Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 867) (1922 05 12)
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MAY 12, 1922 9) ACToR BoB DR FIGHTING For A Bigajos i es 4 B A Sel; eitade By = i ae “You're an insulting rascal!” cried Bob, angrily. The laborer's reply was a shovelful of dirt flung directly at him. “Here, what are you doing?” shouted the young contractor. “Tryin’ to stop yer jaw!” grinned the fellow. “I'll stop yours.”
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FAME AND FO RTUNE WEEKLY Issued Weekly—Subscription price, exe r year; Canada, $4.00; Foreign, $4.50. Harry E. Wolff. Publisher, Inc., 164 : Weet 83 Street, New ork, N. ¥. Entered 4, 1911, at, as Second-Class Matter, ‘ee -Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March No. 867 NEW YORK, MAY 12, 1922 Price 7 Cents CONTRACTOR BOB + OR, FIGHTING FOR A BIG JOB By A SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER I.—Introduces the Hero, Heroine and Second Villain. “Shall I have the pleasure of seeing you home this afternoon, Miss Summers?” asked a sprucely- - dressed young man of the pretty stenographer of —the contracting firm of Peck, Gilligan & Co., of the town of Westlake. . “I prefer to go home by myself, Mr, Peck,” re- plied the girl, distantly. “Nonsense. Let me go with you. I’ve some- thing important to tell you,” insisted the young man, who was Lg hoy ; son of the head of the firm, d represent e Co. : el don’t pat to have your company,” said the girl, definitely. “Oh, I say, why do you persist in treating me so aS ¥ 49 i A I poke a whole lot for you. My father will raise your wages if I ask him to.” “J am not asking for any favors, Mr. Peck, answered the young lady, coldly. “I understand my business and I am giving general satisfaction. ‘I expect the firm will raise my wages in the usual course of business.” : : “Oh, you do? Well, maybe you'll be disappoint- ed. My father is the financial boss, and he isn’t paying his employees any more t he can help. | You're not likely to get a raise ess I use my - jnfiuence in your behalf—then you'll get it, for my father won’t refuse any request I make of him. ‘So you see it’s to your interest to stand well with me. Now you'll permit me to go with you.” “No, sir, I will not.” “What's the matter with you? Don’t you think I’m good enough for you?” said Henry Peck, with asneer. “There isn’t another girl in town but - would consider herself lucky to have me notice her in the way I do you.” “J don’t ask you to notice me. I'd rather you - -wouldn’t.” : __ “You're putting on an awful lot of airs for a 2 mers girl,” said the young man, angrily. 5, OE rt you know I’m the junior partner of the firm? ep ; ~ “Maybe you'd rather have Bob Barron see you home?” he said in a tone of concentrated jealous rage. “If he were going my way I should rfot refuse to walk with him,” she replied. “He, like myself, is only an employee of your firm. We are on the same footing, and I have found him to be a gen- tleman.” Whether it was the way the girl spoke, or be- cause she called Bob Barron, the young graduate civil engineer, a gentleman, we cannot say, but Peck said: “Do you mean to insinuate that I am not a gen- tleman?” The girl met his gaze steadily as she answered: “TI am insinuating nothing, Mr. Peck, but if you are a gentleman you will not seek to press your company where it is not desired.” “Indeed!” he sneered. “I see how itis. You're sweet on that young engineer Gilligan hired a few_weeks ago. Before that you were throwing your smiles at Bert Baker, our surveyor’s assist- ant. You think because Barron is drawing more money than Baker he’s a good card to play. You know you’re pretty and you are trying to turn the fellow’s head—make him think you are stuck on him, but all you are looking for is to soak his _ pocketbook for a good time.” “You’re an insulting puppy!” cried the fair stenographer. “Don’t you dare ever to address me again. If you do I'll report your conduct to your father.” She was brushing past him when, with an ejac- ulation of fury, he seized her tightly by the arm— so tightly that he drew from her a ery of pain. “You'll report me to my father, will you?” he hissed. “I'll see that you are fired before that happens, you stuck-up——” : “Let me go—you hurt me. How dare yo: touch me!” cried the young lady with tears in her_eyes. Pot let you go when I feel like it, miss,” he said. , geass you'll let her a cool voice behind them. The junior partner turned half around and saw Bob Barron, the young civil engineer, at his elbow. _ “You!” he gritted. t “Release the young lady, go now, Mr. Peck,” said “ I am _ sur- i you should act rudely to her,” continued es} ai “Who asked you to butt in?” said Peck, angrily.
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_ ? zZ CONTRACTOR BOB | - “Tt is a gentleman’s place to interfere in a lady’s behalf.” “Do you call yourself a gentleman?” ‘J leave others to judge that fact. Let Miss Summers’ arm. Can’t you see you are ing her?” “Mind your own business.” “IT consider this my business. _ I won’t allow you or anybody else to mistreat Miss Summers— or any other young lady, for that matter,” said Bob, in a different tone—one that meant business. “You’ve got a nerve to talk to me—one of your bosses—this way.” “J do not recognize you now as one of the firm, but as a person who is taking unfair liberties with a friend of mine. Since you won’t let her go when you’re asked to, I’ll make you.” Bob steppped forward, and by*a quick move broke Peck’s grasp on the girl’s arm, and gently swung her out of his reach. “You had better go, Miss Summers,” he said. “T will see that he does not follow you.” “You will. see it!” hissed Peck, his face con- vulsed with rage, for Bob had hurt his fingers. “You common scrub, I'll see that you're fired right off the reel. Get. out, you beggar!” He raised his foot and made a vicious kick at the young engineer. Had he been cooler he might have noticed that Bob was prepared for anything. The plucky boy side-stepped and at the same time caught Peck’s leg and gave it an upward fling. That threw the junior partner off his bal- ance and he fell across the threshold of the office door, striking his back on the sill with a whack that took his breath away. Bob turned away and, taking Miss Summers by the arm, for she had hesitated to leave when she scented trouble for her champion, led her from the spot. “JT hope he did not hurt you much,” he said, softly to the beautiful girl; who showed no objec- tion to his company. “He did hurt me. He acted like a brute. I don’t know what I should have done had you not come to my assistance. It was so good of you, and I am very grateful to-you. But I fear you have made an enemy of him, and he is in a posi- tion to injure you.” . “I’m not worrying about that, Miss Summers. No man, if he be as big as a house, shall insult you in my presence,” said Bob. “You have done me a service I never shall for- get,” she said, softly. _- “Tt was nothing. Don’t think about it any more.” : : “But I will think of it. You have done what I might expect of a brother if I had one. I thank you with all my heart, and my mother will appre- ciate the service as much as I. It was so brave, ‘so manly of you!” , “Miss Summers, I don’t want you to worry any over what I have done in your behalf.. If you : be to reward me, slightly, permit me the honor i your friendship. Let.me know you a little bet- _- ter than circumstances have hitherto permitted. But remember I don’t insist on this if you had o of urt- Bert Baker, a splendid chap, our surveyor’s as- sistant. If—if I could hope that you, Miss Sum- — mers, would—that is——” He stopped as if at a loss to put what was in his mind. ; : “T understand, Mr. Barron. You wish that we should be friends. I see-no reason why we should not if—you believe I am not the kind of girl Mr. Peck called me.” 25 “Yl swear you are not. You are just the kind of girl I would go through fire and water for. I beg your pardon for being so expressive,” he said, hastily, observing the rich flush that mantled her cheeks. “You are not displeased at what I said?” he added, earnestly. “Displeased! I couldn’t be displeased at any- thing you. “ She stoppped abruptly and her confusion was evident. : “Thank you, Miss Summers. then?” “Yes.” “You have made me very happy, for your friendship means more to me than I can express. Have you lived long in Westlake?” ; “I was born here.” : She told him that her father, who was dead two years, had been a contracting carpenter, in — partnership with Gilligan, of the firm she and Bob were working for. He met his death through an accident on a large job he was superintending. Gilligan wound up the affairs of the partnership, and Miss-Summers told Bob that her mother was greatly surprised to find that there was $500 coming to her out of her husband’s interest in a business he had always represented as a growing and comparatively profitable one. We are friends, hardly — She — a protested, but Gilligan offered to submit the books — to the inspection of an expert at his own expense. After Mrs. Summers had been advised to take him up he discovered that he had made an error in his accounting and paid her $500 more. The widow let it go at that, and Gilligan went on with the business on his own hook till Peck, who was a wealthy lawyer and politician, saw certain possi- bilities that induced him to form a partnership with Gilligan. : > The possibilities proved to be town and county contracts that Peck was to control in one way or another. Peck, Gilligan & Co. immediately be- came the most important firm of contractors in Westlake. By the time Miss Summers had given Bob some insight into her family history, the two young people reached the cottage owned by Mrs. — Summers. The stenographer asked the young en- gineer in to meet her mothers. When Mrs. + hes mers learned of the service Bob had rendered her — daughter she expressed her gratitude in no un- certain way. The boy was so nice and gentle- manly that she took quite a fancy to him, and in- vited him to call on them whenever he found it convenient to do so. Bob accepted the invitation gentle- ¥ with alacrity. It showed that he had made a good — impression on the young lady’s mother, and Bob _ it was su per the Scecie:Iedes w hat he would see her mak
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CONTRACTOR BOB ns 3 * morning, he todk his leave and reached his board- ing-house just as the dinner-bell rang. = ' CHAPTER Il.—Peck, Sr., Censures Bob. About eleven next morning, while! Bob was _ making some calculations for an estimate the firm - Was going to submit, the office boy came to his desk and told him that Mr. Peek, Sr., waated to see him in his office. Bob responded at once, and the head of the firm received him in a frigid way. Mr. Peck was a well-built, well-fed man of per- haps fifty. He was always scrupulously dressed, and his manner was pompous. Unless a caller was - gomebody considerably above the common, Mr. _ Peck received him as a king might a humble sub- ject, condescendingly. The visitor was expected ‘to be impressed by the honor of having been ad- mitted to his presence, and permitted to breathe the same air. E _- “Young man,” said Mr. Peck, frowning upon Bob, “my son complained to me that you not only oe. him last evening just after the office _ elosed, but that you actually knocked him down. _ What have you to say about it?” - _ “Since you have brought the matter up, I will _ tell you the whole story, and leave you ¢o judge _ your son’s actions,’’ said Bob, who thereupon re- peeesed all that happened between Peck, Jr., and _ Miss Summers, and between himself and the junior partner, using young Peck’s language as near as he could remember it. _ “Hum!” said Mr. Peck. “You have exaggerated —— son’s conduct. He is a young gentleman, and > 5 ye sure he would not conduct himself as you shave described.” < ~~ “Call Miss Summers and ask her.” “JT will see Miss Summers later, if I should _ deem it necessary to get her version of the affair. _ You assert that my;son made a kick at you, and - that in avoiding it you caught his foot and upset him. He admitted to me that, angered by your in- ‘sulting behavior, he did not forget himself so far to raise his foot, but he said he had no inten- ion of kicking you, but you took advantage of his m to seize his leg and overthrow him with rt force, with the result that he was cnsid- erably injured by the fall. The attitude you dis- ed toward my son was such as to incur grave censure. You appear to forget, young man, that the is a member of the firm that employs you. at fact alone makes your conduct extremely ~ display such an aggressive disposition. I shall » take the matter under consideration, and perhaps, er I have consulted with Mr. Gilligan, we shall it advisable to let-you go. That is all, sir. can go back to your desk,” and the head of firm d young engineer with a of his hand. “T dare ie he a e. I am surprised that you should - to leave Westlake and the society of Miss Sum- mers, aS well as to cut loose from Bert Baker, who is a first-class fellow. I wonder if Peck, Jr., will have Miss Summers discharged, too—that is “if his pull with the firm is strong enough to bring that about. He is pretty sore on her because he can’t have his way with her. He is one of those kind of chaps who will do anything to get square © for a real or fancied injury.” Bob heard nothing more from the head of the house that day. Shortly before five, when the office closed for the day, Baker came in after hay- ing been out all day with the firm’s surveyor. He eame to Bob’s desk as the young engineer was putting his books and papers away. “Haven’t seen you for a day and a half,” he said. “How are things?” “Kind of rocky with me,” replied Bob. “Rocky? How is that?” asked Bert, in some surprise. “I’ve had a serious run-in with P, Jr., and the indications are that my services l be dis- pensed with.” 3 “You don’t mean it!” cried Bert, aghast at the idea of Bob leaving the shop. “Tell me all about it? Bob rehearsed the incidents of the previous aft- ernoon. : “He didn’t get any more than was coming to him,” said Bert, referring to the junior partmer. “That’s my opinion. But as he’s a member of the firm, and, moreover, the son of the head of the house, it is a dangerous matter for a common mepeee like myself, to hand him his just de- serts.” “T wouldn’t worry. It may blow over. You’re an uncommonly smart engineer, and I doubt if the firm could replace you for anything like the wages you are receiving. Peck, Gilligan & Co. are mak- ing lots of money, but they are not blowing any . extraordinary part of it in on their employees, doubt if the Co. gets as much as he thinks he is entitled to, though he doubtless gets a lot more than he earns,” said Bert. “Earns?” laughed Bob. ‘He’s more orna- mental than useful. He doesn’t know the first thing about engineering. His education seems to es ended at the High School, at the foot of his class.” “That’s right. His mission in life seems to be to bask in the sunshine of his father’s impor- tance—and dough. As far as I see, the only practical man in the firm is Gillfgan, and he isn’t so much when you sift him déwn. As a master carpenter he appears to be a success, but two- thirds of our work is outside his line. He has no knowledge of civil engneering, so that all the fine work, as I call it, falls on you.” : “You mean the responsibility of figuring on the contracts?” : & “Of course. And you aren’t paid half what you’re worth. If the firm fires you, on Peck, Jr.’s account, the firm will make a great mistake.” “Oh, I don’t know. The woods are full of tech-- nical school graduates who will work cheap to get a Start,” said Bob. ¥ ‘ bes ia eas Ae them could fil: rin eng i io ae “Never mind how many—a good many, I dare ~-the firm only wants one” ‘opinion the firm will h
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4 = CONTRACTOR BOB getting that one if they let you go, Besides, it - would be an outrage that you should be dis- charged for defending our stenographer from in- sult, even if the insulter was the head boss’ son.” “There are two sides to every question, and my side doesn’t count for much against Peck, Jr.’s, with his father.” “Oh, well, as I said before, don’t worry. Peck, Sr., will probably consult with Gililgan before he makes any move to let you go, and Gilligan is likely to object. He’s the man who is really run- ning the business.” The boys put on their hats and followed Nellie Summers out of the office. “Do you object to our accompanying you a block or two, Miss Summers?” asked Bob. “Object! Why, of course not,” she laughed. “Why should I?” “Well, I heard you tell Peck, Jr., yesterday, when he asked to be allowed to escort you to your cottage, that you preferred to go home alone.” “If his company wasn’t congenial to me, wasn’t I right in declining it?” said the pretty girl smil- ingly. “You certainly were,” said Bert, as the three walked off together. “This is a free country.” “You haven’t seen Mr. Peck, Jr., to-day, have you, Mr. Barron?” said the young lady. “I don’t think he was at the office.” “No, I didn’t see him, but his father called me into his private room and told me that his son had accused me of insulting him in a ruffianly ~manner. I offered my explanation, and when he expressed doubts as to its accuracy, I told him to ask you about the trouble. Did he mention the subject to you?” “No; he didn*t say a word about it,” replied the ators he angry with you?” she added anx- iously. — : - “He wasn’t pleased,” replied Bob. Miss Summers looked narrowly at Bob’s face, but saw in it no indication of anticipated trouble, and she felt reassured. The conversation revert- ed to other topics, and two blocks from the office the boys parted from her. “She’s a fine girl,” said Bob as they went on ’ their way. ’ “Bet your boots she is. I guess you’ve made a ten-strike with her,” replied Bert. “Any girl is sure to think well of a fellow who takes her part.” “Td take the part of any girl, or woman, either, under the same circumstances. It just happened : to be Miss Summers.” ~ - “Pye an idea she’s been taken with you from the time you made your bow in the office.” “What makes yoy think so?” “She and I have always been very friendly, and _ she talks to me more than the others when I’m in the office. From the sare! she speaks about you I notice that your refined deportment has made an impression on her. Now you’d think that Peck, Jr., would be politeness itself, for he travels _ «in the best society of this town, but you have seen how he carries himself. He may keep a _ check on himself when he’s in the company of his betters, but he certainly doesn’t play the gentle- man to. nay Re ard at the office.” i ( i ing.” as : i agreeable tone. | = ra to be a civil engineer. One member of the firm ought to be up in the technical details of the busi- ness, and now is the time for him to get wise.” “Some persons had rather enjoy themselves when they’re young than’ prepare for the future. This is often the case with chaps who have rich fathers, and who-think the world will never hold a care for them.” i2 “Some of those chaps find out before they are — gray how foolish they were. A fellow can go through money mighty quick these days. If he spends more than his income he is bound to come to grief.” “You nor I won’t set the woods on fire with the amount of money we’ll have to spend for some — time yet,” laughed Bob. “We have to hoe our ~ own row, for we have no rich father to fall back © on. : “Nor any rich relative whose death will put us on Easy street. Well, here’s where our ways part for the time being. So long. Come around and see me some night soon. I don’t stray from the roost very often, only on Wednesdays and Sundays, when my best girl looks for me to call.” Bert turned up the cross street while Bob con tinued straight on to his boarding-house, where he arrived some little time before the bell rang for dinner. : . CHAPTER III.—The EBay That Was Worked on ob. About eleven that evening an automobile con- taining half a dozen young fellows stopped in front of Bob’s boarding-house. One of them ge out and rang the bell. The servants had all gone to bed and no one responded. The young fellow kept on ringing, however, and after an interval the landlady made her appearance in a wrapper. “What do you want?” she snapped, for she did et relish being routed out of her bed at that our. = “We want Bob Barron. Tell him Bert Baker is at the door and wants him to take a ride with some friends in a car,’’ said the young fellow. “T guess he’s gone to bed,” said the missus. “Tell him to be a sport and get up,” said the young man. : “This is a nice-time to rouse your friend up to go riding,” sniffed the landlady, who did not ap prove of such nocturnal affairs. a “That’s all right. Nothing like enfoying life while you’re young. I suppose you used to go - straw riding in your time with the boys at any old hour.” ats Oe “The idea! Just as if I would have done sucha thing!” she answered, highly offended at the sug- gestion. : : ee “All the girls do it when they’re young and — good-looking, why not you? You don’t look so old. now. T’ll bet when you’re fixed up you don’t look over thirty.” Tote As the lady was on the shady side of forty-five, she felt quite complimented, and permitted a smile to flit across her features. g “[ll deliver your message,” she said, in an qa nank you, ma’am. |
