =a 4 ee EN something not unusual since he got the - showed ON TIME 5 Sage hurried back to the post office, while Joe put his horse in one of the stalls, watered him, placed some oats before him and, relocking the stable door, went back to the post office, where he found Sage just back from the wharf with»a mail bag. Joe was shown up fo his bunk and he lost no time in turning in. Finally he fell asleep and did not open his eyes till Dockerty shook him into wakefulness at six o’clock. “Get up, Fletcher. You have just an hour to get your breakfast and call at the express office unless you think you can get back to Clifton in less than five hours,” he said. “IT guess I can make it in four and a half,” said Joe, springing up, “but I can tell better after I’ve made the trip.” He found the restaurant open and doing busi- ness, and he got his breakfast. Then he called at the stable and arranged for the keep of his horse for six nights in the week, for he. didn’t have to carry any mail on Sunday. He helped hitch Jerry to the wagon, Which had stood all night in the street, returned to the post office, where he got his express bundles, loaded on the _mail-bags, and then drove to the eexpress office. He delivered a letter of introduction to the ex- press agent. Joe rushed the express packages into his wagon and ‘started on his return trip. He kept his eyes ‘skinned for the wagon path through the woods, but Jerry saw it before he did, and turned into it of his own accord. Joe got his credit slip for the packages he brought when he reached the Clif- ton post office, and then he started for home. CHAPTER V.—Joe Calls at the Bank. He found his. sister anxiously awaiting him. She was cooking the mid-day meal to which Cashier Fletcher always came to partake of around one o’clock. The moment Doris saw Joe drive into the yard she ran out of the kitchen to welcome him back. “I've been worried about you ever since you went away. I-thought you’d be overtaken by a storm, the night was so dark and threatening,” she said. be : “T . ought so myself, but when a fellow is car- rying the United States mail he mustn’t shy at such a thing as a rain sterm en route. I’m not made of sugar or salt, and won’t melt if I get wet. However, there wasn’t any rain,” said Joe, “Did father show*up last night?” “Of course not. Didn’t I tellt you he went to Chester on important business for the bank?” “When did he say he was coming back?” said Joe, as he released Jerry from the shafts. ‘ “He told me he would return by an early after- noon train, go direct to the bank and come home to his supper as usual.” : ; him, after giving him a combing down, and went into the hguse, ; where he’ found dinner ready. Of course, his father had not gone to Chester, ac-~ cording to his statement to Doris, else he w not have been on the Flushing road, fifteen miles or more from Clifton, when should have bee : on the train. The mystery of his father’ A : Lae Joe put Jerry in the stall he had assigned to ~

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6 ‘ALWAYS \both puzzled and alarmed Joe. He could find no explanation for his father’s conduct the preced- ing night and so, with a sinking heart, he left the house after dinner for the bank to find out if he wa8 really supposed to have gone ‘to Chester on business for the institution. When he walked in he went to the little office used by his father, between the counting room proper and the president’s room. He opened the door without knocking and found himself face to face with Mr. Haywood and the head) bookkeeper. They looked at him without a word bf greeting, and it struck him as if their manner was some- what embarrassed, particularly Mr. Haywood. It wasn’t like the banker, since the great service Joe had rendered him in saving the life of his little daughter, not to greet him in a particu- larly friendly way. “My father hasn’t got back from Chester yet, I suppose?” said Joe. 4 “Chester!” said M® Haywood. “Did he go to ter?” Joe gave the president a blank stare. “He hasn’t been home since yesterday noon, when he came to dinner as usual,” replied the boy hesitatingly. “Then he told my sister that he was going to take the 6.20 express for Ches- ter, where he had business of importance to exe- cute for the bank. As he hasn’t home since we, of course, supposed he had gone on the jour- ney. As he~told my sister he would return by an early afternoon train, I thought I’d drop in - - and see if he was here yet.” : Mr. Haywood and the head bookkeeper looked at each other. After a momentary hesitation, during which Joe thought the president looked at him very queerly, Mr. Haywood said: “Come into my private room, Fletcher.” i Joe, feeling sure there was something wrong in the wind, followed him. 2 “So you don’t know anything about your fa- ther’s movements since yesterday noon?” said the president, after they were seated. “Why do you ask mé such a question, Mr. Hay- wood? What’s happened to my father? You must know something is wrong, or you wouldn’t ‘ speak to me this way,” said Joe, very uneasy. ut “Well, Fletcher, I'll be frank with you. Your bee father was to have gone to Chaster by the 6.20 express last evening with a valuable package for - the Chester Bank, and we supposed, until half ; an hour ago, that he had gone. He left the bank ti at a few minutes after five with the package, = which would have given him plenty of time’ to A! _go home, eat his supper and tatch the train. New you say he hasn’t been home since yesterday -. noon?” ; 2 “No, sir. I haven’t BS he Se — Ra: i a terday morning, as I di get home to my din- oe New until after he had gone back to the bank. ‘The first I heard about his going to Chester was when my sister told me last night at supper. She couldn't understand why father didn’t come to < Z : s had to ude that he was de- : tained at the dice and no to the station direct there.” =~ : s , No, he was not detained here, 1 vemained till 22 a few foe sige 37 five myself, and he left B before me” — ERTS we he was to carry to Ches- - ome . ON TIME eats: a The banker nodded. “Then he surely’ intended to go to Chester,” said Joe. “It was his duty to go there.” “You seem to have a suspicion that he didn’t “Half an hour ago we received a telegram from the Chester Bank inquiring about the contents of the package your father carried away with him. From that it is evident that your father had not delivered the package up to noon to-day.” “Something must have happened to him.” “It would seem so. I am about to send for a ‘detective to trace him up.” .: “Did ny father take any money with him? What was in the package, if it’s a proper ques- tion for me to ask?” “There were $10,000 worth of negotiable bonds in the package. “Then if my father. oi 4 Joe paused in an embarrassed way. : | “What were you going to say?” Joe didn’t repeat what had been on the tip of his tongue, but instead he said: “If he met with foul play and was robbed, could the thief turn the bonds into money?” “He probably could—in some distant city.” Joe remained silent. “Well, Fletcher, I won’t prolong this interview, as I] must-communicate with the police and see what can be done about finding your father and a the bonds. In the meantime, font feel discour- 5 aged, forsall may yet turn out well. Don’t Say a word to your sister on the subj more than ’ -you can help. She’ll be worried enough if your father fails to turn up this evening.” ; “I won’t say much to her. The worst of it is, 3 she’ll be alone all night, for I have to start for Flushing at seven with the mail, and I won’t get ~ q z < back until noon to-morrow. I was out last nighb on my first trip and did not. see my sister till dinner time to-day,” said Joe seriously. : “You made the trip to. Flushing and back all right, then?” “Yes, sir. I was easily on time at both ends.” “Glad to hear it. You had a bad night for | your try-out. You ‘think you will be able to carry out the contract?” ae “T feel confident I will, sir. It is hard, thou = to have this trouble happen to my father at ~ very outset of my business career.” “It certainly is, and you have my sympathy. If I can do anything more to help you on your contract, don’t fail to apply to me.” ~ “Thank you, sir.” : “As for your sister, if your father is not heard __ from by nightfall, I will sendva woman to your A : house to keep her company,” said the banker,’ — rising. i That closed the interview and Joe left the bank, i oe ah 2 <P ewe Pier nes ele. Loe ——— . ! CHAPTER VI.—Joe Picks Up an Extra Load. sieke A *& would sister that something was wrong, so around te ead Spencer’s house to

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was’*home. Dick, however, had gone off some- where after dinner and his mother. didn’t know where. Joe called on two or three of his other high school mates, but failed to find them in either. He strolled down Main street till he came to a large wholesale grocery store. He walked in and asked for one of the firm and was directed to a private office back of the counting room. - “What can I do for you, young man?” said the senior partner of the firm of Cook & Casey. -. “You sell groceries to dealers in Flushing, don’t you?” said Joe. “We do. Are you from Flushing?” “No, sir. I’m the new mail contractor between this town and Flushing. I make a trip to that town every night and return on the following forenoon.” “Well?” said Mr. Cook, wondering what that had to do with him. “As I have plenty room in the wagon, I was _ figuring on carrying some goods from this place to Flushing if I could get them. I’m willing to do the hauling cheap, provided [ can deliver them early in the morning. How do you send your — “By one of eur wagons when we have a fair - load to send there; otherwise, we send them by we: ress packages,-you’ll take the goods anyway.” : baat + Sacoss I have no right to cut in on the with the manager to carry all express pack- = 3 3 suppose not. What would you deliver a _ “Twenty-five cents,” said Joe, at a hazard. _ “That’s considerable less than the express com- ‘rels that way, nor anything if we can help our- selves. Wait a moment.” He returned in a few ~ moments. e have been holding to send by one of our wag- is. If you want to take them with you to-night _ Plushing for tts.” ; “How*many boxes are there?” _ “Tl take them,” said Joe promptly. . “They all go to one store. Bring back the re- “What time do you close?” “At six.” . oe. “Vil be happy to take other goods for you ‘any time.” _ mall orders we may have.” oe departed, delighted with his success. He thing but promises, Joe now went home. He sister sewing in the living room. ” said Doris. Sunday,” replied her brother. __ Spt tiny do: you want-your supper ?” 3?” . express. As I believe the mail wagon carries the express business as long as I have an agreement barrel of flour or sugar in Flushing for?” pany charges, so we don’t often send single bar- ‘Mr. Cook went outside. “We have a number of boxes of groceries which "Il pay you a quarter apiece to deliver them in _ “About a dozen.” Sk with you and collect your money,” said Mr. eall for the goods at half-past five,” said “Then drop in daily and we will let you carry i several other wholesale stores, but got You're going out again this evening, I sup- f course. The only night I don’t travel is six” : oe & said Joe confidently. ALWAYS ON TIME 7 “That’s about our regular time. Father will be home then.” She spoke in a matter-of-fact way, as if there was no doubt about the coming of the master of the house at his usual time. Joe made no reply. He was afraid that his father wouldn’t be home, and then he knew that his sister would have a fit. There was no use worrying her in advance, so he walked out to see how Jerry was coming on in his new quarters. He brought the animal some sugar, and he appeared to be quite con- tented. As it was getting on to five he hitched the horse to the wagon and drove down to the grocery store, where he loaded on the boxes. Then he returned home and found supper ready. “Father ought to be home before this,” said Doris, as she placed Joe’s portion on the table. “Maybe he hasn't got back from Chester,” sug- gested her brother. “What makes you think he hasn’t?” she said uickiy. “He told me that he would return by the train due here at half-past four.” “IT don’t know anything t it. I merely said so, for the bank has been closed for an hour, and it’s only about a fifteen minutes’ walk for him.” Doris began to look worried. “I wish he’d come,” she said. “So do I,” said Joe, in a solemn tone. At that moment the doorbell rang and Doris answered it. : “Mr. Haywood’s gardener is at the door. He brought this and is waiting for an answer,” she said, on returning to the living reom. Joe opened the letter and read the following brief note: “Has your father turned up? { “John Haywood.” Joe took out a pencil and wrote under it: “No. Please send the woman over to keep my sister company. [ shall leave the house in a few minutes, and as it’s past father’s time for = getting home, Doris is getting uneasy. “Yours respectfully, “JOE FLETCHER.” He took it out himself to the messenger and dismissed him, then he returned to finish his supper. He found his sister watching from the le cm There was silence in the room until he got up. - : “Good-by, sis; I’m off!” he said, with forced cheerfulness, “Oh, Joe, Joe, what can be keeping father to- night?” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and beginning to cry.. ; “Brace up, Doris. Don’t be foolish,” he said. He kissed her and walked out into the yard. Turning his rig around, he drove out into the street and took his: way to the express office, where he found a number of packages awaiting him. He placed them in the wagon and drove to the post office, where he got the mail bags. “It's a fine night alongside last evening,” said Ae Barclay. “You ought to make the trip in ime.” ’ : mk “I intend to be in Flushing at half-past elevan,” _ Ded Mee hee CS oy oe

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8 : _ ‘ALWAYS ON TIME “You seem able to get the same speed out of Jerry as old Si did. I guess you'll be a success.” “If I’m not, it won’t be my fault,” said Joe, getting up on the seat. “Good night. I'll give ~ your regards to Sage.” ; Fifteerr minutes later he turned into the Flush- ing road. He had a lantern burning in the rear and a white one in front, this time. With the revolver ready cocked beside him on the seat he guessed he could risk another hold-up if it came. In any case, the night was too clear to permit him to repeat the dummy game to any advantage. Mile after mile was-reeled off at a steady jog-trot, which Jerry kept up with a steadiness that did the old horse credit. — At so 5 the rougher part of the road was reached and Joe’s heart beat quicker as he approached the turn where the trouble had happened the night before. Nothing occurred this time. Not a sound broke the sti s of the night but the rustling of the tree branches, which were still in their winter nakedness. They nodded slightly at him as he passed, as sounk extending a friendly greeting to the new mail contractor. Joe thought how easy it would be to stop the mail wagon by stretching a taut repe across the road. In a few minutes Jerry turned off into the short cut and still maintained his steady gait. It was a gloomy route through the woods, but Joe didn’t care for that. In due time the outfit struck the road again. Joe looked at his watch. It was ten minutes of eleven. He was certain to reach the Flushing post office at ten minutes past—a clear gain of fifty minutes over his schedule. “We are the people, aren’t we, Jerry?” said the young mail contractor. “We are bound to be always on time.” ~ Jack Sage answered his knock and was surpris+ ed to see the Clifton mail wagon already arrived. “Say, you’re going some, Fletcher!” he said. “You mean I have been going some. Just/at present I’m at a standstill,” said Joe. - “You’re fifty minutes ahead of your time.” » “You ain’t sérry, are you?” “Sorry! I should say not! I won’t have to do any hustling with the steamer bag, as I’ve had _ to do since Si Jones turned up his toes. I had it easy when Si was on the route, and it looks i as if I'll have it easy with you. I don’t see how = you could make so much better time than the _ other contractors.” es “Never mind the other ‘contractors. They bit 2s off more than they could chew. You can expect Ce to see me every night about this time if nothing +» ‘wmnusual happens to me.” ; ~ “You've got a lot of express matter.” “Those twélve boxes forward are not express 33 matter. That’s a special load I agreed to deliver in this town, “It nets me $3 extra.” as “tf you can get more of the same kind, you'll 5 do well.” sve - ae Joe carried the express packages into the post __ ° office and then went to the stable. He found the -, i key- on its nail, and after putting Jerry in his stall carried in the boxes of groceries and ~ au up near the door, for he didn’t care _ to leave them exposed ; vand that she would come each night to keep me S. thought. “People sometimes do break out CHAPTER VII—The Mystery of Joe’s Father ~ Deepens. Joe didn’t leave Flushing until half-past seyen next morning, for he had the boxes of groceries to deliver, which were duly receipted for, conse- quently he didn’t reach Clifton post office until about a quarter of twelve. As that was fifteen minutes ahead of his limit, the postmas- ter was well pleased. He drove into the yard of his home at half-past twelve, dreading to meet his sister. After putting up his horse he entered the house. He found his sister in the kitchen. “Father came home last night just at dark,” she said. : “He did!” exclaimed Joe, clearly surprised. as “Why do you act so astonished? Did you think he wasn’t coming?” she said. : “I admit I had that suspicion.” “Why?” “Well, you see I was at the bank, and from what Mr. Haywood told me, I feared—that is, I thought father would not be at home last night.” “You. never told me you were at the bank. Why didn’t you?” “Oh, I had my reasons.” 4 “What were your reasons?” : 5 “What difference do they make now, sinee fa- ther turned up?” é 3 : “But he didn’t stay. He told me he had some special business on hand connected with the bank which would keep him away for a few days. T don’t know what-to think about it, Joe. He acted - ~ very funny. He didn’t seem at all like his usual self. If I didn’t know it was father } was speak- _ ing to, I would have thought it was somebody else. His voice sounded hoarse, as if he had a bad cold. He barely kissed mé when he came in, and I threw my arms around his neck. All the time he was talking he kept looking around the room. He ate his supper hurriedly, saying he had no time to spare. After he got through, he + said he was peng te his room. He told me to | go up ahead of him and open the door, which seemed queer of him. He never did that before. “Then he sent me downstairs, telling me that if anybody called and asked for him I was to Say he was not at home. I heard him moving abéut the room for some time. Fimally he came down with his valise in his . Then saying he would be back in three or four days, he kissed me, but.so differently from his customary way, and left the — house. Soon after a woman called and said Mrv | Haywood had sent her to stay with me that night . company till-father-got back, which assured me that Mr. Haywood knew that father was* goi = a trip that would take him several days,” said oris. Joe was somewhat staggered by what his sis- _ ter told him. It seemed clear to him that his .-— father was going away to sell the bonds, which meant that he ielded to the temptation o: 2 acquiring $10,000 be eniawiol means, Whe kanes which was bound to separate him from his chil- dren, perhaps forever? : es : “Father must have suddenly gone;crazy,” Joe that

