Five Cent Wide Awake Library (vol. 2) (1891 09 23)
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Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. ¥., as Second Class Matter. P T FRANK TOUSEY, Pustisner, 34 & 36 North Moore St., N. Y. PRICK : No. 1069. {comers us. } New Vouk: September 23, 1891. # _ AssuED Hveny SATURDAY. 5 ee Vol. I, Entered SSS ER on ea io IIA eA ARR to Act of Congress, in the r 1891, by FRANK 7OUSEY,in the offive of the Librarian of Congress, a ashington, D. Ar SCHOOL; om i. THE DEACON'S BOY AT HIS BOY J AT HIS OLD TRICKS. ur a 77 i Wy, _« Wha t i 22s gas ols Eiititad Peco eri *“Who are 3oMs rae” hs He aioe Se
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2) JOHNNY BROWN ,& CO. Tae Wipe AWAKE Liprary for the year1889 will be $2.50 per year; $1.25 per 6 months-You wouldn’t catch nim dressing in black, if he Just back of the house he came upon a sawed- Ho had been brought up in the family of a dea-|knew it. : s off, red-headed specimen of humanity, jabbing a con, too. He wore checks, eri pay plaids and mixtures,|spade into theground. othes were the better he] There was a garden hero, and Johnny proceed- Bless your innocent heart, that didn’t make anyjard the louder his ¢ differencess” / séemed to enjoy them, being a regular dude in thatjed to walk through it without paying the slightest He was known all over the county as the worst/line. attention to the man with the spade. boy imtown. ~ Then there was Peter Pilgrim, the janitor, who} ‘‘Hould on, phwere are yez goin’?” bawled the ‘As far as the opinions of old maids and stupid cneeinea tia the next man in importance to)man. : of fossils went, it was.a true Dill. odgett himself. : i “ ind.” sai In the opinion of those who love fun, however, When Johnny first arrived, he saw a funny lit-lin nae bf Rael Hany, eal Johnny, Jolinny Brown was a regular brick. {le man, with a big black beard and a wooden leg! « Reporrah, then Y’m hot blindiand: 1 see very He was up to more mischief in an hour than you|stumping up and down the broad piazza in front) wel] phwere yez are going,” was the answer 73 ~ gould scold bim forin a day. _jof the house. : “Tt must be a big parrot dressadsupuike on Hewould work rackets on the deacon, the squire] ‘‘ Hallo, Pegtoes,” remarked our hero, “ Where|man,” said Johnny musingly, “and fae doesn’t of the town, the store-keeper, the butcher, the bar-lis the boss?” mean anything by what he says.” j her, the hired man, thé maid of all work, the un-| “I’m Mr. Pilgrim, you young sarsebox,” said] «Begorrah, then, ye’ll foindseout. that Timean? dertaker, the doctor, the apothecary, and any one|the wooden-legged man, “and you don’t want to|somethin’, me buck,” growled the other. “Come else that happened to ¢ome along. furgit it, nuther.” > ws If it oats snap it was enptner, and he was “Oh, you're Pilgrim, are you, Timberheel?” beckhere ae Gy Ree ite os toe garden “y ~ never at a loss fora trick to play upon someone. | “Yes, Lare.” - thought it was a ball ground?’ Masaibtentbvinpeda Min fl Tnat’s why they called him the worst boy inj ‘Well, if you’re a pilgrim, I’m a stranger, so we] « Becorrah. luck ee ee a town, t F ought to hitch together first-rate.” he satist' be Boin” into the intaatcelaiat Bim Sure, He was the liveliest, at all events. —— *T don’t ’sociate with school-boys,” snorted . ai ‘ Well, some people don’t like to haye pranks|Peter, emphasizing his remark with a thump of his Johnny kept right on, however, unti! the man played on them. e wooden leg, “and if you make any trouble you’ll|™2 aiter him, yelling: epee There were many who objected to Johnny’s do-|get reported,” 4 i Come here, ye vilyan. Don t yezknow yehaye ~ “ing so. * : “Are you the assistant desk thumper?” asked pet to inter the garden? ; That’s why the deacon sent him away to school, Johnny, No, I didn’t,” and J: ohaDy went on. “Tr he gets nt his old trieks there, I won’t hear| ‘*No, Lain’t you young lump: o’ suet. I’m the) «, Well, ye know it neow. Yo mustn’t walk here.” nothin’ about ’em,” remarked the deacon saga-jorator of the ‘atublishment, as old Blodgett calls it,| “Oh, why didn’t you say so!” asked the young eiously. ’ , _.,. |but it’s easier to’ say janitor, and if yon fellers|® reste ca at _ ‘He'll be expelled from that thers school inside|makes'too much muss about the place, Pi} ‘ Baix, I did. , of A month, and thon we'll have him back here a-| ‘Oh, you mean curator, I suppose, old Mahoga- No, excuse mo, but you did not. You asked | ‘tormentin’ of us,” snapped the deacon’s sister, ajny Foot?” 1 By me if I knew it, sy a rec cross old fal of the most pronounced type of old}. ““ Here, you young puddin’, don’t you got to call- Oh, begorra, hark to the innocence av him,” | "maid, “You'd much better have sent him to sea. |in’ names at the start_ now,” growled Peter Pil- muttered the gardener. Paix, [think he’s crack- Nhe Deacon did not take his sister’s advice, how-|grim with another thump.» ed,’ ‘ i Hh ee 5 ever, and Johnny was sent toa big boarding school,| ‘You called me a lump of suet, you old pirate."|7 Who are you?’ asked Johnny, “ Youlook like distant two days’ journey from the village, “Did 1? Well, so you are, but don’t go to giv-|Liltle Lord Fauntleroy.” Johnny did not know a soul when he got to theling me any sarce, or you'll get tried out. Comin’ { Well, I’m not him. | I'm Pepper, so Tam,” school. * ra vite ; * here to get eddication, are you?” ‘H m, yes, red Pepper 1 presume.”, ? ‘That made no odds to him, however, “Yes.” No, Sor, I’m not red Pepper at all, but just ‘Tt would not be long before he knew everybody| ‘‘You must say ‘sir’ to me, you young puddin’ Pepper. ; ; A j _ within ten miles, bag. That's discipline, that is.” “Yowre red-headed enough to be red’ Pepper, That’s the sort of boy be was. “Wall, Petey,” answered Johnny with a chuckle,|anyhow, and snappy enough, but if you get to fool- _ Johnny reachea the school thé day before the)‘ you’ve got one wooden leg now, but you'll havejing with me you’) iY ground Pepper,” fall term opened aud khew all that there was tojto turn into a tree and be wooden headed as well) ‘*Go on now, ye lump av, butter, and don’t be learn by the time the other boys came. ; before you'll get me to put on any such frills as|callin’ names. I’m only plain Pepper, I told ye.” Horatio Blodgett, A. M., B. A., PhD., Q.X., andjthat. Ta-ta, Stumps.” ties é “What do they keep you here for, Plain Pepper? a lot of other thin¢s which nearlylexhausted the| Then Johnny waltzed away to find somebody/To kill rats or frighten crows?” iuphabet in expressing them, was the boss of the|who knew something, while Peter whistled and} ‘I’m the gardener, and me name is Pepper. Did edueational mill, besides being a man to remem- observed to himself: / the folks that sent ye here take this for an idjit ber. i i “Well, if I ain’t blowed! The sarce of the risin’|asylum?” : ~ ‘He was very tall and not much fatter than ajgeneration is something to surprise you. What] “Don’t give me any Pepper sauce, young fel- beanpole and, as he always dressed in black, look-|that young imp needs is a rope’s end, to larn him|low * said Johnny. ‘ It doesn’t agree with me.” ed thinner than he was. his dooty to his superiors,” i “What might be your name, annyhow?” asked He had no more hair on the top of his head than] We may remark just here that Peter Pilgrim|Pepper. . See Uncle Ned of pleasant memory, but, just abovejhad perm ctly been a warrant officer in the navy,| ‘ You’ve heard of Ben Butler?” each ear was a short bristling tuft of hair, just tojand hence his wooden leg and his straining after] ‘Sure, I have.” show that the soil was not entirely sterile. discipline. MERE ** Well, he’s a friend of mine.” Professor Blodgett was the principal and general! However, Johnny had no objection to playing} ‘‘Ye don’t say,” , manager of the Birchtown Oollegiate Institute,|tricks on Peter Pilgrim any more than on other “Gall me a liar, will you?” and Johnny made a where Johnny was now to abide, and what he didjfolks, for he lived for fun, and could get it out of|sudden pass at the little redhead. not know about running a place of that sort was)most anything. Pepper dodged and then the young rascal sud- not worth knowing. fal o It would not bs long before the Deacon’s Boy/denly thrust out his foot. : His chief coadjutor, for he had several, was Mr.|would be “at his old tricks again, and when he Whén Pepper found time to breathe, he was sit- - Solomon Simpson, teacher of English branches, buckled down. for business, then look out for larks,|ting on top of a very moist muck heap, while and a good fist at them, too. ; ‘After finding where’ he was. to sleep, putting|Johnny was walking away warbling to himself: mite - 0G . = Miah a . t “8 : i
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“Oh, my, ain’t he a daisy ! Look at his new Sunday clothes. They say he’s & masher, He drives the girls crazy, But he’s got @ big warton his nose.’ “ Begorrah, it’s a carbuncle ye'll haye on your nose, me foine man,” growied Pepper, getting up. «J don’t care if Ben Butler is yer friend, or the Prisidint aither, and ay yez don’t keep out av me garden J’ll make hash av yez.” Johnny Brown paid no heed to Pepper’s guit, butstrolled off toward the gates, where a big stage load of boys was just entering the grounds. “ Ah! there, fellows!” hecried. ‘* Come to join the cireus, have you? Come on and I'll introduce you to the chief performers.” “Are you the clown?” sang out one of the boys. x No, the position is vacant. I guess you can have it, though.” ‘You must be the boss of the monkeys then,” cried another boy. : «“That’s it exactly, and I’d like to know what you are doing out of your cage?” None of the other boys tried to say anything smart to Johnny after that. All hands were soon good friends, however, and Johnny had picked out half a dozen, whom he knew would make the best of chums, Boys eept coming all that day and part of the next, and Blodgett and. his assistants wre kept busy putting tham into classes. Things got to going at last, and Johnny Brown showed that there were very few cold days for him in the matter of standing in his studies, He could always find time to get his lessons, as well as put up jobs, and that’s why no one thought of suspecting him when a lark was played on the teachers. “ Johnny and half a dozen of the leading spirits were not long in leaguing themselves together for the purpose of having fun. a They were sworn to stick by one another, and to play as many tricks on outsiders as possible, but ed none on each other. ‘hey called themselves the Boomers, and they JOHNNY BROWN & CO. ‘* Ah, there, Terra Cotta, you want me, I guess,” said a plump, jolly-looking little fellow, dressed in @ neat suit and carrying a small hand bag and a gold-handled’ umbrella.’ “’Are"you-from Blodgett’s?” : “Tam, begob, and if! ye’re goin’ there, it’s man- ners ye want to l’arn the forst av all,” muttered Pepper. ' i You aren’t Blodgett, ure you?” asked the young ellow. ‘No, I’m not, I’m Pepper. Who are you?” “You must.be green Pepper, not to know that. I’m Billy Bounce, of Bounce County. “Well, I’m not green Pepper nor red Pepper either, so don’t be callin’ me names,” “Well, don’t get peppery, Pepper. Do they use your head to light the school-house by? Saves them a lot, 1 should think.” “Never moind phwat ye think, but get into the earrt and lose no time abeout it.” ‘Get into the carrot, eh? The one in your head do you mean.” “ I didn’t say carrot, I said carrt,” growled Pep- per. “Wagon, you mean? All right, old conflagra- tion. Get along with you.” ‘* Begorrah, ay all the byes in the Institoot wor loike this wan and young Johnny Breown,” mused Pepper, ‘I think I’d go woild in a fortnight.” illy took a seat beside Pepper and away they went licketty clip, toward the Birchtown Collegiate Institute at a gallop. The red-headed driver had reached a strip of woods through which the road wound, and just beyond which were the school gates, when he sud- denly stopped and reined‘in his horse, Well he might do so. Six or eight figures with white pillow-cases over their heads suddenly sprang out at both sides of Suddenly the side door was thrown open and in walked a comical looking image. It was a boy dressed in a clown suit walking on his head with his feet in the air) ~~ ed He made a bow, and then a head appeared be- tween the out-stretched legs. i The boys tittered, Blodgett jumped up in alarm, Simpsoh frowned and grabbed his whis- kers, and Peter Pilgrim thumpéd on the floor with his wooden leg. ‘What does this’ mean?” gasped Blodgett, his paubeas shining and his ear-locks bristling with right. ** Who are you, sir?” growleii Simpson, swelling up like a toad, : the road, Two of them held the horse and four more jump- into the wagon. Two held ‘Pepper, while the other two grabbed Billy Bounce and passed him to two others in the certainly gave fun the biggest boom it had ever|t0ad had in the Birchtown Collegiate Institute since the place was started. One thing in particular the Boomers were agreed tu upon and that was that every new boy coming into. the school must have a job put up on him the firs’ thing. te days when a prospective arrival was announced. The new comer, it was announced, was. Master Billy Bounce, of Racketyille, Bounce County, in the state of Ohoho. s * ‘T'o those of my readers, who are acquainted with the Bounce family, I may state that Billy was fourth or fifth cousin of Little Tommy Bounce, the ' third in line of a family of jokers. One of the brothers of the first and original Tom- - my Bounce had three sons, and one of these was . date what - do any better, say so.” the father of two boys. Billy being the oldest and a rattler to boot. ; : Those who do not know the Bounce family need only to be told that Billy was born ina funny month, at a funny time, and with a grin on his juvenile mug, and that his chief object in life was to make fun. : And this was the sort of duck that the Boomers were to try their first racket upon. a Billy Bounce was to arrive on a Saturday at noon, and Pepper was to go to the railroad sta- tion for him, and drive him to Blodgett’s, Saturday was a holiday, as a rule, but upon this|not set his arms down, but had occasion there was to bea big spelling match and|tended above his head. recitation in the great school room, a lot of the vil- lage notables being invited. When it was known that Billy Bounce was to arrive on such a train, Johnny Brown said to the Boomers: : “ Fellow skylarkers, it behooves us to give young Bounce a send off. ‘I move that we meet him, and escort him here in tip top shape.” “What sort ofa job is that, I’d like to know?” asked Sam Berries, one of the Boomers. “We ain’ti giving fellows receptions, are we?” ' growled Tom Wilson, another of the gang. “Tf you two duffers won’t disarrange your syearing apparel,” remarked Johnny, ‘‘1’l mean, and then if ‘you think you can Then the young joker gave away his scheme _ and told just how it- could be worked. ‘oad. Then the whole gang rushed Billy into the woods, while Pepper drove like mad to the Insti- te. : * Begorrah, the White Caps have got me sure!” +|muttered the driver, as he applied the whip to the nag, ‘and Iniver dii anything out av the way, This agreement had not been made but a few|*#ther!” The invaders did not follow him, however, and hereached the school in safety. Billy wasn’t a bit scared when he was seized thus felt a little curiosity as to what his captors intend- led to do with him. |He rightly guessed that they were schoolboys, but beyond that identification was impossible. ‘Well, boys, what’s up?” he asked, when a halt was called. “We are “and every new-comier must fore he can enter the school.” = : - Then one of the Boomers produced a suit of clothes,.and two others proceeded to put Billy Bounce into it. : It wes a peculiar suit, to say the least. It was, made all in one piece, to start with. That was not its only peculiarity. : The big, blouse-like coat was at the bottom, and the baggy trousers were ontop. . . Moreover, when Billy was-put. into it, he could the Boomers !? said 2 hoarse voice, Shoes were put on his hands, and he looked as if he were standing on his head. _ He had no troubleabout walking, but he did not know how funny he looked. ‘«That’s the way you must enter the your future preceptor,” said the gruff voice, Billy could notsee any way out of the business. He wisely concluded to submit, therefore. Allthe same, he resolved to get hunk on the jokers for this little racket, : “Hurry up!” said the gruff voice; and the Boomers hustled Billy along in lively style. He could not see anything, but he knew when Unknown to him, the jokers whipped the pillow cases off their’ heads when they got inside, and gave them to one of their numbers. Then he heard a sudden scuffling, anda few day, however. “I’m Billy Bounce, if you please, and I’ve come here to go to school,” said the oddity on the floor, ‘Is this the way you enter a school-room, sir? Get.on your feet, sir.” ~ ‘Am on my feet, sir,” and Billy shuffled them, “Have you got four feet, like other calves then?” roared Whiskers. “No, sir, only two, just like you.” : The boys giggled and the teacher’s whiskers twinkled. , “Take off that ridiculous costume and give an account of yourself,” muttered Blodgett. “*Can’t do it, sir, I’m tied into it.” Just then Pepper camé flying into the room, cry- | ing out: “ Begorrah, sor, I think we'll all b» robbed an’ murdhered in our beds, sor. Twinty White Caps met me ip the road, tuck the bye away from me, rin away wid him into the woods, an’ gay the harse sich a belt that he niver stopped a-rinnin’ till he rot half a moile beyant the institoot, an’—— owers above! phwat’s that?” . A few questions to Pepper put matters in a more understandable light. ~~ : : Then, Billy was released from his masquerade suit and questioned, i i “Your captors all wore white caps, did they?” asked Simpson. “Yes, sir—pillow cases, I suppose.” ‘* How big were they?” : \ ‘The regular size of pillow’ cases, I think,” re- turned Billy. . ; He wasn’t giving anything away. = The boys had played a racket on him, but he wasn’t going to tell on them for all that. There was, a better way than that to get squars on them. ‘ “JT don’t mean the pillow cases, I mean the boys who seized you,” said. Blodgett. _ Bie don’t know that they were boys,” answered unceremoniously and hustled into the wood, but he is onldtt you recognize any of them?” “No, sir. One pillow case looks just like an- other.” ‘ ‘*Did they address each other?” “Not that [ heard,” It wasn’t any use to try and get anything out of Young Bounce. He did not know of anything that would lead to be put through be-ithe detection of the Boomers. At least he didn’t tell it if he did. : He knew a good.gag when he saw it, even ifit was played on himself. ; ~ 0 one could have coaxed him to give the boys jJaway, even had he known them. He would give them just as good a racket some For the present he would make the best ‘of it, and laugh rele MELE as the rest of the boys. Blodgett gave the boys in genéral a lecture upon to keep them ex-|the sinfulness of sere joking, and then the ex- ercises proceéded. It did not take Billy Bounce long to get acquaint- ed with the boys at Blodgett’s. He made up his mind very shortly that Johnny Brown, if not at the bottom of thejob on him, was presence of|at least one of the most active workers in carrying out. ; He had but little trouble'also in picking ont near- ly all of the gang by keeping his eyes and ears open. ; ; iyo laughed about the affair with Johnny, and declared it was one of the best gags he had ever seen, > Master Brown never let on, however, that the I eluci-|he reached the school aad got inside by the sound.|scheme was his. He knew too much, : By pumping Pepper, flattering Peter Pilgrim and watching the habits and natures of bis school- mates, however, he satisfied himself in a few days The Boomers gave it their unanimous. ap-|moments after that, a door was opened and hofjas to the identity of the jokers. - ~ proval, Well, Saturday came and Pepper hitched one of Blodgett’s nags into a light wagon and wont off to meet the train bringing Master Billy Bounce. 7 : a When the train stopped and the dozen or more passengers got out, Pepper looked around and shouted: : : “Ts there any bye Institoot?” ; : was pushed forward. “There you are,” whispered some one, your bow.” The great school-room was full of boys, and tutors. ; Blodgett with his bald head and Simpson with his whiskers sat on the platform, Peter Pilgrim with his wooden leg, big beard “Make visitors here phwat’s goin’ to th’land blue swallow-tail coat stood at the side of the platform to preserve order.” i iS ftir oe Then he gave his attention to turning the tables on them. Paige , F ieee. “T say, fellows,” he said to Johnny and several others, just before bed-time one day in the next week, ‘‘come and have supper with me to-night, after the lights are out.” | — na : Nobody objected, of course, and the invitation was unanimously accepted. ~ Se Peat 3 After Peter Pilgrim had stumped all around the house, put out the lights and closed the doors,
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4 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. seven Or eight boys made their way noiselessly to Billy’s room. “Hallo, you’re here, are you?” said Billy, kneel- ing on the floor and taking a big cake out of a box. “Sit down anywhere and make yourselves com- fortable.”” - The boys sat on chairs, the table, the wash- stand and the hed, Billy bustled about and fetched out a big jelly cake in layers, which he cut in generous-sized pieces. AlLthe other fellows had dusted, or wore lying|larschool- room alter honrsiooking over some exer- 2 around loose, looking very miserable, “You're a dandy!” said Billy. _ “Thank you, This is one on me,” “You wouldn’t show it, though.” ‘Neither would you give the Boomers away. , cises and fell asieep. Correcting juvenile compositions i is drowsy work _ janyhow, and it was no wonder he became somno- lent over it, Sticking his feet'on his desk and tipping his “Tsay, you and I ought to make a good team,” |chair backward, he soon {tumbled into a dandy My et bare. you. Do you want to come in?” ss What shall we call the firm?” “What else should we call it but J ohnny Brown “Help yourselves, boys,” he said, passing the}& Co.?” plate. All hands took a hand. Then they took a big bite. “Tt’s n 20,” «Then look out for larks.” *Houp la!” ia a , ee ; | 4 D. | ( ints ——SS— = doze and made music with his nose. Presently along came Johnny Brown, looking fora book. He twigged that’ modern Solomon sitting there, and made up his mind to have a lark. He did not chew gum himself, but many of the boys ate and he found a wad of it’ on top of one of ca gg a Cc AN AK ‘He made a bow, and then a head appeared between the outstretched, legs. ; ~ his bald head shining and his ear-locks bristling | with fright. growled Simpson, swelboe: uD like a toad. Hat : That's the Heo they Boe bit. Tho inside of that cake looked like jelly. It wasn’t anything of the sort. It was soft soap. i And all those funny boys got a bite. What fades they did make, to be suce, Allbut Johnny Brown, Hoe munched away as if he enjoyed it. Ke knew he was bitten; but he was a regular _ Spartan for not showing it. t zy, Mn AA NN : : = “ip CHAPTER I. - aa THE partnership formed by J ohnny Brown and Bilty Bounce was not ‘confined to the two boys, by a good deal; Others desired an interest in the firm of Johnny Brown & Oo., and there were more applications than there werd places. ; Johnny and Billy were a whole téam, a darky. on the box and 4 dog under'the wagon, 80 far-as|- All the other boys began tO; sputter and choke, searing up fun was concerned,. i ie look sick and: rush around tyne 0; ase re-|; ief i Mie If Johnny: Gouldn’t think of a racket} Billy could, and contrarywise. Johnny would bring’ his wits to une on a case that fib would: he One afternoon, it being a warm day the SLaliee of HU branches remained in his conde paren <¢-What does. this mean?” ‘**Who are you, sir?” | wes i a gasped Blodgett, This he divided into two jumps and.then, steal- ing noiselessly up behind Simpson, weat to work. By a little adroitness he managed to fasten the ends of the sleeper’s long whiskers to the back: of his chair with the gum, When the gum: was persuaded. a little it stuck tight, and Simpson’s whiskers looked as though the wind were blowing through. them with ay enge- ance, « Ain’h he a dandy?” thought Johnny as he stood and gazed at the slumbering beauty, = Then he took his bearings and noticed that there was a window just behind Simpson’s desk, which opened on thelawn outside, _ Master Johnny raised this ‘without kicking up any fuss and then stole back to Simpson. A piece of paper madea very convenient tiek- ling machine, - and Johnny’ titivated © thit dude teacher’s nose up to the nines,’ Solomon stoodt for atime, | Then he gathered his breath for a regular ld ‘fashioned sneeze and let drive.” That sneeze produced several résults.: ; To begin with it gave Meader S ‘whiskers a ‘Istinging old tug. It likewise fetched those big tee off that dest in a twinkling. ent iN eaten emer
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PS. eo eee To wind up with the big arm chair went over backwards. At the first alarm Johnny Brown went out the|thorough gargling. window. When Simpson awoke he was sitting on the floorjrunt’s red locks, ~~ : with his whiskers sticking right out straight in front of him. : : The wind had evidently changed. - : Johnny had imagined that his joke would result simply in giving those giddy whisxers a pull. He had not expected quite such a hubbub, allus foolin’. - jit’s white I am’ mesilf ivery day.” JOHNNY BROWN & CO. He had a big pail of water and a small portable pump, and was giving the wheels and axles a 4 bi Hallo, Old Rose,” said Johnny, alluding to the ‘Go on neow,” growled Pepper. -“ Don’t be Don’t [ allus treat yez white? Sure, ‘Then you must be white Pepper instead of red,” remarked Billy. : “Tf you got a crack in the eye, though, it would “Howling jackasses, what’s the matter?’ ex-|be black Pepper, wouldn’t it?” added Johnny. ‘claimed Simpson. — Then he caught sight of the open window be- hind him, a : » “Go on with yez,” snarled the man, directing a stream of water under the body of the vehicle with one hand, while he worked the purp with the There was a water-butt standing conveniently near. ‘ Into this Pepper soused his empty bucket and got it full. : Then he set his pump to working. -j * Whack! Billy Bounce got it in the-neck. 3 Swash! . ; es ifa te Johnny Brown had his hat knocked off by tha crystal stream, : i pate 28 Pepper was by no means partial. © He gave it'to both those boys alike. j It was good weather for Pepper just then. ‘ ' eee it’s raining!” cried Johnny, making a reak, : feat ¥ ‘Ha, ha! I'll get ye “ Woll, no wonder I caught a—kerchew !—cold with that cork-screw’ fish-hooks window open— skersho !—behind me!” he ejaculated between his sneezes, Reet y ‘ ‘The wax had béen obliged to let go of his whisk- / ers, but the effect of the tussle showed itself in ' their position. ~~ ° ‘ “ Deuced odd I should fallasleep and sneeze my- - self--whew t—clean out of—whishoo—my chair,” he remarked, picking himself up, ~~ ; However, the spell was broken, the inclination to sleep was gone, and there was no more chance for a lark at present. iat é Johnny gavo the thing away to his particular cronies, and they had a fine snort over it, but Simpson’s fall out of his vhair was the only tum- bie he took to the business, ¢ ; : Perper, the flery little gardener, made more fun than 1 little for the hoys, and they were always ‘ready torun him. — Ho had decided Sbjections to having his name made a subject of jests, and for that reason’ the yourg scamps would ring the changes on it when- ever they had a chance, . ; all down, ye young scamps,” chuckled Peter, ‘‘ and.then won't ye walk the plank!” Just shifted his peg so us to catch sight of more boys. That was Billy’s chance. ae then Peter other.’ ‘*Faix, I’m -nayther. red, nor black nor) Billy turned around to see what the fuss was phwite Pepper at all.” “Yes, you are, and the right place the soup,” chuckled Billy. With that, young sawed-oft’s back. . : Johnny caught on like a little man. spring. * i In two seconds Pepper was in the soup. That is to say, he was in the water bucket, him head first into the water in a jiffy. the bulge on him like that.” Pepper and pail both went ning, Pepper rolling. March. - *‘Tt’s ’sa’lt and batther, that’s phwat it is.” One day Johnny and Billy happened around the back of the house where Pepper was washing 'a “carriage, eee eas hot Pepper. mle Pri hai ea That’s where they were very unwise. for you is in Bounce winked at J ohnny and backward, used some very expressive pantomime behind tho He winked back at Billy, and both gave a Those boys had tripped up his heels and sent ‘‘Now he’s green Pepper,” asserted Johnny; ‘pretty green, too, or-he wouldn’t have let us get over, the water run- Then up he jumped, as mad as the hare ofjgiblets for that,” remarked Johnny. — “ Begorrah, I'll get the lar an ye,” he sputtered. “Well, you need salting pretty bad,” said Billy. jhe got the best of Jchnny Brown & 00.” Then he and Johnny turned their backs on that e about... ; 7 Pepper was still working the pump. Billy got it inthe mouth and nearly went over He thought he could rush in on Pepper and turn the tables on him. | batten Peppor was too strong for him that time. _- Pepper and water, rather, got the best of it. - Billy found this out at the next stroke of the pump. ~* ; ates ee pe ever Ho was nearly washed away. einen ouaelgee. A clever retreat is better than’a foolish attack That’s what Billy thought as he gotaway, didn’t yez, me lads,” Jaughed Pepper. ‘ Wather ° is as good a wippin’ for wan as for anothor.” ~ ‘© We'll have to get sauare on his auburn-haired - Ho and Billy were now out of range, jas “iil never do to. Yes,” said Master Bounce, bale AU let that fellow with the vermilion locks boast ‘© Bet your slippers.” ey ; “How are we going to mannge it ree “VY ilshow you,” chuckled Johnny, “‘ We’ a “ Aha-ha-ha, yez got thé worst av it that time, — ll work
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“ig fun, there was one fellow who was both ready and “willing to give them all the trouble he could. Jance than old Blodgett or Simpson. 6 JHONNY BROWN & Co. eS SESS SS BASS SLSR ASST SSE SLES SSS SSS SSS SESS SSS SS SS _an old gag on him, but he won’t know whether it’s new or old till after he bites.” * What is it?” Johnny whispered a few words in his partner’s ear. *Tmmeonse,” said young Bounce. -|moré prominent offenders, ‘The very next day he gave the boys hallelujah. “Jt is reported to me,” he said sternly, ‘that many of the boys in this institution pitch. pennies, plays cards, throw dice, and otherwise gamble for money, and I have the names of, several of the If I hear of these of- Then those two champion jokers went off and|fenses being repeated the boys will be expelled.” procured a pail which they filled with water. He was just fool enough to believe what that old They then balanced it on the sill of a window/goxsip told him, just over the side door of the school building. To the handle they fastened. two ropes. One of these was short, was secured by putting That didn’t make it any better for the boys, how- ever, They were hopping mad, and were ready for down the window and would allow the pail to justjanything. turn over. The other rope was long and went down to the door, passing over the top and being fastened to the knob inside. Do you catch on? Well, when this little apparatus was all ar- ranged one of the boys was instructed to go and tell Pepper that Blodgett wanted’him immediately. Sam Berries was the boy, and he did his errand with the utmost diplomacy, In the first place he approached Pepper with the utmost courtesy. : Ho didn’t rush up in a hurry, call Pepper a red- headed runt, and tell him to go upto old Blod- gett in a jiffy or he’d get thumped. Instead ot doing thusly, which would have knocked the scheme into a cocked hat, he did thus: He walked up quietly, tipped his hat, and said with'the utmost suavity: - . “Mr. Pepper, Mr. Blodgett would like to see you at the side door at your earliest convenience.” This style of address tickled Pepper down to the ground, ; _“ Begorrah, that’s the way to speak to a mon,” he muttered. ‘* Faix, I’d think thoy wor only fool- in’ me if the bye wasn’t so pit abeout it.” Then up went Pepper to the schcol-house. He forgot the side door, however, and went in at the main entrance. Maybe you think that spoiled the job, Well, it did not. ; There are several ways of killing a cat. ; ' Johnny Brown was up to snuff. The moment he saw Pepper go in. at the front dcor he sent Sum after him. jr ; Pepper was looking all over for Blodgett and not finding him, when Sam came along and said: ** You idiot, why don’t you go to the side door as-I told you? You’re a big chump.” That made Pepper mad. ; He started after Sam, who hoofed it to the load- O60 d00rsa see) He Jet Pepper get almost up to him, and then suddenly yanked the door open. ‘ Pepper went out a-flying, while Sam stayed be- _ hind the door. Down came that pailful of water right on top of the gardener. : He was drenched. : 2 A peal of Jaughter from a dozen boys, including Johnny and Billy, stationed outside, assured him that he was sold as well. ‘ “ally one for us.” cried Johnny, and Pepper went back to the barn, convinced that Johnny Brown & Co. were a little too many for him, ~ While the boys at Blodgett’s were having lots of ~ ‘This was Peter Pilgrim, the wooden legged jant- tor, : : He was'a mean old duffer, and’ hated ‘the boys because they did not think.him/‘of more import- He was all the time nagging decent lot of boys will stand that. ° From naggiug, however, he got to bearing tales. One day the boys were amusing themselves by pitching pennies in the playground, © ° They weren’t doing it for keeps, mind, but just for the tun of it. nf bi : I They all had spending money enough without chiseling coppers Out of each other. » Well, old stumptoes saw them at jit. if He was always nosing about looking for. some- thing to blab about, and this was just slapjacks and honey to him. 7 It gave him «a chance to tell on the boys and that was just what he wanted. them, and no rest were not gambling, but that made no.odds. , Away hs went to see old Baldy, and said that ho had found some of the boys pitching pennies. He wasn’t satisfied with that, the old chump. What must be do but say that he had heard that they played cards for money, as well. 7 It’s awfully easy to credit a rumor to “I’ve heard so,” without compromising yourself. vale That’s what Peter did: — i , He did not say outright that the boys ‘had been gambling at cards, but they had, visi hain tees That put the old man on his ear at once. © “a “Tt’s one of old Wooden Leg’s lies,” said John- ny Brown, “Tsaw him sneaking about the day we were pitching pennies,” added Sam. “We'll fix him for that,” chuckled Billy Bounce. «Just you leavo the thing to us.” When the firm of Johnny Brown & Oo. took ur anything you could rely upon it being pat through Johnny and Billy put their noiddles together and cooked up a dandy snap on Pegtoes, That afternoon when school was out a dozen or twenty of the boys got together on the play- ground, They drew a circle on the’sand and stood around it, pretending to pitch pennies, As a matter of fact, not one of them had a cop- per in his hand. That was the bait which was to lure Peter to the spot. All hands appeared terribly excited, and nono of thom looked away from the ring. They shouted and made bets and seemed very much interested in the game. Johnny and Billy laid low in the bushes waiting for Peter to appear. Billy had a long, stovt rope, with a slip noose on the end, tucked under his jacket. What this was for will be seen later on. All that noise could not fail to attract Peter’s at- tantion, The boys were up to some mischief, he was sure. He therefore stumped out of the cellar, where he was at work, and hurried toward the playground. I may not have mentioned it before, but old Pe- ter Pilgrim was terribly nearsighted. Without his glasses he could not tell a calf from a fence post at ten yards. When he put on those big iron-rimmed goggles of his, however, he could see better than most folks. . “** H’m | up to some games, the young vagabonds, OHAPTER ITI, “ Now, then,” yelled Johnny, “ haul away all to- gether !’” Johnny had fastened a slip-knot around the end of Peter Pilgrim’s wooden leg. At the word, hé and Billy gave the rope a yank, and down came the old sailor, Peter had been spying on a lot of the boys, whom he supposed to be pitching pennies, He had on his glasses, and was putting their names down in a note-book, : It was alla put-up job on old Pegtoes. The boys weren’t pitching pennies at all. They were pretending to do. so in order to lure Peter into the trap. set for him. When Johnny and Billy hauled on the rope, down went Peter on his back, his note-book flying one way, his big, iron-bound spectacles the other. Then, of a sudden, the boys forgot all interest in their game. sf They turned quickly about and came rushing forward, Then they laid hold of the rope in a There was room enough on it for all ‘Tet her hustle!” cried Johnny. : Then away went the whole gang across the play- ground, hands, Peter was dragged along on his back, his good » leg and his arms waving about frantically. All hands on deck!’ he bawled, ‘‘ Keep to your stations, you mutinous lubbers.” Away he went, over the grass and gravel. “Stand by, confound you. Bolay, I tell you.” Now and then “he clutched convulsively at a clump of grass to stay his progress, f Ente there, you lubbers, Stow that, can’t you?” : Even nautical phrases could not stop those scurrying boys. i : The way that wooden-legged chump was drag- ged over the ground beat an express train. Now and then he tried to dig his good heel jnto the ground and call a halt. - He only got an extra bump whenever he did so. ‘**Belay that!” he roared, thinking of his old sailoring days. y The boys didn’t belay anything. In fact, they let out moreline, Peter’s clothes were a siglit to behold. The boys were not at all particular wherexthey hauled him, — Mud, grass, gravel or cobbles, it was all the sime to them, *Peter’s coat was up around his ears, and his breeches needed half soling bad. : Tl warrant!” growled Peter, putting on his specs, Then he stumped over to the playground as fast as he could hoof it, taking out a big pencil and a note-book as he went, : : s ; *T’ll catch ’em for sure this time, the young pirates,” he grunted, ‘‘and get their names, and make ’em sweat if they don’t give me somethin’ fur keepin’ quiet.” ~ ““That’s my gime,” cried one of the boys. “ Bot you a dollar it isn’t.” : ** Chuck over; it’s a tie.” “How much did you win?” ‘“* How much did you?” ane boys were evidently doing some reckless playing, “ : hey crowded all in a heap and yelled like |flends, Old Peter got right behind them, without them knowing anything about it, “Tye got you now, my bucks,” he growled, scribbling down the names on his: book, The boys appeared to be completely absorbed in their game. ! They were only waiting for the signal, how- ever. i Peter, in his haste to get all the names cown, never thought of looking behind him, 7 Johnny and Billy had come out of their hiding place after giving the boys the tip that old Lim- berheel was coming. : They were now sneaking i behind that-spying old curmudgeon with thélstillness of mice. The other boys in the plot made so much - noise anyhow, that’they ‘might have Walked like ele- phants and not be noticed. —— « a i Billy! had’ the rope already mentioned in his r= = ‘Johnny sneaked right up behind Peter, so as to give his partner some help, ; “Ha, ha) T'll'get ye all down, ye young scamps,” _{chuckled Peter, “and then won’t-ye walk the plankIVs om & 3 i Just then Peter shifted his peg so as to catch sight of more boys. wit : That was Billy’s chance, 5 He gave the noose’ a*fling,: planted his ‘peg “again it went inside the loop. | 37 he made Blodgett think) Then Johnny gave it a yank so as to tighten)! it. : ri by "Now, then!” he yelled. ; . |hand, and was waiting for a good chance to throw}: He knew well enough that Johnny, Billy, and choi { : : Tbe more the boys hauled him around the mad- der he got. : : Be eae he wouldn’t try to spy on them after is. : * ““Pl]_ report you all, you insubordinate young villains,” he gasped. ; ; The threat was an idle one. Without his specs he couldn’t tell one another, - a Unless he put down the name of every boy in the school he could not catch the right ones. The boys knew this and they hauled him clear to the ond of the playground. : ‘It was pretty rough treatment, but I think you'll say it served the old duffer just right, boy from Out of breath, covered with dust, sweat, and mud, the old sailor could no longer yell or make— any effort to stop. himself. . There came a let up sooner than he expected. -The rope, from constant’ chafing on the rough gravel, flnally snapped in tivo. Down went the boys in a heap. - Peter’s rough ride had come to an end at last. . : For all that, he was not satisfied... } He limped to his feet and began to abuse the boys in good old-fashioned sailor talk. i ae Hard words, break no bones, however. — - ve The boys'serambled to, their feet as goon as they. could, and made themselves scarce, ; They didn’t want to be identified with the racket any longeres 65. .: ea para pen “Guess he won’t blab on us any more.” . 2 ; ANS Bet he can’t; tell who worked. this tacket on him, ( pe: Sieg dttos 7 4 “That ought to stop his lying for a time.” ‘Hurrah for our side.” . : ; Then the whole gang lighted out and went swim- ming to get cooled. off. , : It took Peter till night.to get his clothes into decent shape. — | His temper was longer than that in settling down. ~,| ececwmnyies He was mad as they make ’enx, hut that did not do him any good. « ; ; 4 There was no means of telling who his tormsn- so that: wnen Peter|tors had been, for it was not like ythatany of them would go back on theirchums.. =, 9.) 5 There were none of them fashioned after that model. : : Peter had no one to sympathize with him.