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_ who, having seen Bert several times, did not be- lieve the visitor was he. a “No, ma’am; Baker is in the car yonder. My name is Jack Ketch.” - “Vil tell Mr. Barron, but if he’s sensible I think he'll stay in bed.” The landlady went upstairs to a back room and _ knocked on Bob’s door. The young engineer had not gone to bed, but was reading a book on engi- neering. The landlady gave him the message ’ from the late visitor. Bob was surprised, for he understood that Bert was not in the habit of run- ning around with a night crowd. However, it was _ quite possible that he had been picked up some- - where by a party of his friends with a car, and _ that he wanted him (Bob) to go along. _- “All right, Mrs. Jenkins,” he said to the land- lady. “I'll go down and see Bert, and possibly I een go off for a little while with him and his " The landlady returned to her room and looked 5s the lass to see if she looked as old as she was, while she was determizing this momentous "question, Bob went to the door with his hat and He found a young man there who was es stranger to him, and saw an mute, with five _ others in it some yards away. __- *You’re Bob Barron?” asked the stranger, in 4 a chipper tone. Yes. Where is Bert Baker?” a “In the car. He thought you'd like to take a _ vide. We'll be back in an hour. Come on.’ As it was a fine night, Bob had no objection to E eee the ride, and,- shutting the door, he fol- the young fellow to the car. ere are you, Bert?” said Bob. _ “Here I am,’ replied a muffled voice. “Get in.” Bob got in, the other chap followed, and the ear was off like a shot. The next thing Bob knew 1s noose dropped over his head and arms and was = drawn tight. Then somebody pulled a light bag over his head and he was-shoved back-on the seat and held. The young engineer was greatly sur- -Prised at this treatment, but taking it for a joke, Ser mo resistance. The noose around his arms secured, and Bob heard a good deal of hilarity him, which further convinced him that he the victim of a joke, and he waited patiently ~ it to come to an end, _ The car went on at a high speed till the su- was reached, and then started out on the a Two chaps were on the front seat, of Sa bearing a strong likeness to Henry =k, Jr., was acting as the chauffeur. Two were the centre seat, holding Bob between them, and 9 were on the back seat. The car was a big h-power touring one, and was painted red. n Bob felt that the joke, as far as he was ed, had proceeded far enough, he began to » a demonstration as well as he could. This ed no effect except merriment, and he was ‘a prisoner. Bob then called out through g. but received no.attentfon. He gave the up and let things take their course, for he ' pa a man to make a fuss over a joke, apn Bares incommoded by it. He iency of some lads to carry gp so vagg egret gp ring a _ now able to talk wi CONTRACTOR BOB 5 was shut off and the speed gradually decreased. A narrow road, in poor condition, and only used ~ by the farmers, was reached and the car turned into at a slow gait. The road ran somewhat up- hill, and finally reached the top of the incline. “There’ s the old mill yonder,” said the chap at the wheel, and his voice sounded like Peck, Jr’s. The mill in question was a ruinous edifice of stone, of ancient date, standing in a hollow back from the road. Tle big wheel which once turned its simple mechanism was missing, for it had fallen to pieces, and the dammed stream which furnished the water power to drive it was now re- duced to a smal] rivulet, almost dry at that season of the year. The remains of the dam were still to be seen, but most of it had been filled in and was now under cultivation. A short run down the hill and the car turned to the open space in front of the open door of the mill and stopped. All hands got out and Bob was bundled out with little ceremony. He wondered when the joke was coming to an end. He thought it had gone far enough—too far, in fact. He was stood on his feet and marched forward between two chaps who had hold of his arms. As he made up his mind to see the thing through, he went along willingly enough. “He’s a sport, all right,” said one of his con- ductors, in an approving tone. “I expec we were going to have trouble with him, but he’s been as docile as a lamb. I say, John Henry, you ought to let up a little on him. I'll bet he’s a good fellow. He’s taken the joke like a major.” : “Oh, ‘dry up,” replied John Henry in a surly one. The entire party entered the mill and then stopped while one of them lighted a lantern he had brought from the car. Bob realized that he was inside a building, for he felt the plank floor- ing he was standing on. He wondered where the building was. It must be some distance outside of Westlake, though in what direction he had no idea, for the car had gone at a good speed. He heard the bunch talking, but could not make out what they were saying. “Come on,” said John Henry, leading the ‘way with the lantern. They passed from the room into a wide pas- sage, and to a flight of stairs going down into the cellar, and Bob was compelled to descend with the others. The floor of the cellar was composed of hard dirt and the debris that had accumulated for years. Bob easily surmised that he was down in the foundation of a-building. He was pushed _ up against a post, which was in bad shape, but seemed to be strong enough from the looks of it. It was really little better than pink inside, and. this fact would have been noted had the light of the lantern been flashed critically upon it. There was considerable slack to the rope holding Bob’s arms to his body, and this was used to bind the young engineer firmly to the post. Then Bob felt his handkerchief withdrawn from his hip pocket... The bag was slowly lifted off his head, but before it was. above the level of his chin his eyes were bandaged by his own handkerchief. The bag was then cast aside. “Hasn’t this joke Mae far OS said ee.
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_ 6 - “This is no joke, you lobster. We have brought you here to initiate you into the Order of the Fum Foozles. All strangers who come to West- lake are obliged to join this secret society if they stay here for any time,’ said a voice that sound- ed familiar to Bob, though at the moment he couldn’t place it. : “Tf my friend, Bert Baker, is a member of it, and has gone through the initiation I won’t make any kick, but I hope you chaps will treat me right,” said Bob. “Oh, we'll treat you right, don’t you worry. You have passed through the first degree, and we will now put you through the second,” said the familiar voice. Bob felt the light rise before his face. What produced this light he didn’t know, but it had not very bright until it was flashed upon his face. Something wet and clinging, like a paint brush, was drawn across his forehead amid snick- ers from those present. This was ‘repeated all over his face except where his handkerchief ran, and also to his neck from ear to ear, and under his chin. A soft rag then was rubbed over his skin. There was then a pause of about five min- utes in operations. “Ts it dry?” asked the familiar voice. Bob felt a finger touch his face in several places. ; “Yes,” some one replied. “Very good,” said the first voice. “The neo- jhite will now be ornamented with the secret sym- ls of the Order of Fum Foozle.” _ From the sensations that followed Bob was sure that something was being painted on his forehead, on his cheeks, chin, and finally that stri were drawn vertically down his throat half a dozen times. The ormance aroused a lot of merriment on the part of the bunch who were observing the proceedings, and the young engineer did not doubt but he had been made a ridiculous-looking object. The last touch having ben applied, the familiar voice cried: “Hail to the new member of the Fum Foozles.” The words were repeated by the other five in solemn chorus. ; / “The neophite has now successfully endured the application of the second degree. The third, or ve ingen 3 one—that of solitude and silence— is now in er. Brothers, we will withdraw to the council chamber above and there await the moment when the neophite, having endured the ordeal of the third degree, shall be released and invested with the regalia of the Order, and pro- vided with the pass-words. Follow me, brothers,” said the familiar voice.” —~ The speaker with the lantern started for the stairs, and the others, save the last, followed - slowly in single file to avoid any obstructions that ’ lay in their path. The fifth leaned up against Bob and whispered in his ear: © “Say, chappie, this is a frame-up. I believe you’re a fellow, so I am putting you wise to _ the fact that we’re going to leave in the car right away. I’ve cut the rope half through to help -- you out, As soon as we've gone a tug or two release you. You’re in the old mill, twelve miles from town. Walk up the hill and cut across: the fields to your left at an angle—that En re ek . e i ee SA es - PR CONTRACTOR BOB will bring you to the county road, and save you two miles. Wish you luck, chappie.” “Hello, Chester, what are you hanging back there for?” cried a voice from the stairs. “Fixing my shoe lace which came loose,” re- plied the lad who had whispered to Bob. “I’m coming now.” s Bob felt the handkerchief pulled off his eyes, and he saw the party on the stairs waiting for the dilatory one. The chap with the lantern _ Yaised it and flashed the light toward the one be- hind. That brought his face well into the halo of the rays, and Bob recognized him as Henry Peck, dr., the leader of the proceedings. —— ee ee et Yee CHAPTER IV.—The Japanned Tin Box. Bob understood the situation now thoroughly. — The junior partner of the firm had taken this means of getting back at him for what he had done the afternoon before. ‘ “T hope he feels better after it,” muttered Bob, as the light and the young men vanished up the stairs. “One of the bunch appears to be a pretty decent fellow. He put me wise to the game, and told me he had partially cut the rope so that with a little effort on my part I can escape from this — predicament. I’d like to know who he is. One of them called him Chester. I'll remember the name, and maybe I’ll run against him some time, which will give me the chance to thank him.” : He heat light footfalls pass across the floor over his head, and then silence. This, however, was broken by the noise made by the auto in get- ting under way. That sound died away in-a few moments and then complete silence ensued. Bob — judged it time to Get busy and he gave the rope a be Mees a second and finally a third, but it still — e “T wonder if that chap fooled me about having — cut the rope. No, I don’t think he did. I guess he didn’t cut deep enough. I'll haye to make a stronger effort.” Taking a ‘full breath Bob gave his bonds a tre- mendous tug. Instead of the rope giving away — the post did, falling in ruins and throwing him to the ground. Something hard and weighty struc’ the ground at his side and fell over on him. “That must be a heavy stone,” he thought. “If that had dropped-on my back it might have broken it, and that would have ended my career of use- — fulness.” hs. It was a simple matter now for him to get rid — of the rope. He sat up and pulled it from around his body. Then he pulled out his match-safe and struck a light. He looked to see if it really was” a stone which had narrowly missed falling on him. To his great surprise it was an oblong japanned box, with the key hanging from the handle by a small steel chain. : 4 “T wonder how this thing came to be in such a place as the cellar of the old mill?” he asked himself. “I must see what’s in it. Looks as if it~ ee eee of oe ALS e keyhole was so clogged up with dirt and — rust that it was impossible to taser’ the key. “Oh, well, I guess it’s worth while taking tl box back to the house with me. It holds some
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thing more weighty than papers, and I’m quite _ eurious to learn what it is,” said Bob, striking another match to light his way to the stairs. It didn’t take him long to reach the outside of _ the old mill. He had heard about the ancient ruin from Bert, who had lived all his life in Westlake. _ Over the door, and almost obliterated by time and _ the weather, it bore the date 1812—the year it was built. That was almost 100 years before the time of our story. Bob had intended to visit it ' some time and go all over it, for he was inter- ested in old architectural antiques. Now he had visited it against his will, and under circum- _ stances which were not favorable for the inspec- _ tion he had promised himself. As he figured it n Me hia’ (een eo! A, ie it | ie ta fi Lipp Al - ing the mill over in the starlight, but started. to _ make his way back to town. He reached the road --and stood for a few moments locking up the hill, when two men, whose appearance proclaimed them to be tramps, started up out of the grass lose by and looked at him. : “Jumping Jehoshaphat!” cried one of them. “That ain’t a man, it’s a ghost! Look at its face! _ Oh, heavens!” § In another moment the tramps were making - tracks down the road. Bob was astonished, for he had forgotten all about the facial decoration he had received at the hands of Peck, Jr., and his friends. Even after hearing the tramp’s excla- _ mation, “Look at his face!” he did not apply the _ words to anything out of the ordinary with him- “J must have startled those chaps good,’ he _ehuckled. “They took me for a ghost. Well, = ’s that hill that Chester told me to follow to _ the top and then cut across the fields diagonally the left. Here she goes.” . He started ahead, but the box seemed to grow heavier as he proceeded, and after changing it : _ from one hand to the other, he was glad to put = down for a spell when he reached the summit the hill. He had to rest twice on his way cross the fields, and once more when he came to _ the road at a point about nine miles from West- lake. It would have taken him till long after _ daylight to reach town with that box had not luck befriended him. A buggy came toward him. elderly doctor who lived on the outskirts of e was returning from a hurry call sent by an old patient. Bob welcomed the approach the vehicle, for he saw the chance of a ride, a lift under the circumstances was the near- t wish to his heart. He Waited till the buggy e up, and then hailed the occupant. ill you give me a ride as far as you are go- “sir?” he said. “This box is mighty heavy, m going to Westlake.” octor looked at him sharply and suspi- at have you got your face painted up in * hideous fashion for?” he asked abruptly. ‘My face—painted!” cried Bob, looking puzzled. you look like the Wild Man of Borneo in s side-show. To say the truth, young man, _know as I fancy you for a companion. ‘be a disreputable character. At any look like x must be around midnight, he lost no time in look-. CONTRACTOR BOB : 7 and know how to use it. What are you doing out here at this late hour? And what’s in that box you are carrying? It looks heavy.” Bob by this time had recalled what had been done to him in the cellar of the old mill. “Well, sir, if I look anything like you have de- scribed, I don’t wonder you are suspicious of me,” he said. “I am the victim of a low-down practical joke, but I know the chief perpetrator, and he and I are likely to have a run-in over it. My name is Robert Barron. I came from Boston six weeks ago to fill the position of civil engineer for the contracting firm of Peck, Gilligan & Co. I live at Mrs. Jenkins’s boarding-house on High street. At eleven to-night, just as I was about to turn in, d4n automobile containing six young fellows drove up to the house, and one of them asked for me. He sent word that a particular friend of mine was in the car and wanted me to join the party for a short night ride. I fell into the trap, and was made prisoner the moment I stepped into the car. They took me to the old mill, painted my face as you see it, and left me bound to a post in the cellar. As soon as they left I tried to get free. My struggles broke down the post, which must have been rotten. I found this case these, and as I think it might hold some- thing of value, I am carrying it home with me. It is rather heavy, and as I’m quite a ways out- side of town, you couldn’t do me a bigger favor than to give me a ride as far as you are going.” “I accept your explanation. Jump in. I can see by your talk that you are a young gentleman. You have been treated pretty roughly, I should imagine,” said the doctor. “Will you strike a match and see if you can tell exe my face has been decorated with?” said ob. The doctor did so. “T,should judge that a coating of bismuth was first applied to make a white ground on which to apply red and black figures of cabalistie design. The markings were doubtless made with grease paint. You can stop at my house and [’ll re- store your countenance to its original state. Do you know whether the jokers first put grease on your face to fill up the pores? Bismuth is a very poisonous preparation, and should not be applied directly on the skin, for the pores would absorb a part of it. You need not feel nervous, however, for a single application of the stuff would not do you much harm.” 7 Bob replied that something moist and sticky had first been aplied with a brush, or what felt like a brush; that something had been rubbed on with a cloth, after which the decorator kad pro- ceeded with his work. ; “I was blindfolded during the operation, so I really don’t know what was done to me,” he con- cluded. ~ The doctor told Bob his name and profession, and they became quite friendly during the drive. - He said he lived about three-quarters of a mile from High street, and Bob was glad he had no further than that to walk. On reaching the doc- tor’s home he helped the physician put his team in the stable, and then the doctor took him te his _ study, and with the aid of grease removed the Se stuff from the boy’s face. Some ba ome warm Water) and Bob, after thanking pleted the business, =.
