Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 963) (1924 03 14)
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f | A BOYS, READ THE RADIO ARTICLES IN-THIS NUMBER _ : MARCH 14, 1924 5 : Price 8 Cents Having secured Matthew Scraggs to 2 post in the rear-of the room, the ruffians ordered: Paul to bring forward the demijohns of liquors from the shelf in the corner. Then they proceeded to make merry over their rich haul
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seid Sa ‘ 2 ‘Are You A Radio Fan? Read Pages 24 and 25 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Issued weekly—Subscription price, West 23d Street, New York, N. Y. $4.00 per year; Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. Harry HB. Wolff, Publisher, Inc., 166 Pntered as Second-Class Matter, October 4, 1911, at the Post-Office at New York, N. Y¥., under the Act of March 3, 1879. »- ue 963 NEW YORK, MARCH 14, 1924 Price 8 Cents. A ROLLING: STONE OR, THE BRIGHTEST BOY ON RECORD 1 -, CHAPTER I.—Paul Scott and His Companion, ; Toby Titmarsh. “Wake up, Tobby; I see the lights of San Luis Mistraight ahead!” exclaimed Paul Scott. : ~The speaker, a stalwart, good-looking -boy of seventeen, whose bright eyes and shrewd, alert expression showed that he was above the average in smartness, was driving a strong young mare, attached to a small covered wagon, along a dusty road within sight of the Pacific Ocean. A pro- - longed snore was the only response that came ~ from his companion—an uncommonly fat youth, of perhaps fifteen, whose open mouth, pudgy nose, and small eyes, were almost lost in the fleshy folds of an enormous pair of cheeks that gave his countenance the appearance of a full moon—- who occupied two-thirds of the seat, his head propped against the front hoop of the van,, and his , Senses steeped in a profound repose. “Don’t you want something to eat, Toby?” roared Paul in his ear. : Pete snoring stopped all of a sudden, one eye pened, then the other; finally the fat boy sat up nd gazed around him into the dusk which was ‘losing in upon the landscape. “T thought I heard somebody. say dinner was ready,” he squeaked, a wistful, hungry look shin- ‘ing from his eyes. . — You niust have been dreaming,” chuckled Paul, as he chirruped to the mare. “Maybe I was; but it sounded awful real,” re- plied the boy, smacking his lips. : althiest appetite for a small a wonder you wouldn’t get ne sie “Oh, no, you aren’t fat. You’re only obese.” _ “What's that?” : “A person is obese when he has an excessive ccumulation of adipose tissue,” chuckled Paul. ‘Have I an excessive accumulation of adipose ie ‘. as rather. You must weigh nearly 200 Is, Ly I don’t know. I tried to get weighed the other It d A SELF-MADE MAN day in Los Angeles, but the man said I broke his scales.” “Why didn’t you go-down to the market where they ‘serape fish and stand on the scales. You covldn’t break them.” “What good would that do?” 2 Bi peda could have given yourself away,” chuckled aul. Toby didn’t see the joke, and he wonder the scales of the fish would have told a ies much he weighed. And while he was wondering they reached the outskirts of San Luis and drove inte that town, Paul had the name of a cheap hotel, and he asked a passerby to direct him to it. In fifteen minutes they arrived in front of the hostelry, and Paul descended from his perch and — went in to arrange for a square meal for himself and his companion. : Then he led'the wagon into a small yard, gave the mare a drink, tied a bag of oats around her nose, and leaving her to the enjoyment of her evening meal, he led Toby into the washroom, where they tidied themselves up a bit before they marched into the dining-room. A red-cheeked young woman waited;on them when they took their places at the table. * The bill of fare con- sisted of fried Spanish mackerel, a small steak bonled te ses Res ni and pie. ‘ i ey again started off. The wagon was s in the busiest section of San cae a Lease naphtha torches were stuck into’ the sockets at the rear of the van, the ‘back of which was let down a box containing small vials and little round tin boxes and placed on the front of the platform, then Paul fetched out a couple of stools and called Toby, who made his appeatance with black face and hands, a wig, a huge collar and checked shirt, and a pair of immensely lon g@ shess. He had a pair of bones in his hands and he made a most comical negro artist. Paul’ himself pro- After their meal — , ~ Vit 4-4 duced a banjo, tuned up, and then the pair launched into an old-time darky quickstep. Quite a number of persons had already gathered about the yan, but the music soon attracted a crowd. After Paul had rendered an old plantation ditty plauded, he proceeded to business. in good style, which the spectators roundly ap- “Gentlemen,” he began, taking a bottle with a — om apes ae ros
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A? 3 : Sees 2 oe | A ROLLING STONE ee ee eaudy label from the box before him, “I have here some of my celebrated Elixir of Life, manu- factured by myself, and I alone know the secret of it. This Elixir is two bits a bottle. Taken in- ternally, it’s a sure cure for coughs, colds, sore throat, sprain of the vocal organs, and like ills, too numerous to mention, a catalogue of which willbe found on the wrapper. Full directions are printed on the label, and I can guarantee perfect satisfaction, or the money will be cheerfully re- funded. This gentleman takes a bottle. Thank you, sir, Who’ll take another bottle? Thank you, sir. You say you want two bottles? Four bits, please. No, sir; there’s no discount, not even if you want a dozen bottles. I’m practically giving this stuff away at the price. Some of the med- icines used in the manufacture of this peerless cough mixture are controlled by the Drug Trust, which greatly reduces the profit on the article. The Glass Trust—but there, gentlemen, you all know what cormorants the trusts are. They are the bane of this country. If you come a little nearer, sir, I will be able to hand you a bottle, Thank you, sir. Who’s next? You, sir? tainly. Will it cure tootache? No, sir, am sorry to say that it will not. This is a lung bal- sam, not a lotion for the teeth. Have you a tooth- ache? Step right up on the platform and I will endeavor to relieve you in three shakes of a lamb’s tail, and it won’t cost you a cent. Take a seat on that stool. Now, sir, open your mouth and point out the diseased molar.” * Paul took a piece of cotton and a bottle of laudanum from his pocket, which he had been using himself, and wetting the cotton, pressed it into the decayed tooth. In a moment or two/the man said he believed the tooth felt better. “T’m glad to hear it, sir. I dare say that in half an hour the pain will be all gone. You wish to take a bottle of my Elixir? Don’t open it until “you have oceasion to use it, and follow directions _ carefully. No, I do not guarantee that it will cure consumption. If I could make an Elixir that would master that disease my fortune would soon be made. Who wishes another bottle? Sold again and got the money.” Paul sold a dozen or fifteen bottles of his cough mixture and then the-demand for it ceased. He took up his banjo and he and Toby played another air. For an hour and a half the bystanders were alternately entertained and importuned to pur- chase the salve and the Hlixir of Life. Then the , -street began to- grow deserted and Paul shut up shop for the night. The covered wagon was driven into a vacant lot, the mare taken out of the shafts and tethered near by, and the two boys retired to rest inside the van. | # CHAPTER il—Held Up. Paul Scott was a sort of rolling stone. “made a living and was accumulating profit by . traveling from town to town selling his throat and lung balsam, and his infallible remedy for corns and bunions—both of which he and Toby mantfactured themselves from reliable prescrip- tions, and which, as a rule, proved beneficial when - taken according to the printed directions accom- - panying the article. Paul, though often- flowery eek sie Cer-~ He you hide it?” =e 3 and liberal with his words, was always perfectly honest with the public, and had no fear of retra ing his route at any time, At. the present time he was touring southern California, workin northward toward San Francisco, and thus fa had been quite successful since leaving San Dieg Paul had picked up Toby Titmarsh in San Dieg The fat boy was an orphan, too. Just why took a fancy to the youth he couldn’t explain, b he hired the lad for a small wage and his k and Toby in return became his faithful and wil ing helper. Paul fitted him out, taught him to play the bones pretty well, and was delighted find that when blackéd up the fat youth ma quite a hit as a negro minstrel. Next mornin early Paul hitched up and drove to the hotel for breakfast, after which he stationed the ae at a prominent corner and continued to adver toy and dispose of his balsam and corn cure un noon. r ies After Beier they took to the road asain en route for’San Bruno, a small coast town a miles te the northward. Three rough-looking me on horseback left San Luis at the same time and jcgged along the road behind them. An hot passed and the horsemen maintained the same di tance“behind the wagon. There was nothing gular in this. Paul, however, didn’t fancy the ge: eral appearance of the strangers. The road passed over a low spur of the mountain range be which they were journeying, before reaching San Burno, and Paul’had heard in San Luis that gang of bandits, whose retreat was suppose be in these mountains, had been holding up elers along the highroad and robbing dwe on the outskirts of the neighboring towns. “Do you see those three horsemen behind u Toby?” asked Paul, as the road began to lea the vicinity of the shore and curve upward into the range. pS eae Toby twisted his chubby face around the out- side of the front hoop supporting the canvas | ering of the van and looked backward along t' bighway. neon “Sure I see them,” he answered. } aa “Do you know, I don’t like their looks,” s Paul, seriously. Re “Oh, my, do you think they mean to rob us gasped Toby, putting his hand in his pocket whe1 his few dollars in savings were. i “They look capable of doing most anything for the sake of money. They’ve been following ever since we left San Luis.” eae Toby’s eyes began to start from their sockets in fear. . 2 ae “T noticed one of those chaps—the fellow the smooth face—in the crowd last night whe were doing such a rushing business. I also mn ticed him hanging around the different corn where we held forth this morning.. The three of them took dinner at the hotel when did, and when we drove out of the yard I saw th having their horses saddled. We wasn’t a grez way down.the street before I noticed them ; ging along behind the van, and they’ve been th ever since, though it’s nearly three hours sin left San Luis: They may mean nothing, bu going to look out for them just the same, fi actions strike me as suspicious.” = “You've got a bag of money, Paul. a2) - ae Pay uf is Sf:
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‘I’ve got it hidden already where I don’t think hey’l! look for it.” _ “T wish you’d put my money with it,” said Toby, nxiously. _ “Give me your money, all but a dollar, and hold the reins,” said Paul. : Then he stepped over the seat into the body of the van, and for the next few minutes he was 3. secret receptacle which he had. provided for just ich an emergency. ‘How long before we'll get to ‘San Bruno?” asked ‘Toby, nervously. “If nothing happens we ought to reach the town Un_an hour.” _ *Tt’?s awful losesome up here in the hills,” gur- piled the fat boy. They had now been out of sight of the ocean for fifteen. minutes. . “It isn’t very lively, that’s a fact,” agreed Paul. We haven’t seen many houses since we lost sight of San Luis.” ; { “Are those men still behind us?” asked Toby, in shaky tones. i: They were a moment ago.” They could rob us here and nobody would know a thing about it,” he gasped. ~ "They couldn’t select a better place to do such thine,” replied Paul, coolly. hey came to a level stretch and Paul started _ the mare on at a lively pace. Presently they “sheard the clattering of horses’ hoofs Reiaed, earer and nearer came the sound until it was se behind, then suddenly the horsemen dashed” up on either side of the wagon, one of them spurt- ahead and grabbing the mare by the bridle My os, “What’s this mean?” demanded Paul, resolutely, while Toby collapsed completely, and fell back Into the van like a sack of corn...” z Get down!” replied the bearded ruffian, threat- - ening the boy with his weapon at full cock. The wagon was now at rest in the middle of the | Paul decided that the easiest way was the in dealing with these rascals, so he stepped n into the road. Throw up your hands!” cried the leader, again. Paul obeyed. : ‘Search the wagon, Noach!” she exclaimed “Pull that other chap out into the ~The. man addressed as Noach leaped on-the dashboard and tore the canvas flap aside. Then he reached down and grabbed the trembling: Toby the collar. “Come out of there, you young pig!” he roared. ome out, or I'll tickle your ribs with my bowie.” by emerged, his face as white as chalk, and ing as with the palsy. As he stepped out on e dashboard the man gave him a, push and the fat koy took a header into the hard road, where he rolled over and lay quite still, as though stun- by the shock. vi That’s no way to treat a harmless boy,” re- strated Paul, indignantly. i hut up!” answered the leader, in an ugly ah searched the van from end to end, but he ound only some boxes containing bottles of cough up and little round tin boxes of salve, a couple ttresses, which he ripped to pieces Lb — f # 5 é he NES Spa bs A-ROLLING STONE = busily occupied in placing Toby’s wealth in his ~ less, but he with his bowie-knife, some bedclothes, a small trunk, the contents of which he-hastily dumped out and scattered around pell-mell; a couple of — stools, a banjo hanging against the side of the van, a few paper-covered books, a bound volume of medical recipes, and various other odds and ends of no value to any one but the owner. The one thing he was in quest of—namely, money— he did not find, and he so reported to the impa- tient man on horseback outside. The leader look- ed disappointed and he swore roundly. “Bind that boy’s hands behind him and chuck both of those. chaps into the wagon,” he said. Paul’s hands were secured and he was lifted into the van. Noach regarded Toby as too big a lift for him to tackle unaided, so he called to the man _ at the mare’s head to dismount and help him. Toby was then bundled into the van without cere- mony. Noach grabbed the reins, the other man took his horse by the bridle, and, preceded by the leader, they turned off the road a short distance — further on and penetrated the silent fastnesses of the range. CHAPTER. III.—Paul Scott Becomes A Bandit. The party left the road far behind them and headed for the heart of the range. It was rocky traveling for the wagon, which pitched from one — side to the other like a water-logged craft in a- heavy sea. Noach didn’t seem to-regard his job — as driver of the van as a sinecure, for he swore ~ _ every time the wheels gave a jolt and he’received an unpleasant bounce on the seat. After an hour’s ride the wagon reached a narrow opening in the hills of a width just sufficient to permit it to pass through without rubbing against the rocks. This defile, which had all the curves of a snake, admit- ted the party to a small amphitheater-like retreat in the range. The rocks rose hundreds of feet ali. around, shutting in the place on every side. The ~ only: object that relieved the absolute wildness of the spot was. an old weather-searred adobe house, -— of a single story, whose tiled roof, once a bright brick red, was now a dirty, faded brown, It had originally been erected by some Mexican fully one hundred years before. The wagon was drawn — “up in front of the door and the four horses turned loose to feed on the rich herbage with which the spot abounded. ; ee. an “Come, now, get out of that, both of you!” — roared Noach, sticking his head up over the seat. _ “Go on, Toby,” said Paul, “and T’ll follow you. — Be as lively as you can or that chap maytreat you _ to another tumble.” f = Toby had experienced all the tumbles he wanted — for that day at least, and he got out of the wagon as fast as he could. As he went out backward the seat of his trousers presented such a tempting mark that Noach fetched him a rap with the whip | , he held in his hand. Toby gave a dismal howl — and slipped down in the grass. ee “What did you do that for?” he whimpered, for the lash had stung him like a hornet’s tail. ay “Haw, haw, haw!” laughed Noach and the other man, whose name was Kettler. . \ Jor Paul, who was following his helper, saw th whole thing, and his eyes flashed, He didn’t a word, for he knew remonstrances would be’ hoped he would get the -cl
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4 : A ROLLING STONE repay the rascal for his brutal conduct toward the inoffensive fat boy. “Get up out of that!” cried Noach, flicking the whip about Toby’s ears. . Toby pot up as fast.as his weight would permit him, The boys were marched into the house and secured in an inner room, which had only a narrow opening in one of the walls for a window. En- _trance and exit could only be had through the main room in front occupied by the three rascals. Noach immediately began to prepare supper. They had brought a considerable supply of food from San Luis in their capacious saddle-bags, to- gether with several suspicious-looking: flasks that evidently contained whisky. They talked in loud, rough tones, and the two boys easily heard all . they said. ~Toby.was all broke up, and his. full- -.moon countenance showed every symptom of “distress. His head hurt him, his jaw pained him and his back bothered him. It.was clear he wasn’t ac- -_ customed to rough handling, and Paul felt sorry » for him. But as soon as the appetizing smell of -» bacon and eggs was wafted into their prison, “Toby instantly forgot all his ills and began to stack his lips hungrily. Soret that smell good?” he remarked :to "aul. It certainly did, and Paul was forced to admit _ the pleasant fact. q “Ho we get some?” asked the fat boy, eagerly. as “Probably.” : 3 + Toby applied his eye to a hole in the door, and . greedily followed the movements of the cook, He saw the bacon and eggs, done to a turn, dished out on the rude table on a porcelain dish, and the sight -_Ymade him ravenously hungry. Lf the rascals had --enly provided themselves with a nice juicy pie the fat boy would probably have had a fit as - he watched the bandits devour the spread. When the last egg and the last piece of bacon had been transferred to the plate of the leader, who was addressed as Murdock, Toby collapsed on the floor, . for all his bright anticipations of supper seemed _ to vanish like dew before the morning sun. -- “It’s all gone,” he said in heartbroken tones, _ turning toward Paul, who had been trying to fig- ure out the situation, “What's all gone?” asked Paul, looking at him. “The eggs, and the bacon, and the bread and - everything. They’ve cleaned the plates and we're not going to have a thing to eat.” - *QOh, I guess they’ll give us something.” But Toby shook his head in a melancholy way. _ * *E.o0k and see for yourself,” he said, pointing * to the hole in the door. “Paul walked over and peered through into the next room. The three ruffians had filled. their pipes and were enjoying a smoke. _- “You'd better cook something for those young “chaps in the room,” said Murdock, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “They must be hungry by this time.” ; wars ‘So Noach cooked a sare of eggs and some “more beacon, and the sizzling sound and its ac- corpanying smell penetrated the room, and Toby’s ‘courage revived. - : “Brace up, Toby,” grinned Paul. “He’s cooking ~ ‘our supper now.” : bd 5 ats ed ii to the reom and saw what was going on at the stove. Presently the door opened, Paul was unbound and they were to sit up to the table and help themselves. Thi was coffee enough left in the pot to supply th with a full cup each, and it didn’t take Toby long to clean up his share of everything in sight. Whe Paul had finished, Murdock came up to the tab! “What’s your name, young feller?” he asked. “My name is Paul’ Scott.” Be “Well, look here. I’m goin’ to make you a pri osition. We’s got a little affair on hand for + night, and we want a chap of about your size tc ‘help us out. There’s a lot of boodle in it, and if you'll jine us we'll give you a share of it, m than you’”!! make in a year sellin’ that medie stuff, and ter-morrer mornin’ we’ll let you ta yer wagon and go. What d’ye say?” “Suppose I refuse?” asked Paul. | “We'll tie you two chaps up and leave you her and do tie job alone. As we don’t mean to come baci here no more, the chances are a thousa to one*that you both will starve weeks before one ever finds his way into this spot. So ta your choice.” : oe ae “Pil go with you,” said Paul, promptly... + “The fat chap’ll remain here till you come afi im. i C Rete “Oh, lor’!” groaned Toby. “Must I stay h all alone?” a “You must,” replied Murdock, impatiently, tur ing on his hee] and rejoining his companions, who were standing at the door. 5 5 ee + CHAPTER IV.—The Hermit-Miser, “I never thought_it of you,” said Toby, look: at his companion reproachfully. eases “Don’t you sée that I had to agree to help | out on the job they have in Wwiew to-night nice thing it would be if we were left here all by ourselves, bound hand and foot, like a pair of chickens, with no chance to get away and nothi to eat——” stay, ie eee “Nothing to eat?” gasped Toby. “Oh, lor’! “We'd starve to death before the week was and only our bones would be found in this isola adobe shack, probably months from now. — covldn’t afford to take that chance, for I saw fellow meant to carry out his threat if I refu to join him. J’ll be watched, of course, but I’m going to spoil their game if I can, and have then all eapeated and sent to jail, where they dese to be.” , It was now dusk, and Noach came inside, 1 lantern, which he placed on the table, and ordered the boys to retire into the inner ro Paul took up his position at the hole in the d which commanded the outer room, and. saw 1 dock and Kettler come inside, and the three gat! about the table, on which Noach had a placed three whisky flasks. They lit their p afresh and began to talk about the expe they had in view for that night. ie The cld fellow’s name is Matthew Scraggs,’ gan Murdock, after a preliminary drink a at his pipe. “He lives with a little gal, his. I understand, in an old dwelling among y of the seashore within a mile of Sa “And he’s a miser, eh
