Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 993) (1924 10 10)

Page 1

BOYS, READ THE RADIO ARTICLES IN THIS NUMBER OCTOBER 10, 1924 Price 8 Cents AN EYE To BUSINESS; f LEEP. 4, AWE Me. Then something the boy bad calculated on happened. " The ladder snapped in two beneath his weight. As Travers came tumbling to the floor he caught sight of several grotesque figures rising from behind the shelter of the empty barrels.

Page 2

S, NOVELS i, Write for lists ry Our Specially enter, N.Y. * ~ ne 3 i fz WE ii ta = Fe 23 = i? BES ; Sold anit Out of Print Fi

Page 3

| Ax You A Radio Fan? Read Page 24. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Issued weekly-+Subseription price, $4.00 per year! Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. Harry FE. Wolff, Publisher, Inc., 166 ~s ‘ West 23d Street, New York, N. Y. Entered as Second-Class Matter, October 4, 19, 59 4909 “e the Post-Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March’3, 1879. | ? O {995 4 No. 993 NEW YORK,\ OCTOBER 10, 1924 Price 8 Cents. e AN EYE TO BUSINESS _ OR, THE BOY WHO WAS NOT ASLEEP By A SELF-MADE MAN 33 - CHAPTER I.—Shows How Tom Travers Stuck though ambitious and energetic, was not settled at pr Up for Patty Penrose. any definite occupation, chiefly because his mother ; : and sister had insisted that he finish his schooling : “What's the matter, Patty? You’ve been cry-, at the Barmouth Academy. = ing, I can easily see. Same old story, I s’pose* However, he managed to make many a dollar = _ Nathan Kemp or his sister has been abusing you, with his boat during the summertime, for, though _ 4s usual, : he liked-to enjoy himself in boyish sports as well _ Thus spoke stalwart Tom Travers, sixteen years as any of his associates, he still had an eye to _ eld, to Patty Penrose, a pretty, rosy-cheeked miss, business when there was anything to be made. . who came to a pause before the doorway of the Tom was a general favorite with the girls of the = th’s shop on the suburb of Barmouth, town, but he thought more of Patty Penrose, a where he stood with his coat off and his sleeves weet little orphan who had been brought up by rolled up beyond the elbow. On this particular one Nathan Kemp and his maiden sister, than all \fter , now merging into dusk, he had been the others put together. Patty led a bitter hard helping Jack Harding, the young adghent the puta life of it in the Kemp household, and her unen- / l eet an new tire on a wagon wheel, and hadkept the forge yiable ] “ Tom’ : = fire aglow while Harding fashioned sundry pieces pature, Rete y pe etaee: Yoeereereren of iron into shapes for repairing various agricul- “Qn the afternoon of the day our story opens, tural implements that lay about the shop. Patty, after washing all the morning, set to work Tom was accustomed to frequenting the black- to iron the clothes she took off the line in the - smith’s, when he wasn’t out fishing, or sailing yard. She had almost finished the work, when she % ure-seekers down the bay in his staunch, accidentally burned the corner of one of Miss Pris- ‘clinker-built boat, Seadrift—not because he had cilla’s handkerchiefs. The maiden lady, being in idea of learning the trade, but because Jack a particularly bad humor that day, attacked the irding was one of his best friends as well as his girl in a savage way and drove her from the rospective brother-in-law. Tom infinitely pre- house. Patty fled down the road, and before she, : the water to any occupation on shore, but realized how far she had a was in the neigh-' _ that was because he had inherited the same love — borhood of Harding’s,smi y. She saw Tom Tra- for the sea which his father had in his own youth. vers standing in the ‘doorway, and instinctively en years previous to the beginning of this story she ran to him for protection. He greeted her -: iptain Ezra Travers sailed from Boston for Rio with the words that open this chapter. Patty _ de Janeiro, but his brig was never heard from af- looked at him with swimming eyes and then terward. A panel bs 3 Piso the er po, buried her face in her apron. Susan Dean, together with some pieces of driftin “Don’t cry, Patty,” said Tom, soothingly. “It wreck, were picked up off the coast of South syst makes me mad to think of the way the Kemps a merica by an American ship bound north, and treat you. They ought to be ashamed of them- _it was presumed that the brig ad gone down with selves, but it doesn’t seem to be in them. Iwish __ il hands in a heavy gale. you’d pack up your things and leave them. Mother ~ When Mrs. Travers finally gave up all hope of and Sis would be glad to take you until you got a ever seeing her husband again, she, removed from. decent place.” , et Boston to her native town, Barmouth, and with “T can’t leave them, indeed I can’t,” sobbed the ; husband’s savings purchased a little, old-. girl. “Miss Priscilla would kill me if she thought d co on the brow of a gentle slope [ had any such idea.” J ingithe harbor. Here she devoted herself “Ho!” exclaimed. Tom, in a resolute tone. “If chil you left them Pd like to see Mr. Kemp or his — sister dare to interfere with you. You’re foolish _ to put up with their abuse. They haven’t any hold © - on you.” — i ah “ hey took me from the poor farm, and Mr. Depths era * Sy ee Cate Go OO yee eee Me ee Terre MaMa OUST oe

Page 4

_ ingly. ‘vor. ' forges You'll be safe there if you don’t move.” 2 AN EYE TO BUSINESS ' Kemp says if I dare to leave them he’ll have me put in the lock-up.” “He said that, did he? He couldn’t do any such thing.” At that moment Tom, happening to glance up the road, saw Nathan Kemp approaching at a rapid gait. “Come inside, Patty,” he said, taking her by the arm. “No, no; I must go back.” “T wouldn’t advise you to go back yet, for Mr. Kemp is coming down the road as fast as he can, and he would probably make your return journey mighty unpleasant.” . “Hide me,” she cried in a tone of terror, spring- ing into the shop. “Don’t let him see me.” “J won’t if I can help it,’ he replied reassur- “Tt’s getting dark, and that’s in your fa- Here, hide in that dark corner behind the Jack Harding, a big, strapping, handsome fellow with muscles suited to his calling, a hard work- er, thrifty and kind-hearted, was beating out a bit of glowing iron on the anvil. He laughed as he saw Patty fly behind the forge, and easily guessed the cause that prompted the action. Both he and Tom had often talked about the pretty young orphan, and wondered why she didn’t give Nathan Kemp and his virago of a sister the shake. As Patty disappeared, and Tom, to further shield her, took hold of the loose handle of the bellows and began to work it up and down, the Barmouth fire-bell began to ring, not an alarm, but a merry peal, and the sound was immediately taken up by the church bells, and soon the early evening air quivered with their brazen throats. This was the Barmouth custom of etree | in the Fourth of July, and it was soon followed by sundry sharp reports, mellowed by distance, show- ing that Young America was waking up to the responsibilities of the occasion, It was at this moment that a smal] man, with a smoothly shaven face and unprepossessing cast of countenance, ap- peared at the doorway. Mr. Kemp was secretary of a Boston association which.maintained a fund for providing the heathen with articles tending to their spiritual and bodily welfare. He went to the metropolis three or four times a week with unfailing regularity, and though he looked poor he was not, for everybody in Barmouth knew that he had a fat balance in the town bank. He stood for a moment in the doorway glaring at Jack Harding and Tom Travers, both of whom he cordially detested. The young blacksmith dropped his arms to his sides and returned the compliment by staring with right good will at him. “Good evening, Mr. Kemp,” said Jack, cheerily. “Y suppose that you are prepared to enjoy our national holiday with the rest of us?” “I enjoy a holiday?” retorted Nathan Kemp, _.-wish I could have the whole day to myself, but I have such a stack of work on hand that I’ll be

“She ran out of the house half an hour ago and left her work half done, because my sister chided her for ruining a pocket handkerchief, She’s an idle, careless——” : “Stop, Mr. Kemp; you can’t abuse Patty Pen- rose in my presence,” exclaimed Tom Travers, coming forward. “Oh, I can’t, eh?” sneered the visitor. ‘ “No! I won’t stand for it,” said the boy threateningly. “T’d like to know what business it is of yours?” “It’s the business of every decent man or boy to protect the good name of an honest girl when the occasion arises,” replied Tom, stoutly. “You treat that girl as you would treat a dog, if you had one—you and your sister. You both ought to be ashamed ®@f- yourselves. Mark my words: the blows and harsh words you hand out to her will some day recoil on both your heads.” “How dare you talk to me in that fashion!” sputtered Nathan Kemp, in sudden anger. “T’m not afraid to tell you to your face what I —_ of you, you old cormorant!” cried Tom, an- grily. “Rasy, Tom, easy,” interposed Harding, laying his hand on the boy’s shoulder. ~ “You’re an impertinent young puppy!” roared Mr. Kemp, glaring at Tom way with you, you. should be flogged till you begged for mercy. It is a thousand pities there isn’t a law that would punish you that way.” “Thank you.for your kind wishes, Mr. but things are not coming your way at present. You don’t like plain speaking, but it has good to tell you what’s in my mind. If I had any- thing-to say, Patty Penrose wouldn’t darken your — doors again. If she had no other place to go, could have the shelter of our home. emp, one me ravers. “If I had my { I should like# 4 to see you try to take her away from there. Td run you out so quick it would make your head swim.” bad fe! || Tien Hi athan Kemp, in a rage. “I everything you’ve said. I give you warning not you for this conduct, you young cub!” — remember to harbor that girl, d’ye understand? If you do jadat = I'll have the law on you. As for her, the my sister will attend to her when she gets back to . she’ - : the house. She’ll get some’

Page 5

--you. She’ll have cause to remember this after- noon for the rest of her life.” “Tf you dare to beat her,” shouted Tom, making a furious rush at Nathan Kemp, “I'll break every in your body.” Jack Harding grabbed the angry boy and held him, while the visitor, frightened by Tom’s words and manner, beat a hasty retreat from the black- smith shop. “s + CHAPTER II.—Nathan Kemp Calls at the 3 Travers Cottage. ee “Cool down, Tom,” said Jack Harding, with a ___ smile; “‘don’t let your anger get the better of you. a “¢ had struck Nathan Kemp he’d have you in jail to-morrow, and you’d lose your holiday, not ‘speaking of the disgrace it would be to your moth- er and sister as well.” —_ “That’s right, Jack,” replied Tom, cooling off. _ “Thanks for holding me in. I was mad enough to have smashed him in the jaw. I can’t stand it - to hear him make threats against Patty. She’s the best little girl in the world——” ~ “Except your sister, Dora, of course,” laughed Jack, who was engaged to Miss Travers. -- “She and Dora stand on the same level with + me,” said Tom, with a flushed face. “Now, look ~ here, Jack, we must persuade Patty not to go back to the Kemps, but come to my house and stay. > _ it she goes back, and they beat her, I swear I'll thrash that old villain within an inch of his life, _~ if I do go to jail for it,” said the boy in a tone ___that showed he meant every word he spoke. “No, Tom, oe mustn’t get into trouble on my account,” said a sweet voice at his shoulder, and turning he saw Patty standing there with a look of titude shining in her eyes. a: said Tom, “you heard what Mr. Kemp y “Every word,” with a little shudder. * ales tie what you’ve got to expect if you go back. You mustn’t go back.” __ter me and compel as ___ “T'd like to see him eompel you,” burst out the e a: “you mustn’t interfere—indeed you mustn’t,” eet the girl. “It would make __ me dreadfully unhappy if you got into any trou- <d my account.” A es can’t help it. Those Kemps have sat on you _. long enough.” . é “Tl tell you what ‘roe might do,” said Jack. “I don’t believe that Nathan Kemp has any legal Patty. She could go afid stay at your ntil the day after the Fourth. Then you papetete and have Mr. Kemp pear before him to show cause why , be put under bonds to treat the girl decently, or give up ali claim to her services. If Patty would tell her story I think the Kemps would look pretty small before the public.” : sa good. idea,” said Tom, eagerly. “Will ‘atty? don’t one she answered doubtfully. “T’m Ny AN EYE TO BUSINESS 3 “You don’t want to be afraid of anything. You’ve got Jack and me at your back, and Mr. - Kemp won’t dare make any trouble for you. If pes tried to, well, say, we wouldn’t do a thing to im.” Finally Patty, who was clearly afraid to return to the Kemp home, was persuaded to agree to the proposal suggested by the young blacksmith, and shortly afterward she accompanied Tom to his < mother’s cottage, where she was kindly received by Mrs. Travers and Dora, who had long felt a great sympathy for the friendless girl. “That night after supper it was agreed that Patty should make her home with them if an arranze- ment could be forced upon Nathan Kemp and his sister. Tom was tickled to death to think that Patty Penrose,was probably going to make her = home at the cottage.. In that event he ~would be able to see and talk to her every day, and take her out sailing with him in the Seadrift, and for walks during the long summer evenings. While picturing the fine times they were going to have together he fell asleep and dreamed that he and Patty were sail- ing around the world together in the boat, with nothing in sight but the light blue sky and deep. lue sea. A series of deafening explosions aroused him suddenly, to find that it was morning and that the Fourth of July had come. Tom popped out of bed and looked out of the window. There were several of his Academy schoolmates outside in the backyard amusing themselves by tossing giant firecrackers just under his window. “Hello, fellows!” cried Tom, “What time is: it?” “Five o’clock. Get up and come down.” So Tom dressed himself in a hurry, made a hasty toilet, and joined his friends. He had a box full of giant crackers himself stowed away in the woodshed. Getting them; he started off with his companions for the public square called the green. For the next two hours the Barmouth green was a scene of smoke, noise and general ex- citement.” By that time nearly all the boys had exhausted their supply of explosives, and the fun had come to a pause until they had had their breakfasts and touched their parents for extra money to buy a fresh outfit. Tom started for the cottage in company with.a\boy named Downey Davis, who lived near him. “T see the Night Hawks have turned up again,” said Downey, as they walked along. : “Who told you?” asked Tom. “Constable Spriggins was talking to my father about them last evening. He said they broke into : the Stansbury postoffice the other night and car- ; ried off all the stamps there was in the place, as F well as looting the store. They came and went— — — four of them—in a red auto. On the next night Deacon White’s house was entered and robbed of a lot of silverware and jewelry. .It must have the same gang, for four men, disguised with _ ,green birds’ heads, Were seen crossing the bridge in : r noe: . r * ght they’d gone away for good from the neighborhood after the reward was offered for their ecapture three months ago.” “That’s what everybody thought, I guess. Th suddenly disappeared, and that was the last iar of them until the Stansbury post-office was Ls! suppose they’re a gang of Boston crooks,” a : x ea

Page 6

_ “They may be from New York, for all we know.” “That’s right, too,” nodded Tom. “TI wonder why they wear green “As a disguise, of course.” “I should think masks would answer ever so much better.” “That’s their business.” “What do you s’pose those heads are made of?” “Papier-mache, I guess. That’s what they make those funny heads of they use in spectacular pieces on the stage.” = ae “Is that so?” said Downey Davis. “What is papier-mache, anyway?” “It’s a hard substance;made of a pulp from rags or paper mixed with glue or size. In its soft state you can form it into ag fee of shape you want to by means of molds. ter it gets hard it retains its shape like plaster of paris.” The two boys separated at the gate of the Travers cottage, and Tom went around to the kitchen entrance. Patty, looking uncommonly fresh and pretty, was making herself generally useful in the kitchen. “Hello, Patty,” exclaimed Tom. “You look sweet enough to kiss this morning.” Patty blushed like a full-blown rose and es- caped into the dining-room, where Tom found his - mother and sister, and breakfast almost ready. birds’ heads?” “have you ever had trouble with the milk at the Temps’?” “Sometimes, when the weather had been extra hot; or after a thunder-storm.” “Why did you ask such a foolish question, Tom?” asked his sister. “Well, I thought probably every time Miss Pris- cilla Kemp looked at it it turned sour.” ___ Patty laughed outright, while Mrs. Travers and Dora smiled. They had just finished when there came a vigorous ring at the door-bell. __ “I wonder who that can be?” asked Dora. Patty looked apprehensive. “Maybe it’s the old villain himself,” said Tom. +The old who?” exclaimed his sister. “Nathan Kemp.” . o> Dora answered the ring, and sure enough there _ on the doorstep stood Mr. Kemp, his face looking like three days of rainy weather. - “Ts Patty Penrose here?” he asked sourly. “She is,” answered Dora. “Then send her to me, please.” - - _. “Will you walk into the parlor?” __“T have no time to spare,” he replied sulkily. _ “JT will tell Patty you have called for her. Please __ walk in while I go for her.” Rather against his will, Nathan Kemp com- plied, and was shown into the little parlor, which Was ornamented with family rtraits, marine : Bouth Sen and curiosities of all kinds from the oy h Seas that Captain Ezra Travers had gath- | during his many years of seafaring life. After some dela s. Travers entered the room with Patty, Tom hovering on the outside: 3 epee. imeped to his feet and glared at mM bling» gir - e rm dare you stay away from home all demanded in a din suppressed tone. “Miss ¢ with ¥ 1 and sent me to. AN EYE TO BUSINESS “Say, Patty,” asked Tom, during the meal, — “he knew that official would not be at his stepped Patty shrank away from him. 3 ““T don’t want to go back.” a “T don’t care what you want,” he said threaten- ingly. “You will have to answer for your conduct — when you get back.” “You are only frightening the girl,” interposed Mrs. Travers. : “Madam,” replied Nathan Kemp, “the girl be- longs to us.” ‘ “You speak as if you thought you owned her,” os replied Tom’s mother, gently. : on “We own her services until she is eighteen— oat that’s the law,” replied the visitor, in a tone cal- culated to impress his hearegs. “Patty says that she is not happy at your — house, Mr. Kemp.” _ . “Tt makes little difference to us what she says, madam. would take little notice’ of her words. no time to spare. Come with me, girl.” Patty turned and rushed out of the room. She — had resolved to go to prison rather than go back to the Kemps. ; CHAPTER III.—Hermit Island. “Madam,” said Nathan Kemp, “I'll have trouble you to bring that girl back.” “I am afraid she has determined not to return to your house,” replied Mrs. Travers. “Tf she doesn’t return voluntarily I shall a constable to fetch her,” said Mr. Kemp, angrily. — “If you do that she will certainly appeal to magistrate.” ° E aa “A magistrate, madam!” exclaimed Nathan Kemp, aghast. “Yes.. She says that both you and your sister x ment. If the magistrate believes her story you — have treated her harshly, and she showed me last night marks on her back which she says yo sister inflicted with a heavy strap. If she her case before a justice, Mr. Kemp, you will h to appear in court to try and refute her state- will not be able to force her to return to house. Now, I think the easiest way is the be for all parties. Let Patty——” = “Madam,” interrupted Nathan Kemp, boiling over with wrath, “I don’t wish any advice on the — subject. I will send a constable here to fetch her. If she dares talk magistrate to us, I'll fix her, the minx!” pee ake He stalked to the door, followed by Mrs. Tra’ ers, and, having passed out, turned his steps ward the residence of Constable Spriggins, the courthouse that day. : - For fear that the constable would come Patty, Tom décided to take her down the b aed his boat. The ‘girl agreed to go with him, Dora put up a lunch for them, and they left the house about nine o’clock. : ‘Tom had to go to Deer Island, some eight mi distant from Barmouth, anyway, late in the a noon, to bring back a party he had taken the morning previous to spend a day and a camping out on that picturesque island. — “Isn’t it a lovely day?” exclaimed Patty, as: on board of the Seadrift. BS: “Bang up, especially on to ray office in = pd c 4 If you knew her as well as we do you ~ But Ihave 2 = * = aa