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_ They were ahead now’ and could afford to wait - their allotted peck of dirt that morning, | ” pling bell ten minutes ahead of time and give the enjoyed it than otherwise. ucpil The housekeeper, Mrs, Dodger, had long since soured on Pegtoes, and it was of no use to go to herforconsolation, : There was no satisfaction in hyd eae ad to Blodgett either, since he could not tell who had given him that free ride across the campus, “ Bust my lee scuppers, but I’ll get square, with them yorng pirates,” growled Peter, as he stumped around in the cellar that evening. “If the furnace was agoing V’d kill ’em all with coal gas, see if I wouldn't.” There was no doubt that he would try and pay | Pepper saw something of the rush, and rather|fled the big bell JOHNNY BROWN & CO. So that it would not ring ahead the next morning. : That gave them an extra half hour, as it took Peter that long to fix things, and” of course they would not go until the bell rang, ; It was between Pegtoes and the boys, in fact, and a war in which no quarter was given. Peter’s next move was to throw a lot of rubbish into the well, and then charge the boys themselves as having done it. : One chap gota licking on Peter’s complaint be- cause a ball belonging to him ~had been found in the well. Of course the boys were bound to settle accounts with Peter for that. ; 7 —— goin’ to foind eout the names ay thim phwat dobe doin’ it? 3 “* Oh, he is, eh?” : Z isa ‘“Yis, sor, and I’d advise yez to be quite for wan or two noights, and chate the murderin’ spy out ay his tale tellin’.”” : “Much obliged to you, Pepper,” said Johnny, “Peter told me you were cranky, but I don’t be- lieve. it.” f © ; ; : “Oh, he did?” growled the gardener. ‘Yes, and that you ate meat on Friday,” “Oh, the robber.” “And that you’d rob a church.” stag. Johnny was up to Pepper, asiwell as snuff, . If ho could ‘keep Pepper in a, state of wrath against Peter the cranky, gardener might be made. of-use to the boys in theirswarfare with Peter. “Tl saw the canbogue’s wooden leg in twosome night,” declared Pepper, ‘and whin ho walks he'll fall and break the nose ay um, the maraudher, and serve him right foritelling lies on me.” 4) j Johnny and the boys did not take Peppers ad- vice about keeping quiet fora night or tivo, On the contrary, they’ determined to’ make a regular hullabaloo, and just at the time when the janitor was going his rounds}; () 9" ©) 3 That was to coax him into a for him, on i ete te It was literally.a trap, and a good big’ one, too, with a powerful spring and good fares ro Something must be done to teach old Stumpyjack good manners, and the boys wished he might get trap they had set _ They set the trap, which ‘had-been used for eatehing foxes at one time, and stuck it in a dark corner at the end of the hall. : jin yer rooms aya noight afther hours, an’ he’s
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~ young muffs for this, - indignities on ine, I tell you.” it, you idiot?” Simpson. 8 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. Sa a eS SSS aos SSS SS SS SS ( _- regulur guffaw. He did not go very far, of course, but he went “That's a good one on me,” he chuckled, “tak-|quite high enough to satisfy even his cranky ing « janitor for a ghost, ha-ha-ho-ho !” mind, “If you'll give me a light, Vil go on to my) the d i room and turnin for my watch below,” growled|kite line and hang on like grim death, Peter. 2 The boys thought it was fun alive to see him, «Qh, you left your watch below, did you?” Johnny and Billy did not let it stop there, how- ? ae gees 5 ‘2 walt [overs ; SEE oun peattyswel of Saar iar rN Well, They suddenly cut the lino, which had been se- rht i iok cured to a fence post. ane Se aNOnE coh otette BNC phoe sccoSeC aT e parted with a snap and flew around and . ; around like lightning. z eno weyet te wentatcras match god SHE It wound around Eeters eood leg, HH his ne “ wooden one, and gotall snarled up in a jiffy. og stil, 800 7 Raa oe eels hold” your The kite took a sudden soar and carried Peter , ‘ : hen he took the trap off, nearly getting his|4V OF six feet in the air. ~ ; A The wind was rising, and so was Pegtoes, fingors caught in it while he wus doing so, by the) iphe jatter was patter too heavy tor that kite to way. c carry as a steady load, After that the janitor stumped back to bed, and! own he came with a bump on the hard ground. Simpson retired, chuckling over the good joke on} Before he could unfasten the line he was lifted Peter until he fell asleep. so up again and went sailing over the play-ground at The next day the wooden-limbed janitor wasja great rate. mad enough. “Avast there!” he bawled, ‘Belay that, can’t He would have liked to report the whole schoollyou?? : as skylarking after hours, but that would have! Down he came again with a dull thud on-a big seemed too thin forany one to hold on his stomach. |stone. | . _ Besides that he knew that Simpson Wits agreat| Dull thuds had ceased to be popular just then, joker, and would greatly enjoy telling tho story of} «Stow that, you lubbers!” yelled the ex-boat- the Trap, the Rattan and the Wooden Log, freely/swain, «Pipe all hands and untie me!” translated from the Hebrew. The wind got under the kite, gave it a lift and He would be sure to do so, if Peter went to tell- up went Peter again. ing too big a fairy tale on the boys. : That’s the way it was clear across tho play- n short, Simpson did not think much more Of|sround. : Peter than did the boys. It was up and down, up and down, as regularas He did not come so much in contact with the old/clock work. 4 crank, to be sure, but he considered him a duffer,) First the wind would raise him flve or six feet nevertheless, Poter, therefore. said nothing about the littlejagain. racket of the night previous, but was more than} Every time ever resolved to square things with the boys. force of a spile driver. -He knew they would be on the lookout for him,| Sometimes he would bounce and then again tho however, and so he concluded to wait a few days|kite would yank him up,” : before compassing his revenge, 5 It was as funny us 2 coon hunt toa darky—to tho A day or so after this there came on a spell ofjboys. Eo : : windy weather, just the sort to fly kites in. : Peter failad to see the joke of it, — | Now, Johnny and Billy wer'e not ayerse to flying] The wind began to blow great guns by this timo. kites, if the aerial travelers were only big enough.| Peter was rapidly approaching the fenes that When they went in for any fun of this sort,|/surrounded the Peace = ; : : they wanted it to be worth their while. Upon this fence he pinned his hopes of rescue. You could not put them off with anything ordi-| If he could only catch hold of it, he would be all Gee the sky-flying line. hunk. % t ; Spa They did not care very much for the Japanese| If he could! , varivty either. : Yate and the wind decreed otherwise. — 4 A paudy thing with wings and a hideous face,| Old Boreas got in ono of his strongest puffs just. which had a tendency to go thumping on its side|Fefore Peter reached the fence. nee every second minute despite the length of tail it} Over it he went like a feather and never touch- carried, had no attractions for them, ed it. Lin eon ; No, sir, :: The boys hurried after him, for they wanted to They wanted an American kite, big and spread-|see the sport. yal Chait AR eget ; “Hold on tight, Pete!” cried Johnny Brown. to hail from, ‘‘Wo'll save you yet, if we break a leg,” added There being none of that sort in town, those|Biliy Bounce. ; : two bully boys proceeded to build one to their) Oh, yes, they were awfully anxious to save him. fancy. ; _| The wind and the kite took Peter over a newly They made it seven feet high and four wide at|plowed field. the biggest part. ; Every time he bumped he left his impressions of Then they covered it with newspapers in order|the country behind him. ‘o give the current news a wide circulation. He carried considerable sail with him, besides. They had forty feet of tail and used a clothes} And the wind continued to blow for all it was line to fly the monster with. ; ; All hands went out on the playground in tho af- ternoon to see the big fellow go up. The ond of the line was fastened to a fence, as the boys had no desire to take a trip to the planets known or unknown. They got it up and were holding on to the line, feeling it tug in their hand, twenty or thirty feet of slack line trailing on the ground behind them, The whole gang of boys stood around enjoying ~Somehew, however, the wind seemed to be too the fun of seeing such a huge kite sailing in thelstrong for them. air, when along came Stumpley, witha sneer on| Perhaps it was and perhaps not, : his ugly mug and his black beard sticking straight} At all events, they did not catch Peter. — 3 out in scorn, | ‘ ae Ge Finally he hopped over a, fence, slid down an Nobody paid any attention to him at first. embankment and struck the turnpike, Then he stumped up and stood with the unused| It was a dandy rough road, and the wind blew line between his good leg and his wooden exten-jin the very direction it ran. : : sion, yh : Bumpetty-bump, see-saw up and down, andstill Pretty soon Billy gazed over his shoulder and|jahead went poor Peter. Se took in the situation. ~ A man driving a flock of sheep was presently He gave Johnny an expressive wink and signal-jovertaken. : : worth. Over the flelds, leaping stone walls, rail-fences and dry ditehes went the unhe pee Pilgrim. Such a pilgrimage hadn’t been heard of before. «Let mo loose, you lubbers!” roared the jani- tor, as he tried to grab hold of fences, bushes, stones and whatever else came in his way. their heloved old friend. and scattered in all directions, The first thing he did was to grab hold of the. and then his own weight would fetch him back he struck he came down with tho The boys went racing after him, eager to rescue - 'The sheep said “Bah” to that sort of business, ee
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO, “S. 9 The man was sent flying into the ditch by the] Please remember that the wind kept on blow-jthe two boys got so mixed up that the farmer him- rambunctious rams and remained there. ing. — ; ; 4 Sat self coals vaste from es He Eicben aii i ; ast .. | Pretty soon he passed a farm-house, and alljwhat he thought was the cog and it hollered in- Wes tiny fanart jasU Dre: that ‘hie. ean Lares hands came out to see what was up, stead of barking. - still blowing. The pigs ran squealing to their pens, thé calves} The release of the heayy drag on Peter’s rear ex- Along came a man driving an ox-cart, bellowed as calves best. know how, the ducks andjtension did wonders for that weary Pilgrim, Even such stolid, slow, and easy ‘ éritters ” ag|Chickens went squawking and fluttering to their) The kité shot forty feet up in the airlike a bal- oxen eouldn’t stand any Such racket roosts, and pandemonium was turned adrift. loon when you throw out the ballast. Tha sight of aie Paes 1 b li inne Out rushed a lot of dogs, big and little, and gaye] ‘hen the wind grabbed it and sent it clear to the late etic th; wise Ta tetbonmneeice a aaig|chase. : top of a tall trea in the middle of a field, ten yards road like that was quite too much for thelr)” he farmer’s three sons, the two hired men, thejaway. : equanimity, next-door neighbor’s sons, and seyeral that lived} That was a rise in the world, you’d better be- They gave a snort and a roar, started on the/further off, all came racing along. lieve. Coe geen iy ; dead run, went up the bank, through some bars} Peter struck the ground with a bump, and a big] The wind was still blowing, and it carried great (“a pair of bars” it always is, we believe), smash-|bull-dog made a dash foz his trailing coat-tails, _ jclouds of dust with it. : EUSER PCR IEEE pee C7 te Wee TTY Tas AN A aa ot te a) a Riot sh Horatio! how the wind was blowing! The kite pulled Peter and the dog right along. Nothing but a crowbar between “his teeth would make that bull-pup let go. He dug his feet into the soil, and tried to hang ‘back, but it was:of no use. f t ed the wagon to bits, dumped the man at the side’ He got ’em in his teeth and hung on. ‘The clouds were black and ugly-looking be- of the road and kept on running. < rs Horiatio ! how the wind was blowing! sides, x i Unless they have been stopped by this time they| Tne kite pulled Peter and the dog right along, Blodgett’s boys knew what to expect. are running yet. ‘ Nothing but a crowbar between his teeth would; Rain was coming, and no small amount, either. ~The next thing Peter met was two old inaids out/make that bull-pup let'go. The way those boys broke for cover wus amaz- for a drive in a buggy. 3 He dug his feet into the soil, and tried to hang|ing to witness, flee The horse, warranted gentle and ‘kind and alllback, but it was of no use. The rest of the gang did likewise, | sides * that, got rattled, took the bit between his teeth| The farmer’s boy grabbed him by the tail and] And all this time poor Peter Pilgrim was Jiter- ~ and hooked it for home the best he knew. tried to stop him. ally up a tree. x See Eas Did I say that the wind was blowing harder yet?} That festive youth was plowing up the dirt with} He clung despairingly to the branches’ which Well, it was, = his nose the next minute. _ swayed and bent under his weight most fright- ~The big kite tugged at the lino like & steam en-| He did not let go, though, any more. than the/fully. : LD asia eae ine. i = purp. , ; “Now he was glad he had the kite there. Now it would sail clean up into the sky, and| How they did seud. reds It would assist him in ‘getting to the ground. © ~ Peter would get a tremendous rise, The next oldest boy seized his brother's legs and| At least that’s what he fondly imagined. “Then it would plunge down as if it meant tojtried to stop his rapid progress. — . That kite had done enough, business for one day. drive a hole clean throngh to China, paki The kite yanked him along, too. : ‘| Moreover, it soon began to rain cats and dogs. . * That’s the time Peter would catch it, You can bet it was blowing a tornado. | <It was a second deluge. ~~ Lela pat How his old bones did suffer on those occa-| There was no knowing how many more would| Johnny Brown & Co. had reached sheiter none sions, : _ jhave been dragging at the end of that kite line if|/too soon. ; aie Paiieey ee, : ; Bump ener hes ; ‘ -... {something had not happened. AACA The rain came down with tropical vigor. “Odd rot the dash blasted kite to Jericho!” |" Peter’s coat tails went all to everlasting bust. ‘No ordinary kite could stand any such wetting. _ That's only a sample of what ho said.” They were never builtto stand any such scrain| Een the big fellow, strong’as it was, had to He never stopped on the ground long enough tojas that, — pleats : - _ {knock under. Be sihediipei Re eee, allow him to untangle the line, Pentre ‘Consequently they «dissolved partnership with} In three minutes, the covering of that aS eet _ It was twisted about him worse and worse, and|the coat, yin ~ “iseraper was flying about in ‘bits like a flock of big in a perfect snarl. _ The dog went rolling over and over and he andjwhite birds, : a seecies soa Te +0
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~ aregular Turkish bath time of it, a) JOHNNY BROWN & CO. No kite can float without paper any more than # business man can. © - Conssquently that one went tumbling to the ground all broken up. Poter was left hanging to the top of the tree in the rain. That rain was gotten up for business purposes, and it attended strictly to business, lt rained as if it hadn’t done so in a month, and -did not expect to do so for another month, and was bound to roake the most of its chances. x didu’t come downin drops, it came in bar- rels, Peter felt just like the old sailor in the storm when the great waves were rolling over him, that is to say, very wet. He didn’t have a dry-rag on him inside of two minutes. The water ran down his neck and out at his shoes in rivers, His pockets bulged out with the rain in them, and his shoes were nearly washed off his feet. It was a wondar that his wooden leg wasn’t sent afloat by the way the aqueous fluid ran down if. And all the time the limbs were bending and tossing like mad in the wind. The poor old duffer did not dare to let go with ane hand for fear he could not hold on by the other, : Finally ho managed to and get a firmer grip. After that it wasn’t such tough work. The tangled vine interfered somewhat with his - progress, but by little and little he got half way down and then stopped to rest in the crotch of tio big limbs. ; 6 got out a knife, knocked the nonsense out of ‘his line, and then went on down. All this tim@ it kept on raining, and you couldn’t ; soe for the blinding ing down. : That unfortunate Pilgrim couldn’t get any wet- ter, and so he concluded to grin and bear it, He stumped it toward the nearest farm- however, as fast as ha could go. : ‘Not having on his glasses, however, he was at a disadvantage, : sheets of water that came dash- house, lhim a chance to stop and abuse them, but they did not even see him, or so it appeared. Off he went, while the boys continued to enjoy themselves, shoutiig and laughing ata great rate. “T’ll ger square with the young buccaneers,” muttered Peter as he stumped it indoors, “and don’t you fail to remember it.” ne boys were one ahead on rackets, however, and could afford to wait for him to catch up. Three or four days after the kite incident the boys were all out on the lawn after sehool hours, doing their best to drive dull care away, when along came Pepper; leading a calf at the end of a rope. Get on to Pepper’s brother!” cried one of the joys. “Does he sleep with you, Pepper?” asked an- slide down several feet Sl, other. “Yon’t thay look alike, though?” remarked some one else, “Be kind to your little brother, Pepper,” sang out Johnny. Thon the calf made a remark. ‘He says ‘ Rats,’ fellows,” said Billy. “Come on, neow, an’ don’t be bla'ting like Then he went on, and as he did so the groans increased. He had to go up three flights.of stairs, and at every flight the noises increased. Things went flying past his head in the dark, and the wind howled and wWhistled in the strangest manner. Obstructions lay in his path, and he stambled over them with great frequency. By the time he reached the top of the house he was in a state of considerable nervousness. “Tm blowed av I can undhershtand it at all!” he muttered, beginning to tremble. ‘Something must be goin’ to happen. There’s no one I know ay all me relations that’s loikely to die except me sister-in-law’s cousin’s husband, phwatis noinety your old and as sthrong as a builock.” When he got into his room everything was dark, He fell over a trunk in getting to the window, and the groans increased: “« Tt’s a warnin’ sure, and some wan ay thim I know will die before mornin’, It’s a bad soign to fall over a thrunk.” He was trembling like the mischief when he raised the window, threw back the blinds and let that,” muttered Pepper, hauling on the rope. The young bovine objected to going any further’ just then, He planted his fore feet, cach at a difforent an- and lifted up his voice in protestation, Come on, I tell yez,” blustered Pepper, giving the beast a belt with the end of the rope. ‘Don’t Lit your brother like that, Pepper,” said Johnny. ‘ How can you ba so cruel?” “Go on with yez, an’ don’t be givin’ me lip,” growled Pepper, hauling on the rope. - ; « Let's sive him a lift, boys,” cried Billy Bounce, ‘Then all hands rushed at that calf, : They sent him spinning out of that in ajiff. He went so sudden that Pepper was upset on the grass. : : : He held on to the rope, though. The ealf, having oncestarted, was bound to keep itup. : How he did gambol over the greensward! | You can gamble on it yourself that he did. ~~~ The boys had something vo do with his friski- He struek a soft ‘spot with his wooden Jeg and|ness, perhaps. wont in a foot or more, / , ‘ In trying to haul the wooden foot out of the bog, 6 got his good one in. Then he had to haul on both of them, and in get- ting himself free fell on his back, That was bad enough, but.it wasn’t all. One would go at him on one side, and he would jump aside and start off on a run. Then another woald jump on him at that side and cause him to take another tack. ; Here again he would meet another boy and change his course in consequence. “Pepper kept hold of the ropa in the vain attempt He had to get over i stone wall in order to make to hold in that young beef producer, ashort cut to the house, { The wall was never intended for people to climb, The minute Peter got on top of it down it went altogether. Poor Peter got a tremendous shaking up that h time. Then a big stone fell on his wooden leg and held him down. He yelled and vain, Finally a bright thought struck him like a stone going through a skylight. He lifted the stone off his stump, and was free. hen he made for that farm-house at his liveliest. Floundering through puddles, stumping through mud and slush, stumbling over stone heaps and getting scratched by briers he finally reached shel- Or. He imagined that he would find the boys there, an avon discover the identity of his, tormentors at last.~ There’s where he got left. The Boomers had not been to the house at all. They had struck another one, half a mile nearer home, The hapless Pilgrim was just about done up with fatigue. He sat down on the sheltered side of the farm- house porch and let the water drain off him, If he had gone inside, the house would hays been flooded. Finally the farmer’s wife allowed him to go in and sit by the kitchen fire. Meanwhile it had stopped raining came out bright and beautiful, Peter did not find it out till he was nearly roast- ed with the heat, : His clothes were steaming, and hoe kicked and called for help, all-in and the sun was having _ By the time he had discovered that the sun sas out the boys hid nearly reached the institute. Consequently Peter did not tumble to them. When he came into the grounds, looking as if he had been through the wars, all hands were playing away and having a dandy time.. 5 «The young pirates |” growled Peter. “I'll have that play-ground plowed up and planted in tur- nips assureasIsayit.” | |. . he boys did not pay the slightest attention to him, end he stumped off, madder than ever, Ii they had made fun of him it would have given Every time he would stagger to his feet the calf would givea dash in an unexpected direction, and down would go Peter or his back. The thing was kept up till Pepper was mad as a atter, ; “Goan thin and take care ay the clumsy baste yersilf thin,” he growled, throwing down the rope. Then he went off in a white heat towards the garden, The boys soon captured the calf, and Billy re- marked : ‘“‘Let’s keep him, fellows. Wo can have a dandy snap with him.” Then they gave that and tender grass and al was quite contented. Pepper saw no more of him, for the boys smug- gled him out of sight. **T don’t cnre phat they do wid him, faix,” he growled, ‘‘solong as I’m not bothered wid um. peste they can take him to bed wid um ay they oike.” hat was not exactly what the boys did. ) They worked upa dandy snap with that calf, however, and don’t you forget it. That night—not yery late, for he was an early bird, from tho nature of his occupation—when Pepper went up to his rfon: to go to bed the light he carried suddenly went out. ; “ Paix, the wind is hoigh the night,” he mused, “and that surproises me.” That wasn’t the only surprise he was to. get. young animal some milk that sort of thing till he CHAPTER Y. PEPPER was going to bed. On the way his light went out. That was a surprise. There were more coming. The above written in the style of the gifted in a flood of light. : “ Paix, I don’t know phwat ails me at all, I were niver cut up €o since me fayther died a month before I wor born.” He went to the bed and Horror of horrors! ‘ A hairy form lay between the sheets, and an aw- ful voice demanded: : * What’s that?” : 5 At least that’s what Peter thought it sounded like. Z : : “owly saints ind marthyrs defind us!” he. gasped as he fell rather than leaped back from the bed, / iy : Again that awful voice repeated its question. The red-headed runt did not stup to answer, : He uttered one blood-enrdling yell and dashed | out of the room. aay ‘ : 7 A peal of flendish laughter followed him, He thought it was flondish atallevents, - At anyratoit rattled him completely. ~~ He was out of the room and at the head of the stairs in a moment, xs Sheen oe hen he weut rolling rapidly, like the river Iser, and never stopped untilhe fetehed up at the bot-— tom. ented } Some more eldritch shrieks greeted his ears as he picked himself up. toe 3 That got him all wound up and rattled. — He fled like a-frightened thing, and never stop-— pee until ho collided with Peter on the lowest land-— ng. z “ Awast, there, yelubber!” tho old sailor roared, — “Can't ye see where yer Bolo ee “Oh, murther, Misther Pether, it’s kilt I am,” wailed Pepper. «Well, should say ye was putty jolly and alive, the way ye bump into a man,” snarled Pegtoes, . “Yo most knocked me off my pins.” “Oh, I’m goin’ to die, I’m goin’ to die, know I am, I’ve had an awful warnin’ ay it. Tho divil is. in me bed, so he is.” ; ¢ “The deuce you say |” exclaimed Peter. “Vis, sor, I said so, Oh, murther, phwat a fright he gev me. Send for the docthor and let me make me will.” q : mer “Belay there, shipmit!” roared Peter. ‘Give us the reckonin’ 0” this here thing and p’raps we — can got it straight.” “The house is haunted, there’s ghosts on ivery landin’, an’ I found won in’ me bed, a great hairy divil wid a vice on him like a fog horn, and he axed me phwere wor I goin’.” ere “ Awast, I tell you,” said the old salt. “They ain’t no sich things 11s ;;hosts.” ae “Tis well enongh for ye tosay that as niver saw anny, but I ecam’ from Ireland and I know bet- ther,” groaned Pepper. “There was wou in me bed, I tell yez, and that’s to say that I'll be dead before the week’s out.”” ; ; Mie “Wall, I guess nobodyll miss yer When ye're gone,” growled Peter, stumping away. “One Irishman more nor less don’t count fur much.” Pepper wasn’t going to put up with that, if he wus frightened neatly to death, ‘ ; “Go an, ye wooden-legged idjit!” he growled. “T}1 live jong enough to belt the jaw off ye, at anny rate.” © ats! “Belay that, you Jnubber,” muttered Pilgrim, pausing. ‘‘ Don’t yer give me none 0’ yer sarse, Or turned down tho covers, Walt Whitman shows you how thinge stand. “ Begob, L wot bother to, light up agin,” said Reppels ‘*gince the moon do be shinin’ so foine.” hen he proceeded to his room in the dark. Strange sounds greeted his ears as ho went on. Groans, muffled ‘cries, hushed shrieks, and steaithy footsteps were heard. Bee . “Begob, av-I was asily alarrumed I might think the place war. full ay spooks,” he observed to him- self, ‘ Til make a ghost.o’ ye, blow yer toplights.” “ Go an, ye mahcgany heeled vilyan. Lroth, yee don’t know. a ship from a canal boat.’ ee “None 0’ yer sarse, ye undeérdone Mick «Git eout, yedbried up mummy.” Peter came stumping back. «= 9) Here was mutiny and he must quelli, “Don’t yer sarse me,” he muttered, grumblingly, | Begob, ye have no taste widout sauce,” retorted Pepper. : Se iy ed nye ; ” .
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. «Bah ” That was enough for Pepper. - He dropped candle and ciub and fled in dismay. Another burst of laughter followed him. Then he héard the sound of pursuing hoofs. The arch flend was after him for sure. Ho yelled as loud as he could yeil, and cleared a whole flight of stairs at a jump. He landed on his back and howled melodiously. Along came Simpson and his whiskers with a ‘Wall, I don’t want Pepper sauce, anyhow, you red-headed whiffet.” “Goan, go an, neow, or yez will get hurted,” snapped Pepper, doubling up his fist. He was too mad to recollect anything about his recent fright and flight now. Peter Pilgrim was a coward from Shakipg Oreek. ._ He could bluster and blow until it came time to " putup his fives, Then he flunked. light in his fist. Tnat’s how it worked this time. «Thunder and guns, man, what are you making Pepper was a fighter from Mud river, and whenjall this racket about?” asked the professor of En- he put up his dukes he meant business. glish branches. “Come on, ye ould squirt,” he vociferated,| ‘he divil is afther me, sor,” answered Pepper. a ii Simpson mado a slight mistake in supposing the boys were still up-stairs. They had been, but it did not follow that they were going to stay there all night. They took the alarm as soon as Simpson ap- peared on the lower landing. ee were tivo flights of stairs leading to that top flat. ~ As Simpson and Pepper went up one, the boys seurried down the other. ; ae calf was the only creature that the professor ound, “Take your cousin down to the stable, Pepper,” he grunted, ‘‘ unless you want him to slesp with you.” SS ee ———— ‘Nonsense! He has no use foryou. You're too green to burn.” ; “Fuix, I saw him, sor, an’ he had two eyes an him like ear’gs lamps, an’ a v’ice like t'undher,” “You're dreaming. Get up and ‘go to bed.” “Faix, a mon niver dhrames the same thing twict, sor.’ “ Nonsense! Go to bed.” swinging his arms, ‘ Come an till I pulverize} vez 1” ; z Peter did not care to be pulverized that day. Ho lighted out, and Pepper helped him along with the toe of his boot. ; , “Go an, ye phivite liveried ould shtuff,” he yelled, as Peter fled, ‘“Yez baven’t the moral ¢o’r’ge ay a mouse, 80 yez haven't.” This little episode being over, ?epper started tor his room once more, : Then all of a sudden, he remembered the ghost. turned eout,” “ Bah 1” The sound came from above. “Sure, I wouldn’t shleep wid the hairy crather; not be any means, sor,” said Pepper. “W8ll, get him out of here, then, and go to bed. We can’t have the house turned upside down for your foolishness.” Tho professor was mad from his toes to his whiskers. * , He had expected to catch the boys, and read the “T wouldn’t dar’ do it, sor, till the divil worjriot act to them, He had only caught a half-grown calf. é He Went away, still mad, and Pepper chased the He had more spunk this trip than he had before, however. “Sorra a care do I care for all the ghosts in the worruld,” he said defiantly. ‘“Sure,. it’s some thrick that Pethér’s been pittin’ an’ me, an’ I’m not to be frightened be tnny sich ould catamaran, that I ain’t.” : Arming himself with a lighted candle and a big ‘bIndgeon, Pepper started for bed. Evorything was as quiet as a churehyard. No mysterious noises, no flying missiles, no stumbling blocks, no nothing. aE i ~This state of things inspired confidence in the brenst of little Pepper. “When he reached his room face a hundred ghosts. He grabbed the knob he felt as if he could and threw open the door Sowith'a bang. 9% ' A pair of flery eyes glowed: from out the dark- ness and 4 terrible voice said: calf down-stairs and out of the house with a great The man with the whiskers looked up. clatter. j ; Then he burst into a hoarse langh. } “roth, I moight have guessed how it wor,” he “ Ha, you were frightened at your own shadow,”}mused, as he went back to bed, “but that’s allus he said i the way wid me. I niver think until to-morrer “ How’s that, sor.” “The thing is nothing but a big calf, and that’s all youare,” Pepper was enlightened and enraged at the same time. “Oho, the little vilyans,” he muttered. «What do his sluggers. “The byes pit the bossy in me bed to frighten me. Troth. I might have known it.” ““The boys, eh?” : : Vis, sor. They tuck the baste away from me the day, just.” : a LB ‘‘Hal then they must ba up there; the rogues. Til hustle ’em out of that.” kitases f > phwat I ought to know to-day, begob,” - Tiie boys chuckled over the snap on Pepper, and voted it immense, They had one in the press for Peter, moreover, — and meant to issue it soon. They were willing to wait, however, till old you mean?’ asked Simpson, pulling Stumpfoot gave them provocation, Then he would know what it was for, The chance came in a day or two, however. Peter overheard two or three. of the boys laugh- ing over the joke on iuittle Red Hoad. — He spotted them, and then went off and told Baldy about it. The nextday these boys got whaled, = The sting of the rattan had not ceased to tickle
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fi 12 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. before they vowed vengeance against the in- former, They knew who he was, because he reviled them ‘publicly the next time they met, and asked them how they liked their medicine, «The Boomers will have to take this up,” mut- tered one, : Give it to Johnny Brown & Co.,and it'll be bet- ter done,” said another. Johnny and Billy, with the assistance of tio or three others, prepared to get square on Peggs. That night when he went his rounds thoy laid for him, As he went stumping through the hall where the boys’ rooms were situated, all the gas jetssud- dently went out, ‘ ete of Johnny Brown’s pals had. attended to at, Peter generally turned the gas off from that pope himself, but this time the boys did it for im. - : He had hardly had time to be surprised before the boys made a dash for him. ‘They upset him in a trice and sat on him, Then somebody brought a light. It didn’t do Peter any good, however, for he could not see any of his captors, ; Ho couldn’t kick, but he took it out in yelling. “Ye young rufflans,” he bawled, “1’ll see ye all hanged yet, Vill have ye put in irons and fed on bread and water, Pll get the whole on ye flogged, Tl have ye all——” ‘He might have gone oa threatening till the end of the chapter but for one thing. ” i Johnny Brown clapped a section of garden hose in his mouth and fastened it behind his head, That cut short his eloquence. Then the boys hoisted him on his feet and tied his hands behind his back. He tried to see who they were, but they kept be- hind him and he was dished. Then they put 2 shroud on him. At least, it passed for one, and looked quite as funereal, ' a wae a long sheet and it covered him from head 0 foot, There were tworound places cut for his eyes, but that was all. } He was now the first wooden-legged ghost on record, ~ : “Now go;” said Johnny, in a subcellar voice, ‘and beware the wrath of the Folderol Society.” Then they released poor Peter and started him down stairs. Just anterior to this, two or threo of the boys had been sent down to work off the other part Gf the same racket. M4 One had a big mallet, another bad an ox chain, ‘and the third carried a big, tin pan. ! The threo musicians went down to the floor where Blodgett and the professors slept. ‘Then they piped up for all they knew. Even the great Wagner himself could never have produced such discords, Bang-whang-slam ! Rattle-ding-ping! Punk-boom-chunk! ~ : Such a racket was never heard since tho inven- tion of the Chinese language. Ono of the boys banged away with his mallet on the boards. RES The second thrashed around with the chain. St, The din was perfectly deafening. It was enough to galvanize a corpse. Tho seven sleepers would have been awakened in a jiffy if they heard it, hey did not, but Blodgett, Simpson and all the other professors did. They must huye been stone deaf not to have done so. The tumult was something awful. “Great hampones!” cried Whiskers, in elegant melts What in the name of Daniel Webster is that?” ~ _ Then he got up and started out to investigate. So did Blodgett in his bald head and big night- cap. 85 did all the rest of the staff of the Birehville Collegiate Institute, ; It was a regular meeting of the faculty in fact. All hands wanted to know what was up, “Did you hear a noise?” asked Blodgett, who was a little deaf. = ** 4 little noise?” said Simpson. heard a mighty big noise.” The racket had not ceased, but it was further off. we The boys had sneaked up-stairs by the back way ‘as soon as théy heard Simpson’s door open. They kept up the noise on their way up-stairs, however, 5 Ee a “What in time is it?” asked one of the profess- ors. 5 ; : “Gas explosion !” Nhe third belted the big tin pan with foot and i} ribs! “My dear sir, L “Steam heater out of order.” ** Boy falling out of bed.” “Mrs. Dodger taking off her shoes,” These and various other explanations were given by the fucetious instructors. Simpson went ahead to investigate: He presently came back and said: ‘© Boy playing ghost. We'll give him all the ghost he wants.” “Gould you tell who it was?” asked Blodgett. “No; but he is coming this way, and I suppose he thinks he can frighten us.” “Yes, he can—not,” said all the professors, “ We will teach these boys not to play practical jokes,” said old Blodgett, sternly. ‘ Then he went to his room, So did Simpson, ‘Likewise the rest of the gang. They were all in the habit of occasionally hold- ing private seances in their rooms with the unruly boys of the establishment, _ They were all provided with good, stout rattans. It is unnecessary to add that they knew how to use them. 4 In afew moments each member of the com- mittee on rules appeared at his door with a long rattan in his hand. At the end of the hall, just descending the stairs, aspectral figure was seen, It was all robed in white, and advanced with a slow and measured tread. By F It was the ghost of the wooden-lezged man. Tt came stumping along with monotonous tread, uttering strange sounds, : The clanging and banging could be heard in the distance, as the ghostly figure moved along the dimly-lighted hall. Poor Peter was trying to get to his roors, so as to take the gay out of his mouth and the zords from-his arms. He was the ghost that had brought all the pro- fessors out of their rooms. a thay were ready to give him a warm recep- tfon. CHAPTER YI. PETER went pegging away along. the darkened hall on his way to the lower regions. He looked like a denizen of that place in his white sheet as he stumped on, Blodgett and the professors took him for one of the boys masquerading as a ghost. They were ready for him, When ho reached the lower landing they all went for him hot and strong, like a rum punch. They gaye him several punches, and rum ones they were, too, in one respect. Swish! : Biff! Bang! Ho got it. on all sides. t Long experienco had taught those pedagogues bow to wield a rattan with the most telling effect. Every crack was putin with a good business hand and no extra flourishes, They got on all sides of him and did effective execution. Whish! — Swish! Ping! Oh, what a surprise! How those rattans did twist and curl around his Didn’t they make him jump, though? He prions ne kicked and tried to yell, but all in vain. Thé gag in his mouth prevented him from saying a word. That’s what made the boys’ gag work so well, At last the sheet was torn completely sty from him, and he sat on the floor, looking all disinte- grated. : ‘ Then Blodjett, Simpson, ef als, gazed upon him in wonder. Hesat on the floor while they stood in a circle surveying the wreck they had wrought. - “ Well, I never1” muttered Simpson in surprise. “Why, I declare!” gasped Blodgett in equal as- tonishment. ~ “Why, it’s Peter!” —__ . “ Only to think of it!” ‘At his time of life!” “The funny old fellow!” «H’m! I think we’vye been whaling the wrong fellow.” «Barking up the wrong tree, as it were.” Old Baldhead adjusted his glasses, stared at Pegtoes and remarked sagely: : ‘““H’m—ha—well, really, I beg pardon, géntle- men, but I fear that we have made a mistake.” “Jjooks very much that way,’ retorted whis- kers as he removed the gag from Peter’s mouth. Then old Woodenleg had a few words to say about it. wv oe TS a SS Se i oe ee EL ee 5 pha fe hh A ee ae Ea a ss al “J didn’t think as ye’d go and flog a mano’ my standin’, professor,” he began. “1 thought ye had more sense,” ‘Then Simpson removed the cords which bound thé janitor’s arms. «How came you in sucha plight, Peter?” asked Blougett. “Somebody has been paying off old sores, I faucy,” remarked Simpson. Whiskers was not dead in love with Peter. ° He knew also thut the boys were not clean mashed on the cranky janitor, Hénee his deductions. “How. did 1?°) growled Peter. ‘ Ask them scoundrels of boys. They know all about it, con- found ’em.” © Realiy, Mr, sweeping, so—— “Sweeping, is it? Wall, shiver my main boom, but I'd like to sweep the whole piratical lot into the lee seuppers and jump on ’em.” ‘ “Yes, yes; I presume 50; but perhaps you will explain——” : } * Explain, yer grandmother! It’s easy enough to see inter, ‘he young villains got me off on a wild goose chase, fell onter me, the hull of ’em, tied me up and set me adrift, and then you and the professors had to wallop me like the——” **Nevér mind what, Mr, Pilgrim,” interposed Blodgett. ‘It was avery naturil mistake. We heard a-very great noise, and thought someon» was trying to frighten——” : «That be blowed,” grunted Peter, as he stumped away. be Bike He was as mad with Bloodgett and the rest as with the boys, ; 2 itis To think that they could not tell a man of his dignity from a mere school boy. Pegi] It was absurd. ‘ Of course, his natural loftinéss of character would shine through any disguise. ee, It was a mere subterfuge, this excuse that they did not know him, af } ‘ike There could not be a lamer excuse, — Could anything be more transparent? They wore all leagued against him, that was the trouble. i ase They were joalous of his strong corrective infl- ence upon the boys, that was what. They knew poy could not. kéep the young vil- lains in check as he could, ~ > aches That made them all down upon him of course. Thus reasoned the stumping Pilgrim as he faded away. als ; Badtegat a seh He had the whole thing down to the finest of points, hohe f sit? He knew it all and nobody could inform him. He stumped away there as mad as a hen caught outin a shower ofrain.= 9) ; Nobody seemed particularly sorry for him now, “hat’s ons victory for the boys,” mused Simp- son to bimself, i ‘Ahem, ba, well, really, that is to say, h’m,” grunted Blodgett, polishing his bald head with a. big handkerchief, “there seems to have been a mistake made somewhere,” rt Nobody disputed the statement. _“Reully,” continued Baldy, *‘the boys are get- ting more mischievous avery day. Somebody must be made an example of.” “That means that some innocent kid with a bad reputation is going to catch it,” observed Simpson, sotto voce. “There aro altogether too many practical jokes going on,” remarked Blodgett, in conclusion, “Somebedy will have to be punished,” He did not ask Peter who. the offenders were, however. hig - Somehow or other, he did not think that the jan- itor’s testimony would be unbiased, es Le determined to search out the guilty ones limself. y The consequence was that he picked out four or flve dnil fellows that had nothing whatever to do with the racket, and gave them a terrible whaling. Thus poetic justice was appeased, and Blodgett’s conscience was cleared. - That did not satisfy Peter, by several long marks. f ; He thirsted for gore, as it were, and meant to have it. 5 Johnny Brown and Billy Bounce pretty well un- derstood the state of his feelings. nee They knew that he meant to get square on them. That put them on their guard. 4 Peter did not say much for several days. Ho kept his weather optie open, however. It was not loug before he fanced that he smelled a large sized rodent in the cream, Sek * The boys were going out at night aiter they were pop ioaed to have put themselves in their little eds, © 3 ‘ He had heard strange sounds after hours, when he was thought to be asleep’and snoring, and this was the explanation. ee he ; i Pilgrim, this acensation is so ? f]