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ae ae ee fac 4 ery me PES its Or se a 4 : Pie i : iJ c “Which means that he has a stack of coin hidden ‘ssomewehere in his house.” _ *That’s his reputation.” 3 “How lone has he lived in that place?” asked Noach. “Rive or six years.” _ “And hain’t never been robbed?” exclaimed the uffian, in surprise. “JT guess not. He keeps his cabin barricaded up, d there ain’t but one way to reach it, and that’s by way of the beach at low tide.” - “Where did he get his money from?” inquired “How should I know? I ain’t worryin’ how he got it; what’s been botherin’ me is how to take it away from him.” “YT should think it ought to be easy enough if he lives all alone so far from town.” “Tt isn’t easy. His place is strong enough to tand a siege, and he’s got a lot of skyrockets on he place ready to shoot off if he’s attacked, The people in San Bruno all know about that, and in consideration of his payin’ a sum of money to the ‘old adobe church three times a year they stand ready to go to his assistance in case his signals announce danger.” : : -Noach and Kettler looked disgusted. “How do you expect to get around all these dif- culties, Murdock?” . With the help of this boy fakir we captured.” What kin he do?” “Don’t you see he’s got an uncommonly honest ‘ace considerin’ the business he’s in.” What of it?” ; “T expect to gain admittance to that cabin rough him.” ‘How are you goin’ to work it?” “While we stand in the background, he will go to the door with a tale of woe about bein’ caught ry the tide among the rocks and the impossibility of returnin’ to San Bruno afore mornin’. He'll sk for shelter.” g Maybe he won’t get it. The miser will have “his suspicions.” ¥ » “We've got to chance that. If we can only man- to get old Scraggs to open his door, no matter how little, we’ll be able to force an entrance.” _ - “Suppose this young chap should give us away t the last moment?” - ve 23 Not much fear of that, for I shall hold my re- volver in my hand ready to blow his brains out at the first sign of treachery on his part.” If he does the right thing you’re goin’ to give n a share of the swag, are you?” Z Yes. That’ll make him one of us and prevent m from peachin’ afterward.” “How much are you goin’ to allow him?” ve get ten thousand dollars or more we can give m five hundred. He won’t know how much we et, and that’ll be a lot of money in his pocket. e can go his way then, and we'll go ours, He'd fool to lose such a chance, when helf never suspected of a hand in the game.” “When do we start?” asked Noach. “Oh, there ain’t no hurry.. The tide won't be snough for us to get around the point until eh the range, so we’ye time enough aOR ee ae << A ROLLING STONE ee hat depends on the amount of the haul. If _ money nicknamed him the hermit-miser. _ San Bruno is only six miles away by a LRA ee ots Peer eh = = , 2 Se | “The boy’ll ride his own nag, eh?” said Kettler. “We must put a blanket on her for a saddle.” “If this thing pans out well we kin go back to Arizona where we come from and live on the fat of the land.” “That suits this chicken all right,” said Noach, with a cheerful grin. “Here’s hopin’ it turns out to be a gold mine,” and the ruffian raised his — whisky flask to his lips and took a long pull. The others followed suit, and they gradually waxed quite merry over the prospect of securing the hidden wealth of miser Matthew Scraggs. a Paul had heard every word almost that escaped their lips, notwithstanding that they spoke kind ~ of low. But the air was clear and still, and sound carried further than people would generally have supposed. Toby had fallen asleep with his head against the wall, and on this occasion he wasn’t © snoring. The rascals smoked, drank and talked on for an hour, then Murdock announced that it was time they set ‘off. Accordingly the horses were saddled, Paul’s mare being provided with an army blanket tied about her middle. Paul was — called out and the door again secured on the sleep- ing Toby. Then the party started off, Paul being compelled to ride alongside of Murdock. | After passing through the defile they set off on a trot toward San Bruno. There was no moon that night, and the sky was somewhat overcast, which : was favorable to the designs of the rascals. While yet more than a mile away they caught sight of the distant lights of the town that lay upon one corner of San Bruno Bay, under the shelter of a ~ x heavy jutting point of land. It was for the op- posite side of the small bay that the bandits headed their animals. Here lived the hermit- miser, as he was called, in a strongly-built cabin — of one story, perched in an almost inaccessible spot among the rocks of the shore. It could be reached only at low tide, and then by one path ~— alone, so narrow that a single determined man, 3 sheltered among the rocks, could almost have held a regiment at bay. Matthew Scraggs discouraged _ visitors, and consequently he was seldom if ever bothered with any. Rumor said he was the pos- . sessor of wealth, which he hoarded merely for the — pleasure of counting it over and over for his own satisfaction. Rumor is more often a liar than not, but in this ease Rumor told the truth.« Old man — Scraggs was wealthy, and his riches had come to. him from the sea. He had been a firsherman in his time, and made a rather precarious living at — the business. But one night there was a terrible gale off the coast, a vessel in the Australian trade came ashore among the rocks. All hands were lost, but the best part of the ship was found high — x and dry in a sandy bit of the shore by Matthew . — Scraggs next morning. Thereafter it was re- marked that old man Scraggs worked no more on the blue waters of the Pacific, and yet he always | seemed to haye plenty of money to provide for the simple wants of himself and his#little niece. He ceased to visit San Bruno except when necessity — compelled him to, and people believing he had un- expectedly come ‘into possesion of considerab ney
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Sk ee or et aera 5 Bee aie” peo ey and they had to wait the full sixty minutes before ‘they could traverse the narrow patch of shore left ' uncovered twice a day for a short time and thus reach the little cove where the miser’s habitation was to be found. Securing the horses in a safe spot they cautiously began the ascent of the rocky - path leading to the door of the cabin. A door and two windows locked seaward, but the windows 4 “were so sma!l that no one could have forced a way through them. The door was also small and stout, and heavily barricaded on the inside. A dim light owas reflected through one of the windows, which = showed that, late as it was, the old man had not - vet retired to rest. : ‘ ie" “Countin’ his money, p’haps,” grinned Noach in a low voice. ‘ $5: “We'll save him that trouble after this,” re- plied Murdock, with grim humor. , - && feller that don’t spend his cash hain’t no right to have any,” chipped in Kettler. SEE every- body hoarded up ‘his wealth there wouldn’t be nene in circulation,” 3 ; Soe “Now, young feller, come here till I give you your lesson,” said Murdock to Paul. He proceeded to tell the boy what was expected - of him. Ce ? “Remember, I shall be close behind you, watch- in’ everythin’ you say and do, so don’t try to play ‘any game on us if you value your life, for it won't take more’n a brace of shakes to put a ball into your head if I suspect you tryin’ on any kind of crooked business. As I told you afore, if this thing pans out you'll come in for your share of the winnin’s with the rest of us, and then you kin light out for ‘Frisco, or any other place, with more money in your clothes than you’d make as a tuavelin’ fakir.” Much against his will, Paul advanced to the door of the cabin and knocked. No notice being taken of the-summons, he knocked again, louder than be- fore? As there was still no stir inside of the house, he thumped on the door for the third time. 28 The narrow window close at hand was opened and the thin voice of an old man inquired who was - there, and what was wanted. ° “I’m a boy,” replied Paul.- “I’d like shelter for the night.” “What are you : night?” asked the old man, suspiciously. - “Dyrifted into this cove in a leaky boat that went - down as soon as I stepped out on the rocks,” re- ‘plied Paul, feeling the cald nose of a revolver - under his ear. ~~ “Do you live in San Bruno?” z “Say yes,” whispered Murdock. e “Yes,” answered Paul. sik “Is the tide up at the point? a “Yes,” eS ae _ “Whatis your name?” ees st ~- “Paul Scott.” eS iy ae oF of the A ROLLING STONE — doing here at this timé of” _ thousands of dollars in that box.” Me time,” said Murdock, exultantly, running his fir gers through the heaps of money, and le’ : coins slip like water throug eyes restin, Sr any way disarranged their plans he felt certain they would shoot him down without the least merey. He was simply acting upon the old adage that self-preservation is the first law of nature hoping that something would turn up later on b which he could redeem his conduct at this stage of the game. ee “Come to the door,” said the old man at lengt: Paul heard Old Scraggs unbarring the er trance. Presently the door swung inward a few — inches, and then stopped, held thus by a’ stow chain. A lamp was brought to the crack so that its light fell full upon Paul’s face. The old recluse was studying the boy’s features, and perhaps looking beyond him for signs of a second person in the background. Murdock, however, was f enough to keep well in the shade against the wall of the building, while Noach and Kettler held themselves in readiness for an instant dash fo ward. Matthew Scraggs, seemin reassure returned the lamp to the table, let down the ch and opened the door. “Come in,” he said. morning.” As Paul stepped forward, Murdock sprang the dor, shoved the boy in aheaqd-of him seized the old man by the arm. Noach and Ketth followed close upon his, heels. Matthew Scragg: uttered a shrill cry of terror, which Noach cut of by grasping him by the throat and squeezing windpipe. ; St! “Tie the old dotard to yonder post.” exclaime Murdock to Kettler, and that-rascal immediately seized Seraggs and dragged him over to the « of the room. , As Murdock glanced around the place, whi was but meagerly furnished, his gaze lighted o a heavy brass-bound chest which stood beside - table. He pounced upon it like a vulture swoop upon a fowl. The key was in the lock, and giving it a quick turn, he threw up the cover, revealing — a glittering display of gold and«silver coin, eS carefully arranged in piles. The ruffian’s eyes blazed with greed. A package of documents on top of the gold, and with an impatient wave his big hand, Murdock swept it to the floor, ca rying with it a score of golden coins that jingled and os about on the boards before they ca to a rest. ; : ; Noach, looking over Murdock’s shoulder, wa fairly amazed at the amount of wealth which so easily fallen into their hands. - “T was right,” he chuckled, avariciously. “ old chap was countin” his coin. There must “You may stay here till” “There’s enough to keep us in rhino for al ng his fingers. “Who'd have thought the old hermit had s much!” said Noach. “No wonder he was calle tied and bring up the saddle bags.” _ “All right, db 7‘ I'd like a dri
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near-by shelf. “There seems to be licker to burn in them demijohns yonder.” Murdock’s gaze followed the wave of Noach’s » arm, and his eyes brightened at the anticipation of the treat in store for them. « - “Right you are,” replied the leader of the enter- prise. “Here, Paul Scott,” he cried, turning to the lad, who was leaning against the dresser be- rind the table. “See what kind of stuff is in those gs on that shelf.” ; / ‘Paul took the three demijohns down, one by one, and removing the stoppers smelt of the contents each in turn. Two of the jugs held gin, but ery little was left in either. The third was half- lof whisky. Suddenly an idea came into his sad, and he glanced around to see if either of the rascals was watching him. They were not. Their attention was altogether absorbed in the contem- - plation of the piles of gold and silver coin in the 3 x. The other-ruffian was still engaged in tying up the hermit-miser. Deftly Paul inserted his hand*into an inner pocket, drew forth the bottle -laudanum he had been carrying since he and foby left Los Angeles, and emptied its entire gon- nts into the whisky jug and shook it up. He laced the jugs in their former position and re- rned to Murdeck to report the character of their ntents. -Having secured Matthew Scrages to a st in the rear of the room, the ruffians ordered. ‘aul to bring forward the demijohns of liquor 9m the shelf in the corner. Then they proceeded “make merry over their haul. Murdock offered tani drink of the gin, which they wouldn’t touch _ as long as the whisky lasted, but the boy said he was not accustomed to strong drink, and retired to a-stool under the shelf, whence he watched the cals narrowly. gid Scraggs, bound hand and foot to the $ taking on dreadfully over the threatened oss of his money. Occasionally he glanced at Paul with a look so full of agonized reproach that boy experienced a spasm of remorse for the - he had acted in the affair, even, though he been driven to do it at the point of a revolver. “Maybe I'll be able yet to undo the evil I have ‘ought down on this poor old man,” he mused. “Tf there is only enough of laudanum in that rhisky to stupefy them, all will be well; otherwise ell, what’s the use of worrying? A very short will tell how this matter is going to end.” oat this point of his reflections a door beside the ser began slowly to open, and as the boy’s res happened to be on it at the moment, he ed, as it moved on its hinges, with great sur-_ ¥ < aan ‘Suddenly a face—the started countenance of a and beautiful girl—filled the opening, and eyes roamed in acute dismay upon the in- dérs who were making so free with the house, ul gazed at this lovely appartition with eyes nder. Was this the old man’s niece that ha she looked as if she was Paul tri Se aee hey on A ROLLING STONE — se. afraid somebody will get hurt.” grasp, but he could not throw up his arms. — ruffian ¢ * + : s * wt pointing at the carousing ruffians. Instinetively she seemed to understand that the boy was not -an enemy, and a pleading look came into her eyes, as if appealing to him to do something in behalf of her unfortunate uncle. Paul nodded to her, and made a motion for her to retire, as he feared if the scoundrels discovered her presence it would complicate matters. : Sine She appeared to catch his meaning and with-. drew, closing the door after her. ‘As the whisky circulated from hand.to hand the three ruffians grew more and more uproarious in their conduct. They seemed to forget everything for the moment but the enjoyment of drink. The drug was cer- - tainly having effect upon them, but to what ex- —_ dent Paul could not tell. Finally Murdéck stag- “ gered to his feet and drawing his ugly-looking re- volver fired it into the ceiling. The other two immediately imitated his example, with a roar of - mirth. ‘= “Good gracious!” exclaimed Paul, starting dismay. “This is-more than I figured on. = in = ™m After firing a couple of shots into the roof of — the cabin, Murdock’s rum-crazed brain suggested ~ a fresh freak. He aimed his weapon straight : at the helpless old miser. As he pulled the trig- ger a sharp, whip-like report came from the door behind him, and he staggered and lurched toward where Paul stood, his revolver flying over to within, a foot of the boy. Paul glanced in a startled way at the door and saw the girl standing «=~ in the opening with a smoking rifle in her hand. ~ She had been just in time to save her uncle’s life, — for the rascal’s aim was disarranged and the bul- let flew wide of the post. Murdock lay squirm- ing-on the earpetless floor, his fingers working — convulsively and the froth gathering about his mouth. Noach and Kettler started to their feet with terrible oaths on their lips.. But the effect of the laudanum was now overpowering their senses, and they-could hardly see. Still they could =~ perceive that the shot which had struck their. leader down came from behind, and their glaz- ing eyes rested upon the girl with a vengeful rage. ies . Both raised their revolvers to shoot her down. — Paul, observing her danger, sprang forward; seized Murdock’s weapon and cocking it quickly fired at Noach. The ball struck the butt of his revolver and glancing off hit Kettler inthe mouth. | The pistols of both the rascal’s exploded harm- lessly, Noach’s dropping to the floor. Kettler clapped one of his hands to his mouth with a— hoarse yell of rage and pain, and his glittering ar eyes rested on the belligerent attitude assumed — by the boy. He tried to cover Paul with his — weapon, but his hand trembled and wabbled so | that it was impossible for him to take aim, and when he pulled the trigger the ball hit the edge _ of the ceiling. The girl stepped resolutely into the room now and brought the rifle to bear on Noach, who was trying ineffectually to hold himself upright. : UG iam “Throw down your gun!” ordered Paul, ad- yancing on Kettler, “and throw up your hands!’ The pistol slipped away from his .nerveless an insane look of baffled Saat Si
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8 down under his weight, and he lay struggling for a moment on the floor until he relapsed into unconsciousness. As for Noach, the only re- maining scoundrel they had to deal with, he, with- out being ordered, threw up his arms under the _ mute persuasion of the pointed rifle. He re- mained in that attittide but for a brief interval, his eyes rolling in their sockets, and his body leaning heavily against the table, then he sud- * denly collapsed as his feet gave way beneath him, and he lay an unconscious heap on the floor. Murdock was also motionless by this time, but his labored breathing showed that he was not €ead, but had yielded to the insidious influence of the jJaudanum. The gir! dropped the rifle end ran to her uncle, who had been a half stupe- ‘fied witness of the exciting wind-up. Paul stepped forward, laid Murdock’s revolver on the table, stooped over Noach and drew from its sheath his glittering bowie-knife. With this in his hand he stepped up to Matthew Scraggs and quickly ‘released him from his bonds. Then he took off _. his mask. The old man regarded him with a . bewildered expression, the girl with a took ot gratitude. “7 thank you for saving us from those dreadful men,” she said, earnestly, as she took Paul’s hand in her and raised it to her lips. “You are # brave boy. But how came you to be here with: ” She paused in some embarrassment, as though the situation was not clear to her. “You deceived me at the door, boy,” said Mat- thew Scraggs, in trembling tones. “You said you were alone, and all the time these villains were with-you, and only obtained entrance be- f cause J put faith\in your honest face. Yet you ' have now taken sides against them. I do not -_ wnderstand what it all means.” , “Tt means that I was: forced to act as~-I -did against my will. Those ruffians had me in their power. J was their prisoner, and they used me _ to deceive you. When I answered your, questions I did so withthe cold muzzle of a revolver “pressed against my ear. JI told you untruths be- cause it was that or death to me. I.had to do ' as I was told or take the consequences. I hope you will forgive me, for I have since done my best to save you. I doctored that whisky with lauda- “num that I fortunately had in my pocket. And I shot at the two rascals who were trying to get back at this young lady for her nervy act of shooting down their leader.” | “I believe you, for your actions speak for them- _ selves: and there is an honest ring in your voice,” said the old man. “They would have robbed, per- haps killed me, but for you. Whatis your name?” Base baul- Scott.’ : 4 + “Ah, yes; you told me so at the door-before I admitted you. You are a stranger in these parts, are you not?” : “Yes. I am touring Southern California sell- -ing patent medicine.” - “How came you to be in the hands, of these men?” . “JT and my companion left San Luis at noon to- day, or rather yesterday, in out wagon, for San “Bruno, the village yonder on the bay. We were overtaken and held up on the road by those ruf- an , who took a small sum of money from me, Dd ae all they could find. Then they carried-us, wa and all, to their retreat in the mountain ra a few miles back of this place. The wagon and my companion, are still there. They had already planned this attack on you. They kne~ tha’ would be difficult to gain admission to this cabin openly. So they made use of me to further the purpose, hoping the stratagem would work. It did, but I think the result’ shows that after all i was fortunate for you that they brought me along. If you will get some rope we will bind these fel- lows, and later on we can deliver them over t the authorities at San Bruno. They are desper villains, and from what I heard about them San Luis, I guess they have been terrorizing th district. They are now in a fair way to be pw ished for their misdeeds.” : : “Fleaven be praised!” cried the old man, wh had now recovered his self-possession. “Y are a brave and sturdy youth, and I thank once more. You shall stay with us to-night. In deed, you have no alternative, if the tide be up as I suppose it is now, for it must have been 1 when you and these men came here, and that much more than an hour ago. I will get ther and help you bind the villains. But they must carried outside afterward. I could not rest know ing they were within these walls where my money ~ is.” : Fes He rushed to the open chest at once, flung him- self down before the box and threw/his arms pro: tectingly about his wealth. Then with feverish haste he gathered up the scattered gold pieces from the floor, returned them to the box, to- gether with the bundle of papers, slammed dowr the lid, ‘locked it, and put the key in his pock After that he went for the rope. — Anes “T must say that you are a brave girl,” sai Paul, looking at the miser’s niece admiring] “T guess you save your uncle’s life by shooting that drink-crazed scoundrel.” She blushed a little and looked down. “What is your name?” he asked her. _ “Suzanne Norwood,” she answered, softl “Tt is a pretty name. Almost as pretty as He paused abruptly. fos He was going to say “Almost as pretty as yo self,” but thought he might offend her. She blushed rosily as if she surmised wl he had thought of saying. Then Matthew Scraggs returned to the room with a lot of rope, wi which they bound the rascals hand and foot v great caré. Without bothering to. And A badly Murdock was" wounded they ¢ : three unconscious ruffians outside and stretched upon the ground under the shelte: huge overhanging rock. The door was thet chained and barred once more, Scraggs, refu assistance, dragged his precious box into an inne room, and Paul was handed’a blanket on which to lie for the rest of the night. tee It was broad daylight when Paul awoke, M thew Scrages was outside examining the form: of the bandits. Scraggs came forward to tk boy and bade him a “Good-morning.” Ina sho