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x ALWAYS ON TIME 9 way without apparent cause. His strange be- havior to Doris as well as myself, and his chang- i ed manner all lead me to believe that his mind is unhinged. I must call on Mr. Haywood, after * dinner, and tell him what I think. My father would never become a thief and absconder if he knew what he was about.” So reasoned Joe, but whether he was right or not remains ¢o be seen. His sister, though won- dering at her father’s strange deportment, had no suspicion of the truth, and Joe did not pro- pose to let out any hints "that would arouse her uneasiness. She believed her father had gone on a second errand for the bank, which would occupy airaral days of his time, and she would not look for him before the middle of the following week, for this was Saturday. As dinner was ready, Joe sat down to it, an ‘Doris ate with him. ‘The conversation was chiefly about the boy’s mail- carrying job, and his sister began to think that he hadn't made a mistake at all in taking it. “Of course I made no mistake, Doris,” said Joe. “I get fair pay for the mail contract and extra money for carrying the express matter, though that doesn’t amount to a whole lot at present, for ‘oo aren’t many packages to carry. I look make considerable extra money by carrying se to Flushing that dealers here don’t want y express rates on. Last night I carried a boxes of groceries. I'll get $3 for that as soon as I present the —— at Cook & Casey’s ere That’s $3 extra profit—clear gain, for it } no trouble to e them along. I expect make a good thing out of the route as I get used to it.” g iit “Well, I’m giad 3 yes ve Bact something to do and — e that you're pleased work,” said his sister. “I’m extra well pone to be my own boss. I “won’t be bothered by anybody watching my ac- tions. I can do as J please as _long as I dutieee the mail bags at each end on time. “lm glad you'll pe home on Sunday night, at rate,” said Dori eer glad myself, "A fellow likes at least one evening a week to himself.” Joe finished his dinner and, started for the wholesale grocery store to collect his $3. He re- ceived the money on presenting the receipt for the goods at the cashier's window, Then he asked the head clerk if there would be anything going to Flushing that evening. e have a barrel of oe ye one of fiour, a bag of coffee and four cases of canned goeds. Have you seen eee J of the bosses about taking them?” pelle Cook told me to drop in every day Re he didn’t have enough stuff to = = the —— wagons, I was to | i teed Triton at at between us.” tees Conk about t we have to send. might ie to hold it over in anticipation a full load on Monday.” “Hold on,” said Joe, recollecting. “I won't be able to deliver your goods to-morrow morning, ~tbecause it’s Sunday.” -“That’s all ish If syou take them you can caldliver them Monday morning.” _ *“T can’t do that, ‘either.’ ” “Why not?” - “I don’t carry vad mail out Sunday night, con- x spapesty I won’t be in Flushing Monday morn- Then I don’t see any use of you taking the 8 “I might leave the goods at the stable and arrange with a local expressman to deliver them at the dealer’s store they’re consigned to,” said oe. . “You could do that if Mr. Cook has no objec- tion to the arrangement.” wen I’d better go in and talk with him my- self “J guess you'd better.” So Joe went in to see the senior partner of the firm. He stated the case to him. “What time do you get to Flushing?” asked Mr. Cook. “Between a quarter and half-past eleven.” “As it’s Saturday night, the store the good are bound for ewe be open at half-past eleven. > “Well, sir, if you'll send a dispatch to the pro- prietor telling him that his goods will arrive at the store to-night about half-past eleven, I'll pay for it,” said Joe. “Tl send the dispatch, but you needn’t pay for it., You will have a couple of heavy barrels along, and as they go at the same Pag as the boxes, why, I don’t mind making things as easy for you as L can. ’ “Mueh obliged. I'll call at half-past five for the goods, and guarantee to deliver them on or before half-past eleven in Fl The matter being settled, Joe left the store / and walked to the bank. Mr. Haywood had just got back from his lunch. “You haven’t heard enything from your father yet, I suppose ? ?” said the banker. es, sir.” “Ah! Has he been brought home hurt?” “No, sir. He came home himself last evening just after I left on my trip.” The banker -—~ too surprised to speak. “I am so to say, Mr. Haywood, that there is Maes something the matter with my father. He acted very oveneely toward my sister, some- thing he Has never _— ae in his life. It is my opinion that he’s mental balanced.” “Explain just why you think 80,” said _Mr. Haywood. Joe repeated his sister's story as well as he could A” the facts. “You Frcg he only stayed to eat his supper, then he wentsto his room, packed his valise and left, telling your sister he was going on business for _ the bank and would be away several days?” SEs, sir. “It certainly is very strange conduct on his -part.” a a strange it is. That's why I think he be off his balance.” “He looked all pipe when he left the bank Gay »oefore yesterday with that valuable pack- Sie’s been your confidential assistant for a good many years and has handled a lot of your money. I hope you do not think he has appro- priated the contents of the package and has left Clifton with the intention of disposing of the bonds and keeping the money.” . “The information you have brought. me is of ;

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10 ALWAYS so astonishing a character that it is impossible for me to form any conclusion. I will say, how- ever, that your father is the last man I would ordinarily consider capable of such a dishonor- able and criminal an act. He has had my full confidence, and he has had it in his power to rob the bank of more than double the value of the bonds in cash had he the mind to do so. There- * fore, it does not seem natural for him to run off with those bonds and take the risk of ‘turning them into cash, particularly as he might just as wel! have taken more than that amount of money. “Not a dollar of the bank’s funds is missing. Your father had full charge of the vault where we keep our securities, our mortgages, and our surplus cash. Before he left Thursday afternoon he sav that all the current cash and books were placed in the vault, then he set the time-lock, as usual. Knowing he would not be on hand next morning, I eame down early and opened the vault so that the books and money could be taken out for the transaction of the business of the day. Had anything been wrong, I would soon har discovered it.” “Thank you for telling me this. It proves that my father has not deliberately robbed the bank of the bonds. It is clear that when he told my sister that he was going away to be gone sev- eral days on business for the bank, that he did not know what he was talking about. As I am sure he is out of his head, Fa ought to be fol- lowed and brought back, for there is no telling what might happen to him. Besides, he has the bonds in his possession and he might easily be robbed of them.” “I shall send for a detective at once and hold a consultation with him. He will s call on your sister and interview her concerning your father’s return last night. I suppose your father did not say where he was going?” ~~ - “J do not think so, or nry sister weuld have told me. She will surely have a fit the moment she understands that anything is wrong about fa- ther. I think I had better prepare her for the stuck to it. It he had just looked at officer’s visit.” watch and é as to the as Een: = oar “You had better. What time do you go oe nine, A> party Sartiention demo’ ted your trip to Flushing?” a % oy leave the house at half-past six and the -.. town about seven.” ~ “You had better go home at once ae. See your sister. Break the matter as gently as you can : to her.” — “Twill, Its a job I hate to do, bat les got to 3x be Oe te oe gol ateeiion aes a Joe got up, said good afternoon, for home. His interview with Doris was a pain- ful one: “J knew there was something | eesleatests get treat mg ike daughter re all, - and a day, and about to leave us for an even - longer time. He acted most cai oie Oa s with his _ “There must, be t ngbog ee and 4 is “around with his evaluable waiters could he ave been Thursday night and all day a. wrong ‘with him,”> _ you to be very wide road.” ON TIME “I haven’t the least idea, but I guess he wasn’t in town, for he is so well known he would have been recognized by somebody.” “He didn’t act at all crazy to me, only marked- ly different from his usual self.” “I don’t imagine that he’s really crazy. Busi- ness cares and responsibilities often temporaril unhinge a man’s brain, and they wander o sometimes to a considerable distance, and the people who meet them do not always notice any- thing wrong about them. Then they just as sud- denly recover their full reason and return to their home.” The detective did not call up to the time Joe hitched his horse up to go to the grocery store after the stuff he was to carry to Flushing, nor had he been there yet when the boy returned home for his supper.. As the woman was coming over again to stop all night with Doris, the young mail contractor left for the express office at the usual time. teraibiiasa Biale al N a P ulathee A aa et CHAPTER VIII.—The Second Aitack. It was an ordinary spring night when Joe took the road again for Flushing. Postmaster Barclay teld him to be watchfyl, for the regis- tered mail was heavier than usual. “Oh, I’ve got a six-shooter with me, so it won’t pet ge Fn 2 for any rascal to try and stop me,” said Joe. bo VRC Pee Pout Pecpieage T NS Ng ST DAD NIU RAE “I meant to ask you if you had provided your- self with a revolver. I woes mind telling you now that the real cause why Hopkins lost the con- tract was because the lost registered mail bag one night,” said the postmaster. “He said he was cniidenly. athe’, about fifteen miles from Flushing by two men, one of whom he swore was your father.” “My father!” cried Joe. $Z “Yes. His statement seemed absurd, but he- ‘ . fe x» bgt that at that hour on'the evening in question your father was at ‘a meeting of his lodge. Now, as he couldn’t very well haye been in two places many miles apart at the same time, es further, as he’s a man of excellent. reputation,. “i Hopkins’ story was not believed, and he has been a 3 3 ad under arrest ever since on suspicion that he knows where the registered mail went. But this is in-strict confidence, Fletcher. “The case has been kept quiet and none of the _ particulars has got into the newspapers. There ~~ ais a government secret service man investigating ‘the afte 4 AS kins’ story resembles in many= ~ sede told by ~ ; whose features they did not see, owing to w Show thee 1s she fei sapeidiiges Ti-we the ia , —— nds Ppp Bee si is reason to sie = t a couple of scoundrels are making attempts — to rob the mail wa ue erm 5 ee awake as you go over intend to be, for I know th eee rests on my sbowiders/t Jeplied Jos,

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\ ALWAYS ON TIME - then drove off. “Mr. Barclay little thinks that Hopkins was really right when he said he recog- nized my father. And yet he must have been mistaken on the night in question, for if my father was at his lodge he couldn’t very well be on the Flushing road at the same time. Be- sides, Jud Hopkins’ run-in with the two men hap- pened before my father came under the cloud that now surrounds him, so, of course, it couldn’t have been my father he saw on the road. But if he told a straight story, the man must have oy resembled my father, for Hopkins would rdly accuse my father without what he consid- ered good cause.” : Somehow or another Joe felt a bit uneasy as he turned into the Flushing road. The postmaster’s Warning was not without its effect on his mind. He determined to be more than ordinarily vigi- lant that night. , “T wish Dick were along. The two of us would be able to put up a d fight, and maybe do up “7 one who a the wagon,” he muttered.~ e took care to place the revolver at full cock on the seat beside him to have it handy in case of emergency. A strong wind, coming from the Great Lakes, twenty-five miles or so away, blew _. keen and cold across the fields and shook the - trees that lined both sides of the road. The - bushes also rustled under its influence. There .. Was no moon, and the sky was flecked all over with clouds that hid the light of half the stars. _ Tt was a night well suited’for deeds of violence on that lonely stretch. It was not dark enough for Joe to resort to the ruse which saved him on his first trip, so he had to take his chances. He had one advantage, and that was in his horse, which did not reqfire ~ much attention. Jerry could go it alone just as well as not. Probably qld Si Jones tied the reins to the seat and then lay/ down in the body of the “wagon, with a mail bag for a pillow and went to sleep. There was hardly any travel over the _ Flushing road at night, and one might travel it = fog end to end without meeting another vehicle. =a ae Y if left to himself, would take the short ' w en he came to it, and had the young con- _ tractor dropped dead in the vehicle, like old Si _ Jones did on his last trip to Flushing, the horse would have carried the wagon straight to the = post office, as he had done on that. melancholy __ eecasion, and stopped there at the door. So Joe, _ after getting well along on the road, having ‘full - confidence in Jerry, tied the reins to the seat and _ busied himself making barricade at the back of the wagon out of the two heavy barrels and _ the boxes of canned goods. He took the precau- tion of placing the pouch containing the régis- tered mail under one of the barrels, and the rest of the bags he shoved under the seat. The dozen pa e matter he put out of the Way on either, side of the wagon, which left him of room to move around it._ H ements being completed, he blew the ts out of the lanterns and, squatting down ind the seat, let matters take their course. ind became stronger as he encountered its | sweep, but it did not seem to affect Jerry for he kept up his steady jog-trot, the sound s ringing along the road. Joe had his on the revolver as_ they former hold -up had taken place. fast _in some distant city, it seemed odd that he approached the il Suddenly a man dashed out of the bushes and reached for Jerry’s check rein. Another man ap- peared on the other side with a drawn revolver and shouted, in a hoarse voice: “Halt!” : Jee wasted no time in asking them what they wanted, for it was easy to see what their pur- pose was. He simply took quick aim at the first man and fired. The bullet took a piece out of his ear and brought a cry to his lips. The other man, with an imprecation, fired at Joe’s head, which was the only part of him that was exposed. The bullet hummed a foot away and tore a hole in the canvas side of the wagon. “Get up, Jerry!” shouted Joe, giving the reins a tug, and firing at the first man again to keep him from catching hold of the horse. A second shot came from. the man of the other side. It struck the seat and sent a shower of splinters in the boy’s face. Then Jerry, get- ting a fast gait on for him, passed the two men, Joe rushed back to his barricade and saw the men running after the vehicle. Although the young mail contractor could not make out the face of the man who had done the firing, he felt sure fromvhis appearance that it was his father. “It’s a mighty strange freak of the brain to turn an honest man into a highwayman,” thought the boy. “If father should be caught at this business, it would create a sensation among his friends in Clifton.” As the two men were overtaking the wagon, Joe opened fire on them to frighten them off. He had no thought of shooting his father, nor did she want-to kill the other fellow, for it is a sol- emn thing to shed human blood, even in self-de- fense. Both men “returned the fire and the bul- lets lodged in the barrels. Finally, one of’ Joe’s shots slightly wounded one of the men. Joe _couldn’t tell which, and they hauled off after a parting shot each, and the wagon went on its way with a clatter and wobble from side to side, owing to the uneven character of the road. Jerry gradually subsided to his customary trot, < and presently turned off into the short cut. wheels made little noise in the ruts worn smooth by. months of travel over them in old Si Jones’ time, and Jerry’s hoofs were deadened by the turfy nature of the path. Joe felt the wind less in the woods because the trees offered them-. selves as obstacles to its wild sweep, but he could » hear it whistling around him at a great rate. He now had time to think, and the presumed re- appearance of his father on the road again wor- ried him not a little. .. . He supposed when his sister told him that their parent had called at. the cottage for the purpose — of getting his valise that he intended going off ~ somewhere to a distance from Clifton. It was possible that he had deferred, not altered, his purpose. Still, if his clouf@ed brain had any in- tention of turning the bundle of bonds into — oul take all the risks of capture in order to ro mail Wagon. Possibly it was a final attempt be- - fore leaving the neighborhood. Another thing that interested Joe was the identity of the man who was helping his father in his crooked wark. Where and how had he picked him up? Where ditl they keep in hiding _ « }. the = on ee