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8 ; CONTRACTOR BOB the doctor, whose name was Brown, took his leave with the box and made his way home, where he arrived about two o’clock. He locked the box in his trunk, turned in and was soon sound asleep. CHAPTER V.—Peck, Jr., Tries to Get Square With the Stenographer. Bob turned up at the office in the morning just as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened to him during the night. In the course of an hour, or about nine o'clock, Peck, Jr., appeared. and looked over at Bob’s desk. He seemed greatly surprised to see the young engineer on hand as usual. He supposed he was still bound to the st in the cellar of the old mill. Clearly some- body must have released Barron, for Peck, Jr., ‘was sure that Bob couldn’t have freed himself. He suspected that one of his pals must have gone out to the mill early that morning in a car and brought the boy back to town. He was mad about it, for he meant that Bob should remain at the mill all day, and learn what it was to go with- out food for twenty-four hours. He felt that half of the satisfaction he had anticipated getting out of Bob was gone. Well, he would have the young engineer discharged, at any rate. His father was not opposed to it, and all that was needed to set- tle the matter was Gilligan’s consent. Gilligan, however, was away in Boston on business, but he would be back b Saturday morning. So Peck, Jr., went into his father’s room and sat down at the desk there as though he were the chief boss. There were a number of letters awaiting atten- tion, and the y man and read them. Then he called Nellie Summers in and dictated replies. “One moment,” he said, as she started to leave. “Sit down.” T's an wg og Fag pecause : you you have it on me becau Pett 2. fellow interfered between us the other afternoon,” said the junior partner, in a disagree- able tone. “Tf you do you'll find out your mis- take. “J don’t wish to talk about the matter,” she re- plied,. flushing up. “If you have finished with your dictation I'll return to my desk.” “You'll return to your desk when I am through with you. If you want to make up with me I'll let things slide. If you’ll——” “I want nothing to do with you outside of busi- ness, Mr. Peck,” she said, with some spirit. “Oh, you don’t, eh? All right. Ill pickle you. , I have reported Barron’s conduct to me to my father, and just as soon as Gilligan gets back ‘from Boston your gallant defender will be “pounced. How does that strike you?” said Peck, Jr., with a grin of satisfaction. - “Do you mean to say that He se intend to have _. Mr. Barron discharged for defending me mo * your insulting behavior?” .cried Nellie indig- - nantly. : ra: Deateitise do. He acted in a brutal way to- ward sie Pc my back—and I mean to ee with ‘re a mean, temptible coward!” flashed _ the angry girl “I shall interfere in his behalf a 2 EEL EE PORT RN ee De ae he Be Sa ee RE Se eee 2 eee and tell your father, as well as Mr. Gilligan, how you acted to me and to him. You called him a serub and a beggar, and raised your foot to kick him. He treated you as you deserved.” “You can interfere all you want to, Miss Sum- mers. It won’t do any good. Your lover will be fired Saturday.” “How dare you call him my lover?” “Well, ain’t he? He’s stuck on you, and you’re stuck on him, or you pretend to be to get him on your string. I wouldn’t be surprised to see you drop him like a hot cake after he loses his job, for he’ll have to hustle around to pay his board; then he won’t have any money to treat you with,” sneered Peck, Jr. “You call yourself a gentleman!” cried the half-frantic girl. ‘To insult me in such a gross way. I have no words to express the utter con- tempt I fee] toward you. But this is the last time you'll have the opportunity to treat me this way. _ I shall leave the office this instant. I wouldn’t breathe the same air that you do for ten times the wages I get from the firm.” Throwing her note-book on the floor, Miss Summers left the office, put on her hat and went straight home, fully determined never to enter the office of Peck, Gilligan & Co. again. Bob was in the little draughting-room near his ~ desk, where on a long, flat shelf lay spread out — the.blue print drawings of a big job the firm was going to put a bid in for, when Nellie Summers left the office. This was no political plum that © Mr. Peck, Sr., could work to his own advantage, — but a contract that would go to the lowest re- sponsible bidder. Peck, Gilligan & Co. were anx- ious to secure it because of the reputation it would give the contractor to tackle it. It was a job in which stone almost exclusively, and the specifications called for a certain kind of stone which was to be used in the construction. Gilli- gan had ascertained where this stone was to be — got, what it cost, and the railway transportation — charges to Wakefield, with other facts, and had — furnished Bob with the data. ~ , It was up to the young engineer to estimate on the quantity of the material required in the job, the quantity of stone blocks required for facing and other purposes—in fact, he had to figure on all the stuff needed as shown by the specifica- tions. Then came the cost of labor and other items, in order to determine the price the firm could bid in order to realize a fair profit on the job. Bob had already submitted all the leading figures, and Gilligan’s errand to Boston was to have these figures gone over by an experienced civil engineer in ordey to determine the correct- _ ness of the boy’s work. The young engineer had worked hard on his estimates, both at home and __ at the office, for he knew this would be a real test of his efficiency. ; A serious error was likel position hung ag ao at pegs te tad This" was particularly after > in over this job. If he was let go another be an =
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> CONTRACTOR BOB 9 meer would get all the credit if the firm did the _ work, and a fine opportunity would be lost to him. Bob had all the original facts and figures in his _ possession. These he had systematized and cop- ied in detail for Gilli to have verified. __ _He had copied all the items in a book to have _ them at hand to refer to some day when asked to _ figure on another job of a similar nature. This _ book he regarded as his private property and oa locked in his trunk. He had two other books ‘of useful data he had picked up at the tech- _ Nieal schoo! while studying, as well as many text _ books which he had found useful to consult ‘while _ working on the present job—the first he had ever _ attem . Bob was confident that his figures - ‘would be found correct, for he had shown remark- _ able aptitude for his profession while learning it, and had graduated first in a large class after a _ grueling examination. __ The letter from the head of the technical school, _ the most important in Boston, had secured him _ employment with Peck, Gilligan & Co., and would _ have got him a job anywhere that his services _ Were needed. As he still had that letter, there : no real fear that he would be long out of - ‘work if the firm he was with dispensed with him; _ but Bob didn’t want to leave Westlake, chiefly on _ Miss Summers’s account, and was willing to take less pay than he might get elsewhere, and put up - ‘With sundry annoyances, to stay there. Bob, as ‘we have remarked, was in the draughting-room _ when the fair stenographer quit, and had no sus- - picion of what had taken place between the girl and Henry Peck, Jr. Bert, however, was in the outer office, and he had noticed the young lady’s _ excited manner and precipitate exit. He felt that something was wrong, for he knew she had gone 1 the private room to take dictation from the _ junior partner. He guessed that Peck, Jr., had Z making himself disagreeable to her again, and knowing that the girl was too spirited to be sat upon, he suspected that she had left to call on _ Peck, Sr., at his law office to enter a protest, or . make a complaint against his son. He walked into the draughting room. __ “T think Miss Summers has had a run-in with Peck, Jr.,” he said to Bob. . _ The aad engineer dropped the implement he 3 w do you know?” he said. Bert told him what he had noticed. “Miss Summers wouldn’t leave the office at this _ time of day if something wasn’t wrong,” he added. Bob a with him. 2 __ “Confound the fellow!” he said. “I suppose he brought up the trouble of the afternoon before ‘yesterday, and said something she took offence an’t act like a gentleman.” 8 people are not built on the lines that » gentleman,” said Bert, ‘no matter what eir social or financial standing is.” ’ye got something to tell you about Peck, Jr., the friends he associates with—something a . It’s a shame that a chap of his social stand-. pened Jast night, of which I was the vic- | was rather a scaly trick. Peck’s friends may have considered it simply as a lark, but I’m sure that Peck himself had a deeper design in sight. It was more good luck than anything else that enabled me to show up here as usual this morn-- ing. I imagine that Peck, Jr., was surprised to see me at my desk when he came here. [I'll bet he has been wondering how I got out of my fix.” “You excite my curiosity, old man,” said Bert. “He played some trick on you?” “He did, and he used your name as a bait to catch me.” “He did.” “He did; but run along now. You shall learn all‘at noon.” Fe turnéd to his work and Bert returned to is. The stenographer did not come back and when Bert and Bob went to lunch the former was told all that had happened. to Bob the night before. Bert was simply astonished at it. Peck, Sr., showed up at four o’cloeck and asked for Miss Summers. Peck, Jr., told him he had had a scrap with the girl over Barron and she had left the office. The old man always sided with his son, so nothing more was said about the girl’s leaving. That evening Bert and Bob called at the Sum- mers cottage and were made acquainted with all that took place in the office between Miss Sum- mers and Petk, Jr. They remained until half- St nine and then left. Gilligan returned from oston on Saturday noon. He was not pleased to learn of Miss Summers’s leaving, and when Peck, Sr., informed him that they were going to drop Bob, Gilligan put up a decided kick.' He stated that Bob’s estimate had been upheld by the Boston expert, who said the boy was born to the business. Peck, Sr., however said that if Barron did not go that he and his son would withdraw from the firm. So Bob received a hotice in his pay envelope that his services were no longer re- quired. He told Bert, and then left the office. CHAPTER VI.—Bob’s Luck. For two days Bob had been trying to open the japanned tin box without breaking the lock. He had cleaned the lock as well as he could and soaked it with oil, but the key wouldn’t work. He had some thought of taking it to a locksmith, but as he had acquired a suspicion that the box might contain gold money, from its weight, he did not care to expose its contents to the eyes of an out- sider. He would rather bréak the lock than do that. Most young fellows would have smashed the lock in the first place, but Bob was endowed with a large amount of patience, and chose to take his time in reaching the inside of the box. The fact. was it was an old-fashioned box, not often seen these days outside a curio shop, and the boy didn’t want to spoil its looks. After din- ner Saturday night he went to his room to devote © another spell of effort to it. He worked away with oil and a pick which he had borrowed from a locksmith, occasionally trying the key. At the end of an hour the key suddenly turned with a snap and he lifted the cover. The first thing that eaught his eye was a folded Boston newspaper of i = i 8 OS F ey es a he sh ) ws. ee.
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=u 10 ancient look. The date was plain to be seen— January 11, 1858. Removing the paper, he found the box filled with what looked and felt like rolls of money. His heart beat fast at the sight. It beat faster when he broke one of them open and a stream of $10 gold coins fell on the table. “My gracious!” he ejaculated. “Here is money to burn. And it appears to be all mine by right of discovery. I must count it and see how much there is.” Each roll contained exactly $500, and_ there were seventy rolls, making the amount of his find $35,000. He was certainly rolling in luck. What did the loss of his position amount to now? He sat before his treasure trove and thought how much this meant to him. Was he dreaming over the splendid times that money would enable him to have? Not at all. He had already decided on banking the money for the future. What he was thinking about was Nelile Summers. She was of more importance to him than even his new riches. He was resolved to win her for his wife, and he believed the possession of this new-found capital would help him greatly. Not that he thought she was looking for money, but because he wanted to surround his heart’s choice with every rational comfort—for love in a cottage was a bit out of date in the beginning of the twentieth century. He couldn’t stay in his room, so he walked out to dream in the open air, under the broad star-lit blue sky: Bob’s steps took him toward the river on which Westlake was located. Not toward the water front of the town, but toward the suburbs. He had no special object in going to the river, but High street, on which he lived, ran in that direction one way, and merged itself into the old river road. As his stroll took that direction, naturally he went toward the river. His mind was largely occupied now by the $35,000. He was thinking that if he could buy an interest in some responsible firm of contractors it might pay him better than leaving it in the bank at a small rate of interest. The feck would use his money and make a profit out of it. Why not make all he-could himself out of the money? He walked out of High street into the road. At that moment the full moon rose above the distant hills and lighted up the landscape. Its rays brought the flowing stream out of obscurity, and silvered its rapidly moving surface. The houses grew fewer and fewer as he walked on. He’ was leaving the lights of Westlake behind him. The road curved around to follow the course of the rivers Suddenly he noticed that he had reached the property which had been purchased by the syndicate that proposed to dam the river at this point to secure water power to run the machinery of the new automobile factory the com- pany, rated as a $5,000,000 concern, was about to erect at this point. It was the bid for this dam that Bob had been working on since he came to Wakefield. Peck, Gilligan & Co. also intended putting in a bid for building the factory. Gilli- . gan was attending to that, for he was a practical builder. CONTRACTOR BOB d ness. The moonlight and the brilliant a been blotted out as far as he was concerned was shattered, and it might be several y hence before he had anything to do with a jot of similar importance.. It was a lost opportunity that would always be a subject of regret to him. Oh, well, if Dame Fortune had played him a by trick in one respect, she had repaired the chef liberally in another direction. Such were thoughts as, deserting the river road, he walked up the hill that faced upon the river a short dis- tance beyond the syndicate’s property. This hill represented part of a.small farm which had been — in the market for a year or so, ever since the death of the owner. pe It had now come in legal possession of the widow, and! she was so anxious to get rid of it that she had reduced the price quite a bit. It wa a bargain for any one that wanted a small farm, but just then small farms were a drug in the ma ket, and not even a would-be buyer turned up to” look at it. ‘The moon rose higher in the sky, and the landscape, as far as the boy could see, lay spread out sleeping in the silvery beams, e declivity facing the river road stood the fa house—an_ old-fashioned building of no g value. A light came dimly from one of the dows. Bob was now at the very top of the h Here was a big board sign announcing that property was for sale, and anybody interes was invited to apply to the owner at the house the declivity, or at the office of John Smith orig Sages No. 317 Washington street, West ake. . a “T guess I'll take the short cut across the fie —- of returning the way I came,” thoug! ob. It must have been Dame Fortune, who still h him under her wing, that put that thought in h head at that moment, for had he retraced route back to town this story, if it had been w ten at all, would have concerned only the career of a young civil engineer. Shakespeare w that there is a time in the affairs of all m which, if taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. When Bob set his face toward the fields he ste ped into that flood. As he passed down the gre slope of the hill he came to a stretch of bush that in part hid a gully. Twice before he h passed through those bushes, but each time had unconsciously avoided the gully. He thoug he was taking the same course now, but the moo: light deceived his eyes, and he suddenly becamé aware that the ground was slipping away from under: his feet. The next moment he fell into deep hole, hit his head a glancing blow, and shot forward into the depths of the hill quite uncon- scious of where he was going. abe CHAPTER: VII.—The Queen of His Heart Several hours ares away before Bob rega his senses, but he had no idea of the flight of time. He supposed he had been dazed for a few moments. He was lying on his back, at an angle of 45 degrees, with his feet fortunately at the lo est point. He sat up and looked around him, only to find himself in the midst of an intense peers - = ee, eee = *s3 S : See ’
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CONTRACTOR BOB “Where in thunder have 1 got to?” he asked himself. : He was soon to realize that his feet were ‘pressed against the lowest rung in the ladder of fortune, and that his lucky star pointed the “way upward. After some difficulty he managed to a spot where he could stand upright. Then he got out his match-safe and struck a light. As ‘the glow illuminated the scene he saw that he® Was standing inside a kind of stone cave. Behind him was apparently the road out, for it was the rocky slope by which he had got there—a smooth - incline, too precipitous in parts to aseend without , aid from above. Sioa © It gradually broke on his mind, after trying to fa up the incline and finding it impossible, that > was a prisoner some distance below the out- ‘side surface of the hill. It looked for the mo- ment as if he was doomed to death by slow star- vation, unless he could find means of making his predicament known. After the first shock Bob started to inspect.the cave more carefully. Per- haps he might find some other exit from the place. He held a match close to the rock wall to See what kind of rock the cave was made of. He - Was very well acquainted with the cbmposition of the different kinds of rocks, for he had studied ‘the subject closely and was able to, tell most any kind at a glance. ~- “Granite!” he ejaculated. “And the very kind Wanted for ballasting the new dam. What a dis- covery! Judging from what I see around me I ‘should say that the entire hill is tomposed of it. And to think that there are loads of it right on ‘the spot! If Peck, Gilligan & Co. knew of this ‘deposit they’d buy the farm as quick as a wink, sand the reduction they could afford to make in their bid would insure them the contract over all competitors. All they’d have to do when they were ready to begin work on the dam would be to blast out the rock. The only expense they’d be at would be the labor and general cost of gettin it out. They would stand to make a mighty g Then this stone would make first rate stuff build the foundation of the factory, when - mixed with cement.- That would enable them to Shade their bid on the building and still garner ‘a handsome profit. Heavens! This is a great ! First thing on Monday morning I shall get option on this property, and when the name of ucky bidder or bidders on the syndicate’s ¢ is announced in the papers, I'll be in a posi- m to offer the rock for sale on the ground at a i . that will make it an object for the success- contractors to deal with me. I’ll earn the cost farm several times over, and still) have ™ sell for road building and other purposes _ for some time to come.” - In the exuberance of his spirits Bob forgot his iar position, and walked around examining discovery. Everything tended to show that _the hill was wholly formed of the rock in ques- 4 z ier zt 8 n 8 3 oe fee With Mrs. Summers established not the faintest doubt existed in the ~ : pie ary boy’s mind that he had tumbled upon a mighty ~ 11 ground. He shoved his arm through it as far as it would go,,but his hand met with no other ob- struction than the brush itself. a “There must be an outlet here,” he thought. “In no other way can I account for the_presence ‘of this stuff. As I have to get out of this cave somehow, I can’t do better than investigate where this goes to.” Es Full of hope that he would be able to push his way to freedom, he began boring a passage for himself through the dry and brittle stuff. After going about three yards he suddenly came out into the gully at the foot of the hill. He felt like shouting over his escape. The star-lit heavens and the sheen of the moonlight was above his head. He soon picked his way clear of the gully and continued on toward his boarding-house, his mind whirling with the importance of his discov- ery, and what it meant’to him. “Why, I’ll be rich before I am legally entitled to cast my first vote,” he mused. Suddenly*a new train of thought struck him. Why could he not branch out as a contractor on his own account by putting in a bid-for the new dam? He had all the facts and figures at hand with which to prepare such a bid. ‘And he had the money to put up as a guarantee. Alt he had to do was to make a new estimate covering the ballasting. rock, and he felt certain that his bid would be accepted, for he would be able to go lower than the close figures Peck, Gilligan & Co. intended to submit. Wouldn’t it be a personal triumph for him to take the work away from the firm that had discharged him with such little ceremony? It surely would, and how it would tickle Nellie Summers, who had probably learned by this time that he had lost his position, and was grieving over it because she regarded herself as the innocent cause of his supposed trouble. The new idea took complete control of Bob, and the more he thought over it the more determined he became to put it through. The first thing he must do was to buy the farm. Then the difficulty occurred to him that, being under age, he could not hold real estate in his own name. .Oh, »well, he could get somebody to take it over in trust for him. But who could he get towde that? He was a comparative stranger in that locality, and it would be necessary to secure somebody he could trust, for when the value of the farm as a rock- producing plant became known, the trustee might euchre him out of it in some way. Everybody was on the make these days. More than one man told him that he wouldn’t trust his own brother to do the right thing by him in the face of a serious temptation. Then it oc- trust —— mother. courts to appoint her as his legal guardian, if that was necessary. That would be as fine as silk.
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12 much later than he thought. For the first time he thought of looking at his watch. .To his as- tonishment he saw that it was two in the morn- ing. “Y must have been unconscious some time in that zave,” he said to himself. “Well, it doesn’t nuike neuch difference, I can sleep in the morning as long as I like. If breakfast is over when I get up there is a restaurant four blocks away where -» I can go.” Fifteen minutes later he was in bed, but it was some time before he got to sleep, for his mind was much exercised over the immediate future, which appeared to be lined with gold. After breakfast next morning Bert came over to see him. “Do you think you'll leave town, Bob?” said his friend. “I’d hate to see you go, old man. I’ve never met a chap I liked as well as you.” ‘3 “No, I am not going to leave town,” answered ob. : “What do you expect to do?” : “IT expect to start in business for myself, and hire you as my chief assistant.” “Can you afford to do that?” “T can. things.” “Phen you mean to hang out your shingle as a civil engineer?” - “No, as a contractor.” “You don’t mean that?” “T certainly do mean it.” “And how do you expect me to help you?” “You'll find out in a few days. What wages are you getting now?” “Seven dollars.” “J shall give you $10 to start with.” “Ten dollars!” ejaculated Bert. “Yes, and you are going to earn bd “Tl try to if I work for you.” “T don’t think you are in love with Peck, Gilli- gan & Co.” ; “Bet your life I ain’t. And less since they discharged you.’ “Very well. If I grantee you a steady job you'll come with me? “As quick as aewihk.” “Very good. I'll prove to you some time dur- _ ing the he week that you'll be the: gainer by making the change. “Where. did you go last night? I was around looking for you.” “7 went out to take a walk to think things over.” “And now you *ve decided what you’re going to do?” “T have,” replied Bob, in a tone of decision. He said nothing to enlighten Bert about the ' ~ two big slices of luck that had come his way, and they talked on different subjects till it was time for r Bert ‘to go home to his Sunday dinner. Bob’s dinner was also ready, and after finishing it he t to his room and, dressing himself with care, : for the Summers cottage. Nellie admit- Ps him and appeared to be greatly pleased at see- were Seated d in the little ——, id the girl, lo at him CONTRACTOR BOB ‘a little?” he asked, putting his arm around her ” I can afford to do a good many: wel I’ve lost my Bos with the firm,” he said, - but -. the vie Mee ‘public—Mr, “I’m not,” said Bob promptly. “Some great luck has come my way, and I have no further us for Peck, Gilligan & Co.” ; “I’m awfully glad to hear,that,” she said, with a happy smile, which, however, faded as she said: “Are you going to leave town?” “Would you care much if I did?” he asked, taking her hand. > : She turned away with heightened color. a “You don’t answer,” he said. : “I should be Sorry to have you go,” she aaa | with some effort. : He felt her hand tremble in his. “Ts it because you have learned to care for me- waist, which familiarity on his part she did not resent. “Is it because as a woman you have di- vined that I love you—with all my heart a every fiber of my nature—and are not displease at my presumption? Nellie, do you care for You are silent, I have made a mistake then supposing: 3 He partly withdrew his arm. c .e “No—no—I—I : “Do you love me? Yes or no.’ He ventured to draw her ag him. ; “Yes,” she breathed, turning and hiding 1 her face on his shoulder. : “You have made me very happy, dear.” * fc He raised “her head and kissed her, and th first kiss thrilled them both. : “T am not going to leave town, dear,” he said “Oh, I am so happy!” 2 : ; “Of course you are. By the way, are you g ing back to the office?” “Never!” she cried, with energy. “Mr. G gan called last night, heard my story, and ti to persuade me to alter my resolve, but wouldn’t.” ; “I’m glad to hear it. me.” “ “Work for you?” she said, in some wonder. _ “Yes. Iam going into business. I want som body to look after the office, attend to my book- keeping, and do such other things as will co up, including my correspondence... Will you ac the job at $10 to start with?” “Oh, Mr. Barron, can you afford to pay $10? on” “I thought you were my swegtheart ?” “T am,” she said blushingly. 3 “Then why call me Mr. Barron. Why not Bob?’ 7 She hid her face again. “Are you going to call me Bob?” he said. “Bob,” she said, looking up. Then he kissed her again. “Yes, can afford to pay you $10. I have prac- tically hired Bert also, as my general assistant. “You will do business as a civil wneimee, course ?” “No. As a contractor. Contractor : will that sound?” “No; it wouldn’t look dignified. I couldn’t low you to——” 3 “So you are asserting your authority over already?” he laughed. She smiled and blushed, and put her across his mou 3 “Tt shall be Contractor ‘Bob to you a I want you to work for.
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ie - C. E., General Contractor and Builder. How will _ that suit the queen of my heart?” him a tender glance and - She stniled, gave looked very happy. CHAPTER VIll.—Getting Ready for Business. e Seb stayed to tea at the Summers cottage, and 4 the meal was over he and Nellie adjourned 0 the porch. Half an hour later Mrs. Summers, s yet unaware of the tender tie which now bound ler daughter and the young visitor, joined them _ “Mrs. Summers, I have a special fayor to ask of you,” said Bob. “Nellie gave a little gasp and looked confused, she thought her young lover was about to ask - mother for her. She had expected to break news to her mother herself first. S— “if I can oblige you in any way, Mr. Barron, you may command me. I appreciate what you Siasd done for my daughter, and as I have learned you have lost your position in consequence of your manly action, I shall be only too glad to do anything for you that lies in my power,” said Mrs. Summers. a “The service I am going to ask of you is one trust, and I expect I shall astonish you some- hat,” said Bob. _ Nellie looked puzzled and glanced curiously at boy. : aS ‘ LF mstances have so shaped themselves, ‘Mrs. Summers, that it may be necessary for me to have a legal guardian, and I want you to qual- y as such.” a: : 2 Nellie fairly gasped with astonishment, while he ) looked her surprise. 2 “May I ask why it is necesary for you to have 2 -pomontl oe lady. 2 Se ae Vag oing to buy a piece of property. s Suk nineteen I cannot legally obtain title to I wish, you to take title for me and hold it as trust for me until I am of age.” - _“T will gladly do that f6r you; but is it neces- > that I should become your guardian to do % rhaps not, but I thought it would be more. -- However, I will first consult a lawyer s ject.” ‘ = 2 e then told Mrs. Summers about his business but did not say anything more vn the st that he had already told his sweetheart. not believe in telling any of his plans until rs were more definitely arranged. When tl had shaped themselvés he intended to take Nellie and her mother into his confidence, and, to some extent, Bert. Mrs. Summers was surprised m he told her he had offered her daughter $10 ‘to. work for him, and she had accepted, ‘he had also arranged to employ_his , too. After Mrs. Summers retired from h, Bob and Nellie enjoyed a blissful little te all to themselves, in which many soft _ Some kisses were exchanged, - a is se, and y Bob departed. SS Se ee eS eas - CONTRACTOR BOB were spoken under the sheen of the ‘sil-. rd 13 morning. Directly after breakfast he started for the Wheatley farm. On arriving at the little old- fashioned farmhouse hé found the widow in the yard with a sunbonnet on, drawing a pail of water from the well, which was operated by a handle and a crank. “Am I addressing Mrs. Wheatley?” asked Bob, politely raising his hat. . “Yes,” she replied, wondering who her visitor was, and what he wanted. “T noticed that this property is for sale.” itis,” “T should like to buy it if I'can get it for a reasonable price.” “You would?” she said, with the accent on the you; “why, you don’t leok as if you were a farm- “T’m not, ma’am. As a matter of fact, I am acting for a Mrs. Summers. What do you want for this place?” ; “T think it is worth $5,000; but as I’m anxious to move away, now that my husband is dead, and I can’t work it satisfactorily, nor do I care to do it longer, I will take $4,000.” “If you will accept $3,500 I will close with you,” said Bob, more to make a bluff than because he objected to the widow’s figure. ; “No. I won’t sell less than $4,000. It is a bar- gain at that.” ; Privately Bob agreed with her—it was a bar- gain for the purpose he had in view, but whether it would pay to give $4,000 for it simply as a farm he could not say. After some talk Bob consented to pay $4,000, and offered the widow ten per cent. . ef the purchase price to close thé sale. She ac- cepted the money and gave him the proper re- ceipt. - “To save-you a trip to town this morning, if you will write a note to your lawyer telling him that you have sold this property for $4,000 to Mrs. Summers, in trust for Robert Barron, I will deliver it and he can prepare the contract. You can then- come in, say to-morrow morning at eleven, and sign the papers, and I will have Mrs. Summers at your lawyer’s office to sign also. State in your note that you have received $400 on account,” said Bob. Mrs. Wheatley wrote the note and Bob took it away with him. He called on Mr. Smith and presented it. The lawyer promised to have the contract drawn in duplicate by next day at eleven, and Bob left. The next thing the young engineer did was to get a large money-bag. Into this he dumped $30,000 in rolls, took the money to the Westlake National Bank and exchanged it for a certificate of deposit for that sum. That left $4,600 in gold in his possession.in his trunk. As" he was coming out of the bank he met Peck. Jr. . “Hello, Barron. Have you been depositing your - surplus capital?” grinned the junior partner... “How did you guess it?” replied Bob. “Oh, Pm a good guesser. Maybe you were looking for the job of porter in the bank. If you. need reference come around to the office and I’ write you one.” _ ‘Lhe “That is very kind of you, indeed, Mr. Peck _ If I wanted to get thrown out of a all I'd have to. do would be to present a reference ’signec gd
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~ 14 “You're funny, you are,” sneered the young man. ’ “Not half as funny as you thought you were when you kidnaped me from my boarding-nouse, with the help of five companions, earried me to the old mill in your father’s car, and initiated me into the Order of the Fum Foozles.” “Who said I had anything to do with that?” ~ “Your voice said so. Anyway I caught sight of your face in the light of the lantern as you were leaving the cellar with your friends.” “How could you when you were blindfolded?” “If you were not implicated in the affair, how did you know I was blindfolded?” Peck, Jr., saw that he had given himself away. “How did you like it, anyway?” he grinned. “Not as much as you did, probably.” _ “How did you manage to get away?” “You chaps tied me to a rotten post. I pulled it down, and the rest was easy. After walking a mile or so 1 was overtaken by a doctor returning in his buggy. ‘He carried me back to town. He also removed the mural decorations you put on.my face, so on the whole I only suffered the loss of a couple of hours’ sleep.” / “Humph! Are you going to quit town?” “Not that you could notice it.” “There is no ether contracting firm here that needs your services.” “They couldn't get me if they did,” and Bob passed. on. Next morning he was on hand with Mrs. Sum-/ mers at Lawyer Smith’s office. They found Mrs. Wheatley there. The contracts were examined and signed by the two ladies, Bob’s representa- tive having thirty days in which to have the titles examined and complete the purchase if everything was all right. The Boston Title and Trust Co. had an agent in Westlake, and Bob and Nellie’s mother called on him. An agreement was en- tered into by the company’s agent with Mrs. Summers by which the company was to search the title and guarantee it for the purchase price if it was found all right. Then Bob and the lady called on a lawyer and consulted him as to the guardianship matter. “Tf you feel that you can put full confidence in this lady it isn’t necessary for her to become your guardian in order to hold property for you. If this lady was sea your guardian she would . acquire the rights of a 2 xe over you, and all your actions would bé subject to her pleasure. As your guardian she would be responsible to the court who appointed her. As your trustee she would be oo only to yourself.” “Very well, we'll drop the guardianship busi- ness, and I'll let ber act as my tee in all real- estate transactions I may engage in untj come twenty-one,” said Bob. “I am willing to : take all chances on her doing the right thing by me. : So that matter was settled. The next thing Bob tackled was the estimate to submit to the action ‘to bring it at least 100 miles by rail, and CONTRACTOR BOB on Washington street, the principal business thoroughfare of Westlake, and furnished them up to suit his needs. When all was complete he told” his sweetheart to come to work. ; “Ts this my place?” she asked, after she had inspected the rooms and approved of their busi- ness-like look, placing her hand on the desk out- side the private door. ; ~ “Yes. Looks rather bare at present, doesn’t it? — But you mustn’t mind that. Business hasn’t opened up yet. You won’t have much to do for a ~ while except to keep office hours and draw your — pay. You can fetch a book with you and put in the time reading.” ~ “Do I begin to-day?” i “Yes. This is Thursday, and you can let’ me , off with half a week’s wages. I will have a type-_ writer sent in some time to-day, and then you — can help me prepare my bid for the construction — of the dam on the river—the same work I fig-— ured on for Peck, Gilligan & Co.” 7 “You don’t mean to say you are going to bid — on that work?” cried the girl in surprise. ES “Why not?” ; “Why, it’s a big job, and a certified check for $25,000 must accompany it as a guarantee of good faith.” : “Suppose it is a big job. If I had remained with © P., G. & Co., and the firm won the contract, it was understood I was to have supervision of the work.” z “T know. I don’t doubt your ability to put the work through all right. But where are you going to get the money to finance it? Mr. Peck w furnish all the money needed if the firm gets contract.” am “Pp, G. & Co. will not get the contract. I can — tell you that right now.” 2 “How do you know they won’t?” “Because my bid will be lower than theirs. I know pretty near the amount they are going to — put in. J can afford to bid lower and still a bigger profit than they anticipate getting out of the work. In fact, though my statement will as- tonish. you, I can do the work cheaper than any other contractor in the business.” “How can you?” replied Nellie incredulously, | “Because I have the rock required to ballast the dam right on the spot.” “You. have?” cried the girl in some amaze-_ ment. <S — “Yes. Any other successful bidder would have — would cost money, for several thousand tons of © it will be required. Then any other contractor — would have to haul it from the cars, and the , freight sheds are over a mile from the site of the work. I will merely have to dig the stone o and haul it in carts a few hundred yards.” “Really, I don’t understand you, Bob. You say — you have the stone on the spot, and then you say you have to dig it out. You mean out of thi ground, I suppose?” —~ “le “Out of the side of a hill. I won’t keep you in the dark any longer. The kind of I Te quired by the dam specifications is to be found the property your mother will shortly take to in my interest. at’s how I came to buy farm.” 7 . | “Oh!” ejaculated Nellie,
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J - a m=, © “Byen if I failed to get the work, which I don’t expect, I could still make a good thing by selling that rock to the successful contractor—see?” _- “Yes; but if the right kind of stone is on that _ place, why didn’t Peck, Gilligan & Co. buy the farm weeks ago when they decided to bid on the work?” : - “Because they don’t know the stone is there. It isn’t in sight.” “How did you learn it was there?” -_ “By accident, and a curious accident it was. Listen and I will tell you.” _ Bob then, for the first time, told his sweetheart ff his adventure in the gully. - “And you néver told me about that before?” e said, with a pout. “Aren’t you mean?” “Do you want to know all my business secrets - before we are married?” - “Of course not,” she answered, with a blush; “but that was an adventure.” _. “True, but it became a business secret the mo- - ment I learned what a good thing I had struck. - However, I have taken you into my confidence - now, so you ought to be satisfied. You are the only’ one besides myself who is aware of the pres- ence of that stone in this neighborhod.” Then you really intend bidding for the work?” > =“Yes.” “But the $25,000 deposit, dear, not to speak of _ the money you will need to start the work if you Win the contract?” the shape of a certificate of deposit good for 000. And this is independent of the $3,600 3 have to give your mother to pay for the farm - When = % she takes title to it.” : Perhaps Nellie wasn’t struck. dumb with sur- "prise. CHAPTER IX.—Wreck and Rescue. “Why, Robert, I didn’t know you were worth : y. This is a great surprise to,me. I t ” t 1 was dependent on my wages? Well, so as until the other day.” hy, what do you mean?” : see I shall have to tell you my other busi- secret. Well, if I can’t trust my own sweet- t I don’t know who I can trust.” hen Bob told her about his adventure at the il, and how it resulted in putting $35,000 in | into his pocket. att y gracious! What a fortunate boy you > Iam. I’m just rolling in good luck. The piece of good fortune, however, was the win- of your heart. That’s worth more to me all the rest put together.” : 0 you really think so, you dear boy?” said putting her hands on his two shoulders. ‘ou really think I am so valuable?” an you doubt my sentiments toward you, CONTRACTOR BOB I have it in the Westlake National Bank, in- 15 It’s got to be in the hands of the secretary of the Board of Managers of the syndicate on or before the last day of this month. I dare say most of the bids are in by this time. P., G. & C.’s and mine will probably be the last*ones. The lowest responsible bidder will win. _The only thing that bothers me is whether the syndicate will consider me responsible enough to do business with. If P., G. & Co.’s bid is the second lowest, and I win, the firm is sure to make a stiff protest against my getting the work. They are likely to claim that I am irresponsible, and that I haven’t the resources necessary to put the work through even without reference to the time limit. I fear I will have ~ something of a fight on my hands to save my bid, if it proves successful, from being thrown out,” said Bob as they walked into the private room. The young engineer went over every item of his bid carefully, and Nellie made notes for him from time to time. Finally he was satisfied it was ready for the girl to make the first typewrit- ten copy from. Then he went out and purchased a typewriter, ordering it delivered at his office at once. As soon as it arrived Nellie got busy. When Bob returned to the building after his lunch he saw that his name had been inserted in the direc- tory of the tenants. While looking at it he dis- covered, for the first time, that Henry Peck, Sr., had his law offices on the second floor. “If he notices my name among the tenants he’ll be surprised, I’ll bet,” said the boy to himself. There was little fear that Peck, Sr., would no- tice it, as he never looked at the Cirectory. When he reached his office Nellie handed him the first draft of his bid to look over, and then she went to her lunch. Soon after she got back he returned it to her with such alterations as he thought best to make, and she made a second copy. That aft- ernoon his printed cards, envelopes, letter heads, and other stationery was delivered. The painter also came around and put the following on his oor: % ROBERT BARRON. Contractor and Builder. Office Hours, 9 to 5. About quarter of five, as Nellie was pitting on her hat to go home, the door opened and Bert Baker walked in. i : “Helio, Miss Summers. On the he said. “Oh, yes,” she smiled. job already?” eae is a fine little office all right. Where is “In his private office.” 4 Bob heard his voice and came out. “How do you like the place, Bert?” he asked. “First rate. I thought I'd call around and take it in. When shall you need my valuable. ser- vices ?” : , “Not for a little while yet. I'l let you know. in time to give P., G. & Co. the usual -notice.” father will worry much over m They can easily fill my shoes.” a nerve to set. <i 4 “3. Sere: ?
