Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 932) (1923 08 10)

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BOYS, READ THE RADIO ARTICLES IN THIS NUMBER AUGUST. 10, 1923 No: 932 ¥ AME 7 Cents 5645 *AND- FORTUNE WEEKLY. STORIES oF BOYS ‘WHO MAKE MONEY. et EUG GYANCES OR THE BOY WHC | VED A TOWN er ahs a By A Self-Made Man 7 WER STORIES ! ~ Le Dagpite the yells of the horrified spectators, he Steered his galloping horse straight for the burning bridge. Into the covered structure he dashed. It was like the infernal regions, hot/ with flame and stifling with smoke. A groan escaped hig frieuds.,

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, © S 2 4 o fault lay -with his tattered garments. Caleb Hazard simply wouldn’t see it in thdf*light. After passing an unsatisfactory: night’s repose in his‘attic room, Dick came down on Sunday to find his uncle in.a worse humor than ever. The one-sided quarrel was: renewed over the meager breakfast, and finally brought to a conelusion by the old man telling the boy to get out. “Then you don’t want me to live with you any more?” said Dick. “No, I don’t,” snapped the old man. “When my father died, didn’t he leave you some money for me?” -“He didn’t leave you nothin’. Who told you that he did?” asked Caleb Hazard with an uneasy look in his gooseberry colored eyes. “He told me that he left a farm in Pennsylvania to you to take care of for me.” “Well, it ain’t so. That there farm belongs to me. But it ain’t no good anyway. Nothin’ Il grow on it, and it’s ’most eat up with-taxes.” “My father wouldn’t tell a lie,” persisted Dick, who respected his father’s: memory. “Your father didn’t know what he was talkin’ about. He didn’t own‘nothin’. If it hadn’t been for me you wouldn’t have had a roof over your ~~ head this three years back,“nor nothin’ to eat. Now you show your gratitude by losin’ your job. Well, you kin look out for yourself after this. I’m done with you.” Dick quietly gathered up the dishes, carried them over to the sink, and emptying the kettle that stood on the stove of its hot water into the pan, ae began to wash the few crockery plates, at the same time keeping an eye on the old man’s movements. In a few minutes Caleb Hazard went outside and sat down in an old chair on the creaky old porch. — it was a fine morning, early in June,andthe warm sunshine flooded the face of nature. A Sabbath stillness rested on the air. When Dick had finished __ with the dishes he tiptoed over to the open door and glanced out on the porch. The old man seemed to be dozing in the sunlight. as “Now is my chance,” thought the boy. ; His object was to creep upstairs to Mr. Haz-~ ard’s room, unlock the closet where his shoes were hidden away, provided he could find the key, and take possession of them. Dick lost no time in get- =~ 2% ata

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; ” ieee ting about the job, for there was no telling when — the old man might wake up and come upstairs himself. He darted out of the kitchen into the = entry where the staircase was and nimbly flew up the steps. There were only two rooms on the upper floor—the front one occupied by Mr. : Hazard, and the rear one used by himself. A door 5 opened from the landing into each. Ne ther was 4 ever locked. : Gran Such a precaution as regarded his own room had * never occurred to the old man, as he was always around the house, and as a general thing it would be hard for any one to enter his miserable apart- ment without him becoming aware of the fact. As soon as D'ck reached the landing he paused to listen. ~All was stili below. “It won’t take me more than a minute if the closet isn’t locked,” he breathed, and thus encour- aged he opened the door of the front room and entered. He slipped over to the closet and tried. the door. To his great disappointment it was locked and the key was absent. “I'd break it open if I had something to do it with. Those shoes are mine and I want them.” He glanced hurried around the room. His eye lighted on an old rusty chisel lying on the window- sill. : “That will be just the thing. ‘open whch it.” ‘ Securing the instrument he began an attack on ‘a the door, whose lock was of the most ordinary kind. An expert would have had the door open in* about half a minute. Dick, however, found ae some difficulty in mastering the job, particularly _*. as he was afraid to make much noise, a Unfortunately his interest in the operation _ eaused him to forget the possibility of the sudden iG and unheralded approach of Caleb Hazard. The —# old man woke up directly after Dick left the Be 2 kitchen, for it was a catnap he had indulged in. Not seeing the boy downstairs he started upstairs = to see what he was doing. He first looked in a Dick’s room, and as his nephew wasn’t there he = thought maybe he’d left the house as he had been told to do. He was about to return downstairs when his sharp eye noticed that the door of his own room was ajar. This struck him as a sus- picious circumstance. He pushed the door open and looked in. Of course he couldn’t fail to ob- serve what the boy was up to. With a scream of rage he sprang at Dick and seized him by the arm. Ican pry the door you’re up to, is it? Tryin’ to rob me. You shall ' go to jail as sure as my name is Caleb Hazard.” - CHAPTER II.—Clem Hazard. Bal = thin throat. Then of his position TAKING BIG CHANCES “You young thief!” he roared. “That’s what . * from them. ‘Then he turned his attention to to lift it up by alongside of it. sued between them. The lad managed to get the old man down on the bed, and then planted his — knee in his stomach. Gasping for breath, he seized Caleb’s two wrists and tried to release his throat. Finding that impossibie, he grasped the old man’s long cain beard and pulled at it. 2 “Let go!” howled Caleb, his features working from the pain, for it seemed to him as if each par- __ ticular hair was being dragged out by its roots. : For all that he did not release his grip on Dick’s throat. If anything, he tightened his hold. The boy felt he was choking, and that fact rendered — z him desperate. In a moment or two he believed he would be unconscious. Releasing his uncle’s beard he seized the old man by the neck, raised him from the bed and banged his head with all his strength against the wooden bedpost. Caleb Hazard was half stunned-and his fingers partially relaxed their hold on the boy’s throat. With his — last remaining strength Dick tore the fingers away, staggered toward the open doorway and then pitched forward on the floor unconscious. The old man himself lay inert partly on the bed and partly on the floor. = : Such was the peculiar tableau that greeted the eyes of a stalwart, thick-set man of perhaps forty- _ two, who, after knocking at the door downstairs, — and receiving no answer, had taken the liberty’ to walk in and, finding the lower rooms vacant, to walk upstairs. 7a “Humph!” he muttered. “What’s happened? — Tho old man and the kid knocked out. Has some-_ body been lootin’ the house? I hope not, for it — would be the end of my expectations, and I’m ~ deuced ‘hard up.” He glanced rapidly around the room with the eye of one accustomed to take in the smallest detail at a glance. a init “No signs of a—yes, there is. Here’s a ¢ It’s been used on the closet door. The door is fast. The fellow must have been frightened o by the old man and the boy, and left the job un- done. Good. He knocked them both out, though. It’s a wonder, then, he didn’t make a finish of the job. I should have done so if I’d have been in his shoes. Well,” drawing in a long breath, as if struck by a sudden thought, “why shouldn't finish what he began now that the chance is min It will save a whole lot of argument. The old never could see things in the same light as I There’s no doubt in my mind that he has m stowed away somewhere. And who has more r. to it than me—his son and heir? If I take it I’m only anticipating the time, that’s all,” with dry laugh. ~ Ps Clem Hazard, for that was his name, and _ was the only and graceless son of old Cal glanced sharply at. the two senseless figures order to assure himself that he had nothing to f closet. With the aid of the tool it took him s more than a moment to release the lock a1 the door. The closet was full of clothes and ous odds and ends, but the only thing that took t intruder’s eye was the old-fashioned iron box he exposed to the light when he pulled a rag carpet away from it. There was a hole in one end of the cover and a hea “Just as I suspected,” muttered the

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= 1 of satisfaction. “He has got money, and i i in this box. Wes ate to help myself. I . Buppose the key is in pocket.” a p ing his aged father, Clem Hazard cd ly. inse one of his hands into his trousers pocket. The key was not in that pocket. Nor i was it anywhere about the old man’s per- ‘son, although his son went through him with the expertness of a professional pickpocket. _ “The sly old codger. He keeps it hidden some- where. Now where is a likely place for him to - keep it?” mused Clem, reflectively. - As his sharp eye took in the room, Caleb moved _ uneasily and then opened his eyes, They rested __&t once upon the husky form of his son. At first he did not recognize him. The presence of an in- _trnder, however, seemed a warning of danger. With a guttural cry he pulled himself together and atup. Clem uttered a low imprecation at his dis- *) , and then regarded him with a sarcastic and not over filial expression. __ “How are you, dad?” he grinned. “Thought I’d _ drop in and see you, seein’ as we haven’t met for ‘several oe ea _ *Clem!” gurgled Caleb Hazard, rubbing his eyes _ dm some surprise. ___ There was no welcoming light in them, though. - No indication that the fatted calf awaited the - return of the prodigal. On, the contrary, Caleb ‘was not particularly pleased to see his only son. ~ Clem had never been a sourse of comfort and gratification to him. Clem had always been a bad, _ Wayward chap, who had given his father lots of ‘trouble jn the raising, and who had gone from bad “to worse as soon as he shook off the parental _ apron-string. Whether the boy inherited his evil c ities, or bad company had brought about s lapse from virtue, certain it is that Clem pre- red to travel the broad and easy road that min- ers say leads to perdition. He had been in the ands of the police a number of times and knew out all there was to know about the internal ®conomy of not only the House of Correction, but ie State prison. His unlovely countenance occu- d a niche in the Rogues’ Gallery of three cities, his record on file at Headquarters would have apared well with that of many a hardened ‘From which it may be inferred that he was * well hardened himself. At any rate, the ectives considered him no spring chicken. was the only living blood relative of Caleb d. Under the circumstances it is perhaps > be wondered at that he was not a welcome r at his father’s home, such as that home Bs, it’s me all right,” said Clem. “Aren’t you to see me?” : : Caleb didn’t say whether he was or not. It is Songs that Be Shetater s pashan fear his son, knowing t he was, and did not care rouse his ill will. ‘hen did you come?” asked the old man. his eye noticed the open closet door, Wi 2 sprang from the bed and slammed it shut. ’ TAKING BIG CHANCES 3 world, and I thought maybe somebody had been robbin’ you.” “It would only be a waste of time,” mumbled the old man, “for I ain’t got nothin’.” “Ain’t you?” chuckied Clem again. “What do you keep in that iron box in the closet?” “Nothin’ that’s worth anythin’ to any one but myself,” replied Caleb, nervously. “T thought maybe you kept your money there,” grinned Clem. “Money!” gasped his father. {£ don’t get half enough to eat.” “Well, you look it, old man,” replied his son, unsympathetically. “I’m all out of rhino myself. So I thought I’d drop in on you, seein’ I was in the neighborhood, and ask you to stump up a bit of the long green.” “IT haven’t got a dollar, Clem,” whined his father, plaintively. “Maybe you’ve got somethin’ in your iron box I could raise the wind on. Giye me the key, old man, and I'll save you the trouble of openin’ it.” “No, no,” protested Caleb. “There’s nothin’ in it that’s worth a dollar.” While they were speak Dick Barnett began to show signs of returning.vitality. At first it was only his fingers that commenced to twitch. Then he groaned a bit, so low that the other two did not hear him, opened his eyes and finally sat up. Caleb noticed his return to life, and under the new conditions was rather glad of the fact. As Dick scrambled to his feet, and felt of his throat, which was pretty sore, Clem turned around and looked at him. “Hello, yo said, jocosely. Dick iad only seen Clem Hazard once, and that was three years since, and his recollection did not serve to identify the rascal. Consequently he wondered who this man. was. He remembered that Caleb Hazard, in his first rage, had threat- ened to put him in jail for monkeying with the closet. Maybe this was one of the town consta- bles that the old man had called in to carry out his. purpose. ; Dick had a strong objection to going to jail, particularly when he did not feel that he deserved such a fate. The open door at his elbow sug- gested a way out of the difficulty. Without stop- ping to find out whether his suspicions were cor- rect or not, Dick sprang through the doorway, scurried down the stairs, dashed from the front door, and ran up the road in a direction away from the town as hard as he could go. “I’m so poor that fellow, I see you’ve woke up,” he CHAPTER III.—Dick Barnett Saves Nellie Warren. : Dick ran without looking behind until he was ~ out of breath, then he was obliged to slow down. Looking back the long, dusty road he saw that no one was in sight. He breathed easier. . “Tf that was a constable

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. stone to rest. oe west of Bransfield and toward which Dick was headed, “and then I'l! be able to get myself a pair, and some decent clothes as weil. I’m afraid, though, that my present appearance wili prevent anybody hiring me. Maybe some farmer might. The busy season is coming on, and [ll work cheap.” After walking a mile further he sat down on a Dick’s position was not an enviable one. He was homeless and half clothed. Where he would get his next meal he had not the faintest idea. But he was not discouraged. He experi- enced a sense of relief at having cut loose from Caleb Hazard, who had treated him little better than a dog since he came to live with him three years before. He had left nothing behind him that he had any interest in except his father’s grave in the Bransfield cemetery. .He was now in a position to seek his own ‘fortune, and he meant to do it. Although very~young, there was an ambitious feeling in his nature that was beginning to make itself felt. At any rate, he hud the advantage of - a rugged constitution and youth, and to such a boy all things are possible in this great progressive - country. The Sunday morning sunshine and the == fade caiight het , in his spares with closed eyes, breathing . flower iadened breeze blowing across the meadows ‘invigorated him, and the world did not look so very dark just then. While he was considering the problems that faced him, he was aroused by the rapid patter of a horse’s hodfs around the turn of the road ahead. Mingled with this were ee . ‘frightened cries of a girl. “Hello, what’s up?” exclaimed Dick, springing from the stone and looking up th@proad. A black horse, bearing a girl that was clinging to his mane with one hand and to the bridle with the other, the breakage of a girth having displaced the saddle, came into’ view a short distance away. The girl was about twelve years of age, and her position was one of considerable danger. Dick saw that the horse was running away with its fair rider, and that unless the animal was stopped in its wild career, something serious was liable to happen. He had often seen men jump out into the middle of the street and by waving their hands and hats bring a runaway to a stop. He decided to adopt that means on the present occasion, as it was the only plan that was avail- able. Accordingly whipping off his hat he sprang into the center of the road and tried to head the horse off. The animal saw him plainly enough and tried to avoid him by shying to one side of the road and then the other. Dick’s nimble feet kept pace with his move- ments, but the horse finally made a dive almost ‘ at him. The boy sprang back far enough to avoid being ruri down, but had the presence of oes of tab the bridle and cling to it. He was his — and Be ao sce along a good many isconcerted the animal her condition, girl lay quite ee was: unconscious. Se, the road and ae: TAKING BIG CHANCES - wandered to her horse, which had recovered from ‘the boy, a bit shyly, for he was conscious that the — her down on the grass. A few yards away a little brook flowed under a culvert. Dick dented the crown of his soft hat and fetched some water with which he bathed her face. She opened her eyes right away and looked won- deringly into his countenance. Then her gaze its fright and was contentedly nibbling the grass close by. “Did you stop Prince?” she asked. “Yes, miss,” answered Dick. “Did I fall off?” “I caught you just as you were falling, 9 replied: fair equestrienne was an uncommonly charming little fairy. “You are a. brave boy, and I am very much — obliged to you.’ “1 did the best I could, miss.” ~ “T think you saved my life, for Prince was frightened by an automobile which crossed the road, and was running away with me: The saddle girth broke and I could do nothing but cling on his back as best I could. I couldn’t have- held on any longer. I saw you jump out into the road" — and wave your hat and arms, and then it seemed as if everything was growing black around me, and I was slipping to the ground. What is your — name? Mine is Nellie Warren.” £ “Dick Barnett.” : RSe “T live at Cobleskill. My father owns the © Cobleskill Wagon Works, and the bank.” Dick believed her, for she was attired in a swell little dark-blue riding habit, had diamond ear= — eben in her ears, and a diamond ring on one — nger. es Your father must be rich,” he said, rega her with more respect and awe than ever. == “He is. We live in a fine house in the best aie of the town. You must come | and ‘ me. My father will want to thank you.” ms He didn’t doubt that the servants would throw him out into the street. Why should such a lo 7 fairy invite a bundle of rags like himself to her ’ home? It was ridiculous. “Where do you live?” shevasked as he. stood rather abashed before her. “Nowhere,” he blurted, growing red in the face as he made the candid admission. “Nowhere?” she replied, opening her pretty eyes in surprise. “Nowhere,” answered Dick, almost doggedly. “Haven’t you any home?” “No, miss. Not since this mornin ; “Are you running away?” she ed, purs up her lips as if she didn’t quite approye of s a course, “No, miss. I was driven away.” ; “What have you been doing? You are not” bad boy, are, you? You don’t look like one. hope not, for I like you and am very grateful to. you for what you have done for me. “How can you like a ragged boy like me? -haven’t got even a jacket, or shoes or stock “J thought you must be poor, that’s all. — would make no difference with me. My fe would buy you plenty of clothes, and eve1 hr needed. I am sure you would be quite some boy if you were dressed up.” _ Pick Larpete as she ant et

