Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 951) (1923 12 21)

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BOYS, READ THE RADIO ARTICLES IN THIS NUMBER 5 > 8 GDECEMBER 21, 1923 No. 951 FAM STORIES ~Or— BoYs THE WAY To OR. THE Price 7 Cents flames were already reaching for them. He tied the rope securely around his waist, stepped out on the sill, and measured with his eye the distance he proposed to jump. Then, nerving himself for the effort, he leaped unwarda.,

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pe wt Sys Sr Interesting Radio Artic les on Pages 24 and 25 FAME AND FORTUNE KLY 73 ? {issued eget Sees aon price, $3.50 per year; Canada, $4.00; a war, uhlisher, Inc,, 164 Went 23d Street, New York, N. Y.-Hntered as Second- fie Ge ¥., under the Act o nm _ the Post-Office at New York, N. “NEW YORK, DECEMBER 21, 1923 ° THE WAY TO SUCCESS : Pan OR, THE BOY WHO GOT THERE 4 fy Conditions Under Which He Lives. “Supper is ready, Jack,” said a pleasant-faced little woman of perhaps five-and-thirty years, standing in the kitchen doorway of a small, neat- looking farmhouse, to a strong and good-looking ee had just driven a li#ht wagon into the yard, “All right, auntie,” replied the boy, in the cheery tone habitual with him, “I’ll be ready just a soon as I put the horse in -the stable.” The’ lad continued on to the barn, unharnessed the animal, and led her to her stall. Then he went to the wagon, took out an armful of pack- ages, crossed the yard and entered the house. Jack Frost was an orphan and just sixteen years of age. Born and educated im the Hast, the sudden and traggic death of both ‘his parents in a steamboat disaster on Long Island Sound threw him, on the eve of his fifteen birthday, _ praétically penniless upon his own resources. In this strait he gladly accepted an invitation from _his mother’s only sister, Lucy, who, years before, ee an. enterprising man named Frank Har- ' per, and moved out West, to come to Wisconsin oe make their farm his home. He had been there but a couple of months, and was fast learn- ing to make himself useful, when Mr. Harper _eaught a severe cold, which developed into pneu- ‘monia and carried him to his grave. “In this emergency Jack came to the front, and proved. himself a bulwark of strength and con- ~ solation to his bereaved aunt. With a degree of - eonfidence unusual in one so young, he took the - management of the farm entirely upon his young _ shoulders, hired a competent and trustworthy as- sistant, and, much to the surprise of the neigh- boring agriculturists, carried the work on in as good shape as it had ever been conducted by Mr. Harper, The property was located on a shallow stream, one of the tributaries of the Chippewa River, in the western part of Wisconsin, and the chief | product of the farm, some two thousand pushels of wheat, had just been harvested, Mrs. Harper largely depended. on this crop to pay off _two-thousand-dollar mortgage owing to one Nathan Plunkett, the postmaster and — a pros- ch was Ses aie eles distant, at Hee: junc- us storekeeper of Eden, the nearest town, By A SELF-MADE MAN | e tion of the Chippewa River and the stream which flowed by the farm. “T had a visitor this. afternoon, Jack,” said his aunt, ator the hired man had left the table to attend to his ¢hores around the barn. “Who was it, auntie?” he asked, curiously. “Nathan Plunkett.” A cloud gathered on the boy’s brow, for he didn’t like Mr: Plunkett for a cent, nor, we may say, did the Eden storekeeper regard Jack Frost with a friendly eye. Mr. Plunkett was a widower of about fifty, and had a son named Felix, who in many ways was very much like his father. For some reason not quite clear to Jack Frost, the post-master’s son entertained a strong dis- : like for him, and never failed to show it when the two boys met. “What did he want?” asked Jack, a bit brus- quely, when Mrs, Harper named her visitor. “He wanted to ‘know if we had finished har- 5 vesting’ our wheat.” — “Oh, he did?” F “Yes, J told him-we had it all housed in our big barn.” “He seems to be very much interested in four affairs,” replied the boy, sarcastically. “He wants to buy it.” “Wants to buy it?” ss “He offered me seventy-five cents a bushel for it as it stands, cash.” “Why, auntie, wheat is selling for a dollar, and is expected to go still higher.” “But it must be delivered at Chicago, St. Louis ox some other grain center to realize that. When # you come to figure at the expense of getting it - down to Eden, the nearest point ‘on the railroad, and then add freight rates and commission char- ges; it will make quite a hole in the difference.” “J admit all that, auntie, but Mr. Plunkett wouldn’t make you an offer if he didn’t see: his way clear to making a good-profit on the trans- action.” “T dare say that is true, Jack.” Z re “Wither he has found out in some way that = wheat has just gone up a point or two, or is” about to do so, or else there is something in the background.” : Su at could be in the. scpelpees Le ‘ Me erat

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2 THE WAY TO SUCCESS " “¥ am sure I couldn’t tell you, auntie, as I’m not a mind-reader. You ought to know Mr. Plunkett better than I.” “T wish I didn’t know him quite as well as I- do.” “He comes around here often enough. Of -course; it’s none of my business. He doesn’t come to sce me.” : “He eomes to see me, I regret to say,” replied Mrs. Harper, with a troubled look. : “T don’t see why the fact that he holds a mort- gage on this place for two thousand dollars makes it necessary that he should be so much in evi- dence. The farm isn’t going to run away.” “Tt isn’t the mortgage that brings him here. That is amply secured by this property. The farm was appraised*at four thousand dollars when Frank borrowed the money of him three years gao. It is easily worth five thousand dol- lars to-day.” : “All of that, auntie,” replied Jack, nodding his head positively. “I heard Mr. Greene, who owns the place adjoining on'the east, you know, say so, and he has a pretty clear idea of the value of property in this neighborhood.” “J ean well believe that,” Mrs. Harper an- swered. “Now, Jack, there is no reason why I should keep anything from you. You have been a son and a protector to me ever since Frank, died.” Her voice broke in a sob, and her hand- ‘some eyes filled with tears, “I don’t really know what I should have done without you.” i “J have done the best I could for you, Aunt ‘ Lucy,” the boy said earnestly, rising, putting his arms protectingly about her, and. kissing her gently on the cheek. “You have done nobly, dear,” she replied, draw- ing his head down and imprinting a kiss on his forehead, “How shall I ever thank you enough?” “I don’t want you to thank me, auntie. I am only deing my duty to you. ‘You may depend that I will continue to do that as long as I remain with you.” : f “T hope that will be a said, with a caress. “T hope so, too, auntie.” 3 “As I was going to say, I have no wish to have any. secrets from you, so I want to explain the real cause of Mr. Plunkett’s visits. He wants to marry me.” ; _» “Marry—you!” gasped the boy, staring back is in the greatest amazement. eal long time, Jack,” she “Yes, Jack. He had the assurance last week. ’ ’ to ask me to be his wife.” - “Great Cesar! And what did you say to him?” “J was dumfounded.” ’ *J should think you would be.” “T told him, in great indignation, that he ought to be ashamed to make such a proposal to me * when he knew my dear husband had not been a year in his grave.” “And what did he say to that?” “He said that was a very foolish decision. successtully as matter stood.” _ '+ “Fo!” exclaimed Jack. “You might have told «him that the farm was thriving without any out- ~ gide assistance.” he z ~ “T did. I told him you were conducting the place to my entire satisfaction.” : bene “What did he say to that?” That I could not expect to carry on this farm. Plunkett. I wouldn’t trust him any further th That’s his record in Eden, I hans: e * “He said that my assertion was ridiculous. That you were a mere boy, without agricultural - experience. That you were bound to run the. farm into the ground, involve me in financial embarrassments, and in the end cause me to lose the property.” ae ; “Very kind of him,” laughed the boy, ~ “I~ guess, on the contrary, I’ve harvested a crop - of wheat that will relieve you of the embarrass- ment of owing Mr. Plunkett the sum of two — thousand dollars.” ; “T told him so very plainly.” “Y’ll bet he didn’t like it.” “He certainly did not, for he laughed in an unpleasant way, and remarked that*there was ~ many a slip between the cup and the lip.” " “What. did he mean by that?” asked the boy, — quickly. ee ga sure I don’t know, J¥ck.” t “Nothing good, Ill bet,” replied the young — farmer, soberly and thoughtfully. pe pels “I told him I had to consult you before I could — give him an answer.” ens : ay wager he didn’t like that, either,” chuckled ack. : : “T know he didn’t from the expression of his face,” said Mrs, Harper. “He smiled unpleasant-~ ly—I didn’t like his smile, Jack, for there seemed ~ to. be something menacing behind it—and re- plied that I would send him word. Then he took — his leave, but I saw him talking to John in the — yord, ane afterward they both went to the big arn,’ , 4 es “Wanted to see how much wheat’ ( es had, eh?” ; “e ae s “T presume so.” E “T have no doubt that he is fully satisfied we _ have enough to loosen his grip on the farm. Do — you know, auntie, it has been my opinion from the start that he figured on getting possessio of this place through foreclosure proceedings. That is, ever since Uncle Frank died. He did not believe you would be able to run the farm ~ successfully this year, especially as luck was — against Uncle Frank the last two years or more. Besides, no one expected wheat would fetch more than fifty cents a bushel, or sixty at the most, — which has been about the figure for the past five _ years. But Jordan, the great Chicago Boar of Trade operator, is working to corner th product, and that has sent the price of grain soaring. It is hardly likely that he will succeed, though they say the people supporting him ar worth millions. Were.he successful, it would mean from $1.50 to $2 wheat, something un precedented for the farmer, but rather hard on ¥ half of the mortgage and getting a renewal fo another year. He believed there would be pel security had inereased twenty per cent. in value, “Well, I have very little confidence in Mr I can see him. I am fully satisfied that he been counting on becoming the owner of this fa at a bargain. He is knownl as a hard man deal with when the advantage is aoe sic Peer 3g. Aiki 4 Right 0 “a : Em, s

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THE WAY TO SUCCESS ~ Be, in the county before 1 heard enough about him ~ to fill a book.” : : “J hope he won’t come here again until the mortgage is due and~he comes for his money,” said Mrs, Harper. “You don’t hope it any more than I do, for he looks decidedly out of piace in this neighborhood, and his room is better than his company. Be- sides, I dont’ want you to be annoyed by his unwelcome attentions.” “T certainly told him in unmistakable language that there wasn’t the least chance that I should reconsider my stand in respect to his proposal of marriage.” ‘I am glad you made that plain to him, auntie. He had an awful nerve to think you would accept the attentions of any man so soon after Uncle Frank’s death.” “But what about selling the wheat, Jack? You know, I shall need the money in a month to settle the mortgage.” “If you will confide the matter to my judg- ment, auntie, I think you; will find that you will come out all right, I have a plan for shipping it to St. Louis by water which, if I can carry it out successfully, will-save you all freight charges and bring you in a net result of at least ~ one dollar a bushel.” ; “Why, Jack, you astonish me! What is this plan?” “Tq rather say nothing about it just now,” ‘said the boy, with a smile. _ And with that the little woman had to be con- tent. ry s CHAPTER II—A Cruise In the Swamp. On the following morning at half-past five Jack Frost and his particular friend, Joe Bease- Jey. who worked for Farmer Greene, met by ap- _pointment at the end of the line between the two farms where it faced upon the creek. ‘It was the first day of September, and the sun was just “rising above the distant landscape into a per- fectly clear sky. ? _ “Well, Jack, where are we Beaseley, curiously. es od ala ole for the swamp,” was the prompt reply. - Half a mile from where the boys stood was a narrow and deep stream which ‘flowed into the It formed the boundary of the Harper roperty on the west. This branch ran through . small but dense swamp. “In the early spring its surface was overflowed with water. It was - eovered with a thick growth of trees, and the place was dark and dismal. Hardly any one ever visited the swamp except Jack Frost. He ie rather fond of exploring out-of-the-way - places, and this deep and dark morass had early attracted his attention. Just before his uncle died he had made a small raft and threaded its “gloomy recesses, and the two boys, when they reached the edge of the swamp that morning, found the raft floating in the very spot Jack had ‘left it months before, with its long pole lying sturbed among the bushes. © I'll bet there hasn’t been any one here since _ tied Re haga to that stump,” said Joe, in a pound “for?” asked got?” : “Doesn’t look as if there had been, that’s a fact.” “How long ago was that?” “Last spring.” : noon say we're going right through the swamp, eh?” “That’s what we are.” “Will this blamed old raft hold together, do you think?” _ “Sure. Why not? Can’t you see that I put it together to last? I didn’t propose to have it come apart up in that morass and dump me out where I couldn’t extricate myself, and nobody would hear my shouts for assistance. Not much, Bos Bessel a and Jack wagged his head sagaci- ously. iz “What sort of an exploring expedition are we going on? "asked Beaseley, when they had push- ~_ ed off from the shore, Jack manipulating the pole in a skilful manner. “None whatever,” replied Frost. “Well, what’s in the wind, anyway?” persisted Joe, consumed by curiosity as to the object of the watery jaunt. af “Business,” replied Jack, laconically. : “Business?” ejaculated Bedsley, in astonish- ment, - } “Siust) so.” “What kind of business?” eee “J told you I*was thinking of building a kind of houseboat to float our. wheat down the creek — o the. Cisobe yes ont eee to the ississippi, an own e ississippi Louis, didn’t I?” see = “Sure you did. heard of. SS 1. It’s the finest scheme I ever L It will be a jim-dandy trip, and you elas at eet ag ae with you if I’d help | you bui e boat and assist in igati i afterward.” abit 2 : “You got it all right,” grinned Jack, workin the raft so as to\avoid a suuken log wie ret : yiag tus on the level with the water, 3 “You. can just bet I’ll help you build the old Noah’s Ark, and I’m ready to do my share toward seeing that it reaches St. Louis, too. I wouldn’t r miss it if Mr. Greene was to promise me a whole ~ aoe he his sg for fayeelé if ’'d agree to stay ack here and let somebody else take No, sir; not for Joe.” ee “J, thought I could depend on you, Joe.” “You bet your boots you can. But what has that to do with this here trip up into the swamp?” “Wverything,” : “How. so?” eat “We’re making this trip to procure the materi with which to build the boat,” replied acs “Are you going to cut down some of these trees? I see you brought an axe and a coil of rope with you.” — pies “Cut down nothing,” answered Frost. “I ex-» pect to find the stuff I want already prepared _ for us to use.” ; Fan abt “You don’t stay!” replied Joe, in some surprise, | “I do say so, and you'll say so, too, when I - show you what we’ve come after.” & y “You saw the stuff when you were here be- ~ fore?” ; ; Soya, 9 “I did. How else should I know it ie to bee ~ «That's By right,” admitted Beaseley. ae it’s ae %

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es | THE WAY TO SUCCESS _ : owes cut down, it will save us a powerful lot of abor.” } “I wish we could build a boat big enough to take Mr. Greene’s grain, too. We could make quite a little sum out of the freight. But that’s out of the question.” “J yeckon it is. Do you know how many bushels of wheat Mr. Greene -has got in his barns alto- gether?” “Five or six thousand bushels.” “Seven thousand scant.” “That’s a lot,” said Jack. “I wish we had as much.” . “Your farm is less than half the size of ours,” replied Joe. “T know it. We've done as well as could. be expected, I’m sure.” “Mir. Greene says you’re a wonder, Jack, He cant get it through his hé@ad that you never were on a farm before you canie out here.” “Well, I never was.” “JT don’t see, either, of your aunt’s place how you could take hold and make things pan out the way you have. I’ve been on a farm ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and ‘blame me if I have the nerve to attempt to run a place like you do.” — “You forget I have John Gray, who is an ex- perienced man, at my back. I depend a lot on his advice.” ; “That’s all right. He’s a good worker and understands his business from A to Z, but just the same he hasn’t got the head to run.a farm successfully. If he had he wouldn’t be working for you to-day. He’s failed as an independent . farmer and lost all his money at it.” - “Tt seems to come natural to me to do the yight thing and make the most out of my op- portunities just as soon as I see my way clear. When I fieured up the trouble and expense of - earting our wheat to Eden, loading it on the cars - there, paving freight to Chicago and other neces- sary expenses, I began to consider, since we have a continuous waterway from the farm right to the St. Louis elevators, if I couldn’t manage to ~ float the grain down there on a boat that I could build myself with your help.” “And you decided you could?” “T did.” _ “{ wouldn’t have thought of such a thing in a coon’s age,” said Beaseley, looking at his com- panion admiringly. “And if I had, I shouldn’t ~ have known how to go to work to bring it about.” . “J was good at mathematics at school,” replied Jack. “I calculated the size and cubical capacity necessary in a houseboat capable of carrying, gay, three thousand bushels of wheat in perfect -. safety down a river like the Mississippi, as well as making allowance for a small living compart- _ ment for the navigators themselves.” - . “Gee! You’re as good as a school-teacher.” “Oh course, I don’t mean to attempt to build a real boat. I’m not a naval architect, nor a --ghip-builder. My idea is to construct a service- able raft first-as the foundation for the house in which I expect.to store the grain in transit.” - *J’]] bet you’ll do it all right,” answered Bease- ley, confidently. “Whatver you set out to “do I, guess you accomplish, or know the reason why.” “You seem i ay abilities, Sd Joe,” smiled Jack ; F were mashed on her.” to have ied e good opinion Oba reer “You can bet your boots I have; but I know one chap who hasn’t,” grinned Joe. Greer “Do you mean Fel‘x Plunkett?” - mis “I do that. That fellow gives me a pain: with his dandified airs. He thinks because his eld man is the boss storekeeper and the postmaster of — Eden that he’s it. Well, he isn’t by a long shot. He’s jealous of you. It’s like waving a red flag — ~before a wild bull to-mention your name before — him. He can’t say anything too mean about you. — And what good does it do him? The little-fool ean’t see that nobody takes any stock in what — he pave. Sane you.” : Af “T certainly try to do the right thing by e ae: Lee said Jack. = eiiet a ai s course you do. You’re the most z fellow in the county, bar none.” ; nov : “Come off, Joe.” E ‘t don’t come off. I’m telling you the cold ~ fact.- All the boys like you ant naa well of — you, except Plunkett and two or three of his — cronies, who side in with him because its’s to. their interest to do so. As. for the girls! Well, — ee You're first favorite from the fall of the — ag. 3 adit “Aren't you trying to get me stuck my- self?” grinned Proce a yas a “Ho! You aren’t built that way, Jack!” and ~ Beaseley wagged his head in a conclusive kind of way. “You can’t tell me you aren’t the real persimmons. Is there a social gathering for miles around where us young folks are in the majority — that is considered complete without you? No, siree! That voice of yours, and the way you make your fingers prance over the strings rf your banjo, wins every time.” ’ 2 “Then my popularity, as you call it, is real due to the fact that I possess the abili tertain an audience. Is that it? Plunkett the tip, then, if he has the grit, he might learn to play the instrument, and thus ac- quire the ascendancy he is\so eager to possess.” “Pooh! He’d made a fine banjo player, I don’t think. Besides, he can’t sing worth sour applies, Even if he-could play and sing as well as you i wouldn’t make him really popular. Just the same, if you io your voice eae a finger or two, so you couldn’t sing or play any more, you wouldn’t be liked a wee bit less. "Ws the he himself, and not what he can do in the enter-— tainment line, which counts. Do you’ want to know the real reason why Felix Plunkett is dead nuts on you?” ~ icy : “Oh, I’m not particularly’ curious,” replied Jack, carelessly. “Y’megoing to tell you, anyway. It’s becau you’ve cut kim. out with Virginia Earle.” Miss Earle was the eldest daughter of Gordon _ Barle, cashier of the Hden Natnal Bee hate “Nonsense!” exclaimed Jack, flushing through — the tan of his countenance. 2 eee “Is that so? I’m going it to you Straight, Jac’ You only met her once, I know, at that pai she attended at Carden’s farm. Carden is” uncle. Plunkett was there, too, and you ou; to remember how mad he was all the eve because you danced three times with Virgi and took her in to supper. All the boys said: Jack kept his head tu