Page 7

mo (we al = ugh weight in the breeze to make the boat best foot forward,” replied Tom. going down to Deer Island?” ght away. I’ve got to be there at four as to land the gentlemen in Barmouth so _ Tom hoisted the sail and then cast off from the : . He headed for a small wooded island ~ about two miles off shore. - “That’s where Old Robinson Crusoe lived for __ 80 many years,” said Tom, pointing the island * out to her. ~__ “Who was Old Robinson Crusoe?” Patty asked in surprise. ~ ‘ “He was an old chap who took possession of an unfinished building that some hotel men started to put up on the island as a select inn for sum- _- mer boarders, but somehow the scheme fell through and the house was never finished. The ‘old fellow fitted up a portion of the lower story to suit himself, and dwelt there all alone for sev- _ eral years, and then disappeared as suddenly as he turned up. The boys nicknamed him Old Rob- ‘inson Crusoe.” Ts the house there yet?” asked Patty, with great interest. _ ‘Sure it is—exactly as he left it.” _ “I should like to see it.” _ “J'll take you ashore and show it to you. We can stay on the island until it is time fompme te ‘Start down the bay after the party on Deer Is- eRe “ on _ minutes later Tom ran the Seadrift ‘an indentation, tied the painter to a con- enient tree, and helped Patty to land. “You can see the unfinished second story of the uilding from here,” said Tom, pointing at the part of an oblong structure which rose hove a thick row of trees in the center of the island. : They walked through the grove until they came u a big clearing, in the center of which crag unfinished.two-story edifice which had = planned for a summer inn, but which had come to nought. Tom and Jack Harding and mumbers of the Academy boys had been over to ook at the place after the hermit had vanished for parts unknown. The recluse had made a table, a chair and - other rude furniture for himself out of material ‘taken from the uncompleted section of the build- ~ ing, and these specimens of his handiwork re- mained as evidence of his occupancy of the premises. When Tom pushed in the rude door _ which had been fitted by the hermit he was, sur- prised to see four roughly fashioned chairs in- stead of one, and a table twice the size of the 2 he had remembered seeing a month before. ere were other signs to show that the place 's in actual use by several persons, or at least had been lately occupied by squatters. Tom point- out the changes which he noticed to Patty. “There’s the original chair—the one Old Rob- on Crusoe made and used. The others are ater creations. A new top has been added to it table, Those ty bottles, that jug, and a whole lot of things = around were not here when Jack and I e over last.” — you think there are people living here, asked Patty. ey tee: making it longer and wider. _ the train at this rate,” remarked one of the clerks. AN EYE TO BUSINESS 5 “Looks as if there might be; but there is no- body around now, as far as I can see.” They walked all around the building; peeping in here and there at the ground floor, but -no- where save in the hermit’s section did there ap- pear to be any change to Tom. He and Patty strolled all over the little island, without finding a sign of life on it. “There’s no one here now, at any rate,” said Tom at last.. “Whoever has been living here since the hermit pulled up stakes must have left also.” They sat on the beach in the shade and talked about one thing or another until midday came, when, feeling hungry, they ate the lunch prepared by Dora. Then Tom suggested taking to the boat again. ‘ The breeze was lighter and the water smoother than «before. From Barmouth were wafted to their ears faint sounds of the day’s celebration. Over the bar, just beyond Deer Island, lay the deep blue waters of Massachusetts Bay, dotted with the white sails of many pleasure craft. The Seadrift reached the small wharf on the sheltered side of Deer Island. about quarter past three o’clock, and Tom suggested to one of the cam- pers that it would be well to embark for Bar- mouth at once, as the run back, owing to the fail- ing wind, was likely to be longer than he had counted on when he set the hour of departure at four. The party agreed to leave the island right away. About this time Tom noticed a peculiar haziness in the air which warned him of the ap- proach of a sea mist. He hurried the move- ments of the party, and inside of terr minutes the Seadrift had cast off from the wharf and had her nose pointed straight for Barmouth. Patty had retired to the cabin, where she amused herself with a book Tom provided her with. “Looks as if there was a mist rolling in yon- der,” remarked one of Tom’s passengers, point- ing to windward. “There is,” replied the young skipper of the Seadrift. “That’s why I was in such a hurry -to get under way.” The party was quite a ‘jolly one of Boston clerks, and the prospect of getting caught in a fog didn’t seem to worry them. The town was straight ahead, and, fog or no fog, it didn’t seem possible for them to miss it if the boat’s course was kept as it was at present. They didn’t count on the influence of the tide, or the failure of the wind, after it had come on thick, to upset their calculations altogether. Ten ‘minutes later Deer Island, now half a mile astern, the sky, and almost the sea itself were blotted out one of those sudden fogs peculiar to the New England coast. The breeze had crept around to the north and east, and this it was that had brought the fog down so suddenly. The boat sailed on through a bank of mist so thick it seemed as if you could cut it with a knife. After covering what Tom judged to be several miles the wind dropped al of a sudden, leaving the Seadrift apparently mefionless on the water. The tide, however, was bearing them slowly —— in a diagonal direction towam{ the small island once occupied by the hermit. : “We'll never reach Barmouth in time to catch

Page 8

trying to pierce with his eyes the wall of white fog which hedged in the sailboat. » “Then we'll have to take a later one,” replied another. “What are the chances of our reaching shore in a reasonable time, young man?” the leader of thé party asked Tom. : “Very little chance until the wind springs up again and the fog lifts,” replied the young skip- = per of the Seadrift. : “That’s encouraging,” answered his passenger. “Well, I suppoge it cannot be helped.” “You might all whistle for the wind, like the f sailors do sometimes,” laughed Tom. The five clerks who made up the party imme- | diately began” to whistle a popular air with all -. their might. An hour passed away and the dead : calm still prevailed. The boat drifted nearer and nearer to the hermit island. Nobody, not eyen the young skipper; was aware of the fact. Af length the sun went down and dusk came on. The watches of the party showed that the 6.10 train was well on itS way to Boston by that time. “Judging from present prospects we may have to stay all night on the bay,” said a clerk, dole- fully. “Then we’ll catch it hot to-morrow for not being at the bank on time.” At that moment Tom caught sight of a light - shining dimly through the mist. - CHAPTER IV.—The Four Birds. The light in question looked to be about twenty feet or more above the surface of the water, and Tom thought it came from a lantern hanging at the masthead of some pleasure craft caught in the fog like themselves. The other saw it presently -- and wanted to know where it came from. Before ._. Tom could make any reply the light moved away a short distance and then came to a stop again, ~ “just as if somebody had carried it. Tom was somewhat puzzled at this phenomenon, for he was almost certain they were not that close to the main shore. A large vessel, high enough out of the ‘water to account for the light being on her deck, seldom put in at Barmouth—and o then when - something was wrong with her. The ‘only land he _ could figure on as being in that neighborhood was the hermit island, and .if any there the light would be much lower down. That is the way Tom reasoned it, until he suddenly thought of the unfinished building. The light stood at about the height of the second story, just above the trees. At that moment the light moved again, suddenly vanished, and then came into sight again, disappeared once more, appeared again and OT ee At ha tid wy ais t 2. * there are back in. They ore evidently when Patty and I i Now L where we AN EYE TO BUSINESS y was ashore . “We are about two miles from Barmouth,” Tom told the leader of the party. ae, “If you know that, can’t you tell where that § light comes from?” asked the man. ; “Tt’s on a small wooded island that you may have remembered-seeing when I took you out yes- terday morning. I told you the story of the her- mit who lived on it for two or three years in the abandoned unfinished hotel building.” “Oh, yes. We had an idea of looking in at it on our way back if we had time.” “We are likely to drift ashore there, from all indications,” replied Tom. “If a breeze would only pipe up now I'd be able to land you somewhere along the Barmouth shore inside of half an hour.” No breeze came, however, and they steadily drew nearer to the light. Tom now went for- ward with a boat hook to fend off from the shore, which he expected the boat would strike at an moment. In a few minutes he made out the dark | outlines of the island close aboard. Then the boat floated right into the same cove he had put | into during the morning. Tom jumped ashore . with the painter and tied it to the same tree. x “We might as well stay here until a wind comes up,” he said. “We can’t better ourselves. I’m going over to the house to see who’s there.” Tom stepped aboard to get the lantern which hung ingthe cuddy. He found Patty stretched out on one of the lockers asleep. He lit the lan- tern, pulled the cuddy door partly shut after him, told._his passengers he would be back in a short time, and then stepped ashore and started off in the direction of the unfinished building. The fog lay thick among the trees and the light Tom car- ried made little impression on it. He soon lost sight of the light on the upper floor of the house, but, as he knew his way pee well, he had no | trouble in going direct to the clearing. s There the fog hovered*in a palpitating mass, and through one of the upper window openiiee he ; again caught sight of the light. He walked around. to the end formerly occupied by the hermit and saw a lamp burning on the table. A number of plates, with the remains of a meal on them, flank- ed by four cups and saucers drained of their con- tents, with four sets of knives and forks, and other articles in keeping with the general dis- play, lay about on the board. The butt of a half- © smoked cigar projected from the edge of the — table, and there was a dying fire in the hermit’s old cook stove, on which stood a common coffee — pot. On the floor lay a frying pan in the midst of __ several broken egg shells. ee “Four persons ‘have eaten supper here not long om ago,” mused Tom, as he looked around the room. _ “T wonder where they are at this moment? May- sound from them. If they were tramping around ~ the building they would be sure to make a noise. T’ll just take a squint upstairs and see if they are there, and what they look like. Probably four _ ‘to prevent =¢ Paes ~ : eg oat Gas

Page 9

_ from walking inside. The floor was littered with ~ loose boards, and several large empty barrels stood around. In one corner was a large opening communicating with the cellar, while in the center of the rough ceiling was an mot! opening that was clearly intended to be reached by a stairway, _ No stairway had been built when the work was abandoned. At the present moment a ladder reached up into it. This ladder had not been there when Tom and Patty looked in that morn- ing. Tom, after ‘swinging his lantern at arm’s _ length and seeing nothing, began to mount the ladder to explore the floor above. He paused with _ his head just above the flooring, undecided whether he would go any further or not, for the _Yoom was dark and silent as the grave. Appar- ently the island squatters were not there. The boy had an idea that this was the room wh€nce the light had proceeded from. There was no light - there now, at all events. He flashed his lantern - around, but could see only the bare boards. _ - There’s nothing to see up here,” said Tom to * S 5 -___He started to descend.. Then something the boy not calculated upon happened. The ladder _ snapped in two beneath his weight. As Travers _ came tumbling to the floor he eanght sight of sev- eral grotesque figures rising from behind the shel- of the empty barrels. hack! He struck the with a resounding concussion that shook the building. The lantern flew from his hand and ‘rolled a dozen feet away. He lay there half stunned from the shock he had sustained. Then *-as his senses came back to him he saw what ap- - peared to be four gigantic birds’ heads bending over him. They had big, round, white eyes with black disks, and immense beaks projecting at least seven inches from their heads. Jt was a most astonishing sight to Tom, who ~ _ eould not understand the matter at all. The ob- . security of the place added to the extravagant ap- ae of the birdlike heads and completed the bewilderment. Suddenly he felt himself Seized and carried out into the open air by the four queer forms, from whom came not a sound. _ He was borne across the clearing and into the - woods, in spite of the struggle he put up to free ~ from their ms * A ave, he was s d on the , his hands an se- = in a way that seemed to be decidedly hu- -man, and then the four “birds” vanished, leaving him alone. _ ° CHAPTER V—tThe Night Hawks. Tom lay a few minutes blinking up through the foggy air. The astonishing experience * through which he had just passed had quite dazed him. What did it all mean? What kind of birds could these be that had suddenly pounced upon Per in the unfinished building, borne him to 4t spot and left him bound hand and foot?. “I must be laboring under some kind of hal- ination brought on by that terrible whack I t when I fell to the floor. Those must have four men, not birds. I only. imagined they ed like birds. Such birds_as they appeared - surely do not exist in creation, especially ust like a nightmare. Between the fog and he borhood of the Massachetts coast. It. AN EYE TO BUSINESS “2 the jolt on the head I guess my brains were in shape to see most anything. Gee! I can almost see those birds’ heads yet. One thing is cer- tain: I’m bound hand and foot with cord, and birds couldn’t do that, I’m willing to swear. I’m satisfied that I fell into the hands of the four tramps who are living on this island. Well, just let me get away, and I’ll bet I'll have the constable over here to-morrow to give them free board and lodging in the county jail.” Tom tugged away at his bonds for a_while to no purpose, but at length one of the strands came loose and he pulled one of his hands out of limbo. The other followed as a matter of course. Then with his jackknife he freed his ankles and stood up. He walked to the inner edge of the clearing, whence he caught a view of the hermit’s living room, and looked across the opening. He saw shadows moving around on the inside. “They’re all in there now. Ill just go over and take a good look at those chaps, so that I'll know them again.” Between the fog and the gloom of the night Tom had little fear that his approach to that part of the building he was aiming) at would be noticed, even if one of the occupants of the room chanced to look out of the window. He took care to watch that he didn’t stumble over some ob- struction in his path and thus call attention to his presence. At length he reached the window through which the light shone and peered into the hermit’s living room. There he saw four men, sure enough. They were seated around the table, from which the dishes had been removed and a demijohn and four glasses substituted therefor. Each man’ had a cigar between his teeth, and the four were laughing and talking together in a social way. “There’s nothing birdlike about those chaps now,” mused Tom. “I wonder how I ever im- agined they were gigantic birds?” As Tom began to chuckle at his error his eyes rested on four objects placed upon a low shelf. The chuckle died away in his throat and a look of astonishment came over his face. There stood four great green birds’ heads all in a row, with staring white eyes and enormous beaks, the very counterpart of what he had so indistinetly seen after his fall in the unfinished part of the building. He gazed at them with open mouth and staring eyes. “Great Solomon! The very birds I saw,” he exclaimed. “But those are only birds’ heads. What are they doing there? They were not there when I entered that room a little whole He scratched his head in a* perplexed way for. a moment or two. Suddenly a light flooded his mind. “Why, those must be disguises worn by those men. Those chaps had the heads on when they giabbed me, and I didn’t imagine anvthing at all, What I saw actually existed before my eyes. Those men don’t look at all like tramps. Two of them had watch chains. Now what do they want with those grotesque birds masks, such as are worn on the stage in certain spectacles? And why are they living on this island?”- While Tom was tryi out, some portion of t within reached his ears ¢ to figure this problem _ conversation going on