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. SS Just let him catch them on one of their noctur-jhouse, overiooking the drive- way, and was at the nal expeditions, and he would have them dead tojend of the corridor on which the boys’ rooms faced. rights. ; ; fore It was a dandy exit for anybody who did not de- One day, when hoe was in the cellar fixing tke|sire that his movements were watched. furnace, he saw two boys go past the window,| The snoozing apartments of Biodgett and the and heard one of them say: rest had their windows on another side of t i aie go out again to-night and have another|pbuilding. : f tne igh old time.” A boy, lowezing himself by a rope, could get out “ Bet your life retorted the other. “That side without’ the slightest chance of being Roca or window is just the thing.” seen, : Then the boys went on, and Peter hustled around} Peter in his room below stairs heard the window trying to find his glasses, so that he might iden-jraised and lowered, and something’ going out tify the malefactors. more than once, : = Going out to-night ny the side winder, are] ‘Vo be sure of his ground, he went around to that they?” he grunted. ‘* Well, we'll see if they will.”|side and made an examination. SE ly eS ‘i Uy *CAll right, my boy.” ‘Good joke on old Pete, ain’t it?” -“ Yes, he thinks he’s such a fine jatehman,’”’ ‘“He’s 10 use at all.” _ You can imagine how the old cod ing hiniself thus discussed. 3 “Huh! no good, am I?” he growled under his breath. “Fine joke ou me, is it? We'll’see who comes out ahead this time, my lads.” 5 . There was no time for long-winded soliloquies now. : The boys were coming down the rope. There was no moon, but Peter could easily make out a dark object descending. ger felt at hear- Oh, what a surprise! How those rattans did twist and curl around his ribs!- Di idhsts ; winced and kicked and tried'to yell, but all in The paint was marred in several places by the heels of boots, apparently. ‘That settled it in the mind of the astute Peter He fairly chuckled. when he thought how he “would come up with the young scamps. ‘ They had evidently got into the habit of going) out at night from the way they talked. — Pilgrim. y He would get the bulge on them this time, how-| He was on to the snap now with both feet aud ever, and pay them up for their last little gag at)stump. ; his expense. | That night, when the lights were out, he crept It would not do to say a word to the principal injsoftly from his luxurious straw mattress and advance, however. sneaked out of the house by a bdack door. No, he wonld catch the rascals inthe act and| Johnny had posted a sentinel upon whom he then bring them, overcome with a sense of theirjcould rely, and Peter’s movements were duly re- zruilt, before Blodgett. ported {o him. Johnny and Billy werethe two pretty boys who| ‘The spy stumped along with as little noise as were getting up the newest se)l on Peter. was necessary and hid behind a water-butt not It was a sell, of courze, and old Stump ought to}far from the place where one descending from have known it. s the window would be bound to reach the ground. From the way they saw him grinning to himseli} Then he waited and listened. : after they had thrown out their bait, they know] He did not get tired waiting. that he swallowed it, hook and all, In tact, it seemed that he had arrived in the Then they began to make their preparations forjnick of time. : the great event. He heard the noisy opening of the window Peter, likewise, got ready for the big surprise hejabove. ~ : : wus going to give the boys. = Then a rope was chucked out, - He knew what they meant by the side window,} hen he heard voices. ‘well enough. e “You go first this time; a It was one which opened on the north side of the|time.” pa ea went first last 7 _ jobject, and then Peter gasped for breath. — dn’t they make him jump, though! He ‘Vain. : - It was the. ringleader of the expedition, no doubt. : ‘ Slowly he descended, kicking his heels against the side of the house every other minute, _ “You'll kick yer heels in a different way, young feller, when I catch yer,” growled Peter. ; ‘Faster, boys,” cried a voice. ‘I think T hear- old Stepandfetchit.” BEM eS The voice was that of Johnny Brown, : Peter nearly jumped out of the socket of his wooden leg. : : The yery boy he desired most to eatch! He looked up with eager anticipation, The dark object was rapidly descending. Now was the time. : He dashed out from behind his ambush. The boy on the rope was nearly down. y “Now I’ve got yer!” yelled Peter, as he grabbed — the boy around the waist, d - He had got something for a fact. It was not a boy, however. ~ 3 : The boy was on the other endofthe rope. There was atug, aslip, a tilting of some heavy — He was deluged from head to heel with ccld water, z ee bee Restte ke
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~~ at that time. JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 14 bucket filled to the brim with|’d make me a present?” snapped the housekeeper. ““T s’pose they’re shamed 0’ theirselves fur makin: so much noise last night and Keepin? a poor Jone forn woman awake till nearly morning, and if any- thing will rile a body it is that, and I must say that a noisier lot of young yaguoouds——” “Aba, niver moiid that, mum,” interrupted Pepper. ‘‘ Yez can say all that afther. Open the muttered Peter,| basket and see phwat’s in it.” Pepper was us anxious as the housekeeper to know what the basket contained, for he hud not missed his shoats, and so gave the old girl more When Peter looked up he could see nothing. assistance than he usually olfered to any one, The boys had retired, satisfied with their victory.) He took outa big jack-knife, severed the cords It began to dawn upon Peter that the weatherjand yanked off the cloth. was cold in more respects than one, he infantile pigs had already begun to grow Once more had Johnny Brown & Co. ouchred|uneasy, and now they became frantic. they stampeded His boy was a big washing fluid. - Ho brought the whole business down on him- self, and was nearly washed away. All he could do was gasp and sit down very sud- denly on the ground. Tho weather was by no means warm, and a dose of co'd water did not improve it. “Uhl yer young buccaneers !” as he plumped down on the ground. Up went the bucket, down came the window and all was still. ¢ him, : Squealing a te eerereD keys, for out of the basket in a hurry. fence Lage eee corp resP Oe, oie Pepper uttered a wild, Irish yell and sat down ina bucket of water immediately. Mrs. Dodger shrieked, but did not lose her head, She grabbed a broom and began a war of exter- The conviction slowly forced itself upon him that he was the chumpiest kind of a chump, It did not make him feel good, by any means.) Ue} “Seuttle and blow up the young imps!” he|mination upon the grunters. muttered, as he crept, all of a shiver, into the}. The cook howled and started for the door, leay- house. ‘If I find out who done this, I'll haveing it open. 4 ‘em all court matshaled and cashiered, tear my| Only one out of six pigs had sense to follow. copper off if don’t.” _ The rest dodged about in ten different directions Ht could threaten till the cows came home, and|i2 a second. be no better off, One ran under the big stove, and would have The boys were several points in the lead, and been roast pork in a jiffy if Dodger had not hunted still held the pennant. him out. Peter had nothing to say to them the next day, Another jumped into a pan of biscuits that had and they kept still, so that ho might not catch on|been set to rise, and they became as heavy as to the getters-np of the previous night’s little joke,|/O24- F ' The Been with the Paes leg ee not theonly The housekeeper made a dash ata third little erson in the school for whom the boys had ap|Squealer with the broom and took Pepper across nordinate affection. s the head. : “They loved Mrs, Dodger, the housekeeper, Down ho went into the big clothes basket ina with the same ardency that tho father of lies isjbrace of shakes. supposed to be enamored of a church. What a squealing there was, to be sure! She was as cross as two sticks, as peppery asa Mrs. Dodger laid it all to the little gardener. compliment fur ye to be spoke to at all, ye Irisb buntam.” ; Go on, ye ould canailer,” sputtered Pepper, “ Yez can pit an airs, bekuse ye think I’m small, but be the poipes, I’m big enough to down ye anny day, ye big stuff. Begob, I’d tuke the wooden leg aff ye and bate yer brains eout ay yez had anny, So I wud.” The boys, bearing the sound of a fracas, came back to see what it was all about. They found the janitor and the gardener ex- changing black looks and naughty words, “Don’t yer dare talk ter me like that, Irish,” growled Peter, shaking bis fist. ‘* Ah, go on wid yez,” muttered Pepper, thing is good encugh to say to ye.” “Tt yer wasn’t so little, I’d smash yer bulwarks in, yer runt.” - " ene yez couldn’t harrum me ay I was half me eith,’ ‘Don’t yer go makin’ me mad, yer lubber. Get up sail and scud out’ here, or there'll be a ship- wreck putty soon.” * Anpy- the boys having returned. “Dare him to knock a load of wood off your shoulder, Pegs,’ suggested Billy. ~ Come on, make a ring and have the thing out, Markiss of Gooseberry rules,” added Johnny. That young fellow was up to snuff. He knew what he was about. Ifhe could only detain those two a few momants, it was all hunk. He saw something which they did not. That was Mrs. Dodger coming to the door with a pail of water in her hand. She wasn’t going to have any squabbling going on right if front of the door like that. She meant to put a stop to itright away, or know the reason, of pets and then declared that the hoys lef them dio, and so they came infor another larruping. young roosters mustard plantation, and as sour as ten days old Fue she gave him aswat and then she cuffed| Johnny saw her get the pail of water. arbagze, ‘ 4 pigs. hat’s the kind of old girl she was, : She thought the boys wery all little angels from and sent them flying out. the lower side of tho'untverso, and could not abide| ‘he cireus was not over by considerable. them any more than she could like cats. _Peter was stumping by the door when the por- Both were her enemies and gave her no end of|¢ine exodus took place. worriment, In a second the young pigs were all around I } him. Pore cueapould net PEAY MEISE Ib Sed Moreover, one of the boys had let loose the ma- She and Peter ought to have been twins, however, |™a of the baby swine, judging from the Way she picked and nagged at pe came to their rescue with a rush and a oys. r the fl . Consequently they liked to make things pleasant In an instant Peter was upset and small-sized for her, pigs were racing all over him. And still there was more to follow. CHAPTER VII. pies sho chose, she could feed them quite de- cently. f _ On the other hand, if she felt like it, she could nearly starve them. he breakfast, on the morning following the| Mrs. Dopasr, having turned the little pigs out snap on Peter consisted of burned meat, underdonejof the kitchen, proceeded to eject the one who mush, raw coffee and soggy biscuits. had brought them in. No jvell-regulated juvenile stomach can stand} She blamed Pepper for the whole business, al- oy such mess as that. though he was as innocent as the pigs themselves, » Dodger was mad about something, no one knew) The minute Pepper got out of the big basket, what. into which the irate housekeeper had sprawled It was easily seen what made the boys mad. him, he got another crack with the broom, They resolved to give the old lady a token of This was a polite invitation to make himself their esteem that she would remember. - less conspicuous. Perhaps they would have better grub after that i \ and perhaps they wouldn’t. / ° This happened just as Peter was getting up, At any rate, they determined to try the experi- after being raced over by a whole family of pigs. _ ment, Pepper was shot out sof the door as from a Just about this time Pepper was taking care ofjcannon, head down and arnes flying, an interesting family of piglets, or juvenile swine.| His head took Pegtoes in the pit of the stom- {t was rather late in the season for them, with|ach with the foree of a cannon-ball, and down he the winter coming on, bul there they were, not-|went flat on his back. : withstanding, 5 . Pepper fell over him, of course, and things were There were six of the adolescent porkers, al|very much mixed. : about a foot in length, but giants in contrari| ‘Get off!” sputtered Peter. ness, ‘* Can’t yez see phwere yez are going?” demand- Johnny, Billy and Sam Bemis captured thejed Pepper. - young grunters, not without considerable protest] Tho boys took in the circus from a safe distance. on the part of Mrs. Hogg, howeyer, and cuddled| ‘ Pepper and Salt are pretty well mixed up,” re- them up in a big clothes basket, the bottom ofj/marked Johnny. which was filled with chopped hay. “Tt was a very seasonable joke,” added Billy Then the basket was covered over with a piece|Bounce, of saileloth and « card attached to the same.) “ Very spicer affair,” put in 8am, ‘ whereon was inscribed a legend, which recited) ‘We'll get all the sauce we want if we stay that within was a slicht token of esteem to Mrs.jaround,” observed Tom Wilson. Dodger from an unknown friend. «Yes, Pepper sauce, stirred up with a wooden Woll, just bofore tea time, Pepper was asked to leg,” returned Johnny. : take the basket to the kitchen and give it to Mrs.| ‘Chen the boys retired, Dodger, as she would be in the culinary laboratory|arisen. : mks D ‘ “What did yer want ter run inter me like that I doubt if Pepper would havo done s0, if he had|fur, ye Trish pirate?” not been presented with a new silver dollar when} “ Faix, it wor ye phwat rin into me, ould Peg- the request was made. , tops.” : : At all events, he did as he was desired, took the) ‘‘ Don’t yer sarse ma, yo raw mouthed Irish lub- basket to the kitchen, planked it down in the mid-|ber.” i die of the floor and said: “ ould an, hould an,” said Pepper, doubling up “Fere’s a prisint for yez, Missus, but the byesjhis fist, “Til take no insults from the likes av ye.” tould me I was not to let on phere it come from.” “Tor suzz, who’d supposed them tykes o’ boys yer think on him,” snorted Stumpjack. the tivo chromos having "Ite a Dn Ho went flying, as though propelled by a spring. *©Go.on, Pepper,” he said. .‘‘ Paste him in the Finally she got them started for the open door/mug, We'll see that you get fair play.” “Don’t stand any nonsense, Pete,” said Billy, encouragingly. 5 The delay thus caused wasall that the boys want- ed, A couple of moments more and the two boasters would have moved further off, Now it was too late. Out came Dodger with a big pailfull of water. Not over clean water, either, Swish! Swash! Thump! Both helligerents got it. - Right inthe neck too, It cured them of wanting to fight. Cold water was thrown on their plans, in fact. Neither had a word to say after that. The deluge had taken away all ideas but one. That was to make themselves scarce at once, They did so. é : Peter made for the cellarand Pepper flew to the arn. 4 As for the boys they just snickered over thosnd- den breaking up of the proposed fight. «They both had to take water,” chuckled John- y. “And swim out,” added the young scion of the house of Bounce, a “Tt knocked the tank show clean out,” laughed am. “And watered Peter’sistock,”’ said some one else. Peter Jaid the whole thing upon the boys, He heard a noice at the back of the house and supposed that the boys wero in mischief, They always were, and way not then? Ifso, he must ascertain their names. be stopped. If Peter could stop it, so much tho better. «*Tain’t insultin’ to tell a feller like you what) That’s what started him around to the rear of the house, - ; Pepper’s head started him inthe other direction, Then Mrs, Dodger’s bucket of dirty water com- pleted the stampede, Of course it was atl the fault of the boys, If they bad not been making a rumpus, he would not haye gone around. If he had not gone around ‘he would never have reGeived that butt in the stomach, Ergo, it was all the fault of the boys. Consequently he must get even with them, ; He immediately reported to old Blodgett that some or them had been tormenting the house- keeper. : Tliose complained of got a lively old whaling. That did not satisfy Peter. The next day was cold and a fire. E He did so and filled the school-room wich smoke. Then he let the whole business go out at night and the boys nearly froze, ho had orders to start * Don’t be afraid of him, Pepper,” said Johnny, Old Blodgett had said that tho skylarking must
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’ JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 1s After that it came on warm again. Johnny, Billy and others were of this number, They were on the playground at the time, far That cranky janitor immediately built up a rous-| What must that old-curmudgeon do but set thejenough away from school to prevent the mean old ing fire, and the boys were nearly roasted. rabbits loose among the cabbages, put the ducks in|codger from hearing thera. He was bound to get square on them in one way|the fountain, roost the chickens on the front porch| ‘We'll hide his leg where he can see it, but or another. and bivouae the guinea pigs in the library? where he'll have a hard enough time to get it for However, old Simpson, professor of English] The very mischief was to pay, of course, all that.” fc . CERO ET “fl HTT | r AAT Sons aura a uM oh ei Laer th om acl sil One smart tug and victory was his. He unlimbered himself, as it were, and gave one convulsive siretch upward. Ha, ha, he had it at last! At least he. Shouse he branches, was no. more comfortable than the boys and he kicked, That had the effect of blocking the old crank in one direction. He was ready enough to start off in’ another, however. — supposing they had lo‘s of time, ne turned the school clock eee ated minutes and then rang the "Result: All hands got a lecture, and some got licked,” : Sat That wasn’t all he did. ~ Some of the boys kept chickens, taste rabbits and other pets, ina little building back of the gar- den, Fo} a snap.” he had. Just then something happened. The boys were accused of neglecting their pets} “How are you going to do it?” - and making nuisances of them. You wait till evening, young fellows, and Th They got | another whaling, but even that did not/tell you all about it.” satisfy Peter, for he killed the whole blooming lot| The boys knew that the thing was sure to. go After this latest exhibition of spite on the part/through if Johnny Brown managed it. : of Peter Pilgrim, the firm of Johnny Brown & Co.| They therefore said no more about it. — Once, when the Pao rete all off in the woods, |determined to give the eld crank one good lesson,| Jolinny went at the thin ne Scientifically. “We'll fix him,” said Johnny. Hoe meant to make a raid on Peter’s room when. y “Saw his leg in two, 80 he ean’t go stumping the old duffer was asleep. around telling lies on us,” put in Hi tes “It was quite necessary that he should be sound “Take it away from him and hide it.” - asleep, too. “Ohuck it in the river,” “Johnny fixed that. : “And throw him after it.” é He knew that Peter was in the habit of eet nee * Hold up,” said Johnny, chuc mide: “Vye gotla pins, of strong tobacco before turning in. - What is it?” asked all the boys. St happened to be near Peter's. — Everybody else knew it too, if their windows Bie
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16 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. Well, the young man first procured a small He was not very tall to start with, and the furni- quantity of opium, Then he sneaked into the jani-jture was not remarkably high in the next place. tor’s room at a time when it was vacant, However, if he piled enough of it up, he might Next he mixed the soporifie drug with the tobac-jreach the ceiling. co that Peter smoked. That made the first part of the plan all right. Then Master Johnny hunted around and founda First he dragged his bed over to the other side of the room. Next he hauled the bureau alongside the bed very long step-ladder tueked away in -a-corner ofjand looked up. the cellar. If he had had two good legs he might have put his he lugged up at a convenient season with|the burean on top of the bed, but as le had to hop the help of Billy Bounce, They stored it out of the way in a dark back hall, ready for use when wanted. Everything was now ready for the racket. After Peter had stumped all over the house, on his rounds, and had retired to his own room, Johnny and Billy stole quietly down-stairs, They made no more noise than a couple of cats walking on velvet, i There was a transom over boudoir, and it waS open. ’ Through it camé the heavily loaded wreaths of tobaczo smoke, By the scent thereof Johnny knew that all was Junky. ; Then he and Billy stole up to their little beds. They lay awake till the clock struck one, and ‘then they ran down, like the mouse in the ballad. This time they did not mind about making a lit- tle noise. They took a couple of boys and a dark lantern aiong, to use in carrying out their snap. Peter’s door was open, for he feared no inyasion. Johnny and Billy got the step-ladder, and cur- ried it into the enemy’s room. The old tar was snoring like a steam-engine, If they had held'a salvation army hurrah in the room he would not have heard It. The drugged tobaceo had put in its fine work. The wooden leg lay on the floor alongside the the door of Peter's Cl. * Johnny collared it and smiled triumphantly, Then the boys hoisted the ladder, and put it over at one side of the room, Away up, close to the ceiling, wasa big nail used for hanging a picture on. . At present a lovely motto, worked in worsted, framed and glazed, hung suspended therefrom, GONE, BUT NoT ForGoTrEN, That’s what it said, and it was memory of some telutive of Peter's. — It was quite appropriate to ths occasion, Johnny winked, took the wooden Jeg and climbed to the very top of the ladder. ; That’s where he generally was—in work or in fun. A The boys held the thing as firm as « rock and ‘kept it from wabbling. — Johnny took a piece of stout twine from his) pocket and tied it around the middle of the hick- ory limb, otherwis® wooden leg, Then he secured tho aforesaid leg in a horizon- tal position to the picture nail, making the cord very tight, “There we are!” he warbled. ‘* Now let’s see Mr. Pedro Timberfoot get us down in a hurry.” Then he came down from his perch. The boys then skipped out, went to the barn and hid the ladder under a lot of straw. After this they returned to the house and sought their downy couches. Well, Peter slept till an hour after his usual time the next morning. ~ - nen he got up, drew on his shirt and trous- ers, and looked around for his leg. i It was not to be found in its usual place. “Am! very funny, hain’t put that stump 0’ mine anywhere else fur ten years. Wonder \hat’s going to happen?” He looked under the bed, under the wash-stand, under the bureau, but found it not. “Qurussest thing I ever heerd on. Haint put it anywhere else fur-—— Well, how in thundera- tion did it get up there?” He was sitting on the bed looking all around and suddenly discovered his stump hanging just under the soiling. : j ‘“Wull, I'll bs swamped! I never stuck that thing up there, ’ll swear! ’D have ter bea heap sight drunker nor I ever was to do that. . Sink and scuttle them boys! It’s them what’s : done that ere, blast their hides! T’d like to tie’em -allup to the mainmast and belt blazes out of ’em fur that. *«Spect they’ll be waitin’ ter seo me come hoppin’ along without my peg, just so’s they kin laugh at mé, the young sculpins, but they won’t get the chance, : *“No, sirree, bub, I’ll take the wind out o’ their sails this time, sure as I’m settin’ here. “Til get that leg down my own self, and just cheat ’em out 0’ their gigglin’, split my mains’! if Tdon’t.” Having thus made up his mind, old Peter set about carrying out his purpose. to do anything, it was not to be thought of, However, he fetched his washstand and put that on top of the bu reau. Then he got the only chair in the room and put it on top of the wash-stand. “hat orter be high enough,” he remarked. However, the trouble was to get from the bed to the bureau. A one-legged man, you must remember, cannot climb as well as one with two. There must be some way out of the trouble, though. Peter soon found it. Ho hauled out one of the bureau drawers and put it upside down on. the bed. Then, to make sure, he hauled out another one. Then he climbed first to the bureau, then to the wash stand and lastly, to the chair. Here he laid the drawer on the chair seat and advanced a peg higher. Then he looked up.” ; Tho coveted leg wis right above him. | He balanced himself on his good leg, braced the stump against the chair back and reached up. The ends of his fingers camo just below the wooden stump. So near and yet such a great way off! - Why hadn’t he grown a few inches taller while he was about it? If there was only a Procrustes loafing around who could stretch him a little. “There were no more bureau drawers that he could press in the service. There \asn’t even a book or a footstool. It was too provoking. ~ He might turn the drayer on its side, though. In that case he would be obliged to climb down, rearrange his Hiffel tower and climb up again. Was it worth the trouble? Peter decided to make one more attempt. He wasn’t going to let those boys get the best of him, , : Not if he knew if, He stood on tip-toe and. could . 5 Ah, eureka} SS He could touch the coveted prize. One smart tug and victory was his. He unlimbered himeelf, as it were, and gaye one convulsive stretely upward. Ha, ha, he had it at last! At least he thought he had. Just then something happened. What was it? Peter sneezed. reached as high as he CHAPTER VIII, On, fatal sneeze ! Ob, unlucky agitation of the olfactory nerve! Oh, disastrous and unfortunate titillation of the lachrymal glands which caused that sneeze. Peter sneezed. Those two words express volumes. Some dust got in Peter’s nose and a spasmodic stertoration ensued. And just as victory.was in his grasp. There he was on tiptoe ona bureau drawer, on a chair, on & washstand, on a burean, reaching up to bring down his woolen leg which hung to a peg just under the ceiling. It was just another house that Jack built, with- out colored cuts. And then Peter sneezed. Disastrous result! j Down came the whole fabric. The drawer tipped, and Peter’s game-leg EApp ea) The chair had to go and lose its balance, of course.» E Its pernicious example was followed by the washstand, , The bureau could not very well fall. That was no reason why Peter had to go and kick a hole ont of the looking-glass, He did, all the same. ~ : Crash Smash! Bang! Over went the whole business. Peter landed on his back on the bed. That immediately went back on him. It was one of those iron affairs which shut up like a jacknife. It performed its functions to the letter. It shut up. Peter rosled out upon the floor. He was.a wreck, Likewise the surniture. ne bureau drawers were busted. ‘The chair seat needed half soling. The washstand was minus a leg. aires Peter sat on the floor his two legs, good and bad, stretched out in front of him, and gazed sad- ly at the ceiling. The wooden leg was still there, like the star- spangled banner we read about. From the same nail, terribly askew, and with its glass smashed, hung a neat little motto in a fly-speckled frame: Gone, but not Forgotten. Oh, the irony of fate! That was the first thing Peter saw when he looked up. *“Consarn ye!” he growled, apostrophizing the wooden leg. Yecan stay up there and rot for all the trouble I'll take to fetch ye down.” It must not be supposed that all this noise did not raise an alarm. It did, for a facet. Pepper, Mrs. Dodger, the cook, the up-stairs girl, Blodgett, Simpson, half a dozen instructors, and twice as many boys came rushing to the spot. “ Phwat’s the matther, begob?” ‘Dear me, what a noise!” ‘Lor, $uz, the house is coming down!” Senna NY seems to be making a stir in the world.” “Hurrah! It’s old Peter breaking up house- keeping 1” \ ; All bands had something to say about it. _ The door was thrown open and they all looked in. \ “Well, Mr, Pilgrim,” said Blodgett, ‘you ap- pear to be making a great amount of noise here. What is the matter?” ‘Looks as if there had bevun a pretty large ship- wreck,” said Simpson. “ What's the matter?” repeated Peter. ‘ Well, L should say anybody could tell what’s the matter, ve Fon see that leg 0’ mine? Well, I was trying to got it. Blodgett looked puzzled. | ‘* That seems to be a most singular place to hang it,” he remarked musingly. ‘*Are you in the habit of keeping it there?” ig Peter was disgusted. : The matter-of-fact tone made him mad, “Oh, yes, suttinly,” he sputtered, ‘I keep it there, and on the ruff and down the well and upa tree, anywhere that’s convenient.” “That's very singular,” returned Blodgett. ‘I would imagioe that those places were very incon- venient.” * ! Peter thought so, too, “T should say as much,” he said. 4 ** Perhaps |now, seeing as I didn’t put thas ’ere leg up there, p’raps yer could wenter a guess as to who did?” “No, I have no idea,” said the solemn Blodgett. “Seems to me the thing to think of is how to get it down,” observed the practical Simpson, “The fust thing to know is who put it there,” sputtered Peter, ‘‘and I can give a guess. It was one o’ those mischievous boys, that’s who it was,” “ Which one?” asked Blodgett. “Johnny Brown,” said Peter, with great nromp- titude. “Are you sure?” asked Blodgett. “If you saw him do it you should have stopped him,” * Well, he did it,” persisted Peter. “Did you put Peter’s leg up there, Master Brown?” asked Blodgett. Things looked squally for the Deacon’s Boy. He was not going to lie aboutit, and he did not want to tell the truth, 3 He knew that Peter had named him merely for foie: and not because he had any evidence against nim. Simpson came to the rescue, ‘Of oourse he did not,” declared Whiskers. “How could he? Ho is not as tall as Peter even, and it is not likely that he could pile a lot of things up there while Peter was in the room, abed.” i “Tslept uncommon tight last night, sir,’ grunt- ed Peter, ; : piety “Sleep sober then, and you won’t have these things happening to you,” responded Simpson. That brought the laugh on Peter and turned the tide in Johnny's favor, “Get it down the best way you can,” muttered Blodgett, ‘‘and don’t turn the whole school up- side down another morning with your tantrums.” Then he and the profs and the boys faded away and left Peter to his own devices. “Paix, I think yez pit the shtump up there yer= self,” said Pepper, ‘and then hid the Jaddher so as yez wouldn’t have to do any worruk the day, ye lazy omadhawn,” ‘ ; a “ Hid the ladder!” ejaculated Mrs. Dodger, in a shrill yoice. “That’sjust what be did do, and J
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o nearly broke my—my l—my limb!” she said ex- plosively, ‘‘over it-in the hall. Go and get it, you old fool, and have an end to this nonsense,” Peter did not fancy being called an old fool in the presence of everybody. “JT didn’t hide no ladders,” he muttered, “‘and JOHNNY BROWN & CO, this!’ he grunted, as he finished dressing and left the room. : That was not all the trouble he had on account ofthe wooden leg, moreover. : There was more coming, for that was his weak point. 17 Well, Peter had one of that kind, and he started a fire in it when the cold snap came on, In the afternoon it grew it a bit warmer, and the fire was allowed to go down some. Peter was in the cellar, puttering around as usual. : j Se é y Ty SOS di Lf Yj, SS — "fx; ree Peter sat on the floor, his two legs, good and bad, stretched out in front of him, and gazed sadly at the ceiling. the star-spangled banner we read about. The wooden leg was still there, like ae 6 - > if you wasn’t blind you wouldn't ’ve run agin that! They say that you can reach a man’s heart); There wasn’t very much to do, and tho janitor through his stomach, but the boys attacked him by|concluded to take a smoke. © : one.” “Oh, well, if you know whore itis you can go|Way of his leg. and get it,” sald Dodger spitefully, and she flounc- _ ed out of theroom, The others followed her, and the old. erank was left alone, He was in for it now, sure enough, for no one » would help him.. Hoe managed to ho trouble. ‘ Then he got down his timber toes and strapped country stores, with an ironrim aro them on securely. - **Seuttle me if te and stumble along till he _ found the ladder, and then dragged it to his apart-| » ment and set it up with a great deal of bother and A a cold pub: Not cold enough to wear sealskin overcoats, just cold, either, though you wanted some. stoves in the cellar, which Peter used when he did not want to get up too heavy a fire. : d it, for the heyseeders to rest their feet on while they swap I don’t sleep with it on. arter Opinions and spit tobacco juice. wot He lighted his pipe, drew an old wreck of an few days after this latest racket, there came onjarm-chair up to the stove, cocked his wooden leg on the iron rim and puffed away in great content. After awhile he began to doze, the pipe between thick-as-a-board flannels, and such things, but|his teeth, and his arms folded on his breast. About this time Johnny and Billy came down You didn’t need any roaring fire in the furnace, |cellar to look for apples. There were several barrels of them stacked away, There was one of those big, round, iron-bound|and those boys knew just where to find them. They espied Peter first of all. “The old snoop!” said Johnny. ‘ Why couldn’t “Sh he’s asleep,” whispered Billy. So he is.” ue x us And do you see how he’s fixed?” It was one of the sort that you have seen injhe stay out?”
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18 oat Yes.” « Watch me.” : Billy sneaked up on tiptoe and never made a noise. Then he Opened all the dampers so that there was a dandy draught to the stove. ; Peter snored on and never heard a sound. ‘hen Billy stole back to his chum and re- marked: : “here will bo a big change in the weather pretty soon, old man.” “Shouldn’t be surprised,” was Johnny’s an- Swer. ‘en the brace of seamps went out. They remained near the door, however, so as to be on hand when the fun began, Peter snoozed on, all unconscious of danger. The fire, having every inducement to do so, be- gan to burn up at a lively rate; The big cylinder got hotter and hotter every minute, : In fact, it became red hot before long. Then it got at a white heat, and shone like a meteor in the darkened cellar. Peter’s stump rested right against it. The same was shod with iron, so to speak, but that made no odds. : Before long it grew hot, as well as the stove, Red hot in fact. Then the wood began to smoke, It did not stop at that. ‘ Fiames appeared on the end thereof. The weather was getting warm, fora fact. At first Peter did not mind it, Monotony, however, wearies any one. When the side of his face was a blister and his trousers began to scorch, the thing grew very tire- some. He awoke with a start and jumped back, Away went that old arm-chair, busted to eternal smash, Poter landed on‘ his back in the midst of the wreck, ‘i Ly ship ahoy! luff, you beggar, luff!” he yelled. . Then he got on his pins in a hurry. The wooden stump snapped ir two, being nearly charred through to start with,and not enjoying such a sudden strain, Peter fell to his kneés and nearly ran his nose against the red hot stove, “ Ahoy there, you lubbers!” he roared, ‘do you wnt to burn the plage down?” ‘hen he opened the front and closed the bottom, so as to give the fire a rest, “Seuttle and sink the whole business,” he grunt- ed, hobbling off to a cool corner, “I didn’t know I left them dampers open.” His wooden leg was of no use now, except to throw at cats, and he was very much disgusted, *“Gonsarn it all, I've had that ’ere leg fur ten yoars, and it orter lasted me my lifetime. *Spect the agents won't give me another one now without 2 lot o’ red tape and no end o’ fuss.” Johnny and Billy thought they would explode at this, They restrained their emotions, however, until * they were far enough away not to be heard by the ‘irascible Pilgrim, The latter did not see how he could Jay the burn- ing of his leg upon the boys, for he had not seen a sign of them, : Old Baldhead was gotting weary of hearing compluints without corroborative testimony to back them out. Consequently there was no use in blaming it on the boys. All he could do was to go to town and get a new stump, and that’s what he did. The story got around, of cours®, Johnny and Billy were not the good thing like that to themselves, Pepper got hold of it, and the first time he mot Peter he said: ; : “Burned yer wooden leg, did’ yex?. Phwy wasn’t it yer wooden head, faix?” “Belay that, ye Jubber,” muttered Peter. “Small chance of your burning.” “Ah, go an; that’s too ould, Yez want me toax yo phwy, an’ thin yell say I’m too green. Go an Lee ould musty jokes.” - “Tf you go ter foolin’ with my leg like that ag’in, ll warm ye, Lrish,” sputtered Peter. “Go an, yo gawk, Yo'll get wan warmin’ yer- silf, in the nixt worruld, phwat’ll make yez think that wan war a-freezin’ be tue differ there'll be, ye robber.” _ Peter thought that Pepper must have worked the gag on him, though he could not see how. “Til fix yo, Irish,” he growled. ‘‘ You’ll he sor- ry yo burned my. stump.” “Go an, ye falsifier,” retorted the gardener, “Do yez think I’d shtop at yer leg ay I was goin’ to eremata yez? Begob, I’d not leave a toe-nail or a hair ay yer head ay I undhertook the job.” Then he limped away, leaving Peter in doubt as v, \ boys to keep a JOHNNY BROWN & CO. to whether or not he had better try to get even on the sawed-off. After Peter got his new leg he went stumping around looking a shade more’ important than ever. ures The boys let him alone for a time, however. They had other matters to look after. A new boy was coming to the school, That meant business for tlie Society of Boomers, The expected arriyaljwas a fellow by the name of Harris. : The fellows concluded -to harass him, however, no matter what his name was. hey did not know what sort of a duck he was, but they meant to haye fun with him all the same. Pepper was to drive to the station and feteh him up. . Strange to say, Pepper failed to connect. Hoe had the horse hitched to the wagon and standing at th> gate when Mrs. Dodger called to him to explain some errands she dasired him to perform. When hereturned to the gate horse-and wagon wore gone. **Begob, that horse must ke in a hurry,” re- marked the runt. ‘‘ Faix, av he thinks he knows the road to the dippo and phwat to do betther than me, he can go alone’ and do the job, so he can. Faix, Ym allus havin’ throuble wid the baste, so I am.” Ho was tall and slim, did not appear to be over sixteen, and had just the faintest suspicion of what might by a great stretch of the imagination anda fine display of courtesy, be called a: mus- tache. } He was the last one to leave the train which now moyed away, the baggage having all been put out, - Ail the other passengers had left the station, and our boys were greatly panied “J say,” whispered Johnny, ‘you may thins me an idiot, but I’ll bet that this is our fellow.” “Go take a walk!” **Gome down, birdie.” *You’ve been moonstruck.” “Go calla hearse.” “All right,” said Johnny, “but I’m going to brace him nevertheless,” Then he walked up to the dude, tipped his hat and said: j “ Beg pardon, but were you looking for some one from Blodgett’s school?” 4 ; The dude put a glass in his eye, surveyed Johnny from head to foot and then drawled: “Beg pawdon, sah, but I don’t know you, don’t yah know.” “Ah, excuse mo,” said Johnny, with a grin. “Tam Johnny Brown, the worst boy in town, and a pupil of Blodgett’s. These are my friends, Billy Bounce of Hustleton, and Sam Bemis of Nowhere, Johnny, Billy and Sam had gone away with thejlikewise pupils of Blodgett’s. You are Mr. Har- ig??? horse and wagon. It was a half holiday with them, and they meant to enjoy it. While Pepper walked to town to look for thejand t missing team, they drove and seemed to enjoy it. ri ‘ * “Yas, thatis my name. I expect torwead law with pwofessah, that is, if the suwoundings suit e sahciety is congenial, don’t yah know.” “Oh, you'll find that tip top,” said Johnny, When the train arrived they all stood on thejsoberly. platform watching the passengers alight. “Tet’s see if we can guess who the new fellow is,” said Johnny, “That’s easy enough,” said Sam. comes now.” Here he Yas, I qi so, but nothing Jike what yah find e in Euwope. nis my luggage. Did you bwing atwap to fetch it?” : “We didn’t bring a freight car,” chuckled Johnny, ‘only a wagon, We thought you’d have A boy of sixteen, neatly dressed and carrying ajjust a trunk.” hand-satchel, had she descended to the platform, , Harris?” said Sam, walking up/quiah one twunk faw m to him, ‘ Wehaye come to take you tothe insti-lalone. One twunk! Why, “How are you tute.” ‘You're very kind,” said the boy, with a smile, “but my name isn’t Harris; and i’m home from school on a holiday. ‘Ta-ta, old fellow.” Then the boy walked to the end of the platform, entered an elegant carriage and drove off, * Sold,” said Billy. ‘Ah! here is our man. Watch mo brace him.” A tall, lean, lank, slab-sided youth of very rural appearanee, with red cheeks, nearly white hair, and faded blue 6yes, approached. His clothes fitted him too quick; there being a hiatus between the tops of his shoes and the bot- toms of his trousers, and a wide gap separating his suspender buttons and the flaps of his waist- coat, - He wore a hat much too large for him, and car- ried a big carpet bag stuffed io repletion, a huge umbrella, a paper. patcel, a shawl strap and a square wooden box. “ Hallo,Harris!? said Billy, as the youth, scram- bled towards him. ‘*Oome to schoo! have you? Well, we are waiting for you. Yonder is the pro- fessor,” pointing to Johnny, ‘Go and slap on the back.” ‘Ho! guess yu're away off,” said the rustic, * My name hain’t Harris an’ i ben’t goin’ tu scule, I’ve come daown to make my Aunt Sally a visit.” “Tooled!” remarked young Brown, as Billy looked sad and the countryman yanished, “ Where in time is our fellow, anyhow?” —_ The baggage-men were now running out three huge trunks, a champagne basket fastened with a strap, two hat boxes, a russet leather valise, a bundle of canes and umbrellas tied together, and two little hand-bags, all of which they piled to- gether by themselves, ~ «ake caw of that bawg, fe looking dude, who was looking on. “ It’s got my cigawettes in it.- Look out, youmonkey, and don’t slam that one so hawd. Do you want to bweak allmy pawfumewy flasks?” *@Gweat Scott, what have we Johnny to his chums. "4 dude drummer.” ‘The swell boarder at the hotel.” _ : ‘The lineal descendant of the race of baboons.” ** A holy terror.” t The dude seemed to these: He was gotten up without regard to expense, taste, or conformity to good ideas, : He wore lavender! trousers, a white plush vest, a wide wale sack of brown cloth, a fawn-colored overcoat, a black derby, a three-inch choker, a red puffed searf, rings on every finger, and green gaiters over his patent-leathor, square-toed shoes, Hoe was a aude from the newest fashion plates, and ought to have been wrapped in cotton, he was so precious, she 5 ative: fellah,” said a starchy- heah?” whispered be a combination ‘of all him | “One twunk!” gasped the dude. ‘ Why, I we- shawts and undahwaiah do you take me faw a twamp?” © No, for a big flat,” thought Johnny. ‘The second twunk has my dwess clothes, and the thawd 1ay wegulah ones, don’t yab know, and then I must have a case faw my collahs and seawis, and anothah faw my handkahchiefs and ewavats. One twunk! Gweat hevvins!” “What are we going to do with this fellow?” sue reree Johnny, taking his chums aside, “Rill him.” Lee * We’ve no use for him at the school.” “So young, and such a fool.” “fe wanted the lunatic asylum, not Blodgett’s,’ ‘“Let’s ship him back to the city, O, O. D.” “Too late, here comes laa ‘Then we'll have to take him.” “Yo gawds! that I should live to see this !” ex- claimed Johnny, i CHAPTER IX. WHAT was to be done with the dude? Killing sueh a creature is reckoned murder, and that could not be thought of. : Why had not the jolly boy on a vacation or the country bampkin been the right one? Hither would have suited the boys from Blod- gett’s. a ’ For this sweet-sconted specimen, however, they had no earthly use. ee And yet he must be taken care of. It would take two wagons to carry his baggage the school to start with. “Weil, Mr, Harris,” said Johnny, “ we'll tako you up to the institute, but we can’t take your baggage. Yon’l have to hire a truck.” . to “But I eahn’t go without my luggage, don’t yah know. Ishall have to dwess faw dinnab.” “No, you won't, we eat in our shirt sleeves up at the school,” said Billy. “‘Weally now—why, the best families went theah. So they do; but we set our own fashions. We wear swallow tails in the morning, flannels at night, and have:soup for breakfast.” ‘sued * How vulgah.” »Notat all. Weare the people, and we make the fashions. White.shirts are bad form, and red eravats are raled out.” “And I presume! shall change all that,” said Harris, complacently. ‘ Did you bwing a cawiage faw me?” ; 3 , «There it is.” ; : “What! Wide in that? It hasn’t any style at all, don’t jah know.” " «Then you'll have to walk,” said Johnny in dis- gust. ‘Come on, boys. Pepper, hire an ox cart for his giblets.” Then the threo boys waltzed away, jumped into: thought only the sons of © - the wagon, and drove off, leaving Pepper and the i dude standing on theplatform.” — —