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_ Scraggs then said she had often shot pebbles om his hand. Paul believed it. After breakfast the girl drew a rocket from a loset and said she was going to signal the town. ‘hey went outside, where she set off the rocket. “There,” she said, “that will bring a dozen men m the town to see what is the matter.” In the course of an hour ‘several men were n coming around ie point on horseback. , Leaving their horses in the cover, they came to he house on foot. When they reached there the d hermit took them to the bound forms of the llains and explained all that had happened. The men from San Bruno tied the rascals on heir horses, and after telling Scrages, Suzanne d.Paul to follow at one o’clock the next day to n Luis to testify against them, they rode off. Paul made the old man and his niece good-by ortly after, after promising to see them at Luis the next day. The boy immediately set ‘out for the mountain range. : CHAPTER VII.—The Tribulations of Toby. Paul made all the hase he could to get back o the bandit’s retreat in the hills, for he knew hat Toby on awakening and finding himself alone the abode house. bound hand and foot as he was ‘ould be badly broken up. Although there was mty of food in the place, the fat boy would ‘be unable to get at it, and thus the gnawing of hunger would be added to Toby’s other troubles. to find the narrow defile in the mountains not such as simple matter as Paul had eckoned it. He had narrowly observed certain dmarks the night before, when he was forced to accompany Murdock and his companions to an Bruno Bay, and consequently he belived-that ould have no great difficulty in retracing his oute to the defile; but in daylight things looked nuch different, the landscape was less contracted, d therefore Paul, in spite of his sharp eyes, found himself all at sea, : “This is tough,’ he muttered. “Here it is all f twelve -o’clock. I’ve been roaming up and own these byways in the hills and I can’t, to ave my life find that defile. Those bandits hit on a pretty secret spot for their headquarters, Lam bound to say. Poor Toby! I guess he thinks y this time that he’s been left to die of starva- on 2 that ka on 7 = sicniatkc Paul was getting well-nigh desperate, and the be davewas feb: te the oon, when he bled right on the defile at last. = “Thank heaven! I’ve found it. It’s like the swer to a Chinese puzzle, upon my word it is.” He felt immensely relieved as he directed the re into the defile, and rode along its serpentine irse, bordered by lofty peaks and crags, parti- - covered with verdure, until he emerged into amphitheater beyond and saw the dirty adobe right before him. : “Get up, Anna Maria,” he cried to the mare, soon as he felt the soft ground under the mal’s feet. “You'll have a rest and chance 1 your dinner in a moment or two.” e tired horse pricked up her ears and broke rt trot that soon arried Paul to the the house, before which the van stood as - ea a ‘ , A ROLLING STONE - it was left the afternoon before. Paul quickly dismounted, removed the blanket which had served for a saddle, and turned the animal loose. Then he entered the house. He unshipped the fasten- ing that secured the door of the inner room and faced the disconsolate Toby, who was by this time reduced to the depths of despair, “Oh, dear; oh, dear!” exclaimed Toby, two big tears stealing down his fat cheeks. ‘“‘Wherever have you been so long? I’m most starved. My stomach feels like it had caved it for want of something to hold the sides up. These cords have made my wrists and ankles so numb that I don’t believe I shall ever get feeling into them any more. Did those rascals come back with you, or did you get away from them?” “Those rascals are in jail long before this,” re- plied Paul, as he eut the cords with the bowie- knife which formerly belonged to Noach and - which he had retained, together with Murdock’s revolver. . ; “In jail! ‘Glory hallelujah!” piped Toby, as he tried. to stand up. : He fell back in a heap on the floor, for there was no power in his feet to sustain his weight. You might have struck his digits with a club at that moment that he wouldn’t have felt the blow. is limbs from the knees down were “asleep” by reason of the partial stoppage of blood cir- culation. , “Give me a.drink of water and something to eat,” he begged, Paul hastened to fetch a jug of water from a nearby spring, and Toby drank about a quart be- fore he removed the jug from his lips. : “Here’s a fistful of crackers to chew on till I can get dinner ready,” said Paul, handing his companion about a dozen soda crackers. Toby attacked them ravenously. Paul started a fire in the little iron stove in the main room, . and while the water was boiling for the coffee he washed ‘the dirty dishes left from the night before. Having made the coffee, Paul fried a big mess of eggs and bacon, and spread out the dishes on the table in readiness to serve the meal up as soon as it was ready, for he guessed the smell of the cookery was setting»Toby wild in- side. Before dinner was quite ready Toby’s lower limbs recovered their usefulness, and he came into the outer room with a famished look on his chub- by face. ae “Are you hungry?” grinned Paul, giving the pan a shake that started the thin slices of pota- toes ecreiid es heen Pa my, don’t mention it,” groaned the fat boy, licking his chops at the sight. of the Fil “T could eat an elephant.” “It’s a wonder all that fat you've got on your __ bones wouldn’t stand by you in an emergency like _ this. You oughtn’t to be real hungry for a week.” “Don’t you believe it, Paul Scott. My stomach — is so empty I can hear it rattle like a bag of bones.” Cr “Tf I was you I’d get a new stomach,” snick- ered Paul. “Or serve a dispossess notice on that wolf that’s inside of you, Your insides give you more trouble than anybody I’ve ever heard tel! “Tt ain’t my fault. I didn’t make my stomach.” et know you didn’t. But you.ought to educate i : s : <t
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. 10 2 “A ROLLING STONE _ “Educate it! What do you mean by that?” ‘asked the fat boy wonderingly. “You pamper it too much. When it hankers for pie, as it always seems to be doing, you’re not satisfied till you swallow a whole one down to the last morsel of crust. That’s where you make a mistake.” “But I can’t live without pie,” objected Toby, dismally. “Pie is the finest thing made. Just think of a nice, fat, juicy pie! Oh, my! What did you Speak about it for? It makes my mouth water to think of all I’ve ate.” “Then don’t think of them, Sit up to the table and try some of this bacon and eggs, with fried potatoes, and a loaf of white bread. Those rascals laid in a good suply of eatables, and drinkables, too,” as he glanced at a row of yet unopened whisky flasks which stood on a shelf in a corner. : Toby needed no second invitation to dinner, and the way he went at the food was a caution, “You seem to be laying in a week’s supply so as to be sure you'll have enough,” chuckled Paul, who was pretty hungry himself. Toby was too busy to make any answer. “Here’s a cup of coffee,” said Paul. choke yourself, now.” Nothing more was said until everything on the table had vanished from view, including the entire contents of the coffee pot. “Now, we'll take a short rest and then go on to San Bruno,” said Paul. Toby looked the picture of contentment as he reclined on the grass in the afternoon sunshine “Don’t - and listened while his companion recounted the events through which he had passed since he had ~ been separated from the fat boy. “Ain't I glad to know those chaps are in the ealaboose,” said Toby. “specially that villain who took pleasure in abusing me. I wish they’d ‘tie him to a post and let me tickle his legs with a whip-lash. Wouldn’t I just lay it on till he danced? Oh, no; of course not.” “We've got to return’to San Luis to-morrow to testify against_them,” said Paul. “T']] tell the Judge how that fellow treated me. I hope he’ll get forty years at least.” ; “Rorty years!’ snickered Paul. “Why don’t you say life and be done with it?” “He ought to be sent up for life, and the other two get thirty years apiece.” 5s “They'll get all that’s coming to them, I guess. Paul got up and went to the wagon, let down the back and got inside. ‘ : “Took at those mattresses,” he said, throwing the 1.out on the ground. “Noach hacked them all to pieces in his search for my money.” “They’re ruined,” replied Toby. “T pelieve half my supply of cough, mixture is gone to smash,” said Paul, bringing out one of the boxes. He found and threw away more than a dozen broken bottles of the Elixir of Life,. and upon examining a second box he'found as many more damaged bottles of the stuff. A third box had ‘not suffered, and only one bottle was discovered to be broken in the fourth and last box. Paul then replaced their clothes and other personal belong- ‘ing in the trunk, and cleaned out and tidied up 9 oe Was not thorough enough, Each of the ruffi “4he iaside of the van as best he could: Then he 2K ‘ went after the mare and harnessed her to shafts again. ; “Now we'll start on, Toby,” he said. The fat boy, before he got up on the seat, entered the house and took possession of what remained of the bag of crackers, which he stuffed into his pocekts. = re “Get up, Anna “Maria,” chirruped Paul, and the outfit started for San Bruno. : CHAPTER VIII—In the Hands of the Hnem Paul, Toby and the covered wagon reached Se Bruno some time before dark, and stopped front of Ahe smaller of the two hotels in place, while the boys went in and had their su per. Subsequently Paul drove the van to the « ner of two of the principal streets, and after at-— tracting a crowd by their music, the lad started — in to sell\his patent remedies. He drove a brisk trade until buyers pot scarce, and then he sed up for the night and drove off into the suburbs, where, after tethering Anna Maria, the two b turned in on a couple of new mattresses w Paul had purchased. Murdock and his compani: had been committed to the town lock-up pend their transfer to San Luis, the county seat, wh they would be tried. The San Bruno jail we one-story adobe building, with a single bar window and a heavy wooden door reinforced A stout iron bands. by It was plenty strong enough to hold ordir malefactors, and no one had ever been known escape from it. When the jailer locked the door on the three bandits he was satisfied were secure until they should be wanted. had been searched after the usual fashion, everything found upon them taken into the jailer’s office next door. There were some things on their persons that were not taken, because the sea had concealed in- his trousers a pair of fin highly tempered files, which they had provided for just such an emergency as the present. Whi the jailer carried in their supper to them, ai da blanket for each to lie upon through the nig he was-perfectly assured that he would find the there in the morning. When he returned in morning with their breakfast the adobe jai empty. ; The three stout bars at the window had } sawed away, and that showed how they had m their escape. The jailer was certain. they had assistance from the outside, for how coul they saw through those bars without the nece sary tools? Which went to prove that he didn know everything. «However, they were gone the jailer had a bad quarter of an hour tryin explain to the justice that he wasn’t to organized to scour the eae Ng after them, is was known that Paul Scott, the “medicine knew where their retreat was, he was pers to accompany the pursuers. Toby Titmarsh left in charge of the wagon and the mare, ¥ a fine large apple pie to keep him compan ate the pie, and then, feeling drowsy, sleep. In the course of a couple of -h uneasy movement of the wagon woke hin was surprised to find the van in mot
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“Paul most have got back, harnessed up and started on the road again,” he thought, without _ taking the trouble to open his eyes, for if there as anything Toby liked, it was to be left alone slumber as long as he chose. A fly lighted on his nose and he strove to brush it. away with his hand. But he couldn’t raise is hand—something seemed to hold both of them down. He opened his eyes quick enough now, » and, to his surprise, not to say consternation, he found that his hands were bound by a rope which assed. around his waist. “What’s the meaning of this?” he gurgled. pose Paul had been playing a joke on me.” Avery pretty young girl was seated on Paul’s ‘mattress; opposite to him. He hands were bound ehind her back, and then secured to one of the _ hoops which supported. the canvas cover of the van, and a piece of cloth covering her mouth was tied at the back of her neck. Toby looked at her ‘with the utmost amazement, and as she was wide awake she returned his stare. The fat boy couldn’t understand what this all meant. How came this girl, bound and gagged, in the wagon? _, Surely Paul Scott wasn’t engaged in the kid- _ Napping business. Naturally he turned his eyes ‘to the wagon seat in search of Paul. The flap “exposed a hairless countenance he had seen be- fore, and under circumstances not to his liking. was the face of Noach, the rascal who had ‘amused himself on the previous day at the fat boy’s expense. : “Oh, my!” gasped Toby, collapsing against the ide of the wagon. ‘The bandits have got hold f me again. I’m a dead Titmarsh this time for . “They won’t do a thing to me now, I'll bet Why did I go.to sleep? Paul told me to keep my eyes skinned. If I had done as he rdered me to I might have escaped this. awful situation. Oh!” 2. _ The groan Toby uttered reachéd Noach’s ears, and he thrust his, ugly countenance into the agon. _ “Yon’ve woke up, have you, you bundle of fat?” the chuckled. sound from you until further notice, or I'll go in there and tickle your ribs with my whip.” © Satisfied he had terrified his stout prisoner, he resumed a conversation he was carrying on with Kettler, who shared the seat with him. Toby turned his attention once more to the girl op- posite. It was evident now to him that the ban- tts had made hera he felt sorry for her. She put him in mind Paul’s description of Suzanne Norwood, the ermit-miser’s niece—the girl who could shoot ebbles and matches out a person’s hand at thirty feet. It was too bad this girl was gagged, for it would relieve the monotony of his position if they ‘ ‘could only talk together. tances that seemed.to be impossible. Finally, fter they had looked at each other for some time, Toby thought he’d speak to her anyway. > Yow’re a prisoner, ain’t you?” he asked in a low voice, fearful that Noach might overhear him come in and execute his threat. e girl nodded. id. the bandits. carry you off from San Seti dded again, | ee a ee A ROLLING x “Well, don’t let me heax another’ risoner for some purpose, _ Under the circum- _ thew Serages, and was walking along the shore close to the outlying houses of San Bruno, when _ carrying her up the road they came ghetto ie STONE © ae “You don’t know where these men are carrying — us to, do you?” OY gare She shook her head. : “They ran off with this wagon while I was asleep. This van belongs to Paul Scott. and——” She nodded her head energetically. : “T’ wonder what she means by that?” thought. ; Toby, looking at her closely. “She nodded her ~ head when I said Paul Seott. She can’t know him. ie How could she? You don’t know Paul Scott?* he asked her questioningly. : She nodded. \ ee “You do know him?” in surprise. : Another positive nod. 4 “Tt can’t be that you are Suzanne, the hermit’s ‘ niece?” he asked again, as the possibility of the \\ thing occurred to him. uf She nodded. : a “Are you the girl that can hit a flying pebble everything with a rifle ball?” he continued, re- garding her with a fresh and admiring interest. She nodded, and seemed to smile. s “Caesar’s ghost!” he ejaculated. “And you sho : that man Murdock, the leader of the threé ban- dits?” : Another nod from the girl. aie “And they’ve kidnapped you to get square with - you, I suppose.” wale aia Suzanne, for it was indeed she, made no answer to this—probably because she could not speak and’ tell Toby that the real'reason why she had been carried off by these vascals was because they hoped, with her as a hostage, to: make terms with. the old hermit, involving the transfer to them ~ of most of his wealth in return for her liberty. This was the truth, and Suzanne had easily — guessed it. From the. rough movements of the — wagon Toby judged they were somewhere among the hills, and he wondered if the ruffians were re- turning to the adobe house behind the defile in the range. He also wondered what Paul would 2 do when he came back to San Bruno and found himself and the horse and wagon missing. Surely the disappearance of Suzanne would result inva - search party being gent out to rescue her. and ee then he, too, would be saved. At this point.in his reflections the wagon came to a rest in ve middle of a ‘shalfow stream to allow, the horse’ — to take a drink. Noach handed the reins to Ket-. tler and to Toby’s dismay turned around and ; eame into the wagon. s ce = “Now, young lady,” he said té Suzanne, “Ik relieve you of that gag.” / pe oes ‘Thus speaking, he took the cloth from her ~ a as mouth, She felt immensely relieved, but sho didn’t thank him just the same. He cast a sardonic look at Toby and then returned to’ his stat. The wagon moved on, and thereafter the - road became: more rough, and the joltings more frequent. Toby and Suzanne were now able to converse together. She told him that she and — her uncle had arranged to go by the stage to San Luis to attend the examination of the three bandits. She had left the cove ahead of Mat- she was suddenly set upon by the very rascals she supposed to be safely in prison at San Luis. ca They gagged and bound her before she had recovered from the surprise of the attack, and upon the van, a? t
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~~ bce ' with the horse tethered close by, and Toby asleep inside. 2 “They lifted me into the wagon,” she went on -. to say, “bound you as you slept, put the animal - -into the shafts and drove off, but in what direction - .* J have not-the least idea.” by *“Didn’t any one-see them kidnap you?” asked _- Toby, “I don’t see how they could do it in . broad daylight.” ‘ “ir any one saw them carry me off they didn’t interfere.” : “T wonder what they intend to do with us?” said Toby, apprehensively. é “T am sure they mean to hold me a prisoner un- til I am either rescued or my uncle pays them a large sum of money to let me go.” : : =. “Maybe Paul Scott would pay them something to let me go, too,’ said Toby, hopefully. “Tt’s more likely,” she said, leaning over and ’ whispering, “that he’ll head a party of San Bruno people to run these bandits down and take us ~ away from them. He’s a brave boy, and a smart ‘boy, too, and that’s just what I think he'll do.” Toby sincerely hoped that Paul was already on their trail, for a sensation of discomfort in the - region of his stomach told him that he was grow- ing hungry again. _— CHAPTER IX.—Paul Starts to the Rescue of Suzanne and Toby. If the bandits were going back.to their retreat in the range, they were taking a different and much longer route than the customary one. Then again there were only two of them—Murdock was ‘missing. The truth of the matter was, after giv- ing directions to Noach, he had remained in the ee _ neighborhood of San Bruno for two reasons; the first was to communicate his intentions ang terms to Matthew Scraggs; the other, to find out if the - ‘people of the town were going to make any great efforts to try and recapture him and his two associates. Immediately after the abduction of Suzanne, Murdock, with a dollar in his pocket geeh Noach had taken from Toby’s pocket, en- tered a small drug store which sold stationery, ‘and buying a sheet of paper and an envelope, wrote a note in his peculiar style to Matthew Seraggs, in which he stated that his niece Suzanne was now in their hands, and that he would give Scraggs the chance to ransom her for the sum of $20,000. io Le “Tl give you aweek to make up your mind,” _ the note went on. “If within that time you do not pring the sum mentioned in gold to the spindle -_¥oek at the foot of the twin peaks near the road to San Luis, and come alone, you wil! never see the girl again, as I shall shoot her. in revenge for . the wound she gave me in your cabin. If you comply with this demand, and bring the money in the manner stated, then the girl will be al- owed to go back with you unharmed. If you ‘think you can save.the girl by sending, a posse to search the range for us, why, try it; but re- ‘member: that in that case the girl’s fate will Tie at your door.” : i : “ “T guess that will bring him to the scratch, muttered Murdock, as he sealed the envelope and addressed it to Matthew Scraggs. __ hen he walked boldly up the mai n street of oa ROLLING STONE the town, entered the small post-office, bought a stamp and mailed the letter. Before dark the — posse, with the deputy sheriff and Paul Scott < their head, which had been scouring the rangi since morning to: find some trace of the three bandits, returned unsuccessful from their quest. ~ Murdock saw them ride into town, he he smiled sarcastically as they swept by his hiding-place ~ on the outskirts of San Bruno. He followed them into town in the gathering dusk and saw the - dismount before the office of the jail, and ent the building. A crowd gathered around the doo to hear the news, and Murdock mixed with without attracting notice. Finally he took a vantage of the general attention being concen- trated on the office to unhitch the deputy sheriff’s fine roan stallion, and walk it down the stre a little way. E cs Then he mounted the animal and rode a from the town to meet his compainos. at the ap- pointed rendezvous in the range. There was - dickens to pay when the deputy sheriff missed h horse, with a fine pair of revolvers in thee No one had noticed the disappearance of th animal, and so the town official was left comple ly at sea in the matter. He was mad as a horr _for he thought one of his friends had playe practical joke on him. But a similar discomfit awaited Paul Scott when he went to the s; where he had left Toby in eharge of the van a the mare. Toby and the outfit were gone, where it had vanished to no amount of investi: tion on Paul’s part gave the slightest clew. Paul had to give the matter up for the night go to the hotel where he and Toby had ta their meals. Next morning Paul started out on a fresh hunt after the wagon. It was. not long before a woman, living in the suburbs of the to: told him that she had seen a van such as he de scribed, drawn by a horse answering to the ap ‘pearance of Arma Maria, driven by a smooth faced, rough-looking man, with a bearded co Sapien, moving rapidly-up the road to the nor east. . iaoker “When did you see the wagon, ma’am?” h asked. * ; : sere @ About noon, yesterday,” she replied. : ~ “By George!” exclaimed Paul. “I believe those rascals have taken possession of my rig aga They. must have been hanging around this neig! borhaod while we were searching for them in range. But why should they take the trouble to carry off poor Toby? Possibly to prevent him from giving an alarm. They’ll probably dun him out in the wilds’somewhere, and let him his way back to San Bruno as best he can. rascals! What shall I do now? Without my o fit I’m completely stranded. No use talk must follow those scamps, even at the ris my life. All my money is‘hid away in that v and I can’t afford to b ye done out of it. I mu horrow a good horse and a rifle. I'll run down the cove and ask’ Suzanne to loan me her | She’ll do it, I know. Then as to a horse, I g I can scare one up when I-explain why 1 The , aaa Having decided on his line of action, Pe hurried over to a point, wondering whether { tide was low enough to permit him: around to the cove. He found that it was his way around the little patch of beach
