Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 935) (1923 08 31)

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BOYS, READ ‘THF ".ADIO ARTICLES IN’ THIS NUMBER No. 935 ” AUGUST 31, 1923 Price 7 Cents A AME: " STORIES OF ase ee MAKE aaa Soi aon BOY (ADE - 1 As , og UO Bg oe ‘Se teat out the fire and carried her forward a short distance toward safety. capaongecumag he worked! ‘the senseless girls toward the end of the long room, withthe flan.es. now,i contre] of the floor, reaching out hungrily_ after himy

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Like Good Radio News? Turn to pages 24 and 25 FAME AND FORTUNE Ashe issued weekly—Subscription price, $3.50 per year; Lanete: $4.00; Foreign, $4.50. og? "West oan a E _ Hntered as Second-Class Matt ¥., under the Act of NEW YORK, AUGUST 31, THE WINNING OR, HOW A BOY MADE HIS MARK °2.%, 4% treet, New York, N. Y. the Post-Office at’ New York, N. By A SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER I.—Which Introduces. Three Im- Pertant Characters. “Please let a past, Mr. Jarvis,” said a pretty et lainly clad girl in a tone of remonstrance, e stepped back and endeavored to walk ound a well-dressed but not over-prepossing ‘boy of seventeen years who had deliberately plac- ed himself in her path. “T’ve got something to say to you, Jessie Fair- weather,” answered the boy, changing his posi- tion so as to block her progress. “ButeI want to go home,” persisted the girl, firmly. ‘ “Pooh! You've lots of time. past five.” “Tt’s getting dark, and you have no right to met me,” protested the girl, with no little in- ation. “You ought to be glad to be seen talking to me,” said the youth, loftily. “You ought to be ,ashamed of yourself to an- Toy me in this way.” saho’s annoying you? “I’m not ashamed of that fact. I suppose you consider yourself a gentleman?” the girl said, scornfully. “Of course I’m a gentleman,” said the boy, “elevating his chin proudly. “I don’t have to work, = ~ and my father is the most important man in this It’s only half- You’re only a factory kx , to Then if you are a gentleman, you will allow oe = to pass,” she said in response to Master . ge lofty assertion. -_ “All right,” agreed Lewis, Tet me see you home.” _ *T prefer to go home alone,” effort to get by Sten ai “Not when you can get that pauper Will Som- to go along with you,” cried.the boy, angrily, Us io seizing her by the wrist. “if you promise to snaking another igured : pair Y of onesie ind a Sieh jumper, game it, wheeling an iron barrow filled with ashes nd clinkers. ot my_hand, Mr. Jarvis!” ‘cried Secsi ie, , eg ‘resentfally. ‘no girl I would ‘sooner. - Wolf, Publisher, Inc., 166 1911, at “Will you let me go home with you?” * “No!” she cried, with a defiant toss of her head. “Then you can’t go-until I choose to let you!” he retorted, angrily. “How dare you treat me in this manner?” a: cried, with flashing @yes, “Because I choose to do so.” d : The boy in the overalls and jumper had seen Lewis Jarvis grab Jessie Fairweather by the wrist, and easily overheard all that followed. His natural chivalry toward the fair sex told him it was time to interfere, even without refer- ence to the fact that he looked upon the girl as a particular friend. So he dropped the wheelbar- row, stepped up to the son of Northpert’s mag- nate, and laying his hand on his shoulders, said, with quiet determination: “T think you had better let Miss Fairweather go home if she wants to.” Lewis started back in some little aeny athe. for he knew he was in the wrong, and Jessie took advantage of the moment to snatch her hand from his grasp. But when he recognized who it was that -had interfered his brow grew as black as thunder-gust, and he snorted “What do you mean, you pauper! How dare you lay your dirty hand on me!” “I interfered because you were annoying Miss Fairweather,” said the newcomer in straightfor- - ward tones, and he raised his soft felt hat polite- ly to the girl. “You common fireman! I’ve a good mind to—” He doubled up his fists in a threatening man- ner, but the calm, undaunted look which the other gave him convinced Lewis that discretion was the better part of valor. As Lewis Jarvis turned on his heel and strode away, his small ct on the boy who had dared to eross him, Jessie walked up to Will, and holding out- her hand, said: “J hope you will understand that I am very grateful to you for what. you did for me, and I trust you will not get into any trouble over i “Don’t worry about that, Jessie; I’m not afraid of anything Lewis Jarvis can do with | ha lame excuse to work upon. I am very d I was able to be of service to you, for there is And then he siyeEed in embarrassment. . mind brood- j = upon the retaliation he hoped to 5 he able to” in

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2 “Thank you,” she answered, with just the sus- picion of a-blush. “Isn’t it most time for you to go home?” are “Yes: if you wouldn’t mind waiting a féw - minutes Fe be happy to escort you home,” he said eagerly. “Tl Sait for it’s getting quite dark now, and I should be glad to have you with me.” Five minutes later they left the yard of the engine-house together. CHAPTER Il.—In Which Lewis Jarvis, Having Failed to Get Square with Will Somers, Decides to Even Up Things with Jessie Fairweather. Superintendent Harper of the Northport Cot- ton Mills was in his office on the morning fol- lowing the affair mentioned in the previous chap- ter, when Squire Jarvis walked in unannounced. “Good-morning, Mr. Harper,” said the magnate, blandly. E “Good-morning, Squire Jarvis,” answered the superintendent. ; “T would like to speak to you about a certain matter.” - “Well, Squire Jarvis, in what way can I be of service to you?” asked the superintendent, wheeling about in his chair. : “Ahem! I’m sorry that I have to make a seri- ous complaint against one of your employees,” began the nabob somewhat brusquely. “Indeed! J regret to hear that such is the reason of your visit. Who is the person to whom you refer, and what is the nature of the of- fense?” : “J will explain, sir. My son Lewis happened d -to be in this neighborhood last evening at half- . past five, which is the hour the mill shuts down for the day, I believe.” The superintendent nodded. g 4 “He stopped to speak to one of the girls— here name is “Fairweather. I believe—when a boy by the name of Somers, employed in the -engine-room. came up, and laying one of his ‘greasy hands on my son’s clean clothes, broke up the interview by saying it was time for the ‘| to go home. Lewis very properly resented _ this unwarranted interference, whereupon the Somers boy insulted him in a gross manner.” “J am sorry to hear you bring such a charge egal young Somers, Squire Jarvis. Are you _ sure there isn’t some mistake? Will Somers is the brighest boy in this establishment, and is for his gentlemanly conduct.” » ; _ “No mistake whateyer,” answered the squire, ‘positively. “My son stated the case very fairly = ray 5s = “rs ; : to me. I judged from his manner that he rather underestimated the gravity of the offense, being unwilling, no doubt, to have his aggressor too "severely punished, which is to his credit. As a 3 inge holder is this company, I you $ -understasd that I cannot permit my son to be ‘insulted by one of the employees. I therefore t t you will immediately discharge this “will take the matter under consideration, Ts oy me “s : aire Jarvis,” politely responded the superin- EtG. Yavvie” “politely, responded. the sparta. ing my part, do you, sir? THE WINNING TRICK ing in his own defense. I will also hear what Miss Fairweather has to say about it. Tell your son to cal] here at two o’clock this afternoon and I will listen to his side of the question. If I find that Will Somers has not treated your son fairly I will see that he is disciplined.” “I should think, Mr. Harper, that my state- ment of the case ought to. be sufficient,” said the nabob, pompously. “My son would not lie to me. He has too much respect for himself and the position he occupies in society to make a change not founded on fact. I may say this is not the first time this Somers boy has failed in according my son-the respect to which he is en- titled.” “It is a rule of mine never to proceed against any employee without having thoroughly sifted the evidence in the case. As a lawyer you under- stand’ that every one, no matter how humblexhis or her position, is entitled to an equal show of justice.” “Very well,” responded the nabob, stiffy. “I shall expect that you will look into this thing at once. As soon as the Somers boy’s offense has been shown to your satisfaction I look to you to discharge him immediately.” Superintendent Harper made so reply to this, and the squire, taking his silence in an a- tive sense, rose from the chair, bowed coldly and left the office. ; “This isn’t at all like Will Somers.” muttered Mr. Harper, after he had sent to the engine- room for the boy. “Young Jarvis has evidently exaggerated the affair to suit his own views.” Will presently reported at the superintendent’s office, clad in his overalls and jumper, and his bright, manly, yougn face favorably impressed the official whose duty it was to pass on the merits. of the alleged difficulty. “You wished to see me, Mr. Harper?” asked the lad; modestly. “Yes, Will. I regret to say a charge has been bre against you by Squire Jarvis. He has just eft. “I expected it,” replied the boy, cheerfully. “Lewis Jarvis and I had a run-in last night about closing time, and he threatened to tell his fathe and have me discharged.” ; The superintendent smiled good-naturedly. “T will hear what you have to say about it,“ he_said, kindly. Will at once rehearsed the cause of the trouble, _ 2 yer eo ae ee and referred to Jessie Fairweather for corrobora- _ tion of his story. Mr. Harper nodded, as if he put a good deal of,faith in the boy’s statement. “J will send for the lady in the case,” he said, enially. st assured fairness.” “You may return to the engine-room. — you will be treated with perfect — : Jessie Fairweather was called down from the operating room, and she backed Will’s story with > an earnestness that called up a smile to ‘the su- perintendent’s face. © “I see you have a friendly feeling for Will Somers,” he said. oi = “I have,” she replied, without any emb : ayeit Pee pas I like ne moe ch.” myself, and I’m sure I like him very much.” “That is all, Miss Fairweather.” “You don’t think he will be diss + a 2

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THE WINNING TRICK 3 “T don’t think you need worry about that,” he object the humilitation of Jessit Fairweather. erp. with a quizzical smile. Consequently, as Lewis Jarvis had surmised, she _ Thank you.” was an easy tool for him to use. Much against his will, Lewis Jarvis called on “Good-afternoon, Tessie,” said Lewis, taking the superintendent that "afternoon and gave his off his hat to her. story of the difficulty. His statement showed so “Good-afternoon, Mr. Jarvis,” she replied, ‘much personal rancor against Will that the brief pleased to be addressed by the nabob’s son. crogs-examination to which he was subjected con- “I s’pose you don’t object.to my company for a vinced Mr. Harper that there was no ground on little way, do you?” he said, with a smirk, in- which to proceed against Will in the matter, and tended to be fetching. accordingly he eninesd the charge, writing a “Not at all; on the contrary, - shall consider note to Jarvis to that effect. Lewis was it an honor,” she answered, hoping some of _ very much dissatisfied with the outcome of the her girl friesds would see her a ing with the affair. Having failed to get square with Will magnate’s son, and that the sight would make ts, he now transferred a portion of his them turn green with jealousy. _ enmity to Jessie Fairweather. “It’s too bad that such a prety girl as you “She’s a stuck-up thing for a poor mill hand,” should have to work on such a pleasant day,” Me * od he said to himself with an air of disgust, as he proceeded the astute Master Jarvis, with a polite was retiring for the a ht. “I’d like to take her rin. down a peg or two. eve she’s stuck on that “Isn’t it?” cried Tessie, in a discontented tone. ic, and he am as if he was gone on her. “However, I don’t expect to work always, Mr. Tet could only manage to get her fired from the Jarvis.” zs -e make them both feel sore, and “Sure you won’t. Some rich young fellow, like I could kill two birds with one stone. I myself, for instance, will come along and snap wn what I’ll.do. Tessie Rickson is jealous of you up when you aren’t thinking.” cher. She likes Somers herself. Perhaps J can “I’m afraid the other girls would all be jealous _ put something into Tessie’s head that'll give her of me, then,” said Tessie, delighted at the sug- a chance to get that Fairweather girl into gestion, which had not occurred to her before. _ trouble. She'll grab at such a scheme in a “J- guess they would, especially Jessie Fair- S minute. If it works, een be allright; if it weather. I hear she doesn’t like you for a cent,” _ doesn’t,.and Tessie get s into trouble over it, _ said Lewis, artfully, “and doesn’t care who knows why, tll be her lookout. In any case I don’t. jt,” ‘isk anything. I'll see her to-morrow. It'll be “Tt hate her!” Mi : a 3 cae wiek things duit coune ary wey.” Se ate her!” snapped Miss Rickson, vindic _ With that charitable reflection he hopped into “She isn’t so much, though she seems to think bed and was soon asleep. half the boys are crazy over her,” continued the 2 boy. “Do you think she’s so pretty?” : # sin pF do you?” asked Tessie, with com- a3 pres. ips. "CHAPTER Ii—In Which Lewis Jarvis Inter- “Not by a jugful. I like the color of your _ Views Tessie Rickson, and Afterwards Hears ter +: ” Something that Gives Him Great Satis- morgen ta. g<* making PRG faction. ain’t you?” she asked, doubtfully. factory ds had an hour for lunch, and “I’m not. Her hair is nice enough in its way, ates the po Pim home for = sneaey. meal. eat a js te ara fashionable shade. I 3 was one ani wis hea Vv and sagpooee tel with et bie intentions A whopper or two by the boy did not worry his jak Jessie Fairweather took care to meet conscience a great deal when they assisted him ee as if by accident on the way to her father’s in the attainment of some object he had in. view. . Miss Rickson was a tall, somewhat Miss Rickson was very pleased to hear that Mrs. person, with red hair, which, Jarvis, the leader of Northport society, had ac- pote youre ed to as auburn, a freckled tually noticed and favorably commented on her ce, a act ooking mouth and a turned-up hair, She would take care that all the girls she nose. While she wasn’t prepared to admit even 5 sgt gona oe Sp Ssemtes herself ther d see with half stand for Jessie ke ong was reo plain, so far as Fairweather going about and telling the other :$ were concerned—she was jealous of every * girls that_you had carroty hair and——” “Did say that?” almost gasped Tessie, with » received more attention from the boys taghing syea. because every said ete was the ¢ring a grin with his hand, “but freckles as large pretties girl in Northport, and boeanse she (T ee as warts——” ; somewha ll Somers, and The idea!” screamed Miss Rickson, now been pantiols-29 Sth'the of orig- “That isn’t all,” went wis, in his. soft square with way. “I suppose you Talat Tethtbe bg mouth was big enough to eat ilioe she said ‘and fm sbny oP panes aig ones se wn - down on Jessie Fair- “Not only carroty hair,” added Lewis, smoth- — ae girls said Jessie was Will’s sweet- mad as a hornet. “The artful Ae: = ae get square with her for that,” snapped bes =

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a THE WINNING TRICK over or make fun of me,” said Lewis, egging the poor, deluded girl on. “I heard she was making fun of you before Will Somers the other night. Said you were only a bundle of bones—she was afraid to touch you for fear you’d rattle, and somebody might think one of the machines was out of order.” “Oh, I’ll fix her, the flaxen-haired thing!” ex- claimed Tessie, furiously. “Look here,” said Lewis, tapping her on the shoulder, “do you know what a girl once did to another Se who talked about her in that way?” « “No, I don’t; what did she do?” asked Miss Rickson, with some interest. “She got her fired from the shop where they both worked.” “Served her right. I’d give a good deal to get that washed-out blonde Miachareed from our place.” “This girl managed, somehow or other, to have a putse that did not belong to her found in one of the other girl’s pockets. She was accused of _ the theft, and as she couldn’t prove she didn’t ' ==take it, she was thrown out by the boss. It ought to be easy to work a thing like that. Now, mind, I don’t tell you to do it—you’ve got too kind a Theat to do anything like that, I know.” “Oh, yes,” gritted the furious maiden, grasp- ing at the idea like a drowning man at a straw. '- “T’m too kind-hearted. I n’t think of do- ing such a thing. But how do you know this pasty-faced Miss Fairweather would not steal hs the purse if she got the chance?” = “That's a fact,” admitted Lewis, humoring her. “And if t’was found on her ’twould show she - was really a thief, wouldn’t it?” “Sure it would,” snickered Lewis, now feel- = ing sure of the girl, aR, _ “{ wouldn’t be surprised if something like that 3 actually did happen. We girls are very care- less with our purses. If I should miss mine V’ll _ know whom to accuse.” By that time they had reached the gate of the poor-looking Rickson cottage, and, Lewis was on the point of bidding the gir 5 Evade by. when Jock _ Rickson, her Kaige appea: at the door, and asked him if he would not walk in, as he wanted ; te see him about a matter of importance. Young Se Jarvis was not anxious for an interview with ~» Tessie’s father, but as he saw no way out of it, he followed the girl into the house. ~ she we vaired to the dining-room to get her din- oa ‘old man led Lewis into: the darkened " sitting-room, and asked him to sit down near his mahogan: escritoire. Job Rickgon looked ; or he ally was. He was thin and spare Tike his dai euaghter: with closely cropped corroty : hair and. kled features. He was mean and ies pel See Haposttinn. 4 though he had a fat 4 account in the town savings bank, he always leclared he was not worth a cent. ‘He kept his house and property in poor shape so as to hood- wink the assessor, but after all he deceived no- y 60. much as himself, He often loaned money bors, on the best of security, of a tee ‘State law prevented him from s interest, ways and * While ° he around: faire aw age ‘were — “Do you think your father would be willing to collect a note for me?” began Mr. Rickson. - “Sure! Why not? That’s part of his busi- ness, isn’t it?” said Lewis in some surprise. “TI thought I’d ask you, because this here note’s been runnin’ a long time, and I hain’t made no great attempt to collect it, ’cause the party hain’t any too well fixed, you see, and it kind of goes ag’in my grain to push poor people to the wall.” “The note isn’t outlawed, is it?” asked Master Jarvis, suspiciously. “No; not for four months yet.” “It’s good, then. How much is it for?” “Three hundred dollars. I really can’t afford to lose so much money.” : “Who is it against?” “It is signed by Nat Somers. He’s dead, you ae: but I packee his widder is responsible for “Who did you say?” said Lewis, in some ex- - citement. “Nat Somers, Will Somers’ father?” “You’vée got it jest right, young man,” replied Mr. Rickson, nodding his head. ies “You give me that note, Mr. Rickson,” cried Lewis, jumping to his feet, “and my father’ll col- | lect it for you all right.” The old man promptly produced the note in question, and after the boy had looked it over to see that it was all right he started for his father’s office. “By the great hornspoon!” he ejaculated. “This is luck. I don’t believe Mrs. Somers will be able to pay it. This is where I’ have got the squeeze on) that low-down mechanic, Will Som- ers.. You 1 put your greasy. paws on me, will © you? Oh, father and I won’t do a thing to you this time, you pauper! ‘I’ve got you where I want you now, and I’ll make you eat humble pie, all right.” With this pious feeling in his mind he hur- ried along the street. z : CHAPTER IV:—The Game of Chance. As the Fairweather and Somers homesteads, — of some five acres each, adjoined one another on — the’ suburbs of Northport, it was quite the usual _ thing of late for Will-and Jessie to go home to- gether after their day’s work. At closing time on the day that Master Jarvis had his'interview with Tessie Bickoams Jessie found Will waiting x for her at the gate “I’m on time to-night, all right,” he said in fe tone of satisfaction, as he bowed ‘politely to sev-" eral of the other girls passing out at the mS | ment. “Are you glad?” ; “T am afraid it will make you dreadfully coms. ceited if I admit I am,” said Jessie, with a tantalizing little laugh. “You boys do think such .s an awful lot of yourselves.” “Come, now, Jessie, you’re too hard - on pear, ‘sg remonstrated Will with a grin, as they. started ae off bac y wae ae Am I? Really. Why, I never look at peer Jarvis but I almost fancy the world isn’t quite large enough to hold him pie. “aoghed the girl. os ee Boo “Lewis ie Bein is ina class all ¥