Page 10

_ “How long do you think it will be safe to stay in this neighborhood, Bentley?” asked the stout- est man of the four of -his companion on the 2 right, a tall, thin, bilious-locking fellow. \ “How long?” replied the other, blowing out a cloud of cigar smoke. “Well, I calculated on stay~ : ing heré all summer,’ 2 - “You mustn’t forget that there’s a thousand _ « dollars reward out for us, and when to-day’s rob- _* bery of the Manson cottage becomes generally -¢ known I shouldn’t be surprised if the reward was % doubled.” “Gee whiz!” said Tom to himself. “These men must be the Night Hawks—the fellows who clean- ed out several residences on the suburbs of the town last spring, and who lately robbed the Stan- bury post-office and Deacon White’s house. Downey said this morning that four men dis- guised with birds’ heads were seen crossin "White _ bridge in a red auto on the night of the White - robbery. There’s the birds’ heads on the ‘shelf vonder. Yes, I am satisfied these are the Night Hawks.” He listened’ again to the conversation. “S’pose there is?” replied Bentley. “We can lie low here for a week until the people think we’re gone off somewhere else, then we can tackle _ another one of the cottages. Judge Brown’s -_ place, for instance, offers good swag. I’ve no- _ ticed that his women folks make a fine display of their diamonds. Then there is the Gil cottage on the point. He’s president of the Mavernick National Bank, and is worth half a million easy enough.” “But that boy we caught nosing around here a little while ago and left bound among the trees. He may give us away as soon as we put him _ ashore. We made a mistake appearing before _* him in our bird masks. That was your idea, _ Baldy”—and the speaker looked at the man on his left—“and I’m bound to say it-was a bad one.” “It prevented him from identifying our faces, didn’t it?” retorted the individual addressed as Baldy. “I vote that we keep the boy here until we _. are through with this island,” put in the fourth “I don’t like that plan,” said Bentley. “We'd have to watch him pretty close to make sure that he did not eseape. Then no doubt his people would come here looking for him, and that would give us more trouble.” “Why should they think he’s on this island?” _ asked Baldy. “He must have got ashore here by accident in the fog. What else should bring him to the island at this time of night?” “Instead of taking him ashore, as we decided on a while ago, I suggest that we hunt-up his boat, drop him in it just as he is, and cast him ‘adrift when the tide begins to ebb. Then he'll I bee out to sea,” said the stout man. - looks too much like murder, and I ob- ject,” interposed the fourth man. “You’re too particular altogether,” sneered the stout crook. - 4 y Fd a) Sis tho MRD I Deine Te “['m not anxious to put my neck in a halter,” | the other, warmly. * he’d probably be rescued before he reach- ocean,” bia ad the stout man, carelessly. AN EYE TO BUSINESS ~ . ; " A) “If he wasn’t, who'd be the wiser as to wins happened to him? The fourth man, whose name was Sandy, did not take at all kindly to this way of getting rid . of the boy. He wanted him put ashore, as originally determined on. ; “Well, never mind the boy now. There’s time ~ enough to conside® him,” said Bentley, who ap- peared to be the leading spirit of the four. “We want to talk about a hiding-place for our. swag, so that if a search party should come over here it will not be found. I looked the second floor all over to-night for a place between the walls that looked to be suitable, but could find none. I think the best thing is to bury it, after all.” “Where shall we bury it—in the woods or under the flooring of this room?” asked Baldy. “We'll pry up the hearthstone, dig a hole deep . enough to accommodate the box the stuff is in now, and secrete it there. I defy any detective to nose it out. "However, I’m not looking for a detective to come to this island. We've been seen in that red auto of ours, you know, and the detectives will go searching for that in order to spot us. The auto is black by this time; and laid up in a Boston garage, so it’s my opinion they’ll have a long hunt,” said Bentley, with a chuckle. Ss The others agreed that under the hearthstone —_ was a good place to hide their booty, so after they had finished their cigars Bentley and the stout crook started in and pried up the stone. A shovel that stood in a corner was brought into use and a considerable quantity of earth was removed, leaving a hole about two feet deep, the same in length, and a foot and a half wide. Into this was deposited a mahogany. box which had been covered up in a corner, and the box ; fitted the hole snugly. ~ “When that box is full we’ll find another hiding place for any additional plunder,” said Bentley, after the hearthstone had been replaced and all tell-tale signs carefully brushed away. The four men then resumed their places at the table, filled their glasses from the jug, and ~ seemed disposed to make a night of it. i = july CHAPTER VI.—Tom Decides to Capture the Night Hawks if He Can. pe Tom concluded he had heard all that he wanted to. He had seen where the Night Hawks buried ; their latest booty, and knew he would be able. to spot it again. The four crooks were reason- ably certain to continue to make Hermit Island, as it was now’ called, their rendezvous for some time to come. There was a standing reward of — ene thousand dollars for their capture and con-, viction, and Tom, who was developing a great eye for business, mentally determined, with the help of Jack Harding, to’earn that morning. He had a business scheme in view which needed — money for its development, consequently half of — the proclaimed reward would come in handy, while the other half would be equally acceptable — tc. Harding, who was looking forward to an early marriage with Dora Travers. Tom did not believe in putting off | until « ae * é +

Page 11

he resolved to attempt the capture of the Night Hawks as soon as he could. As the first step _ toward that desirable end, and to block the ras- _eals from getting away from the island, the boy set out at once to find the boat they used to cross the stretch of water between the island and the own boat lay in ‘a little cove on the op- posite side of the isiand, but, as the circumference of the wooded isle was not very great, it would ‘not take him long to row around to the cove _ after he had found the crooks’ boat. He saw _ that a light breeze had started up and that the fog had grown thinner, so he judged his passen- _ gers were impatiently awaiting his return, and - probably wondering at the length of time he'had ‘ remained away. In his opinion, the boat he was looking for could not be very far from the near- _ est point between the shore and the house, and he _ Was fight in his conjecture. He found it tied to a stout stake driven ate. the sand. It took him but a moment to “untie the painter, get out the oars and commence pulling around the island toward the cave. In- Side of fifteen minutes, during which the mist had cleared away materially, he made out the ~ outlines of the Seadrift in the little indentation, and he rowed alongside of her. “Hello! is that you, Travers?” asked the leader of the camping-out party. “Where the dickens have you been so long? We might have been - halfway to town by this time, for a light breeze ~ eame up about twenty minutes ago.” I got into a little breeze over at the house and couldn’t get back any sooner,” replied Tom, ‘as he tied the painter of the rowboat to a cleat ‘in the stern of the Seadrift and stepped aboard of the latter. _ : _ “Wkat trouble ay you get into?” asked his _ passenger, curiously. : __ “Well, I had a tumble from a ladder that kind of knocked me silly,” answered Tom, who did not care to enlighten the young men regarding | _ the real state of affairs. “I wanted to find out _ something about that light that was shining from _ the second story of ‘the building. I started up 2 ladder, but the old thing snapped in two when I was near the top and I got’ a nasty fall.” _ “Oh, that was it,-eh?” asked. the head clerk. “Tt was a lucky thing that you did not break your neck—lucky for us, too, for if you hadn’t saggy up ~we’d have had to stay here all night.” ‘Tom laughed as he swung the boom out so as to catch the light wind, then, seating himself on he weather sidé of the helm, he steered the sail- at out of the cove. By the time the boat had a quarter of a mile the fog had entireiy disappeared. The stars were out in full force, ‘and the skyrockets from every section of the town were trying to rival their brilliancy. In three-quarters of an hour the Seadrift ached the main wharf, where her passengers nbarked, bade good-by to the young skipper, started with ir traps for the railroad en. When Tom hauled out from the wharf d headed for home, Patty made.her reappear- from the cabin. | : x ery, Patty?” asked Tom, with a smile. admitted that she was. Hune? AN EYE TO BUSINESS “So am I. It’s nearly nine o’clock—more than eight hours since we had our lunch. If it hadn’t been for the calm and the fog we’d have reached tewn around half-past five, and been honfe before six. When we drifted into the cove at Hermit Island you were asleep. I guess you've had boating enough for one day.” It didn’t take long to run over to the little wharf on the water-front of the Travers property. Tom made the boat fast, lowered the sail, but did not tidy it up, and put the stops about it, for he expected to run over to Hermit Island later on with Harding, and then, taking Patty by the hand, they skipped up to the house. _“You’ve made a long day of it, Tom,” said his mother, who was sitting on the side porch watching the fireworks. “Couldn’t help it, mother. We were caught in the fog and becalmed at the same time. I’m thankful we got here as soon as we have. Any- thing to eat? Patty and I are famished.” “Yes; you'll find your suppers in the oven and the tea on the top of the stove. I left a light in the kitchen, You’d both better eat there, as the dinner table is cleared off.” . “All right, mother,” replied Tom, cheerfully. “Was Mr. Spriggins here after Patty?” “No.” “I guess he has too mueh respect for the day to do any dirty work for Nathan Kemp,” said Tom. “The most he would have done, anyway, was to have taken Patty over to his house and kept her there if she refused to go back to the Kemps. To-morrow we'll bring her case before the magistrate ourselves and see if we can’t squelch Mr. Kemp and his sister for good and all, as far as Patty is concerned. They have forfeited all right to her services by their treat- ment of her, and I have no doubt that Patty will be allowed to stay with us, if she so de- sires.” Nt: Tom then went into the kitchen, to find Patty setting the little table there for their supper, end in a couple of minutes the two young people : were eating away as happy as though they had ; not a trouble in the world. : “Where’s Dora, mother?” asked Tom, when he came out on the porch after the meal. “Off with Jack to see the fireworks?” “Yes,” replied Mrs. Travers. “Well, I guess Patty and I will go’ down .to the green, too. There must be quite a mob watching the pyrotechnics. Won’t you come with us? = “No; I can see all I wish to from here.” “You can only sée the rocks and bombs that’ — go above \the housetops. You miss the set pieces and other display.” 4 “And I avoid the crowd. It is much more en- jeyable to sit here and enjoy the cool bre from the bay and see a portion of the firewor than to stand for a couple of hours in a hot, — perspiring crowd, in order to get a fleeting glimpse of the whole show.” ‘ “T guess you're right, mother. But Patty and — I won’t mind the crowd.” _ : _ And they did mot, for they were soon wedged into the thickest of it, watching the fizzing design of “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” tg

Page 12

CHAPTER VII.—Trying to Earn the Reward. When Tom and Patty got back to the cottage they found Jack Harding and Dora standing at the gate. “I want to see you before you go home, Jack,” said Tom. “You’ll find me sitting on the kitchen doorstep.” : “All right,” replied Jack, laughingly. _ Fifteen minutes later he joined Tom at the spot mentioned. “@Vell, Tom, here I am at your service,” he meee taking a seat beside his future brother-in- aw : “Tye got something important to talk to you about,” began Tom. “T’m ready to hear it.” “Something that will put five hundred dollars in each of our pockets if we can get it threugh.” “Five hundred dollars, eh?” replied Harding. “That sounds good. What is this scheme?” “You've heard about the Night Hawks, of -eourse—the four crooks who, disguised with birds’ heads, robbed a number of houses in this neighborhood last spring?” “Of course, I heard about them at. the time.” es “Did you hear that they had turned up again— “that they robbed the Stansbury post-office the other night, also Deacon White’s house?” ' ~_.“No; is that a fact?” _. “Yes; and they went through the Manson cot- _ take this afternoon.” “You don’t say!” “Sure thing. There’s a standing reward of one verses dollars for their capture.” “So I heard.” - “Well, it’s up to us now to earn that money.” - “Up tous! What do you mean?” asked Hard- ing. in surprise. “TI mean I know exactly where those four rascals are in hiding.” “You do?” in astonishment. . “T do.” “Where?” “On Hermit Island.” _. “How do you know that?” _ “J saw them there to-night.” ~ “You did?” “T did. You know that Patty and T were gone all day on the bay in the Seadrift?” ~ “So Lheard when I came after Dora this after- noon.” sed put ashore at Hermit Island about. ten o'clock _ “And you saw the four rascals there, eh?” “Not then, They were away, but I saw evi- — that four persons, whom I thought to be ps, were living in the old hermit’s quar- “Well?” “Then, after. wating our lunch on the island, put off down the bay for Deer Island to take rg bank ese Icarried down yes- Fergie te the island and taking ‘them AN EYE TO BUSINESS 4 \ bay at a merry clip, Tom at the wheel. nee pk up, and it- foand Hermit. Island. Then it was we saw a light — shining through the fog and gloom, and I decided that it came from the second story of the un- finished hotel building on the island. I was curi- — ous to learn who was on the island, so I took — the boat’s lantern and started on a tour of ‘in- 3 vestigation.” 2 Tom then went on to relate all that befell him on the island, with which the reader is ~ already familiar. Jack Harding listened to his — story with great interest and curiosity. : “So they’ve got their plunder buried under the — hearthstone of that room, eh?” ; “That’s right,?-nodded Tom. , = “You carried off their boat so they couldn’t —_ get away from the island?” “T did.” : “That was a clever move,” replied Harding; ~ “but when they find themselves cooper up the : be uncommonly watchful against capture. There = are four of them, probably armed, and may be — expected to put up a desperate resistance. How — do you think that you and I can do them up? It’s too big a contract, Tom, for us.to undertake.” Tom now began to think so himself, but he fn didn’t want to admit it. = “But there’s one thousand dollars in it, and I don’t want to lose my share of it. I need the 5 meney to start my business.” : “I’m willing to help you earn it, Tom,” replied Jack, “but I’m afraid that in this case the odds ‘ee are too great against us. We'd better take Con> 5 é stable Sprigeins with us and divide the reward — in thirds. Even with him we’re more than likely to have our hands full, unless we can take the rascals by surprise.” : “My idea was that if we went down aie island to-night we stood a good chance of catch ing them off their guard,” said Tom. “I left — them drinking and enjoying themselves. They feel pretty safe there at present. Suppose we go down and see how the land lies, Ww You’ve got a revolver at your room, and get father’s. Are you game to do it?” aS “I am if you are,” replied Jack; “but I still think it would be wiser for us to take the con- stable along. There is considerable power in the majesty ‘of the law, Tom.” “Majesty of the law is good, Jack, but I a six-shooter is better,” laughed Tom. “You and get your gun and I'll wait for you at 4 wharf.” = Jack, although he regarded Se adventure : rash one, was prepared to back Tom up, so he departed for his home to get his wea Tom went to his room and got the revolver had belonged to his father and then made way down to the boat. It was about midn a fresh breeze was blowing that promised a | trip to the island, and the sky was now some overcast. Jack returned in about a min then they raised the sail and started do of another twenty minutes the Seadrift put into | the cove where she had already been tw 7 _ day, or rather. the any before, as it 1 Nearing one o’clock. The waves ‘splashed noisily! on the the wind, isabel was steadily trees that heavily

Page 13

- the painter to the tree, and then ‘started for the unfinished building in the clearing. When. they reached the inner line of trees they paused to reconnoiter the house. There was a light in the oom occupied by the crooks. : “The rascals are still awake,” said Harding. “If they are moving around we. ought to see them through that window.” said Tom, after the lapse of five minutes. “Maybe they’ve fallen asleep and left the light burning.” After waiting a while longer and seeing no sign of light through the window, Tom proposed that they creep up and look in to see what the men were doing. To this Harding agreed. So they advanced across the open ground with due caution, holding their revolvers ready for instant use. Glancing in through the window, they saw arms on the table and heads buried in them. “T wonder if they’re drunk?” queried Tom. “They look as if they might be, but you can’t “tell for sure,” repliéd Jack. * .“There are the birds’ heads on that shelf,” said Tom. “T see them. ; aa they on -* “You’d have thought so if you’d seen them ~ the way I did first,” replied Tom. “Well, what _ are we going to do, Jack? There’s a lot of light " ‘rope in the corner near the steve. Do you think we could manage to tie them to the chairs Without waking them? Then _you could stand guard over them while I went back to town and notified the head constable that we had captured them. That should entitle us to the reward.” ' “I think that’s rather a ticklish proposition,” ¢ answered Jack. “Two of those chaps look un- ar % commonly tough and capable of putting up a stiff Re fight. If we didn’t succeed in surprising the bunch completely there’d be something doing.” _ The rascals were lying-about in such an awk- Suge way that it looked impossible to tie them in any effective manner without disturbing them. Tom and his companion were considering the difficulties of the situation the man known as Baldy moved, raised his head and finally sat x up. He looked at his companions a moment or 8 hea then got. up and shook the fellow called Agel Sandy sat up, and Baldy made a sign ; him that he seemed to understand. Both 4 » picked up their hats and walked toward the door. _ “We'll have to hide, Jack,” warned Tom. aaa coming outside.” deine to get behind a small pile of y and then awaited further develop- “CHAPTER Vill.—Capture’ of the Night Hawks. - Baldy opened the door, and he and Sandy came out and closed it after them. Then both, after a glance at the cloudy = moved deliberately ae But they ae for ne a bate not the slightest suspicion that any intruders were on the island at the moment. . “Sandy,” dy, in a confidential tone, 2 mind ?” _ the four men sprawled out asleep, with their. Mighty curious-looking birds,- AN EYE TO BUSINESS 11 “We are both agreed that the best thing we can do is to get our flukes on the swag already secured and light out for New York, leavin’ Bentley and Bud Smith to shift for themselves.” _ “That suits me, if the thing can be safely done.” replied Sandy. “It’s got to be done, pal, and to-night is the time to do it. All we have to do is to dig up that box, take it down to the boat and make off. They won’t be able to follow us, so we kin get a good start.” “If they should catch us tryin’ the dodge on, Baldy, it wouldn’t be healthy for us.” “We mustn’t let ’em catch us, Sandy. I’m de- termined to cut loose from them chaps. Bud is too bad-minded to suit me. He ain’t got no re- spect for human life, and we have, Sandy. I’m not achin’ to have my neck stretched. I draw a line at that kind of thing. Bud wants to do up that boy we ketched in the buildin’ to-night, and Bentley won’t stand in his way. If them two hadn’t got blazin’ drunk with the contents of that demijohn Ill bet that boy would be ment out to sea, bound hand and foot, by this ime. “I reckon he woyld,” admitted Sandy. “It ain’t certain, as things stand, but Bud and Bentley will carry him into the cellar~in the © mornin’ and shoot him. I wouldn’t trust neither of them. When we get the box aboard the row- boat we'll go and cut the boy loose and tell him to mosey as soon as he kin. He’s got a boat somewhere along shore, ’cause he couldn’t have walked here. Then we'll make the p’int yonder, steal one of them sailboats that’s anchored thére, and sail round to Nanticoke, where we'll arrive in time to take the first train for New York. | We kin check the box through as baggage.” s It’s a good scheme,” ‘assented Sandy, “if it will only work.” “Tt’s got to work, Sandy. Them two chaps are b’ilin’ drunk and won’t know what we’re up to.” “Are you sure they’re as drunk as that?” “If they ain’t, they kin stand a heap more liquor than I think they kin.” ; “I don’t like to take no chances, Baldy. I «= reckon if they woke up too seon we might feel an ounce of lead in our innards.” j “Well, Sandy, we kin try and see how’ drunk they are.” “How are. you goin’ to do it?” “Give ’em a shake-up.”, “And if they wake up, what then?” “We'll tell ’em it’s time to turn in.” ¥ “It’s a good idea, Baldy.” “Sure it is. If they won’t Re Eh easy, then we'll get their guns away and make sure we don’t | get hurt. After that we'll dig up-the box and mosey.” : “Let’s get about it, then. We can’t wet away — too quick from this place to suit me.” = The rascals rose from the pile of debris and — returned to\the house. < 3 “Now what do you think of that?” said Tom, ; as soon as they had entered the room. “I think it’s first class. Those two chaps will play right into our hands,” replied Harding. “Come back to the window and let's watch them.” Tom -and/ Jack resumed thei = 5 ~

Page 14

stuffed into his pocket. Then they got some of the rope and tied Bentley and Bud Smith to their chairs. Jack punched Tom in the ribs and chuckled. a “They're doing the job for us, Tom,” he said. “We'll only have those two to tackle, and we ought to be able to knock them both out by catch- ing them off their guard.” Baldy and Sandy, having secured their danger- ous associates to their satisfaction, lost no time in removing the hearthstone and getting the ma- hogany box out of the hele. It had a handle -at each end and was comparatively easy to carry. When Baldy turned the light low Tom and Jack concluded it- was time to change their base of operations. “Where did.you find their boat, Tom?” asked Jack. “Over yonder, tied to a stake in the beach.” “Then we’d better get over there and; lay for these chaps. As soon as we have captured them the game will be in our hands.” So Tom and Harding made for the wood as fast as they could, and soon reached the vicinity where the boat had been tied. “Pick up a club, -Tom,” said Jack, looking ‘around for a stout piece of wood for himself. “Then when they come along with the box we'll spring out of the shrubbery and knock them down.” . “How are we going to secure them?” asked Tom. _ “We'll get their guns away from them, and I'll stand over them with my revolver while you run back to the house and get some of that ~-repe.” f “All right.” replied Tom, and they concealed - themselves and waited. In a quarter of an hour they heard the two _ erooks coming with the box between them. Just as they passed the hidden watchers Tom and Jack rose up behind them and dealt each a stunning blow on the head. Down they went, box and all, and lay where they had fallen with- out a movement. a “T hope we didn’t kill them,” said Tom, a bit -- - anxiously, as he looked down at the white faces of the two rascals. “Not much danger of that,” answered Jack, céolly. “Those bullet heads ought to be able to stand a policeman’s locust, and that’s harder than these bits of wood. Come, now, -let’s. dis- arm them before they come to.” _ They found four revolvers on them, two of which belonged to their companions. “We have quite an armament now,” laughed Jack. “Help me drag them down on the shore ahd prop them up against that rock.” The unconscious rascals. were placed in the _ position indicated by Harding. ~ “Now hustle over to the house for that rope, "Tom. then we'll have these two foxy chaps dead to rights.” Tom was back inside of five. minutes with the cord, and he helped Jack tie the two Night ‘Hawks in a way that rendered them completely elpless. “Now we'll tackle the other two at the house,” — Harding, “and then we'll bring them down ea oe leave Shen, while we sail whe boat AN EYE TO BUSINESS were stupidly drunk, Tom experienced a feeling « of nervousness while he assisted Jack in cutting them loose, one at a time, from the chairs, and retying them in a more secure fashion. At length the job. was -done and the four Night Hawks were in their power. Taking one of the crooks at a time, they carried them to the shore where their two companions were still in a state of insensibility. Then they went to the cove, boarded the Seadrift, and sailed- her around to that part of the island. After plac- ing the mahogany box in the cuddy, they dumped the four crooks in after it, pushed off and started for Barmouth. It was nearly three o’clock when Tom aroused Constable Spriggins from his bed to tell him about the capture of the Night Hawks. The officer could hardly believe his ears. He know, however, that Tom Travers was not a practical joker, so he hitched up his light wagon — and drove with the boy down to the Travers’ dock. . _ The four rascals were pulled out ‘of the~ cuddy and loaded on the wagon, then the mahogany box with its valuable contents followed, and last - of all came the papier-mache birds’ heads. which Tom and Jack had taken care to bring along as evidence of the identity of their prisoners. With this load the constable drove off for the county jail, while Tom and his friend Jack separated for the night, after congratulating each other over the prospect of soon pocketing the reward for the capture of the Night Hawks. The residents of Barmouth were agreeably sur- prised when they saw the next day’s papers giving an account of the capture of the Night Hawks. | During July, August and September Tom earned -~ a good many dollars with his boat, and when not so employed he was perfecting arrangements to launch a patent unexcelled shoepolish on the market. A few days later the inhabitants of Barmouth noticed that a new poster had been ‘posted up all about town. . People began inquir- ing about the polish, so in a short-time every store in town was equipped with it. Tom now went out on the road with it. By this means a large number of bottles of the polish were -sold. Patty had been helping in the preparation of the polish and Tom saw that the business was © getting.-too much for her, and he thought up a plan-that he umeenr would go through. .CHAPTER IX—The Escaped @@nviet. That night Tom had an interview with Jack ed Harding. “'m going to offer you the chance of your life, Jack,” he said, getting down to business. =F “The chance of my life, eh?” laughed Harding. ~ — -“Yes, I want you to give up hlackonaee and come in with me.” “Into the shoe polish business?” “That’s right. It’s going to make a fortune for me, and I want you to share it.” as “That’s a pretty liberal proposition, Tom. Anes iG body would be a fool to refuse sharing another’s fortune if the <hance was offered to him. I know you’ve been making out fine so far with Polishine, and I’ve no doubt there’s a big’ in. it. If you will ‘show me how I can

Page 15

_ you make a success of it I am ready to talk busi- “ness, I’ve got a thousand dollars saved up that I eould put in. Have you spoken to Dora on _ the subject?” “Yes, and she’s in favor of you taking hold with me.” “That wili go a great way with me, for I feel - bound to consider your sister’s view to a con- siderable extent.” : “Well, Jack, my idea is for you, I and Patty to share equally in the fruits of Polishine. She’s already done a man’s share in helping me put _ the business on its feet, and I am bound that she shall have full recognition for her services, apart from the small wages she has been draw- Harding nodded his approval. 3 “The business is already making money, but the most of that money must go right back into it for some time to come in order to increase the volume of business. So far,I have done scarcely any advertising in newspapers to speak of. can’t afford to do it the way it ought to be done, and spasmodic advertising doesn’t pay.” _ “What part of the business do you expect me look after?” asked Jack. _ “he manufacturing part. In fact, I want you to take general charge with Patty of this end of affairs.” e see, I’m a good blacksmith, all right, because I have been educated up in it, but I’d be all at sea at any other vocation at first.” - a “You're a smart fellow, Jack, and it won’t take —s you long to get into harness. Patty is going ' ‘to take a month’s vacation, and I’m going to stay right here till she comes back to work. - I want you to take all the responsibility off her oulders. She’ll have enough to do to run the — jal end, look after the books, and keep track of the shipping orders. I want you to pull right in with her and attend to all the details. Ill post you in your duties while she’s resting, and then Aen I start for Chicago. in the early part of September, I shall look to you to take full charge of affairs here.- Patty will help you out if you should feel the need of her advice. You can’t _ ..&9 wrong with her at your elbow.” 3 -“She’s a mighty smart girl, Tom,” nodded Jack, _ “and between yéu, I and the post, the brightest one you can do is to marry her after a while.” nek, old chap,” laughed, Tom. “That’s exactly ‘what I mean to do.” “Pm glad to hear. it. I’ve been watching her and on since you put her in charge of this -of your polish business, and I told Dora more than once that you would miss a whole lot if you let another fellow win Patty away from you.” “Well, let’s get back to.what we were talking about,” said Tom. : ~ He gave Jack a general idea of. the methods ¢ had been using to push the business and the ” results he had developed so far. He also outlined vis plans for the future. Jack was an_enthysi- -astic listener. He easily saw that Tom had been _ born with an eye to busi _and that he was a boy who was not asleep at any stage of the ». There were certainly great possibilities Polishine, and if any one could realize on them, rt Benak: re AN EYE TO BUSINESS m “Pm afraid’ I'll have a heap to learn. You- ‘one was Tom Travers. Here was a chance . for him to get on the band wagon, and he was Zging to accept it. : n a day or two Patty retired from the re- sponsibilities that had lately tried her brain and nerves to their limit, and devoted herself to .re- cuperating her energies for the demands of the coming year. Tom decided that she must take two instead of a month’s rest, as he intended -to stay around Barmouth until the first of Septem- ber, when he proposed to go West. Orders continued to come in for the shoe polish in satisfactory quantity during July and August. | The New York agent was evidently doing his : whole duty and earning every cent of his salary, while Tom made frequent trips to Boston to keep the pot a-boiling. 7 “Things are going all right, Jack, and the business, as far as I’ye pushed it, is holding its own; but just you see what will happen when I begin stirring things up out West. You'll have to move into larger quarters. “From Chicago I’m going to Cincinnati and St. Louis, and many lesser * cities. If I’m not wanted back here, it may be q six months before I return. After I finish with | the West I’m going to take in Philadelphia, Balti- 7 more and the big places South, but I shall return iz to Barmouth first. I shall want to see Patty, A and how things are going on, of course.” 2 Tom spoke with such confidence and enthusiasm that Jack had not any doubt but that Polishine : would take on a real boom just as soon as its = inventor took to the road again. During the last x week in August Tom persuaded his mother and ih Patty to go with him and spend a few days at the quiet little town of Plymouth, on Cape Cod Bay, about forty miles south of Barmouth. x It would be a change for them in a way, E though the town possessed none of the advantages of a seaside resort like Barmouth.. The fourth : day of their stay was a stormy one, and news ~ — was brought to the town that a big bark had a gone ashore on a sand bar some miles to the ~~ south, in the neighborhood of unfrequented Ss stretch of shore. Tom, having nothing to do, ss decided to’ tramp down in the vicinity of the wreck. The clerk at the small hotel where they. | — were stopping directed him to follow a certain’ road out of Plymouth, which would take him within a mile of the bay. “It’s better for you to go that way than along the shore, for it’s more direct,” he said: “You can’t go wrong if you turn off by the lane.elose to the Plymouth roadhouse you'll see about seven” miles from here. It’s*the only house for miles .— on the road, so you couldn’t miss it if you tried.” Tom thanked him and started. It was a bleak. afternoon, as we have remarked. The sky was — still piled up with clouds, though the-storm ~ was practically over,-and the wind from the bay blew keen and cold across the country. It proved to be a lonesome walk for Tom, but he didu’t- mind that in the least. He tramped sturdily on- ward until he sighted and finally came up with — the roadhouse referred to by the hotel clerk, © The lane leading to the bay was clese by, and Tom turned into it. A mile down the lane he came to an apparently deserted building a story and a half high. - Within the last half hour the — air had been growing darker and darker, as. the clouds from the sea rolled thicker and thicker upon one another. Tom was satisfied it was go- <5 5 5 : < _—

Page 16

‘ ing to rain, and.so he hailed the house in ques- tion with a feeling of satisfaction. “I guess I'll have to give up my trip to tf shore, though I’m almost there. I don’t care to risk/a bath with my summer flannels on. I'll stop. at this shelter and rest a while. Maybe \ the weather will brighten by and by.” Tom entered the building, and looked around. : An old-fashioned wide, open fireplace stood at _ the back of the single room that composed the lower floor, and there was the remains of a recent _ fire on the hearth. .There were also a rough deal table and three stools inthe room, while~on the ‘table stood a black bottle with a piece of candle stuck into the neck. There were liquor stains, fragments of food and fine pieces of smoking tobacco strewn about on the table, showing that some one. had tarried there recently. The floor -- was full of cracks and holes, and was covered with the dirt of many months. Tom tried one of the -_ elesed doors he saw and found it opened on an empty, roomy cupboard. A ladder which stood'in one corner communi- cated through an open trap with a loft above. - Tom crept up to see what the place was like. There were two piles of dry hay there thatlooked as if they had been used as beds by a pair of homeless wanderers. Between the beds lay a couple of bundles, which seemed to indicate that the men who had slept on the straw intended to return for a night’s lodging at least. Tom was on the point. of retracing his steps to the fioor below, when he heard Voices outside the building, and presently two rough-looking individuals en- tered the house. j “Blast the weather!” growled one of them. “It’s comin’ on to rain again.” ‘ “Dash my vig!” answered the other, with a _ strong cockney accent, “if hit ain’t gettin’ blacker nor the hace.of spades.” y . The two men took their seats at the table, and ~ the thickset man struck a match and lighted the candle in the bogtle. Tom, peering down through the trap, had a good view of both of them. The one with the London accent was short and thin, wore a soft cap, and had his threadbare jacket buttoned close around his, body. He looked like famine’s youngest son, so drawn and cadaverous were his features. Tom gave him but a casual glance, for the other man arrested his attention. - There was something strangely familiar about him to the boy. As he approached his face to the candle to light a pipe he had filled, his eatures were thrown for a moment into bold re- lief. Then it was that Tém recognized him as d Smith, one of the Night Hawks, who had aped from the State prison. a= > — if SST, _ CHAPTER X.—The Sole Survivor of the Wreck. “Well, Jimmy, things look kind of. queer with remarked Bud Smith, with a scowl. “Queer! They couldn’t look queerer,” answer- ed his companion, whose name was Jimmy Gub- re y. > was a London sneak thief, with Scotland Yard detective bureau, he —— tees “he had come to America because out of jail at home. : AN EYE TO BUSINESS “We haven’t a nickel between us,” growled . Smith. “Never a red,” replied Gubbins. “And we hain’t ’ad nothin’ to heat all day.” “I should like to raise the wind somehow,” said Smith. “Should you?” returned the cockney crook. “Vell, then, I’m precious glad you can’t—the vind _ is too “igh already for the ruinated state of my wardrobe. I’m bless’d if the vind don’t blow in at this ’ere ‘ole at the top of my cap, and cemes hout at this ‘ere ’ole at the bottom of my shoe.” “So you shook the old country and came to America.” “I ’ad to. It got too ’ot for me hover’ there.” “You won’t find it any cooler over here unless » you stand in with the cops.” ~ : The foregoing conversation was not very inter- esting to Tom Travers, as he looked down from —— the loft at the pair of rascals at the table. He wondered how long they intended to stay there. He didn’t relish the nearness of their society, and he entertained sericus doubts as to how they would act if he made an attempt to leave the premises while they were in the building. At + length Bud Smith knocked the dead ashes from his pipe, blew out the candle, got up and moved toward the door. = ; om “Come on, Jiffmy,” he said. “I’m goin’ up to - the roadhouse to beg a meal. I can’t stand this aa at my vitals. I’d about as soon be in 3 jail. = “Dash my vig, but I’m with you,” cried the English crook, jumping to his feet and follow- ing his companion outside. = “Thank goodness, they’re gone!” breathed Tom, slipping down the ladder. “I’d rather take a good = soaking than have a run-in with those chaps in this lone place.” * =e He went to the door to watch, their retreat, = but was rather staggered to see them standing — just outside, looking in the direction of the bay. _ Wondering what they were looking at, he turned __ his gaze in that direction, too. A bearded, squaré- built man, dressed in a pea jacket and a cap that __ clearly indicated that his business was connected . with the sea, was coming up the lane. He walked a bit unsteadily, like a man who might have ~ taken a drop too much. yore ‘The two crooks seemed to\watch his approach with much interest—Tom with a certain amount ~ _ of apprehension for his safety, for he easily believed that the two rascals were desperate enough to attack the stranger on the chance of finding money in his pockets. Ss 4 ” ; = r / “Hello, messmate,” said Smith, when the new- = comer got quite close to them. “Where bound?” “T’m bound for a town called Plymouth,” re- plied the stranger. “Perhaps you can tell if I’m likely to fetch it on this tack.” = “Plymouth is eight miles away,” replied Smith; — “but, as me and my pal is goin’ there, we'll see — to it you don’t miss your way.” i “Well, that’s kind of you. I haven’t been in these parts for ten years, and the country looks = kind of strange to me, though I don’t believe it’s — changed any. You see the bark Shenandoah, i which I shipped at Buenos Ayres for Boston, g caught in a fog last night somewhere off ss i Light. We lost our reckoning, drifted about all — me “- F x

Page 17

night, and this morning went ashore on a sand bar yonder,” and the speaker waved his hand ‘toward the bay. “I was the only one saved, for the sea pounded the vessel so hard that she broke up. I floated ashore on a spar and was hauled out of the surf by the life-saving crew of the station below here. They pulled me around : a time, and I made up my mind to walk to Plymouth, where I was told I could catch a train for = I’m afraid, though, that the glass of hot whisky I drank has kind of Muddled my brain, which ain’t very strong since I came out of the hospital at Buenos -Ayres.” “Don’t you worry about that, messmate,” re- ied Smith. “We'll see you right on your road With a great deal of pleasure.” __ “I’m obliged to you for your kindness, my Raitt “friend. I hope you'll allow me to make it ail - ‘ight with you. I always like to pay for any - favor that’s rendered me, especially as in this meri you both look as if you’d seen hard luck.” We don’t want to rob you, messmate,” replied Smith, in a friendly way. “You’ve been ship- wrecked, you know, and can’t have much about rou.” _ *That’s where you make a mistake, my friends. Tye more than a thousand dollars in a belt ‘around my waist. I saved that, you see, if I was shipwrecked.” _ “Oh, blessed saint of the mint! Did you hear that?” Tom heard Jimmy Gubbins say in a low tone to his companion. “A thousand dollars! - OF, crickey!” - ~~ “Poor man! They will rob, perhaps murder m,” breathed the boy, with the greatest anxiety. ow can I put him on his guard?” _ At that moment it began to rain, and the drops came down big and fast. _“Tt’s rainin’. Looks as if it would come down hard in a few minutes. We'll just take shelter _ in this old house, messmate, till it lets up,” said Smith, catching the stranger by the arm and him toward the door; “then we'll start for Plymouth,” # right, my friend,” heartily. “Tm not aching for@another wetting, though I dare say it wouldn’t hurt me, seeing as I’m used to it.” “I mustn’t be seen,” said Tom to himself. up to the loft again.” = found, however, that he had no time to ‘re- : above if he hoped to escape observation, o he made a quick dive for the shelter of the cupboard and pulled the door to after him. Ss must save this stranger somehow,” thought ; he watched the two crooks and their aged eres enter the room. “He’s eyi- mtly the mate of the bark lost on the sand bar. -It is my duty to do by him as I should have wished another to do by my father if, during ifetime, he had been placed in a like situa- said the mariner, “Tl spectiv do you like our humble shed, mess- te?” called Bud Smith, after he had relighted — and pointed at one of the stools—a e invitation that the stranger accepted. “Un- unate circumstances have compelled. my pal myself to live here for a week ‘past.” thought you’d seen hard luck, my friend,” ied the mariner, in a tone of pats sympathy. AN EYE TO BUSINESS 4 - * —e - 15 you two would be welcome? you were hungry.” “"Ungry!” chipped in Gubbins, placing one hand on his stomach. “We hain’t ’ad nothin’ to eat worth mentionin’ for a month.” “That's too bad. Is times so hard in thisecoun- try now that you can’t get work?” “They couldn’t well be ’arder,” replied Jimmy, dolefully. ; “Ts that a fact? I suppose neither of you'll object to-my standing treat to a first-rate meal wheg we reach Plymouth? It isn’t in my nature to see any man-go hungry while I’ve got a shot in the locker—that is, a dollar in my pocket.” “Tt’s some distance to Plymouth, messmate. If you don’t mind, we’d consider it a favor if you'd loan us the price of a couple of snacks of bread and cheese and a quart of beer. Perhaps you’d prefer whiskey for yourself?” said Smith. “Loan you! Why, I'll give it to you, man,” replied the mariner, breezily. “But where are- you going to get it around here? I haven’t seen a house in sight, except this old shack, since I left the beach.” ; “There’s a public ’ouse at the ’ead of the = lane,” said Gubbins, with alacrity. “I'll fetch the things from there.” 4 “What’s the use of taking all that trouble? We'll all three go there and get a meal ship- ~ shape,” said the stranger, rising. 3 “We can’t go there now,” objected Smith. rainin’ hard.” “Then how do you expect to get the bread and cheese and beer?” asked the mariner, sitting down again. “Oh, I don’t mind a vettin’,” replied Gubbins. “It- von’t be the first von I’ve ’ad. Vhy, vonce . I vos ducked six times in an _’orse pond for bonin’ a child’s——” Smith cut his reminiscent remark Short with a punch in the stomach. “Oh, crickey! Wot did you do that for?” “It was an accident,” replied Smith, with a scowl. “Vell, don’t do it again. hole through my innards.” “Tf you don’t mind givin’ my pal half a dollar, with a trifle extra for a small pocket flask of © ; whisky for myself, why, I'll be much obliged = to you,” said Smith to the mariner. “T haven’t got less than a five-dollar bill,” ~~ replied the man, unbuckling his belt, opening a is water-tight compartment in it, and removing a = wad of money. ; The two crooks gazed with longing eyes at the roll of bills as the stranger peeled off a + five-dollar one and tossed it on the table. es “There you are,” he said in a friendly way. ° ES “Use what you want of it.” : “Won’t 1?” muttered Gubbins, making a grab ee at .the bill as the mariner replaced the money belt around his waist, He dashed up the ladder and presently return- q ed with a thick gunnysack, which he drew over his head and shoulders. ~ a “This vill do for a humberella,” he grinned. “If the vater comes in at the top of My shoes = — itll run hout again through the “oles at the bottom.” With this Fe cchegs | remark he ran out of the | doorway into’ the gloom of the dreary afternoon, You look as if “Tt’s You nearly made a ; a Sia: eats es aoe