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_ the postmaster’s son, who had been sent to de- liver Murdock’s letter to Matthew Scraggs. Paui had scarcely caught sight of the cabin, perched “among the rocks, before he saw the old hermit come out of the door and walk up and down in > front’ of the house like a man who had lost his senses. “What's the matter with him?” the boy asked ~ himself, as he watched Scraggs apparently tear- ing his hair and acting like mad. “He must be subject to fits. Well, I don’t wonder. The old ~ chap is half dopy, between his money and the - golitude of the-place. The way he talked yester- ~ day morning about the sea and himself under- ‘standing each other is enough to prove he’s ~eracked in his upper story.” Matthew Scraggs paid no attention to the ap- ~ proach of Paul Scott. The boy made his way up i the pathway to the cabin and looked in at the _ door, thinking to see Suzanne, but she wasn’t ~ there. Then he walked up to. the hermit and spoke a to him. The old man stopped and stared wildly at ~ the boy for a moment, then he seemed to recog- nize him. Paul saw he was greatly agitated, the tears were trickling down his pointed beard, and he was shaking as with the ague. In one trem- ‘ling hand he held an open letter. “Why, what’s the matter?” asked the boy, much astonished at his strange actions and appearance. ~ “Syzanne is gone!” cried Scraggs with a burst of grief, which showed how much he was at- tached to his young’ relative. “Gone! Gone! _ Stolen by those villains!” ~ “Suzanne gone! Stolen! What do you mean?” gasped Paul. ; “Read this letter!” exclaimed the hermit, thrusting the paper into the boy’s fingers. “Read _ it, and you will understand all.” = __ Paul read the letter, He was startled by the _ terms proposed by Murdock. : ““T must sacrifice my money to save het!” cried _ the old man, with a hollow groan, that showed “it was like parting with his very life blood to be compelled to give up so much of his cherished wealth. i os Yet it was clear, to his credit, that his niece ~ was more to him, when it came to the pinch, than even his darling gold, though it was quite prob- able he never would recover from the loss of his money. = “Calm yourself, Mr. Seraggs, and let us talk e matter over together. Perhaps something can those villains, without you being obliged to yield their terms.” ; ; ; “No, no!” ejaculated the hermit. “Nothing must be done.’ He says if I send a posse to search for them her fate will rest at my door. In that use he means to kill her. I cannot lose Suzanne. no; I cannot lose her! Better that my gold, ch I am saving for her, that she may be rich ter I am dead, should go. She must not be +, ” ® 5 ‘Paul’s respect for the hermit-miser went up val hundred per cent. on hearing him speak that strain. . ; “Look here, Mr. Scraggs, don’t get so excited. es you a week to decide what you will do, will take you only a few hours to carry meantime, A ROLLING STONE 22 ee CHAPTER X.—Paul Tracks the Bandits to Their Ye done to rescue Suzanne from the clutches of sary sum to the spot he has indicated on plain, ther Tule In th is id. I matter over tome. Those rascals have stolen my horse and wagon, and carried off my com- ~— panion, and I mean to get my property back if > I ean. In seeking for my outfit I may come = across Suzanne, and I promise you J will attempt her ‘rescue even at the risk of my life. I came over here to borrow her rifle. Will you let me have it?” . i “Yes, yes,’ cried the old man, eagerly. “Do you mean to go out alone?” “T do.’ They will be on the lookout for a posse, and not for a lone boy like me. I mean to hunt — the range till I get wind of their whereabouts, and” ~ then I hope by stratagem to get the better of ~ them.” é og “You are a brave boy,” said Matthew Scraggs, patting him on the shoulder. “I have confidence : in you. I will wait six days for you to do some- . thing. On the seventh, if you do not return with ; Suzanne, I will take the gold to the spindle rock near the San Luis road.” ; Bare “That is just what I was about to propose— that you. give me six days to rescue Suzanrne. It ~ is settled, then?” . e “Yes, yes; it is settled.’’. replied the hermit; it feverishly. in “Then get me her rifle and some cartridges, and I will be off before the tide makes me a prisoner’ in this cove.” - 5 ees Matthew Scraggs hastened into the cabin and soon returned with Suzanne’s rifle and her cart- ridge belt, which was .full of ammunition. The gun was a magazine rifle, and six shots could be ~ fired before it was necessary to reload. Paul _ strapped the belt around his waist under his @& jacket, where he already carried Murdock’s re- volver on one side and Noach’s bowie on the other. _ With the rifle in his hand he looked to be pre- — pared for almost any kind of an emergency he was likely to run up against. E : e. Then seizing Matthew Scraggs by the hands, he told him to keep up his courage. i : “Depend on it, I will save Suzanne if the‘thing be possible. Good-by.” : S25 He ran lightly down the narrow path to the cove, circled the point through the first flow of — the incoming tide, and started for San Bruno to _ borrow a horse. Ms New Retréat. Paul: Scott sueceeded in procuring a stout young horse, used to mountain travel, and filling a pair. of carpet bags with a week’s supply of food he set — off toward the defile in the hills. He hoped to find — the bandits back again in their-retreat. He took a roufdabout course at a slow pace, for he did — not propose to take the chances of entering the little enclosed amphitheater until after dark. There was a beaten track leading well to the north of the defile, and he followed it. About — breathed. recently come this wa For some distance t > lost it
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1 Soke Se. a ie eee a Cag) ag iat A S. 77 > ~~) the occasional track of the wheels again. They Jed him around in a semi-circle, and away from } the defile. i “T guess they’re afraid to go back to their old -- roosting-ground for a while, at any rate. This track leads right into a wild section of the moun- tains. Rather rough traveling for a wheeled vehicle, I should think.” ’ It certainly was, as rocks and trée stumps, and . other obstructions, abounded. : ae “They're liable to break an axle over this road - unless they’re mighty careful.” ss Darkness came down upon him while he was still following the trail. He then decided to camp where he was for the night. Picketing the horse where he could get at the grass, Paul ate his supper of cold meat and bread, which he washed _down with coffee he had brought in a bottle. He sat for an hour with his back against a big rock _and figured upon what he should do when he over- hauled the rascals. Then wrapping himself in the _ blanket he carried for that purpose, he was soon fast asleep in the solitude of the range, with the ‘broad canopy of heaven above him and the stars winking down to keep him company. He was up at the first blush of day in the eastern sky, leisure- ly ate his frugal breakfast, and saddling his ani- mal took up the trail once more. It was not an easy matter to rollow, it here, and i he was obliged to proceed a good deal by guess- work. But he had a sharp pair of eyes, and be- ing desperately in earnest, he noticed signs show- ing the late passage of a wagon that he would not otherwise have taken note of. As the day grew apace he saw that the ruffians’ trail led around toward the south. In following their tracks he circled a great spur in the range and came into a long and narrow valley between two sections of the mountains. Here a wagon could proceed with tolerable ease and safety, and as the ground “was of yielding nature the double wheel -track of the van was plainly recognizable. In_ order _ to attract less attention in case the rascals might be somewhere on the watch, Paul dismounted and led the animal by the bridle. Thus he crossed the long valley to the.further end and there noted that the wagon track led through another defile very similar to the one on the other side of the range. He followed it with due caution, and it led him into a pocket that had many of the characteristics of the amphitheater where the adobe house was situated. It was very much smaller than the other place, however, being scarcely more than two hundred yards across to a point where a rough pathway led up to a depression among the hills. : Near the center of this pocket Paul saw his van, while Anna Maria and another horse were - eontentedly nibbling the luxuriant grass close by. “So I’ve tracked these rascals to their hiding-. place, have 1?” he. muttered grimly, as he drew _ back into the shadows of the ravine. ‘Well, I’ve _ done better than I expected in so short a time.” Looking more narrowly toward the wagon, in _the hope of seeing either Toby or Suzanne, he made out the forms of two of the three bandits _ Stretched out in the grass under the van, smok- ing cigars and apparently talking. ‘Where is the third man?” mused Paul. may be on the watch somewhere about here. I t look out that he does not come on me un- e Feictee CoA Dc Sige ‘ e+ Lae 14 A ROLLING. STONE | “=o He looked furtively back up the defile. T were a score of places where a watcher might lie concealed, and he began to wonder if his ap-— proach was already known to the invisible b dit, who*he knew to be Noach, as the other two had hair on their faces, Paul stood for half hour alternately watching the smoking and 1 ing up the defile, but nothing occurred to ind cate that, he had been seen.‘ “T must find some place to picket my horse where he will not be seen,” said the boy to him. self. “Some place on the other side of the val I can then come back here and watch these ch to better advantage. If the rascals only knew eyes were on them at this moment they woul be taking things so easy.” He led his animal back through the mount. pass, narrowly watching every rock or bit brush that might conceal a spy, until he reached the valley once more. Then he continued ¢ across the narrow plain till he made out sequestered nook sheltered by a line of trees. Hei he tethered his horse, and here beside a tricklin: rill he ate his noonday meal, and laid his plans for future action. The day was very warm = the air still. Nature seemed to have gone to sleep * under the broiling Southern California sun. Paul recrossed the valley. and entered the defile once — more. He passed through to the point from whi he had previously reconnoitered ‘the pocket, An creeping into a mass of -thick vegetation near at hand he felt he was secure from observation He saw that he had not reached the spot a ment too soon, for one of the two bandits, wh he recognized as Murdock, was slowly walki toward the entrance to the pass. : “T had a narrow escape,” thought Paul eyes on the man. “Had I come a few mo later we must have met in the defile, and there would have been something doin wonder where he is going?” Murdock. kept right on till he reached th file, passing within a yard of where Paul was con- cealed, and then disappeared up the pass. if “T suppose he’s gone to take a look up the ley, and see if any one is in sight,” mused the boy It was a ‘good guess, for this was exactly t! errand the bandit was bent on. The other 1 fian was stretched out under the wagon as asleep. Noach was still missing, and Paul wou have given something to have known where h was at that moment; At that stage of the gar the canvas folds behind the wagon seat were pushed back and. the fat countenance of Tob pipes: He looked all around the van as weil as he could, and after a moment or two drew bac again into the interior, pret ee ee “J wonder what Toby is up to?” mutterg ‘Ts he planning to make his escape? I’m he isn’t smart enough to succeed.” ¢ - At that moment another face/ appeared - behind the canvas—the bright and alert fa: Suzanne Norwood. s “. CHAPTER XI.—Suzanne and Toby Get _ From the Bandits. Paul watched the girl with sparklin looked to him as if she and Toby hi their minds to try and get 7
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y Ste > A ROLLING STONE right and dived down beside Suzanne, but he was 0 large that he put one in mind of an ostrich hid- its head in the sand while the rest of its q one was exposed. ; ward Kettler. r : erutinized the pocket on every side, and seeing ‘nothing stirring she spoke to Toby, who also got and they started for the entrance of the de- PE sczame,” cried Paul, softly, as she and the fat boy were passing within a few feet of where he lay concealed in the bushes. ; The girl gave a little suppressed scream, while by exclaimed, “Oh, lor’! and began to shake his shoes. “Don’t be alarmed, Suzanne. It is I, Paul ” ‘Oh, Paul!” exclaimed Suzanne, running up to and catching him by the hands. ° ; ‘Paul Scott, is.it really you?” gurgled -Toby, ishment. , aa: etiias thing, Toby,” grinned the lad, as he drew Suzanne down into the shelter of the bushes. ‘Get under cover, Toby.” In a moment they were out of sight.. ‘Tt isn’t possible that you came out here after -all alone, is it, Paul?” asked Suzanne, laying Yer hand on his arm. “Surely, some of the San ‘Bruno people came with you?” “No. I came here all by myself.” “Why were you so reckless? “You know these nen would think nothing of shooting you down on a 335; P a ethere was a good reason why I could not bring posse with me.” “What reason? How could you hope to get the er of these desperate rascals yourself?” y stratagem. Murdock wrote a letter to your cle demanding twenty thousand dollars for your sort. He said that if any attempt was made capture him and his associates it would at the k of your life. He gave your uncle a week sider the matter, gnd bring the money to a ain spot which he ‘stated. If Mr. Scraggs led to do so, Murdock threatened to kill you in mge for the wound you gave him the other in the cabin.” a revyolyer and a knife.” good-sized, dead-looking snake lay coiled the its flat head poised and gently waving to and as 15 against any attack. Doubtless they had deter- mined to kill you before they would. be taken. Now I reasoned that I might possibly be able to track the scoundrels alone without ‘attracting their notice. Your uncle thought well of the plan and ‘agreed not to comply with Murdock’s demands until I had had a fair chance to do something to thwart the rascal. So I started out on a borrowed horse yesterday morning, and after some hours I came upon the tracks made by the van. I followed them, and they Jed me here.” _ “You took a great risk. How brave you are!” she said, admiringly. “But we ought not to re- main “here talking,” she said, anxiously. ‘The - other two men may come back at any moment. Let us get away at once through the pass.” “No,” replied.Paul.. “Murdock passed through the defile alittle while ago. If we went that way now we would be likely to meet him. He is armed and one of us. at least might get hurt. We must wait till he comes back.” ‘ “And the other man—the one called Noach?” asked Suzanne. ‘Have you seen him?” - “No. I wish I knew where he was,” “Why, ‘you have my. rifle, haven’t you?” she_ remarked in some surprise. “TJ have. Perhaps you’d better take it. I have .He persuaded Suzanne to take her weapon, which she knew how to use so well, and unbuckled ~ the cartridge belt. While they conversed they also did not forget to peer frequently through tiie interstices of the bushes in order to keep track of anything that transpired in.the open space in front. Suddenly Suzanne grasped Paul by the sleeve of his jacket. “Look,” she said. ‘‘There is Noach.” Paul and Toby followed with their eyes the direction she pointed, and saw the rascal making ~~~ his way down the rocks at the further end-of the ; ar pocket. “He must have been on the watch at that open- a ing yonder,” said Paul. He came on slowly, as if time and he were on easy terms, and when he reached the wagon he sat down and punched Kettler into wakefulness. They conversed together. Kettler finally got up and looked around, as if in search of Murdock. Not seeing any sign of him he sat down again, - and the rascals continued to talk together for perhaps a quarter of an hour. Then Noach rose to his feet, came around to the front of the wagon, stepped up on the seat and looked into the van. — Of course he immediately discovered the absence of the prisoners, and sprang down again in a hurry. From the way he addressed his comrade — it was evident he was blaming him for lack of | vigilance. No time, however, was lost by them in making ; After glancing sharply all over the grass-covered pocket Noach started for the defile, while Ket- tler remained beside the wagon on the alert. —_—- “It’s too bad that both of them didn’t go off _ through the pass hunting for us,” said Paul. At that moment Toby uttered a loud exclama- tion of terror, and pointed to Suzanne’s feet. f in the act an effort to recover the fugitives. —
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CHAPTER. XII.—What Paul Found in the Spur of the Range. Paul saw Suzanne’s danger, and on the spur of the moment he seized his revolver and fired at the snake’s head, killing the reptile instantly. The re- port of the weapon naturally startled Kettler, and drew his attention in that direction. He saw the white smoke rising from the fringe of the bushes and he became greatly excited. His first im- pression was that the pocket had been invaded by their enemies, and that he had been fired upon, so he hastily jumped behind the shelter of the wagon to get out of range. He felt that his position was desperate, as he had no weapon to defend himself with—the only guns. the party possessed being the depty sheriff’s stolen re- volvers, now in possession of Murdock and’ Noach. “The fat is in the fire now,” said Paul, ruefully. “No use staying here any longer. Let’s make a break for that rascal and put him out of business while we have the chance. If he has a revolver, and draws it on us don’t hesitate to shoot him, Suzanne.” Paul sprang from the bushes, pistol in hand, followed by Suzanne with her rifle ready for in- stant service, while Toby, being neither. armed nor very valliant, followed more leisurely, and with many misgivings as to what was about to ' happen. ; “You go around the other side of the wagon. Suzanne, and cut him off that way while I take him in front,’’ said Paul. Kettler being caught at a disadvantage threw up his hands when so ordered by Paul. “Here, Toby,” ordered his business associate, “see if you can find some pieces of rope in the wagon to tie this fellow with.” : Toby hastened to get the cords which the ras- cals had used to bind himself and Suzanne. ‘ While Paul and Suzanne covered the discomfited scoundrel, the fat boy bound his hands behind his back and tied his legs together. He» had searcely completed the job when Murdock and Noach, who had heard the report of the revolver, came on the scene, weapons in hand. They stopped at the mouth of the defile, to take a hasty survey of the pocket in order to determine the trouble, and it was not many moments before they grew wise to the situation. They recognized Paul Scott at once, and at the same time saw their late prisoners. As there was nothing very formid- able in the appearance of these three young peo- ple, Murdock and Noach concluded that they could overpower them. So they rushed forward with shouts of triumph, both of them firing at Paul as he stood out in full view. One of’the bullets carried away a lock of the boy’s hair, and ha ‘staggered back and slipped to the ground. Suzanne, with a cry of anger and distress, covered Noach in a twinkling with her rifle and pulled the trigger. Simultaneous with the sharp crack of the weapon the scoundrel threw up his ‘hands, uttered a terrible cry and fell forward on his face. A second report ~followed: an- instant later and Murdock went down on the grass like a stricken deer. By that time Paul was picking ‘himsel up. Suzanne dropped her rifle and ran to him widh the deepest concern on her face. wrt?” she asked, with tremblin A ROLLING STONE. -and with Toby for driver, and Suzanne sitting b: of his” “Not in the least,” he replied, with a reassurin smile. “The ball glanced alongside my head an knocked me out for the moment, but that is al amounted to.” oe He walked up to Noach and Murdock and « amined them. Each had a streak of blood fic ing from a furrow over the left ear. They he been stunned, but not dangerously wounded. — 3 - turned to the girl’s side and reported the — acts. are “I did not try to kill them,” she said. “TI co pth ah done that. I hit them just as I mean 0 do.” There was no more rope, so Paul tare one of th blankets into strips and used it to bind Murdock and Noach hand and foot. The three bandit: were then hoisted into the van like three sack of meal, Anna Maria was harnessed to the shaft: his side, the wagon started off through the de for the valley beyond, Paul riding behind on ‘ deputy sheriff’s stolen horse. After t through the defile Paul directed Toby to follow him, and he started off ahead for the’place wh his own animal was picketed. It was well in the afternoon, and as both Suzanne and f were about half famished, for the bandits had— secured only a limited quantity of food, Paul called a halt for an early supper, which he plied from the eatables he had brought with “Hat heartily, Toby,” grinned Paul, han his young associate a couple of meat sandwiches after he had first waited on Suzanne. “TI gue I have enough to. fill you up.” east “T hope you have,” gurgled Toby,. bet e huge bites. I feel as hollow as a tube. I’ve eat scarcely anything since yesterday morning.” “You're a second edition of Oliver Twist, aren you?” said Paul, producing a couple of addit sandwiches. Toby had no idea who Oliver Twist was, a had never read the story, so he merely grinned bit into his third sandwich. When the meal ended, Paul mounted his horse, and, leading t} other animal, headed the procession up the vall They reached the upper end of the valley abo dark ‘and halted there for the night, the y people, with a blanket apiece, making themsel: as comfortable as they could under the shadow o1 a spur of the hills. Toby and Suzanne were soc asleep, but Paul felt unusually wakeful. H r on his back, looking* up at the brilliant stars thought how delightful the old hermit would b when he returned Suzanne to her home on th following day. , ee ““He’s a gueer old fellow,’ mused the boy he’s got‘one good streak in him—he’s fond of his niece. I wonder how he made all money he’s got in that brass-bound box? Th must be thousands of dollars there. It’s a thing to have plenty of money. A fellow can anything he wants then. It will take me a goo while to make a fortune selling patent medicine Still, ’m doing pretty well for a chap of my yee I have no right to kick. All the same I would mind if I could find a gold mine, and branch as a young multi-millionaire. I think I’d st pie backery especialy to provide Toby 1 vorite luxury. Dear me, ~ he keeps on he’ ' 2 ane
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A ROLLING STONE w so big I'll have to hire him out to a side- _ He turned over on his side and began listessly to pile up the pebbles within reach, thinking that before he had finished the operation he would drop asleep. The moon rose over the summit of the range and shone down upon the silent little camp. putting the finishing touches to his pile of stones, something bright in the face of the rock a short distance away at- tracted his notice. He got up and walked over to the roc “which the rays of the moon shone with a soft That one particular spot reflecte dull radiance different from any other part of the rock. Paul rubbed his hand over it. : “Tt's-a funny piece of rock,” he mused. going to dig it out as a curiosity.” That was easier said than done. 4 point of his bowie-knife he dug away at it, and finally quite a chunk of the shiny rock came away He examined it in the light of the as Paul was ‘\ rock spur on. oon. oe ie “J wonder if that could ie ee silver ae a asked himself, as he turned if over and over in fie “It looks something like the specks I’ve seen in silver quartz; but this is not quartz, that I ean see; it seems a solid lump of silver ‘rock, I dare say there is more of it in that spur. If it’s real silver I’ve accidentally struck a good thing—maybe a bonanza. If ee t one el is hunk hasn’t any value. - us aise pert knowledge of ores ; person who has an e of ore Oe cece fade If there’s anything in - to pass judgment on it. s i this I can easily find this place again.” CHAPTER XIII.—How. Paul’s Discovery Prom- ises Valuable Results. Paul was up with the sun next morning, and the first thing he did was to take a look at his Murdock and Noach had recovered _ their senses, and from the vigorous way they - showered threats on his head the boy judged they “were not much inconvenienced by their wounds. _ “We'll make noe wish you were never born, you young imp, when we ) again,” agin Murdock, with a vengeful look in -. his fierce eyes, pee ne : yeu wan't have ‘that pleasure, I’m thinking,” ‘yeplied Paul, coolly. ; ees dock received this speech with a volley of Paul was disgusted and left them to ; After a light breakfast in which the - yaseals did not participate, as Paul did not care to - take the chance of unloosening even one of their hands, the journey to San Bruno was resumed. Paul picked out an easier route than that taken “py the bandits on the way to the heart of the range, and.about the middle of the afternoon they eame in sight of the town and the great ocean peyond. When they drove up to the office of the jailer alongside of the jail, a crowd immediately ~ eollected. He found that the deputy sheriff was absent with a posse on a still hunt for the escaped prisoners. The jailer was the most surprised man ‘town when Paul notified him that he had the three rascals in the van ready for delivery to him. “Why, when did you go out. et our hands on you “T went alone the day before yesterday.” “You went alone! Oh, come now, what are you giving me?” replied the jailer, incredulously. ; “[’m giving you nothing but the truth. You know I reported to you that my wagon and my assistant were missing, don’t you?” : The man nodded. & : “Well, I discovered that the bandits had taken the yan, carrying off not only my helper, but Suzanne Norwood, old Matthew Scrage's’ niece.” “This is the first I’ve heard about it.” ‘ “Mr. Scraggs did not report the matter for rea sons he considered good. However, to continue . with the facts, I started off on my own hook to see if I could find any trace of the villains, and "I succeeded in tracking them to their new hiding- “place.” \ : “You did!” djaculated the surprised official. —_- “T did. I hardly expected to do anything with these fellows. My plan was to aid Miss Norwood and my associate to escape at the first chance, when the rascals happened to be off their guard. This scheme missed fire on the lines originally intended, but it led to a fight with the villains, the upshot of which was we captured the three of them, and I am now ready to deliver them to you.” — “T hate to say that I doubt your story,” replied the jailer, jumping to his feet‘and calling two of his assistants; “but when I see the rascals with my own eyes Yl be convinced.” ; In one minute the jailer had evidence enough to banish his disbelief. He was tickled to death at getting his alipbery. prisoners back again, an you may be sure he lost no time in hustling them ~ back. into the prison. After that he took no further chances with them, but posted a guard — outside the window until the return of the deputy sheriff from his unsuccessful expedition, when t bandits were taken under a strong guard to § Luis, and lodged in a strong jail. In spite of Murdock’s boasting, they did not escape a second time, but being tried and convicted were sent to the State prison for fifteen years apiece. In rec- ognition of Paul’s services in achieving their re- capture, the town of San Bruno yoted him a re-— ward of three hundred dollars, while the county — presented him with the standing reward of two thousand for their capture. It was dark, on the day that Paul returned with his prisoners to San Bruno, before the tide was low enough for him to accompany Suzanne back to the cove. 2 window, “He is suffering a world of anxiety on my account. How happy he'll be to have me back again!” : é “Tt will be something of a surprise to him to se you back so soon,” said Paul. “I left him in ¢ hopeful frame of mind, but I have no doubt he has since had misgivings of the ultimate success om my little expedition.” eae They ascended the path in the rocks and Paul knocked lustily on the. door. X ; “Who is there?” asked the old hermit, after a moment’s delay. a NR “Paul Scott,” replied the boy. er eee # The door was quickly unbarred and unchained As it swung ‘open on its heavy hinges, Paul wa surprised to see the great change which had _ over Matthew Seraggs in the short time since Saw him last. He d to have aged
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His straggling hairs looked whiter than ever, and “his deep-set eyes burned like coals of living fire -far back under his shaggy, overreaching eyebrows. pen He looked thinner than ever, for he had scarcely » eaten anything to speak, of since the morning he received Murdock’s letter and understood the peril which threatened Suzanne. ~ “You are back, Paul Scott,” he said in a hollow voice, which had a strangely pathetic ring in it. “Vou have failed then to.find my little sunbeam— “my Suzanne. I feared you would not sucteed. Those rascals are too clever to be easily outwitted. - To-morrow I will take the money to the spindle rock and——” “You will do nothing of the sort, Mr. Scraggs,” - replied Paul. “Suzanne is safe.” “Suzanne is safe!” he gasped in a fluttering voice. “Are you telling me the truth. Paul “Scott?” he asked with plaintive eagerness. “Yes,” “Then where is she? Where is my little girl?” Suzanne, who had been standing back in the shadows while Paul was breaking the news to the old man, could curb her impatience no longer. “Here, uncle. Here am, safe and uninjured,” ‘and she darted forward and sprang into his arms. ‘Paul stepped into the cabin after her and closed the door. The old hermit was well nigh overcome by the unexpected reappearance of his niece, whom he loved so dearly, and whose absence under Such terrible circumstances had been a sore trial to him. He seemed hardly to believe the evidence of his eyes, and looked at her in a dazed kind of way. But the pressure of her warm lips to his, and the twining hold of her arms around his neck, ‘soon brought conyiction to his senses, and he ca- ressed her fondly, and thanked heaven that she had been restored to him. - “nd did Paul Scott save you, my little one? Am I to thank him for this great blessing which has come to me to-night?” “Yes, uncle. He tracked his wagon, in which those bandits carried us off, far into the wilds of the range. His friend Toby was also in the power ‘of those men. We made up our minds to try and escape from them yesterday when we thought we ‘saw a chance. But we surely would have been: recaptured but for Paul: He’deserves all your thanks, uncle. I shall never forget how good and ‘brave he was to come to my rescue.” The old man at once turned to Paul and ex- pressed his gratitude in heartfelt language. - Paul accepted an invitation to stay there that night. In fact he had no other course, as the tide had by this time cut off the passage around he point. Suzanne immediately started in to the hermit had very little of anything to eat in ‘the cabin. : ; - However, they made the best of the situation, and as the girl was about fagged out, she went to her room as soon as the meal was disposed of. Before Paul spread the blanket which was given 1 to miake a bed of, he thought about the silver- looking stone in his pocket, and drawing it out hawed it to Matthew Scraggs. He examined it tively. ere did you find this?” asked the old man lly, inva tone that fairly trembled with eager- as he looked into the boy’s face. : _ certain part of the mountains throcgh Come “A ROLLING STONE epare supper, which was not very extensive, as” - you'll have any piteade es i which we passed, real silver?” “Do I think? Why, Paul Scott, itis silver. A ~ chunk of the pure virgin metal.” tas “Do you mean that, Mr. Scraggs? Are you cer- — tain you are not making a mistake?” Fee “T am making no mistake. I am thoroughly: familiar with metallurgy. This specimen is ge- — nuine silver ore. There must be more, tons of it, where you found this. Lose no time, but go back. — and stake out a claim. Stay, I will go with you — and show you how to do it. -We must comply with _ the law, and yet take full advantage of our rights. ; The discovery is yours, and [ will see that so far as my knowledge of surface indications will de- — cide that the cream of this lode shall come to you. After that it is only right that Suzanne and I and your associate should have the preference over strangers, who will flock to the spot as soon as — the news of this silver find becomes known. Ata I not right?” BS “You are, Mr. Scraggs.” ig “i Thus the matter was settled, and Paul retired to rest, an excited and happy boy. = Do you think it can possibly be “Your dream is likely to come true, for that chunk of virgin silver you showed me last night tells its own story. You said you broke that off from the face of the rock.” ee: “I did, night before last, and I am ready to lead you to the spot and point out the place where [_ dug it out with my bowie.” , x “Very well, are you ready to start to-day for that particular spot in the range where you found the specimen?” : 3 ® “I am ready any time you are, Mr. Seraggs.” Then you and I will providé ourselves wit shovels and picks, and a week’s supply of provi- sions, and go there alone. Your friend Toby can remain here with Suzanne and keep her company while we are away.” res ae will travel in the yan, I suppose?” es. i iant Then we can bring away a quantity of the ore which we can have asayed in San Luis.” “All right. As soon as I can get out of t cove I will make all- necessary preparations for the trip, and will drive up to the other side of the point for you. I suppose I can leave my. stock of patent remedies here, as it would be foolish carry the stuff with us.” m4 . “There is a small cave in the rocks down on he beach where you can store your stuff for the Ps ent. It will be quite safe there. But if your pedition pans out as I fancy it will, I don further use for your s et
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-_ . The old man took up the fish and carried them into the cabin, where Suzanne was already up and stirring about, making preparations for break- fast. An-hour after the meal the tide had receded far enough to enable Paul to walk around the point. He found Toby eagerly looking for his own breakfast. Hitching Anna Maria to the wagon, he first took Toby to the hotel, and then drove to a hardware store where he purchased the ~ necessary implements for their surface mining operations. Then he laid in a stock of provisions, -_with a few necessary cooking utensils. ~~ After that he drove back to the hotel and found the fat boy waiting for him outside. “Jump up; Toby,” said Paul. “You're going to spend a few days at the cove with Suzanne. Her - unele and JT are going off into the country on business.” - €f don’t mind,” replied the fat boy; “but I Hope ‘you won't forget to buy mea half dozen nice, juicy pies.” : _ “I will get you the pies at a bakery down the street. From the quantity of pies you consume me ought to be a very pieous boy,” chuckled ul aul. “More likely from the rate I eat pies that I _ should turn a pie-rate,” snickered Toby. trunk and the boxes of -cough mixture and ‘salve were transferred to the cave. Then the old hermit ana Suzanne appeared. = : “So you and Uncle Matthew are going off into the wilderness somewhere, are you?” she said jaughingly to Paul. | : ; We are bound on a voyage of discovery, Miss - Suzanne,” grinned the boy. ; “J suppose there isn’t any use‘of my asking where you are going? [ asked uncle, but he + wouldn't gratify my curiosity. He is too provok- ingly mysterious,” she added with a pout. ¥ “You shall know all about it when we come pack,” replied Paul. “I am going to leave Toby jn your charge. I hope you will see that he doesn’t overeat himself. I’d advise you to lock - those half-dozen pies up, and give him only half of one each day.” ! “Oh, my!” gasped the fat boy. “Don’t do that.” Don’t worry, Toby,” laughed Suzanne. “T’'ll see ‘that you shan’t suffer.” : - “Tf you spoil him while I’m gone, Miss Suzanne, T’ll hold you responsible,” said Paul. ‘The girl laughed and Toby grinned, then Paul nd the hermit got on the seat of the van, bade uzanne and the fat youth good-by, and drove off oward the mountain range. Paul and Matthew eraggs arrived at their destination about dark hat day. Next morning after they had made a hasty meal the boy led the old man to the place n the rock spur where he haa chipped out the A ROLLING STONE The van dyvew up near the point, and-Paul’s . , “Well, we can take up four claims, at any rate, ~ and what is left can go to the public,” said Paul. The boundaries of the four claims were ac+ cordingly properly defined. It was subsequently decided that the four should be pooled, and thi — Paul should be entitled to three-fifths of the re- sults obtained from the claims, and that the her- mit, Suzanne and Toby should divide the other two-fifths among them. That‘afternoon Paul and Matthew Scraggs attacked the spur with pick and shovel, and obtained specimens of silver ore that prstonee to assay several thousand dollars to the on. nae “As far as I can determine,” said the old man, ~ “this ledge shows phenomenal values. The high- grade streak runs here, starting at the foot-wall | ofthe vein. It is several inches wide wherever we have dug into it, and I should say roughly it ought to easily yield $15,000 to $18,000 to the ton. There is another streak over here,” continued Mr. Serages, jabbing his pick into the rock, “that seems to be twelve or fourteen inches wide which — we will investigate further to-morrow. It is unusual to uncover such rich values right on the surface, and is due to the unusual conformation of — the mountain at this point.” Pee os They desisted from further work for the day, — and spent the remaining hours’ of the afternoon figuring upon the probable value of thé lode, and the best method of turning the rock-imprisoned silver ore into real money. firs That night Paul dreamed that the cove was piled high with brass-bound boxes filled with — silver dollars, and that every one of them be- ~ longed to him. : tere x ria Sah, ey CHAPTER XV.—A Rolling Stone at Last Be- © % comes Stationary. , Paul and Matthew Scraggs spent the greater eo part of a week investigating the silyer lode, and then with the van well filled with marked speci: mens of the quartz they started for San Luis. These specimens were left at the assay office, and the results awaited with intense interest by Paul. The two took up their quarters at the hotel Paul and Toby had patronized for their meals when they were in the town two weeks before. They had nothing to do but wait for the report of the — rae assay office. ; a “By the way, Mr. Scraags,” said Paul on the afternoon of their arrival in town, “do you mind telling me why you went to live in such a lone-— < some place as the cove?” aes “I went to live there,” the hermit replied, “be cause I wanted to withdraw myself as far as pos- sible from association with the world.” ; — thal wes your ret ae couldn’t have se- e a better spot to live unless you 0 Bee pee a spices oe Be 2 ound nothing but knavery and ingratitude — in the world,” went on the old teans éand I ste - tired of it all. I had the cabin built upon those — rocks, though the people of San Bruno were not — slow in saying I was crazy to select such a place for a habitation. I let.them talk, for my like _and dislikes were my own, and for their opinion _ T cared inl ed Still I did not seek came int ye
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* chest of money I made many presents to the Church, for I feared that some time an attempt might be made to rob me, and I wanted to rely on the San Bruno authorities for help in case I required it. I arranged that system of signals— ~<a smoke rocket by day, a fire rocket by night— to notify the town when I was in danger or in trouble.” “Tt is a great scheme,” answered Paul. “Tt gradually became known as the hermit of San Bruno, and to this title was added that of - miser, not because any one knew that I had much - money, but because it suited the whim of the ' people to call me so. Aside from Suzanne, you and those three bandits are the only persons who have actually seen that chest and its contents. I dare say you wonder how I came into posS8es- - gion of so much money.” “Pm not worrying about it, Mr. Scraggs. It’s none of my business how you got it. I am sure you came by it honestly, for you don’t look like a man who, would be guilty of a crime.” “I thank you for your good opinion, Paul Scott. — You're a good, straightforward boy, after my own heart. I feel that you are one of the few I have _ met in this world who are worthy of trust. An up to be such, and for that reason I’ value your acquaintance, and thoroughly trust you. For that reason I rejoice that you have discovered this sil- wer lode, for you will not squander its value in a _ thousand and one foolish ways, like so many are prone to do.” “T pope not, Mr. Scraggs.” ; ; “The money I haye—and there is thirty thou- sand dollars in gold and silver coin in that brass- ‘pound box—would bring me many luxuries if I yearned for such; but its possession is the only z desuty I crave for. I love to handle it; to count and recount it at my leisure; and to dream what it ~ will some day do for Suzanne when I am dead ‘and gone. The possession of that money alone _. makes me feel at ease concerning her future. 1 believe that heaven sent it to me for her sake.” “Then you did not earn it yourself?” “No. I have owned many times that amount at yvarious times in my life; but I have lost every dollar. I -have been remorselessly robbed right and left by men in whom I reposed implicit faith, and that is the reason why the world and I came to fall out.” : “Tf you’ve been swindled as you say, I don’t “wonder that you soured on the world. -I’d hate to tbe skinned myself.” “That chest of money came to me in a strange --way,” went on the old man, with a far-away look A ROLLING STONE then it was that I found that brass-bound box ‘child, Suzanne, was thrown upon the world. I at — honest and true man is one of the noblest works © of God—and the scarest. I believe you will grow © fishing as was my custom among those rocks, and jammed into a crevice near the shore. I could not move it as it stood—it was too heavy. Singular to say, a key was in the lock, so I had no difficulty in opening it. Then I discovered that it was ful of coined money. I lost no time, you may guess in carrying its contents up to the cabin, and then — when the chest was empty I had little trouble in — conveying that up the rocky path to my dwelling. — The identity of the lost vessel was never dis covered, and the money consequently became honestly mine. Soon afterward my only sister, vho was living in Los Angeles, died, and her once took her to the cabin, and she has ever since_ lived with me.” ; Si Two days later they got the report of the assa offite, and it bore out Matthew Scraggs’ estimate: almost to the letter. Paul, after a consultatio with the hermit, decided to go to Los Angeles and to the San Luis mountains, and the reports tha came back set mining speculators by the ears. — Paul had a dozen offers for his rights, one syn-— dicate offering him a million dollars in cash. declined to accept the offer, and found no difficu in forming the company he had in view, which called the San Luis Mining and Milling Company, which he capitalized at $10,000,000. While Par had himself elected as president of the enterpris he persuaded Mr. Scraggs to assume the manage- ment of the company. Paul’s company was the only one that had easy sailing from the start, for many hundreds of tons- of rich ore lay on an close to the surface of his claims, and he w: able to begin shipments at once. Finally the syn- dicate which had made him the original offer. of $1,000,000 for the whole thing submitted anoth offer of $5,000,000, and this, on the hermit’s ad. vice, he accepted. Two millons of this amou was divided between Matthew Scraggs, Suzann d Toby, as originally arranged. As for Pa limself, he found himself a millionaire thre times over. A few months ago Paul reached hi twenty-first birthday, and he celebrated the occa sion by uniting himself in marriage to Suzanne Norwood, when the old hermit bestowed his bless- ing and his share of the San Luis Mining | pany’s profits on the bride, retaining’ only ¥ money in the old brass-bound chest at the ca where he still lives at a hale and hearty age. Next week’s issue will contain “NEVER. § DIE; or, THE YOUNG SURVEYOR OF HAPP VALLEY.” gee es 27 YARBS OF FINGERNAILS IN LIFETIMI
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-- needles was placed in a cancerous growth. NEEDLES OF RADIUM LOST The Medical Record, New York, relates that _ the treatment of a charity patient in an Okla- -~ homa City hospital has resulted in the loss of radium valued at between $3,000 and $3,500 by a group of doctors in that city. The radium in two The patient disappeared with the radium, and police investigation has failed to reveal any trace of his whereabouts. FOSSILS DISCOVERED THROUGH X-RAYS A curious application of the X-rays to the dis- - eovery of unseen things has been made by Pro- fessor Lemoine at Rheims. The chalk strata in that part of France contains the fossil bones of birds. reptiles and mammals, and frequently these are shattered in the attempt at removal, It oc curred to Professor Lemoine that the embedded fossils mights be photographed by the aid of X-rays, since the latter pass readily through ~~ chalk but are largely intercepted by the phos- ' phates of bones. The resulting photographs clearly indicated the details of the hidden fossils. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ‘CURRENT NEWS FLOUR SACKS AS UNDERWEAR Several thousand American flour sacks of cot-~ ton have been turned into underclothes for little ones in Japan, whose garments were destroyed in the quake, say travelers returning here. A semicircle, but from the seamed end, affords a hole for the neck and slicing off each corner adjacent permits the arms to wave freely. In most instances the lettered advertisements- re- main, with the result that many local cities in the United States are well known to the young folks. UTILIZING SEWER GAS An Australian engineer has put sewer gas to work driving an engine. He built a sixteem — horsepower plant and collected the gas which emanated from the septic tanks of his town of Parramatta ‘to use as fuel for his engine. The supply turned out to be so sure that the plant can : be left to run for days at a time without any at- tention. ts In this particular installation the work is mere- _ ly to pump out the sewage itself; but neverthe- less it saved the cost of the coal. Z - TAKE NOTICE! MYSTERY MAGAZINE, No. 152 -.. is now on the newsstands and contains the marvelous mystery. story — “WEAPONS OF HATE” “By ERIC HOWARD It should be read by every boy who is interested in detective tales. The beginning of a new Sexial of intense interest, “RED MURRAY — KIDNAPER” : by J. B. WARRENTON, also appears in this number. The short stories which this issue contains are of special interest to our _ |] readers, The titles are ~~ THE KALONG KISS, by Douglas M. Dold WHISPERING EYES, by Ernest A. Phillips THE BARSTOW CASE, by J.. Werner Phelps CAT-FEATHERS, by Oliver Guy Magee RSS All of these stories were selected™from among our best writers.and hold the © 1 _reader’s interest from beginning to end. ; AND ALL FOR THE MODEST PRICE OF TEN CENTS!
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aa 22 ~ ate sister. App a THE ADVENTURES OF TWO BOY PROSPECTORS By GASTON GARNE , (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER XXIII, Trouble All Around. “T’ll look out for her, boss,” replied the Mestizo, “and do you look out for yourself. Tony is a bad one when the pulque is in him, and there is no telling where he and Ramon may be.” “T have the rifle,’ was the answer. “It was here in the cavern, boys,” he added, and, as he spoke, Doctor Furman picked it up and ted. the way to the ladder. Although nothing had been said by Doctor Fur- man, Jack understood instinctively that this re- turn to the Desert Home meant the burial’of the dead. They ascended to the upper cave and passed out on the ledge, seeing nothing of Ramon nor Tony. “T suppose I can carry my nugget,” said Jack, when they found themselves down on the desert. “Certainly. Why not?” was the reply. They pushed on as rapidly as possible, and in due time reached the ranch. “We want to be cautious now,” said the Poot “Tony is a dangerous proposition, and if Ramon is drunk he may prove just as bad.” But they could see nothing of either, nor had they seen anything of Dr. Glick and the car. Arthur having told of the money bag, they -went to Glick’s room and got it. The doctor sfalonn it in an old grip along with some of his longings, Edna’s room was then visited, and a suit-case was filled with such articles of clothing as she had requested her father to get. It seems a shame to abandon all these things,” gaid Jack. “It must have cost You a small for- tune to bring the furniture in here.” “Tt did,” replied the doctor. “They were all . hauled across the desert from Prescott by a mule- team driven by Pedro’s father, who. was a most faithful man. He had been insane, but he en- tirely récovered under my treatment. I regretted his death immensely. But now, Jack, we have two graves todig, for I shall not ‘leave poor Andy unburied.” : They went right at it, digging the graves in the garden just back from the shore of the lake. Here, wrapped in sheets, the dead were interred. The doctor personally attended to his unfortun- Jack did not even see her:face. It was a relief to the boy when it was all over. He then got the nugget from under the bed, = they started back for the cave. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Wrecked On The Desert They reached the foot of the range and began the ascent. Jack had the suitcase and the nug- get, while the doctor carried the grip and the rifle. The door leading into the cave had been left unlocked but closed. When they reached it they found it wide open. ; “Now who has been here?” breathed the does tor, setting down the grip. “We must be on our guard.” It was too dark inside to see much. The doctor stepped in and groped for the lantern, which he had left in a certain place but failed to find it.” He came out hastily, and so informed Jack ina ~ whisper. “Pm afraid this is Tony and Ramon’s work,” he said. ‘They may be lurking inside there. Still, there is little chance that they can have diseov- ered my trap-door, That was known only to~™ Edna, Manuel and myself. Manuel swears he did not give it away.” He; had scarcely spoken when a dull crash was heard in the darkness, proceeding, seemingly, from underground, “What in the world was that?” exclaimed Jack. “My dear boy, it can be but one thing, Pm afraid,” grasped the doetor, ‘ der falling. We must instantly know!” 3 He struck a match, and again entered the cave, ‘and that is the lad- but a draught of cooler air struck the match and extinguished it. “The trap is. open!” cried the doctor, striking another, and so it proved, for this: time the light did not fail. gone. down the ladder,” cried the doctor. He bent down over the hole and shouted: _ “Hello, down there! Tony—Ramon. Hello!” A wild laugh was the answer, and then some- thing was shouted in Spanish. “Now may Heaven preserve my dear child!” groaned Doctor Furman. “They have captured all hands, Jack, They have learned the secret of the river; they ae off win the gold!” * * poe Tack Aad. war ied left the lower cave, Arthur sat talking with Edna, while Manuel : finished loading the boats. The bags all stowed away, there was still room enough for everybody, and a trifle to spare, Man- uel now put in certain baskets of provisions which he had brought from the other cave. This done, he filled his pipe and sat down to rest and smoke, Suddenly Edna heard footsteps. “Father and Jack must be coming,” she said. She sprang up and hurried to where the ‘rocks took the turn to meet them. Arthur, following her with his eyes, saw her” vanish around the wall, but instantly she reap- peared running. ’ “Oh, Arthur!” she called. amon! ce Pedro, who had been’ asleep, sprang to his feet. ae “Shoot them, senor!” he cried. “Shoot them, “It’s Tony and Ras ; Not only was the trap open, but the ladder was © “They have cut the rope-lashings and ‘pulled a ais -_“ m, or they'll kill us sure, same as they killed Andy ~ and Juan.” Arthur drew the revolver and staggered to his _ feet, having all he could do to balance himself. — (To. be continued.) Le a
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FAME _AND FORTUNE WEEKLY a GOOD READING * DEER BREAK STORE WINDOWS Shortly after 3 o’clock the other morning sev- eral officers heard a crash of glass and ran to the store at 98 Main street, Worcester, Mass., where a large pane had been shattered. * és ‘Believing the store was being robbed, the of- ~ ficers sprinted and arrived in time to see two deer leap from the store windew and run away ‘through Market street. A short time later a policeman reported that he had seen the two deer, one with antlers, on a nearby street, headed toward Green Hill park. RAT SKINS SELL WELL It is proposed to establisH a business in Cal- eutta of procuring and preparing the skins of the - frown rat, which is very numerous in that me- tropolis of India. Tt has been found that the skin of this animal is well adapted to a variety of purposes, such-as the binding of books, the making of purses, gloves “and other articles. It is said that“already the traffic in this commodity amounts to about $250,- - 000 a year in Great Britain and advertisements _ have appeared for supplies of skins of the brown rat in lots of from 100 to 10,000. 2 ; It is expected that a very profitable industry on this order can be established in Calcutta. 5 3 4 —_————— - PAYS EMPLOYEES $411,000 IN BONUS ~ Four hundred and eleven somone dollars was distributed recently to employees of Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company of Yonkers as the ~ twenty-sixth semi-annual dividend according to the firm’s bonus plan started in 1911. This brings the total bonuses paid sihce that tinte to $5,808,- 000. ; : The plan was instituted by Alexander Smith chran, former husband of Ganna Walsa, the ~ present Mrs, Harold F. McCormick. Under the lan employees are paid according to their prior- + of employment and to the nature of their avork. Percentages range from 2 to 15 per cent. ‘of employees’ wages for the preceding six months. There are 6,628 employees of the company. Bach received a bonus. he distribution was ‘about $600 per man, but because of the sliding e scale older emiployges received much more than this and newer ones less. When the plan was stituted in 1911 there were about 1,100 em- loyees. : « ; STAMP ISSUE FOR MANZONI Italy is taking a leading place among the untries of the world in issuing commemorative postage stamps. A series of six values will soon appear to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Alessandro Manzoni, who is called e founder of the romantic school in Italian lit- a This will be the fifth commemorative is- ie by : . - to ch made its ap- yy Sir and scenes from that work will be depicted on- four of the new stamps. A picture of the house in which Manzoni was born in Milan in 1785 will appear on one stamp, and on the highest value, 5 lire. will be his portrait. reek Manzoni lived to be 88, dying on May 22, 1873, and he is buried in Milan, Verdi’s Requiem was_ composed especially in his memory. It is inter- esting to note that in early life he was regarded — as a dunce in school. Besides his great work he — composed several poems and tragedies, including a famous lyric on the death of Napoleon in 1821. In 1921 Italy issued a set of three stamps in commemoration of Dante and in the following year a set was issued in honor of Mazzini. In- 1921 there also appeared a commemorative set in honor of the third anniversary of the victory of the Piave, and another set to celebrate the re- — union of the former Venetian territory, long i possession of Austria, with Italy. The first Itali commemorative stamps appeared in 1910 to cele — brate the fiftieth anniversary of the freedom of — Sicily. There were two values bearing a portrait — of Garibaldi, and later in the same year anothe1 sot “nlso with Garibaldi’s. head. was issued on th fiftieth anniversary of the national plebiscite c the Southern States. This was followed in 191 with the Italian Kingdom jubilee set, and in 1912, when the Campanile at Venice was re-erected two special stamps were issued to commemora’ that event. 2 “Mystery Magazine” SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A CO — LATEST IssuRs — ae: 145 ON THE YELLOWS. by Fronk Blighton, 146 THRE ARGENTINE RUBY, by Beulah and Shirley — Poynter. 147 THE BARRINGTON ARMS CASE, by Jnck Bech HOU! DED. by Frank Blighton z 149 DPTRECT ACTION. by Dr. Harry .Enton. iN RS 150 THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE CELLING, by Cha: ™ Onursier. : ES The Famous Detective Story Out Today in 152 Ig * ° ni WEAPONS OF HATE HARRY E. WOLFY, Publisher, Inc. 166 West 23d Street, dolt 148 151 THE ONE CHANCE, by Thomas Ripley. By ERIC HOWARD “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and PI ‘PRICE EIGHT CENTS PER COP Each number contains Three Stories of the Best on the Screen—Elegant Half-tone Seenes‘from the Interesting Articles About Prominent People ir e Films—Doings of Actors and Actresses’ in the Stud and Jiessons in Seenario Writing. _ pe HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, } 6 West 23d Street — tee em
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- FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY "INTERESTING RADIO NEWS AND HINTS” AA — When you use a variometer between the aerial and ground for tuning it is preferable to also eonnect in series with the ground a variable con- f denser of about forty-three plates. When testing, the “B” battery will soon be ~~ yuined by testing it by means of the spark. Such R action short circuits the battery. Such battery should be tested with a voltmeter, never by an ammeter. 7 A regenerative set is equal to a non-regenera- - tive set using one stage of radio frequency with regeneration unless you are technically inclined. Radio frequency will amplify a weak signal so - that the detector tube will rectify it, but as a - yule a regenerative set will accomplish practically the same results. Radio frequency is employed to amplify weak signals, while audio frequency is employed for giving volume. ~ When outside aérials are not permitted and an inside one is used, connect one end of the _ wire to the aerial connection on yqur instrument, run the wire up to the picture molding, laying it out nice and straight so that it cannot be geen. The distant end is not connected to any- thing. The’ aerial must not be grounded, but the ground wire from the instrument can be con- nected to a radiator or water pipe. All condensers are measurable in units of. elec- “trical capacity. For usual purposes the micro- farad has been chosen for the unit of measure- ment of small condensers used for radio work. Tt is found that, other things being-equal, the capacity of a “ght othe depends upon the num- ber of plates. t other factors also enter into the calculation of condenser capacity; the dielec- tric or separating medium, the distances between the plates and the size of the plates. Thus it is ‘possible, by varying any or all of these factors, - to change one way or the other the capacity of - @ condenser. Varying any one of these factors ___ and keeping, the others constant produces a vari- able condenser. _ “Any one is certainly taking a chance when he - puts eight volts on the filament. of a tube, even ‘if the cells are nearly exhausted. Incidentally, using the battery when it is nearly discharged, - Gs not the best thing for it, as a storage battery should ‘never be allowed to run entirely down. ; a best way is to use only six volts and then, as you have a charging apparatus, charge the outfit up about every third night, if it is\used every evening. @Just connect the charger on be- ‘ore going to bed, and in the morning the bat- tery should be fully charged. It is well to test with a hydrometer, though, as an overcharge is jout as bad for the battery as leaving it fully discharged. Keep the battery at about the same charge and it will last for years. 5 Sonietimes it is advisable to employ a 23-plate condenser across the secondary of a coupler. Its purpose is to aid in tuning the secondary coil thereby rendering better selectivity and in turn tuning out the unwanted stations. Of course if the set is in close proximity to a transmitting — station it is of no use to try and tune the stations ~ out with such an instrument. It will help at times but its main purpose is to tune out stations located at a distance from the receiver. A fixed — condenser must be kept in the circuit if you intend to hear the concerts clearly. The type of — erystal suited for local reception is corborundum, » gelena or one of the synthetic crystals now on the market. DEAD SPOTS The Bureau of Standards. is trying. to de- — termine the cause of “dead spots” in the ether which seem to form an almost impenetrable bar- _ rier between a number of cities in the United States. _Montreal- hears Philadelphia concerts clearly. but sections of New York State which — lie between cannot hear the Quaker City with any’ — intensity. Philadelphians have trouble in hear- — ingeNewark and New York and stations as loud as KDKA at Pittsbungh. At pronounced “dead spot” is reported to exist in the ether tract be- — tween Baltimore and Washington, D. C. “Dead spots” are thought to be caused by partial ab- sorption of the Hertzian waves. iy, Ship stations in Long Island Sound ind it difficult. to establish satisfactory communication with shore stations on the Atlantic side of the island, although the widest point across the island — is only forty miles. When ships are close to — the Jersey coast much difficulty is experienced in establishing radio contact with New York if — the distanced is: over sixty miles. Listeners in Atlantic City report trouble in picking up loud signals from Philadelphia and New York. It is — thought that this may be due to the sandy nature of the soil, which contains metallic particles which have a tendency to absorb the electro- magnet waves. It is known that sand dunes produce a shielding effect. , aoe Signals from Pittsburgh are said to be feeble when they reach Cleveland, and a similar condi- tion exists between Boston and the western se tion of Massachusetts. , It is the opinion of some who have studied the situation that iron deposits in the Monson district serve as a shield and de- _ crease the Boston signal strength in Western — Massachusetts. Since the early days of wire- less it has been thought that the hills and moun-* tains absorb and deflect the Hertzian waves. T naval radio station at Otter Cliffs, Bar Harbo Me., is located in a sort of pocket formed by two mountains. This station is noted for reliable | ception from Eureopean stations and from shi at sea. Distress calls originating 900 miles east of Bermuda have been picked up at Otter Cliff: when no other station along the Atlantic Coast seemed to hear the S. 0. S. Experts advanced the theory that ore deposits in the mot acted as a “back stop” for the waves, deflec them to the antennae in the valley.
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4 Signals in transit across forests have lost much of their power, especially in the Spring and early Summer when the sap and foliage make the trees better conductors of electricity. Radio waves - passing over and through the trees give up en- ergy just as in striking a steel building. If a short length of wire serving as an antenna can absorb sufficient energy from a passing wave to -_ereate a sound which can be heard several hun- dred feet away from the phones, one can realize how much energy may be intercepted by a large steel building with its electric wiring and pipes connected to the ground. Such absorption is par- fe Reeetty noticeable when short wave lengths are fe Sed; _._ When a wave length is eight to fourteen miles long “dead spots” seem to cause little interfer- ence. Such a wave is comparatively long com- pared to steel structures, and for this reason it is thought they do not obstruct the wave’s path to such a great extent. . One theory given to account for “dead spots,” __ ¢hiefly the one supposed to exist between Wash- ington and Baltimore, is that numerous high- ‘tension cables and conduits absorb the radio im- pulses. Yet, despite the great net work of high * tension lines radiating from Niagara Falls, lis- ~~ teners in that locality find it ideal for reception of radio concerts from all directions. - The most plausible theory to explain “dead ‘ spots” seems to be the presence of mineral de- _ posits in the hills and mountains. However, the direction in which the transmitting aerial and the receiving antenna points has a great deal to do with the strength of signals from different staticns. Ships have been known to receive strong signals from distant stations when sud- -denly a shift in the course would point-the an- ‘tenna in a different direction and the signals would become faint. If the antenna extends east and west with the lead-in taken off the western end, it will be most suitable for reception from’ Imagination coupled with the direc- - tional effect of the antenna has ‘helped many radio listeners to have a vision of “dead spots” in the ether. THE DIODE VALVE During the last summer the reflex mode of eception gained a wide usage among radio fans who want a circuit that will work on dry cell ubes—a circuit for a portable set. ‘Eyen now there is a demand for a single tube or two tube reflex receiver for use by the he- inner who wants to make the tubes perform ouble or triple duty as a radio frequency am- lifier, an audio frequency amplifier, and some- times also as a detector. ee Most of .the simple reflex circuits, however, ave made use of the crystal rather than the cuum tube as a detector. This, of course, implifies things enormously: there is one less ube used, there is also less drain on the “A” and 3” batteries and the circuit is also less com- cated. And yet there is not any appreciable loss in signal strength because the radio fre- ency signal has been amplified to such an ex- ent that the sensitivity of the crystal does not ike very much difference. : There is one serious drawback to the use of a enable you to compare the tw n one of these single tube tection for yoursel ‘as See reflex sets nevertheless. This is in the matter , of adjustment. The operator has to be forever fooling with the “catwhisker“ and eventually he becomes tired of it and gives up in disgust. This is not so when more than one stage of radio fre- quency amplification is used, because the radio ~ frequency signal then becomes so: strong that the crystal adjustment makes relatively little difference. : Another drawback with the erystal detector ig a pie single tube crystal reflex receiver is the fact that such a simple set seldom makes use of a potentiometer for controlling regeneration.. It is all done with the crystal adjustment. In other words, they may have the set work- ing nicely, receiving signals from WHN, and wish to change to another wave length; say, to listen to WJZ on a higher wave length. As soon as they tune to WJZ they find him sur- — rounded by a peculiar whistle and must change the adjustment of the crystal before they have the signals coming in again. A change back to the original, wave length again necessitates a change in crystal adjustment to take out the “squeak,” ae A Fleming valve, or Diode tube as it is called by one manufacturer, is one of the original ~ vacuum tubes having two elements, a filament and a plate. The tube when used as a detector alone, without any radio frequency amplification, is a steady, reliable detector. Stag The tube used in this way has two distinct advantages in the reflex set. It produces as good _ a signal as the crystal; it needs no adjustment — for sensitivity, and it requires no further ad- — justment for wave length changes. Set the fila- — ment rheostat to the most sensitivé point and the set is ready at all times. ; The parts necessary to build the set are: A 1, — variocoupler; Bl, variable condenser .0005 mfd; C 1, radio frequency transformer; D 1, audio frequency transformer (for first stage); E 1, WD12 vacuum tube; F 1, Diode tube; G 1, fixed — condenser*.001 mfd; H 1, 1% volt dry cell; I 1, small “A” battery, 45 volts; J 2, rheostats, 6 ohms, Diode tube socket; M 1, pair phones; N, panel; O, cabinet; P, connecting wire; Q, bind- ing posts; R, solder. 5: In building the set-the best procedure would be to mount the variocoupler on the left end of — the panel (looking from the front) with the variable condenser beside it. The two rheostats should -be mounted next, beside the condenser, with the WD-12 and the Diode tube directly in back of them, respectively. Then mount the two transforemrs on the base in such a manner that the connections will be as short as possible. 2 In wiring up the set, connect the two fixed condensers, one across the primary of the audio _ frequency transformer and the other across the _ phones and the “B” battery. Keep all the wires as short as you are able to and keep the grid. - connections isolated from the other parts of the wiring as much as possible. y If you already have a one, two or three tube reflex set with a crystal detector you may use one of these tubes, obtaining an extra rheostat, a dry cell of 1% volts and connect it directly to your present crystal detector stand. This — o methods of ee 7 Se
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26 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY NEW YORK, MARCH 14, 1924 Centy $1 00 a 2.00 ue £00 _HOW TO SEND MONEY —At our risk send P. O. Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk, We accept Postage . Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap ~ the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting ‘the envelope. Write your mame and address plainly. . Address letters to HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., 166 W. 28d St., N. Y. | ee ITEMS OF INTEREST _-- ‘HOUND RUNS FOX TWO DAYS ' Starting with a pack of nine other canines, in a chase for a fox, a thoroughbred fox-hound, ~ owned by C. D. Mitchell of Farmer City, Ill., ran ae for two days and six hours before it finally fell exhausted. All of the dogs with the* single ex- ception gave up the chase, The owner supposed that an accident had befallen the missing ani- mal. ; ~~ During the afternoon of the second day, after the chase started, a farmer near Onarga noticed ~ a fox limping along and, a short time afterward, ahound. The latter fell exhausted after making an unsuccessful attempt to get through a fence. A tag on the collar denoted the owner. _ The dog’s feet were raw and bleeding from the long run and it is*believed to have followed the fox for fifty to seventy-five miles, probably run- ning in a circle. ; a Charles E. Nylander, Sec. Harry E. Wolff, Pres. L. F. Wilzin, Treas. Wes A METER FOR THE COAL CHUTE _ From England comes the announcement of the. gnvention of a registering meter for measuring ‘fine coal, grain, or other material which is loaded through chutes. - ‘The device consists of a bar of metal, twisted to form a screw of very long pitch, which nearly ~ fills the chute. The coal or grain, falling down the chute, flows around this screw and makes it turn. A meter is attached to the screw and ad- - justed so that it registers the quantity of- ma- terial that flows past; the hand on the meter dial gives a direct reading, usually in ounces. The device can be oiled while it is in operation and is easily removed to be cleaned or read- » justed. x It is claimed as the result of experiments that the accuracy of the instrument is within 2 per _ cent. of perfection. 5 2 HINTS ON HOME PLUMBING - - Prevent a plumber’s bill this winter by the stitch in time” method, suggests Miss May wles of the Home Economics Department of sity of Wisconsin. “Know something FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY n your own home — anu Gevermiuie waere it might be improved, know where to turn the water off. «When the house — is to be closed up for a tew days or a week during — a spell of cold weather, it is wise to turn the — water off. Label the cut-off and show every | member of the family what to do when the water — supply needs to be discontinued. : “Be able to reach every part of your plumbing for repairs. Never allow any pipe to be sealed up — in the partition or flooring. -If there is any — trouble, the plumber should be able to get at it without tearing up a part of the house. A plumber’s pump should be owned by every woman. — It can be purchased for a few cents and makes it possible to-clean out clogged pipes without th aid of a plumber. Be careful not to allow coffee grounds or tea leaves into the sink, as they tend to accumulate in the pipes. Greasy water will also cause trouble. oes “Putting a new washer in the faucet is ar other job the housewife can save money on, Cw off the water supply, unscrew the top of the — faucet, unscrew the washer and adjust the new 3f one. Replace the faucet and connect the water — supply. ; a? a, a % LAUGHS “I don’t know what to do with my. son. so irresponsible.” “Get him on reau,” He’s the Weather Bu-_ A little boy who had often heard his father talk about the Civil War, finally asked: “Father, did any one help you put down the Rebellion?” 3 She—Soldiers must be fearfully dishonest. Heiss —why? She—Well, it seems a nightly occurrence — for a sentry to-be relieved of his watch. Parson—Your husband says he always feels so refreshed after-one of my sermons. Mrs. A Yes, a good sleep does refresh one, you know. “Why do you Wear that costume? half-mourning.” come home from the office you complain of be half dead.” a Ma—Willie, what’s your little brother cigs for? Willie—Aw! Just because he don’t want té learn anything. I just took his candy and shi him how ‘to eat it. , ON Wife (on her return home)—Have you noti that my husband’ missed me very much whi was away, Mary? Maid—Well, I didn’t notice so much at first, but yesterday he seemed to be in despair. °
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> ee A FLAMING BIRD People in Western Washington are witness- _ ing the remarkable Spectacle of birds flying through the air, their backs flaming with fire. This is the optical illusion of the Chinese game bird known as the “fireback,” one of the freak pecies imported from the Orient and recently liberated by J. W. Kinney, State Superintendent of Game and Fish. eis, ; - he “fireback,” the male of which is a beauti- - ful bird resembling the pheasant, is an amazing object when flying. The red-feathered back re- eects the sunlight in a flame-like color, giving the impression its body is afire. Other game birds reed in the State are Chinese woodcock, Chuko artridges, sand grouse and bamboo partridges. ‘The gay-colored Mongolian pheasant introduced - a few years ago are now seen by thousands. “oe ie LIONESS KILLS “SUPER” An enraged lioness tore or mauled to death an ged Italian, Augusto Palombi, a “super” in a ving picture company, which was filming “Quo dis,” in Rome, Italy. The entire company wit- nessed the tragedy. ; Several lions and lionesses had been brought to the arena of the circus Mabimus of Nero, _ which wagsconstructed for the pictures. The lion- ess became highly excited, jumped over the bar- : r, landed squarely upon Palombi and-began ring at his flesh and crushing his bones with ler huge paws. Actors and actresses, directors, camera men d “extras” flew in terror from the arena as the ast was mauling its victim. The keepers of the ms beat back the queen of the jungle into her ce inside the arena after they had wounded r several times with pistol shots. A NEW THEORY OF THE ORIGIN . OF MERCURY The origin of the planet oe has been to “degree a puzzle to scientists for some time. \ recently promulgated theory, which European entists pronounce “daring, but rather attract- ve.” states that Mercury was once part of the planet Venus. ; According to Darwin’s theory, the moon was ce a part of the earth, and was torn off during ‘a time of high solar tides, which increased the un’s attracting power enormously. Venus and e earth are nearly alike in size, but Venus is 1 nearer the sun, and if a similar disruption place the displaced part would be larger han one moon and be torn off with more force— uch so that it would escape from its mother net’s attraction entirely and fall into an in- endent orbit of its own around the sun. fact that Mercury has a long rotation cor’ ich: lend FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY BRIEF BUT POINTED tends to sup- support to the idea is the fact that the whiteness of Mercury and that of the moon are nearly alike in degree—their “albedoes,” to put it in scientific language, are practically similar. “PRIVATE DAYZELL” 2 James M. Dalzell, aged 85, more readily known ~ _%o many by his pen name, “Private Dalzell,” vet- eran of two wars, writer, rpg and statesman, — : died on Jan. 29 in his home in Washington. Through special action of the Board of Trus- tees of Washington and Jefferson College last June, Mr. Dalzell received the degree of bachelor of arts 60 years after he left, with other mates in the junior class of that institution, to fight for the Union in the Civil War. His journalistic ex- periences began when he corresponded with news- papers during that conflict, and his pen was ac- tive from then until the time of his death. He declined promotion in the United Army, preferring to remain in the ranks. After the war he took up the study of law and practiced in Caldwell, Ohio, for 80 years. He served two terms in the Ohio Legislature as a Republican an took part in many stirring political com-_ paigns. World War came he volunteered his services in any capacity, but his age would not allow him to see active service. He devoted\much of his time to Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives. HOW WARM SHOULD A ROOM BE? The majority of business offices and homes are kept entirely too warm to provide the best possi ble degree of comfort, health and energy, in the opinion of many competent physicians. In America we have been acctstomed to con- — sider sixty-eight degrees of temperature as about right. And, no doubt, we could all get along very well if this point of temperature was con- stantly maintained, but as a matter of fact 70. and 72 degrees of temperature is the heat we usually work and live in when indoor in the win- ter time. :, The northern ‘European races cannot be con- sidered more warm blooded than Americans, but their homes are never kept as warm as ours and they seem to enjoy good health and migs nothing _ Too much heat in the house ~ by way of comfort. is a frequent cause for coughs and colds. Nor is the practice of sleeping in cold bedrooms after spending the day in superheated living-rooms con- e also served during the Spanish- - American War in the Hospital Corps. | When the — ns ducive to good health, although it must be ad- - that are poorly ventilated. Medical science has proved that anybody, ex- cept the very old, can be comfortable and, per- sixty-five degrees than in one of seventy-two, | thi grees in tempers ul sa haps, a little more active in a temperature o: mitted that sleeping in well-ventilated bedrooms’ is much better than spending the night in those.