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Te es = 3 THE WINNING TRICK 5 _ “I certainly wouldn't think of doing such a in He isn’t a real boy. And just think, he _ alls himself a gentleman, becauSe he doesn’t have to work and because his father is looked upon as one of the biggest men in town. A gentle- = wouldn’t act the way he did the night be- ‘ore last,” said Jessie, scornfully. . “I should say not,” answered Will, emphatical- ly. He didn’t lose any. time trying to get me _ bounced because I interfered in your behalf. But ~ his pull didn’t seem to work.“ He’s mean enough to do most anything. Of course, he’s got it in _ for me now, but I ain’t afraid of anything he can do. There isn’t anything against me at the ~~ mill, and I don’t propose there shall be, as I make _ it a point to attend strictly to my business during - working hours.” . “Mother says you’re bound to become a success- - ful man if you live,” said the girl, with a look _ of admiration at her escort. = “That’s what I’m aiming for,” replied the boy, _ with modest confidence. “You intend to become an engineer, I suppose?” + “Certainly; but I don’t mean to stop at that. _ One of these days I hope to own ‘at least a part _ of a mill myself, and a thorough knowledge of the requirements of the engine-room ought to be of — value to the proprietor himself.” Re ou are aiming high, Will,” said Jessie, with asmile. - _ *] think every young fellow ought to aim high _ in this world if he ever expects to land in a good _ place where he can make money.” ; _. “That’s something many boys, Lewis Jarvis, ' for instance, don’t feel called upon to worry ~ about. The money is already provided for them in advance.” : __ “All the same, I wouldn’t change places with . Lewis Jarvis. Money isn’t everything, not by al It sometimes has wings and disap- If he puts all his reliance et away from him one of these days after he grown up, where will he be at?” “Ym not good at guessing conundrums, Will,” laughed the girl. “And that reminds me of a undrum with which you are connected, and which I’ve been trying hard to solve ever since srwhat’s that, Jessie?” asked the boy, curiousl “What’s that, Jessie?” as e boy, curiously. “The girls all call it Will Somers’ Folly when- fed thee cpsck about it.” ar he “Oh, I know what you refer to now,” grinned he bo: f “and perhaps they may be right, though intil the fact is proved I must beg to differ with s call it a game of chance—it’s a toss-up I come out ahead or not; but I think ‘if anything, should be in my favor, for ced the thing on a sort of scientific le I feel confident I have gone the succeed. When dealing with ° 1 my glans ‘as the ‘quaking the peop] it, or the ten-acre swamp- call it, a fellow can’t feel very sure where going to 1 Jessie ; it to reach results, it doesn’t © _ enough for you,” “Do let me into the secret, won’t you?” said Jessie, persuasively. “For there is a secret, I know. You’re too smart a boy to go into any scheme blindfolded. It isn’t like you. It may be a game of chance, as you call it; but I’m cer- tain there’s some method in your madness.” “Well, Jessie, at least I had the advantage of one man’s failure to give me a wrinkle before J went into the thing.” “It was such a total failure that I wonder you ever took up with it.” “That’s what it was. When Mr. Rickson bought that swamp-lot at what he thought was a bangain,.he was under the impression that all he had to do was to erect a strong dam across the outlet of the bog at the beginning of cold weather, and by confining the water which constantly soaked into the swamp from the springs and smal] streams from the ledgy hills above, over- flow the lot. At first nobody, including myself, could understand what he was trving to get at.” “I remember,” laughed Jessie; “but. when the boom in ice began, and the papers were full of accounts of almost fabulous prices paid for ‘ice privileges’ which lay convenient for shipping, whether they were mill-ponds or fresh-water marshes, the object of Mr. Rickson’s dam was apparent,” ; “Just so,” agreed Will. “He intended to over- flow the swamp and make a ten-acre pond. From the pond thus formed to the wharf below is about two hundred yards, and a descending grade all the way—so that by means of a cheap chute the ice, after having been marked out and cut into proper chunks, could be sent sliding down to the very verge of the warf, there to be taken on board of vessels ready to receive it. It was a great scheme, wasn’t it?” “Yes; but, unfortunately for Mr. Rickson, it turned out a great failure.” ‘ “That’s right. Still, how could he guess that ° the very effort he made to flood the surface of * the lot would merely cause the swamp itself to rise until it was nearly level with the land around it.” = - “What made it act that way? One would naturally think that the incoming water, finding its escape cut off, would form a pond there.” “That’s the way Mr. Rickson figured; but here’s how he came to get left: The roots of the moss and matted grass of which the swamp was com- posed could find no holding ground in the soft black mud underneath, so that the inflowing water, finding itself deprived of its usual outlet by the dam, raised the whole mass with it. There was no lack of water, don’t you see; but it was under the surface of the swamp, instead of over- flowing it.” : “What a shame!” giggled Jessie, as the ludi- ~ crous side of the affair came to her. : ga “Yes, it was tough on Mr. Rickson, who had — expected to sell the ice privilege for several thoy sand dollars.” “I should think that ought to have been’ le on A “ey said Jessie, with and inquiring look. . you 4 re Pe he

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6 THE WINNING TRICK : work to put it into tangible shape. I studied the character of the swamp, and the result was sni- isfactory. Then I sought means to carrv out my plan. I feund them at hand. All that remaine-l was the manual labor, for which I could not af- ford to pay. So I tackled it myself when I could find the time, and you can gamble on it, Jessie, there wasn’t an ounce of fun in it.” “I shouldn’t think there was,” admitted the girl, “judging from what you told me at the time; though you would not gratify my curiosity by teling me the reason for a proceeding which seemed so senseless to every one who heard about it.” “Well, I’m telling you now, but you must keep it quiet.” “I won’t say a word, honor bright,” protested Jessie. “T bought the swamp-lot and the dam just as it stood from Mr. Rickson for twenty-five dollars. I agreed to remove a big heap of stones, as tall as a barn, from Farmer Boits’ land hard by, on condition that he would let me have the use of his ox-team for that purpose.” “He must have thought you were cra zy." “Probably he did, but he wasn’t fool enough to say so, as he had the soft end of the bargain. : When the swamp-lot had frozen over so that it would bear the ox-team I began to use up all of my spare time of night hauling rocks from Boge’s field to the basin in which lay the swamp- . lot, and I spread them in heaps over the surface of "the ice. I'd hate to tell you how many tons ited there before the end of winter. I was ‘ mighty @ a= when I got away with the last load.” = know all about that, Will Somers—every- a. er knows it. Lots of people have. gone over _ there and looked at those piles of rocks and won- : dered what you were trying to get at, but they -_ » eouldn’t guess any more than I.” « “As it wasn’t any business of theirs, I didn’t x. ; take the trouble to enlighten them. I haven’t ro any use for butters-in, Jessie.” nee “Do you include me in that remark, Will? It you remember, I was just as curious as anybody : c+ Mona the girl, with a quizzica] smile. + t company always aera.” said the boy, hastily, whereat she laughed gaily. “Well,” she said, “I oe waiting patiently for this explanation you mised to give me. I'm still as much in the as ever.” “After I had finished with the rocks I took down part of the dam and waited. When the ice began to melt. “in the coming of spring the ; stones graduall sappeared among the moss and Then the See looked the same as it 58 7m did. St aos ‘aang I’ve simply been waiting.” y evenly into va Sie grass F gachor down the entire surface of ‘Should this prov * be the th ofa ten-acre ri bate = aime “Oh!” exclaimed Jessie, a great light dawn- ing upon her mind. “Tf it does I shall have as pretty a pond as you ever saw in your life, and a field of clear ice worth at least $3,000 or $4,000.” “What a head you’ve got, Will Somers!” cried the girl, in admiration of his genius. “Tf I fail my name will resemble the soil under the swamp.” = “What is that?” asked Jessie in surprise. “Mud!” ejaculated Will, tersely. CHAPTER V.—In Which Squire Jarvis Visits The Somers Home. The quaint little Dutch timepiece which Cap- tain Fairweather had brought from Holland some years before, and afterward presented to Nathaniel Somers, his neighbor, and which oceu- pied a conspicuous position om the mantel of the sitting-room in the Somers home, had just struck the hour of eight, when a loud, authoritative knock came on the front door. “T wonder who can that be?” said Mrs. Somers, looking up in mild wonder. Will, who was poring over a new book on prac- tical engineering which he had got from the town public library, jumped up and went to the door. He was surprised, and perhaps not a little apprehensive, to find that the visitor was none other than the pompous Squire Jarvis. What could be the meaning of this great man’s visit to their humble home? “Is Mrs. Somers at home?” asked the lawyer, stiffly. “Yes, sir,” replied Will, “Will you walk in?” Squire Jarvis brushed past the boy with as little consideration as though he was a w image, and Mrs. Somers rose hastily from. her chair as his portly form filled the door leading into the sitting-room. “Squire Jarvis!” she exclaimed in surprise. “Yes, ma’am,” answered the nabob, in a tone that seemed to ‘indicate that he was conferring a Fg eae honor on the cottage by his presence there. “Take the rocking-chair,” said the lady of the house, pointing to a substantial piece of furni- ture that was the pride of the house. The squire bowed condescendingly, seated him- self, and glanced curiously about the room. Mrs. Somers reseated herself and waited for the great man to explain the nature of his unexpected L “Ahem, ma’am,” began the squire, feeling tha what he had to say was not ly to cause a ages" impression, “I have called in ie a . ba matter that has been pl 1 in my Mrs. Somers bowed and waited ae him to proceed. At this.moment Will re-entered nde room, and took up a position in the backgrpu curious to learn, as he half su ted, if he v the cause of the magnate’s visit. He was ‘soon na rene f hand db late refer to a note o nd, signed by your 3 husband in favor of Job Ri ckson, for the Pree a The note,” continued the squire, out his wes and poising ther with *: respectfully.

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_ professional movement upon the bridge of his aristocratic nose, and then taking out a bulky morocco pocket-book, from which he deliberately ‘extracted the document in question, “is. dated @ February 1, 189—, and expired one year from ~daté, when it became due and payable, according ~ to the terms therein expressed. It should have been presented for payment at that time. But r husband having died in ‘the meanwhile, having you (ahem) in somewhat straightened _ circumstances, so far as ready money was con- ‘cerned, Mr. Rickson refrained from calling im- -™mediately on you for.the amount owing him, _ feeling sure you would recognize his claim as goon as you were in a position less financially ~ embarrassing. While this was not business, it reflects a great credit on Mr. Rickson’s goodness of heart—a fact, I regret to say, not generally appreciated by his acquaintances. In fact, he has delayed so long the presentation of this note ‘that it is now within a few months of the time when, according to the laws of the State, it -. would have become outlawed, and consequently _~ worthless. Fortunately, he called my attention to it, and I advised him to collect at once, and so he turned it over to me for that purpose. _ Therefore, I shaald pe gat to learn what you are : prepared to do about it.” _ Squire Jarvis having delivered himself of the : oing in his most impressive manner, he re- - moved his glasses from their perch and began to twirl them around his index finger while he ‘ ed the little brown-haired widow with a cial sort of look, possibly with the view of gonfusing and intimidating her. Mrs. Somers San lethal to him with the utmost amazement, but pokitely forbore interrupting him. But when he had concluded she said, cuietly: ‘ '__ “That note was taken up by my husband a few ey 's betore his death and puid.” *Paid, ma’am!” ejaculated the lawyer. “Yes, sir; and Mr. Rickson gave my husband a _ -Teceipt for the money.” 4 ; ~ “You certainly are laboring under a misap- : = hecttie of the facts. If your husband paid note, it stands fo reason it would not now be n the possession of Mr. Rickson. When a note is led it is always delivered to the person who t, by whom it is, or should be, immediately d.” 4 think I can account for the fact that it hap- to be in M . Rickson’s possession,” said Mrs. 3, a slight note of scorn in her tone. am ready to hear any explanation you have ike,” said the lawyer, stiffly. at he presents it at this late day for repay- , does not speak well for that goodness of you have just credited him with,” said the lady, coldly. get m,” interrupted Squire Jarvis, “you must ick the gs p Ray an old and re- d citi as Mr. Rickson.” was: Rant te explain to you why Mr. Somers t possession of that note at the time he money. The note still had several ; to run when he expressed his intention g it up. Mr. Rickson at first objected, my nasbend offered him the year’s in- actepted the money and gave a receipt saying he would ohn P up the note in rom the bank, | THE WINNING TRICK 7 where he had deposited it for safe-keeping. My husband, probably feeling that he was protected by the receipt, did not hurry him. In fact,-before he may have thought of the matter again, he met with the accident which resulted, unfor- tunately for himself and family, in his premature death.” Mrs. Somers paused and wiped away a tear. “Your statement is certainly plausible,” admit- ted Squire Jarvis, beginning to fear he had called on a fool’s'errand, after all, and that the un- savory reputation Mr. Rickson bore in town, with which the squire was familiar, was once more cropping up in evidence. “If you have Mr. Rick- son’s receipt for the three hundred dollars, of course, I shall have nothing more to say. I am not responsible for any act of Mr. Rickson’s, ma’am, being merely his agent in the matter. If it is not too much trouble, will you kindly pro- duce the receipt, so that I may convince myself of its genuineness?” : “IT am sorry to say that the receipt has been mislaid ever since my husband’s death,” replied Mrs. Somers, not without some apprehension as to what effect this honest admission’ would have on the lawyer. “Mislaid, ma’am!” exclaimed the squire, rais- ing his eye-brows in a way that might have im- ae that he thought such a statement rather thin. “Yes, sir,” replied the little widow, with a slight touch of indignation in her voice, for the squire’s i pantomime had not escaped her. ~ “Very singular,” he remarked, tapping the note with his glasses. “Very singular, indeed.” “Not at all, not at all,” he replied, hastily. “I never doubt a lady’s word; but people are often mistaken, ma’am. You m ? “There is no mistake in this case, Squire Jar- vis,” said Mrs. Somers, firmly. “I regret to say I have not been able to find the receipt. As Mr. Rickson made no effort to recollect the note when it became due, not at any time during the years that have since elapsed, I naturally presumed it was all right, and gave no further thought to the matter. I must say it is a singular thing for him to present it for payment now, within a few weeks of the time when as vou say. it would be- come outlawed. I will not express my opinion as — to his motives, but will leave you to judge that yourself.” ; if we “Well, ma’am,” said the wily lawyer, scratching t _ “it is certainly unfortunate that you cannot pro- t duce the receipt. As the case stands, Mr. Rick- z son has the law on his side, and so, unless you. can find the receipt, I am afraid you will have oe pay the money over again.” ; ~ lost the receipt, which would to purposes answer the same now be in this trouble.”