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JOHNNY ‘BROWN & CO. 19 TB ae ae ee EIR RS TTT TT ME TIT ST RT eT NE a REET DS TET PTT OT TT OS eae LETT ST “Thats vewy shabby,” said Harris. every one.of those trunks, boxes and bags taken} Poor Pepper got it hot and heavy. “Are ye the new scliolar?” asked Pepper. up to the dude’s room, though tliere wasn’t room) He gave one terrifle howl, let go his hold of the SOV AS es for much else when they were stowed away in it, |ladder and took a plunge forward. : y “And are all thim yor trunks?” The members of the firm of Johnny Brown &| ‘Terrific leap for life hy the renowned Evropean “J eouldn’t get along with less, sah.” Co. were disgusted with the dude, and Johnnyjartist! : “Waix, ye have as manny as a thravelin’ show, remarked: ‘ i : If tbe fairies were not always good to the Irish so ye have. Where do yez expect to put thim?” ‘“There’s no fun in roasting a fellow Jike that.|poor Pepper would have broken his neck. ; “Tn me apahtments, of cawse, fellah.” Just let him alone. We can get fun enough with-| He dove, head first, down into the tree, looking “Tn yer apartments, is it? Haye yez hired the out bothering with him.” — ~ like a big frog taking a’plunge. : whole house?” : There was no doubt upout that. « He caught on one of the lower branches, swung “Of cawse not, but I expect to have pwopah ac- Johnny and his chums could get all the sportjaround, slipped, and came to the ground, silting commodatians, don’t yah know.” they wanted when they made up their minds to it.jon a pile of weary-looking apples. — “Do yezthink the professor is goin’ to enlarge| If one person could not afford it for them, an-| That was one way of making a cider press. his house just for ye? Begob, ye have the choek|other one could, “Soma wan’s been makin’ a foo] ay me,” he re- ay a harse, The thranks, barrin’ won, for yer im-| This timeithapponed to be.Pepper. ~ 5 marked,’ ‘‘thim apples niver diropped an me, majit use, ’7llgo down to the suller, onless Pether The little runt was up in a tree one afternoon|they wor t’rown, so they wor.” kicks, and he can’t do much ay that, seein’ he has picking apples. 258 ; Then he gotup and walked to the edge of the — a wooden leg.” Thay were of a choice variety, and Biodgett didjorehard, “Whatu howid place,” mused Harris. ‘Isup-|not want them bruised by falling to the ground, » Pilori ‘ - S pose I shall have. to £0. up and take a look at ft, Therefore Pepper had a long Jadder and a bas- sere Testy ke ay Se I eC LN though, faw me mothah told me I must stay this)ket, and as he picked the fruit he laid them care-|" « Oho-ho, the robber!” muttered Pepper; ‘it time, don’t yah know.” fully in the receptacle provided for the purpose,|wor him phwat done it. Faix, I'll give nim wan ~ “Wave yez 8 muther?” asked Pepper. as they say of ash-barrels. : _ |bombardmint, so I will, and tache him betther “Vas; Bue aS pa don’t yah know ;) Well, along came the boys while he was at his!manners.”? it isn’t good fawn not to have them. work, a ; Ther lof apple ue Bales then, ’d adwise the lady to take ye| ‘He did not observe them, having his attention|the pa ain Se ae ea DpBAEE IO home. It’s not a nursery we keep, but an acade-|fixed cn the apples, m Big, little, ripe, rotten or green, it made no my, faith.” His application to business prevented him from] ajfrerence, “Yaw vewy funny, no doubt,” drawled Harris, |seeing them. ; Indeed, [ would not be surprised if he got a few «but I haven't got time to study out yaw jokes,) They twigged him, however, up in the branches.| you ee cried a eters “Guess you’ve got threa or four new scliolars bore nin Ge aire thor|lubber?” e@ are you bumbardin. me fur, ye i 72 ark i ¢ Y d him to give the tree another’ Me There's ron geDEEe ‘that Stout ue: Why didn’t anexes TAG, é. _ Pepper's SUPPLY of apples had given out, but he he come in the wagon?” Down came more apples from the top. _ Re Wea iat do yer?t he aeked ‘Well, it he owns all that baggage, I 1aney that! Pepper, being no scholtr, had considerable). What yer talkin’ about, ye ea Asked; ; it wasn’t high-toned enough for him.” tronble with the higher branches. é : “Yeu PES like the hoe. onthe -otherefahed BOD ite. Boon enough for she are of} #*Hurro! ae aa BOew. ile He eh rubbing yeu?” 4 inher Tut, do the boys and it ought to be good enough for him.”jhis head, ‘ Taix, t lim apples do be makin’ me as a » “Pm merely making a supposition,” returned|much throuble as they did Adam and Evo in the| ‘Tl ain’t gotany pe foot, yo green Mick.” Simpson. ; garden.” > It’s not so funny phwin I take a hand, is it, he two now went to the door and met Harris} Johnny now picked out a good spot and sent an Pother?” < a2 ; jas he was coming up tho steps. apple flying straight at the mark. “What ain't so funny, yerlubber?” = ~ “@ood-aftahnoon,” said the dude, addressing} It peppered Pepper in the back of tho neck. - Irowin’ apples at a mon b-hind his back. Whiskers, ‘This is Professah Blodgett, I pwe-| “ Begob, that’s a queer place for an apple to a What yer been doin’ it fur, blast yer red head!” sume?” : fall,” he muttered. pe SES SS For vengeance, begob! e “You presume altogether too muck then,” said) Then he glanced all around, but by this time}, Who 8 been botherin’ yer? Simpson, “This is Professor Blodgett, but haven’t|Johnny was out of sight. : Ye have. you made a mistake?” When Pepper's head was turned, Billy let fly an-| “Avast there, ye sculpin! Iain’t done nothin? — “How so?” asked the dude blankly. ~ other cholera pill and took him in the ear. to.yer. = ; “ This is not a hotel.” Then there came a regular fusillade of green| ‘‘¥ez have thin, No, I ain’t.”” «I didn’t suppose it was. Me name is Hawis.{apples. «Yor have. “Yea pilted TiRER RET TERLATC don’t yah know, and I’ye come heah to wound off} Pepper was done on all sides like a doughnut. me 6ducation abit, don’t yah know.” He was doue up brown, too. was up ip-the three an’ couldn’t help mesilf,” “Trll bea pretty good job, L guess,” muttered}. Howly Moses! I’m kilt!” he howled, sliding]: ; Belay that, yer greeny, I never —— Simpson going away. down the ladder. = Yez did, begob! He was 2 bit of a dude himself, but this fellow} ‘he hoys dodged out of sight and Pepper didn’t I didn’t. I 2: made him tired, see one of them. “T know betther. Ye med me nearly break me, “™®he housekeeper will show you your room,”|’ ‘Be the. powers, it do be rainin’.apples,- I’m|neck be fallin’, and whin.t, got up [seen yez thry- said Blodgett, “but you will have to put the things|thinkin’,” he growled.“ Phat I'll do? The bossjin’ to snenk away, luckin’ so innocent like,” you really need into one trunk and store the rest/tould me not to Jet the apples fall, but how can| ‘ Get out, ye groovhorn!”) » inst ; in the cellar or up garret.” I help it when they do be comin’ deown ay their] |‘ That’s phwat I pasted ye fur, ye wooden-leg- This was avful. : own. will, begob?”’ ged ould curiosity, How d’yez like it?” Harris was staggered, Tho storm seemed to have ceased for a time,| ‘*Never touched yer.” = ait “Why, my dear sah,” he stammered, “I really|however. ‘ “‘Ye're a loiar, yez did, Ye t’rowed the applesat need them all, don’t yah know? Theah isn’t.one| “ Faix, I think V’d betther thry it agin’,”” mused|me, and that—— ) ; T could aectehally spah, don’t you know?” Pepper. ‘I’ve got to have them all picked anny-| ‘ Why, blow up and sink yer old rotten hulk!” “Youll have to do with ono,” said Blodgett. how.” stormed Peter; ‘I hain’t been in the orehard——” “Peter, take those trunks to the cellar, all but| This time he shifted the ladder and went tothe) ‘Ye're a loiar! ye just come out——” one, which Master Harris wil! select.” top. “Scuttle yer green carcass, if yer toll me I lie “Tixcuse me, sah,” stuttered the dude, “butI| The apples could not fall on his head this time,/agin I'1l—~-” . “ {have been accustomed to being called Mistah|surely. So I will—yer aloiar, and yez come av a race Hawis, don’t you know?” He could see.the boys, too, if they came out. av thim!” 5 «J don’t care if you’ve been accustomed to be-| He had not suspected them s9 far, however. © | Peter was getting red in the faco. ctae ing called ‘me ud” or ‘your royal highness,’ ” ré-|_ Well, he got to work again, and fora time noth-| Tobe bullyragged by a little runt Jike Pepper was turndd Blodgett. ‘You will be Master Harris orljing happened. too much. ; f plain Harris, if we choose, in this institute, and| That was simply because the boys were shifting] He couldn’t very well help it, however. the sooner you get over your foolish ideas the bet-|their positions. : Pepper was a fighter and afraid of nothing. ter it will be for you.” : Johnny got around behind him, laid in asupply| Peter, on the contrary, would run from a mouse, . Then old Baldy went away, and Harris feltlof ammunition and let fly. He could blow and bluster, but when it came to crushed, or as uearly so as such a fool could feel. | Biff, bang, whack! ; : putting up his fists he wasn’t there. ~ sts Money talks, however, and Peter being pre-| Crack, shat, whang! es - Pepper was obstinate enough to argue the thing sented with a couple of crisp dollar notes had Thud, whish, ping! _ |till night, even if he discovered that he was wrong. —
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20 : JOHNNY BROWN & CO. ic Was it not addressed to “my dear Mr. Pilgrim?’{ It was not time for them to arrive just yet. pies Se Sais aeons sae : Did it not A indi pias your hes friend?” = Poter sat down on his hunkies in the hogshead “ Yez can’t sneak out ay it,” he growled, ‘Ye| Of course it was genuine. : _ jand waited. a hit me wid apples and med me fall, and if the| ‘‘It’s them lubbers of boys what’s up to mis-| ‘Ten minutes passed, and he kept on waiting. masther growls bekase the fruit do be bruised, I’ll|chiof again,” observed Peter, ‘‘and this gentleman) §guddenly, whon half an hour had fled, he con- —————— tell him the raison neow, Mr. Pether.” has found it out and give me warning.” {tinued to wait. Then Pepper went away convinced that he had| Please observe that hejsaid “ this gentleman It was tedious work sitting cooped up in ahogs- the best of the argument. in referring to the writergof the note. 3s head waiting for something to happen. Peter Pilgrim did not feel at all satisfied, how- : BE A ante chump,” he would have) perore he knew it he fell asleep. Wels : ; Mee en ARCA ay ‘ept the more he wanted to. ‘ He had got decidedly the worst of it, and could| He never did. . : ae i eat Hy sneverias not see why. Instead, he swallowed the whole business, as Hoe was a good fist at it, and devoted all histime Pepper went back to his apple picking, and was|sucker swallows all your bait. ie peveie tes ‘ gs it D not molested. ‘Something goin’ ter happen, hey?” he chuckled, |* a BY h Bae ; Hae "That assured him that Peter was the guiltyjwinking his off eye. “ Well, Vil be there to nab Pars was the signal that the boys were waiting party. the young rascals.” Cc eee tith — —————— SSS SSS ae \ > * ~ i] - ; _ : “ - _ ne 3 Johnny raised his bucket and rested it on the rim of the hogshead. . The others did likewise, allin a cirele. Then Johnny i ? gave his pail a hoist and a tip. So did all the rest. ‘*Let her go!” he remarked. ? “T got ayen wid the vilyan, annyhow,” he mut-] You can go heavy on it that he would be there.| When Johnny and Billy heard it they called the tered with great satisfaction, “and he won’t be| He was there, for a fact, and ahead of time, other fellows, : afther playin’ anny more av his funny thricks on| ‘‘ Between the house and the barn,” he rumina-| Then all hands sneaked to the barn. ye i! ted. ‘Wall, I reckon that hogshead’ll be a good| Behind it were several big water-pails. As for Johnny and his chums, they enjoyed the/lookout. I'll see them and they won’t see me, and} ‘There was also a hogshead of water. whole thing hugely, the more so because they had|I’ll overhaul ’em sure.” The boys had provided both during the day, not been suspected of having had anything to do} The hogshead in question was nearthe corner} There were seven or eight boys and as many with the little fracas. 7. of the house in the rear. pails, Apt 3 Just about now the boys concluded to play an-| It was used to catch rain water in, Each grabbed a pail and filled it with water. other lark on Peter. : Just at present it was empty. Then they marched in single file to the hogshead They were ahead of him on the score and were] It would make an elegant hiding-place. observatory of Mr. Peter Pilgrim: sure to win the pennant, but they just wanted to} The night was cold and blustering, and tho hogs-| Nobody said a word, but from the expression on keep their hands in. head would afford protection from the wind. their several mugs it was easy to see what they Johnny and Billy fixed up the snap, and it prom-| Consequently, Peter regarded it with considera-|thought. , ised to be a dandy one, ; ble favor, They reached the butt and gathered around it. Peter got a letter the next afternoon which ran} He looked all around and listened attentively, The moon wasshining at her verybest, andthero thusly: He couldn’t see a soul. : was light enough to see everything. © ; “My DEAR Mr. ProgRi,—Something 1s going to| Neither could he hear one, ; A snore came from within the hogshead, — liappen to-night, and you want to be on the watch.| Zhe coast was clear, | - The sentinel was asleep on his post.” It will take place between the barn and the house at| ‘ H’m that’s all right,” he remarked. Johnny raised his bucket and rested it on the about half-past ten. If you ere on hand you will| Then he climbed to the top of the butt and drop-|rim of the hogshead, * catch the offenders, Be sure and be there, for some-|ped in. | The others did likewise, allin a circle. — thing is going to happen, , | He was as snug as he could desire. Then Johnny gavo his pail a hoist and a tip, : ___ “YOUR TRUE FRIEND.” || Just then the clock in the steeple struck ten, So did all the rest, : - Peter looked solemn when he read the uote, Thé hour approached, ha, ha!” : ‘Let her gol” he remarked, Here wus a chance to distinguish himself. Nothing else did, however. She went] Sse He never doubted for an instant the veracity of| Tho boys had been watching him, but they kept _ the note, nga. still. £
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 21 CHAPTER X. Both maintained a discreet silence on the sub-| In fact, nobody liked the dude, because he was Perrer Prneri™m asleep ee Sn Sau of a big ieee “Miareanaains Fe such a donkey. hogshead waiting for something to happen. ne thing Peter did know, however, it 7 * re Tt did. % alias was that he was catching more cold every Papen cud alle PESTS ROE eR A few naughty boys ou the outside of the hogs-|second. . Th oa f : = % head, each witha big bucket of water in his fist. | “ Woo-oo! The Boobers, hey?” growled Peter|gja, eed re Nesolteato bribe ake ieee oc Ycu can just bet that something happened. through his nose, “I'll bet acedt it was Johddy| fie guessed who the boys were who had annoyed Every drop of that water went into the hogs- Aiea ay chubs of his thad pud ub the—|peter, and he determined to play a snap on the old head. __ |wish-chew ‘ crank himself, Then every boy lighted out, taking his pail with i nee got a fit of sneezing that nearly took his At tbe aris time he would soo that suspicion fell him, ead off. u Johnny left a little note pinned to the hogshead.| ‘“Sobething has babbed, hey? Well, I should ats those boys. b When the boys disappeared, Peter popped up, say there—wow-fur-shoo-wich !”” The same were Johnny, Billy, Sam and one or he water nearly floated him up to the top. The night was cold, and Peter was getting chill-|tW0 others. ; At first he thought he was in swimming; and be-|ed by inches. 3 He got hold of some hig hooks, dictionaries, et gan to strike out, Before loug his wooden log would be frozenstiff.|cetera, that belonged to those boys. Ty UES 2 SST Parra: FTN AP TOT RD Ra When the boys disappeared, Peter popped up. The water nearly floated him up to the top. At first he thought he was in swimming, and began to strike out. He looked like a drowned rat. The twater ran off of him in rivers. He looked like a drowned rat. Away he went back to the house, sneezing at the) Then he went to Peter’s room when that worthy The water ran off of him in rivers. rate of two knots an hour, Was out. If he wasn’t a dandy-looking old codger, I} Something had happened sure enough. Climbing upon a chair, he left the door ajar and sie) ae a cane? Cf Peter did not feel very cheerful over it, more- put the books on top, ~ 2 e looke: © Venus rising from the waves. _lover, : ; He could give Aphroclite points and still beat} it was those boys again beyond a doubt. fnlonia eee ge nay PRISER Ye and her, however. How would he ever be able to come up with] {¢ was not very long afterwards that Peter had Venus never could look so lovely as he looked.|them? occasion to go to his room to change his clothes Nor feel so wet, He nearly sneezed his clothes offjwhen he reached|aftoy working at the furnace He choked, he sputtered, he sneezed and hejhis apartment, Fe Heise i ati a hi littl gasped, . He lost no time in getting into bed, and then he}, peed! this and had timed his little snap “Great guns! did I strike a water spout? shook so hard tbat the thing nearly doubled up|‘ meet the circumstances. JAMSTER e nS It was no wonder he asked the question. with him, as iron bedsteads will do sometimes. Peter stumped along, never thinking of looking The butt was half full of water and it seemed to} He didn’t get warmed through till nearly morn-|4P- , be rising, : ; ing, and when he arose his head felt as big as aj When he reached his room he opened the door Peter got out of that as soon as he could. tub. with a bang. ; He shivered and shook and sneezed till he near-{ He was mad enough to chew hay,and wasready| Down came the books all in a heap. ly loosened his wooden leg, for any revenge, A big Latan dictionary took him on the cocoa- Then he saw something white sticking to the} As nothing elsecame into his head, he swore that|nut. : -hogshead, d four or five of the boys had gone out the night be-| An atlas of the world carromed off his nose, “He took it off. fore and had left the back door open. A huge grammar whacked him on one ear. It was a note, He named the culprits, and they got a basting. | -A gigantic philosophy hit him or the other. This is what it said; ROI i ohnny a: Billy rere ouithe llat : iu was 3 xepnlar ALC Uni Hom para: ; “pf 6 dude was, although he had been asleep a oor Peter was literally staggered, and wen WERE tt or MOS eda Sa raite down like a shot, ics It made no difference how he denied the accu-| Fora few moments he did not know if he were _ ‘Who in the name o’ thunderation are the|sation. : ‘ 7 walking or riding. aie Pes te Boomers?” asked Peter of the hogshead, or per-| He gota licking all the same, and nobody felt! ‘Then he looked up. _ haps of the moon. sorry. z There was nothing in sight.
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22 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. “ee nn ait ee Se a a ee a At his feet were the books, and he quickly twig- ged them. it He also realized how they came there, -Out eame his big spectacles, and open went the books, Johnny Brown’s name was on the fly-leaf of the dictionary, Billy Bounce had put his signature in the atlas, The grammar belonged to Sam. Tom owned the book on physical science. Peter looked triumphant as he beheld this dam- aging evidence, He gathered up the books, put them under his arm and went off to Blodgett. ° The case was laid before the latter in its enorm- “Yes, we'll leave it there fora time und then dig up? ? ‘And surprise everybody,” ““Old Peter among the rest, eh, boys?” ‘© Oh, he’ll never know anything about it.” “Tt’s safe in the wall as long as we keep quiet’ Now was Peter’s turn. Ho was right behind them. ‘“What’s safe, you lubbers?” he demanded in ruff tones, The boys turned, stood still, and seemed very much broke up, “What are you been and hid?” asked Peter, sternly. * Nothing,” said Johnny. “ Yes, it is, and 1 want to know. You’re up to some deyiltry, and if yer don’t tell me I’ll blow on yer to Blodgett.” “Tt ain’t anything, I tell you!” Yes, itis. I heard yer say yer hid it and was oing on a racket with it. What is it?” “Don’t tell Blodgett,” said Johnny, «But I will tell Blodgett. Where is it?” *©Go and find it.” “Tl get every one on yer licked,” threatened Peter, “if yer don’t tell me where you’ve hid the ity. tthe books were brought in evidence, They looked as though they had taken a tumble. There were bruises on Peter’s noble coun- tenance as well, In fact it looked bad for the boys. g The next day Blodgett confronted them with the evidence of their guilt. ~ They denied it, of course. : They might have saved themselves the trouble, Every one of them got a whaling. Peter was happy and so was the dude, stuff.” Young Harris had squared himself for tho lick-) « Woll, it’s in the wall, there!” said Johnny, dog- ing he had received. “ z y Peter had caught those bad boys in the act, as he SUPE and got them licked. «Where the white stone is.” The boys did not feel so hilarious. “Tf yor lying ye’llget it just the same, remem- © Vll bet that old Stumps stole the books and/|ber.” mado up the whole business,” said ee “T ain't lying, “T suppose he is satisfled, now that we hayehad| oo got it.” a welting,” added Billy. Peter stumped off toward tho place indicated. Tam not then.” “You bet he'll get it,” remarked Johnny in a low ‘*No more am I. tone. ° “Tet’s givehim a dandy racket.” “ Yos, sir, and solid.” ‘Its a go? *Tet’s mosey.” “We'll make him sick of lying about us, the old] phe boys got out of the way prett curmudgeon. Rigas Peter stumped up to the wall ann ‘* Bet your shoestrings. < the white stone, The boys were working for vengeance now, and] He gave it a tug and out it came. not for fun alone, Something else came out with it. They never once suspected the dude, The skunk’s breath, No one supposed he had brains enough for that.! He got it hot and strong. No, old Peter got all the blame, His glasses alone saved his eyes, but they were Johnny and his partners would get even with|no good after it. ; him, however. The strong decostion with which they were coy- They just put their heads together so as to get|/ered nearly melted them. up @ rousing reception for the old crank. : Poter gave a howl and keeled over backwards. The weathar was getting solder, for the time of| ‘The skunk fled, but bis memory was as strong roast turkeys and pumpkin pies was coming, and |as eyer, 3 warmer garments became not only a luxury but a) ‘ho terrible odor actually warped Peter’s wood- necessity. en leg it was so strong. : : re It was going to be cold weather for P. Pilgrim,| Old Pegtoos thought a sewer had exploded. Rsq., and the boys did not intend that he should] He keeled over on his back as flat as a pancake forgot it if they worked their points nro nes a and remained there for five minutes, It happoned quite accidentally that while they} The boys got some of the smell, although the were looking for a good snap on Peter, one came} wind was biowing from them. along without being hunted for. : They got out of that very sudden. This was how itcame about. — ‘ As for Peter, he was saturated, : Three or four of the boys, including Johnny] If he had had ten heavy colds ho could not help Brown, were going along the road towards town|but smell the a\ful atorick? one afternoon, He got up, at length, looking very pale, School was out and the boys were going to thejlooked for the boys, village. - * They were not to be seen. A-small animal, somewhat resembling a cat,sud-| ‘* Wall, if that’s tho thing they hid in tho wall, denly ran across the road a few yares in ‘front of|they’ve got more narye than I Haye,” he muttered, them, : : ~ Then he stumped it back to the house feeling The boys raised a shout and tho little creaturo| very weary. hid in the stone wall alongside the road. He was too much busted The animal was askunk, even. . : Pe, : ; The boys had no desire to form any closer ac-| Ofcourse he realized that the boys must have -quaintance with him. | 33 : played a trick on him, though how they did it went Johnny happened to.glance over his shoulder. ust! ahead of his reckoning. F then, and saw Peter stumping along not far be-| Tf they had taken that skunk and tucked it nway hind. : i ; 4: fect for his benefit, they had too much mioral’ courage « Hero’s one for his nibbs,” he remarked,“ Go| for him, : ; SI slow and be yery much interested in what I) Boys whocould dothatand come out Bay.” er ; ~.|were-more than a match for him.) » He walked back to the house, carrying his per- fume with him) and tried to getin unobserved. It was no go. 3 Sass twigged him, and said: ae W. H. ; 7 gedly. ; a Whereabouts in the wall?” It’s inthe wall. If you want it sudden. laid ‘hold of and up to think of revenge unseathed, © Allright, . Let her go,” “, , “Yes, the stuif is perfectly safe,” said Johnny aloud, ‘‘and.no one will suspect us,” ” ; ‘*Of course they won't.” ; “We hid it too well for that.” ies | * And won’t we have a dandy racket with it?” “© Well, you bet.” As tit “e Peter had heard enough to excite his curiosity, He wanted to know moro'at once, The hoys had some secret that must be dis- covered. = = atin thandér ure you bringing that skunk in the house for? Throw him away.” ; “TV ain’t bringin’ him in, sir. Tshaven’t got any skunk” — ti he “Don’t you suppose I can tell a skunk when I smell it?” asked the angry tutor. i ; i : “Yes, sir, but I haven’t got ‘him. Yhey were up to mischief, without a doubt. arter payin’ mo his respec’s.” What was it thoy had hidden anid that they ex-|* Simpson laughed ready to ery. Z pected to have a fine racket with? ~ Se Go bury your clothes and’ yoursélf,” he ‘said. It must be whiskey or liquor of some kind. “You'll néver get rid of the stink till you do.” © crete What he generally went ona racket with face janitor burned the duds instead of ‘burying mself, 3 i em, : : de ~He must know more about this business.* —_- He ptt them in the furnace, and the’ smell went Gonsequently he puton his big specs and fol-|all over the house. 3 Khe Bs : lowed. : i Blodgett and the boys were ready to murder him The boys were very much absorbed, apparently, |forit. - = ceihene and did not hear him coming. | ae The boys declared that he did it on purpose to At least Peter thought they did not, get square on them, — Pia ash He ran ‘away fn They asked Harris if he had upset a bottle of perfumery and threatened to bounce him. Harris knew nothing about the skunk epiyade, and protested his innocence very innocently. Peter chuckled when the boys growled, though the stench drove him out of the house as wellas the rest. marked Johnny, the next day. ‘* We must get up another.” « Peter tumbled to us, of course,” returned one of the boys, ‘“‘and had another one ready for us right awiy.” ; «We'll fix him the next time.” “You may well say so.” In the meantime the dude, having succesded so wellin his previcus joke on Peter and the boys, determined to try it on once mere. Nobody suspected him, and he was therefore quite safe, He puzzled the thing that he called his brain for some time, and at last hitupon what he considered a most bewilderingly brilliant idea. It might be a trifle old but it was pretty good for him after all, _ ‘fhe brilliant idea was carried out in this fash- ion. First he snooped around in tha boys’ rooms and collared a handkerchief belonging to Johnny, a towel owned by Billy, a pillow case with’ Sam’s initials on it, a napkin which owned ‘Tom for a master, and various and sundry other articles all marked with their owners’ names or initials, Then he waited till he Peter was in the land of nod and stole down to the old stumpjack’s room, He carried a tiny candlo set in a sconce so that the Jight would not shino all over the room. Peter was sleeping away like a good fellow and Sere: to match. ; The dude first gagged his victim with Johnny’s handkerchief. Then he fastered his good ankle to the bed post by means of Billy’s towel, 5 Sam’s pillow case inclosed his head, and Tom’s napkins tied his hands together, ll this required a good deal of lifting and pull- Ang of course. ‘eter peRans to wake up, naturally. The dude kept right on, however, till he had made everything tight and fast and then ho dusted. Peter kicked in more ways than one at this treatment. : s ‘ He couldn’t kiek himself loose. : He also tried to yell, but nobody heard him. He did manage to get the handkerchief out of his mouth, but even then the pillow case was tied over his head and nearly smothered him. By dint of great perseverance he kicked his free of its bonds, but that was all. Not having great dexterity with his toes, he was erable to untie his hands, and had to let them stay ed, He could yell, however, and he did for all ho was worth, After a long time he succeeded in arousing Jeg aes : 3 ; ‘he latter thought the old crank was going to put ety a job on him, and so he called Simpson. Whiskers was very mad at being waked up at four in the morning, : a Ho went with Pepper, howeyer, to Peter’s room. Thus they found out what had-been done. It was quite clear that Peter could not: have trussed himself upinthat fashion. —— Hoe was not magician enough for that. ~ If he had sueceededin getting off the-whole of as fastenings his story might not have been be- ieved. = Now, there was no doubt of its truth. “That made it bad for the boys. ; Pepperand Simpson released He was mad, you bet. Prt coke «Tt’s them boys agair,” he sputtered. Then he grabbed up the towel belonging to Billy Bounce. PN eager There was the latter's name, as’plain as’ day, marked on the edge thereof. : The other things were equally well identifled. “he young pirates!” growled Peter. “T’ll have ’em all hung at the yard-arm for this, see if I don’t. him after a siege, It’s rank mutiny.” “How do you know these boys were in this thing?” asked Simpson. ahies od these here their things?” the man asked, a3 «Well, I didn’t tie myself up, did 1?” ce No.” 3 - 4 » “Well then, them’s the boys what did it and I hope they’llall get rawhided till they can’t sit down nor stand up nuther.” s ; ‘ Simpson felt sad. fi ag : ti Not that the boys were going to geta licking, however, Sieoasst Vee apt sae On, no, not much, That.did not worry him. % “Ho felt sad that they had been such ‘donkeys, “That gag was not altogether a success,” re-
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He had always thought they were smart lads. This thing proved them to be the biggest kind of chumps. : z «he idea of using their own things, marked with their own names,” he observed. It seemed asinine tothe last degree, “They ought to get thumped in the collar-but- ton!” observed the English. master in choice phrases. Hed jarha? Oh, he was a daisy linguist, he was, Well, old Peter told his little story toyBlodgett. Simpson and Pepper corroborated his tale. It looked bad for the boys. The evidence, as in another case, was most con- vineing. That’s what made Whiskers mad. “hey got caught once,” ho mused, “and now they get nabbed again in just the same way.” Consequently Simpson felt no sympathy for them, He just hoped that they would got licked. His hopes were realized. ! The boys gota daisy larruping. They fel! saddest when they sat down for two days afterward. Then they held a council of war. “Something must be done,” said Billy. ** Old Peter is getting the bulge on us.” “He never could haye tied himself up in that style. = ‘Of course not.” z «Perhaps he didn’t even tumble the books on his head, “ Well, and what then?” cee * Somebody has been playing roots on him.” ~ * Of course.” ‘And making it seem as if we were the fellows.” “ Ohol I'see @ hole through a brick now!” ~ “That's the Ethiopian in the wood-pile, is i4?” You bet!”?~ ” The whole thing was clear now. Somebody had been doing them up and getting squire on Peter besides, Who could it be? That was the conundrum, JOHNNY BROWN & CO. He waited to see how the thing worked. f Bee came stumping alorg with a candle in his and. ‘ Harris wanted to chuckle, but he kept quiet. Peter went into his room and Harris peered through a crack. The cranky janitor was by no means brave, be it understood. y The minute he saw that figure on the bed, he gave a howl. Then he dropped the candle and bolted out of the room. Ho upset the dude, of course, and they both went down kerflop. The dude was tho first to recover himself. He did not care to know what happened rext. Away he went, satisfied at having escaped de- tection. Up to bed he slipped, barking his shins against various things in the dark. First, he got into Billy’s room by mistake. Ycung Bounce awoke, and wanted to know what was up. ‘« Beg pahdon, I’m shaw,” said the dude. “I had to go to the bawth-woom, don’t yah know, and lost me way.” *«That’s all right,” said Billy. ‘Go to bed and don’t wake any one else up, or you'll catch it.” Yas, so 1 suppose,” drawled Harris, as he went out. This time he found his room without trouble, He had to tumble over his trunks before he could find the bed, however, and that made more noise, Sam Bemis had the next room to his, and the .|dude’s noise awoke him. “ Cheese it there, Harris,’ said Sam, “or you'll have Peter going on a pilgrimage after you.” “Yas, vewy good,” chuckled the Slim. “I weekon Petah has had all the fun he wants faw one night, don’t yah know.” *©Oh, go to sleep,” growled Sam, as he proceed- ed to do the same himself. Peter meanwhile was having a fine time. “Drat them boys!” he sputtered, ‘The young Tt isn’t One of our own ercwd, that’s certain,” |lubbers are up to mischief ugain, sink ’em.” said Johnny. - ya mi ‘€No, for we all caught it alike,” ‘Who isit, then?” - ‘Some one not in the gang,” said Johnny. « Then let him look out for squalls,” : You bet!” t The Boomers were on the warpath! CHAPTER XI, Somppopy had Johnny Brown & Co, } It was Harris, the dude, Johnny and his chums did not know this, They did not even suspect it. They knew that’ somebody had done them u Then he got up and advanced cautiously. “That was one on ’em ran out and upset me, but maybe there’s more.” ¥ ; ; It was all dark and he could see nothing. He felt along the wall; however, till he found the door, - Then he turned the knob and went in. The moonlight, entering at the window, showed him the figure sitting on the bed. “Douse my tarpaulins!” muttered Peter, getting layed two dandy rackets on/his nautical terms mixed. Then he bounced out, shutting the door after m. -|st “Tye got ye now, scuttle yer jib sheets!” he growled. : : No boy was going to get out of that room if he twice, however, and they meant to find out who it) knew it. was. All the boys at Blodgett’s were not friendly to them, a Perhaps one of the discontented ones had put up this job. ; He would stand on guard all night if necessary. Down he saton the floor with his back to the door and a grim determination within, Just let anybody try to get out now. He sat there for some time before anew thought ‘THéy must find out, therefore, which one ofjstruck him, these it was. Harris was the last one they would hayoe sus-|dow pected. hey did not suppose that he had sense enough. His gags might be wormy, but they got there|ho just thesante® Tiyice had they hit the mark, and twice had the boys suffered. : tit The last time they know that Peter was inno- cent,’ 3 The question to be settled then was who thely guilty party was, fede! They wanted to find him very much. They intended to make bim a dandy present. “A stuffed club was the article selected. Hoe would get itin the neck.” * Harris, having done so well, decided to try|Petor, ‘cos yo can’t: again, ; ; Se evidently supposed that he would never be found out. Sear That’s where he was in error. “You couldn’t fool Johiiny Brown and his pals forever, - : ‘They were bound to take a drop at last. Sunn ere the fellow on the bed went out the win- He would escape, of course, “Groat hurricanes! I never thought o’ that!” exclaimed. It must not-be, of course, preate ne accordingly arose, opened the door and look- ny ass: , The fellow was still sitting on the bed. “Look here; young man,” said Pegtoes, “when ble ye to get out,” a - oa One would have supposed that the detected youth would have said Something. * i ; _ He did not open his head. nee ~“ There’s no use tryin’ ter bluff me,” continued I’m iin old séa dog, Lam.” ‘The fellow evidently had no objection to this. ‘“Come row, ye young sculpin, ye Want ter get off that bunk, or I’ll shake ye off.” The threat had no etrect whatever. Then Péter did fhe think act onee more, Perhaps the boy was asleap! ’ Peter’s wooden leg felt the agitation, even, that However, Harris thought he could venture once this idea produced. moré,) ites Ho did, and this is how he did it. He collared Johnny Brown’s overcoat one night “Vil wake him up, you’ bet,” muttered ole Stumpjack. 23 At any rate it was good, forcible Anglo-Saxon. Peter lighted his candle and investigated the figure. It was Johnny Brown’s overcoat; that was cer- tain. z The rest of the apparel could not be identified. The coat was enough for Peter’s purpose, how- ever, “Til pay that young Jackdandy off for this run,” grunted Peter, ‘and in good hard coin, too. * If he can sit down fur a week without thinking o’ - me, I want ter know it.” Then Peter laid aside -the tell-tale coat and sought his downy spring bed. Inthe morning he told his little tale to Blodgett. He also’ produced the effigy to substantiate his. narrative. Everybody knew that ulster. a Besides that, it had Johnny’s name sewed on the inside of the collar, 3 . The boys began to weep for Johnny. Of course they Kney that he would never have. been such a big chump as to put his own coat on the dummy, It was simply another gag, He was likely to get walloped all the same, _ However, his good luck came to his rescue this time, es called his name and asked, him’to step: out. “ Brown isn’t here,” said Whiskers. ‘* He’s been sick for two days.” So he had, and he was in bed at that minute, The housekeeper said that she knew he had not left his bed all night. That settled it. : Johnny did not get the licking that Peter ex-. pected he would. Harris was also disappointed, ous had not heard a word about Johnny’s being sick. However, he considered it a good joke on Peter as it stood, So it was. : There was another aspect to the affair, though, Billy Bounce remembered that the dude had. been out of his rooms after hours, , He said that he had been to the bath-room. That might be so or it might be a taradiddle, Sam*Beniess remembered that Harris bad said something about Peter’s having had fun enough for one night. ‘ ; Peter had declared that he had stumbled-over one of the boys in coming hastily out of his room. The boys held a consultation and put this and that together. Neat ** lve got it,” gaid Billy, when Sam told his little orya 4 ‘* Well?” they all said. ‘The dude is the culprit,” “ Nonsense |” ; 3 “ He hasn’t got sand enough.” ** He couldn't do it.” “Tt won't do at all.” j bese and other expressions of opinion were eard. ~ } : ‘ “Keep your clothes on,” said the scion of the house of Bounce, “I say it was the dude who put up all these jobs on old Hickorytoes and got us the blame for them.” ~~ : ‘Yes, and the lickings!” “ Precisely, and I’ll prove it.” “Sail in.” i ~ First, the gags were very old.” “Yes, they needed See U Lee “The wind could. scarcely kers,”” ? “ They were just the sort of snaps that the dude agitate their whis- ou’ye got done settin’ on that ’ere bunk, 1’ll trou-|\would vhink of.” “Allright; go ahead.” “* We fellows wouldnever take our own: books, and towels, and napkins to work snaps with.” “ Certainly not.” ° $0. 3 “Well, the dude took ’em for us,” : “Why do you say the! dude? Somebody else might have done it.” ipa No sir, “It was the dude, and he had just been at it when he eame up-stairs. “He was the fellow ~{ithat Peter ran against:and upset.” * “Looks like it,” said Sam.“ We’ll ask Johnny what he thinks.” : chuckled Johnny, ‘Just you { '