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suit of clothes more than at that mo- for he yearned to stand well in this little opinion. -. “Tell me why you were driven away from your home?” she asked, curiously. She pointed to a spot on the grass close beside her as an invitation for him to sit down. With some diffidence he sat down near her. Then he _ told her how he had ot always been so disrepu- _ ‘table-looking. How when his father was alive he _ remembered that he looked like the other boys of mates. But with his father’s death everything thad changed for the worse with him. He had t to live with Caleb Hazard on the supposition ' that he would be brought up the same as before. But he wasn’t. ~ Then Caleb put him to work in the general store on the suburbs and took his wages every Saturday _ night. But he wouldn’t provide him with clothes, = mor half enough to eat. He had been discharged - Saturday night because the storeKeeper said he - could not afford to keep him around the store “while he looked like a scarecrow. Caleb got angry he lost his job, and told him to get out, as he wouldn’t have him around the house any ‘Then he told her how he had tried to-get his : shoes that morning, which the old man kept locked up in his room. How Caleb had caught him try- ng to force the door of the closet with a chisel and had made a vicious attack on him, choking jnto insensibilify._ And when he recovered he Sing the house immediately-as fast as he could, - fearing that Mr. Hazard intended to have him arrested. Nellie listened to his story intently, and her wig blue eyes expressed the sympathy she. for him, and also the interest he excited in “So you hayven’t any place to go, have you?” *No,” he admitted. i ; “Then you must come home with me,” she said, nestly. “My father will be glad to help you. il give you a place in the factory, or in the ” *T can’t go with you looking this way,” he re- “Qh, but you must,” she insisted. ‘ ~~ No,” he answered, shaking his head decidedly. _ “This is Sunday, and everybody is dressed up to- day. I look like a scarecrow, as the storekeeper I'd be made fun of, and, besides, you’d be to be seen with me in your company.” I wouldn’t,” said the little beauty, almost ously. 3 3 ‘Tt wouldn’t be the right thing at any rate,” he i. “Tell me where you live and I will call there norrow and ask for you. But you must tell servants that you expect me or they won’t let me see you, and will put me out.” But where will you stay to-day? “money?” = ; shook his head. She immediately put her Have you in her pocket and drew out her purse. e this and use the money for a night’s g and something to eat. en call and see ow morning. We live on the corner street_and Lincoln avenue. It’s a big ear Ceeetvoteny on. 3. _ Anybody you ' you to it. Or you can call at the 5 TAKING BIG CHANCES 5 Cobleskill Bank, on Main street, near the post- office, and ask for my father. He will expect you when I tell him how you saved my life. He will buy you new clothes right away, and give you a position so that you will be able to support your- self. Then you must call and see me quite often. I shall always be glad to see you,and I am sure we will become good friends.” “T am very much obliged to you, miss,” replied Dick, gratefully, feeling as if a new and happy existence was opening before him. _ “You mustn’t feel obliged to me,” she said with a smile: “It is I who feel obliged to you. Now, I must be riding back to town. You will surely call either at our house or at the bank to-morrow morning. You promise?” “Yes, miss,” and so it was decided. After fixing the saddle girth so the saddle would hold, Dick assisted the charming little equestrienne to mount. “Good-by,” she said, offering him her gloved hand. “Remember I shall expect to see you to- morrow morning.” Then she touched Prince with her light whip and the horse darted off with her. Dick stood in the middle of the road and watched her gallop up the road. As she rounded the turn she looked back and waved her whip at him. Then she van- ished from his sight, and Dick went back to the stone, wondering if the lovely vision and the inter- view had been only a dream, or whether he really bees on the eve of a new life that meant so much to him. CHAPTER IV.—The Four Faces. After a while Dick resumed his walk and con- tinued on till he came in sight of the distant church spires of Cobleskill. Besides a certain diffidence he felt of showing himself in the town on the Sabbath in his present disreputable condi- tion, he knew it would avail him little to go there on a day when all work was at a standstill. He was feeling almost ravenously hungry by this time. His breakfast had been even sparer tha usual that morning, and the long walk had done the rest. : “T must have something to eat,” he told himself. “I’m hungry enough to’ make a meal off a lot-of ten-penny nails if there was any nourishment in them. The question is where will I get a dinner? I don’t believe any restaurant in town would let me in, unless it was to the kitchen. Fortunately I have the money to pay for what I want. Let me see how much is in the purse that Miss Warren gaye me.” ; : He drew it from his pocket and examined contents. There was a $2 bill and some loose silver. “That will me through till to-morrow _all right,” he mused. “I don’t know what I should have done without it. It was a lucky thing that I was on hand to save the-girl from a bad fall— eg 2 for both of us. Her foot might have caught in the saddle and then she’d have been dragged I and see if I can get a meal. I don’t. be refused when i chow that Ein sbie-ts pay."

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Accordingly he walked on till he came to the lane leading to the house. He opened the-gate, let himself in and walked up to the back door. A woman came out with a pan of dirty water which she threw on the ground. Then she looked at Dick with some curiosity. “Good-day, ma’am,” said Dick, politely, remov- ing his hat and holding it in his hand. “Well?” she asked. “Could I get something to eat here, ma’am? I’m able to pay you for my dinner.” From his appearance he didn’t look as if he could pay for anything. His frank, open coun- tenance and his politeness, however, had their effect on the woman, and she said: “T can give you something to eat, and I shan’t charge you anything for it, for you don’t look as if you could afford to pay. Where are you from?” “Bransfield, ma’am.” “You’re not running away from your home, are you?” she said, almost severely. “No, ma’am. I have no home. I wish I had.” “ That reply softened the wornan’s heart toward im. “No home, eh? And no parents, I suppose?” = “That’s right. My mother- died. when I was -z eight years old, and my father died three years ago.” “And where have you been living/since?” “With a man named Caleb Hazard, in Brans- field. He put me out this morning because I lost my job Saturday night. I wouldn’t have lost it if I had had decent clothes, but Mr. Hazard wouldn’t get me any, and so the man weuldn’t keep me. e said it would hurt his business.” “You are certainly very poorly dressed,” she said, seanning him critically. “You might do for a farm, though. My husband might hire you for a few months if you’re willing to work on a farm. T’ll speak to him by and by.” “l’m much obliged to you, ma’am, but I expect to get work in Cobleskill. If I’m disappointed I’d be glad to come back here and take anything that offers.” SS, “Very well. Step right into the kitchen.” ick followed the farmer’s wife inside and took the seat she pointed out beside a table that had not yet been cleared. The family had just finished their mid-day meal. The woman placed a plate _. of soup before the boy, and shoved the plate of bread toward him. Dick did not wait to be told to begin, but pitched right in. The soup and two hunks of bread vanished in no time at alk How - delicious it did taste! He had eaten nothing so good in three years. It was as if he had been invited to a Lucullian feast. * _ fave another plate of soup?” asked the - woman, observing with what relish he had con- a mitpanie you, 1 ~ tion” - you, ma’am, I will if you’ve no objec- __ The second plate of soup disappeared like the ST te SO RMSE, ee eB Be sy on "TAKING BIG CHANCES _ the far end of the field. Dick walked over to i Mr, any time.. asleep. ° 22 y __ For many hours he pret fag oe h boy. The sun sank out of sight in > and tomatoes was laid before the boy next, and he didn’t leave anything. FINS “That was fine, ma’am. I haven’t had such a meal in three years.” — “Ts it possible!” exclaimed the woman, wonder- ing what Dick had subsisted on during that period. She brought him a large slice of pie and a second goblet of milk. Dick’s eyes fairly glistened as he gazed at the — pie. He couldn’t remember when he had had pie ~ last. The pie went the way of the other prov- enders, washed down with the milk. Then he sat back in his chair with a sigh of content. — x “That was worth $100, ma’am,” he remarked, enthusiastically. ee The woman smiled. a “T’m glad you relished it,” she said. aA “T should say I did. You don’t set such a table s every day, do you?” ; ’ “Pretty near. We havea little extraon Sunday _ in honor of the day.” oie “Why, that dinner is fit for a king,” he said. : The good housewife felt greatly complimented. __ Her husband and children were accustomed tomac- cept all she laid hefore them as a matter of course, and seldom if ever passed flattering remarks about be the repast. It pleased her to be told that her cooking ‘was so good, and her heart warmed tothe homeless boy. bare ae “Where do you expect to sleep to-night?” she- tk asked Dick. : as “IT don’t know, ma’am. I haven”t thought about it.” fr ee “We have a small outhouse in the next field. 2 There is plenty of hay in the loft. If you’d like — to sleep there you’re welcome to do so.” I AISS “Ym much gees to you, ma’am: I shall be glad to do so. I don’t want to go in town to-day__ in my shabby clothes.” — pat “You can come back to tea and for breakfast,” she said. Toa “Thank you, ma’am, but you must let me pay : you.” eo. “Oh, no, I couldn’t accept pay from you.” : “You’re very kind, ma’am, but I don’t think that is fair. I’d have to pay if I went to a restau and I know I wouldn’t get anything half so good.” ~ The woman smiled in a pleased way. ee: “If you don’t mind, ma’am, I’ll go down now 16 >= your outhouse and take a rest. I didn’t sleep very. well last night, and I’ve had a long walk.this — morning.” “Certainly,” said the farmer’s wife, accompe ing him té the yard, where she pointed the outs, u house out to him. <a It was on the edge of a small piece of woods at The door stood invitingly open and the boy walked in. The ground floor was bare except for a sho bench and a milking stool. Im the corner stood ladder communicating with a hole in the Dick scrambled up the rungs and found hi in a small loft well filled with loose hay. __ “This looks comfortable,” said the boy. — just turn in for an afternoon snooze.” _ Five minutes later, with the sun shi through the many cracks in the walls, he v pee ™~

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light came on and deepened into night made glor- s fous at first by a canopy of stars, and still he slumbered on unmindful that tea time came at the _ farmhouse and passed. The farmer’s wife waited y confronted by four tough-looking men, and in the light of the conflagration he saw their faces perfectly. One of them to his surprise was the ~ man he had seen that morning in Caleb Hazard’s room, and whom he had taken for a Bransfield mstable. They started to head him off, uttering ¢ries and threats against him. As-they closed : t Dick. : _ He listened. The voices sounded rough, and many oaths interlarded their conversation. "No, it isn’t the farmer; I'll bet it’s some tramps that have taken refuge here for the night. My I hope they won’t come up here and Kick me out of the straw.” “He thought he’d creep over to the trap and ‘glance down to see what they looked like. He did “so with great caution, as he did not want to at- tract their attention. The door had been closed and it was-very dark below. He could just make out four figures seated there, and the dull glow » rom three pipes. As he looked the fourth man struck a light to ignite the tobacco in the bowl of his pipe. The glare lighted up the face of the our men quite distinctly. = Dick nearly uttered an exclamation of amaze- mt. They were the four faces he had seen in - dream, and the man who was lighting his pipe ‘was the very man he had seen that morning at Caleb Hazard’s. 2 “My gracious!” breathed the boy. “What does mean?” ‘ — TER V.—Dick Makes a Startling Discovery If this wind holds we’ll make a clean sweep he town,” he heard Clem Hazard say, after sucked his pipe into a bright glow. __ did not know the man name, Caleb Hazard’s son. e knew ERE with Mr. Hazard. Clem had J gone up for ten or fifteen years. And it wasn’t TAKING BIG CHANCES ~~ > ae just got out of the State prison at the time, and as it happened he did not remain very long at liberty. He and a pal were caught soon after- ward trying to rob the Cobleskill bank, but owing to some loophole in the law they got off easy. Mr. George Warren, the president of the bank, had tried to get the fuli penalty of the law im- posed on the rascals, but failed. For this activity on his part, Clem Hazard.and his companion, Griffin, had sworn to haye revenge. They never forgot the debt they treasured up in their hearts during the term of their servitude, and as soon as they were discharged from prison they set. about getting square with Warren. They associated themselves with two other scoundrels of their own stamp, named Quigley and Bunce, and came down to the neighborhood of Cobleskill to carry out the scheme they had concocted. This scheme was nothing less than the destruction of the business section of Cobleskill by fire. They had. figured on waiting for some night when the wind was strong and blowing in the right direction, and then firing the big wagon works. There were only two fire companies in the town, and their apparatus was old and obsolete. So many years had passed since there had been a fire of any kind in Cobleskill that the people had been lulled into a false sense of security, and neg- ~ lected to vote more efficient means of putting out a dangerous blaze. The rascals counted on the fire spreading with the wind, then when the con- sternation of the inhabitants was at its height they calculated to loot some of the best houses on the suburbs. Thus Clem Hazard and Mike Griffin expected to kill two birds with one stone—to do a stroke of business while they secured their revenge. Just before Dick woke up they came out of the belt of woods on the property of the farmer whose wife had treated the boy to such a royal spread and entered the outhouse to make their final _arrangements about the work of the night. When Clem Hazard made the remark with which the chapter opens, Griffin took his pipe from his - mouth and said: “That’s what we will, old pal. It will make a rare blaze that the folks hereabouts won’t soon forget. Once the factory is well started in a dozen places it will go like a bonfire on Fourth of July, and the wind will sweep the flames right into the thick of the business section. -Them two en- gines in town will do as much good as a couple of garden sprinklers. They are two of the first engines used in Chicago, which ain’t sayin’ much for bang 2 Dick easily understood the meaning conveyed by Griffin’s words, and he was startled beyond measure. His dream was a warning, then, of what was about to happen that night, These vil-~ lains intended to set fire to the wagon factory in Cobleskill in the expectation that the flames would spread to the town and destroy the most important part of it. What their object was in doing this e did not know, but there seemed to be no doubt but that such was their purpose. “No man ever does me an injury that I do not get back at him,” said Clem, in a menacing tone. “Nor me either,” chipped in Griffin. _ “If a cog hadn’t slipped in our favor we'd have

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a ; a TAKING BIG CHANCES : cea? Warren’s’ fault that we didn’t get the limit,” said believe I’m asleep, then maybe they won’t suspect Clem. anything,” he thought. “That’s right,” nodded the other speaker. “We He crawled softly back to the pile of straw and had a narrow escape.” threw himself upon it. Hardly had he done so “To-night we'll wipe out our score against him. when’Hazard’s head appeared above the level of The bank is bound to go under with the other the trap. He struck a match and looked around. - ‘es buildings in that direction. Once the flames get His eyes lighted on the motionless figure of Dick, is well started in this wind nothing but an efficient and he uttered a low imprecation. fire department will save the town, and that it “Come up here, Griffin,’ he said, putting his - hasn’t got. Long before they can bring up the head down. “There’s some one in the loft.” ___Brarisfield engines by the road the place will be That was startling news for the rascals below. ae doomed.” : Hazard stepped onto the floor of the loft and as “How about the steamers at Haverford on the waited for his pal to climb up. Then he struck ____ ‘railroad? There are three first-class ones in that another match and pointed: at Dick. * town. They could telegraph for them and. per- “There he is,” he said. * - haps get them here in time to save the bank and “Tt’s a boy,” said Griffin, “and luckily for him other buildings,” said Quigley. : as well as for us he seems to be asleep, but we “To prevent that we’ll put the telegraph office must make sure of it.” 4 % out of business,” said Hazard. He walked over and laid his hand on Dick’s arm : “But if a message is carried to the station it as Clem lit another match. Then he bent down would be put through by the night operator over and looked in his face. Dick, whose face was the Western Union wires.” turned away, breathed heavily. “After the fire is well started we can go to the “T guess he’s asleep all right,” said Griffin. “He station, do up the operator and disarrange the has heard nothin’.” : apparatus so no message can be sent,” said Clem. “Seems to me I’ve seen him before,” said _ “JT see you’ve figured everything out,” laughed Hazard, approaching nearer and gazing down at ; Bunce. . Dick. “Why, its the kid,” he ejaculated in sur- ~ “Yd be a fool if I hadn’t.” rise. zs “When do we make a start?” asked Griffin. “It “What kid?” asked his companion. must be close on to eleven now, and as it’s Sun- “The one that’s, been livin’ with my old manin ~~ day night the town ought to be pretty dead by this Bransfield. He ran away this mornin’.” aa time.” “You know him, eh? Well, perhaps ‘we can __ “We'll start right away,” said Clem, rising. “It make him useful.” ; = _ will take us an hour to reach the factory and “T ain’t sure he’s that kind of a boy.” = secure the watchman. By half-past twelve we “Well, what shall we do with him? I don’t feel : ought to have the ball rollin’.” quite easy in my_mind at leavin’ him here. He The other three men got up, too, put out their may have heard all we said and be shamming __ pipes and dropped them into their pockets. sleep how to escape detection.” — ; “The night couldn’t be better fo rour scheme if “No, he’s asleep, all right. He’s walked all the __-we had it made to order,” said Griffin, after glanc- way here from Bransfield and must have been _ ing out at the door. “It’s so,dark that we'll not dead tired when he struck this shanty. Pll bet he — = __* be noticed.” won’t wake up till morning.” % = = At that moment Dick made an involuntary Griffin didn’t seem to be thoroughly satisfied movement with one of his legs, and the sound, about the matter, but when Clem, after another __ slight as it was, reached Hazard’s sharp ears. look at Dick, started down the ladder, he followed “What was that?” he said, suddenly. him. The four men then left the outhouse. : = es “What’s the matter?” asked Griffin. = “T heard a sound above,” said Clem. “Must have been a rat. There’s no one in this shack but ourselves,” d “Well, I’m goin’ to make sure of that. I was a fool not to have thought of lookin’ into the loft - when we first came here. We’ve just discussed apart of our plans. It would be a nice kettle of - fish.if there was some one up there since we’ve been here, and he overheard what we’ve been talkin’ about.” _ “If any one is up there he’ll need to say his prayers. I for one am not takin’ any chances,” said Griffin, threateningly. _ _ “Wait till I investigate,” said Hazard, starting _to climb the ladder. not see what he could do to presence beco: known. i Fe and only thing I ean do is to make hell we te li’ tei CHAPTER VI.—Starting the Conflagration.. _ No sooner had they gone than Dick sprang to his feet, slipped down the ladder, and, running. to the door, looked after them. He saw the four figures just disappearing into the wood, Without the loss of a moment he followed them. They presently emerged into a meadow, across which they took their.way. A near fence enabled Dick to keep them in sight without great danger of — being detected. They crossed one field after other till they came to a lane down which th went until they reached the road, then they turne — ag os toward agi ity oui ba ic no great difficulty in ing them, though he frequently lost sight of them in gloom of the night. After proceeding a m of two miles they struck the outskirts of the Passing up a cross street, shaded with trees, Dick shadowing them on the opposite side way, they finally reached and crossed Main