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“I consider it an outrage that Mr. Rickson should make this demand when he well knows that he was paid once,” cried Mrs. Somers, in great indignation. x “With that I have nothing whatever to do, ma’am,” said the nabob, rising and taking his hat. “I am simply acting on the instructions of my client, with the evidence he has produced, and which you seem unable to gainsay. I will give you a week to consider what you will do, at the end of which time I shall expect you to call or send te my office and advise me of your deter- mination.” “But I cannot agree to pay that note over again,” she said, almost tearfully. : “In that case the law will have to take its course.” “Do you mean to say, sir, that the law will rob my mother of another three hundred dollars?” demanded Will, facing the magnate of North- port. . Squire Jarvis glared at the boy as though as- tonished at the lad’s audacity in addressing him so boldly. “T mean to say, young man, that your mother will have to go to court and show cause why - judgment on this note, together with interest to date, shall not be rendered in favor of Mr. Rick- son. If she loses, which she is bound to do unless she produces the alleged receipt, she will also have to pay the costs of the action, which will raise the total amount to something over four hundred and fifty dollars.” “And if we refuse to pay that?” said the boy, with flashing eyes. -The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. “This property, which is in your mother’s name, will be sold to satisfy the judgment, and the expenses of the sale with the sheriff’s fees, will also be added to the sum I have mentioned. You will find it a costly matter to fight against the law. I advise you not to try it.” - Thus speaking, Squire Jarvis walked majestic- ally toward the front door, and Will, oppressed by a sense of utter helplessness to resist the swindle about to be perpetrated on his mother, followed and let him out. = . ‘ CHAPTER VI.—The Strange Visitor to' the Tool- House. “What shall we do, my son?”” asked Mrs. Somers in a troubled voice when Will returned to the sitting-room. _ “I don’t know, mother. I suppose you will have to consult a lawyer. I never believed Mr. Rick- oy son to be such a contemptible swindler,” he added, ia bitterly. Bp “He is certainly trying to do us a grievous wrong,” said his mother, sadly. - “You must make a thorough search of the hous¢ at once, and I will get Jessie to help you.” _ “I will do so, of course. It would be a great misfortune if this property was taken from us to such an unjust claim.” “Don’t worry, mother. It shall not be taken ¢ _ At this point the Dutch clock struck ten, and ie fee Se ees t mother and son retired for the night. . how in the name of wonder did he know that was THE WINNING TRICK The window of Will’s room overlooked the river, on whose surface the old October moon shone with a chilly glitter. As Will stood a moment gazing out upon the landscape he saw what he thought to be a small boat, with a single oceu- | pant, moving cautiously up, the river. : “Gee!” he said. “Rather a cold night to be on the water. I wonder who it is?” The boat approached the Somers landing place, the occupant fastened a line to one of the spile- heads and jumped ashore. hen h2 began to slovch along beside the fence that Jiviced the Sowers property from that of the Fa'rweathers. “Who the dickens is he, and what is he up to?” Will asked himself as the fizure cautiously drew near to the house. “T don’t like his looks for a ccnt,” ecnimented the boy, as the intruder paused close to a oak tree and a ray of moonlight shone on his face which, though young, looked, even at that distance, hard and uninviting. The intruder took out a small black pipe, which he deliberately filled with tobacco from a pouch, and then glided behind the tree and sat on the ground, for the glare of a lighted match showed his position, For fifteen minutes thereafter all that betrayed his presence was the occasional whiff of whitish smoke that floated about the oak as the fellow puffed at his pipe. Will; now de- cidedly interested in the stranger’s movements, felt no desire to go to bed. 5 “Vd give something to know what he means b sitting out there under our oak tree on a cold night like this. He doesn’t appear to be any too warmly dressed, either. Something evidently is in the wind. Does he propose to try and break into our house, or into the Fairweather’s, a little later»on? I fancy he’ll get an unexpected and warm reception if he tries it.” At this stage of his reflections the intruder sud- denly reappeared around the tree and began a critical survey of the Somers premises. Then he deliberately walked over to a small tool-house, stocked with implements formerly used by Mr. Somers when he was alive, and which since his death had not been touched. He tried the door. It was found to be locked, of course. After con- sidering a moment the fellow hauled a tall ~ chopping block up against the side of the shed, mounted it, and pushed in the only window the building had. Then he climbed into the opening and disappeared inside. { ; “IT guess it’s time for me to interfere,” said Will resolutely. “I don’t believe he’s gone in there to sleep, and I’m not going to have any of my father’s things stolen if I can help it.” : So, taking his shoes in his hands so as not to awaken his mother, he crept down to the kitchen, wae i en the tool-house. orm ‘ll wait here and see what transpires,” said the boy, putting on his shoes, so as to be in readiness to pop out suddenly into the yard. aes = Will waited a good quarter of an hour before there were any further developments. Then the visitor’s head reappeared at the window, and with _ remarkable agility he swung himself through the opening and dropped to the ground. Will saw the. Sendlien of several short tools protruding from his side pockets. Oy aes “That settles it. I’ve got to stop him. ‘Now, | wa we

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$ a tool- house? “ One would think he was familiar our place, yet so far as I can judge, he seems a perfect stranger in this locality.” zg As the stranger started off for the open gate ‘Will softly opened the kitchen door and attempted to cut him off from the street. His sudden ap- _ pearance on the scene startled the intruder for a moment, and he stood still. Each had a plain view of the other in the moonlight. Somers!” ejaculated the young fellow, to back away. a Rickson!” Will exclaimed in astonishment. sa “Well, what of it?” replied the fellow with a “Ain’t this where I live when I’m at a” “What were you doing in our tool-house just ‘niow?” demanded the boy, aggressively. “I didn’t think you were a thief, Ed Rickson. _ wouldn’t like to know what you’ve been up to.” “My father!” _ “Yes, your father,” repeated Will, greatly sur- prised at young Rickson’s manner. : “Good-night!” and with a mocking laugh Ed Rickson vaulted the paling and darted off down the deserted street at a high rate of speed. It Was useless for Will to think of*following him; - indeed, since he had recognized Ed Rickson he no great desire to do so. After watching his Wwindling figure disappear in the gloom, Will it back to the tool-house, mounted the block, , a match, and looked inside. He saw that 2 lid of one of the chests had been forced open. — investigate closer in the morning and see ut you’ve taken, Ed Rickson,” he said. as he ed the window and removed the chopping - a coe VII.—In Which Tessie Rickson =A : eae a Trap on Jessie Fairweather, and How It Worked. room of the Northport cotton swing. At least a hundred busy vere ra wey in that-reom, and the major- of them had their eyes cdcked up at the big which hung within sight of all, for the hand pointed to a minute to twelve. Way ow! in the engine-room, at the corner of the yard, Will Somers was also watching a er timepiece, while one of his hands was ed, his fingers gripping the cord that would her moment send forth the welcome blast sing one of the mill’s employees from for one At that interesting ment : ori who had been to the dressing- pe up to one of the forewomen in a fate of excitement. | Sess Sommeron gr taken my at’s that Ror the p Faas dS ahavely. was ease a woman, whom none oo she took very little woman’s sage cde and also because so pretty and such a general favorite. nebody has taken my pocketbook,” repeated ,ina bia sufficiently loud to attract at- val EES it oe THE WINNING TRICK Your father . “You mislaid it somewhere.” ‘ “No, I didn’t, Miss McBoyle; I know I felt it in the pocket of my jacket in the dressing-room.” “Well, what do you expect me to do about it?” grunted the forewoman. : “I wish you’d come in and help me find it.” “The idea! Don’t you think I’ve something else to do, Miss Rickson?” “Oh, dear! I don’t know what I shall do!” piped Tessie, tearfully. At that moment off went the whistle, and the girls throughout the room began to flock at once toward the dressing-rooms. “Well, come. along,” said Miss McBoyle rather ungraciously. “Somebody must have taken it out of- my pocket,” insinuated Tessie. “I don’t believe it,” replied the forewoman. “Well, I wouldn’t trust that Fairweather girl as she is such a favorite,” said Tessie, vindietive- “What makes you think she might do such a thing?” ~ “Oh, I’ve my reasons,” ing her head disdainfully. “Well, I must say I don’t fancy her myself, ” sniffed the forewoman. Tessie knew that, and began to throw out in- sinuations against the fair Jessie. “I would search her dress if I was you,” Miss Rickson, eagerly. For reasons of her own, the forewoman was ready to adopt this unfair plan, for she was only too eager to humiliate the belle of the factory. So she snatched down the girl’s walking dress from the hook just as its owner entered the room with a bevy of her friends. “Why, Miss McBoyle, that’s my dress,” pro- tested Jessie, as the woman thrust her/ coarse red hand into the pocket of the dress, much to Tessie’s delight. said Miss Rickson, toss- said “I believe it is,” snapped the forewoman as she brou ht a small pocketbook to the light. ere! I told you she took it!” screamed Tessie. “That’s my pocketbook.” “What have you got to say to this, Miss Fair- weather?” asked Miss McBoyle, with a trium- phant ring to her voice. “Are you in the habit of taking things that don’t belong to you?” “J don’t understand, Miss McBoyle,” replied Jessie with dignity. “Indeed! Perhaps you can explain héw Miss Rickson’s pocketbook happened to be in the pocket of your dress?” The other girls crowding around stared ‘in astonishment. “TJ haven’t the slightest fies. how such a~ thing occurred, unless Miss Rickson put ‘it-there herself by mistake.” “The idea!” sniffed Tessie, with a scornful glance at her intended victim: ““She aceuses you of stealing it from her,” said the forewoman, severely. “Aceuses me—of—stealing her packsthook gasped Jessie, flushing with mortification at such arge, “Yes, miss. And as the article has been found in your possession I shall have = ee superintendent,” said Miss McBoyle i re“ “I had no ies, we had

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\ » Jessie, breaki of the ‘terrible p6sition in which she was placed. 10 “Miss McBoyle, how dare you insinuate such a thing!” cried Jessie, tears of indignation coming into her pretty eyes. “It’s a shame!” chorused the other girls. sie wouldn’t do such a thing.” “You’re mad because you’ve been caught in the act,” sneered the forewoman. “I always thought you were a sly thing, with your innocent airs and prudish ways. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” “Girls, do you believe me capable of such a thing?” cried Jessie, appealing with burning cheeks and flashing eyes to her working mates. “No!” they shouted with one accord. “How can you accuse Jessie of taking your property, Jessie Rickson?” cried one spirited girl, poring her arm around Jessie Fairweather. “Jes- “Well, it was found on her, all right,” said Tes- sie, spitefully. “J believe you put it there yourself, just to get her into trouble,” cried another girl, coming to Jessie’s aid. “The idea!” retorted Tessie, angrily. “You can believe what you like, Clara Parks, but I’ve my own opinion. It isn’t the first thing I’ve missed, Some people put on a lot of airs when they ain’t no better than “Than what; Tessie Rickson?” said Jessie, walking up to her accuser and looking her square- ly in the sye. “You needn’t try to intimidate me, Miss Make- believe,” lied Tessie, scornfully. “You may seftsolder nthe rest of the girls, but you can’t draw the wool over my eyes. You are a deceit- ful thing! I know you talk about me behind my back. Say I have carroty hair, that*my mouth is lange enough to swallow snowballs, and I’m all bones. I hate you—there.” And Miss Rickson, with tears of rage in her pare e marched out of the room, leaving essie almost paralyzed with pained astonish- ment, Miss McBoyle had in the meanwhile gone down to the superintendent’s office to register the cha cf attempted theft /against Miss Fair- “weather. “What must you girls think of me?” exclaimed down at last under the sirain “If I was you I would go right straight to the “superintendent and demand justice,” cried Miss arks. wand we'll all go with you!” exclaimed the as eA the result of it,was that Jessie did march : stoadeht down to the superintendent’s office and _. stated the case, Mr. Harper smiled good-na- 1Y- _ “Miss McBoyle made a sort of charge aeehiat you, Miss Fairweather, but I laughed her down. _ Why, bless you, young lady, I’d as soon think one of my own daughters guilty of such a thing “as you. There! Don’t cry, please. I take no stock in it at all. It is simply ridiculous. Go home, all of you, to your dinners, and [ll allow an hour. extra to-day, under the cir- sas you've lost that much time over d Miss s Rickson, when she returned to work srnoon, found, to her great disgust and ca oe a girl ie the room would THE WINNING TRICK That afternoon Mr. Davis was congra‘nlating Will that the attachment he had placed on the — boiler the day before was working all right when a cry of “Fire!” was heard in a female voice, com- ing from the third story. Will rushed out to see the third story windows filled with screaming girls and a few staggered out the employees’ en- trance to the building, followed by a number “a from the first and second floors. | Will saw thick smoke coming from the third floor and knew the place was on fire. The men were coming out now and they soon found a ladder and raised it to a window of the third floor. Will was the first to ascend, and he yelled to the girls to go to the end where the iron stairways were instead of clustering about the windows. He assisted by others coming up the ladder soon had them in some sort of order at the other end of the room “cand they were escaping by the stairwavs. It was the girls’ dressing reom which was blazing the most. As Will passed it on his way to the stairs he saw an arm through the half-open door. “Great heavens! there.” Pushing the door open he saw two. insensible girls on the floor. He recognized them both as Tessie Rickson and Jessie Fairweather. It look- ed so though Jessie had been trying to drag her companion away from peril when she had been ~ overcome herself. Tessie’s dress was on fire. Will beat out the fire and carried her forward a short distance toward safety. Alternately he worked the senseless girls toward the end of the long room, with the flames reaching out hun- | grily after him. The engines had arrived by this time and a big crowd was collecting. What was their surprise and horror when they saw Will. bring first one girl out on the fire escape and lay her down and then go back inside and bring out another. By this time he was pretty well done up himself. The firemen soon rescued three by the aid of their ladders. cheered Will as the hero of the hour. had been brought to, but Tessie felt chagrined because she had caused the fire by setting the clothes ef the girls who had snubbed her afire” and it had got beyond her control. “Ts Will Somers here.” was asked by pe sreiis body in the crowd. “Sure he is,” he was answered. Will was in by the firemen. He had heard his name mentioned and ca out to be met bv the constable of Northport with: “T have a warrant for your arrest.” CHAPTER X.—In Which Squire Jarvis Fails — To Make a Case Against Will Somers. _ “What do you mean, Mr. Brady?” = wil Somers in the greatest astonishment. Ss am sorry my duty obliges me to 2 crag but I don’t see any way out « ave to conduct you before Justice ale I haven’t done anything wae should be arrested,” remonstrated poh te “I hope you haven’t,” replied the “It is quite possible : oe mistake has ‘been in Seige cee = will be Loeree Somebody has fainted im ~— Then the crowd — Both girls - c. Zz Fe — > the engine room now as the fire had been put ae 3 * >

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“There certainly is a mistake,” said the boy, stoutly. “You don’t look at all like a guilty boy,” said _ the constable, with a smile. _ “I should think not. All right; I’m ready to - face the music.” _ “What’s the charge, Mr. Brady?” asked Mr. - Davis, the engineer. a _ “TI regret to say it’s a very serious one,” re- _ plied the officer, soberly. You don’t mean to say this boy is accused of _ murdering somebody, do you?” said the engineer, with a contemptuous laugh. “Hardly as bad as that,” answered the officer, who saw that, officially, he was not favorably ae rded by Will’s friends. __—s**Weill, what am I charged with?” asked the boy. “Burglary!” 7 “Who made such a preposterous charge against _ this boy?” demanded Mr. Davis. - “Squire Jarvis.” That was the second surprise, but it was evi- ‘dently a serious one. Surely the magnate of Northport would not make.such an accusation _ without some ground to base it on. No one had heard that a burglary had been committed on the . Jarvis premises. But suppose such had been the _ - ease, in what way Will Somers, one of the bright- See and most respected lads in *town, connected oP . -engine-room asked himself as he looked at Wili’s I face and, then at the officer. : “I suppose you have the warrant with you?” ‘asked Mr. Davis. *“T ‘have,” answered the constable. “Do you ” stable Brady produced it, and the engineer it was made out in proper form. I shall be ready to go alohg with you as soon get out of my dee clothes,” said ‘Vill; I guess the Squire will find he has made a ous blunder in bringing this charge against ee as ; “Well, I hope you will get out of it all right it’s no. for me to come yr you in my ficial capacity. Your father was a good friend ‘mine, and this job is not at all to my liking.” “have no fault to find with you. Constable dy,” said the boy, as he slipped off his over- y moments he was ready to go with the ag ‘S. while the factory fire, which was now ‘control, held the attention of almost every- in the vicinity, Will Somers and Constable uly left the yard by a back gate and pro- d to the courthouse, where the officer sai tice was waiting to hold a sort of inform n of the charge. Will was conducted 2 Benson’s office and directed to take a : oe Mr. —— ee nh geen in the room was Squire Jarvis, who gave r a severe, uncompromising look. rhe THE WINNING TRICK th it? That was the question each one in the # been found this 11 kindly at the manly younz fellow, whom he had known from his infancy, and who did not at all look like a boy capable of ecmmitting an un- worthy action. Squire Jarvis sniffed at Mr. Benson’s encour- aging view of the situation, and thumped the floor with his gold-headed. cans, as though to express his disapprobation. zi “I want you to understand, Master Somers, that this examination is entirely informal,” con- tinued the justice, “and that you are not com- pelled to say a word unless you choose to do 30. But if you do say anything, I warn you that you are not obliged to commit yourself, and that whatever you say may be used against you.” “If he -wants to confess he had better do so now,” said the magnate, impatiently. “You are rather hasty, Squire Jarvis. The boy has not yet been informed in detail of the charge against him.” “Pooh! He knows about it better than any of a sneered the nabob, casting a black look at Will. “Squire Jarvis,-that remark is hardly a fair one,” objected the justice, who was clearly fa- vorably disposed toward the prisoner. “Pooh!” and the lawyer thumped the floor once more. 5 ; “Listen to. me, Master Somers,” said Justice Benson. “Between ‘the hours of eleven last night and six this morning, Squire Jarvis’ office, an . extension of his residence, was forcibly entered, his desk pried open, and several papers, includ- ing a ten-dollar bill, were abstracted. You are charged with the crime.. Do you wish to make any statement?” : : “Tt wish to say that I know nothing whatever about the matter. This is the first I have heard of it. I was in bed and asleep between the hours mentioned.” This general denial of the change was received by the Squire and his son, who was also present, -— with sneering disapproval. : “Then,” remarked the justice, “if this case ever comes up in court you ought to be able to prove an alibi.” : “J think the prisoner would find it a rather - difficult matter to prove to the satisfaction of a judge and jury that he was in bed every moment of the time within which it was possible for him to commit this crime,” said the Squire, acidly. . “You. seem to be greatly prejudiced against this boy,” observed Justice Benson. ~ SP aa snorted the nabob, moving about in his ~ ir. Mr. Benson took up a hammer and a cold chisel which had been lying on his desk, and asked the. constable to hand them to Will. ; “Have you ever seen those implements before?” — he inquired. ; 32 The boy looked them over and then answered promptly: oe “Yes, sir; the name is upon them.” . “Can you assign any reason for their having — morning on the floor of - Jarvis’ office?” : = belonged to my father, for his ae By EE a i

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<4 ae © THE ; “¥ tried to head him off, but he jumped the . his feet. at “Ed Rickson.” : “What temfoolery is this? He hasn’t been in this neighborhood this two years back,” snorted the nabob, angrily. = “J know that,” answéred Will, calmly, “but the at fact that I saw him enter our tool-house last night through the window, and leave with some- thing in his pockets, shows that he has returned.” - “I don’t believe any such rot,” said the great $3 man, rudely. - - . 4 * ly, Squire Jarvis. You should not attack . the lad’s veracity in this way. He is entitled to make whatever explanation he sees fit, and it is quite possible that he speaks the truth. Go on, ‘ Master Somers.” - “ya “J tried to head him off, but he jumped the - fence and got away.” 5 t “Tf Ed Rickson had come back to town I fancy . I should have heard of it.” said the magnate with : an incredulous smile, “for I was speaking to iy Mr. Rickson at noon to-dav, and he made no men- ; .tion of the circumstance.” : “You cannot be ignorant of the fact that Ed- ward Rickson did not bear a very good reputa- tion while he lived in- Northport,” said Justice Benson, meaningly. “If. we accept Master Somers’ statement of his encounter with that young man last night, it certainly casts a shade, of suspicion in a direction it might be well to follow up. If Edward Rickson did enter the f Somers tool-house, as the accused asserts, I pre- zi me he is willing to swear to it in court,” and the magistrate glanced inquiringly at Will. : “Yes, sir,” answered the boy promptly. 4 “Then,” continued, the justice,.“he must have - . had some object in doing so. Had the object heen a worthy one, it seems to me the owner of -- the teol-house would have been consulted. As the eae seme in your office this morning have been identified by the accused as the property - of his family, and as it has not been shown -that - Master Somers carried them there himself; why the imference——” Pa 3g to say that we are not dealing with in- ferences,” said the Squire, stiffly. ~ ~~ -=*Can you grove that the accused entered your »_ office these tools?” asked Justice Benson this rigmarole,” replied the Squire, a bit discon- certed. | it will establish a strong presump- direction,” persisted the great man. what you have to say, ire x finger, “was a xplici paar Bene : ther aighiess aay = found WINNING TRICK illustration that it was he who broke into my of- fice; but, sir, its destruction would be of the greatest importance to the pecuniary in‘erests of the Somers family, inasmuch as it represents an unsettled claim against their property.” . “Mr. Benson,” interrupted Will, springing to his feet, “I deny Squire Jarvis’ statement that the note toe which he refers represents an unse*-. tled claim against my mother. The note was paid by my father before his death, and the attempt now made by Mr. Rickson, through Squire Jarvis, to collect it over again is a rank swindle.” “Master Somers,” said the justice, mildly, “you must not interrupt Squire Jarvis while he is speaking. Whatever you have to say about this matter I will hear after the Squire has finished.” “The note in question,” contiued the magna‘e, casting a supercilious glance at the boy, Ss a promissory one, for the sum of three hundred: dollars, drawn in favor of Job Rickson, and signed by Nathaniel Somers. Together with un- paid interests to date it represents a perfect legal claim against the drawer’s estate of four hundred — and twenty-five dollars. This is the vital point I wish to impress upon your attention, Mr. Ben- son. The other papers, as well as the ten-dollar bill, I believe were merely taken as a blind. i* is fortunate that the thief, owing to the hurry of the moment, perfectly natural to one unac- — customed to the commission of crime, forgot to take away the implements he brought with him to~ accomplish his object.” $ “T believe you have a safe in your office, Squire x. Jarvis?” said the justice. ‘ “T have.” ts “T should think, then, that would have been the proper place for you to have kept that note.” “T can explain why I did not have it in the © safe last night,” said the lawyer, pompously. — “I called with that note on Mrs. Somers last evening about eight o’clock for the purpose of arranging with her as to its payment. \ =@ “And mother contested it on the ground that - it had alreay been paid once, a fact we could rove only that the receipt has been mislaid or — ost,” broke in Will, impetuously. i a “Go on, Squire Jarvis,” said Mr. Benson, over- — looking the interruption. +2 “x. “It was rather late when I returned home, and not caring to take the trouble to unlock my safe, — I opened my desk and slipped it into one of the — pigeon-holes._ I naturally had no suspicion that _ any one was likely to break into my office during _ the night—certainly no one interested in that — particular bit of paper. It seems I was mis- ~ taken,” concluded the lawyer, grimly, as he sat down again, = 7, _ “That is all you have to say, Squire?” - “That is all; I think it is ‘epnclusive,” gazi i around with a satisfied expression, “when. in connection with the testimony of my testified to the following facts: — found the outside door of the Squire oe chad also

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_ aroused h's employer and notified him of the cir- cumstances. “Have you anything further to say,. Master Somers?” asked the justice, gazing at the boy ‘warrant holding the boy.” “Sir!” exclaimed the Squire, in some astonish- ment. “I am surprised that you, a lawyer, in view of the lack of evidence, even cf a circumstantial ~ nature, should insist on such a course, which, in _ the event that you afterward failed to make out _ a true case, would make you liable to be proceeded “against in a civil suit for damages. Will Somers, you are discharged.” * ~“Thank , Mr. Benson,” and putting on his hat, he walked out of the justice’s office a very happy boy. CHAPTER XI—Further Discussions About Will Somers’ Game of Chance. ae s ~~ When Will Somers got back to the factory a afternoon he found the fire had been put t and the engines gone. A solitary represent- ive of the fire department stood on guard at the main entrance, and a few curious spectators ung about the neighborhood gazing up at the in of the third story. Superintendent Harper d am insurance adjuster were figuring out the s in the office. All the employees, with the sption of the engineer and a few of the ; dmen, had departed. ; m4 “Hello, Bill!” exclaimed Mr. Davis when the = te y walked into the engine-room, “Back again, eh? Got out of your scrape, all right?” “Yes, sir,” answered Will, cheerily. That’s good. What wasit all about, anwyay?” ‘Will told him the whole story. _ “The Squire seems to have it in for you,” com- mented the engineer. — _ “I don’t seem. to be an especial favorite of his, t’s a fact,” replied the boy with a cheerful “That's right; but I wouldn’t let that fact wor- ~ “T don’t mean that it shall.” ae “Ed Rickson is at the bottom of that affair, i Mr. Davis, nodding his head sagely. *T should not be surprised,” said Will. ; “He always was a hard nut,” said Mr. Davis; ‘but I never knew before that he was a thief. s two years’ absence has not reformed him, I I'm afraid it has only developed his crim- father’s reputation isn’t anything to brag This swindle he is trying to work on my er only serves to confirm my opinion of the ian. The idea of him keeping that note all these ears in the background, and then ringing it.in . mm s at the last mi on the chance that we That shows you whai kind of a AG we bey, THE WINNING TRICK ceipt he gave to father 13 “Squire Jarvis can’t but have some suspicion of the truth. It doesn’t speak well for him to sup- port a fraud.” “Mr, Rickson has probably promised him a large commission to collect the note.” “Such a proposal as that should be enough to arouse any lawyer’s doubts, especially after your mother affirmed the note had already been paid, and Mr. Rickson had allowed it to run so many years after maturity without presenting it for payment.” . “That’s right. It has all the earmarks of a skin on the face of it.” “Now that the note has disappeared, it is pos- sible you may never hear from it again,” sug- gested the engineer, encouragingly. “T don’t know about that,” said Will, doubt- fully. “Ed Rickson may return it to his father, as it is of value to him. He could do that by mail, if he’s afraid to show himself at his home. What gets me is why he entered the Squire’s of- fice at all. He couldn’t expect to pet any money without breaking into the safe, and he certainly was not provided with tools for such purpose. The ten-dollar bill he got just happened to be in the desk.” ~ - ; “Tt would only be wasted time to figure upon what his object was,” said the engineer, as he relighted his pipe. “He had one, no doubt, and it will probably come to light if he should ever be caught.” ; “I don’t believe Squire Jarvis will make any complaint against him,” intimated Will. “His efforts were directed to fasten the crime on me. Lewis is dead sore on me, too, and I think that’s the secret of his. father’s ill-will.” “Very likely. You might as well go home, Will. It’s half-past four, and there’s nothing for you to do around here.” “All right. Guess I’ll go and take a look at my dam. It’s pretty near time I had it repaired.” “Say, young man,” said the engineer, curiously, “what are you up to, anyway? What are you going to make out of that swamp-lot? You are- n’t such a fool as to try the same dodge Rickson monkeyed with, are you?” ; : “What makes you ask?” said Will with a grin. “Because I’m curious to learn what your little game is. Rickson figured on making a small for- tune out of an ice privilege by damming the out- { let of the swamp and making a swamp out of the > ten acres. The idea was certainly ingenious. but the conformation of the bog knocked his ay on the head. He was badly disappointed. The. next thing I heard was that you, with all your x smartness, had paid him twenty-five dollars for a clear title to the place, which, in my opinion, __ isn’t worth a cent.” “I know you said so when you that I had purchased it. you and I differ.” “We certainly do,” itively. “Are reclaim the land?” with a grin. thing to attem bottom. Those ag. eee I first admitted to — But that’s where

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14 swamp-lot yet, Mr. Davis. I’m working a scheme ~—a sort of game of chance my brain is playing against the perverseness of nature. You ought to know that a large proportion of success in this world is the outcome of chance, anyway. Rickson was sure he was going to succeed. When he failed he threw the whole thing up in disgust, without investigating the cause that threw him down. I didn’t get on to it at first myself, but after a little while I saw through it. Then I began to figure out how the real difficulty might be overcome, just as I have worked my brains to try to produce a successful new damper reg- . ulator, or my steam condenser, which you have _ just applied to that boiler—see?” The engineer nodded and began to look inter- ested. “I may fail and get the grand laugh,” continued Will, though his eyes sparkled with the enthu- siasm of the hopeful inventor, “but I am satis- fied I am working along correct lines. If I fail this winter the character of the failure will deter- mine whether I shall make another attempt or let the whole matter go by the board. I have thoroughly investigated the quality and consist- ency of that swamp grass, That was the most important step in the scheme. Once I was sat- isfied my idea was feasible I went ahead. The chief element of chance in my mind lies in the uncertain course nature may pursue when the water is prevented from escaping.” % “You know what ocurred the last time this was one.” “Exactly. My scheme is to offset a repeti- tion of that occurrence.” “That’s a sensible idea, ’ll admit. How do you ay pro te overcome this difficulty?” asked the + engineer, now thoroughly interested. Sea “That’s my secret, Mr. Davis, and I hope you - won’t feel sore because | prefer to keep you in the dark about it for the present. I’ve only told one person, and she——” “Your ees I supose,” said the engineer. ome “No, I haven’t explained the matter to my 3 mother, because if I happen to be successful I ast be able to work a very pleasant surprise on “Then, who is the ‘she’?” asked Mr, Davis, tan- talizingly. “Oh, it’s a girl——” ___ “I didn’t suppose the ‘she’ was a boy,” grinned the engineer. ~ “{ mean she’s a particular friend of mine,” > said Will, flushing to his hair. “Qh, I see. You mean the prettiest girl in the wt factory—Jessie Fairweather.” pene t “Walk,. maybe I do,” admitted the boy, re- = tantly. cs a batere the honest old engineer shook with quiet _ laughter as the boy made a sudden break for ee door ag: disappeared. ee “CHAPTER RIE. Repairing the Dam at the Mouth: of the Swamp-Lot. abe next eax or two, while the first and stories of the factory were being cleaned :. into shape for biG aston a] work departments ast Eizi< eeniiaes had THE WINNING TRICK nothing to do in the engine-room of the North- port cotton mills. So he took advantage of the opportunity to repair the dam at the swamp-lot. e did not do this all by himself, but induced a particular friend, named Sam Travis, to give him a helping hand. They took a number of substantial boards and the necessary tools, and went out to the grew- some spot. The water was running freely through the opening Will had made after he had completed his self-imposed job of distributing ~~ heavy stones over the frozen surface of the og. “So you think you'll have an ice privilege for sale this winter, do you, Will?” said Sam Travis, with an incredulous grin. “Tt is possible I may,” replied Will, tersely. “Nit!” ejaculated his companion. “Old Rick- son tried the experiment last winter, and he got r badly roasted. I didn’t think you was such @ ; chump as to tackle the same scheme.” ~ “Well, Sam, we can't all be wise in this world, you know,” replied Will, with a cheerful laugh. “Perhaps I’m only doing this for fun—just to put in my time, you know.” “All right, old man; only it’s an awful waste of good lumber, nails "and energy. “You will let me be the judge of that, Sam.” “Sure; it’s your funeral, not mine.” “If you don’t watch where you’re putting your feet it may be your funeral, first thing you. know,” said Will with a grin, as one of Sam’s legs slipped and went down into the ooze in a very unpleasant manner. < “Thanks for the warning, old chappie, but I’m not taking a mud bath to-day,” snickered Sam, bg a rueful look at the bottom of his trousers eg. “Mud baths, they are, are good for rheuma- tism.” “Then old Rickson ought to come over here and take a course of ‘treatment. “He’s had all he wants to do with this place, I guess,” chuckled Will. “There'll be others in the sweet by and by, too,” snickered Sam. : ; “You’re a Job’s comforter, Sam.” i “Think so? You know what the iuntortal : Shakespeare said, don’t you?” : “He said, or rather he wrote, a good many 3 sae eee ee ee ee Te ere = <r“ bright things. What particular one do you refer _ to?” asked Will, beginning to nail the - of 2 the plank. — “Suffering jewsharps!” howled Sam, as the business end of the hammer came in sudden con- tact with his thumb as he’started to drive in his ae — hat Shak id? “How about wha akespeare said?” persisted Will, after driving home his last nail. = “That whack knocked it all out of my head,” he said as he also finished etek up his end, — “Want another board?” eng “Yes.” ¢ “All right; here you are,” and he pushed over the end of the second board. “Did you h ; what happened to Stubbins when he was : te Boston?” . rie what happened to him?” aces will car a cusly

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and bid in a box labeled ‘dry goods.’ What do s’pose he found in it?” Re bundle of calico, I guess, or something of sort.” ; ~ “Not on your life. He found six bound volumes of the Congressional Record,” snickered Sam. “That isn’t so bad for you, Sam,-but I wouldn’t do it again if I were yqu.” ~“Can’t help it; runs in our family. Dad and I were talking politics the other night, and I asked him what a political ring was made of, and said ‘steal.’ Wouldn’t that jar you? Have her board?” grinned Sam. ~ ~ “Pass it along.” “By the way, Will,” said Sam, after a few _ Minutes of silence, “I heard to-day that the select- en were going to give you a medal for your heroic conduct at the factory fire in saving the _ lives of Tesie Rickson and Jessie Fairweather.” ie crises ws “It’s a fact, an e only committeeman who --Yoted against the proposition was Squire Jarvis. _ He still claims it was you who broke into his : to get hold of a certain promissory not t he had presented to your mother for pay- nt. Nobody takes any stock in that, though. ble Brady is on a still hunt after Ed , all right, and if he catches him I guess will be something doing.” Will rather objected to a public acknowledg- him with such feeling and earnestness that e could be no doubt of their gratitude for the ‘vice he had rendered them. He felt this ex- n on their part amply repaid him for er risk he had run in Miss Fairweather’s As for Tessie Rickson she had made a visit at the Somers’ cottage to tell Will his. mother how much she appreciated his duct on that thrilling occasion when, as she owingly expressed it, “her life hung on a hair.” Before she tore herself away, with evident re- tance, she had used up all the adjectives of limited vocabulary. i ell,” said Will, after he and the sturdy Sam id worked for more than an hour on the dam, ness that will do. Very little water will get yh here now. In a week I shall begin to me idea how things-are going to pan out.” mean that in a week you'll begin to what a chump: you are,” grinned his 10n < have your own way,” returned the i invento: you really do expect said Sam incredulously. _ t’s what I hope to accomplish.” have a pond, all right, but the water out of sight.” nee it’s just where we differ; I’m looking for at’s what Rickson looked for, but it didn’t m any good. _If the water pushed that. grass e it’s going to do it again.” Ss to make a pond THE WINNING TRICK 15 “If you wanted to find out the depth of that : old dry well in your back yard without going down into it, how would you proceed?” “That’s simple. I’d drop a stone down and count the seconds that elapsed till it struck bot- tom,” said Sam, pleased to display his knowledge of natural philosophy, “I'd tie a string to the stone and measure the string afterward,” said Will. “That shows you we look at the same thing from a different point of view.” “Ha! Any fool could measure a well that way,” said Sam contemptuously. ibe yeey gathered up the tools and left the spot. 4 CHAPTER XIII—Ed Rickson’ Turns Up Again Under Peculiar Circumstances. The Bugle and ¢the News, the two weekly papers of Northport, came out that afternoon with a column account of the factory fire, and the Bugle, in particular, praised Will Somers’ heroism to the top notch. Both papers also pub- lished notices of the project afoot to present the boy with a niedal as a mark of the town’s ap- preciation, though the matter in the Times was dismissed with a three-line item in the locals. In addition, each paper printed a report of Will’s °. arrest and examination before Jusice Benson, on the charge of breaking into Squire Jarvis’ office and stealing certain papers from his desk. The Bugle’s story was brief and the charge com- mented on as baseless. J On the other hand, the Times, the editor of which was a personal and political friend of Squire Jarvis, gave considerable space to the af- fair; but while the writer was careful to say - nothing which could be construed as a reflection on the lad’s honesty, nevertheless he scouted the idea that Ed Rickson was in any way implicated in the crime. On Monday morning Will returned to duty in the engine-room, as the first and séc- ond floors of the factory were in shape to re- sume operation. Nothing had ben heard from Squire Jarvis in respect to the promissory note. This, of course, was a matter of no surprise to : en Sarees or me ao for it was not supposed 2 at any action could be taken unti “mi : ad note should have been & Se search for the mislaid receipt had availing. In spite of the fact that regarded the flooding of the swamp brain sort of proposition, neverthel boy-like, interested in éhe prospect, if. school. As a matter of course, the any, in that short time in a

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16 “Sure thing,” asserted Sam, shaking his head dismally. “Same old grass and moss, though it looks a bit more soggy. There are a lot of little pools here and there, but that don’t count for anything.” “Well, ’'m going out a. take a look myself to- night. The moon will be up after eight-o’clock, and there should be light enough for me to see all I want.” » So after supper Will started off alone for the swamp-lot to size up the appearance of his game of chance. He had arrived within a hundred yards of the place when he heard some one shout- ing in accents of terror, and the appeal undoubt- edly came from the immediate vicinity of the quaking bog. “Somebody must have got caught in the swamp. It’s as bad as quicksand,” he said, as he broke into a run. The moon was just rising about the tops of the trees that partially surrounded the swamp- lot, so that the boy could easily see over the while surface of the bog. The call for help sounded in the vicinity of the dam, and thither Will directed his stéps. He soon made out a dark object floundering about on the surface of the swamp a few yards out, sit “Hello!” he shouted encouragingly. : eal) Help!” answered the unfortunate be- As in os Zt 5 long, broken limb was hanging pendant trom . a tree near by. The boy seized it, and by a stout pull disengaged it from the heavy limb on which it had grown. en he ran down to the edge of the morass, called to the struggling person imprisoned by the matter grass, and flung one end of the improvised pole toward him. The luckless persor grabbed it as a drowning man right a plank, and held on with desperate energy until Will succeeded in dragging him to the firm ground. — me both your hands now!” cried the boy. ' They wer2 ad extended to him. Planting his feet firmly, Will gave a mighty tug, the per- _ son’s feet were suddenly released by the grass, '. and both rolled over together on the dry turf _beyond the danger line. They immediately strug- ‘gled to their feet and looked at one another. The moon shone full im the face of the rescued s . Will recognized him instantly. Rickson!” he exclaimed. ake fellow hastily scrambled to his fet with- outa word, and made a movement as if about to ; flee. mee “Hold ‘on, Rickson. You needn’t be in such a sweat. I’m all alone,” said Will. : oes paused and looked keerlly at the boy, gave a short laugh, as if somewhat Tee jes ~ “Oh; it’s: you, ——* is it?” ~ “Tt isn’t anybody else. Where have you been “hiding these last ten days?” - © “Who says I’ve been hiding?” said Rickson say net for one. ‘Awa there are others.” , Will Somers, do you want to do \ THE WINNING TRICK | “What do you want me to do?” asked Will cautiously. “I’m kind of fagged out. Haven’t hada mouth- — ful to-day? Will you fetch me something to eat and promise you won’t say anything about hav- — ing seen me out here?” “You have got a prety good nerve, I think, after what I’ve gone through on your : piesa already.” “What do you mean by that?” asked Rickson sharply. “You used those tools you stole from our place to break into Squire Jarvis’ office. Then you left them in the place, and so I was accused of doing the job, because a certain paper we are supposed to be interested in was found miss- ing. a Rickson grinned as though he had just heard a good joke. : “Oh, well, no harm came of it. Everybody knows. you’re a little angel who wouldn’t be guilty of such a thing,” he replied, with a palp- able sneex® “A fellow who goes to Sunday-school and meeting regularly never goes wrong, of course not. Canada is full of those kind of — chaps.” : “If you are so anxious to do me a favor you are taking a strange way to get me to accommo- date you,” said Will, in a tone of disgust at { Rickson’s coarse humor. a “Only a joke,” the now wretched-looking wan- derer answered hastily, as if suddenly conscious that he had gone too far. “For heaven’s sake — get me a bit of something to eat. I’m almost starved.” He certainly looked it, — there was a path- etic earnestness about his request that easily assured Will that Rickson told the truth. “Well,” said the boy, “I can’t refuse a hungry man something to eat; but it'll take me some — little time to get it here.” , “You won’t tell any one you’ve met me here, - will you?” asked Rickson anxiously. ; “ll return alone,” said Will coldly. “T wish you'd fetch a blanket with you, if you could, for it’s mighty cold hanging around here, — especially when a fellow’s trousers are soakee to the skin,” said Rickson dismally. “Where do you sleep?” asked Will, as he pre: 4 pared to depart on his charitable errand. “I’ve got a snug place,” he replied, with one of his impudent grins. “Now, don’t be any longer than you can help, Somers, if you’ve got a of feeling for ns "fellow in my condition,” and— Rickson contorted his countenance into an ex-" pression of great physical anguish in order to — give additional effect to his speak. Se ~ “T shan’t volunteer the information.” “And you promise not to fetch anybody back with you? I shall be on the watch, so it won’t do any good.” CHAPTER XIV.—Will Somers aeons Some Interesting Facts. Will » was as good as his word, and half. hour later returned to the ten-acre sw: : with a liberal su reve of plain food, se stuather had Drark . at hie rouulbati: witheut ash

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_ Ing any questions he could not answer. He had -it wrapped up in a newspaper, the whole tucked » inte the folds of an old horse-blanket. When Will struck the open space facing the bog, where he had held his brief conversation with the dis- reputable son of Job Rickson, he found no one in sight. “He couldn’t have got tired waiting, for I - wasn’t so very long away,” thought the kind- - hearted boy, as he transferred his bundle from one arm-to the other. “Well, it’s his lookout, so while I'm waiting for him I’ll take a look at the swamp. Se. he walked slowly along the edge of the ‘ i bog, examining its surface. with the greatest attention and interest. He had taken - eare to gauge the original height of the marsh __ before he began to flood it, marking its*level by sides of the basin. By looking at these guides he saw that so far the swamp itself had not risen to any noticeable extent. This was en- z ing, meres not conclusive evidence that his fo Sena would eventually be successful. The _ water was certainly forming on top of the matt- ed grass. A hundred little pools were visible upon its surface, which looked very watery and glistened in the cold moonshine, “JT don’t think I can find any reason to kick so far,” mused Will, with a sense of satisfac- tion. “In another week I hope to see a clear enough, though perhaps shallow, sheet of water above the grass. ell, the saying is, nothing entured, nothing won. You have got to take ces in this world if you expect to do some- worth while.” , = At this point in his reflections he fancied he heard the sound of voices somewhere near} at hand. He was standing at the side of the swamp ‘opposite the outlet where the dam was. He lis- tened. It was ‘the aah ot OR ages and - ountry air was quite still. ere was scarcely = of air stirring, and the bare trees stood t and motionless in the moonlight. : ; Somebody is talking, all right,” said Will to himself, which is a prettv wood sign he isn’t alone. I wonder if that can be Rickson? [f so, who is he talking with? He seemed to be mighty ‘erry about any one knowing he was out here. _ Well, that’s his business, not mine.” Will walked on a little further, and the sounds ~ grew plainer. Pa writes Rickson talking, for a fact. Evidently » has run across some ‘friends he isn’t afraid of.” ‘The boy sat down on fhe stump ofa tree, and _ Nov the yoices reached his ear quite plainly. ““Look here, Lewis,” said Rickson, roughly, as if he was out of patience, “I’ve stood your shilly- ying long enough. I want that money you ised Mme, and if you don’t stump up by this to-morrow night I’ll not only find means of i your father know the truth of the matter, i put Will Somers wise to the whole thing ou wouldh’t date!” ejaculated Jarvis, for it ndeed the son of the manote: of North- who was holding converse with Ed Rickson he shade of the trees. ‘ n't 1? You evidently don’t know me, fellow. You see the trouble I’ve got into ‘wasup T don't dare to show my face Panicz} aoe Lame : means of sticks thrust horizontally out from the” THE WINNING TRICK ba lest I be arrested for the crime you intenJeld to fasten on Will Somers.” S “Tf you hadn’t been such a fool that night when you broke in Somers’ teol-house to get those -ools, and let him recognize you, he never would have been able to throw suspicion in your direction.” “He came on me so suddenly that he took me. by surprise. I supposed everybody was in bed and. asleep,” said Rickson in excuse. : “You should have waited an hour or two long- er, anyway. You spoiled everything by your haste. If the plan had succeeded, as I supposed, it would when I proposed the thing to you when I niet you in Gateville, I would have given you the/ money right away. It wasn’t my fault you} tangled things up the way you did.” “Well, I’ve earned the price we agreed on, and/{ I’m going to have it, or somebody will have to suffer; that’s all there is to it,” said Ed Rickson doggedly. “You haven’t earned it, for the scheme failed., Nobody outside of my father believes Will Som- ers guilty of breaking into the governor’s office, and I wouldn’t be surprised if my father has his suspicions.” j “He'll have more than that if you don’t fork. over that hundred dollars you promised me,” said Rickson, in a threatening tone. “T’ll give you twenty-five dollars to-morrow.” - “No, you won’t. You'll give me the hundred. . Do you understand? I’m storry I went into the’ thing, anyway. Somers isn’t-a half bad sort of chap. He pulled me out of the swamp here an hour ago, and I expect him back with some grub, | something that I need as badly as any man’ alive. Next time you want any dirty work done, | just look up somebody else to do it. If I was tol give you. away to Somers he’d probably thump . the stuffing out of you, and “twould serve you, right. Are you going to fetch me that hundred: dollars?” , “Yes, I'll give it to you” ; “Then see that you turn up here to-morrow; night with the cash. If you try to trick me rate make you suffer in a way that you wen’t soon! forget.” : = 7 Sienna Lewis’ muttered. something under “his breath, and then walked off under the trees. A moment later Will Somers saw Rickson pushing his way through the bushes toward the open spot of! their en§ounter an hour previous. So he rose ~- from his Seat and followed him. When Rickson: : came out into the moonlight he discovered Will = within a few yards of him.. - 3 ; “Hello!” he said, with a hungry glance at the bundle. “You’ve fetched the grub, have you! — Let’s have it.” : Bee _ Will relinquished possession of the blanket andj} its contents, Rickson unrolled the bundle, cast) the. blanket on the ground, and attacked the} package of food with the greediness of a fam-| ished hyena. : ee = “Somers, you’re all right,” said Rickson, with| ~ his mouth full. wy “I wish I could return the compliment,” x Will coldly. “You stole a hammer and from our tool-house for the deliberate purpos getting me into trouble.” purpose: “Who says I did?” replied Rickson, with malicious grin. Seed Sik eS Ms *T say so.” = See

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18 “You’re off your base, Somers.” “Am I? Perhaps you'll not admit that Lewis “Jarvis hired you to execute the job?” “You’re dreaming, boy!” “Look here, Rickson; I think I’ve treated you pretty white. I pulled you out of a bad hole and peoee you a square feed. Why don’t you own we Nothing doing,” grinned Ed. “Then I’ve got nothing more to say,” said Will, turning on his heel and starting o ox Rickson allowed him to go ‘vithout another wor “A nice pair, he and Lewis Jarvis,” muttered Will as he walked slowly homeward. “A ras- cally piece of business for the son of Northport’s most prominent citizen and such.a reckless scamp as Ed Rickson to engage in, to try and down a -. boy who never did either of them any harm. Rickson has that note in his possession, so I'll just give Constable Brady a quiet tip that these two conspirators have arranged to meet in the vicinity of the ten-acre swamp-lot to-morrow night. It is not impossible: that Lewis Jarvis may find that his little scheme has developed into a boomerang, which may land him and his side partner in jail on a very serious charge. It’s a poor rule that doesn’t work both ways.” CHAPTER XV.—Lewis Jarvis Originates An- other Scheme. On the following evening Constable Brady and an assistant visited the woods about the ten- acre swamp-lot, but failed to find any trace of Ed Rickson or his associate in iniquity. So the matter rested for the present. During the next ten days evidence of the successful flooding of the swamp-lot was so apparent that even Sam _ Travis hauled in his horns, and said to all his _ friends that if there was a smarter boy in North- _ port than Will Somers he’d like to make his ac- -. quaintance. Will’s silly attempt to fill up the bog with stones the preceding winter, which every- who had heard about the_ matter supposed ape his object, had been generally forgotten. team ‘however, when it began to be known that a ~pond had actually formed in the basin of the ra swamp-lot, scores of curious townspeo a tramped out to the spot to see the miracle with their own __ eyes. There it was, sure enough. It was a fine z= md of water, and was daily growing deeper. dy carried the news to Job Rickson. t first ‘ob Riekson was too much astonished to He could hardly believe the evidence of gy rid But after a while he began to realize ap somehow nature had turned him down in = E of the young fireman of the Northport cot- > That afternoon pene Jarvis took a train for a _town thirty miles.away, where he knew © should be able to find Bad Rie As a mat- ter of fact, Ed was on the lookout for him, for Ea, with after "payin po ms ear ‘dollar obligation after pa. m twenty-five rs er and the first of these payments was sort go back on me,” grin- et ee) pat ai ie when Lewis furn~ THE WINNING TRICK ed-up at the appointed rendezvous, a road-howsl on the outskirts of. the town, where Rickson had’ secured employment congenial to his tastes. “Why should I?” answered Lewis, as if offended at the very idea of such a thing. “That’s wright! Why should you?” said Rick- son: “I s’pose you have brought the cash?” he added eagerly. “Sure thing,” and Lewis produced twenty-five dollars in notes, which he- handed over. “You’re a little man of your word, Lewis,” said Ed, stowing the money away. “Come inside and have a drink.” Lewis was not accustomed to intoxicating liquor, as the Squire very properly fowned upon any such indulgence in his own son, whose sole form of dissipation was confined to a superior brand of imported cigarettes; but the boy was ashamed to refuse Rickson’s invitation lest Ed twit him as a milksop. Secretly he believed drinking was a manly art, for he had seen his father under the influence of stimulants on sev- eral occasions, and the recollection of his parent’s weakness in this respect stilled his own con- science. So he stood up to the bar, and Ed poured out a coupe! of whiskies. f “Heer’s luck,” said Rickson, swallowing his like a veteran. Lewis’ portion nearly strangled him, for it was a fiery compound and none of the best. “Went the wrong way, did it?” grinned Ed. “Take some water.” ’ Lewis presented a sad picture as he stood gasp- ing over the dose, which had brought tears to his eyes. Indeed, it is always a sad picture to see a young man—it was far worse in this case, for Lewis Jarvis was only seventeen—taking his first lessons in that curse of civilization, liquor drinking. That it is the root of all evil is graphi- cally illustrated in that piece of Oriental fiction called the “Arabian Nights,” which recites that a genie, or wicked spirit, having obtained control over a certain young man, agreed to spare his life on condition that his dupe should . commit one of three mortal sins—either to murder his father or get drunk. The young man chose what he considered the least of the three. He got drunk, with the result that on being taxed with his sin by his father, he, in a burst of fury, killed him; then, realizing his crime, he in despair cursed the day he was born. Lewis Jarvis soon recovered from the effects of the potation, and after a short conversation on sporting topics he broached the real object %. of his wit. “How is that for an idea?” grinned proud of the mean*scheme he had devised. have him dead to rights, eh?” + “You’ve got a great head, Lewis,” with a sneer. Northport again and work it for you?” - Lewis, “Wass. “How much do I get?” “Twen a “dollars.” “Cash “Yes; but y om have to give me more Aime on what I owe you on the old account.” havea considered a few minutes and ‘then to the proposal. oe When do you want /it done?” _ T Any. time within a week will do.” “Ti said Rickson _ “So you want me to sneak into.

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ie “All right. Have another drink,” and the hard- ened ies fellow replenished the tumblers. Lewis looked at his portion and hesitated. “What’s the matter?” laughed Rickson banter- ingly. “Can’t you go two drinks?” 7 Sure!” replied Lewis, flushing up as he grasp- ass tantalizinglv. - _e gia ae E : 3 oft the same, the liquor gave him another coughing fit, and he was glad to take some water afterward. When he boarded the train for home half an hour later he was rather unsteady on his legs. Lewis, raising it to his chin. “I’m CHAPTER XVI.—“All’s Well That Ends Well.” “The railroad station was. not far from the Northport cotton mills, and Lewis Jarvis had to pass the factory on his way home. He had not noticed Jessie Fairweather since the evening - Will Somers had interfered between them in her behalf. And with good reason, for the spirited girl took good care to keep out of the way, hav- ing no desire for any further intercourse with . Lewis was feeling somewhat exalted from the stimulating effect of bad whisky on his brain. Ashe came along the factory girls were leav- ing the mills, the full force having been put to work that day for the first time since the fire. Jessie was walking.slowly down the street in ex- ypectation that Will would soon catch up with her, ‘usual. He had not-yet appeared i is saw her ahead. The sight of her at this »ment aroused all that was ugly in his disposi-* tion, He hastened his steps and soon caught up with her. tae ‘ y rs ak with me this time, aren’t you SS ale ie in a husky voice, and with a half- intoxicating leer that startled the girl. Jessie made no answer, but started to cross to other side of the road, when he put out his d and roughly detained her. s to answer me or not?” he said menac- _ “Tf you don’t take your: hand from my arm, Lewis Jarvis, cried Jessie, desperately, “Pl slap n ’ ' “Which face? This face?” asked Lewis, with nken humor. a will alan Se eat i th got now, atid I’m going to kiss you! this threat Jessie struck him full in‘ the », but he seized her in both his arms and tried Big ger poen, Jessie, unable to help , uttered a shrill scream, which ad ’s ears as he was coming out of the e-yard gate. The boy started to her as- mee at once. Coming up at a run, he seized ewis bodily as the young aristocrat was bend- ing back her head to accomplish his ‘reckless ct, | tearing away from the girl, he : en ta >A) gnizing the’ Squire’s eee : THE WINNING TRICK you had better dilute it,” grinned Ed, Vv son, as Be that reckless youth staggered to his feet with fierce scowl on his features. aoe and he’s been drinking!” shuddered the rl. “Oh, he has!” “Tl get square with you for that, Will Som- ers!” yelled Lewis furiously. “I will, if I have to die for it.” “Come along, Jesie,” said Will, ignoring the vengeful youth. Lewis shook his fist after them as they passed on. Lewis watched them out of sight before he - left the spot. It was getting dark now, and he managed to reach home without attracting any comment, Fortunately for him, his father was absent in Boston on business, and so he escaped a well-merited reprimand for*the condition he @ Was In. That week Will received from Washington a certificate, confirming to him for the usual num- ber of years the patent rights on. his improved damper regulator, and the superintendent made an agreement with his mother, as his guardian, for its use in the factory engine-room on a regu- lar royalty.. Specifications for his new steam’ economizer and condenser were at the same time drawn up and forwarded to a patent attorney in ~ the Capitol City to be patented, and we may-as well state here that in due time he sold the rights to the Northport cotton mills for five thousand . dollars.. Superintendent Harper had, at Will’s request, visited the swamp-lot and invesigated the outlook. His verdict assured the boy that he had a ten-acre field of ice in due course to sell to the Rockland Ice Company, which was in - the market for such privileges as soon as they were ripe. _ As they left the spot they did not see a crouch- ing form hiding in the underbrush. It was Ed Rickson, and he’ had a crowbar with him. As soon as all was still again he clambered out on the dam, and inserting the end of the bar between the narrow crack in the boards, began to pry them apart. His object was apparent. He meant to make a sufficiently large opening in the dam to allow the confined water to escape. Fortu- nately, the plans of the wicked do not always prosper. Before Will reached home he missed his big horn-handled jack-knife, which was a handy companion in the engine-room repair shop. “By George!” he said. “I remember I laid that down on-one of the stringers the dam while I was talking to Mr. Harper. I must go back and get it.” So he hastily retraced his steps. As he drew near the dam he heard queer sounds, not unlike the ripping of boards, and he began to wonder. He rushed forward to investi ment the moon, which had been obscured all the evening, suddenly shone out between a rift in_ the clouds, and Will saw something~ that = gered him. It was Ed Rickson hard at Big R his aha to comer the dam. a * “Hi, there! t are you doing?” Will crie@ int estosiahed anger. SOREL ae ickson turned in a startled way and droppe ‘the crowbar into the water. mame ne : “Come out of that!” exclaimed Will, __ “Go to thunder!” replied the rascal. _ _ “I’m going to hand you over to Constable right awav.” — e+ * gate. At that mo-

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20 And he meant it, too. Now it happened that Will’s blood was up, and so reckless of conse- ences was he that the clambered out on the aan determined to bring Ed Rickson to justice . at last. Ed saw him coming, and waited with a diabolical grin. He was satisfied that he could easily handle Will Somers, as stout a lad as he looked. When they grappled in the center of the dam he found out that the job was not as easy as he supposed. It was a pretty even thing, however, as to which would come out ahead. It was a fight to the finish, and no mistake. Will was a bit overmatched, but not outclassed. He oe was strong and tough, and his fists were like ~ gmall sledge-hammers. Every time they landed on Rickson he grunted, while Will took his own unishment in silence, never yielding an inch to is antagonist at any stage, though the blood s trickled from a nasty cut over his eye. oe length Will’s greater power of endurance began to prevail. Taking advantage of this, the boy ducked down, seized Ed’s leg below the knee, and rking it up, overbalanced his antagonist, who itched sideways into the water of the pond. That ended the fight. Rickson came up from his plunge completely subdued. It was not im- probable that had he been left to himself he ‘might have been drowned, so exhausted was he. 1, however, grabbed him by the collar of his acket and slowly dragged him to firm ground. He then took the precaution to bind his hands be- hind his back. Will marched his prisoner to the residence of Constable Brady, a quarter of a mile away, who took him to the town jail. Next day Will Somers went before Justice Benson and swore out a complaint of malicious mischief against Ed Rickson. Ed lost no time in sending for Lewis Jarvis. . “Get me out of this, do you understand?” he said to Lewis when that lad apeared, “or I'll blow the whole business from beginning to end.” _ Lewis, terrified at’ the thought of public ex- ; poeels’ promised to enlist his father in Rickson’s _ behalf. In order to secure the Squire’s co-opera- - ‘tion, it is probable that Lewis made a clean breast _- of the matter to his father. At any rate, Squire _ Jarvis appeared for Ed when he was brought be- fore Justice Benson; the prisoner was also charg- ~ ed with burglarizing the lawyer’s office. The _. nabob, of course, refused to press this charge, and as there was not sufficient evidence against the _ rascal it was allowed to drop. Will, with Sam Travis’ assistance, recovered the short crowbar _ with which Rickson had intended to break down the dam, and produced it against the prisoner. _ Rickson flatly denied that he had used it against _» Will’s property with malicious intent, but both - Will and Sam, as well as Constable Brady, who had visited the dam, testified to the abrasures in the boards, which admitted of but one construc- _ tion, so he was adjudged guilty by the Justis ae - not! fied her that the promissory note having _ recovered, she would be held for its pay- ther told him of the Squire’s visit. c it, mother, on the ground of on Sam Travis’ father. He’s a you in the ens he will advise :; ‘supper Jessi Fairweather came in, as +h At ® . When Will came home from the factory — THE WINNING TRICK she often did, to show Mrs. Somers a new dress pattern she had received from Boston. “I’ve got something to tell you, Will,” she said, while Mrs. Somers was out of the room for a short interval, “but you must promise not to say a word about it to any one.” : “All right,” said Will, “I promise.” “Tessie Rickson came to me to-day and begged that I would become friendly with her again, for she said as long as she and I were not on spea<- ing terms none of the other girls would notice her. She admitted that it was she who put her pocketbook in the pocket of my dress on the day of the fire, in the hope of disgracing me. She said Lewis Jarvis had put her up to it, and had told her that I had said many unkind things about her, which, of course, was not so; and she now knows that Lewis Jarvis simply made .a dupe of her in order to get square with me. But the worst thing of all, Will, she confessed to me that she was the cause of the fire at the mill, and told me why she set a match to the dresses of certain girls without thinking any further dam- age would result. She’s a thoughtless girl, with very poor principles, and I fee] sorry for her.” “She’d get into a pack of trouble if it became known that she started the fire at the factory,” said Will, not a little astonished at the revelation. “Well, I must be going,” Jessie said, as Mrs. Somers returned to the room. “Why, what’s the matter with the clock? It must be half-past eight now, yet the hands peint to a quarter past seven, just as they did when I entered the room.” “Evidently it has stopped,” said Will, walking up to the mantelpiece. While fumbling with it the bottom suddenly came away in his hand, and- a small piece of folded paper dropped out. Jessie picked it up and handed it to Mrs. Somers, who casually opened it. ' “Why, Will,” she said in a tone of mingled sur- prise and joy, “here is the missing receipt at ast. ¢ “You don’t mean it mother!” exclaimed the boy. His mother passed it to him. _“Isn’t that splendid!” exclaimed Jessie, clap- — ping her hands with pleasure. “How fortunate that the dear old clock stopped.” ¢ Will allowed the case to be brought into court, — and then, when Squire Jarvis was gloating over the bill of costs he thought Widow Somers would . have to pay, she produced the receipt, and covered the nabob and Job Rickson with confusion. The same day, too, Will was waited on by three mem- bers of the town council, and presented with a gold, medal, appropriately inscribed, which had . been awarded to him in recognition of his heroism at the factory fire. Will Somers’ ten-acre pond produced an ice privilege in J ary which net- ted him something like three fhousand. dollars. Not only that, but the swamp-lot thereafter : nually netted him a similar sum, so that his game . of chance, after all, resulted_in a steady income. — “Just enough for you and I to buy a nice little house and start housekeening within a ~ear cr * two,” he said to Jessie when he showed her his _ first check from the Rockland Ice Company. And Jessie blushed radianily and clapped her pretty fingers over his mouth. Ry Se aie Bee rer pecs s : } or, ’ 5: PAPE oie we : Ei ; ar 3 4 Loh ’ nee

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY | 21 CURRENT NEWS ; BISCUIT 100 YEARS OLD The instrument which was-built at the observ- _ __ An Indian biscuit, believed to be more than 100 atory and is in successful operation, is usually _ Years old, has been plowed up by Frank H. Hanks set at one ten-millionth of a second, but by ad- / cf Peru, Ind. The biscuit is a deer paunch justments the speed can be increased to one-one- a stuffed with a mixture of meats. Indian lore hundred-millionth of a second in rare instances. aa iy ee buying s sete deer in days of -. plenty, to ug up in lean days. =a Sart a celes Ee “JAPANESE” REGIMENT IS LOYAL TO MINISTER GETS A BIG TIP ae va vices STATES « ee Tt pays to be a head waite Rev. eae weil ae ie batae lang Beh saenieey re tS Bicwn, wagits of the vine maptiet ae Aa side of blo hee but in ae of the fact that it is Knoxville, Tenn., and one of the most prominent CeEers age entirely of young men’ of Japa- aon ministers in the South, believes. When pape etd: every cadet is.a loyal citizen of the e Good Fellowship Club of the church gave a ; os bd F dinner to the mands Missionary Society Dr. The'referenee is to Yae-5. 0.2, Fete ee " Brown served as head w aiter” ’ McKinley High School, Honolulu, which has more At the conclusion of the dinner he was handed than 10 — te, Fi. oe ae majority of _ a “tip” from the women, a check for $1,500. Dr. whom, were bors Jn-thr sapaness Se ; tae a eae ee : It is, perhaps, one of the finest illustrations of rown was teld to use it in defraying the ex- Se : ratt ne egos ; : the method by which the territory of Hawaii is nses of his trip to the Baptist Alliance gather- ; i ng at Stockholm, Sweden. carrying out an exhaustive program of Ameri- “ ea . canization. By virture of borer ween born with- : : in the territory, every cadet of Japanese ences- SNAP PHOTO IN A _ TEN-MILLIONTH try is a citizen of the United States, and they ' Through an apparatus operated by rapidly re- were among the first to bring about the establish- rolving mirrors, Dr. J: A. Anderson, a member ment of an-R, O. T. C. unit at the school when it the Staff of Mount Wilson Observatory, can was suggested. take a photograph with an exposure of one ten- The McKinley unit excells in drilling. It has ‘millionth of a second, Dr, Anderson disclosed its own band, organized under army direction, is discovery before members of the American and a splendid drum and bugle corps. During the *hysical Society at a session held at the Califor- recent session of the Legislature it was reviewed n institute of Technology. by the lawmakers. BOYS, DO YOU LIKE DETECTIVE STORIES? ‘ You Should Read fe Bete “MYSTERY MAGAZINE” ay Jt contains the snappiest and liveliest stories you ever read. Each number begins _ Wise with a rousing detective novelette, filled with pep from start to finish. Then there oak are from four to six short stories of police adventure with good plots and interesting pie ___ situations. All these stories are written by the same authors who write for the higher a! Se ‘priced magazines. Don’t miss the articles about crime detection, yarns of the under- << h fa world and special items relating to ghostly happenings, peculiar events and current _ news of police cases. 3 ‘Colored Covers, Fine Illustrations — 64 Pages a : Get a Copy, Read It, and See~ Mesa How Interesting the Stories Are! B ae = PRICE, 10 CENTS - Z oe Publisher, Inc., 166 Ww. 23d St.

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22 recked On The Desert SOR — THE ADVENTURES OF TWO BOY PROSPECTORS sy GASTON GARNE (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER VII.—(Continued). He loosened Arthur’s clothing and examined his. ik. is wad alscaty Wack oul bine between the hips. “It’s a bad bruise, certainly,” admitted Jack, - lieve any of the bones are broken. Now for the ther.” It was the left leg. Jack removed the shoe and stecking with difficulty, for the ankle had already ‘egun to swell, ~ “May be broken. I can’t tell,” he admitted. sf “What's this they call a break there? Oh, Pott’s fracture. Perhaps it’s that, perhaps it’s only a sprain. Art, do try to get up. Lean on me and Yll support you to the tent, where you’ll be more comfortable. It’s blistering hot here.” He got him on his feet with difficulty. Arthur complained of terrible pain in his back. Half doubled over, with Jack’s aid, he hobbled to the tcat and sank groaning on the blanket upon which they had slept. te the spine at different points, “but I don’t o “Oh, if I only had a drink!” he moaned. “My throat is terribly parched.” “: Jack picked up the thermos bottle, but it was > empty. é “Til see how the case stands at the cars,” he said. “Now you want to brace up. You are x badly bruised, all right, but I don’t believe-you are seriously injured.” = - Bs It was quite otherwise with the cars, however. . They were half buried under great masses of -_ rock and completely wrecked. 1 tires were cut ey to pieces, and a glance told Jack that their mech- = anism was too badly damaged to be restored. _ Jack’s first care was to secure the water kegs, : which fortunately were all uninjured. He next ' -went for the provisions, and this took time, for _ there was a lot of stone to be removed. Hurry- ing back to Arthur then, he gave him a drink. if Se ee badly damaged are theycars?” Arthur ask “Clean sweep,” replied Jack, coolly. “They'll * fever run again.” “Oh, Jack! Are they really past hope?” - “Sure thing. Lucky job for us that Fan Rus- _ sell did give you away, if she really did. It may be the means of saving our lives. Remember it’s only fourteen miles to the dry lake.” t “It might as well be fourteen hundred as far _,as I’m concerned,” sighed Arthur. “We are in “trouble for fair.” “Yes; and we’ve got to make the best of it. Now : , you get to fretting in the heat or you'll y yourself into a fever. There’s just one & ee aia re “ jy -boy. “Even if I hit the lake bottom by compass, FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY thing’ for me to do, and that’s to go on afoot and) =| ask help of the Spencer crowd. If they are hu- man they’ll grant it.” “Don’t leave me, Jack. My head feels mighty queer. I think I must have struck it when I fell.” Now, for the first time, Jack noticed how flushed Arthur’s face had become. “Let me feel your pulse,” he said, and he took his friend’s hand, with fear and trembling, for Arthur had a fashion, when anything serious < worried him, of taking on a feverish condition. Jack had seen him in these spells before, and once he had known him to go out of his head. The boy’s pulse was running high; there was no denying it, but he declared that he was in less pain. : Jack made a cold compass for the ankle and ‘ then bathed Arthur’s back with a liniment which he had brought along in case of accident. “T think we ought to move the tent out still further,” he then said. “I think there is liable to be another crash.” It was done, and Jack had his hands full getting Arthur over to the tent; when he reached it he ~ seemed completely exhausted and sank off to sleep. ’ Jack filled another: pipe, and returning to the cars made a thorough examination, convincing himself of the utter hopelessness of the situation, for Jack was a good mechanic and quite capable of pulling the -ears to pieces and making one serviceable one out of the parts of both, if the thing had been possible. i “We are in a fix for fair,” he told himself, “and by rights there isn’t a moment to be lost. Atthe same time I most awfully hate to leave the poor boy alone.” a Arthur was awake when he returned, but the fever was upon him and he seemed flighty and _ quite rambling in his talk. ; “Go, if you think best,” he said. “I don’t want to stand in your way, but put the thermos bottle where I can reach it and one of the water-kegs.” “You want to be sparing of the water,” sighed Jack. “Remember there is none too much. I shall have to take the spare thermos bottle with me. E That walk was something to be remembered for a lifetime! : “2 To describe it in all its details is no part of our purpose. The first five miles were not so bad, although the heat was terrible and Jack began e. peed what he should do if he had to walk So far he had the trail of the two cars to guide — him, but at last he came to a point where the sand and alkali soot vanished, and in its — place was a stiff clay soil baked as hard asa floor, on which the tires had Jeft no imprint. a By this time Jack reckoned that he had covered eight miles. He was now thoroughly exhausted; the clay was blistering hot under his feet. Camel range loomed up behind him, but ahead the near- est range was many miles distant. = “T ean never make it,” thought the wretched — 9 those people may not be there but at some en=- __ tirely different point.” a = (To be ¢ontinued)

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY GOOD READING 20 . > . TANNING VATS 100 YEARS OLD __ Workmen excavating a sewer on Plum street, Portland, Me., have unearthed tanning vats that are at least 100-years old. Pine planks of which _. the vats are constructed are as sound as the day _ they were laid, apparently. A small piece of _ leather was found in one of the vats. SERVICE RECORD BROKEN All records for length of service in the same ~ job have been broken in France by Alexis Fauch- ‘on, a farm-hand of Glos, in Normandy, who has completed seventy-six years in the same position. Fauchon, who is eighty-five, entered the Mouton Farm when he was nine as a herder. He is now ' serving the great grandson of his original em- B _ ployer. : FINDS RING IN GIZZARD ‘When Henry Wagaaner of Peoria, Il., lost a $250 diamond ring recently, he reported the loss ‘to the police, who learned the ring had been missed soon after he fed his chickens. They ad- rised him to search his chickens. Wagaaner did. _ After killing eighteen he found the missing gem in the gizzard of one. He has invited his neigh- ors to a chicken dinner. ~ HISTORY OF GOLD LEAF The process of making gold leaf has been known since the eighth century B. C. It is found in mnection with the most ancient known mum- 1s, having been used for covering teeth, tongue, ‘etc. Sometimes it is also found on the cof- ' Gold leaf was also used on the tomb and gments of ancient Egypt. In the eleventh miyry it seems to have attained as high a de- ‘of perfection as to-day. _ A POSTAL IMPROVEMENT Another time and labor-saving device for use in expediting the mails has passed the experi- al stage and is being tested by the Post Of- e Department. The device will pre-cancel aps put up in coils for use on other than first- ss mail - large mailers, before the stamps been | ed, and will then recoil them in ginal sized coil. Heretofore many large of such mail haye purchased uncancelled in coils which were then placed on _out- mail by stamp-affixing machines already in al use, necessitating the running of such Y the cancelling machines at the post- the new device in operation, how- stamps would be purchased already can- Esra Sad vende by the hen — rted— : d in by the ig_to tins ad ‘sent to the » trains, lea’ Each number contains Four Sto : Best " on the Screen — Elegant feart-tnee yon a ie in _ HARRY E._ | canceling machine. Various types have been de- veloped by a number of manufacturers to a point whieh the Department believes warrants giving them a try-out. . THE SCOTLAND YARD SYSTEM That lost and found property department*at Scotland Yard is one of the best things they have in London,” said a woman who has spent much time in England. “Last summer I had experience with it. I fell into a sort of habit of losing things. First it was a valuable umbrella. I did not miss it until I got to my hotel after an after theatre supper. The next morning I made by husband take me to the theatre and two restaurants where we had been the night before, but without *tesult. Then an American friend suggested Seotland Yard. I went there, and there it was. It had - been turned in by a cab driver. Twice afterward I lost that umbrella and got it back in the same fashion, each time leaving as a reward for the cab driver a per cent. of the value of the umbrel- la, as required. Then I lost a fine pair of opera glasses and I got them back. It is an excellent system the police over there have of encouraging honesty. A cab driver who finds anything in his vehicle is required to turn it in, and he knows that if the owner claims it he will be rewarded,” _—————————————————— —__ | “Mystery Magazine” \ SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A COPY — LATEST ISSUES —— THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE CAR, by Ham- sea BS Craigie. 28 a AND THE LAW, by Frederick E HAND IN THE DARK, by Chas, F. 0 131 THE TRAIL OF THE ROGU i ai = son-Howard. bs 8 by Geetee ee: 132 — WOMAN FROM NOWHERE, by Jack Bech« olt. 183 THE TIME DETECTIVE, by Frank Bui 13! THE WHISPERING-ROOM, by Beulah Pornion, 135 ONE CLUB MISSING. by Chas. F. Oursler 36 } DOOM OF THE DAMNED, by Joe Tr bs 137 THE CONSUMING DEATH, by Gilbert Hammond, S. DEANR’S JEWELS, by Beatrice §, Luisi The Famous Detective Story Out Teday in 129 Is THE BRASS VOICE By JACK BECHDOLT ; HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, dine. 166 West 234 Street, New York City 128 i? = 4 “Moving Picture Stories” its A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Puree ; $ * PRICE SEVEN CENTS PER'COPY r Plays — Interesting Articles About Prominent People in the Films — Doings of Actors and ‘Actresses thy Ne Studio and Lessons in Scenario Writing. = | 7 se #6 Wet 2 Be Now ort My Se re a

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y struments are bought ready made. aa ‘condenser and are attached to the back of the a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY _ INTERESTING RADIO NEWS AND HINTS The Reinartz Receiver and Amplifier No circuit has aroused more interest among _ »amateurs than the Reinartz radio receiver. It is ; mali, compact, simple to construct, and not cost- ly, as it requires only very few parts. This re- ceiver will do almost everything that the more ex- pensive sets will do, if constructed and tuned cor- rectly. Any boy could make one, as all the in- You only have to put them in their proper places and wire them together. It does not require much skill to do that, as everything is laid out on the diagram fn its, best position. If you fold the plan length- “wise, just over the lamps, and bend upward the a containing the jacks, rheostats and con- lensers, you can see how it looks when finished. The Reinartz coil, at one side in the drawing, really sets on the baseboard behind the 23-plate condenser, but the taps from it go up over the all you: , 8d you owing it to your relations and The Reinartz Receiver and Amplifier s 5 the last to go on, Four go to one set of - A close study of the hcok-up printed below will show two separate instruments separated by an upright dotted line. You can make one or both instruments, as you please, but with the amplifier you get much louder signals. The diagram shows you the receiver and the amplifier wiring just as it would look if you were viewing it laid flat qn a table. For each one you will, however, need a base- board and a drilled panel to hold the various, instruments. Let us examine the receiver first. To build it you will need: 1 Panel 6x10 inches, rubber or Bakerlite. ; 1 baseboard 6x 9 inches % inch thick. 1 UV-200 or 201 lamp and socket. 1 23-plate variable condenser (vernier). 1 11-plate variable condenser. 1 vernier rheostat, 6 to 8 ohms, 1 variable gridleak. 1 001 mica cendenser. 1 switch. 18 switch points. vFs 7 binding posts. : 1 Reinartz spiderweb coil. a Some busbar and spaghetti, Line - The lamp socket, gridleak and coil are fastened te the baseboard, also the battery ground and — aerial binding-posts. “ The panel chrries ‘the two condensers and rheostat, the switch points and the switches. ‘The 001 condenser is joined between the wires — ending behind the phone posts, the rheostat is below it, and the lamp stands behind the rheostat, — Be sure to join the gridleak close to the grid ter- plate condenser (as stated before) | shown. W aw? hy Teas er minal of the lamp: socket te which — the switches are placed as te The spiderweb coil is fastened behind thing is assembled the spiderweb coil leads ee

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_ Points, four to the other, and ten to the middle Set. The coil was drawn at one side to show you it was connected, but a bracket holds it to ¢ baseboard. You will notice a wire end is oidered to switch point No. 4 on one side, and _ another to No. 10 of the middle set of switch _ points. The inside of the panel should be shielded _ With copper tissue stuck on with shellac, but the _ Copper must be cut away from around all the in- truments, leaving at least % inch clearance. Ou must solder a piece of copper wire to the elding and fasten the other end to the ground ing-post. The connecting wires must be in- Sulated by encasing them in spaghetti, and they Must be bent at various angles to avoid running __ any two parallel with each other, excepting where ; ope run to the battery, aerial and ground posts. eep them as far apart as you can. If you wish to build the amplifier, too, you will _ Yequire the following articles: 1 panel 6x10 inches. 1 baseboard 6x 9 inches. 2 double circuit jacks. 2 rheostats, 7 binding-posts. Busbar and spaghetti. The two rheostats and three jaeks are mounted the panel and the choke coil on the back of the el. The lamps and transformers are secured he baseboard a couple of inches apart. It is er to have the primary of one transformer noted one way and that of the next transformer _ at an angle with it. . . _. he choke coil can be made by winding 30 rns of No. 26 double silk-covered copper wire on a pasteboard tube 14 x1% inches. If the re- on is not clear unwind or add a few turns of to the coil until it is corrected. These choke like the spiderweb coils, can be bought of in radio supplies if you do not wish to soldering this set, use as little flux as : and be sure to avoid acids, as they cor- rode the wires. Solderall is a flux. It is cheaper. E better to buy ready-made coils and flux than try to make them. When using the amplifier th the receiver you must join the two with two of copper wire from the phone posts on the receiver to the input posts on the amplifier, and use the posts at the extreme right-hand side — horn. If a plug is used, the right-hand hole or the posts are for a horn connection, he noise would be too loud for phones, but phones can be plugged into either of the other tunning operation of this set requires fine ent. The condenser dials must be turned the ap are out, and the plate switch— at the right, should be on the middle con- int. The tuning switch in the center must laced on the center point, and the grid (left- and). switch should be on the center contact. en turn your rheostat until a hissing sound is ached. Next vary the center and left switches i get the strongest signals. After that ight inductance switch and the left con- til there is no distortion of the signals. your filament too brilliantly. = + pe ok Be * po. is x 4 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 25 You will need a 100-foot aerial for this set, and if used in cool weather, late at night, very dis> tant stations may be tuned in. The writer had no difficulty in picking up Miami, Florido, from New York, with a home-made set built from the plan given above. You can use the same “A” or filament battery for both receiver and amplifier, but require two 45-volt “B” batteries, one for the receiver and the other for the amplifier to be attached where specified. This set has been arranged so that the battery, ground and acrial leads go to the rear, in — to keep cumbersome wires away from the panel. In our next number we will have a diagram and opie ree to build a Cockaday receiver and am- plifier. ANTENNA CANNOT SERVE TWO One antenna will not serve two receiving sets, owing to the different characteristics of the re- ceiving circuits and the difference in the wave lengths to which they are tuned. Two or more antennae can be erected on the same roof, but in such a case the wires should extend at right an- gles and about twenty feet away from each other. The characteristics of some circuits make them act as small transmitting sets as well as receiv- ing, and the result is that the nearby antenna picks up interference radiated from the other wire, : ’ SUPPLEMENTARY RESISTANCE New tubes which have recently appeared on the market seem to have created considerable confu- sion in the mind of the average radio listener rel- ative to the use of rheostats for proper control.. There are four tubes which require special con- sideration. They are the UV-201-A, UV-199, Cunningham 301-A and Cunningham 299. The UV-201-A and Cunningham 301-A are designed to operate with a six-volt storage battery in con- nection with a 4 to 6-ohm rheostat. However, a nigher resistance rheostat will serve more ef-— ficiently to keep the filament voltage as low as is consistent, The UV-199 and the Cunningham 299 operate on three dry cells in series and require a 30-ohm rheostat. Practically all of the other tubes function with a standard 4- to 6-ohm rheo- stat and for that reason the majority of “A” bat- tery rheostats on the market have a resistance of “4 to 6 ohms. : If the operator desires to use one of the three volt tubes in connection with a 4- to 6-ohm rheo- stat he can do so by adding a small variable 25- ohm resistance unit to the rheostat already on the set. This supplementary i e trans- forms the 4- to 6-chm rheostat to a 80-ohm rheo- stat. The supplementary unit can be connected be- tween the negative terminal of the “A” battery and the rheostat. Resistance units of this type. are now on the market. Sr — > i= A BIT OF ADVICE ———«« ‘When hooking up a set keep the grid leads ag” short as possible, and do not use acid to solder joints, as it slowly corrodes and ruins your wires, Resta by

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26 NEW YORK, AUGUST 31, 1923 TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Postage Free 7 Cents z = 90 Cents “ < ord a ne 3.50 HOW TO SEND MONEY — At our risk send P. 0. Money Order, Check or Kegistered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. We accept Postuge mps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap _the Coin in a pores piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. rite your name and address plainly. Address letters to Harry E. Wolff, Pres. HARRY E. WOLFF, Charles E, Nylander, Sec. Publisher, Inc., L. F. Wilsin, Treas, 166 W. 23d St., N. Y. ITEMS OF INTEREST Ijv’S A BIG JOB FOR A BEE’ TO MAKE = oe _ A POUND OF HONEY a: A Washington figure shark has estimated that to turn out one pound of honey, bees must have taken the nectar from more than 62,000 clover blossoms and that to accomplish this, there would be required same 2,750,000 visits to the blossoms by the bees. In other words, to collect sufficient nectar to make up one pound of honey a bee must proceed to hive, to flower and back again 2,750,- 000 times. JAPANESE PEARLS INFERIOR Fy Something approaching consternation swept the = London market when it became known that the Japanese were producing what were declared to be real pearls by introducing into one oyster a particle of mother-of-pearl sewn up in shell-pro- ducing tissue taken from another oyster. New ‘York jewelers were not so readily driven irito panic, and they now state that the unnatural stimulation induced by the method results in a 1 of distinctly inferior quality; held to the = fight, the difference is readily seen. The surface Jacks the lustre and pinkish glow of the natural pearl; it has a dead, waxy appearance, and the texture is not so fine. As an additional precau- - tion the X-ray is used; this never fails to differ- _ * shows the nucleus of the latter to be large and solid instead of small and often hollow, as are _ the cores of natural pearls. SWIMS LAKE ERIE IN 20 HOURS 15 ne ent MINUTES _ Carbis A. Walker of Cleveland swam across Lake Erie, arriving at Lorain, Ohio, Aug. 2, at 5:30 A. M., from Point Pelee, on the Canadian ore, which he left at 9:15 A M. Aug. 1. He O | himself from his exhaustion long enough 2 Ba. Se “Never again!” __. Walker, who represents the Cleveland Y. M. C. A,, landed at Lorain just 20 hours and 15 minutes after he started. He had traveled thirty-three ee SS ee ~~ entiate the natural from the forced variety, and ° pump for 89 cents. ~ ee FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY » FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ; miles in the water. A skiff manned by four watchers accompanied him. The powerboat Angus, which also traveled part way with Walker, Jost the swimmer when it left him to take a sick newspaper man to shore. The fresh water swim sapped Walker's strength. His legs were partially and tempora- rily paralyzed. He slept exhausted on a cot in the United States Coast Guard Station here. “We were without a compass,” he said when aroused, “and during the day followed a course directed by the sun and depended upon the moon and stars last night. : “Once in the night I was on the verge of giving up.’ It was when we hit a heavy fog and lost track of the moon. “But I was nearing my goal and, tired as I had grown, something within me spurred me on and ~ we sighted Lorain lighthouse at 9:30. The battle was the toughest from there in. I had to fight a choppy sea and there seemed to be a strong cur- rent that wanted to pull me to the west. “At daylight we were about three miles out of Lorain and a new determination to reach the goal arose. I seemed to get renewed strength and made good time from there on.” LAUGHS “That’s what I call a Judas kiss.” “What’s that?” “One from my wife, to see if I have been drinking.” Browne—Why did you refuse to shake hands with Smith? Towne—He’s a great secret society man, and I was afraid I’d get the grip. z _ Customer—I paid fifteen cents for that last cigar you sold me, didn’t I? Clerk—Yes, sir. Customer—Let me have one for about one thous- and dollars. = Ly & dey, ““Men’s promises,” the young wife said, between sobs, “are like piescrust——” “That’s tough,” said the young husband, and then she got angry enough to ery. rate Minnie—What frauds these beggars are! [I met a “blind” man, who said “Please give mea _ penny, beautiful lady.” Mamie—Yes, he said that _ to make you think he really was blind. “That new manager seems to be a big gun,” said the stenographer. “Yes; and he is quick __ firing, too,” said the cashier. “I have 7 re- ceived notice that my services are not wanted.” e First robber (who formerly lived in a boarding- house)—-Sh! . These people must be ite Sec- — - ond Robber—WHy?. First Robber—I went into the pantry and found a strawberry shortcake with strawberries in it! ; eer _ Claude—I thought you wank not going to : Eee. more than $50 for a wheel. Maud—I didn’t meen ae to when I went into the store, but he said if Td take the $60 wheel he would let me have a dollar

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HELP TO REFOREST EUROPE from American trees are being sent to urope to renew forests destroyed during the War. The American Forest Association has sup- 25,000,000 seeds from Pacific Coast trees England alone. These include Douglas fir, Spruce, and ‘Western larch, which seem specially suited to climatic conditions there. PALESTINE CENSUS _ A recent census of Palestine shows that 10 per cent. of the Peyolation is Christian. The total ' Population, 757,182 approximately, equals that of ston. Seventy-nine per cent. if Mahometan and _ 41 per cent. Jews. Jerusalem and Tiberius have _ ®more Jews than other cities. In the former, out _ of 62,000, 34,000 ara Hebrews. Nazareth has 7,- _ 25 inhabitants, nearly two-thirds of whom are Christians, and in Bethlehem Christians predom- te, there being 5,830, with only 818 of Jews nd Mahometans. The principal seaport, Jaffa, has about 47,000 ple, of whont there are 20,000 each of Jews Mahometans and about 7,000 Christians. The her large centers of population are very largely ahometan. he Palestine Weekly, a Zionist organ, declares according to Roman res this country has ipported a population of 7,000,000, which is nd and not fact. When one considers that the of Palestine is about equal to that of Ver- and that it has about an equal amount of land, one questions seriously whether, with highest development of her natural resources, ‘be possible for Palestine ever to support a augmented population, Vermont in 192 é te 352,428 people within the State. ‘ NEW 10,400-ACRE N., J. PARK - : : _Jersey’s new 10,400-acre park at High -N. J., the gift of Colonel Anthony R. , was opened recently. The reservation is highest point of Sussex County, and is 1,- ) feet above sea level, at the north end of Kit- ‘park affords a splendid view over three Jersey, Pennsylvania and New ark land“includes Marcia Lake, the state’s D of water. It also includes the resi- iit by Colonel and Mrs. Anthony R. ‘Bernardsville, a number of years ago. ers have deeded this tract with the build- he state for recreation purposes. : an act of the legislature Governor Silzer d.a High Point Park Commission, with Dumont of Paterson as chairman, and Stanton as secretary, and this commission ever the property for the state, and of the formal opening. There was a at 1-P. M., in charge of the Highway ‘Commission, = * id rned over | t in 1911, and which is was built FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY INTERESTING NEWS ARTICLES library, tennis courts; yes, and even a ee Sati ee tains several large rooms and many small ones. There are other buildings on the estate, all of which will fit into the scheme of recreation de- velopment. The residence stands at an elevation of over 1,600 feet, the highest site of residential occupation in New Jersey. ’ High Point Park is easily reached by motor or by rail over the Erie to Port Jervis, or over the Susquehanna and Western Railroad to Sussex. Another way is by the Lackawanna Railroad to Newton or Branchville, and by motor from these points to Sussex and from there to the park. The park is six miles by motor from Port Jervis. A SALT INDUSTRY IN THE BAHAMAS Salt City, one of the Bahamas, like Lot’s wife, was turned into a pillar of salt. This little group of islands known as the British West Indies stretch lazily out on the blue waters of the Car- ibbean under a still bluer sky. One of them is now owned by John McCutcheon, the famous car- toonist, who bought this “treasure island in the tropics” as a honeymoon goal and has made it his permanent winter residence. The very last of this group, so small as to look like a pin point on the map, is Turks Island, of which Grand Turk is the largest. Ten miles away is Salt City, a little strip three miles long and about only three-quarters wide. Here is a salt industry which has been in the possession of an American family for many years. The present ruler of this diminutive salt do- main is W. B. Harriot; he and his family are the only white people on the island. It is like a feu- dal estate whose serfs are blacks. These three hundred and more inhabitants are all engaged ir shipping salt for export trade. 3 The island is shaped like a shallow. bowl. Huge vs pumps force sea water into the interior, where the > this is that the salt serves as ballast and often- . keeps the whole house from blowing away ina’ sudden hurricane, which in these tropical islands; _ happens along with the fickleness of an ‘April | er At Grand Turk the British Government also shower. : : Ano) aa eae Be. ships fiber as well as salt. ‘This town jpoasts a . ey