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24 ** When will it be?” ‘When this thing has quieted down a little,” All right, my boy,” said they all. Johnny was pretty sure that the dude was the fellow they had been looking for, He did not know it forsure, however. It was Harris himself who furnished him with the clinchers. | Z : He met the dude on the lawn a day or so after the racket on Peter. | ; ‘ “ Hallo, dude!” said Johnny. -‘ Out inthe sun ‘so as to give your brain a chance?” ‘You think yaw awfully clevah, don’t you?” asked the dude, st ’ Yes, but I can’t help it. My family was always smart.” JOHNNY BROWN & CO. This was only to lead the dude to confess, “What rackets did you ever play on mo?” he asked. ‘Why, the one on old Petah Pilgwim, don’t yah know, when the books fell on his cwanium.” ‘Oh, yes, to be sure. That was a dandy,” and Johuny Jaughed immodeiately. : The dude was yery much elated. “Yas, wasn’tit, be Jove? I flattah meself that was oxceedingly clevah.” P ‘© Oh, you bet it was,” and Johnny laughed some more, ; “Yas, and that wasn’t the only D one, don’t yah Bnowes sald tho flattered calf. “No? No, sah,” observed.: line with great unanimity.) = built, dandy ol Of course he would. . rai Johnny heard Harris bragging about getting leave to be out at night when the others had to Stay in. Peed ae rehiiee That gaye him an idea. ; 4 id © This is the night for our snap.on the dude,” he Then he made his plans for the surprise party. He told all his chums about it,'and ‘they ‘fell into off that dude. They were just aching to pay be un Ad, clipper Johnny’s plan was voted ‘to d'snap. * aie The whole crowd was ready to carry it out to a Co eT A suecessful issue. {i Hi {HITE ‘© Ah theah, chappie!” ealied him pet names. _ “Yaw no smawtah than lots of othah fellahs !” ~ Oh, well, I like company, you know.” ‘You think you can play rackets on foellahs,|in don’t you?” “Why, yes, I thinkI have certain knack that\Jobnny, ‘ Why, my boy, » 3 re) “Yaw not the only fellah that can play rackets, don’t yah know.” “Yes, I must and then, you know.” wackets, don’t yah?” “ Certainly.” * Well, you cawn’t, mselt 4, “ Really ?”” “* Yas,-be jove.” ‘You astonish me.” - j “Fact is, I’ve played wackets meself.”” “You can’t mean it,’ “Yas, and I’ve played ’em on you and your fwiends, smawt as you think you av.” «The deuce you have!” De ery “Yas, I have,” Nes “TJ thought so,” mused Johnny. He looked incredulous, however. I could give you snaps me-|returned that conceited «© Don’t stay out late, Fweddy.” They all had something to say. They threw kisses at him, They They asked him if his mama knew he was out. In short, they would have made him feel like a fool if he hadu’t felt that way already. — wees “You amaze me!” “Why, me deah fellah, it was I who tied Petah|girl. bed and frightened him so.” you’re a genius,” “Yas, that was very cleyah.” ‘Bet your life!” Well, the dude had permission to go and see his F He meant to just paralyze her, and no error. ‘‘ Ho-ho-ho! that was another good one,” roared BLS) would open their eyes, too, when they saw him. as b Fall dress was the thing to collar the biscuit. Harris was provided with swell togs of the latest “And then I put the figgah on Petah’s bed, and|design, & 3 have somebody to help me now yapcd him Bares than EA att the aude, “Upon my word, you're a top-sawyer at gag -tail “T suppose you think you-owiginate all yaw own|making,” seid Johnny. “I shall hays to take les- collar jon ls BETO Nees 2 j sons of you.” “Yas, I think I could f ude, * All right, my boy,” thought Johnny, “but I'll worksome more on you before I begin to take lessons.” Peer pee A day or so after this Harris asked permission to go and call on a young lady in town. He had met her at church and was very mashed, : She knew a girl from his own place, had mutual interests. g 2 The other girl happened to just at this time. - ‘ 7 “Her friend asked Harris to call upon them, come up on a visit i ot ” give you seyewal points,”|..75, to survey himself afterward. bosom, a white sack overcoat, below which hung the tails of his black coat, he carried a big cane much|With a gold head; and looked altogether too sweet — for this cruel world. arse es han are and so they h When he came down-stairs, the boys were wait- tin lal his dignity, His shirt front was embroidered, he had a shawl and he took no brond- He had all the newest wrinkles, you may bo It took him an hour to dress, and half an hour He wore a dizzy dress suit, a wilderness of shirt g for him, - <5 Esai st p04; Retelocee y He put on his dicer, and sailed down the hall in 3 He would not notice the horrid fellahs. a Ee j
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_ and revealed him in all his loveliness. a1 conn _ .gans. “the overalls, and so the latter went on first. ‘Jap, a shady street with only a few houses on it. JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 25 SS aa “March!” growled one of the black band des- peradoes. & He had to pass through afdouble row of them in|* “Say a word and we'll cut your bangs off !” gotting to the door. F “Utter a sound and we'll take away your eye- he hall chandolier threw its full light upon him|glass.” “Make the least noise and we'll take away your cigarettes.” “Now march!” These terrible threats had their due effect, The poor slim was paralyzed. He akoor till he could hardly stand. , The abductors marched him along at a quick knew he was out,| pace, ‘The horrid fellahs gave them a good deal of no- tice, however. « Ah theah, chappie !” ‘Don’t stay out late, Fweddy.” “ Give me a cigawette, old one,” hey all had something to say. They threw kisses at him. "They called him pet names. They asked him if his mamma In short, they would have made him feel likea} If they had not held his arms he would have fool if he hadn’t felt that way already. fallen. : _ He had to run the gantlet of the whole gang of| He was too scared to try and identify any of jokers before he reachod the door, them: His cheeks were on fire. . He longed for an earthquake, Didn’t he want to fight them all? Well, I guess, He would not haye anything tosay to them, how-|thoir being his schoolmates, If he had not been he could not have done it, them beyond recognition, He supposed them to be tramps, white caps or ever, fae ho would let them seo that he utterly ignored| hoodoos of some kind. them. T id not give him a chance to think other- It was pretty tough, to be sure, but he got hed POS Se aS through it without disturbing a single hair of his They just raced him along the road till they seraphic bang. reached his girl’s house. “ta-ta, baby,” said Johnny, as the dude open-| ‘Then they pretended to release him. ed the door. That is, they let go of his arms, **Syweet-sweoet!” said all the boys, imitating the) «Now let’s make him smoke a pipe,” growled sound of osculation with their lips. Johnny Brown. : s ‘The dude went out, and the door closed with a} « And chew tobacco,” said Billy Bounce, ang. & ‘Now for the grand gag," said Johnny. Something as fine as sil : coming, fainted. id blelot ible|o CHAPTER XII. aed his captors wou Nok do such terrible TE only dude at Blodgett’s was going calling. Johnny Brown & Oo. had got wind of it. the house, Their rough clothes and blackened faces put Ho was so scared, too, that ho never dreamed of They were the ringleaders of the band of desper- He made one grand break and dashed towards/himself, The dude’s terror was not assumed by any means. He was seared out of what little sense he had. It would have been cruelty to animals to send him out again that night. The old man gave’ him a coat, waist-coat and trousers to make him presentable, likewise a pair of slippers, Then he went away, very diacreetly, leaving the young ladies to entertain their guest, Ho entertained them more than they did him. They tried to be agréeable, but every now and then the memory of his comical idea as he burst in upon them would cause them to giggle, and that broke him all up. _ Girls will be girls, and you can’t stop them gig- glingany more than you can stop them chewing gum, slate pencils or pickles. Out a girl’s head off, and you stop her giggling, but she is not of any use afterwards, Consequently, these girls giggled, and the more they giggled the more they wanted to giggle. It is unnecessary to say that the dude was greatly embarrassed thereat. He tried to be entertaining, but those girls would persist in laughing at the most inopportune moments, ; It was in them, and it just had to come out, and that was all you could say. Every time they thought of how he had come in upon them, they had to snicker. Sometimes one would set the other off, but now and then they would both burst out together. “ began to grow Yery monotonous for the poor C adoes, ude, and of extra width was|’ When the dude heard these words he nearly| Finally the old man came to the rescup. ue heard the girls laughing and knew’ the cause te Tn fact, he had indulged in considerable hilarity {n the privacy of the library. He was still somewhat scared, but, all the same, They intended to make hie call a pleasant one, : = Up the steps hie went like a billy goat climbing|he could not help laughing now and then when he eGR Ra cle Bid Sone OE euncaae tite hips, E eS e. thought of the dude’s comical full dress suit. They met him in the hall as he was The way he rang that bell would have aston- and gaye him a good send-off, hed a nervous person. hon, when hie was outside, Johnny remarked: eye a wonder it was not pulled out by the “ Now for our own little racket, boys,” ‘ ; ; They gaye the dude a good start, knowing that How it did jingle all over the house. - they could easily catch up to him by moans of a ; You would have thought it had been struck by “short cut which they knew. 1 ghtning. aa ae Along the road went young Harris, feeling very| Seize the slim,” said Johnny, mien in love with himesls Sra nromUcting if there Se a pata al gt drink gin,” really was just such another fellow in the world. Poor Harris nearly hauled out the bell wire. HH s just lik - Sinete cone on Sa ahapes eee ot te Uy, thos, The girls were expecting him, but they did not Well, he had reached town a ont _|think he was going to ring like that. 7 sh Adeamsnasae Ghey both jumped up and let out top story Suddenly half a dozen reams, from the roadside, Then they and the old man and the butler and They seized him as a steel trap grabs its victim.|the housemaid all went to the door. 5 They hustled off his light coat and swallow-tail seas moment the portal flew open in dashed the na trice, ©, Then they sat him down in the road and depriy-|. The hall was square, with a big flreplace and big ed him of his doeskins. i settees at one side, a winding staircase in front, ‘All the time they swore most solemnly that if he curtained recesses on the other side and armorand ‘opened his head théy would garrote him. antlers on the walls, They were a terrible lot of desperadoos, It was quite a dizzy place in fact, Their faces were blackened with charcoal, and| ‘The dizziest thing in it just then was that dude. they were all arrayed like tramps. 2 eae how do, glad to seo yah,” he gurgled. ‘Shey used the most terrible oaths too, and one’s|‘‘2’ve had a howid srojght, don’t yah know, blood frirly congealed at such remarks as: Then those girls giggled. “ What in the name of Oscar Wilde is this?” Could you blame them? “Crimp my bangs, but this is awful !” ‘here stood that dude dressed as no dude ever “ Great hairping, ain’t he alarla!l” dressed before. Bust my corset strings if he isn’t!” His combination of starched shirt, high collar, ‘Bet you my chewing gum it’s alive!” eye glass, checked jumper, high water pants and The poor butterfly shivered and shook like an|b ences was something unique, old Jersey resident, © wonder the girls Jaughéd, ‘hose bold, bad villains reduced him to his silk] The old man acted very differently, however. underwear, his freshly kalsomined shirt bosom and| ‘ How dare you appear in my house in sucha his high collar, rig?” he demanded, angrily. : : Then they proceeded to dress him after a fashion oor Harris began to blubber, of their own. “A gweat gang of howid wobbahs caught me First they put on a pair of young Pepper’s bro-|/and took away my twousahs,” he cried, ‘and dwessed mo ate in these wags and thweatened all } boots and were plastered |sawts of terwible things.” with mud, ’ ** Robbers!” cried the old man, Just think of it! “Yas, weal despewate wobbahs, with black __ After this, or rather before, they put a pair of|faces and pistols and knives, and I had an awful Pepper's overalls on him. waco of it to got away fwom them,” The brogues would never have gone through| Ho was dreadfully frightened, there was no f doubt, and his imagination helped to fill in the They reached to the dude’s knees and no more,| missing details, Popper's legs were shorter than the slim’s, Really, when he had finished his story, you Chen, too, he woro high-water trousers. wondered how he had escaped with his life. Ty s vulgah to say pants, don’t you know, The boys, who had supplied him with articles ‘he next thing that went on was a blue checked|taken from the wardrobe of Pepper, the groom at Jumper. Blodgett’s, now returned to the school, chuckling The tide was dead low in the sleeves thereof,|over the success of thoir little joke. and they reached only to the dude’s elbows. The unfortunate dude was too much scared, The littering shirt front, the enameled stud,|however, to think of returning that night. the high collar and strap scarf, the flaring cuffs} ‘The old man was not a little alarmed also, for and the link buttons, these were all left as they|he feared that the town was beset by tramps, and were, and even the monocle was not disturbed, |that they might all be murdered in their beds be- nor the swell brim hat. : fore morning light, ; going out,|;, in an ayful ark forms sprang out|§° They were as big as At last, however, ho began to feel certain qualms of oeneel eur ; his was when the girls got to giggling so much that there was fear of hysterics. . He went to the sitting-room and said: “You had better stay here to-night, Mr. Harris, as I can’t think of allowing you to expose your life a second time, and$I have therefore ordered a room to be B pared for your accommodation.” «Thanks, awfully,” said the dude, brightening, “and if you'll excuse me, I think I will wetiah at once, if me woom is weady, don’t jah know. Me nawves have had a tewwible shock and I can scarcely contain meself, upon me wawd I cawn’t.” It was early, and he was not a bit sleepy, but he would sooner go to bed at once than sit up and have those girls laugh at him. He was not quite a fool, and he did not feel at all flattered by it. i He, therefore, made his escape as gracefully as he could, and thanked the old man in his secret soul for having given him the opportunity, The old gent sent him up a box of cigars, a bot- tle of wine, and ths latest magazines, and our dude quite enjoyed himself. The boys waited for him to show up until long past midnight, but he did not. That’s where they were sold, but then they had lots of fun forall that and were quite well satisfied with things as they stood. : They left the dude’s duds in his room, inventing a neat little story to go with them, so that Harris might not suspect the real authors of the snap. He never did, and when he returned the next day he had a terrible tale to tell of how he had been waylaid, robbed and Heatly murdered, Blodgett was satisfied, for he heard the con- firmation of the dude’s story from the old man in town. * : y The boys were satisfied, for they had taken their revenge in just the way that suited them most. ” ~The only one who was not at all satisfied was Pepper. Pepper was quite hot, in fact. Somebody had stolen his garments and shoes. The dude had not taken the trouble to return them when he came back to school, In fact he had left them in town. Pepper knew. nothing of the snap played on the” ude. He suspected that Peter had taken his duds, As it happened, Peter had once threatened to do so, to dress itp a scarecrow he was building. ; Consequently the little gardener suspected that ihe Btump-lenged janitor had carried out his nreat. bs You may remember that Peter and Pepper bore each other no very great amount oflove. ‘The day after the racket, Pepper. went into the cellar where Peter was at work and said: “ Phwai have yez done wid me working clothes, ye ug'y-looking misfit?” 3
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26 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. EE Ee ** Who's got yer clothes, ye red-headed landlub-| Then he sat down on him, and held him there, Harris did not care to be laughed at again. or?” while he proceeded to take off Peter’s leg. Once was quite sufficient to suit even his mor- ‘“Ye have, begob, and I-wantithim.” Haying done this, he advanced to the furnace,|bid appetite for notoriety. ; “ Hain’t touched em, yer homely-tooking swab.”/and said: Having brought one good snap to a successfil “JT say yez have. Yo treatened to take ’em| ‘ Neow, thin, tell me phwere me clothes are, orjissue the boys were now quite teady to undertak o ‘wanst and now ye’ve done it.” TL burrn yer peg in the furrnaco,” another, “ Awast, yer red-hoaded pirate. What would I| ‘‘Hain’t had ’em, and dowt know where they| Consequently, they looked around for a fresh want with’ yer clothes? They wouldn’tfit me.” jare,” growled Peter, victim. ** Vez have dhressed upa scarecrow wid ’em.” ‘« Will yez take yer oat’? an it?” They concluded to let up on Peter for a time. “Sheer off, yer sawed-off figgerhead. Idon’t| ‘‘ Yes.” The old crank bad not made’ himsélf especially know nuthin’ about’em, scuttle yer old hulk.” oa Thin ax me pardin fur callin’ me eout ay mejobnoxious to them just then. 5 “Go on neow an’ don’ t be foolin’ wid me. Phwat/name,” That’s why they gave him a rest that trip. have yez done wid thim,” ““T’ll be swamped if I do.” They .vere several laps ahead of him, anyhow, “Go ask them young buccaneers of boys. Ij ‘fThin yer shtump goes in the foire,”” and could afford to let him catch up, ain’t had yer dirty old clothes,” ‘Hold on; [take it back.” j They did not care to tackle Hd dude either, ce =. a His ‘combination of starched shirt, high collar, eye glass, checked jumper, high water banta and big: shoes was aoe something Rees No wonder the girls laughed. The old man acted very differently, however, “* Begob, they’re as Aiaart as anny that you have, oe Neow say that ye're an old woman, ‘and a) They must rig Up a gag on Pahoa however, ye black muzzled ould robber.” |ehump,”? pba} » | - They decided. upon BiMpson, : otherwise known “Don’t yer go runnin’ acrosst my bow, yer young} “1 won't do it re? snarled Peters woke _. jas. Whiskers, |. * fishin’ smack, or thas "I! get upset,” returned Peter, Pe per threw open the furnace door. « 1 This dandy was in’ the’ ‘habit, nowadays, of tak- in true nautical phraseology. es—yes, Lam!” howled Eprere ered _. jing a walk every. morning before, breakfast, to gat Goon, yé ould tub, Phwere are me: pants and “Yez are phwat?’, : ; LA Up an appetite. — jum er. Yis, an’ mie shoes too, begob,”- $2 * An old woman.” ; _|- The boys had open on. to this habit of-his and uin’t had ’em,” retorted Peter, sulkily. » Vis, and a chump, Say that. “Wy “a? concluded to take advantage Of it. ‘* Ye're a liar, ye have |” “Tm a chump,” groaned Peter. - | dt was.decidedly frosty :heso days and ice had Pepper was still hot and had no intentions of| “‘That’s phwat I thought,” chuckled Popper. already formed on the small creeks and ponds in being ground down by any old Bea dog With one] Then ho threw the stump. in afar corner, and|the neighborhood. leg like Peter*Pilgrim. * .\went away. : - |. Simpson always took the same route in going on ae Peter was not going to stand there and be called Peter had to hobble after his leg, and ho did notlhis little walk before hash, aliar in his’ own cellar by any vermiiion haired feel jens better disposed foward Pepper in conse-| Out the big gate, down the road, cover the stile, i * - runt like:Pepper, if he knew it. que ' |through the woods, across the little’ bridge and in He was an arrant coward, but he pLOUE DE that He outdone had to get some new. duds, sate hejat the side gate, bee he might bluff the ‘gardener. ; ts fegoningad to holdia grudge against the janitor as} ‘That was the way he always went, as ‘the boys. _- That’s Where he missed it: bef had discovered. **Get out’ o’ here, yer eantenered Mick,” “he Well, Harris did: not undertake to play off any} ‘The little bridge was simply a plank laid across blustered, ** or T’ll fire ek out mieuty quick.” '- |more’ jokes cn Peter or the boys for some time,|a ‘ditch eight or ten feet wide and about six feet, “Yo will not.” nor did he suspect that Johnny and his chums had deep. : We'll see.” worked such a beauty on him, Simpson called it a brook, but itwasn’t anything ‘Then Peter went at Pepper with a long poker he} He still believed that he; had been. robbed by of the kind, ; are tramps. It was a plain every day, vulgar ditch, full of “Pepper was no good at ‘poker, but he was ‘al The boys told chint that they. had. found ‘his muddy water, and no amount of ‘poetic jieense — dandy at shuffling. clothes in the road, and he believed them. __-_|could make it anything else. He rushed at Peter, and shuffled that old salt on|- There were no more Visits aade to 108? girls in} Well, the boys thought it. would be a fine thins : E E “his back in three shakes, LAR Fatt town either. $ j tt to get off a 1 joke on Whiskers.
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JOHNNY BROWN &- CO. 1 27 He was in the habit of asing very robust and| ‘here was no use in saying anything to Blodgett) “ Merey sakes! What’s that?” cried tne Dodger, forcible language when aroused, and they used to stir him up sometimes, just to see what he would Bay. . On this particular ozeasion they expected to hear something first class in the way of expletive. The morning chosen for thé snap was cold, sharp and raw, a light snow having fallen, while the sur- face of Simpson’s brook was covered with a thin coating of ice. 2 As soon as Whiskers was out of sight, the boys esate: to the ditch and sawed the plank nearly in half, It would hold one of the boys, even when sawved. Let Simpson look out however, when he put his manly form upon it. Having baited the trap, the boys hid in the bushes to wait for the victim. Promptly to the minute he came through the wood at a swinging pace, whistling the latest thing in comic songs. His cheeks were rosy, his sideboards fluttered in the wind, his breath turned to vapor as it struck the air and he felt just altogether too fresh and breezy for anything. His walk had done him good and he came on with a quick elastic tread, like a soldier just start- ing on a day’s march, The wind still blew through his sluggers as he stepped upon the plank with a firm tread, ; one was just what might have been expected. rack When Whiskers reached the middle of the plank “it doubled up like a jack-knife, Down he went into the icy water up to his neck. ‘’he boys were prepared to hear something very choice inthe way of objurgation. They just expected to hear the sky crack with the phosphoric remarks of that astonished Simp- son, What do you ane he did say, after all? ‘ewWell, I declare!” CHAPTER XIII. - Iz was too bad of Whiskers. The boys were listening, expecting to say some- thing which would send the mercury up to one hundred degrees in the shade. There he was, up to his collar button in ice water and all he said was: % “Well, I declare!” Was it too disappointing? ‘The boys never felt as flat in thoir lives. - They were just mad enough to go away and ~ leaye Simpson to get out the best way he could, ‘ time to put a stop this novel-reading nonsense, That’s just what he did do, and then he ran to the house as fast as his shanks would carry him. He thought it was funny ‘that the plank had to go and break, but he never suspected that the boys had been the cause of it. He did net go out walking before breakfast after that, and for three or four days he bad a high old cold in his head and the English branches suffered in consequence, HO The fellows were fortunate in not being found out, but then that did not often Bop Matters went on about as usual until Dodger, the housekeeper, got a sudden ¢rank in her old head and began to slight the boys’ grub. She had lately taken to reading society novels and found more interest in comely ladies, hand- some men and marriage in high life than she did ir roasts and boils, stews and fries, ; Johnny twigged- her “reading a novel- called ‘Goeth up like a rocket,” when she ought to haye been looking after dinuer, and he thought it was time to do something. ~ J ! i She would read day and night, inthe ‘kitchen, in her own room, or in the hall, it mattered not where, { iE had oahois She carried novels in: the pockets of her dress, she kept them in the-pantry drawers, they were found on the hat stand, in the school-room, and occasionally on the lawn under the trees, wher- ever Mrs, Dodger went; in.fact, : : Her head was full of elopements, romantic weds dings, stern parents, ruined castles, palatial man- sions, orders of nobility, faithful servitors and such rubbish, and she actually believed that some “niece young man with a blonde mustache and a title a yard long would come in one of those days - and carry-her off in spite of herself. s She told Pepper that the days of romance had gone by, to which he replied that it generally rip- ened in September, and that yes, it was rather late for it now. “Then she tried to explain; but, Pepper was. too thick vind could not understand her jest. : ‘ She informed Peter that she was thinking of get- ting married, and the old crank, thinking that she ‘was going to propose to him and marry him off hand, willy nilly, stumped away and did not go near her for three days, : ‘ co Johnny, Billy and the rest thought it was about about it. He would forgét it the next moment, or, ifhe did not, he would use Such mild language to the house- pega that she would pay no attention to the com- plaint. Neither was it any good to speak to Simpson. He would simply say that the boys lived too high anyhow, and that they ought to diet’ more, and that would be an end of if. No, they must go for Dodger herself if they wish- ed to remedy the evil. 3 That was ‘exactly what Johnny Brown meant to Ome He accordingly took his bearings, made his cal- culations, posted his pals, and gct to work. Mrs. Dodger was very fond of sitting in the kitehen of a night, and reading the latest novel. In this room was a big, old-fashioned grand- mother’s clock, that had seen its best days. In fact, it was only the case of a clock, and in that case, you know, you can get no tick, f The face and works had heen taken out, and there was only a big, round hole where the face had been. It was a regular old peeler of a clock, ard stood seven feet from the floor, quite up to the ceiling, in short. A Johnny had tumbled to this clock, and had in- vented a novel use for it. : When it came time for the boys to go to bed, Master Johnny blackened his face with burned cork till he looked like a full blown ¢oon, He left a wide swath of white skin ‘all around ais mouth and rings about his eyes, which gave him a most singular appearance. : Nobody would have thought of giving him the premium at a congress of beauties. He seemed all mouth and eyes and was homely enough to kill rats. ; : Well, he sneaked down to the kitehen waited his chance to get in, os He know that Blodgett generally sent for Dodger previous to going up to his own apartments, If Baldy had forgotten to do £0 Billy Bounce was ready to whistle down the tube and call the Dodger up. Pretty soon the summons came for Dodger to bring up a pitcher of hot water to the old man’s study. & side ve . The housekeeper was. deeply.engrossed in the adventures of Lady Mary Ann in the thrilling novel of * Liver and Bacon and That’s All,” by Mr. Fargone, at that time, and she did not like being interrupted. She put down her book, got the hot water, and trudged. off up-stairs, Johnny. crouching down in a dark corner as she came out. The moment she was on the stairs Johnny slip- ped into the kitchen and got into the clock caso, He was not quite tall enough, but he had fore- seen that difficulty. . There was a three-legged stool,on which the Dodger generally rested her feet, standing in one corner, having been pre-empted by the eat. Johnny ousted: Mrs. Puss, put the stool inside the case and closed the door. The cat did not like being disturbed, but as there was no help for it, she went off and cuddled herself upon the hearth in front of tho fire, : Presently Mrs. Dodger returned and resumed her seat at the table, witha big lamp alongside, took up her book and prepared to enjoy herself, ' The story was intensely interesting, and Dodger hegan to read aloud, so as to make it all the more exciting. : £ re t a * The lady MaryAnn raised her hand, on which glistoned several costly gems, drew her form, clad in richest velvet, to its full height, glanced across a.rarej old, inlaid. table.to the quaint, old, solid door and starting up. - A black face with big red lips and great eyes appeared and disappeared with mechanical regu- larity in the place where the clock face had heen. “Ouckoo! Peek-a-boo!” said a piping voice, and then the face bobbed out of sight, “Cuckoo! I see youl” and the face came in sight again. Mrs. Dodger threw, the book away, hit the cat onthe head, sent the chairfflying, nearly upset the lamp, and then swooned away on the floor. Cuckoo!” chimed the clock. Upjuniped the cat with her tail as big as a club, and began to spit and arch her back in a very bel- ligerent fashion, While poor Mrs, Dodger lay unconscious on the floor, Johnny came out of his hiding-place. Restoring the stool to its original corner, he closed the clock case door and skipped out, leav- ing everything as it was before. hen he listened outside and peeked through the keyhole to see what happened next. Tho, ones keener presently recovered, sat up and looked around, The clock looked the same as usual, the cat was asleep on the stool, the lamp was in its place, the cbair was all right and the book lay on the table. “ Tor’ me, I must ha’ had a vision,” muttered Dodger. j Then she arose and went very cautiously tothe clock, / She opened the door and then jumped back, ey- idently imagining that something was going to spring out upon her. : The case was empty. 2 - ‘Lor’ me!? she exclaimed with a sigh, ‘it’s them novels. I get that nervous a-readin’ of em that I fancies all sorts of things. I won’t read an- other One, though I did really want to flnd out what became of the beautiful lady.” j Dodger was beginning to get over her scare, “*T would just like to know if that awful wicked ‘ldook or earl, or whatever he was, got the girl, af- terall?”she mused, Ouriosity was fast getting the better of terror. “Til just see bow it comes out anyhow,” she remarked. an : Then she picked up the book and began to hunt for her place, ; “Ouckoo! peek-a-boo!” came in piping tones through the keyhole. { That was enough for Dodger. i She dropped that book as though it had been on re. : : ‘Lor’ mel’? she screamed, as she plumped down inthe chair. : ‘here was no more touching the novel that night. - She-would not have picked it up if it had been stuffed with bank-notes, ; ; She left it lying on the floor, grabbed the lamp, and seooted up to her room just as suddenly as. her limbs would allow. ; Johnny would have been caught if he had not been one of the sudden sort. i He was too rapid to be taken unawares, and he dusted the moment that he heard Dodger’s fect coming his way, “Quckoo! seo you!” he chirped back after: him, as he flew upthe stairs, and Dodger nearly hada fit, ale did not, and the boys had better grub after thats oe mt = ; Johnny’ retirad to: the dormitories, washed his face,and then told his chums all about the dandy racket he had played on the housekeeper, hey all voted it flast-class, and they turned in mahogany arm-chair, where the earl sat: toying with the decorations upon his breast, and said : “* No, my lord, I cannot be yours,’ and in the silence that followed the snoring of her prize poodle, worth a thousand pounds, could be dis- tinctly heard, =f “«eThink again, Lady Mary Ann,’ said the earl, as he passed his patent-leather boot over the rug of Russia sables ‘and took a’ pinch’ of’ flne Macca- boy from a golden snuff-box'set with diamonds. “«* Never!’ said the lady, the jewels sparkling in her point lace fichu, ‘not if you! were worth’ ten times what you are,’ and Lady Mary Ann’s eyes glittered like twenty-karat diamonds as she felt for the famous old Etruscan dagger which she kept concealed behind her six-ply'velvet bodice.” This was one of the upholsiery style! of novels,|: and Mrs. Dodger was greatly absorbed. + ~ Before she could ascertain what rext occurred, whether the lady killed herself or the earl, or whether his billions proved. too great a tempta- tion, there came an interruption. . It proceeded from. the clock. -Cuekool I see you, i Cuckoo! ‘Peek-a-boo || Cuckoo! How d’ye dor? ete and went to sleep, ready and. willing to work off another good snap at the first oportunity. This was not long in making.its appearance. Pepper was the fellow who gave it to them. Ot course he had no intention of doing so, but these things come around usually when you. are not expecting them. |. ; 5 Pres The little Irishman had a birthday just about this time, and he determined to celebrate if. He couldn’t keep it to himself, and the boys heard all about it, — It was Sattrday, and he asked for a half holi- day, so as to give the occasion due honor. Well, he went to town, and got jolly drunk, When hs came baci, in the early evening, he was too full for utterance. 3 The boys wére ready for him; andescorted him to the barn, Pepper wanted) to*go to sleep, bit the boys. wouldn’t let tim. Johnny bad prigged the dude’s dress suit, and it was proposed to rig the gardener in it. : The boys set to work at it with much hilarity. In the first place the trousers were tco long, and had to. be turned up half way to the knees,
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28 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. The coat fitted him altogether too much like-| All hands were grinning at him, and he con-| “Thank, ye, sor. I wasa’t sure,”; and Pepper wise, You must remember that Harris was quite tall, even for sixteen, and that Pepper was unusually|still. short. “Well?” said Blodgett. The cuffs had been turned back six inches and| ‘Did yez sind for me, sir?” the tails brushed against Pepper’s brogans; Noe) The waistcoat reached half way to his knees, the top buttons thereof striking Pepper at the waist. A high collar would have strangled Pepper, for he had no neck to mention. : cluded that he must huve said something funny. “Paix, I tought yez did.” ‘“Where have you been, Pepper?” «To town, sor. mimber.” He was let off without any, although he had a} ‘‘Hence the dress suit,” chuckled Simpson. He grinned himself, at that, and looked funnier moved with an uncertain gait toward the door. and everybody laughed, : “I’m not sure now whether it’s me or not,” mused Pepper, ‘‘ The boss says it is, but thin ho do laugh so that maybe it’s on’y joking he is. I'll ask some wan else.” Whiskers opened the door for the runt and as- It’s me borthday, ye may re-|sisted him into the hall, where he returned to his companions. ‘* Pepper seems to be pretty well pickled,” he re- white tie and a fresh coat of whitewash on his shirt|‘‘ Did you shrink after you were dressed, Pepper?”)marked, front. When he was fixed up, witha high plug hat’have been at work, iy wwe *« Cuekoo! I came in sight again. Whiskers knew very well that the boys must “« Yes,” returned Blodgett, ‘but I hope he won’t celebrate all of his birthdays in this fashion.” | SS 5 =< = (uu _——F Peek-a-boo!” said a piping voice, and then the face bobbed out of sight. **Cuckoo! I see you!” and the face Mrs. Dodger threw the book away, hit the cat on the head, sent the chair fying, nearly upset the lamp, and then swooned away on the floor, perched on top of his red head, the boys told him) Pepper glanced down at himself, and nearly Blodgett had his suspicions thatthe boys, finding that Blodgett had sent for him. Pepper was too hilariously bappy to decline. The boys led him as far as Blodgett’s door and|at all,” he mused. ‘I must have shrunk up.” - then knocked loudly for admission. f _,, Baldhead, Whiskers and one or two others worelsay ” observed one of the tutors. having a quiet hand at whist. ” Come in,” said the principal, __ “3 That sounded natural to Pepper, and he fum- bled at the door knob until he finally succeeded in turning it, Then the boys gave him a push and he bounced into the room with great eclat. The appearance of the little runt in a misfit dress suit was too comical for even the stolid Blodgett. b As for Simpson, he Jaughed away down to the ends of his whiskers. i eae ; ie Well, Pepper, what is it?” asked Blodgott, grin- ning. : ‘Pepper's pod is rather too big for him, I guess,” chuckled Simpson. ; ; fell over in the operation. Sampson. to dispense with the gardener’s company. ‘It’s me borthday, sor,” said Pepper, ‘* Yes—yes,”” : : ‘And l’v« been to town, sor.’ ‘* Exactly.” “ Jist as ye tould me I cud.” “Yes, that’s all right.” ‘‘Ye’re sure it’s me, sor?” “Yes, quite sure.” “ Albeit somewhat disguised,” put in Whiskers. “Thin that’s all right,” muttered Pepper, turn- ing towards the door. - somebody, ~ Es, : Pepper stood in the middle of the room locking|1ill take yer worrud for it, sor.” : _ unny enough to make the sphynx Jaugh. Yes, yes, it’s you, Pepper. Good-night.” ““Maybe he has stretched ’’em that way,” said "No, I don’t want you, Pepper,” said Blodgett. b He had had his little laugh, and was now willing lie, professor, and ay yez Say it’s me phwat’s in it,|his own apartment he was met by Harris. Lose ibe The dude was going up to his room to put on , Pepper in a pliable condition, had togged him up” “ Paix, Ldon’t think that it’s me phwat’s in it,|in this fashion and had sent him in. That was correct enough as far as it went, “He's full enough to swell om out, 1 should), Old Baldy did not know who the jokers were, owever, and he had no very certain way of find- ing out. : Pepper was in no condition to know, and the oys were not likely to tell upon themselves, Peter might give him the desired information, but then the old man had rather soured on Peter of late. : He had come to the conclusion that Peter was a ~ crocketty old crank who did not always tell the ee especially if he had a grudge against the — OS. : At_any rate, there was no great harm done, jand Baldy concluded to let the matter drop then and there, phe i ; It wasn’t quite over with, however. There was still another scene tothe littlointer- "J wasn’t quite sure ay it|!ude, : ‘ Seat ayes oe ‘He'll fall out of them if he isn’t careful,” said| was me or some one else, but I know yez wouldn’t As Pepper went clumping along tho hall towards — another tie. ie ies t He looked as funny behind as he did in front — Xe
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. . ¥ 29 Fe ae aT ER SE SS The one he wore was not of a good color by gas-| They did not intend to do it, of course, but} You could not tell one from the other fora few «ht, and he wished to change it. sometimes these things happen when you least}|moments, they were so mixed up. That’s how he came to meet Pepper. expect them. ‘Ow, you’re kicking a hole in my bread basket |” “Aw, bah Jove, the little wunt has got on a} Half a dozen of the boys fheluding Johnny,|howled Sam, dwess suit,” he drawled. “It’s a wealshame that| Billy and their particular cronies were out after) “ I won’t have any hair left!” bawled Billy. { | theah cannot be something to distingwish fellahs|nuts one afternoon, * Something’s giving way !” yelled Johnny. like that from gentlemen, don’t you know.” There was an old windmill onthe hill just be-| The miller hauled Sam in over the railing. Then he got a closer view. of the little gardener, |fore they came to the woods. His man grabbed Billy at the same time, He recognized his own togs in a moment. It was one of your old-fashioned wind-mills} ‘Then something broke loose, That was too much. with arms reachiny nearly to the ground and big] It was the spike. j It was bad enough, even, that Pepper had on ajsails spread upon them, Johnny’s breeches had been made by a country !. dress suit at all. Half way up from the ground to the top was.altailor, and jero warranted to wear, Tt was worse that he had on borrowed plumage|sort of wooden balcony running around, with a! If they had been ready made goods his friends and that the property of so distinguished a person|door leading to it from the mill. would have had to bush for him just then, as young Harris. ; The dusty miller used this platform when any-| The spike was yanked loose, and down came The dude strode up with wrath in his eye,|thing went wrong with his sails. Johnny. whisked Pepper about, and said: Well, the great arms had their sailcloth ulsters| Luck was in his favor that time as always. “How dare you weal my clothes, you howid/on them when the boys came along, but they were) He fell on top of his chumsas they lay sprawled little Iwishman? ‘Take them off this minute.” not going. out upon the ground. « Good ayenin’, sur,” said Pepper. “Is this me] The millerhad stoppedthem by meansof a‘ratch-| My! but whata shaking up there was! or some wan else? I wor waitin’ to ax ye that.’ {et inside, so that he mightlook at thestones and| Howeyer,no one was hurt beyond a general “Tt’s you, I suppose, you howid monkey, How|chuck insome more grist, rattling. dare you put on my best divess clothes?” This was the only mill of the kind in the neigh-| They agreed not to go fooling around wind mills Ihe elothes!” muttered Pepper, holding on by|borhood and thezboys were greatly interested, in future, however. the stair railing. ‘It’s the shoot yez mean, ain't] ‘ Why don’t heset the old thing to going?” asked| Once was an abundant sufficiency, it?” Johnny as he stood by oneof the big arms and ex-| They all breathed more freely when the circus “Yas, I do mean, and I wish to inquiah why|amined it. was over. you had the impudence to put them on, sah, with-| ‘* Let’s go and see,”* suggested Billy. The miller, however, had to have his little laugh out my pawmission? ‘Take them off, sah, at} Johnny turned to join the others. out. once,” The arms began to turn at the same moment, Ho roared till you could hear him down at the Paix, I believe they'll fall off if yex give thim| ‘The miller had removed the obstruction. village. toime,” chuckled Pepper, “Sure, [hardly know] As the big arm arose it passed on @ level with} ‘Che infection spread to his man, who was an old which way I’m goin’ neow, they’re that hig!” Jobnny’s suspender buttons. Sead sober-sides as a usual thing. Harris grabbed the coat by the collar and yank-| | That young gentleman was too near that arm| The way they both laughed would have done a ed it off in a jiffy. for his own good. 3 circus clown good. : It upset Pepper, but the dude didn’t care for| A big spike projecting from: the joints at the} “Ho, ho, ho! he, he, he! haw, haw! but that’s that. bottom caught in the seat of his trousers as helthe best yet.” : He yanked off the vest and trousers in the same/|turned. “How they would have looked, all spinnin’ He was yanked off his feet in a jiffy, fat as he|through the nir like teetotalers !”- w as. : «Petotums you mean, Jake, Ho, ho, hi, hi, He realized that something had happened, and|haw!” : “Mighty funny, wasn’t it?’ muttered Johnny; summary fashion, ; That left Pepper in the summery fashion of shirt and underclothes. ; i The dude threw the things over his arm and|he made a wild clutch at the air. 4 stalked angrily up-stairs, : Instead of the air he grabbed the hair—the same|“ but if you hadn’t full confidence in your breeches Pepper piocssued more deliberately to his own|belonging to Billy Bounce. : or your suspender buttons, I guess you wouldn’t room on the ground floor, : -| The wind was blowing stiff, and up went thejwant to take such a trip,” me On his. way he met the housekeeper, Mrs jgreat arms. _ i “My hair will grow Pompadour style for a Dodger. - 4 Johnny, suspended by the seat of his breeches,| week,” observed Billy. y e. Pepper was beginning to feel funny, grabbed Billy by the wooland held on. “Using a fellow’s stomach for a drum ain’t what “‘ Pgek-a-boo!” he chirped, as he caught sight of| Billy began to be lifted up, and he started yell-lyou think itis,” declared Sam, “and if you don’t _ the lady. — - ; ? ing: ; 3 believe it, let some fellers try it on you once.” That magic word breke the Dodger all up. _He was lifted clean off his feet before help ar-| But the miller continued to laugh and no Her mind was quite full of ghosts and goblins asjrived. ; 2 amount of satire or irony could induce him to it was considering her recent experience. Johnny by this time was well up in the world. stop. She thought she had ’em again for a certainty. Sam Berries rushed forward and seized Billy’s His man laughed too, and both together made a “Tor me!” she screamed, feet just before they got out of reach, team. ; i Thon she fled. - | He lost his own asthe arm yanked him over the} The miller roared and his man giggled, so you The way she got out of that beat rapid trayoling|ground in its upward rise, but he hung on tojcan imagine the combination. all hollow. ; Billy’s. ‘Ah, come on,” said Johnny to his chums, She declared that she had seen a ghost, and she| “ Hi, hi, Joo—somebody!” he howled in great|‘‘ Those gillies never saw anything funny befor roused up all the servants to go and routitout. jalarm. : and they’ve got to make up for lost time.” ; By that time Popper had reached his room, tum-| He was beginning to take a rise in the world] Tho boys themselves had to laugh when they bled into bed, boots and all, and was fast asleep. |himself now. thought the thing over, but they weren’t prepared ‘fhe new phase of Pepper's ghost, so well known| He kicked and yelled, but did not dare to let go/to snicker before the two millers. - to science, did not attract any great attention injof Billy. “Tf we'd tried to get up a snap on somebody the learned world, however, It was a wonder Billy’s hair was not yanked outlelse Wwe couldn’t haye done better than that,” Nobody could find it, and Mrs. Dodger was de-|by the roots. chuckled Johnny, when they reached the woods, clared to be a female chump. Up rushed Joe and grabbed Sam’s coat-tails with} “Imagine old Peter going up like that. It beat She came to the same conclusion herself, though|both hands. a his kite racket all to nothing.” she did not tell any one 50, Then he likewise began to sweep up the ground} ‘ Fancy Simpson airing his whiskers from the © ‘ j CE em de ne uate oe gh aoa ae end sis ts mill arm, clear up in the sky.” \ 1 ; ° e howled for help, but held on all the same, ell, that was one on us and it all happened OHAPTER XIY. Tom Wilson rushed up as Joe’s heels knocked/as naturally as breaking your neck.” Ee ‘Tan dude blamed the boys in the matter of Pep-|his hat off. “Td give a dollar to see the same snap played per and his dress suit, the housekeeper declared} He grabbed them and began to do the sweep action some other fellow.” that they had frightened her with a ghost, Simp-/on his own account. ““Those snaps don’t come along every day in the “son felt sure that they had been up to some lark} It was doubtful if the mill arm would hold much|week,” or another, and Blodgett concluded that some-|more, “No, sir, that didn’t haye any old worn out pear punt. e pe pas MO rene See ea eoe to give way. trade mark on it, yer bet.” aving thu : . m ohnny’ ay y a of a worst eases a tes choo), ba d them prompt-lspike ight be y’s pants, or it might be the ees a bakery embezzler, you’d better be- y flogged, and went ‘to bed happy. , At any rate somebody would get a bad tumble. } Wel oys did not give th The boys had been licked without, Poter’s in- Things were pattie venlouaes ; Stee hue oh Mae aids did. pare RO ‘fiuence, however, and that made old Stumpjack} irst there was Johnny away up in tho air hang-| The two millers told the story, and it worked “mad, ; ing by the seat of his bifurcations, around till at last Simpson got hold of it, He felt that he had been cheated out of a just} Then there was Billy suspended by his hair and) He was just tickled to pieces over it and nearly “revenge. yelling like mad. laughed his sluggers off. He did not even know that the offenders were} To him was clinging Sam Berries, Billy’s feet] Then he poked fun at the b ‘going to be whacked until the whole business |beating a tattoo on his stomach, and his own legs|allusions their salarate Aeheeon A scennienes - Was over, waving frantically about, That deci That was altogether wrong, ho felt. His jacket was nearly yanked off his back by|young pontistanaae aS le baoeimisuss poate He ought to have been consulted when the vic-| Joe Cummings, who held on for all he was worth, | They would rope Simpson into some dandy old j tims were selected. Then Tom Wilson was holding on Joe’s heels,|snap if it cost them a dollar apiece. ~ . He could tell who needed punishment everyjand if they kept on, the whole gang would be in| They were just aching to get the grand guy on time, iu his own opinion, G the air in a second. Whiskers. He was mad enough to chew his own wooden} Jack Hiller grabbed Tom; and began to yell for} hey were the boys that could do it likewise, 8g when he thought how he had been cheated. the miller. when once they put their minds upon it. __ However, there was no help for if now, for he} The arm would have carried the whole lot of} However, other things came up in the meantime —Gouldn’t pick out a new batch of boys and tell|them up, if Johnny’s pants wero sure to hold out. |which postponed their gag on Simpson. lodgett that they were the ones to be licked. Fortunately, the miller appeared atthis moment.| Just about now Mr, Peter Pilgrim got one of his The boys, meanwhile, were quite ready for an-| He laughed ready to spiit, but he realized thejcranky spells. ther gag, and were only waiting for a suitable|danger all the same. He could not work it off on any one else, so he Ubject to play it on. _ | In he rushed, and stopped the wheels. spited the boys, ; pacoranus Sore dere ee they agreed that this é Then he rushed out on the gallery, and grabbed : Thewenther was pretty cold these days, for win- Whiskers, oe jam. ; er had set in. 3 efore they could work it, however, they played| ‘Those below Sam tumbled to the groundin a] There was ice on the river, and the boys used to ttle racket on themselves. .. |heap. : go skatirg afternoons, — ; Bp . Lt]