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i = Sned the main business thoroughfare of the town, which looked just as dark and silent at that hour as the Side street. The only sound stirring was that made by the stiff wind that swayed the branches of the trees to and fro. A hundred yards beyond Main street rose the big wooden four-story frame building of the Coble- skill Wagon Works. A small brick ell housed the boilers and engine that furnished the motive power to the machinery in the main building. An un- fenced yard was well filled with lumber, a long shed sheltered. several good-sized wagons, in a barn near by were the horses belonging to them. A solitary dim light burned in the office at one of the und corners of the factory. Clem Haz- ard ed up to the office door and knocked loudly on it, while his companions entered the yard and went to the employees’ entrance. Presently one of the windows was raised, and the.watchman, thrusting out his head, wanted to know who was “T have come to warn you about an attempt that is goin’ to be made during the early hours of the Mornin’ to break into the office here arid clean out - the safe,” said Hazard, whose object was to dis- tract the watchman’s attention and hold him in conversation while his associates were forcing an entrance by way of the rear. sy Dick, panting under the shadow of a tree on the other side of the way, watched him and won- what he was saying to the man at the win- ~ dow: When the boy saw the other three rascals disappear around the back of the big building, Hazard’s object dawned on his mind. He decided that the only way to save the factory was ‘to in- stantly warn the watchman of the danger that threatened the building. It was an act full of peril to him, he knew, but the exigency of the oc- €asion banished all personal considerations from him mind. Leaving his post of concealment he dashed across the street. | “Don’t listen to that man,” he cried to the Watchman. “There are three men at the back of the building breaking in.” -_ Clem Hazard turned with an imprecation on Dick. He recognized the boy at a glance. “So it’s you, is it?” he roared. ‘“You’ve been trackin’ us. I'll kill you!” He rushed at Dick. The boy ducked and eluded i p. The watchman, puzzled and aston- ished at the sudden turn of events, watched the Moyements of the man and the youth in the street. r azard, bent on securing Dick, whom he age as a dangerous obstacle to the success of their scheme, followed the lad closely. Dick, ive as a young monkey, managed to keep amet out of his reach. Seeing the watchman still an the rear might get in at any moment, he real- t the man did not comprehend the situ-. . There seemed to be no way of waking the Watchman a sense of the danger except by Sacrificing himself. So after dodging Clem in the ~ Middle of the street for the sixth time he darted for the building and made a spring for of the open window where the watchman He succeeded in scrambling up and get- ting one across the sill when-his other leg Was by Clem. The watchman grabbed TAKING BIG CHANCES 9 Dick, more than half suspecting him of an unlaw- ful object. “Listen to me,” palpitated the boy, hurriedly addressing the watchman. “Three men, compan- ions of this man, are at the back of the factory to break in. They intend to set the place afire. Go back and prevent them.. I’ll keep this man from getting in here if I can.” While Dick Was speaking, Clem Hazard, with many imprecations, was trying to drag the boy out of the window by the leg? Dick, however, was well anchored across the sill, and the attempt was not successful. . “Come down, you little scamp!’ snarled Clem, in a rage, “or Ill shoot you full of holes.” The scoundrel had no real intention of using his revolver, for it probably would have alarmed some of the people in the houses across the street. “Give me something to defend myself with,” cried Dick to the watchman. “This man has me by the leg.” The boy’s ragged appearance did not impress the» watchman with a good opinion of him, and instead of helping him, and taking advantage of his warning, he resisted the efforts of the lad to get in at the window, with the result that poor Dick lost what little grip he had secured and fel! to the walk outside, where he was seized by Clem Hazard and held tightly. “You little marplot!” ‘he hissed. mean by buttin’ in here?” Dick made no reply, but tried to escape from his grasp. “No, you don’t. I’ve got you now and I’m goin’ to fix you so you won’t give us any more trouble.” At that moment the watchman ‘was. suddenly grabbed from behind by Griffin and Quigley, and then too late he realized that he had foolishly failed to avail himself of the boy’s warning. He was overpowered, bound and gagged by the united efforts of the three rascals,,who had easily made their entrance at the back while his attention was engaged in front. They left him helpless upon the floor of the office and one of them opened the street door to admit Hazard. They were sur- prised to see Clem drag a struggling boy inside. “What’s this?” exclaimed. Griffin, clearly sur- prised. “The kid we left asleep in the outhouse near the wood,” replied Clem. “I guess he was sham- min’ after all, for he followed us here and tried to give the alarm to the watchman, but I choked him off.” # “I was more than half suspicious of the little villain,” gritted Griffin. “So he’s on to us, is he?” “Laoks like it.” - The other three, who had taken the precaution to put on masks to conceal their features before they broke into the factory, stood and glared at Dick through the eye-holes in the black erape. “We'll have to treat him the same way that we did the watchman,” said Griffin. “No half meas- ures will doin this job. As he’s seen your face, at any rate, it won’t be good for you to let him escape. The watchman may be able to identify you, too. Both of them will have to go up with the building.” Dick heard Griffiin’s cold-blooded en with a shiver. It showed him what a villainous gang he was up against. As he did not relish the “What do you

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TAKING BIG CHANCES ° _ idea of losing his life even in a good cause, he the attempt to catch him he came out from under ~ - made a vigorous effort to break away from Clem the machine. At first he moved very cautiously Hazard. Like an ee! he slipped: out of the man’s about. for he was not sure but that they had _ grasp and darted behind one of the tall desks in spread some trap for him to walk into. He listened — the counting-room. The four men were after him intently for some sign that they might be’still on in a moment. He glided under the desk and slid the floor, but all remained still. In this way he out at the far end at the moment they thought lost fifteen precious minutes. Finally he mus-— they had him. They swore. roundly at their fail- tered up courage to glide over to the door by ure to catch him and followed him about the room which he had entered. eS ee with dire threats of what they would do to him He found it locked. That satisfied him that he ~ ae when they laid hands on him. The inner door of was alone in the room. Then he moved around the office stood open, and he flew through it into freely. His object, of course, was to creep from an entry where a staircase led to the next floor. the shop, but he found that there was only one Up the stairs he went with the four hot on his. stairway, the one barred against him. heels. “T don’t see any other way of getting out ex- He was twice as active as they and easily reach- cept by one of the windows,” he said to himself. ed a door above through which he darted. While There were twenty windows that admitted light one of them remained to guard the doorway the to the floor, and to one of these the boy went and other three entered the big workroom intent on lifted the sash. = routing him out of it. This. however, was no easy “Tt’s quite a drop from here to the ground,” he job, for the place was full of machinery, lumber mused as he measured the distance with his eyes. and unfinished wagons in all stages of manufac- “If I try it I’m liable to get a broken or sprained ture. Dick crawled under a machine in the center leg, and then I’d easily fall into the hands of those. of the floor, and they couldn’t tell to save their rascals. What am I to do?” lives where he had gone. Finally they consulted He decided that he must look around to see if over the matter and it was decided that as time he could find a rope or some other means that was slipping away they couldn’t lose any more would assist him in his descent. His search con-— with the boy. 7 sumed quite a number of ether precious minutes, “We'll lock him in hére, fire the building and during which the scoundrels were hurrying their | let him perish with the watchman in the flames,” incendiary preparations,on the floor below, though said Griffin, and this plan was decided on. Dick had not the slightest idea what they were So they left the workroom, secured the door, actually up to. He did not find a rope nor any- — and began their incendiary work on the first floor thing else that would help him in his ne where they found plenty of inflammatory stuff to When he was satisfied on this point he came back ~ assist their rascally purpose. They made up a_ to the consideration of the chances of dropping” dozen piles, and when all was in readiness, they out by the window. s Seg applied a light to each, waited fill they were well “I’m afraid I'll have to do it. I don’t see any under way, and then left the building and its two other way of getting out,” he said, -half aloud. inmates to their fate. At that moment he began.to smell smoke. ; “Great Scott!” he ejaculated. “I believe they — have fired the building. They intend that I shall” : ai ae fares Well, sheen going a __n; ere to burned up, you can bet your life. Pll CHAPTER VII—Dick Turns In the Alarm. re Oe Oe ken lew first.” ” pe i. a hee Tee Ree iM gD Rie es 7: Oe Oa POnee Slee hh Neu vues =H A op The rascals’ next object was to reach the Wes- He rushed to the window and looked out on the ~ tern Union telegraph office, on Main street, about street. The four rascals were just making a hur- a a block away. To insure the destruction of the ried exit from the office. ; are fend town they meant to destroy all means of com- “That settles it,” breathed Dick. “They’ve set Po ‘munication with Haverford, the nearest big town the building on fire all right, for that was their, on the railroad which had a well organized fire object incoming here. With the wind that’s blow- department, equipped with modern steamers. In ing, the lumber in the yard and the buil ease of an emergency like that which now threat- back of that are sure to catch. If the fire ge ened Cobleskill, a telezraphic message would bring enough headway. the town is liable to go up, too. the Haverford department down on a special train The incendiaries had opened all the windows, inside of an hour, and Clem Hazard knew it. By front and rear, on the first floor to admit a go putting the telegraphic office out of business for draught, and the wind was fanning the flames. ‘a while he and his associates confidently expected a roaring furnace. Dick could see the smoke ris- to defeat this means of relief. There remained, ing and blowing away in the back of the factory. however, the railroad station on the suburbs to be and from the quantity of it he judged that the fi - looked after also. was already under good headway. Not. The night operator, employed by the railroad came up from the length of the street. 1e company, also received and sent dispatches over slept in its customary fancied ¥ the Western Union line after the town office was straddled the window-sill preparatory to droppi closed at seven o’clock. That was under a-busi- out of the window into the street. It looked ness arrangement between the telegraph and rail- a long drop, and he could not tell what wot ey id companies. It was therefore the purpose of the result of landing on the hard ground. : aie wceunarels to go to the station, lay out the denly he paused. cs 1 ae perator and destroy the ap there for “What a chump I am!” he exclaimed. ig messages by wire. | ne, as alata would be to ines: <n eS aes

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_ There are plenty of tools about that would make ~ matchwood of that door.” _ __ Leaying the windows he looked around and soon _ found a big hammer with which he attacked the - door. It was a pretty stout door he had to con- _ tend with, but being desperately in earnest he put all his strength into the effort to break it down. ~Bang—bang—smash! The head of the hammer _ partially splintered one of the upper panels. An- other blow completed the job. He put his arm through the fracture and felt for the key which he believed was in the lock. It was there and he ~ ed turned it. Grasping the knob he pulled door open. A cloud of smoke blew in his face and caused him to gasp and choke. It was not so thick but he could see the stairway before him. _ Taking a long breath he plunged down the steps ‘into the entry and dashed open the door leading into the office. The room was hazy with smoke. He could hear the roaring of. the flames in the shop beyond. Then it was that he thought of the _ Watchman who had been captured, bound and “gaceed. He looked in the spot where he had last ~ the man, but he was not there now. He hunted the office over for,him in vain. At length Seeing a door Which led into one of the private Offices he opened that and glanced in. He could see nothing owing to the darkness and the smoke. “Could it be that they dragged him in here to make sure of his death?” said the boy. “I heard of them say that he and I were to go up with e building.” Dick ran to the window, got a breath of fresh air and then returned to the inner office which he entered on his hands and knees. He hadn’t gone a “yard before one of his hands came in contact with the body of the watchman. Grasping him by one _ of his bound arms, Digk slowly dragged the man out into the office. Then he tore the gag from his th. The watchman gasped and choked, He Was almost done for. Dick pulled him over to the “open doorway where the air was free of smoke. mn a moment or two the watchman began to re- er. His rolling eyes, sticking out of his head like a lobster’s, encountered Dick’s, 4 “Cut me loose, for heaven’s sake!” he gurgled. _ * "J haven’t anything to do it with,” replied the : tin my pocket—you will find—a knife,” gasped the man. Dick lost no time searching for it. As soon as rot it out he opened it and began to slash hur- diy at the man’s bonds. He soon had him free. watchman struggled to rise, but fell back. me the police and fire houses.” Don’t know the calls,” replied Dick. “Where “You'll find them on a paper alongside of the frument. Help me up. Maybe I can—no, no, too weak. For heaven’s sake, be quick. m e electric light so you can see,” turned on. the first bulb within reach. the looked around for the telephone. It was ned on‘the wall near the safe which the ras- had not tampered with, probably believing ron little money in it over Sunday. Dick 1 another electric burner close to it and the list of calls on the card tacked on ie ESearior’ bedi] ee oS a eee “The pbuilding is on fire,” he groaned. “Tele- © ~ TAKING BIG CHANCES 11 the wall. He selected the one marked Engine house No. 1, and put the receiver to his ear. “What number?” came in a man’s voice. “Thirty-six, Main,” replied Dick. A pause, and then a “Hello!” “Ts this Engine No. One?” “Yes,' this is Neptune One. want?” “Tumble out quick! The wagon works is afire. Notify the other company and the police.” As Dick hung up the receiver he heard shouting on the street and wild cries of fire. People living on the other side of the way were waking up to the knowledge of the conflagration. The fire was now bursting out through all the lower back win- dows and eating its way up into the second. floor. The wind was blowing sheets of flame over on the lumber -piles, which consisted of well-seasoned wood. and was smoking and even blazing in spots. The moment this wood got well afire the wooden houses beyond would be in great danger. , What with the wind and the absence of efficient fire ap- paratus, the chances of saving the business section of Cobleskill looked mighty small. People began flocking out on the streets near by and running toward the blazing factory. The greatest excite- ment prevailed and steadily increased as the fire- bell on the roof of Neptune No. One’s engine- house tolled out the dread alarm. That was a sound that had not been heard in Cobleskill for years and it startled the inhabitants far and near. Dick helped the watchman out of the building and then Jeft him to pull himself tozether. He looked up at the burning building where the fire was now surging through the second fioor and eating its way into the third. The lumber piles were al- ready ablaze and the houses behind them were smoking under the heat. “My goodness!” he palpitated. rible.” At that moment he suddenly recollected what he had heard the rascals say about destroying the Western Union’s telegraphic connections with Haverford. He rushed up to a man in the gath- ering crowd. ; What do you “This is. ter- “Where is the Western Union office?” he hure riedly asked. : “One block down this stréet.” “Where is the station on the railroad?” “A mile over yonder,” said the man, pointing. “Ts there any short cut to it?” “There is a lane running out of Bath street Sg Pe _ to me covered bridge span- nin e creek. By goin at way you will save hal? the distance,” said the man. : “I’m a stranger in this town and don’t know Lewes: Bath ‘street is. Direct me, please,” said ick. _ “It’s the third street from here in that direc- tion,” said the man, pointing, “This is Main ers: abate poe it.” All right,” answered the boy, hurrying awa He counted the streets as he crossed them till he came to Bath. Its name was on a lamppost, so he knew he was on the right track when he turned into it. Straight ahead of him, a quarter of.a mile away, was the covered bridge spanning the creek. To his consternation he discovered that it was on fire. As it could not haye caught n eral conflagration in progress some r wey US BAU Pad EL es erie rae, pe