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“Well, she’s been just crazy to meet you again.” “What are you giving me, Joe Beaseley?” asked Jack, in some confusion. “I’m giving you the truth. You ought to feel good over it, for Virginia Earle is called the _ prettiest girl in Eden County.” Jack made no reply. ““Felix is plumb gone on her, and it exaaperates him to know that she thinks so much of you and doesn’t seem the least bit interested in him. He persists in forcing his attentions upon her, though the fellows tell me she hands him out _ plain hints enough to settle any other boy; but he’s too thick to tumble to the truth.” “I’m not surprised,” replied Jack. “But here we are at the end of our cruise. What do you think of that?” and the boy pointed at a bend - jn the stream which ran into the marsh. CHAPTER III.—Harvesting the Timber. ~. Piled up before them the boys saw a heap of logs, planks, boards and other fugitive lumber ‘which had come down from the sawmills, miles up the country, One end of a big log had been driven ashore by the current and had jammed itself between two trees. All the rest of the boards, planks and timber had rested upon: this one, and, being driven in by the sweep of the by it, “Gracious!” exclaimed Joe Beaseley, in no little astonishment, “what a lot of wood is there.” “I should say there is. Enough to build sey- eral rafts.” “With a house on each of them.” “Perhaps. It would all depend on the size of the rafts and the house.” ~ “Oh, I meant small ones.’ : ie “We shall be doing the eishborhood a service ef Oan’t you see that it is gradually choking the s stream up?” “Sure thing. A blind man could see that.” “Why, how could a blind man see that; or any- = xing else?” asked Jack, looking inquiringly at his companion. “Oh, you know what I mean. I meant a man must be blind who couldn’t see it.” ~ *.“That’s more like it. ae ed away the whole course of the stream will be choked by it in time. Then, when the snow melts 2 lext spring our farms, and many others in this vicinity, will be overflowed by the high water, ‘and there would be the dickens to pay.” “1 guess there would be,” admitted Joe. “We don’t need all that lumber for our raft,” ‘said Jack, as he scanned the pile critically, “but ney: ‘would bea pity not to save it, though it would cost a good deal of hard labor. It would come cin handy i in a good many ways.” “Ym willing to help’ you save it,” said Joe. “I don’t tind a little hard work, for I’m.used to it.” “Well, we'll consider that later on.” oh not going to build the. raft up here, stream at the bend, had been entangled and held . If that heap isn’t ‘clear- oe THE WAY TO SUCCESS — | ce “That’s my idea. The current will carry it to the creek. You may not have noticed, but the swing of the current where it empiies into the creek sets right in to a bit of ground at the extreme points of our farm. I have driven sev- eral poles down into the bottom at a certain point, leaving the ends sticking several feet - above the water. They’ll catch the first logs we send down, and the rest will pile on top or jam up against them. A few may escape into the creek, but not many.” “You’re got a great head, Jack.” “There’s nothing particularly smart about that. It’s merely an illustration of causé and effect— the same principle which has caused. this acci- dental dam here.” “T suppose we may as well start in to throw these planks and boards into the current. Itll © take some time, you know,” viewing the siege of labor involved somewhat doubtfully. “Ts that the way you’d engineer the job, Joe?” laughed Frost. “Why, how else would you do it?” : “There’s an easier and. much better way.” “Tf there is | want to know it,” said Joe. “I’m not anxious to do any more work than is neces- sary. “What do you suppose I brought that rope for?” “You’ve got me, I’m not bright at guessing riddles.” “Well, I'll show you. at that end will you?” “Sure,” and Beaseley hastened to comply with this request. “There you are.’ era “Now crawl] out onto that lumber, reach down © over the end and hook the loop over the nose of that mischievous log which has caused all this trouble.” * Joe followed the directions to the letter, cade > then stood up, watching 2 see what was going ; to occur. “Do you want to get a good sousing and some“ wes eracks on the head?” shouted Frost at im “Not on your life I don’t,” returned Beaseley, not moving, however. ; , “Then come back here.” = “What for? This is a nice, airy spot whens ; T am.” : € “Ts it?” laughed Jack. “If the foundation was { Just make a sliding loop ’ to come away from underneath your feet all ofa ~~ sudden you’d think differently.” ee “Any danger of it doing that?” asked Joe, in some alarm, hastily moving toward where ‘his eS Seae stood on a PIOISCuDE point of the e shore ee “Not until you give me the benefit of doue muscles.” “What are you going to do?” ae, “I’m going to yank the key log out from under that pile after I cut away a part of the end eer here where it’s caught in this tree.” "te “Oh, I see. That’ll let the whole pile of stuff down with a rush,” replied Joe, who could see — through a millstone, when the hole was pointed out to him. % “T rather think it will, Then the surplus water above will follow and push the lumber and logs | before it. There’s only one obstacle which may _ temporarily peosines a, ‘project.’ RIES: “What is that? as =: ats

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See ee THE WAY TO SUCCESS — x “The timber may get caught | at some point in the swamp and pile up again.” “We can easily set them free again,” replied ‘Joe, confidently. “Can we? 1 don’t know about that,” answered Jack, doubtfully. “Why not?” asked Beaseley, in surprise. _ “Tt may get jammed where we couldn’t reach it on the raft.” “What would you do in that case?” “I don’t propose to cross a bridge until I come to it. In other words, I’m not going to worry abo t such a thing until it actually takes place.” hat’s right.: I agree with you there. Do you want me to do the chopping here?” “You can begin if you’re anxious for the exer- ‘ cise. When you get tired I’ll lend a hand.” Beaseley took the hatchet and began at the job. The log proved to be a more stubborn propo- sition than they had calculated on. Joe hacked away for a quarter of an hour, and then Jack relieved him. In the course of half an hour, « however, they weakened the log to such an extent that Frost believed their muscles would do the rest. So they got hold of the rope and began to exert themselves. Inch by inch the key of the lumber structure began to yield. Planks and slabs and timber occasionally disengaged themselves from the mass and started with the stream down through the swamp. : “Once more, old man,” cried Jack, bracing him- self for a mighty effort, Joe put his foot against a convenient tree and then both pulled away for all they were worth. Then something happened. The key log syddenly ~ -eame away with a rush, and Joe and suck went ~ heels over head backward, Beaseley narrowly escaping a ducking in the swamp. “Wow!” howled Joe, sitting up and eobbing the dirt out of his eyes. . “Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Jack, who. was the first to pick himself up. “J don’t see anything funny about thst ts grumbled Beaseley, feeling his back and other - parts of his body, to make sure he was still whole. » "I nearly busted my back.” “A miss is, as good as a mile, old fellow,” grinned Frost. “You wouldn’t say that if you’d got the whack in the jaw I caught,” objected his companion. _. “Get up and watch the lumber shoot. 2 — Joe got up and looked. ~ *Tt’s a regular mill-stream now, isn’t TE?” 7-2 _£That won’t last long.” “Do we go back on the raft?” “Of course, I want to see that the channel through the swamp keeps clear. If it chokes up we've got to assist things if we can,’ - “Suppose we get stuck ourselves in the heart of the old morass?” 7 : “Oh, don’t begin supposing trouble is going to oecur. You might hoodoo the whole scheme.” * sexiously that Jack had to laugh at him. | “Tf you’xe ready we’ll go afloat. It’s break- } fast fime by now, and Tm beginning to get hungry,” he said, stepping onto the raft, ale Ags E ‘h “J wouldn’t like*to do that,” replied Joe, su- rontiosd hes replied Joe, follawing him with y r Hae. ene eK confidence i in me.” and then allowed things to =e their course, — which they did in a very satisfactory manner. | Wherever they came across logs or pieces of tim- ber caught in the projections of the swamp they pushed them clear. In this way they continued ~ on down through the’ morass toward the creek, preceded, surrounded and followed bya great company of fugitive timber. Fortunately no serious difficulty was encountered during the — trip, which was a great deal shorter than when — they had to pole the raft. upstream. They ar- — rived at length at their destination, where they. found the advanee lumber anchored to the ob- — structing poles placed at the poimt of the bight — by Jack. “The whole collection will be here in an hour,” said Frost. “If it’s all the same, to you, Joe, we'll go to breakfast now. You eat with me, of course.” ; CHAPTER IV.—A Leap for Life. After breakfast Beaseley returned to the Greene farm to attend to certain chores about the place, while Jack employed himself in a similar way around his own place,- At one o’clock — the two boys met again at the bight of land near — the creek, and during the rest of the afternoo busied themselves hauling the fugitive timber onto dry land and separating it into individual piles, ready for business. This work took up of their spare time for several days) At length they had sorted out as much timber as Jack calculated he could use in the construction of the raft, which, owing to the weight it woul have to sustain, was designed to be quite a pon- derous affair, so far as its foundation was con- cerned. | en “We'll leave the rest of the stuff for fut consideration,” remarked Jack, as the two boy: sat on an old log, resting, and watched the su setting in all its glory in the west. ‘I hhaven’t any kick coming,” grinned To ! he mopped the perspiration from his fre forehead. “You don’t feel like backing out of the r st of the business, do xeark asked Frost, with a cheerful smile. “T should say not. The most disagreeable a least interesting part is over. Pm just noe to take hold of what is to come.” “You won’t find it all fun.” “Oh, I-don’t know. ‘I’m willing to take chalmnege on that. 2 “T hope I won’t make any mistakes in my’ ne lations,” said Jack. “If I do, we won’t be’ able to carry all the wheat down the river, which would be a great pity and a big disappointment to me.” Y $ aN “Oh, I guess you’ll come out all right, yn sai Joe, reassuringly. “There must be no guesswork about it” serted Frost. “The moment such a thing as enters into the scheme we’ll be all at sea.” “If it was my wheat I’d be willing to tak chances on you making a success of pale “Much obliged, Joe, You. acca to

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“Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” replied Jack, rising. “To-morrow morn- ing I’m going to town to purchase the necessary hardware with which to begin operations. Want to come along?” “Of course I do.” “AN right,. V’ll have the mare harnessed up ready to start about nine o’clock. Ill look for you about that time.” The boys started off together, and separated in the Harper farmyard, Joe proceded on through y the gate, down the lane, and, vaulting the first fence he came to, cut across the fields to the Greene farm. Next morning he was on hand in plenty of time, and helped Jack harness up his favorite roadster. Then they started for Eden in high spirits. They drove into town as the clocks were striking ten. Nathan Plunkett kept all the ar- - ticles in his store that Jack expected to purchase, but somehow or another the boy. didn’t care to - trade with him.as long as there were other stores ~ in town that. could supply his wants, He stopped in front of Josiah Allen’s store, Mr. Plunkett’s most successful business opponent, and the post- master, who happened to be-looking out of his window at the time, took note of the fact, and the circumstance did not make Nathan feel any “better disposed toward the boy he cordially de- tested, and on whom he hoped some day in the near future to have full satisfaction. Jaek pur- chased nails of two or three sizes, a small keg of spikes, a new saw, a stout hatchet and sundry other articles of hardware. “Going to build a house?” asked the clerk, with Sy ra, grin, 7. Fgure,” replied Jack. “I’m thinking of getting married and setting up housekeeping.” -“Ton’t forget to invite me to the wedding.” “T’]] keep you in mind. Here, Joe, carry these packages out to the wagon and watch the team. Ym going over to the post-office to see if there’s ~~ any mail for us.” ‘ : ; . There was a letter for his aunt, which Felix Plunkett handed out to him in an ungracious way, as if it went against his grain to wait on Frost. While he was in the act of putting it jn his pocket the fire alarm bell rang, and Felix - vaulted over the counter and ran to the door. - A few moments later one of the fires engines, a Steamer lately imported from Chicago, dashed by - with a jingle of bells. Jack left the store in a hurry and crossed over to his team. - Drive ahead, Joe, Let’s see where the fire is.” Specie kept the engine in sight until he saw it draw up near a fire-plug on a corner a THE WAY .TO SUCCESS 2 ozen blocks from where they started. ‘They were_ now in the residential section of Eden, where many of the better-class citizens of the town ad their homes. A crowd was already gather- ‘ing in the vicinity of a pretentious-looking three- story dwelling; from nearly every one of the front windows smoke was issuing, though not ensely. Joe drew the mare up near the off curb md then directed his attention toward the im- eriled house. ~ ; ‘Good gracious!” he suddenly exclaimed. iat’s Gordon Earle’s house.” You don’t. mean Virginia Earle’s——” __ es, do. That’s Virginia Earle’s home. Hey, re are vou going. Jack? ‘ Pyne wes ¥, where, through the misty cl 7 Frost had sprung to the street and was ryn- ning toward the burning house. ‘ “Has the family got out?” asked Jack of a policeman who was endeavoring to establish a fire line in that direction. d “TI couldn’t tell you. Stand back, please.” The boy, in some excitement, sliped away and addressed the same question to two or three of the spectators in turn, but they could give him no information. Further on he tackled another policeman, but the man, instead of answering his question, pushed him roughly back into the crowd of curious onlookers. At this juncture the ~ crowd exhibited a sudden spasm of excitement. Jack looked toward the scene of the fire and saw the form of a girl, which, even at that distance, his sharp eyes recognized as Virginia Earle, leaning out ofa side window on the third floor, toward the rear of the house, where it joined a three-story brick structure.. The smoke was sifting out of the window all around her, and her position was apparently one of great peril, _Even as the boy looked she was joined by a little, golden-haired creature, whom Jack knew’ to be Virginia’s sister. The sight of the girl). who had occupied a great share of his thoughts ever since he was introduced to her some six weeks before at Carden’s farm, stand- ing in imminent danger of losing her life, with no one seemingly going to her assistance, aroused Jack to a fever of excitement. : He burst through the crowd, eluded the police- man who sought to stay his course, dashed across the street and, springing up the front steps of the Earle dwelling, disappeared inside the house, battling his way upward through the smoke, which was filling every nook and corner, in a frantic effort to reach the third floor and the imperiled girls in the rear. When he arrived at the second floor landing he saw that the rooms ~ in the back were blazing furiously, indicating that the fire had originated in this part of the house. Jack realized that Virginia and her little sister were standing right over this sea of flame, which at any moment might burst through the ceiling and cut them off from all hope of rescue. It was slow and suffocating work for Aim ta make his way to the landing of the third floor through the choking smoke, which made his eyes run water and his lungs pant, for a breath of fresh air. But he persevered, for he knew the lives of the two girls were at stake, and might depend entirely upon his personal efforts. ‘He reached the upper landing at last, rushed to a front window, where he leaned out, dizzy and. half-choked, and drew in copious draughts of air, until he felt in a measure recovered. The crowd in frontt saw him and set-up a shout. The boy did not seem to hear or notice them, and soon - withdrew from the window and began fighting his way to the rear. Already the flames were eating their way through the flooring of the pas- sage, and he could see the glare from other flames beyond through the dun-colored smoke, : To proceed slowly and cautiously any longer in this direction Jack saw was folly; he would only — be overcome by the smoke. He must make a bold dash for the room where Virginia and her sister had taken refuge. And he did, stumbling and reeling like a drunken man into the chambe ud. of smoke, ‘he saw

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f “a= = : 2 the shadowy forms of the two girls at the window. In another moment he was standing. by their side, and Virginia, who had a short length .of stout clothesline in her hands, recognized him with a glad ery. “Jack, you will save us, will you not?” she exclaimed, almost piteously. “J will,” he said, gamely, “or perish with you int the flames.” He looked out of the window to see what the firemen were doing to effect the rescue of the girls. There were a number of them in the yard below, some carrying in a line of hose, others yelling and gesticulating violently to the hook and ladder people, who had just arrived, to bring on. their ladders. “Oh, heavens!” cried Virginia, throwing one of her arms around Jack’s neck in a spasm of terror. “The room ig filling with fire!” Her little sister seemed stricken speechless with -. fear, for she never uttered a sound. The flames / were encroaching so fast upon them from behind that Frost saw that their position would be ab- solutely untenable before the firemen could get a ladder up to the window. “Great Scott!” he exclaimed. “Something must ‘be done, or we three will surely be sacrificed.” re: He glanced down at the ground, forty feet -. / below, and then at the roof, close at hand, of of the adjoining building. Im a moment he had made up his:mind what he would do. It was a desperate expedient, but necessity knows no jaw. He removed his jacket and threw it far out into the yard; then he snatched the short -_ elothesline from Virginia’s grasp and hurriedly “ wade one end fast to the leg of the single bed, ; the head of which stood near the window. “Ym going to try to reach yonder roof by springing to it from the sill outside. If I am suecessful, quickly unfasten the end of the line I have tied to the bed and fasted it around your ~ sister under. her arms, and I'll draw her up there. After that Yll throw the rope back to '~ you, and you must™tie yourself in a similar man- ner. Do you understand?” She nodded in a terrified way. There was no time to be lost if he hoped to carry his plan to a suecessful issue. The flames were already reach- * ing for them. He tied the rope securely around - his waist; stepped out on the sill and measured with his eyes the distance he proposed to jump. Then, nerving himself for the effort, he leaped upward. CHAPTER V.—Commencing Operations. A hundred pair of eyes were on Jack Frost when he made his thrilling spring for the ad- y joining room, and a great cheer broke from as many throats when it was seen that he had caught onto the Iedge and hung there for a ‘moment dangling in mid-air. Then his muscles of steel came into full play, He drew himself up until his chin rested on the coping, and then with a mighty effort he swung his legs outward and upward and landed upon the edge of the cornice. It was comparatively easy for him to -- seramble to the roof, : “Quick, Virginia,” he cried to the girl, who had the rope and put it about your ae alse WE Str ihe te: beh as THE: WAY TO SUCCESS = = a _ watched his risky feat with distended eyes. “Un- The girl seemed to wake from her trance and hastened to obey his order. As soon as she-had ~~ tied the line properly under the child’s arms’ she- lifted her onto the window-sill. Re &: we “Swing off, little one,” cried Jack, pulling upon her and dislodging her from her foothold. 7 The little girl uttered a thrilling scream, for she thought she was falling. But she wasn’t. She was sailing up through the air as fast as. the boy could work his arms. In a moment or — two he had her safe on the roof and was un- — fastening the line. PR ee caer “Catch!” shouted Jack, throwing the rope-end back to Virginia. ; ; The girl caught it and began at once to tie it around herself. Then she bravely stepped — out on the sill. And it was high time that she did, for her dress was already smoking, and the — fire was creeping up all about the spot she had but. just left. Sr Aa ~ “Now swing: off!” cried Jack, bracing himself. — to meet her weight. pee She obeyed him, and he started to pull like’a good fellow. As she came within/arm’s reach of — the coping she grasped it. Jack seized her by — the arms and pulled her over onto the roof. = “Thank heaven! You are safe!” said the boy, fervently. Fae Virginia gave a little gasp as she looked into his eyes, realized that her danger was over, an then the reaction overcame her and she fainted — dead away. At that moment the scuttle in the — roof, a little distance away, was thrown bac and a couple of firemen appeared. They were surprised to find Frost and the two girls up ther for they hadn’t seen Jack’s leap, nor the reseu which followed. rs “How did you get here?” one asked the boy. “I jumped for this roof, was lucky to reach the coping, and then with this line I pulled th girls up.” fst “This girl seems to have fainted,” said th man, noticing the limp form of Virginia lyin in Jack’s arms, . “We’ll take her down to th street.” ate qk ae oi “I wish you would,” replied the boy. ; Frost followed in the rear of the processi and in a couple of minutes the two daughters of the bank cashier were carried into a residence. on the other side of the rear street. Jack though it time to get back to Joe and his team, 4G nobly, but had saved the lives of two helpless girls, one of whom he liked better than any on else in this world, not excepting his Aunt Lucy and that was*saying a great deal. First, hoy ever, he had to recover his jacket, which he he had removed just before making his great leap for the roof, and which he had cast into the yard as far, as possible from the blazing buildin now a mass of flames from the first floor to thi roof. He found that one of the firemen ha carried his jacket outside and placed it on the hook and ‘ladder truck soit would be out harm’s way, pan He put it on, pushed his way throu crowd, avoiding a local reporter who ae ng what had ~ seley did not vas the 1 nt