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30 , .. JOHNNY BROWN & CO. There was a Kollow® place'in the garden ‘also| ‘There were some more mad boys in that insti-| At night they were ready to carry them out. where the water had settled and frozen, - ~~ jtute then. : Ee itwas a lovely moonlight night, and the'snow It was two or three hundred feet long and about} That wasn’t all Peter.did. E : lay like a clean sheet over the flower beds.” ~ twenty wide. ; -- Some of tne boys hung their skates in the hall,|” It was just the sort of night for a lovers’ meeting — It made a dandy slide for thé boys. ~ + junder their hats, so as 16 have them handy. by the aiftin -room stove. ~ 5 Harris was too tony to indulge in any such’sport,|» Peter said it wasn’t the place for them, and col-| “After the lights were out, the young corspira- but the others énjoyed it.’ “45 fared the lot. ; ’ jtors stole down and out. , abit _ Every noon they were out there sliding for “dear| “That did not satisfy him. They were armed with various weapons, offens- life. : - He let the furnace fire go out on a cold night, jive, defensive, and protective, That made Peter mad. Sen The boys nearly froze, UP There were barrel staves, He hated to see any one enjoying himself. The next day he had the house full of smoke all] And brooms, Tee He especially hated to see those boys“ having ajthe morning, - Likewise base ball bats, zood time. are And yet he was not happy. , Also racquets, 9 985 He determined to stop it. He swiped a box that wes sent to Johnny forthe] © Ditto snow-shoes, nici uit i 7 0 ; EMULATED TET m There was the doorway, a8 black as the pit, and there were the boys in the bright moonlight. They all put themselves: 1 19 do but go and drop several loads{approaching holidays, and said if had: forbidden] And Indian elubs. pops of fertilizer on the boys’ slide, ny : Cn Af fe . a Bowes nee hah PERT os Ts 3 i ‘ on it was] ~ id the sameto Bi . Bah, very. boy had so Sit ee That knocked it silly as far as sliding on It 'w pos cure toe Harris, ia he collated thutitie: They went out at the side door, leaving it wide concerned. : ; might as well try to slide on a paper Of} wise, y Open, (eke 8 : y : < Even the dude was down on him then. : Peter’s room opened on the passage leading from The boys made a fuss, but that didn’t do any} When Johnny and Billy found out about this lat-ltn at little side door. ; breton et good. ° : <P est bit of spite, they were boiling mad, - The boys gathered outside, ready for business. — ; Peter said the garden needed fertilizing, and he] ‘They called a couneil of war on the spot. - Then they raised their voices. wai couldn’t bother about the boys. Even the dude was let into it. How they did yell! ’ That wasn’s all he did either. ‘ So wore the little kids. Buffalo Bill’s Indians were foolstothom.,. The boys had a coasting hill just back of the) Something must be done to make that old salt They howled worse than forty cats,- ees school-house, , less fresh. Pi eyes Talk about making night hideous | : ' \ They were just beginning to have fun with it) <‘Tell Blodgett,” said one, spat Lopate . They discounted that, twico over. when Peter saw it. Z ; “No good,” said Johnny. “We will interview! ‘ney yelled in a dozon different keys. os He couldn’t fertilize that very well. Mr, Peter himself.” = . ae Tey pounded on the stoop with clubs. Instead of that he ordered a lot of brush brought) ‘Then he and Billy fixed it up. : | They kicked against the side of the house with — _ to cover up the Buen Dar, pope +f nit Sh as ile bove thought it was too risky. their big boots, esos peices. Every bi was dragge ownthathill, | acke reenter é = : riya pee) The paanE aGouEN fugue: st Pad hore were plenty whe Healy ie LAO Kee banged away on tin pans and broken bot- aie “a barrel of ashes on it. tump was going to get a dose this bape cs ee POS aoa : By this. Gime tha boys wore mad. 3% He would lot them alone after that. 7 Tt was a second edition of Pandemonium With Peter had not finished his kind offices, how-| They would teach him to mind his own businessjrevisions, dee ee a aoe as . OVEN Meise yin etre eRe Rea een _ jin future, ne hia Sed ae All this was for good old Potor’s sake. aa x Some of the younger boys built a snow fort in} There werea dozen of them that meant business.| They were giving him wnice little serenade, frontofthe house, | Jobnny, Billy, Harris, Sam and Joe were all in} He would besuratohearitofcourse, ePater smashed it the very first day it was built,jit, ay ss es aie : ; ‘Then he would come out and” acknowledge the ~ -before the boys could have any fun init.” They made their plans during theday. = _ ‘courtesy. RAS: na
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. on He would doubtless make them@a pretty little] It was late and they had made a terrible racket} ‘The walloping the boys had given him knocked t. speech, to attract the old duffer’s attention. the ginger clean on : Ho would take down their names for Ear Then when he appeared, let him look out. He thought he had been to the mill and been in the village paper. Every boy had something with which to club Seb . It would be the event of the season. him People who engage in mills generally do feel that He would not be likely to forget it in a month. They had got tired of his mean, sneaking ways|way. You’re right he wouldn’t, when the boys gotjand meant to serve him out. He got up, not without considerable trouble, and through with him, Can you blame’them? ~- {looked around him. He would probably haye cause to remember] Well, not much! There wasn’t a person.in sight. them for many a day. Ther heard a footstep and gathered on either! “It’s very funny,” he observed. I thought I Well, the boys mado noise enough to arouse aside of the door to receive him in proper style... jheard a noise and something cortainly struck me,” mummy, All was perfectly quiet and decorous now. Something certainly had. Peter could not fail to hear all that hullabaloo, Wait a bil, however. He would g0 heavy on that, i In fact, the boys presently heard a footstep in} Out came ‘somebody. ‘But there isn’t any one around.” _ the hall, Then somebody caught it inthe neck. ~ He was quite right there. LAURA i lt oi | a ' I i | il . ne f | iy is J ee tae a rd it x3} et iH i | Mt a a= = = : : = sae = f = = = == = F ~ 5 5 = & tox =| == \ t ZZ This yas during a lull in the Wagnor overture, Likewise intheshins, ~ it Simpson and ai other teachers now came out They could not have heard an elephant fall] Also inthe back. ; and wanted to know what was tlie matter, down while the symphony was going Wherever a blow could be plantod, in fact. Blodgett couldn’t tell them except that he had Yes, they distinctly heard a footstep on the hall. | Down went somebody likea ton of coal through aljheard a borrible, racket at the door, had gone out ’ Peter had been aroused, and was coming to talkjskylight. and had been given a terrible beating. to them. Somebody gota terrible basting, None of TA showed up, of course. pee could hear his gentle stump as he came a Hate got’ a good whack at him, andsome} They knew better, gott The r : SrA ‘s signal they all Pontad themselves ingnoet: ho As n somebody spoke, B sear ea Ben Hey ire Ia bed, besides, and night shirts are jon oys, Peter, Simpson, Pepper, help shall] mp 4 Half were on one side of the open door, half on|be murdered |” ese soy RAILS AeA A RS et ae the other side, Buropeett! ; There were none in sight from the hall. Oh, what a surprise! On that night Peter's lucky star was on the very They were all too cute for that, Fortunate Peter, unfortunate Baldy 1 top notch of its zenith, 1 ‘There was “he doorway, as black as the pit, and| At the first sound of his voice the hore desisted. He wasn’t within flve miles of the institute, z there were the boys in the bright moonlight. They chucked their weapons away in a jiffy. In fact, he had gone away immediately after Whey all put themselves on guard. . Then they suddenly lighted out as. fast as they SRP pot to a dance in the next town, fvery boy had his weapon ready to strike. knew how. odgett had shut up the house in Peter’s ab- Now you could have heard a mouse breathe, “They didn’t caro to stay there and answer foolish|Sen¢e. ft was the calm before the blizzard, questions. That’s how ihe got the little surprise intended for Stump, stump, came the footsteps, The professor. would want to know what they|Pegtoes. % In ent hee minute the victim would bes on hand. |were doing down at the door and all about it. -| This time the boys got left. Wasn’t he going to catch it? Like the boy in the song, “they didn’t like to| Thoy had their fun, all the same, fod oat ly they got ‘right ont of thatlik His tittlepieniese Asbo, STARRY cae igor ro a ona nently ey got right ont of thatlike men, is little picnic would come, all in goo mer” 7 : CHAPTER XY. The: ipped pecan to the front dobre got in,| Blodgett’s rheumatism was. pesaouy worse the j Tre boys were all awaiting outside the seo and nee up-to bed ~ «|ne : xt day. ~ house for Peter, - 1 As for the oy yhe was all broken up. “He Bed: to sitona PaO in facts
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32 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. nt SS —————aoaoaoaoaaoaoaoaamamamammommmmmeeeeeeaeaeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ee 88656555 He wanted to know who had given him that)’ Hadn’the just given the little beast.a belt so as| He hated babies as much as he hated Blodgett’s dressing down the worst way. The boys did not enlighten old Baldness on that joint. y When questioned, they expressed the utmost as- tonishment that such a thing had happened. They would not forget Peter Pilgrim, however, You can lay anything on that. However, there was that overdue snap on Whisk- ers to be put through. 4 f It was quite ripe and ready to be picked by this time, ; Simpson had given up walking before break- ast, : : ; eae was too much snow on the ground for that, Somé6 peoplé “enjoy wading through two feet of snow with the mercury away down in the bulb and some do not. Simpson was one of fhe kind who do not. He had his little exercise all the same, though. He took it with a pony and cutter, Every morning he went out for a drive before hash time, When he came back he had roses in his cheeks, a cold in his head and the appetite of a horse. That’s the healthfulness of open air exercise, don’t you know. ahe boys had got on to Simpson’s change of ex- ercise, Probably Whiskers had remembered his fall in the ditch, and had changed his mode of taking the air on that account, ’ The boys remembered it at all events. They had not been fully satisfled with the result of that a They had expected to hear some very choice in- vective from Simpy, and he had grievously disap- pointed their hopes, They concluded to give him another trial. Well, they knew all about the pony and cutter business, , They knew just when Whiskers went out and when he came back. Consequently one cold, frosty. morning they laid for him. Pepper had the pony and cutter at the front gate at the usual hour, Out came Solomon Simpson, arrayed in a pea jacket, a pair of driving-gloves and a fur cap. He had ono ther things, of course, but these were] 41 peter. the most noticeable, There had been a light fall of snow during the night, Simpson observed. It had really fallen that morning, The boys had made it fall on the. front walk themselves, The light coating of snow merely covered a trap|™& and stay all night. a had set, . The prey orth and planted his number nines on the walk, _ ‘They sprang up as soon as they were planted. Whack! Down went Sinpson on his back. He slid clear way down to the gate. The boys had fixed things so that he could do it ee with neatness, elegance and rapidity. “Wow !” howled the professor. That wasn’t all he said. ag yrating gimeracks! Sacred effiuvium of smouldering polywogs! great Jehosaphat, Amina- dab and Nebuchadnezzar! why in tophet don’t that rawboned Mick keep thet walk clear of ice?” That was part of what he vociferated. There was more, but it was too sulphurous for|farnace, and knew nothing of the new arrivals, timid ears. The boys were not disappointed at the flow ot/covered wagon, with her two babies in her la: languags on this occasion. The little slide which they had prepared for Simpson was a complete success. Moreover, the matinee had only just begun. The curtain was eimply, rung up, as it were, Simpson picked himself up; murtering anathema maranatha on Pepper, objurgating him by bell, book and candle, so to speak, and then jumped into the cutter, “‘G’up!” he bawled, cracking the poor, innocent pony over the fiank with the whip. He was bound to get hunk on something. Away shot the little nag over the snow, the run- ners crunching the icy particles as thev glided on. There was another trap set for Whiskers. As he dashed around a turn in the road, licketty he ran plump into it. clip, Tho boys were haying a grand snowballing|/such humbug. match to get uP an appetite. f They were divided into two equal parties, one on either side of the road. How the spheres of congealed: vapor did whizz through the air! i F f It was just full of them, and’ there were more coming. : In a shake Simpson was in the thick of it. He couldn’t stop the pony any more than he could whistle in Greek. © pu ~thouse. rofessor of English branches stepped|®sed seven or eight months. '|them to play'the racket that they did upon those|where the mot precious lambs.’ > to make him go faster? Sy boys. Of course he had. King Herod was just the boss kind of a man in Well, it seemed as if every single, solitary; iden-|his estimation, and he would have liked to emu- tical snowball was aimed at his noddle, late thas bad monarch’s example in his disposition Perbaps it was. of youngsters. At any rate he got enough of ’em to build a} After supper was over and the boys were free to go about as they chose for an hour or so, Johnny met Billy in the hall. “T’ve got a good one for Petey,” remarked young Brown. “TLet’s have itstraight,” returned young Bounce. “Hook the kids and give ’em to Peter.” ** Ho’ll strangle ’em,” “He won’t know what they are,” “How are you going to do it?” “Listen.” : t It was a dandy snap, but one or two extra boys i were needed in order to carry it out well. aaa melanie Role vor el BOS ora vedas There was no trouble in getting any number of i : i assistants. bane oe IO secu elu Just before the boys vere PED Daaee to go into the The boys went on with their battle as the pony|Yis study room for a couple of hours, Johnny and and cutter went spinning down the road. Billy worked their snap. if When they Ride o neared the fight stopped. rs. Dodger and Cynthy Ann were sitting by the Those young rascals had had all the exercise pe se fire swapping gossip over a pot of strong PUN Ee et The angels were sound asleep on an old fashion- Fortunately Simpson h t identified them he might hang elven on hata miore we anchetce ed settle, placed behind a clothes-horse over in ( S one corner near the door, turned. i ‘ Peter was in his room seraping off some of the ciate i DON spe ke Yeas aCe Uae eo superabundant hair Ae his face ee a big FAZOH: Tae boys might still be snoMehe ag each other, hae sencmrcsne ter, ae au Ea Chey. wile cid tot take any more eleig tides elthel "Dodger and Oynthy Ann were busily ehinning I fenief oe adthadalisha when a knock came ut the door leading outside. t was # picnic for the boys, an ad all: hap- Johnny and Billy were at the hall door, you poner BO He geh ws a ne. one eC PLES them.| ust understand ze fit was the way that they generally got things M 4 up when thoy gave their minds to it, baeees got up, went to’ the door and found a Paar a snap gave them something to laugh at\" ‘sng ‘had to take a lamp with her to see who it All the same they did not stop at that. jhe were ready for another as soon as it came Edit d The tramp was Sam. fixed up for the occasion, h ane ant Bes a tent Hse # ewan had He chinded away with Dodger and Cynthy Ann ; enapihterdaa tor Pent C y 5 ®lfor five minutes trying to bulldoze them into let- oN Ove hs aa oot tase to settle with bir 8 ting him have bed and‘a bite. anviata Berbers wattar ae ay, aes While he was thus engaged, Johnny and Billy, as fact, any time would do.to work off a racket hah etree Are vaL Over their slices ancnmet ian é When Sam saw that the coast was clear he dust- ed, and the two women went and sat down, Our two jokers lugged the darlings off up-stairs the big basket. : Sf : Those wicked boys got a lot of burned cork and the daughter camo over to see her|tlackened the head, neck and hands of one of the kids, leaving the other as he was, Then they tied a big piece of carpet over the basket, put on a card addressed to Peter Pilgrim, They were twins, two boys with bald hends,|Ksq., and lugged it along the hall to Peter’s room. lusty lungs and fat chops. That worthy was just washing up after his ue Nt old poceee thought that they|shave. were just two little angels. yet There are several varieties of angels, however. eevee: werd baskelg downy baveed Mi ne Whatever kind they were, they could holler like} «Gome in!” bawled Peter, blazes when things didn’t 34 to suit them. Novone tame ‘ ynthy Ann, their mother, had brought them} 3, ropeated the Invitation over for their grandma to see, Mrs. Dodger having} §¢j]) no one entered. et never had that felicity. The hushand remained at home, and had a good canes SE A LAA ue AE AUC) night’s rest for once. “ kc fi yet Cy ntay, sein se enee dark hep for thehelghees tue skipper Has:sentme n:present 1e boys were all out of doors enjoying themselves.) “peter had a queer notion that he was invaluable Peter was down in the cellar juggling with thejand that everybody wanted to make him presents. He dragged the basket into the room, wondering all the time what was in it. There was only one sure way of finding out. That was to take off the cover. Peter did so and revealed the sleeping cherubs. One was white and the other black. “ Avast there, ye lubberly sea dogs!” he howled. One knocked his hat off and hung it on a tree. Another filled his ear and made him thinka mule had toyéd with it. ’ A third-spréad itself all over his right eye. Along came another and occupied the territory contiguous to his othereye. | His mouth had to be accommodated, too, and there was one for it. The whole business didn’t take half a minute, but it seemed two hours, ; was. That ieft the hall door, and the clothes-horse, and the snoozing kids in deep shadow, * Tho time came booming along before the boys knew it, - Mrs. Dodger, the housekeeper, had a marriedlin daughter living in a town about ten miles away. One evenin She brought two little responsibilities with her, The fond mother came-up from the depot in a They were bundled up till they looked like Tittle Esquimaux so that they might not catch cold, Pepper helped Orne Ann out of the wagon, fe hee and all, for she would not trust her precious darlings to any one. ‘ ’ " <oni the hoya witnessed the arrival an Johnny pieaiiares s been taking a wrong ‘reckoning, 1 winked at Billy in a way that meant much. The. +, . ck When Oynthy Ann, met HOMAGE Sar Ree e i tel babes awoke at the sound of Peter’s bull-like greatest hugging and kissing time you ever saw. Then they: began to how). ; Dodger wanted to see the dear little tootsey-| jrithor of them would ‘have been bad enough. pp ctsey duckies right away and kiss ‘em most to} y5¢)) together, they were terrors, eath. “ =Ot !” yelled P conieTs The young cherubs objected to being served in pga atthe aN eis yelled Peter, :* ow T'll fire this fashion, for itwas meal time, according to their” y¢ jg 9 question whether they understood the notions. j threat or not. _ They set up a terrible howling and would not be} Nevertheless they howled worse than before. comforted with kisses or honeyed words or any} “Shut up!” roared Peter. ‘Here, you black kid, I’ll skin you white if you don’t shut up.” Cyiithy Ann was obliged to attend to them, and|’ They didn’t either of them shut up, and they had that gave the housekeeper a chance to boss the/no intention of doing so for Peter’s say so. servints in the preparation of supper. 5! They howled like young fiends, and the more The boys would have fared badly that night but|they yelled, the greater was their inclination to for the iniportunities of those kids. keop on yelling, eet ; Therefore it was very naughty and ungrateful of} ‘The racket penetrated to the regions below, ; er and daughter were still chin- ¢ ning. 12 to got off a good joke on|*\ Cynthy Ann jumped up ina terrible fright. — ‘Here was the chance 2 “That's my precious Moses and Aaron crying,” Peter,
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 35 she gasped. ‘* The dear, precious sweet angels. There, there, tunnins, mommer’s a-tomin’.” Dodger jumped up likewise, hut she. was scared. math «Mhem children ain’t in this kitchen, Oynthy Ann,” she sereamed. ‘ Taey’ve just walked away and fell into the well.” *Shucks, ma! ‘hey’re only babies,” Then she let out a shriek that beat any steam whistle you ever heard. «They're gone, kidnapped, stolen !” she howled, Just then litthe Pepper rushed in, all out of breath, It wasn’t Pepper, but it looked just like the lit- tle runt. i It was Billy Bounce fixed up in imitation of the little gardener, “Och hone, Mrs, Dodger!” he hawled, “ phwat do yez think? Pether has run away wid the kids and the divil only knows phwat he’s goin’ to do widthim, Run, hurry up, he has thim up in his room neow.” : In fact the caterwauling of the kids could be heard above all other sounds, ‘On, the villain!” gasped the old woman, “My sweat sugar plums,” snickered Cynthy Ann, getting hysterical. Then they both sailed out of that kitchen and up-stairs. There were breakers ahead for Peter Pilgrim. CHAPTER XVI. Oxp SrumMpsAcK was haying a monkey and par- rot time with those two kids. They were there, and he didn’t know what to do with ’em any more than a cow. He didn’t want ’em, and yet he didn’t know now to get rid of them. é The more-he yelled at them the louder they bawled. i “Guess somebody must ha’ thought I wanted to start a museum,” he growled, ‘One black kid and one white one, and twins, too. Scuttle ’em both, I don’t want ’em.” : Just then up came Oynthy Ann and- Mrs, Dod- er, x oe They burst into the roont like twin cyclones. “There they are, the ~ precious: darlings |” screamed Oynthy Ann = = = “Oh, you old reprobatel” eried- the Dodger. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” «And he’s gone and blacked up one of the dear little duckies so that I wouldn’t know it, the. vil- fain,’ howled the mother, ~~ — Peter began to see through the hole in the brick. ; oe. : “Are them your——”" “Oh!” yelled Dodger. “ Ah!” howled Cynthy Ann. Then they both fell upon him, : Peter would just as soon haye been tackled by two wild eats, - Thay scratched and they bit and they clawed. They pounded and slammed and mauled, All the while they addressed him in the choicest terms. : The kids added their yells to the general din. The boys appeared also, and howled and shriok- ed delightedly. ‘ : “(Co in, Dodger, old girl, give him hallelujah.” “Give it to the kidnapper, Cynthy Aun, give it to him.” “Olub him with his wooden leg, the old wretch.” “Pull his whiskers out, the robber.” These two women needed no encouragement, but just sailed in, Peter was a terribly used-up individual in a few seconds, His coat was torn from bis back, his shirt was in ribbons and his face was a sight to see, At last he broke away from the two angry women. - There was no other way of escape and so he bolted out of the window. ' ; He took the sash with him, having no time to raise it. : He fell into a big water butt outside. No one went to his rescue and he had to get out as wollas he could, , Then the womon seized the yelling kids and returned to the kitchen. ‘'he boys were square on the old man now, in the way of snaps. This one paid up for all the spiteful tricks he had played on them. It left a handsome balance in their favor, if any- thing. “ , They went to their studies highly satisfied with the result of their little racket, Poter sneaked down into the cellar, and did not dare to show up till long after Dodger and her dnughter had gone to bed, _jelothes and jumped into bed. lence, but they wouldn’t speak to or even look at him when he appeared. The old crank was just dying to know who had left that basket at his bedroom door, He did not ask any one, but he tried to flod out, all the same, One of the boys must have cone it, beyond a doubt. ; The professor was not the man to play a joke like that. Neither were Simpson and the rest likely to do 1 = The two women were left out, to begin with, Then it must be either Pepper or one of the boys. : Stumptoes decided upon the little gardonur after due deliberation. He was the only one who had access to the cul- inary department, Having settled this vexed question to his entire satisfaction, Peter next debated’ as to how he might be revenged on the gardener, There was no earthly use in fighting him, Pepper could wallop Peter with one hand, and not half try either, There was only one way in which to get square. He must play a return joke on the gardener. How was this to bo done? Peter set what wits he had to work some good scheme, Johnny could have given him no end of points, Johuny was not asked, however, and knew nothing about it, ‘ Catch the old curmudgeon going to the boys for assistance. ; Ho sould see them hanged, drawn and quarter- ed first. to devise *©You did, I tell ye,” said Pegtoes. ‘© Well, maybe I did, but it didn’t trouble me an- ny. Ido remember neow that if seemed a bit cowlder than usual whin I got into bed.” “By gosh! I should think it was. sleep in that snow all night?” “ { suppose I did ay there was anny there. You seem to know all about it.” “Course I do, cause I put it there, yer red- headed seulpin.” Peter wasn’t going to have any of his snaps wasted, If folks did not know when they had one of his rackets played.on them, he was going to let ’em KNOW. “So yez pit snow in me bed, did yez?” asked Pepper. i “Yes, I did. Good joke, wasn’t it?” *“Troth, it’s not snow that yez’ll be sleepin’ an wan ay those days, Misther Pether, but something quoite different; something that'll melt the iron socket an yer wooden leg, begob.” Peter was still unsatisfied. “He had expected to sev Pepper get tearing mad. Pepper was as cool as if his mame had been snow. - ; He didn’t seem to baye any intention of getting mad, either. That did not suit Peter. } “That's for putting those tivo brats at my door,” he said. **Phwat two brats, begob?” : A This was the first time Pepper had heard. of nem. f - “‘The housekeeper’s daughter’s brats, you red= headed idjit.” : ‘And T pit thim at yure dure?” Did yer Well, ho must think of some good joke, and af- ter much cudgeling of his brain he found one, Then h9 proceeded to develop it with celerity. It wasn’t much of a snap, but it, was pretty good for Peter. : There was plenty.of snow on the ground just now, for Christmas was coming. Well, that wooden-legged sinner went out one night shortly before bed time-and brought in a whole big tubful of snow. 3 This he deposited in Pepper’s bed right down the middle, Ee i PE Pepper slept up-stairs in a cold room; and the snow did not have much time to melt, } Having fixed the) gardener’s bed for him, Poter stumped down-stairs, : : He did not care to awalt the result of his little snap, t Pepper went up soon afterward, threw off his ** Begob, me bed needs airin’ bad,” ho muttered. “Faix, it’s as cold as ice.” He supposed it would become warmer after a bit, and he began to compose himself for sleep. The heat of his body warmed the snow and things began to get moist. * Begob, I don’t know phiat makes me so cowld. Some wan must have lift a windy open.” : He did not get up to see, however, but went right on trying to get to sleep. The melting snow made times lively for him and he rolled over, That brought him right into the middle of it. Hoe had only had his back against it before. “Howly gridirons!* he howled, leaping out of bed and taking all the covers with him, “ who pit red-hot coals in me bed?” Tf you don’t think snow burns, jump naked into a drift of it and find out. Well, poor Pepper tripped himself up with the béd clothes and then began to think that he was cold instead of hot, Ho lighted a candle and located the trouble at once, ““ Begorrah, neow, that’s a foine thing to put in aman’s bed. Shure, I’m no polar bear to sleep on a eake ay ice or a shnow dhrift.” He fired the snow out of the window, rolled him- self up inthe blankets, and was soon sound asleep, and that was the end of Peter’s little joke. Old Pégtoes expected that Pepper would accuse him of monkeying with his virtaous couch the next time they met, Pepper never even mentioned the little affair, Stumpjack wasn’t satisfied with that. He was bound to receive some recognition. “Sloep putty well, last night?” he asked. “ Begob, I did.” “Qiked your new bed © Begob, I did.” “Used ter that sort?’ ‘Bezob, I am.” ‘* What, yer red-headed lubber, used to sleepin’ in snow banks?” ** Begob, I’m not.” ** Well, you had one to sleep on last night.” , hey?” The next day ho looked as if he had been having A tussle with a threshing machine. The two women did not offer him any more vio- “ Bogob, I did not.” ; Pepner had tumbled now, but he wasn’t going to give Mr. Pilgrim satisfaction, Yes, yer did.’ ; ‘And ye pit suow in me bed to pay for it?” “Yes, I did, seuttle yer old hulk.” ; “ Begoh thin, ye’re a bigger fool than I tho ye wor, dure.” “‘ Who was it?” asked Peter eagerly. ** Paix, there he goes neow,” cried Pepper, sud- denly jumping up and running towards the door, the little interview having been held in the kitchen, £5 Bef Peter leaped from his chair and followed per, hoping to get a sight at the culprit. ; Pepper swung the door open, jumped aside, thrust out one of his big feet and alway. went Peter right into.a big snow drift. *“ Paix, av ye’re so fond av shnow,” remarked the gardener, ‘take yer fill ay it for wanst.? Then he slammed the door shut, went in, sat by the fire and observed: — } ¥ : ‘‘Begob, if Pether wants to bea practical joker, he’d betther take lessons av the byes. Sure, there’s not wan ay thim that couldn’t give him points, for they’ve forgot more than he'll iver know ifhe lives to be as ould as Metoosalum’s jack ass, begob.” There was a coldness between the janitor and the gardener after this. ; Peter brought some of it when he returned. . He only went into the drift ss far as his ankles. Ho went in head first, however. it took him till noon to thaw out, ing his flory rage. ~ eee that Pepper and Peter did not speak as they met. Pepper did not mind that a copper’s worth. He became so good-natured on that account that Beiald Johnny and, the others all about the gag on eter, That made them think that it was about time that they worked off one on that weary Pilgrim themselves, » : He had not enjoyed the last one and so they aoe that they would give him one more to his iking, it was Billy Bounce that got this one up. | He belonged to a joking family and playing off rackets was second nature to him, Peter had been presented with a basket and now Billy thought that Simpson ought to have one, Billy swiped the biggest clothes basket he could find, and told the boys of his plan. The next thing was to get something to put in the basket, Billy bad that arranged also, When the clock had struek the hour, and Peter had stumped his rounds, a dozen of those pretty boys waited for him in the lower hall. ‘ He came along, humming to himself the tuneful itty: “ Oh, spare my brown stone front,’ The old man said, with tears, ** For I have paid no rent For more than fifty years. Oh, do not——"” That was as far as he got. j The boys suddenly jumped out upon him, trip- ed him up, and put him flat on his back. ‘hey ued an old mop over his mouth, bound his ught Sure, 1 know who pit the babies at yer Pep- in with him, in fact, , notwithstand- P
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34 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. hands and legs with a clothes-line, and put him inf ‘Yhey went up to their little beds, and were soon} Any one that could scare up a dollar for a ticket the big basket. - sound asleep. was allowed to attend. They also tied him in, wrapping an old horse-| Meauwhile Poter was trying to break loose, but} It was to beheld in the hotel parlors, which were — blanket around itso that he could not get out, could not do it. quite large for a country tavern. One leg hung over, and his wooden stump stuck| gq; 3 ; « Thsy were on the second floor, and so no one ; ? imp: moked a pipe, read the paper through * ’ straight, but that did not matter. pail Oe Suis site ven fire till chew were ernie could hang arourd the windows and see all the Then they grasped the precious casket, curried}, .,. ae hilacke aittine ~ tha{Lun Without buying a ticket. it up-stairs and placed it in front of Simpson’s Beets ee ODO FAO ENE Some of the boys at Blodgett’s were given per- door. i i . rf mission to attend the affair, provided they were Billy laid a big placard on top, and then caressed), He woke up at two in the morning, just as the|not out too late. thé door with his foot. light went ont. Johnny Brown determined to go, but he said The other boys did tho same, beating a regular| He never thougat another word of Peter or the/never a word about his costume. tattoo on it, boys. He had it picked out, however, and it was the “Hallo, there! What's that?” yelled Whiskers| He chucked off his clothes and resumed his nap|king pin of thie entire collection. from within. with a clear conscience. ~ Billy Brown was going as Old Mother Hubbard, co i ii i TT ui : ma ii es ee a & v CZ My GZ Johnny got on his feet in a jiffy and ran off, holding the slipper aloft. Everybody laughed except the gir The bear made a dive for the door, chucked the slipper at the head of a clown with a long nose, and then disappeared. Tine boys danced away, and out came Whiskers] When he came out the next morning he nearly{and Sam was to be the dog belonging to the afore- with a lamp in his hand. stumbled over that big turtle in the hall. said ancient dame, “Please take our little darling.” Peter hadn’t been able to réleuse himself al!] The dude went along because the others went. That’s what the placard on the basket requested. jnight. He thought that he would not put cn a costume, a “A’m! dandy as Lae you Ni 1” snerted : He was just as mad at Simpson as he was at the/however. ; Pest se impson, when be beheld Peter’s ugly mug. oys now. ‘ : * hieh- Pre Then he stood and grinned at the old chump,| Whiskers laughed harder than before and said: SE ee Oa He At but never offered to release him, “ Well, that takes the bin! So they didn’t come|pianelieu or Lohengrin, he might have Attended Peter kicked as much as he could and madejback after all? Well, well!” Tho costumes brought up from the city did not strange sounds as he tried to tell Simpson to let} Then he wept away laughing, found Pepper, an¢|cujt him at all i him loose. told him to go and cut Peter loose. Ses ~ Ounning little darling,” laughed the professor] Pegtoes was mad enough, but he did not know of English branches. ‘ Was he trying to talk?)wbo had played the racket on him, and so had to Bless he ole gizzards, so him was.” grin and bear it. ; Then he burst into a roar, kicked the basket} ‘‘ Poorlittle darling,” chuckled Simpson, over a his big opts went 12 and pnw ne door. Pelt in et us pie world yout take him in i anid Billy Poor Peter was like aturtle in his shell, now,} hen ke thought the joke such a good one that)", Sie but he couldn’t waddle all the same. : he never mentioned it to Blodgett, and those jolly|,.) You might go as the skeleton dude,” added “ Good joke,” snickered Simpson. “Those boys|boys got off without even a jawing. Johnny. cigarette,” suggested one, j : * Or get inside a gun-case and go as a length of No-| S48: pipe,” said another, tea rin! “Pnt on a silver head and go asa cane, Harris,” land her fellow _ “You might wear your bightgown and go as a — take the cake for pranks, Reckon they'll come| Just about this time the holidays came around. | Harris did not say anything, but he went into — “back, and see what's become of Pete, and ther Li} Nearly all the boys were going home for Christ-|fown with tho rest, ‘collar them. ‘Discipline must be maintained, if Ijmas and New Years, and the place would be de-| Thenthey lost sightofhim, break a leg.” s serted. . ; ee The ball-room was a scene of bewildering beauty, The pioede was not as fly as he thought for.) There was some fun to be had before they went,| There were two fiddlers, a fellow with a harp, The boys hnd no notion of coming back to see however. ; a flend at the piano, and a flnteist. how Peter was getting on. They were quite satisfied to let the joke stand,|a grand fancy dress ball and masquerade in thejand there was at least flve yards of evergrer;: village hotel. just as it was. roping and three holly wreaths. — P Ya t 4 o A night or two before Christmas there was to be) American flags were hung around the walls, | bs