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TAKING BIG CHANCES away, he came to the conclusion that the four ras~ cals had included it in their programme, after stopping at the Western Union office and disar- ranging the wires, in order to prevent any one from getting to the station ahead of them. “Those fellows are ahead of me and are bound to reach the station before I do,’’ muttered Dick. “That means my mission will be a, failure unless something unforeseen happens.” As he rushed into the lane, fully determined to cross the burning bridge and go to the station anyway, he saw a saddled horse tied to a tree in front of a house. t L business he was.on inspired him with th taking possession of the horse, and making a des- rate effort to’ beat the firebugs to the station. e acted upon the plan without taking a second thought, and a minute later wag dashing down the lane toward the bridge astride of the animal. The fire was rapidly enveloping the bridge, and as -- he approached the edge of the creek it looked like ~ madness to attempt to cross the flaming structure. "That, however, did not deter him for a moment. The case was too urgent for him to hesitate. felt that the salvation of the town rested with him. Messages could be got to Bransfield, Haver- ford and, if possible, Edgeworth, or Cobleskill “was doomed. A number of persons were standing - elose by watching the burning bridge and figuring ~ ' how it had taken fire. They heard Dick approach- _ing at a rapid gallop. Despite the yells of the horrified spectators he steered his galloping horse ‘straight for the burning bridge. Into the covered structure he dashed. ‘ It was like the infernal regions, hot with flame and stifling with smoke. Instantly the ur A groan escaped the The bridge was only a short one and ‘Dick got across in safety, though he suffered from the heat and smoke. Ahead of him he saw four - men hurrying in the direction of the station. He - did not doubt they were firebugs, and he rushed -_ down on them at a hot pace. - -on hearing the horse’s hoofbeats, and scattered to -- the sides of the road to avoid being run down. They saw and recognized him at the same instant, and for the moment they were fairly dumfound- ed. Fear of possible capture made Dick urge the horse to its best pace. The rascals recovered in a ~ moment, and with cries of rage rush after him. Each of them was now armed with a stout club ‘which they had picked up in the telegraph office _. they had wrecked. The rapidly reddening sky east a lurid glow over the town and landscape, ects hitherto lost in the darkness were be- to stand outin relief. On flew Dick with ur ruffians following, breathing vengeance a him. Whether they surmised his purpose or not is uncertain, but they saw he was headed for They looked around Stop, you little monkey!” shouted Clem Haz-. ,“or it will be worse for you.” had not the slightest idea of ; ] Soe ——— on “freon ation and warning the night operator. e 4 their best. 4 overtake him, but failed. d across the railroad tracks and dis- sta ruffians, bran-. operator, who was looking at the fire from his — _ Window, - CHAPTER VIII.—Dick Captures the Firebugs, — The night operator at the station was very much astonished at the sight of the boy rushi towards him chased by the four men who look capable of committing any kind of ugly deed. ES “Look out!’ cried Dick, as he sprang upon the — pn ee “These men intend to wreck your office.” Sores As he uttered the last word he opened the sta- — tion door and dashed inside. The operator slam- med his window down with a bang, for he didn’t like the looks of the rascals who were now closing — in on the station, and reached for his revolver — which he always kept in a drawer at his *elbow.- Dick rushed up te his counter and said: . E re “Call up Haverford. Say there’s a big fire rag- — ing at Cobleskill and that the town will be wiped ~ out unless engines are sent here at once. Thosa — rascals outside are the firebugs. I believe the a wrecked the Western Union office on Main street — to prevent a dispatch being put through from _ there, and. their purpose is to wreck the instru- ments here with the same object. Give me your. revolver and I’ll stand them off while you are sending the message.” a ES) The operator was “much ‘startled, and from Dick’s manner and flushed eountenance he be- - lieved the boy was telling the truth. He handed Dick the weapon and began to call up the Western Union operator at Haverford as Clem Hazard and his crowd rushed into the station. The four ruf- fians expected little opposition, and were therefore taken all aback when they found themselves pen § up at the point of a revolver by the lad they : been chasing. ; 2 “Now; then, throw up your hands, you ras or I’ll. shoot the first who refuses olutely. pate “Why, you infernal young jackanapes!” cz Hazard, reaching for his gun. “J’i——” That is as far as he got, for Dick, who business, fired at his arm. A roar of pain rage escaped Clem as his arm dropped useless his side. The shot proved a lesson to Quigley Bunce—they raised their arms. Not so @ That desperate ruffian yanked his gun out ; tried to draw a bead on the plucky boy. Dick v quicker than he. Crack! went-the lad’s weapo and Griffin dropped to the floor badly wounde: “Back up against the wall, the rest of you T’li shoot again as sure as I’m standing here. got the drop on you and you can’t do a thing.” The three rascals felt obliged to obey, for didn’t doubt that the boy would shoot if the fused. Clem groaned aloud with the pain his broken arm, but Dick had no mercy on h “Now stand there, and don’t you dare to lo ‘your arms until I give you permission, or yor get something you won’t like,” said the boy. During this exciting incident the opera clicking his key and sending the important sage over the wire to Haverford. a “The : train’ ~

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“What is the nearest town in the other direc- tion?” asked Dick. . “Bdgeworth, sixteen miles south,’ replied the ess |. “Send ‘a similar message there, and tell them to rush things, as not a moment is to be lost.” - While the operator was calling up Edgeworth and communicating word of the great need of fire ‘engines to save Cobleskill from the devouring ele- _ ment, Dick kept his eye on the three rascals lined "up against the wall. Griffin lay unconscious on 5 abe the floor. Dick didn’t know, nor did he care at _ the moment, whether he had killed him or not. __He picked up the fellow’s pistol and laid it on the “Rdgeworth will respond at once,” said the -telegrapher after a few minutes. ; ors aa son a wire to Bransfield?” asked Dick. - “Not from the station) but I can get the town “Do so, and say that Cobleskill is threatened with Reatrection by fire. Engines must be sent on here without delay.” ae The night operator called up Central at Cobles- Kill and asked to be connected with Central in ‘Bransfield. As soon as communication was estab- Shed he told the person at the Bransfield end that a big fire was raging in Cobleskill and that all the engines in town must be sent out without delay. “The Central office man promised to com- Mmunicate with the fire department at once. “T think we’ve done all we can-now, Mr. x said Dick. cs Ba ceat _ “Bishop,” sa e 3 “Mr. ~ By So I will ask you to come out and secure these rascals, one after the other, while I hold them up. I suppose you can find some rope. a tee they won’t get away while you're _ hunting for it.” - During all the conversation Dick had had with pas of his broken arm, and ns while the operator tackled them in succession t Somad oy Magsieate behind their backs. In Haz- rd’s case, only his uninjured arm was bound. an additional security the three rascals were ached to one another. “Now,” said Dick, “you’d better telephone the Police station, tell them that the men who set wagon factory on fire have been captured and fe now prisoners at this station. Request that ral policemen with a wagon be sent here, to them in charge. Also, ask that a doctor be ght along as two of the men are wounded, one } ” do it,” replied Bishop, going into his =n pe seing or ie Central po Top once more, - TAKING BIG CHANCES ~ on the’phone through the central office in Cobles-’* ” 13 While he was thus engaged, Dick went out on the platform and looked in the direction of the fire. The burning area had greatly increased by_ this time. He could see great tongues of flume rising above the tree-tops, while big clouds of black smoke were rolling away to the northeast. The red glare reflected in the sky was so bright that the ae held his breath, thinking that the town must already be doomed beyond the possibility of saving. This, however, was not so, though a dozen or more buildings were in the grasp of the fire, Futile efforts had already been made to communi- cate with both Haverford and Edgeworth, but the destruction of the telegraphic instruménts and a portion of the wires at the Western Union office had cut Cobleskill off for the time being with the outside world. It was evident that the two fire companies in town could do little to stay the progress of the flames, and the people whose property was threat- ened were wellnigh frantic. A messenger was dis- patched to the station to get a dispatch through from that point, and he arrived while Dick was watching the flames. He rushed inside to see the operator, who sent him back to report that word had been sent fifteen minutes before, not only to Haverford *and Edgeworth, but also by telephone to Bransfield, and that engines would be rushed to Cobleskill as soon as it was possible to get them over the roads. In a short time a wagon came tearing up to the station with three policemen and a doctor aboard. The physician examined Griffin first of all and declared that-his wound was a serious one, though not necessarily fatal. He did what he could for the man, who was put in the wagon, and then he turned his attention to Clem Hazard’s arm, which he patched up temporarily. While the doctor was attending to the injured rascals, Bishop explained to the policemen how the canture of the firebugs had been brought about by the lad, who said his name was Dick Barnett, and had only just come over from Bransfield that day. He gave Dick full credit for his pluck and energy, and said that only. for him the villains might have overpowered him and destroyed telegraphic communication beyond Cobleskill, and thus prevented news of the con- flagration reaching the towns from which help alone could be looked for. ¢ ; “If the town is saved the credit must go to this boy,” said the operator, “for he deserves every bit of it.” The policemen shook Dick by the hand and com- plimented him on what he had accomplished. The doctor having announced that Hazard was ready to be removed.to the wagon, the three rascals were unbound and handcuffed together. They were marched outside, ordered to get into the ° vehicle, which they did with very bad grace, and then the outfit drove off for the jail, which was several blocks outside of the fire zone. CHAPTER IX.—Fighting the Flames. Dick, having accomplished all he had come to. the station to do, told the operator that he was going back to watch the progress of the fire. “Well,” replied Bishop, “if you remain in Cobles~ ns

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2 ' ) w J Sf SPAT TAKING BIG Sige =, sae »care to go into particulars with this youth, who = - ‘the ’ president, the janitor would throw me’ oft What are “you giving me?” © age “What!” bernie the other, axe eel as, a asked the other boy, almost scornfully, obit ing Dick’s tattered appearance for the first time. — “Who are you, anyw ay?” “My name is Dick Barnett,” answered the un- known hero of the night, without taking offense at the derisive words of the well-dressed youth. “What's yours?” “Well, you’ve got a nerve!” 2 = “Think so?” laughed Dick. “You aren’t the first that said the same to me to-night.” = “You’re a cheeky little beggar,” snorted the other boy. “I wouldn’t have spoken to you if I had noticed what a scarecrow you are. I s’pose- you live on the East Side,” sneeringly. The working people and poorer class of the town lived on the east side of Cobleskill. “No,” replied Dick, good naturedly. “I don’t live in this place.” “Oh, you don’t?) Work on a farm, perhaps.” “No. I’ve just come over from Bransfield.” : “You must have lived in the gutters there from your looks.” “I’m not responsible for my looks.” The other lad laughed scornfully at this an- swer. “Who-is, if you ain’t?” he sneered, ‘ “The man with whom I lived. He wouldn’t give me any clothes.” “T suppose you mean your father?” “No, I don’t. My father is dead. So is my mother.” “What brought you to this town? Did you run> away?” “Not exactly.” “Not exactly? What do you mean by that?” “Just what I said,” replied Dick, who didn’t yt SN" '*iwer o ‘ are ai." FF" rai R a RO A clearly regarded him with little favor. sc ok here, I don’t allow poor persons like you to talk to me that way,” said the other, ini, “I won’t say anthing more then if you don’t — want me to,” chuckled Dick, rather amused at the air which his companion assumed. Although the well-dressed youth comaladeaieal t=) Dick beneath his notice, nevertheless there was ~ something about the ragged stranger that Die t his curiosity, = “What are you going to do in this town?” he ~ asked presently. \ : “IT don’t know now. I had some idea of get- ting a job in the wagon works, but as that is — burned down there isn’t much chance of that. If bo bank is saved I might get something to. .do- there. The well-dressed lad looked at Dick as if the thought he was crazy. i “Do you suppose the, Cobleskill Bank would hire $ such a tramp as you?” " “T couldn’t tell you until I saw the president “Weil, if you ain’t got more 1 than any bo I ever met. Did you expect t t the presid would notice you?” “I think he would,” replied Dick so if you went to the bank and asked to ‘iwi er eee: nA pennt tee Wite, af other fairly gasped. aera Se ees d see Miss

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> Se eS ——— than ever. “What do you know about Nellie _ Warren—a tramp like you?” ~ “Do you know her?” asked Dick, looking at the youth with some curiosity. 5 _ . “I should say I do. My father is cashier of her __ father’s bank.” : ea At that moment a succession of shrill whistles _ Was heard a mile away to the north in the direc- _ tion of the railroad. ~ “Yl bet that’s a special train from Haverford ‘bringing the steamers,” added Dick, “Now there will be something doing.” : “What makes you think that’s a train with steam engines from Haverford?” persisted the “TI told you I had a message sent there from _the station, but you wouldn’t believe me, so what’s _ the use of talking any more about it?” ~~ “How could such a tramp as you get a message sent?” snorted the other lad. _ Dick remained silent, watching the fire which had almost reached the town hall by this time. ~ -“Why don’t you answer me?” said his com- ‘panion in a commanding tone. ~ “What’s the use?” replied Dick. - “Tt’s your place to answer all my questions.” ~ “Is it?” grinned Dick. “Yes, it is. I’m a gentleman while you’re only -* Several more long, shrill whistles came down the morning air, much nearer this time, and the distant hum of a railroad train approaching at high speed reached the ears of the two boys. “There s the Haverford train,” cried Dick, ex- anid so it proved to be. Fifteen minutes later, “amidst the most tumultuous cheering and excite- Ment, three steam fire-engines, with their crews attendant hose-carts, dashed upon the scene. horses had been brought down in box-cars. “e = = Y a few minutes later. The engines quickly took up their positions close to the fire. They = aft ready with steam up, and as soon as the 2 was stretched they got down to business. e minutes after they reached the ‘scene of ee they had six powerful streams playing on erent buildings. _ +‘ *That’s the way to do things,” cried Dick, in sat delight. _ The crowd was still cheering the Haverford _ firemen. Everybody believed the town would be saved now. The fire, however, had got such a mendous hold, and the wind helped it along so h, that it was very doubtful in the minds of the Haverford men themselves if they could stay _ More help was coming, however. Around the ve of the trolley track at the end of Main came humming a train of small flat cars ge the three hand engines, two hose car- and a hook-and-ladder with their crews Bransfield. One of the regular passenger was pulling the train, and the electricity irkled and flashed from the overhead wire as olley wheel humped along. Another roar and excitement greeted the Brans- ies, A hundred willing hands help- siasm Haverford hook-and-ladder apparatus fol-, 4 TAKING BIG CHANCES 3 15 ed unload ‘the apparatus, then the firemen and a host of volunteers were soon dragging the engines into positions on the other side of the burning block. ; “Hurrah!” shouted Dick, who was tickled to death, waving his old hat in the air. The excitement was now at fever heat in Coblesskill. The crowd cheered on the firemen at frequent intervals. But above their cries rose the dull, heavy roar of the voracious flames, sweeping down on fresh buildings. The greedy forks of fire seemed to laugh at the efforts of the firemen. It burst out gleefully -in a score of fresh places. It reached out its scathing red arms as though to envelope the whoie of Coble- skill in its devouring grasp. It fought back savagely at the powerful efforts of the Haver- ford firemen on Main street who were in some degree holding it-in check. Roaring and snarling, and biting at buildings as yet untouched, it strove hard to carry all before it. Great bits of blazing woods were carried through the air on the wings of the wind, starting fresh fires a block or more ahead. In some respects it was like a great battle scene in which a vast host of red savage warriors was trying to overwhelm the small force of devoted deferiders of a beleaguered town. And now far down the railroad line to the south came a long-drawn-out locomotive whistle thrice re- peated. The engineer’of the/locomotive dragging a flat car train loaded with steamers and other apparatus from Edgeworth at a speed of over a mile a minute sent those notes of hope and encouragement in advance to tell the unhappy people of Cobleskill that more help was coming from the south. The fire fiend must have scented ’ trouble in that sound, for the flames rose higher and more threatening in their might. They swooped down more savagely on the balance of the block. But the Haverford boys were standing them off from the town hall and post-office. The three steamers were humming defiantly at three different hydrants. ~Spark-ladened brown smoke spurted from their funnels, and their driving wheels were whirling around like mad as they forced the water in powerful streams through the lines of hose stretched in snaky folds along the wet street. Like the distant sound of surf break- ing on the seashore rose the swelling noise of the Edgeworth train dashing up to the station, amid a continuous shrieking of the engine whistle. “More fire-engines!” was the word passed from mouth to mouth through the crowds. The multitude yelled and cheered in their wild enthusiasm. Cobleskill had never in all its career witnessed such a scene before, and perhaps never would again. It was a night, or rather morning, to be remembered and talked over. And sea’ unnoticed in the crotch of the maple tree we have already mentioned was the bright, nervy boy who was responsible for the coming of the engines. No ane in that mob knew that to this lad’s actiy- ity and forethought the town owed its chanee of salvation. ‘That but for him there would have been no steamers from either Haverford or Edge- worth, and that at the best only the hand engines of Bransfield would have heard the call telephone. And thus it often is in this world that many a true hero is passed by unnoticed in the oyer the crowd, because it is not his fortune to appear “ i gets

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eae , pe Sie are | ae '. prominently in the white glare of the limelight of public observation. CHAPTER X.—From Obscurity to Fame. With the appearance of the Edgeworth fire- engines, four of them, all up-to-date steamers, the cheering and excitement was renewed. They were soon at worki with eight streams playing on the fire. With seven streams and five hand en- gines at work, matters began to look brighter for Cobleskill. The fire fiend found his work cut out for him in earnest. The flames no longer had things all their owr way. You could hear them hiss and seethe in rage when the water beat them back. To further paralyze their force the wind not only n to drop, but it veered around to a quarter that took it way from Main street. The firemen attacked the fire with renewed confidence, and be- fore long it became apparent that the business section of the town would escape further injury. In another hour, just as day began to break, the fire had been got under control. After that it was a mere question of putting out the flames that clung around the lurid ruins and drowning the red-hot embers. The fire fiend had been conquored and the town was saved. The crowds gradually thinned out, the people return- ing to their homes to recite the exciting particu- lars to the women folk who had not dared to ven- ture near the scene of the conflagration. As soon as the sidewalks became less crowded Dick and the well-dressed youth descended from the tree. They separated at once, each approaching the glowing area from different points: The firemen were still pouring a dozen streams . of water on the ruins, and the smoke was rising -.-_ jn a hundred spots and blowing away in a great ae cloud to the east. The sun now rose above the distant horizon and shot his beams of light : athwart the town, lighting up the eastern win- dows with a ruddy blaze. Hundreds of the curious people still hung around on the outskirts of the smoldering district, but their attention was chief- ly interested in the grimy looking firemen, who showed the effects of their desperate fight with the flames, and the puffing steam engines. la GS ire ae) CN eal ie Mantes cats YP . . ' ci { ¢ i i SO ne Wee ae rae os f Se eh >< Le thought he Reo Nigar rgb SO Fe aS SE a eee ee, BAe Se OF geo or - Ss ee = ge TAKING BIG CHANCES his directed by the policeman to e.. = - as * =A pee : eet appear as star witness against the firebugs. The - room was crowded with spectators drawn there to get a peep at the men who were charged with having fired the town and the destruction of the telegraphic instruments and the connecting wires _ of the Western Union office. Dick reported to one - of the officers whom he recognized, and was given a seat within the railing. The magistrate soon appeared, the prisoners, lacking Griffin, whose condition would not permit him to appear, were brought in, and the proceedings were begun with- - out any unnecessary delay. There were three witnesses against the prisoners—Dick Barnett, the night watchman of the burned wagon factory, and Bishop, the night operator at the station. The night watchman, who gave his name as Stephen Cole, was called first. He testified to having been called. to the front of the building by loud knock- ing at the street door, and then went on to state — what happened after he opened the window and demanded to know what was wanted. pe He admitted that Dick had warned him of — trouble, and had tried his best to put him on his guard, but owing to the ragged appearance of the boy he had distrusted him, and had thus fallen into the hands of the firebugs. He stated how they treated him, and after chasing Dick upstairs _ somewhere, had returned without the boy, dragged — him to Mr. Warren’s private office, and then went into the workshop on the ground floor and fired the building. Having accomplished their object — they departed, leaving him to his fate. : Then he went on to say that he owed his life to the boy, who turned up in the nick of time, re- leased him when he was nearly at his last gasp, _ and stated how Dick had telephoned Engine house No. 1 that the factory was on fire. He identified Clem Hazard as the man who had en- gaged him in conversation while the others were forcing an entrance at the rear of the buildi ; He could not positively swear to the iden © of the others, as their faces had been partially covered by masks, but to: the best of his know- ledge and belief the other two prisoners were the men who assaulted him and fired the works, Then — Dick was called to the stand. ao _After being sworn, the magistrate asked him his name. . ie “Dick Barnett.” ‘es “Where do you live?” i “Nowhere.” apt “Haven’t you any home?” asked the magistrate. _ “No.” + - i “Where do you come from?” until yeserday morning, when he told me to get “Bransfield. I lived there with Caleb out as he didn’t want me around his place any longer.” Be Se “Why not?” = Dick explained the cause of the trouble as t reader knows. “The night watchman at the w: factory where the fire started testified that you did your best to warn him of the presence

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_in the end astonished and thrilled every one in the % tne: and raised him in the estimation of all esent from a little homeless tramp to the savior - of the town. The spectators murmured their - astonishment that the boy had the courage to at- tempt and had actually accomplished so remark- able a feat. Many were inclined to doubt his story, but when the night operator corroborated it on the stand later, ie to regard Dick - Barnett as a wonder. The part that aroused the greatest interest and provoked the enthusiasm of _ the spectators was when Dick stated that his ob- ject in going to the station was to forestall the ef- forts of the firebugs to put the station wires out _ of business in order to insure the destruction of _ the town, as well as to get the night operator to send the important messages over the wire to Haverford and Edgeworth that subsequently % rought the entire fire department of both of those towns to the aid of Cobleskill and saved the business district from the peril that menaced it. _ As Dick swore he had seen the faces of the four rascals at the out-house, his identification of the scoundrels was accepted as conclusive. Bishop, the "night operator at the station, after telling his story, testified to the unmasking of the villains, and the three officers and the doctor swore to the same fact afterward, so that no doubt as to the real character of the prisoners existed in the mind of any one present. When all the evidence t the accused was in, the magistrate asked _ them if they had anything to say in their own behalf. They refused to make any statement. Tt was at this point that a detective came for- R XI.—In Which Things Begin to Come Dick’s Way. _As usual on such occasions, a crowd gathered “Sutside the court building and waited for the 9 of the occasion to make his. appearance. ng the spectators who had been present in the 1 n was a well-dressed boy, whose name ‘ . He was the lad who had in the branches of the same tree TAKING BIG CHANCES ’ fire! * 17 which had afforded Dick Barnett a fine view of the fire and all its attendant excitement tha® — morning. Henry recognized Dick as soon as he took the witness chair, all wondered what con- nection he had with the case. He soon found out and to say he listened to Dick’s story with aston- ishment would be putting it quite mild. Hen was disgusted with himself, not because he ha been uncivil to the young stranger, but because he had missed a fine chance of learning his story before he told it in court. Henry’s bump of curiosity was unusually well developed. He liked to know everything that was going on before the ~ news spread to other ears, so he could tell it him» self, with sundry additions, in advance. If he had looked down on Dick in the tree because he was poor, he was now twice as much against him be- cause he had come into public approbation. . _“The common little beggar!” he muttered to: himself. “The idea that such a ragamuffin as he: should have saved Cobleskill from going up in It is simply disgusting.” He was still more disgusted with the ovation - Dick received from the crowd when he appe: in the doorway of the building. The owner ofthe . opera-house, which the Haverford firemen had just managed to save, stepped forward and took ae under his wing. “You stated that you didn’t have any home, m lad,” he said. “Well, you shall win one hone your home for the present, and I’ll see that you’re . togged out ‘like a gentleman’s son. Come with me. The crowd made way for them, and many fol- lowed them to a big clothing and furnishing-goods | south ie the Bo “This is the boy who saved the busi ; trict of Cobleskill from datructiia®” said the * opera-house man, whose name was Frisbee, to proprietor of the store, with whom he was w asquainted. “Fit him out to*the best you have; in the store, and extra underwear and a suit- case to put it in, and charge it to me.” “Charge nothing,” replied the storekeeper, in- dignantly. “Tf he saved the town he’s entitled to all he requires free of charge, whether my store can furnish it or not.” So Dick was put in charge of a clerk who was. told to supply him with a complete outfit, from shoes to hat. He was taken to the barber shop next door to get a bath and have his hair cut, and when he came out with his new clothes on Mr. Frisbee and others who had seen him in his rag- gedness hardly recognized him, so changed for the better was he. There was no getting around. the fact that Dick was a good-looking boy, with a face that showed unusual force of character. Have you had breakfast?” asked Mr. Frisbee as they drew near a restaurant. “Yes, sir,” replied Diek. 5 “Well, you'll dine at my house. Come, I’m RO- | ing to introduce = to Mr. Warren, the president of the bank. I’ll wager he’s already heard about you and is anxious to make your acquaintance.” Mr. Warren had just reached the bank after half an hour’s inspection of his burned wagon works, and when Mr. Frisbee sent his name he _ was told to enter the president’s private room = __ Mr. Warren,” said the opera-house man, “let» be me introduce to you Richard Barnett, the boy who.

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saved Cobleskill from being wiped off the map, so to speak.” Mr. Dick. “Be seated,” he said. “I was told that he was a poor looking bey, who had no home, and Md _*“So he was, but Mr. Jones, down the street, has fitted him out like a young gentleman at his own expense, while I have offered him a temporary | home at my house.” : “My dear boy,” said the banker, feelingly, “per- E mit me to thank you for the great service you : rendered my child as well as myself and her -mother. Mr. Frisbee, I hope you will permit me to advance a prior claim to this young hero. I wish to take him to my house until I can arrange for his future welfare.” “Certainly, Mr. Warren,” replied the opera- . house man. “I admit that you have the better right tortake charge of him, and I have no doubt the change will be to his advantage. But I have not_done with him yet. I owe the safety of the opera-house to him, and I not only mean to pres- ent him with a suitable personal testimonial of ---—s- my gratitude, but I propose to get up a public ~ ___ benefit for him that the people of this town may , as a body have the opportunity to express in a substantial way the regard they are bound to feel towards him as the savior of the town as soon as the intelligence is spread broadcast.” “T fully endorse your proposal,” said Mr. War- ren, “and now request that you will reserve one of your private boxes for me, for which I will pay you $500.” Dick listened to this conversation in no little bewilderment. No wonder he hardly knew wheth- er he was wide awake, as he supposed he was, or ~ dreaming.all the good things that were happening . to him. Presently Mr. Frisbee got up, shook hands with Dick, promising to see him again soon, and took his leave. Mr. Warren then wrote a note to his wife in which he stated that this would introduce the boy who had saved their daughter’s life the morning before. He said he was their guest for the present. He added that _ Dick had also made himself famous in the eyes of all Cobleskill by saving the greater part of the town from destruction that morning through i his pluck and forethought. “He handed the note : “I am going to send you to my home under the _ guidance of one of my clerks,” he said. “When you arrive, present that note to my wife, and she ill make you welcome.” ei “Thank you, sir,” said Dick, still wondering if - this was all real. A young clerk was summoned and directed to pilot Barnett to the banker’s home. - “Are you a relative of Mr. Warren’s?” asked the clerk as they started off. “No. My name is Dick Barnett.” _. “Mine is Fred Jordan. I’m glad to know you.” _ Just then Henry Morris came along swinging sera : 4, looking hard at D - “Hello, Jordafi,” he said, looking hard at Dick, who recognized him as the boy he had talked to : tree, and who had called him a tramp. ‘Hello, Morris. Let me introduce you to a arren got up and shook hands with Henry Morris, Dick Barnett.” ae Sees, See E: ‘TAKING BIG CHANCES ~ Dick. Mr. Warren’s. I’m taking him up to his’ reakfast re + "morning after the testimonial, he asked him te “Are you a friend of Mr. Warren’s?” Morris gurgled, ~. “Look as if I am,” replied Dick, pleasantly. “Tt isn’t possible that you are the ragged-look- ing boy who was in court this morning? He said : his name was Dick Barnett, and that he hadn’t any friends.” : g “Tm the same boy,” replied Dick, coolly. “I think I met you before—ip in a tree on this” street while the fire was raging.” ; ag you looked like a tramp, and you sai i : : : “Yes, I know,” interrupted Dick, laughing. “I — told you I was going to call on the president of ~~ the Cobleskill Bank, and you said if I did the janitor would throw me out.” | “What are you two talking about?” asked ~ Jordan, in astonishment. “Have you met before?” “Yes,” replied Dick, with a chuckle, “we’ve met before, haven’t we, Morris?” Henry Morris looked exceedingly foolish and embarrassed. The scarecrow he had sneered at had been metamorphosed into a better dressed - > and better looking boy than himself, and’ he couldn’t understand it. , “I suppose I’m a gentleman now and not a tramp,” said Dick, with a smile. “You said that clothes made a gentleman.” “T guess you didn’t tell me the truth when you said you were poor,” stammered Morris. ’ “You heard what I told the judge this morning in court, didn’t you?” “¥és.” “Well, that was the truth. I was under oath at the time. Come, Jordan, let’s go. Good-by, _ Morris. I’ see you when you become-a promi- — nent lawyer.” Henry looked after him in a daze. “I wonder what this all means? Why, that boy looks as well dressed as me. Two hours ago he was little better than a bundle or fags. Now here — is Fred Jordan taking him to the Warren home. — There’s some mystery about it. I wish I could find out the eo of it.” . : 3 (sei When they reached the Warren home they were received with open arms, as it were. Great was Nellie’s surprise when she found out Dick was — the boy who saved her life. Dick at the first op- — portunity told her how he came by his new ~ clothes.. When she found that the boy was going oye spent several happy hours with Nellie and her — mother. +. ea Several days passed thus and the testimonial to Dick was progressing finely. When the night _ arrived every seat in the house was filled and the _ money taken in after all expenses had been paid, netted the boy $2,500. Dick made a fine speech, and several floral pieces were presented to him, Altogether the night was a. great triumph for supper that evening, but by that time Dick had 4 CHAPTER XII—A Spill on thé Lake. Mr. Warren had not. yet spoken to Dick abe his future prospects, but at b on th _ F-25

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Wik ¥ Md Ae call at the bank éarly in the afternoon. When Dick made his appearance there he was shown into the banker’s private room. Mr. Warren pointed to a chair beside his desk and Dick sat down. “Mr. Frisbee was here a few minutes ago and left this check for you,” said the banker, handing the boy an oblong slip of pink paper made out to Dick’s order and calling for the sum of $2,573. It represented the net receipts of the opera-house benefit. “Now, Dick,” said Mr. Warren, “How would you like a position in this bank?” : ; “J should like it very much indeed, sir,” said the lad, eagerly. - “Very well. I will start you in at the bottom round, and you will have every opportunity to work your way up. AsI am under great obliga- tions to you for what you did for my daughter, not to speak of your services in connection with the fire by which the bank and its business was saved, I shall make it by business to look after your future. Now I propose to double the value of your check and enter the amount of $5,000 to your credit as a special deposit at three per cent. interest. This will-give you something of a cap- ital by the time you reach your twenty-first year. “You are treating me very liberally, sir,” said Dick, gratefully: 3 “Not at all. You deserve every dollar of it and more,” replied the banker, with a smile. “Just sign your name on the back of the check, and a certificate of deposit for the sum I mentioned will be made out in your name.” ee Dick signed the pink slip and handed it to Mr. Warren. : “Now, with the view of providing you with a good home,” went on the banker, “I have arranged a With a widow lady whom I have known for years to take you as a boarder. Her name is Jordan, and her son Fred is employed in this bank. You remember him as the boy who took you to my heme the first day you came here. He will Make a good companion for you, as he is a thor- oughly reliable lad.” Dick had taken quite a fancy to Fred, and was Pleased at the idea of living with him. That closed the interview, and Dick left the bank to return to Mr, Warren’s home. He was Within a block of the mansion when he met Nellie and one of her girl friends. “Eya,” said Nellie, “this is Dick Barnett. Dick, Miss Trumbull.” : : The young people bowed, Eva regarding Dick With no little admiration, for he was not only * ‘800d looking, but the most important personage i | iy ic in town at that moment. Eva envied Nellie the ion of such a prize, and there is little : but she tried to make herself as fascinating as she could to Dick. When they reached the Warren place Nellie proposed that they go down to the summer-house close to the’ beautiful lake On which the banker’s property, as well as the of many of the wealthy residents of kill abutted. There were small private boat houses and bathing pavilions ; along the shore at intervals, while great Stretched Zz e ati ‘ and towering old oak trees Font! shade when the weather was sultry. “Who is that yonder in the sailboat?” asked TAKING BIG CHANCES ““T 19 Eva Trumbull, when the three reached the shore of the lake. “It looks like Henry Morris, but his father doesn’t own a sailboat,” replied Nellie. “Whoever he is he doesn’t seem to be an expert at handling a sailboat,” remarked Dick, who, though no boatman himself, could tell from the awkward movements of the craft in question that she was not being handled properly. “Henry has a rowboat,” said Nellie. “He has invited me several times to go out with him for a row, but I wouldn’t think of doing such a thing, even if papa and mamma would permit it. The lake is quite deep, and if one was upset and could not swim he would be surely drowned. Yes, that’s Henry, sure enough. He must have ice pine the boat. I did not know that he could sail one. “It doesn’t look to me as if he was sailing that craft with much success,” said Dick. “If the water is deep, as you say, he seems to be taking a wood many chances. He has seen us and is wav- ing his hand in this direction.” Morris, on observing the two girls by the shore, one of whom he knew must be Nellie, as they were standing on the Warren property, turned the boat’s head shoreward. This maneuver he accomplished at consider- able risk, as the wind was blowing quite a fresh breeze and he was very unskilled in nautical knowledge. The boat tipped so far over that it was more by good luck than good management that he saved himself from a spill in the lake. “My gracious!” cried Nellie, in a startled tone, “T thought he was going over that time. I think he is a very foolish boy to go out in that boat.” There was a good reason for her remark. Hen- ry Morris knew nothing whatever about sailing a_boat, though from having seen others sail pleasure craft on the lake he imagined that it was the easiest thing in the world to manage a sailboat and make it go wherever you wanted it to. As Nellie had said he was the owner of a rowboat, and had been accustomed to amuse himself frequently rowing about the lake. There is one great drawback, however, upon the pleas- ure of rowing a rowboat. It is tiresome to row single-handed after the novelty has worn off. _So Henry found it_after a time, and not being overfond of active exertion, he soon began to yearn for a sailboat instead. gHe sounded his father on the subject, but Mr. Morris knew bet- ter than to humor such a whim on his son’s part. Finding that he couldn’t get his father to buy a sailboat, he tried to borrow one from a neighbor. He was not successful in this, as no gentleman would loan a sailboat to an inexperienced boy. Henry, who had grown weary of the exercise of rowing, was about to abandon boating alto- dere when all at once a new plan was suggested to him. This was to rig up a mast and sail, and thus do away with the necessity of rowing when the wind was strong enough to maké the craft go under canvas. No sooner had the plan sug- gested itself to him than he h ed to put it into execution. Having a fund money saved up; he engaged a carpenter to effect the change. When the job was finished, and the boat with its slender mast and white sail floated

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a _and struck iet bosom of the lake, Henry’s meat ws He looked eagerly action was unbounded. } doen to the moment when there would be wind enough for him to experiment with his new toy. That time came on the afternoon that Dick met Nellie and Eva Trumbull on the street and accompanied them to the shore of the lake. Soon after lunch Henry noticed that a fine breeze had sprung up. To his great disgust his mother sent him on an errand to a neighbor’s which lost him a couple of hours. When he got back he hastened down to his sailboat. The breeze in the mean- time had grown stronger. | ee eee “Ti, dandy wind,” he said, fully coniiaent 0 his Paitty to _ Ayrseras the craft. “Tt’7ll send my boat skimming along like a seabird.” ve stepped in, pushed off from the shore ccntkies aed the sail. . The wind caught the canvas, bellied it out, the boat careened consider- ably, but Henry was not afraid in the least. The wind holding steady, the boat flew along like a thing of life, and Morris was jubilant over the success of his venture. At that moment he spied the two girls and Dick on the shore watching him. “J’ll just show them ye know a ig ae ut boating,” he chuckled, waving his hand a Sooo “Tl ae close in and turn the boat this ‘way and that.” He had to fetch the shore where they stood, so he put the helm down. When he reached a ~ point as close to the shore as he cared to go he tacked again. At that moment a flaw struck the boat. Not being a skillful boatman, he was wholly unprepared to guard against it. The result was the boat upset and Henry Morris was pitched into deep water. : CHAPTER XIII.—Conclusion. When the exsibons went ee and neers pS ‘was seen struggling in the water, both o e - girls screamed, for they fully expected than the unfortunate boy would be drowned before their eyes. There is little doubt that had the girls been alone, Hen Morris never would have reached the shore Alive, for the water was very deep at the point where the boat upset. | Dick Barnett, however, lost not a moment in going to the rescue of the boy who had treated him so - -uncivilly. Throwing aside his jacket and vest, and pulling off his shoes, he drove into the lake out for the spot where Morris disap- poe ed the rao % had , but even at that Henry was just going cies far d last time when Dick Morris TAKING BIG CHANCES married with all the s ws Sollee until I can get on the wharf?” asked ‘ic : The girl managed to do it. Dick climbed out of the water and then caught Morris by the col- lar, relieving Miss Warren. Finding that he was not strong enough to pull the boy up on the- wharf, Dick asked Nellie to run for one of the male servants. She started off and soon returned with the gardener. The man got hold of Morris and yanked him on the dock in short order. Then | he and Dick turned the boy on his stomach and applied such remedies as circumstances enabled them to do. In a short time Morris was suffi- ciently recovered to be able to sit up and talk. He eyed Dick askance, and though seeing Bar- nett’s drenched condition, he must have under- stood that the boy had jumped in the lake and saved his life, he made no effort to thank him. “Do you want me to go home with you, Mor- ris?” Dick asked him. “No, I don’t,” he answered, churlishhy. & He got on his feet, but it was easy to see he was in no condition to go home alone. Since he had — declined to accept Dick’s company, Nellie asked the gardener to go with him, and the man, sup- _— porting him with one arm, led him off. “You must hasten to the house and change your clothes,” said Nellie to Dick. Lear She forgot that the boy did not at present own a second suit. Dick, of course, did not remind her of the fact. He simply started for the car- riage-house and hunted up the coachman. To ~— him he explained how he had gone into the lake to save another boy’s life, and asked him to help him out of his predicament. The coachman told him to undress and get into his bed on the second ~ floor of the building, and that he would get him fresh underclothes from his room, and see about __ having his suit dried in the laundry. So the — girls did not see anything more of Dick the rest of the afternoon, Morris went to bed when he got home after making a lame explanation to his, mother. Dick went to work in the bank that ~ day and took up his permanent abode at the Jordan cottage. On Friday night he attended Nellie Warren’s party, given in his honor, and he was received with open arms in her set. Con- sequently he had a bang-up time, and didn’t get home till two in the morning. A round 6f other “4 parties were given after that, at which he loomed up as the bright particular star, but do what they 3 would, the girls couldn’t get him away from Nek Ss lie Warren. As time passed they grew more attached to each other, and though Mr. and Mrs. — Warren noticed their growing affection, they of ont no opposition, notwithstanding the fact that __ ick was what might be called a poor boy. Even- — tually they reached a solution quite satisfactory to themselves, and received papa’s and mamma’s consent. At any rate, when Dick became paying teller of the Cobleskill Bank he and Nellie were tye of a White House wed- za . To-day Dick is president of the bank, anc probably the most important citizen of Cobk skill, and he has a growing family of fine looking _— boys and girls who are very proud of the fact — that their father became famous at fourteen. —

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY | 21 | (CURRENT NEWS . ieee : ANCIENT ROME’S ELEVATORS knives, crushed on steel rollers and compressed in ‘The ancient palaces of Rome show traces of hydraulic presses into blocks eighteen inches wide elevators—vertical passages—the stones on the and high, and, as long as required. The blocks 6 ngs worn deep by the ropes which were used are used for walls, with a light framework of i: hoist the primitive elevators of those days. studs. The walls give the best of insulation “ : 2 jee heart and —_ are only one-tenth as e ray - : eavy as stone or brick, and the structures are ; _ RABBIT KILLS BIG SNAKE ; said to cost only half as ch rdin: frame = = __ A rabbit killed a four-foot blacksnake the other houses.

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"Wrecked On The Desert aig See THE ADVENTURES OF TWO BOY PROSPECTORS . By GASTON GARNE (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER V.—(Continued.) Jack pointed to his left. “Well, upon my word!” cried Arthur. “Out with it! What do you see?” “A man with a plug hat and things thrown over his shoulder walking with a cane.’ “Come; that’s certainly’ a relief. Did you no- tice him before I stopped?” “No, nor then until you pointed. “Hello! Hey! Hello over there!” yelled Jack, me ‘but the man, who was perhaps five hundred yards Fi gine trudged on, never even turning his head. ting over the’ ground in the direction of the at a more rapid pace than one might have im-— agined considering his age and the way he w: loaded down. “T suppose there’s s nothing to do but to let. have his own way,” said*Jack, and once more boys drove their cars dhead Mr, Glick did not even raise his eyes as they! flew past him. The nearer they drew to the zane te less re- semblance the central peak camé to bea op’s thitre until at last all trace deanpeael half-past six the cars were rounded up at the foot of a towering cliff formed of the loose, disin- tegrated rock so common in these Nevada “Here we go into camp,” declared Jack. ; up the tent, Art, while I see if there is such a — thing as a bit of dry wood anywhere. Of cou I don’t expect to have the luck to find it, but a least I can make a t What I want is to v the soup if it’s possible. Jack had better luck than might have been for in a yavine he struck a bunch of pinons and was able to come back with his : filled with dry ,fagots with which he qu started a cheerful blaze. So the soup was warmed and hot cbifes a It grew deliciously cool when the sun _went ¢ After supper the boys i their pipes and down for a good smoke and talk =a “How that cliff overhangs at ei marked Arthur. Queer ain it “Very,” answered Jack. “We are out Exe hough, if it should happen to ec “(To be continued, ;

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= FROG FARMING _ _ From his backyard frog ranch near Oshkosh, _ Wis., Emil Neuenfeldt ships 2,000,000 frog legs a year. The frogs are kept in concrete trenches fifty feet long and six feet wide, in which are re- frigerated pipes and running water. The cold ~ water makes the frogs hibernate and silences the “frog chorus. When an order is received the re- 4 red number is scooped from a trench and the frogs are placed in a tank of water charged with electricity. This kills the frogs,-straightens out their legs and makes amputation easy. : a A SIGNAL RING FOR MOTORISTS _ When you hold out your hand on a dark night, i ‘ou are about to stop or make a doubtful whether or not your extends his hand and goes off when the arm is withdrawn. A long flexible cord plugs into a _ driver’s seat to supply the current. .With this device installed the signals of the drivereare certain to be observed by the car be- ind and the dangers ‘of night driving reduced. THE UNHAPPY REMAINS OF COLUMBUS report has been made to the War Depart- by the Receiver General of Dominion Cus- ns, dealing with the remains of Columbus, A pject is now on foot to erect a massive tomb in an Domingo City, somewhat modeled after the tomb of Napoleon in Paris and the exterior some- hing like Grant’s Tomb in New York. A beacon er 300 feet in height is part of the plan. Un- ortunately the bones of .Columbus which were aght from Spain in 1540 were often opened for nspection to distinguished visitors. This should = stopped. It was that very fact which first sug- rested the idea that it should be the concern of mn Americans, the peoples of the 21 republics upying the territory of North and South ica and Canada to provide a suitable me- and final resting place for Columbus in the le of America, as San Domingo is called. WHAT THE ATOLLS ARE t has been shown by the investigations con- d by scientific expeditions to the Pacific is- s that there is a slow elevation going on there, ch, by lifting the reefs gradually above the rves them from erosion at the top les vegetation and certain animal forms estrial character to exist there. is in opposition to the old idea that, the were formed by the gradual subsidence of islands, and that the coral insects built up ¢ reefs as the islands sank. ~E tikes show that the agar See a general phenomenon, vari in , some islands rising rapidly and others Pope eee “s. = FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY GOOD READING ‘socket on the instrument board or under the. Both the flora and the fauna of these i se a Gurr to a very few species, aithetgh ee m a distance some of th Tie: vegetation. em appear very rich in : ALTITUDE AFFECTS HEALTH nteresting observations have been ma G. I. Finch based upon his experiences in cheba Mount Everest. He carefully noted the effect of altitude upon his physical. condition and took note of the exact altitude and how it affected him. He concludes that up to 21,000 feet the climber’s physical functions were practically unimpaired and good sleep and recuperation from fatigue were possible, but at 23,000 feet sleep was fitful appetite fell off and there was a general loss of physical fitness. The conclusion is that at ap- proximity 21,000 feet aclimatization to alti- tude ceases and above that height oxygen should be used, at first in small doses, and from 26- 000 feet in larger doses, but the dose must de= pend upon the nature of the ground. r _ He points out that oxygen increases the appe- tite and adequate provision’ must be made for this fact. The stimulating effect of cigarette smoke was noted at 25,500 feet. Although it is possi- ble to climb to greater heights without the use ~ of oxygen, Mr. Finch does not believe it wise. | “Mystery Magazine” SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A COPY —— LATEST ISSUES —— THE MYSTERY OF T flton Craigie. a BLUE CAR, by Ham. THE "einer IVE AND THE LAW, by Frederick A uey. THR HAND IN THE DARK. by Chas. F. Oursler. THE TRATL OF THE ROGU : z son-Howard. mad ees a THE WOMAN FROM NOWHERE, by Jack Bech- ott, THE TIME-DETECTIVE. by Frank Bligh THE WHISPFRING-ROOM. By at ONE CLUF MTSSING, by Chas. F. Oursler. 4 THE DOOM OF THE DAMNED, by Joe Burke. THE CONSUMING DEATH, by Gilbert Hammona. The Famous Detective Story Out Today in 138 Is MRS. DEANE’S JEWELS By BEATRICE S. LUISI HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. 166 West 23d Street, New York City “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players ~ PRICE SEVEN CENTS PER COPY Each number contains Four Stories SF on the Sereen — Elegant Half-tone p Rae on ¢ , Playa Fr imerenting: ticles About Prominent People , n the ms — s Actors and Actresses Studio and Lessons pag Reig 2B HARRY E. wore : 7 , Ine. © fe 166 West 284 St fo: New York —

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RADIO TELEPHONE SECRET The first trial on a commercial basis of a radio ‘telephone system insuring privacy to its users is being made at Catalina Island, thirty miles off the coast of California, on a yacht linking the island with Los Angels. _The former radio apparatus has been replaced ‘by a development of the Bell system engineers which prevents receiving sets in common use from Picking up messages transmitted on this system. ile the telephone is not absolutely secret it is more nearly so than any other tested to date-and "meets ordinary requirements. NIGHT RANGE The range of a radio transmitter is consider- wbly greater at night than in the daytime. The fonization of the atmosphere due to.sunlight or moonlight causes losses which prevent as great a range from being obtained as’when this condi- tion of ionization does not exist. Interposed metallic strength cause considerable loss in sig- nal strength, and the nature of the intervening country has also a great effect. It has been ex- perimentally determined that greater range for a given amount of power is obtained over water than over land. Ai) ia WHAT THE TUBES ARE The radiotron tubes now consist of the follow- ing: The UV-199 tube, the smallest member. The -UV-200, which isa five-volt detector’ or “soft” tube, calling for critical adjustment of “B’ bat- tery potential, and requiring upwards of an am- - *pere of filament current. The UV-201 is the run- ning mate of the UV-200. However, it is a “hard” ‘tube or amplifier tube, requiring 45 to 100 volts on the plate, and over one ampere at-five volts in the filament. It is not critical. Then there is the ‘UV-201-A, which is a combination detector and amplifier tube, operated with a filament voltage of five and a current consumption of 0,25 ampere. ‘The UV-202 is a five-watt transmitting tube, also guitable as a power amplifier tube. The UV-203 as a 50-watt transmitting tube. 250-watt transmitting tube. The UV-206 is a _ne-kilowatt transmitting tube. The UV-208 is a five-kilowatt transmitting tube. The UV-207 is > ga 20-kilowatt transmitting tube of the new water- ‘cooled tube; indeed, this tube is considerably smaller than the UV-207, although it has four ‘times the capacity. > RADIO FROM THE ARCTIC _ Captain Robert A. Bartlett has again heard the ‘gall of the Arctic and hopes to return to the sozen North at the head of a scientific expedition will drift for three years, measure the flow The UV-204 is a’ nl bed s anda the bedroom, we hav wondered at the FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY is NTERESTING RADIO NEWS AND HINTS — ocean for flora and fauna and chart the floor of that vast sea. Bartlett is the veteran of five expeditions, the most famous of which was Peary’s successful dash when he accompanied the explorer to within 110 miles of the goal. y He has just come out of New Foundland, where he Spent the worst winter in fifty-two years seal hunting. He sailed under his father, who is sey- enty-two. He is in New York now looking for — backing for his proposed scientic expedition. In talking of his plans, he said: “I want a small ship and a crew of about nine men who will also be scientic experts to carry out this work. We will take a radio along and report each day to the world the progress we have made. I'd rather command that ship than Renee | of the Leviathan, ; = “T don’t expect to discover gold mines or any- thing of that sort. This expedition will also the means of acquiring data which the world has been waiting for a long time. The weather oree the Atlantic coast, in my opinion, is regulated b the ice cap. Last winter was the worst in years. The winds were northwest and the ice and wind diverted the Gulf Stream, forcing it eastward. The chill you felt here last month was partially due to that. There ought to be more radio sta- tions in the Arctic to hicudeast those weather conditions that influence our shipping and fish- ing.” i is Bartlett became the master of a sealer when he ~ was seventeen and now holds both American and English master’s tickets. Born in New Found- land in 1875, he became an American citizen fif- teen years ago. His first Arctic expedition was in — 1897-8 with Peary to Cape D’Urville, and what is of next greatest importance after the 1905-9 dis- covery expedition with him is the Canadian gov- ernment Arctic Expedition under Stefansson, when the ship Karluk was lost off Wrangel Is- land. Bartlett crossed 500 miles of ice to Si- beria with an Eskimo, got relief and returned : ee the island, and on September “12, 1914, reached — Nome, Alaska, with the fourteen survivors who had spent the winter there. He has ived many medals, including the Hubbard gold medal — of the National Geographic Society. oe His father, Captain William Bartlett, ‘still is _ master of a sealing ship with a crew of 170 me: Ve i Ny th aA ete diy “i we yng ¥, RADIO AIRPLANE TRIP Listening to a fox trot and other musical lections while soaring 5,000 feet above the hearing the call from a ship at sea more hundred miles away and then the shrill voice of a woman announcing the next radio selection to be broadcasted from a Newark department was a sensatiom quite out of the ordinary. — Often at home, in using a small cry nected between we

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- ~~ ether waves, but it was far more amazing to hear selections carried on these same uncanny waves a pe = mile up in the air, This was a recent experience in a flight in a five-passenger Fokker monoplane, equipped by the ‘General Electric Company with a radio set, from ” Curtis Field, Mineola, to Roosevelt Field, Albany, a distance of about 175 miles. On the trip were Lieut. B. W. Maynard, the “Flying Parson”; Mr. and Mrs. Schlafke, the aerial bride and groom who the day before had been married by May- - nard in the same plane over New York City; E. af Dannals, radio operator, and Bert Acosta, the Pilot. Soon after they left the field 300 feet of copper Wire wound on a reel much the same as used by rmen, was let out. This wire, weighted by a heavy lead sinker, passed out through the bottom of the plane and was used both as a sending aerial and receiving antenna. After bidding good-by to the radio operators at the field the lane headed North and took up a course to the east of the Hud- son River. : For sending both radio telephone and radio telegraphy were utilized, the latter for keeping in touch with the army station at the flying field and the many amateur stations, and the telephone to Send out a radio program and makes special calls to various stations, such as West Point, the Knickerbocker Press in Albany and WGY, the sting station of the General Electric Com- Pany in Schenectady. Near Tarrytown a woman’s voice announced a fox trot to be played at a radio station in a store in Newark. ‘Then came the music. Using a Mather headpiece, which clamped receivers to both €ars, all outside noise from the airplane motor Was eliminated and the music came through just @s well as in any land receiving set. WJZ was heard and when near Hudson WGY began its program and this came in so loudly that all other stations were drowned out and the fliers - Could hear the music in their small cabin without the headpiece to their ears, a sensation Somewhat of having’a phonograph on the plane. They had been in the air an hour and were near tteawan, when it was announced that a mes- Sage from the S. S. Auretania, then 500 miles ~ €ast of Ambrose Lightship, was pieked up. PICTURES OF THE VOICE It is possible to see your voice, or at least the Oscillations caused by the voice vibrations when electrically transmitted. The story of the mannér in which this has been accomplished is one of the _fomances of scientific achievement. At first glance it probably will cause you to " Wonder why any one should wish to see the vibra- — tions of his Voice and what good cause would be by making the vibrations visible. The-an- to this question is a very simple one, and up is practically as follows: it is possible to show exactly what kind of Vibrations arious sounds produce it will then be to determine just what their effect in an current will be. This is very important a0 Such a sound as that of the letter “s” is because of its confusion with the letter If ae, <8 y FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 25 “f and also because it enables the scientists to work on the production of receiving apparatus that will give a truer reproduction of these diffi- cult sounds. It has been possible for some time to produce these vibrations by mechanico-electrical means used in conjunction with a projecting machine whereby the picture of the vibrations is repro- duced on a screen, much in the manner of “mov- ies.” The trouble with this system, however, is that there is a considerable lag behind the voice, due to the inertia in the mechanical part of the apparatus. The problem, therefore, was to produce an ap- paratus that had practically no inertia, and, as in many other kindred situations, the vacuum tube has filled the bill. In this case the vacuum tube is quite different in appearance to the ordinary tube, both in shape and construction, and it might better be termed an electric gun, because that is just exactly what it is. Moreover, it performs its functions of reproducing oscillatory pictures: of sound and electrical vibrations with absolute fi- delity and without inertia. It is known scientifically as the Braun tube, named after the German scientist who first adapted it, but its real development has been made by Dr. J. B. Johnson, of the Bell labora- tories, because it is he who has turned it into a really serviceable instrument. _ It is a large, pear-shaped tube, about eight inches long and one inch in diameter at the socket, which gradually increases in diameter until at the other end it is about four inches across. The end of the tube is covered with a fluore- scent screen. A straight filament about one-quar- ter of an inch in length is used as a cathode, and four platinum plates set at right angles to each other guide the stream of electrons which this catrode emits and directs them upon the fluore- scent screen, ‘ When the audio-frequency or high-frequency currents are impressed upon the controlling steps they cause this stream of electrons which are fixed at a very fine point to move up and down this screen with extreme rapidity, corresponding ex- actly and with great precision to the fluctuations in the current caused by voice sounds or other vibrations. Z It is possible to examine the fluctuations pro- duced on the fluorescent, screen very closely and to ascertain just exactly what kind of vibration each particular sound produces. In addition to this it is also possible to photograph these vibra-- tions, so that a permanent record cAn be made of any particular sound that it is desired to study, and those would give actual pictures. of the voice. which, of course, are extremely valuable in de- signing receiving apparatus for reproducing such sounds, The tube is a very remarkable instrum ‘i pecially as it has now been developed. ay tion to the manner in which it reproduces all sound variations visually it also reproducers, for instance, the curve of magnetic hysteresis, the curve being absolutely perfect and steady. This! is also extremely valuable for en ing pur- poses.

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. ee > ee Be LES et “FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY NEW YORK, AUGUST 10, 1923 TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Bingle Copies. ...5....-.00+-0+ Postage Free 7 Cents One Copy Three Months,.... a % 90 Cents One Copy Six Months........ Le be $1.75 One Copy One Year.........- “ xed 3.50 Canada, $4.00; Foreign, $4.50. HOW TO SEND MONB¥ — At oar risk send P. 0, Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting aes the envelope. Write your name and address plainly. ‘ Address letters to HARRY E. WOLFF Wolf, es. 9 Bgl ie } Puikicher, tne., Charles E. Nylander, L. EF. Wilzin, Treas. 166 W. 28d St., N. Y. : ITEMS OF INTEREST eee! CATTLE COIN COLLECTORS Bullocks belonging to a butcher of Kent, Eng- fand, have been engaging in coin collection, and their owner, according to the London Referee, ~~ continues to find old coins in the stomachs of bul- + Jocks slaughtered after grazing on the Sheppey Marshes. They are all ancient coins, and those obtained from different animals bear dates of 1795, 1674, 1806 and 1727. 29 VARIETIES OF PLUMS ON ONE TREE Twenty-nine varieties of plums on one tree is the boast of John Heine, horticulturist of Davis fruit district. During the last two years twenty- nine branches of various varieties of plums were fted onto a sturdy trunk of a John Lewis hiles First Best plum tree. Every one of the ranches are bearing fruit in abundance. The first plums ripen in early June and the last along in late September. UNCLE SAM’S LARGEST PAYROLL | ‘The United States employs 252,756 people in the regular post-office department, and 80,485 per- sons are indirectly connected with the big busi- ness of mail communication. It might be asked what the 80,485 persons do. These are clerks at third- and fourth-class offices, mail messengers, screen wagon contractors and employees, carriers for offices having special supply, clerks in charge of contract stations, star route contractors and steamboat contractors and their employees. SQUIRRELS A NUISANCE IN TOWN | _. Gray squirrels, which were welcomed to the city . ten years ago, have become such a nuisance. in & Claire, Wis., that shooting in open violation _ of the city ordinance and the game laws is per- _ plexing city authorities. It is against the law to ‘use firearms in the city at any time and against the State Game Law to kill squirrels except. be- - sween Oct. 15 and Jan. 1. The squirrels gnaw t stretches of shingles from roofs, destroy eggs and young, and interfere -with fruit Just what is to be done to relieve the city oy # is FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY -ly $2,000 to place substantial ladders and guard - in the parlor should get broken?” said Tommy. “Please take your boys home and. send d earthquake.” — my : Z , ae Se — a — 2 a ey es A NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT President Harding’s recent proclamation creat- : ing a national monument embracing the newly discovered Timpanogos Cave in American Fork 7 Canyon, seven miles east of American Fork, Utah, marks a new step in public recognition and use of a region rich in natural beauty and attraction, says the Forest Service, United States Depart- ment of Agriculture. Discovered.in 1921, the cave was partially developed by officers of the Forest Service, but, as their explorations opened up new chambers and passages, the people of American Fork because interested and made available near- ba! ty oe Piss Ty Ae eV We rails and to illuminate the cave by the installation — of an electric lighting system. Last season the beauties of the cave were enjoyed by enthusiastic thousands, the daily attendance frequently rang- — ing into the hundreds. LAUGHS Doctor—Your trouble, madam, seems to be due to an excess of adipose tissue. Patient—Gra- cious! I wonder if that’s what makes me so aw- fully fat? : ~ Pi ee ee ee te ee Pew ee ae ee ee ee eee “Why, Willie,” exclaimed mother, “you’ve been walking too fast for grandpa! You must re-— member he is very short of breath.” “Short of breath, nothin’; he’s been breathin’ a lot more than I have.” Lye a4 — Ry Gy OPN ake Nervous Woman (to persistant beggar)— I give you a piece of pudding you’!] never return— will you? ggar—Well, lady, you know your puddin’ better than I do! : be Hh Mrs. Kindly—Fancy a big strapping~ fellow like you asking for money. You should be ashamed of yourself! Beggar—I am, ma’am.— But once I got twelve months for taking it with- out asking. » ED RUE esate 3 ~ aay (et The Angel (about to give beggar a penn: - Poor man! And are you married? Bergen eee *y don me, madam. D’ye think I’d be relyn’ on total — strangers for support if I had a wife? - eae “Dauber does very realistic work, doesn’t he?” said one artist to another. “So much so,” re-— plied the other, “that those apples he painted six sors ago are now said by the critics to be rot-_ n. Pg = - - te. “Mamma, what would you do if that big vase “I would whip whoever broke it,” said Mrs. — Banks, gazing severely at her little son. “We then, you’d better begin to get up your m said Tommy, “coz papa’s broke it.” ree A father, fearing an earthquake in the re of his home, sent his two boys to a distafht fi until the peril should be over. A few weeks a the father received this letter from his fri $a:

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LONDONER LAUGHS TO DEATH The metaphor “dying of laughter” was trans- fated into fact in the case of the elderly Joseph _ Chatfield, who was so tickled at the drollery of a leading American movie comedian that he was un- able to control his laughter and suddenly col- psed, dying in the arms of a woman sitting be- ‘Side him in.a cinema theatre in London. ea said that Chatfield’s heart had been U x a 3 Td _ 1,600-POUND TUNA GIVES A HARD FIGHT BR 1 sailors employed by the Manasquan, N. J., Fishing Company were injured recently in a three-hour fight with two giant tuna fish off- ore at Manasquan. One of the fish finally tore _ through the net and escaped. The other, lashed by ropes to the ship,-whipped savagely at the : men with its tail and bruised several, but it _ Was finally subdued and brought to shore. It eighed 1,600 pounds. he men who had gone over the side to lash * tuna were taken aboard again by Capt. Henry vensen, badly cut and bruised. . BULLET PIERCES HIS BODW _-A man who had been shot through the ~-dy stagvered into Police Heardquarters, New York, the other’morning and fell into the arms of Pa- siman John Kramer, on duty in the hallway. ramepesent for an ambulance, and the injured an, who said he is James Martina, thirty-one, watchman, was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital a serious condition. He said he went to a restaurant in Mulberry et, had something to eat, and was on his way ie when, at Hester street, he felt a sharp pain his side. He had heard no shot, according to story, but began to bleed and walked to Head- be Examination showed the bullet, en- ere: = body near his heart and passed out of HICKORY SUPPLY AMPLE _ Hickory is one of the best woods for automo- wheels and there is no danger of the ex- tion of hickory. So far ‘as can be judged it be one of the last woods of the country to to supply. Much is used for axe, hammer Similar toy handles and for vehicles, but it rapidly. It is peculiar among woods in the faster it grows the better it is. Second wth—which is a fast growing hickory—is pre- ted for wheel making purposes. The wide ‘of spring wood which are found in open hickory trees give a strength and tough- exactly what is desired by makers of ve- wheels. It is believed that it will be a long ‘in the future before automobile makers can- 2t wood for wheels if they want it. WORLD'S LARGEST OIL TANK z an area of twenty acres and with a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST mington, Cal. The concrete tank will rise only eight feet above the ground, half of it being below the surface, The roof will be supported by wooden poles set in concrete blocks in the: bot- tim of the tank, also of concrete. Despite the vast quantity of oil that will be held \ in the tank, the sides and bottom will be only four inches thick. This feature is made possible by the careful preparation of the earth under the tank, by the methods of reinforceing the concrete and by the nature of the concrete. All soil around the excavation for the tank within accurately de- termined distances is removed and repacked until it is much more dense than at first. This is ac- complished by tractors treaded with iron attach- ments that resemble a sheep’s hoof. The sides of the excavation are packed beyond the limits to which the side of the tank will extend. These sides are then cut through so that at all places the texture of the soil will. be constant. This mammoth tank is the only large concrete project of its kind built of poured concrete; us- .ually they are constructed of steel. CALIFORNIA’S “BIG TREES” As the largest existing organism, the “Big Trees of California” occupy a place unique among the living things of the world, said Dr. H. A. Gleason, lecturing at the New York Botanical Garden. While they may be exceeded in height by some of Australia’s gum trees, as they are ex- ceeded in diameter by the chestnut trees of Sicily, in actual bulk, said the lecturer, they are far , greater than either of these. Authenticated meas- ' urements show that California’s big trees have reached a diameter of over 36 feet, heights of more than 350 feet and ages well over 3,000 years. The big trees, known to the botanist as Sequoia gigantea, have had a long history. Far. back in geologic times various species-ef Sequoia were scattered throughout the entire North Temperate Zone and their fossil remains have been. discoy- ered in New Jersey. They even extended south as far as Australia and Chile, For unknown rea- sons they have been unable to stand the vicissi- tudes of time, and now exist only in California, where one species, the redwood, is common along the coast from San Francisco. northward; and the second is found in groves in the Sierra Moun-. tains, mostly im parks set apart for their preser- vation. They are extremely resistent to fire and- have no known fungus or insect enemies. They_ are frequently damaged but probably not killed by lightning, as a result of which the crowns of the older trees are usually very irregular, If it were not for the damage by lightning it is quite probable that they might exceed 400 feet in height. Since they do not suffer from di sand are | not seriously injured either by fire or lightning, and since trees apparently do not die of old age, the usual cause of death among the big trees is” by the undermining of the root system gh the gradual removal of the soil by water. a Dr. Gleason is Assistant Director of the New. York Botanical Garden. Le . ’ .- ~ =& , a Se. a

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WHEN FAIRIES LIVED IN ENGLAND Toward the end of Neolithic times a race of dwarfs, short of leg, but immensely. strong in the arms, and very like in appearance to the picture of “brownies” and gnomes which are drawn to- day, appeared in the North of Scotland and the ae. islands round that coast. They had come from f Norway, crossing the North Sea in their kayaks. : Upon reaching these islands théy were called : Picts, or Pedigts, meaning dwarfs. The Picts ES lived in caverns underground, and their mysteri- a ous disappearance into the bowels of the earth ee gave them a supernatural reputation. They fur- = ther enhanced this reputation because of certain Es lights from the openings of. their subterranean dwellings. Many legends can be traced back to - these lights. They were very active at night time. Small buildings would be erected as forts in the course of a single night, the stone being passed from hand to hand noiselessly. WIRE-HAIRED TREE EC REST A FAMOUS : N Killing of the famous old White River mountain lion, one of the largest ever known in Arizona, and which had been particularly destructive to live- stock, has brought to the archives of the Biologi- cal Survey a story of a feat as thrilling as any filmed in the movies. g Charley Miller, a co-operative hunter under the Department of Agriculture, with a pack of wire- haired terriers, trailed the animal to the cliffs near White River Crossing. There the lion tried to whip the little terriers as he many times be- fore had beaten off packs of hounds. The terriers wouldn’t yield- and the animal took to a cave in Repeated charging tailed to frighten the te : a g faile tighten the ter- thee nt the lion backed into the den. Miller, lowered over the side of the cliff and dangling the lion, obtained the prey and was pulled safely to the top of the cliff. WALKING FISH The “walking fish” is universally distributed over India. There are numerous species of these fish which are natives of the fresh waters of the ‘Bast Indies and Africa, some of. which attain a length of from two to four feet. They have a ~ Jong subcylindrical body covered with small seales, a snake-like head shielded on top with Jarge scales, and a long spineless dorsal fin. These ‘Temarkable fish breathe air by means of an air ‘chamber developed over the gills, and they die if they breathe water too long. They live in holes im the banks of the rivers and pools and similar _ places and often in the mud. The male eae burrow i ructs =? nest in which me we sepoeiet, - : gble to survive dr ( ing in semi- +p mad. pe lying Torpid below the hard baked ne FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY - INTERESTING ARTICLES from the end of a rope in front of the den, shot . 7 ee crust of a tank or pool from which every drop of water has dried up, Respiration is probably sus- pended during this paEplny. but while the mud ~ is still soft enough to let them come to the sur- _ face they rise at intervals to breathe air. THE HOOKWORM The success of the hookworm in the struggle for existence has been won at the expense of man and other animals, especially ai and cats. The ~ grown-up. worms live in the human intestine, hanging on to its delicate walls each with his or her four hooks from which the family takes its name. The average family, not counting the off- spring, consists of Mr. Hookworm and three wives. The offsprings are not counted because they are innumerable. In the descriptive language of the late Sir Patrick Mansen the female produces a prodigious and never-ending stream of eggs — which pass out with the human dejecta and are disposed of with the sewerage. They are spread __ over the soil of countries like China, where there is no drainage system, and in other lands where ~—_ the system .of disposal is more or less primitive __ there are always millians near the surface of the © land. It has been shown that when buried under two feet of sand the eggs can still hatch into larvae and burrow their way to the surface. The baby hookworm is only one-fifth of a millimetre long, whereas his parents measure fifty times that length. ‘But he grows up to be half a milli- metre and is very hardy. Even after eighteen months he may still be alive and ready to enter a human host. Even after sunshine and frost many little larvae will survive. Like the typhoid bactillus he can find his way inside from dirty hands on the food that they handle or in impure drinking water, but unlike this bacillus he can 3 also work his way through the skin. In the end : he always arrives at the same place, the human intestine, and proceeds to gorge himself with hu- : man blood. As he grows he develops a special * “poison. which prevents the blood from coagulating, ~~ This make it easier for him to feed and inciden- 33 tally is worse for his host, for when the worm __ moves on to new pasture the old wounds continue _ for some little time to ooze blood. No wonder th victims looks pale, feel lazy, and are sturited growth and intelligence. The man, woman or child rarely dies of this complaint directly, though death in some few eases may follow before many months. ioe often a lifeless existence is droned away until some other disease comes to end the sickness. If death were quicker and more dramatic it is cer tain that hookworm disease would rank An public imagination with tuberculosis and as one of the great curses of humanity. As it there are few who have heard that more t half of the 800,000,000 inhabitants of India suffering to-day from this disease, that | mines of China the Rockefeller Commissic found an infection rate of about 90 per * As

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4d y = ope 97) ia / i iF f y Me i} ’ in Poel For a time, his work.. He seemed to really understand what he was doing. what he’was talking about. ' “9 we sat down and talked for over an hour. Finally, I asked him where he had learned so much “about his work. He smiled and ‘took a little book from his pocket. “*There’s no secret about it,’ he said. “The answer's right here. Four months ago I saw one of se advertisements of the Inter- Mational Correspondence Schools. had been seeing them for years, mt this time ‘something inside of tion on art, position: a i jeat beteon ‘which 1 I have marked an X in the list below :— ; “He's Already Patented Four Inventions” UNNY thing, too . When he first came here he was just ‘an ordinary worker. when things were slack, I even thought that we might have to let him go. “Then, gradually, I noticed an improvement In ; These inventors and many others once studied with the I.C.S. JESSE G. VINCENT Vice-president of Packard Motor Car Co., inventor of the Packet Lg and co-in- ventor of the Liberty Motor. JOHN C. WAHL = vice-president of The Wahl Co., inventor of the Wabl Addeg Machine, e: Eversherp Pencil and the Wahl Fountain Pen. My ike Lily Mine Invent e ly Pe Thain Controller. ibaa i Me ngineer, Sittin Steel Co.,. St. Louis. ontreal, Canada. # residing im Canada should send this coupon to the Teternasional: Hy Cerrsarentonte: Melepets, Senet ears first lesson. me said, Send in that coupon. It was the best move I ever made—I knew it the minute I started my Before, I had been working in a sort of mental -fog—just an automatic part of the machine in front of-me. But the L C. S. taught me to really understand what I was doing.’ “Well, that was just a s Three times since he has come to me with improvements on our ma- chines—improvements that are being adopted in other plants and on which he receives a royalty. He is certainly a splendid example of the practical value and thorough- ness of I. C. S. training.” Every mail brings letters from students of the I, S. telling of advancements and larger salaries won through spare-time study. There’s still a chance for you, if you will only make the start. Just fill out and mail the coupon printed below and, without cost or obligation, get the full story of what the I. C. S. can do for you. To-day —not To-morrow —is the day to take that first definite. step toward Success. se me es ee ee ee ee — TAR OUT HERE me ee ee es eS please tell a how I can quality ee the Civil Engineer Fusions een - om “Engine ating Mapping ndustrial Manageme vertising re lane A ae tr sdb or Engineer A aeavenaere a ig sad and Typing e: reo reas 9A Banking and Banking Law Civil Service Contractor and Bullder se pay 4 rest AD ae kd = — ginee: tural Draftsman Nicholson Cost Acco ing ‘ormmon 00! bjects hanteal Dr 4 acral Tagine Bookkeeping High School Subjects Shop Practice Chemistry Business English Tilustrating Positions . Pharmacy if Business Spanish French sodtatesnseevenesasseenssgusseceselgeacssnssseesnesMsreressascevoneenenscasteceoessesenee Street Address...... Jannas sees eesecescnseeneererenesees ES es ee ae ee en etek fa SE

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51000 Reward Everyday rewards like the above are being offered for the detection of crime. In the last year about $5,000,000 was offered in rewards, besides the rewards which were offered by private parties. These re- wards were finally won by the trained expert. The methods that trained experts use are so simple that the world is surprised at the ease with which they make their deductions. These experts are now also retained by the corporations, banks and large institutions. You too can share in these rewards as well as hold down a big-paying position. The demand for the finger-print expert exceeds the supply. Positions are waiting right now to More Men Needed Right Now! It is the trained man The professional finger-print expert is always in demand. that is always sought for. Let me make you a finger-print expert. Then the po- sition will be looking for you instead of you looking for a position. We have so. many positions waiting to be filled right now that we are guaranteeing fo place every man as soon as he is finished with our course. And we are backing this remarkable offer up with a $1,000 bank guarantee deposited with the Phillip State Bank of Chicago. I Guarantee! You a Position In what other line of work can you always be assured of a position—be certain you will always be sought for? I mean every word when I say that I will guarantee you a position, as you have finished this course you step into a posi- tion. You choose where you want to The position is looking for the man. And that is because you are a trained expert. FRE finger-print experts. EES Sgt EO ee 2 enh reoner U. S. School of Finger Prints Room 10-93 7003 N. Clark St., Chicago, mf Without any obligation whatsoever please send me fall y information about your “Guaranteed Position Offer.” Also tell me how I can become.a Finger-print Expert. ee f 1 a a a EE S ” a ee el De a Just think of it! Assoon § 30 Minutes a Day Makes You a Finger-print Exper That is all the time necessary. Just 30 min- tutes a day for a few months, The training you get has been prepared by a finger-print expert, who knows just what is required. You need not give up your present occupa- tion while you are studying this fascinating work, And just think of it. You have a position waiting for you. Finger-print Outtfit| To all who enroll right now I am going to give abso- lutely free a professional finger-print outfit. kind that I use myself. Get started right now and get into this big-paying profession. ‘The same The kind that is used by all ¢ Send this cou- pon with just | Send This fur name Cou pon and address, send you free full in- formation about this fascinating, big-paying profession. Learn all about the positions that are now waiting to be filled. Get started. The big opportunity — you have been waiting for is here. Send coupon and learn all about it. DO-IT TODAY! U. S. SCHOOL OF FINGER PRINTS — Room 10.93 7093 N. Clark St., Chicago, a : :

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A BOW- “FACING OAR An oar has been devised by Alton J. Wiltrout of Warsaw, Ind., which permits the Person who is rowing in a boat to sit facing the direction in which he is going. Such _ oars are particu- larly useful when the boat is used for fishing pur- poses, as it en- ables the person at the oars to Steer with accu- racy at a critical moment while the angler is playing ' the fish. Each oar is made in two sections and these are operatively _ connected by met- al straps and a - pivot bolt mount- 258 in a_ roller _ bearing. Each " section of the oar is operatively “Mounted on bars - that are support- - ed from the sides of the boat. The *bar which sup- - ports the inboard Part of the oar is ~ in practically V- - Shaped form and - is supported at both ends, while = e bar on which the out-board sec- - tion of the oar is ‘Mounted is sup- _ Ported only at its _ inner end, but is partially support- ca extending “across the sides of the boat on “Which it rests. en these oars an the ordinary for ‘purposes jee: tion, GLANDS MADE ACTIVE BY A NEW DISCOVERY) f& Chemists Find a Substance Which Re- news Vigor by Effect on Nerves and Secretions. A discovery made recently by medi- cal chemists will be hailed with delight by millions. It is a substance which quickly renews youthful vigor by in- creasing the activity of the nerves and glands on which vital force depends. Its effect is so prompt that a few grains of it produce a visible improvement. Thousands who have tried it tell of de- lightful results in 24 to 48 hours, many reporting a full restoration of physical powers within a week. The discovery has what scientists call a “selective” effect, concentrated direct- ty on important nerve centers, glands and blood vessels. Thus the circulation improves, a new sense of warmth is felt and the increased glandular activ- ity soon brings a restoration of youth- ful power and animation, manifested in sparkling eyes, buoyant step and an eagerness and increased capacity for the duties of life. The effects are vir- tually the same in both old and young. Men past 60 say the discovery has given them the vigor of the prime of life. In the research department of the Melton laboratories, the substance has been made available for home treat- ment by combining it, in tablet form, with other invigorating ingredients. The result, known as korex compound, is a double-strength product, contain- ing no harmful drugs, which users pro- nounce the most powerful and delight- ful vitalizer known. In fact, its success has been so great that the distributors invite any person needing it to take a double-strength treatment with the un- derstanding that it costs nothing if it fails. ¢ If you"wish to try this amazing in- vigorator, write confidentially to the Melton Laboratories, 8361 Massachusetts Bldg., Kansas City, Mo., and the treat- ment will be mailed to you in a plain, sealed package. You may enclose $2, or simply send your name, without money, and pay $2 and postage on de- livery. In either case, if you report “no results” after one week, the labora- tories will refund your money. These laboratories are thoroughly reliable, so nobody need hesitate to accept their guaranteed offer. Sell Madison “Better-Made” Bhirts, mas, and Nightshirts direct Finest bicycle bullt—44 s colors and sizes. Factory to Rider BoSnee FREE wan arbe yg J express prepaid on Trial.Cash or easy pay’ts. IRES =" lamps, wheels and equipment —R at half usual prices. Send zo money. Write sa or big catalog, special Facto free and marvelous offerg SH ae MEAD CYCLE CO. >=: cHicAGo Your skin can be quickly cleared of bib eg ae: heads, Acne gee ~ a cg er Itch, Eczema, E: FREE $1000 Cash above ES CIVENS. 160 Chancel Rae, Konene GltyMo- TOBACCO Habit Cured or No Pay Any form, cigars,ci en einn. chewing orsnuff Gosrentoed. cod. Heres plete treatment sent a con SUPERS CO. Gisiphausese Sit res for’ my, ‘one Sam,” Big, Handsome, Dressed, Sleeping Doll sent prepaid for selling ONLY SIX PACKETS new Highly Per- fumed Sachet Powder AT 10c. This is a Special Offer to introduce our sachet. A Wealso give Mama Dolls, Walking Dolls, and premiums for boys. Lane Mfg. Co. Dept.153 Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Brand new blue steel, Vf Soubie satety automaties bought before ae tariff raise - . Sees ae omered at

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a Fame and Fortune Weekly : — LATEST IssUuUES — 890 Lucky Larry; or, The Boy Who Made Wall Street Take Notice. 891 The Young Wrecker; or, The Boy Who Dealt in Derelicts. 892 In the Game for Gold; or, Beating the Wall Street arket. 893 Messenger Sixty-four; or, Hustling for a Living. 894 Old Kitson’s d; or, The Best Tip in Wall Street. 895 Lineman Jack; or, The Boy Who Built a Business. 896 Barry & Co., Bankers and Brokers; or, The Boy Money Makers of Wall Street. 897 On the Fast Mail; or, From Clerk to Postmaster. 898 His Last Chance; or, The Boy Who Made Money in Wall Street. 899 ee to Sea; or, The Treasure of the Coral Cave. 900 An Errand Boy’s Fortune; or, The Office of tho Wall Street Secrets. 901 In the Film Game; or, The Boy Who Made Moving Pictures. 902 A Smart New York Boy; or, From the Tenements to Wall Street. . 903 Mark Milten’s Mine; or, A Schoolboy’s Inheritance, 904 The Young Banker; or, ‘(he Mystery of a Money Box. 905 The Secret Chart; or, The Golden Treasure of the Crater. 906 The Boy Behind the Deals; or, The Luck of a Wall Street Broker. 007 nie the World; or, Starting Business with a Dollar. 908 A’ Speculator at 16; or, The Lad Who Worked His Brains, 909 Tom, the Steeplejack; or, Winning a Living by Nerve. 910 Saving a Million; or, Ben and the Wall Street Brokers. 911 Down and Out; or, A Hard Boy to Beat. 912 The Boy Banker's Double; or, A Strange Wall St. Mystery. 818 The Young Beach Comber; or, A Fortune in the Sand. 914 The Little Boss; or, After the Wall St. Money Kings. $15 $250,000 in Gold; or, Hunting a Hindoo Treasure. 916 A Corner in Money; or, Beating the Wall St. Loan Sharks. 917 Going It Alone; or, The Boy Who Made His Own Luck. 918 Little Dan Tucker; or, Making Big Money in Wall $ Street. 919 Fighting for Business; or, Beating a Bad Start. 920 & Boy Money-Maker; or, In Wall Re. on His Nerve. 921 Buried Gold; or, The Treasure of the Old Buc- caneers. : 922 Hitting It Rich; or, The Luckiest Firm in Wall St. 923 Sam the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Tongue. P 924 Playing in Luck; or, A_ Plotter’s Dangerous Deal. 925 After 2 Big Stake; or, Brains Against Brawn. 926 Facing the Mexicans; or, The Secret of the Aztec’s 1d Gold. 927 Fighting. for Fame; or, The Luck of a Young Con- tract: A a Lost Treasure; or, The Nerve of a Young a Explorer. 929 Matt the Mechanic; or, The Boy Who Made His Pile. 930 Among the Ice Peaks; or, The Voyage That Made the Money. 931 The Little Castaways*or, The Fortune That a : Wreck Brought. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any ad- dress on receipt of price, 7c. per copy, in money or pos- tage stamps, by : HARRY FE. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., - 166 West 23d Street, : New York City HOW TO SCENARIOS HOW TO - Price 35 Cents Per Copy procure e stage stamps, and we will Saye you me woe, postage fren. Address t _ | L. SENARENS, 219 Seventh Ave., New York, N.Y. 166 West 23d Street a OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS Useful, ‘Instructive and Amusing. They Contain — Valuable Information on Almost Every Subject No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.—Contain- ing full directions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises.\ Embracing thirty-five illustra- a By Professor W. Macdonald. o. 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 Hiding. companion sports to boating. =f o 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.—Eye pe desirous of knowing what his future life will ‘Telne a ta cron BepEincns or or tle wealth or pores. ean te a glance at thi and 2 Tae g 8 little book, uy one °. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR—Eyv boy should know how inventions originated. This books explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hy- draulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, ete. No. 33. HOW TO BEHAVE.—Containing th and etiquette of good society and the edaiont and porte Beniet belie tere appearing to good advantage at 5 , the theeatre, m * Partie e, church, and in thé drawing No. 33. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A com useful little book, containing the rules and pelts oP + —ppnerie, bagatelle, back-gammon, croquet, dominoes, — No. 36. HOW-TO SOLVE CONUNDRUM .—Contain- ing all the leading conundrums of the aa ssouabeer - riddles, curious catches and witty sayings. ; No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.—Includ-_ ing hints on how to catch moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds: Also how to cure skins. Copiously illustrated. i BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN’s _ JOKE BOOK.—Containing a great variety of the tstust” jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. _ No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YOR TUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied assortment of stoma a speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men's jokes, — Just the thing for home amusement and amateur raat : No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINST GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK.—Something new and yery ee ear — aren obtain this book, as it — contains full instructions for organizi amateur : Sa ag troupe. metiet:~ ro 0. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECTRICITY. — —A. description of the wonderful uses of electricity electro magnetigm; together with full instructions making Electrig’Toys, Batteries, ete. By George Trebe} A. M., M. D. ontaining over fifty illustrations. x 3 No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANO —iae bantty book for boys. containing full directions tone structing canoes anc e most popular m ’ sail- ing them. Fully illustrated. ce pee = No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rule ; pet ead ok a Li op for nage aiestionitia Gis cussion an e best sources for procurin rma’ on the questions given. ¥ a tate = No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ZL! —A valuable book, giving instructions in collectin reparing, mounting and preserving birds, animals a nsects. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.— No. 651. taining explanations of the general principles of of-hand applicable to card tricks; of a tricks ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-han tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of spe prepared cards. Nustrated. No, 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.—A complete gz = ‘tandy little book, giving the rules and full directions _ for playing Euchre, Cribbage, Forty-Fi Cassino, Rounce, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Pitch, Fours, and many other popular games of ecards. No. 56. HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEER taining full instructions how to become a locon engineer; also directions for building a model loe tive; together with a full description of everything engineer should know. ae For sale by all newsdealers or will be any address on receipt of price, 10 cents per | in money or postage stamps, by =] HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher,

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