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) was too far away, and did not dream that Jack was otherwise employed than as a front row spectator of the conflagration. “Jumping Christopher! What’s the matter with your face?” exclaimed Joe, when his friend climbed up on the seat beside him. “You're like a smoked ham. You must have been pretty ~ lose to the fire.” - out of all danger and the girls were safe, was disposed to make light of his thrilling adventure. _ “Well, it’s too bad. What was all that shout- ing about a little while ago? There seemed to _ be excitement to burn. I thought probably some of the Earle family were being rescued from \ the building by the firemen with their ladders.” - “The cause of the excitement,” replied Jack, slowly, “was due to the fact that Miss Virginia and her sister were cut off by the flames from escape through the front of the house, and were assisted from the window of a room where they had taken refuge to the roof of the adjoining building.” _ “Gee whiz!” exclaimed Joe, in some excitement. “J wish I had seen that.” . “J think we’ve wastéd time enough here, Joe,” said Frost, taking up the reins and turning the - mare’s head down the street. “I’ve got a few more things to buy, and then we'll start for home.” _ They reached the farm. about one o’clock, deposited their purchases in the small barn and went in to dinner. After the meal they loaded on a barrow such implements as they needed to begin work with and wheeled them down to the ene of their operations, The afternoon was mployed in cutting down six stout trees, which rovided them with foundation logs thirty feet Jong, which they carefully trimmed. In each of these they chopped out wide notches, exactly o feet apart, and of a depth sufficient to re- ceive and hold the twelve-foot stout slabs they proposed to spike into place next morning. - Promptly at sunrise the boys were on hand to resume work upon the craft Jack put so much dependence on, | p «:,. a “We'll take our morning bath first,” remarked ost, getting out of his clothes as fast as he ould, and his example was quickly followed. by e fter they had disported thémsélves for ‘ten minutes in the basin Jack said: “We'll begin the framework of the raft be- fore we dress, as we’ve got to put it together on the waier. Fetch a couple of those slabs while “get the small sledgehammer and a handful of es.” ~N en they placed two. of the logs side by side, to the shore. Jack spiked each end of the Jabs to the inner log, at the extremities of ‘hen he and Joe rolled the outer log away the other until the two were-twelve feet thus forming the shape of a raft—thirty mg and twelve feet wide. ' ; v, Joe, we'll push each of the other logs one into place and spike the slabs to them.” work was immediately carried out, and foundation logs were secured in plac BUGS -apaTt.a no yoo ss ve e THE WAY TO SUCCESS “T was,” grinned Jack, who, now that he was’ _need the money to take up the mortgage.” | , and the other end of each slab was spiked, € ~ The thirteen remaining slabs were spiked into — the notches which had been ‘provided: to receive them, and the boys concluded they had. done - enough until after breakfast. They resumed their elothes and viewed with a great deal of satis- faction the stout framework on which they were to build the upper works of dtheir novel craft. Then they went to breakfast. ; = : After breakfast the boys went back to the _ basin. “ They learned that wheat was then $1.10. It was some job to complete the raf: to their utter ie satisfaction but it was nearly finished, and looked He strong enough for their purposes. Then’ they ~\ — went to dinner to meet Mr. and Mrs. Gordon = Earle, Virginia-and her sister who had arrived a little while before. The Earles stayed to .din- ner. Jack was congratulated on -his heroism ° displayed at the late fire. : e ua oe x CHAPTER VI.—-A Plot Against the Wheat. Mrs.- Harper knew that her nephew and his »~ friend Beaseley were engaged upon some enter- prise in which they took an unusual interest, — but as Jack said nothing to her about the nature — of the work she made no inquiries, being fully satisfied that whatever the boy gave his time ~ to was all right, and that he would no doubt tell her all about it in good time. That evening she | + mentioned the subject of the shipment of the » wheat. % Set: “There' is no hurry, auntie,” Jack told her. - “Wheat is going up every day. “You know, Mr. ~ Fogarty told you it was one dollar and ten cents this morning.” : 5 sci ae “Yes, Jack; but, as you know, I shall soon “That will be all right. You have four weeks’ — yet to provide for it. Even if you didn’t ship ~ it, and the price continued to rise, you could — easily get a loan on it that would-see you through. — I am arranging now to ship the grain inside of— the next ten days, unless it should be considered advisable to hold on lenger for a higher price.” — “Do as you think best, Jack. I rely entirely — On¢ you. “T shan’t fail you, you may depend.” Jack and Joe returned to the construction of the raft next ‘morning at sunrise, worked like — Trojans all day, and when they finally knocked off | thev had the satisfaction of knowing that the raft — itself was finished. It only remained to build the — superstructure or house in which Jack expected to carry his aunt’s wheat to the elevator at St. Louis. This was the most pleasing part of the — job, because it promised to be the most difficult — of accomplishment. The structure was to be a. sort of Noah’s Ark in appearance, and was to — occupy a space ten feet by twenty-five, and to he high enough to accommodate the cargo with- out being top-heavy. The deck of the raft had b extended a foot and a half beyond the hull parton the sides, making the width fifteen feet,

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~- the wheather. h is liable to keep it up for twenty-four hours’ or with it,” snicked Beasely. 1 matter with our advertising up in the St. Louis 10 weather permitting, using a small stove imbedded in a sand-box. Jack had his plans down fine, and Joe fell in with them as though they were manufactured to his order. The next day was Sunday, and, of course, nothing was done on the raft, though both Jack and Joe visited the basin to see that every- thing was just as they left them the previous evening. The boys, as usual, went to meeting at the litttle brick church at the cross-roads, and afterwards attended Sunday-school. Then they parted for dinner. Joe spent the afternoon with Jack, and the boys talked en- thusiastically about the good time they expected ‘to have navigating the Chippewa and Mississippi rivers. “And what will you do with the raft after you are done with it? Seems a pity to let it go for firewood, after all the trouble we will have gone to after it’s completed.” “Tt would pay to have it towed ’way back up here,” replied Jack. “I may be able to’sell it as a marine calggosity.” “Tt will be that all right, when we are done “T say, what’s the papers as the only and original Noah’s ark?” “Well, Joe, you have thought up an original idea at last, haven’t you?” “Qh, you don’t know me yet, Jack. My head is chockful of the brightest things under the sun, only, I can’t always fish them out when they’re wanted.” “T sympathize with you, old man. Come, let’s go to supper, then we'll go over and see Will Benson and see if we can’t make life miserable for him for an hour or two.” Will Benson was a mutual friend who lived a ; mile an a half from the Harper farm, and, as he had a couple of interesting sisters, to one of whom Joe Beaseley was somewhat partial, the boys often found it to their taste to go over to the Benson farm and spend an evening. They had their usual good time on this occasion, and left the Benson place a little after nine to return to their homes. The weather looked threatening, and there was every indication that it would rain before morn-_ ‘ing, This was not a desirable outlook for Jack and Joe, as it would interfere with the raft enter- prise, and Jack especially was anxious to get the eraft finished as.soon as possible. “Tt will be fierce if it rains to-morrow,” said Beascley. casting a doubtful glance at the sky.” “T should say it would,” replied Jack, finding little consolation in the stormy aspect of the heavens. “However, it may rain during the _ night and clear off by the morning.” “That wouldn’t be so bad; but I’m afraid we can’t expect any such good luck. That sky looks gi as if it was getting ready for a week’s business.” “A week! I should hope not. That would give us an awful setback.” “Well, you can’t put any dependence at all in If it starts in to rain to-niehe it forty-eight, for that matter. I wouldn’t be sur- prised if it acted that way just to spite us.” Something damp and clinging struck Jack on the nose at that moment.’ He held out his hand, and presently another drop of water fell on it, “At the price thousand bushels will save t THE WAY TO SUCCESS : “It’s begining to rain already,” he said, gloom- ily, : : “T see it is,” coincided Beaseley. PP They hastened their steps, for they had their — good clothes on and didn’t want to get them wet. — But the rain had very little consideration for — them, and came down faster and faster, and pretty big drops at that. “T guess we’re in for a good soaking all right,” - grumbled Joe. “I don’t like this even a little bit.” “Nor I, either,” agreed Jack. “But we can take - refuge in the old tumble-down shack on the other side of these trees until this downpour blows over, % It won’t last long, judging from the way it is starting to come down.” “I’m ready to put in anywhere there’s a roof 4 to keep off the moisture.” 4 “Let’s run, then,” said Jack, starting off at a — rapid pace. hs ‘ And Beaseley didn’t lose a moment in following his lead. They reached the shanty-in good time — to escape the worst of the shower, which began to ~ beat upon the roof of the ruin at a smart rate — as soon as they got under cover. = “We're lucky,” chuckled Jack. “If we were out — in that we’d soon be a sight for sore eyes.” ia “Great Scott!” exclaimed Joe, suddenly, making — a quick move to one side. i “What’s the matter?” asked Frost. ‘ “Something must have given away on the roof,” grumbled Beaseley, “for a stream of water struc me on the back of the neck just now and soaked me to the waist.” at Jack laughed, and then, fearing he might com in for a similar kind of bath, suggested that the: get away back in a corner. Hardly had they © taken up their new position when they heard a — noise outside and two men ran into the shanty. _ “T wonder how long this { Led Me Spite! is goin’ to last, ~ Plunkett?” said one of the new comers, in surly — tones. : gees “Oh, we’ve lots of time,” replied his companion, — in & voice familiar to Frost as belonging to the postmaster and storekeeper of Eden, ae: The boy, surprised to encoupnter Mr. Plunkett — so far away from his usual stamping grounds, — pressed*Joe’s arm and whispered in his ear to be » “Supposin’ it keeps up all night, what then? growled the first speaker. : 5 ek It’s early yet, and we — might better be here than hugging a hedge,” said the postmaster. ise How far from here is the Harper farm.” “About half a mile across the meadows.” ; there wheat?” a “Perhaps four hundred yards back of th “Most of them kind of barns are raised o stillts like, a few feet from the ground. Kind — bonfire, I reckon,” and the wondering boys hea the fellow chuckle. ie as quiet as a mouse. ; won't keep up. s “J don’t know but you’re right, Plunkett “And where is the barn located that holds tat house.” of helps to keep the stuff dry. It’ll make a prett: _ They couldn’t understand what he mea t, but . ‘they were not long kept in the dark as to the tentions of the two men. nee year “J hope it will,” almost hissed Mr. Plun wheat is goin: se egies Sa, mf = os

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7 THE WAY TO SUCCESS and do me out of a good thing, unless we send it up in fire and smoke to-night.” _“Ain’t that what we’re goin’ to do? We didn’t come away out here from town for nothin’, I reckon.” “T should hope not. With the wheat lost to her} © and no possibility of paying the mortgage, which comes due next month, I guess Mrs. Harper will be glad to listen to my terms if she wishes to _ keep a roof over her head,” said Mr. Plunkett. “And do you really mean to marry her?” “That is my intention, ‘She’s a fine-looking little woman, not yet forty, and she just suits my idea of a second Mrs. Plunkett.” “And how do you think you suit her, eh?” said the postmaster’s companion, with another chuckle. “T reckon she ain’t exactly ready to take you for better or worse, er you wouldn’t be so anxious to destroy her two thousand bushels of one-dollar- and-fifteen-cent wheat. It seems like an awful Waste of good money, Plunkett; but I s’pose you’ve got to turn the screws on’ her, or she and the farm, too, will slip out of your grasp. You’re _ a hard man, Plunkett, to run up against. I when the time came around.” “Don’t get so gay, Monks,” objected the Eden storekeeper. “I’m going to pay you well for this night’s. work, so you haven’t any right to amuse yourself at my expense.” “Touchy, are you?” laughed the man called Monks. “I like to have my little joke, Plunkett. Kind of keeps me in good humor, I reckon. I see the rain is easing up a bit. What time do you - s’pose it is?” The postmaster pulled out his watch and then lit a match to consult it. As the match flared up the boys held their breath and sat like two sta- tues, for the light, while it lasted, plainly re- vealed their presence in the shanty. But the backs of the two men were turned squarely, upon them, and, as they did not turn around, having no suspicion that any one but their own two selves were in the place, Jack and Joe escaped their ob- servation. - = *Ten o'clock,” reported Mr. Plunkett: “T s’pose we’d better not make a move for an hour yet, to make sure. Most of the people here- . about turn in about nine, and eleven is a good time to get busy. Has Mrs. Harper got a dog about the place?” : ig “Yes, but we ought to be able to avoid it. You have the tools with you, haven’t you, to force an entrance through the back door?” : “T reckon I have. I ain’t a professional house- breaker, you know, but I can open a door or win- ~ dow or stab a lock with the best of them. The knack comes natural to me. I was always clever at getting at the inside of things” ~ “Well, it isn’t a hard job to get inside a barn. Monks, and this barn isn’t any different to speak -of from any other in the country. They’re all built on the same plan, Once we’re inside we’ll _ have the game in our hands. Inside of ten min- utes we'll have fired it ina dozen places. Mrs. Harper will sell no wheat. this year, and before Christmas she’ll be Mrs. Plunkett, or the farm _ will have a new tenant. In any case, it will have © ‘become. By property and that young cub, Jack Frost, will have to look for a living elsewhere.” _ Mx. Plunkett wound up his ree ne 743.2 tea ae 4 cine . = Z vi es = “word of it. wouldn’t like to owe you money I couldn’t pay, _doublé-dyed rascal, if there ever was one.” little speech with a 7 ft venomous intensity that showed he meant every At that moment something extraor- dinary happened. The old, rickety box on which ~ Jack and Joe were seated suddenly wave way without warning, precipitating the two boys back- ward against the wall of the shack with a loud crash. »They struck the time-worn boards with a shock that shook the shanty. The wood, being rotten and insecurely held by the rusty nails, _ yielded in turn, and the boys fell outside in a heap, and did not stop rolling until they butted up against the trees at the foot of the incline back of the old shack. “Gee whiz!” exclaimed Beaseley, scrambling to his feet. “Was that an earthquake?” . “Hardly,” laughed Frost, spitting out a mouth- ful of moist earth. : “Then what happened?” “Why, don’t you know?” “Something gave way all at once. shanty collapsed. “No. You can’t see it standing there in the same old place.” “Then I give it up.” ai “Why, the box gave way under us, we Be 2 through the back of the shanty and rolled do here, a dozen feet away. I wonder what Mr. Plunkett and his friend Monks thought about it. We must have given them a great shock,” and the boy chuckled as he pictured in his mind the consternation*of the two rascals. ie Ts" Maybe the CHAPTER VII.—On Guard. hd “Our clothes are in a nice state,” grumbled Beaseley, picking off bits of damp soil from the front of his pocket as well as he could in the dark. : ~ ora “Don’t mention it, Joe,” replied Jack, ruefully, - “And they’re our go-to-meeting togs at that.” — “Hush!” whispered his companion. “That ras- cally Plunkett and his associate are investigating - the cause of our mishap. | I saw the flashofa match in the hole we punctured in the shack.” : “Let’s get back among the trees here, so they won’t discover us,” suggested Jack, and that plan was adopted. It had almost stopped raining, but that fact didn’t interest the boys as much ag it had done previous to their tumble. Their gar- ments were a sight, and would have to be reno- vated before they could hope to put them on again; so a little superabundance of moisture didn’t matter much now, ae “Isn't that Nathan Plunkett an old scoundrel?” said Joe, when they had retired within the shelter’ of the little woody Lgl _“T_should sav he is,” answered Jack. “I never — liked him, but I did not believe him to be so bad as to originate such a dastardly scheme as burn- ~ ing down our barn so as to destroy the two thou- sand bushels of wheat stored there and thus get - my aunt’s property in his clutches.’ He’s a “It’s a mighty good thing we overheard those two skunks talking. Now we can put a spoke into their wheels,, We'd better start right off for your barn and stand around the place. If we can catch old Plunkett at this little game I

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eae _ guess he stands a pretty good chance of going to jail.” : “I should think he would,” replied Jack, ear- nestly. “He isn’t very sweet on you, by the way he talks,” snickered Joe “Y’ve known that for some time.- - Me because I’m making the farm pay. the idea at first that I would run i> ground and thus tighten his grip en the prop- erty. As scon as he found out we were harvest- ing such a fine crop of wheat it broke him all up. - He’s been dead sore on me ever since.” f “Maybe he’ll be afraid to attempt to carry out his plen to-night, afver what has happened,” said Beaseley, as they were avproaching the rear of the big barn where Mrs. Harper’s grain was stored. “He must suspect that somebody was in the shanty all the time he and his companion were une and, of course, overheard their conversa- tion, I'l bet he’s in a blue funk over it.” “Well, Pm not going to take any chances, if I have to stay up all night and watch,” replied Jack, in a determined tone. aeates & ‘wouldn’t, either, It’s better to be sure than sorry,” agreed Joe. ““I’m willing to keep you . company.” “Pm much obliged, Joe; but this isn’t your ‘funeral, and I have no right to ask you to lose ‘your night’ s rest.” “Ho! Don’t you s’pose I’ve got ifterest in your wheat, too? I’ve put nearly these days of good, - solid work on that raft because I expect to have a high old time sailing down the rivers on it. If that wheat should happen to be destroyed, all my labor and all my prospects of the good time _ Y’'ve been dreaming over would go up with it. _, No, siree, bob! I can’t afford to get it in the neck that way: I feel just like giving Mr. Plunkett - one, two, three on the nut for contemplating such Siar :¥ rascally scheme,” squaring off at an imaginary antagonist. “We'll give him worse than that if we catch him at that trick,” nodded Jack, in a tone which meant no good to "the postmaster. ‘The boys took their position under ts shadow He’s down on He had approaches to the big barn, and patiently awaited | developments. They conversed in low tones, while they kept their bright eyes wide open for sus- _ Picious interlopers. 4 nothing turned up. ing up and passing away to the westward, . . “There’s the moon,” exclaimed Joe, pointing to * a ragged patch of the blue sky where the bright -Juminary was struggling to show herself through the flying scud. “We’ll have a clear day to-mor- row, after all.” © ~ “Looks like it,” replied Jack, cheerfully. “Judg- ing by the position of the moon, I should think it was getting on to'midnight. I guess Mr. Plunkett has given up his project for to-night, possibly for good, If He believes that his plan was overheard ‘atthe old shanty, you may depend on it he'll be pretty shy of putting his head into a noose.” _ They stuck it out another hour, and then both the “boys began to feel decidedly sleepy. The Gore of a see ni; Be duce a} THE WAY TO SUCCESS into the’ _explained Jack. “some astonishment. of an old tool-house, where they commanded all. n.hour passed away and | e rain-clouds. were break- ° it or not, it’s the fact. g, and other droning noises of the | ced a -somnolent » effect “upon ee aa while they slept, Mr. Plunkett and his companion ey Monks, fully persuaded that there had been Gaves. dronpers in the old shack while they were dis- — cussing their rascally plot, were beating itas fast — as their lees cou'd carry them to town. The boys, _ in spite of their uncomfortable condition, slept right on through the balance of the night, until John Gray, the hired man, coming out at day- — break, found them there, much to his amazement. He woke them up and inquired why they had an- chored themselves for the night in that. spot in- - stead of seeking their beds like all good Chris- a tians do. rey “Good gracious! It is morning already?” ejac- ulated Jack, jumping to his feet in surprise. — “We-must have been asleep.” 43 “T should say you had been. I found you both as sound as a bell,” said. Gray. prea yae a “And the barn!” almost gasped Frost, casting his eyes in the direction of the big granary. Ee . “What about the barn?” asked the hired man, — in a puzzled tone. “Thank goodness! vently. “Safe! You didn’t think it was aibuts to. run away, did you?” said Gray, quizzically, : “We were afraid it would do worse than that,” interjected Joe, solemnly. 5 “Oh, come*now, boys. You haven't got your eyes open yet, or you wits about you.” “Haven't we? That’s all you know about’ “it” a retorted Beaseley, in a nettled tone. “The fact of the matter is, we sat down here to watch the barn, because we had good reason fear that it would be burned down last nigh It is safe,” cried << fer- “Burned down!” exclaimed the hired’ man, in “Impossible! ye “Is that so?” replied Joe. Then Jack told Gray how they had overbepie Ee Nathan Plunkett and a companion, whom he called Monks, in the shanty on the edge of the woods, where they had taken shelter from the r: on their way home, talking over their plan to destroy the granary. “You don’t mean to say that you ackeue heard My. Plunkett discussing such a criminal project “That’s just what I do mean to say,” an- swered Jack, stoutly. “And I can prove it by. here.” “Surely you must have dreamed it all,” repli Gray, incredulously, who, though he had no pecial liking for the, postmaster of Eden, could hardly credit the news that the storekeeper wou connect himself with such a disereditable sch “No, we didn’t dréam it all,” chipped in Be Whether you: bal You didn’t think we’d stand guard out here on a damp night just re | a fun of the thing? Nathan Plunkett is a rase: and I’m going to let my aunt know just whatse of man he is. Come on, Joe.” ne: Mrs, Harper was very much astonished Jack submitted to her at the breakfast ta report of Mr. Plunkett’s character nd hi cally intentions toward her. “Tt seems almost ley. ey should say we didn’t,

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THE WAY TO SUCCESS — “T wouldn’t marry Mr. Plunkett if he was the ~jast man on earth,” she answered, indignantly; “even if I had any idea of ever marrying again, which I haven't. ficiently plain to Mr. Plunkett when he proposed to me.” ' “Never mind, auntie,” said Jack, reassuringly. “Don’t let Mr, Plunkett worry you. I believe he’ll keep kind of shady for a while, as I guess we gave him a good scare last night. He can’t have the least idea who was in the old shanty while he and Monks were there, and that fact will keep him guessing, and make him rather shy of showing his face in this neighborhood again.” “T hope so. I never want to see his face again. ‘When the mortgage comes due I’m going to send the money to him by you.” “All right, auntie. It would do me lots of good to see how reluctantly he will let go his hold on the farm.” Jack got his hat, left the house and made a ~ pee-line for the anchorage of the raft. CHAPTER VIII.—The Golden Hope. Frost found Beaseley already at the basin wait- ing for him. : : _ “Well, I’m ready for business,” he said, with a cheerful expression. “I see you are,” replied Jack, producing a rude _ plan of the house they were to erect on the raft.” “We'll begin by measuring off the dimensions upon the deck.” : They walked across the plank which connected the unwieldy-looking raft with the shore. - Jack measured off ten feet from the extreme point. of the rounded. stern and made a,cross on the boards with a piece of red chalk. “Bring me that piece of scantling, Joe.” - Beaseley brought it. Jack laid it down across - the deck, told his:companion to-hold one end in _ position, and then d#éw a straight line from the side of the raft to the port side, intersecting the eross. He then measured off a foot and a half at each end and marked the spots. “Come forward, Joe.” : The performance was repeated within five feet of the point of the bow. A line was then drawn fore and aft on either side of the deck, connect- jing the foot-and-achalf marks upon the cross- line. The parallelogram thus outlined formed the ~ exact dimensions of the proposed house. “Now we'll lay down a new floor twelve by - twenty-five feet,” said Jack. “I will be raised six_ ~ Gnches above-the deck. We'll use a double layer, _ erossed, of those slabs for the foundation and then board it over.” : s e That “provided a couple of hours’ work for them, and they proceeded to get busy without Toss of time. On account of the previous night’s rain there was a good deal of moisture in the air —humidity, the scientists call it, and the boys felt the effects of it, for they were soon perspiring. - “Gee whiz!” cried Joe, wiping his forehead, “it’s amed hot this morning. = ENG hotter than Saturday, old man, but we feel i more, that’s all.” ‘t?s ho rant to know.” ' - I thought I made that fact suf-— in high glee. the curious, laughed Jack. t for the second week in September, if "yet, have you?” . 13 t : : Tey “Tf we’re going to put this building through in record time you don’t want to let a little thing like that bother you,” grinned Jack. : “T can stand it as long as you can,” retorted — Joe, beginning to nail down the planks like a good fellow. There was plenty of lumber of the kind the boys wanted, and more was coming all the time down the stream which ran through the swamp. The floor and the framework of the house was. completed that day, the skeleton well secured and — braced to the deck. Next day, the sides and ends were boarded up, leaving no openings whatever in the structure. On the ensuing day the skele- ton of the sloping roof, extending a foot beyond the house line, so that when boarded over it would shed the rain, if they encountered any, was put in*place. Thursday was devoted to complet- ing the roof, in which a big hole was left, to. which a cover was fitted, for receiving theircargo of grain, on Jack developed a simple but ingenious method ~~ for making the roof water-tight for a limited time—considerably longer than they expected to have any occasion to use the boat. He applied the - same process to the sides, thus furnishing a ~ secure receptacle for the wheat in transit. On ~~ Friday they built the deck-house, as Jack called — it—a compartment five by twelve feet and eight feet high, with an opening to be shut in, if neces- sary, by a piece of sailcloth. Next morning Jack drove in to Eden, paid a flying visit to the Earles, and afterward purchased ten good-sized = -and stoutly hooped liquor barrels, which he — Ca brought back to the farm. That afternoon he and te Joe attached five of the barrels securely on either = side of the raft by means of stout ropes, nailed : into the casks to prevent them from slippmg. Before sundown the novel household was com- — pleted and ready to receive her cargo, now quoted ¥x at one dollar and thirty-five cents a bushel. Jack viewed it with pardonable pride, as the creation of his own intelligence, while Joe regarded it as — the vehicle which was to provide them both with a fortnight or so of rare good fun and adventure. — “Now, let’s christen it, Jack,” he eried, enthu- siastically. Z “What shall we call it?” asked the chief con- — structor, thoughtfully. x ; “The Jack Frost. How will that do?” grinned oe. “Go on, you’re foolish,” replied his friend. “We'll call it the Iden Hope. That will be. — scmewhat appropriate.” SP raat. Re: “All right, let her go at that. Three cheers — for the Golden Hope,” he cried, flinging his-hat into the air and cheering, in which performance — te ae joined, but in a more dignified way, by ack. q cages. “On Monday we'll pole the craft around 4 ¥ = the little wharf on the creek, and there we'll loa her to the hatches, as the sailors say.” S “And then we'll cut loose from our moorings — and gently glide down stream, eh?” grinned Joe, ~ “Bet your life when we pass Eden we'll be piped off to the queen’s taste.” i Re “T’ve no doubt we'll be an object of interest to “You haven’t given the snap away to your aun hi head. : eat aes 234 ms Jack shook

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“No; I wanted to surprise her with the com- “pleted boat.” /“You’ll surprise her all right. I hope she won’t make a kick against trusting the grain aboard of a her,” said Joe, getting solemn all of a sudden, | such an alarming possibility occurring to him now for the first time. “Tyon’t worry about that,” replied Jack, cheer- fully. ;‘Auntie trusts me implicitly, If I say it’s perfectly safe, my, word will go.” _ “fd have a fit if there should be any hitch at this stage of the game,” said Beaseley, so ear- nestly that Jack had to laugh at him. “Phere’s no danger of the Golden Hope floating away from her anchorage between this and Mon- aay; is there?” ‘asked Joe, anxiously. “Not a bit more than there was all along,” an- swered Jack, “This stout, rope holds the boat securely. Besides, she’s well inside the bight, and I don’t believe would move to any extent until poled out into the current of the stream.” Fua “Ym glad to hear it, I wouldn’t sleep a wink - if I thought there was a chance of the craft get- ting adrift.” 5 After dinner next day Jack brought his aunt down to the basin to introduce her to the odd- looking boat, the history of which he had told her on the way to church, much to her astonish- ~ ment. ~ “And do you really thinkthat boat’ is stable enough to carry our wheat all the way to St. ‘Louis, Jack?” Mrs. Harper asked, somewhat doubtfully, as she viewed the unwieldy marine contrivance. : ! “As sure as you live, auntie. She’llycarry every bushel with perfect safety, save you a good - many dollars in freight and furnish a couple of ~ weeks’ outing on the water for Joe and I.” ‘Jack showed her over the craft, though there wasn’t much to see, and she praised her nephew’s -ingenuity.and pluck in putting the craft Tazcthes. Later on Jack brought John Gray down to look at the “Golden Hope.” The hired man, who had . had‘some experience in river craft, of this order, ~ examined the raft-boat with much curiosity and interest. % _, “Well,” he said, after he had ascertained the object for which she was intended, “she’s buoyant enough to carry the wheat to the Gulf, if neces- sary. You’ve got a great head*'to be able to . build so substantial a craft out of fugitive lum- ’ ber in two weeks. If you are satisfied that you and your friend Beaseley can navigate the craft - between you as well as you have put it together, - you ought to be able to get. your wheat to St. Louis freight free all right.” _ We can do that'all right,” replied the hoy, con- fidently. ; . “It’s something of a risk. I advise you to have “= your cargo insured before you start.” - . “I mean to do, it, if it doesn’t cost too much. ‘I don’t think there’s risk enough to warrant a “high. premium,” _“Yout can’t tell, It’s the unexpected which -must, be provided against, and the only way to offset that is by insurance, Then your mind will el easier, and your aunt wi And k full Wis Srey ee, Y THE WAY TO SUCCESS ll/be more satisfied@ — } CHAPTER IX.—Undesirable Visitors, On Monday morning the “Golden Hope” was poled around to the’ wharf on the creek, two extra hands were hired and the loading of the wheat aboard of her begun. Whie this work was in progress Jack and Joe rigged up a steering ap-— paratus at the stern, which, when completed, was examined by John Gray, who declared it was strong and serviceable enough to answer the pur-- pose required, Stout scantlings, six feet long, ~« were nailed at intervals along the projecting edge of the deck and braced up against the super- structure, and to these uprights a long length of clothes-line was attached to form a kind of pro- — tecting railing all around, on either side, without . fear of falling into the water, unless through ‘earelessness. The cooking apparatus, a small — stove in a shallow box of sand, was next provided. Then Jack drove to Eden and purchased the pro- — vision for the trip and a few cooking utensils; the balance of the outfit was furnished by Mrs. Harper herself, who had begun to take a lively interest in the expedition. The raft-boat stood the weight of her cargo in great shape, sinking — gradually as ton after ton was shot into her big deckhouse. Her buoyancy was carefully ‘investi- gated at intervals, and when half her load was Pies e water three inches higher than Jack had expected, and that fact was a cause of much rejoicing all around, There was now no longer any doubt but she would bear the grain safely to her port of destination, accidents .or mismanagement alone excepted. Jack made arrangements with an in- surance agent to come out to the farm, view the boat and figure upon a two weeks’ marine in- surance. After the agent had examined the raft boat and taken the testingony on the ease decided the risk was too great to atcept at a sum which the assured would be willing to p : and expressed himself to that effect, much ; Mrs. Harper’s disappointement. It is probable that the agent, when he returned to Eden, sprea the intelligence about the “Golden Hope” abou town, for quite a number of curious people dr out to the farm and asked permission to look the craft.‘ Among these was the assistant edi : of the Bden “Daily News,” and next day the whole town knew about Jack Frost’s enterprise. The story, however, was highly complimentary of the boy’s ingenuity and enterprise, a tes editor took occasion also to mention the lad’s* — pluck and nerve .as shown at the recent fire where he had saved the Harle girls from an awful deat This publicity was rather annoying than oth wise to Jack Frost, but he had to put up with it, nevertheless, Ever since the raft-boat had gone into commission Joe Beaseley slept on board her. Infact; he could hardly tear himself aw from her to go to-his. meals. Mr. Greene allo: him a full month’s vacation, and he declare was going to extract’ pleasure out of ever ute of it, except, of course, when he was The ee of the wheat. was finished

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the following morning at sunrise, After the sun set the wind rose somewhat, and the waters of the _ ereek ruffled up enough to cause the raft-boat to strain’ slightly at her cable. Clouds began to _ pile up in the sky, and before eight o’clock the conditions looked stormy and unpropitious. Joe ate his supper with Jack, and then both boys re- ~ turned to the Golden Hope. Jack had purchased two lanterns—one with red glass, the other with green—which he proposed to display at night on either side of the boat, above the roof of the deckhouse, after they had started upon their _ trip down the rivers. In adition, he brought aboard that night an ordinary white glass lantern used about the farm. “Tet’s rig up. the lantern to-night, just for the fun of the thing,” suggested Joe. “It will look kind of shipshape, you know.” : Jack fell in. with the idea, and the lanterns were accordingly run up on their respective poles —the green on the starboard side, the red on the Gpert. “ok SNOW we look like the real thing,” said Joe, _ - with one of his cheerful grins. “Gee! It’s begin- ~ ning to blow some, isn’t it?” The white lantern was intended to illuminate the small deckhouse. The boys, however, did not ' think it necessary to light it on this occasion. - They sat together in the little cabin, as Joe called - it, and talked about the trip they were to enter on the next day. At length they grew weary, and Joe said he guessed it was time to turn in. Jack didn’t propose to roost’ on board when he had a comfortable room to go to, so he bade Joe good- night and started for the house, a third of a mile away. He had gone about half the distance when he thought he heard voices. He stopped and lis- - tened, .The ‘wind made a good deal of noise ee through the treés, but at the same time it brought the sound down to him. He was presently aware that two. men were approaching him going in the direction of the creek where the raft-boat was moored. He didn’t know of anybody that had a right to be abroad on their property at.that hour of the night, so their presence inierested him con- ~ siderably, and he determined to lie in wait for them, and if possible, see who they were and find out what they were doing in that locality. So he stepped back into the bushes and waited for the - two men to come up. There was no moon to aid him, and the sky was overcast and gusty-looking. _ However, he knew all his neighbors so well that he believed he could identify the intruders if they came near enough to him to afford him a good look. The voices approached closer and closer, and the tones of one had a familiar ring to the boy... ‘Soon the two men came out from the shadow of the trees and passed within a few feet of Jack. ‘There was not sufficient light for him to distin- guish their features, but he knew them for all that. They were Nathan Plunkett and the man, ‘py. the name of Monks, and from the few words, ‘picked out of their conversation Jack realized - they were going down to the creek to look up the t-boat and see if they could put it out of THE WAY TO SUCCESS © } is left to itself at night, because two-legged ser- — pents like yourself are not common in the neigh-— borhood. didos you try to eut up. I’ll have you in the rear, while Joe, who sleeps with one eye. open ever since he established himself on board, will take you in the front. TV’ll bet we won’t doa thing to you both.” Thus thought Jack as he followed the pair of rascals as fast as he dared go. The creek was reached at last, and Frost saw Plunkett and his companion standing a few feet away from the Golden Hope, examining her with a great deal of attention. Finally they stepped on board, and Plunkett, drawing aside the canvas covering which partly screened the opening to the cabin, looked into the place. He made a motion to Monks, who came to his side ‘and looked in also, Jack judged théy were looking at Joe, who, as he made no movement to Fesent the intrusion, was doubtless fast asleep. The rascals consulted to- gether. They soon reached’ a decision, which evidently involved Beaseley, for they immediately pushed their way into the little deckhouse. “They meant to do Joe up,” breathed Jack: “It’s time for me to butt in.” \ He grabbed a stout stick which lay close to him on the ground and dashed on board the raft- boat. There was a struggle going on in the cabin. Jack could hear some pretty strong lan- guage being used by the postmaster and Monks, but Joe didn’t seem to be uttering a sound. © ' “Ym afraid they’re getting the best of him,” - thought Frost, as he reached the deckhouse en- trance. “I wish there was a light burning, so I could see how things look inside.” Evidently somebody else had the same desire to throw a light on the situation, for at that very — moment a match was ignited, and by its glare - 15 “V'll just follow after you and see what. / * * Jack saw that it was Plunkett who had lit a ducifer and held it in his fingers, and he also made out that the two men had Beaseley face down on the deck, the storekeeper kneeling on his back, while Monks, who was a smoothly shaven young- ish-looking man, had one of his hands over the boy’s mouth. As the match expired in the store- keeper’s fingers Jack dashed in and struck him a stunning blow on the head with his cudgel. pues Plunkett fell half-dazed against the bunk out of which they had pulled Joe, Jack followed up his advantage by raping Monks in a similar manner, though the blow was not so effectual. The fellow, however, was obliged to release his +3 grip on Beaseley. Joe, finding he wag no longer __ held at a serious disadvantage, struggled to his feet, encouraged by Jack’s voice, and the two boys attacked the intruders in right down earnest, ah CHAPTER X.—-Off at Last. — d he beca ch and fi +5

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16 Ps » “Well, Mr. Plunkett,” he said, coolly, “what have you to say for yourself?” The storekeeper evidently had nothing to say for himself, for he only scowled back at Jack and remained silent, While Joe blocked Plunkett’s retreat by the doorway, Jack took down the lan- tern and lighted it. This cast a welcome illumina- tion on the situation. “Joe amd I would be glad to know why you have honored us with your presence at this late hour of the night,” said Jack, sarcastically. “Let me pass, you young rascals,” demanded Mr. Plunkett, aggresively. “Certainly,” replied. Frost, with mock’ polite- ness, “after you have explained why you and your friend Monks boarded this raft and attacked my friend Joe Beaseley.” - The postmaster fiashed him ar evil look, ee “You young villain!” he exclaimed, vindictively. ~ “You struck me with that stick you have in your ‘hand. I'll have you in jail for assault the first thing in the morning.” '*“All right,” replied the boy, cheerfully. “Do so, if you think it ‘will pay you. But I guess we'll have something to say about your designs on this cargo of, wheat which will make you look like thirty cents! and maybe land you in a cell.” - Both boys stepped aside so the postmaster of Eden could pass out of the deckhouse. He never utiered a word as he took advantage of his op- portunity. He was cornered and beaten to a standstill, and he knew it. But for all that he was just as dangerous as ever, and a desire for ‘yevenge rankled deep down in his heart. He stepped ashore in sulky defiance, and the last the _ boys saw of him was when his tall form vanished into the gloom of the night. __- - *T guess we’d better stand watch by turns to- night,’ said Jack. “I can’t afford to take any chances with a’ pair of rascals like those two around loose in this neighborhood, They are capable of doing a heap of mischief in their present humor if'they get the ghost of a chance.” Joe thought so, too, so for the rest of the night ' the boys in turn stood guard two hours at a _ streéch, until the morning sun brought. the hired - » man down to tell them that an early breakfast awaited them at the farmhouse.. Leaving Gray : to watch the raft-boat, the boys went to the house, where they found Mrs. Harper waiting for them. After the meal she accompanied them to the wharf to see the boat off on its voyage which was to carry it down the “Father of Waters” to the city of St. Louis. The boys stepped aboard the raft-boat, and each took up a long pole as John Gray released the ropes which held the bow “and stern of the craft to the wharf: As she be-’ - gan. to move forward of her own accord, Jack took his place at the helm, and then both boys shouted farewell to Mrs. Harper and Jolin Gray on the shore, waving their hats gleefully. Jack’s aunt and the hired man waved their-hands in re- “turn, and now the river voyage had actu lly begun. + “Down the river, down the river, down the - O-hi-o!” howled Joe, feeling a strong desire to _ stand on his head through sheer hapiness. ack was prepared to find that the raft-boat display a strong tendency to whirl around ; “current of the creek, which was fairly 4 THE WAY TO SUCCESS” rapid, and was now carrying them down toward Eden and the junction of Chippewa at a satis- factory speed. Although the young navigator had yet to learn even the art of managing a craft he soon found that the difficulty of keeping the craft head-on could readily be overcome by prac- tice. A kind of “crow’s nest” had been built on top of the small deckhouse, where the boys would have to take up their post, turn about, in order 4 + to keep a lookout ahead. Joe’ was the first, of course, to mount the “roost,” as he called it, He couldn’t get lonesome, for he was within easy talking distance of Jack. It was a nice, airy spot, and afforded an excellent view of the surround- ing landscape. There was small danger of the raft meeting with any other craft, unless it might be a rowboat, on the créek. The stream was fairly broad and deep all the way to its junc- _ tion with the Chippewa, five miles away. i It was nearly seven o’clock when they ap- ~ proached the steeples of Eden. “As they floated — past the town they became an object of interest and curiosity to a good many people, especially — the boys of the neighborhood, who began to flock to the shore in considerable numbers as the news of the approach of the house-raft spread. “Gee whiz!” grinned Joe, “Those kids act as if they’d never seen anything like this before in their lives.” q We es “T don’t believe they ever have,” laughed Jack. — “Hi, hi, hi!” came out hails from the water- frent of Eden from the youngsters, who were following the course of the raft as they might a street procession. \ es “There are some girls waving their hands and handkerchiefs at us,” said Joe, standing up and a the fair ones‘ with his broad-brimmed at. ee “T see them,” answered Frost, taking off hat and bowing to the Young ladies, iia “I tell you, this is all to the mustard,” sai Beaseley, tickled to death over the sensation th appearance. created, oe “Come now, Joe,” warned Jack. “You don’t want to forget to attend to business, We'r sliding into the Chippewa, and we may run foul of something if you don’t keep your weather eye lifting.” 2 es “Nothing in the way, old man. We’ll be in the — Yiver ina minute.” | ra Jack knew that from the swing of the raft. In spite of all he could do, the raft was getting around broad-on to the current where it emptied eb into the Chippewa. ~ ees “Come down and lend a hand, will you, he asked his assistant, eis _ “Sure I will,” replied Beaseley, cheerfully He. quickly descended from his perch and Frost the benefit of his powerful muscles. gether they managed to preyent the raft from turning completely around, as she surely othe: wise would have done. In a few minutes the Golden Ho vas fairly launched into the midd of the more rapidly flowing Chippewa, an raft floated along at a faster rate. - At that moment Jack saw a rowbo: couple of girls and a boy on board, pu one of the small wharves and make di the raft-boat, a

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THE WAY Selene tomy it Repeal CHAPTER XI—Miss Virginia Earle Visits the ; Golden Hope. “T wonder who they are?” thought Frost, “They are rowing directly for us.” As the rowboat came nearer, and the faces of the girls became plainer, Jack uttered an excla- mation of surprise and pleasure. He recognized Virginia Earle and her sister Jessie. “Visitors!” ejaculated Beaseley, in. surprise, ‘letting go of the rudder-pole and rushing to the starboard side of the craft. “Here, here!” shouted Jack. “Get back to your post, Joe, or we'll be et in a moment.’ He jumped down to help his companion regain Gastxct of Rreunwtddy boat. When this had been accomplished, he warned Beaseley against desert- ing the steering gear again and then walked over t» the side to welcome the Earle girls. : “Good morning, Miss Earle,” he said, politely lifting his hat, ; “Good-morning, Mr. Frost. We've come out ta see the Golden Hope,” she laughed. - Jack assisted the two girls to the deck, after he had made the boat fast alongside by her painter, and the boy who had rowed them out stepped on board without any help. “This is my cousin, Tom Waldron,” said Vir- ginia, introducing their companion. ~ “Glad to make your acquaintance, Tom, Let ‘me make you known to my crew, Joe Beaseley.” The two boys shook hands. i ‘ “You’re going all the way to St. Louis, aren’t you?” said Waldron. } : “That's what we are,” replied Jack. “J wish I were going along with you,” he an- istfully. ; ij er vic, you vie, too,” replied Frost, cheer- a: 5 ae ee mind taking such a trip myself,” - smiled Virginia. “J suppose you expect to have a fine time?” ‘ . “We're going to have barrels of fun,” grinned _ Beaseley. ae “Boys do have such an advantage over us Spins,” a E ; “You see now you made a mistake by being born a girl,” chuckled Joe. % “Pm afraid I didn’t have any say in the mat- ter,” replied Virginia, roguishly. “Ym glad I ain’t a girl, all right.” ~ Would you like to climb up to the crow’s-nest, Miss Earle?” asked Jack, pointing to the\lookout _ platform, “Tl help you up. You'll get a splendid ~ view from..there.” rt Gs Ly sa is that what you call that place?” , ry ea, j 7 7. tian Sie! lc ac aad Seah Aa RR BCS » ghead:” : “T don’t know if I can get up there or not,” - she replied, doubtfully. , *Oh, yes, you can. Just give me your hand. 4 Steamboat, way . we ‘right away. We haven’t had our breakfast yet, ~ empty stomach.” "Yes, That’s where we keep our lookout | ‘his meal standing, as it was cut of the questi TO SUCCESS actually built this boat between you,” she added, —_ looking at him admiringly. “Aren’t’ you toa: = smart for anything?” ; : “Now, Miss Earle—” protested Jack, though secretly delighted at her commendation. ‘ “I mean it,” she insisted. “My father says you’re the smartest and bravest boy in Eden — : County, and I fully agree with him. I should ~— be a most ungrateful girl if I didn’t,” She added, ~ earnestly, and with a look into the bov’s eyes which sent his blood leaping through his veins a: .a great rate. “For you saved my life inthe most heroic manner, as well as the life of my dear sister.” x “I can’t deny that,” stammered Jack, finding that words came very slow to him under the be- witching influence of her presence. “All I can say is—what I think I have said two or three wt times before—that I am glad I was able to help ¥ you when you needed help. I would do the same thing again for you if that were necessary.” “Thank you,” she replied, casting down ‘her eyes, “I believe you.” d ; ; “I hope you will go out and call on my aunt — while Lam away. She thinks you the nices _"" “Now your are getting complimentary,” Vir- ginia laughed. “It’s the truth, be- “Oh, no,” protested Jack. cause I think so, too,” he added desperately. ie She blushed up to her eyes and looked away. — “How long do you expect to be away?” she asked, presently. _. is “IT can’t say exactly. Probably two weeks roy sea more.” 2 “Then I shall look to see you a day or two after you get back, remember,” she said, archly. “Now, please help me down. We really must go ashore and I know Tom will object to a long pull on an - Jack assisted her to the deck with as much — care as though she were a princess of royal blood. — “Come, Jessie, Tom; it’s time we put out’for the ._ shore, We must be all of half a mile below ase Eden.” s : They embarked, Jack doing the honors. “Good-by, boys,” cried Virginia, as her cousin, Tom Waldron, shoved the rowboat clear. “I hope you’ll have a splendid time.” “Thanks, Miss, Earle,” replied Jack. Saree: “Good-by, fellows. I’m dead sorry I’m not with you,” floated back from Waldron, as he headed — the boat to the shore and bent to his oars in a sturdy fashion, Jack ‘mounted once more to the lookout and noted that the river was clear as far ahead as ° he could see. At eight o’clock the boys changed places again, the arangement being one-hour spells for each alternately at the helm. Attwelve — o'clock when Jack took his turn at steering, Joe started in to cook a pot of coffee. An inverted box served them for a table, on which some meat — sandwiches, a whole pie and other “fixings” were spread out. : tae “Grub is ready,” announced Joe in twenty min utes. ; : He squatted down on the deck while Jack t to leaveithe helm to itself for any length of time “This isn’t so bad,” said Beasele cheerfully cg : ‘ cre

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18 “These sandwiches beat anything I’ve tasted in ~ a dog’s age.” . “They’re all to the good, old man. Aunt Lucy has the knack of making the boss sandwiches on record. And her pies make one’s mouth water just to look at them.” “You bet they do.” acquiesced his companion. “This is a peach pie, I guess, If there’s one pie I like better than another it is peach.” “I thought mince was your favorite? Jack. “That’s right. to the right. spot.” “How about pumpkin? I heard you say once that pumpkin pies were first favorites with you.” , .“Oh, come now, don’t make me think of all the delicacies that I like. Almost all kinds of pie look alike to me when I come to eat them.” - You’d make a good pie-rate, wouldn’t you?” laughed Jack. “Sure pop. We ought to have brought a black ‘flag with a skull and cross-bones painted on it to ‘hoist at our masthead.” “What do you ¢all our masthead?” - One of those uprights on which we’re going - to display our volored lights when it grows dark.” Joe cleared away and washed the dishes, and then ‘hied himself up to the crow’s nest, from ~which perch he chinned with Jack until his com- panion called him down to steer for an hour. “T guess I’ve got the hang of the thing now,” ~ said Beaseley. 57 Sssippl I'll be able to steer with my eyes shut.” They passed one river steamboat about three ‘o'clock, but she was only a small affair, a freighter. Altogether the river seemed to be singularly clear of boats or vessels of any de- -seription. The sun set about gix, and shortly “afterward Joe piped to supper: At seven the eolored lights were hoisted into place, and the _white light was hung in the lookout station, ex- actly between the other lanterns. Darkness grad- » ually.settled down deep and solemn over the face _ of the landscape and river. There were many ~ lights on either shore to guide them on their way. “We must be careful to keep to the middle of _ the stream, as near as we can guess,” said Jack, or the first thing we know we may find ourselves “ashore. If thertide happened to be high at the time we'd be in a pretty fix, unless we succeeded in poling ourselves clear right away.” “Get your banjo, Jack, and let’s have some ~-music,” said Joe. So Frost got his instrument out of the deck- house, tunnéd up, and presently the strains of a +5 lively dance were floating on the still evening : ain, Then he sang several popular songs, Joe ' joining in on the chorus, __ “Better turn in now, Joe,” said Jack, as he re- lieved his companion at the rudder. “We com- “mence our four-hour watches now. I’ll wake you at midnight. Then you are to call me at four,” “T don’t feel a bit sleepy. Guess I’ll stay awake a while longer.” “You can do as you please, but it’s your fu- eral, you know.” At half-past eight Beaseley took possession of e one bunk | 5 ae in five ene Ried sound | saga oe 2” erinned I forgot. Mince always goes THE WAY £0 SUCCESS “By the time we reach the Mis- ' _obtain the' best results; but when the wind blew a On Sunday morning they drew near a big Iowa ~ town, and as the weather looked threatening Jack decided to put in and moor his craft to a small vacant wharf he spied ahead. After a’ strenuous’ time this was accomplished. Joe put on a rain- © coat and stepped ashore, starting for the town,~ — returning after some time with his arms full of eatables. Jack decided to stop at this place all night. During the afternoon they decided to purchase a ‘sail Joe had seen for sale at a boat- house a. little farther down the river and rig it up. They thought it would help them make bet- ter time. The boys slept well and arose early the next morning. CHAPTER XII:—The End of the Trip. After breakfast they unmoored and worked the Golden Hope down to the boat-house. The = : boys went ashore and found the man Joe had ~ spoken to the previous afternoon.-~Jack had a talk with him, ‘told him how he thought the sail ~he wanted to set might be made available, and the man went aboard the raft-boat and, after examining the supports, gave them the benefit of some valuable suggestions. He had some pulley- blocks and a quantity of stout line he was will- — ing to sell them, so Jack made a bargain with him, and under his directions they went to work to ~ carry out Joe’s idea in an effective manner. They braced the uprights in, a. satisfactory way, and — to the top of each attached a pulley-block and rove a line through them. The man furnished a — thin pole as a yard for the sail, and to each end of this pole they secured the small clothes-line pulleys which they had previously used at the re peaks of the uprights to hoist the lanterns with. The line was put through these pulleys, and thus — by pulling simultaneously on the line on each side of the boat, the sail could be raised about five — feet above the sloping roof of the grain house. — A piece of line was fastened to each of the lower corners of «the sail, by which it was. secured to each of the uprights, As the sail could only bese spread in one position, they could not hope to with a favorable slant Jack judged it was bound — to accelerate their speed down the big river. And so it proved. That afternoon the wind © came pretty fresh from the northwest. The bev hoisted the sail, and both were delighted with ane : satisfactory outcome of the experiment. “We must be making all of five miles an gare new,” said Jack, at length. ; 3 “Bet “your boots we are,” chuckled Joe, “I ain’t such a lunkhead, after all, I guess.” z “Itake my hat off to you, Beaseley,” replied the young skipper, with a mock salute. “You're all to the good, old man,” : “Sure I am. I’m the real persimmon, and don’t you make any mistake about it. We’re going f tc cut our trip down a couple of days.” “I guess we will, if the wind blows fair for us,’ a2 6 With the sail drawing well, they found that the labor of steering was reduced more than one-half. The raft-boat showed no. tendency t B whird around, and it was really a pleasure ti steer her, so Beaseley declared. Neither : oRY ee oe Fig 02 th he curr , ine

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saved many. miles by taking short cuts. They ~~ gained still another advantage. The raft-boat - was under better control when the sail was in , operation, and, instead of being entirely at the _- mercy of the current, they could go where they - chose. This enabled Jack to make frequent stops to provision up when there was any wind, and it came from the vight direction, for he could ' make a landing. when and where he pleased, and with little difficulty. Now, with a good wind, they covered about a hundred miles in twenty- _ four hours, while when they had to depend upon -' the current they made but sixty. About seven ' ‘in the morning of the eighth day they reached -\ Hannibal, Missouri. As soon as Jack found out the name of the - big place on the western shore of the river he was in high glee. ; a “We have made much better time than I ex- _ pected we would,” he remarked to Joe. “Why, if _ ‘we have the wind with us we ought to reach St. Louis to-morrow afternoon.” } “You don’t mean it,” cried Beaseley, much as- tonished. “Why, I thought we were good for a week yet.” : a GNO, sir: miles from our ‘destination by water. . Glory! Who'd have thought it?” - “Aren’t you glad, Joe?” is «JT don’t know, I’ve had a fine time Sailing down, I wouldn’t care.if we were going back the same ” “That’s out of the question.” _ “T.suppose it is.. But, to tell. theytruth, I’m, sorry to have to leave the old craft sd*soon. It -took a lot of hard work to build her, and we 4 ; for anything more x We're about one hundred: and fifty 999 don’t know if we can sell her than firewood.” “Oh, you can’t tell. I'll bet there-are a good many people who would be glad to buy.so sub- _ stantial a craft if they could get her as cheap as we're willing to sell her. The trouble is to reach those people.” : ? : Voy might advertise her.” ~ 4P]] consider the matter. Now, Joe, I’m going to put in here for a short time at one of the _ wharves, I want to find out the price of. wheat. wo days ago it was one dollar and forty-eight cents per bushel. It ought to be one dollar and fifty cents now.” | : : Your aunt is going to make a good thing out of her grain this year.” - - “Well, she needs to. dollars of it goes to Mr. “weeks.” ; o With the assistance of the sail they worked he Golden Hope in to a vacant wharf, made fast, and Jack went ashore. He bought some tationery, wrote and mailed a letter to his aunt, telling her they and the wheat were all right up to that point, and that they were within a day and a half’s’ journey of St. Louis. He purchased he chief daily of Hannibal and found that wheat had risefi to one dollar and fifty-four cents. They had finished dinner next day, and Joe was wash- g@ up the dishes, when they reached the mouth 4 the Missouri River. Jack was first to notice ut the river was widening out toa great, extent. ary short time they appeared to have the, great inland. sean 200 1552 xy exclaime f he had a 4 You know, two thousand Plunkett inside a two finish- ‘7 &% Boa THE WAY TO SUCCESS - Thave-arrived on the ground. Something m eres ed his work and had time to look about him “A at the changed surroundings. “Where have we got to? We must have passed St. Louis in the — night and are heading into the Gulf of Mexico.” o on, child,” replied Jack, laughing. “What you see now is the mouth of the Missouri River. We're only a few miles above the city of St.. Louis. We'll be hauled up alongside the levee before dark.” : Joe gazed open-mouthed around. They had’ grown ‘accustomed to meet and pass lots of craft of all kinds of late, but the number they were ~ now in the midst of cast the previous day’s ex- periences altogether in the shade. Great steam- boats raced madly past the raft-boat beside which + the Golden Hope looked like a.meve cork. Huge flatboats floated lazily down the river, and the ~ scene became more lively and exciting as they advanced. At last the metropolis of Missouri opened out before their eyes—their port of des- tination, with its dense mass of houses, its busy levee, its towering elevators, in which millions 3 of ‘bushels of grain were stored at that moment, and its crowd of steamboats and other craft. lined along the waterfront. It was a wonderful scene, to. Joe Beaseley, who was not used to city life, as was Jack Frost. “Great Scott!” he exclaimed. thing I ever saw.” At five o’clock they obtained a place’ to moor — the boat temporarily, and then they went to a _ nearby restaurant and had supper. They were both satisfied and happy, for they had sueécess- fully accomplished a somewhat remarkable feat—— floating@a large quantity of wheat in a home- made craft from Eden County, Wisconsin, to St. Leuis, Missouri, in nine days and a half. ‘ my, “This beats any- ‘CHAPTER XIII.—-Conclusion. Jack made inquiries early next morning about where he should find commission grain merchants, and was referred to the street where a great many of these merchants had their places of - business. When he and Joe were on their way to the vestaurant. at which they proposed to breakfast, he bought a couple of morning dailies from a newsboy. After giving their-order at the table, the first thing both boys did was to look up ‘the price of wheat. It was quoted af one dollar and sixty cents per bushel. It didn’t take much figuring to show that their load would fetch something over three thousand two hundred dollars, less commission. - “Hadn’t, we better hold on a few days, Jack? It might rise to one dollar and seventy-five cents, or even two dollars.” 3 “No, Joe. The, present, price is good enough for me. Aunt Lucy will clear three thousand over all éxpenses. That’s a thousand dollar: more thah she expected-to get.” ee “All right, Jack. It’s your wheat,” i “Suppose it was yours?” S “I’d wait two days more, at any rate.” “ “Ym not taking any chances, Joe, now See ieah < Me “ 1 happen to our cargo if’ 1. waited.” —— a aes

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: 20 : 7 “Why, what could happen to it now? We're moored to the levee, as they call it, aren’t we?” “Oh, I don’t mean to say that I think anything would happen to it, but, you know, the unexpected is always liable to happen.” The words were hardly out of his mouth be- fore he suddenly clutched his companions arm and looked over his shoulder towards the front of the restaurant. “My, Plunkett and his friend Monks have just come into the restaurant and have taken the first table.” “What the deuce are they doing in St. Louis?” “Y’m afraid they've come her to try and do us uy on the wheat.” “Ha! How éan they?” - “Now you’ve got me. We must wait till they’ve gone, then you must hurry back to the raft and stand watch over it while I rush off and fetch -a commission man down to make the sale.” They ate the meal’slowly, Jack keeping a sharp eye on the first table, where his enemy and Monks were apparently enjoying their breakfast. At length the two men rose, went to the counter, settled for the meal and walked out on the street.” : “Keep your eye on them, Joe, while I pay these checks.” In half a minute he rejoined his companion outside, “Which way did they go?” he asked. “Toward the levee,” answered Joe. . “They are on the lookout for the Golden Hope as sure as you're alive. Now, hustle off with e you, and don’t let them see you. If they spot our craft, don’t let them on board, if you have to slug both of them to prevent it.” “AN right, Jack. Ill knock the daylights out of th 1 if they monkey with me.” 4 'They parted at once, and Jack took his way to the disirict where the commission merchants had ‘their stores. The boy selected one place at ran- ‘dom, entered the store and asked to see the head ‘ef the house. He was directed to step into the “* private office. He did so, and lost not a moment * in stating his business. ; eu “Tt have two thousand bushels of wheat along- » side the levee at the foot of Blank street. Do ~~ you want to buy it at the prevailing market rate?” the boy said to the merchant. ~ “Whom do you represent, Mr. Frost?” “My aunt, Mrs. Harper, of Eden County, Wis- -ecnsin.” : e: “Have you brought the wheat all the way from 2. that State?” “Yes, sit; by water.” “The wheat is in bulk, of course?” ; _ “J will give you one dollar and sixty cents per ~ bushel for it.” ; “Tt’s yours, sir,” said Jack, promptly. 1, RSs | 7 the grain and, if it is in first-class condition, to ~ elose the deal.” “All right, sir.” i ‘ - In five minutes .a bright young man was sum- moned and introduced to Jack. The merchant gave him his orders, and the young man started for the levee with Jack. When they reached the + aegie _“V’]) send a representative with you to examine - ot of Blank street they found a crowd gathered | pout a certain part of the levee, just at the or, THE BOY WHO MADE A THE WAY TO SUCCESS ne oe ~ ae point where Jack knew the Golden Hope 5 tied up. They pushed their way to the. dient: : to find Mr. Plunkett and Monks trying to effect a lodgment on the wheat-boat, while Joe Bease- ley was standing them off with the short, pole which had done service as a yard for their sail. Jack rushed to his friend’s aid, and i struggle which ensued Mr. Plunkett’ was tumbled into the river, from which he was rescued, a melancholy looking object, by a longshoreman. He and Monks retired from the scene much crest- fallen and swearing to take vengeance on the spunky boy. Jack explained the cause of the scrimmage to the astonished representative of the commission house, who declared the rascals — ought to be arrested, He then examined the : wheat, found it came up to all requirements, and the deal was closed. oe Arrangements were at once made with the mia captain of a tug close by to tow the Golden Hope tc Elevator D, belonging to a certain big firm, and the young man and the two boys went along. After the grain had ben absorbed and auto- matically measured by the elevator, the boat — was towed back to her former moorings and Jack went back to the store to-get the money. The merchant kindly permitted his young man to accompany Jack to the bank and procure for him a draft on the Eden National Bank for the three thouSand: odd dollars the wheat came to. When he returned to the boat he found Joe talking to a stranger, This man wanted’to char- — ter the raft-boat to take a load of lime down to a small town. at the junction of the Ohio River, and after some conversation Jack offered — to deliver the stuff for a certain sum, which ~ was accepted. It took the Golden Hope two days to deliver the lime at its destination. Then, while Jack was wondering what he was going ir to do with his craft, he received a satisfactory offer for her and accepted it. r : That night he and Joe started by expres: ie Eden, Wisconsin, where they aeried in te as and hustled out at once for the farm. Mrs. Harper insisted on presenting Jack with two _ hundred and fifty dollars as a substantial recog- nition, in addition to his wages, of the interest he displayed in the welfare of the farm. : Jack did not fail to call on Virginia Earle right away after his return, as he had promised to d and was most graciously received not only by the young lady herself, but by her family as well. In due time Jack Frost personally took up the mortgage on his aunt’s farm and forever relieved her of any further connection with Mr. Nathan Plunkett. When he reached his eigh- teenth year eee presented him with a half interest in the farm, assuring him that it wouk all be his at her death. . as, = vee At twenty-one Jack attended his own weddin in the town of Eden, and the bride was ves Earle, just as everybody who had watched th course of events since Frost returned from h trip to St. Louis in the Golden Hope said. it would be. To-day Jack Frost is one of the most prosperous farmers of Western Wisconsin. ' p eserre ext week’s issue will contain! “STRUCK | ; LION ed