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. pas Ss ee The costumes were something superlatively ele- ant, There were knights in silver paper coats, pages in red and yellow flannel, courtiers in paper mus- lin suits, and no end of clowns, cowboys, Indians, devils and fat boys. The girls were out in force, too, aud were gotten up regardless, There were Bo Peeps and Red Riding Hoods, princesses, flower-girls, gypsies, beggars, nuns, and nondescripts of evory sort. ; it was quite bewildéring to watch them all, n fact. Blodgett’s boys were gotten up in various rigs, but Jolinny Brown took the tart. He went there in his hearskin. That is to say, he was dressed in the skin of a ear. It fitted him like a glove, and he-woild haye passed unchallenged in the highest bear society. _ The thing covered him completely, head, feet, bands and all. Nobody knew him, and he had no end of fun. He danced one? or twice in quadrilles and made - any amount of amusement. ‘Phen he waltzed with the prettiest cirl in the room, and carried out his assamed character by giving her a jolly good hug. After that he began to cut up high jinks. He got down on all fours and ran around the room, scaring hysterical people into fits. ‘ He wus getting rather warm inside his suit, - however, and concluded to take a cest. Running about on all fours between dances, he Been came toa bench «where a girl and her ellow were chinning. The girl wore some stunning kind of rig, all lace and feathers,,and had long striped stockings and low slippers. ‘ Johnny, frolicking about a ta bear grabbed on¢ a those low Cinderellas and yanked it off the girl’s foot. i She screamed and yelled and threatened to aint, Her fellow, rigged out like Buffalo Bill, jumped up and began to talk business very fast. Johnny got on his feetin a-jifiy and ran off, _ holding the slipper aloft. ‘i Everybody laughed except the girl and her fel- OW, The bear made a dive for the door, chucked the Slipper at the head of # clown with along nose, @nd then disappeared. CHAPTER XVII. Tuere was considerable excitement in that ball oom, after Johnny had skipped out in his bear- skin suit. - The girl got her slipper back, and did rot faint, but her fellow was very mad. ~~ “Wait till that bear comes back again,” he mut- ered. ; In a few minute- the bear did come back again. Buffalo Bill was waiting for him, © Tho real William never displayed such nerve as ‘id the counterfeit, ; As soon as that bear was well inside, Bill waltzed uptohim. — Tnsult my gal, will you?” he demanded. Then he hauled off and pasted Bruin right be- tween his lovely black eyes. * Over he went like a row of bricks, flat on his back, “Vil teach you to come in here and insult a gal - Of mine, you sucker,” cried Buffalo Bill in a rage. He was ready to give bruin another as soon as he got up. _Yery mad, Blawst yah impudence,” he said. ‘I’ve only ust come in, and I don’t know nothing about yaw hyl, be Jove.” It was Harris, the dude, who spoke from within the bearskin. F How is this? : mh Johnny haye on that skin in the last chap- ) ae : _ He did for a faet. He did not have it on now, however. It was the dude, sure pop.’ ‘Thereby hengs a tail which I will proceed to ~ Unwind, ‘ at cae _. When he skipped out of the ball room after pur- _loining the young lady’s slipper, he wont below to i me general sitting-room, office and bar of the ho- Hore he took off his head so as to get a breath on! Paine “That is to say, he took off his bear’s head, not is own. se ; ‘Among the company assembled in the room Ss the dude. ‘ The affair up-stairs was not high toned enough im and that’s why he was not there. When he saw Johnny, however, he was yery much delighted. “Aw, be Jove,-don’t yah know, theah’s some- thing owiginal,” he remarked. “Funny I didn’t think of it meself.” Johnny saw the way to a good snap. “71 lend it to you, Harris,” ne said, cor- dially. “Weally?” said the delighted dude, “But I haven’t got a ticket and [ don’t want anybody to know me. They will, don’t yah know, if I go and buy one.” « Here’s a return check, that’s just as good,” ‘Aw, thanks, awfully, Brown. Very clevab ideah, pon me wawd.” : ‘hen Johnny. took off the bear's dress and gave it to the deluded dude, 35 ——— oO “ Begob I don’t care if the whole business bur: up,” Pepper growled. “She has aright to shte in and luck afther things. Just then old Peter came stumping in. “Whats burning?” he asked, sticking up his nose. “Waix, that’s phwat Pd like to know. I’ve been tryin’ to find eout for the last tin minyutes.” Then Peter caught sight of Pepper’s smoldering jumper. i Here was an opportunity fora first-class racket, “Ho! guess I know what it is,” he chuckled, “and Vl put it out.” “Phwere is it, ye ould crow? Can’t yez tell a body?” Peter caught up a pail of water sitting by the side of the sink. ; That’s how Johnny did pot get that sockdolager in the jaw intended for him. Harris was very much smrprised and protested his entire ignorance of having done anything wrong. : “Pye only just come in, be Jove!” he declared. That didn’t save him. The angry rustic proceeded to wipe up the floor with him, iS It was ten times hotter in that bear skin than Johnny had found it. The poor dude was finally rescued, and then matters were explained to him. “Yaw might have told me/that at favst,” he wailed, ‘then I could have explained.” Now, of courss, he knew that Jobnny had played # racket on him. He went in search{of the young joker at once. Johnny had put on another costume and wasn’t to be seen. The dude not only lost his revenge, buthe had to pay for the damage done to the bear rig. “Here it is!” he cried. Then he let Pepper have it right in the back. The fire was put out in ajiffy. So was Pepper—very much put out, in fact. “Hould an!” he gasped. ‘“ Phwat’s that for?” “Mo put out the fire, yer lubber,” returned eter. s At that moment the ancient Dodger entered. Perhaps she was a little bit mad. Just a litue. f She saw the water running in rivulets and mak- ing little puddles all over her clean floor, She likewise saw the oven doors open and eyery- thing at sixes and sevens. She also saw the two freaks intruding upon the sanctity of her especial domain, No wonder she was mad, s She grabbed up a broom and began to sweep. The first thing she swept was Popper's hat. She swept it clean off his head ina twinkling, ; Ss a wonder she had not made him bald- nended. 1 That only mads him madder yetand he resolved Two inches lower and his head would have to have no more to do with Johnny Brown. He forgot that Johnny might want to cultivate his further acquaintance, especially if thero were any gags to be worked. gone as well, : Then she sailed into old Pegtoes. She had no love for him at the best of times. Just nowy that article was the scarcest thing im — Well, school broke up the next day for the holi-|the market. days, and the boys went home. She banged his hat over his eyes to begin. When they came back they were just-as ready| Then she caressed him on both cheeks with hi for jokes as ever. The first victim was Pepper. room. : After that she whacked him over the noddle wil One evening, after supper, he had been fooling}it. around the barn and went to the kitchen to get warm, > Billy and Sam were waiting for him. “Hallo, Pepper, how did you pass your holi- days?” asked Sam, getting in front of him, “No thanks to yo, I had a foine toime,” said the runt. “Tots of presents, I suppose, eh, old man?” «Ah, don’t be talkin’ to me,” “Can’t yezsee I'm perishin’ wid the cowld.” Billy had been at work in the meantime. She next returned to Pepper, so that he might nc. feel neglected. Bang went the broom-stick over his shins. Smash, it carromed against his ribs. Whack! and he cuught it over the knuckles, “Now get out of here, the pair of you!” she screaméd, banging away, left and right. She was so mad that she actually hit what she growled Pepper.|aimed at, She could never have dons thatin her cool senses, It only shows how terribly excited she must have He had fastened a smoldering rag to the tail of/been. Pepper’s jumper while Sam was chinning. Peter aud Pepper began to think that they were “Glad to see us back,.1 suppose, aren’t you?”|not wanted in the kitchen. asked the confederate. . “Tam not, av yez want the truth eout ay me,” sputtered the red-headed midget. “Ob, yes, you are,” “Goan neow an’ Pepper, pushing the boy aside. . The wind meanwhile had fanned the burning rag)“ Phwat wor it?” into a glow, but not into flame. Pepper sailed into the house with a wake of amoke following him, like a steamer, and made his way to the kitehen, ‘ 2 There was nobody present in this sanctum, Pepper smiled and went for a chair to draw in front of the fire. That would have put him between two fires, as it were, Suddenly the smell of something burning assail- ed his olfactories, “Begob, I think the missus in the oven, and it’s burning !” Then he grabbed the knob on the 01 en door, It was hot and Pepper soon found it out. ‘‘Begob, there’s something burning neow,” he howled, as he stuck his finger in his big mouth. Then he opened the oven door with his foot. The place was empty. Still he could smell something burning. In fact, it was worse than ever. : c “Sure [ wouldn’t think there was such a differ- enee bechune inside and out, Begob, ’m as hot as foire.” - Then he tried the other oven. That was also empty. ** Faix, maybe it’s something in one ay the pots.” With that he lifted the lid of one of them, A cloud of steam rushed up into his face. He dropped the lid with a howl and j has left something umped back. It fell on the floor with a terrible clatter and scared the cat into a fit, i The smell of burning increased most decidedly. So did the heat cf the room apparently, They both got out of that in double-quick time, They adjourned to the ceflar, leaving Dodger to clean’ up after them. « Begob, I don’t know neow phwat it was that don’t be harashin me,” said|wor burning,” observed Pepper. “You must be as blind as a coot!” snorted Peter. * Yer own jacket, yer bloomin’ idjut.” “And I wor bloind not to see ut? Begob, d’yez think I have eyes in the back av me head?” “ Wal, yer lubber, couldn’t yer feel? The whole back is jest burned off.” Pepper stripped off what was left of the ment, and surveyed it dismally. “Tuck at that neow! Sure [ thot it wor gettin’ purty hot in there,” : : X At this Peter roare1 ready to explode. * Any fool orter knowed it,” he remarked. Yes, I believe it wor ye that found it eout said Peppor, quietly. Peter didn’t tumble to Pepper's little sareasr but went right on Jaughing. ee Pepper suddenly tumbled to somethir else. # He remembered that Mr, Pilgrim kad doused him with aqueous fluid. There was still a score to settle, therefore, “ Pether?” he suddenly exclaimed in very con- fidential tones. Y “What do you want?” “Come here till I tell yez something,” “Tell it to me here.” “No, I won't, because it'll go up the reggisther av I do,” gar- Peter got upand walked over to where Pepper was, * Bind yer head down till IT whisper.” Old Stumpyjack was chump enough to obey. Then Pepper fetched him ons on the ear that knocked him flat. : : “That's to pay forthe wather ye trowed over ma, ye ould slob,” remarked Pepper. ; t
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36 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. Then he drew a three-leyged stool up to the fire and procéeded to warm himself. ; Peter had received all the warming he cared for just then. é , He sat up half dazed and growled out: ** Wot yer want to do that fur, ye carrot-headed pirate?” “ Only for fun, jist,” said Pepper, quietly. Get out 0’ this cellar you bandy-lugged, lobster- eyed scullion |” : ‘ **T will not,” said Pepper, proceeding to light a pipe. — Bias Vos, trotter.” _ “ Aisy, now, aisy,”’ muttored Pepper, with a puff- yer will; yer hamstrung, owl-eyed bog- ia Uf Off flew the bear's head and up he got, looking very mad. “ Blawst yaw impudence,” he said. SS : and I don’t know nothing about your guy}, be Jove.” puff at his pipe. “ Av ye gets me warrnmed up ‘waist, I’m warse nor a voleanyer,” - “Yor are, hey?” said Peter, getting up. Then he went to the furnace, turned pupae out a jet of hot steam right in Pepper’s neck, : The runt tumbled over backwards, smashed the| ¥ stool to bits, and chucked his pipe to the furthest corner of the cellar, 71 He didn’t monkey with old P. Pilgrim’ after it, On the contrary, he got out of that cellar before any more steam-pipes bursted in his face, ~ “Niver moind,” he growled to himself. ‘I'll get aven wid the wooden-legged misfit av a mon ay I have to wait forthy years, begob!” The boys had not seen the end of this little trag- edy, but the beginning of it gave them enou ‘laugh at the rest of the evening. The next fellow that came in for a racket at thejall over him. hands of those liyely boys was Peter. Consequently the boys were out of doors most of the time, One afternoon, when it was bright and shiny and kind of half warm; they were all-out in the desert- ed garden looking for larks. Pepper had been washing carriages, there being a prospect that wheels instead of runners would hava to be used before Jong. .A length of hose lay at the foot of the low wall dividing the garden from the lawn. The water was gently gurgling out at the nozzle as Johuny lifted it from the ground and began to investigate. “Somebody wants a bath,” he remarked, as he pointed the nozzle at the boys. Just then Johnny let the water fly once more, Pepper got it, gave a yell, turned half around and fell slap bang on top of Peter as the latter was _ about to get up, : “Swim out, you're beyond your depth,” yelled Johnny. : Then the boys faded away and left the two misfits to fight the thing out in their own way. Pepper’s way was to grab up both buckets and bang Peter with them till he had sensa enough to skin out, _Old Pegtoes didn’t have the ghost of a show that time, , ‘* Begob, yez liave no shteam pipe to turn an me a faucetible. gh to) qj They skipped out pretty lively, aud just then Teter came from the house. oF = At the same time Pepper emerged from the sta- Johnny stood in an angle of the wall out of sight. First came Peter, stumping along in his graceful ay. Johnny raised the hose, took Peter in the nose, and sprinkled all his nice clothes. The janitor wheeled quickly around, and stood gazing blankly at the spot where he thought the water came from. |. Around the corner came Pepper with two big buckets of water in his fists. As he swung around there came a collision, One bucket hit Peter’s wooden leg a stunning crack and knocked it from under him, re He sat down in the other pail with neatness and spateh., . That upset Pepper Of course he had to knock the first pail out of They were always ready for -him, but now-a-|Pepper’s hand, and now it overturned with hin, days he began to get more eranky than usual and)giving him a second ducking. that’s the reason they went for him. _ The January thaw arrived about this time and|sn _ the weather was rather mild. _ ‘*Begob, it sarves ye right, ye clumsy divil,” arled Pepper. ‘Sure, it’s freshenin’ up yez need, anyhow.” : : 1 and Peter got the other pail a “I’ve only justcome in, neow,” warbled Pepper. ‘I tould yez I’d beeven — wid yez.” 4 Save Dey Wats e Peter was satisfied to let it stayeven justthon, He took very little interest in life apart from- getting dry togs on him. Sersdts 2 Not even tae thought of revenge entered his mind at that time, : 3 “ee Tiat came later, when he was dry and comfort- able and had time to think. ar ral Fee Then he laid all his mishaps at th boys. a3 Putting this and that together he came to the — conclusion that they were the parties responsible for his troubles, Beh eee He had been living an easy life for the last three — or four weeks, but now his troubles had began | again, 5 erat mB jneec ALE Ee = Of course it was the boys. Papas ee neti Naat ret “The young land sharks!’ he grumbled; ‘‘they — on’t give me a decent watch below, they don’t, and when I’m on deck it’s wexation from morn- ing till night.” © » a a aaa ey It was high time that he paid he reasoned. ie Bad Therefore, he set about makin for Johnny Brown & Co. © feot of those off old scores, g things pleasant
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 37 He knew how to do that to perfection, and had a way of his own. He did not ring the first bell in the morning till breakfast was on the table, and the boys had to eat their hash cold, Then he set ali the clocks back after the boys had gone in to school, and kept them in half an hour over time. hese were only afew of the things he did. However, the boys soon tumbled to him, and made up their minds to get even. You bet they would do it, too. CHAPTER XVIII. THE boys at Blodgott’s were bound to get even with Peter. ' He had been misbehaving himself of late, and they were tired of it. That’s why they wanted to get square. It was Billy who put up the next job on him, He was just as good at these little affairs as Johnny. : > It was all in the firm, however. What one did not think of the others were ready to invent. However, before the little snap could be worked something else happened. his was a snap'on the dude, It came about nattirally enough, and the racket on Peter was postponed. About this time the boys had concluded to work off another racket on Harris, the one, only and original dudo of the establishment. He had been getting rather fresh of late, and he boys thought He ought to have a lesson taught int, Circumstances conspired nicely to help the boys} out in this emergency. One of the nice girls in town gave a party, and invited all the boys to attend. — She lived in a swell house, and belonged to the yery condensed milk of society. ~ hatever she undertook was bound to be a howl- ing success. » _- ‘ There would be lots of boys hilarity would run riot. : : She was just the sort of girl to catch onto a'snap with both hands, and Johnny resolved to get her assistance in carrying out the gag on Harris, ' He had been invited, of course, for the party would be a dead failure unless he went. It was when Johnny found ‘out that he was go- ing that he decided to get up a little racket. Billy and all the other chums were let in.as a matter of course. © aie seit ° Well, Harris just got himself up-to mash. He wore his full dress suit, Rens leather pumps, black silk hosiery, white kid gloves, high collar, crush hat, and all the latest agonies. The boys simply put on their best duds, without any frills. ms Se: e ; Harris wanted to hire a sleigh all by his lones, but the professor} told him’ he must go with the rest. : : Pepper drove, and a jolly time they had going into town, you may believe, i The weather was rather soft and juicy, and there were signs of rain) when they arrived at the lordly mansion of Miss Kitty Baxter, iy They all piled out and went in, while Pepper Hs 1 horses under cover, and adjourned to the tchen. meta : All the company had not arrived, but there was enough to make things lively, ; ~ What a buzzing the girls did make when.they fr espied the boys from Blodgett’s! ‘ *Oh, there’s that dude, he-he; don’t he look funny, he-he-te-he?” And there’s Johnny the whole school,” “Vos, and Billy Bounce, ng.” i Johnny, Billy and three or four others, includ- ing Harris, stopped on the way down from the dressing-room to talk to Miss Kitty, whom they es- Pied in the library on the second floor back. __ **Nice fellows you all,” she said, “not to wait for the girls. You're awfully ungallant.” _ “4h, go on,” said Johuny, who knew his cue, * folks are just as polite now as they ever were.” **No, they aren’t.” “You're ei : “ You wouldn’t catch any of you young fellows soing after a lady’s handkerchief aaouSeh lot of lions,” said Kitty. ___ Did lions use handkerchiefs yaws ago?” asked Barris. ; and girls there, and Brown, the worst boy in Ho is justtoo comicar » for anythi x 2 h know.” handkerchief if I let it fall out ofa window.” don’t} ho “There isn’t one of you who would go after my|Bill “Tf you had only one we might, you know,” chuckled Johnr “l’m shaw Harris. “You might, Mr. Harris,” said Kitty, with a sw eet smile; “ but the others wouldn’t.” Harris was about smashed on the young lady as it was, ; hese molasses candy words concluded the busi- ness, “Tm shaw I would,” he said, blushing clear up under his yellow bangs, “T don’t believe you would, after all.” “Just you twy me, be Jove, and see if I wouldn't,” “Very well,” and Kitty raised the window, Then she threw her handkerchief out in the cold, chilly air of night.” “«Mhere, now go after it.” “Oertainly. Is this in fwont or in the weah?” and Harris started for the door. ‘‘ Where are you going?” she asked. “Down staialis to get yaw hankawehief, of cnwse,” “Oh, you mustn’t go that way alter it.” “Ticawn’t go any othaw way, can 1?” “You must go out the window after it.” ‘Out the window?” “Oertainly.” i Harris went to the window and looked out. “TI could nevah climb down thaw, don’t yab know,” he gasped, f xe Why not?” ‘Ts three aw faw stowies and theah’s nothing to hold on to,” Then the boys began to guy the poor, dude, “ Where’s your gallantry, old mant” “You're afraid to go down, old chappie.” “That's a nice way to back out of a thing,” “Tain’t backing out,” sputtered Harris, desper- dae as he put one patent leather pump on the 8 1y. Tewoutd don’t yah know,” said “ Wait moment, Mr. Harris,” said Kitty. “ L was Only testing you., I know very well you will go after it but 1 have provided # way whereby you will run no risk.” ei! Then the young rascal brought out a big basket with a rope attached from a closet. “We will lower you in this,” she said, ‘‘and draw you up again when you have found the handkerchief.” : Harris did not know about it. Ts it stwong enough to beah me?” he asked. “ Well, it will hold a man.” “It’s all right, then, Harris,” said Johnny, it will hold a man, it ought tohold you,” ; “You daren’t go!” said Billy. _ The others made similar observations. That settled it. War lisa St Rope nS AF The dude was bound to go now if he got his bangs out of curl, : ; “Yaw a set of noodles,” he said. “I'll just show you what I can do, be Jove.” " ‘Then the basket was put out,the boys holding the rope, - ; ‘It was now beginning to rain. Not a heavy rain, tut a wet one, for all that. - 5 Harris did not discover it till he was ten feet! own. : “Hold on theah!” be shouted. ‘Give me an umbwellah. It’s waining down heah.” “You won't need it, Mr, Harris,” said Kitty. “You'll be up in a second.” Down went Harris, like McGinty in the ballad, dressed in his best suit of clothes. He didn’t go to the bottom like the man in the song, however, ‘ Ho went half way, and there ho stopped. He was like the army ofthe King of France— neither up nor down. Then the boys shut down the window and made the rope fast. Just then Miss Kitty was called away. “ You'll let him up pretty soon, won’t you?” she asked, with a laugh. Oh, yes, they would let him up almost imme- diately. a At least they said they would. That was a fib. They had no such intentions. They meant to leave him there till he got water- ogged. “ It was just the right kind of weather for it, At first it was a mean, sneaking drizzle, Then it began to rain in a’ thoroughly business- like manner. After that it poured. : About that time the boys were having a dandy time down-stairs in the drawing-room. “The room was full, and all hands were enjoying themselves, TIRES as f Kitty forgot all about urs had gone by. Then She happened to meet Johnny Brown and Hiow is our friend Harris?” she asked. Harris until a couple of “Tha. Oh, he’s all right,” they both answered. Kitty did not have time to ask any more ques tions. J Poor Harris suffered in consequence. There he was suspended betiveen the roof and be ground in a basket, with the rain soaking him 0 the skin. He sat down but that did not help him any, There he was, in full eyening dress, without even a hat, exposed to the drenching rain. Those indoors had no idea how bad it was. The rain came down in regular sheets, Then, too, there was a busted waste water pipe just above Harris, and he got the overflow from that right inthe neck. He vonl’ not get up and he could not get down. The ground might be forty feet below and it might be only two, but, he did not dare risk a jump, Neither eould he climb up by the ropo to the window above, It was slippery with the rain, and, if it had not been, the poor dude would not have dared attempt the task, Therefore, he was obliged to make the most of a bad bargain and stay where he was. t t His high collar was sadly wilted, his shiny shirt front was like a dish rag, and tho rain ran off him in rivers. ; , He tried to call for aid, but i shy heard him. If ho remained there much longer, he was afraid. of being washed out of the basket. : Well, there ho stayed, and the rain coming down like mad all the time. The boys were too busy to go and haul him in, o’clock. It did not rain so hard all that time, but it was quite sufficient, A little of that sort of thing would have suited him as well as more, The boys guve him enough to last him for the rest of his life, ; ° He began to tumble, very shortly, to the fact that he had bean made a guy of. Kitty Baxter was in the plot too, he was sure, He would never speak to her again. As for the boys, they were just a lot of loafers. All the indignation in the world would not have done him any good, however. Well, just beforé the party brcke up, the boys released him from his plight, “We forgot all about that basket,” said Johnny, in a loud voice, sticking hishead out of the win- ow. j “Yas, and it must be pretty wet,” said Billy. “Feel how heavy it is, boys.” Then all hands hauled away and fetched Harris tp. fied ater ks When ‘he tumbled in they all felt surprised. “Why, Harris is in the basket |” “Thought you’d gone home, dude,” Tvs really too bad we didn’t know.” ‘© Ain’t you kind of wet, old man?” i eae was too cold and wet to speak what he elt. i Thoro was a fire in the library, und he almost sat on it. The boys were profuse in their expressions of sympathy. — ; The truth ofthe matter was, they did not know how bad it was outside. © : That did not do Harris any good now. “Yaw aset of chumps,” he said, when he began to thaw out a little. The boys only smiled at this. Harris did not say any more, for he felt that no language of his could do proper justice to the oc- casion, He sat at the fire till he got sort of half dry, ana then he went up and put on his things, You could not talk about knightly chivalry to him new. : Ho Peeeen Miss Kitty in the hall and never look- ed at her, “Good-night, Mr. Harris,” she said. you haye had a, pleasant evening.” Oh, yes, he no mistake, : ‘He thought: the young lady was laughing at 1 trust nim. That only increased his bitterness of feeling, “J weckon yaw handkawchief has gota good washing,” he retorted spicily, ‘‘and it certainly needed it, don’t yaw know.” With this shaft sticking in the back of his tor- mentor, as he considered her, the dude faded away. y Jeti It was a good cut, and particularly so, coming from him, and:the boys fairly howled. we Miss Kitty began to see a hole through a adder... 23 : AGES PSIG ‘© You horrid boys! you left that poor fellow out there all the evening.” i Mato ps, «Bet your boots we did!” chuckled Johnny. _ Tt was quite lucky for the boys that she did not. : He waa out there in the rain till nearly one ad had n gay old time of it, and
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38 JOHNNY BROWN »&-CO. — «That's what we meant to do, all the time,” warbled Billy. “Go wash your handkerchief, Kitty, it certainly ~geds it,” laughed Sum, Then they all sailed out and piled into the big yvered wagon. - Perhaps not! ; Being late when they came in, they didn’t stop to fool very much over getting into bed. In fact, some of them hopped in without even king the trouble to light up. . They lighted out, however, pretty suddeniy. ta Til bet he’s fixed us all the same way.” **T wouldn’t be surprised, young fellow.” In fact, a consultation in the hall revealed the. fact that all the jokers had been soaked, “The dude is square with us for our little racket,” said one, =% : aE The rain came down in regular sheets. Then, too, there was a busted waste water pipe just above Harris, and he got the overflow from that right in the neck. if He could not get up and he eould not get down. ; “ The dude wasn’t with them, however. He had swiped a vehicle on :his.own account and had driven home alone, sa He was inthe house twenty minutes ahead of the boys. , ; _ That gave him all the time he wanted: PE SSSI DED TINO ae SS ——4 Ty unum cua le es A AN AE | a“ « : 5 i Al Va : ‘ ‘ i FN \ a : Mh ee co TM MMT a ih 2 “ Great sawbones !” € Cesar’s ghost, wow !’?) ; “Golly! but it’s been raining |” “Woll, I wonld remark,” Those. expressions and others came floating through the halls, for the boys did not all sleep injof He took every blessed sheet off of every ona ofjone big room, the beds except his own and hung them cut of the windows, friestty 7 5 ‘Chere they stayed for ten or fifteen minutes, They were replaced on the beds just before the boys arrived. ; find otGebn a Then that dude locked his door, drew two trunks in front of it, jumped into bed and wis as ‘warm as toast by the time the boys came up. : Wouldn’t they feel nice when they struck those ‘cold sheets, though? == = Kent + a little something.” Co:sequently they nearly all got pitton, for theyjid did not catch on to the wherefore of the why until} . they got between the cold sheets... “That's. the dude’s work,” remarked Johnny, jwho hopped out of bed much quicker than he had hopped in. “That young thing,” said Billy, who roomed with Johnny. | “Yes, we'll have to give him credit for knowing » jored by the dude’s presence.. fellow is beginning to learn some-}. \ N Hill \ \ : ‘ | \ ; 1 ity 4 . Sc OA OSB OE ES Ee TE i ei aS ee te ag es Ss . “Tet’s givo him along mark. for his smartness,” / “Yos, right in the neck.” : j “Oh, you won't eatch him to-night.” “T don’t know about that.” yy puis go in and pile all these wet sheets on top — lim. ; f - Sneaks | a vA regular cold water pack, eh? Not a bad ea, j Af eg Thon they all went in a body to the room. hon- — Harris had been too fly for them, however, Ei He was locked and bolted, and barricided, and | there was no getting in, © Hale ten pace They rapped and thumped and hanged, but all to no purpose, s ‘ Seherao - Ho did not pay the slightest attention to these demonstrations. : - ‘ ome re
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 39 “Oh, I say, it’s cold,” said Billy. “Tfwe make too much of a racket, Simpson or somebody will come up and make it warm for us,” remarked Johnny. © Then they marched away and filed into their re- spective rooms, * What are we going to do?” asked Billy. “Roll ourselves up in the blankets, and make the best of it,” “It?s a wonder Harris did not soak them, too,” “Oh, he can’t think of everything at once, my deur boy.” “No,and I presume ho will have the brain fever after this tremendous effort of the mind.” ; “Jt wasa good deal for him to thiuk of, for a fa ct. “T would have liked to get square with him to- night, though.” z “Oh, let him enjoy his triumph for once,” Johnny chucked the wet sheets over a chair, snuggled himself up in the blankets and was soon sound asleep. Billy did the samo, and if the two scaraps had compared notes with the other fellows, they would “He said you can’t drink two flngers of anything without getting boozy,” He’s a loiar!” snapped Pepper, “I’ve had tin fingers already, and I’m good for tree more, be- Zor. “Wel I’m only saying what Peter said, that’s all.” ; “iJe’s a loiar, an’ I can prove it an him, the bandy-legged sculpin.” “He says you’re sweet on Mrs. Dodger too.” “Bad luck to him, then. Him and her are a pair av thim.” “Yes, and he says that you get drunk every night.” “ He's a loiar, then, for I can’t get hould ay the stuff as often.” ‘Well, you’d better see him about that.” “Did he say annything ilse about me, the fai- sifler?” i “He says you clean your teeth three times a ay. . **T niver!” cried Papper, in high dudgeon. “Well, you'll have to see him about it; I’m not responsible for him.” have found that thé rest did just about as they had. Sam slept between two mattresses, and Joe went to bed on the floor, but the majority did as Jolinny and Billy did. They all agreed to give Harris eredit for one good snap at least, They likewise agreed to something cise, That was, to work off a returnsnap on him atthe very first opportunity. H piu Johnny and Billy were not the boys td let any one get ahead ofthem or even upto them in the matter of snaps. : They would not rest easy until they had at least come up with Mre Harris, for they now considered him ahead. ; There were troublous times in store for that dude, Perhaps he would be a match for the boys, after all. ; Andthen perhaps he would not. CHAPTER XIX. i Tur boys had to work off a snap on Harris, They also had one all ready for Peter. “It was only a question as to which would work off first. ; Chance settled the question in favor of Peter. At happened that that old sea dog went to sleep one afternoon, having little else to do. He went to his’ room, took off his stump, the better to rest himself, and Jay down on the bed, He put the stump on the chair alongside, so to have it handy, and went to pala In his carelessness, however, he left the door open, m iN ohnny Brown, coming that way, looked in and _ su Peter asleep, 4 “ Sleeping cn his watch, eh?” remarked Johnny, “That's rather dangerous.” : Then that young scamp stole safely in and got away with Peter’s leg. : : He hid it under the back stairs, and then ran off to get his pals, ; By Sam, and half a dozen others were soon ound, g - ‘To them Johnny related what he had done with old Peter’s leg.” j “What are you going to do next?” asked Billy, Pepper answered tke query instead of Johnny. He canfe bowling along the hall at this moment, remarking in asing-song voice: “7 had tin—hic—dollars in me inside pocket, D'yez moind, Oh, I mct Darby McCann an’—hi¢—two other man, And nos a cint 1 had an——”” Tullo, Pepper,” cried Johnny. “Singing are on oue they boot as ou? ES *Yis, Iam begor, an’ I’m glad avit, Who has a b-betther right, if I want to?” Pepper had heen looking inio the bottom ofa whisky bottle, the fames had probably got into his breath. At any rate, most people would havesaid that he was tight. ' : * Here’s a fresh laid snap all ready for us,” whis- pered Jolinny to his chums, _ “*Phwat’s thatye say?” asked Pepper. ‘‘ Who’s frisly laid?” ; : Pepper bud been indulging, and his. temper, None of the best at any time, was worse than Usual, 7 He must have changed his brand, for tippling “usnally made him good-natured. This time, Wowever, he was cross and ugly. “T didn’t thinkdt was so, Pepper,” said Johnny, nddenly, : ' nb ; ~** Voz didn’t think phwat wor 80, yer young ban- Hin 272s 10) iM : Ie What Peter said; but I 'guess it’s the truth.” ‘© Phayat have that old ‘timber-headed pirut been Sayin’ ay me?” : - epper looked as if he would very much like to see Mr, Pilgrim. ‘*Phwere is the robber?” “Tn this room.” - { “Til teache him*to tell lies about me, begor.” Away went Pepper, at an unsteady gait, inseareh of Peter. e The latter had not yet finished his nap, Pepper finished it for him, : The mad little runt gave the old salt a belt over the ear that made his teeth rattle. me) «Belay that, stand by!” roared Peter. Then Pepper gave him one on the’ other side so that his face might not get out of shape, * Awast there, ye lubbers !” cried Peter.” “ Maké fast them ere fins o’ yourn,” - “Come on, ye blasted Britisher, till L give yer an- other,” cried Pepper. “‘ 1’ll show yez how Ireland will whip the English navy.” Peter was not an Englishman, but Pepper conld explain itjust as well, if he was not, The sad sea dog staggered to his one good foot and Pepper floored him. } “Hold hard, ye lubber,” roared Peter. ‘ Give me a chance to get my decks cleared for action, ve red-headed bueeancer.” — “Tl give yea all the action yez want,” cried Poppet ; : Then he grabbed the old shellback by the collar, phat him to his foot aud stood him against the wall. _ “There ye are,” he muttered, holding Peter with one hand and hauling off with the other. “Take in the slack o’ that, belay! howled Peter. “That's for saying I per. Whack | Poor Peter winced. “*Bout yer hellum, ye son of a lobscouse,” he yelled,“ Ye’re on the wrong tack.” “Tak? it an this side thin, ye lyin’ vilyan.” With that Pepper gaye his victim a turn on the other side, : “Sheer off, blast yer top-lights, chance to get out my guns.” Peter spoke in nautical phraseology. Pepper thought that he meant literally to pull a gun_on him, “Don’t ye dar’ to shoot at ine, ye black jowled prevaricathor,” he muttered. “ire on a ship in distress, will ye?” said Peter, “Ye’re disthressin’ looking enough, dear knows,” rejoined Pepper. i Then he gave the weary Pilgrim another whack. It nearly knocked Peter’s teeth down his throat : aes boys were all taking in the circus from the A. They encouraged Pepper, but had nothing to say to Peter, ‘Give him one for Dodger!” © “Show him your ten fingers, old man?” “Make him walk the plank, Pepper,”- “Hang him by his toes to the yard arm.” “Give him another shot between wind and wa- ter,” ; 7 Poor Peter was nearly used up. Then he was braced up against the wall with Pepper belting him, or threetening to, every min- get drunk,” growled Pep- Gimme a “Oh, 1 can knock yez down as conyanient this Way is anny.” i zebpet exemplified this by laying Peter on his wok. ' se ee heaving!” shouted the old salt. “ Make ‘ast 1” “ Begob, I'll make ye fast, ye leather-head !” fees Pepper began to wipe his sLoes on Peter's ribs. He played a regular tune on them. : “Splice yer leg tackle, and belay that,” roared eter. . However, Pepper was beginning to grow tired of this sort of amusement. “Maybe ye’ll tell more lies on me,” he mut- tered. * That ain’t in my log book at all, ye lubber,” re- torted Peter. ‘Never told no lies on ye, dod rat yer fat carcass.” i So, ’mshweet an Dodger, am I, ye ould croco- dile?”” Pepper’s toes punctuated the question. “Let her go off, say. Ye’re on the wrong tack.” “And I clanes me teets t’ree times a day, does 1?” 4 Once more the thump in the ribs, ‘Tuff, you beggar, you'll run me down.” “ And I get dhrunk an two fingers, do I?” Pepper was going to get in another kick. Peter was becoming tired of the monotony of -|that sort of thing. $ He slewed over, grabbed the little Mick by both ankles, and pulled him off his pins, Over went Pepper on his baek in afjitty, A flask in his pocket broke with the sudden shock and the air was very drunk. “Bad lick to the mutton headed deceiver; he’s busted me flask begor!” howled Pepper, Then the boys all howled onee more. They did not much care whether Pepper or Peter licked, : j i All thoy wanted was lots of fun. ? : They would as soon laugh at Pepper'as any one. The old sea dog, appreciating his “advantage, umped on Pepper's stomach and sat there, - Pepper could not get up, what with the load he ea had and his present one, “Give. it to him; old Pegtoes,” cried Johnny. ‘© We'll seo fair play.” Sates “We always did think you could Jick him,” added Billy. : wat i “Make him drink lying down,” laughed Sam, “Get him drunk.” : : “Stand him on his ear, Petey?”?- “Club blazes out of him, Stump??? «Baste him with your wooden leg.” These and numerous other bits of advice were given to Peter. Strange to relate, he seemed to doubt the sincer- ity of his young advisers. “Clap on sail and get out o’ here, ye young pir- ates,” he snarled, “ or ll scuttle the hull durn lot of ye.” The boys did not light out, however. Somehow they did not seem to scare easily, Then, too, they wanted to see the fun. Pepper was vainly struggling to get up. Peter sat on his bread-basket, and every now and then gave him a gentle tap. ** Won't hit me agin; yer lubber, will yer?” A swat on the jaw accompanied the remark, «Sorry ye was so green, hey, wasn’t ye?” A tweak of the nose for emphasis, “Reckon thé’ old hulk ain’t broke up for fire wood yet, ye lubber.” A belt undor the ear to prove that the timbers were still sound. “Don’t wantto fool none with this ship, do yer?” ‘ A punch in the ribs gave extra point to the ques- tion, Old Pegtoes was in a fair way of paying back all the indignities he had received, : : ate boys thought it was tine for them to take a and, ' Johnny and Billy skipped off and got two buck- etfuls of water, Then they let those two jokers have it, imparti- 2 With that they skipped out, leavin wrecked worthies to swim ashore. Pepper was pretty well sobered up by this time, and he went away greatly wondering how the thing had happened. ‘ g the two ship- ute, “Sheer off, you pirate,” he wailed. “Ain’t you a any more spunk than to attack a disabled wes- sel?’ Nautical phrases and salt water. similes were thrown away on Pepper. He did not care a cont for naya} orders, either. Peter might sing out sca Icre at him by the fathom, if he chose. ; All Pepper wanted was to get even. nicer The boys enjoyed the racket first-class, s “Gimme a chance to get ship-shape, and I'll change yer tune, ye lubber,” said Peter, iu x He could not remember a thing of what had oe curred before that. Old Peter hada most vivid recollection of it, how- ever. He was sore to rear, It did not make him feel any more tenderly to- ward the boys either, - He suspected that they had urged Pepper to make the attack on him, atin j This became a certainty in his mind when he went to look for his wooden leg, Be : from head to foot, and from front
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_ 40 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. No matter now he hunted forit, he could not} That is to say, cold soup in this event, for hé find it. went sousing right into a tub of water standing Finally Dodger found it in her flour barrel, andjjust without, of course ascused Peter of putting it there, The boys might have been able to state how that “Oh, yes, looks likely, don’t it, you old she drag-|water got there, but certainly neither Peter nor on?” snarled Peter. ‘‘Stow my leg away in the|Dodger knew anything about it. bar’] and then go huntin’ after it. Guess yer steer-| Splash! in’ geer is out’o’ order, missis.” Siash! “Don’t you dare to talk to a respectable woman] Head first into the tub went Peter all at onee, like that, you old fraud,” sputtered the wrathful| ‘Then the boys suddenly appeared and began to Dodger. ‘‘What would I go and put your dirtyjsing: old leg in my flour for, I’d like to know?” “Don’t know, I’m sure,” retorted Pilgrim, “Women is the most onaccountable critters there is, not even sea serpents.” ** Rub-a-dnb-dub, Pete in a tub, Wonder how he got there2” Poter was not at all anxious to know that. _ ‘Say a few more naughty words, Peter, and the ice may melt,” suggested Johnny. Geshe Mr. Peter Pilgrim gaye a tremendous yan ey > - Up he came, but he left more than the bench be- hind him, “Get better cloth next time, old salt junk,’ laughed Billy. “That kind is no good,” Peter lighted out of that as rapidly as possible, foe the boys gota mere glimpse of the damage one. The old pirate was hotter than ever against those young jokers, however, and it would not have been sate for one of them to be caught alone by the old sea pup. : ian | ee : uses “\ Ey ‘ «<‘ Awast there, ye , yer another,” cried Pepper. “JI make you see snakes, you cantankerous) What most interested him was how to get out. ‘old catamount,” replied the Dodger grabbing up aj He scrambled ott and began hopping away, broom, cirrying bis wooden leg with him. : Peter knew that when Dodger took up a broom| The ground wis all covered with snow and there she generally kicked up a deal of dust. were icy spots as well, so that it was no picnic to ~ He did some pretty tall dusting himself just about|go hopping along at the risk of breaking his neck that tume, at : every second, » Hobbling out on one foot with the other in his ¢ 2 hand, he made haste to get out of Dodger’s terri-| Dodger had other views. tory “Don’t you dare track that water into my clean fhe old gal was too expeditious for the old sea-|kitchen !” she snarled. soe r ; , Moreover, she held the fort, the stout broom dog. : Whack! firmly clutched in her big hands, ' Biff! : Peter needed only one look at the ogress to con- Spat!” vince tim that the way into that kitchen was a no He was done on both sides like an -old-fashion- ‘ed Jchnny cake in two shakes. ay ot Then he got a crack behind that sent him spin- ‘ning. , anes GS Soto, thoroughfare... Then he sat down on a bench to put on his leg. When this had been accomplished satisfactorily, the boys gazing on the while, he found that there He coneluded to hop back into the kitchen, but}, Tn) lubbérs!” cried Peter. ‘* Make fast them ‘ere tins o’ yourn.” ‘*Come on, ye blasted Britisher, till 1 give 2 *‘T'll show vez how Ireland will whip the English navy.” . The snap had been a dandy from start to finish hod now the boys were reudy to tackle someone else, ‘ i f py “'There’s the dude to be polished off yet,” ob- served Johnny, whén mention was made of the fact that another racket was in order. eae “ Yas, Mistah Hawis is just the fellah faw ouah money, don’t'vab know,” said Billy, taking off the dude’s languid manner in tip-top style. The boys let the slim alone till the next day, but ~ then they went for him. Sie ES That dizzy dude, wishing to be just a peg above — the other fellows, had bought him a toboggan. : -The old-fashioned bob sled was not good enough for him, because ull the other boys had them, — x Consequently Mr; Harris must needs import his coaster and get him arig to go with it, Now anyone else would have secured a neat but _ Hoe had been in such a hutry to get out that hel\vas another difficulty. Sify ‘did not notice which door hetook, ~~ * | He could not get up from the bench. 4 It was a case of any port in a storm just then, ‘Ho had frozen fast, the air being quite sharp, ~ One door led up-stairs and the other out-doors, jand his saturated garments sticking tight to the __ He took the latter, of course. being beset by con- bench. : ee deen e : ‘trary windss) Ss Te “Blow up and sink and scuttle and set fire and That last whack of the broom on the bosom ofswamp yer blasted young hulks!” roared Peter, “his breeches caused him to go howling into theltrying to pull himselfloose, ‘‘ This is yourdoin’s, : ; Faso Sepak tais Aide apeists YS eS j “y 8 young chumps!’ : ee NA an not gaudy blanket suit and let it go at that. Harris was not that sort of individual. (aes His suit was white with a wide border of big red dots put on wherever a border could be stuck, to- gether with a big red, white and blue pointed cap, barber pole stockings, flaming sash and moccasins, He looked giddy enough to set the hill on fire when he came out, dragging his toboggan after him. fees eh ete