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= of 12 during the day? As the previous contractors had reported the same kind of attacks by two men that Joe had experienced, the boy wondered what had become of the one whose place seemed to be filled by-his father. He likewise wondered why the detectives who first took the business in hand lad failed to find any trace of the highwaymen. When Joe reached town it was chose on to half- yvast eleven, and he drove at once to the store where he had to deliver the goods. He found that it was closed for business, but the proprietor, hav- ing received the telegram, was waiting for his goods to come. He helped Joe unload, the articles and take them into the store, then he signed the receipt and the young mail contractor went to the post office. “Took you longer to get here to-night,” said Sage, looking at the clock. “That doesn’t make any difference, as you’re on time.” “T brought some goods which I had to deliver first,” answered Joe. “I made a little extra mon- ey by doing so, and everything counts when a fellow is out for himself.” “T’'d have done “Sure it does,” nodded Sage. the same if I was in your shoes.” Joe helped carry in the mail bags, also the express packages, and then he went to the stable and put up his team. CHAPTER IX.—Taken By Surprise. After an early breakfast he loaded up the mail from Clifton and started back. It was a eool, cloudy morning, and as Jerry would have a good long rest between his arrival and Monday night, Joe touched him up, as he wanted to get to Clifton by eleven. Having a light load, he saw no reason why he shouldn’t exceed his record. He passed through the short cut and came out into the road beyond. So far he hadn’t met with a soul since leaving Flushing. He didn’t look for any trouble in the daylight, and was whis- tline cheerfully as he rede along, when he sud- denly heard a noise at the back of the wagon. He looked around and saw a stout, red-headed boy scrambling into the vehicle. “Here, what do you want?” asked Joe. “T want a ride, mister,” said the boy. “All right. Come here on the seat.” “This is. the mail wagon, ain’t it?” “That’s what it is.” ; “You're a new hand at the business.” “Yes. Why don’t you get on the seat? How far are you going?” “Not far. See that tree yonder at the turn of the road?” % see it.” 2 2 “That's as far as I’m going.” “You might have walked that far.” “T thought I’d ride,” grinned the boy. _ “Where do you live around here?” _. .“Behind them trees _ ight of the road. — ; _ ~~. *T didn’t know there was-a house in that spot.” _ “You can’t see it from the road.” K yonder,” pointing to the “But when the road tums you can see behind “That’s where [ live” __ ALWAYS ON TIME “Tt must be a small house or I should have no- ticed it.” “I'll show it to you-when we get to the turn.” “What do you do—farm work?” “Me! Do I look like a farmer?” ‘ “T can’t say you do. You look more like a city oy. Joe might have added that he looked like a tough one, but he didn’t. “You live in Clifton?” asked the boy. “Yes. I’ve lived there most of my life.” “How came you to take hold of this job?”. “Because there’s money in it for me.” The boy grinned in a peculiar way. “How much money?” “What do you want to know for?” said Joe, thinking the boy mighty curious. “J thought maybe you’d like a partner,” said the boy, with another erin. “There’s only enough in the job for one.” “How long have you had it?” 6s “Since the middle of the week.” “How long do you expect to hold it?” “Till my contract expires, at any rate.” “How long is that?” “A year.” . ‘ “Two or three men had it before you. Why didn’t they hold it for a year?” “T didn’t ask them.” “T know why.” “Oh, you do!” ee of ’em got scared and the other lost the mail.” “How do you know one of them lost the mail?” asked Joe, in surprise, for the postmaster had told him, when he let the matter out, that the news had not beer given out to the public. “You’re going to lose it, too,” said the red- - headed boy, as they swung around the turn. “What the dickens——” “There’s my house yonder,” said the boy, point- x. Joe looked, but he couldn’t see any house. “I don’t see——” he began. . That was as far as he got, for the red-headed youth suddenly grabbed him around the neck and jerked him backward off the seat. At the same moment two men sprang out of the bushes inte the road. While one stopped the horse, the other climbed into the wagon where Joe was struggling on the seat with the red-headed youth, — who had a regular garroter’s grip about his neck. ; wate The man pulled a piece of rope out of his pocket — and bound the young mail contractor’s arms to his body. As he preceeded to gag the boy, Joe recognized the man as his father. He stopped struggling at once and tried to make a protest, but the cloth was phone his mouth and he couldn’t utter a sound. Then he was roughly pulled into the wagon as the second man climbed in. “The mail bags look thin,” said the fellow, as — he pulled them out from under the seat. “I guess we haven’t made much of a-haul this time.” “What's the difference? It’s the horse and Wagon we want more than anything else just now,” said the man who were the face and form of Joe’s father. _>

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ALWAYS on our track. We want to get as good a start as possible.” “We'll take him with us to the house for the present—what’s that? I hear the sound of wheels. We must get away from here without delay. It won’t do for us to be seen. Turn the horse into the lane and drive ahead.” The fellow addressed, whose name was Biggs, . grabbefl the reins, turned the horse into the lane near by, on the left-hand side looking toward Clifton, and drove on. The red-headed boy sat --on Joe’s legs to hold him down, while Fletcher stood up and kept track of things in general. The wagon proceeded to the head of the lane and then turned into another lane, which finally land- ed them in the yard of a deserted old farmhouse which had not been occupied for many years. Joe and the mail bags were taken out and car- ried ‘into the heuse. The young mail contractor Was placed in a corner with the red-headed youth standing over him as guard, while the two men coolly proceeded to cut open the mail pouches and dump their contents on a deal table. “Here’s the registered mail,” said Biggs. “Hand thé bundle over and open the ordinary letters. You might find some money in two or three of them. There was lots of people who send money in the ordinary mail. We found : ite a few dollars in our last haul,” : etcher. ; - The damaged pouches were dropped on the floor and during the next few minutes the de- spoilers of the mail devoted their attention to open letter after letter in search of mon- he light registered package yielded about whiners letters panned out less Fletcher took charge of said slicin ey. $85, while the ord than $2 in small silver. all the letters to one of the bags. W’ll leave them here with the other bags we ig to be found by the first person coming into z e house, which probably won't be soon. -. *J’m glad you’ve decided to make a move. I = could see the sense in our hanging around ao this locality and ee some. — you got hold of that package of bonds,” said Biggs. -. “J had my reasons,” said Fletcher shortly. “Got all the letters in the bag? Well, toss them in the closet. Then after I attend to my——” He paused suddenly as his eyes fell on Joe. - “Take that chap into the front room, and you stay with him, Jimmy, till we’re ready to leave,” he said. : Joe was removed to the front room by Biggs and the red-headed youth. Biggs then returned to the other room, leaving the boy Jimmy to ‘watch the young mail contractor. Joe, as may sai f was not in a cheerful frame of mind. e saw visions of trouble ahead for himself with a ost office authorities. He had been cap- ured at last and robbed of his bags, and his ‘story would be the same as Jud Hopkins’... Fur- thermore, he would be obliged to incriminate his father, for how could he tell his story without _ deseribing the men who had attacked and done ro’ The thought of that was not the least of his Having use of his eyes and ears, id we iched is tates Berpesgtss me Te? talk. He did | a or talk | ea fr fia tee ON TIME 13 conduct and conversation was that of an experi- enced rascal. Joe could not but see that he was wholly different from the father he had known all his life. But his face and figure and certain peculiarities of movement he had noticed often in his father were too apparent for the boy to doubt the man’s identity. Besides, his companion called him Fletcher, and that seemed to settle the matter, anyway. This remarkable change in his father became more*mystifying and astonish- ing to Joe the longer he reflected on it. While he was still pondering over the matier, Biggs reap- peared. “Now, young chap, you’rg going with us,” he said to Joe. rake one of his arms, Jimmy, and we'll lead him outside to the wagon.” Joe saw his father in the yard, walking impa- tiently up and down. It was his father’s walk to a nicety. He was bundled into the wagon and found a long box in it, the cover of which had a number of auger holes at one end. “Sit down near the back of the seat, with your back against the canvas side of the wagon,” Biggs said to him. - Joe obeyed, for he couldn’t help himself. Biggs then picked up a light-red woman’s shawl and folded it around Joe’s face just under the nose and around his chest. His object was to conceal the handkerchief ge and the fact that the boy’s hands were bound. “New, then, look after him, Jimmy,” he said, as he stepped on to the seat, half of which was aieady cecupie by Rae Sr. ing up the reins, Biggs. started Jerry ahead, guiding him through an opening in the fence where the rails had apparently been remov- ed to afford passage for the wagon. Across a hard and wintry-looking stubblefield the wagon jogged at a slow pace. Then they came to an- other lane. Biggs got down, removed a section of rails, returned to the wagon and drove through the lane. It was a long lane, with a farmhouse a short distance away, from the chimney of which the smoke rose and floated away on the wind. Three children were playing in the yard, and they stopped to look at the wagon as it passed down to the road. Biggs got down again, opened the wide gate and shut it after Fleteher had driven through. With the reins in his hands - once more, Biggs turned down the county road in a direction opposite to Clifton, which was about fifteen miles away. During the first. part of the ride, from the house to the road, Joe’s attention ~ had been concentrated on the box in the wagon. That it contained plunder of some kind he was satisfied. ‘ 3 It was quite reasonable to conclude that his father and Biggs had not confined their energies wholly to lying in wait for the mail wegon. And before his father came to be identified with this crooked business some other man, whose place he had takén, had been on the ground, presumed- ly with Biggs, for the mail route had been in trouble for at least two months to his knowl- ledge. It is true he had not read im the Clifton papers of any house robberies having been com- _ mitted in the neighborhood during that time, but — it was quite possible they had been pulled off'in or x Flushing, and that the report had es- caped this attention. He wondered why a holes — were in the cover, and finally concluded that they

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14 happened to be there when the box came into the possession of his captors. ; When the wagon reached the road he listened to the talk between his father and Biggs. From what passed between the men # was clear they had a job of plunder in contemplation, which they “i expected to pull off that night somewhere along the road. The conversation developed the fol- lowing facts: Two brothers, both of whom were old and avaricious, one of them, indeed, being a miser, lived in that county, one at the extreme western end of the county road, the other at the eastern end of the road, a matter of thirty miles apart. They had not seen or communicated with each other for many years, but each was waiting for the other te die so he could come in posses- sion of his property, neither of them ever having married, ; ; The one in the western end of the county lived _with an old housekeeper, but the brother. at the eastern end, the miser, lived all alone, for he did not care to pay for the services and keep of a housekeeper. Both lived in old houses much out of repair,.but- the miser had a wall around his with spikes at the top and an iren gate, and he imagined that was sufficient protection, backed up with a navy revolver and‘a shotgun, to keep off thieves. Fletcher, Sr., it appeared, had writ- - ten a letter to the miser, telling him that his brother had just died, and that he must come on immediately and secureghis rights. If he de- layed a minute the writer, who represented him- self as his brother’s lawyer, said the property would be lost to him, for his brother had made a __—-will leaving it to his’ housekeeper and that will = _/was now in a certain place where he, the miser, ; could find it and destroy it, but the writer inti- i ‘mated that he would have to be paid a certain sum to disclose the hiding place of document. This letter was to be delivered that afternoon by the red-headed boy, who was to represent him- self as the lawyer's clerk, and he was to urge 3 great haste on the part of the old miser if he - hoped to secure his brother’s property. The plot- ter that the miser would set out at once for his brother’s home, which would leave his place unguarded for several hours. Jimmy was to offer to mind the house while he was away, “a and as soon as the miser had bz to admit Fletcher and Biggs to the housé, which they would lose no time in searching, from cel- iy lar to roof, for the miser’s money. It was a +3! Sp scheme, and the plotter expected it would vi a success. At that point a buggy with a man + and a boy in it approached the wagon. When _™ — quite close, the boy shouted out: > “How do you do, Mr. Fletcher!” ‘ vt _. Joe recognized the voice as belonging to his _ friend Dick Spencer. * CHAPTER X.—On thé Eve of a Fresh Crime. . Joe saw his father nod in a careless sort of way. That wasn’t the way he was in the habit i Dick. On the contrary, he always his son’s particular epaited he was: ‘ALWAYS ON TIME ~ wagon as he and his father passed in the buggy. He recognized it as the mail wagon, and was surprised to see somebody other than Joe driving it. He also wondered that the wagon should be on the county road so far from Clifton at that time and heading away from that town. It was then about one o’clock, and Joe had told him that he expected to get back from Flushing a little after eleven. So_he supposed that Mr. Fletcher had borrowed the“wagon for some special pur- pose and got a man to drive it for him while he tired after his long morning trip, remained ome. Joe caught an indistinct glimpse of the buggy and its occupants out of the back of the wagon and saw Dick looking after them. “He little knows that I am a prisoner in this wagon,” he thought, “or that my father has un- dergone a most astonishing change, the end of which I shudder to figure on.” The buggy disappeared in the distance while the be Se went on its way. Half an hour later Biggs turned off into a branch road and reined in to one side, near the hedge. Fletcher got down and called the. red-headed boy. Biggs took the youth’s place as ‘d over the prisoner. Jimm presently \started off diagonally across a fiel struck the county road a quarter of a mile from the branch road and, hustling forward, soon en- tered a village. He entered the village hotel and purchased some sandwiches, a whole pie and three bottles of ale. With the bundles in his arms he made his way back to the wagon. Joe was ordered out of the wagon and taken behind the hedge by Biggs and the red-headed boy, while Mr. Fletcher remained in the wa with half of thé pie, two of the five sandwi and two bottles of ale. The young mail contrac- tor was unbound and peered of his gag. “Now don’t try to get away or weal | get hurt,” said Biggs, handing him a sandwich. “Eat and this piece of pie. It’s all you'll get till after dark,” j To show Joe that it would be highly dangerous for him to try to take French leave, Biggs drew out his revolver and laid it across his knees. He and Jimmy ate a sandwich between them and also a piece of pie the same size as that given Joe. The shed their repast down with pS ot nate drinks of ale from the bottle. After they had reduced the bottle by two-thirds, Bi fered the remainder of it to the young con- tractor, but the boy refused to partake of it. The pair then sat and watched Joe until they got a signal from the wagon. Then Joe was rebound ons graces as before and marched back to the vehicle. Jerry looked somewhat appealingly at his new master as Joe was led past him, for he was hun- gry and missed his noon meal of oats. Joe could not do anything for him any more than he could do something for rapa the horse went with- pes dinner, and as this was a most unusual experience for him, he doubtless wondered, in horse fashion, what it all meant. The two sand- wiches, the half of the pie and the bottle of ale handed into the wagon to Mr. Fletcher had dis- appeared. Evidently the bank cashier had en- ed more than a fair share of the provender. wever, as he appeared to be the boss of the of-