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16 as a contractor and builder,” he said to Bob, ig- noring Bert and the young lady. “Nerve is one of my strong probably learn later on,” said do for you?” e “Nothing. I happened to see your name on the directory downstairs, and I came up to see if it was really you. What do you mean by advertis- ing yourself as a contractor and builder? What do you know about ¢ontracting or building? You're just a graduate civil engineer, with a whole lot to learn yet.” _ “Ks you have no business with me, and I am about to close the office, I'll have to ask you to take your leave.” ~ : 5 “I was going anyway. I'll come around in a month and see if you're still in business. I don’t think you’ll last much longer than thirty days.” With those words, Peck, Jr., went away. On the following day Nellie prepared the final eopy of the bid on the Snake River dam. Bob turned in his $30,000 certificate of deposit and re- ceived another for $25,000 and_ $5,000 cash. He locked the money up in his safe with his $4,000 odd balance, endorsed the new certificate payable to the order of the American Motor Car Co., in- closed it with his bid in the envelope, and going around to the post-office, mailed it through the registry department. Five days later, the time limit within which contractors looking for the two big jobs had to get their bids in would expire, the bids submitted would be opened and acted upon by the Board of Managers of the synicate, and the ‘award made. The result would be announced in the Boston papers, and would naturally be copied by the Westlake papers, as the work to be done was of great local importance. Next day was Sat- urdy, and Bob went out again to the farm, not so much to go over the property, which he wasn’t interested in from a surface standpoint, as to look over the spot where the big dam was to be built. ints, as you will b. “What can I to draw them, since he could easily keep the outfit on the farm, where the animals could find lots of grass to eat in addition to their regular food, and a pasture to run in on Sundays. Then he could let the grass grow on the rest of the farm, and when ~- the time came he could have it cut, pile it up in the sun, and thus reap a crop of hay. Or he could probably rent out the largest part of the farm on shares, and make a profit that way, though he hardly thought he would do that. The man who looked after his horses could act as a watchman at night at the ner ieee when it was opened up. He would likely be a married man, and he and his * family could occupy the farmhouse and board an assistant. Bob considered all these points that afternoon as he strolled around what he expected to be the scene of his activities in the near future. Next day Bob hired a sailboat on the water front and, taking Bert, who was a good boatman, with him, sailed up the river to gather a few new facts, if he could, megan aa scene of the dam. The di of the water, the force of the current, and 3 r important particulars, had long since been obtained by him while working in the interests of Peck, Gilli & Co. There seemed to be nothing pees “in sight to be gleaned from the present sail. How- _ ever, it would afford recreation for himself and ” Pad = \ ; : , " CONTRACTOR BOB his friend. They sailed all over the ground, and finally headed up the river. On the opposite shore a colony of wealthy visitors who owned cottages — there were ning to arrive for the season. Two or three families had come during the pre- ceding week, and the others were expected to appear at intervals up to the Fourth of July, — when all might be looked for to be in their houses. A gentleman, a prominent Boston banker, named - Frederick Mason, was one of the early birds with his family and servants. He owned a sailboat . and delighted to go out on the river. This Sun- day morning he started out in his boat with his two little girls, twins, of seven years, for a Bob and Bert were on their way up the river against the tide, propelled by a lively breeze, when they saw Mason’s craft ahead as they rounded one of the curves in the stream. Suddenly the Masow boat hit the end of a heavy submerged log and went over on its side, dumping the gentleman . and his two children overboard. Mason was just able to catch one of the girls as he clung to the side of the capsized boat, but the other was whisked away by the current and borne down the river at a rapid rate. The boys saw the aecident and noted the shrieking little one as she came up the first time, some distance from the boat. 5 ee for her, Bert. We must save her,” cried Ob. 7 Bert obeyed, and Bob seized the boat-hook and went forward. As he wasn’t at all certain of get- ting the child with the hook, owing to the swift- — ness of the stream, he peeled off his hat, coat and — shoes, ready to dive in after her, for he was a fine swimmer. The child went down the second time, and when she came up all she was able to ao was to beat the water feebly with her little hands. Their boat was in a bad position to get her, and time was precious if the little one was to be res- cued. So Bob made up his mind to go after her, and he did. The moment he hit the water he was He ihtended to buy his own carts and the horses * swept off down the stream, but fortunately the little girl, now unconscious, and sinking for the last time, was borne within his reach and he seized her. Bert brought the sailboat around and she came shooting after the young contractor like 2 sea gull sweeping the surface of the sea. Al- — though she had the wind against her, she had the advantage of the tide, and so rapidly overhauled the swimming boy. Bert threw a rope to his friend, who caught it with his disengaged hand, and was hauled close to the boat’s side. “Here, take the child,” said Bob, and Ber! quick- — ly lifted her on board. = Then he gave Bob a hand, and that lad soon scrambled into the boat. The craft’s head was — ss a and she was headed for the cap- 5 at, to which the banker was clinging des peony while he sustained his other little daugh- ter. is heart was torn with grief at what che believed to be the loss of the other twin. The tide eae the wreck down to the advancing sail a. and Bob, with a rope around his waist, jum ot overboard as they closed with the Faia. =e B lieved the banker of his posiane Pa passed her up to Bert, and then he assisted Mr. _ Mason to get aboard, too. The banker was quite exhausted, and with a cry he sank down beside — the little one the boys had saved. Bert put for _ Z f ot 7 : ‘ >a #
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CONTRACTOR BOB the shore, leaving the other boat to shift for her- self. He put in for the nearest of the private ' wharves, and it proved to be on the banker’s prop- erty. Securing the boat, the boys took a twin each in their arms, and, followed by the father, who was nearly all in, walked to the Mason cottage, where the appearance of the party created con- sternation and some confusion. The little girls were taken in hand at once and brought around. Mr. Mason went to his room to change his clothes, and took Bob with him, He loaned the lad a com- plete change of his own clothes, and while Bob was putting it on he told the banker how the twin was saved. The banker felt deeply grateful to the boys, particularly to Bob, and he expressed his sentiments in no uncertain terms. The boys Yyemained to dinner, at Mr. Mason’s urgent invi- tation, and after the meal Bob resumed his own garments, which had been dried ape my out for him in the laundry. When they said that they - must go, Mr. Mason made them promise that they would call over and visit him and his family dur- ing the summer, which they promised to do. ; “T¢ I can be of service to either of you, don’t fail to call on me,” said the banker, “for you have placed me under the d of obligations.” _ “All right, sir,” said Bob, “but I hardly think we'll stand in need of any favor. In the event that we should, we’ll remember your offer. Then they put off in their boat and returned home. CHAPTER X.—Fighting for a Big Job. i onday morning’s mail brought a letter to Bob, tin bret usiness Sonniemaicatien he had received since he opened his office. It-bore the imprint of the American Motor Car Co., No. — Devonshire street, Boston, Mass. Bob opened it with a beat- ing heart, for he knew it referred to his bid for the construction of the dam. It was a concise, for- mal note, requesting his La meesety at the com- pany’s office at noon on. Wednesday, when the bids would be opened in the presence of the Board of Managers and all the contractors interested. Bob showed it to Nellie. . “You are going, of course?” she said, ' “Like a bird,” he replied. “Mr. Gilligan will probably be there, and he will be much surprised to see you.” 3 “He'll be more surprised when my bid is read _ out,” laughed the young contractor. When he was returning from his lunch he met er Mason on the street and invited him to his office. Mason went with him, and during his stay Bob told him about his bid for the dam that was to be f : to to my abili a great deal of trouble to ab A 17 business, and beyond that nobody has a right te inquire into my finaneial status, because if, after . signing the contract, I fail to comply with its terms my deposit will be forfeited.” “From your statement I should imagine you were able to finance the work, for if you were not you would hardly risk your deposit,” said the banker; “but should you need any more funds to push the work, call upon me, and I will advance you any reasonable sum you may require without interest or security other than your personal note for whatever length of time you might need the money.” \ “Thank you, sir, for your generous offer. I may have to avail myself of it. There is one favor I would ask you to grant me.” “Name it, and, if it be possible, I will comply with your request.” “Permit me to refer to you, if the question of my responsibility should be raised.” “Willingly. There is my business card. Use my name in any way that is likely to be of service to you.” , “With that assurance I think I shall win out. I have little fear concerning my bid, for I hold a trump card that should sweep the deck. What that trump card is I will inform you as soon as matters are settled.” ~ Mr. Mason looked at his watch and said he must . go. On Wednesday morning Bob took a train for Boston. He reached the city at eleven, and at ten minutes of twelve he walked into the board room of the American Motor Car Co., which was con- nected with the business offices. He found a dozer men of substantial appearance present, all con- tractors who had submitted bids. Peck, Gilligan & Co. did not appear to be represented. The sec- retary of the syndicate was present at the foot of a.long table covered with green baize cloth. Dur- ing the next few minutes the members of the Board of Managers came in and seated themselves at the'table. As the hand of the clock was on the stroke of noon, Mr. Gilligan was announced. He took a vacant chair without noting Bob’s pres- ence. All having arrived, a uniformed office boy closed the door and seated himsélf outside to bar anybody else who might want to go in. “We will now proceed with the business before the Board—namely, the consideration of the bids submitted for the construction of the dam and those for the erection of the company’s shops,” said the chairman. “We have invited you here, gentlemen, that you may be certain that the busi- ness is perfectly fair and aboveboard. You are ae to this me in view of thé trou- le and expense fou have been put to in preparing © your bids. Now, Mr. Black, begin.” . The secretary unlocked a stout tin box. which stood before him and took out a long envelope. He cut it open and pulled out the bid and a cer- tified check for $25,000. After glancing over the written sheets, the tary announced that. rant & Mu ord ld $580,000 for the dam and chairman made a iF
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18 - Grant & Mugford. The exception was a Provi- dence contractor named Wilson, who offered to build the shops for $229,000. Then Bob’s envelope was opened and the enclosure dumped out. When the secretary saw that the deposit was in the shape of a certificate of deposit instead of a cer- tified check, he passed it to the chail™.n, who looked it over, and observing that it was indorsed payable to the American Motor Car Co., returned it with an “All right.” ‘ “Robert Barron, civil engineer, general contrac- tor and builder, of Westlake, bids $499,999 for the dam,” read the secretary. : “What’s that?” ejaculated Mr. Gilligan, spring- ing to his feet. “Read that again, please.” e secretary did so. _—s “That’s ridiculous!” said Gilligan. “Robert - Barron is only a graduate civil engineer with no experience except the few weeks he spent in our _office, from which he was discharged three weeks ago. He knows no more about the contracting and building business than a. clam. His bid shows that he is incompetent, for that dam cannot pos-~ sibly be constructed according to the plans and _ specifications for the amount he offers to do it ra He must be crazy to put a bid in for such an extensive job as that involved in the Snake | River dam. y, he hasn’t any capital ° pos = ‘Your remarks are entirely out of order, Fp hae fs “My name is Gilligan, of Peck, Gilligan & Co., Westlake.” : “Kindly resume your seat, Mr. Gilligan. You are intérrupting the business of the Board,” went _@n the chairman. “Mr. Barron’s bid is accom- panied with the requisite deposit of $25,000, and must be considered on the same footing as the other bids.” ~ Gilligan sat down, but he was clearly greatly worked up. Two more bids, both for the shops ~ alone, were read out. One wanted $300,000 even, and the other $274,499. - “Peck, Gilligan & Co., contractors and buliders, - _of- Westlake, bids $235,000 for the ‘shops and $539,- 500 for the dam,” read the secretary. “Gentlemen, it appears that the lowest bid for the dam is that put in by Robert Barron, of West- Jake; and the lowest bid for the shops is that sub- mitted by George Wilson, of Providence. It, therefore, becomes our duty to consider the ac- tance of those bids. With the exception of the Barron and Wilson, the other contractors will e excused from further attendance. When the award is finally made the bids and certified checks co, ot panel contractors will be returned to J ” - This was the signal for Gilligan to continue his ~ “I object to Barron’s bid being considered as a le one. It is not. Barron is nothing but - a boy, and he couldn’t possibly carry out the work even if his bid was large enough to cover the ground. The understanding in cases of this kind ; that the lowest responsible bid wins. The bid of Peck, Gilligan & Co. is the lowest responsible ne. firm is not only thoroughly responsible, oa ; xe many good sized jobs for the a estlake is the seat, CONTRACTOR BOB of the firm. As the maaging partner and prac- tical man of the firm, I demand that Barron’s bid be thrown out and the bid of Peck, Gilligan & Co. considered in its place.” f As Gilligan concluded, Bob jumped up. “T think you have an awful nerve to make the statement you have just done,” he said. “What do you know about my financial resources? Can you go into court, put your hand on the Bible and swear that of your own knowledge and belief that I am not worth the money necessary for carrying on the work of the Snake River dam according to the plans and specifications on which the bids are based ?” : “Don’t talk nonsense!” roared the contractor. “If you were worth a hundredth part of the amount of your bid you wouldn’t have worked in our office for $15 a week.” “Is that so, Mr. Milligan? I might have worked in your office or any other contractor’s office for $1 a week and still be worth a million dollars in my own right. I went to your office for experience —to fit myself to open up on my own account.” “You gained a lot of experience, didn’t you, in six weeks?” sneered Gilligan. “T gained all I needed to enable me to construct the Snake River dam. Now, look here, Mr. Gilli- gan, you have practically charged me _ before these gentlemen with incompetency, as well as lack of financial responsibility, and I'm going to make you take your words back. I can bring two members of your officé ferce to prove that you said to Mr. Peck, in their presence, that you considered that the firm had secured a first-class engineer in me, and that all I lacked was actual experience to make me the equal of the best. Do you deny that you made that statement?” Gilligan hesitated before replying. “T’ll admit that you are a good graduate engi- neer, and that in time you are likely to turn out a capable one, but at present you are not capable of carrying on a job like the dam,” he said. “If you say I am not, in your opinion, capable of carrying on the supervision of the Snake River dam, will you kindly explain why it was under- stood that in the event of Peck, Gilligan & Co. winning the contract for the dam, I was to have sole charge of the work?” “You were to have charge of it under me,” said Gilligan. “Very good. Will you state before these gen- tlemen if you consider yourself capable of super- vising the work of dam building? Have you any knowledge at all of the principles of the work? In what way do»you consider yourself capable of advising a practical civil engineer? Have you — any knowledge at all of civil engineering?” “J don’t propose to be catechised by you,” - snorted Gilligan.. “Will you tell these gentlemen who prepared the age the dam submitted by Peck, Gilligan & 02 - : “You did the larger part of it while in our employ.” ; “And you took my figures with you to this city and submitted them to an expert, didn’t you?” - “And what was- his opinion whole?” - : on them as a 2 sérviee “I decline to state. It is none of your business.” - é a " ee