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JOHNNY BROWN & CO. 41 The boys all had something to say when this yis- ion suddenly burst upon them. «Santa Olaus on a drunk,” suggested Johnny. ‘Big Injun gone mad,” remarked Billy. ** Barber poles on a lark,’ yelled Sam. “Put the right tag on the puzzle and you can have it.” 5 ; “Somebody has been robbing the bads.” “ Catch on to the polka dots, old chappies.” “Qatch on to this dot of the eyo,” chuckled Johnny. : f That young scamp thereupon caught Mr. Harris 2 crack in the peeper witha snowhalland made him hop. ‘ “TLet’s give him a ride, fellows,’ yelled Billy Bounce, making a dash for the dude. All hands followed, for they were out for fun, They grabbed that-dude and took his. tobog away from him before he knew where he was, Then they whacked him over on his back upon the little sled and made him fast. His lizzy sash was long enough fo tie his hands one feet and strap him down securely to the side strips. - : They were at the top of the hillto start with, and that made it handy. “Here goes the dude Mazeppa, chained to the flery, untamed toboggan,” cried Johnny. Harris did not like this sort of business, He wanted the follows to let him go. ‘*Let her go it is,” giggled Johnny. The boys dragged the dude to the eilge of the slope and gave him a shove. He couldn’t go astray, for the hill was just a straight descent, with no trees nor rocks to collide against. ‘All the same Harris did not like it. The thing would bo sure to burst up with him ‘on it. His regular luck would follow him if he couldn’t help himself. Well, away he went, bt a whizzing. My! hut how the wind did blow through his bangs. He tried to yell, but when ho opened his mouth the wind blew in so swift that he couldn’t shut it. He knew he was going to be busted all tosmash, and he began to think over What he had ever done to amount to anything, solinyed of so much weight of thought, shot like sn arrow from the bow. i bs . OHAPTER XX. Tru poor dude was flying down tho hill tied to his own toboggan at the rate of forty miles an hour, more or less. He was through in a second, and the toboggan, em -Then the boys got on their little bobs-and went down the hill, “That was ice cream for one with a vengeance. _ The boys on top of the hill saw the accident to the express train. “ They howled with great joy, and clapped their mittens together. : Harris failed to see any occasion for laughter. There he was, stuck in the drift and no way to getout, 9°. The drift was a deep one, and the more he tried to get out the more he sank, ; The snow under the dude’s feet was light, and let him down with neatness and dispatch. In alittle while the top of his head was all that could be seen. ; : That did not stay in sight a terrible long time. Before long the boys on the hill could see aoth- ing of him.» SPopr Harris kicked and struggled, and wallowed, making a hole allaround him but getting no nearer to the top, | a et had something to say about |decoy. He was no sneak, if old Pegtoes was. He was in the ring, and had been sent in as a Peter never tumbled to that in his hurry to spy on the boys. There was a door leading directly from the cel- lar to the grounds outside, as well as one going up-stairs. y Peter took this one, never noticing that the small boy went up by the other route. ¢ Wel!, as soon as Peter appeared he got it in the neck, A dozen or twenty boys stood just outside. They all had av armful of snowballs. Peter got the whole cargo as soon as he ap- peared. He looked Jike a snow-man in two shakes. Those boys plastered him from head to foot with snow. They weren’t particular to haye the balls all soft, either: Some of them made a on Peter. Then the boys all faded away, while the old crank proceéded to dig himself out, “ Well, old Peter was pretty mad at this and de- terroined to get pacer f The old fossil did not appear to remember that he had given the boys more than abundant cause for all the pranks they had played upon him by his crankiness. He ought to have caught it a great deal worse en he had done, if he had only stopped to think of it. : He was mad, however, and thirsted for gore, to put it mildly. Nothing would satisfy kis appetite for revenge but gore, and Gore with a big G at that, So he set what he called his wits to work to de- vise a plan by which to get hunk. He would have to try some new dodge and one very strong impression _|that they would not suspect him of putting up. If he could only make them think that’some one else was the party playing the prank he would be all right, ~~ < : Harris would do as well as the next fellow, for the boys did not like the dude, and they would be ready to accuse him upon the slightest evidence, so old Peter thought, 5 Having thought the matter over Pegtoes sneak- ed into the dude’s room, havled out his ‘trunks and piled them ina heap in the. hall in front of Blodgett’s door at a time’ when that worthy was busy jn his room, ae ‘ Then he got a lot of things belonging to Johnny and the other boysand added them to the pile, _ The boys were out on the hill coasting at this time, and there was no one to disturb the cross- grained crank, a ; Then Mr, Peter got a big bell and began to ring it at a furious rate. ’ é he rushed Baldy to see what all the fuss was about. He tumbled head-first into the pile of trunks, and there was a terrible racket. You would have thought that the house had fallen down. Peter, eager to be the first one on hand to ac- cuse the boys, came hurrying up to tell the news, He forgot all about the bell and took it with him, “T saw ’em, I saw the young pirates” he roared as he came upon the scene, : rine what pirates?” asked Baldy, picking him- self up. “Brown and Bounce and Harris and all of ’em, Isaw ’em ringing the bell and scurrying away, the villains. I saw ’em, but I couldn’t stop ’em.” “Oh, you saw them ringing the bell did you ?” asked Whiskers, coming up. . . “Yes, Isaw ’em, but [ wasn’t quick enough to prevent Mr. Blodgett from falling over the stuff.” ‘« Who were the villains as you call them ?” ask- ed Simpson, while Blodgett rubbed his head. “Allthem young ruffins, Brown, Bounce, Be- mis, Harris, Tucker and the lot of ’em.” ‘© You saw ’em ringing the bell, did you ?” “Yes, sir, Lil aventey did. Those young vil- lains ought to expelled, every one ov ’em.” “You're the biggest liar out of jail, Peter Pil- grim!” sdid Whiskers. ‘Excuse me, Mr. Simpson, but I don’t see——” ** Whats that bell in your band?” Poter had just thought of it. ‘‘That there bell?” he muttered. “ Why, that there bell is the one they was ringing.- I picked it up when they ran away.” : “You outrageous liar, you ought to be kicked to death by jackasses 1” eas “Now, Mr, Simp-—” ** Don’t talk to me, you said red ets in choice English. ought to be fired out.” “It strikes me asrather singular,” said Blodgett, “that I should both hearand see the very young gentlemen you mention amusing themselves on the hill yonder a quarter of a mile away at a timo when you say they were piling these trunks in eA my door and -ringing the bell to bring me out. Be “addle-brained chump!” “Tt’s you that “Yes, sir, So it is, sir,” stammered Peter, ‘ but you see, sir, they can run very fast.” i “No so fast as your gab, you old fool,” said Simpson, “JT happen to have been watching them for the last ten minutes,” Baldy went on, ‘and that is why Ido not see.” — _ “Tt’s all a lie that this old crank has got up,” said Simpson. ‘The boys haven’t been in the house for half an hour. I haye been watching them myself.” Peter began to fee] as if he were in deep water, “The old crab is down on the boys, and is all the time trying to. get. him.into. serapes,” Simpson went on. ; “Yes, I haye noticed that he is always ready to accuse them of doing something.” “They haye played pranks on him, but only pase has done something mean to them, the old sneal { ; ‘‘H’m, yes, and the boys have not been the only sufferers,” said Baldy; ‘Peter, I do not think we will want you any longer.” “T know we don’t,” added Simpson. Here was a pretty Kettle of fisn! Peter was to be bounced for doing his daty! se it be possible that he ‘had heard cor- rectly : There must be some mistake about it. The janitor stood looking at Blodgett and Simp- son as though he had not understood. “*Qan’t you catch on?” asked the professor of nglish branches. ‘‘ You are bounced, fired out, given the sack. Now get!” : **T shall not want you any longer, Peter,” said Blodgett. r “You wouldn’t turn away a faithful servant for doing his dooty, would yer, cap’n?” asked Peter. He was just beginning to see that things had turned out contrary to his expectations. ““Of course not,” said the boss of the shop. ff Thankee, sir. I thought that you wouldn’t be §0——" 2 : “But you ain’t the faithful servant this timo,” |
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42 JOHNNY BROWN & CO. s ie ’ ; Y interrupted Simpson, ‘and you canslide for home as fast as possible,” “ Really, now, sir, I only take my orders trom *‘Nizzy practical jokes you get up, don’t you?| The moment he appeared in the road, stumping Why, a baby could do better.” _ jalong with his box on his shoulder, and a big grip- **Him get up a joke?” roared Pepper. “Paix, sack in his hand, there was a racket. the cap’n of the ship and Mr. Blodgett” he knows as much av doin’ that as he do ay teach-| Heads appeared in all the windows, boys jumped “Go!” remarked the aforesaid captain of thejing school.” ° shi ae ey Santini meant business. . frame of mind. “Do you catch on?” chuckled Simpson. . “You are bounced.” “i ene It’s mighty hard, when a man has done his ° u ct Which you never did, you old fraud.” fi To be put adrift like this ’ere on the sea 0 pel - “To be continued in our next,” laughed Simp-'b pa | pe i. a | | il il i upon the fences, and others rushed from the house, Peter got throu b at last, and in no pleasant|@nd the whole gang made its appearance. 8 & Pp The piazza, the fence and the walk were just He felt like Arenal those boys. __ |lined with boys. They had euchred him withont even playing a ai ery fellow in the school was present. ard, Eyen the dude was there,and made as much Wouldn’t he like to have them in his fists for ajD0ise as any one. few minutes? As Peter stumped off soma the gate there arose The edict had gone forth, and he was to be|# great shout. ounced, om cate flow those boys did yell and: ‘Scream. SSTTOINUT UT. UOT pict DP DM VTE TU, side, i att - Ga. Ve \ Cire 1 a A uN The moment ie appeared in the Hedi? stumping along with his box on his subuider and a big grip- RE inh hand, there was a BRACE oke . Heads appeared in all the windows, boys jumped upon the fences, and others rushed): : tia; 4c +from the son. ‘ Peter, you can take these trunke to yrnare| they belong. ~ That was: the toughest part, of the whole paste ness, c Not only was his little, job knocked silly, but he had all his work to undo. |» He did not see why he’ could not: have succeeded as well as the boys. He wasn’t built the same way, that’s the reason, He had to lug all thosé things: back again, and |whole crowd became hilarious. house, and the whole gang made its appearance, ae tried to beg off to old Baldy, but, it wastno) They stamped their feet, clapped their’ ‘hands, blew on their horiis, and’ howled.’ Bioadott had tumbled to himat last, | ; Up went their hats in the air, handkereb iets Simpson supplied many bits of evidence as well./were waved and driims’ beaten. Dodger was down on him, and Pepper could not] “Hooray, hooray, old Pegtoesiis going away Uy abide him. ~ « Bully for Pete, ne’s leaving us for Rood id The boys never had had any love for him, as} “* Don’t” eyer ‘come ‘back, Petey.” "Hooray, you all know. § hooray 1?) % J Consequently there was preat rejoicing, ~ «Shake her ee boys, ‘Stumpjack is goitig:” G When it twas known;that Peter was poles, the] ” ““@ood- bye, old Stump! “Don’t come hack!” it was not half so easy as it had been atvfirst. seis’ Such good news had not been heard in months.|hoisted up his’ mud-hooks'! 2 iyo eng ees as)! ae oe Soe wy xill The boys made up their minds to hayea grand) That was one kind of a send-off. © celebration. Some fellows, would not have been lensed, with Simpsen ‘encouraged him, likewise, with Taany cheering remarks. | a send off, > **Hol you wouldn’t make ten cents a day at carr, ing baggage.” \ et: on to old Stum pjack lugging thrunks.” dead.” “You'll. ‘pe. shovelin’. coals. wan ay these » days, science, Pether, and yez’ll have to hustle, fasther nor that.” © Fine old joker you are, you old sea pig, Justit the sort for a funeral.” “Paix, ay yez don’t ‘hurry up the byes will be comin’ in to ey yez, ye old aghehy » {ed out at the back door, “Tra-la-la, old Peggs a os 2 3 Le : ; xt f Sif spat 3 They would. give Peter just the dandiest kind of fier y & : Peter did not like it for a bad cent, He was to ‘Jeave the place in the morning. ' The boys were glad to get rid of him, and the Tiey would be ready to start him on his way. _ |shouts were not in his honor by any means." Peter intended to take an early sfart, for he felt} He turned atid gave them a look which ought to “T wouldn’t hire you if all the porters iverelsure that the boys would want to yattle him... have given them the nightmare tora mont “Three cheers, fellows, the sad’ Bee doe aS 5 m Perhaps this was the. effect. of a guilty con- ~ “The young seulpins!” he growled. tic’ Wisht I 7! had ’em alone fur half én hour where bhoy couldn’t The idea of thinking he could start early enoughjhit back.” o get ahead of those boys. Peter’s sour’ looks: had ae contrary effect to what ; It was not to be thought of for: a econd: _ {he had intended! SPAT 3 : He got up early, packed up his. Hh and Saba The boys simply howled all the loudars ¢ re
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re ~) | \)) SJoHNNY BROWN & (CO, as He could hear.the boys yelling as far as he could) There were no more complaints, and everything ie anything. to bok; tor thed th ee ene SRE in Berl q a is ; twas no good to kick, for then they would haye it, became of Peter I do not know an on’t ae B iy “fo rk Petey™ ecause’ he's aes yelled all the more. *|Suppose any one cares, for he was nothing but an ve y Well, after Peter had departed; things went onjold crank anyhow. Then there were more shouts, and one of -thelnetter than ever. _|.Jobnny Brosyn is the same jolly young fellow he boys with a musical tendency played the el! 5! Pepper became janitor and ‘suited all hands, and|ever was, and he and his chums continue to play March” on a fife. although the boys sometimes played rackets onjas many snaps as of old, and that’s all I’ve got to Peter felt mad enough and mean enough to kickjhim, he took it” AOA and returned the/say about ’em. his own shadow, compliment in kind. : ‘Skip the canal, old crank !” “Glad to get.rid of you. Ho, ho, ho!” - [THE END. J ip 217 Stump; or, ‘Little, but, Oh, ats seeee i a 221 beiahig's Rackets. Below DECKBtetce pacers: ‘ad _ 281 Shoo-Fly; or, Nobody’s Moke.. Some Very Funny Stories The Following is a List of Comic Stories 5 CENT WI Published. in the JE AWAKE -« LIBRARY. A Barrel of Fun in mach Bool. 5B Tommy BOuUnce....44....00+--.s----by Peter Pad 12 Shorty; or, Kicked Into Good Luck. by Peter Pad 14 Shory in! LUG. ets. tevevese¥ ee DY Peter Pad 16 Skinny, the. Tin Pediler -by Tom Teaser 20 The Mulcahey Twins......+ iaueeseby; Tom Teaser 29 One of the Boys of New York; or, The Adven- 50 Corkey; or, The Tricks and Travels of a Supe, by Tom Teaser 60 ‘Nip ard Blip; or, Two of a Kind..by Tom Teaser 135 Jim Jams} or, Jack of All Trades. by Tom Teaser SaeGa Lathy; or, The Adventures of 4 Thin Boy.... 157 Shorty and the Count; or, The Two Great Un- MASE ,.. ese eseesieeceees -by Peter Pad 188 Chips and Uhin Ohin................. by Peter Pad 184 Chips and Ohin Chin Among the Mormons. . by Peter Pad 1 hi sand Chin | Ghin’s Adventures with the , Sense 409 bis ee s-.--Dy Peter Pad 186 Chips and Chin Chin re Omaha... iby! Péter Pad 187 Chips and Chin Chin in St. Louis....by Peter Pad 188 Chips and-Chin Chin in New York...by Peter Pad 218. Stomp at SCHOO) decree cese _ 222 Stump and His Chums Homeward Bound. a5 / 223 Three Of a2 Kind...,...sseseesseveeee | 224 Adventures of Charlie, Mike and Dot«=4:- ee 266 An English Boy in America... 282 Shoo-Fly at School..... 283 Shoo-Kly in LOve. .wiwsts sete cuawiw sere ucts ts 284 Shoo-Fly the Gymnast, erate st : 800 Bob Short; or, One of Our Lab eincce rere cae Address 611 aati Fitzgum, 417 Ebenezer Crow. , i, sees eeecee ee ces rete 434 Shorty in Search of His Dad......... by Peter Pad 461 The Shortys’ Trip Around the World.by Peter Pad 470 Tumbling Tim; or, Traveling With a Circus.. by Peter Pad wseeresseesssDy Peter Pad 476 Stuttering Sam.....- «+ by Peter Pad 603 Tommy Beunce, Jr., in College.. 508 Billy Bakkus, the Boy With the Big Mouth... sequel to ‘Bob Rollick; or, What Was He Born For. laveaseysteoseveesesve we DY Peter Pad 534 ‘The Shortys Ont for Fun.............by Peter Pad 537 The Shortys Christmas and New Years at - Home,..e.. 2s giJbeve tee. wesby Peter Pad 546 Pickle and Tickle; or, Mishaps and Mischiefs. by Peter Pad 575 Nimble Nip; or, The Jp of the Schioo} Pecans sce by Tom Teaser 598 Cheeky and Chipper; or, Through Thick and Thi BEE, by Commodore Ah-Look or, My Quiet Little ++++«by Tom Teaser --by Peter Pad Cousin 619 The Shortys Out Fishing... .+ 622 Sassy Sam; or, A Bootblack’s Voyage Around the Worldse:.ecects ieedy: Commodore Ah:Look 630: 'The Shortys Ont Guiting. .!....... by Peter Pad 635. Sassy Sam Sumner—a. sequel to Sassy Sam... rs Commodore Ah-Look 642 The Shortys Farming. + ceetvalss..sesby Peter Pad 665 The Shortys’ Country Store.. . by Peter Pad 687 Joseph Jump and His Old Blind Nag by Peter Pad 689 Jack Hawser’s Tavern..............-by Peter Pad 710 The Jolly preveca or, Around the World for Fun..:..- vesseees-. Dy Peter Pad 717 Judge Cleary’s Country Coutt.. ... by Tom Teaser 723 Muldoon the Sport.. ...by Tom Teaser 7217 Muldoon’s Vacation...... ..-by Tom Teaser 740 The Book Agent's BBR econ jones Ry “(Ed 2?) 746 The ‘Shorty Kids; or, Three Chips of Three Old Blocks, by Peter Pad 753. Mike MeGuinnesss 6 or, Heayeling Jor, Pleasure. __ _ by Tom Teaser 760 Muldoon's Night School...viie.. «by Tom Teaser 765 Sam Spry, the New York Drummer; or, Busi- - ness Before Pleasure... by Peter Pad ig eEhe oh ate Se aaa ed 484 oa Bounce, Jr.; or, A Chip olay PeGe PAT 777 The Little Joker........ jtlassann by Sam Stniley Of Boy FritZ.....csecsecesesess AB | SMM Block essere sts 28 ge Se Serr Loa ; E O 47 Yom, Dick and the——; or, School Days in 497. The Shortys Married and Settled Down—a se - seayMoldoon the Te sssesses by Tom Teaser New YOrk....2..csavesee esses seedy. Peter Pad quel to the Shorty stories..........by Peter Pad | 793 Those Quiet ‘I'wins.................-.by Peter Pad 803 The Shortys’ Christmas Rackets.....by Peter Pad’ 824 A Rolling Stone; or, Jack Ready’ 8 Life of Fun, by Commodore Ah-Look by Peter'Pad : ; . by Peter Pad : oe shen pa. pant Dad bed ‘Teaser | 822 Bob Rollick; or, What Was He Born For... 842 Jack Ready’s School Scrapes........by, Peter Pad i: 68 Mu vai ea “iis iat aA iwaye ant by Peter Pad | 847 The Shortys in the Wild West... by Peter Pad 2 7,* Shorty, 9 Anyone: searterereeecerseeseb¥ Peter Pad | 530 Bob Rollick, the Yankee Notion Drummer—a 856 The Shortys’ Christmas Snaps.......by Peter Pad 865 Smart & Co., the Boy Peddlers......by Peter Pad 867 An Old Boy; or, Maloney After. Education:... by Tom Teaser 873 Behind the Scenes; or, Out With a New York Combination... te eveeeeseeeeeeese DY Peter Pad 879 A Bad Boy’s Note Book... seoees DY “Ed! 881 Joe Junk, the Whaler; or, Anywhere for Fun. _ by Peter Pad 887 Muldoon the Solid Man weudettte -... by‘ Tom Tease 890 Two. in a BOx; or, The Long and eaaet fit by-Tom Teaser 883 The Funny EOUMeca eo (Obata ....by Peter Pad 895 The Deacon’s Sun; or, The Imp of the Village 897 A Bad Egg; or, Hard to Crack.....by Tom Teaser 899. Muldoon’s Boarding Honse.....-..by Tom Teaser 901 Ikey; or, He Never Got Left........by Tom Teaser 903 Jimmy Grimes; or, Sharp, Smart& Sassy.,... . by Tom Teaser 908 Sam; or, The Troublesome Foundling.by Peter Pad. 912 Bulger Boom, the Inventor........,,.by Peter Pad 916 Muldoon’s Brother Dan... ine Tom Teaser 919 Henpeck....... ...by Peter Pad 922 Muldoon’s Christmas.......... -.+sby Tam Teaser 924 A Bad Boy, @t School.....tc.-eeeseeer es DY “Hd.” 925 Mr. McGinty:.2...-<.ssedstus- waew by Tom Teaser 929 Boardinig’Schoo) or; Sam Bowser at Work and Play......-.. eee Fey. sby Peter Pad 931, ‘Muldoon OUt WOBlerscas ons uses ..by Tom Teaser — eee For, sale by . all rites in the United. States or Canada, or sent “to your address, post- -paid, on’ receipt of price, 5 cents per a "FRANK TOUSEY, Penis, = BA & 36 Worth Moore Street, New Worl.
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THE GREAT 5 CENT WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY The Largest, Cheapest and Most Popular Library in the World. Containing Stories of § Sindbad the Sailor 46 San Francisco Bob..........By ‘lost 4 New Story is Issued Hach Week. . 1 Tom Biown’s School Days...by Thomas Hughes 2 The Pirate.................-by Captain Marryatt 8 Adventures of Robinson Orusoe.:by Daniel Defoe 4 Joe Dodger, the Boy Ventriloquist........... by Gus Wiliams 6 Peter Simple...........%....by Captain Marryatt 7 Pantomime Joe; or, An Orphan Boy’s Career 8 Snarleyyow; Or, Thé Dog-Iiend............+ by Captain Marryatt 9 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp 10 Poor Jack 11 Tommy Bounce—comic.............by Peter Pad 12 Shorty;"or, Kicked Into Good Luck—comic.. , ' by Peter Pad 18 The Devil’s Diamond; or, The Fortunes of Rich- ard of the Rayen’s Crest 14 Shorty in Luck—camic..............by Peter Pad 15 Dick Dauntless, the Boy Privateer.by J. ... Bradey 16 Skinny, the Tin Peddler—comic,...TBy om Teaser 17 The Marked Moccasin; or, Pandy Ellis’ Pard.. By Marline Manly 18 Gullivet’s Travels 19 Ali Baba; or, The Forty Thieves 20 The Mulcahey Twins—comic......By Tom Teaser 2% Jacob Faithful; or, The Adventures of a Water- ...-By Captain Marryatt mi 22 The Young Eng’ 23 Oliver Twist........... ......By Charles Dickens 24 The Image of his Father.....By Horace Mayhew 25 The Young Sergeant. A Story of the American Revolution. ......6+- Col. Ralph Fenton £6 The Haunted Cave; or, The Search for the Pirates’ Gold..............By Jas. D, Montague 27 The Dead Boxer............By William Carleton 28 Harry Hale 29 One of the Boys of New York; or, The Adven- tures of Tommy Bounce—comic..By Peter Pad 39 Infantry Dave, the Young Scout of the Wilder- NGNBnss cevcctepewscesterses ss By Ralph Morton 31 The Ragle Bearer; or, The Hero of the Regi- MEN. si iseceercseccecensses. BY Philip Murdock 82 The Pirate Doctor; or, The Extraordinary Oareer of 2 New York Physician 33 Cavalry Jack at Champion Hill..........4..6-6 By Col. Ralph Fenton 34 The Pirate Chief; or, The Cutter of the Ocean ; By an Old Salt 35 The Smugglers of St. Malo..By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. 86 Little Mac, the Boy Engineer....By Ralph Royal 37 Josephine; or, The Lady of the Gulf............ By J. H. Ingraham 38 Sea-Dog Charley; or, the Adventures of a Boy H6LOvsccccccsMocccovevesosvees bY We le James, Jr. 89 Paul Jones........--...-- - By Alexander Dumas 40 Eely Jim; or, A Yankee Boy in the Rebellion ; y Morris Redwing 41 The Black Mask; or, The Mysterious Marriage By Bernard Wayde 42 Dot Boy Fritz—comic........-.--By Gus Williams 43 The Demon of the Deep; or, Above and Be- neath the Sea.....-..eeceseeserees 35 By the Author of “Starboard Jack.” 44 Mark Grayham; or, The Boy Wanderers of the DOSOT LE. eeseceeesecsceceeeesse+-by H. C, Enymet 45 Starboard Jack; or, The Nimble Reefer of tue Schoo!-Ship “Mercury ”’.........By Orrin Goble H. K, Shackleford 47 Tom, Dick and the ——; or, School Days in New York—comic..................By Peter Pad 48 The Yankee Privateer; or, The Traitor Mer- Chant. .....+s-sese+ee--bBy J. H. Ingraham, Esq. 49 The Rover's Oath......By Charles Powel. Bickley 50 Corkey; or, The Tricks aud Travels of a Supe— COMMCsi .ccisescesleebovesevesevsses by LOM Teaser 51 DickLightheart..........By a Celebrated Author 62 Dick Lightheart’s Trials . 63 Dick Lightheart’s Triumph 54 Forward; or, The Terrible March to. Richmond , ip ‘ y Cap Phil Jordon 55 The Boss Boy. By the Author of ‘‘Teddy O’Lynn”? 66 Shorty, Junior; or, The Son of his Dad—comic mee a A er _.. By Peter Pad 57 The Pirate Schooner..........By J. H. Ingraham 68 The Gold Hutiters; or, The Search for the Mountain: Mine-...- -.-By George Fenn 49 The Pirates. of America -By J. H. Ingraham 30 The Pirate Cutter......- -By Midshipman Easy 61 The Black Pirate ~ 62 Union Dick; thé Yankee Spy..By Philip Murdock | 63 Will Waffles; or, The Freaks and Fortunes ofa Newsboy 64 The Potomac Detective..........By Ralph Morton 65 The Sea-King es : , 66 Life in the Red Brigade 67 Billy Bo’swain 68 Mulligan’s Boy—comlc...........-By Tom Teaser 69 The Wild Robber Tape Oost get 70 Goldburn, the Girl Guerrilla. By Morris Redwing ral ae pa EL Murder; or, The Invisible © eauty ‘ 72 Daring Davy, the Boy Rifleman..by Ralph Morton 73 The Pirates of the Shoals......dy J. H. Ingraham umorous Authors of the Price Only 5 Cents Per Copy. 74 The Robbers of the Rbine........by Colonel Blood 75 Jack Harkaway’s School-days "6 Harkaway Afloat 5 "7 Harkaway Among the'Sayages 78. Harkaway’s Escape 79 Harkaway at Oxford 80 Harkaway and the Black Band 81 Harkaway and the Brigands 82 Harkaway and the Spy 83 Harkaway Trapped 84 Harkaway and the Italians; or, The Brigand’s oom 85 Dick Lightheart at Sea 86 Dick Lightheart Around the World 87 Dick Lightheart in London 88 Dick Lightheart’s Victory 89 The Islandof Mystery; or, Adventures Under the Sea 90 Detective Danor, The Irish Ferret.by D. O’Sullivan 91 Joe Ready; or, By the Side of General Scott.. by Richard R. Montgomery 92 Cavalry Jack at Murfreesboro. By Col.Ralph Fenton 93 A Sword For a Fortune......By Horace Appleton 94 Union Dick in the Rebel Camp.By Philip Murdock 95 Yankee Rob, The Young Scout of the Rap- PANANNOCK....-.serere-+eeee- BY Ralph Morton 96 Dick Mizzen; or, The Cruise ot The “Corsair”? By Richard R. Montgomery 97 Union Dick in the Seven Days’ Fight......... By Philip Murdock 98 Cavalry Jack inthe Swamps. By Col. Ralph Fenton 99 Daddy Durge, the Old Man of the Dead-House; or, The Ghouls of Paris.......By Walter Fenton 100. Union Dick and the Guerrillas. . By Philip Murdock 101 Ball Run Bob; or, The Rebel’s Bride. A Thril- ling Story of the Old Dominion.By Ralph Morton 102 Battling for Glory; or, The Unionists of Tenes- (CY: RN oy y Richard R. Montgomery 103 The Young Recruit..............By Ralph Fenton 104 The Rival Spies; or, The Fall of Vicksburg.... By Percy B. St. John 105 The Boy Swordsman; or, The Mysteries of the OatacombS.........<s...-+.- By Percy B, St. John 106 Ben Breeze; or, A Boy and His Banjo and Their Journey Around the World........By J. R. Scott 107 Cavalry Jack; or, The Scout at Shiloh,........ : By Col, Ralph Fenton 108 The Young Artilleryman; or, Between Life and Death. ..issseessee-ees---. by Hal Standish 109 Branded and Mad; or, A Boy in Business..... < By Author of “Through Fire and Water,” etc, 110 Topmast Tom; or, The Buccaneer’s Secret.... By Alexander Armstrong 111 Bayonet Bill; or. The Nemesis of the Battle- fleld.. A Thrilling Romance of Stone River y by Ralph Morton 112 Dick the Lion-Hunter; or, Adventures on the African Coast..:.-.. By Richard R. Montgomery 113 Sherman’s Drummer Boy..By Col. Ralph Fenton 114 Stars and Bars; or; The Rebel Conscript. A Thrilling Story. of the War in Georgia....... . by Capt. Phil Jordon 115 Charge for the Flag; or, The Color-Bearer of SHUOM, 22.0... ec eee ve eeess eee By Percy B. St, John 116 Red, White and Blue; or, Two New York Hae in the Northern Army.........By Ralph Morton 117 On Board the Merrimac; or, The Adventures of a Boy Tarin the War of the Revolution...... By Percy B. St. John 118 Black Horse Tom; or, The Young Cayalryman of. the South..................By Ralph Morton 119 Jack Harkaway and His Son’s Adventures Around the World 120 Harkaway and His Son Homeward Bound 121 Jack Rushton; or, Alone in the Pirate's Lair By the Author of ‘* Gentleman George” 122 On and Off the Stage; or, Which Was Right? 123 The Bush Boys...........By Captain Mayne Reid 124 The Rival Schools: Their Fun, Feuds and rolics : : 125 Frank the Fishérboy; or, Perils on Land and ACO KL «By Charles E. Pearce 126 Young Tom Rodm: . By J. A. Maitland 127 Shorty, Jr., on His Ear; or, Always on a Rack- et—comic......-...By the Author of “Shorty ” 128 Fred Spangle; or, The Life of a Strolling Play- r e 129 The Young Tragedian \ 130 Clarence Rhett; or, The Cruise of a Privateer a By Ned Buntline 181 Paddy McGroarty; or, The Drummer Boy of the Irish Brigade.............-.By Philip Allison 182 Brian the Brave; or, Tbe Hero Minstrel Boy... a By Dennis O’Sullivan 133 Yank, Shank & Co., Yorkers....By Harry Enton 134 Master of Himself; or, A Boy’s Fight in the World........--++--....By Commodore Ah-Look 135 Jim Jams; or, Jack of All Trades—comic.-.... mf By the Author of ‘Skinny, the Tin Peddler’? 136 The Boy Bohemian; or, The Adventures of a Young Reporter.............by Philip Allison 1387 The Mysterious. Messenger; or, The Secret of - the Three Black Stars..........by Hart Barnard i orld. dventares in all Parts of the World, and Comic Stories by the For Sale by all Newdealers. - 138 Burt, the Detective; or, A Sleuth-Hound on the Track............By Police Captain Howard 189 ‘12;2-or, Tracked to Death 140 The Young Ventriloquist 4 141 Denver Dick; or, The Mystery of the Treasure Mountain..........By Corporal Morgan Rattler 142 Dick Daring, the Bareback Rider 143 Gypsy Blanche 144 The Boy Clown; or, The Star of the Pantomime by Harrigan & Hart 145 Three Yankee Chums; or, Dr. Dodd’s Explor- ing Expedition.......By Commodore Ah-Look 146 Unlucky Tom—comic 147 Lathy; or, The Funny Adyentures of a Thin Boy—comic 148 The Sea Fiends 149 Under the Ocean 150 Andy Handy; or, The Boy Jim Fisk Started in Lille Wee tiwetvoveutwereereeectes by Col, Blair 161 Red Leary, the Bill-Poster; or, The Murder on the Pier... SNe PR BY ‘ol, Robert Lenno: 152 Daniel Boone, the Hero of Kentucky : 158 Hale and Hearty; or The Boys of Columbia COlege.....sseeeeeseeeee- DY Tittlebat Titmouse 154 Tim of the Mail-Train; or, Steel to the Last.... By Hart Barnard 155 Out With Stanley; or, Young America in Af- TIC. ceccccsecvecccessevese DY COl. James Blair 156 Mad Maurice; or, The Crazy Detective ....... by Dennis O’gullivan 157 Shorty and the Count; or, The Two Great Un- mashed—comic.,...By the Author of “ Shorty *? 158 The Wharf Boys of New York < 159 Big Silas 160 Nip and Flip; or, Two of a Kind—comic,..... By the Author of ‘Skinny. the Tin Peddler ’” 161 The Four Jacks; or; The Dog Detective..... by Paul Turk 162 The Miser of Harlem; or, The Old House by the Bridge...i3........:By Ool. Robert Lennox 163 Young Harkaway and the Pirates 164 Harkaway’s Triumph 165 Harkaway on Magic Island 166 Ferret, the Little Detective ° 167 The Man of Many Faces ers 168 Harkaway’s Peril ~~ 169 Harkaway to the Rescue 170 Harkaway, the Magician . 171 Reckless Rob; or, The Mystery of Palm Island - By Ralph Ramble 172 Luke Lander, the Lion Hunter; or, The Boy ~ Adventurers in Africa .... By Col. J; M. Travers 173 Rob Rattler, the Scapegrace,By Ool. J. M.Travers 174 The Dwarf King; or, The Adventures of Harry - Bluff. 0.00.00... eeceessee DY COl. J. M. Travers 175 The Gallant Middy; or, Captured by Pirates.. By Richard KR, Montgomery 176 Harkaway the Avenger, pout 177 The Rival Crusoes....,..-..By Harry Ainsworth 178 Harkaway in Australia ( 179 Harkaway and the Convicts 180 Harkaway and the Bushrangers . 181 Chased Around the World), 182 The Detective’s Mistake ; f 183 Chips and Chin Chin—comic..,......By Peter Pad 184 Chips and Chin Chin Among tlhe Mormons—.. COMICS 0.04... esveessorvesssuby Peter Pad 185 Chips and Chin.Chin’s Adventures with the Indians—comic,.......6.+-s00+++»-by Peter Pad 186 Chips and Chin Chinin Omaha—comic........ 7 By Peter Pad 187 Chips and Chin Chin in St, Lonis—comic..... .... By Peter Pad 188 Chips and Chin Chinin New York—comic.... — By Peter Pad 189. Jack Hawley mete ists : 190 The Two Boston Boye 191’ Frank Martin, the Young Rajah x 192 The Locksmith’s Apprentice 193. The Oharmers and the Charmed 194 The Red Circie - 195 The Nemesis; or, Trackéd to their Doom 196-Tom ‘Trump. 197 The Boy Pilot. ? 195 Satan’s Tree — es 199 The School on Wheels : f 200 A Lightning Flash - BP eee ay 201.The Mystery of a Minute é 5. arts 202 Bound to Be An Actor. — ; on ; 203 Mountain Tom, the Rebel Ska ce Arias ; fon by Morris win 204 The Mystery of the Red River of : 2 205 The Masked Messenger : f 206 The Prairie Phantom............By H. 0. Emmet 207 The Young Engineer xy ‘ 208 Fighting Against Odds 209 Harry Halsey 210 Donnell O’Gig A ey ae y, 211 Mustered Out at Fredericksburg. A Tragic Romance of War....by Richard R. Montgomery 212 Kilpatrick's Charge; or. The Terrors ofthe War . . _ By Richard R. Montgomery 213 The Dare-Devil Detective ;
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J 7 THE FIVE CENT WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY---Continued. 214 Game to the Death 215 Kickapoo Joe 216 The Struggle for a Mine 217 Stump; or,‘ Little, But, Oh, My!"—comic 218 Stump at School—comic 219 Stump at Sea—comic 220 Stump and Jack Hawser—comic 221 Stump’s Rackets Below Decks—comic 222 Stump and His Chums Homeward Bound—comic 223 Three of a Kind—comic 224 Adventures of CharHe, Mike and Don—comic 225 Thirteen 226 The Brotherhood of Death _ 227 Tricks; or, Traveling with a Variety Show 228 Under the Gallows 229 Adrift on @ Floating IES _ 230 Fred Hazle 281 Shot in the Dark 232 Doonie Crandall - 233 Meta, the Girl Crusoe © 234 Teddy Doyle 235 A Trip to the Center of the Earth 286 Drifting Harry _ 237 Rory, the Smasher. on 238 An Irish Boy’s Luck . "289 ae Miles Away; or, Sheridan’s Ride to ; ceevereeDY COl. Ralphi Fenton 240 Suord Sail ‘Musket; or, The Young Trooper's Prize.:.... sseseaseceeseesesby Percy B, St. John 241 Tornado Tint . _ 242 The Boy Avenger > - 248 Jack; the Joker ~ 244°'The Irish Robber’s Apprentice 245 Fighting His Way 246 A Knight of the Brush _ 247 Fritz the Tumbler - 248 Iron-Knuckled Ted - 249 Dare-Devil Dick _ 250 The Dock-Boy of New York’ - 251 Captain Cartouche 252 The Gipsy Buy’s Vengeance 253 The Boy Miners 254 Water-Duck Jim --- 255 The King ofthe Byline Gat 256 The Flying Ship of the Pacific. 257 The Adventures of Harry Franco _ 258 Oripple Oharley 259 The Adventures of Two Tramps 260 Plucky Jimmy 261 The Blacksmilth’s: Sere C a 262 Jumping Joe © " 5 _ 268 Jack Gordon ' _ 264 Mat McCarthy’s Fortune - 265 London Bob—comic 266 An English Boy in ‘America—comic - 267 Scotty the Terrier 268 Philadeiphia’ Dave 269 Billy’ the Boxer. . 270 Cadger Con © _ 271 The False Detective - 272 Highfalutin* Jim 273 Charley.Lance .. 274 A Search for a Missing Man 75 Commodore Rip-Rap steal 276 Teddy O’Lynn |... Lae ATO 277 The Shadow: Ship” i \ 278 Lone Jack © 4 279 Blue Grass Bob .. . ‘ 280 The Wild Rider of Old Kentuck 281 Shoo-Fly; ot, Nobody’s MOKS-OCDaG 282 Shoo-Fly at School—comic 283 Shoo-Fly in Love—comic 284 Shoo-Fly the Gymnast—comic } 235 Sharkey, the Young Robber of ae West ey Dashing Bob) ? 87° Johnnie Burgoo 290 Midshipman Ned 291 The Cruise of the Old Ironsides 202 Jack Feeney re 293 The Young irish Brigand ~ 294 Lance, the Lion 2 Tipton ae Nea 2 96 Free-and-Hasy 297 True Blue; or, Right at Last ~ 298 That Boy of Ours oe Tom on His Muscle 300 Bob Short:.or, One of Our. Boys comic 801 Percy of the Strong Arm 802 Jack Manly; or, On the Trail : ai. The Freebooters of California d ; 304" Captain Merrick and’ His Rangers’ ©) vs" ie Nerd: the Huanehback’ - 06 The Rell-Ringer of Trinity 07 Harry Harley 08 The Arctic Queen © 809 Harry Fitzroy’ 810 The Heart of Oak 811 The School on the Sea ats The Golden Island “818 Among-the Savages. 14 The Specter Schoolboy, and ‘other stories 3s The- Fleadsman’ of Old London Bridge 16 Harold Forrester 817 Mat o’ the Mist © Eo sts 3 Tiyeline Duke* ~~~ ff OE ot 9 Mark Bradley” es : 20 Driven to the Sea -«' wy ; ator 25 ‘Routing the Redskins : Tom Fox: 4 Adventures of a Philadelphia Doteotivere ichard Savage’ he Mystery of & Misspent Life ble Ste se 331 The Boy Cavaliers 332 Young Captain Kidd 833 The Secret of Wizard Lake 334 The Prairie Witch . 335 The Hunters of the Silver Trail - 336 Traveling With Barnum 337 Three Dashing Hussars $38 Pat O’Corker; or, Alwayé to the Front 339 The Diamond Bye. 840 Jack of the Naval Brigade 841 The Zulu’s Daughter 342 The Haunted House at Deadman’s Corner 343 Sir Guy’s Secret #44 The Fortunes of ap Acrobat 0%) 845 For the Green Flag of Old Ireland 846 Kathleen: O'Shaughnessy 347 Tom the Midshipman 848 Out With Captain Cook $49 Every Inch a Sailor 350 Ralph, the Light Dragoon 351 The Brothers in Arms 352 Jack of Cheapside 853 The Green Banner of Islam 354 The Colonel’s Daughter <2 355 Walter’s Secret 356. The Outlaws of Berkeley Forest 857 Redspéar the Outlaw ~~ : 258 ‘The House of a Hundred Terrors 359 Oswald, the Unknown : 360 Adventures of a Free Lance 861 The Treacherous Knight 362 Young Jack Harkaway and His Boy ee 863 Tinker’s Man Bogey 364 Young Harkaway in Spain ~ 865 Young Harkaway in Turkey : 866 Mole Among the Mussulmans~ ~~ 367. Young Harkaway and the Arabs 868 Young Harkaway and the Counterfeiters* 369 The Secret of the Traitor Gate 370 The Waif of the Tower : 871 Ralph Wildhawk ~~ é re 872 The Brigand Chief” : : 873 Marco Bravo . 74 Zara, the Gipsy ~* my : - 875 The Servian Spy ; 876 Sword and Oimeter 87, Adam Bell on $78 The Archers of Inglewood 379 The Knight of the Red Cross 880 Jack-o’-the-Cudgel 831 Croquard, the Free Lance 882 The Fair Maid of Kent 383 Dick the Brewer 8&4: The Oxford and Cambridge Hight’: 385 The Wild Huntsman , ; 386 Tom Mansfield, the Smuggler 387 ‘The Sunken Treasure 888 The Slave’s Revenge wa Ue | 889° Cris Oarrol, the Scout. : 390 Phil Rayleigh, a London Arab 391 The Knight of the Iron Hand \ 392'Tom Lester 2 893 Bicycle Bob - ist $94 Mark’ Darrell $95 Oscar din a or, the Forger’s Victim 396 Tom Oakland 397 The Mad: ‘Alchemist; or, erect Unfolded: By Drv Ho Mi Jordan ‘| 308 Worm, the Pittsburg Defective. By An Old Retectave 399: Rob Racket, the Scourge of the Cowboys 400 Gipsy Dick; or,’ Born a.Detective....sv.vJ.0e0 i By Seth Honehigton 401 The Red River Pilot .¥..../s.J-by Paul Braddon 402 Catana, the Robner’s Daughter. By Seth Huntingdon 408 Detective Sketches....by A New York Detective 404 The Boy Scouts of the Sierras, by. Seth Huntingdon | 405 The Heir of Longworth 406 A Ghost inthe Mirror, and other stories,....... » by Allyn Draper : 407 Strange Stories of Maniacs../-....... by Dr. R. Jackson. and Orrin Goble 408 The Skeleton’s Lasaey: or, The ile ofthe . S]ANds...ceeeeeeeseseeeeDY COl, J. L. Trueman 409 The Pirate’s Soma -esecseiesnaby, J. T. Brougham 410 The Young Revenue Detective; or, Among the Moonshiners.......-+---- by a a Retured Detective 411 Little Hall, the Boy Engineer, BY Capt. Will Dayton 412 Captain Hurricane; or, The Waif of the Wreck .. by Allan Arnold 418 ‘Towpath Ted, A True Rtory: of Life. on a Canals... “ y J. M. Bradon us The Ghost of Paul Priestly: or, "are Mystery of Haggard Hollow....-.-+--BY James Greenwood 415 The Cruise of-the Beauty..By Captain Will Dayton 416 Joe Jordan, the Youn Inventor 417 Ebenezer Orow—comic : 418 Charley Chariton, the Young duagiclan..-.- eee by Ool. J., M. Travers 419 Gorilla George; or, A New York Boy in Africa y J. Le. Freeman 420 Stuttering Mose; or, The Old Scout of the Rey- -Olutions...+6. pee BY ee J..L. Johnston 421 The aeladon! in the Sea........ By J. G: Bradley "| 422 Lighthouse Lem; or, The Mystery of: Dead- man’s Reef... 2+s0e¢62:. BY an Old Sea Captain 423 The Search for the ‘t Midas’; or, Treasures From the Deep........ SANE BY Gerald Fleming 424 The Young Explorers......By Capt. Will Dayton 425 Little Nugget. the Pride of Leadville......-... By Major J. Anderson 426 The Young ‘Aeronatt........2. By Professor Wise 427 The Boy Trapezist..... .By a Former Professional 428 Prairie Phil; or, The Panther of the Platte... ; “By Harry. Rockwood 429 The Green Caps... wees »By:a U.S. Detective 430 Holo, Roost; or, The "Traitor Ta EAP ; By is Redw 431 The Grimsdale abe and other stories... See ne o BY a Physician 1460 Zola, the O]d ‘Trapper’s —. 432 Lost in Africa; or The Adventures of Two Young Castaways......By Samuel T. Johnston 433 Denver Dan and His Mystic Band..By ‘* Noname*? 434 Shorty in Search of His Vad—comic.By Peter Pad 435 The Blasted Pine; or, Three Boy Scouts...... By Capt. will Dayton 436 Denver Dan and the Road Agents. By “‘Noname’? 437 The Freebooter’s Secret........By J. T.. Brougham 438 Sawdust Charlie, the Pet of the Ring.. By an Old Ringmaster 439 Denver Dan and the Gounterfeivers: By ““Noname *. 440 Cavalry Jack at Corinth....,.By Co’. Ralph Fentor 441 Ned Owen; or, The Mysteryof a Missing Ship. By Capt. Will Jayton 442 Denver Dan Outwitted; or, The Outlaw’s Tri- um = ««--By “Noname?? 443 The Girdle of Gold: or, “The Counterfeiter’s Daughter......0.0»..«..s.-. By Morris Redwing. 444 The Treasure Caye; or, Run to Earth. By a Traveler 445 Denver Dan, the Sherift...... eee. By ‘Noname’” 446 Long Paw, the Mysterious Hunter,.By Kit Clyde: 447 A Yankee Boy in Africa...:..By Percy B. St. John 448 Black and Blue; or, Nick Wharton onthe War- path......... .-.-- By Harry Rockwood 449 Ivan and Ismail; ‘or, “Scout of Pleyna....9..- by Don Jenardo 450 Denver Dan’s Peril; or, The Outlaw’s Ruse. ... by ‘*Noname *? 451 Sir Rufus the Rover; oy, the: Pirates’ Island... by Bote R. Montgomery 452 The Russian Spy. ..<:.20i.5% 453 The Creole Brothers....by Colonel J. M, Travers 464 The. Castaways; or, The White King of the Atlantic... 0c. .0. Veeseseces eee. BY Don, