Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 866) (1922 05 05)

Page 1

The furious clerk seized Tom and swung him clear over the railing, apparently intending to'throw him down through the opening between the stairs. The boy uttered a cry for help. Daisy, with a scream, rushed forward to try and save him.

Page 2

Page 3

FAME AND FO Issued Weeks —Sapacwenen price, $3.50 est 28d Street, New York, Entered RTUNE WEEKLY ad bag Canada, $4.00; Foreign, $4.50. Harry E. Wolff, A ipod Inc., 163 as Second-Class Matter, October 4, 1911, a Post-Office at New York, N. Y¥., under the Act of March 8, 1879. No. 866 NEW YORK, MAY 6, 1922 Price T Cents Tom the Bank Messenger OR, THE BOY WHO GOT RICH mr By A SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER I.—Tom Lanston. “Tom,” said Sadie Lanston to her brother, one evening at the supper table, “you are well ac- quainted among brokers and others who have of- fices in Wall Street, aren’t you?” “Sure I am,” answered Tom Lanston. “I stand well with a bunch of people who are customers ~~ at our bank. Why do you ask?” “J want you to try and get Daisy Darling a position as stenographer in some good office.” Why, she told me the business school she at- tended for some months placed her with a stock- broker named Mudge, who has a small office in the Carter Building on Wall street. Is she going to leave him?” “She has left him. She quit this afternoon.” “What! In the middle of the week?” “Yes.” *" “What was the trouble?” “She had good reasons.” “Was the work too hard?” “No, that wasn’t the trouble. employer wasn’t satisfactory.” “No? Is he a crank?” : “He is, I dare say, but that isn’t what Daisy found fault with. The truth is, Mr. Mudge wants a wife as much as he does a stenographer. He fancied that Daisy would just fill the bill to his satisfaction, so he began pestering her with his attentions whenever she had an idle moment. He brought her in flowers and candy in the morn- ing when he came to the office, and tried every way to win her over. When she asked him to please desist, as she came there for business and not to be paid attention to, he laughed and told her she didn’t seem to realize what a good thing she was letting get by her. A good thing! Just think of that. Why, he’s old enough, she told me, to be almost her grandfather! He must be a conceited old fool.” _- +*Well, I don’t blame her for shaking him after such conduct on his part,” said Tom. “She’s too F The fact is, her i Sa 2 oS Ghat =. , and too nice, to throw herself away on an man, even if he has plenty of money. Some girls wouldn’t mind, though, if they thought there was enough in it. Girls of that kind will marry any old thing to get their fingers on his bank account. I heard one girl say she’d rather be an old man’s darling than a yarn man’s slave. She was the stenographer of our bank when I went to work there. We were pretty chummy till she left to get married.” Fi “Did she marry an old man for his money?” “She did not. She married a young clerk for love, and has been living on his eighteen per and expectations ever since, and has had a pretty rocky time of it making ends meet, so I’ve heard,” laughed Tom, “Well, I wish you’d see what you can do for Daisy. She and her mother hawen’t any too much to live on. She must get another position right away. She is willing to take anything that will pay. She says she'll go as cashier in a grocery store or butcher shop until she can secure an- other stenographer’s place.” “Tl run around to her flat and tell her I will make a big effort to get her a good place. She’s . nice little girl and I’d do a oe for her,” said om. “I thought you would,” smiled Sadie. “I told her she could depend on you doing your best.” “Tm glad to see you take an interest in her.” . “She’s a dear, sweet girl. She isn’t seventeen yet, and the idea of that old Mudge making love to her is too ridiculous for anything. There’s no fool like an old one. She told me that he looks all of sixty-five.” “Y’ve seen him. He’s a regular ancient masher. He dresses like a young man. Always has a boutonniere in his coat, and is spruced up to beat the band. I didn’t think he’d make love to a girl as young as Daisy. He’s had several stenog- raphers, I know, but none of them were under twenty, and the one who stayed the longest with him was thirty-five, or at least looked that old,” said Tom, putting on his hat. Tom Lanston was a banker’s messenger in Wall Street. His employer, John Foster, ran a pri- vate bank on the corner of Nassau street. It was known as Foster’s Bank, and enjoyed the confi- dence of a large number of depositors, who were mostly brokers. The bank had been in operation for all of thirty years, at different locations in the financial district, and had weathered more than one crisis in finance during that time. The bigger banks had tried to get Foster’s best customers away from him from time to time, by bombarding them continuously with circutars and statements showing their greater substantiality, but they didn’t succeed to any great extent. Fos- ter was known to be wealthy and one of the squarest men in the financial circles, and pos- sessed the qualification of making friends and keeping them. The capital of Foster’s Bank was . only $500,000, but he could count on a five-mil-*

Page 4

- -withstandin ° lion backing in an emergency. Most of the other banks claimed a capital and surplus of from five to fifteen millions, and his business alongside theirs made him look like a piker; but his deposi- tors had learned that their money was just ag safe in his bank as it would be in the others, and there were some who thought it even safer. Tom had been Foster’s confidential messenger for three years, and had proved thoroughly trustworthy and capable. His wages were $10 a week, plus extras. The extras sometimes came in the shape of tips, but mostly represented presents of small sums frequently handed him by his employer to make up an average of $15 a week, or about what the ordinary clerks received. The fact was Fos- ter found Tom so useful in his capacity as mes- senger that he did not want to put him at a desk regularly, but was willing to pay him in a round- about way as much as he would have earned as a clerk. Tom, his sister and their mother lived in a moderate priced flat in Harlem. Rent was cheap- er at the time of which we write than it is now. The same flat to-day would cost more than double what Mrs. Lanston paid for it. And we may in- cidentally remark, that living was a whole lot cheaper in those days, too. Tom’s $15 was as good as $40 now. Tom’s sister earned $12 as a stenographer in a Broadway importing house, and she was required to do some bookkeeping also. Our young messenger turned in $8 of his reg- ular pay every week, and kept the $2 for ex- penses. The extra money he saved and bought his own clothes and other things with it. He even bought many things for his mother. and sister. He also saved enough to buy 10 shares of a cer- tain stock on the quiet one day a year before our story opens. He made the deal through a little banking and brokerage house on Nassau street, near Wall, that was looked upon by brokers as a bucket shop, though it wasn’t so in reality, not- that some of its methods savored of the bucket shop. Tom put up $100 as marginal security, and the deal turned out successful. When the bank set- tled with him he found himself worth $250, Af- _ter that he went into other deals from time to time, taking care not to let Mr. Foster know what he was about. Sometimes he won and some- . times he was out ‘and injured; but at the time our story opens he had $1,500 stowed away in a safe deposit box, and his mother or his sister did not know anything about the existence of that sum. Had he dropped dead suddenly he had it fixed so that the news would have reached them as a surprise from the safe deposit company. As his heart was sound and he always felt healthy, he didn’t figure on dropping dead. What he was always figuring on was getting rich through speculating in Wall Street stocks. Lots of people have figured the same way, and their anticipations have met, in the majority of in- stances, with a rude jolt. Whether Tom was des- tined to get his, this story will duly set forth. Privately, Tom thought a great deal of Daisy Darling, and he was glad of any old excuse to go over and visit her. Leaving his mother and sister still at the table talking, he started out. ‘. Daisy and her mother lived in three rooms four -. blocks away, and it took Tom about ten minutes to get there. Mrs. Darling did dressmaking to D oe TOM THE BANK MESSENGER -than he looks. - if she proved satisfactory. ‘week or two later, “run up to Mr.’ Seymour and help out the family resources, and she sometimes — put in evenings on her work when she was be- — hind. When Tom walked upstairs he found Daisy looking down over the banisters to see who the visitor was. —- “Oh, it’s you, Tom?” she said. ‘ She called him Tom and he called her Daisy, — and they were quite chummy. : 4 in I thought I’d drop in and see you,” he said. “I’m glad you did. Come in and see mother.” He followed her in and shook hands with Mrs. Darling, who was always glad to see him, be- cause he had such a taking way about him. : “T heard from my sister that you have left Broker Mudge,” said Tom to Daisy. “Yes. Did she tell you why I left him?” 3 “Yes, and I think you did perfectly right. Don’t you, Mrs. Darling?” : : 2 “Most assuredly. I am surprised that an old — gentleman like him, in such a respectable busi- ness, should so far forget himself. Why, he’s — old enough to be Daisy’s father!” — “Grandfather, you mean, brother. He’s older — I wouldn’t be surprised if he is seventy. Why, the very first day I went to work for him he began to be attentive. I thought at first it was his fatherly way, and paid little — attention, but he soon showed that his intentions — were serious, and I was forced to ask him to be- — have. He stopped for a while, but began his — foolishness again. I couldn’t stand it, so I teld — him I was going to leave He tried every way to — prevent me, but when he found I was determined, he paid me a full week’s wages, though I had = worked but three days this week, which, was the — second, and sent to the school for another girl,” — said Daisy. : ee “The bovs of the Street call him the old dude, — and make lots of fun of him among themselves,” > said Tom. “I didn’t think he was so bad as they — represented him, but your experience convinces — me that they didn’t say any more about him than ~ he deserves. Well, Sadie asked me to interest — myself in looking up a new job for you, and I ~ came around to te]l you that I will do my best.” — ‘ Hing. are awfully kind, Tom,” said Daisy grate- — ully. 4 “Ton’t mention it. You ought to know that ’m willing to do anything for you. I know quite a — number of brokers, and I’ll sneak to Mr. Foster about you. He thinks a lot of me and I wouldn’t ~ be surprised but he would be able to get you a position in a short time if I ask him to do so as” q a favor to me,” said Tom. Tae “T hate to trouble you, Tom.” : “Booh! It’s no trouble. Just keep up your — spirits and don’t accept any cheap job in a gro-— cery store or butcher shop, as you told Sadie — you'd be willing to do, and I'll fix you up all right.” », pea Tom was as good as his word. He spoke to Banker Foster about Daisy next morning, and two days later the girl had a new position with a broker in the same building as the bank, at $10 to start with, and the promise of an early raise Pe) oe Ne CHAPTER Il.—In Danger of His Life, “Tom,” said Banker Foster, one morning, a wf = . : -

Page 5

a. ea office, asked for him. ~ mission to do so. TOM THE BANK MESSENGER 3 see if he wants to renew that note of his. I think ‘he has forgotten all about it and I don’t like to - send him one of our usual notices.” Reser Seymour was the broker who had given Daisy employment on Mr. Foster’s recommendation, and -he was a very nice man. He treated the little girl with kindly courtesy, and she liked him very ‘much indeed. She had made a few mistakes the first week, due to overanxiety to please, and on Saturday morning she was so fearful she was going to be discharged that she got rattled in -taking down dictation, and made an awful blun- der. . When Seymour called her in and showed it to her and asked her to write a fresh letter she broke down and burst into tears. The broker, seeming to understand the case, talked reassur- ingly to her, and told her he was not thinking of letting her go. Mr. Foster had recommended her to him and he felt sure she would make good. Daisy felt so grateful to him that when she saw Tom she couldn’t say nice enough things about . the gentleman, and Tom declared he was a real brick. — Tom went upstairs and, entering Seymour’s He addressed his inquiry to a tall, athletic-looking clerk, whose dark fea- tures wore a scowl at that moment. “He isn’t in,” said the clerk shortly. “When do you think he will be in?” “Don’t know,” and the clerk passed on. Tom peered into the counting room through the brass fence and saw Daisy busy at work in a far corner. He asked the cashier if he could step in and see her a moment. He received per- Daisy was glad to see him, and ‘they had a short talk together. As he was going out, Broker Seymour came in and Tom gave him his message. “Tell Mr. Foster I’ll be down in a few min- utes,” said the broker. Tom took the message to his boss. That noon Tom met Daisy again. She was going out to lunch and he was returning from an errand. He ‘stopped to talk with her and learned that mat- ters were not as happy with her as he supposed in her new place. The trouble was not with her vemployer this time, for she declared that Mr. + Seymour was a perfect gentleman, but with the chief clerk, the tall, dark-featured man that Tom had encountered that morning. He had become smitten with Daisy and he mage no secret of it to her. He bothered her at her table with his attentions, and Daisy declared to Tom that his conduct was exceedingly distasteful to her. “Report him to the boss,” said the boy. “J don’t like to do so.” “You’re not obliged to stand for a clerk’s non- a _~ Daisy broke off abruptly and started for the- door. One of the elevators had just dumped a bunch of passengers out, and among them was the tall, dark-featured clerk. The girl saw him ‘coming and had made a break to escape encoun- _. tering him. Her escape was blocked at the door for a moment by a number of men entering the _ pbuilding, and that enabled the clerk to catch up - with her. ; : -. *“Ahtthere;Miss Darling!” he said “Will you : do me the honor to come and lunch with me?” § “No, sir; I never eat with gentlemen,” she said, trying to go on, but he detained her. “Make an exception in my favor this time.” “Please let me go, sir,” she said. “Why so coy? I'll treat you right.” - “Kindly let the young lady alone,” said Tom, interfering. ; 5 “What’s that? Who are you talking to, you young monkey?” cried the clerk angrily. “I’m talking to you,” replied Tom sturdily. “This young lady is a friend of mine, and I won’t have her annoyed.” With a how! of wrath the man aimed a sudden blow at the boy. Tom dodged it, and the clerk’s fist landed on a fat broker who was entering the building. The angry trader retaliated with a blow on the clerk’s chest. During the angry talk that followed Tom and Daisy got away and the clerk went to lunch, breathing vengeance on the boy, whom he recognized as thé messenger of the Foster Bank. Tom usually got off at four, but on that day he was sent on an errand over to a cer- tain Brooklyn storage warehouse with directions to bring back an answer. It was a quarter of five when he got back and delivered the reply to the office. As it was about the time Daisy went home Tom went up to her office to offer her his éscort uptown. When he entered Seymour’s office the first person he encountered was the dark-fea- tured clerk. “Get out of here, you young jackanapes!” roar-— ed the clerk, on seeing him. a “Are you addressing me?” asked Tom chip- perly. : “Yes, I’m addressing you. Get out, d’ye hear?” “Are you the boss?” asked Tom sarcastically. With a roar of anger the clerk grabbed Tom and rushed him out into the corridor. The in- cident attracted general attention in the office, and the clerk, whose name was Babbitt, was re- - garded as dangerous when aroused, the two book- ‘ eepers who were getting ready to go home ran out to save the boy from a possible pounding. Daisy, who had seen the trouble, darted out ahead of them to interfere in Tom’s behalf: “Now get downstairs, or I’ll throw you down!” roared Babbitt, giving the boy a shove that al- most threw him on the floor. “You big bully, who do you think you are, any- way?” said the now thoroughly angry messenger. With a snort, Babbitt reached for him. Tom ~ jumped to one side and then, quick as a wink, he punched the man in the body. “Y’ll fix you for that!” cried Babbitt, with an imprecation,. jumping at: theaboy. The furious elerk seized Tom and swung’ him clear over the railing, apparently intending to throw him down through th stairs. The boy uttered a cry for help. Daisy, with a scream, rushed,forward to try and save him. Tom’s life hung on a thread, when the two bookkeepers, realizing the seriousness of the sit- uation, sprang upon the clerk and pushed him and his victim back. In the mix-up Tom got free, while the bookkeepers had their hands full hold- ing the enraged Babbitt. The rest of Seymour’s clerks came out into the corridor, and they were — +g joined by clerks from the neighboring offices who were attracted by the disturbance. o _ “I came after you, Daisy. Get your hat and e opening between the’ wt

Page 6

4 TOM THE BANK MESSENGER we'll go home,” said Tom to the little stenog- rapher. 5 é “Oh, Tom, I’m so frightened!” she said, cling- ing to him, “Oh, he won’t get the chance to touch me any more. To-morrow I'll report him to Mr. Sey- mour. The idea of a great big coward like him trying to murder me! Great Scott! I thought I ‘was done for when I hung over that railing,” said Tom. Babbitt heard his words, and he struggled © harder to shake off the two bookkeepers and go for Tom again. “You'll report me, will you? T’il kill you, if you do!” he hissed. “Oh, I’m not afraid of you, though you are strong enough to do me up,” retorted the boy. “If I chose to have you arrested for murderous assault I have several witnesses here to make a case against you,.and you’d spend some time in a . cell at the Tombs.” Daisy, who had gone into the office for her hat, now returned with it on, and Tom led her over to the elevator. A cage stopped at the floor for them and took them down. As soon as the boy was. out of sight Babbitt cooled down and was re- leased by the bookkeepers. The discussion as to the cause of the trouble still went on, but no one could learn what had started the row between the chief clerk and the bank messenger. - Babbitt finally volunteered the information that the mes- senger had insulted him in the main corridor that day when he was going to lunch and he intended to get square with him yet. “J think you’ve done enough to him, Babbitt,” said one of the bookkeepers. “You are too vio- lent when you get mad and lose command of yourself. If you don’t put the brake on you are jiable to commit some act you'll regret for the rest of your life. I don’t know whether -you really intended, for the moment, to drop that boy down between the stairs, but had you done so, you’d have killed him, and then you’d have had to face a charge of murder.” Babbitt said nothing, but he probably realized that his passion had carried him too far. In the meanwhile Tom and Daisy took an elevated train at Hanover Square for One Hundred and Twenty- fifth street, and both were silent and thoughtful over the incident that had happily ended without serious results. Next. morning’s papers were full of the prospect of a boom in A. & D. Indeed, for a week or two past the financial journals had hinted at a probable rise in the stock, though no definite reason was given for the suggestion. Tom studied the m@tter over, and finally decided to get in on 100 shares and chance it. “Sixty shares of a stock had been his biggest venture heretofore.. He had invested on that number in his last deal and had:done pretty well. He was ambitious to try his luck on 100 shares, since a successful speculation would mean more profit to him. It was the lowest order that a regular broker would accept, and required the marginal backing of $1,000. Tom, however, in- tended to stick by the little bank for more than one reason. His position as messenger. for Foster’s Bank made it advisable for him to approach a broker in the guise of a speculator. The matter was almost certain to be reported, directly or indi-. rectly, to his employer, and that would lead to an interview on the subject between him and Mr. Foster. While the banker would probably not pull him over the coals very hard, still he would insist that he cut out such side issues in the future, and that. would put a stop to his dreams of getting rich right away. The little bank was~ good enough for him, anyway, and so to the lit- tle bank Tom went that day and made his deal. As soon as Mr. Foster came to the bank Tom went in and told him about his run-in with Bab- bitt. The matter looked so serious that the banker told him to go up and speak to Mr. Sey- mour about it. Tom did so at once and the bro- ker expressed his concern. He sent for Daisy, and she declared with some vehemence that but for the aid of the two bookkeepers Tom would have been killed. The two bookkeepers were sum- moned one by one and reluctantly confirmed the stenographer’s statement. Then Babbitt was called in. He declared that he was sorry for what had happened. That he had acted on an angry impulse, and only intended to frighten the _ boy. “What cause did the young man give you for you to act in such a way?” asked the broker. “He insulted me in the corridor downstairs at noon yesterday,” said Babbitt. : : Tom told why he had interfered with the chief clerk, and asked Mr. Seymour to question Daisy on the subject. The girl backed Tom up and stated that Babbitt had repeatedly pressed his undesirable attentions upon her on previous occa- sions, and she had complained about it to Tom, who was a particular friend of hers. that she was laboring under a hallucination. “The testimony appears to be heavily against you on all counts, Babbitt,” said Mr. Seymour. “Return to your desk and don’t let me hear: any- thing more on the subject. yourself fortunate that this boy shows no disposi- tion to proceed against you: criminally for your action of yesterday afternoon. Were he to do so it would place you in a very difficult position, and possibly lead to a prison sentence for you.” Babbitt retired with a scowl on his face, and the matter ended there, as far as Tom a broker were concerned; but the chief cl pri- vately swore that he would have revenge on the young mssenger, and also on Daisy, for the show- ing up he was peas to. CHAPTER III.—The Nice Old Gentleman. Tom kept sharp lookout on the deal he was in- terested in, though he did not let his private busi- ness interfere in any way with his messenger duties, or any other business he was called upon . to attend. He was very conscientious in this re- spect, for he believed in being loyal to his em- ployer, first, last and all the time. Babbitt. denied her allegations in every point, and insisted g You can consider | the — ps It is true that he really had no right to speculate while working for the bank, but he overlooked that — point in his eagerness to gratify the ambition of # ss his young life. in Wall Street. ap perenily making it hand over fist. The scale He saw money on all sides of him pay and shorte es Pheer The brokers and financiers were = : of living was rising. Organized work- ‘ingmen were demanding more r

Page 7

~ come. TOM THE BANK MESSENGER 5 ours. Capital was combining to reduce expenses and increase prices. No matter what newspaper or magazine he picked up he was bound to find something that indicated that to-day was the Age of Money. Money was becoming more of a ne- cessity than ever, and th outlook showed that it was growing more and more of a necessity every day, so Tom, who was building on the trend of the times, determined he would not be lost in the shuffle. The little bank bought the 100 shares of A. & D. at 85, and so notified Tom. Two days later the ticker announced that it was up to 86 1-2. Next day, which was Saturday, it went to 87, and closed at that figure. During the following week it continued to rise, and was up to 91 on Thursday. The public had caught the craze over the stock by that time, and business in all the brokerage houses was humming. That made more business for the banks, and as Foster’s Bank enjoyed the custom of a great many old re- liable brokers, it participated in the rush. The brokers needed more ready money to carry on their increasing business, and Foster was called upon for many loans by his depositors, who put up first-class security in return for it. Fri- day morning broke cold and gloomy over the city. There were flurries of snow in the air, and the Curb brokers, when they gathered for business in the Street, found it advisable to keep on the move. When the Stock Exchange opened up at ten, an effort was made to bear A. & D. The price fell a point and a half, and many nervous speculators sold out, thinking the break had They were mistaken. The contrary was the case. It was the boom that was on the tapis. Whether the temporary break had been engi- neered by the syndicate behind the stock to shake out what could be got at no one could say for cer- tain, but such things have been known as a part _ of boom programmes, and they invariably produce the results aimed at. Tom was not frightened into selling, because for one reason he was too . busy to keep track of his deal that morning. The drop was over and the price was recovering when he found out that there had been a slump in his stock. At eleven the rise became steady and pronounced and Wall Street was full of excited -speculators. At half-past eleven A. & D. was go- ing at 95, and Tom had doubled his investment of $1,000. The stock fluctuated up to noon, ad- _-vancing very little, and then jumped to par with a rush. The excitement in the-Exchange was tremendous, for all stocks were more or less fa- vorably affected by the rise in A. & D., and everybody seemed to be a buyer. nothing to buy, but the selling was mighty light in A. & D., and that fact boosted the price. An advance on the market had to be offered in every case to induce a holder to part with his shares. At one o’clock when Tom got the chance to run out to his quick-lunch house, A. & D. was going strong at 105. ; “Great Scott, I’m $2,000 to the good. I never expected any such luck as that. I think I ought to sell and make sure of the good thing in sight,” - thought the young messenger. k - When he had eaten his lunch he ran into the Exchange messengers’ entrance and looked at the» _. big blackboard. A. & D. was up another point, te ‘ ar. ‘ JNA. = Of course there " were sellers, otherwise there would have been - and the board room was a seething maelstrom of action and uproar. Tom ran up to the little bank determined to sell, but when he saw the long line stretching away from the margin clerk’s window he gave it up. It would take at least twenty min- utes for him to reach the window, and what ex- cuse could he offer at the bank for staying away ~ so long? He went back to his duties, praying that he might not be caught in a slump. At three o’clock A. & D. closed at 110, an advance of 10 points that day. At a quarter of four Tom got excused from further work and made a hasty visit to the little bank to get in the line before the doors clos- ed at four. The line was not so great as before by one-half and in ten minutes Tom reached the window and ordered his shares sold at the open- ing price in the morning. Then he went home satisfied that he would add considerably to his little capital» The opening price next morning was 111 3-8, and at that figure Tom’s 100 shares went like hot cakes. The mystery of this game of speculation is that people can be found to buy at high figures, when the common-sense rule of trade in general is to buy low and sell high. Stocks, however, are not the only things people will pay high prices for in boom times. Lots of people won’t buy real estate until it gets a boom on. That’s a good idea if they will buy as soon as the boom sets in. Thousands, however, hold off too long, then pay top prices, and then won- der why the moment of profit has passed. No boom can go on forever. It is the wise man who takes it on the fly. Tom realized on his opportu- nity at the proper moment. The result was he collared a profit of $2,600, and raised his finan- cial status to $4,000 odd. There was more luck than anything else in his success. Where he showed his judgment was in getting in on a spec- ulation that promised to land him a winner. When the bank settled with him he slapped his bunch of bank notes into his safe deposit box and kissed his fingers to them. : “Next to mother, sis and Daisy, they’re the best friends I have,” he said. “I’ll see you later,” he added to them, “when I’m ready to set you to work again.” On the following Saturday about noon Tom was sitting in his chair in the cashier’s box-like room when his. buzzer went off and he knew that the boss wanted him. “Tom,” said the banker, “I am sorry to have to interfere with any arrangements you may have made for this afternoon, but I have a special errand for you to execute.” “T have made no arrangements for the after- noon, sir, and if I had they wouldn’t count for a moment with me where your interests are con- cerned,” said the young messenger cheerfully. “T know it, Tom, and I appreciate the interest you show toward the bank. You will not suffer by reason of any extra service you are called upon to perform. Perhaps you think that by this .- time you are. entitled to promotion to a desk and higher wages. You deserve it, but where shall I find another messenger as you to take your place?” “The woods are full of good messengers.” “Admitting that as a fact, the people who have the good ones hold on to them. You may have ~

Page 8

6 observed that bank messengers hold down their jobs longer than other kinds of messengers. Some have been known to grow gray in the service of a particular bank. The reason is because a bank can’t afford to change messengers as often as brokers. A trusted. messenger is worth his weight in gold, so to speak. It is more advis- able to advance his salary regularly than to. ad- vance him. Now maybe you understand why I’d rather have you as a messenger than a clerk, even at double the wages. “T can secure a competent bank clerk any time,- but to replace you, Tom, is not so easy. You . have many admirable points aside from what the bank requires of you. We pull so well together that I trust our present relationship may continue for some time to come. But I am forgetting the business in hand. Here is a package of bonds I wish you to carry to the party whose name and address is written outside. ‘There is nothing te indicate the value of the package, but I will tell you that it contains industrial negotiable securi- ties to the value of about $10,000. The usual receipt is inside. The gentleman will sign that for you, and you will hand it to the cashier on Monday morning. Here is a $5 bill for yourself and $8 to cover your expenses.” “Thank you, sir. I will start at once,” said the oy. “You will have time to get some lunch and es catch the train which leaves Jersey City.at 1.15. _ You will go by the New Jersey Central. You should reach home in time for supper.” Tom received his pay envelope from the cashier and left the bank with the valuable package in the inside pocket of his jacket. Over that he wore his overcoat. It was a dull, cold afternoon, and seemed likely to remain that way. After getting his lunch, Tom, made for the Cortlandt street 1 ferry, crossed the river and entered the station. It was a local train he had to take, for Deerfield. the place he was bound for, could only be classed as a small town. The train announcer was al- ready calling out the places the next train would stop at, and Deerfield was one of them. Tom had bought his ticket on the New York side of the river, so all he had to do was to pass into the ~ train shed and take the train on track 5. He boarded the last car and helped himself to a seat. Just as the train started an old white- _ haired man entered the car, passed slowly down’ the aisle, looked sharply, at the young messenger, by and after surveying the rest of the people in the coach, sat down beside the boy. The train started . and slipped out along the suburbs of Jersey City. | ~ Tom looked out of the window at the wintry as- pect of the landscape, though there was no snow on the ground. The trees that in summer were covered with leaves were now bare and lifeless. The fields looked bleak and cheerless, and the meadows dull and bereft of even the suspicion of © prass. : There was really nothing to amuse the eye, and Tom grew tired of the outlook after a while. Presently the old man turned and spoke to him. “Are you going far); young man?” he said. Tom did not. believe in giving out information to strangers, particularly when he was on mes- -senger service, but this party looked harmless to him, and the boy had a great respect for age. “Ym going to Deerfield,” he iaplied, TOM THE BANK MESSENGER “Deerfield,” repeated the old man, “that’s quite’ a etree down the road. I am bound there my- self. “Are you?” said Tom, a bit interested. “Do you live there?” ae I am paying a visit to my married daugh- er. : “Have you been there before?” “Quite a number of times.” : “Then you can tell me what the place look like.” “You have never been there?” “No.” “Are you visiting some relative, too?” “No, | am going there on business.” “Are you a drummer, or something of that kind?” “No. I’m a Wall Street bank messenger.” ~ As soon as he spoke, Tom regretted having been so confidential. It was the old man’s mild and in- offensive aspect which had made him forget him- self. Well, it didn’t matter,” he thought. ; “Are you going to call at the Deerfield Bank?” “No. . I have no business with that institution. I am just going on a business call to one of our customers.”” = “I see,” said the old gentleman, in a soft tone. “Taking him down some money, perhaps?” “No!” replied Tom, a bit abruptly. The old man. showed no further curiosity as. to the object of his journey, but at intervals his. bright eyes furtively scanned the floor at the boy’s feet, and then ran over Tom’s person. He asked Tom questions bearing on Wall Street— how long he had been working for the bank, what — his general duties were, and other things. He said he lived in Jersey City, and seldom went to New York, and could not recall when he had been in the Wall Street neighborhood. He knew that Wall Street was the money center and that stock brokers operated there. He had never been in- any kind of business himself, and the only kind of bank he had dealings with was a savings bank. . He went on to say that he had been careful to save enough to buy a house, which he rented out, and lived on the rent and the interest on some additional money he had in two banks. His at-. titude was childlike and bland, he seemed to be well informed, and Tom found time passed pleas- _ i antly in his company. At last the brakeman an- _ ee that the next stopping place was Deer- a : ; man, pleasantly. “I shall soon see my little grandchildren again. They’re expecting me, and they know I never come down without bringin them something. See what I have brought one o: them.” - ; He took out of his pocket a peculiarly shaped little box. It had two holes which the nie ‘aid gentleman said were there so one could look inte it and see the tion for the nose. “Take a look,” he said. “It is astonishing what . odd things are gotten up to amuse children.” He held the bov up to Tom’s eyes. The young messenger looked into it, but could see nothing. “I can’t see any——” : aig As he spoke the old gentleman pressed a spring — anda fine spray flew up the boy’s nose. i senses reeled and he fell back unconscious. => a “That’s where. we get off,” said the old gentle aa it tle quaint pictures, and an indenta-

Page 9

cd TOM THE BANK MESSENGER 7 CHAPTER IV.—An Acrobatic Stunt. “Plympton next!” shouted the-brakeman. Tom sat around like a person suddenly aroused from a deep sleep. The train was getting up headway. The boy noticed that the nice old gen- tleman was gone from the seat beside him: Then he noticed that his overcoat was unbuttoned and his jacket also. He instinctively thrust his hand into his’ inner pocket and to his consternation discovered that the package of bonds was miss- ing. “Great Scott! have I been robbed?” he gasped, aghast at the bare idea of such a thing. Then he sprang on his feet and made for the rear door of the car, a few feet away, where the brakeman was standing. “When do we reach Deerfield?” he asked. _ “Deerfield! We just stopped there. Next sta- tion is Plympton, ten miles,” replied the man. ’ “My gracious! I had to get off at Deerfield.” “Sorry, but I shouted out the name loud enough for all in the car to hear. Were you asleep?” “Asleep! Of course not, and yet——” © A sudden suspicion of what had really hap- pened flashed across his mind. ' “fid you see a white-beardéd old man get off at Deerfield?” : “Yes. 'He was quite lively for his years. That was all Tom waited to hear. The old man had robbed him. He was a confidence operator and fooled him nicely. He must recover that package of bonds at all hazard. They were nego- tiable securities and easily disposed of. sprang to the other side of the platform and swung himself down on the last step. The train was now going quite fast. The track was run- ning along the edge ef an embankment and was approaching a culvert which spanned a country road twenty feet below. In his excited state the boy did not notice-that this was a bad spot to take a jump if that was in his mind. Under the most. favorable condi- tions the train was going too quick for any sane person to think of leaping off without risking - injury. The brakeman looked at him. ~ “Ton’t stand down there. It’s against the rules of the—— Great hornspoons! he’s jumped, and we are at the culvert!” Tom had jumped, with a forward motion to partly overcome the momentum of the train. He turned half over in the air, hit the embankment on his side within a few feet of the culvert, roll- ed over and over at an angle that carried him over the extended wing of the masonry, at which point he shot out into the air and dropped like a flying meteor toward the road. Had he hit it, ee Gi she A ~ on without our hero. this story would have had to change to the near- est hospital, or perhaps come to a sudden ter- ‘mination owing to the unexpected exit of the hero to that realm whence no one returns. Certainly it would be impossible for us to go It happened, however, that ‘a load of hay was passing along the road and had just emerged from under the culvert when the oung messenger shot downward. Instead of Eorikcins the hard road, he landed on top of. the. soft hay, which made all the difference in the Tom world. The hay gave with him and the hole he made prevented him from rolling off. “Whoa!” shouted the astonished lad who was driving the team. : d He had seen something shoot over the wing of the culvert, and then he heard the soft thud which the object made when it landed behind him. Tom was pretty badly shaken up by his experience. He was still half stunned from the shock of hit- ting the ground after his leap from the train, and scratched and rumpled from rolling down the bank. The least of his trouble was his collision with the hay. It shook him up a bit, naturally, and he lay there wondering what had happened to him. The farm lad leaned back and looked into the depression in his load. He fairly gasped, and his eyes bulged, when he saw that the flying ob- ject which had landed in his cart was a boy. “Gosh all hemlock! If this doesn’t beat crea- tion. Where did he come from in the first place? I hope he ain’t a dead one.” Tom proved he wasn’t dead by kicking out, rolling over and then sitting up. The eyes of the two boys met. “Say, are you practicing for a circus?” asked the farm lad. Instead of answering the question Tom asked one himself, “Where the dickens am I at?” he said. “Where are you at? On top of my load of hay, of course. Where else?” “How did I get here?” “You ought’r know better’n me. I saw some- thing coming through the air off the end of that culvert and the next thing I knew it lit on the hay. That was you. P’haps you’ll explain how you came to do the aerial tumbling act?” Then Tom began to recollect what had hap- » pened. “T jumped off the train,” he said. “What! The train that just passed as I was driving under the culvert?” “The train that passed that way,” and Tom motioned with his arm. “That’s the one. What did you jump off for? You ain’t crazy, are you?” ; ; “No. I jumped because I wanted to get off. I didn’t want to go on to the next station.” “Why didn’t you get off at Deerfield? That’s only a mile back. Didn’t the train stop there?” “It stopped there but I didn’t. know it.” . “Why didn’t you know it? Were you asleep?” “No; I was dazed.” “Dazed! What do you mean by that?” “T was doped by a confidence man who robbed me. But I can’t stop here talking to you. I jumped off the train to catch him.” “Did he jump off ahead of you?” / “No, he got off at Deerfield. I am going there to see if I can track him down” “Hold on,” said the farm boy, as Tom started to scramble down. “I’m going to Deerfield with this load. I’ve got to deliver it at a stable. [ll take you there. Come over here onto the seat.” “But I’m in a hurry,” said Tom. E “You can’t run all that way, particularly after that tumble you had. Isdon’t see how you can ever walk. I should think you'd be all done up. © Ain’t none of your bones out of place?” : ; “They seem to be all right, but I’m pretty sore _ The skin is off my elbows.” ees “Ser

Page 10

8 “T should think it would be. Come over here and Vil start on as fast as the team’ll go. I'll get you there as soon as you could go there on your feet, and faster, I guess.” Tom allowed himself to be persuaded. On the whole, he didn’t think he was in condition to walk a mile, or even half of that distance. When he looked up at the top of the embankment whence he had shot down, he began to marvel at his lucky escape. At that moment the train came into sight backing down. The brakeman had notified the conductor about the boy falling or jumping off the platform, and that official stopped the train half a mile or more from the calvert and ordered it backed to the scene of the accident. “Here comes the train back,” said the farm lad. “You must have been seen to jump off and they have come back to pick’up your remains; but they'll find you all together.” “Drive on and never mind the train. I’ve got - no time to monkey around here and explain mat- N - to catch the man?° He’s got a goo ters. The man who robbed me got $10,000 worth of bonds out of my pocket.” “Did you have $10,000 in your pocket?” gur- gled the farm boy, evidently staggered by the enormity, to him, of that sum, as he started the team. “Not in money—in bonds.” “Bonds is as good as money, ain’t they?” “Those are, for anybody can sell them for their market price. I can’t afford to lose them.” “T should say not. Do they belong to you?” “No. They belong to a gentleman named Swift who lives in Deerfield. He bought them through the bank I work for in Wall Street.” “Are you a bank clerk?” “No, I’m a bank messenger.” “You ca things around for the bank?” “Yes. ‘was sent here to deliver those bonds to Mr. Swift.” “If you don’t catch the man, he’ll be out ten thousand dollars.” The bank will be out that “No, he won't. amount.” ; “And what will be done to you?” “I don’t know that anything will be done to a but it will give me a black eye with the Oss. “You mean the boss will lick you?” “T don’t mean any-such thing.” “You said you’d get a black eye with him. How will you get it unless he licks you?” . “Say, you’re awfully dense. hear that expression?” “T don’t know what you mean. Just explain and then I'll know what you're driving at.” Tom explained and then the country boy un- derstood. : “You might lose your job.” : “No, I don’t think I would. The boss thinks a lot of me, but, of course, if I lost those bonds it Didn’t you ever would kind of take his breath away.” / = “T should think it would. How do te expect start on u. “That’s the worst of it. I intend to make in- quiries at the station and and find out which way he went. He was an old-looking chap, with’ 2 long, white beard. I’m satisfied that was a dis- _ ruise. and that he wasn’t nearly as old as he TOM THE BANK MESSENGER represented himself to be. He’ll figure that I'll be carried on to Plympton, and that it will take half an hour before I can wire to the police in Deerfield to look for him. Perhaps he knows there’s a local train for Jersey City that. will stop at Deerfield before that, which he can board and get away on. Do you know anything about the train service on the New Jersey Central?” — “IT know the trains are running both ways quite often.” “T hope we will reach Deerfield before the next local, running north, stops there.” “ie “I guess we will. I'll drive right to the station to accommodate you.” “Much obliged.” j Then Tom thought about his pay envelope and his extra $5. He felt in his pockets and found that the nice old gentléman had been satisfied with the package of bonds. “He must have surmised it contained some- thing of special value,” he thought. “Did he take all your money, too?” asked the farm boy. “No. I guess he didn’t have time, or was afraid to attract attention.” “How much money did you have?” “Nearly seventeen dollars.” “You’re lucky to save that.” a : “The loss of that wouldn’t have worried me, — though I would have been stuck here without Easy to get back with. All I care about are the onds. coming down to Deerfield to visit his daughter and grandchildren. He gave me a beautiful game of talk. I’m ashamed of myself for being such an easy mark,” said Tom, in a tone of disgust. “ If he ever felt like kicking himself he did at that moment. “We're halfway to the station now,” said the farm boy. “Gee up, Schneider!” At that moment the bushes parted ahead of the wagon and a man jumped out into the road. He threw a hasty look at the load of hay, hu:- ‘ ried across the road and disappeared into the bushes on the other side. ; “Stop! Stop tte team! I want to get down!” cried Tom, rising in sudden excitement. “What’s the matter?” asked the farm boy. “You saw that white-bearded man who just crossed ithe road?” : es , “That’s the man who robbed me.” SE As he spoke Tom slipped down from the seat and sprang. into the road. He darted for the bushes where the confidence rascal had vanished I was a chump to be so nicely fooled by ~ * that innocent-looking old chap. He said he was re) ieee Pare and disappeared through them himself, leaving his late companion staring after him in no little wonderment. : CHAPTER V.—Tom Recovers the Bonds. Tom made his way through the bushes as fast as he could in the direction taken by the man, whose speed proved that he was old only in ap- pearance. caught sight of the rascal crossing an open space ~ a short way ahead. The fellow did not around, nor give any indication that he su he was being followed. He kept strai passing into a piece of woods, = After going a hundred yards, he eS

Page 11

should detect him coming on behind him. TOM THE BANK MESSENGER 9 Tom waited till he was under cover and then ran across the open ground. He might have overtaken the chap by an extra spurt when hé caught sight of him again in the woods, but he was curious to see where the man was heading for. Besides, it was a lonesome place in which to attack the rascal, and if he was armed, or proved to be stronger of the two, Tom felt that the chances were he would lose the opportunity of recovering the package of bonds. So he fol- lowed his quarry with due caution lest the mee n this way a mile was traversed and then a coun- try road loomed up ahead, and just beyond a large rambling structure surrounded by a tall hedge, eight or nine feet high. In the summer this hedge was thick, like a dense green wall, but: now it was thin and scrawny-looking, and could easily be seen through. It was impassable, however, for several lengths of barbed wire ran through it, preventing man and beast from getting through. In the center of the hedge wall that faced on the road was a tall iron gate, with spiked projection, wide enough for a carriage or an automobile to pass through and continued up the broad graveled driveway to the wide veranda of the house. There was also a small iron postern gate beside the big one for ‘persons on foot, and beyond it a small stone lodge ouse. The seeming old man stopped just inside the edge of the woods, which ended on that side of the road and proceeded to divest himself of his disguise. He rolled his white wig and flowing beard up in his drab coat and laid it on the - the boy who let him in. - muscles he swung himself around the sp projected toward and above the hedge. them safely, he lowered himself to the ground ground. Then he dived into the hollow interior of a gnarled dead tree and pulled out a bundle which he unwrapped and shook out. It was a brown overcoat. He put it on, donned a soft cap he took from a side pocket, rolled up the drab coat with the beard, wig and broad soft crowned hat he had worn, and placed the outfit in the tree. This accomplished, he lookedsto be a well-built man of forty, and not an easy customer to handle. He crossed the road, rang the postern bell and ies admitted to the enclosure by a red-headed oy. The two entered the stone lodge. Tom crossed the road toward the hedge, thinking to force his assage that way, and found that he was blocked y the barbed wire. . “What shall I do now?” he asked himself. “That chap has gone into that stone house with I was a fool not to have tackled him in the wood and taken the chances of downing him. Now I can’t get at him.” Tom crept up to the gates and looked at the spikes on top. They looked formidable. Get- ting desperate, he hauled himself to the top of the postern gate, and then by depending on his ikes that Clearing on the inside. Looking toward the lodge, which was but a few feet away, he saw there was a - window on either side of the door, and another window beyond. There were two windows on the low half-story above, which was surmounted yy a sloping, Oriental shaped roof, covered with long, shallow, semi-circular red tiles. He walked round to the rea? of thé building and saw win- & dows there. He ventured to loék in through one. His gaze rested on a small living room. At the table in the middle of the room sat the man who had robbed him, and standing near him was the red-headed boy. The man was in the act of opening the pack- age of bonds with a knife. He took the bonds out and examined them carefully one by one. The receipt he tore up, together with the paper con- taining the name and address of Mr. Swift, to whom the securities were sent. At that juncture an electric bell rang in the room. “That’s the gate,” said the man to the boy, “go and see who it is.” As the boy went out, the man gathered up the bonds and placed them under a small pile of newspapers on a shelf. Then he went to the door and looked out. The boy was opening the big gate to admit an automobile and its occupants. The man walked out, leaving the door open. Tom tried the window, found it was not‘ fas- tened, and shoved it up. Being an active boy, he scrambled in at the window and alighted in the room. He had taken note of the place where the man had shoved the bonds. It was but the work of a moment for him to recover them and drop them in his pocket. He had observed the boy take a large key from a nail near the door before he went to the gate. A small key was hanging from a second nail. Tom jumped to the conclusion that it belonged to the postern gate. As it was much easier to leave by a gate than over the spikes at the top of the gate, Tom took it and then made his escape from the room via the window through which he had entered. Shutting. the window, he waited for the man and the boy to return to the room. The boy did so almost immediately and hung up the big key. If he no-. ticed the absence of the other, he probably sup- posed that the man had taken it. Tom looked around the corner of the lodge and saw the man talking with a gentleman seated in the back-of the car. Presently the car went on toward the house and the man re-entered the lodge, closing the door after him. “Now is my chance,” breathed the young mes- senger. He glided to the postern gate, inserted the key in the lock and let himself out. Then he re- traced his steps over the course he had taken in following the man. He dashed across the road and entered the wood. In due time he came out on the road that led direct to Deerfield, not far from the spot where he left the team with -the load of hay. Turning his face toward the town, he walked as fast as he could. He soon came to the first house in the suburbs. A man was ag over a gate smoking. Tom addressed im. “Can you tell me where Prospect avenue is?” he asked. 3 “Tt’s about a quarter of a mile from here. Follow this road and it will take you to it,” was eb Sey “You will see the name on a lamp post. Tom thanked him and kept on. The fifth street he came to proved to be the avenue he was\in search of. As he did not remember the number of Mr. Swift’s house, he stopped at the first resi- dence he came to and made inquiry. The woman _ who came to the door said that Mr. Swift lived

Page 12

10 two blocks up the street in a fine house, but she could not furnish the number. Tom went on two blocks and inquired again. This time the house he wanted to reach was pointed out to him in the next block. The young bank messenger entered a lawn cut off from the street by a hedge, walked to the front door and rang the bell. A maid came to the door and he asked if Mr. Swift was in. The servant said he was, and asked Tom into the reception hall. “Tell Mr. Swift that a messenger from the Foster Bank in Wall street would like to see him,” said Tom. The maid returned in a few moments and told him to follow her. She led him to the library on that floor, where he saw an elderly gentleman seated in an easy-chair reading. The furniture of the room consisted of a large rug, a combina- tion bookcase, a desk, safe, a lounge, table, chairs, and so forth. “Mr. Foster sent me to deliver to-you a pack- age containing ten an ee bonds of the American Sugar Refining Co., Swift,” said Tom. “Yes, yes,” said Ee Sentterti holding out his hand. “T regret to say that the package was taken from me en route on the train, opened and the bonds removed from it,” with the receipt you were to sign. ou have lost the bonds?” ejaculated Mr. Swift. “For a time only. I followed the man who took them and got them back, but I had a narrow es- cape in jumping from the moving train. Here are the bonds. I shall have to ask you to write a receipt yourself.” The gentleman took the bonds, looked them over and pronounced them all right. ites me how you happened to lose them,” he sai Tom told the story from beginning to end. “I know the place you say you followed the man to. It’s a private sanitarium, owned by a Doctor Morton. From your statement the rascal appears to be his lodgekeeper. I’m afraid it would be useless to proceed against him, for your story could not be corroborated in court. You were very fortunate in recovering the bonds. I will write you out a receipt for them.” As soon as Tom got the receipt he took his leave, and reached the station just in time to catch a, local train for Jersev City. It was near- ly dark then. He got home about half-past seven, ag his mother was getting a bit anxious over his failure to show up till that hour on a Satur-. dav afternoon. He explained where he had been sent by Mr. Foster, but said nothing about his experience with the nice old gentleman on the train. He realized that he had taken a desper- ate risk in leaving the train at the culvert, and that he would have landed either at a hospital or a morgue had not the load of hav come along at the right moment to save him. He told his story to Mr. Foster next morning. “That rascal. took me in nicely with his white beard and soft-solder talk,” he said, “and I’m ashamed of myself for falling to the game. The only satisfaction I have is that I turned the ta- bles on him in‘the end and got the bonds back.” “And you might have lost your life in the ef- fort,” said the eg sink ; iy ae Woe Rey TOM THE BANK MESSENGER “T wouldn’t have been the first who lost his life in the line of his duty.” . “That may be, but hereafter remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of eure,” said Mr. Foster, dismissing him. Tom did remember it, for his risky leap at the” culvert never faded from his mind. About the middle of the week Tom overheard three brokers talking about L. & O. Tom was quite impressed with the possibilities of L. & O. going up from their talk, so the first chance he got he bought 300 shares on margin at the market price of 90. On Saturday of that week it went — to 98. On that afternoon he called to take Daisy home. He found her in a peck of trouble about © some work that had been spoiled, although she could not see how it had happened. She had had the work on her desk with the envelopes all typed ready to be mailed when Mr. Seymour called her away for a few minutes. When she returned to her desk the letters were all mussed up and torn, ~ and she had to do them all over again. “Somebody has done a mean trick to you,” said Tom. “Who could it be?” “There is nobody here would do it, unless it is Mr. Babbitt. He and I are not on the very best of terms,” said Daisy. “Well, I will go get something to eat and come back and help you,” said Tom. He did so, and when the work was complete she and Tom left the office together. Daisy had kept the spoiled letters to show Mr. Seymour on Monday. On Monday L. & O. jumped to 1108-8 and Tom at the first opportunity he got went over to the little bank and ordered his shares sold.. When he- got his statement he found he had made $6, 000. That raised his capital to $10,000. CHAPTER VI.—Clerk Babbitt Is Bounced. L. & O. after reaching 112, began to recede ii without any quick slump, the syndicate su porting it out of their big profits and letting t Ag a outsiders down easy. Those who bought at top — price lost some money, but were able to get out without serious inconvenience. Others lost mon- ey by not taking warning of what was comin and there was quite a crop of these, mostly lambs. L. & O. was down to 99 when M. & N. began rising at a steady rate. Tom overheard a bioker talking to Mr. Foster about the stock, and the trader remarked it was a good thing for a quick snap. That afternoon Tom heard a different statement regarding M. & N. at an office where he carried a note from the — He learned that a big syndicate had — cashier. been cornering it for a matter of two weeks and that it was likely to jump up 15 points within the rear It was going then at 88, having risen rom ; it reached 84 1-2. Then it recovered to 86, he next day fell ee to 85. The boom roay he ha caer rs = . fe te

Page 13

TOM THE BANK MESSENGER heard was going to materialize that week had failed, for here was Saturday and he was $1,500 out on the deal. In addition he was up against interest charges on $39,000 the bank had advanced to carry his ‘stock, and $125 commission when the deal was finally closed. The truth of the matter was the market was in bad shape just then, and stocks _ “were. not going up, even when kicked hard from * pehind. Tom’s tip was all right, but the syndi- -_ eate was lying onits oars. “As the combine had practically cornered the _ stock, this was costing a big sum of money, but the members of the syndicate were millionaires ‘and could afford the strain. Tom took his lunch on the following Monday at the Empire Cafe, which was patronized chiefly by brokers and clerks on good salaries. There were a number of open boxes with tables arranged along one side of the room. There were four chairs in _ each, but frequently only two persons occupied a. box. ‘Between the last box and the back wall there was a small open space which held a small round table just large enough to hold the dishes for one. ’ Whenever Tom went there-he took possession of this table, if not in use. On this occasion he got ' the table and was waited on. While eating he heard a familiar voice talking in the box behind him. He thought he recognized the tones of Chief “Clerk Babbitt. He listened to make sure. » “TI think I’ve cooked that girl’s goose at last,” the voice said. . “Seymour dictated an important letter to her before he went out, she typed it, and he signed it after reading it over and finding it all right. She put it in an envelope and hand- 'ed it, with several others, to Billy to mail. Billy brought the letters to me after she went to Iunch and opened. two—the important one and an- other.. I changed the enclosures and handed them ~ pack to the kid. He was on his way to the branch -_postoffice when I came over here. The changing of those two letters is going to cost the boss sev- eral thousand dollars, and the blame will fall on that smart little girl. _ .“That’s the way I get square with people who do things to me. Seymour is sure to fire her, for he won’t stand for such evident carelessness as enclosing an important letter in the wrong en- velope, and then we'll have a new stenographer As for that bank messenger downstairs, I’ve a nice little seheme in soak for him. He'll get his good and proper, and then I'll be satisfied.” “Tom heard every word, and he knew that the speaker was Babbitt. He would have given con- siderable to have found out what kind of a scheme _ the clerk was going to work on him, but Babbitt did not say any more, and in a few moments he and his companion left the cafe. Tom didn’t worry much about what was in “soak” for him- _ self. He was much concerned over the trick the - elerk had pulled off on Daisy. Well, he guessed _ he would be able to save her from blame by put- ting the facts before Broker Seymour right away. -_ Hastily finishing his lunch, he started over to the Exchange to see if Seymour was there. He any into the ante-room and sent one of the Ex- change boys to find and bring him there. In a few minutes the broker came from the board room. He nodded at Tom. 2 “You want to see me, I believe?” he said. - ” 11 “Yes, sir. I want to tell you what I overheard your clerk Babbitt tell a friend of his in the Em- pire Cafe about fifteen minutes ago,” said Tom, who then told his story. . Seymour frowned as he listened. “I’m glad you brought me this piece of infor- mation so soon, for the failure of that letter to reach its destination would cause me a loss of from five to ten thousand dollars. I will take measures at once to forward a duplicate.” Tom then told him about-the mean trick that had been played on Daisy the preceding Saturday week, which had compelled her to reproduce half a dozen long statements on her own time. Pe “In that case there is no evidence against either Babbitt or the office boy, but there is no doubt in my mind that both of them were at the bot- tom of it. Babbitt is sore on Miss Darling, and on me, too,” said Tom. “He’s got some scheme to get square with me, but I didn’t learn what it is. I fancy, however, that it will have to he something above the average to trap me with it.” “I hope you will not get caught, Lanston. Now I must get right over to my office and head of the mischief that man is the cause of.” With a nod the broker started to leave the building by the Wall Street exit, while Tom left by the messengers’ entrance. Daisy was back at her table when her a 2 ci called her inside. He asked her if she had been careful in putting the important letter in the right envelope, and she — assured him that she always was careful to see that a'letter got into its proper envelope. “That is one of the things that was impressed upon me at the business school,” she said. “We were told never to seal up an envelope till we had made sure it contained the right enclosure. I gave Henry six letters to mail before I went to lunch. I am positive each envelope contained the proper letter. Perhaps I was a little extra careful with the important letter. I not only com- pared ‘it with its envelope, but I put it on one side until I had sealed the others up.” “Well, Miss Darling, with all your care’ I have learned that the letter went to another person than the one it was addressed to. But you are not to blame. The letter, I feel satisfied, left your hands all right; but it got changed about in transit to the postoffice. Now go out and re- write that letter from your notes and bring it to me with a properly addressed envelope.” Daisy, wondering how the letter could have got mixed up, and-also how Mr. Seymour had so quickly detected the matter, returned to her table, made a new copy and brought it to the broker. Then he dictated a few additional words that he intended to enclose with the letter, and while the girl was typing it he rang for an A. D. T. messenger boy. As soon as the letter had been dispatched to the main postoffice he called in his office boy and put him through a “third degree” examination, which resulted in his making an abject confession of the iniquity he had practiced at Babbitt’s behest, and for which he had received $5 from the chief clerk. This statement included his admission of having spoiled the six statements pg Daisy was obliged to rewrite on her ma- chine. I call you,” said the broker. 2 é. Mr. Seymour went outside and told his cashier: “Now go behind that safe and stay there till . oe.

Page 14

12 to send Babbitt in to him. When the chief clerk responded, the broker taxed him with his perfidy. Babbitt was staggered and showed his guilt in his face. He nevertheless denied the charge in toto. Then Mr. Seymour called the office boy and made him repeat his story. “He’s. a little liar!” cried Babbitt desperately. “He is not a liar, for his story has been prac- tically corroborated by another person who over- heard you make the admissions to an acquaint- ance in the Empire Cafe an hour ago,” said the broker. “Who is this other person?” faltered Babbitt, who knew it was all up with him. “Tt doesn’t matter. Do you admit the facts, or don’t you?” ‘“T do not,” said the clerk. “As I am satisfied of your guilt, I cannot re- tain you longer in my employ. Get your week’s wages from the cashier and go.” And that marked the finish of Babbitt in Sey- mour’s office. CHAPTER VII.—Trapped. On the day that the foregoing events hap- ened M. & N. recovered a point, closing at 86. Next day it was forced up another point, and on Wednesday it closed at the price Tom paid for it. ' There it remained till Friday, when it jumped to 90. Tom recovered his spirits when he saw that it was going up once more, and his confidence in the tip returned. During the short Saturday session it accumulated two points more, and its activity produced a favorable effect on most of the list. The market responded pen pealty on Monday, and M. & N. went to 95. Two days later it hit par and then went to 101. Next day, after a hot fight in the boardroom, it went to 104 and a fraction, at which Tom sold it, clearing $8,000. j In the meantime Tom had heard that Babbitt had been discharged by Mr. Seymour. This was no surprise to him after the information he had furnished the broker. He would have been sur- prised if the clerk had not lost his job. Daisy learned from Tom the truth about the mix-up of the important letter, and she was more prateful to him than ever for saving her from the trouble which must have ensued had the clerk’s plans not been thwarted. She told her mother that Tom was the finest boy in the world, - and Mrs. Darling agreed with her. Tom didn’t worry much about what Babbitt had told his companion concerning himself. Now that the clerk was out of Wall Street, for he was hardly likely to connect with another position in the Street without a recommendation from: his last employer, Tom guessed he was clear of him. } Babbitt, however, did not forget the young bank messenger. At noon Mr. Foster told him he had an important errand for him to execute. es “A man named Kurt has written to me re- oe questing me to send him up five United States ny four per cent. coupon bonds, which he will pay te for with a certified check on the Bowery Bank for $500 and the balance in cash,” said the bank- er. “The balance represents the premium and the _ interest to date: The bonds, with a detailed _ statement of the amount he is to pay, are in that envelope. Be careful to see that the check is and looked out. It was a ; pa rae TOM THE BANK MESSENGER certified by the paying teller of the bank, and bears the stamp. You are familiar with this business, so the caution is hardly necessary. When you are satisfied that the money is all right hand him the bends with the bill.” F “Yes, sir,” said Tom. “Get your wages and start now. The address where you are to go is on the envelope. I trust — you will not meet with any white-bearded old - gentlemen on this errand,” smiled the banker. . “If I should, I will know how to handle them,” returned the young lad. : He looked at the address on the envelope, which ran.as follows: “Isidore Kurt, Lawyer, No. ——- East Broad- way, near Canal Street.” Tom took an elevated train at Fulton and Pearl — streets, changed at Chatham Square to the Sec- ond avenue line and rode to the Canal street sta- tion, where he got off. He found that the num- ber he was in quest of was above Canal street, —~ and located it about the middle ‘of the block. — The building appeared to be devoted to manufac- turing pursuits, and Tom thought it odd that a lawyer should have his office there. He looked for Mr. Kurt’s sign, but saw none. “Tt’s funny he hasn’t got a sign down here at the door,” said Tom to himself. _ A tough-looking young man, who had been eye- ing him from the moment he stopped at the en- trance and began looking for Kurt’s sign, swag- gered up to him. 7 “Say, young feller, are he asked. “Yes; how did you know?” % “Cause he sent me down here to watch for you lookin’ for Kurt?” ou.” “Why hasn’t he a sign? How does he expect people to find his office?” << re “He’s only got his office here for a while till he ets a new one. He was burned out the other — ay and lost all his things, but he won’t lose nothin’. He calculates he’ll make somethin’ out of the insurance. As soon as he can find another _ office on Canal street he’ll move out of here,” said the tough. 2 “I see,” said Tom, who understood now why the lawyer was in that building. _“I thought it was funny for a lawyer to have his office ina building where there appeared to be nothing but manufacturing plants.” / : “That's right. It ain’t usual,” nodded his con- ductor. “I don’t reckon he’ll be here till next Saturday.” ; ae The building had five stories, and Tom was led _ to the top one. When they reached the top floor — Tom saw-.a piece of white cardboard tacked on — a door which read: * “Isidore Kurt, Attorney-at-Law. Office hoi #4 10 to 5.” af ne ape The young tough opened the door and Tom ~ walked in. There was one chair in the room and nothing else. pur goes “Sit down and I'll go in and tell Kurt you are here,” said the tough. a Sa Z Tom didn’t sit down, but went to the window. ss

Page 15

TOM THE BANK MESSENGER lay before him—the backs of other manufactur- ing establishments facing on another street. A few male employees in their short sleeves could be seen here and there. Some of these were put-- ting on their coats and hats. While Tom was taking in the few sights; his arms were suddenly seized from behind and a bag was pulled down over liis head. Then somebody grabbed him-in front and held him while his hands were-tied together. Almost before he realized what was happening he was helpless. He was half dragged, half hustled into another room, where he felt a pair of hands go through his clothes and relieve him not only of “the envelope containing the bonds, but his pay envelope and such change as he had about him. Then he was forced into a chair and bound to it. During all this time not a word had been ex- changed by the three or four persons engaged in the outrage. The parties then went into the next room and Tom heard them talking, but ow- ing to the bag that covered his head he could not make out a word they said. Finally he heard a ' door close by slammed, a key turned in it, and the retreating steps of the rascals die away. An- other door was banged, and after that—silence. Up to this point the young messenger’s thoughts had been in a complete whirl. Now he -began to think clearly. The whole thing was a plant. ' “Tsidore Kurt, Lawyer,” was a myth, and hig alleged letter a scheme to decoy a_ messenger from the Foster Bank, with the bonds, into the hands of a bunch of crooks. That’s the way Tom ‘sized the case up. What was he to do? The bonds were gone, and with them the rascals. He was bound to a chair, and was practically gagged by the bag, for he could hardly project a sound through it.. He began to twist himself in the chair, with a view of loosening his bonds, but found that the men had bound him too tight to make any impression on the cords. His feet’ were secured to the lower front rung, but not so tight -as his body was tied to the back of the chair. He worked his feet up and down and pulled at the cord as well as he could. His exertions caused the chair to slide backward by degrees. It sud- _ denly came in contact with some obstruction at the moment when Tom gave a vicious tug’ with both legs, Over went the chair, with the boy, and both crashed over the obstruction. The chair, which was not over strong, went te pieces, and the boy was practically released from it. He rolled over when he got his breath back, and found that the obstruction the chair had met with was a heavy and short piece of a floor beam. Struggling to rise, he discovered that the chair had been shattered, but the back of it, and the rungs and two front feet, clung to him on account of the cord. -. After some effort he managed to shake himself clear of both. It remained now for him to free his hands, bound behind him, but this seemed im- possible of accomplishment. Finally an idea struck him. He walked over to the one window -and smashed one of the panes with a kick. This, as he expected, left some jagged glass standing inits frame. Bais He backed up against the biggest piece, and, using care so as not to cut himself, he worked -the cord across it. In five minutes he. sawed 13 through one of the cords, and a tug released the rest of it, leaving him free. “Heavens, this has been the toughest experience I’ve had yet, but I’m getting out of it by de- grees,” he said. When he tried the door he found it locked with - the key on the other side. It was not a heavy door, and Tom saw that the only way he could get out of the room was to smash it. He picked up the big piece of floor beam and fired it at the panel nearest the lock. One blow cracked it all the way up, and two more put a hole in it. Tom shoved his arm through the hole and unlocked the door. “I suppose the other door is locked, too. If it is, I’ll serve it the same way. I must get out of this building as soon as I can and notify the po- lice,” he said. Carrying the piece of floor beam with him, he went to the outside door and found it locked. He commenced operations on it at once. It was a stouter door than the other one and gave him more trouble, but he finally smashed one of the panels. The key was not on the outside. The rascals had carried it away with them. To get out he would have to break the lock. Then he . thought of an easier way, which was to use the large blade of his knife as a chisel, and a leg of the chair for a hammer. He put this plan in operation, but it took time, for he had to work slowly, chipping off the wood a little at a time to avoid breaking the blade of his knife. When he exposed the catch, he broke it off with the end of one of the chair rungs. As the door opened in- ward there was then no further trouble in open- ing it. The stairs was before him, and he walked down the three flights. He found his way to the Seventh Precinct sta- tion house, where he told his story. After he was questioned by the captain, who was in his. office, a couple of detectives were put on the case, but as Tom had only seen one of the crooks, their capture was regarded as doubtful unless they were traced through the bonds. CHAPTER VIII.—Tom Rounds Up the Bond Thieves. After leaving the police station Tom went up- town to call on Mr. Foster at his house on Madi- son avenue. It was an unpleasant task he had before him—to report the loss of the bonds; but he didn’t see how he could be blamed for their loss. He rang the bell at the banker’s home and asked the maid if Mr, Foster were in. He was told that he was, and invited in. The banker was reading the afternoon paper when Tom was an- nounced to him. The gentleman figured that it must be something important that had brought his messenger to his house, and concluded that it had a connection with the bonds. told the maid to bring the boy to his library. “Well, Tom, what has brought you here? Sem slip in connection with the bonds?” é “The affair was a plan worked by two or more crooks. I was captured and the bonds, together with my wages, taken from me!” eins “What!” cried the banker, Then Tom told his story from first to last.

Page 16

14 “You say you have laid the matter before the police?” said the banker. “Yes, sir; just ‘as soon as I made my escape from the building.” “How much of a start did the rascals get of you?” “J should say all of an hour.” Mr. Foster called up Police Headquarters and- asked if the robbery of his messenger had been reported there. He was told that it had, and that two men were working on the case, but they had very little information to go on. The po- lice wanted the numbers and full description of the bonds, and Mr. Foster said he would send it to them. He and Tom went down to the bank. .The banker got the information out of his desk and sent it to Headquarters by Tom. After de- livering the banker’s note at Headquarters, Tom went home. He told his mother what had hap- pened to him and the five bonds, and she-was not a little disturbed by it. As he did not care to hang around the house, and supper would not be ready for an hour or two, he went out on One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street. He dropped in at the Colonnade Billiard and Pool Parlor to see a friend of his who was em- ployed as cashier there. While talking to his friend, whose name was Dick Brown, Tom saw Clerk Babbitt came in, accompanied by a young man who seemed to be the counterpart of the young tough who had met him at the doorway of the building on East Broadway, and piloted him up to the top floor, where he was made a pris- oner and robbed. | Tom was not a little surprised—not so much at seeing Babbitt, but at the remarkable likeness his companion bore the crook connected with the bond robbery. He stared at the fellow till he was almost ready to swear he was the same party. “Have you ever seen those two before?” he asked his friend. ‘ ; Dick Brown looked at the new arrivals. “Oh, yes. sy. come in here quite often. The big man is employed somewhere down in Wall Street. The other chap is a political henchman of the leader of this district.. I have an idea he gets along without working at any regular job. His name is Vickers.” Babbitt and Vickers seemed quite at home in the place, and, walking to a door, disappeared. “Where does that door lead to?” Tom asked. “A corridor, where we have several private ecard rooms.” “T suppose I can take a look out there?” “Oh, yes; if you want to.” Tom had an object in going there, and that was to try and get a closer view of Vickers if he could manage it. Reaching the corridor, which was empty, he saw the-doors of the card rooms facing. on it. He guessed that Babbitt and his enon had gone into one of them. He passed softly from one to the other, listening a moment at the keyhole, to see which one they. had en- tered. He spotted them in the last one, and en- tering the one adjoining, he placed his ear to the thin wall and listened. Their conversation reach- ed his ears quite distinctly, for they made no effort to talk low, as Babbitt had taken the pre- caution to look into that room before they en- tered the other, and felt satisfied they were in no _ danger of being overheard. Then-he knew that TOM THE BANK MESSENGER ‘! Te ee wee the card rooms were rarely occupied before nine or ten at night, and from that on till the house was closed up. os hei “How are you going. to get rid of those bonds, Babbitt?” were the first words Tom heard, and then he knew that Vickers really was the chap he suspected him to be, and it also appeared that Babbit had a hand in the matter, too. Perhaps that was the scheme the ex-clerk had in mind - against him when he dropped the hint that day in the Empire Cafe.. “How fortunate it was that I stopped in here to see Brown,” thought Tom. “I am likely to learn something now that will lead to the arrest of the bond robbers and the recovery of the se- curities.” fee ke He listened intently and heard Babbitt say: “ll get. rid of them all right, don’t you worry, Vickers. I’m going to sell them in Jersey City or Philadelphia first thing on Monday morning. That messenger, whom I hate like a dose of poi- son, is not likely to get away from that loft till Monday morning. I saw to it that he was tied up: to stay tied, and the bag will prevent any cries he might make from being heard if anybody should come into the building to-morrow. When the people on the floor below come to work on Monday morning at half-past seven or eight, he — will probably make noise enough to attract atten- __ tion, and that will lead to his release.” ae : “But he’ll be half starved by that time,” said Vickers. g “Let him. It will be good punishment for him.” “He might be smothered by the bag.” : “No fear. I jabbed a number of holes in it to let in air enough to keep him alive. By the time the police hear of the robbery I will have sold the bonds, and later on I'll give you and Feeney your shares,” ; ; The arrangement was $200 apiece,” said Vick- Ts. “That’s right.” t “What have you done with the bonds?” fs “They’re in my trunk at my new boarding house.” “Where did you move to?” F ae Babbitt gave the address and Tom made a note __ of it on one of his cuffs. : “Talking is dry. Push the button and let’s” have something to drink.” ' In a couple of minutes the waiter came and took their order. Vickers said that he and Feeney, as soon as they got their share of the cash, were going-to Chicago to have a good time, They had been wanting to go for some time, but - couldn’t raise enough money to make it an ob-— ject to take the trip. “With $200 in our clothes we can have a swell time for a month,” said Vickers. “Then we'll come back satisfied we’ye had.our money’s worth.” __ With the coming of the drinks Vickers propos-. ed a game of pinochle for fifty cents a game. Babbitt agreed and they began playing. Tom, having learned all he thought was necessary to — insure the arrest of Babbitt and his two asso- _ ciates and the recovery of the bonds, left be i pte A e room and rejoined his friend. ! “You were gone some time. Meet somebody you_knew out there?” asked Brown. ae “Yes, I ran across a,chap I was very anxious — to see. But I can’t stop any longer. My su

Page 17

TOM THE BANK MESSENGER ~ per will be ready by the time I get back to the e,” Les went at once to a drug store, where he ot the use of a public telephone. He called up Mr. Foster and got him. “Pye got a line on the chaps that done me up and stole the bonds,” he said. = “You have!” cried the banker, in a tone of sur- prise. “Yes. JI think it will be an easy matter to ar- rest them. They are not real crooks, after all. I know where the bonds are at this moment, and there should be no trouble in getting them. I should like to see you before the police are called upon to close up the matter. I think it would expedite matters if you called at my house, say an hour or so from now. _ “The guilty parties live in Harlem, and the bonds are hidden in the_room of one of them— the man who put up the job. His plan is to take them to Jersey City or Philadelphia first thing on Monday morning and sell them. He has no idea that I have escaped from the place where I was left, and he confidently believes that I won’t get away before Monday morning, when the people in the building come to work. It will be something of a jolt to him and his two con- federates when the police take them into cus- n How did you discover all these facts?” asked Foster. : -_ *[P}| explain everything when I see you. When shall I expect you?” “I'll come right away.” phere: a achanon for rush, as the matter will keep. Get your dinner first. I’m going home to get mine now. I’ll look for you around eight. “Very well, if you think the delay will make no difference.” “The parties are well known around here, and have no suspicion that their connection with the robbery is known, or likely to be known. ‘The de- Jay of an hour or two can hardly amount t6 much,” The banker promised to be at his messenger’s flat at eight o’clock, and Tom rang .off and left the drug store. He found supper ready and wait- ing for him when he reached home. A few min- utes before eight the bell rang and Mr. Foster ‘appeared. Tom showed him into the parlor and E- fie told him how he had got on to the identity of the bond thieves, and the gist of the conver- gation he had overheard between Babbitt and Vickers. An hour later, Foster, Tom and a de- _tective, accompanied by a locksmith and provided with a search-warrant, called at the address writ- _ ten on the young messenger’s cuff. - “Does Samuel Babbitt live here?” the banker - asked the maid who answered the door. “He has just taken a room in the house. His - trunk arrived yesterday,” she answered. “Is he in now?” “No, sir.” _ “Show us the way to his room,” put in the de- tective. “I have a search warrant that author- izes us to open his trunk and go through his ef- - fects.” _-“f think the girl had better call the lady of the house,” said the banker. ; The madame was in the basement and came charge entered against them. Then Tom took they. “15 up when the frustrated maid told her about the errand of the visitors. , 3 “What. is the meaning of this thing?” she ask- The detective showed her the warrant and said that was all the explanation she was entitled to. The party was shown to Babbitt’s room, his trunk was opened and the five U. S. bonds were found * init. As the party was going downstairs Bab- bitt walked in at the front door. When. his eyes fell on Tom he started back and turned pale. CHAPTER IX.—Babbitt and Vickers Try to ; Evade the Issue. “Good evening, Mr. Babbitt,” said Tom, with mock politeness. “What are you doing here?” demanded the ex- clerk, glaring at him. “IT came here with Mr. Foster, whom you doubt- less recognize, this detective and a locksmith to search your trunk for the five bonds you and your two friends stole from me this afternoon on the top floor of an East Broadway building,” re- plied the young messenger. Babbitt gave a gasp and started to say some- thing, but the words died in his throat. 7 “Officer, arrest that man,” said Foster. The ‘ex-clerk submitted without protest, and the entire party went on to the police station. The charge was made against Babbitt and he was locked up. Then Mr. Foster asked for the arrest of Vickers and Feeney. ; “What's their first names?” asked the captain. The banker looked at Tom for this added in- formation. =: “I didn’t learn their first names,” he said, “Vickers is a henchman of the leader of the dis- trict, and Feeney is probably a ward heeler, too.” “I know the men,’ You can identify them as connected with this case?” : “I can swear to Vickers, but I Feeney at the time of the robbery.” “Then what’s the use of having the man ar- rested? He is certain to be discharged when brought before the magistrate,” said the captain to Foster. : gabe “We are satisfied he was one of the three men, — but it will probably be hard to prove it,” replied the banker. : “Have you got a case against Vickers?” “Yes, we've got evidence against him.” “Yl have Vickers brought in, then, but I won’t bother with Feeney.” The captain called a detective and told him to go and get Vickers, who would probably be found at one of his usual haunts at that hour. Mr, Foster was told to be present with his witnesses at the Harlem Police Court in the morning. The bonds were retained by the police as evidence in the case, and a receipt handed the banker. Next morning at eleven o’clock Tom and the banker were in the court. After several drunks and dis- orderlies had been quickly disposed of, Babbitt and Vickers were brought to the bar. The latter had only remained an hour in a cell after his ar-. rest, for he sent for the district leader and was at once bailed out, tae He and the clerk pleaded not guilty of the did not see

Page 18

Sober, 16 stand and told his story. He positively identified Vickers as the person who had met him at the street door of the East Broadway building, and led him upstairs to see the fictitious Lawyer Kurt. He described what happened to him after he reached the top floor. The detective who found the bonds in Babbitt’s trunk testified to the fact. Babbitt denied that he was in the building or knew anything about the robbery, and when the magistrate asked him to explain how the five bonds, identified by Mr. Foster as those he had sent to the bogus Lawyer Kurt by his manager in response to the letter which he handed the judge, he professed complete ignorance about them, swearing that he did not put them in his trunk, and did not know they. were there. “The trunk is your property, isn’t it?” said the magistrate. “I admit it is.” - “Has anybody else access to it?” “Not to my knowledge.” é “The key has always been in your possession?” “J guess so.” “How long have you been lodging at your pres- ent abode?” “About two days.” “Your trunk was there at the time the bonds were stolen?” : “Yes.” “J will continue this case till to-morrow after- noon to enable both of you to produce witnesses establishing an alibi. If you fail to do this, I shall commit you both to the Tombs. Next case!” ; That evening: Daisy called at the Lanston flat and Tom told her about the bond robbery, and how it had been engineered by Babbitt. “He is now in a cell at the precinct station, and is p¥etty certain to find his way to the Tombs to-morrow,” he said. “He is likely to get all that .is coming to him.” The stenographer was surprised to learn that the ex-clerk had descended to crooked business, but we can’t say that she wasted much sympathy on him. Next morning Tom secured a fine tip through a stenographer he was acquainted with. This young lady worked for a big operator worth several millions, which he had largely accumulat- ed through \syndicates he was connected with from time to time. He and his associates seldom failed to push their operations through to a ‘successful end, and they were known as a power in Wall Street. The stenographer accidentally learned that a new combine, engineered by her employer, was cornering X. & Y., and that the syndicate ex- pected to push the price up 20 points or more. Tom met the girl on the way downtown, and she put him wise to the whole business. He knew that the young lady was in a-position to know, and her explanation as to how she secured her information convinced him that he could safely take a chance on it. So when he went to lungh he bought 1,000 shares of X. & Y. at 95 on mar- gin, and put up $10,000 of his money as security. That afternoon in the Harlem Court Vickers produced two witnesses who swore that the elec- -tion district captain had been in their company bver since noon, and that it was manifestly impos- _ «sible that he could have been on East Broadway “at the time sworn to by Tom Lanston. As the BR ESS J fs = TOM THE BANK MESSENGER ; \ Both were good on the wheel, and. their district leader had seen the magistrate privately that morning, the arbiter of the case accepted Vicker’s alibi and let him go. duced two witnesses who swore to practically the same thing in his favor. The magistrate ac- cepted his alibi also, but held him on the new charge of having stolen property in his posses-~ sion, and he was remanded to the Tombs. Soon after he reached the City Prison he was bailed out through the instrumentality of Vickers. Next morning he was rearrested on the origi- nal charge, as the banker did not propose to. let him escape through polities if he’ could help it. Vickers was also taken in on the original charge, and the Tombs magistrate, after hearing Tom’s story, and the statement of the alibi witnesses, declined to release the men, and sent them back to their cells, where they were immediately bailed Babbitt also pro- “a out by bondsmen furnished by the district leader | uptown. gested that he would find it to his interest to re- — consider his testimony affecting Babbitt and Vick- ers. when he was called before the Grand Jury. “I don’t care to discuss the matter with you, sir,” replied’ Tom. “You are evidently a friend o: the accused and acting in their interests. I am not pressing the charge against them. Mr. Fos- ter is doing that, and I can tell you this much, © Nothing more could be done till the | matter went before the Grand Jury. On the © following Saturday, at which time X. & Y. was’ up to par, when Tom came out of the bank to go home he was met by a strange man who sug- — that he intends to push the matter to the limit. © I can also inform you that he has money and influence enough to secure a square deal, too. The witnesses that Vickers brought to prove an alibi lied, and I know they did. I am perfect: satisfied that Babbitt’s witnesses lied also. t shall testify to the truth before the Grand Jury — when I am called upon. I shall do the same in court if the men are brought to trial. I knew they are both guilty, but if they can escape I can’t help that. It is my opinion they will he & 4 el ee Sor aes convicted. Good day,” and Tom walked off, leay- _ — man looking after him. ar . & Y. advanced to 105 during the first part of the following week, and then set the Exchange — by the ears by jumping to 115 in one hour. It was going at 117 3-8 when Tom found the chance to sell out, and he added a profit of $22,000 to his capital, making him worth $40,000. He shook hands with himself and felt satisfied that unless he got a bad setback he would realize his ambi- tion of getting rich. CHAPTER X.—The Strange Old Gentleman. Wednesday of the ensuing week was Decoration — Day, and Tom Lanston decided to take a bicycla — trip out on Long Island with his friend Dick _ Brown, who had secured a substitute so he could — apn fe 2p tal is get off. They started right after breakfast for the Ninety-second Street ferry, where they meant This took them to the | to cross the East River. foot of Fulton avenue, in Astoria, and thence they made their way into Grand and pushed out toward the suburb. It was a fine warm morning and they made good time. Mani eee endur: ance was equal to a long spin: They intended

Page 19

‘TOM THE BANK MESSENGER strike the railroad toward sundown and return py train, with their wheels in the baggage car. a road leading south, or to your right. That arrangement prevented them worrying about the dintagoe they traveled ‘on the road out. About one o'clock they struck a roadhouse and got a good meal for seventy-five cents apiece. Then after making some inquiries they went on again. They passed through a number of villages along their route, where they found a ereditable display of bunting-in honor of the day. They stopped twice to see ball games played upon an open lot by amateur nines of some ability, each team encouraged by a host of rooters. About five o’clock they concluded it was time to figure on the location of the nearest railroad station. The: met a farmer out in his light wagon and asked. “About two miles farther on you will come. to That road will take you to Steelville, where there is a station. The distance from here is about twelve miles.” “Thanks,” said Tom. : “Wait a minute,” said the farmer. “Two miles this side of Steelville the road turns off to the right and a branch road forks at that point. Be sure and keep to your right and you will go straight into the village, within a few blocks of the station.” i ; “Much obliged,” said Brown. member. ’ : “Jt leads off across the railroad some miles east “We will re- - of Steelville to Kelso, a small village.” The farmer drove on and the boys continued on their way. “There’s no hurry,” said Brown. “We can easily make the twelve-mile run inside of an hour.” “Too bad that we forgot to get a time-table. We may reach Steelville just after a train has been there, which would make a long wait.” “Which we could fill in getting our supper. Hello, I believe there’s a thunderstorm coming ” Popy George! You're right. We'll have to get @ move on or we may get a wetting,” said Tom. T “They increased their pace and soon reached the road where they were to turn off. As the storm was coming up from the southwest they were now cutting across its course and could make note of its progress without turning around. The de- scending sun disappeared behind the bank of ‘black clouds, and the air grew dark rapidly. aes se} 8 “We have ten miles to go according to the farmer,” said Tom. “We can do it in twenty minutes on this road,” replied Brown. “The storm is liable to reach us before then.” ~ “Tt won’t be in this neighborhood for half an hour.” ; “Maybe it won’t, but at the rate it appears to be traveling I rather doubt your assertion.” They put on a tah and had made five miles when something suddenly went wrong with Tom’s wheel. For fear of getting a header he toolf his feet off the treadles and slowed down. Seeing -his companion falling behind rapidly, Dick Brown slowed up to see what was the matter. When he came to a sto some distance thing to it., He rolled his bike to the fence ms. and looked around he saw Tom ack off his wheel and doing some- waited for Tom to come up. And during Where does the branch road lead to?”- delay the thunderstorm came on apace. The air continued to grow darker, the thunder became. louder, and the lightning more vivid. eee “It’s no shower, but a real corking storm,” muttered Brown. “I wish he’d hurry up. wonder what’s the matter with his machine, any- way?” Ten minutes passed, and then Tom remounted and came on. “What was the matter?” asked Brown. “A screw worked loose in the pedal, and it needs a screwdriver to tighten it properly.. I had to use my knife. That’s why it took so long. I don’t think it will stand the hot speed we’ve been making.. We’ll have to go slower.” “All right, but we are pretty certain to get a ducking that will make us look as if we’d been ~ in the bay yonder.” “Oh, we are bound to meet with several houses before we are caught and we can put up at one of them till it is over.” : “I’m thinking that will have to be the pro- — gramme.” ; They ran out another mile and Tom had to stop again to tighten i By the time they got | started again the clouds were over their heads and beyond, and the wind, sure percursor of what is coming, was sweeping in gusts across the road, whirling the dust in their faces. It was dark as night now, and the storm was almost on them, but a flash of lightning showed them what they sys to be a house ahead on the left side of the road. “Hurry up with your repairs or we'll catch it before we can make the house!” cried Brown im- patiently Tom, aware that they had no time to lose, rushed things, and they were mounted again and off like two gulls flying close in shore in a gale. Brown, in his rush, forged ahead farther and farther, and Tom lost sight of him in the dark- ness_except when the scene was illuminated by the lightning. It began raining, after a terrific clap of thunder, preceded by a, brilliant electrical display. Tom saw Brown a quarter of a mile ahead, going like the wind, and that was the last he saw of him. The wind rushed down like a million of furies, and brought the rain in a fierce downpour. Brown had kept to the right and passed the branch, with the house close ahead. Tom, with his head down, and confused by the wind and rain, kept straight on and passed into the branch. As the lightning glared he raised his head’ to look for the house and his friend, but saw no — ape of either. It never struck him that he was off the right road to Steelville. He increased his speed at the risk of taking a tumble, but the screw held better now and he kept up the spurt. It was so dark that he could see nothing at all except when the lightning flashed. It was like riding at full speed through a tunnel, with only _ ue Baise knowledge that the way was clear ahead. : “Where in thunder am I, anyway?” Tom asked himself in some bewilderment. “Dick must be a mile ahead and close to town by this time. Ill be as limp a8 a soaked rag when I get there.” __ At that moment a flash of electricity revealed a house standing back from the read a short dis- tance ahead. ,. 3 3 ay Le 47

Page 20

near the stove, smoking. 18 “Shelter at last!” he muttered, noting the light in the window, which shone like a gléwworm in the darkness. He slowed down and stopped in front of the wooden gate. Dismounting, he opened the gate and rushed the wheel up to the porch. Resting it against the side of the house, he Jooked around for the bell handle. He found it and gave it a couple of pulls, indicating urgency. In a few moments he heard a chain let down and the door was opened, revealing a middle-aged woman, of unpleasant aspect, with a lamp in her hand. “What do you want?” she asked, after peering out at him. “Shelter from this storm,” replied Tom politely. A gust of wind swooped down on the house ’-and the lamp was extinguished, leaving the en- trance hall in darkness. The woman uttered an exclamation and drew back. Whether she in- tended to close the door and shut Tom out is a matter of conjecture, for she did not invite him to come in. As the rain was beating fiercely around his feet, Tom took the liberty of inviting himself in, and suiting the action to the thought, he brushed past the woman. She put up no pro- test, but closing the door, fumbled with the chain until she had readjusted it, and then she passed into a room as dark as the hall. Tom ventured to follow her, as he saw no good of remaining in the hall, and stood by the door till she relighted the lamp. He then explained how he and his friend had been caught in the storm while trying to reach Steelville on their wheels, and then asked if his friend had come there for shelter. The woman shook her head, and held up the lamp and looked narrowly at him. She felt of his clothes, and, observing how wet they were, she suggested that he had better change them. Tom wondered how he was going to do that. Putting the lamp on the center ta- ble, the woman disappeared through a door. Hardly had she gone when the door from the hall slowly opened and the face of an old gentle- man of perhaps sixty-five appeared looking in, He seemed surprised and somewhat disturbed on observing the boy standing in the room near the table. He disappeared, but reappeared almost immediately. He began making signs to Tom. “How do you do, sir?” said the young messen- ger. “I have taken the liberty of——” “Hush!” said the old gentleman, putting his finger to his lips. _He looked toward the door through which the woman had gone with evident apprehension, and seemed to be listening. He took a cautious step toward Tom, who was watching his odd actions with puzzled surprise, and had lifted his foot to take a second one, when a noise in the direction of the other door caused him to suddenly vanish into the hall and close the door after him softly. “I wonder if he’s all right in his upper story?” thought Tom, as the woman came back. “Come with me,” she said. ' Tom followed her, and was led through an entry with a flight of stairs into the kitehen of the house, where a bright fire was burning in the stove, and preparations for a meal were going on. Here the boy found a sullen-looking man, seated He glanced at the young strangér in’ a sulky, unfavorable way. hen he got up with some reluctance. TOM THE BANK MESSENGER whenever you feel disposed to,” answered Tor Sone Se i i) a “Follow me,” he said to Tom; in growling tones. |. The Wall Street boy did not like the man’s look © nor manner, but he felt that he could not refuse the invitation, since he was only in the house. on sufferance. The man, with the aroma of poor tobacco floating behind him, took Tom into still another and small entry, and up a narrow back stairway to the floor above, and then up another flight to an: attic room, the performance being carried on in the dark. The man struck a match and lighted a candle. He went to a closet and pulled out a pair of trousers and a velveteen sack coat, “Take off your clothes and get into these,” he™ said, in the same sulky way. He went to the window and looked out into the storm. With the rain beating heavily on the window: panes, the house shaking in the grasp of the wind, the room weirdly illuminated by the lightning, and the thunder crashing with terrible distinctness overhead, Tom changed his wet clothes for the dry ones, feeling like a cat in a strange garret. The man smoked with his back to him, but Tom caught an indistinct reflection of his forbidding countenance in the ebony panes. The fellow never budged as the lightning threw his burly figure into bold relief. He turned around as Tom drew on the velveteen jacket, and . gathering up the boy’s wet pants and jacket, blew out the light and gruffly bade him follow him downstairs. As they passed through the dark- ness of the second landing, Tom felt a clutch on his arm. At that moment the lightning illu- mined the landing for a moment through a win- dow in the rear, and he saw the old gentleman standing half out of a door. He seemed to shrivel up in the glare and fade away behind the door like an apparition which has revealed itself for a moment. Tom was more puzzled than ever by the old man’s strange conduct, and as darkness fell around him again he could have sworn that the whispered word “Beware!” came floating af- ter him. ; Tom was led to the kitchen, where he was. seated at the table by the side of the sulky man. He wondered if the old man was the owner of the ~ house. Tom sized the woman up a sort of house- keeper. Tom was surprised at them offering him a meal and told them so. Then he introduced himself and said he lived in New York and worked in a bank in Wall Street; that he was on his way to Steelville. They told him he was on the wrong road for that place, that he would have to go back fully a mile to reach the right road. After the meal the man and woman both left the room. Tom ~ did not like the looks of the pair. Suddenly the woman entered the room and asked Tom to — look over some papers she held, and as Tom glanced over them he saw they were valuable stocks. One had a splash of blood on it. : Tom asked who the stocks belonged to, and the — woman said to her and her-husband. They were made out to William J. Austin. “Is that your name?” asked Tom. Misees “What difference does it make what my name is?” answered the man, “No difference to me,” said Tom. : Bae: “Suppose we want to sell this stock, can we?” snarled the man. ; “Tf you own the stock you can offer it for sale

Page 21

i ad r Y, > i a TOM THE BANK MESSENGER The man and woman walked over by the win- dow and consulted in low tones. At that moment the. door through which Tom had entered the kitchen opened on a crack and a hand tossed a crumpled bit of paper toward Tom. Then the door closed again. CHAPTER XI.—Conclusion. Tom looked at the pair talking together, then slipped quietly off his chair and reached for the piece of paper. Reseating himself, he opened it. This is what he read: “My name is William J. Austin. I am detained @ prisoner in my own house by the man and wo- man who are my servants. I have managed to - eseape from my room, but I cannot get out of the house, as the doors and windows are all se- _ cured. If you have any money about you, do not display it or something might happen to you. Those people have compelled me to sign small checks on my account at the Steelville Bank. They dare not take chances on large ones. They have got possession of stock in the N. J. Smelting Co. belonging to me, which they intend to sell and then leave the country with the money. If you would do me a kind service, deliver this note to the president of the Steelville Bank as soon as you can. : “WILLIAM J. AUSTIN.” As Tom finished reading the note the man and the woman finished their consultation. The boy erushed the paper in his fingers, dropped a magazine he had been looking over, as if by ac- cident, and reached down to pick it up. Before doing so he shoved the paper into the back of his shoe. Then he straightened up and put the magazine back on the table. “How long would it take to sell that stock through a broker?” the man asked Tom. - “He might be dble to do it m an haur, or it _ might take him longer,” replied the boy. “And when would we get the money?” “Next day, probably.” “Tsn’t this good stock?” “Yes, It’s par value is $50 a share, but its market. value is but $40. It isn’t what I would ‘call gilt-edgedy but it’s good.” “Wrap up them certificates again, Molly. I'll take them to New York one of these days and sell them,” said the man. He went to the shelf near the stove, took down a cigar box partly full of smoking tobacco,, and began: refilling his pipe. While he was thus en- ~ gaged, and his wife was wrapping up the certifi- eates, Tom went to the window and looked out. _ The night was still. black and threatening, but the rain had stopped and the boy was eager to get away from the house, not only on his own . account, but in the interest of the old gentle- * man who was in the power of his two servants, oe whose purpose was to rob him of as much as they he could get away with. i“ \ ked. “I'll said. 19 As Tom spoke he walked toward the* chair on which the man had laid them. The man was a_ mite quicker than he and reached the chair first. “There ain’t no use of you going to-night,” he “It’s half-past eight. The last train goin through to Brooklyn stopped at Steelville fit- teen minutes ago. If you went on there you’d have to put up at a hotel, and that would cost you, with breakfast, a dollar and a half. You can save that by staying here. You're welcome to the attic room, and the old woman will see that you have breakfast in time to catch the first morning train.” Tom didn’t believe that the last train for Brooklyn had passed Steelville at 8.15. In any event, he much preferred to spend $1.50 to re- maining all night in that house. Besides, he had « to call on the president of the Steelville Bank to hand him the note he had received from the, old gentleman, so that Mr. Austin could be res- cued from his situation at the earliest possible moment, - : “As I am a stranger to you, and you and your’ wife have already put yourselves out consider- ably for me, I don’t feel that I can impose fur- ther on your generous hospitality. I will there- fore take my leave, with many thanks for what you have both done for me,” said Tom politely. “It’s liable to rain hard again at any minute,” he said. “Look out and you'll see it’s as black as ink.” : “It’s only a three-mile run to Steelville, an Tl take the chance of more rain. I wouldn’t mind staying so much, only my friend is surely wondering where I am, and he will be worried about me.” 2 “Well, if you’re determined on going, I sup- | pose you must,” said the man, shutting.the door. | “Follow me. upstairs and you can put on your clothes.” “What’s the use of taking that trouble? change them in the entry.” “The clothes you’ve got on belong up there, and I’d rather you’d take them back where you. got them.” : With the boy’s jacket and trousers on his arm the man led the way up the back stairs once more, and they soon reached the attic, where the candle was relighted and Tom proceeded to make the change in his apparel. He was about done when the man suddenly blew out the candle. -Before Tom could make a move the fellow glided out of the room, shut the door after him and turned = key in the lock, thus making a prisoner of the oy: Tom heard the closing of the door and the snap of the key. He knew what had taken place, but to make sure he went to the door and tried it. It was fast. There were two small windows in the garret. Tom went to one, but found it could © only be opened a couple of inches, and that the shutter on the outside was nailed fast. The same conditions applied to the other window. While he was considering the situation he suddenly — heard the exclamation “Hist!” from the door. . “Who's there?” he asked, suspecting it was the old gentleman who was"trying to make his pres- ence known through the keyhole. ata “It is me—Mr. Austin,” said a voice in the + I can room. é

Page 22

20 — Tom pulled out~his match-safe and struck a light. The old gentleman was standing inside the door with his back to it. The boy walked over to him. : “It is you,” he said. “I suppose that rascal left the key in the door, and you took advantage of the fact, knowing he had locked me in here.” “Yes,” was the reply. “T read your note, and feeling convinced of its truthfulness, I intended to carry out your in- structions the moment I reached Steelville. I will still attend to the matter, for now that you have opened the door I can make my escape.” “You can if you are cautious. The only way you can leave is through the kitchen, and to do that you must wait till Hake and his wife leave the room for good.” “Their name is Hake, then?” ST 38.0 “Why not come with me yourself?” ~ “That will never do. I should be missed, and they would take instant alarm and clear out with everything they could lay their hands on, includ- ing my stock, which is in their possession. - I want to have them arrested. I intend to prose- cute them for their conduct to me. I have been held a prisoner in my room on the floor below for two months. To-day I managed to open the door and get ‘the freedom of the house, but could find no opportunity of leaving the place without be- ing seen and brought back. I was trying to get a window open in a spare room downstairs when you arrived in the storm. I saw you were a bright boy, and I made up my mind to impress you into my service if the chance offered. It did, and now I rely upon you to see me out of my troubles.” “T will do so, Mr. Austin. My name is Thom- as Lanston, and I live in New York. I am em- loyed by a large private banker named John oster, in Wall Street. -With a friend I took a bicycle trip out here to-day, and we were riding to Steelville to take a train back when we were overtaken by the storm. We became separated in the darkness, and I took the wrong road at the fork. That’s how I happen to be here,” ex- _ plained Tom. “IT am glad to know who you are, my lad, and you won’t find me ungrateful for the service I expect of you. Now I must return to my room, leaving you to look after yourself. Take off your shoes and hide down on the ground floor somewhere so as to be able to get away the mo- ment the Hakes come upstairs, as I expect they shortly will.” “One question, Mr. Austin, What do you think their object is in making a prisoner of me? They can’t hope to hold me here very long, and they must know that as soon as I get away I am likely to make trouble for them.” “J imagine it has some connection with the stock that the woman showed you. They fear ' they have made a mistake in displaying it, after what you told them, which I overheard while I was behind the kitchen door. Probably they think that you suspect they do not own the stock, and that you may queer their efforts to sell it. if I am right in my conjecture then their pur- pti is to detain you in the house until Hake’ mself can go to New York to-morrow and sell TOM THE BANK MESSENGER a a it. When he gets the money they will let you go and depart themselves, leaving me to get away as best I can,” said the old gentleman. “T guess your surmise is right,” said Tom. He followed the old gentleman out of the room, relocking the door. They crept down to the next floor, where Tom left the owner of the house to re- turn to his room, and kept on himself to the ground floor. He found his way to the rear entry | and listened at the keyhole of the kitchen door, but could hear little that passed between Hake and his wife. In the course of half an hour they deserted the kitchen and went upstairs by way of the other entry. As soon as the coast was clear Tom entered the kitchen, unlocked and unbarred the door and stepped out into the night. The weather was clearing up fast. He slipped around - to the front of the house, found his wheel where he had left it, and was presently retracing his way to the fork. Reaching the right road, he hurried to Steelville. Tom inquired his way to the hotel and registered. Then he asked to be directed to the home of the president of the Steel- ville Bank, with whom, he said, he had important ~ business. A boy connected with the hotel was detailed to show him the way. The banker was at home and accorded Tom an interview, the re- sult of which was a visit to the police. oN The | banker and two officers started for the Austin — house, while Tom went to the hotel and turned in’ for the night. Hake and his wife were in custody. After breakfast he took the early train for New York, reaching the bank late. of the cause was quite satisfactory. During the day he wrote a letter to Mr. Austin, giving his business address, in case the old gentleman want-— ed to communicate with him. Two days later i he got a reply, and learned. that Hake and his — wife had been committed to Riverhead for trial. Eventually they were tried, convicted and sent to prison. About the middle of June Tom was In the morning he learned that- His explanation — called before the Grand Jury to testify against a Babbitt and Vickers. tried. Their alibis had been investigated and found to be false, and the witnesses were arrest- An indictment was found and they were aug a ed and charged with perjury. The two rascals — themselves were found Sing. nothing could be proved against him. Tom con- tinued to speculate in the market, and by the first of the year his good luck raised his capital to $100,000. Feeney, though also guilty, escaped because guilty and sent to Sing — Notwithstanding. his financial im- — portance, Tom worked for some time longer as — : messenger for the Foster Bank, then he left and — went in the speculative business as a regular occupation, and became known in Wall Street as the boy who got rich. Next week’s issue will contain “CONTRACTOR. BOB; or, FIGHTING FOR A BIG JOB.” © rns Send us a one-cent stamp to cover posta e, and we will mail you a copy of “Moving Pictur Stories.” zi i : 5 wk ee

Page 23

“MOONSHINE” KILLED TEETH “The State Law Enactment League has lost its Seath. at least as far as its chief investigator ‘ Joseph Jerome is concerned. Joseph’s job was that of official sleuth. Of coure, he had to taste the drinks ‘before he could swear they were “moonshine.” ‘Soon, he says, his teeth began to loosen from the effects of the “moonshine.” Then one by one they dropped out. Such is the potency of San Francisco’s “cooking whisky.” Now he wears a set of false teeth. And he has filed a claim for compensation with the State ; Compensation Insurance Commission. He wants + to be paid for the teeth he lost in the good cause. eS SPN ay to? AN EDUCATED HORSE D. C, Tucker, a local stock leader, in Danville, Ky., has an educated horse that is worth while. One afternoon Mr. Tucker was driving a drove of cattle up Main Street. At the Post-Office he stopped a few minutes to enter for his mail. When he returned both the cattle and the horse had - disappeared. Inquiry brought the information _ that the cattle had suddenly become panic-stricken FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 21 CURRENT NEWS Quite a number of very prominent people wit- nessed this remarkable evidence of superb edu- cation exhibited by Tucker’s. horse. The cattle had got to Maple Avenue hefore they were finally overtaken, NEW BULLET PROOF CAR FOR MESSENGER In an effort to lessen the many hold-ups of bank messengers and clerks who travel from banks to commercial houses and vice versa the Adams Express Company has ordered from the Reo Motor Car Company of New York a fleet of armored body automobiles, mounted on the speed wagon chassis. These were first put in operation - in New York. The body of the wagon has been patterned af- ter an idea by W. M. Barrett, president of the Adams Express Company. The closed body of the car is lined with. chrome nickel steel. It is bullet proof and has stood a test of steel jacketed 45 caliber naval type automatic bullets. Not _only is the body bullet proof but the wind shied and windows are also made of a composition that bullets cannot penetrate. In the body of the wagon are eight port holes and the guards are equipped with automatic rifles. Another feature of the car is that though the inside guard is completely isolated from the driver there is a level attachment that gives the guard complete control of the car in case the man. at the wheel meets with accident. ~ and fled with the horse in hot pursuit. ag Then Tucker also pursued, with his usual alert- ness. It was discovered that the horse had out- - yun*the cattle and was bringing them back to Ss the Post-Office in a way that would have almost ~ “put Sam Johnson to shame. q Ten Cents B : en Uents Duys Be 3 fe = : a copy of Bright, snappy detective stories. Cee ea eee OUT TODAY! “MYSTERY MAGAZINE” | Handsome Colored Cover — Sixty-four Pages — Fine Illustrations IT CONTAINS ‘Intensely interesting stories of the underworld. _ Short sketches on a variety of timely subjects. _ chology, and no end of interesting items gathered from all parts of the world, | Star Authors Write the Stories . OUT TODAY! | ON ALL NEWSSTANDS Articles on the science of psy- b

Page 24

2 “Dan Dobson, gratefully. Daring Dan Dobson pe OUR ae “THE BOY WHO BEAT THE MOONSHINERS By GASTON GARNE (A Serial Story.) - CHAPTER XV. Back Home and Out on the Warpath. They did turn in for a good rest, and much they needed it, and enjoyed it. The space was much crowded where they were stretched ou But it was evident that Eli Mountford ha his place prepared for the seclusion of secret visitors. Dan shrewdly guessed that the old man made extra money by his ability to hide officers of the law in this safe concealment, but the made no comment. Mountford’s prediction came true. Within a few hours the mountaineers had found boats of some description, large enough for them to pontoon the horses across the swollen stream. Z They came to Mountford’s farmhouse in their search, and, of course, they Jooked outside and in for any strange horses or visitors. But all they found was the old fellow’s own bony nag and one mule in his barn. Not a sign of outsiders was in the house. So Neweastle’s henchmen went on, none the wiser. After a good, long sleep, from which old Mountford did not waken them, they arose strengthened and rested. After the passing of the searchers, Mountford brought up their sad- dies, harness, and even took their dripping clothes down to the kitchen to dry them out for their onward journey. They were in a pretty bad plight even at that. Hatless, with only their shirts, trousers and boots, they were not well equipped for the home- ward journey. - So crafty old Eli, who seemed so’ strangely ready for emergencies, sought around his lockers and drawers, and brought forth some old hats, some rough coats, and outfitted them with some revolvers. 3 “My father will pay you for all of this,” said “You know they stole every paper I had on’ me.” “Gosh, 1 hadn’t thought of that!” cried Zach- ary, worried. “That might cause a lot of trouble with your father’s property.” But Dan only laughed. “All T had with me were duplicate copies, issued as such, at the state offices. You know, they won't do a bit of good to the Newcastles or any one - else, for it is the original records which count. ‘Qn the other hand, Jake Newcastle may try some 22 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY trickery, and put himself right in the hands of the authorities.” Jake was already along this very line, believ- ing that the documents which his men had re- lieved Dan of carrying were the originals. “Pll give them a lot of trouble, all right.-I think I can use these on that Eastern judge, who thinks he knows it all,” mused Newcastle the next day, after the report of “no success” had been brought in by most of his men. He had learned that the judge was stopping at a farmhouse twenty-four miles from his head- quarters. ; The nerves of the unhappy girl had broken ~ down completely, and the judge had decided to rest on his tiresome journey, so that she might . regain her strength. - “Good,” said Jake, rubbing his hands, gleeful- ly. “They'll stay there for the next day—that . will help me out absolutely.” He. became very busy on his plans then, and proceeded to prepare for the entrapping of the Easterner. ‘ “They come out here and think we are a lot of old rubes,” said Jake to the old woman, as she brought in his food. “But no man in the country is clever enough to fool Jake Newcastle.” The old lady remembered her own little part in the proceedings, and Dan Dobson’s escape through the aid of Tom Dingle and her own quietness. “Waal, Mister Newcastle, ye’re fergettin’ the part that woming sometimes play, ain’t ye?” She asked this question ironically, and New-- castle looked up sharply. : . “Youre kind o’ smart to-day,” he snarled. “Well, there ain’t a woman I’ve ever seen who — couldn’t be made a fool of.” Which remark showed very plainly that a lit- tle learning’ is a dangerous thing. ; Because, although some women are easy vic- tims of the trickery and lies of men, the-majority are not. Newcastle believed that because some of his deceptions had gone, smoothly atthe start: that he would be able to continue smoothly. He called for his best remaining horse—remember- ing, with fury, that Tom Dingle had appropriated his finest. steed. P pieet et “P]] go on and get acquainted a little better with Judge Barton,” he told his men. you fellows have a clear field, and I want you to get busy on every still on the place, for I’ve got some mighty good orders from Louisville and T can clean up a few thousand dollars this week for us all.” ; He smiled on his men with the expression of — a crocodile. 4 “Boys,” he said, as he passed out silver to the — . crowd of them, “I love you. I’m a hard boss, but I’m working for all of you. I do the brain work, and take the risks, and you are always taken care of good. You may think I’m a hard fellow, — put I’m a big rough man, yet I have a heart— _ I have a heart. Be square with me, boys, and Il — be square with you.” f gees: (To be continued) Ate j Send us a one-cent stamp to cover postage, and : we will mail you a copy of “Mystery Magazine.” “Now, —

Page 25

WEALTHY INDIAN Jackson Burnett’s title to being the State’s wealthiest Indian will soon be disputed. Wilson Clinton, also a full-blood Creek, of Oklahoma, threatens to dethrone him. 3 A few months ago Clinton, his wife and two children were living humbly in a rough board shack. Then one day oil was struck on his al- E Jotment of ground. g Now Clinton has royalties of $10,000 a month F. on his oil, with prospects of the amount doubling with the drilling of new wells. GREATEST INVENTIONS “The four greatest inventions of an earlier period were all made without the modern aids to scientific discovery, but by men gifted with a disciplined imagination,” said Dr. Frederick L. Hoffman-of Newark, N. J., Vice President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in his address as Chairman of the Section on Economic and Social Science at the associa- tion’s Toronto meeting. He went on: “Printing, gunpowder, steam and the compass did more to change the face of the world and the fortunes of mankind than electricity, wireless telegraphy, mo- tion pictures and the graphophone.” “BOTTLED SUNSHINE” “Bottled Sunshine” or “Helios,” as it is labelled jn drug stores in Paris, is getting its inventor into trouble with the police. An old man, who put his new product on the market with the claim that it-is a cure for tuberculosis and other ills, says he discovered a means of extracting fluid from the sun when as a post-office clerk he ac- - eompanied an official mission to Central Africa. = He has no degree, and, as he neglected to state the composition of his medicine on the label, he is accused of violating the law regulating the sale of patent medicines. A magistrate accompanied ‘ by a professor from a school of pharmacy in- structed to investigate the matter found the in- 4 ventor living in a shanty outside of Auteuil. From an iron rod on the roof a number of j * wires ran into two huge receivers in the court- yard, the whole installation looking like an elec- trie plant. The receivers were filled with a syrup _. - which the old man claimed was extract of sun. © -He talks seriously about it and says also that he has discovered a method for the transmutation of metals. NORTHWESTERNERS EATING PEYOTE us SEEDS — aa .. A new form of intoxication viewed as a social ~ menace among Northwest Indians and Orientals, is the eating of peyote or button-like seeds of an Arizona cactus. : + Thousands of these types of Northwest inhab- __ itants are now alleged to be peyote drug ‘fiends, a spree occurring several times a year and lasting many weeks. The effect of the cactus button on its victims is sleeplessness, morbidness and an FAME AND FORTUNE ITEMS OF INTEREST WEEKLY increased mental desire for hilarity and games of chance. - The peyote is a pear-shaped species of cactus common in parts of the Southwest. The tep bears seeds resembling red-coat buttons. These are sold pickers to dealers for $2 per thousand. : The button-like seeds are generally eaten in the dry brittle state from five to fifty in a single night. % From time immemorial the peyote has been used in the Southwest among the Aborigines and Mexicans for producing an intoxication of soul and body to aid them in gambling, dancing or ill- timed deeds. Since the abolition of liquor and the ban on narcotics, the peyote has gradually moved north- ward along with other vile drugs. The consump- tion of this bean has invaded the Northwest to Alaska, and many bushels of the peyote buttons have been taken to the Orient. « Send us a one-cent stamp to cover postage, and, we will mail you a copy of “Moving Picture - Stories.” “Mystery Magazine” SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A COPY LATEST ISSUES Vs 92 FRIDAY AT TWELVE, by Katherine Stagg 93 BY THE LEFT HAND, by Hamilton Craigie, THE MELODY OF DEATH, by Jack Rechdolt. 95 THE TRICK OF THE GREAT YEN HOW, by W. H. Osborne. 96 AT MORIARITY’S, by Fred BH. Shuey. 97 ene poet STAR OF THE FILMS, by Jack Bech- dolt. : 98 COUNTERFEIT CLUES, by Chas. F. Oursler, 99 THE CROSS, by W. S. Ingram. 100 A SECRET SERVICE MYSTERY, by MHamititen Craigie and Elliot Balestier. 101 A CRIMSON PRICE, by Elliott Lester. 102 aoe aig: Ducane s STRANGE CASE, by Gottlieb acobs. : 108 A MUSEUM MYSTERY, by Jack Bechdolt. 104 THE LITTLE RED BOOK, by Alexander Young. 105 A MAN FROM SIAM, by Charles Fulton Oursler, 106 The Clue of the Emerald Ring, by Beulah Poynter, The Famous Detective Story Out To-day In No. 107 Ie HELL’S HINGES By HAMILTON CRAIGIE HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., ws 166 West 23d Street, New York City “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players __ PRICE SEVEN CENTS-PER COPY Each number contains Four Stories of the Best Milms on the Sereens — Elegant Half-tone Scenes from the — Pleys — seit crenstig Articles About Prominent People in the Films — Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studios and Lessons in Seenario Writing. = = — : HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., Be 166 West 23d Street, ~ New York ©

Page 26

FAME AND A Woman’s Nerve By COL. RALPH FENTON The following episode in the career of the cele- brated Madame Vestria happened in the winter of 1847, when the star of her genius was still in the ascendant, in spite of her fifty years. She had married the famous Charles Mathews the younger only a short time before, and was visiting Paris in his company. The chief object of their visit was to secure a ballet troupe for a spectacle, the preparations for which were then in progress at one of the large London theatres at the time under their united - management. : But it so chanced that the selection of the bal- let fel; principally upon Mathews, because his wife was temporarily disabled by an unlucky «sprain of the ankle. She was confied to their hotel. in the Rue _ Sainte Honore, where, of course, she would con- sole kerself by giving receptions to her admirers, who were quite as numerous in France as in England. One evening she was alone in the small but elegant salon adjoining her apartment. Her waiting-maids were within call, and could now and then hear from one of the further rooms the playful barking of her King Charles spaniels, Flock and Floss, which always accompanied her on her travels. : Taking up a newspaper, her attention became absorbed by the first article on which her glance alighted, for it was upon a subject that excited all Paris for a number of days. A number of robberies had taken place in quick succession, whose perpetrator had not been dis- covered. It was evident, from certain characteristics common to all the crimes, that they were the work of one man. " His favorite, and indeed only method, had been to secreté himself in close proximity to some fash- jonable and ‘wealthy lady’s sleeping apartment, and then to possess himself of her jewels and other valuables after she had fallen asleep. When his victim happened to awake he had not hesitated to use violence to prevent her giving an alarm. ‘The only elue to the villain as yet lay in the knowledge that he had but two fingers on his left hand, a circumstance that had been noted by one lady who had had the nerve to simulate unconsciousness while secretly observing his fel- onious operations in the subdued light of her boudoir. A panic of fear was said to be existing among such ladies as were noted for the number and value of their jewels, and sarcastic comments were passed upon the ineffectiveness of the police authorities. Bowie x : Madame Vestris was a woman of exceptionally _, strong nerve, but she could not restrain a little ~ timorous thrill when, having finished the article, he limped across the salon to the dooy of her FORTUNE WEEKLY \ » @ y boudoir, intending to summon her maids and re- tire for the night. Before entering her boudoir, turned to extinguish the wax lights of a candela- bra that had been left burning in addition to the’ small, shaded lamp by which she had been reading. The candelabra stood upon a bracket, and cast a strong, mellow light upon the floor, throwing out the shadows of the intervening pieces of fur-~ niture, especially of the table at whieh she had been sitting, in pretty strong relief, inasmuch as the shaded reading lamp in the middle of the table shed its lesser luster in a small, circum- seribed circle. As she cast a final glance over the room, she was suddenly filled with fear on perceiving cast out upon the floor, directly across her footstool, the unmistakable shadow of a man crouching under the table at which she had been sitting. She remained perfectly quiet, but her terror was inereased a hundredfold as she saw, or thought she saw, the image of a hand that pos- sessed only two fingers. _ She was convinced that the mysterious criminal, whose deeds: had so excited the city, was lying concealed there, and had so lain, probably in contact with the very folds of her dress, the en- tire evening. however, she — Having come to this conviction, through a swift _ and dreadful train of reasoning, which every woman understands, Madame Vestris remained — for the moment almost petrified. BS ae Her jewels were noted for their splendor and costliness, and she was known to always have them in a casket at her bedside upon retiring; and since her arrival in Paris it had also become pretty well known that she was in the habit of — retiring comparatively early, while her husband’s duties kept him away from the hotel until a later hour. Her maids slept at the farther end of an ouside corridor, and thus for a considerable time she fe hereaeay alone upon the third floor of the otel. Of course, the robber had made himself ac- quainted with these circumstances, and was wait- ing his opportunity to enter upon his course of pillage and violence, possibly to end in murder. a mts te These thoughts and conclusions flashed through ~ i Madame Vestris’ mind with terrible rapidity. Then, by a tremendous effort of will power, she not only recovered her intrepidity ‘and coolness, ¥ but also formed a plan to extricate herself and outwit the villain. Without extinguishing the lights she began to carol a light operatic air, while resuming her _ seat, and touched the silver spring bell on the table with which she was in the habit of sum-— moning one or the other of her maids. aes This action alone cost her a great pang of fear, for if the spaniels should accompany the maid, they would doubtless at once sniff out the pres- ence of the concealed robber, who might then at tack her without delay. ai Fortunately, however, the maid who responded to her call was not accompanied by the dogs which had romped themselves to sleep in one of the remoter apartments. eee q

Page 27

FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY z b t 4 ; j “Adele!” said Madame Vestris, “is the estab- lishment of M. Vernac, the jeweler, still open, i think you?” E “Oh, yes, madame!” replied the maid. “It is Saturday night, when all the shops keep open un- ___ til twelve, and it is now but a little after ten.” "YT shall then have to get you to take a message : to him at once,” said the actress. “He has been __- repairing my costliest diamond necklace and my e tiara of sapphires and brilliants, which he prom- ised to return this evening. I shall not sleep with- out having them at my _ bedside to-night. Whether repaired or not, he shall send them with you by one of the clerks. Bring me the writing materials from my boudoir.” Adele did as she was directed, and, still hum- mining her song, Madame Vestris, with a firm hand, penned the following, which she sealed and dirévted to M. Vernac, the then fashionable jew- eler of the Rue des Italiens: “MONSIEUR—The two-fingered villain is con- cealed under the very table at which I write, un- suspicious of my knowledge of his presence. Sum- mon the police, and lose not a moment in hasten- ing to MADAME VESTRIS.” a 4 ; : “There!’”’ said the heroic actress, handing the missive to her servant, “that, I fancy, will bring ’ --me back my beloved jewels without an hour’s de- jay, and teach M. Vernac a lesson at the same time. Here is some small change, Adele. Take the first fiacre ‘you find disengaged, and lose no : time in returning.” Adele was about quitting the room when her mistress was seized with a sudden horror at the thought of being left alone with the desperado, and she called her back. . “Before you go,” said she, with a counterfeited ~ calmness, “tell Marie to come and keep me com- - pany. I will see if she has made any improve- ment in that embroidery work I tried to teach her in London.” : - “Alas, madame,” said Adele, “Marie took the liberty of going to bed an hour ago,” " ' _— - ing. “But no matter, I will amuse myself dur- - §ng your absence by rehearsing my part in the new spectacle.” coma Adele departed, and Madame Vestris was left alone—alone, save for that terrible presence, - whom, perchance, an imprudent movement of her foot beneath the table, or even a tell-tale quaver of her voice, might at any instant awaken into a capacity for evil and murderous purpose. But she had set herself to play a part such as she had never played before, and nobly did she enact it to the very close. She recited the lines of her forthcomin over and over again; she sang, she trille carolled in a manner that would have ravished the ears of thousands; and all to that single deadly, -Jurking auditor, whose suppressed breathing she role ~ pauses of her voice, and whom she felt to be with- - in a hand’sbreadth of her trembling limbs. During all this enforced gayety she was a prey _ to such secret and mental anguish as can only be imagined by the most sensitive or womanly na- ; =] : y 4 “The lazy little minx!” cried the lady, laugh- - fancied she could sometimes detect between the . - English buyers, 25 The seconds crept by like minutes, the minutes seemed hours, and at last, when she had pretty thoroughly exhausted her voice, she sank back with a sigh and contented herself with humming musically and in a low voice. eas Presently, at the end of an hour, though it might well have seemed an eternity to her, her heart gave a great leap as she heard the clatter of wheels in front of the hotel. .A moment later Adele entered the room, but with such a demure look upon her face that her mistress at first feared that her message had miscarried. But Adele was something of an actress herself, and there were those lightly following her up the staircase who brought the assurance of safety and release, She was almost instantly followed into the sa- lon by three police officers, who were in turn not only followed by M. Vernac, the jeweler, but also by Mr. Mathews, Madame Vestris’ husband, who had been picked up at one of the theatres on the way. As soon as the brave lady saw her husband she uttered an hysterical scream and flew into his arms, with a forgetfulness of her sprained ankle for which she could never afterward account. At the same instant the officers overturned the table and then quickly pounced upon the con- cealed ruffian hiding underneath. He made a desperate resistance, being a pow- erful ruffian, and armed to the teeth. . But he was overpowered after a short struggle, and led away to prison, after the heroie lady had briefly related her ‘story of the detection of his presence and the strategem by which she had caught him in the toils. The criminal turned out to be one Dufresne, a galley slave from Toulon. He had made himself notorious in the south of France before breaking loose from prison and entering upon the series of crimes which now fortunately led to the conclusion of his career. | He was a hardened and somewhat original - wretch, and is known to have remarked to the officers with much nonchalance: . “I ought to forgive the stratagem by which TI was fuined. Parbleu! for a whole hour I was the sole auditor of the greatest singer and actress in Europe, who gave herself exceptional trouble to entertain me.” oO I Send us a one-cent stamp to cover postage, and we will mail you a copy of “Moving Picture Stories.” ESE MAINE PORCUPINES SHIPPED TO ENGLAND Linwood Flint recently shipped a number of live porcupines to the railroad line at Norway on the first leg of their journey to England. Two horses hauled the vehicle, and the animals were accompanied by forage enough to last them until they reach their destination. There were three barrels of hemlock, apples and potatoes for their use. Mr. Flint says it is several years since*he — shipped out his first load of ‘“quilled hogs” for_

Page 28

26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY j FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY NEW YORK, MAY 5, 1922 TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Bingle Postage ....6....se00+: Postage Free 1 Cents One Copy Three Months...... Ld io $0 Cents One Copy Six Months........ Ks by $1.75 One Copy One Year........-+ = = 3.50 Canada, $4.00; Foreign, $4.50. HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. O. Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances {in any other way are at your risk. We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope, Write your name and address plainly. Ad- dress letters to Harry E. Wolff, Pres. HARRY E. WOLFF, C. W. Hastings, Treas. Publisher, Inc., Charles E. Nylander, Sec. 166 W. 23d St., N. Y. INTERESTING ARTICLES PIG WITH ELEPHANT HEAD Forrest Stith of Irvington, Ky., brought in a pig from a litter of eight that had an elephant head and snout and only one eye, which was in the centre of its head; it had no hair. The mother came from the State Fair at Louisville. SCARCITY OF BEARS A scarcity of bears and wildcats, on the snouts of which the municipality of Halifax, Canada, pays bounties, is reported. During the year 1921 only $146 was paid for bounties, while not many years ago it ran up to $500, and a great many years. bears were included. Now the bounties that are paid are chiefly for wildcats. CROWS KILL OWL Robert G. Cardwell, who is furnishing data to the Government on bird life in this section, has forwarded a report of the killing of a large barn owl by crows which he witnessed near Lenape. a. The owl had remained out until after daylight and was perched on a tree limb when a number of crows discovered it. They immediately made a mass attack upon their enemy. One after another darted at the victim until its eyes had been destroyed, after which they attacked it en masse and literally tore its body to pieces. Owls prey upon crows in the night hours, as they do upon other birds, but usually remain in cavities of trees in daylight. “ COUNTS MILLION PEAS John D. Wainwright of Meddybemps, Me., re- cently started to count the peas in jars said to contain 1,000,000 of them. If there is exactly that number, Wainwright will have to eat them, put if that figure is one out of the way, Henry Parish must do so, It started in an argument on Washington’s Birthday. Parish offered to bet $2.50 that he could count 1,000,000 peas in a month, and Wain- _ wright took him up. After he had counted out 100,000, Wainwright suggested that they amend the wager to read that if the count was incor- rect Parish would eat the peas, while Wain- wright would do so if it was correct. Parish counted the first 100,000 over again and was filled with nervous dread when he found that he was three peas out of the way. He proceeded with the count with utmost care, and finally an- nounced that it was finished.. Wainwright thoughtfully surveyed row on ro of glass fruit jars filled with peas, 4 “Pll tell you what we'll do,” he said finally. “T’]] assume your count is correct and pay you $2.50 and we'll call it square.” : “Not on your. life,” said Parish. “If we as- sume my count is correct, you’ll not only pay me_ the $2.50, but you'll eat those peas, every one of them.” ee “But how am I to find out whether there are — exactly 1,000,000 in those jars?” protested Wain- wright. ; “By counting them, of course,” rejoined Parish shortly. So Wainwright began his laborous task, which he expects to complete by May 1. Parish an- — nounced that -he would insist on a recount if Wainwright’s tally did not agree with his. Weng LAUGHS “Mike, I am going to make you a present of a2 this pig. Ah, sure; an’ ’tis just like you, sor!” “It did Jack no good to marry his stenographer for she continued the habit of the office ie thein =a home.” “How so?” “When he starts to dictate — she takes him down.” ED “Why do they call Washington the city of mag- ~ nificent distances?” - “Because,” answered the dis- appointed bdffice-seeker, “it is such a long way be- tween what you go after and what you get.” $28 Magistrate—What! Do you mean to sa joist husband struck you, and he a physical Sr aeeee € -Mrs. Maloney—Yes, your honor; but he’s been — a physical wreck only since he struck me. cea a gs Even the most impulsive women have their good traits. An Irishman, mourning his late wife, tearfully remarked: “Faith, she was a good woman. She always hit me wid de soft ind av the broom.” ; It was a broiling hot day, and the woman, who came rushing up to the railway station all out of es breath, was obviously anxious. “Oh,” she ex- © claimed, excitedly, to the station master, “has the next train gone yet?” sir el Belle—How silly men are when they pes osel Why, my husband acted like a perfect fool. Nese - That’s what everybody thought when your en- gagement was announced. (aie, = ey : 45 “What interested me most in my travels,” said — ae Henpeck, “was the mummy of a queen I saw in — Egypt.” “Wonderful, eh?” asked his friend. “Yes, it’s wonderful how they could make a woman dry up and stay that way.” : Fe: *

Page 29

CHOKED WOLF TO DEATH Thee have been instances where wolves have - been killed by men without firearms—when wolves have cornered them—but there are few cases _ where men drive gray wolves into snowdrifts, try to kick them to death‘and, failing in this, choke -them to death. This, however, happened near Pierre, S. D., ‘when Paul Steffen, a farmer, living about eight miles north of that city, discovered a big gray - wolf, killed it in this manner and brought the _ gealp to the city for bounty. Steffen was going to Pierre on horseback, and _ when about four miles north of town a big gray wolf ran in front of his horse. Steffen, monnted, _ gave chase and ran the animal into a deep ”know- _ drift. : He dismounted and closed with the animal and _ tried to kick it to death, but was unable to do so. _ He then took the bridle from his horse and, using the reins, choked the wolf to death. The wolf fought back, but Steffen, being thickly clothed, suffered little from the hand to fang battle, _ though he carries a few scratches and punctures, ‘HOW OTTERS LEARN MANNERS All mothers are very busy people and the otter - mother is no exception to the rule. Her first big job is to teach her silky-coated little babies to _ swim; it is a difficult task, as, strange as it may seem, the baby otters, or cubs, as they are called, do not like the water at all. Up in the big quiet pool, if you are very lucky, you will see the brown mother pushing her babies in, then diving in after them and holding them up with her mouth while they learn to swim. When they have succeeded and can trust the water in which they will spend so much of their life afterwards, the other shows them how to dive swiftly into a _ pool where the big fish lie under the rocks, and ow to corner the salmon or trout as they turn like a lightning flash when they are being chased. All the lore of the fish pool she teaches them, and, “most important of all, the way to nose about in the mud for eels, which are the otter’s greatest ~ dainty. i : - Then, when they have had enough of the water, she drags them ashore and shows them how to eat theimfood properly. The otter is very dainty in its habits; it eats very. slowly and always starts at the head and works toward the tail, lich it always leaves. Of course, in the water, the fish is a small one, the otter will swallow whole, but if it is a big salmon it has to be gged ashore and eaten. That is where the ther otter is particular; there is a certain ‘y in which well-bred otters always eat their ey, and if the baby cubs do not do it in the ‘Proper manner their mother will heartily cuff them amd knock them aside. Greedy otter cubs -eat their fish too quickly have a very bad ith their mothers. . = co ted FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY FROM ALL POINTS Stories.” < 27 SNAKE BITE CURED WITHOUT RUM Prohibition does not bother students of the Stanford University summer field work in geol- ogy in dealing with rattlesnake bites. They do not rely on whisky, but instead carry in their pockets bottles of potassium permanganate. The story of how Joe Snow, son of the late Prof. Arley B. Show of the Stanford history faculty, and a student member of the Stanford Geological Survey in Ventura county, this summer saved his life has just become generally known on the campus. ; Even following the rules laid down by Prof. C. F. Tolman, Jr., head of the expedition, Show had a narrow escape. The Stanford geology work each summer con- sists of actual field work in a geological survey. This summer there were eighty-one members in the party. which was at work in the wild country in the thousand square miles in Ventura county stretching westward from the ocean north of the Santa Clara Valley. Each member of the party was required to have with him always a bottle of potassium perman- ganate and to keep one blade of his knife sharp and oiled as a prevéntive of rust. In cases of snake bite he was instructed to slask the wound, suck out the blood and then place a couple of crystals of the permanganate in the wound. The men always work in pairs. Show and his partner, Calton Carson, known as “Kit” Carson of Palo Alto, were working about three miles from the road up Dry Canyon. When Show picked up his lunch from the foot of a tree where he had placed it a rattlesnake struck him twice in the wrist. He used the required reme- dies at once, but was nevertheless so seriously affected for an hour and a half that Carson did not dare to leave him to go for aid. Show had convulsions and his joints stiffened. After an hour and a half he had improved sufficiently so that Carson was able to leave him to go to the main camp for aid. From there Tom Pamlyn of San Francisco, manager of the camp, and An- drew Mackenzie of Palo Alto, one of the instruct- ing assistants of the survey, went to Show’s aid and, partly carrying him and partly helping him to walk, got him over ‘the three mile trail to an automobile, in which he was taken to a physician ~ in Newall. The doctor said that the prompt first aid treatment had undoubtedly saved Show’s life and that he was out of danger, Show was able to return to the work in a week, » although his arm was still swollen and his joints were stiff. : : The rattler which bit Show escaped into its hole unharmed. w After Show had had his experience there was - not a man in the Stanford survey party who did not see to it that he had his permanganate outfit — and his clean knife always with him. Send us a one-cent stamp to cover postage, and we will mail ; you a copy of “Moving Picture =

Page 30

3 <= eS 28 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY GOOD READING ALASKA’S OLDEST BEAR IS SLAIN BY INDIAN What is believed to be Alaska’s oldest bear was killed by an Indian hunter recently near Anchor- age and the skin and head sent to Seattle, Wash., on the steamship Queen. The animal was also of immense size, the hide measuring 11 feet 1 inch in length. The height of the bear was 6 feet at the shoulder. The Indian hunter and white men who traded for the pelt estimated the weight of the animal at 1,700 pounds. The fact that Bruin was toothless and almost clawless leads natives who have inhabited the Anchorage section for generations to believe it is’ one long hunted. Their forefathers held a grudge against an old bear, because in an early day, more than half a century ago, he was alleged to have cornered and destroyed half the folk in a little sea coast fishing village. The dead bear was of the Kodiak Island species, which are considered largest of living bears. They are fish eaters largely, but are able to stalk large game. They are the only bears that do not turn and run from man, but advance first to frighten the hunter. . The head and skin is being mounted for the eountry home of a wealthy “salmon merchant. KEY TO HIDDEN GOLD The key to $2,500,000 worth of Spanish gold, hidden in a cache in the wilds of the Ozark Moun- tains in Arkansas more than 150 years ago by a arty of settlers to keep it from falling into the heaide of Indians, was reported found. é Anthony Fenninger, who is forming a company in Denver to search for the hidden treasure, said twenty-two years ago the Spanish Government conducted an extended hunt for it, but the search, like others privately made since that time, even- tually was dropped. That he had discovered the key to the charted cache was the assertion of Fenninger. ‘He and a group of prominént Denver business men plan to search for the gold early in-the spring. “I knew nothing of the buried treasure until I went to Eden’s Bluff in the White River country on a squirrel hunt last fall,’ Fenninger declared. “Across the river from the bluff I stumbled over a stone covered with hieroglyphics. I scraped the dirt and moss from the inscription and called the attention of the find to a native. This native told me an extended search for the treasure had been made by the Spanish Government twenty-two years ago.” The settlers were killed by the Indians af- ter the treasure had been hidden, according to Fenninger. A party of native Arkansans is sup- posed to have unearthed the tunnel to the cache ten years ago, but abandoned the search after one of the members was killed by a landslide. FLAPPER GHOST There is a lot of talk going on in Millerton, N. ' ¥.. about the flanner ehost which for some time now has been visiting the home of Theron Snyder at night and peering into a second-story window. Mr. Snyder professes only a nodding acquaintance — with the ghost, but says that so far as he has. been able to see it through the glass it had bobbed_ hair and is addictec to the use of eyebrow pencils. and lip-sticks. Also it is pretty. ree Mr. Snyder is middle aged, the father of a fam- ily and an employee of the Central New England Railroad. He takes no stock in ghosts and has. no time for them; neither does he take stock in or have time for flappers in the flesh. But the fact remains that almost every night there is a — tapping, as of some one gently rapping on the glass of a second-story window, and then through the glass ean be dimly seen the head of a flapper, flapping about without much very visible means — of support as are shown by the flapper in life. Every effort has been made to solve the mys- tery, but to no avail. It has been suggested that perhaps Mary Ellen has come down from Anti- gonish on a visit, but there are no signs of human~— footprints on the ground under the window, and nothing to indicate that the flapper climbed up a ladder and peeked into Mr. Snyder’s window... In-— vestigations are being made by all the amateur ghost hunters of this vicinity, and it is these in- vestigations that are causing the talk. =e Some of these investigators are very young — men and they seem to be trying to steal Mr. Sny- der’s ghost rather than solve the mystery... Two of them are known to have placed a box of bon-- bons on their window sills at night and lingered hopefully within their rooms, dressed in their Sunday suits, but to no avail. A third put a small bottle of gin on the window sill, but even this did not attract the flapper ghost, which remains true _ to the household of Mr. Snyder. - 2 1: Several members of the Snyder family have seen the face with its pert bobbed hair peeking’. in at the window. They have tried to catch it but have failed. They have not, however, ac- cepted the offer of certain of the young amateur = investigators, who volunteer to catch the flapper — ghost or die in the attempt. The ghost, so far has done nothing to the members of the Snyder _ family but look at them. A Rush yournameand = address and we will ~ tell y u HOW you can get this Baseball Out- fit, consisting of Basebali Suit, Cap, Fielder’s Glove, lively league Baseball, Catcher’s Mitt. : Absolutely FREE Write at once for FREE Baseball Outfit Home Supply Go. 114 Nassau St., Dept. 858 New York City “ Basebal/ OO T FT a

Page 31

OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS Useful, Instructive and Amusing. They Contain Valuable Information on Almost Every Subject No. 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES, — A com useful little book, containing the rules and reyes Seva ere, bagatelle, back-gammon, croquet, dominoes, ete. “No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS = ing all the leading conundrums of the aay es riddles, curious catches and witty sayings. é No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.—Includ- tne La aor ee moles, weasels, otter, rats rrels an rds, so how t i Sopi ; fanaerarca 0 cure skins, Copiously No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END »™ id JOKE BOOK.—Coniaining a great variety of tis lstect jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. No. 42, THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied assortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish, Also end men’s jokes. ee so sens 20% home amusement and amateur shows. No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTR GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK,-—Something new and vere Beye Pk ch ier should obtain this book, as it ntains fu nstructions Yor organizin eel troupe. 5: ghee aan o. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECT —A description of the wonderful uses of slnetyieiet oat electro magnetism; together with full instructions for making Hlectric Toys, Batteries, etc. By George Trebel A.M., M.D. Containing over fifty illustrations. : No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES, — A handy book for boys, containing full directions for con- structing canoes and the most popular manner of gail- ing them. Fully illustrated. c. o. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for on- ducting argh back ae for debates, questions for dig- cussion an e best sources for procurin 9s Eds questions given. e ph st pepe : o. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANI —A yaluable book, giving instructions in epltacting sawier 5 een mounting and preserving birds, animals’ and sects. _ No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Con- _ taining explanations of the general principles of sleight- _ of-hand applicable to card tricks; of card tricks with _ Ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially mraveres a pie : 0. 53. 0 WRITE LETTERS.—A wonder little book, telling you how to write to your antotionce _ your father, mother, sister, brother, employer; and in act, everybody and anybody you wish to write to. No. &. HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.— _ Giving complete information as to the manner and method of raising, keeping, taming, breeding and man- _ aging all kinds of pets; also giving full instructions for making cages, etc. Fully explained by twenty-eight ee esions:, id iat asian q "No. 56. SCOME AN ENGINEER.—Con- taining full instructions how to-become a locomotive engineer; also directions for building a model locomo- _ 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. 60,—HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER— Containing uscful information regarding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographie Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies.. Handsomely ¢ HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES, —Containing full directions for making electrical ma- chines, induction coils, dynamos and many novel toys to be worked by electricity. By B. A. R. Bennett. Fully illustrated. “No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES. — The most original gore: book ever published, and it its brimful of wit and umor, It contains a large collection of songs, jokes, nundrums, etc., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, humorist and practical joker of the day. For sale by all newsdealers, or will- be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10c. per copy, in “money or stamps, by ‘HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. New York and Fortune Weekly _—— LATEST ISSUES — 826 The Missing Bonds; or, A Lucky Boy in Wall St. 827 Hunting For Treasure; or, The Pirate’s Chest of old. 828 $10,000 Reward; or, The Fortune of a Bank Clerk. 829 Bought at Auction; or, The Bid that Led to Riches, 830 The Young Copper King; or, The Boy Who Went the Limit. 831 Ralph, the Reporter; or, The Mystery of Assign- ment No. I The Nerve of a Wall Street y Risk; or, Office Boy 8383 The Race for Gold; or, After an Aztec Treasure. 834 Tipped To Win, or, The Wall Street Messenger Who Made a Fortune. 835 The Boy Salesman; or, Out On the Road For Suc- cess. 836 Sous Money Broker; or, Striking Luck In Wall reet. ; 887 The Way To Fame: or, The Success of a Young Dramatist. 838 In the Money Game; or, The Luck of Two Wall. ~ Street Chums. Fame 839 = A Soler Treasure; or, The Mystery of an Old Prunk, n 840 “ Hal's Business Venture; or, Making a Success of Himself. 841 amoue, the Man-eaters; or, The Secret of the Golden wedge. 842 The Little Wall Street Speculator; or, The Boy Who Became a Stock Broker 843 Old Hazard’s Errand Boy; or, The Nerve That Won the Money 844 Check 765; or. The Strangest Tip In Wall Street. 845 A Shortcut To Fortune and the Smart Boy Who Found It. 846 eeener Brown's Boy; or, A Tough Lad From Mis- souri. -* S47 The Odds Against Him; or, A Boy With Grit. 848 A Boy With Brains: or, A Fortune From a Dime. 849 His Own Business; or, From Errand Boy To Boss. 850 The Banker’s Plot; or, The Mysterious Boy From Cripple Creek. 851 igs a Missing Million; or, The Treasure of the reck. 852 A Boy From the Streets; or, The Old Broker's Protege. 853 A Born Hustler; or, The Boy With the “Goods.” 854 Matt, the Money-Maker; or, A Strange Lad tin Wall Street. 855 Out for Everything; or, The Boy Who Was Willed a_ Circus. 856 Ka. Wats Street to Win; or, The Boy Who Got the oney. 857 A Young Sinbad: or, Wrecked on a Treasure Island. 858 Bill Bond’s Syndicate; or, A Fortune From a Two- Cent Stamp. 859 The 5! Who Vanished; or, The Treasure of the neas. ’ 860 oo Broker; or, The Success of a Wall Street oy. _ 861 Striking a Gooa Thing; or, College Chums in Business, 862 Among the “Sharks”; of Wall Street. 868 In Business for Himself; or, The Lad Who Made the Money. 864 Charlie of the Curb; or, Beating the Mining Brokers. 865 A Million in Rubies; or, The Richest Find in the World, or, The Lights and Shadows For sale by ‘all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 7c per copy, in money or postage stamps, by HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., 166 West 23d Street, New York City SCENARIOS YOW TO Price 85 Cents Per Copy This book contains all the most recent chan: in the method of construction and submission of nepeasian Sixty Lessons, covering erery phase of scevarto writ- | ing. For sale by all Newsdealers and Bookstores, If you cannot procure a copy, send us the pri $5 cents, in money or postage stamps, and we mail you one, postage free. Address d | L. SENARENS, 219 Seventh ove. New York, N..¥. |

Page 32

$10,000 or DEATH Millionaire Blair had laughed at the first threat of the blackmailer. And the next night his lumber yard burned to the ground. The mysterious blackmailer was plainly in earnest. His family was desperate, but Blair refused to give in. A $5,000 reward a a score of detectives —but not a clew. Then came Wilson, the Finger Print Expert. He examined the death letter. The others had seen only the sinister skull and cross bones. But Wilson saw something else! A few moments in his laboratory. A, few more ewes 3 the files of his Bureau, and he said to the chief, “Pick up ivan Markaroff. He’s your man. Then send the reward to my mice.” How did he do it? Easy for the finger Print ex- pert. He is the leader, the cream of detectives. Almost daily, the papers tell of his marvelous exploits. More Trained Men Needed The demand for trained men oy government, states, cities, detective agencies, corporations and private bureaus is becoming greater every day. Here isa real opportunity for YOU. Can you imagine a more fasci- nating line of work than this? Often life and death depend upon finger print evidence—and big rewards go to the expert. any experts can earn reguiarly from $3,000 to $10,000 per year. Learn at Home in Spare Time And now you can learn the secrets of this science at home in your spare time. Any man with common school education and average ability can become a Finger Print Detective in surprisingly short time. ~ Why dont You be a Finger Print Expert? Free Course in Secret Service For a limited time we are making a special offer of a Professional Finger Print Outfit, absoiutely Free, anda Free Course in Secret Service Intelligence. Mastery of these two kindred professions will open a brilliant career for you. Write quickly for fully illus- trated free book on Finger Prints which explains this wonderful training in detail. Don’t wait until this offer has expired—mail the cou- pon now. You .may never see this announcement s again! You assume no obligation—you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Write at once—address University of Applied Science 1920 Sunnyside Ave. Dept. 1095, Chicago, Ml. jaan jsesneees UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCE 1920 Sunnyside Avenue, Dept.1095 , Chicago, Illinois Gentiemen:— Without any obligation whatever, send me your new, fully illustrated FREE Book on Finger Prints ant ae offer of a FREE course in Secret Service Intelligence an Free Professional Finger Print Ostfit. Name... COON O EEE eR ERR SE EE REE TE RU SEEDER EEE DEERE PERSE Eee eeeeeene Address .. Present Occupation ...

Page 33

Mee, et Sac oe s=

Page 34