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CONTRACTOR BOB “TJ leave it to these gentlemen if your reply can- not be construed as favorable to me, for if the expert had demonstrated that my figures were wrong in any important particular, you would be glad to use that to show me up.” | “Gentlemen,” said Gilligan, turning to the Board, “I wish to add to my protest against giv- ing the contract to this young man. The bid we have submitted was the result-of this boy’s work while in our employ. He was hired for that pur- pose, as only one well grounded in civil engineer- ing could perform it. My instructions to him was to shave the figures, as we were anxious to get the job even on a small profit. That he did so is shown by the fact that our bid is $10,500 lower than the next higher one. Now, the knowledge of the approximate sum we were . going to bid, this young man, after quitting our employ, goes to work and puts in a bid on his own account at a figure that he knew would be lower than ours. I ask you is this. a square thing for him to do under the circumstances? I ask you is it honorable? will you accept his bid under these circumstances?” : “Mr. Gilligan; will you state here why I quit your employ?” said Bob. - “You were dise - “Por what reason? Becatse I was considered incompetent to perform the duties for which I was en ? ” “No; because you insulted and struck the junior of the firm.” “My dismissal was insisted upon by Mr. Peck, Sr., wasn’t it?” “Yes,” “Were you in favor of it?” . . “J decline to say whether I was or not.” ; “Gentlemen,” said Bob, “the fact that I was in possession of the approximate figure that Peck, Gilligan & Co were going to submit has really no bearing on the matter. When I quit the employ the firm I had not the slightest idea of bidding ¢ inst them on the dam. But I changed my mind within twenty-four hours. What caused me to do so? An astonishing discovery that I made. I discovered that the very stone named in the speci- asting the dam was to be-ob- tion among all the “Isn’t there?” answered Bob. “What will you bet on it?” “Put up your money. Here is my $1,000,” and Bob flashed out a roll of bills as large as a house. Secretary, will you hold the stakes?” and he handed that gentleman the money. . : “Write out a promissory note, at three se I guess gentlemen, with 19 “That roll of bills don’t look like a bluff. Mr. Secretary, if Mr. Gilligan covers my bet I'll pay all the expenses of yourself and a geological ex- pert making the trip te Westlake any time withir. three days from this date to meet Mr. Gilligay and myself. I will then’take you three to the spot where the rock is, and if, after making an exami- nation of the stone the expert does not declare it to be the rock called for by the dam specifications, I authorize you to hand Mr. Gilligen back his note and with it-my $1,000 in cash. I think that is fair “enough,” said Bob. “You don’t mean it?” gasped Gilligan. “I do, and—I have bought the property the stone is on, said Bob triumphantly. CHAPTER XI.—Conclusion. “Now, gentlemen, you can understand why I was in a position to put in a bid for the construc- tion of the dam at a considerable lower rate than even Peck, Gilligan & Co., whose figure, I knew, was shaded to the lowest point compatible with a fair profit on so important a piece of work.- I have the stone on the spot, and all I have to do is to emply men to dig it out. I can do this cheaper than it would cost me to buy the stone at the nearest point to Westlake that it is obtainable. Then I will save the entire cost of transportation by rail, and from the freight yards to the river. I think the advantage is so marked that no other contractor can beat me out and make a dollar on the job. Is my point well taken, gentlemen?” All admitted it was, though “There still remains the question of my respon- sibility to be settled, for Mr. Gilligan, represent- ing the next highest bid on the dam, has called it in question. He has protested against my bid being accepted, Mr. Chairman, and has given his ~ grounds. I admit that he has the right to protest if he believes he is in the right. You, gentlemen, who are ible to your company for the awarding of the two bids, are justified in deMand- ing that the successful bidders shall give you reasonable assurance that they can put the work through according to the plans and specifications within the time limit set by you for the completion of the jobs. Speaking now only for myself, I beg to offer you—first, this letter from the head of the Boston Technical Institute from which | grad-_ uated as some evidence of my ability as a civil. engineer, and you are at liberty to eal] on that gentleman personally, give him an idea of the. nature of the work I have bid for, and ask him if, in his opinion, he thinks it safe to trust me with 1 did not-sayso. the job; secondly, I refer you to my deposit of ~~ ,000 as evidence that I have some capital; third, I call your attention te thé fact that I have the granite ballast rock on the ground ready toe be blasted out, which fact not only aeeounts for the lowness of my bid, but prevents the job from — being held up at any stage of the work owing to failure of the railroad compeny to deliver the. = ao rock at all times on time—a contingency whick contractors must always consider, owing to short... age of suitable cars.for transporting the rock, uné _ en a” « 5 ~ oe a” t- a —_ x ae | ge Po other reasons which persons dependent on the rail. — z AG
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20 “~~ yoad service are frequently up against, and lastly, I refer you to Mr. Frederick Mason, banker, of - No. — State street, as to my financiai responsi- bility. That is all, Mr. Chairman. On the above four grounds I insist that the contract for the dam be awarded to me.- If you have any questions to ask me bearing on the subject, I am ready to an- swer them.” “Mr. Gilligafi;” said the chairman, “you have ~ heard the grounds on which Mr. Barron stands upon his rights as the lowest bidder. Do you still insist that the Board consider your protest ?” “TI do. I insist that the Board investigate Bar- ron’s. financial] standing, and if it is not good enough to stand for the job, that his bid be thrown out, his deposit returned, and the contract awarded to my firm,” said Gilligan. “Very well, Mr. Gilligan, we will, in our own in- _terest, investigate the financial status of Robert ’ Barron,” said the chairman. “Have you anything further to say?” : “No, except this, that I am willing to take back any statement I have made against Barron if you find, on investigation, I am wrong.” Mr. Gilligan bowed himself out, and then the chairman told Bob that the Board would investi- gate his responsibility with reference to the dam contract, and if they felt a reasonable assurance that it would be safe in his hands they would notify him when to come to Boston to attend on the signing of the papers. When Bob left the .Board room of the syndicate he went to lunch. _ Then he called at Mr. Mason’s bank to see that gentleman, who had come to town. The banker was at his desk and gave him a warm welcome. - Bob told him that he came to town to be present ~ _ at the opening of the bids invited by the American - Motor Car Co. He rehearsed all that happened in the Board room. ; = “The Board of Managers are going to investi- gate my financial standing, and I have referred - to you, as you told me I could do,” said Bob. “I will give you a few points. I am worth about $80,000 in cash, independent of a piece of property for which I shall pay $4,000 in a day~or two, _ through a trustee who is to hold it for me. Al- though this property is valued at between $4,000 and $5,000, I would not take $25,000 for it at this - moment, for a part of it contains the very rock that I need for ballasting the dam with. As the - possession of that property has enabled me to —* ie: 5 & § g 5 3 g & g 2 2 the contract. Or you can ork shall have been com- s settled with me in ees : pita ned omens on. is tho- ‘Bla rough » eminine ar keeps u _ despite her handicap. : Bo Ss CONTRACTOR BOB “J will comply with both your requests with pleasure, Barron,” replied the banker. “Indeed, I will make’ it my business to see that you get the contract.” An hour later Bob took a train back to West- lake, perfectly satisfied that things were going very well with- him. He reached his boarding- house in time for dinner, and that evening he called at the Summers cottage to tell Nellie the good news. He learned that her mother had been informed that afternoon that the title company ‘had found the title to the property all right and would guarantee it for the purchase price. The agent would be ready in a couple of days to be present at the closing of the business at Mr. Smith’s office. Bob was glad to hear it, as he wanted the matter settled as soon as possible. Three days later he received notice from the chair- man of the Board of Managers of the syndicate that the contract had been awarded to him, and he was directed to call at the conmpany’s office and sign the papers. Peck, Gilligan & Co. were noti- fied to the effect that Bob had won' out and their certified check was returned to them. Contractor - Wilson wrote Bob a letter telling him that he would be glad to ‘purchase of him the rock he needed for the foundation of the shops if they could agree on a price. Bob sent him his price, which was slightly higher than the price Wilson would have to pay elsewhere, but as the contrac- tor would save transportation and haulage charges, he promptly closed with the boy. Reader, we would like to tell how Bob carried out his con- tract to a successful termination, and earned the fair profit he had figured on, but we have not the space to do so, besides, the purpose of this tale was only to show how the young civil engineer became a contractor and won his first big job. The dam contract-gave him a reputation that led to other work, and his efforts as a successful! con- tractor soon eclipsed Peck, Gilligan & Co. When he came of age, and was legally entitled to hold real estate and Have a regular bank account, the Westlake papers announced the marriage of Nel- lie Summers and Contractor Bob. ~Next week’s issue will contain “A NERVY DEAL; or, THE BOY WHO BOUGHT A RAIL- WAY.” Send us a one-cent stamp to cover postage, and bh will mail you a copy of “Moving Pict ories.”” = ~~ . BLIND AND EFFICIENT Though totally blind from birth, Allie Marie Hannum, of Little Rock, Ark., twenty-three years of age, is a skilled musician, a soprano soloist, a composer, a teacher and an excellent typist. She plays the pipe organ and sings ly in St. Andrew’s Cathedral here. She twice has won State prizes for the best musical composi- tion. Her skill with the typewriter is equal to that of any first class stenographer. Besides her other accomplishments Miss Han- — % we oe
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- FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 21 CURRENT NEW FISH AT HONOLULU A fish of a species hitherto unknown, caught by a Japanese fisherman thirty miles offshore at a depth of 1,200 feet, is on exhibition in Honolulu, T.H It weighs 150 pounds, is flat and almost circu- lar. Silver is the chief coloring of its body, with its fins and snout of scarlet and the dorsel, about eighteen inches long, spotted with white. The head is mottled with dark gray and black and the eyes are round and about four inches in diameter. BARBER USES RADIO TELEPHONE TO AMUSE WAITING CUSTOMERS. Patrons of a big barber shop in Virginia Park the other day were electrified, so to speak, when sounds of music, interspersed with a masculine voice making announcements of race results antl other “newsy” items, floated through the shop from nowhere. Ernest Gist, the proprietor, told eustomers he had installed a wireless radio tele- phone, so those waiting for the call of “next” might not be bored. COMES BACK TO JAIT&z When a man breaks out of jail it is usually with the intention of staying away from it, but the rule does not apply to Strother Colley of this county, who escaped from the Mason County jail, Point Pleasant, W. Va., some months ago. He NEWS was sentenced to a four months’ term for sending a threatening letter through the mails. Sheriff John F. Lewis was aroused from his bed by the ringing of the jail doorbell. He responded and was surprised to find Colley standing there. Colley said he had come back to eat. He had wandered over several States since leaving the jail, had been unable to obtain em- ployment and was also unable to get “three squares” a day. «Colley had three months of his sentence to serve, and he figured it was easier to eat by staying in jail than roaming the country. WATCHFUL DOG SHEPHERD Last fall O. L. Bernice drove his flocks of. sheep down from the grazing lands in the Mount Adams forest reserve to winter quarters near White Sal- mon, Wash. s In a fog he lost forty head and a dog was miss- * ing.. No trace of the wanderers was found in a week’s diligent search. ‘One day recently the dog turned up at the home with thirty-nine sheep, all but one having been wintered somewhere under the guidance of the watchful dumb shepherd. Sheepmen are at a loss to account for the fact that the dog was able to keep off predatory ani- mals, for during the winter wolves, cougars and coyotes prey continually on sheep. Mystery! Mystery! Mystery ! If your curiosity is aroused over anything, you naturally want an explanation. The harder it is to solve a problem, the more you want to do it. Nothing grat- ifies the average person more than being mystified, then solving the problem. “Mystery Magazine” contains the most puzzling and perplexing stories you ever read. Now then, if you wish to amuse yourself, read these detective stories. They are crammed full of the most entertaining mysteries you ever - heard of. All these stories are written in a very interesting vein by the greatest magazine writers in the world. Besides the stories, the magazine contains a surprising number of articles on popular subjects. Do not miss the latest issue, - out today on all newsstands. Price Ten Cents a Copy - a? Sept ual ‘ P 4 ee gan tiv a : . : 4 ae tee ee 4 a oe ~< (2 . =~ 5 ‘hoe . ~
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_ 22 Daring Dan Dobson 7 THE BOY WHO BEAT THE MOONSHINERS By GASTON GARNE (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER XV.—(Continued.) - And then he mounted his second best horse and started for further victories. The men looked at each other, and had a few was to them, h they were themselves, — - : a thongs. Newcastle his own standing in the neighborhood where he was born and raised.” The old lady patted Tom kindly on the shoul- rs OW ye’re a lot better off with such as Den thes hang oe in that lawless place, for they must pay the price of all their crimes before long, and ye have escaped by yer own act.” __»~ Have you heard from my father?” asked Dan, anxiously, “and my sister Bess? How are they nothin’. nto Hilldale by this time.” ~ Dan was worried. him, Zach oa hei oe to gang ther +4 ¢ and he is g my fathe to over the land under penalty of their hold- me a prisoner. : eWe kin end that up, ef it ain’t too late, by going right to Hilldale ourselves.” ~~. So, without waiting for any sort of a rest, they mounted their steeds again, as soon as they had their we will mail you a copy of “Mystery FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY as a few recognized him despite his dust and ill- fitting garb. But the greatest joy was when he reached home, and sliding from Starlight, rushed up the steps and opened the door. He sprang inside with such precipitancy that his sister Bess, who was sitting by his father’s side, gave a scream of alarm. But Dan’s father recognized him, and rose weakly from the chair, his face pale with deep om MS boy! My boy! Back safe and sound, It\ y boy ack safe and sound. It’s wonderful! How did you do it?” He hugged the lad and such a warm-hearted coming back home as it was. . Dan brought in his two companions who had been tethering the nags outside. vom eee greatly ape? . achary was grinning, as he clas his ol friend’s hand. ped “Waal, ye’ve got the bravest lad in the world, colonel, or ye’d a-never seen him ag’in!” said Zachary, who proceeded to tell the story. Dan would protest when the old man gave es- pecial credit to this or that brave deed, but his father and sister listened eagerly, and their won- der grew. At last the son interrupted the eager ques- tions by saying: “Tell me, ‘dad, did Snakey Snodgrass show up His father shook his head. “No one of that name, but a man by the name of Brown is at the hotel, and he brought me a letter from Newcastle which you see here.” He showed the lad the demand from the king of moonshiners for a sale of the property at a figure so ridiculous that it was hardly worth the cost of the lawyer’s fee.” “That’s the man, all right, under a different name. “We'd better git ’im!” said Zachary, “or he’ll git away.” And thus it was that the three hurried out in all their ragged, weather-worn garb, and sprang upon their horses. To the main hotel they drove, despite the cries ef people as they passed in a cloud of dust. “Here! Stop! Whoa!” directed Dan, : They jumped from their horses, tossed the reins to a darky boy anxious to earn a nickel. Then up the steps they sprang to the clerk’s - office“of the hotel. “Where’s Mr. Brown?” cried Dan. The clerk’s jaw fell in dumb amazement-at this sudden rush, and still more at the revolvers which the three of them held in readiness for use. “Are—you—robbers?” he gasped. ‘“No; where is that fellow from the mountains named Brown?” cried Dan. “Speak up, or you'll hear these guns!” ; {To be continued) _ Send @ ene-cont-atanen he sever postage,
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outs the public b subscribe to stock on the ITEMS OF PRIZE FOR COON SKIN George Horton and Frank Freeman have re- ceived $50 as a prize for a coon skin shipped by them. Freeman and Horton, who hunt entirely for the sport, have well trained hounds. They do their hunting at night along the Palouse River, the prize coon having been killed near the mouth of Rock Creek, almost seven miles from Winona, Wash. During this winter they have killed twen- ty-nine coons and one lynx. DECLINES $1,000 FOR $5 BILL J. Bailey, a rancher near Maryville, Cal., re- fused to sell a $5 bill for $1,000. The note bears the date’ of Dec. 21, 1839, and is an heirloom of the Bailey family. It is printed on one side only. It was signed on the back by the President and Cashier of the City Trust and Banking Company of New York City. It is of the bank note variety, -and was issued during the time when the “Nat- jonal Bank” fight was on in Congress. Notes of this variety are very rare, declare collectors. GREAT FLOCKS KILLED Gordon, Neb., was treated to an unusual oc- currence when the community was visited by great flocks of birds of an unknown kind. At times the flocks were so dense that the sun scarce- ly could shine through. They were a trifle smaller than the ordinary sparrow, and the air literally was filled with them. Toward evening it began to snow and the birds flew lower and lower until they annoyed the people walking on the street. They seemed dazed and somewhat helpless. In the morning the ground was covered with their dead bodies. They covered the sidewalks, streets and lawns. Some were killed by flying against buildings, but there were hundreds of them lying on the ground in open spaces with no buildings near. SEEKING SUNKEN TREASURE Gold and other valuable metals estimated to be . worth $5,000,000 lost by the sinking of steam- _-ships during the great war are to be sought by treasure hunting companies now being organized jn this and other countries, according to dis- patches received in Washington. Treasure hunting is spreading over the United States, England and other European countries - just as it has swept the world after every great conflict. Officials of the War and Navy Departments are being deluged with requests for informa- tion as to the locat’on of vessels sunk by subma- __rines. The public reccrds of the Custems Service of the United States, England-and France are be- Ing scru _ Yines and _ worth salvage expenses. ized to determine which of the subma- vessels carried gold and other vauables rance one treasure hunting corporation is In oun “may bring in a profit t officials: ger 2 rae * .FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 23 INTEREST erally are not optimistic concerning the chances of success of the treasure hunting companies. Probably the biggest treasure was lost with the Lusitania which was reported to have nearly $1.000,000 in gold aboard when she was torpedoed. The Lusitania lies too deep to permit ,divers to work on her at the present stage of development of most salvage apparatus, officials say. Engineers and inventors are working to per- fect new and unusual diving apparatus, the rec- ords of the patent office show. Superdiving bells are planned to cover the treasure which lies too deep for the ordinary methods of salvage. One inventor recently experimented with a steel diving suit to protect the diver from the terrific pres- sure of the water at the Lusitania’s level. An English salvaging company is at work with suction pumps on the wreck of a Spanish vessel that sank off the coast of Scotland during the in- vasion of the Armada. Send us a one-cent stamp to cover d ‘ postage, and =e £25 mail you a copy of “Moying Picture “Mystery Magazine” SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A COPY LATEST ISSUES 93 BY THE LEFT HAND, by Hamilton @rai B HE MELODY oF Dadri. by Jace Beckot i . H. Osborne. bee hate or 96 AT MORTARITY’S. by Fred FP. Shuey. 97° THE LOST STAR OF THE FILMS, by Jack Bech- 98 dolt. COTNTERFEIT CLUES, by Ch F. 2. THE, CROSS, byw. s. Tunremn : a: SECRET SE TCE MYSTERY, Craigie and Elliot Balestier. a. bx -Bamiioes 101 A CRIMSON PRICE, by Elliott Lester, + 102 ee STRANGE CASE, by Gottlieb a Ss. 108 A MUSEUM MYSTERY, by Jack Rechdol 101 THE LITTLE RED BOOK, by Alexander sie 105 A MAN FROM SIAM. by Charles Fulton Onrsler, 106 The Clue of the Emerald Ring, hy Beulah Poynter. 107 HELL'S HINGES, by Hamilton Craigie. t The Famous Detective Story Out Today In No. 108 Ig | THE WOLF By KATHERINE STAGG HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., ~ 166 West 23d Street, New York City- “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players hey PRICE SEVEN CENTS PER COPY
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e 24 Beset By Three Desperate Burglars By KIT CLYDE In the fall of 1866 I was employed as a clerk in a general store at a cross-roads in Southern Indiana. The store, a church and a blacksmith __shop, with two residences, made up the buildings, and the families of the merchant and the black- smith were the only residents. The country about was thickly settled up. however, and trade was al- ways good. Before the merchant engaged me he announced that I would have to sleep in the store o’ nights, and that unless I had pluck enough to defend the place against marauders he did not want me at any price. He showed me a shotgun, a revolver and a spring gun, which were used, or on hand to be used, to defend the place, and the » windows were protected with stout blinds and the doors by double locks. The close of the war had dvifted a bad population into Indiana. The high- ways were full of tramps, and there were hun- dreds of men who had determined to make a liv- ing by some other means than labor. Several attempts had been made to rob the store, and it had came to that pass that no clerk wished to sleep there alone. : The merchant seemed satisfied with the an- . swers I gave him, and on a certain Monday morn- ing I went to work. The same night a store about four miles away was broken into and robbed and the clerk seriously wounded. Two nights _later three horses were stolen in our neighbar- hood. At the end of the week a farmer who was on his way home from our store was robbed on the highway. If I had not been a light sleeper from habit, these occurrences would have tended to prevent too lengthy dreams as I lay in my lit- - tle bedroom at the front of the second story. The revolver was always placed under my pillow, and the shotgun stood within reach. The spring gun _ was set about midway of the lower floor. It was a double-barreled shotgun, each barrel containin a big charge of buckshot, and the man who kicke the string and discharged the weapon would never know what burt him. < It did not seem possible that any one could break into the store without arousing me. There ‘was no door to my room, and after the people in ~ the neighborhood had gone to bed I could hear the _ glightest noise in the store. I had looked the place over for a weak spot, and had failed to find destruct I should have told you, in describ- = » = swe hoisted and lowered such good as were stored FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY . er who had a hundred dollars or so to leave it with us. He received an envelope in which to in- close it, and he could take out and put in as he liked. On this evening four or five farmers came in to deposit, and, as I afterward figured up, we had about $1,500 in the safe. __ There were two strange faces in the crowd that evening. One belonged to a roughly-dressed, evil- eyed man, who announced himself as a drover, - and the other to a professional tramp. I gave the latter a piece of tobacco and some crackers and cheese and he soon went away, and we were so busy up to 8 o’clock that I did not give the drover much attention. When we came to shut up the store he had gone from my mind altogether. We counted up the cash, made some changes in the day book, and it was about 10 o’clock when the merchant left. I was tired out, and I took a can- dle and made the circuit of the store, set the spring gun and went to bed. I had to pass with- in six feet of the trap-door as I went to my room, but I did not see it. It was a rather chilly night in October, and we had no fires yet, and as I got under the blankets the warmth was so grateful that I soon fell asleep. It was the first night I had gone to bed without thinking of rob- bers and wondering how I should act in case the eame in. I did not know when I fell asleep. if suddenly found myself half upright in bed, and there was an echo in the store, as if the fall of something had aroysed me. It was 1 o’clock, and I had been asleep almost three hours. Leaning on my elbow, I strained my ears to catch the slightest sound, and after a minute I heard a movement downstairs. While I could not say what it was, a sort of instinct told me that it was by some human being. . Everything on the street was as silent as the grave. My window curtain was up, and I could see that the sky had thickened up and was very black. I did not wait for the noise to be re- peated. I was just as sure that some one was in the store as if I had already seen him, and I crept softly out of bed, drew on my trousers,. and moved out into the big room, having-the re- volver in my hand. There was no door at the head of the stairs. I intended to go there and listen down the stairway. As I was moving across the room, which was then pretty clear of goods as’ far as the trap-door, I suddenly recollected this opening, and changed my course to reach it. It was terribly dark in the room, and one unfamiliar with the place would not have dared to move a foot. Half way to the trap I got down on my hands and knees, and as I reached the opening, I settled down on my stomach. There was a dim light downstairs. That settled the fact that some one was in the stere. After a minute I heard whispers, then the movement of feet, then a cer- tain sound which located the intruders to a foot. They were at the safe on the front of the store. I drew myself forward and looked down the open- ing. I could see a lighted candle and two or three dark figures at the safe, and I could hear the com- bination being worked. My first thought was to drop my hand down and open fire in their direc- q I was wondering what to do when I heard one of the men whispers eed ; te a ee ag ee \
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_and, if they persisted in coming that far, FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY “It’s all nonsense. We might work here a week and not hit it.” “But I told you to bring the tools and you wouldn’t,” protested another. “Oh, dry up!” put in a third voice. “What we want to do is to go up and bring that counter- 3 hopper down and make him open the box.” “T’ll give the cussed thing a few more trials,” said the first man, and I heard him working away again. My eyes could not have told me the num- ber of robbers, but my ears had. There were three of them, and they were no doubt desperate and determined men. They spoke of bringing me down to open the safe as if no resistance was anticipated or taken into account. Indeed, they _ might well reason that they had me at their mercy. The rain was now falling, the night was very dark, and a pistol shot in the store could not have been heard in either of the dwellings. If they reflected that I might be armed, they would have offset it with the fact that I was a boy of eighteen with a girl’s face and probably a girl’s nerve. I don’t deny that I was a bit rattled, and that my lip would quiver in spite of | me, but I was at the same time fully determined ‘ to protect the store if it cost me my life. How to get at the fellows was what bothered me, but that trouble was soon solved. “There!” whispered the man at the combina- tion as he let go of it, “I won’t fool here another minute. That kid knows the combination, and we can make him work it. Come on.” They were coming upstairs. The best place for me would be at the head of the stairway. The stairs had a half turn in them, and I wou d fire upon the first man who came within range. I heard the men coming back to the stairway, and my nerve gave way. It wasn’t from cowardice, but the knowledge that I was to kill a human be- ing upset me. I decided to retreat to ng 4 i wou shoot. The trio had rubbers on their feet, but they came upstairs without trying very hard to prevent making a noise. The one who came first had the candle, and, as he got to the head of the stairs, I saw a knife in his hand. They made no delay in approaching my room, and, with a great effort, I braced myself for what I saw must happen. They could not see me until within three or four fect of the door, and their first intima- . tion that I was out of bed was when they heard ‘Me call out: _and for Then they fire, They then either meant to retreat down- stairs or toward the rear of the floor, for I saw 25 I struck a match, lighted my own candle, and go- ing to the opening, saw three bodies lying be- low. Running back to the bedroom to recharge my revolver, I then went downstairs to investi- gate. It was as I suspected. The three had pitched down together. The top of one’s head had been blown off by the shot, a second had a hole in his chest as big as your fist, while the third, who was responsible for the groans, was severely wounded in both legs. It was three months before he could be put on trial, and he then got four years in prison. The whole thing was a put-up job. The “drover” was a Chicago burglar called “Claw- hammer Dick,” and he had hidden himself in the store that night and then let his pals in-by the back door. They had a horse and wagon in the rear of the building, and the plan was to rob the store of goods as well as to get at the money in the safe. A bit of carelessness on my part not only saved the store and probably my life, but wiped out a very desperate gang. —oo——————————-=*&=«=«=«=x={#[{#==z=zj’=—==aREE==] Send us a one-cent stamp to cover postage, and we will mail you a copy of “Moving Picture Stories.’’- _———————————————— nn} WHISKERS CRAZE HITS CITY Sacramento, Cal., has gone crazy on whiskers. Every one who can grow them is wearing them, from City Manager Seavey and Mayor Elkin down to the young bloods who are going in for a bobbed style. It’s all on account of a whisker show, scheduled for the week of May 23-28, when a prize of $49 will be awarded the wearer of the winning beard. Length, appearance and luxuri- ance of growth will be determinining features. Sacramento is preparing for a grand celebra- tion of the days of ’49, and the males have de- ~ cided to wear real whiskers in emulation of the sturdy pioneers of the gold rush. The move- ment started among-a few old timers, but now it has been taken up by the many. And are the 150 barbers of Sacramento tearing their hair in desperation at the sudden depres- sion in the shave market? Far from it. Instead of getting 15 cents for a chin scrape they are charging anywhere from 50 cents to $1 for daily whisker treatments. : Mirrors in front of shops are crowded each day by men who inspect the development of their beards with hopeful interest. Goatees, Van Dykes, Smith Bros. blacks and Lord Dundrearys are developing under the watchful care of the whisker experts. Hundreds, however, have adopt- ed no particular style, preferring to let °em sprout | to the four winds as nature directs. The whisker growing contest had its origin in the formation of the “whiskers club,” whose mem- bers, desirous of emulating the facial flora of their, pioneer forebears, marched to the Post- office steps and “took the pledge” to remain “be- hind iy brush” until the ’49 celebration is over. City Council headed the weird procession. * and members of the — = 3 - =. —— —t
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26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY NEW YORK, MAY 12, 1922 TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Single Postage ......-........ Postage Free 7 Cents One Copy Three Months...... sg a 90 Cents One Copy Six Months ........ = = $1.75 One Copy One Year.......... isd = 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 fn any other way are at your risk. We accept P Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avold cutting the envelope. Write your name and address plainly. Ad- dress letters to Harry E: Wolff, Pres. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., Cc. W. Hastings, Treas. Charles E. Nylander, See. 166 W. 23d St., N. Y. INTERESTING ARTICLES WILL WAIT FOR BLIND AT WHISTLE Blind residents of Denver, Col., soon will be assured of safe passage across res, streets by means of commanding blasts on police whistles which will be furnished to them free by the city, aceording to Jim Goodheart, heard of the City’s Department of Public Welfare. When a blind person blows his whistle, traffic officers will see that all traffic is suspended until the blind pedes- trian.is safely across, Goodheart said. 2 SMALLEST STILL Among the many odd ‘contrivances for manu- oe facturing illicit beverages is one recently brought -in by J. A. Roberts, Federal Prohibition enforce- ment officer. While searching for a still at a _ place some seventeen miles north of Gadsden on a place oceupied by a man named Foster, a still of one-gallon capacity was captured. The composite parts of the still were a one-gallon syrup bucket, a one-pound coffee can, a 10-cent snuff box—this with a wooden stopper for the cap through which ee a joint of cane was thrust to be used as-a worm. ’ ‘The outfit was neatly made and will, if preserved, - be a valuable addiffon to some future museum. - RUM SOLD AT 33 CENTS A QUART. 5 One hundred years ago rum sold at 2 shillings fa and 8 pence a quart. This price is contained in an old account book, which is among the heir- ~ looms of Delos Hatch, Oakfield, Wis., and which __-was used by his grandfather at his store at Bre- nam mar’s Corners, N. Y., a century ago. ___ ‘The old accounts in the book are still readable, but the figures are somewhat jumbled as the ac- counts were written during the period when the States changed from the English style of money to the American. Labor, according to the figures in the book, was ‘a day’s chopping cating brought one cus- 5 shillings in 1821, with 2 shillings extra cheap, tomer for the use of a horse. __—-—s#BIG GUNS LOST IN RIVER ‘Two 15-inch naval” the Potemac River art ee sank to the bottom of : near Pope’s Creek, Charles FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY County, Md., recently, when the barges on which they were being transported were tilted by the shigh wind, The guns, which were new, had just been tested at the Government reservation at Indian Head, Md., and were being taken to Dahlgren, Va., for further testing. There were about eight or ten guns in the group, and each of them was placed on a separate barge. The string of barges was proceeding slowly across the Potomac River when the wind, which had been blowing strongly all afternoon, became more severe. Two of the barges tilted heavily and the huge guns slid off, ' . LAUGHS _ The Waitress—It looks as if the new boarder is going to stay. Mistress—I noticed he helped himself twice to the prunes. Dick—I lost $50,000 in less than half an minute last night. Fred—How did that happen? Dick— I proposed to Miss Bullion, and she said “no.” Weary—A dog is one 0’ the few animals that'll follow a man. Walker—Yes; one was follerin’ e yesterday so fast I could hardly keep ahead of it Miss Foy—George was reading a book “How to Propose Without Getting Excited.” Maid— Yes, Helen sent one to every young man she. knew. _Little Nephew—Auntie, did you marry an In- dian? _Aunt—Why do you ask such silly ques- tions, Freddy? Little Nephew—Well, I saw some scalps on your dressing table. Teacher—If a man gets five dollars for three hours’ work, what would he get if he worked ten hours a day for three days? Small Boy—He’d most likely get fired from the union. Old Lady—Conductor, there ain’t going to be a collision, I hope. Conductor—I guess not. Old Lady—1i want you to be very keeful; I’ve got two dozen eggs in this basket. “Nevertheless,” contended the Giddy Young Bachelor, “I insist that- woman is superior to man.” “If you were married,” chuckled the old ~ married man, “you would-simply admit it.” Johnnie, a bright boy of six years, while being fixed up for school, observing his little overcoat much the worse for wear, and having more mended places than he admired, turned quickly to his mother, and asked: “Ma, is pa rich?” “Y. very rich, Johnnie; he is worth two. millions an ahalf.” “What in, ma?” “Oh, he values you at one million, me at one million, and baby at half a million.” Johnnie, after thinking a moment, said: ‘Ma, tell papa to sell the baby, and buy us some clothes.” - ; 22S, Karte +
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; F STRONG WIND “The river is so strong at times that it blows fish out of the river onto the bank,” was the statement of L. V. Creel, United States Indian Service, before the Washoe Fish and Game Pro- tective Association, Reno, Nev., recently in a plea! for “runarounds” to allow fish to come up the Truckee River out of Pyramid Lake. A shallow bar has been formed where the Tuckee River empties into the lake, due to a drop between nine and ten feet in the lake’s level dur- ing the last two years. , Creel says trout attempting to reach the upper _ Waters of the Tuckee meet with obstacles in _. crossing the bar and frequently are blown out of the water. - STOWAWAY NEAR DEATH When the after hatches of the Royal Mail steamship Orbita, fourteen days out of Hamburg for New York, were lifted the other morning and _ longshoremen entered the lower hold they heard faint moans. Lying on a bale of cargo they found a nineteen-year-old boy, Fritz Ahrens of Bremen, too weak and emaciated to speak. They sum- moned Capt. Matthews and Dr. F. R. Lucas, the ship’s surgeon. The boy was taken to the ship’s hospital and partly revived. ; Hardly able to speak and only in a whisper, the boy told the doctor that he crept into the hold at Hamburg as a stowaway, not thinking he would be battened down. He had a little food and __-water which lasted, he thought, four days. For _ the last ten days he suffered from hunger and ___ thirst and two days ago lay down on a bale to die. ‘a Sree ee - A FISHERMEN’S SHACK High and dry on the beach at Cordova, Alaska, there is an old hull, sometimes used by fishermen as a shanty, which once was the $10,000 yacht. Restless, owned by Dr. R. N. Gordon of Seattle. For eight years the Restless, after being = chased by the United States Nationa! Forest Ser- _ vice from Dr. Gordon, was used to cruise along Alaska shores and suffered damage several times. -~ In 1911 a storm drove the boat on the rocks; rip- ping a hole in her hull; in 1914 an explosion in her stern gasoline tank wrecked the after end, later the boat, while in Esther Passage, col- a head-on with a sleeping whale. The Rest- _. less was so disabled she was towed to Cordova _ « and beached. om Becoming unseaworthy, she was dismantled and advertised for sale. A fisherman t the hull $15 and it is now used as bachelor’s quarters. ws 4 4 = _ _\__. MISSING HEIRESS FOUND FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY FROM ALL POINTS -eation. receiving the inheritance, as the last she had heard a trustee had disappeared with the funds. She says that she will make immediate prepara- tions for a trip to England to claim the fortune. Mrs. McCaffrey’s husband, Johnnie, has been employed at Shamrock for a number of years. About two years ago he sustained an injury to his knee, and for about a year received compen- sation. At present he is attempting to support his wife and one son, aged ten, on a wage of $2 a day. PYTHONS EASILY TAKEN In the Maley Peninsula quite a little industry has recently sprung up among planters and others whose business takes them into the jungle. The snakes used for the purpose of making shoes are mostly pythons, and these are usually caught by coolies in the ordinary course of their work or on expeditions specially organized to search for them.* The python has a beautiful marked skin, is easy to capture, and attains a great size, being found up to thirty feet in length. The coolies are paid so much per foot for live specimens, dead ones being useless, as the rep- tile has to be skinned immediately after it is killed to obtain the best results. All that is required to effect the capture of even the largest of these snakes is a forked stick, a noose and a stout pole. When he sights his victim the coolie approaches and places the forked stick behind the back of the head and pins the animal to the ground. A noose is then slipped over the head and the snake usually most obligingly winds itself around the pole and is carried back to more civilized quar- ters, where it is sold to the “curer.” Pythons. are most voracious feeders, and if found, as is usual, after a meal, may be handled with impunity. Occasionally, however, a very different cus- tomer obtrudes himself upon the scene—the King Cobra. The contempt felt for the python quickly - gives place to the extremest caution when facing one of these deadly inhabitants of the jungle. The King Cobra attains a length of from 15 to 20 feet, and will attack a man without provo- It is seldom caught aliy¢, as the skin’is valueless, but I have seen one caught in the way I have described. This specimen was 17 feet in length, and it took three men to carry it. If» a man is bitten by one of these snakes, death re- sults within 10 minutes. Strange tales are told by natives of pythons from 60 feet to 70 feet in length that have been known to devour a rhinoceros, but they may be taken as legendary. . . Jungle pigs, however, frequently fall victims to - Malay the python, and I was recently told by a that he saw one in the jungle with a medium sized | pig half way into its mouth. ° large am deft her by oe sum r r a P hope of ever Stories.” ~