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY CURRENT BOLIVIA’S CLIMATE At Alto Crucero, in Bolivia, water freezes every night of the year, while at noonday the sun is sometimes hot enough to blister the fiesh. ‘SHOOTS EAGLE; GETS TURKEY Charles Mandeville, hunting on the Sines Farm immediately north of West Chicago, took a. shot at a large bird rising into the air with a cargo ‘in its talons. The bird fell and proved to be a brown eagle with a wing-spread of seven feet. _ It weighed twenty-two pounds and had been=car- rying a turkey of very near its own weight. Man- 4 _ deville ate the turkey on Thanksgiving Day. APES AS: COIN-TESTERS « Apes are being used to sort good coins from bad in Siam. The Siamese have always been fond of apes -as_pets, and the creatures become very intelligent a owing to their association with human beings. ‘They are trained to do many wonderful things, but coin-testing is the most wonderful of all. _ In almost every shop an ape sits beside the mer- chant, Each coin is handed to the animal, who tries it with his teeth. If it is good the ape throws it into the money-box. If it is bad he . ome NEWS throws it on the floor, making weird noises to Even the - Signify his anger. The apes never make a mistake. most carefully-made counterfeit coins do not pass their inspection. A curious feature of this busi- ness is that no white man has been able to dis- cover how the animals are taught to tell good money from bad. INCA FINDER’S SKILL’ USEFUL IN RUM HUNT F. A. Hazeltine, Divisional Prohibition Chief for the Florida-Porto-Rico area, several years ago, walked over the sands of Peru, poking here and there with an iron rod. He was searching for the mummies of Incas. Now he has been poking — into the sands around Fernandina, Fla., with a like rod, with uncomfortable results for zum smugglers. “Pits are dug in the sand by the smugglers and walled up inside,” Mr. Hazeltine reported to Prohibition headquarters, “with a hole at the top. just large enough to admit a man. placed over this hole and sand and leaves are used to camouflage it. However, once the place © is located, the sand can be easily penetrated by — an iron rod. Most of the pits hold about 150 _ cases.’ - g@e~ Look! Look! —~3q ; a MYSTERY MAGAZINE, No. 147, : Now On Sale, Contains i ae BARRINGTON ARMS CASE” : A Rousing Detective Story By JACK BECHDOLT z There are a number of short, snappy ‘detective stories in it and a great = story by George Rroasondloward | era Mpaitied pce “DECOY DUCKS” eee Do Not Fail to Get'a Copy Price. 10 Cents - A board is ~

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22 Wrecked On The Desert ee Oipace THE ADVENTURES OF TWO BOY PROSPECTORS By GASTON GARNE (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER XVI.—(Continued). “Hle’s Glick, all right,” said Jack. “He’ll come when he gets good and ready, I suppose. “Ask him what has become of the master, Art.” _ Arthur called the question, but received no an- swer, neither were the footsteps heard again. Presently, Pedro came to them. “Hasn’t the boss come back yet?” he asked. “No,” replied Jack, “but Dr. Glick is in the garden, or was a minute ago. He wouldn’t come he us, though, and we couldn’t get anything out him.” oY @Nobody can, unless he wants to talk, I’m the best. I’ll go and look for him.” “Take the lantern then,” replied Jack. ‘Look out for yourself, now!” f But Pedro soon returned with word that he ~ could find nothing of the man physician. It was now ten o’clock, and Jack found himself sorely puzzled to know what to do. “JT ought to go after the boss, Pedro,” he said. “Did he tell you where he was going?” asked the Mestizo, curiously. ‘He didn’t tell me.” “Yes, he told me, but I suppose I must not tell.” : “Don’t, if he told you not to.” - - “Tt?s a certain place over beyond the lake on the MerCliftS.”” S “Ts it? You could never find it in the dark.” “That’s what I’m afraid of.” “Likely they’ve killed the boss and Miss Edna _too. They are every one of them crazy. It’s a pa Sind job.” » “And your father, asked Arthur, quietly. “He was crazy, too, senor. Now don’t ask me any questions, for I won’t answer, unless the boss gives me leave.” “But suppose he really is dead?” said Jack. - i “Then V’ll tell all I know. It isn’t much, any- * how.” --« “What ought I to do, Art?” ‘sighed Jack. “I’m “as nervous as an old woman with it all.” _ “Would you go, if it wasn’t for me, Jack?” “T surely would.” “Then don’t mind me. .Go! out for me. I’m mighty tired. a, right to bed.” “Will you watch till I get back; Pedro?” Jack _ asked. “J sure will, senor, but if they got tg boss and hindered him from coming back, what-&bout you? Tt’s a chance, if you ever get there.” Pedro?” I think T’ll go “Come, come!” cried pate “you want to — a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY -and the whole house shook. i 5 : - do?” thought the unfortunate boy. os “a Pedro- will look ‘ cide one way or the other. Remember Edna, and ‘0.7? es. “Y’ll leave you the revolver.” “As you will. I’d sooner you took it, though.” “No. I won’t stand for that. Pedro, are those — men armed?” ; “Senor, I don’t know any more than you do. The boss has two rifles and a revolver. I don’t know where he keeps them, and I don’t think they ~ did, but they must have had something to shoot Andy with.”: “And they have my revolver which they took ~ from him,” added Arthur. “Jack, will you go, if — you are going?” “3 ; “Yes, but I won’t take the revolver,” replied ~~ Jack, and he handed the weapon to his chum, picked up the lantern, and started. - “Good-by!” called Arthur. oS “J won’t say it,” he called back. om “Good, luck, then!” * ee “Same to you.” < ; “Good luck from me, too,” Pedro shouted. “Take good care of him, Pedro,” answered — Jack, and that was the last of him. “T suppose you are awful hungry, senor,” said | Pedro. “I’ve found a few eggs. Shall I cook 7S some?” : “Why. yess but why didn’t you say sox before ~ « Jack lott? ae Arthur. “He’s just as hun- gry as I am.” oo “Senor, it just went out of my head, with all the talk. Remember, I’m worried half out of my : wits, too. There never happened anything like 2 this before.” | Pedro boiled the eggs, and Arthur ate two with a few crusts of stale bread, and, after that re-— tired to his room, where he ‘stretched himself. on the bed without removing his clothes. : st Just how long he slept he had no idea, ote suddenly he was awakened by a thundrous yee: Arthur/got his game leg off the bed, and him” self into a sitting position, without losing an in- stant. His heart almost stood still, when’ he nee Pedro yelling: “Oh, don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! y?? Louder yells—a series of {hie —toRewes in| different voice. } “It must be the doctor. What on earth shall T He groped for his cane, got it, and staggered Bs to his feet. a: “Everything depends upon my coolness,” he re. ies flected. “I must help Pedro if I can. : The yelling had now ceased. Arthur flung” open the door. There was no key to the lock, Down at the other end of the long corridor, he 8 could see Dr. Glick, wearing his rusty old plug advancing with a lighted lantern in his’left hand “hi and a drawn sword in the right. ay He caught sight of Arthur on the instant, andy e waving the sword, yelled: : “Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Iam King Death! ite just killed one boy, and now I’m going to)kill an- eae other. Young What’s-your-name, prepare to 1 ‘mee aI thy fate!” Rape om Po came on Ahe run. cor Arthur was at the. merey: of a Bee o be continued.) —

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is pase te i AE coat Bo) : P . pas ‘ ay BURGLARS GET A BAG OF PEANUTS Youthful cracksmen with a sense of humor made an unsuccessful attempt to rob the safe in ‘a large furniture house. After rummaging desk drawers they made off with a bag of salted pea- nuts as their sole loot. Besides the safe they left a note which read: “We can’t get in.” p GIRL -TRAPS HOTEL CLERK ‘Gladys Ward, a 20-year-old model, living at the Hotel Stratford: in West Thirty-second street, New York, told in Yorkville Court how she helped the manager of the hotel, George Remus, arrest - a clerk on a charge of fraud, apes The clerk, Joseph: Barrett, she said, offered to help her escape payment of a bill of $200 and ; get her baggage out of the hotel. She told Re- mus of the offer, she said, and trapped the clerk with the aid of $60 in marked money that Remus had provided. : ‘Barrett was held in $500 bail for Special Ses- sions. CURRENCY RAIDS TRAP BEGGAR AS & RICHEST MAN The richest man caught in Munich in recent ~ raids of local cafes for foreign currency was a : professional beggar who specializes in seeking Serr alms from foreigners. In his pockets the police found 300,000 Austrian kronen, 150,000 Czecho- . Slovak kronen, 20 Swiss francs, 101 Italian lire ~-and a dollar bill. Begging has become so common now that many _ people carry smal] bills to meet the pleas of men- - dicants who stand on street corners with extended hats and hands. A Leipzig workman who recently sat down on a park bench on his way home from work. fell asleep. His hat slid off and landed crown down in front of him. When he awoke he found it full - of small mark notes which passers-by had tossed into it.. .. KANGAROO BIRTH PUZZLE SOLVED A kangaroo at birth weighs about eight or nine grains, is a trifle more than an inch long and not much thicker than an ordinary lead pencil, ac- ‘cording to George F. Morse, Jr., of the Chicago Zoological Society. ~~ How the baby kangaroo was born was until re- - eently a mystery to zoologists, Mr. Morse said, -pecause being a’ pouch animal the actual birth was difficult to witness. ~ “One day I noticed that one of our kangaroos - was acting strangely, so I got the head keeper ~~ to put it in a separate room used for the observa- tion of animals,” Myr. Morse declared. “We ‘watched closely for a long time and finally were rewarded by the appearance of a tiny ‘thing not -more than an inch long on the tail of the mother kangaroo, It was a baby.» — : : “We secured it and found it weighed about mine grains. It was an inch and one-sixteenth long and not broader than a lead pencil. It was the hind legs, the matured kangaroos’ powerful aa so FAME AND FORTUNE ‘WEEKLY ‘ee GOOD READING perfectly formed kangaroo with the exception. es propeller. These developed later as ‘the baby animal grew. The front legs, however, were per- fectly formed and were used by the baby. to climb back into the mother’s pouch, where it remains for a period of seven months.” F PULL THE TEETH WITH FINGERS@ Although the Chinese boast that nothing is new to them, and that all the arts and sciences are old stories in China, it is still true that for operations in dentistry we would hardly care to go to a Chinese, The work of old-time Chinese dentists is lu- | dicrously primitive. The operator extracts all teeth with his fingers. From youth to manhood — he is trained to pull pegs from a: wooden board. and this training changes the aspect of, the hand and gives him a finger grip that is equivalent to a lifting power of three or four hundred pounds, For toothache he employs opium, peppermint i oil, cinnamon oil and clove oil. Sometimes he ~ fills teeth, but he does it so poorly that the fill- | ings fall out after a few months. There is an element of superstition in his work, © for he asserts that all dental troubles are brought : on- by tooth worms, and he always shows the ie nerve pulp to the patient as such a worm, For ~ humbugging purposes also the dentist carries — about in his pocket some white grubs, and after ~ he has extracted a tooth he shows a grub to the sufferer as the cause of all the trouble. A dentist — of this class is. regarded by his countrymen as half way between a barber and a laborer in the —_ social scale, which is certainly a great injustice to an honest laborer, eae “Mystery Magazine” SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A COPY — LATEST IsSuEsS —— YOR SHAME. by Wm. Hamilton. Osborne. THE TRIPLE CROSS, by Hamilton Craigie, BLOOD RUBIES. by J. Werner Phelps. r “TEL WIN! ULL WIN!” by Arthur B.-Reeve and « Margaret W. Reeve. . PHANTOM FINGERS, by George Bronson-Howarda. ON THE YRLT ows, bv Frank Blighton. THE ARGENTINE RUBY, by Beulah and Shirley — Poynter. : The Famous Detective Story Out Today in 143 Is THE BARRINGTON ARMS CASE By JACK BECHDOLT HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. nee 166 West 28d Street. \New York City. II EEE NE RSE ES ST A SMR Peers ned “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Mag‘ziv PRICK S:. Devoted to Photoplays and Players ‘ CENTS PER COPY Each number co is Three Stories of the Best Films. on the Sereen—Elegant Palf-tone Seones from the Playa? —Interesting Articles About Prominent People in ithe Films—Doings of Actovs nd Actresses in the Studie _ and Lessons it Scenario’ Writing, HARRY i. WOLFF, Cublisher, Inc, 166 West 23d St. New York — ~ +

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a) 3 PAINT AND VARNISH The use af paint should be avoided in radio work. Even varnish should be left alone, as both ~ of jhese will form an imperfect dielectric and inggease distributed capacity, thereby lowering * the” efficiency of the set. This pertains to the making of coils such as tuning coils, variometers ‘and couplers. BAD CONDENSERS A short circuit in a fixed condenser. or variable condenser may be easily detected by aid of a dry cell and telephone receiver. If a loud click is heard in the phones when placed in series with the condenser, it is a sure sign that the con- denser is short circuited somewhere. Usually in the variable type this can be easily detected by looking over the plates to find out where one plate is touching another. GET RID OF INTERFERENCE A regenerative receiving set acts as a minia- ture transmitter, and if carelessly handled will cause interference. Many of the howls heard in the phones are not due to the receiving set, but to some neighbor turning the dials of his set. ' Much of this trouble can be eliminated by burning the filament of the detector at minimum bril- lianey to hear the desired concert. This will not only prevent interference but will give the tube and batteries longer life. USE A SIMPLE TUNER A simple means of tuning a crystal detector set is afforded by the variometer, a piece of appa- ratus widely known as one of the instruments that ‘ comprise a form of regenerative receiving set. - This piece of apparatus in its simplest form is easy to make; the parts necessary for its con- penction may usually be picked up about the ouse. _ A tube made from an ordinary oftmeal box will serve nicely as the fixed coil. or stator. This should be about four inches in length and two and one-half inches in diameter. The rotor should be made from a smaller tube of the same material but smaller in order that. it may rotate freely in- side of the stator, ' WIRED WIRELESS COMMUNICATION A publication giving an introduction to wired ae wireless or fine radio communication has recently’ ~ heen prepared under the direction of the chief - “signal officer with the co-operation of the Bureau «of Standards.» This pamphlet gives an explana- tion of how messages are carried to distant points _ by radio-frequency currents directed over wires _ such as ordinary telephone lines or power lines, The fundamental principles of radio and its rela- tions to line radio telegraphy and telephony are also discussed. This pamphlet is “Introduction to Line Radio Communication,” Signal Corps Radio Communication Pamphlet No. 41, a copy of which may be obtained for 10 cents from the Sup- ss per mtendent ‘of Documents, Government “Print. ~ Office, Washington, D. C. ee ‘ i FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. ~ Fears INTERESTING RADIO NEWS AND HINTS — ing e A DANGEROUS STUNT Audio frequency amplifying transformers have. avery annoying habit of blowing out most unex- ° pectedly, even when the value of “B” battery — used is only normal, or even below normal. The fan will without thinking condemn the particu-< lar brand he has as a poor one, but the fault is just as likely to be his own. ; ‘ If a transformer does not blow out the first time it is connected in a circuit there is no rea-~ | son why it should ever blow, providing, of course, that an excess of plate voltage is not applied. One good reason why many reputable instruments go dead is that the plate circuit is often opened ~ too suddenly. If the tube filaments are lighied at the usual operating temperature, this action will cause the development of a very high voltage in ~ the transformer windings. This “inductive kick” voltage, as it is popularly known, lasts only an~ instant, but that is usually time enough for the very fine wire to burn out. | £8 To avoid such accidents, the rheostats should be turned down before the telephone plug is re-- moved. If a habit is made of this practice, the ~ amplifier will work without trouble. Pgh NOW THE RADIO PLAY are Radio dramas have been broadcasted by the WGY station of the General Electric Company at Schenectady for nearly a year. During that period the little group of WGY players has had — the largest audiences ever before accorded dram-— atic offerings. There are at least 2,000,000 radio sets in the country, and of that number 1,500,000. are almost nightly within range of WGY, From __ the very fizst the radio drama has been a success. Mr. Edward H. Smith, formerly an actor and director on the professional stage, has been hand- _ ling this feature of the WGY programs. Mr. ~ Smith and his players have pioneered’ in the art of the radio drama; they have had to develop a _ new technique. It has been found necessary to make occasional changes in play manuscripts, es-_ pecially. where a climax depended upon sight for _ its appreciation. The entrance to or departure from a room by one of the characters has to be indicated by sound, as a closing door. A bell helps somewhat in announcing a newcomer to the in-— visible stage. Various sound devices have been Srentcn ee produce atmosphere. A telegraph key ahd an imitation of an engine whistle have helped in a railway station scene. Storms have been stimulated by deyices similar to those used on the stage. Hees CONTROLLING GENERATION Pact If the grid and plate circuits of a vacuum, tube are coupled together so that the energy can be fed back from the plate circuit into the grid cir euit the tube will oscillate: When a tube oscil lates it serves as a transmitter and i g €; is of no value | for receiving. To be of use for reception the cir- cuit must be so adjusted that the tube is just at the point of pscillating. How to recognize the ‘eritical point isa puzzle tomany. Be § The easiest way to determine’ wheth }

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BS oF cee om Pa ~ is oscillating is to short cirenit the grid con- _'* denser with a piece of wire, and touch the grid terminal of the socket. If a distinct click is heard in the phones when the finger touches the terminal and another click when it is removed, the circuit is oscillating. There is no oscillation without regeneration. ‘Regeneration is controlled by the tickler; the amount of current flowing in the filament circuit, the amount of plate voltage and, in some sets, chiefly radio frequency a potentiometer is em- ployed to keep the amplifying tubes just below the point of oscillation. Adjustment of the plate ‘variometer or other means of feedback; regula- tion. of the “A” battery rheostat and by adding - or removing “B” batteries from the circuit play important parts in the reception of clear music. 38 THE JAPANESE RADIO LINK . The radio telegraph circuit between the United States and Japan is operated continuously, car- “rying a large portion of the trans-Pacific tele- __, graph traffic. When the recent disastrous earth- quake devastated Tokio and Yokohama the radio service was not interrupted. The first news of _ the disaster came to the United States over this radio circuit, and for several days thereafter the ~~ most complete dispatches describing the extent of the losses and damage came via the Radio Corpo- 1 . ration service. There are several Japanese sta- _ tions working with America. First, there is the 4 _ Iwaki radio system, owned and. operated by the: » Japanese Government, comprising a transmitting station at Haranomachi and a receiving station at Tomioka. The general location of these stations was determined by the comparative freedom of the district from seismic disturbances. The trans- __mitting aerial at Haranomachi is of the umbrella 2 type, supported by a self-supporting central tower : and an outer ring of 18 spliced, guyed wooden masts at a radius of 1,300 feet. The central t tower is a reinforced concrete tube 660 feet high, 57 feet in outside diameter at the base and 14 “ae feet outside diameter at the top. The wooden masts in the outer ring are 250 feet high and eonsist of three sections. ‘ TUBES FIT BATTERIES Dry cells are used extensively for vacuum tube - filament cutrent by amateurs who do not care for the storage battery. : et The dry battery is a fairly good substitute, but its use is not advised except with certain tubes be- cause these cells soon become exhausted and must be. replaced. mounts up to the cost of a storage battery. A number of flashlight: batteries may be con- nected and used fof the plate voltage of the tube. Different uses, require different values of vol- tage and amperage. A vacuum tube of the stor- ‘age battery type requires a pressure of 6 volts and a filament current of one ampere. Recently tubes that require smaller voltages and a’ lesser filament current. Dry cells can be used success- fully with these: tubes. _. Most dry cell tubes require a small amount of filament current but the voltage must be watched, In the case of the UV201 A and C301 A tube a volt battery will have toi be secured and used : et FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY This continual replacement soon, there has appeared on the market other types of - 25 with a resistance of 30 ohms. This also applies ~ to the UV199 tube when using 6 volts. . There- fore in order to apply dry cells to these tubes a combination of dry cells in series is required in order to obtain’ the correct voltage. VOLTAGE CONTROL The various detector tubes require careful ad- ; justment of the plate battery for their proper .— operation. There are no two tubes that possess the same characteristics either in the filament current or plate supply. It is éasy for any on2 to make adjustments on the filament since the rheostats give fine control of the current; in fact, ~ for micrometer adjustment vernier rheostats may be employed. Vernier rheostats in some cases have an extra arm built in the same shaft as the regular arm and travel over a single wire tightening around the body of the instrument, Other rheostats of. the micrometer type are composed of a carbon | resistance embodying the principle of compressed carbon granules, : High voltage batteries referred to;as plate bat- teries or B batteries can be had_in tapped or un- © tapped form. The tapped battery has five or more taps fastened in a composition of.wax. Each one of these posts is connected to a cell in the — ree +, “battery so that by connecting leads to different posts various values.of voltage can be secured. There is also @n additional post in the corner of the battery which is the othex connection of the battery, usually the negative post. In order to jump from one post to another, a test clip of some form can be used, but it is more convenient to put five contact points on a switch arm on the panel of the set in which condition the — variation of voltage may be obtained by simply, turning the arm or knob. This entails a little. work, but is compensated for by the ease and - rapidity with which tubes can be tested to de- / termine the relative efficiency of different types. _ If the switch arm is so wide or the contact — points so close togethér that the blade touches two posts at the same time the cell between these two posts. will be short circuited. Care, then, should be taken to see that the points are kept apart with each other. Another valuable piece of apparatus to be add-. ed to a vacuum tube outfit is the battery poten- tiometer. This give fine adjustment on the tube — and is most important when employed with radio frequency sets, The battery potentiometer comes in two sizes—200 ohms and 400 ohms. The 200. ohms is satisfactory when used with straight regenerative receivers. The ends of the winding are connected directly across the A or filament lighting battery while the arm is the common a for the input and output circuits of the tube, The potentiometer, despite its high resistance, — acts as drain on the battery, therefore to do away with this loss it is essential to have the instru- ment connected only when the set is in-operation. —_ For this reason a double pole switching arrange- ment is made. 7 es Before making any adjustments sét the arm at the middle of the winding. Then proceed to. experiment with the other tube controls. Listen in for a while and move the potentiometer arm slowly until signal strength is increased, ; ; Fie

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26 » FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY NEW YORK, DECEMBER 21, 1923 ep TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Singie Copies. :......6s.eeeeee Postage Free 7 Cents Oue Copy Three Month aD a < 90 Cents Ove Copy Six Months........ ue bs $1.75 One Copy One Year.........+ “ st 8.50 Canada, $4.00; Foreign, $4.50. 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 Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. Write your mame and address plainly, Address letters to ITEMS OF INTEREST |. BLIND INSECTS DAMAGE POLES The latest enemies of the public utility company are insects.. Blind*ants and carpenter bees are engaging the attention of electrical men through- out the country. The insects are causing much damage to electric light poles. They enter the pole below the ground, eating their way through poles all the way to the top. Being blind, they instinctively seem to shun the light and confine their operations beneath the surface. Methods ' of checking the devastation are being considered. VELOCITY OF LIGHT Light traveling at the rate of 186,000 miles a second requires eight minutes. to come from the sun to the earth and four and one-half years to eross the space between us and the nearest star. The Hercules star system is so far distant the light that left it 36,000 years ago has only just reached the earth, while there is another globular cluster that is distant more than 200,000 light _ years from the earth. A light year is nearly six ' million million miles. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., 166 W. 28d°St., N. ¥. Harry E. Wolff, Pres. ' Charles HE. Nylander, Sec. XL, F. Wilsin, Treas, ; MYSTERY BOTTLE FORECASTS WEATHER French scientists have found something to puz- - zle over in a mysterious bottle that is owned by a French farmer and that is said to be an infallible weather forecaster. The bottle has been handed . down from generation to generation and is filled . with what appears to be a red sand and a yellow jiquid: So famed has: the bottle become and so reliable that it is said farmers in the vicinity in- - variably consult it before starting to harvest their erops. 3 z Solid particles gather in clusters when rain is - eoming, and white flakes appear before snow. The entire mixture becomes cloudy when a hail storm --js coming. “4 ; A BOY STOIC ; _ Sherman Yoder, eight, who accidentally shot _ himself in the leg and then suffered all night rather than tell his mother. lav in a hospital in ro at FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. - ’ Sunbury, Pa., worrying because he could not at- tend school. Sherman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yoder of Shamokin, received a certificate from the State Department of Education last year for punctual . attendance. This year he was, to have received a gold seal, and the loss of it seems to worry him more than the wound. Sherman was playing with his father’s pistol _ while his parents were away. After shooting — himself, he told his brother and sister not to tell . and went to bed. His younger brother, however, | explained to the mother why Sherman groaned during the night. “Tf I had obeyed mother the accident wouldn’t have happened,” Sherman said to-day. “I just. ~ see now how near I was to death, and I might have killed my little brother and sister. I won’t get my gold seal now., J am very sorry, but I am sure I will never play with a pistol again.” LAUGHS i “The true secret of success is to find out what the people want.” “And then. give it to them?” “No; eorner it.” re New Boarder—What’s the row upstairs? ._ Landlady—It’s that professor of hypnotism try- — ing to get his wife’s permission to go out this evening. s _ Mrs. Casey—Sure, th’ goat has ate all av Mag- i gie’s plano music. Mr. Casey—Thank heavens! ee : he'd only ate th’ pianny, Oi’d pension him or loife! “My doctor told me that paper money is sim- ply alive with germs.” “He did?” “Yes, and then _ he accepted a two-dollar bill for giving me the information,” : “I’m glad we didn’t get any duplicates,” said the bride as they inspected the wedding gifts. “I wouldn’t mind if somebody would duplicate that check your father gave us,” replied the bride- groom. ; ae Romantic Old Maid—'ell me, have you ever picked up any bottles on the beach? Boatman— Werry often, miss! Romantic Old, Maid—And — have you found anything in them? Boatman— Not a blessed drop, miss. Mrs. Newedd (complainingly)—When we go anywhere now, we hayé to take the old street car. Before our marriage you always called a taxi. Newedd—Yes; that’s the reason we have to take a street car now. : ne Sleeping-car Porter—Had a pleasant trip, sah? Sipe (getting into his overcoat) —Delight. ul!

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~ RADIO WAVES ee MARS, BUT TAKE ae? TI The question has often been raised as to wheth- ' er it will ever be possible to communicate by wire- less with the inhabitants of other planets. The wireless waves in the ether go on forever, so there will be. no reason why people cannot communicate with other planets if the inhabitants have the proper‘ receiving apparatus. Some of the plan- ets, however, are so far away~-that electric waves traveling at a speed of 106,000,000 miles per sec- ond would take several thousand years to reach ~ mote planets hearing the. nightly radio concerts sent out from the wireless test station at the - East Pittsburgh works of the Westinghouse Elec- 4 tric and Manufacturing Company. They are now _ known to several thousand amateurs all over the United States, and having a wave length of 330 meters, ave readily picked up. FIVE-YEAR ARCTIC EXPEDITION ae PLANNED One of the most elaborate ‘polar expeditions ever undertaken is now being planned by Capt. Rob- ert A. Bartlett, commander of the Roosevelt, on which Admiral Peary made his voyage toward the North Pole. The trip will be made to explore a - water route northeastward from Alaskan waters . through the Arctic regions, and will probably ~. leave Seattle next June or July, pass through Bering Strait, and drift eastward with the ice to “years for the trip, according to Captain Bartlett.’ _ The party of ten will make up the expedition, which will sail in a wooden non-magnetic ship. Instruments for surveying the northern regions, sounding the depths of the Arctic Ocean and ex- Dn CLE Pe pla / -‘Time, apparently, means but little to Arctic ex- plorers, for Captain Bartlett says: ‘“We may be frozen up a year or two,” and then goes’ on to say that such experiences are common to northern ex- plorers and are rather expected.. : tees : _ FIND RELICS ARE 12,000 YEARS OLD, _ A boy’s accidental find of a fissure in the earth n the center of a forest near the River Lot, in the South of France, has been responsible for the discovery of important human relics estimated to be at least 12,000 years old. : This is the second important acheological find made in France in the past two months, Universal Service having previously detailed the discovery f three skeletons of men who lived 12,000 years o in the, Upper Burgundy district, near Dijon. ~The boy, when he found the fissure, divined that it might have archeological importance, so he hur- ied back and informed Abbe Lebozi, a parish rj ho ventured into the crack and found it ge subterranean domain, divided into bers. which contained ‘the relies, a = FAME AND. FORTUNE WEEKLY ce INTERESTING ARTICLES them. There is very little chance of these re- Greenland or Spitzbergen, It will require five - So Conan iorets Me dhe Dai \ Drawings made by artists estimated to have lived in. the year 10,000 B. C., decorated the walls, and there were crude statues and flint, ar- rowheads in abundance. Among the drawings are ‘several of fish and two of horses which xe- semble almost exactly the domestic animal of to- / day. The dog apparently had not then been do- mesticated, for no canine pictures were found. ICE IN JUNE AND JULY , Lateness of spring this year and the statement that the sun is sending the earth less heat have led to many comparisons with 1816, “the year without a summer.” ; Records of the Government department contain a full report on the summer of 1816, repetition of which is feared in some quarters. ‘Ihe mean tem- perature in Philadelphia, according to records, for _ April of that year was 47. With a mild begin- — ning, the ‘month terminated with cold and blus- tering weather, ; Ps May had a temperature of 64, which promised ~ a fair season. June was cold, with an average temperature of\64, There was ice and vegetables were injured. ‘Six to ten inches of snow fell in ~~ Vermont, three inches in New York and several inches in New Hampshire and Maine. fsx er The average temperature for July was only 68, with freezing weather which formed ice. On the morning of the 5th, ice was reported as thick as window glass in Pennsylvania, New- York, and throughout New England. 5 ; The mean temperature for August was 66. ' _ Indian corn raised in Pennsylvania sold for seed in the spring of 1817 for $4 a bushel. ; x POWERFUL MAGNETS SIFT METAL ~ - g SCRAPS Ag _The kettles in which “Big French” John boiled. his beans, and the hobhnails from “Sandy” Bow- ee er’s brogans are among the relics of the Com- stock being gleaned daily by powerful, magnets from ore that was once the shallow soil of the 69 camp of Slippery Gulch, Nev. , 1 ine Set From the historic spot on which these two and scores of other famous Nevada characters rose _ from poverty to riches at the stroke of a pick or the roll of a miner’s cradle the huge stamp mill of the United Comstock Mines Company now grinds. out the gold they daily drop upon. irene or With the undemining of the ground on which Mark Twain published his Virginia City Hn= terprise and Dan Dé Quiile wrote his anecdotes. _ of Western mining camps, horseshoes, nails, tin. _ ee ares anvils and the metal whatnotssof € 60's fall into ore-cars and are carri she mill at American Flat. ee ; In order to protect the machinery powerful magnets sift the metal from the ore.’ a The gathering scrap heap looks old and rusty’ _. but there is an air of romance about it. The tide of humanity that flowed past Slippery Gulch laid the foundations of the wealth that helped build San Francisco, and the same tide of gold and sil- nto

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28 CALIFORNIA’S LOFTY MOUNTAINS At least 60 mountains in California rise more than 13,000 feet above sea level, but they stand amid a wealth of mountain scenery so rich and varied that they are not considered sufficiently noteworthy to be named, according to the United States Geological Survey, Department of the In- terior. Yet if any one of these unnamed moun- tain peaks were in the eastern part of the United States it would be visited annually by millions of people. But California has 70 additional moun- tain peaks more than 13,000 feet high that have been named or 130 in all, as-well as a dozen that rise above 14,000 feet. SWEET POTATOES MAY BE MADE INTO SYRUP The question of providing enough food for the in- creasing number of city dwellers has been a press- ing one. So has the problem of conservation of waste products. It is said that some of the big packing companies rely upon the use of their waste by-products for profit. Industrial chem- istry has found many uses for waste products in the past generation and has thus succeeded in ef- fecting great savings both in money and the sup- - ply of materials and food. The latest step in this direction is the use of small unmarketable sweet potatoes. Government agricultural experts -have - been endeavoring to interest Southern growers in a plan to convert their waste sweet potatoes into fine brown commercial syrup. Heretofore they - have been discarded as waste or have been plowed into the soil for fertilization. a LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD ae There are said to be 3,424 spokén languages or dialects in the swworld, distributed as follows: ~ America, 1,624; Asia, 987; Europe,”587; Africa, - 276, The Bnglish language is spoken by more than 150,000,000; German by more than 120,000,- 060; Russian by more than 90,000,000; French by more than 60,000,000; Spanish by more than 55,- 000,000; Italian by more than 40,000,00, and Por- tuguese by more than 30,000,000. Although the war has added some words to the English lan- ~ guage, the number is less than 10,000. The Eng “lish contains approximately 700,000 words. Of this total nearly one-half consists of scientific terminology seldom met outside of text books, ~ and ef archaic, obsolescent or obsolete terms. As ~yegards the words in the other languages, no es- timate of any practical value has been made in -yecent years, but existing dictionaries show the following facts: The German word book ‘con- - tains not more than 300,000 words, including per- sopial names. Grimm’s dictionary of the German ‘language contains approximately 150,000 words; Littre’s dictionary of the French language has 210,000 words; Dahl’s dictionary of the Russian language has 140,000 words; Carlosde Ochoa’s dietionary of the Spanish language contains 120,- 000 words; Petrocei’s dictionary of the Italian language has 140,000 words; xe FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY HERE AND THERE ~ bas i gees! = Ngee poe eo a yf A NEW WONDER- is Disevery of a two and a half mile unexplored avenue of wonderful beauty in Mammouth Cave, Kentucky’s. great natural wonder, has just been made by Carl T. Robertson, Cleveland naturalist and author, according to a reliable report re- — cently. Bie In company with Schuyler Hunt, veteran guide, the naturalist ventured off the beaten paths in the eave and the discovery of the new avenue came as an accident. wy A stir was created by the naturalist’s story, and as a result a searching party was organized to explore the avenue thoroughly and also two big avenues which Robertson had noted. ae “As a pleasing contrast to the atrociously rough — paths we had been traveling for hours,” ‘the — naturalist said, “the new avenue was as smooth | as a dancing floor, but covered with from one to — three inches of the finest limestone sand. About 200 feet from the entrance we came to a fairy fountain, a stream of water dropped from an in- * visible crevice in the roof, to an almost circular bowl six or seven feet in diameter, in a ledge about shoulder high above a natural pathway.” _ ABOUT THE CONDOR ene The condor is the largest of the vulture family — and the huge bird makes its nest thousands of — feet high in the peaks of the Andes Mountains of - South America. The male bird is about four feet in length and its wing-spread is from eight to éleven feet or more. The male has a large, fleshy wattle, which forms a crest to the head. Bo’ the female and the male have very powerful beaks, but their claws have not power enough to enable them to carry away heavy bodies. Their food consists largely of animals of the mountain- side that have been killed or that have died, ss In North America we have no such vultures, but the turkey buzzard, which is a small relative — of the family, inhabits the southern states and Central America. It is black, except its necked anton and is always on the lookout for dead esh. DRO pasta The king vulture’s naked neck is colored with The- secretary bird is the most peculiar of the — “vulture family and has curious long, strong legs — with stout scales, a long tail and a strong, hooked beak. Its food consists of reptiles and among these is included a great number of venomou serpents. The bird has no fear of them, usually dashes at the snake and, with its win spread out towards the front to keep the -ser= pent from biting it, beats it, pecks it and stamps) on it until the snake is killed. Small snakes it swallows whole; larger ones it tears n Ati 5 he This bird is generally found in South Africa, that ‘a fine is imposed for killing it. It gets the name of secretary bird from the feathers which. _ grow out from the back of its head, lookin; behind the ear of a cl tre _ =

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WONDERFUL STONES Prohably the largest stones ever used in any pbuilding are seen in the western wall of the great temple. of Baal- bek, in Syria,*and the problem is still unsolved as to the methods ‘used in conveying them from the quarries and of placing them in position. The guarries from which these blocks were undoubtedly cut can be seen about a half mile to the southwest of the temple. The _ three stones lie ~~ horizontally and form part of the outer wall of the pbuilding. They are not on the lowest part of the masonry, but are 28 feet above the ‘first row of stones. Bach stone is over 60 fect long, 13 feet high and 10 feet thick. The most won- derful block of all still lies in the quarries, for ‘something must have occurred to stop the work of _ separating it com- pletely from the ~ rock, and. ‘the great stone has Jain there for cen- turies awaiting completion. This ‘stone is 70 feet long, 14 feet high ‘and 13 feet thick. _ The three sides and part of the 1 have been _ beautifully chisel- » ed and are smooth . - j beable dipatt dia yt PRE BR Ha al agihVo ppp ever YA) ja Some Radio | and It’s GIVEN AWAY Say, fellows, I'll tell you how you ean get a Radio Set like mine without spending a single peny for it. My set came to me com- plete, all ready to use, with single slide tun- ing coil, crystal detector, phone condenser and double Rico heads phones. No expense for batteries—they’re not need- ed with my set. The set’s a dandy —I wouldn’t take $15 for it. Read what other fellows say about their sets, then send your name to-day to the Home Supply Co., 131 Duane Street, Dept. 366. They’H tell you how a few minutes of your spare time will bring you a set ilke mine without costing you a penny. -Here’s What the Fellows Say I have received the “Crystal Set.” We get wonderful results,“ We are 22miles directly west of Philadelphia. A list of stations re- eelved perhaps will be of interest to you: WGH, Schenectady, N. Y., WEA, New York; WHAZ, Troy, N. ¥.; KDKA, Wast Pitts- burgh; WOO, Philadelphia; WIP, Philadel- phia; WF, Philadelphia. For a er ystal set we think this a wonderful range. When the atmosphere is right we get these stations very clearly, especially the ones in New York State. Again thanking you for your many favors, Iam, Most sincérely, : R. B. B., Box 182, Paoli, Pa. Received a Radio Set from your company some time ago, and thought perhaps it w interest you to know that I réach further than the twenty miles the paper Stated. The following are the stations which I reach: WOO, Philadelphia, Pa.; WEAF, New York Ciy:; WOR, Newark, N. J.; WJZ, Newark. ees : Yours respectfully, H. B. F. HOME SUPPLY CO. 131 Duane St., Dept. 366 New York estling Book FRE scientific wrestli if-defe atic py cell he aa pict stilete ate. cto." Have a phe sique that all aces champions Farmer B: urns an rank Got! juates; guaranteed. Y: ty. Write today for f free bok, Poe Farmer Barns School, 2469 R PIMPLES Your Skin Can Be Quickly Cleared of Pimples, Blackheads, Acne Eruptions.on the face or body, Barbers Itch, Eczema, Enlarged*Pores and Oily or Shiny Skin. FREE Write today had my FREE. BOOKLET, “A CLeAR-Tonr SKIN,” telling how $1000 Cash says 1 ¢: anese myself Biter betes afflicted 15 years. E.S. GIVENS, 186 | Chemical Bidg., Kansas City, Mo, GOITRE "ss" Lhave an honest, proven tt for goitre (big neck). It checks the growth at once, reduces the enlarge. ment, stops painand distress and re~ {eves in alittle while. Pay when well. Tellyourfriendsaboutthis, Write me at once, CK, ROC Dept. 96 Box737, Milwaukee, Wis. WARNING Amazing hair discovery. To men and women, all ages! your hair is becoming thin, or if you are bald, just try Kotalko and watch the mirror. Cases being constantly reported of healthy hair grown anew on bald spots. Dandruff quickly disappears. Get KOTALKO at druggists’ or we will mail you Proof Box (plain pkge.) free. Gain beautiful hair! Write to Kotalko ie M-370, Station L, NewYork, BE: AN: ARTIS: Comics, Cartoons, Commercial, Newspaper and Magazine SU US LLATDS, Pastel Crayon Portraits and Fashions. y Mail or Local Classes. Easy method. Write for terms and List of successful students. ASSOCIATED ART STUDIOS A-92 Flatiron Sen ae eee New York TREATMENT mailed on FREE TRIAL, If it cures, send $1; it not, it's FRER. ASTHMA 222 Write for $ OLD MONEY WANTED bes “ $2 to $500 EACH paid for-hundreds of old coins. Keep ALL Old or odd money, it may be VERY vaiuable. Send 10 ets. for ILLUS- TRATED COIN VALUHD BOOK, 4x6. Get: Posted. We pay CASH. CLARKE COIN CO., Ave. 13, LeRoy, N. WY. “UNDERGROUND How and Where to Find hem Partoulare Medel Publishing Co.. 21 Como Building, Chicago Try This en Your Hair iS Days — Then let your mirror prove results ic Write Today for FRE Trial Offer. {Zour hair need not thin out, nor: ‘ou be sos fora evar ues © been foun: to destroy the ‘siamee Ha tee - method will prevent thieatn “ont ‘of the hair, dan- different a sy if Row too late for the 15-days' roidela C04, 583N-Robey Seni tii, Chlean Si