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY HERE AND THERE CANNON-BALL IN TREE While cutting down a tree on a farm near Blue Springs, Mo., Noah Russell and William Brown found a cannon-ball embedded in the trunk. It had apparently penetrated the trunk of the tree f during the Civil War battle near Blue Springs and had whitened with age. The tree which died about two years ago had completely covered the cannon-ball and all evidence of its entrance. FIRELESS RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE It was in Germany that the fireless cook stove was perfected, and there is now, it is reported, on foot in France a plan to develop an efficient fire- less railway locomotive. It is equipped with a boiler after the manner of other lacomotives, but the water in it is heated to the necessary temper- ature from a stationary plant. Enough power can be stored in it to operate it four hours for switch- ing purposes in a railway yard, and it does not, it is contended, take more than fifteen minutes to charge it. A BED OF GIANT SCALLOPS The discovery by the United States Bureau of Fisheries of an inexhaustible bed of giant scal- lops off the Atlantic coast was reported by Com- missioner Hugh M. Smith to Secretary Redfield 4 recently. It is said to extend all the way from -s Block Island to the Virginia Capes and appears ' to be thirty miles or more in width. William M. Welsh and Dr. Henry B. Bigelow, two of the bu- reau’s scientists, who have Fast completed a trip from the New England coast to Norfolk in the Fish Commissioner’s vessel, the Crampus, said that at each haul the dredge brought up from one to three bushels of scallops. Another trip is to -.__-be made at once to map out the bed, but from the _. . information already secured the fisheries officers feel confident that a virtually inexhaustible sup- ply of edible bivalves has been found. Hereto- ‘ore the giant scallop had been found only in spots along the Maine coast, although the small variety is common. _.. 3%-POUND BOTTLE RAISES 15 TONS - _'. Ina steel bottle thirteen inches long and weigh- ' ing three and a half pounds, there is stored - enough power to lift 30,000 pounds at one opera- tion. alter S. Josephson, a consulting engineer, has perfected this portable device which makes _ use of a highly expansible fluid. A demonstration was given recently in Long Island City when a - ten-year-old girl turned a small screw on ‘the bot se loose enough pressure to raise a truck weighing 11,500 pounds. yy uses have been suggested for the power , For emergency purposes it could be ap- plied to a piston jack for lifting a street car off -@ victim several seconds after an accident. It - facilitate SS agent ng around terminals, and freight- yards when other and more ive stationary machines are not at hand. t is supplied to enable the inflation ad es a a yee that the business will have to pass into str Ss Ln ee aE Le Peo a “Our appliances expound no new principle in nature, They simple take advantage of an old one and adapt it to new uses. We propose to establish stations where our containers can be inexpen- sively charged and to sell them at popular prices. With one of these steel bottles a man could climb_ to the top of a mountain or carry to any part 0 the world in his pocket a power capable of lifting _ fifteen tons at one operation. He may, if he de- sires, hold the power for ten years before he draws any of it off, and he will find there has been no change in its efficiency all that time.” BENDS TACKS WITH TEETH The average man thrown out of work when he was forty would probably twiddle his thumbs and sit on the veranda. But Peter Gluntz of Ant- werp, Minn., was not an average man. He sat in the kitchen looking for opportunities. One day he noticed his wife having great difficulty ham- mering a tack straight. Tack after tack was inserted in the oilcloth only to be knocked awry by his pretty young wife. Gluntz plucked out a number of these and ex- amined them. Save for a slight bend in the middle the tacks were perfectly good. Gluntz went back to his chair, but an idea began to-work in his busy brain. There must be millions of spoiled tacks like that that could be reused if properly straightened out. Why not ? ? But how? Other men would have stopped right there, but not Peter Gluntz. To think with him was to act. ‘ Gluntz had a wonderful set of plates made for him by a Kansas City dentist whom he had once saved from a bad scrape. Gluntz could crack nuts with his teeth. They never came out. That night he departed for Kansas City and had his friend cover the molars with steel. And thus was born a great new industry—tack straightening. Gluntz had. his den fitted out with a Morris chair and tack chute. At first only one tack | could be straightened out at a time, but Gluntz was not discouraged. He set his teeth, resolved ~ to succeed. Within a week he was gulping up mouthfuls of tacks at a time and discharging them straightened and ready for reuse into a crude, homemade, tack carrier on the right. . te Glunzt advertised for useless tacks all over the country. People were interested in the “Tack- — head”—his trade name—and soon Gluntz had a big hill of tacks in his back yard. He converted ~~ his parlor into a shipping station for the straight- ened tacks and soon had salesmen on the road - everywhere distributing his unusual product. The straightened tack, bearing the marks of Gluntz’s 3 teeth, was a self-seller, 23 There were obstacles, of course, such as fatigue of the jaws, blood poisoning and so on, but ee ually he could afford to take months off at a time, — leaving the business in the care of his wife, who _ by this time had also made a visit to the Kansas City dentist. Ratt Glunzt has no children, so his only 1 /

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sional Finger Print Expert is always in ' Gms mee so many/ positions waiting, to be filled right now that I am guaranteeing to place every man as soon as he finishes my course and I am backing up this remarkable offer with a aoe bank guarantee deposited with the Phillips State | Bank of Chicago. Let-me make you a Finger Print Expert and start you in a big paying position. Send Coupon Today : The big o rtunity you have, been waiting for is here. 5 Fear you have a position waiting for you as soon as you have finished this course, Also to every student that I accept now I will give abso- lutely free a complete Finger Print Outfit as illus- trated above. ‘ Besides a valuable course for Secret Service In- telligence is also given free to-all my students. This information itself is worth many times the cost of the complete course. Send cotipon today and learn all about it. ju =: = U. S. School of Finger. Prints | 2003 N. Clarli St., ReomC-1¢9, Chicago, Ill. PRINT OUTFIT oll right now I will give this complete Finger Print Outfit absolutely free. It is a Seow cues, Gorking cutfit—the same kind that I use myself—the same kind that you will use when you are ready to accept a position asea Finger Print Expert. This offer is for a limited time only, so you must hurry if you want to take advantage of it. Send in the coupon today for full information, Be a Finger Print Expert Learn at Home—3sO Minutes a Day S es a day for a short time. That is all that ig necessary. Iama Finger Print Expert and ee sae eke is seceinet. I give you just the kind of training that prepares you to be a Finger Print Expert—that assures you of a position just as soon as you have finished my course, The Finger Print Expert is always in demand. You need not give up your present occupation while studying this fascinating profession. Get into this big paying profession right now. | More Men Needed Right Now I Guarantee Youa Position s00n as — have finished this course. ° 4 as Write today for full information. SE SE SY SD SN U. S. SCHOOL OF FINGER PRINTS, Room C109 7003 N. Clark St., Chicago, Ml. Without any obligations whatsoever please gent me full information about your “Gnaranteed Posi- tion Offer—Free Finger Print Ontfit.” Also tell me how I can become a Fingér Print Expert. EC) Pe ee ee «sis AGC. « i ee ee ee ee CHY- ce encereeerescenscsees se State, seseeseense BY Ie en re Pe eee ee ee :

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4 AA Wf ‘s Niet “He's Already Patented Four Inventions” 'ONNY thing, too ... his work, He seemed to really understand what he was doing. “One day. he came into my office and said he had worked out a new arm for the automatic feeder. I Was a little skeptical at first, but when he stafted explaining to me, I could see that he had really dis- covered somethi And when I started questioning him, I was amazed. He certainly did know what he was talking about. “So 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 those advertisements of the Inter- national Correspondence Schools. I had been seeing them for years, but this time something inside of When he first came here he was just an ordinary worker. For a time, 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 Foksid Twin-Six and co-in- ventor of the Liberty Motor. Wahl Addi: Vachine, the Wal aig i the Wahl Fountain Pen, Iaventor of the Lilly Mine Hoist Controller. Chick Meckcareal” Engineer, Scallin Steal Con, St. Louis. 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, Lhad been working in a sort of mental, fog—just an automatic part of the machine in front of me. But the I. C. S. taught me to really understand what I was doing.’ “Well, that was just a start. Three times since be has come to me with improvements on our ma- chines—improvements that are netng: adopted in other plants and ich 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. C. S. telling of advancements and larger salaries won through om re-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, mek the full story of ar the S. can do for 7a To- ar a ‘To-morrow — is += day to take that first definite Perm toward Success. ~— enn ne a ee CTE ouT SER ate mee ak eg ged pe ee dep INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS, BOX 4491-B, SCRANTON, PA, Without cost or obligation on my part, please tell me how I can qualify for the . 2 position or in the subject before which 1 have marked an X in the list below :— Automobile Work Civil Engineer Business Management Operating ing and Mapping Industrial Management Advertising Airplane Engines Mine Foreman or ‘Traffic Management Stenography and Typing Engineer Business Law Electrical Engineering Architect Banking and Banking Law vil Service ‘Electric Lighting Contractor and Bullder Accountancy, (including C.P,A.) L) Railway Mail Clerk chanical Engineer Architectural Draftsman ‘Nicholson Cost Accounting Common School Subjects Mechanical Draftsman Structural Bookkeeping School Shop Chemistry Business English Hilustrating Baltlroad Positions Pharmacy Business Spanish French NAM C a nneseescnvenensesssnnssetsnnnsnineseveientbensessengennentes sect evsensoseegee SULCOt AMA OSS. revcesncresrenssrseeree sodejonintbeciocte tvonascbasinegsanntgl cncecereeeeseeeey WERE RS ed Eas SS eee FR eR ee EN. Lape M2 CEP ne FRR eS eee Tt. "Persons residing im Canada should send this coupon to the International Correspondence Schools Canadian, Timited, a » Montreal, Canada. Se Birr Ame we Beedeit. a Re ba a . Das we hl fe : : Pb tye PO Et BS Fo> aera a ey 2 La) =: Se os» UP = we + +i ' - “ * “~~ rears

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f WHAT BECOMES OF PINS? It has been} Stated on what is Supposed to be good authority that the world’s total output of | pins is at the rate of 200,000,000 a day. If so, it may Seem surprising that the world isn’t becoming carpeted w it.h Pins. We k now | how easily they | are lost — where | do they go to?| Most of them; decay into noth-j ingness, for act- | ually the pin is| not such a time-| defying article as| it seems. Every | ‘S Pin dropped in a amp place soon turns“into a few -Srains of rust. ith new pins} arnsd out by ma- _chinery in such | immense numbers | in this century | they are not con- Sidered very wat | uable, but in the| fourteenth cen -| tury, when pins Were first intro- duced they were | valuable articles | not to be lightly st, recalls Ev- ~ eryday Science. a “An old law per- ' Mitted the sale of _ bins on only two coed in the year, first and sec- Ond of January. Was then the} ~ Custom of all the Se entolk to buy ir pins for the As is — Still customary _. they went to their husbands or fa- thers for the _ Wherewithal, and the term = ay TAPE | Just us send you ied DIAMOND No. x ladies plat. finish and when you receive it deposit $3.15 with postman and the ring is yours for keeps—no more to pay—satisfaction guar- anteed or money absolute. ly refunded without any red tape, if you don't like | the ring within? days wear, ARTEX DIAMONDS have the same sparkle and glitter, } and look the genuine diamond } —almost defying life time ex- pevta. They stand the dia- mond test. Order by number, ring desir size shown byatripof paperen to end around your finger joint. Your choice of FR ladies EE} Solid gold filledbrace- let or men’s cult links (solid gold tront) to all orders of two or more riogs. All Artex Diamond rings Sond tcoalty gonrantesd foe 20 20 "ARTEX ¢ ONIPANY, Rony it. P, Sa. Gta, M. Fits the Mand, cannot be se seam. / with it you can throw Bg W “ curves, Rovys, get this Base Bal¥ qurver and youcan Fan ’Em as fast as ce. come to Bat, 10c,3 for’ Se with pr iO clane. DISPRIBUPORS, Dept, 1039 Stamford Coun. ted one like this, get it now. Usetul and Entertaining __ceuld tell cles af eego~ je fortanat hase from z e purchase a European maul ‘facturer arned in full, ‘ERRY ’s S aee tS ; wv. Van Buren, Dept. 2462, Chicago gr 2¥ ES hy Gone SET lien N bought before recent tariff raise and offered at s prices for a limited time. lar $22.00, 25-calibre, 7-shot auto meets tin, _——— pom our No, 74B110, spe frie ee einer EXTRA onto ON DELIVERY postage. et pacha at tri ning _ CONSUMERS CO, best. 45 2265 Broadway,N.¥. Sell Madison “Better-Msde” Shirts, Paja- ™mas, and Nightshirts direct from our factory to wearer, Nationally advertised. Easytosell. Exclusive patterns. Ex- ceptional values. No experience or capital required. ee free gary assured. Entirely batt py er WRITE FOR SAMPLES. ; lamin MADISON SHIRT CO., 603 B*way, N.Y, City GOITRE "wr Ihave Mpg neck olwe-t a checks ine rs moes the eniskge- eat pes ta distress and se-— ieves in alittle while. Poy when well. Tellyour friends about this. Write meatonce. DR. ROCK, Dept. 96 Box 737 Milwevkes. Wi avez Shirts: ORQUAYLE SANITARIUM, Deve Vi O11 MADISON NETO VENTRILOQMEN taught almost any vue at home. saoall TODAY 2 esns for partieulas « SMITH Bend proof. GEORGE W. Room M-763, 125 N. Jeff Ave., Peoria, Til. Big, Handsome, , Sleeping Doll sent prepaid for Lm 5! ONLY SIX PACKETS new y Per- 4\. fumed Sachet Powder Mier Al 0c. This is a Special Offer to introduce our sachet. , Wealso give Mama Dolls, Walking Dolls, and premiums for Lane Mfg. Co. Dept.153 Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Your skin can be quickly cleared ef Pi. eads, Acne Eruptions on the face er Itch, Eczema, Enlarged Pores, Shin oh rite today oe ne FREE ‘S22 os St parseit af aiter } be above $1000 Cash says! cen clear E.S.GIVENS, 186 Chamical E a Kansas Ci’ to Rider - wheels. now Topacea Horned es or No Pay’ Any form, chewing or snuff treatment sent

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Fame and Fortune Weekly —- LATEST IssvES — 892 In i Game for Gold; “or, Beating the Wall Street 893 Yona mes Sixty- four; or, Hustling for a Living. 894 Old Kitson’s Kid; or, = Best ae 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 Shipped to Sea: or, The Treasure of the Coral Cave. 800 An Errand Boy’s Fortune; or, The Office of the Wall Street Secrets. 901. In the Film Game; or, The Boy Who Made Moving Pictures. 002 A Smart New York Boy; or, From the Tenements to Wall Street 903 Mark Milton’s Mine: or. A Schoolboy’s Inheritance. 904 The Young Banker; or, ‘"he Mystery of a Money Hox. 905 The Secret Chart; or, The Golden Treasure of the Crater. Million; or, Ben and the Wall Street Brokers. 911 Down and Ont; or, A Hard sh to Beat. 912 The Roy Banker's Double; or, ‘A Strange Wall St. Mystery. 913 The Young Beach Comber; or, A Fortune in the Sand. 14 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. 17 ie = Alone; or, The Boy Who Made His Own 918 bees Dan Tucker: or, Making Big Money in Wall Street. a1 Fightine for Business: or, Beating a Bad Start. 920 A’ Boy Money-Maker: or, In Wall St. on His Nerve. 921 Buried Gols’ or, The Treasure of the Old Buc- 922 Hitting. Tt Rich: or, The T.nckiest Firm in Wall St. 923 Sam the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Tongue. 924 Playing Im Duck; or, A Plotter’s Dangerous Deal. 925 Stake: or, Brains Against Brawn. exicans; or, The Secret of the Aztec’s Gold, 927 Fighting for Fame; or, The Luck of a Yeung Con- $28 Seeking a Lost Treasure; or, The Nerve of a Young Explorer. 929 Matt the Mechanic; or, The Boy Who Made His Pile. 930 ae! os Tee Peaks; or, The Voyage That Made the Mon 931 The Littie, ee lee or, The Fortune That a Wreck Brought. ‘902 Tsking Big Chances; or, The Boy Who Saved a 933 Always ‘Lucky: or, Winning on His Merits. $34 Out for a Corner; or, A Smart Chicago Boy. 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 E. WOLFF, Publisher, ‘Ine., New York City Winning a Living by. 3 OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS Useful, Instructive and Amusing. They Contain Valuable Information on Almost Eyery Subject. No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.—Contain- ing full directions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and thletic exercises. igs rpg thirty- -five illustrations. y Professor W. Macdonald. No, 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT. —Fully illustrated. Full ‘instructions are given in this little book, together with instructions on«#swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.—Every one is desirous of knowing what his future life will bring forth, whether bappiness or misery, wealth or povérty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be convinced. No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR.—Every boy should know how inventions originated. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hy- draulics, magnetism. optics, pneumatics, mechanics, ete. No. 33. HOW TO BEHAVE. — Containing the rules and etiquette of good society and the easiest and most approved methods of appearing to good advantage at parties, balls, the theatre, church, and in the drawing- room. No. 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A complete and useful little book, containing the rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle, back-gammon, croquet, dominoes, ete. No, 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.—Contain- ing all the leading conundrums of the day, amusing w riddles, curious catches and witty sayings. a No, 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.—Incinud- ing hints on how te catch moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure skins. Copiously illustrated. No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN'S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a great variety of the latest i jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur 1 minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. No. 42%. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP- SPEAKER, — Containing a varied assortment of stump —— speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end, men’s jokes. : Just the thing for home amusement and amateur shows. No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK. — Something new and very ‘ instructive. Every boy should obtain this book, as it « contains full instructions for organizing an amateur minstrel troupe. No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECTRICITY. —A description of the wonderful uses of electricity and electro magnetism; together with full instructions for making Electrie Toys, Batteries, etc. By George A. M., M. D. Containingg | over fifty illustrations. 3 No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.—A handy book for boys, containing full directions for con- a structing canoes and the most popular manner of ie j ing them. Fully illustrated. No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for con- ducting debates, outlines for debates, questions for dis- cussion and the best sources for procuring information 2 on the questions given. = No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANIMATS. = —A' valuable book, giving instructions in collecting, pre-e paring, mounting ‘and preserving birds, animals and in= See’ No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Con- taining explanatiens of the general principles of sleight- — of-hand applicable to ecard tricks; or card tricks with. ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of — tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepared ecards. Illustrated. i No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.—A com i and handy little book, giving the rules and es for playing Euchre, Cribbage, Cassino. cae Romnce, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, peer ng Pitch, : , and many other popular games of cards. No. 56. HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEER. — Con-_ x taining full instructions how to become a locomotive — engineer; also directions for building a mnleh locomo- > tive; together with a full description of everything an engineer should know. For sale by all newsdealers or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10 cents per CORY. in money or postage stamps, by HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher; ina - _ 166 West 23d Street = | New York : + 4 =

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