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hy PAPER PROTECTS PLANTS FROM WEEDS Here’s a tip that may help some backyard far- mer who is troubled with an excess of weeds and a shortage of hours and inclination to pull them out. Pineapple planters in Hawaii have hit upon the scheme of stretching broad strips of _ soft brown paper over the soil where the pine- . apples are planted, and have inereased produc- tion about 50 per cent., according to a report from that interesting section of the country. The fruit is planted in loose soil which is likewise . very conducive for the growth of weeds. It has been found that the paper smothers the weeds and retains the moisture in the soil. The pine- apple plants will grow up through the paper. Waste fibers of sugar cane are utilized in man- ufacturing the paper. These. fibers were dis- earded as being of no value until some practical an scientific minded person conceived their pres- ent use. FOOTBALL IN BARE FEET : Barefooted football is played regularly in Hon- olulu. The closing gdme for the amateur cham- ; pionship of the island of Oahu has just been 7 played, the opposing teams being the Pawaas and allhiwaenas. The Pawaas won by a score of 7 to 3. Both teams played in their bare feet and “some wonderful kicks were made. » + where the game took place was filled with a large and enthusiastic crowd who cheered ‘the players. All of the kicks were squarely made upon the toes. One drop kick was for 35 yards and the ball went true over the bar. ' Playing football barefooted is done by the am- ‘ateur players of Honolulu. The teams are made up of a mixture of races, embracing Hawaiian, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos, Porto Ricans and Portuguese, : On account of the mildness of the climate there _ the average boy does not put on shoes until he is “nearly out of his teens. Summer and winter he -.. goes barefoot. For this reason their feet be- - eome hardened to rough usage and kicking the _ football with the bare toes is not looked upon as any unusual accomplishment. Upon every play- ground scores of young boys may be seen almost any ‘day during football season, kicking the big ball around with their bare feet. iy me PAPER THAT WON’T BURN A recent development in the field of paper man- _ “ufacturing has been brought about by an Eastern paper company, who have, says Popular Me- ‘ ghanics, perfected a process for producing paper yhat will not burst. into flames even when sub- jected to’a high degree of continued heat. Z The material chars and becomes black under the application of fire, but never quite burns. Moreover, written or printed matter remains airly legible even after the paper has been held n the fire for some time. ; _ The fireproofing process does not interfere with the proper absorbtion of ink, so that the paper can be used for correspondence or printing pur- oses in the same manner as ordinary paper. _ : es regs acy = | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY — '-. . ITEMS OF GENERAL’ INTEREST Moiliili- field - This invention greatly lessens the danger from spontaneous combustion or from carelessly thrown away matches or cigarette and cigar stubs. Valuable records or other documents which are prepared on this stock run a greatly lessened risk of complete loss in case of fire. Several other uses of the fireproof paper sug- gest themselves, among them covers for mag zines, serving as an insulation to the pages with in; fireproof curtains of various sorts and special rugs or carpets to minimize the danger of fire in offices or homes, ri The material is also used in the protection of valuable paintings and fabrics during such times as they may not be on view or in use. A iets x LOOK, BOYS! TRAPEZEE | The Acrobatic Wonder Toy ; a ALMOST HUMAN IN ITS ACTIONS! *s _ it consists of a handsome parallel is iron frame on which the little yellow | i accurately performs like an ath ete. ioe ey > Five Different Stunts — THE FLYING TRAPEZE — Release the trigger-pin and the figure swings forward, — gripping the brass trapeze-bar, turns a_ somersault in the air and catches a cross bar by his heels. 3 THROUGH THE LOOP—A swift swing and he goes through a wire loop, makes turn and, catching by his heels, swing: head. downward from a bar. ay THE GIANT SWING—He goes forwar with a rush, releases the trapeze, catche: a horizontal-bar with his heels, mak two swift somersaults in the air a catches by his heels again. ; 3 1 He performs two more horizontal-bar | acts with, the grace and agility of a cir- — cus star, and many new ones can invented. : ; ae The Most Wonderful Toy in — ; the World! PRICE” Sig5082-% The collapsible stand and the little ma: kin are neatly packed in a handsome box. } Delivered anywhere in the United States on | receipt of price. Address — : WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 166 W. 23d St., New York City,
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) WURLIIZE! 200 YEARS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Saxophones The most popular of all wind instruments, Improvements in fin- gering and special conical bore make Wurlitzer O° phones the easiest to play and unusual for rich tone values. Blows and fingers so easily that playing is ‘as simple as whist- ling a tune. Noted for accurate pitch, and clear even tonesin both soft and loud playing. Valve Pistons individually ground to insure smooth, easy action and absence of-leak- -age. Once’ ‘lipping”’ is mastered very little practice is required to play'simple band i music. lection of Old Violins is interna- tionally ‘famous, , Wurlitzer modern violins are made by’ experts, and accura- tely patterned after Stradivarius, Guar- nerius, and other Sees We especially urge young people to take up the violin, RLITZER will send you any instrument for a week’s trial in your own home. “No obligation to buy — no } expense for the trial — you do not risk a penny. Wur- litzer instruments are known the world over for artistic quality and excellence of workmanship, Used by the greatest musicians, bands, and orchestras. The house of Wurlitzer has made the finest musical instrumencs for over 200 years. Easy Payments Roioasts are conveniently arranged in smal] monthly sums —a few cents a day will pay. All instruments to you at lowest factory prices. Special Sou nation ofiers on complete musical outfits— velvet lined case, all accessories, self-instructor, etc. everything you need at practically the cost of the instrument alone. sn" New Hlustrated Catalog? The greatest musical catalog ever published! Over 3,000 articles —~ ev: known instrument described and illustrated—many of them shown in full colors, No matter where you live, you can buy Wurlitzer instruments di by mail the same as at any of the 27 Wurlitzer stores,: Send the coupon today! Wurlitzer banjos guitars, mandolins, ukeleles,etc. aremade with particular atten- tion to close fit at all joints, to give true vi- ration and full reso- nance. Stringed in- struments are the easiest of all for be- ginners to “pick up” —some can become good players almost without effort. WurlitzerTrapDrum Outfits Every conceivable drummer's trap {Mincluded in the Wur- litzer outfits—nothing is lack- ing. A sense of rhythm usually means that playing the trap drums will be almost in- stinctive, | The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., nept. 2547 | 117 E. Ath St., Cincinnati —329 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago | 120W. 42nd5t., New York—250 Stockton St., San Francisco Send me your new catalog with illustrations in #'\ color and full description of every known musical instrument. Also tell me how I may have any instrument for free trial in my, own home, and may. pay for it in easy eee Wurlitzer Trombones == Tone remarkable for sonority and clearness, absolutely pure in all registers. Slides are drawn to a great hardness and perfect line, ‘insuring easy action and perfect intonation. No obligation. Name yi - Copyright 1922, (qtr eee ———— i | State inats t hich ar cialls ter: The Budojph Wurlitzer Co. { instrument in which you are canecially. én ented) ‘ ”
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QUICK HAIR GROWTH? Box Free To You! Would ROO Ete Deh Sat Mt This? Y bat bs want, free, 2 trial box of Kone sss t has proved sueesssful in so gE thal fo need only to answer this ot. or letter, emt FRE BOX me famous preparation is for FR Bat ning BRE end several forms of REE BALB ESS. Ts In wha lan cases, ® new hi FRI oe all else bed fitted. 80 w why aoe see fo yourselff Koskott is used by men an pediog cd itis perfectly harmless ana often hair growth in a few days. Addrosss { Koskott Laboratory, D. -375, Station F, New York. N.Y. RING Marvelous Value Brilliant Blae tena Perfect Cut Diamond $3'750 Gash or Credit Mounting is 18-k Solid White "Gold, Diamond set in Hexagon top, A popular Engagement Ring. Cased in handsome ring box. Delivered on first payment of $1.00; then $1.00 a Week thereafter. Money Back If Not Satisfied e 7 a THE OLD RELIABLE ORIG. & INAL bor ree! rE WELERS aé BROS.&CO. i353 7. 208 N. State St, Chicago, Ih Y Stores In Leading Citi Let me send you on Ten Days Free Trial a pair of my famous “True Fit” Sheil Rim use everywhere. ‘These splendid Glasses will enable anyone to read, the smallest print, thread the finest needle, see far or near and ing them for 10 days and nights you are amazed and delighted, and think them equal to glasses sold elsewhere at $15.00, send only $4.98; it you don’t want to keep them, return them and there will be no charge. Send no money; Pay no C. O. D.; simply your name, address and age, and state the length of time you have worn glasses, if any, A beautiful velveteen lined, gold-let- tered Spectacle Case FREE. U. 8S. SPECTACLE CO. 1528 W. Adams St., Dept. A-1081, Chicago, ill, Spectacles. Hundreds of thousands now in | prevent eyestrain or headaches. If after try~ ¥ M5 no Seton oe i to a ge ee a ee | . She Found A Pleasant Way To Reduce Her Fat | - Thousands of overfat Reop ls have greatly re- ed their hike and attained a normal fig- ure by folloeing the advice ‘of others who use and recommend the Marmola Prescription =) Tablets. These harm- J less little fat reducers are prepared in tablet form from the same in- gredients that formerly composed the famous Marmola_ Prescription for fat reduction. If “you are too fat, you owe it to yourself to give these fat reducers a fair trial. All the better jrug stores the world over sell Marmola Prescription Tablets at one dollar per package. Ask your dr t for them or send one dollar to the Marmola Co.,628 Garfield Bldg., Detroit, Mich., and secure a package of these tablets. They are harmless and reduce your weight without going through long sieges of tiresome exercise and starvation diet. If you are too fat try this today. : se S| 1924 model, blue steel, ar» Nv ohoe famous Frontier % Special, swi ng ont ree pend sees iS revolver with 6-inch J. Im- ported from Spain, pe a dein of any Dae model, and specially priced time to add new customers. RICE SPECIAL in32,3272% ., our No. 35A $12.65. a Se eat SPECIAL our No. 260A latest 1924 ue steel. Each revolver has Loseeed sttict sate ee heats 32-cal.-G-shot « $14.95 32-20 or 38 cal.-6-shot $15.45 20- SHOT “PANTHER” RAPID FIRE pune S58 tity of brand new, 32 I By ait iWehots mo exta be | shots. erie ly Irahoot any etd ty) American cartridge. Be Ny PAY POSTM TMA\ N ON DELIVERY plus postage. Money aoe Se ceacely if not satisfied. Dent. /ONSUMERS CO, CIP 1265 Broadway, #.¥. THE MAGIC AND oF 6 pw NDERS a6 gusAN 0 for Leste Low Seater Basis, Mynte jon and rezome Golor Cards, Sling Shot Jacknife, Pry ae , Ball, Scales, Jumping Clown, ricket, Go lor Crayons, 6 Metal Puzzies, ‘on! Carda, 73 Toasts, 62 Mone: mer A ing Fortune Telling Secrets, Flirtation Sign: ‘ods of other thi for ro getenstagats 4 Packets of Perfumed Sachet at 10c each. ee MES CO. Debt 397, Attleboro, x Ex \ ee | oe eit NG co. 223 Belrave. ISHN Canokie,
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A LITTLE CONGO GORILLA The | gorilla prowls in broad daylight and_vis- jts every village garden and plan- tation, gathers thousands of pineapple plants, man chickens and still eludes the traps and de- coys set for him. The singular fact is that these ani- “mals never have -peen seen = ap- ~ proaching the vil- : age gardens and no one knows just how they manage to reach. them - without being dis- -covered, In re- A treating, how- ever, they appear to be quite indif- ferent about. be- ing seen, as a ~ dozen at one time . have been observ- ed returning ‘0 “the jungle after making their raids. They cov- er their approach * ‘to a village gar- “den by the clever tactics they em- ploy and their . system of scouts, . pickets and sig- nals, carried out with such skill and precision as to defy all at- tempts to circum- vent them. Every ~ movement of the ‘band appears to ‘be directed by one - jn command; but one mystery is ~ how he communi- ~ eates his direc- tions or his warn- “ing of danger. Everything is done in_ silence, ‘and on signal so far has been de- yet the * eoncert of action » indicates that _ they are prompt- e@ by some defi- *: Pair latest style Ear Drops—rec- § shape, Platinum effect , ( & im, frist Watch with Silk Rib-(4 bon Bracelet —large Cameo \ Brooch and these 4 lovely Gold teed g plated N RW and Bnap Fasteners at 10 cents citer Free 7 y 1 2 cards of our eesily-sold = er card (12 Snaps on a card D, T. DALE MFG. CO. All 7 guaran’ for palling only and sending us the $1.20. Uruer now, Providence, R. I. 2 @) Days Free Trial Belest from 44 Styles, colors an Packers Prices, Youcan easily Save B10 to $26. Months toPay if desired, Parents 12 deposit. Foys can ea often advance first 7) rn small payments, \ Wlieois, amps, horns, Nr Tires half geval prices: Sand No Moneys (S20 rite fer our marvelous prices and terma, Cycle Company write vs mM a DeptcissShicago tree catatog NU at 4 EG, iz Hiles RH on Gallon of Gasoline > ic. otor, Mak @ wonderful mileage Blevnserbey pag hoes 5 4m, } Chevrolet. .32mi, Maxwi(25) 30mi, Nash 6.....23ml. H poinden 7m, lupp.....- 2 TLté .23mi. Douge.. ~..28mL | Overl’d4.,.32ml, | Coleg... , iat Uf your car is not mentioned here send name and model for articulars and our guarantes on it, AGENTS WANTED ENT ON 30 0DAY’S FREE TRIAL ‘You can drive any car in heavicst traffic Without shifting gears. Starts off on high in any weather without priming or heating— no jerking or choking. No more fpul spark plugs or carbon in cylinders, No leaking of gas into orank case, Try it 30 days on our guarantee of money back if not entirely antisfied. No strings to our guarantee. YOU ARE THE JUDGE. Anyone who cen handle a wrench can a! h it, No boring of jinm. Write today, now holes or changing of ting my AUR-FRICTION CARBURETOR Dayton, co, 754) Raymond Bldg, Ohio, U, S. A. 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. Write today for my FREE BOOKLET. EE A Cimar-Tong SKIN,” telling how cured myself after being afflicted 15 years. $1000 Cash says! can clear your skin of the above blemishes. E.S. GIVENS, 186 Chemical Bidg., Kansas City, Mo, TOBACE Habit Cured or No Pay Any form, cigars, cigarettes, pipe, chewing orsnuff Guaranteed. Harmless. Complete treatmentsent - on trial. Costs $1.00 if it cures. Nothing if it fails. SUPERBA CO. M-21, Baltimere, Md. TR ty When Well Ihave an honest, proven remedy for goitre (big neck). It checks the growth at once, reduces the enlarge. ment, stops painand distress and re- flevesinalittle while, Pay when well. Tellyourfriendsaboutthis. Write * meatonce, DR. ROCK, £ ‘Dept. 96 Box 737, Milwaukee, Wis. J Handsome 4 > Wrist Watch er, Given for selling only 30 cards of Dress Snap-Fas- teners at 10c per card, Hasily Wy Sold. EARN I@ MONEY p OR PREMIUMS. Order your » cards TO-DAY. Send no money. We trust you till goods are sold. OAN SPECIALTY Co, Box 27g Lancaster, Pa, $ OLD MONEY WANTED eoins. Keep ALL Old or odd money, it may be VERY vaiuable. Send 10 cts. for ILLUS- TRATHD COIN VALUE BOOK, 4x6. Get Posted. We pay CASH. CLARKE COIN CO., Ave, 18, LeRey, N. ¥. Ruptured | Guaranteed Time Keepe: a $2 to $500 WACH paid for hundreds of ola t Try This Free Apply it to Any Rupture, Old or Recent, Large or Smali, and You are on the Road That Has Con- vinced Thousands. Sent Free to Prove This Anyone ruptured, man, should write at once to W, S. Rice, 5°6-C Main St., Adams, N. Y., for a free trial of his wonderful stimulating application. Just put it on the rupture and the muscles begin to tighten; they begin to bind together so that the opening closes naturally and the need of @ support or truss or appliance is then done away with. Don’t neglect to send for this free*trial. Even if your rupture doesn’t. bother you what is the use of wear- ing supports all your life? Why suffer this nuisance? Why run the risk of gangrene and such dangers from a small and innocent. lit- tle rupture, the kind that has thrown thou- sands on the operating table? A host of men and women are daily running such risk just hbeeause their ruptures do not hurt mor pre- vent them from getting around, Write at once for this free trial, as it is eertainly a woman or child, | hata wonderful thing and has aided in tie cure® of ruptures that were as big as a man’s two fists. Try and write at once, using the cou- pon below. po te a te cer er rete nan nr ee % Free for Rupture WwW. S. Rice, Ine., 556-C: Main St, Adams, N.Y. _ You may send me entirely free a Sample ‘Treatment of your stimulating application for Rupture. : Name AGATESS aids Jess Asietin. oko ans 04Weeie wile wis be ? %
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962 “ |SCENARIOS FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY oo — LATEST 3xssvEsS —— $19 Fighting for Business; or, Beating a Bad Start. 920 A Boy Money-Maker; or, In Wall St. on His Nerve. $21 Buried Gold; or, The Treasure of the Old Buc- caneers, 922 Hitting It Rieh; or, The Luckiest Firm in Wall St. 923 Sam the Salesman; or, The Boy With the Silver Tongue. 924 Playing in Luck; or, A Plotter’s Dangerous Deal. 925 After a Big Stake; or, Brains Against Brawn. 926 Facing the Mexicans: or, The Secret of the Aztee’s Gold. 927 Fighting for Fame; or, The Luck of a’ Young Con- tractor. 928 Seeking a Lost Treasure; or, The Nerve of a Young Explorer. 929 Matt the Mechanic; or, The Boy Who Made His Pile. 980 Among the Ice Peaks; or, The Voyage That Made the Money. 931 The Tittle Castaways; or, The Fortune That a Wreck Brought. : 932 Taking Bigs Chances; or, The Boy Who Saved a Town. 988 Always Lucky; or, Winning on His Merits. 934 Out for a Corner; or, A Smart Chicago Boy. 985 The Winning Trick; or, How a Boy Made His Mark. 936 The Young Wditor; or, Running a Country News- paper. 987 A Big Stroke; or, The Lad Who Made a Record. 938 In the Copper Wields; or, The Mine That Made the Money. 939 mom a Cent to Fortune; or, A Chicago Boy’s Great Scoop. - 910 A Start in Life; or, A Poor Boy’s Rise to Fame. 941 A eee Boy; or, Born With a Winning Streak. 942 Capturing the Money; or, How Ben Bailey Made His Mark. 943 Digging for Gold; or, The Luck of a Boy Miner. 044 A Boy with Grit; or, Earning an Honest Living. $45 Andy the Mill Boy; or, Rising to the Top. 946 Fame Before the Footlights; or, The Boy Who Bossed the Theatre. 947 Lucky Lee the Office Bay; or, The Nerviest Lad in New York 948 Sure to Get Rich: or, A Smart Young Moessenger. 649 Pushing It Through; or. The Fate of a Lucky Day. ' 950 A’ Born Speculator; or, The Young Sphinx of Wall Street. ON1 The Way to Success: or, The Boy Who Got There. 959 Strnek Oil: or. The Bov Who Made a Million. 953 A Golden Risk; or, The Young Miners of Della Cruz. . 954 A Sure Winner; or, The Boy Who Went Out With a ~ Circus, E For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any ad- dress on receipt of price, 7¢e. per copy, in money or pos- tage stamps. THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS PRICE 8 CENTS 955 Golden Fleece; or, The Boy ‘Brokers of Wall Street. - _ 956 A Mad Cap Scheme; or, The Boy Treasure Hunters of Cocos Island. 957 Adrift On the World; or, Working His Way to For- tune, . 958 Playing to Win; or, The Foxiest Boy in Wall Street 959 Tatters; or, a Boy From the Slums. 960 A Young Monte Cristo; or, The Richest Boy in the World. 941 Won by Pluck; or, The Boys Who Ran a Railroad. Beating the Brokers; or, The Boy Who Couldn’t Be Done. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Ine, 166 West 23d Street, New York Otty HOW TO WRITE THEM Price 35 Cents Per Copy, 3 This book contains ail 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 kL SENARENS, 219 Seventh Ave., New Yowk, N. Y¥ -ing electrical tricks, together with illustrations, By Useful, Instructive, and Amusing, They contain Valuable Information on Almost aes Every Subijeet. No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPEAKER, — Containing a varied assortment of Stump speeches. Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men’ ps ei ‘Just the thing for home amusement and amateur | shows. No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK. — Something new and very — instructive. Every boy should obtain this hook, as it eontains full instructions for organizing an amateur minstrel troupe. No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND. USE ELECTRICITY. —A description of the wonderful uses of electricity and electro magnetism; together with full instructions for making Electric Toys, Batteries, ete. By George Trebel A. M. M. D. Containing over fifty illustrations. No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIT CANOES,—A> handy book for boys, containing full directions for con structing canoes and the most popular manner of sail- jing them. Fully illustrated. : No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE. Giving rules for con- ducting debates, outlines for debates, questions for dis- cussion and the best sources for procuring information on the questions given. ; pa No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANIMALS, — A valuable book, giving instruetions in collecting, pre-— paring, mounting ahd preserving birds, animals and insects. Sit No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Con. taining explanations of the general principles of sleig of-hand applicable to card tricks; of card tricks with ordinary ecards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepared cards. Tilustrated. ; yea No. 58. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS. — A wonderfu little book, telling you how to write to your sweetheart, your father, mother, sister, brother, employer; and, in fact, everybody and anyhody you wish to write, to. No. 56. HOW TO BEOME AN ENGINEER, — n- taining full instructions how to become a locomotive ~ engineer; also directions for building a model locomo- tive: together with a full description of everything an 4 engineer should know. 1 ate No. 58. HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE. — By Old Brady, the well-known detective. In which he lays do some valuable rules for beginners, and also relates som adventures of well-known detectives. 5 site No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHY Containing useful information regarding the Camera how to work it; also how to make Photographic May Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsom llnstrated. = HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINKS, — Containing full directions for making électrical m 3 chines, induction coils, dynamos and many novel toys fe Bs wea by electricity. By B. A. R. Bennett. Fully ustra is + key to same. A complete hook. Fully illustrated, : on 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS,—Con- taining a large collection of instructive and highly amus Anderson. ¢ No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS.—Conta ing over one hundred highly amusing and instru: tricks with chemicals. By A. Anderson. Handsom illustrated. ~ : f = No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT-OF-HAND, — Con- | taining over fifty of the latest and best tricks used b magicians. Also containing the secret of second sig’ Fully illustrated. : e “Fat For sale by all newsdealers, or Will be sent to : address on receipt of price, 10c. per copy, \ ‘ in money or stamps, by = HARRY FE. WOLFF, Publisher, 166 West 23d Street, 4