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Write to Riker & King, Advertising Offices, 1133 Proadway, New York City, or 29 East Madison Street, Chicago, for particulars about advertising in this magasine, AGENTS WANTED AGEN Ae 200% PROFIT, WONDERFUL LITTLE AR- TICLE. Something new; sells like wildfire. Oarry right in poéket. Write at once for free sample. Al- vee ney Manager, 9855 American Building, Cincin- nati, 0. to_wearer, Beautiful samples free. Monarch Tatloring , 100 Fifth Ave., Dept. F-97, New York. HELP WANTED BE A DETECTIVE. Opportunity for men and women for secret investigation in your district. Write C. T. Ludwig, 521 Westover Bldg., Kansas City, Mo. DETECTIVES NEEDED EVERYWHERE. Work home or travel experienos unnecessary. Write George Wag- ner, former Govt, Detective, 1968 Broadway, N. Y. Dept. BR EARN $20 weekly spare time, at home, addressing, mailing music, circulars. Send 10¢ for music, infor- mation, saepemons Music Co., 1658 Broadway, Dept. G3._N MANUSCRIPTS WANTED STORIES, POEMS, PLAYS, etc., are wanted for publi- cation. Submit MSS, or write Literary Bureau, 515 * Hannibal; Mo. PERSONAL ATTRACTIVE YOUNG LADY, worth $33,000, will mar- (E-B), Box 1022, Wichita, Kansas. BEAUTIFUL BLONDE WIDOW. worth $60,000, would marry. M., Box 35, League, Toledo, Ohio. CORRESPONDENCE CLUB—Many wealthy. Particu- lars FREE. Smith, Box 1167K, Denver, Colo, DO YOU WANT NEW FRIENDS? Write Betty Lee, Inc., 4254 Broadway, New York City. Stamp appre- elated, GENTLEMAN, 46, worth $49,000. anxious. to marry. » Box 35. League, Toledo, Ohio. HUNDREDS seeking marriage. If sincere enclose stamp. Mrg. F. Wiliard, 2928 Broadway, Chicago, INinols. 1F LONESOME oxchange folly letters with beautiful ladies and wealthy gentlemen. Eva Moore, Box 908, Jacksonville, Fla. (Stamp). "INDEPENDENTLY wealthy widower, 55, soon. W., Box 55, League, Toledo, Ohio, INDIVIDUAL sweethearts’ club. It’s different. Send ‘ stamp and see. Violet Ray, Dennison. Ohio. INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY WIDOWER, 55, wishes _to marry. E. Box 35, League, Toledo, Ohio, LOOK WHOSE HERE! Princess OKIE world famous horoscopes. Get your's today, Don’t delay. Send full hirthdate and 10c, K. Okle, Box 280, Mis. Sa. Sta, New York, N. Y. (So 4 SSM a ee es LONESOME—WORLD’S GREATEST CLUB for lone- ‘some people; largest, best: established many years. } Thousands. of attractive, congenial, wealthy members preg everywhere, worth $4,000’ to $400,000, willing to marry. Eid of Honorable, sincere people, write. I will send you free , Hundreds complete descriptions. One may “Ideal.”’ Am making many happy. antecd; try me. Old_ Reliable Successful Club, Hon. » Ralph Hyde, Megr., 166-A, San Francisco, : ~ LONESOME?~ Make friends among ow ~ ship. Confidential, Mrs. Franz, 949 Chicago. LONESOM#? MAKE NEW FRIENDS. Write Dolly Gray Club, A., Box 186, Denver, Colorado, Stamp i appreciated. LONELY. HEARTS, “s spondence everywhere, many descriptions, either sox, most successful method, 23 years’ ence. Standard Cor, Club, Grayslake, Il. will marry pala vast member- ontana Street, join our Club, be happy, corre- photos free; experi- ‘elescope gives new pleasures ae as never bef ‘ore, Oj | «Brass bound; has powerful! lenses.. Th ‘Useful and Entertaining ‘Big. % “Ft. Telescope (im Five Sections) fea oa Deorse and objects miles aw way, sae dand: —— ps if they. sreraiclone. Wonder 3 feet long; measures re et won eased: ‘Could tell color of ousands pi lane 4 miles away.’’—Mrs. Yarbrough. baw Provincetown Light, imllea away, a5 clear as if in front of me.’’—Clyde Scribner. st PERSONAL—Continued MANY VERY WEALTHY people want to marry. “Be convinced.’ Write Club, B-1022, Wichita, Kansas, MARRY ME-—Wealthy, but oh, so lonesome. Girlie, Box_55, Oxford, Fla. MARRIAGE PAPER—20th year. Big issue with deserip- tions, photos, names and addresses, 25 cents. No other fee. Sent sealed. Box 2265 R, Boston, Mass. MARRY IF LONELY: ‘“‘Home Maker’; hundreds rich; confidential; reliable; years experience: des¢rip- tions free. ‘The Sugcessful Club,” Box’ 556, Oakland, California. MARRY—Free photographs, directory and descriptions of wealthy members. -Pay when married. New Plan Co,, Dept. 56, Kansas City, Mo. MARRY ME—wealthy, but oh, so lonesome. Girlie, Box 55. Oxford, Fla. MARRY—MARRIAGE DIRECTORY with photos and descriptions free, Pay ae married. The Exchange, Dept. 545, Kansas City, Mo. MARRY HEA thie WEALTH—Thousands; worth $5,000 to $100,000: desire marriage. Photos, descrip- tions -free. SUNFLOWER CLUB, B-300, Cimarron, Kansas, MARRY GIRLIE—Wealth $50,000, but lonesome, oh. Irene, Box 55, Oxford, Fla. MARRY—Write for big new directory with photos and descriptions Free. National Agency, Dept. A, Kansas City, Mo. PRETTY GIRL wants a sweetheart. Write, envelope. Doris Dawn, South Euclid, Ohto. PRETTY GIRLIE, wealthy, but oh, so lonesome. C., Box_55, Oxford, Fila, REAL ESTATE DEALER. worth $40,000, will marry, P., Box 866. League, Denver, Colo. SIXTH AND SEVENTH BOOKS OF MOSES. Egyptian secrets. Black art, other rare books. Catalog free. Star Book Co., 12R23, 122 Kederal St., Camden, N. J. WHOM SHOULD YOU MARRY? We'll tell you. send 30¢ and aes date to Character Studies, 1515 Ma- sonic Temple, New York City. enclosing WINTER IN FLORIDA, ae? widow worth $80,000. League. Box 89, Oxford, F' wh WIDOW ranch aie 28, would marry. 85, League, Toledo, Ohio. WIDOW, 43, worth $100,000, desires early marriage. L.. Box 866, League, Denver, Colo. aa ye IN, FLORIDA, pais charming widow worth 0,000, Box 89, Oxford, Fla. WIDOW, 45, worth $100,000, desires early marriage. L.. Box 866, League, Denver, Colo, WIDOW, 28, large ranch owner, will marry. T., Box 866. League, Denver, Colo. WINTER IN FLORIDA, write eharming widow worth $80,000, Box 89, Oxford, Fie. YOUNG AND PRETTY GIRL, very wealthy, will marry. Club, B 1022, Wichita, Kansas. SONGWRITERS WRITE THE WORDS FOR A SONG—We compose music. Submit your poems to us at once. New York Melody Corporation, 405 F. Roman Bldg., New York. POEMS WANTED—Soll your song-verses for cash. Sub- mit Mss, at once or write New Era Music or ., 140, _St_ Louls, Mo, TOBACCO HABIT TOBACCO or Snuff Habit cured or no pay, $1.00 if cured. Remedy sent. on trial. Superba Co., PC., Baltimore. Md, MISCELLANEOUS DIABETES CAN BE CURED. My ‘Treatise, Paycho- analysis & Hygiene. $1.00. Prof, J, W. Collins, 132 Nassau St., Dept, 418, N. ¥. C. 2 inches closed SPF aren) While shee, last: on : aa only name and deposit with Pos: guaranteed or mone FERRY ¢ & bs 75 W, Van Buren Sie ’ ae gee 4 Crs cet eee sal rte a oot take a aA J refund ee 2463 Le - WHAT BLOOD- ‘ HOUNDS” , CAN DO: —E > Ee “Bloodhounds are interested, not in’ attacking : the fugitive, but only in following his trail. The ability of a blood-— hound to follow even an old trail, we learn from Samuel A. Deri- eux, in the Amer- ican Magazine, is truly remarkable. i Fifty hours after the robbery of a mail train at Cas- per, Wyo, two bloodhounds were __ put on the trail of the bandits, and at once led the officers into — the desert. Dur- ing a 36-hour run the dogs did not hesitate once, and — finally reached the abies es = Is who surrendere without resisting. In_ Nebraska a man once tried to kidnap a girh — Twelve hours af- ~_ ter the attempt two bloodhounds were put upon his trail; they fol- lowed it almost-20 miles to a town holding a fair. — The streets were crowded, and peo- ple, thinking no doubt that: the hounds were part of the entertain- © ment, stopped to — watch them. Sud- — denly the ‘oe turned, nudged their way throteh| the crowd, with wagging tails stopped in front of a certain man. The fellow — Was amazed and — indignant ieee ‘the officers him that ae petit ie, crime.

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They may point the way to Big Money for you. See how the modern detective works. Read these inside stories of the solution of great mysteries. See what possibilities this most fas- cinating and eventful of all professions offers to you—and how vou may fit yourself for it. Be a Finger Print Expert . os . _ To command the highest fees, the Secret Service man must also be a linger Print Expert. These re- ports show why. This profession may be easily learned at home; in your, spare time. Wonderful opportunity in this UNCROWDED, PROFITABLE field. em Cases of 12 Famous Ges FingerPrint Experts es Stories and pictures of real crimes solved by Finger Print evidence. Pictures and life stories of famous experts —many, graduates of my school. True facts, but better than fiction. Also Sent Free Actual Reports of Secret Service ERE is something money can’t buy. More fascinating than detective stories. Confidential reports of a real operator—No, 38—to his Secret Service Bureau, headed by the most famous detective in America. Absolutely Free. No.cost. No obligation. Don’t fail to send for them. Send the Coupon ——> ¥ Operator 38 Make $5,000 to $10,000 a Year The unfilled demand for trained Finger Print_men is increasing daily. Opportunity is waiting for YOU, No time to lose. Send today for these reports, also our b’ Free book on Finger Prints. Gives all particulars an success stories of our graduates. Brilliant future ahead of you if you act now. e e e e Special Offer-Limited Time Ever: ong getting these Free Reports will also receive my Special Offer of a Professional Finger Print Outfit, absolutely ree. Made for limited time only. Send coupon today—sure. ad pte Finger Print Book, and special outfit offer, all Free and Prepaid. Don’t delay, and perhaps forget. Do this right now. T. G. COOKE, Pres., University of Applied Science Dept. 90-99 1920 Sunnyside Avenue, Chicago, Illinois MUCGERMAOATONUNGH SADE SRSEAOACACAGERAGHCUCKSATSAENORESDASUDERCOCERERSGSANNOR GHOKOREGUGIRUR T. G. COOKE, Pres,, University of Applied Science 1920 Sunnyside Avenue, Dept. 90-99 , Chicago Illinois Dear Mr. Cooke:—Please send me FREE aad repaid, Reports of Operator 38, your new illustrated book on Crime and Crime Detection and your Special Outfit Offer. that I assume no obligation. It is fully undststoad PPrretrttir. | Sreeeeeeerrr is} AGDrO8B ... 6s sascncceecenscenaseuonveseneseseeseaeesensene s-eneneas * TOW. .esaerssescvessenversecssesererseseesss tO s.r eessseevseam —~

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— Fame Saal Fortune Weekly — LATEST ISSUES — 908 A Speculator at 16; or, The Lad Who Worked His Brat 909 910 Nerve. Brokers. Down and Out; or, A Hard Boy to Beat. Mystery. Sand. $250,000 in Gold; or, Hunting a Hindoo Treasure. Sharks. Luck. Street. ; Fighting for Business; or, Beating a Bad Start. A Boy Money-Maker; or, In Wall St. on His Nerve Buried Gold; or, caneers. Hitting It Rich; or, The Luckiest Firm in Wall St Tongue. After a Big Stake; or, Brains Against Brawn. Gold. tractor. Bik Hxplorer. } 929. i 930 eeraNtust 932 "83 O84 ; BS ~ 936 1 937 “ 938 939 40 A 041 A ‘Wide-Awake Boy; ; Streak. | 942 Capturing the Money; or, His Mark. Money. “ The Little Castaways; Wreck Brought. Taking Big. Chances; Town. Always Lucky; or, Winning on His Merits. Out for a Corner; or, A Smart Chicago Boy. or, The Fortune paper. In the Copper Fields; the Money. or, Scoop. or, ns. ‘Tom, the Steeplejack; or, Winning a Living by Saving a Million; or, Ben and the Wall Street The Boy Banker's Double; or, A Strange Wall St. The Young Beach Comber; or, A Fortune in the The Little Boss; or, After the Wall St. Money Kings. A Corner ip Money; of, Beating the Wall St. Loan Going It Alone; or, The Boy Who Made His Own Little Dan Tucker: or, Making Big Money in Wall The Treasure of the Old Buc- Sam the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Playing in Luck; or, A Plotter’s Dangerous Deal. Facing the Mexicans: or, The Seeret of the Aztec’s ‘BWighting for Fame; or, The Luck of a Young Gon- Seeking a Lost Treasure; or, The Nerve of a Young Matt the Mechanic; or, The Boy Who Made His Pile. Among the Iee Peaks; or, The Voyage That Made the That’ a or, The Boy Who Saved a The Winning Trick; or, How a Boy Made His Mark. The Young Hditor; or, Running a Country News- A Big Stroke; or, The Lad Who Made a Record. The Mine That Made From a Cent to Fortune; or, A Chicago Boy’s Great Start in Life; or, A Poor Boy’s Rise to Fame. Born With a Winning How Ben Bailey Made 048 Digeing for Gold; or, The Luck of a Boy Miner. Beni 944 A Boy with Grit: or, Harning an Honest Living. . 945 Andy the Mill Boy; ‘or, Rising to the Top. «946 Fame Before the Footlights; or, eet Bossed the Theatre. hy 947 Lucky Lee the New York. 948 Sure to Get Rich; _ 49 Pushing Tt Through; or. The Fate of a Lucky 950 A Born Speculator; or, The Young Sphinx of Wall Street. or, A Smart Young Messenger. ‘ress on receipt of price, Te. tage stamps, by HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., 166 West 23d Street, SCENARIOS Woire THEM Price 35 Cents Per Oopy This book contains all the most recent changes in the method of construction and submission of sce- “narios. Sixty Lessons, covering every phase of sce- nario writing. For sale by all Newsdealers and Book- stores. If you cannot procure a copy,,Send us the price, 35 cents, in money or postage stamps, and we will mail you one, postage free. Address lL SENARENS, 219 Seventh Ave., New York, N. ¥) ie The Boy Who fice Boy: or, The Nerviest Lad in Day. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any ad- per copy, in money or pos- New York City - tricks, with illustrations. OUR TEN-CENT HAND. BOOKS . Useful, Instructive, and Amusing. They. contain Valuable Information on Almost _ Every Subject. tog No. 56. HOW TO BEOME AN ENGINEER. — Cof- taining full instructions how tg become a locomotive engineer; also directions for building a model locomo- tive; together with a full description of everything an _ engineer should know, No. 58. HOW TO RE A DETECTIVE. — By Old King Brady, the well*known detective. In which he lays down — some valuable rules for beginners, and also relates some adventures of well-known detectives. i No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER. — Containing useful information regarding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic Magie¢ Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsomely illustrated. fie No. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES, | — — Containing full directions for making electrical ma-. — chines, induction coils, dynamos and many novel toys to be worked by electricity. By B. AL R, Bennett. Fully illustrated. 2 No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.—The most or'ginal Joke bookever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor, It contains a’ large collection ofegongs, jokes, conun- drums, ete., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, humor- ~~ ist and practical joker ‘of the day. ake No. 66. HOW TO DO PUZZLES. — Containing over three hundred interesting puzzles and conundrums, with — J key to same. A complete book. Fully illustrated. > No. 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS,—Con taining a large collection of instructive and highly amug ing electrical tricks, together with illustrations. By A, Anderson. ‘ 5 ; No. 68. HOW TODO CHEMICAL TRICKS.—Contain- © ing over one hundred highly amusing and instructive tricks with chemicals, By A. Anderson. Handsome 7 illustrated. peo 4 No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT-OF-HAN D,; — Con- oe taining over fifty “of the latest and best tricks used by magicians. Also containing the secret of second sight. — Fully illustrated. ane No. 70. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS. — Containing, directions for making Magic’ Toys and devices of many | Be kinds. Fully illustrated. i ze ‘ trek yy £ ser hid TO DO a ye TRICKS.—Con- — ‘faining complete instructions for performing ov le Mechanieal ‘ricks. BPully Atidetates 8 be ei No, 72. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WiTH CARDS. — Embracing all of the latest and most deceptive card — No. 14.. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY, Bee — Containing full instructions for writing letters on al- most any subject; also rules for-punctuation and com- position, with specimen letters. " ; sy No. 76. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND. — Containing rules for telling fortunes by the aid. of lines of the hand, or the seeret of palinistry. Also the — secret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, scars, etc. Tilustrated, =~ 4 No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS. — Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed leading conjurers and magitians, Arranged for hom amusement. Fully illustrated. No. 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK, — Containin the latest jokes, anecdotes and funny stories of thi; world-renowned German comedian. Sixty-four pages; handsome colored cover, containing a half-tone photo of the author. roa No, 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY, — Containing the most approved methods of reading the lines on the hand, together with a full explanation of their meaning. Also explaining phrenology, and,the key to telling character by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hugo Koch, A. C.S, Fully illustrated. No. 88. HOW TO, HYPNOTIZE. — Containing valu- able and instructive information regarding the science of hypnotism. ,Also explaining the most approved meth- ods which are employed by the leading hypnotists of By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C. 8. eee For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10c. pet copy, | in money or stamps, by yam toa the world. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Ine. 166 West 23d Street, _ New Yor Sit