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 7 GOOD READING MUSKRATS BURROW THROUGH BANKS TO ESCAPE ; Muskrats trapped under the ice in the reser- voir that supplies the Borough of Railroad, York County, Pa., have drained off all the water by burrowing through the banks to éscape. This, at least, is the theory of those who in- vestigated when it was found that the reservoir . was dry. It is believed that the last heavy freeze imprisoned several muskrats in the reservoir and that the heavy snow that fell immediately after- ward caused thé animals to burrow for freedom befow the water level. : Families that depended on the reservoir for their household supply of water have been com- pelled to turn temporarily to wells and springs. BONDS IN COAL BIN The corner of a Liberty bomd protruding from the door of the stove into which he was shoveling : coal led to the discovery by R. A. Mitchell, rail- road agent at Waterlick, Va., of about $75,000 in bonds, concealed in the station coal bin. Some of the bonds were registered in the name ’ of officials of the Grottoes. (Va.) State Bank and et part, at least, of the cache was believed to rep- resent loot obtained from that institution when it was robbed June 30, 1921. | Two-thirds of the bonds recovered were regis- tered, the remainder being railroad and indus- : trial issues. Mitchell said he had been scoopin -*- up “papers” with the coal for several days, an he was speculating the other day as to what may ~ have been the intrinsic cost of the station fire _ , during the recent cold. spell. _ LONG HOG DRIVE IN SNOW Ks Jesse Speck, a rancher in the Big Bad Lands, South Dakota,\ has just completed a hog drive that is likely to stand as a record for some time. He started from his ranch with 200 hogs in prime condition, to drive them to this town for shipment. As the roads were in bad condition from drifted snow, and the distance to Scenic is 85 miles, Speck had difficulty in getting the nec- essary number of cowboys to turn hog drivers, but he finally got started. _. The drive required ten days, through almost insurmountable obstacles, and when the one-time . prize hogs arrived here they. were hungry, thin, sick and nearly frozen. ‘Speck and his helpers had found it necessary - to continually prod, push, coax, bully and plead _ with “the cence” Puen to make time. Hogs - which averaged pounds on starting weighed — dn on-arrival here at less. than an average of 125 | FINDS OUR STAMPS FAULTY United J. Mel- ~ we will mail yeu a copy of . These forgeries were detected quickly, and it is doubted that any were used for letter-postage. “Most coliectors,” said Mr. Melville, “have no- ticed the wide variations in the United States stamps of recent years, due to the experimenting at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing with new processes of printing. Stamps of like design and denomination have been printed from finely ‘engraved steel plates, from rotary recess plates, from surface printing plates and by the offset method, and these have been in circulation sim- ultaneously. The different qualities of impres- sion make them all look different, and this is a dangerous state of affairs in a country whose stamps are being used to the extent of millions every day. “Where the genuine stamps vary so much it is difficult to detect or even suspect a forgery, and it is not surprising that some one has taken ad- vantage of the recent confusion in stamp print-— ing in the United States. There are wide avenues for the disposal of the forged stamps in the countless mail-order firms in America. This is, however, the first forgery of a current United . States stamp since 1894.” OLD WOMAN TRAPPER PERISHES IN MIRE ~ An aged woman who had been a trapper for a lifetime died a terrible death in the St. Clair flats, Michigan, when, with a steeltrap fast to her arm, she tried to wade to help, only to be mired in the soft mud. She struggled against the grip of the slime that slowly sucked her down until, waist peed, she died of exhaustion. Searching parties reached her too late and to- day she was buried in this little community where for fifty years she had held her own with rod and and trap. Her name was Mrs. Harriet Sears and she was 72 years old. Several days ago Mrs. Sears left her flats home in a duck boat to trap muskrat and mink. She did not return in the evening and a search was made for her. Her body lay close to shore, sunk. to the waist in the oozy channel bottom when the searchers reached her next morning.. Gripped -around her right arm was a large steel muskrat trap. It was apparent that her arm had become caught in the trap while she was in the duck boat. She had left the boat and had got to shallow — a few feet, from shore when she began -to sink. It was evident that her losing struggle to re- lease herself, agettxetes by the pain from the cruel teeth of t of exhaustion and then death. ~ In the flats section the woman as well as the men are expert trappers and fish hunters and Mrs. Sears for years had gone out alone in her duck boat to lay her traps: She was one of the best known pioneers of the flats section. | a> EFC a a =—* ee a i, ee ee ee | al 7 e trap, had brought the mercy recon a * es
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a — ho lod Is Chis Offer Ton Gund to Be Crurv? Is it possible that we are offering a value too great to be credible? Do people “shy” at the thought of getting too much for their money? Wwe. recently mailed several thousand circulars to book- lovers. We described and pic- tured these thirty volumes of the Little Leather Library honestly, sincerely, accurately. But we re- ceived relatively few orders. Then we mailed several more thousand circulars to booklovers, this time enclosing a sample cover of one of the volumes illustrated above. Orders came in by the hundred. The reason, we believe, is that most people cannot believe we can really offer so great a value unless they see a sample! In this advertisement, naturally, it is impossible for us to show you a sample volume. The best we can do is to describe and picture the books in the limited space of this page. We depend on your faith in the statements made by the advertisements appearing in “Moving Picture Stories,” and we are hoping you will believe what we say, instead of think- ing this offer is “too good to be true.” What This Offer Is Here, then, is our offer. The illustration above shows thirty of the world’s greatest masterpieces of literature. These include the finest works of such immortal au- thors. as Shakespeare, Kipling, Stevenson, Emerson, Poe, Cole- ridge, Burns, Omar_ Khayyam, Macaulay, Lincoln, Washington, Oscar Wilde, Gilbert, Longfellow Drummond, Conan Doyle, Edw; Everett Hale, Thoreau, Tennyson, povetr, and others, These are books which no one cares to con- fess he has not read and reread— books which bear reading a score of times, LITTLE LEATHER LIBRARY corP’N = ! _ Dept. 535, 354 Fourth Avenue, New York I Ph Pe ey SO ee Ea ra ee Each of these volumes is com- from our daily mail, that many plete—this is not that abomina- thousands of people still cannot tion, a collection of extracts; the believe’ we can sell thirty such vol- paper is a high-grade white wove umes for $2.98 (plus postage). We antique, equal to that used in do not know how to combat this books selling at $1.50 to $2.00; skepticism, All we can say is: the type is clear and easy to read; the binding is a beautiful limp ma- terial, tinted in antique copper and green, and so handsomely em- bossed as to give it the appear- ance of hand-tooled leather. Send for these thirty volumes; if you are not satisfied, return them at any time within a month and you will not be out one penny. Of the thousands of readers who purchased this set, not one tn And, thougi each of these vol- a ‘hundred asked for a refund. umes is complete (the entire set contains over 3,000 pages), a vol- ume can be carried conveniently wherever you go, in your pocket or purse eee can be placed in Send No Money your hand-bag or grip, or the en- z set : : tire thirty can be placed on your ee ee —— li@ary table “without cluttering ce. ¥. Bi ma it up” as one purchaser expressed tice. ‘ou must see them. We it. should = : wt every reader a s sample, but frankly our profit is What About the Price? so small we cannot afford it. We Producing such fine books is, in offer, instead, to send the entire itself, no great achievement. But S¢t 0m trial. Simply mail the cou- the aim of this enterprise has pon or a letter. When the set been to produce them at a price arrives pay the postman $2.98 plus that anyone in the whole land postage, then examine the books. could ord. The only way we As stated above, your moncy will spot Seite of copes. be stent ata te ele . F : . thirty days for any reason, or for lion at a time—to bring the price wo reason, if yor, request it. through ‘“quantit roduc- 4 ‘on An ws celia or our Mail the coupon or a letter NOW sales, on our faith that Americans while this page is before you or would rather read classics than you may forget. . trash. What ‘ hap pened? —— OVER TEN @ LITTLE LEATHER LIBRARY CORP'N, MILLION of these volumes : | Dept. 585, 354 Fourth Avenue, New York. have already | Please send me the set of 30 volumes of the De Laxe editien been purchased of the Little Leather Library. It is understood that the price I r I of these 30 volumes is ONLY $2.98, plus postage, which I wild by people in pay the postman when the set arrives. But if I am not satis- every walk of | fied, after examining them, I will mail the books back at your life, Ce oe oe you are to refund my money s8 , . t jurther paym: i Yet we know, I ee oe tere re is no f ent or oblige- NAME oo cc cccccenececcetarenersenserenareseeeen seen sn sen . CITY. ceccesensscesescccccnevaceces ++ STATE. .oeeeee-veeed
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>) ee ae = fp Vy) Lf fy Learn Drafting RAFTING offers exceptional opportunities to boys and young men because drafting itself not only commands good pay, but it is the first step towards success in Mechanical or Structural Engineering or Architecture. And drafting is just the kind of work a boy likes to do. There is an éasy, delightful way by which you can learn right at home in spare time. For 30 years the International Corre- spondence Schools have been giving boys just the training they need for success in Drafting and more than 300 other subjects. Let the I. C. S. help you. Choose the work you like best in the coupon, then mark and mail it. This doesn’t obligate you in the least, but it will bring you the information that will start you on a successful career. This is your chance. Mark and mail this coupon now. — — — — — — TEAR OUT HERE — — — — — -- International Correspondence Schools Box 4494, Scranton, Penna. Without cost or obligation, please send me complete information about the subject which I have checked below: C) DRAFTING © BUSINESS {j CARTOONING (J CIVIL SERVICE AUTOMOBILES () PHARMACY C! CHEMISTRY CD ADVERTISING C} BOOKKEEPER (0 SALESMANSHIP (1 GOOD ENGLISH = ELECTRICITY () WIRELESS ACCOUNTING (J CIVIL ENGINEER OUSURVEYING OD) AIRPLANE ENGINES Nameé.............. eb blcprgtaegeerta peace tnaieds torevecicloviabe - OOS Eo Lien: SSSR e yen Pore ae ee ee ee . a ee a) OLIN Las ER ieee ERE Se RY eee (ee song reviding in Canada should send this coupon to the Jnterna- Correspondence Schools Canadian, Limited, Montreal, Canada a“ WERE YOU BORN UNDER A LUCKY STAR? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ALL THAT THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR Character Abilities Disposition Friends Good Traits and - Weaknesses Lucky Days READ YOUR OWN CHARACTER ‘THE careful study of a thoro description of yourself is far more important than you may at first imagine. For it is absolutely true that a added knowledge of your own inherent qualities will greatly assist you in reaching a higher degree of success. You can be just as successful as you desire. It is all in your power of will But before you can exercise ig power in the right direction, you must thoroly study yourself. “How To Read Human Nature” SERIES OF TWELVE BOOKS Price 10 cents each, Postpald to any address These books give in concise form a positive key to self-development. They are based on a study of thousands of characters—are preg- nant with keen analysis and most helpful character-building hints. Send us ten cents and the month of r birth and the book. will be mailed imm - ly. Use coupon below. . If you have a friend, acquaintance or busi- ness associate whose character and disposi- tion you would like to study, obtain our book corresponding with the month in which such person was horn. IF YOU ARE IN LOVE — you should know the character, disposition, good points, abili- tles, and weaknesses of the person in whom you are interested. Ascertain the month of birth and then send for our bock of that month. Enclose another dime. « PPPeeereeereerrrrrrrerrer errr Cire rrr Serre eae ed) CHARACTER STUDIES, Inc., Room 1515, Masonle Temple, N, ¥. C, I enclose....... SES PE ae tS pigs Se ee Send books of (give months).... NQ@Me .ncescsceccccccccvccccsssscveeseasesessos AGOTOSS cece eet er eeeeeeeeseereteeseeenens Ek
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All twelve were numbered, and lots were cast for the order in which they should be played. “Then in the darkened Conservatorie, be- fore an audience of critics the players perform- ed on each violin in succession. He, like the audience, was in the dark and could not know what violin he had in _ his hands; but he played on all twelve in succes- sion the same piece of music. Each member of the audience had a voting card on which to mdrk the number of the | violin which seemed to him or her the finest in | tone and general musical quality, and ah easy vic- tory went to the moderns. The first selec- tion was a violin of Mirecourt, the second a violin of Nantes. The fa- mous Stradivari- us was only third, . With ninety votes fewer than the winner. Two Guadagnini -came next, and the sixth selection was a violin of Montrest,
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. Fame and Fortune Weekly — LATEST ISSUES —— 828 $10.000 Reward; or, The Fortune of a Bank Clerk. 829 Bougbt at Auction; or, The Bid that Led to Riches. 830 The Young Copper King; or, The Boy Who Went on the Limit. The Race for Gold; or, After an Aztec Treasure. Ti d To Win; or, The Wall Street Messenger Who Made a Fortune. The Boy Salesman; or, Out On the Road For Suc- cess. PSone Money Broker; or, Striking Luck In Wall * Street. The Way To Fame; or, The Success of a Young Dramatist. In_ the Money Game; or, The Luck of Two Wall Street Chums. 839" A os Treasure; or, The Mystery of an Old Trunk. 840 “ Hai’'s Business Venture; or, Making a Success of Himself. eee the Man-eaters; or, The Secret of the Golden raze. The Little Wall Street Speculator; or, The Boy Who Became a Stock Broker. Old Hazard’s Errand Boy; or, The Nerve That Won the Money. Check 765; or. The Strangest Tip In Wall Street. 5 A Shortcut To Fortune and the Smart Boy Who Found. It. Broker Brown's Boy; or, A Tough Lad From Mis- sour. The Odds Against Him; or, A Boy With Grit. A Boy With Brains; or, A Fortune From a Dime. His Own Business; or. From Errand Boy To Boss. The Banker’s Plot; or, The Mysterious Boy From Cripple Creek. After « Missing Million; or, The Treasure of the Wreck. A Boy From the Streets; or, The Old Broker's Protege. Z 852 A Born Hustler; or, The Boy With the “Goods.” $54 Matt, the Money-Maker; or, A Strange Lad in Wal) Street. 855 Out fer Everything; or, The Boy Who Was Wilied a_ Circus. 856 In Wall Street to Win; or, The Boy Who Got tbe Money. 857 A Yeung Sinbad: or, Wrecked on a Treastre Isiand. 858 Bill Bond’s Syndicate; or, A Fortune From a Two- 851 52 Cent Stamp. 859 The ay Who Vanished; or, The Treasure of the neas. 860 3 i Broker; or, The Success of a Wall Street ¥ 861 Striking a Gooa Thing; or, College Chtms in Tusiness. 862 Among the “Sharks”; or, The Lights and Shadows of Wall Street. 863 In Business for Himself;or, The Lad Who Made the Money. s 864 Charlie of the Curb; or, Beating the Mining Brokers. . SHA paar 9 in Rubies; or, The Richest Find in the orld. 866 ey the Bank Messenger; or, The Boy Who Got Rich. 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 HOW TO WRITE THEM SCENARIOS OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS Useful, Instructive and Amusing. They Contain Valuable Information on Almost Every Subject No. 1. NAPOLEON’S QRACULUM AND DREAM BOOK.—Containing the great oracle of human destiny; also the true meaning of almost any kind of dreams. together with chavms, ceremonies ont curious games of cards. No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great hook of magic and card tricks, containing full instructions on all leading card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical usions as performed by our leading ma- gicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book. No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.—The arts and wiles of flirtatior are fully explained by this little book. Be- sides the various methods of handkerchief, fan, glove, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it contains a full st of the language and sentiment of flowers. No.5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A complete guide to love, courtship and marriage, giving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to be observed, with many curious and interesting things not generally known. No. 7. HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Handsomely illus- . trated and containing full instructions for the manage- ment and training of the canary, mockingbird, bobolink, blackbird, paroquet, parrot, etc. No, 10. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self-defense made easy. Containing over thirty illustrations of guards, blows and the different positions of a good boxer. Every boy should obtain one of these useful and instructive books. as it will teach you how to box without an in- structor. No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS,—A most complete little book, containing full directions for writ- ing love-letters, and when to use them, giving specimen letters for young and old. No, 138. HOW TO DO IT; Or, BOOK OF ETIQUETTE. —It is a great life secret, and one that every young man desires to knew all about. There’s happiness in it. No, 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A complete hand- book for making all kinds of candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc. No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL.—One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world. Everybody wishes to know how to be- come beautiful. both male and female. The secret 18 simple and almost costless. No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVENING PARTY.—A wost complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, comic recitations, ete., suitable fer par- lor or drawing-room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any book published, No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.—This little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, to- gether with lucky and unlucky days. No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLE- MEN.—Containing full directions for writing to gen- tlemen on all subjects. Ne, 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.—Contain- ing full directions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Embracing thirty-five illustra- tions. By Professor W. Macdonald. 2 No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT. —Fully illustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with instructions on swimming and riding, com panion sports to boating. No. 2%. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.—Eve one is desirous of knowing what his future Ife will forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or erty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Bay one and be convinced. recipes. z No. 33. HOW TO BEHAYVE.—Containin and etiquete of good society and the moe be approved methods of appearing to good parties, balls, the theatre, church, and in room. f For «ale by all newsdealers, or add HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., 166 West 23d Street, — ee c New York —