Page 18

CHAPTER XI.—On the Eve of a Crime. “I suppose you’ve been all over the world, shipmate?” remarked Smith, when the English sneak thief had departed on his errand. a “Pretty near,” replied the mariner. ; “How long have you been at sea?” “Ever since I was a boy.” 5 “That’s a long time. Bound home now, eh? -\ “Home!” exclaimed the stranger, with a start. ; “I hope so.” 5 e aa “You hope so? Aren’t you sure? The mariner shook his head sadly. _ “You can’t be sure of anything in, this world. It’s ten years since I was home last. - “Ten years! Where have you been, all that ba 78 ecked.” “Ship ed.” “Shinwrecked, eh?” eee : “Every soul lost but me—just like it was with the brig this morning. Seems singular, doesn’t _ it, that I was the only one to live through both disasters ?” _. Bud Smith nodded, and sucked at his pipe, _ which he had refilled and lighted. ; “Where was you shipwrecked?” “On a small island off the coast of South = America.” a “Just where my father was. lost,” thought Tom _ Travers, who was listening intently. _ “And did that happen ten years ago?” asked Smith... : “It did,” replied the stranger, solemnly. = “Gracious!” breathed Tom. “His vessel was Jost about the same time as my father’s, too.” “How long were you on the island?” asked Smith. “Nearly ten years.” oad all alone?” > es, all alone,” replied the mariner, with a nod. _ “Didn’t a vessel come near the island in all # that time?” __. “Not a single vessel put in there all that time. ' Many came near enough for me to signal them after a fashion, but they never paid any atten- o- tion,” “That was hard luck, shipmate.” : ; “J thought so until one day a brig put in an took me off. She left me at Buenos Ayres, where _ I was at once taken down with brain fever and __ gent to the hospital. When I recovered I was ~ not quite the same man I had been, at least about the head. I shipped for Boston as chief mate of the bark Shenandoah, although I had _* been a capt’n for @ matter of ten years. But my ill lice attended me still, for she was driven out of her course when within sight of port and Jost on the sand bar yonder, ,as I told you be- - fore.” : - “Well, shipmate, I reckon your hard luck is over now. You'll soon be home,” said Smith, with a wolfish chuckle. ; “Ay, ay, if I can find a home to go to,” replied os marin er, > + “Why ere it was, have you?” “No; but many changes happen in ten years.” t’s right, they do.” shouldn’t you find it? You ain’t forgot. _ AN EYE TO BUSINESS. “I have doubtless long since been given up for dead.” “Very likely.” “My wife and little ones’—his voice broke and he wiped a tear away—“may be dead, or have moved somewhere else.” 2 “They wouldn’t stav in one place ten years,” nodded Smith. , “And so you see how I’m fixed. I'll probably | have to look them up before I can hope to meet ? them again. But if they’re alive I'll find them, never fear—oh, yes, I’ll find them.” At that moment Jimmy Gubbins came back with several packages in his arms, a big tin pail in his hand, a bottle of whisky in one pocket and three glasses in the other. Hé laid every- thing ovt on the table and took the center stool himself. % , “You'll join us in a glass first, won’t you, ship- mate?” said Smith, proceeding to fill the glasses. “There’s nothin’ like sociability, you know, to pro- mote good friendship.” “Very well,” consented the stranger, genially. “*Ere’s to your very good ’ealth, Mister Sailor,” - said Gubbins, grabbing his glass, “May we meet more numerous, but never less respectable.” The glasses were quickly drained, and those of Smith and his pal refilled. “Now, shipmate, help yourself to the whisky. Where’s the gentleman’s change, Jimmy ?” : “Vell, blow me tight if I didn’t forget hall about it,” said the sneak thief, slowly taking. some silver from his pocket with one hand, while he ravenousty devoured a chunk of bread and chese held in the other. “Wot was it that you give me—a two-dollar bill, wasn’t it?” + “No, Jimmy, it was a five-plunk note,” said ~ Smith. “You have a very bad memory.” “So my grandmother used to say when I boned her purse vunce or twice and forgot to return it,” : replied the London thief, grudgingly counting out the money. “There’s your change. Two pints of beer at ten cents is a quartér.. One bottle of whisky at $1.50—that’s two dollars. Bight ~— sandwiches at ten cents each is another dollar. And the loan of three glasses is another quar- ter. That makes $8.50 altogether. That’s cor-— rect, isn’t it?” 5 “I suppose it is,” replied the stranger, pocket- ing the change in an abstracted way. aS . “Of course it is,” asserted Gubbins, winking | at Smith. “There’s one thing I can say for my- self, and that is I’m strictly honest. My.grand- ~~ mother walloped it into me and I hain’t forgot =o it. She used to stay to me that honesty vos the \best policeman—we call ’em beaks on the other — side—in the worli. If you’re honest you won’t never get into the jug. Unfort’nitly lots of hon- est folks get into the work’ouse.” “You ain’t drinkin’, shipmate,” said Smith, —_ “Come, now, fill up. A drop of whisky ‘ll warm _ ycur blood. This kind of weather is enough to oe chill one to the bone.” « He filled the stranger’s glass half full of the spirits. “Your health, shipmate.” : The mariner mechanically drank when the - others drained their glasses. There was silence _ in the room for some minutes, while the crooks worked their jaws over the sandwiches, that dis- appeared down their throats with surprising rapidity. Tom Travers all this time ree “a a = 2 oa . Cie 2

Page 19

_ was going on under his eye mith’. a beating . He felt sf was but a preliminary to a templated crim ; Bud Smith was iow to lull the stranger into ‘a sense of complete security. Had the mariner noticed Jimmy Gubbins’s errors of computation accounting for the unexpended balance of the dollar bill, he wowld have suspected him and mpelled his comrade to disgorge the difference. he was stowing away his share of the iches Smith was thinking how he could get ssion of the stranger’s valuable belt with least trouble. He was prepared to murder chief mate of the lost bark, if necessary, to the thousand dollars, while Gubbins had no ction to help him do it for half of the swag. h, however, had not the slightest intention tting his companion have more than a tenth of the money, nor even that much, for he p to shake him as soon as possible after contemplated crime: Outside it was raining dily, with little prospect of a let up for some e to come. <T guess the rain is good for another hour,” a feed. Smith, at last. “You look fagged out, hipmate.” of feel so,” replied the stranger, a bit wearily. : hen you’d better go up into the loft and lie n for a while. We'll wake you when the er clears.” : »’s a lot of straw hup there,” put in - "You'll sleep as sound as a toft in a bed, blow me tight if you won*.” f think I’d feel better if I lay down for a * replied the chief mate. “I suppose it’s 5 a walk from here to Plymouth?” i ’s at of-eight mile,” answered Smith. “ Take idrink, shipmate. it'll steady your t Phe} == ‘ no; I'll drink no; more. My head won't \ ell please vourself. You’re the doctor. Shall . you up the ladder?” I’m a sailor, you know.” right, shipmate. Make Vourself at home pes took off his peajacket, threw it on for the ladder. Tom saw eg mount to the loft and. disappear sate trap in the ceiling; then he watched to see what they were going to do werry msiiraenliats that he didn’t leave ’is in ’is jacket, for then we’d ’ave no trouble. it and we could be miles avay vhen he huD.” joesn’t make any diff’rence, we'll get it , just as soon as he’s sound asleep. rii “eee take the belt off him. It’s a leo. us that he’s his own banker.” _ hi in’ Tike bein’ your hown banker,” grinned thief. “I mean to hopen a bank some A aE ae chuckled Smith, ut that change in ‘is oackcith; or in ket? sara cheat taking up the gar- ‘throwing it upon the table in disgust. mood, jacket,” said Smith, ‘Picking it eee -of the situation. : xunning his ee ere through each « th professional celerity. “Not a bloom-~ ’ ¥" P - ~ 3 » 4 _ AN EYE TO BUSINESS : ‘ up and looking it over. I’m goin’ to keep it. Hello! Here’s the name sitched in it.” “Ts name?” “Yes—Ezra Travers.” “My father!” gasped Tom, aloud, his heart al- most ceasing to beat. CHAPTER XII.—Back to Life. “What did you say?” said Smith, turning to his pa : “T didn’t say hanythin’,” replied Gubbins. “Yes, you did. You said somethin’ about your father.” “"Ow could 1? Vhy, I never ’ad von. It must ’ave been the sailor chap talkin’ in his sleep.” “Tf he’s asleep we’d better be thinkin’ of gettin’ down to business,” said Smith, taking a revolver out of his hip pocket.” - “You hain’t goin’ to shoot ’ im, are you?” asked Gubbins. “It isn’t rainin’ so ‘ard now. Some- body might be comin’ this way, an ’e’d ’ear the report. Better stick *im vith this ’er knife, if you’ve got to settle ’im,” and the London crook took out of his pocket a sheath, from which he pulled a six-inch blade. “T don’t know but you're right, Jimmy. Give me the knife. I can cut the belt~off with it and he’ll be none the wiser, I'd rather get it without killin’ him if I can.” Gubbins handed his pal the knife, and Smith, leaving hig revolver on the table, started for the ladder. \ The British crook follewed him to the corner of the room, probably with the inten- ticn of sneaking up after him and watching the execution of the job. Tom Travers, who had been standing in a dazed state since he had heard*the mention of his father’s name, now woke up to the urgency er this stranger really was his long-lost father or not, he was de- termined to save him even at the risk of his own life. It was not surprising that he had not recog- nized the mariner, if the man was his father, for he was only seven and athalf years old when his parent left Boston on his ill-fated voyage, * and he “had only an indistinct-recollection of what his father looked like at the time. Then the changes that take place in a person in ten years would have to be considered also. All these points-had flitted through the boy’s mind as he strove to believe that the man who had gone into the loft,to sleep _ really his dear father actually come back to 1 Tom opened the acd does wide and stood for a moment undecided how to act. Smith was already halfway up the ladder, with the knife in his teeth. Then it was t Tom saw the revolver lying on the table. With a cry of satisfaction he jumped out and secured it. Cock- ing it, he pointed_it at Smith and cried:. “Stop! Another step up that ladder. and = : put a ball through you.” Gubbins turned around and gave a gasp. The. *e two crooks were fairly taken by surprise. In order to wake up the man he supposed might be — his father, as well as to impress the with the fact that he meant business, Tom Pulled = 17

Page 20

- Smith’s ear. With a smothered imprecation the crook slid ~. to the floor, and, grabbing the knife out of his mouth, stood as if undecided whether or not to make a. sudden rush at the boy, who seemed to be master of the situation. The re- port of the revolver awakened the stranger, and = he stuck his head down through the opening. _ The tableu he saw below rather astonished him. “Hello! What’s the matter?” he asked in a > bluff tone. = _ “The matter is that these fellows intended to rob you of the money you have in a belt around your waist,” replied Tom er “Rob me!” exclaimed the chief mate. i “It’s a lie!” snarled Smith. “Vell, powder me blue if I hever ’eard the like of that! Ve vouldn’t rob nobody of nothin’ whatsomdever,” asserted Jimmy Gubbins. “That man With the knife in his hand is Bud Smith, an escaped convict from the State penitentiary,” said Tom. With a snarl like a wild beast’s, Smith made a sudden dash at the boy; but Tom was not off his guard in the least. With a roar of pain, Smith staggered back, the weapon dropping to the floor. Jimmy Gubbins, -panic-stricken, dashed out of the back door and sped across the meadows as fast as he could go. With the flash and report of the second shot from the revolver the stranger put his foot on the upper round of the ladder and was presently standing on the floor of the room. “Who are you, my lad?” he asked in a tone of puzzled wonderment. “I don’t quite understand this: matter. You say this man is an escaped - convict, and that he and his companion meant - to rob me? “I did say so, and it’s a fact. He got away from the penitentiary with a companion about three months ago. You asked me my name— well, it’s Tom Travers.” “Tom Travers!” exclaimed the mariner, slowly. “Tom Travers!” he repeated, an indescribable look coming into his eyes. “It cannot be that you are—who was your father, boy?” he asked, et oro taking a step forward in his feverish eagerness. “My father,” replied Tom, in a trembling tone, ce “was Captain Ezra Travers, of the brig Susan “My son!” cried the stranger, rushing forward with outstretched arms. “My boy Tom. I am _ your father.” _ “Father, is it indeed you, come back 4o life?” In a moment father and son were locked in each other’s arms. The discomfited convict star- ed at the tableau in amazement. Then, as if he ‘perceived the advantage in it for himself, he stole toward the door, holding his wounded arm 3 support it, ard in another moment was gone. “My dear, dear hoy, how you hive. grown!” ned Ezra Travers, drawing back and con- never should have y born happiness. “I he added eager- you. And your mother,” “is she well? And little Dora. Where are ? Are you living in this neighborhood now?” is. ell, 424.0. Dor. nee AN EYE TO BUSINESS: ' the trigger and sent a ball whizzing close by ’ He jumped behind the , table and fired at the arm that held the knife. / eure = son with eyes that beamed a- we long ago received news of the loss of the ee Susan Dean, and never heard tidings from you _ or any of the brig’s company, we naturally came — to look upon you as dead.” S “Dead!” said Captain Travers. “Yes, Ihave been dead to the world for ten long years. But, thank heaven, I have at last returned. to life and my dear ones again.” “I will have to break the néws to mother before _ you can meet her, father.” “Yes, yes. I will go with you at once.” “We live at Barmouth, a few miles Poe of Boston.” £- “Barmouth! I know the place. How happens ae it you are down in this neighborhood, then?” “I brought mother down to Plymouth for a few days’ change of scene. We have rooms at — the hotel there.” “Plymouth! here,” said the captain, eagerly. That is but a few miles from “Let us- start at once. I am nearly wild to clasp your mother = in my arms again.” a “T am ready, father,” replied Tom. “It has — 4 stopped raining, I think. It will be dark long before we can reach town. I see both of those rascals have got away. Well, it doesn’t mat- ter—they will be captured sooner or later, that’s — pretty certain. Come, father.” a As Tom spoke, the candle in the neck of the ~ bottle on the table gave one last expiring gasp _ and went out, leaving them in darkness. The father and son, so strangely reunited, left the — miserable and deserted shanty arm in arm, and. - ~ that father was alive?” we “Alive!” Mrs. Travers clasped her hands over her ie while her face went quite white. “Your. father—alive!” she whispered in a_ strange, tense tone. “Tom, is this true? Is it really a fact that he is not dead, after all?” — : “It is really true, mother. He is both alive and well, and not far away.” x = The little woman, who had for so many ye SS regarded herself as a widow, trembled violentiy as the news forced itself through her brain. Then she would have fallen had not Tom sprun a forward and S aeee her in his strong arms. “Father!” te cried loudly, and as if the had been a preconcerted signal between t the bearded mariner rushed into the room in another moment had his nuit toiuing in arms. 5 ‘said Tom to the nines : A. Ste ay *. Sin 24 his a ae Patty

Page 21

“who had been a spectator of the unexpected scene, ““jet’s go outside for a little while.” Tom and Patty went*@ownstairs to the office, : e boy sent a dispatch to Jack Harding, ne him that Captain Travers had turned up a remarkable manner, and requesting him to the happy news to Dora. That night the band and father learned all the particulars what had transpired since he left Boston in » Susan Dean, on the voyage destined to be er last. om also told him about his polishing busi- Ss, and what he expected to accomplish with it. reader may well believe that there wasn’t a spier little family party from Maine to Cali- ornia than that gathered in the Travers’s room ~ the Plymouth Inn that night. The first thing om did’in the morning was to notify the Ply- cuth constable about the presence of Bud Smith, escaped convict, and his companion, Jimmy Gub- bins, in that locality. A possé was organized to catch them, but nothing came of it. Tom cut their stay at Plymouth short by a » as his father was extremely anxious to see Dera, and so next morning they took the first fain back to Barmouth. Our hero telegraphed word of their coming ahead, and thus- it hap- ed that Jack and Dora were at the station meet them when they stepped out of the cars. xt day the Barmouth Courant printed the story of Captain Ezra Travers’s ten years’ sojourn on the little island off the coast of South America, and the story reappeared in the prominent Bos- roughout the country. Tom deferred his trip Vest for a week in order to longer enjoy the ciety of the father from whom he had been “long separated. - Captzin Travers decided that he had had hough of the sea for the rest of his life, and 2) ssed his intention of settling down at the age his wife had purchased with his savings. was the habit he had practised from boyhood carrying his money strapped around his waist a waterproof belt that enabled him to save le $1,000 odd when the Susan Dean went ashore, otal loss, on the South Atlantic island. When Tom reached Chicago with his supply of ples he started to boom his “Polishine” on what similar scale as he had followed in York. He canvassed the leading wholesale s. and the better class of retail shoe stores. everal of the latter, and in department stores, 2 introduced demonstrators to show the public at the polish could accomplish. He also suc- jn interesting the heads of two great y houses—the biggest in the country—in his magic polish, and made’ big contracts with m to furnish a special sized bottle of the ’ for their exclusive trade. He spent a jin the Windy City, and before he left the ball rolling in that locality. ‘result of his Chicago hustling was a rush ack Harding to move t to roomier quar- the working — incinnati and three Louis, establishing a branch office h city, with a wide-awake young man in e of it. Kansas City and a dozen other ¥ AN EYE TO BUSINESS” n dailies, as well as in many other newspapers » blished an agency in a prominent street to_ 5 19 cities of the Middle West were visited, and the Polishine forced upon the attention of the mer- chants and general public with great success. Tom returned ‘to Barmouth the day . before Christmas. He found the business going on in accordance with the tenor of Patty’s letters. Jack had his hands full keeping up with the orders that were now coming Goes day for the magic compound that was taking like wildfire everywhere it became known to the public. His New York agent had succeeded, after many at- tempts, in catching a big Broadway novelty house on a large contract. The manager of this com- pany had turned Tom himself down three times while he was in New York, and the young man had left the capture of the house to his hustling agent to accomplish, with instructions to keep at them till he got a contract. The first order was for 200 dozen bottles, special size and label, and necessitated another increase of the working force in the Barmouth factory. Altogether, the outlook for the magie polish was very .encouraging. Tom, during Christmas week, discovered that he had another string. to his bow. He experimented with Pol- ishine on harness leather, and found that it was equally as effective as on shoe leather. He decided, therefore, to put up a special brand for the harness trade, which hereafter he would make a side issue with Polishine proper. It was practically the same article, but Tom’s object was to make it Appear to be a special compound for harness makes’ use only. He gave it al- together a different tint, without changing its quality at all, and he ordered a special shaped bottle from the glassworks to contain it. He began to introduce it by inserting ad- vertisements in the leading harness makers’ trade papers throughout the country. The secret of changing the magic shoe polish into the magic harness polish was intrusted to Captain Ezra Travers to carry out in a special room of the factory. Cans of Polishine went in one deor and came out bottled Harnessine at another, the only real difference between the two being the color and smell. CHAPTER XIV.—Conclusion. New Years Day dawned cold and cloudy. People when they looked out of doors that morn- ing said it would probably snow before night. Tom, who expected to start on his southwestern trip in a few days, decided to take advantage of the time-honored custom of making calls on that day, somewhat out of vogue in Barmouth, as well aS elsewhere, to visit his numerous circle of friends, who had seen very little of him since the preceding summer. He was welcomed with open arms, and made a great deal of. His popularity with the girls would have been greater but for\the fact that it was generally known in town that he was engaged to be married to Patty 'Penrose—whose luck in catching him, all the young ladies of Barmouth envied. Every- bedy wanted to know if Tom was making a fortune out of Polishine, the general impression being that he was, because of the increasi amount of business people noted about th oor x 5 factory. It was snowing quite hard w. Tom.

Page 22

tore himself away from the house where he made his last call. It was close on to midnight, and he started off briskly toward his home a mile away. The air was thick with heavy flakes of snow, which, as there was little wind, fell straight down and lay in an ever-increasing mass upon housetop, field and roadway. Tom had to pass Nathan Kemp’s dwelling. The secretary of the Boston Missionary Society had never forgiven Tom for the past he played in helping Patty Penrose to cut loose from his family rooftree. He had had several girls in Patty’s place, but nene stayed very long, as they cculdn’t get on at all with Miss Priscilla, whose domineering ways they resented. They couldn’t find a second Patty, and Mr. Kemp and his sister laid the blame of their loss upon Tom’s broad shoulders. The girl’s prospersity since leaving them was also a thorn in their sides. Had she been obliged to work as a common factory girl in one of the nearby towns it would have been something ofa satisfaction to them. Instead of which she was high up the ladder of successful employment, and it was known that she was ac- tually a partner in the “Polishine” business. Nathan Kemp’s property had a frontage of a hundred feet on the road, with a thick hedge on either side of the house. As Tom neared this hedge he heard a voice on the other side of it. The boy stopped and listened to see if one of the speakers was Nathan Kemp. The first words that struck upon his ear were spoken in the familiar cockney accents of the London sneak thief with whom poten come into contact. last Awcrust in the de shack down the line in Ptymouth township. “Vell, dash my vig, if "ere hain’t a go,” Jimmy Gubbins was saying, in a tone of disgust. “So you’ve been and gone and lost the bloomin’ jimmy ve vor dependin’ on to bust the door in vith. Vot are ve goin’ to do now?” “Well, we’ll tackle a winder, then,” consented Smith. “I ’ope you hain’t made no mistake habout ig havin’ money in the ’ouse, ’cause ve need it wuss than anythink I know of.” “He’s got a wad all right. I saw him countin’ it. in the train from Boston last night, and he couldn’t have banked it to-day to save his life.” “Maybe ’e ’as a strong box in ‘is bedroom.” “Shut up your trap, and let’s get about the business.” Tom didn’t hear any more, and concluded that the rascals had gone toward the house’ to begin operations. ‘Tom pushed the hedge aside and s3w the two crooks just disappearing around the corner of the-one-story kitchen annex. “It will take them a little while to get into the “building,” thought the boy. <“I’ll have time enough to run over te Constable Spriggin’s house and rout him out of bed and into his clothes. Then we'll come back and do these chaps up.” »* It didn’t take Tom but a few minutes to reach the constable’s domicile. He pounded loudly on _ the door, and presently Mr. Spriggins came down- stairs in a suit of trepical-looking pajamas. Tom - told him in a few words of the burglary that * was on the tapis, and that woke the constable - up_to a sense of his duty. — : ~ Five minutes later he and Tom, each armed AN EYE TO BUSINESS - friendly. WALL STREET” yal with a revolver, left his house en route for the Kemp home, They cautiously approached — the rear of the premises and found that the ~ kitchen window “had been forced. Tom Travers — looked at the window a moment and then tried the door. It was unfastened. Evidently the slight and agile London thief had got through — the window and then unfastened the door to allow — his companion, who was a thickset fellow, to — enter. Tom and the constable made their way — softly upstairs to the second floor. Here they ~ found one of the doors ajar. They pushed it — open and entered the room. a A lamp was burning on the table. It was — Natham Kemp’s practice to sleep with a light — turned low in his room. Bud Smith had turned the wick up the better to see what they could find. Both the rascals were in the room, with their backs to the door—Smith in the act of prying open a bureau drawer, while Gubbins was holding down the gagged figure of Nathan Kemp in the bed. “Surrender, you rascals!” roared the constable, e covering Smith with his weapon. r “Blessed saint of the mint!” gasped Gubbins, — releasing his victim, “ve’re scragged!” “Help! help!” sereamed Nathan Kemp, after — tearing the cloth from his mouth. _Bud Smith sullenly yielded to the force of circumstances, and Jimmy Gubbins followed suit when he saw that the game was up. They were being handcuffed when Miss Priscilla ran inte — the room in rather light apparel. She screamed and fled, when she saw that the room was full of men, as it seemed to her.. Nathan Kemp glared at Tom Travers as if he suspected him of un- lawful intentions, and was surprised to learn that — it was all owing to Tom that he was savéd from being robbed. He expressed no gratitude, how-_ ever. : Tom helped march the crooks to the lockup. — Next day they were brought before the magis- ~ trate and examined. In the end, Smith was re- — turned to the State Prison to finish his sentence, _ with a new indictment hanging over his ad, on which he would be arrested and brought to— trial. as soon as he had served his term as a Night Hawk. Jimmy Gubbins was tried, con- victed, and sent to keep him company for a number of years. After the trial Nathan Kemp thanked Tom in a grudging manner for what _ he had done in his behalf, but they never became — Tom made a successful tour to uae and the South in the interests of “Polishine,” and subsequently went West to conquer new — fields of. enterprise. Two years elapsed, and then a three-story brick factory was erected by — the Polishine Company, which was now doing a_ land office business. On Tom’s twenty-first birth- day he and Patty were married, but the young wite continued to act as Secretary and Treasurer of the company. Jack Harding and Dora Had been wedded two years before that happy event. _ oe = rw Ww Fae ’ Next week’s issue will contain “TIPPED ‘BY THE TICKER; or, AN AMBITIOUS BOY IN

Page 23

Oe AR ig ty a ee ee ee Ye SN mF me Re i ee FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY | CURRENT NEWS \ ith a snap heard by players'and fans, John Srecoran’s right arm broke as he was pitching Betere, probably because the. muscles “were “Taval station is located. HORSESHOE GROWS AN TREE A NEW INVENTION donfield, Smperathe nbedded horseshoe. From the position of the e tree’s age, Romeo figured that the shoe eliminate many worries about coal bills. said that in the days when Dewey’s ships eighteen miles away. a Do You Read the “MYSTERY MAGAZINE?” a IF NOT, WHY NOT? IT IS A GOOD BUY! A glance over the following contents will impress upon your mind that it a “comer.” It-is the only magazine on the market which has a story broad- over the radio by Stations WJZ and WJY. The Feature Story in No. 166, now on the newsstands, is “MIXED MOTIVES” | ce. ey Eric H oward fin story. ‘The Two-part Serial commencing in this number is = - “THE HOUSE ON LINCOLN ROAD” S = By Jack Gottlich and Elmer Yaskan nere are six short stories, every.one interesting, as titles and authors will vince you. Here they are: . _ +» “VAN” —DICKER’S CAT,” .by Jack Bechdolt : “THE AY SHADOW,” by James W. Egan ~ \ “TELLTALE SHREDS,” by Dale D. Kier — we = Fi TOO MUCH MUSCLE were lying in the bay near Cavite “swimming call” for the crew sounded each day, but now crews of the American fleet are forbidden-to swim “¢ : in the deep water unless they remain within the batter at Portland, Me. An X-ray showed 1, screening at Canacao Bay, where the Cavite k Romeo chopped down an old tree at Had- When the average man warms his hands before N. J., and was making ready to lay in the fire of his hearth he has little thought of how of winter kindling when his axe gave far away the heat may be felt. However, if ring. When the log was split he found- there were any relation between the practical and : s 1 OF scientific recording of heat a device discovered hoe in the tree and from the rings indicat- at the Johns Hopkins Physical Laboratory might have been in the tree since 1777. Thos ais koe as 2 vacuum thremopile, ————— where heat y recorded at great distances SHARKS IN MANILA BAY from its i a has been invented by Dr. A. H. Fishermen have reported an unusual number Pfund, associate professor in physics at Johns harks in Manila Bay’ in recent weeks, and — Hopkins University, according to a report just scientists believe that the many earthquakes . released. The instrument has proved so effective enced in the Philippines and adjacent is- thet in tests at Allegheny Observatory, where ve driven the sharks into less disturbed reflector was used in conjunction with the ther- mopile, heat radiation was detected from a candle < * * Naa ae, |

Page 24

22 : a Rob and the Reporters Pia) _Hustling for War News by Wireless Ping A0 * By GASTON GARNE ms ¥ . (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER XVI. ¥ - faith Again. “Exactly,” replied Totten. “When General ; Taylor made you name over the cities you had -_. yisited in this part of Germany_you named this : umong the rest. You know the Dom, of course?” “Sure, That big church on the deft.” _ “Exactly. You will find that it has to do with ; your instructions. Just as quick as it is dark we shall descend into that bit of woods you see south = of the city. There we shall land you. Then thé - . * fun will begin.” The twilight soon faded and the aeroplane be- ~ gan its descent. Rcd : Slowly the Wright settled down over the woods. me “Has the war been felt in this section at all?” =a asked Rob. a Zs “No,” replied Lieutenant Totten. “We are now = altogether out of its track. That’s why this place was chosen for the delivery of the dispatches we are after.” “About picking us up,” said Brown. ‘“‘There must be no mistake. If I’m caught at this busi- ness it spells death for me at all events, whatever it may mean for Rob.” 5 “All I can say is what I have already said,” replied the lieutenant. “Day after to-morrow, "precisely at midnight, I shall be here with the _ | Wright if I am able to make it.” = ' “But if you should fail to turn up?” : “See “Then you must do the best you can. It will be useless to look for me afterwards. I shall not come.” ~ , fF shall destroy the ‘papérs in that case. You can tell General Taylor so from me.” _~ T certainly should ,if I were in your place; ~ but don’t talk any more, please. I must give my _ whole attention’to making~our landing.” “S = Tt--was peseaperally accomplished. A little later and Rob with his brother reporter _ found themselves alone in the forest, with th Wright soaring away overhead. f , “And now what?” he asked. make the town to-night?” _ “Y’ve been thinking about that,” replied Brown, “and I’ve come to the conclusion that it will be best for us to remain quietly here until daybreak. Clever as our disguises are, we are liable to be jacked up by the police if we go prowling about the streets at this hour, We will wait until day- break and then eer a strike for Se pea é Selecting a position /a large oa e > ' <a PVE ede Serie INT) 2 | ad : “Do we try to ‘FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ‘little after six o’clock. i - ‘But Rob was not kept long under the 'st 3. © Nothing occurred to disturb them. At day- break they were on the move. ; Pushing through the woods, they came to a road; they walked on until they came in sight of — the city. “5. ‘ Zz “Now, Rob,” said Brown, “from this on we bet- — ter do no talking: You walk behind me and carry — the grip; assume the air of a servant as best you can.‘ Once we get the papers we will keen close and take no chances. And now I'll tell you something. If we succeed, General Taylor has — promised to make an exception in our cases and — allow us to remain with the army.” =a - This was certainly good news for Rob, who was wild to distinguish himself with the “Earth.” They pressed forward, entering the city at a As Brown had anticipated, they were promptly challenged by-an officer. rong What was said Rob of course cofld not under-— stand, but the papers -Brown exhibited ‘proved — rates pg ah and they were permitted to pro- ceed. : Old men, women and children were plentiful. enough, but there were no young men to be seen. — Many shops were closed; in others business @p- peared to be going on as usual. A general air of excitement prevailed. Brown appea to know his way perfectly. — a. ‘He dodged up one street and dow» another, unti at length he turned into a dingy little cafe at the lower end of Koenigstrasse, where they see themselves at a table. “ies An old man with a wart on his nose came for- ward to wait on them. ine Brown called for two glasses of beer, and as_ iene placed on the table he whispered in Eng-— ish: ; pe : “I represent Captain Steinmever. = and mutter The old man looked hard at him something in German. "se Never had Rob more keenly realized the disad-_ vantage he was at in not understanding the i; age. ; The old man left the room. Brown preter to talk with his fingers and Rob to answer At other tables there were several men, all advanced in years, who eyed them curio for the old man presently returned and, h spoken a few words, Brown got up, following into a rear room, where a narrow flight of s led to the floor above. 7 Here they were shown into a small cha where an elderly man of professional appez sat writing at a table. ’ i He nodded to Brown and kept on writing, when their conductor had retired and the was closed he threw aside his pen and, lean back in his ir, said: z “How tomes it that you are here? Wh Steinmeyer?” Z ‘Dead,” replied Brown. Doctor Cordes?” 4 cys “Yes. Have you the passwords?” “Success.” - \ = ak (To be e : pt

Page 25

MANUFACTURING A LAKE A heavy blast, fired in the Pextang stone quar- s, one of the largest workings in Central Penn- sylvania, turned the quarry into a permanent lake ~ overnight. The charge blew a hole in the bottom _ of the rock and struck a spring, which in twenty- - four hours made a-lake approximately 400 feet » Tong, 100 feet in width and from five to seventy ~ feet in depth. Assistant State Geologist R. W-: ~ Stone expressed the ‘opinion that the lagoon is ~ permanent. ' SUBWAY BEGGAR HAS EASY PICKING "Union beggars are getting $5 a hour this season, - it would appear from developments in Flatbush * Court, Brooklyn, N. Y. Alexander Thompson of Yonkers was arraigned before Magistrate Steers, charged with vagrancy after he had been arrested in a subway station by an officer of the Men- ‘dicancy Squad. : ‘ Penesinson told the Judge he commuted daily ' from Yonkers to favorite spots in Brooklyn where "the pickings were good. The Judge expressed the _ opinion that Brooklynites were pretty geome to be taken in by professional beggars. Thompson _ was not severe in his demands on the Brooklyn ~ public. He told the Judge he merely stayed long enough to collect about $5, which takes about an he said. ~ O’Brien, up on the same charge and with twenty previous convictions, got six months. na them when they start work and use es. = - LARGEST MOTOR YACHT TO TOUR : : ‘ aac apr SA a: a - Eigh assengers will leave Southampton in Bae) ae a Westward, the largest motor yacht oat, on a ten months’ tour around the world for scientific research purposes. The ship is owned y Commander C. H. Lightoller, who, as second er aboard the Titanic, remained aboard the eken liner until she sank. : Hydrographic Office, of the United States ‘fy Department has provided the Westward h a set of charts covering the proposed tour i has asked Mr. Lightoller to report on their aracy. The Westward will call at the West “thence sailing through the Panama Canal South Sea Islands. touching at Malpelo the yacht will make Galapagos and the Marquesas Islands. The zos group, composed entirely, of extinct ie cones, is bably the weirdest ring. of is in the world. The Paumotu Islands, fa- for the pearl lagoons, will be the next stop- ) then the Society Islands, Samoa, Fiji, > aged Caledonia and Brisbane. will thread her way up Great Reef to Thursday Island, Gulf of Car- through the islands of the Malayan visiting Christmas Islands, Cocos, Loyal E vessel . and Diego, Gr: mt and Male. A com- phe ee FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY FROM EVERYWHERE | The Judge gave Thompson sixty days. Timothy . Both Thompson and O’Brien have wooden legs, . CATCHING AN OCTOPUS On the coasts of Cornwall, England, the largest octopi are readily caught on the fisherman’s hook, and an objectionable companionship is sometimes the-result. This was the case recently near Ma- vagissey. On a dark autumn night, in a small boat, Samuel Kelly was fishing on the high rocks off the Griffin Headland, when one of these devil- fish_took his bait, and with the usual effort was hauled on board. But his difficulty was to gets the hook to continue his work, for he had been successful in catching several pollock and conger, and the moment he touched the brute some of its clammy tentacles would embrace his arm, holding him to the spot, for its other arms were fastened around the thwart. Soon the beast became so violent that it really made him fear it. He made. a supreme effort to get his hook, but the creature fastened its largest suckers on the back of his right hand, and in the battle he had to drop his line and with the nails of his left hand to dig the suckers out of his flesh, for they seemed to bury themselves there. After this experience there was no more doubt or indecision in the fight, for, seizing a sharp knife, he quickly cut the hook from its hold, upon which the cuttle crept away to another part of the boat. But this did not finish Mr. Kelly’s night wo for on again throwing out his line he had a sti heavier haul, and when it came to the waterline he used all his strength, for the line was new and_ stronger than he could break. In his dilemma he had to hold on tieht and, looking over the side by the aid of a flickeri light, he found himself glaring into the eyes — devilfish, and a much larger one than the rst. He further found that the creature had taken the boat for its enemy and was attacking it with all its force, its tentacles embracing the stern on the one hand and running forward to near the middle section on the other. On thinking over his recent troubles with its neighbor, and the waste of time likely to ensue in a still longer encounter with a stronger brute, he decided not to risk another fight, but to use the advantage of its violent onslevaht on the boat. Taking his knife and watching his opportunity he finally cut the hook out of the intruder, which, on being liberated, soon dropped out of sight. The next day I verified most of Mr. Kelly’s statements. The arms of the dead octopus in the boat ‘stretched over seven feet, and on the back of Mr. Kelly’s hand was a very black, round bruise about ¢ half. an inch in diameter, corresponding with the inner circle of one of the largest suckers of the dead octopus. ’ Since then he tles, and one whose arms stretched over six feet and a half. ~ 2 ; In our waters none of these head-feoted lusks have been known to take human life, but joni if favorable has caught several of these cut- a | ORY

Page 26

- RADIO | FREQUENCY ANOTHER TUBE The Pratt tube was invented by Dr. H. P. Pratt of Chicago. It consists of two plates in disk form in parallel, with a double spiral grid inserted between the plates and filament.~ The plate voltage varies from 8 to 40 volts. It oper- ates on four dry cells or a 6-volt storage battery and consumes .25 ampere. One stage of radio frequency amplification ahead of the crystal detector works more effi- ciently than two or three stages. If further stages are employed there will be a reduction in signal strength. A stage of radio frequency am- plification adds to the selectivity of a crystal de- tector. THEORY AND PRACTICE Theoretically, a one-tube reflex is equal to three tubes, as it is designed to furnish one stage of radio frequency and one stage of audio frequen- cy amplification; however, in practical use the average one-tube reflex is equal to or slightly better than a two-tube set. TWO GOOD HINTS A condenser in series with the antenna or ground reduces the wave length. The smaller the « apacity of such a condenser the greater will be the reduction in wave length. A loading coil is used to reach higher wave length than the set can otherwise reach in connection with a particu- lar antenna. It produces the same results as lengthening the antenna. _ CARE OF LIGHTS A vacuum tube should not be lighted at max- -4§mum brilliancy. The more current supplied to the filament the more electrons flow, but after a certain filament brilliancy is reeched there will be no further flow of electrons. This is called the “critical point” or “saturation point.” If the filament is burned past the critical point, the life _of the tube-is shortened without an increase in, efficiency. THE INVISIBLE LOUD-SPEAKER : Along with the tendency to place all radio - equipment in a fine cabinet so as to find a place ’ for it in the living-room, there is a tendency to place the loud-speaker in a cabinet. Several of the present offerings are in the form of attractive - -eabinets, provided with a scroll and screen front. Just as in the case of the modern phonograph, it seems almost certain that the awkward loud- speaker horn must eventually disapper into a ¢ab- inet. IN -A. HANDY : : 3 a AGEL GE a eS - There has appeared on the market a Ag aden abe Th simplifies the problem of o-frequency amplification. Instead of having ‘ormef with fixed windings, this vario- r has an adjustment e tunes it ac- all wave-lengths between 200 and FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY INTERESTING RADIO NEWS AND HINTS © 3 ’ 3 ; 600 meters. Perfect shielding and pig-tai] con- — nections assure clear tones. Furthermore, the amplification is «niformly maintained throughout the broadcasting range. This vario-transformer — is put out as a separate instrument, and also in conjunction with a socket and rheostat, all — mounted on a neat socket. > a * THE TRANSINDUCTOR : This new transforming apparatus was designed _ and invented by Clinton H. Hulbert. One of the — . latest types of transinductors is applied as a push-and-pull radio-frequency transformer. This _ is the first- instance of push-and-pull radio-fre- aueney amolification. Push-and-pull amplifica- — tion applied to radio-frequency with the use of transinductors is said to overcome distortion, in- _ crease amplification, and give super-selective tun- — ing; in fact, it has similar advantages to those — of the well-known audio push-and-pull amplifica- _ tion in radio-frequency. The push-and-null trans- inductor by means of one dial is capable of con- = trolling the magnetic inductance, capacity and iron. It acts as a complete wave-length tuner, at i maximum efficiencv. from 200 to 600 meters. TE ‘requires no viriable condenser or any other con- trol to bring out super-selectivity and sensitiv pes in receiving, according to the inventor’s aims. 3 5 RADIO REACHES BRAZIL - x Dr. A. Hi Taylor of the Naval Research Labo- ratory of Washington, who has been experiment- ing with transmission, recently spanned the con- tinent with a 54-meter wave. A few days after — this achievement the head of the Naval radio — research work was surprised to get a letter from — Rio de Janeiro stating that his 54-meter trans mitter at Bellevue had been heard also in tha distant city. His last report is especially interesting, as the distance is 4,780 miles qver land and sea and difficulty has frequently been found in getting — radio messages over the part of South America — which projects eastward into the Atlantic. The . report;/from the fan in Rio, whose name is La- combe stated that at 11 p. m. on July 1, 3 and he heard the special short wave set from B vue, D. C., distinctly. os On the West Coast is was an amateur by t name of Stanley T. Runyon, operator of Station 6 A GE, who reported the reception of Dr. Taylor’s transmissions on July 14. a These confirmations that short-wave transm sions are-reliable for long distances comes as an ee to amateurs to try ouf the lower — wave lengths, especially since the Department o Commerce has~just opened several bands for t use below 200 meters. : clades the wave length used by the Naval - pert. SX SS ae Dr. Taylor transmits on 54 meters on Mor Wednesday and Friday nights at 8, 9, 10 11 o’clock and at half-past these hours on i meters, so that all amateurs have an opportunit to test their receivers for the lower wave lengths.

Page 27

Om : ~* the rules of the company, even when con- ed with a 50-cent bribe. ‘He received a re- from the Importers and Traders Bank also aving it $3,200. nger stopped Broberg on Broadway and him 50 cents to take a check for $3,200, bly drawn by the Warren. Savings Bank ust Company of Warren, Pa., on the Im- 's and Traders Bank, to the latter institu- rx certification. , p g replied that it was against the rules ake any errand without reporting first fice. The man forced the check on him, Broberg took it to the Western Union whence a telephone message was sent to mporters -_ ‘raders Bank, where it was check Was worthl : ess. ~ _| AME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY GOOD READING HOBOES FLOCK TO BERLIN Beggars and vagabonds have increased in num- ber all over Europe, and particularly in Germany, since the end of the World War, notes,a writer in the “Berliner Zeitung.” According an au- thentic estimate there were 50,000 or 60,000 beg- gars in all states of Europe in 1910, not including European Turkey. The greatest percentages were found in Italy and Spain. In Germany, it was . estimated, there were from 8,500 to 9,000 hoboes. Unemployment, of course, hardly was known fif- teen years ago. ; Today the enormous increase in the numbers of professional beggars and tramps is first of all a result of the unemployment crisis. Once driven by necessity into begging, thousands of men found they were able to make a living without working. In big cities this sort begs, aside from the regular unemployment aid, as a good “side income.” The statistics of inns for vagabonds and beg-» gars prove that more than 10 per cent of all unemployed men in Berlin have become beggars. There are more than 12,000 beggars in Berlin nowadays. This means that each 400 persons in Berlin have to maintain one beggar. Germany altogether has thirty working houses and more than sixty work-homes for tramps. In addition to these there are a great number of charitable inns for tramps and beggars. _ Germany now has from 55,000 to 60,000 tramps. Although this figure seems to be very high, it still may be too low, because the inns, in very small towns could not be included in the statis- tical survey recently made by the Labor Office. “Mystery Magazine” Semi-Monthly THE MYSTERY OF ROARING WATERS, by Harry Adler. 159 THE HIVER PIRATES, b¥ Hamilton Craigie THE SHADOW OF A NOOSE, by Jack Bechdolt. AT 2 A. M., by Beulah Poynter. R THE INTRIGUERS, by Grover Kidwell. THE LOCK AND KEY, by Hamilton Craigie. THE TALKING DOG, by Frank Blighton. THE HEART ON THF MIRROR, by Alexander Morrison. ) ~ MIXED MOTIVES By ERIC HOWARD ‘ Out Today in No. 166 HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. 166 West 23d Street New York City % o P “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY Each number contains Three Stories. the Best Films on the Screen—E —Interesting Articles About Prominent People i Films—Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studio and Lessons in Scenario Writing. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. 166 West 23d Street New York City ¥ $24 %S—e8 >< Ope a : 15 Cents a Copy I Jegant Half-tone Scenes from the Plays n the

Page 28

fs Se Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, OCTOBER 10, TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS 1924 Bingle Copies................6- Fostage Free 8 Cents One Copy Three Months..... Od « $1.00 One Copy Six Months......... oe Me 2.00 One Copy One Year........... * bs 4.00 Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. : HOW TO SEND MONEY — At our risk send P. O. Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances im any other way are at rows risk. We accept Postage Stam the same as cash. When Sending sliver wrap _ the Coin in a ow ge piece of paper to avoid cutting “ the envelope. rite your name and address plainly. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., 166 W. 23d St., N. Y. FROM ALL POINTS RATS BIG AS CATS : ; Residents along the north lake shore of Ke- by nosha maintain that Kenosha needs a Pied Piper. ae Rats as big as cats and so bold that they dare Harry EB. Wolff, Pres. Charles E. Nylander, Sec. Ui. ¥. Wilzin, Treas. to be housed in a part of the old city dump on Lake Avenue. R. E. Dansfield asked the police for permission to go gunning for the rats, main- bests his children had been frightened away from the beach by the rodents. : ALASKAN PLANE SERVICE Subscribers for the Fairbanks News-Miner- Citizen in Alaska, who live in lonely cabins and isolated wos. within a 100-mile radius of the town, have their papers delivered by airplane a few hours after publication. This method is say- ‘ing weeks for the readers. The old method was to send accumulated issues by dog teams once a month. < _ TWO TRAPPED IN FURNACE . In an effort to elude two night patrolmen, _ Charles E. Lawson and- Edward G. Diettlin, each - seventeen, jumped into the firebox of a furnace in the cellar- of Colt’s clothing store, Winsted, Conn. The two officers and two other men worked ten minutes before they released the boys, who were wedged in the firebox. _. - The fugitives had entered the cellar bent on looting the store, but were thwarted by locked - metal doors leading from cellar to store. Both were remanded for trial in Criminal Superior _ FORMER KAISER SUPPORTS WHOLE "FAMILY : _ Former Emperor William has been enjoying a ‘monthly drawing account of 50,000 gold marks since January 1, 1924, with which he was expected _ supp: imself, his wife and his five sons nd their families and also his brother, Prince ary, and his cousin, Prince Friedrich Leopold. is now constitu’ the Hohenzollern family 5 ers \- 3 YcA : F Se gr ee ee es to chase the children’ off the beach are alleged all of whom will at Se ee ee et ee phn Pn FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY che ‘share in the final settlement between the former ruling house and Prussia. : 3 The process of inventorying the varied holdings — of the Hohenzollerns has progressed sufficiently to enable the Prussian Minister of Finance to is- sue a statement of the temporary settlements. Up to May, 1920, Prussia had turned over to the former Emperor 32,000,000 marks to enable _ him to set up his domicile in Holland. Prussia ~_ purchased from him a plot in the heart of Berlin — on which the present “White House” is. During 1923 William got a further instalment of about — $10,000 from the proceeds of the royal exchequer. Most of the former royal palaces and hunting lodges will remain the permanent property of Prussia. William will retain several minor cas- tles in Potsdam and its vicinity. - : LAUGHS “Why are you crying, my little man?” “All my brothers and sisters are having a holiday and I ain’t.”. “And why not?” “Because I don’t go — to school yet.” = ~F “What do you think of this idea of the recall?” __ “It wouldn’t work,” replied the baseball fan. “If ~_ you understook to put an umpire out every time the erowd hissed him the game couldn’t = on.” “Have you sufficient confidence in me,” he in- _ quired, “to let me have five dollars?” “Yes, cer- — tainly, I have the confidence,” was the rejoinder, — “but I haven’t the five dollars.” = Landlord (pleasingly, at doorway)—Well, how do you like your new quarters? Tenant (gazing sadly around)—I should hardly call them quar- ~ ters. Why not eighths? . An Ardsley man named Flanagan changed his _ name to Fowler because the kids used to pac after him, “Oh, Mr. Flanagan, won’t you rush the _ can again?” “Now the kids shout, “Oh, Mr. = Fowler, won’t you rush the growler?” ~ apes “JT thought you said George had married a manager?” “He did.” “I called on tig Pad terday and the, house was in a terrible disorder. It apr an iS erevatiieg bed been left to take care of i -” “But you should her manag- ing George.” ~ : ee “Upon what grounds do you seek a divo: asked the .lawyer whom she had just retai “Non-support, cruelty, or. ” “Beth,” she crie tearfully; ‘he would not support my Passionate longing for a diamond necklace, and if that isn’t cruelty, I’d like to know.” ; ro The Patient—Doc, I can’d pay you no money, — while I ain’t got none, a’ready. Vill you dake it oud in trade? The Dentist—Well, I mi ccnsider that. What’s your business? ie P tient—I lead a leedle Choiman band. Ve'll ¢ aroundt und serenade you effry nighd mont’, yet. Siete: ee

Page 29

5 BOOZE PLANT IN COP’S HOME ’ Lee W. O'Neill, Acting Desk Sergeant at the “Woodlawn Police Station, Chicago, was arrested ‘this evening as a distiller and ‘bootlegger. Pro- ition agents had raided his home, No. 4,130 Grand Boulevard. ; Sergeant O’Neill has been on the police force sixteen years. It was alleged his plant for turn- j out fake bottles of well known brands of ‘bourbon, Scotch and Canadian whiskey was the most complete the Prohibition office had ever en- mtered. The haul included a 150-gallon copper - - MAY TAKE 144 YEARS TO FINISH et DICTIONARY - The French Academy has completed, but not inted, the first volume of its dictionary of French language, which comprises the Sec- A-H. The work was begun in 1878 and has, therefore, en forty-six years. At the same rate of prog- ss the full. dictionary will be finished ninety-eight 5 The revision of the revision, te in the language ; t which the first volume aoe been in —— now being carried out, and it is expect t yolume Fill be published about next Easter. _ The idea of making an authoritative dictionary ‘was launched in 1634 and the first edition was published in 1694, forty-five years after the actual was Other editions appeared in 1718, 1762, 1811, 1835 and 1877. The edition of has been takenvas the basis for the new dic- - LOST ROYAL TREASURE DISCOVERED Early last year the archives of King Nicholas of Montenegro and some valuables, mostly foreign 0 s, were accidentally discovered at Cettinje, it was thought that the majority of the beau- al gold and silver plate with which the little ace had been—for a kingdom tiny and far from abundantly supplied, must have been taken the enemy. ; ‘official of the Ministry of Finance, however, has recently been in Zagreb on temporary while there to ask for a room a Government building which he could use as in office. He was told that the only room avail- ible was being used as a storeroom and, hearing with which it was. filled the Jate King Nicholas, he € and to examine them. It m discovered that they were full of the treasure, consisting of large quantities e is valued at many millions of dinars anc mes, of course, Government property. ‘MT. SHASTA GLACIER, DISLODGED BY 2a BEAT, CRASHING DOWNWARD The Shasta glacier, dislodged by the ued drought and warm weather, has m its ancient resting-place on the north FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY pice BRIEF BUT POINTED and silver vessels of every description. - ; side of the mountain and is moving down the slope at a rate of five miles an hour, snapping off big trees in its path and thrusting immense bowlders before it. The movement began a short time after dawn recently and at noon the huge mass of ice was well within the timber line. Huge clouds of vapor are arising as the moraines of the glacier are being broken up by its movement and-these clouds are forming one big cloud over the head of the moving mass. The journey of the glacier can be seen twenty miles away. It is accompanied by a distinct roar, aren also can be heard from a considerable dis- unce. The glacier movement evidently is not related to the phenomenon of a heavy mud flow on the opposite side of the mountain recently. is flow is believed to have started from other ice deposits melting under many days of hot sunshine. LOOK, BOYS! TRAPEZEE The Acrobatic Wonder Toy ALMOST HUMAN IN ITS ACTIONS! _ It consists of a handsome parallel iron frame on which the little yellow aay accurately performs like an ath- ete. ; ‘ Five Different Stunts— _ . THE FLYING TRAPEZE — Release the trigger-pin and the figure swings for- ward, gripping the brass trapeze-bar, turns a somersault in the air and catches a eross-bar by his heels. THROUGH THr LOOP—A swift swing and he goes through a wire loop, makes a turn and, catching by his heels, swings head downward from a bar. THE GIANT SWING — He goes forward with a rush, releases the trapeze, catches a horizontal-bar with his heels, makes two swift somersaults in the air-and catches by his heels again. He pertorms two more horizontal-bar acts with the grace and agility of a cir- cus star, and many new ones can be in- vented. i The Most Wonderful Toy in the World! PRICE $1.00 _The collapsible stand and the little mani- kin are neatly | pn in a handsome box. Delivered anywhere in the United States on receipt of price, Address }

Page 30

. eS ~— ee . = ITEMS WED ’EM IN OVERALLS A carpenter’s coat and overalls took the place of the customary ministerial frock when the Rev. Myron L. Cutler, pastor of the Universalist : church, East Jaffery, N. H., read the marriage ; ceremony for Miss Ruth F. Johnson and David _ . RR. Young, both of Worcester, Mass. a. The young eouple found Mr. Cutler shingling the roof of his church. Despite his pleadings that he be given time to change into the proper attire, the couple refused to wait. Mr. Cutler donned a pecs coat, covering his shirt sleeves, and, still in his overalls, accompanied the couple to the church, where he read the ceremony. LARGEST CALIFORNIA FAMILY The largest family in California has been found : in Los Angeles. ae An investigation of the birth records of the State Bureau of Statistics, made by the Los An- = geles Chamber of Commerce, disclosed the fam- ily of Mr. and Mrs. George Andrew Toombs of No. 1418% East Ninth street, comprising twenty- a two children ranging from thirty-one years to : three and one-half months,.as the prize number ‘* of offsprings of any single family in California. The progenitor of the family is nearing his six- tieth year. A search to find the largest family in the State was begun as a result of a contest started by the Sacramento, Cal.,- Chamber of Commerce, and : which is offering a prize for the og oa Cali- fornia family appearing at the State Fair. _ Although Toombs is a native of Missouri, the _ mother and each of the children were born in - California. There have never been any deaths in the family and of the twenty-two children there are three sets of twins. RANGERS SEEK TWO MEN LOST IN fae ; GLACIER PARK Joseph Whitehead, 29 years old, an engineer employed by the Universal Battery Company of - Chicago, and his brother William, seven years _ younger, a student of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, are lost somewhere in a a a The brothers were last seen on August 23. They _ ~ told acquaintances that they were going to Granite Park, in the central part of the park. They took the trail to Lake McDonald and reached the lake, _ but have not since been heard from. _ The entire park ranger force of the park is _ engaged in a systematic search and is being as- - gisted by volunteers from the park utility com- panies and by visitors to the park. All available agencies, both Government and pivate, are at ‘ork in an endeavor to locate the men, and no will be left untaken to find them. - er leaving Lake McDo thei FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY | ae OF INTEREST ae itinerary | 7. — > « ~ J * a trace as their whereabouts if they are still in — the park, or some definite sign if they have left it. So far all efforts have proved unavailing. EGYPT’S CURSE ON HIM, SCIENTIST rm: ENDS LIFE , Has the curse of ancient Egypt been called down again on alien disturbers of her buried — treasures ? This is once more the talk of London since the suicide of H. G. Evelyn-White, Egyptologist of — Leeds University. A farewell letter at his Inquest said: “I knew there was a curse on me, though I had leave to take those manuscripts to iro. The monks told me the curse would work all the same. Now it has done so.” a He shot himself in a cab a few days ago while — responding to a summons to an inquest on Miss Mary Helen Nind, a school teacher who poisoned _ herself on account of unrequited love for him. __ White spent many years in Egypt con gs excavations. During 1920 and 1921, working in Coptic monasteries in the Wadi-Natroun Valley, — about seventy miles from Cairo, he discovered a — secret room about ten feet square. There he found — a number of Coptic and Arabic manuscripts. After translating them there in the heat and dust and tormented by insects, he finally obtained permission to take the most important manu- scripts to the Coptic Museum at Cairo. as _The permission was grudged, the monks telling — him any one interfering with relics came under _ the ban of an ancient curse. : ia = WALTER JOHNSON CHOSEN THE BEST ~ = PLAYER OF 1924 “ Walter Johnson, pitching ace with the Wash- ington club for 17 years, was chosen winner of the American League Trophy for 1924, which, crowns him as the player of greatest value to his team during the championship season just a ; <; Johnson’s name goes into baseball’s hall of fame along with George Sisler, manager of the St. Louis club, chosen the greatest player of the 1922 season, and Babe Ruth of the Yankees, who wa awarded the honor in 1923. Johnson received total of 55 points out of a possible 64 from th committee of experts . to the aware Eddie Collins of Chicago, lon king of sec- ond basemen, ran a close seco: ) with a total of 49 points, an ch all eight members. of the trophy committe the best player of the White Sox. -sohnson’s name will be inscribed in the tablet on the $100,000 baseball memorial erected in East Potomac Park, Washington, presented to the Government by the An a

Page 31

ALL SEVEN araueric OU TIT Pair latest-style platinum effect imitation Wrist Watch with Silk Ribbon Brace- let—large Cameo these 4 lovely Gold plkted Rings. All 7 guaranteed and Given Ab- solutely Free to anyone for sell- ing only 12 cards of our Jewelry Novelties at 10 cents a card. W. R. MEADE MFG. CO., Providence, BR. L Brooch and FREE Ear Drops— RUSH your 2ame andwe will tell you HOW you can get this Indoor Athletic Outfit. consisting of} Punching Bag, 2} Pairs of Boxing } Gloves, Indoor] | Write at} for Free} Athletic Plan. HOME SUPPLY CO., Dept. 891 131 Duane St. New York City PIMPLES Acne Eruptions on the face or body, Barbers Itch, Eczema, Enlarged Pores and Oily or Shiny Skin. - Write today for my FREZ BOOKLET, FREE “A CLEAR-TOND SKIN,” — how I cured myself after being afflicted 15 years. E.S.GIVENS,18¢ Chemical Bidg., Kansas City,Mo. TOBACCO Habit Cured or No Pay Any form, cigars,ci hewing or snuff Guaran 4 ~ tes actsoeteent on triel_ Costs $1.00 if it cures. Nothing if it fail SUrEKSA CO. M-21, Baitimore, Md. s————_ OLD MONEY WANTED s $2 to BACH d for hundreds of ola ~ eoins. Keep ALL Old or odd money, it may be VERY vaiuable. Send 10 ets. for ILLUB- TRATED COIN VALUE BOOK, 4x6. Get Posted. We pay CLARKE COIN CO., Ave 13, LeRoy, N. ¥. h AMAZINGLY LOW " PRICED 1924 MODEL lover’ luek Taflove by prominent wie ey ‘Get thie Krabion dhete Ring of unique nd a) eS ee ee and emerald. SEND NO MONEY. simply your name and Slee 8 steep of panes foe Stat ry waeGher B07 5 seman S en Srrives: simply -1 with mi Order today. Depos' eturned if not satisfied after 5 days, promptly r if SHEIK AHMED, Rand Mcflally Bidg., Dept. 11 Chicago Boys and Girls EARN XMAS MONEY! Write for 50 Sets St. Nicholas Christmas Seals. Sell for 10c a set. When sold send us $3.00 and keep $2.00. No Work—Just Fun. ST. NICHOLAS 2814 Glenwood Rd. Dept. 148 Brooklyn, N. Y. U. S. Government Needs Men! Wonderful paper enitiae in Civil Service. Thousands of men and women appointed every year as Income Tax Auditors, Book- keepers, Railway Mail Clerks, Postmen, Deputy Collectors, etc. Generous salaries, . Short hours, liberal vacations. Positions open in Washington and in every other eity of this country as well as in Porto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and the Philippines. Write for 48-page FREE BOOKLET on CIVIL SERVICE. Mail the Coupon To-day INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS Box 4426-C, Scranton, Penna. Without cost or obligation, please send me a copy of your 48-page CIVIL SERVICE BOOKLET, which tells bow I can secure a guod-paying posi- tion with the U. S. Government.

Page 32

FREE! | ARSE } / WARSHIP | ei i th BOOK. As a_ solution e / ; Or of the problem of Many Prizes ‘and Cash: ewards. | salvaging obso- REDBLOODS. Soe EES (oat < Howanils. vriaee Sess ses Suverware, ets-and Gast! |t h @ undesired *“Do . With 29 Muscle! BE aman or a mouse. with your head held high or slink into your hole like & & timid little beastie. Every living boy or man has got to accept one or the other, success or failure F happiness or misery. Which are YOU.going to choose? ’ Health, Strength and Virility, Personality, Romance and Wi hese are the tokens of physical poor these aré thesrich rewards of scientific muscle mastery , Truth Never Told Before Jeaps out of sey RR. and h of my wonderful new book, VITH MU! El’ It absolutely that yea nd living eet net stand or fall, conquer or succumb, rejoice or in exact proportion to the etre: indness an meness o his external and internal muscular perf cmnotear , Teader, that means YOU! “Do It With Muscle!’ a helpful, plainly wordea eé: ion of the methods a which the wa ter became the PHYSICALLY PER- AN and. attained nal of constipatio: Lipa Se ge fear, come and Shoe ust “horde of mental an ae ieecnaat, Lavis. ay. fitastrated eich scores of Thererotore unpub- lished superb camera studies of myself and pupils. rae Get Your Copy of ‘DO IT WITH MUSCLE" a away. It will give you the clue to the mysteries of No ol peepee, a no Snag Just send the coupon and one dime (10c. evidence of your gefuine interest and to help detray my mailing costs. LIONEL STRONGFORT Physical and Health Specialist for 25 Years Dept. 1484 Newark, N. J., U. S. A. samqoas FREE BOOK COUPON === === § LIONEL STRONGFORT - Dept. 1484, Newark, N. J.. U.S. A. it t““DOIT WITH a aA I ES dime (10c) no obligation. This hap BMY sere dec cerecccercereners ; -State.. fadecaganccunsasecenwesesons = sp leas Nes ose ’ Stride ahead in the world gent as some as solation ia pose Snower nd fell fon) WG 7 &.‘Dearborn St, i 4 Chicazo; Navy Model fees navigation. ; ae Geet, 357 UNDERGROUND TREASURES. ow and Where to Find Them os 1 Publishing Co, p02) Gome Building, | Get Behind a Hohner for Happiness! There’s nothing like good music for happiness; and there’s nothing like a Hohner for good music. Any boy or girl can learn to play real music quickly with the aid of the Free Hohner Instruc- tion Book, procurable at all good dealers, And all good dealers sell Hohner’s Harmonicas— The World’s Best “That~-Musical Pal of Mine” is a favorite expression among Hohner en~ thusiasts everywhere. Hohner enthusi- asm is sweeping the country. Why don’t you get in line for popularity and enjoyment? Go to your dealer today, geta Hohner Harmonica—50¢ up—and ask for the Free Instruction Book. If your dealer is. nut of cOpies, write M. Hohner, Inc., Dept... 156, New York City. e OHNER ARMONICAS |men-of-war are | cut up into pieces of metal of a size that can be han- died. For this carving of steel jand armorplate |ordinary gas, the |same that cooks | half of the coun- try’s food, is now being used. It has been | found that to cut . | through heavy | jslabs of metal |the terrific heat |of the oxyhydro- jgen torch is un- necessary. The | steel need only to | be | cherry red, about 11400 degrees Fahrenheit, when. by the addition of by ° raised to a” j oxygen to the | flame it® can- be | cut through as ~ easily as a knife j}euts through but- | ter. | ee cruiser rooklyn of honored mem- | ary, has just been | dismembered by | the new process, | Twenty-ton slices | of metal were cut } out. from her deck jand sides, much (as whalers strip | blubber from | their catch. These ~ | pieces were then. | lifted ashore by ee and again — cut up with the | gas flame to a | size that could be 'shipped to the | steel furnaces for | reworking. It was | found during the scrapping of F ; Brooklyn that the

Page 33

Follow this Man! Secret Service Operator 38 Is on the Job Follow him through all the excitement of his chase of the counterfeit gang. See how a crafty operator works. Telltale finger prints on the lamp stand in the murdered girl’s room! The detective’s cigarette case is handled by the unsuspecting gangster, and a great mystery is solved. Better than fiction. It’s true, every word of it. o obligation. Just send the coupon. FR EB The Confidential Reports No. 38 Made to His Chief And the best part of it all is this. It may open your eyes to the great future for YOU as a highly paid Finger Print Expert. More men are needed right now. This school has taken men just like you and trained them for high official positions. This is the kind of work you would like. Days full of excitement. Big salaries. Rewards. Earn $2500 to $10000 a Year You study at home in spare time No advance education is needed. Any man who can read and write. and think can make good. A won- derful book teils all about what others have done. Shows pictures of real. crimes_and the men who Solved them. We’ll send you a FREE copy with the being made. free reports. Get the special offer now Mail the coupon. OF APPLIED SCIENCE 1920 Sunnyside Ave., Dept.10-97 Chicago, Ilinois PO UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCE 1920 Sunnyside Ave., Dept. 10-97 Chicago, Illinois Gentlemen:— Without any obligation what your =, ry FREE coor Free book at Hinges Poets ona your offer of a course in Secret Servi elligence and the Free Professional F taper F Pent Ouse AOU ROSCOE GORGE AOREEUEECEDEEEESE SER

Page 34

? x FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS» — LATEST 1ssuEs —— Useful, Instructive, and Amusing. They contain 952 Struck Of; or, The Boy Who Made a Million. Valuable Information on Almost 98 A Golden "Risk; or, The Young Miners of Della _ Every Subject. 4 A ees or, The Boy Who Went Out With a No. 55. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND COINs— Containing valuable information regarding the collect- — For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any ad- { 1 a sae oe ine ab ation To: hen neue Ws diated ae eon i rem ee ng of stamps and coins. Handsomely tage stamps. ae wey fia Eres MAKE MUSICAL, INSTRUMENTS. 2 = — rections how to make a Banjo, olin, Zither, — THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS PRICE 8 CENTS Aeolian Harp, Xylophone and other musical instru: 955 Golden Fleece; or, The Boy Brokers of Wall Street. ments; together with a brief description of nearly every 956 A Mad Cap Scheme; or, 'fhe Boy Treasure Hunters musical instrument used in ancient or modern times. of Cocos Island. \ wreseeee instars Riad /ifernon o 2a for b 5 4 wenty years bandmaster o e Roya ngal Ma ro 957 rag Bg the World; or, Working His Way to For ene - 88. HOW TO BECOME DETROTI E—By O 0 ng Brady, the wor nown detective. n whic 2 n one Playing tg Wie eee the Bhi, os eae ae down some valuable and sensible rules for a * a - 960 A Young Monte Cristo; or, The-Richest™Boy in the and, also relates some ndventures and experiences of orld “ No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER.— 961 Won by Pluck; or, The Boys Who Ran a Railroad. Containing useful information regarding the Camera gins Deating she Brokers; or, The Boy Who Couldn’t sng how to work it; also how fo, make. Photographie — 963 A Rolling Stone; or, The Brightes’ Boy on Record. a Mig Manager. vl. HOW TO DO FORTY’ TRICKS WITH 5 986 From Dark to Dawn; or, A Poor Boy’s Chance. CARDS. —Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed ‘ ’ 987 Ont for Himself: or, Paving His-Wav to Fortune. by leading conjurers and magicians. Arranged for 23 “988 Diamond Cut Diamond: or, fe Boy Brokers of home smusement. Fully illnstrated., = Wall Street. No. 79. HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR.—Contathing : 989 A Start in Life: or, A Bright Boy’s Ambition. *» complete instructions how to make up for Panic char- sg 990. Ont for a Million; or, The Young Midas of Wall acters on the stage; together with the duties of th “a \ Street. Stage Manager, Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property — es 991 FEverv Inch a Boy: or, Doing His Level Best. Man. : 992-. Money to Burn; or, The Shrewdest Boy in Wall No. 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK.—Containin Street. the latest jokes, anecdotes and, funny stories of world-renowned ‘German comedian. Sixty-four pages; ay HARRY K. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., : penne colored cover containing a half-tone oboths of < e author. 166 West 23d Street New York City Ne, 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.—Con meee approved methods of reading the lines on is hand, together with a full explanation of their meaning. A explaining phrenology, and the key for telling acter by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hess Rock. A. C. S. Futly illustrated, : No. 84. HOW TO BECOME AN AUTHO ing information regarding choice of subjects, the wu words and the manner of preparing and submii manuscript. Also containing valuable information as te a neatness, legibility and general composition of mam script. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 10c. per copy. vs in money or stamps, by ‘ HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. 166 West 23d Street _ New York HOW TO SCENARIOS Yee THEM ‘Price 35 Cents Per Copy e This ik contains all the most recent anges in the Seoteen of constrution and submission of scenarios. Sixty Lessons, covering ever, hase of | scenario writing. For sale by all News maga and Bookstores. If you cannot procure a copy, send a the price, 35 cents, in money or postage etm Sat we will mail you one, postage free. Address "| 7% Senarens, 210 Seventh acd New York, N. N. ¥.

Page 35

Page 36