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ALWAYS ON TIME outfit he probably considered himself entitled to the lion’s share of the food. _ 7 _ At any rate, his two companions made nq kick - about the unequal division, and in a few minutes -_ the wagon was in motion again, following the branch road at a slow pace. They only met and s one vehicle, containing a farmer and his * family out for a drive, and after a two hours’ drive, pausing only once to water the horse, they came in sight of a house, surrounded by a stone wall, standing at the top of a little hill. The "Wagon drew up beside the hedge again, and - ~ Fletcher got out and called the carroty-headed : th down. In a few minutes Jimmy started up road toward the house. ; As time elapsed and he did not return, Fletcher took that as a favorable omen that his plot would succeed. And succeed it did. Old Huxley, the -_miser, was evercome with joy on reading the de- ~ eoy note and finding that his brother was dead. He was much concerned, however, on discover- ing that his brother had made a will in favor of his housekeeper, but was somewhat reassured by what the lawyer said about it being temporarily . hidden, and how, if he came on at once, he might, for a consideration, obtain and destroy it, thus enabling him, as heir-at-law, to claim all his late brother’s property. Bad as he craved his brother’s goods, he balked ‘at the idea of being obliged to give up to the lawyer, who he reckoned must be a great rascal to make him such an offer. Still he had to do it or lose all, so with a lot of growling he prepared to get ready for his journey to the other end of Re the county. He didn’t like the idea of leaving his house alone, but decided to drive to the village beyond, first, and hire a constable to watch his while he was away. Jimmy, however, of- to stay and look after the house, without _eharge. He assured the miser that he was a = , honest boy and wouldn’t steal a penny if =e it was placed within his reach. He didn’t say, _ however, that he weuldn’t pinch a dollar bill, or as many of them as came conveniently within ae. His The idea of having his house watched ‘for nothing by an _ honest por appealed to old “Huxley, who, though wealthy, hated to part with accent, and he decided to take up with Jimmy’s offer. As his money was carefully concealed in _ the house, he felt that it would be safe, anyway, so he got out his old horse and rickety buggy, and showing Jimmy where he could find some ‘scraps of food for his supper, he started on his Wwild-goose trip in excellent spirits. — “The old man and his rig passed the wagon where it was drawn up alongside the road, and, seeing nothing suspicious about it, went on his way, little suspecting that he was the victim of clever brain. As soon as he was well out of sight, Jimmy came running down the road to an- mounce that the coast was clear. @ wagon was at once driven to the house, passed in through iron gate and around to the yard behind the J nto the The gag < s taken from his mouth and he w. : pene pont xs loud as he wanted to if he cared Ee ce ; , «. That was 8 4 B i i} & Cd & Ey oe é 5 = 2 ° 15 and they expected to make considerable use of his services before morning, he looked around the barn for some oats. Old Huxley did not feed his own nag in a princely fashion, as it didn’t pay. Indeed, if it was absolutely necessary for him to keep the animal to ride to the village and back, the horse would guickly have ceased to be a steady boarder. As the animal was growing thinner every day on short commons, he would probably cease to be a boarder ere long on his own accord. Biggs found a small bag half full of oats, and he gave it all to Jerry, whose eyes brightened and mouth watered at the prospect of. an immediate feed. What Jerry got was intended to last the other horse two full days, and he made short work of it. While Biggs was looking after the horse, Fletcher and Jimmy were in the old house making a preliminary survey. Biggs joiried them in a short time and the trio got down to business. Joe, in the meanwhile, remained in the barn, triced up to the post. The moment he was left alone he began to consider how he could release himself. He judged that his father and his com- panions would remain some time in the house, hunting for the miser’s wealth, for it was hardly likely they would discover it without considerable trouble. Doubtless they would take their time, for the miser would not get back till the next day at the quickest, and nobody ever visited at his house, since he discouraged callers. Joe was a boy of pluck and energy. What his captors intended to do with him he could not guess, but he was satisfied they had carried him of to prevent him from putting justice on their track. His father had shown such a callous dis- regard for him since they had.come together, not deigning even to notice him in the slightest way, - that Joe was beginning to feel some resentment against him. “J really don’t know what to make of him. My idea about his being mentally unbaianced does not:seem to jibe with his actions and talk. If my father had ever betrayed any crooked sentiments before, I might understand his sudden breaking - out in this fashion, but he never has; that’s why his present conduct is such a great mystery to me. If he goes on he will certainly land in jail somewhere. If he can be brought up with a round turn before he commits more crime his former nature might reassert itself and he would be saved.” : While Joe was thinking thus he was not idle, , but was working at his bonds trying to loosen them. He was greatly handicapped by the fact that his arms were tied behind his back inde- pendent of the strands that held him to the post, Nevertheless, he did his best to make his escape, and after half an hour’ steady and persistent effort he worked one hand free. The rest was easy, for he had a knife in his pocket, and with that he cut the rest of the rope and stepped away ‘from the post in full possession of his limbs. Looking cautiously from the door of the barn, ~ he saw no one in the yard. He started at once z for the wagon to see if his revolver was stil] un- | der the seat, where he kept it when not in usa, on a shelf made out of an old cigar box. Climb- ing up on the front wheel, he shoved his hand <9 under the seat. The revolver was there, for his __ captors had not thought of looking in such a place

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se 16 for it. As he drew it out, a hollow 5 ae that .. filled the interior of the wagon, struck upon his ear. He started up in some consternation, won- dering whence the gruesome sound came. CHAPTER XI.—Joe’s Escape. The sound was not repeated, but, nevertheless, it was such a peculiar and weird noise that the young mail contractor stood a full minute on the footboard, with ‘the revolver in his hand, fig- uring as to what had caused it. Realizing that it would not do for him to stand in that exposed situation, where he might easily be seen from one of the back windows if his captors happened to look out, he jumped down and retreated be- ind the barn to considgr what move he should make next. : As he believed the box in the wagon contained S stolen goods, he had some thought of leading his | rig off the F phar into the road and then getting - back to Clifton as ; and the horse were beund to make some Noise, enough probably to attract the attention of his father and his companions, and they would rush out and cut off the vehicle and recapture him. It therefore behooved him to be careful what move he made. After a little thought he decided to venture into the house and see in what part of and the other two were. This was proceeding for him to undertake, e- oreare a fast as he could. The wagon a to make off in the wagon. Peeping up at the rear ~ windows to make sure that the -headed boy _ ing. & ie found the door ajar, and that it led into the kitchen. He listened, but heard no sounds. jo the kitchen, sed out through a, side door ere a flight of stairs led to the : nd floor. The young mail contractor paused at the foot of the Stairs and listened again. Hear- ing nothing, he mounted the stairs and reached w the top floor could be reached. An in- ion. Sgicr as ary —— bev of them was ajar. It signs of hav- aye jimmy. which had split the old Huxley was sure to wit. r open, little by little, and ALWAYS ON TIME looked into the old man’s sitting room. No one was there at that moment. The open door com- municating with the miser’s bedroom suggested that the trie might be in there, so the boy slip- ped over to it and listened. He heard voices in the room, which settled the question. “Now, then, Biggs, get a purchase on the cor- ner and we'll have it open in a jiffy,” said Fletch- er. “This is surely where the old man keeps his hoard. It isn’t a good — for the country to have money lying around idle, so we'll circulate it for him,” he added, with a chuckle, “You can gamble on it we'll circulate it,” said - Biges- “Here, Jimmy, give me a hand with Ss. Joe’s curiosity induced him to peek into the room. He saw the three, with their coats off, crouching on the floor with their backs to him, busily oe in opening a trapdoor in the floor, which gave them a good deal of trouble, owing to the fact that it fitted as tight as wax, and their implements were not suited to overcome the difficulty quickly. As Joe watched them his eyes lighted on his father’s coat, which lay on the marble-top table. A carefully wrapped packa stuck out of one of the inside pockets. Instantly it occurred to the boy that that package held the bonds belonging to the bank. “If I could get possession of it, lock the door on them and escape, I’d make a ten-strike. Whether my father intended to defraud the bank of them or not, when he took them away, their return intact will save him from the consequences of that crime, at any rate.” 5 That thought decided Jo@ to take the risk of entering the room. First, however, he looked at the door to see if there was a key on the outside of the lock. There was. It was a great risk he was taking, but a t deal hinged on the result if he was successful. Cautiously, hardly daring to breathe, he advanced into the room. The trio were so intent on getting at the miser’s hoard that they did not think of anything else in their vicinity. Joe got within arm’s length df his fa- ther’s coat and seized the protruding end of the package. Instead of sliding out of the pocket, as he expected it would, it stuck. He jerked it slightly, but with no result. It was caught in some way and would not come Then Joe re- solved to take the coat itself. He lifted it from the table, without attracting notice, and retreated to the door. Closing the door, he softly turped the key and glided downstairs. a= Reaching the kitchen, he found that the pack- age was caught by a tear in the coat. He got -it out and looked at it. His heart gave a leap of satisfaction when he saw that it bore the stamp of the bank and was directed to the Ches- ter Bank, ; af Se ee a gt sage = . tting his hand in the opposi ie found a wallet containing a pile of oe taepetied $1, $2 and $5. “I'll bet that is the Lane or the bulk of it, stolen from the iste: letters. I'll take ~ charge of it,” he said. In an outside pocket was a bunch of orders. They were worthless to anybody people to whose order but the | they had been drawn, and — Jqe wondered that his father shoyld have ear: =

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ried them around with him. In another pocket was a letter, which had passed through the mail, addressed to Edward Fletcher, Esq., Clifton Bank, Clifton, Mich. Joe was about to return it when he heard a pounding and banging upstairs. Fletcher and his companion had discovered they were locked in, a fact that occasioned them sur- prise and some consternation, and were trying to force their way out. Joe realized that it was time for him to be off. Instead of putting the letter back in the coat, he dropped the coat on the floor and shoved the letter in his pocket. Put- ting on his shoes, he dashed over to the wagon, got on the seat and started for the iron gate, which was closed. Looking up at the second- story front windows he saw the red-headed boy . looking out. When Jimmy saw the wagon mak- ing for the gate he gave the alarm. Fletcher rushed to the window and looked out. He shook his fist after the wagon and threw one leg out of the window as if he meant to drop to the ground. Then he saw that;the porch came up to the next window, and calling on Biggs he ; rushed to that window, threw it up, got down on _ + the porch and, leaping to the ground, ran for : the Ly a 3 Joe was in the act of opening the gate, and he saw that his father would be up with him in a moment. He sprang on the seat and, = lashing Jerry with-the end of the reins, shout- ed: “Get up! Get up!” Fletcher was so close to the rear of the vehicle that’ he made a leap _ to get in. The sudden moving forward of the a: caused him to miss his mark and he fell ~ on all fours on the und. The wagon rolled _ through the gate Joe turned Jerry in the - direction of the county road. Fletcher got on his feet, boiling with rage. ; - e drew his revolver and discharged it after _/ the young mail contractor, and his aim was so good that the bullet wént through the top of re boy’s soft hat, missing his skull by a quarter of a ninch. A second shot followed, but it went __-wide of its.mark. Biggs, who by this time had - yeached the gate, added his fire to his compan- = _ion’s,y and for a few moments Joe was in great z ril of his life. He escaped, however, by lash- ing the surprised Jerry into a dead run, and soon the miser’s house was left well in the rear, and the dangerous trio with it. / = = - CHAPTER XII.—Speculation Concerning Joe. = ~ Joe soon reached the county road and turned to the left toward Clifton. It was six o’clock by _ this time and he had a long ride before him. e ‘ALWAYS ON TIME . left shortly after seven that morning. | ment ee 17 faction of returning them to Mr. Haywood. He had also recovered the bulk of the money stolen from the registered mail, and probably all of the money-orders. He pulled out the latter and look- ed them over.. From the date on two-thirds of them he felt sure they were a part of the mail lost by Jud Hopkins. He might reasonable pre- sume, then, that a part of the money came out of registered letters carried by Hopkins on the night he had been attacked and cleaned ont of everything, including the express packages. He judged that the express plunder was in the long box in the wagon along with other plunder. “¥ think I’ve done pretty well, considering the perilous experience I’ve been through last night and te-day,” he thought. “If it wasn’t that my father is implicated in all this I’d consider I was entitled to some reward. The only rewareé I'l) ask of Mr. Haywood is consideration for my fa- ther. I'll request him to hide the fact that he had anything to do with the bonds. I-have no doubt he will be willing to agree to that, for he . always thought a great deal of my father. The robbing of the mail is a different matter en- tirely. The Government is not likely to let up on post-office thieves. While the postmaster might think I was entitled to some reward for recover- ing the money and orders stolen, their recovery will not affect the status of the guilty persons.” So Joe argued to himself as he drove along, un- aware that two Government detectives were in pursuit of the mail-wagon. He would not en- counter them, because they were in the village beyond the branch road on which old Huxley lived when he made his thrilling escape. How they happened to be after the wagon was this: Ted Barclay, the postmaster’s son, waited up to the last moment for Joe to arrive with the mail- bags that morning from Flushing, Joe had told -him he expected to reach tha -office a little after eleven: Noon arrived without Joe and Ted wondered what delayed him. At a quarter-past eleven he was obliged to close the mail-bags fo- ing East by the 12.30 express, which was the only train that passed eastward on Sunday af- ternoon. The next train was the usual daily 6,20 p.m. Joe’s mail would have to wait for that, at least such part of it as was bound for the East, so Ted loaded his bags on the cart, closed the office and went to the station. The mail-bags thrown off at Clifton he carried back to the office and then went home to dinner, where he notified his father of Joe’s non-arrivyal. ay hope he hasn’t got into trouble, like the others,” said the postmaster. “You will have to . urn to the office and wait for, him.” ; Ted went back after eating his dinner, but Joe was not waiting for him. Mr. Barclay, who e arrival of Joe, came to the _ 2a he went to the Western Union office message to the Flushing postmaster, asking what — time Joe had left his office. In half an hour he sn received a reply which stated that the Ped had clay at once sefit his son to look up — ive who was in charge of Hopkins case. Ted had hardly left when containing Dick Spencer and his father | ra m & rf ¢

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18 and seeing the postmaster standing out in front of the post-office, Dick said: “What time did Joe Fletcher arrive this morn- ing?” He hasn’t arrived yet,” replied the postmas- ter. “It’s three o’clock and he’s about three hours behind time. We are afraid something - has happened -to the wagon.” - “Why, we passed the mail-wagon two hours ago, fifteen or more miles from here, going east along the county road.” : “You did!” exclaimed the astonished postmas- Tr | “We did. Joe wasn’t on the wagon, as far as I could see, but his father was, and a strange man was driving.” “Well, it’s mighty funny. Joe Fletcher left Flushing with the mail-bags at seven this morn- ing. I’ve got a dispatch from the postmaster to that effect. He has not delivered the bags here, as he should have done not later than noon. Now tell me you saw the wagon driving east along the county road, fifteen miles from here, and that was two hours ago.” “That’s right,” said Dick. “There couldn’t be anything wrong, because Joe’s father was on the wagon seat. So Dick and his father drove to the cottage, and Dick went in. He found Doris all up in the air over her brother’s failure to get home by _ noon. = “Joe hasn’t come home yet,” she said, in an- swer to Dick’s inquiry, “and I don’t know why he hasn’t. I’m greatly worried about him.” Dick was rather staggered at this. = “When did your father leave the house?” he asked “My father!” exclaimed Doris, in surprise at the question from Dick. “He hasn’t been home since Friday night.” - - “He hasn’t? Well, I met and spoke to him about one o’clock to-day on the county road, fif- teen miles from here.” “You did?” : “Yes. And he was seated in Joe’s mail-wagon. Soe as * soared Joe had loaned him the rig after he : ee orhon something has happened to Joe on the road last night. Perhaps he has been murdered.” “No. He reached Flushing all right.” _ “How do you know?” eee “The postmaster told father and me that he had a telegraphic message from the Flushing postmaster to the effect that Joe left that place at seven this morning with the mail-bags.” _ “Then something has happened to him on the road this morning.” “Well, it’s mighty funny,” said Dick, using the t er’s expression. _ . ‘Oh, dear! what shall I do? Father’s away id now Joe is——” _ She burst into tears. Dick comforted her as well as he could, telling her not to worry as Joe _ would surely turn up before long with a full ex- "Doris didn’t know what to make of it, and said = | ee aa, a ae _ “Well, father, who is outside in the bugg for me, and we are going back to t “page ye what I have learned here. ess he will take the matter right in hand, a ALWAYS ON TIME and send somebody out on the Flushing road to look for Joe, or along the county road after the wagon—perhaps both.” elling Doris to cheer up, Dick left, telling her he would be back later to see if his friend had turned up. When Dick and his father got back to the post-office they found two men talking to the postmaster. One was a sécret service agent, and the other his assistant. Dick report- ed that Joe had not been at the cottage. “Then more crooked work has been pulled off,” said Mr. Barclay. “The Flushing route will turn my hair gray, I’m afraid. You’d better chase the mail-wagon,” to the detectives. “It is four o’clock, nearly, and was fifteen miles from here at one. You will have to do some hustling.” CHAPTER XIII.—Joe Gets Home at Last. It was a long and tiresome trip to Joe, that ride back to Clifton in the gloom of the night. Poor old Jerry was fagged out, and his gait grew slower and slower, as the hours passed, but he never ceased to keep up a semblance of his cus- tomary jog-trot. Many vehicles passed them go- ing in both directions, but Joe took no notice of their occupants, and it was probsble that they took as little notice of him. At last the out- skirts of Clifton was reached and Joe halted at a trough to give his animal a drink. The water refreshed the horse somewhat and he started on again at a livelier trot. Joe’s watch told him-it was eleven o’clock when he struck the street on which he lived. A little way further and he drove into the yard. A light was burning in the Erne san, but the rest of the cottage was ark. . ; At that moment the kitchen door opened. “Joe, Joe, is that you?” came in plaintive tones. " “Yes, Dorie, I’m back all right at last. Did you think I never was coming?” N Doris gave a cry of joy and rushed out into the yard and the next moment was sobbing hys- terically in her brother’s arms. “Oh, Joe, Joe, where have you been? Are you all right?” ; : “T’ve been a long distance from here, up the county road. I’m_all right, and it was father and his pals who kept me away,” replied Joe. “Father and his pals! What do you mean?” “T’'ll tell you when we go in the house. I’ve got to look after Jerry first. Poor old fellow, e’s nearly dead. Have you got something ready for me to eat? I’m half starved. I’ve had noth- ing since six this morning except one sandwich and a small piece of pie around two o’clock.” “Your dinner is in the oven. I’ve been keep- ing it warm since half-past twelve. I’m afraid the meat is dried up.” Joe took Jerry out of the traces, led him into his stall and put a good mess of oats under his nose. : “There, eat that, old man. I’ll be back by and by to see how you’re getting on.” He hurried into the house-and took his seat at the table with his sister. ; : “You don’t know how worried and frightened 3 you. I was sure you had been — I’ve been about r

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murdered. The stories the papers printed about the experiences of the other contractors who threw up the job came rushing into my mind, and nearly made me crazy. Then Dick Spencer led ” ‘ “Did he?” “Yes. And he told a curious story about pass- ing your wagon on the county road, fifteen miles from here. He said the wagon was going east, and that father was on the seat with a strange driver, and he did not see you at all.” : “T was in the wagon, just the same, when Dick passed, but I was gagged and bound.” at “Ga and bound!” almost screamed Doris/ “And father there with you?” “Yes.” : _ “Then he certainly must be crazy, as you said you believed he was.” : “There was too much method in his conduct for him to be mad—and yet, oh, Dorie, sister, it is awful to think of father as a criminal.” “A criminal—brother!” gasped the girl, turn- ing white. - So : : “Yes, sis, a criminal for\that is what he is, whether he knows what he is doing or not.” “Oh, Joe!” said Doris, bursting into tears. “Don’t cry, sister, dear. I feel bad enough, heaven knows, without seeing you grieved to death. Never told you of my experience the first night I took the route—I have told nobody. It was too dreadful!” _ “Too dreadful!” * : “Listen! Fifteen miles down the Flushing road, where it takes a turn, and in a bad spot, two men sprang out of the bushes and their actions Shaped their purpose was to attack me and rob the mail-wagon. Something, I know not what, had warned me a few minutes before, and I _ rigged up a dummy on the seat. Then I jumped out of the wagon and was trotting behind when ‘the men appeared. I grabbed the registered mail- and struck one of them down. Picking F: the rn and revolver he dropped, I turn- | the light on the other. hat was my con- _ sternation when I : ized father.” “Joe!” fluttered Doris. : - “f knew him in a moment. How could I mis- take him? It was his face, his form, his very clothes. He glared at me like a savage, drew a pistol and would have shot me down, but at that moment a buggy appeared, then he and his com- n fled into the bushes and were, gone.” = ow haere pened, but last night ather and the same yer rey J dram Ti 6s mh A 2 PETA APE wee a mae ig “Friday nigh Oi ight, THis moxt- how, at th the a 1a nade, the boy seized ntl hi va and Biggs i ALWAYS ON TIME 19 through the letters for money. Then he told how, after taking into the wagon a long box, which was still in the vehicle, and which he was confident held plunder, they had put him into it, bound and gagged, and started across a field and down .a lane till they came out on the county é road, many miles east of Clifton. He told her how his father had gone over his plan for en- ticing a miser named Huxley from his home and robbing the. place as soon as the old man was out of the way. He told how they had gone close to the miser’s house, sent the red-headed boy for- ward with a note to deliver to Huxley, and awaited results. “He told all that followed and frightened his i with the narrative of his escape under re. : “Oh, brother, we'll be disgraced. I never will be able to hold up my head after that,” sobbed Doris. It took some time to calm her, and when he had done so he went outside to see how old Jerry was getting en. He found the horse all right. Joe gave him a drink of water and then locked him up for the night. He was passing around the rear of the wagon when, for the secend time, that dismal, hollow groan came to his ears from the interior of the wagon. : \ CHAPTER XIV.—Conclusion. ea “My gracious! what was‘that?” Joe exclaimed, starting back, for thessound seemed particularly weird at that hour of the night, in the silence of the yard. He unlocked the barn door, took one of his lanterns from the nail on which it was suspend- ed, lighted it and returned to the wagon. Spring- ing into the vehicle, he pounded on the box. _ “Ts there somebody in this box?” he asked, A groan came back to him, and the sound clear- ly came through the auger holes in the cover. oe flashed the light along one’ side of the box and saw that the cover was held down by two padlocks, Leaving the light in the wagon, he re-entered the barn and got a hammer and cold- ; chisel. A few vigorous blows loosened the sta and hasp and lock were freed. Then he a p himself to the other one and speedily demolished that. Seizing the cover, he threw it up and be- - held a man lying in the box. Lifting the lantern, __ ‘he flashed the light on the man’s face and re- ceived the surprise of his. life. He was staggered by amazement and consternation, for it was his father he gazed upon, though he had left his father five hours before at the gate of the miser’s house, all of twenty miles away. How then could , this be his father? At that moment the man in the box put his hands on the side of it and, af- ter some effort, rose up ju a sitting posture. “Joe, is that really you?”~he said, in a hollow voige. voice and the manner of addressing him eae, Ss aianh toe avs Hey: Sak Poe Taakinciye inctively _ felt that this was his fa

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“You have seen him?” cried his father. - ~ “Seen him? I tentd cme I have, and = up against him several times at the risk of my life. y, 1 was a prisoner in his hands nearly all day, and only made my escape by the skin of my teeth late this afternoon. shots some hours ago when this wagon started off with a rush?” : “Yes, I recall that I did.” “Those shots were fired at me by the man who is as like you as one pea to another, and his eompanion, whom he called Biggs.” “How came you to be in his hands?” asked his father. It is too long a story to tell you here. You look ill and bad, father. I am sure you have suffered terribly since you disappeared from your home and the bank.” His father groaned. 7 4 “Don’t mention the bank,” he said, in heart- broken accents. “I am ruined there. The $10,000 package of bonds I am responsible for are lost to me forever.” : “Don’t worry about the bonds, father,.- I’ve recovered them.” “You have!” cried Mr: Fletcher, gazing at him, > incredulously. See “Yes. Here is the package,” and Joe took it out of his pocket and showed it. _ “Yes, yes, it’s the package, and it has not been tampe with. Thank heaven! I am saved— saved!” he cried. £ “Now, father, tell me who is that man—your living likeness?” By “T hate to confess the truth, Joe. He is my twin brother.” ws — “JT can well believe that, father. _But where has he been all these years?” . “Where—in the State prison. He committed a murder ago—killed the man who cut him out in a leve affair, and he was sentenced for life. He, with the man Biggs, made their escape - two months or more ago " Michigan to compel me-to furnish means for their escape to Europe by the way of Canada. I oes would willingly have done the best I could for ‘him, for I eannot forget that he is my own flesh and blood, and when I met him in secret } prom- - jsed te help him. But he took a grosseadvantage of my brotherly affection and aimed to effect my _ ruin the moment.the chance came in his way. He _ has proved himself to be utterly without a con- ~ tonceive of.’ _ “You shall know all presently, father. Ls help you into the house, where Doris is worried almost to death over the mystery of your ab- _ Joe led him into the Sovnee oe Doris fell his neck with surprise and joy.~ Both she { a warm su) up Didn’t you hear pistol: and came out here to lly. Then ALWAYS ON TIME S dezvous proved to be a tenantless cottage, a fact that occasioned the cashier no surprise, under the circumstances. When Richard Fletcher, the black sheep, learned that his brother had $10,000 worth of bonds on his person which he was about to take to Chester by the 6.20 train he determined to get possession of the package. With the help of Biggs he bound and gagged his brother and after dark carried him to their secret rendezvous, the old farmhouse where Joe had been taken to that morning, and where their companion, Jim- my, was in hiding. Richard Fletcher then told his brother he intended to hold him prisoner un- til he had pulled off a certain job he had in mind, namely, the old Huxley matter, after which he would be released and they would make their escape via Canada. That was practically the whole of Edward Fletcher’s story. Joe then told his story, which hinged on the mail contract he had secured with- out his father’s knowledge, relating the attacks made on his wagon, his perilous escapes and fin- ally his capture that morning. Next morning Mr. Fletcher called at Mr. Haywood’s house and told his story, handing over the package of bonds and giving his son credit for their recovery. Needless to say that the banker sympathized with him and assured him that everything was all right between them. Joe, in the meanwhile, went to the post-office, told his astonishing story and restored the money and money-orders, for which he received. great credit, and ultimately a re- ward from the Government. : He and Ted Barclay went to the old farmhouse that morning and recovered the ordinary letters and damaged pouches. After that Joe experi- enced no more trouble on the Flushing route, and at the end of his contract it was renewed at a higher rate. As for Richard Fletcher, Biggs and Jimmy, they failed to find the miser’s wealth and were caught taking a boat to Canada. They were returned to prison whence they had made theix escape, and where in time the rascally twin brother died. Ultimately, Joe Fletcher made a good thing out of the Flushing route, establish- ing a regular express business. between the two towns,-the profits of which paid him handsomely. in connection with the mail,.in the delivery of which he was always on time. Next week’s issue will contain “THE MISSING BONDS; OR, A LUCKY, BOY IN WALL STREET.” ; NEW VALUABLE CLAY.

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i Risa beat LIGHTNING FREAK. a abies 4 is apt to do anything which is ir- regular. It struck a Dickenson College dorni- tory and hurled a freshman seven feet* across a _ Yoom while-others a few feet away were not touched. eas x TRAINED PAIR OF GEESE. * Two geese trained to fish and bring the catch to their master have been keeping the table of J. x T. Kerr supplied with fish. Mr. Kerr lives on the banks of the Mississippi River. “The geese already knew how to swim and dive,” said Mr. Kerr, “and all that was necessary was to teach ; them to catch the fish and bring them in.” Mr. _. Kerr said he conceived the idea of training the geese to fish after Col. Tucker Gibson, a neigh- . boring planter, trained a hog to hunt. The hog -_- noses through the bushes and “points” covies of A quail exactly after the fashion of the best bred ~ bird dog. GOATS TO KILL SASSAFRAS. One hundred and fifty Angora goats were re- - ceived yesterday at Hartwell, Ind., in this county, ‘by the Hartwell Mining Company. The goats were bought in Kansas City to be turned loose on the property of the mining company, consist- .. ing of several thousand acres of coal land in a ‘Southern Pike County, much of which is grow- ing sassafras, small sprouts and trees. The = pate will be pastured on the property in an ef- = fort to kill the sprouts and sassafras. Hundreds of acres of this land can be reclaimed if it can be cleared without too great an expense to the “mining company, and the goats were obtained. to do the work of men in the clearing. MOUSE TOOK $50 BILL. : nothing new to the man sent by a music tune a piano in an Altoona, Pa., home scover a mouse’s nest under the keyboard. was = cp pan to him; nea when he no- tiny bits o: m paper his curiosity was _ aroused, Yate fished out the nest and found tt was a greenback, somewhat trayed around the edges. ra! Te! the woman ‘of the house and gave it _ * Well, that’s where our $50 bill went,” she d. Then she explained that last fall her : nd had slipped the bill under the parlor carpet for safe keeping. Seven weeks ago they Sade it, but it was gone. The mouse had util- ie : aes A GAS ATTACK ON DESTRUCTIVE BUGS. The deadly fumes of hydrocyanic acid gas are used in eradicating objectionable bugs and fungi citrus fruit trees. As a“couple of whiffs “gas spell sure death to the workmen, ; has. to be exercised in treating the oe . is so pained out FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY CURRENT NEWS 21 side of the canvas bag that is employed for the administering of the gas, and that forms the subject of the accompanying view, as to indicate how much gas is required for any given tree. As the canvas bag is placed over a tree, the grad- uated scale indicates the size of the tree; and by subsequent reference to the poison record on the automatic engine which makes and distributes the gas, the attendant can accurately determine exactly how much poison gas to give each tree. The treatment occurs in the late afternoon and the canvas bag is wrapped around each tree in turn for a period of forty minutes, which is considered ample time to gas the undesirable bugs and growth, VOLCANOES IN AN AMERICAN PARK. The Hawaiian National Park, just created by Congress, is the first national park lying outside the continental boundaries of the United States. It sets apart three celebrated Hawaiian volea- noes, Kilauea, Mauna Loa and Haleakala. “The Hawaiian volcanoes,” writes T. A. Jag- ger, director of the Hawaiian Voleano Observa- tory, “are truly a national asset, wholly unique of their kind, and the most continuously, vari- ously and harmlessly active volcanoes on earth. Kilauea crater has been nearly continuously ac- tive with a lake or lakes of molten lava for a century. Mauna Loa is the largest active vol-_ cano and mountain pass in the world, with erup- tions about once a decade, and has poured out more lava during the last century than any other volcano on the globe. Haleakala is a crater rift in its summit eight miles in diameter and 3,000 feet deep, with many high lava cones built up inside the crater. It is probably the largest of all known craters among volcanoes that are known as active. Haleakala erupted less than 200 years ago. The crater at surrise is the grandest volcanic spectacle on earth.” The lava lake at Kilauea is the main feature of the new national park. It draws visitors from all over the world. It is a lake of fire 1,000 feet long, splashing on its banks with a noise like waves of the sea, while great fountains boil through it fifty feet high, sending quantities of glowing spray over the shore. s hiss and rumble and blue flames play through crevasses. There -have been oceasional crises, Mr. Jagger. recently testified before the House Committee on : the Public Lands, when the active crater was up- heaved into a hill and thereafter collapsed into a deep pit with marvelously spectacular ava- lanches and fiery grottoes, cascades, whirlpools and rapids of glowing metal were common, ; Mauna Loa is capped with perpetual snow. It is two and a half miles high. Around the base of these vast voleanoes are . gergeous tropical forests. Sandalwood; else- ~ where extinct, grows there luxuriously. There There are also lavo caves,

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A Lawyer At Nineteen See. Seas FIGHTING AGAINST A FRAUD : By GASTON GARNE (A Serial Story) CHAPTER XVI. Lew Leads a Raid, But In Spite of Hopeful Appearances Madge Is Not Found. _ He ran up the steps of the house at the head - of the men, and as he did so the front door opened and a girl came out with a pail of water in one hand and a mop in the other. Lew eaught her by the arm. ; “Where’s. that young girl who was brought i here late last night?” he asked her, giving her a shake in his excitement ‘ Fhe girl screamed when she saw the policemen ‘ behind Lew, dropped the pail and the’ mop and fainted Jiew bounded into the hallway and heard /voices coming from the Yooms below, and at once rushed 4 to the basement stairs. Down he went, two at a time, and the sergeant, enly waiting to place a man at the doorway and pne at the rear of the hall and one at the foot of the flight of stairs that led above, followed him with the rest of the men.- Lew reached the bottom of the flight, and then ran to the front basement room, from which he heard voices proceeding, and rushed into an - apartment where two men had been seated at a table playing cards. They had just arisen, and one of them made a quick dash for the door that led into the kitchen.. Lew was after him like a shot, ; . + It had flashed through Lew’s mind that the man was rushing away to either give warning __ to others in the house or to effect the removal of ; -and he was resolved that the fellow should not escape. He darted after him at top in a moment was behind ‘him. ‘He did not want to knock the man senseless, or he ane eh aca him, so when he was fairly upon hi e@ young side of the hones and sent him spinning fellow was dazed and came near falling, Lew caught him by the arm and held him up, nd at that in t the police poured into the room Ral ety ot thane eiised the other man, ce fou ( g z “c “i eed i Se ae ap ~ “What's all this about?” he asked. “Tt’s about a young ei who was abducted, z § ea’ seme

lawyer struck hin on . / FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY “You can’t save yourself by lying,” sternly said the young lawyer. “Where were you run- ning to when I caught you?” “I was trying to get away.” “T know you were, but where to?” “Anywhere. I’d been playing cards, and when I saw the police coming to the gate it struck me that somebody had seen the card playing, re- sete this as a gambling house and that we were eing raided.” “That’s a likely story, You'll have to think up a better yarn than that if you want to keep out of jail.” : “Do you mean that you'll arrest me?” “Yes,” “What for?” . The young lawyer recognized the question as a very shrewd one, for, as a matter of fact, no charge could be made against the man except that of being a suspicious character, and that would. only mean temporary detention, which must be followed by speedy release. However, he thought it just as well to assume a knowledge he did not possess, and with a threatening glance, he said: * : “When you are standing trial for abduction you will find out what you are arrested for, and then, perhaps, you’ll regret that you didn’t open oe ae when you had a chance to save your- But the man looked him coolly in the face. “You're talking riddles to me,” he said. “Go right ahead and amuse yourself, young man.” “Let’s search the house,” suggested the ser- geant, and leaving the two Spree: in the care of two officers the sergeant led the others up the stairs in a search for the missing girl, The par- lor floor was quickly examined and nothing found Paes and then they descended to the next oor. i There they threw open the door of a bedroom and saw a middle-aged woman with a cloth tied around her head, busily making a bed. That she was taken by surprise was plainly evident by the expression on her face when she caught sight of the bluecoats in the doorway. “What’s this mean?” she demanded. “Who are you?” asked the sergeant. “I’m Mrs. French, This is a boarding house, and a respectable one, too, and I want to know what you want here?” “We're looking fof-a young girl who was ab- — ducted and brought here, and who is concealed here now,” “I keep only male boarders. There’s no female in this house except myself, and sooner os satisfy yourself of the fact and get out the bet- ter J shall like it.” “We'll get out when we have searched your ” house from the cellar to the roof,” said the ser- geant, “and you may as well save ofr time and your credit and tell us where the girl is, madam.” “T’d tell you if I knew,” said Mrs. French, and then went on the bed with an air of unconcern that Lew felt that the nee, of — Madge in the house was very small, in- i r ce © (To be continued.) « ' | i” age —=_ “Ne > te ae el, . es a ee ses : : i +.

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% ‘ wa =< Fisher says he counted the bullion and money when he discovered the hoard, and it consisted of S; FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY = - : THE NEWS IN SHORT ARTICLES BEACH CENSORS SEW UP GAPS IN BATH- a ING SUITS. 3 Seamstresses with pins, needles, thread and other paraphernalia were stationed at Chicago peaches to censor the batning suits worn by women and sew in those wearers who violated prohibitions against the display of legs and shoulders which were made effective this year. Last year the style of beach costumes was left almost entirely to the conscience of the wearer. Hundreds of women who appeared to-day in last year’s “conscience” suits kept the beach tail- oress-censors busy. NEW ARTESIAN WELL ON A RAMPAGE. The great Bear Butts artesian well, struck a short distance north of the Black Hills, South Dakota, has developed into what is believed to be the greatest artesian well on the American con- tinent. This immense spouter now is running wild, and strenuous efforts are being made to --eontrol it. This must be done by capping it, which will be difficult. When the flow of water was first struck it flowed at the rate of 50,000 barrels a day. Re- cent measurements show the flow is row more than 100,000 barrels a day. It is on a real ram- the owner - ruined. - AMUNDSEN IN NOME ON WAY TO = SEATTLE. - * Roald Amundsen, the explorer, whose ship; the Maude, wintered off Cape Serge, Siberia, arrived in Nome June 18, and will leave for Seattle on "the first steamer, he announced. The Maude Jost a propeller in the ice during the winter and will be towed to Seattle this summer for repairs. ~The explorer, noted for his discovery of the South Pole and his many Arctic and Antarctic voyages said he would continue his efforts to reach the North Pole by drifting with Arctic ice floes as soon as sepa to his vessel were com- 73 _ pleted. He spent the winter on board the Maude, - — with one native and three white companions, an said the party experienced few hardships. With _ the explorer were the daughter of Charles Car- -_ ‘penter, a Siberiar trader, u girl, whom he will send to school in Norway. _ ASURE CAVE. n has been made to the Mexican Gov- Tex., and a Chuchuk Eskimo 8,646 gold bars, 4,560 silver bars and 7,500,090 octagonal Spanish silver pieces. : : OPERATOR BLIND. Eighteen years ago Harry K. Ronne, telegraph operator, Lushton, Neb., went blind as the result of paralysis of the optic nerve, and later lost the use of his lower limbs. Determined not to be a charge upon the community he attended the State Institute for the Blind, and since then has married a girl whom he has never scen, and is the father of a six-year-old son. At the present time he is in charge of the lo- cal exchange of the Lincoln Telephone Company. He is pronounced one of the best cperators in the company’s employ. Under the direction of his wife he learned the mysteries of the Switch- beard. He operates it by sound entirely. His sense of hearing is so acute that he can dis- tinguish between the rings of all of the several hundred subscribers, the buzzes and other sounds and seldom makes an error. He does the work as rapidly as a person with sight. His wife attends to the commercial affairs of the office. —Cea@=zeGcuqu33tleaQQ@a@a@aanec_o——[—=—=== “Mystery Magazine” SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A COPY LATEST ISSUES 70 THE HOUSE BEHIND THE WALL, by Julian Darrow. 71 THE ADMIRAL’S SPOONS, by William Hamilton 72 THE CANINE 2 CANINE CLUE, by Thos. J. Laly. 73 TH PSYCHIC ENEMY, by Arthur Win, Andreen 74 THE WONDER GIRL, by. Ralph Cummins. , 75 ON THE WRONG TRAIL, by Ethel Rosenion THE SPIRIT WITNESS, by ‘Chas. F. Ouursler THE LITTLE WHITE ROOM, by Mare Edmund Jones. THR STOLEN YEAR, by Edmund Elliot . THE AFFAIR AT HOLLYWOO OUSE: a REYLESS MYSTER “Bake ee CEYL $ MYSTERY, by Hanmilte PROFESSOR SATAN, by Chas. F. Gurion a WHO KILLED McNALLY? by Beulah Poynter, 5 THE CLUP OF THD WHORL. by Katherine Stagg.’ 8 THE “CZAR” AND THE RING, by Edmund Blliot. 85 A CLUE OF FLAME, by Jac Bechdott. : 86 “THE FACE IN THE CROWD,” by Mare BE. Jones 87. THE MAN IN-ROOM No. 7, by Chas. F. Oursler. 88 FOUR TEN-DOLLAR BILLS, by Henry G. Howland. 3 The Famous Detective Stiry Out Today In No. 89 Is A CHALLENGE TO POWER é. By H. ENTON, M.D. = FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 168 W: 234 St.. New Sek = 2 ——ee———VO—VOVO——ooOoOoOoO £ “Moving Picture Stories” : A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players __ PRICE SEVEN CENTS PER COPY. Each number contains Four Stories of the Best Films — Screens—Elegant ne : ; the ae HARRY E. WOLFE, Pub. 166 w. 28a St, New ork

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4 ~~ ~ winter, father oe, of oe ,; 24 Chased By Wolves. | By ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG, “Tell us a story, grandpa.” / It was a youngster who spoke, and as the words fell from his lips he came forward with a chair and seated himself by the side of a little old man, with a kind expression, whose hair and beard were of snowy whiteness. : “Oh, yes, grandpa; please do,” cried two or three flaxen+haired urchins, as they eagerly shoved their chairs up before the hearth. “Tell us about the bears and wolves, that used to be so numerous when you and grandma first moved into the big woods.” “No, grandpa; tell us about the panther that shot in the alder thicket,” put in a black-eyed of some twelve years. “I think that story’s just ; “TI think the story about the old Indian man is the best,” said a kind little girl of some ten sum- mers, as she placed her hand upon the d man’s knee and looked up into his face. “You'll tell us that one, won’t you, ee The old man arose and placed a couple of sticks of wood on the fire in the good old New England fireplace, and then went to the front window and forth into the darkness. It was a night of storm and gloom, and the howling wind shook the windows spitefully. : “Well, boys and girls,” said he, coming back and resuming his seat, “to-night carries my mind back to the time when we passed such a terrible ; night in the forest.” Little Mary climbed up into the old man’s lap, and with an anxious group of young listeners around him, he told the bac F ‘ “We had been in the wilderness nearly three years, and we had a good log house, a log barn, or rather a hovel, as we called it, and a clearing of some twenty acres. One afternoon in mid- ested me and James to go over to neighbor Belcher’s and get a quarter of veni- son that he had left there the day before. ‘And mind you, boys,’ he said, ‘you must be back before sundown. This is imperative.’ “We promised obedience, and with light: hearts hurried away. “The distance oe a ae ged ge = miles, over a roug -road, and nearly the way through the me But to hardy frontier ef fourteen and sixteen years of age this eH ve nothing; and at an early hour we arrived at Belcher’s cabin, where we were kindly received by the family, and soon enga in sport with the Belcher boys, ridimg down jill, chasing each other across the lots, and viSiting their traps and snares, “Time passed rapidly as it always does in such times, and in the fullness of our joys we thought not of returning until nearly night, when the Joud the trees on the hill, a few feathery flakes approaching all. — of the ee = angry whir' o of | warned us of a - “Hurriedly we repaired to the house, and wrap- es up the venison rought with us, we started homeward. a 7 ads FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY “ ‘Boys,’ said Mrs. Belcher, coming to the door, ‘you had better stay with us to-night. It’s going to snow, and the wolves may catch you in the dark before you get home.’ “‘No, thank you, Mrs. Belcher,’ said I. ‘Father commanded us to be back before sunset, and it must be that time now. How thoughtless we have been that we did not start sooner.’ “‘But it’s dangerous, boys,’ she expostulated. ‘The wolves may devour you. Stay with us and start early in the morning.’ “She could not induce us to stay, however, for our guilty consciences were inwardly reproaching us for staying so long already. “What would our kind parents say when night came om and we did not return? “‘*Pshaw,’ said James, who was some two years older than I, ‘the wolves won’t trouble us,’ and without more words we started into a brisk trot. “Already it was dusky in the thick woods, and soon the snow commenced to fall very fast. - “We had reached the top of a high wooded ridge. over which the path wound, and were lodding along, facing the storm bl when a ow, dismal howl greeted our ears from the swamp below. “<Jim,’ said I, ‘that’s a wolf, sure’s the world. I don’t know but that we’d have done better to have stayed at Mr. Belcher’s.’ ‘Come -on,’ he returned. ‘Who’s going to be afraid of a wolf? They never attack anything unless there’s a gang together, and we’ll be home before they get congregated. We're most half way home now.’ “A few moments later the same dismal howl rang mournfully through the thick forest again. “And this time an answering howl came up from the valley on the other side. resounded behind-us, and then another, and an- other, from the glen away beyond the swamp. “A cold shudder ran through my quivering frame, and my panting breath seemed to come in fitful gasps. “What would become of us? “We would be devoured by the wolves. “Father, alarmed by our absence, would come to find us, and they would kill him, too. “And mother and sister would mourn and starve and die alone in the wilderness. “And it would all be on account of our wicked disobedience. “The thought was withering, and it racked my very soul with mental agony. : “James snatched the venison from my arms, and we fled, like frightened deer, down the hill. “As we feared the low gre the somber hem- locks shut out the little lingering light of day, and we could just discern the road . “Louder and more fierce became the blood- curdling howls, as the cruel beasts gathered nearer about us, and we began to realize that a terrible moment was approaching. “Suddenly a dark, tawny object dashed across _ the road directly before us. “The dried twigs snapped, and the bushes rus- tled as it leaped to one side and sent forth a quick, hoarse growl, causing us to quake with in a clean cloth that we had _terro iT. 4 “James threw down the vension, and, grasping. “Another moment and then a prolonged ‘eclio”

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Pe Pee) ree ih ad Fone y ht as Ae’ 3) an: ne oa ’ . | a yea CTT ey ADS ey, Thy ier are | it Pay el ot ee \ me hand, we sped along the road with all our “jnoment later such a commingled snarling and howling arose as I hope I may never hear “They were fighting over the venison, and, now, if we would save our lives, we must do our ut- most to escape during the few moments they would be engaged in devouring it. “But ere we had proceeded a hundred rods they were coming again in swift pursuit. “We were now running up hill, and we soon be- came so tired it seemed as though we must drop from exhaustion. “Panting for breath, we staggered on. mye seemed as though we should never get to “We broke over the height at last, however, and as we commenced to descend, a bright light glimmered through the forest, like a brilliant lone star in the darkness. “To us it was, indeed, a star of joy. “Tt was the light from our own cabin windows, in the quiet little valley below. “Tt raised in our desponding breasts a new ray of hope) and we darted on with renewed energy. “The blinding snow dashed in our faces, and winter’s frozen blast roared through’ the naked forest like a hurricane. \ '“The wolves were now close om us again, and in a moment we might feel their sharp fangs ierce our flesh. “We felt sure if we could reach the clearing they would pause in their pursuit, and then we should escape. “By turning into a rough by-path, we could reach a corner of it within thirty or forty rods from where we were. “Tt was the-mearest point; though to reach it we would be obliged to cross a deep, rocky gully, through which ran a small turbulent stream of water. — : “We did not stop to argue, but dashed down .the steep decline, regardless of hurts and bruises, and soon reached the creek. : “As we scrambled up the opposite bank, we heard three or four of the savage brutes crossing _ the creek behind us, and by the time we had ‘it Pn into the gulch. reached the top they were upon us. ie “James hurriedly drew off his coat, and threw ! What a fearful noise ensued, 2 y as they leaped ppon the tattered garment and s. ~ tore it to shred: - ment, and then “But it occupied their attention only for a mo- they came on again. : “We threw our hats behind us, but they did “ = FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ~ of fessor Thiddleton. He a trained monkey that 25 “Father had come to the rescue. - “The sound of the musket, at that moment, was more joyful to our ears than the sweetest strains of music. “The wolves vanished from before us as if by magic, and their loud, unearthly yells immediate- ly ceased. : “ ‘Run, boys, run for your lives,’ father called out in a clear tone of voice. ‘They will certainly kill you if they overtake you.’ “Aye; we knew it, and we bounded forward. “As we entered the clearing our courage rose, and we flitted past past the blackened stumps with the speed of the frightened fawn. “We could hear the furisus animals collecting: again on the edge of the clearing, and we knev’ we could not trust them. “Dashing up to the house, we excitedly called out between our panting breath: ~ 2 “*Open the door, mother!’ “The door swung back on its wooden hinges, and we staggered in and sank upon the floor be- fore the hearth, bleeding 2nd exhausted. “Father followed close behind us, and raising = ig our feet, kindly inquired if we were badly urt. “Our wounds were not serious, and after they had been carefully dressed, and we had become somewhat rested, supper was prepared, “We sat around the board, but we did not eat anything that night. “Our systems had heen teo much shocked by the ordeal we had passed through, and we had no appetite. “Father had been’ to the saw-mill after we went away, and did not come home until dark. “He heard the wolves as he came home, and on ascertaining that we had rot arrived, he rightly guessed what they were making such a din about. “Without saying a word to further excite mother’s fears, he snatched his gun from. the hooks and rushed forth to meet us. “The result is alresdy known. “All night long the storm raged with unabated fury, and the wolves howled and snarled inces- santly around the edge of the clearing, and even at times came around the house and barn. ~ “Old Tige would start up from his corner every now and-then, rattling his chain and growling, and wll thoughts of fleep was banished from the — ; “The morning at length dawned, clear and beautiful, and with the rising of the sun all cause of alarm passed away; though it was nearly a ~week before we recovered sufficiently to be able to go into the woods again to work. *. “Father did not say a word to us about our disobediencethen, but the wolves had taught us a bitter lesson, and one long to be remembered. “We had tasted the retributive fruits of dis- obedience, and from that hour we were more care- ful to obey a kind father’s commands.” : * soc sb ee she would parce me any but a essional man.” “And : filled her ones eat her emg get an educa at he exhibits- on the ata re ” “ ty saa Pic a> es

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26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, JULY 22, 1921. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Mingle Copies . iirc cc ckee 07 Cents One Copy Three Mente... -80 Cents <; One Copy Bix Mouthe...... $1.75 & One Cepgy One Year....... 3.50 HOW TO SEND MS@N€Y—At our risk send P. O. Money Owder, Check or Kegistered Letter; remittances in auy other way are at your risk. We accept Postage . Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Cola im a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the - znveiope. Write yeur name and address plainly. Ad- uress letters te HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher ioe West 23d St., New York ITEMS OF INTEREST CONSCIENCE TROUBLED HER. Because she “cheated” the weighing machine in the Union Pacific Depot, Junction City, Kan., out of a penny more than a year ago, the con- science of an Abilene woman has been bothering her ever since, according toa letter received by < G. W. Mills, the company’s agent here. In her letter the woman stated that more than a year ago she and her daughter placed a penny in the weighing machine, and after it had registed her weight, and before she stepped from the machine, the mother stepped on also and was weighed free. This worried her so much that she inclosed a stamp in the letter and asked Mr. Mills to place a penny in the weighing machine, thus easing her’ conscience. A WONDERFUL CAVE. One of the most wonderful caves in the world is in eastern Kentucky. Unexplored and almost unknown, its grandeur has been seen by few. The cave is in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains, on the line of the Fort Creek head- quarters. Two or three exploring parties have ventured into the maze of the vast subterranean passageways, but none has ever reached the end. he searchers report passageways, rooms and chambers innumerable, and transparent stalacti- ~ tic columns of great beauty. One room has a a floor as level. and as smooth as a dance hall. Others have fathomless pits. Evidently human beings have visited the cave before only to lose their lives trying to find their way out, for old -_ kettles, parts of dishes, rotted lanterns and other = utensils were discovered. The cave will be pene- *, trated farther by exploring parties. ere A PARADISE FOR ANIMALS. ‘ _——s«*#Pierre Loti, in his book on India, repeatedly -- describes the fearlessness of animals in that ~ country. He says: “My room was never closed, - neither during the day nor the night, and the _ birds of the air made their home with me; spar- walked on the mats that covered the floor, - without even heedi presence, and little __- squirrels, after an inquiring gaze, came in ig on the market.” Describing the enchanted wood of Oodeypore, with wild boars, monkeys, and a number of birds, flights of turtle-doves, and droves of parrots, he says: “Flocks of superb peacocks strut up and down among the dead trees, running with out- stretched tails, the wonderous sheen of which looks like a~-spirit of green and incandescent metal. All these animals are free and unre- strained, yet their demeanor is not that of wild animals and birds, for in these lands, where they are never slain by man, the idea of flight does not animate them as it does at home.” This respect for animal life is not confined to the Buddhists of Jains, the sentiment is of much mort ancient origin. Pierre Loti tells us that the horrors of death and slaughter, the sickening display of carcasses of animals are nowhere to be seen, for the people of Brahma do not eat any- thing that has ever lived. “In the place of such exhibitions, we see heaps of roses plucked from their stems, which are used in the making of essences, or simply to be woven into necklaces.” LAUGHS A well-dressed woman paused in front of the chestnut vender’s stand. “Are they wormy?” she asked. “No, ma’am,” he answered, blandly. “Did you want them with worms?” The Lady—How much milk does the old cow give a day, Tom? Tom—aAbout eight quarts, ma’am. The Lady—And how much of that do you sell? Tom—About twelve quarts, ma’am. Mrs. Proudman—Our Willy got “meritorious commendation” at school last week. Mrs, O’Bull —Well, well! Ain’t it awful ‘the’ number of strange diseases that’s ketched by school child- ren? “The count has promised that he will never beat or kick me if I will marry him,” said the. beautiful heiress. “But has he promised to work for you?” her father asked. “Oh, papa, don’t be unreasonable.” Mrs. Jones—Fancy! Mrs. Bangs threw a saucepan at her husband because he sat on her new hat. I could never do a thing like that. Mr. Jones—Ah, no! - Because you love me so dearly, eh, pet?. Mrs. Jones—Y-es. Besides, I haven’t a new hat! “See here, Mr.-Casey,” said Pat to the tax as- sessor, “shore and ye know the goat isn’t worth $8.” “Oi’m sorry,” responded Casey, “but that is the law,” and producing a book, he read the following passage: “All property abutting on Sar street should be taxed at the rate of $3 per oot.” ; “Algernon is very interesting,” said the stock broker’s daughter. “What does he talk about?” inquired her father. posted in Shakespearean quotations. “Young -woman,” said the financier, sterning, “don’t you — let him deceive you. There ain’t no such stock a = “Why, he’s ever so well |

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, s _ HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN ENGLAND FOR SALE. 4 ei al Who wants, to buy Mount Snowdon, which is ‘the highest mountain in the British Isles? It is ~ now listed for sale by its owner, Sir Richard Williams Bulkeley. Sir Rickard is probably the largest land owner in Wales. BIG RATTLESNAKE KILLED. Lewis H. Weed, game protector of Walker Val- ley, has killed a rattlesnake at Glénspey, Sullivan, county, N. Y., measuring four feet and four inches, with thirteen rattles. Inside the rattler was found a chipmunk. Old residents say this is the largest rattler killed in Sullivan county in fifteen years. REMEMBERED IN HIS WILL. * Robert Smith, a Boston fish-peddler, when a schoolboy in Dublin, Ireland, thirty years ago, committed Hamlet’s soliloquy to memory and re- cited it for his uncle. The latter was so well leased that he told the lad he would remember fim in his will. The uncle died a few days ago, and advices just received by Smith indicate that he is heir to an estate valued at $200,000. On receipt of the news Mr. Smith dumped his fish cart over the edge of the “T” warf and an- nounced that he would leave on the first train for ~ San Francisco, where his sister resides. He will _ - share his legacy with her. 4 INDIANS GO TO SEA IN CANOE. -_‘Newell Tomah and Johnnie Ranco of the Pe- - nobseot tribe of Indians left the reservation at Indian Island, twelve miles up the river from Bangor, Monday, June 8, on their 300-mile voy- - age in a birch canoe to Plymouth, Mass., to take eae oe ‘ a it Ma Bi 0 2 Eee ae =; in the Pilgrim Tercentenary. Their de- _ parture was made the occasion of a reat dem- They will hug the coast closely, making harbor every skin, beads, * elidden, Ta, all — cs 2 Ss ac FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST ve been published concerning foot. 27 . the first Americans killed in the war have not ‘agreed as to the time, place or identity of the men, either has there been agreemnt as to th dat®on which the first American troops en- tered the fighting line. On a monument erected at Bathlemont, Lor- raine, by thegpeople of the Department of Meurthe-et-Mosshe is an inscription containing the names of the three soldiers mentioned above, and states they “were killed in view of the ene- my on the 3d of November, 1917.” ; The War Department records show that the first division of the A. E. F. entered the line in the Somerville sector in Lorraine on the night of Oct. 21, 1917. A CAT’S RIDE. = ’ If any one doubts that cats have nine lives, he will no longer do so after reading what han- pened to a Huntington, Neb., kitten. The story is vouched for by reliable witnesses and told by the St. Louis Globe-Demoerat. A kitten at the Great Northern Mills climbed into the inside rim of the big flywheel and fell asleep. The engineer did not notice the kitten when he started the en- gin in- the morning, and for nine consecutive hours the little creature, held in its perilous posi- tion by centrifugal force, was whirled around and around on the giant flywheel at the rate of 90 revolutions a minute.” It was still alive whén evening came and the engine was stopped for the night. The kitten traversed the circumference of the wheel 48,600 times at lightning speed. Al- though alive, the kitten was in a stunned condi- tion and was unable to stand on its feet, but a little nursing on the part of the millmen revived. it, and it is now as well as ever. POLAR SHIP LAUNCHED. The schooner Bowdoin, built to carry Donald of-, B. MacMillan, the explorer, on the next Arctic voyage starting in July, was launched at noon April 9 from the shipyard of Hogdon Brothers, East Boothbay, Me. She was chri with roses by Miss May Fogg of Freeport, a neice of the explorer. In design and construction the Bowdoin embod- nts of special provisions for the work ies all ele ahead of her su: by the long experience of ggestedd MacMillan. Her hull is egg-shaped, with nothing to which ice can cling. Under sufficient pressure from the icefloes the Bowdoin, instead of being crushed, should lift out of the water and be car- ried alang with the Bowdoin is The iti but may also either a na -

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~ , | bardest metal known. Points cannot ITEMS FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY OF GENERAL INTEREST DROVE WEASEL OUT OF TREE. As Calvin Waldron and friends were walking ilong the mountainside at Conyngham, Pa., they spied a full-grown weasel up a tree. While two of them threw stones at the animal Wé@®ldron stood guard at the bottom, and when the weasel tame down he captured it alive. —~= 15,000 BARRELS OF POTATOES USED AS FERTILIZER IN MAINE. Farmers in Southern Aroostook County, Maine, recently dumped approximately 45,000 barrels of potatoes in their fields, where they will be plowed in to serve as fertilizer. Aroostook preducers were caught with a large surplus as a result of a. falling market, which reduced the price from $3 a barrel early in the season to 40 cents a barre! to-day. In the north- ern part of the county starch factories took care of the surplus. FLATIRON BUILDING ONLY A NICKNAME. Ask a New Yorker where the Flatiron Building is and he will readily tell you. Thousands of per- sons who have never been to New York also know the building well by reputation. But inquire about the Fuller Building and there are few in the city able to locate it. They are one and the same. On account of its peculiar shape the structure opularly called the Flatiron Building when_ bgt aie mt and it became nationally known it was put under that name. é ART OF TATTOOING STILL SURVIVES. . Tattooing, that very apparent. means of pro- claiming one’s love for the briny deep, is a form of adornment ancient, and in ancient times most honorable. The Polynesians are known to have been adepts in the art, and from that time to this there have been always been people who have been attracted to this form of beauty, which as- suredly is only skin deep. The decorations have taken all sorts of forms, from the plain black and white work to that in the most variegated color- ings, to say nothing cf the method of “gash” tat- tooing, which consists of cutting deep gashes in the desired design, filling them with clay and then letting them remain as a sort of cameo on the flesh. _ Local mariners who believe that tattooing is a sign of having visited the countries wherein it is most generally practiced may be surprised to learn that right here in the center of the bank- ing, industrial and commercial world one may be tattooed to his -heart’s content. In addition he may smell the salt water and the strange fruits .and spices from many a foreign land. Coentios Slip, New York, street with the roman- tic name, boasts a barber shop which has in at- tendance an expert tattooer. _ GRASSHOPPERS IN ICE. Standing in Daisy Pass the traveler is at the threshold of some of the most interesting won- derlands of the Beartooth, writes A. H. Cerhart in the American Forestry Magazine in an article on “The Land of the Beartooth.” Perhaps the most curious glacier in the world is found here. Indeed it can claim distinction on its unique fea- _ture which would make it. is unusual scenic value among many glaciers. It is the Grasshopper Glacier and in its ice it carries thousands of grasshoppers preserved in freezing condition for many, many years and of a species that are now extinct. The grasshoppers that have been preserved in this curious manner are of a species that were migratory in habit. It is believed that centuries ago, before white men came to this continent, a vase horde of these insects were bying over the mountains at a high altitude when they encoun- tered a severely cold air current. The low temperature killed the grasshoppers or drove them-to an alighting place and they were caught in the ice and snow of the glacier. The glacier with three smaller ones lies in a huge semicircle extending from the north and east edge of Sawtooth Peak to Granite Peak, making a con- tinuous stretch of ice over three miles in length. The best time to visit the glacier is late in August. FREE TO Send we $10.56 for 3 one-year subscriptions each, ox the Same amount for 6 six-months ‘and we will mail you a handsome to | pescripTION—A little red pump-handle fills the ink as any other . Flow of ink is positive. ints of ik, solid gold, tip | ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO SUBSCRIBE. EVERYBODY—FREE subscriptions at $1.75 each with native Tasmanian ap, spread or scratch. - : GET ONE OF THESE $4.00 PENS FREE Y E. WOLFY, 166 West Twenty-third St., New York City FOUND BURIED MONEY. Mrs. Daniel Loy, a widow, in Eaton, 0O., near Richmond, Ind., is $1,600 richer through the curiosity of Mrs. A. L. Harris, wife ofa this magazine, at $3.50 PEN qaw former Governor of Mes Ohio. Mrs. Harris, a = neighbor, entered the Loy cellar to get an ar- ticle of food for Mrs, Loy, who is ill. Buried- under a mass of rub- - bish she found several fruit jars filled with $1,600 in currency. Holds twice as mueh ever floods or clogs. Pen Osmiridi

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“VENICE OF SOUTH SEAS” SHOWS IM- POSING RUINS Having discor- covered ruins on the Nomatol Pen- insula of Ponape Island (one of the Caroline group seized by Japan early in the war) indicating that there was a Jap- anese_ settlement several centuries ago, an expedi- tion of Japanese scientists and public officials re- turned recently to Tokio. “The ruins of Nomatol,” one of its members re- ports were em- ployed to erect the gigantic buildings at a time when no other houses were built of stone within a radius of several hun- dred miles. “As the natives there live in mis- erable bamboo huts, the large and imposing ruins show that people of a differ- ent race » lived there in the past. The ruined walls are six feet thick and twenty feet high. The front walls are made of very large volcanic rocks. The ruins TOBACCO Or SNUFF HABIT Cured or NOPAY ing drugs. Guaranteed. Sent on trial. it cures costs you one dollar. if you are net perfectly satisfied, costs you no ji teday SUP Write fer full remedy 5 OOMPANY, M21, Baltimore, Ma. Wenderfal, sew device, guides your hand; corrects writing in few ie Big improvement_in three urs. Nofailores, Complete outline . Write C. J. Ozment, Dept. $9 St. Louis, Mo. If Ruptured — : Tania tee Try This Free Headz: Apply It to Any Rupture, Old or Recent, Large or Small, and you Are on the Road That Has Convinced Thousands. - Sent Free ye eee This Anyone ruptured, man, woman or child, should write at once to W. 8. Rice, 2056 Main St.. Adams, N. Y., for a free trial of his wonderful stimulating application. Just put it on the rupture and the muscles begin to tighten; they begin to bind together so that the opening closes naturally and the need of a support or truss or appliance is then done away with. Don’t neglect to send for this free trial. Even if your rupture doesn't bother you, what is the use of wear- ing supports all your life?) Why suffer this nuisance? Why run the risk of gangrene and such dangers from a small and innocent little rupture, the kind that has thrown thousands on the operating table? A host of men and women are dally running such risk just because their ruptures do not hurt nor prevent them from getting around. Write at once for this free trial, as it is certainly Be a Sport Writer! Here’s a profession in constant need of more men, quickly studied (all you need is a common education), pays big— with extra money when acting referee, or judge; presents op- portunity for travel—({all ex- penses paid) makes you intimate with Sport Kings—welcome everywhere; happy, congenial, real man’s work with great opportunities for advancement; makes you free and independ- ent. Ten dollars is all you need. No more to pay until you actually earn it by “Sportwriting.”” Official “Press Card” issued to each student. If you are fond of sports, here’s your chance to cash in. Ask for copy of ‘Straight Talk.’* Address Hap Hazzard, Sporting Editor, Dept. 12. and EW SCIENTIFIC WONDER Re : - - BOYS ge Bones novelty FREE with each Free To You! ‘in Flesh: X-Ray. TARVEL MFG. CO..Dept 15 NEW HAVEN, CONN. QUICK HAIR GROWTH! OWTH! | are about 1,000 feet long and 100 a wonderful thing and has aided in the cure of ruptures that were as big as a man’s toma | by mm. fectly fv -mileas nae — feet wide. The bebop and write at once, using the Bey Sema ot ground within the 2e EN-We, Caen F, Now Yok, 8X, ~ walls, Aer for- ps raicaces, Station merly gardens ok -2 and _ courtyards Ww. s. Rice, In., : were, is now cOvy- 2056 Main St., Adams, N. Y. ered “with sea- Yon may send me entirely free a ter.” Sample Treatment of your stimulating Fite the hand, cannot. be ; water. application for Rupture. | with it you can throw Biz Wias curves. Boys, get this Base Ball Curver and you can Fan 'Em as & 4 si; fastas they come te Bat. By mail gO" 4 m 10c, 3 for B5e with catalog of noveities. Stamford Coma The ruins are called “Venice of the South Seas.”

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OLD COINS WANTED TOBACCO HABIT! 4. Make It Quit You only ig tobacco filthy and giseusting to weakens heart, stomach, tae and invites disease that may sborten yourlife. STOPE esate igo pet don't your system br try ng io utuaide FASY TO QUirl mm ference how long you have used tobacco, whether gers. chew or se Coins dated before 1895. Large Premium. Get Posted at Once. new and broken jewelry, platinur postage, etc. OHIO SMELTING & REFINING CO. ‘ 262 Lennox Bidg. On legal affidavit, Joht Hert Brittain, Husiness mas, certified Qo this: ‘‘My head at the top and back was absoiuteiy bald, The Seslp was shiny. An expert said that he thought the hair roots were e@xtinct, and there was no hope of my ever haying a new hair grewth, **"Yot now, at an age over 66, I have a luxuriant growth of joft, strong, lustrous hair! No trace of baldness. The pictures shown are from my photographs.’“ Mr. Brittain certified furthers INDIAN’S SECRET; OF HAIR GROWTH *‘At g time when ¥ had become discouraged # at trying various hair lotions, tonics, specialists® Rreatments, etc,, I came across, in my fravels, a on Indian a man’ wee h — ‘ { he asseverated would grow my hair. though + hoir growth & had but little faith, I gave it a trial. To my After g : gmazement a light fuzz soon appeared. It developed, day by day, into 2 1 xg a and ere long my, hait was as prolife 65 in my OD. ays, Te - That I was astonished and happy is expressing my state of mind mildly. Obviously, the hair roots had not beon dead, but were dormant in the scalp, awaiting the fertilizing potency of the mytterious pomade, tess ‘In for and came into possession of the principle for pre~- i ‘ Lente t pe deen ee grime = pone xealee, and later had the hate baid, © put into practic orm by a chemist. —_ # mhen * 4 my pai hair growth was permanent hag been amply proved.'* How YOU May Grow YOUR Hair It has been proved in very many casea that hair roots did = hot dio even when the hair fell. out ahecte, dandruff, fever, plopecia areata or certain other hair or scalp disorders, Miss A, D, Otto reports: ‘**‘About 8 years ago my hair began to fall KOTALKO out until my sc a Beet gs st entirely I used FOR FALLING HAIR ; zy, everything that was recommends ed but was always disappointed ~ = at ‘My > LF, oo ye aay alko, spots are BALDNESS, DANDRUFF || covered now; the growth is at ready about three inches.’* qa, For Sale at all +e gro since BusyDrug Stor @S | I used Kotalko.’" Mrs. Matilda Maxwell reports: ‘‘The whole — pe gece Pe head Hh as bald . as the palm of hand for sbou years, ince usin otalke. hate 18 mowing al. over the placa thab w2s bal 4 Kotalko is wonderful more het convincing ceporta from satisfied usera, for women’s hair, > : contains OG and other potent in< : gredientsa. No alcohol, no shampoo; but s hair elixir of wonderful efficacy. All ingredients are safe and harmless, . ar even for a ehild’s sealp and hair, Positively KOTALKO is : one delightfully reliable hair preparation that succes.s upon genuine merit, Buy « box of KOT. at the drug store. Or ask for Kotalko at the toilet goods or drug counter of any large department store, Remember the mame. Accept nothing else ag ‘‘just as good.’’ $300.00 GU. Or if you send io cents (silver or stumps), you will receive a PROOF BOX of Kotalko with BROCHURE, ost termine NOW to eliminate DANDRUFF, to treat BALDNESS, to STOP \ Ean wateh in your mirror, For PROOF BOX (10 cents, none otherwise) write to FROM FALLING, Get = box of guaranteed KOTALKO, apply once or twice KOTALKO OFFICES, BA-375, Station X, New York $2 to $500 EACH paid for Hundreds of Keep ALL old Money. You may haye Coins worth a Send 10c. for new | Illustrated Coin Value Book, size 4x6. | CLARKE COIN CO., Box 35, Le Roy, N. Rai ih by mailing us diamonds, watches, ) “~~, < rund. broken fortion: 4, old gold }€n’s clothing not and silver, War Bonds, War Stamps, unused Cash by return mail. Goods returned in 10 days if you’re not satisfied. Cleveland, Ohio A SEA MYS- TERY Wreckage of a \large sailing ves- *}sel, together with remnants of wom- more than a year old, lie on the island of Seeorro, 400 miles! west of Manzanilio, ac- cording to Capt. R, E. Voeth, who has arrived at San Francisco aboard the steam- erSanJuan. Cap- tain Voeth, who 1s returning from a two months’ cruise among the - islands of the Mexican coast, | told of finding the wreck while searching for ifresh water. Un- jmistakable signs | Showed that sur- |Vivors had lived | there for a time, e said, rude shelters having | been erected and |holes dug in the }sand in an effort | to find water. There is no j water on Secor- }ro, Capt. Voeth Pieces ;declared. lof clothing and a jwoman S shoe j were in one of the shelters, he said, but of the SUrVivors he could find no trace. On the other side of the island was a ship’s lifeboat bearing the word “Polar,” the boat apparently \ hay- ing been on the beach longer than the wrecx. Capt. ” Voeth stated that jhe could find no | record made by jeither Ameriean or Mexican au- thorities of any vessel having been lost recently in those waters or of any ship- wrecked persons having been pick- ed up.

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3 WHAT TO DO WHEN A SNAKE BITES YOU —— Immediately after a person has been bitten by a poisonous snake, writes Dr. Cc. Cc. Graves, who has prac- tised medicine in the tropics for many years, in the Indianapolis Medical Journal, the bitten limb should be sur- rounded by a tightly drawn bandage or hand- kerchief, as close - to the bite as ; possible and be- o tween the trunk - and the wound. The wound made by the fangs of _ the ‘snake should _ then be freely in- cised with a knife and sucked. There is no danger in sucking the wound if there = are no cracks or “sores in the mouth or on the - tongue. Do not -- cauterize the the wounds. Do not administer al- cohol in any form or ammonia in- ternally. The bitten per- son should now ~ be removed to the nearest hospital and given anti- venomous serum, This serum is a ‘scientifically proved _ remedy, and to ‘be effec- tive must be used early, say within -. ‘the first few = hours after being - pitten. It is the endeavor to keep . ELECTRIC MODEL Picture Show in Your Qwn Hame Remember, this is a Genuine Moving Pieture Machine and the motion pictures are clear, sharp and distinct. The Movin Picture Machine is finely constructed, and carefully put to- pes by skilled workmen. It is made of Russian Metal, bas a besatiful finish, and is operated by a finely constructed mechanism, consist- ing of an eight wheel movement, etc. The projecting lenses are carefully ground and adjusted, triple polished, standard double extra reflector, throwing a ray of light . inany feet, and enlarging the picture on the screen up” to three or four feet in area. It is not a toy; it iss ge constructed and durable Moving Picture Machiné. he mechanism is exceed- ingly simple and is readily operated by the most inez- erienced. The pictures shown by this marvelous Moving Picture Machine are not the common, crude and lifeless Magic Lantern variety, but are life-like photo- graphie reproductions of actual acenes, places and ple, which never tire its sudienoes, This Moving Picture Machine has ca a rousing enthusiasm wherever it is used. This Moving Picture Machine which I want to send you FREE, gives clear and life-like Mov tures as are shown at aoy regular Maving Suerte ow. It moving pietures on the sheet before you. This Machine and Box of Film are FREE—ebsolw an Outfit, free to girls and free to older people. how to get this Marvelous Machine. How You Gan Get This Grea Machine— Read HIERE IS what you are to do in order to this amazi Moving Pietures: Send your name and address—that is ing ever saw—all brilliant and shimmering colors. among the titles are such subjects as "Betsy Rose Making the F’ Home," —"'Battle of Lake Brie,” etc. — ne —— sy people we. Keon Whes you ave ribu the pre ™m pictures cn libe: offer you will have collected $8.00. Send the “a3 Read These Letters From Happy Bcys: Shows Clear Pictures I have heen very slow in send- Ing you an answer. I received my Moving Picture Machine & few weeks ago and I think it is a Candy, and it shows the vn tures Clear just as you said it would. Iam very proud of it. I thank you very much for it and I am glad to have it. I _— an ¢ntertainment twe jays after I got it. Leopold Lamontegne, 64 Su: Ave. Central Falls, RB. 1. Sold His fer $10.00 and Ordered Another amine. He b: his family nightly. I have now decided to get another one of your _ machines. Michael Ehereth, Maadas, N. Dak. Wouwild Kot Give Away for $25.68 My Moving Picture Machine is a good one and I would not give ft away for $25.00. It’s the best machine I ever had and I wish everybody could have one. Addie Bresky, Jeanesvilic, Pa. Box 34. Betier Than 2 $12.00 Machiae Iam’slow about turning In my thanks to you, but my Mov Picture Machino is all right. have had it a long time and it has not been broken yet. JI have seen @ $12.00 Machine but would not swap mine for it. Robert Lineberry, care of Revolution Store, Greenboro, free to every boy in this Jand who wants to write f Read MY OFFER below, which shows yea ¢ Moving Pictare Wonderful Offer, fo You Moving Picture Machine and Write name and addve areas a8 Very plainly. Mail to-day. Assoon as I receive it I will mail you 20 of the most beautiful premium pictures you pictures = punted le ng the Fi mertcan pme"* Washi: at I want you to distribute these premium pictures on a aod in many colors and Free Geupen Goed for Moving Picture Offer $8.00. to me and I will i iately send vou FREE the Moving Picture Machine * ith eom- plete Outfit and the Box of Film. : 50,000 of these machines have made 50,008 boys happy. Answer at once. Be the first in your towm to get one. - A, EB. FLEMING, Secy..t USE 615 W. 43d Street, Dept. 142, New York COUPON a supply of this “specific serum in each hospital so that all © bitten tures at once. A. E. FLEMING, Secy., GIS W. 43d St, Dept. 142 , New York

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OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS Useful, Instructive, and Amusing. \They Contain Valuable Information on Almost Every Subject No. 564—HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEER.—Con- taining ful: instructions how tv become a locomotive en: ; also directions for building a model Jocomo- tive; together with a full description of everything an engineer should know. No. 58. HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE.—By Old King Brady, the well-known detective. In which he lays down some valuable rules for beginners, and also relates/some adventures of well-known detectives. - No. 6. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER.— Containing useful information regarding the camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Hand- pomely il'ustrated. No. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES. —Contaming full directions for making electrical ma- phines, induction coils, dynamos and many novel ver, to be worked by electricity. By B. A. R. Bennett. Fully illustrated, 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, ete., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, humorist and practical joker of the day. No. 66. HOW TO DO PUZLZLES,—Containing over three hundred interesting puzzies and conundruis, with, A ecowplete book, lully illustrated. : —HowW TO DO ELECT RiCAL TRICKS.—Con- coanti ae" large collection of instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, togetser with illustrations. By A. Anderson. ' Ne. 68. HOW FTO LO C taining over one hundred bi tive tricks with chemicals. somely iilustrated. HOW TO DO SLEIGUT-OF-HAND.—Contain- Key to same. SMICAL TRICKS.—Con- y amusing and instruc- By A, Anderson. Hand- vo. 69. . ag see! pity of the latest and best tricks used by magicians. Also coutainmyg the secret of second-sight. _ ¥uliy illustrated. ; No. Ww. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.—Containing full directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. Fully iiimstvated. No, 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS,—Con- taining complete justructivus for performing over sixty Nechanical ‘ricks. Fully illustrated. .72. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS. -auencag all of the latest aud most deceptive card tricks, with illustrations. No. i. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY. —Coutaining full instructions for writing letters on al- most any subject; also rules for punctuation and com- position, with specimen letters. 5 OW TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND. iletuiae rules for telling. fortunes by the aid of lines of the baud or the secret of palmistry. Also the Secret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, sears, etc. lilustrated. 7. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH Ca eiin Contsimds deceptive Card Tricks as performed by leading conjurers and mag.clans, Arranged for home usement. Fully illustrated. o. 380." GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK.—Containing on latest jokes, anecdotes and funny stories of this world-renowned German comedian, Sixty-four .pages; handsome colored cover, couldining a half-tone photo of the author. No. 8%. HOW TO DO PALMISTAY.—Containing the “most approved methods of reading the lines on the hypnotism. A 168 West 28d Street , tegether with a full explanation ot thelr meaning. Wino. ste sining phrenology, and the key for. telling char- acter by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hugo Koch, A. C. S. Pully illustrated. ; No/83. HOW TO HYPNOTIZE.—Containing valuable and instructive information regarding. the ce of explpaing te most approved methods which are employed by t _ ker sale by all newsdealers or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, New York et ; leading hypuotists of the - world. By Leo Hugo Kosh, A. C. 8. . Fame and Fortune Weekly *“— LATEST ISSUES —— 784 Fresh From the West; or, The Lad Who Made Good in New York. 785 Boss of Wall St.; or, Taking Chances on the Curb. 786 Dick, the Runaway; or, The Treasure of the Isle of Fog. 787 In oe Game to Win; or, Beating the Wall St “Bulls.” : 788 ase Salesman; or, A Young Money-Maker on the oad. 789 Dick Dalton, the Young Banker; or, Cornering the Wali St. Sharks. 790 A $50,000 Deal; or, Hal Hardy, the Wall St. Wizard, 791 Billy the Blacksmith; or, From Anvil to Fortune. 792 Sharp and Smart, the Young Brokers; and, How They Made a Million. 793 Driven From School; or, The Pirate’s Buried Gold. 794 A Bright mar me a or, Shearing the Wall Street “Tambs.” 79% Telegraph Tom; or, The Message That Made Him Famous. 796 Dick and the Mad Broker; or, The Secret Band of Wall Street. : 797 A Sharp Boy; or, Making His Mark in Business, Tom _ * Wall Street; or, The Boy Who Was on the Job. 799 Andy the Auctioneer; or, Bidding in a Fortune. 800 Doubling Their Dollars; or, Schoolmates In Wall treet. 801 ei Darling’s Money; or, The Rise of an Ojce y 802 Beating the Market; or, A Boy Broker's Big Deal. 803 Lost in the Jungle; or, The Secret of the Hindoo Temple. 804 Bound to Get the Cash; or, Out for a Million in Wall Street. 805 A Lucky Errand Boy; or, Working His Way To Fortune. 806 Little Jobnnie Brown; or, How a Smart Boy Made Money. Finding a Fortune; or, Lhe Mystery of the Ola Inne "Stock Mark The Lucky V n e Stock Market; or, e Lucky Ventures Wall Street Messenger. te, Three Copper Cents and How They Made a Waif's The Old “trader's Le Ww e Ol rader’s gacy and Whet His Off id with It. eames A Million in Diamonds; or, Hidden Valley. 2 Sam, the Speculator; or, Playing the Wali Street Market. F oe A Born Showman; or, The Boy Who Ran a Cireus. ‘he Treasure of the After a Goldén Stake; or, Breaking a “Bucket-Shop” Combine, 815 gue ko Be a Manager; or, Making Money in se ‘ 816 A Boy Broker’s Dellars; or, The Mystery of the Money Vault. 817 Tom, the Apprentice; or, The Young Mechanic Who Made His Mark. 818 A Banker at 17; or, A Wall Street Boy’s Syndfeaté 819 se Mystic Chart; or, The Treasure of the Big aves, . 820 Wutking the Money Market; or, The Deals of a Wall Street Boy. : $21 a oar Gold King; or, The Greatest Mine in the orld. 822 A Young Broker’s Money; or, Trapping the Sharpers of Wall St. 823 Dollars and Cents; or, From Cash Boy to Partner. 824 Jimmy the Office Boy; or, A Plucky Wall Street Plunger. For sale by ali newsdealers, or will be sent to any ad- dress on receipt of price, 7c. per copy, im money or pos- tage stamps, by ~ HARRY E. WOLIFP, Pub.. 166 West 23d St., New York, HOW TO SCENARIOS wrk THEM Price 35 Cents Per Copy This book containg all the most recent chan in th method of construction and submission of Scenarios. Sixty Lessons, covering every phase of scenario writ- ing. For sale by all Newsdealers and Booirstores. If yon cannot procure’a copy, send us the price, 85 cents, in money or pen stamps, and we will Mail you one, postage free. Address + L. SENARENS, 219 Seventh $ve., New York, N. ¥. /

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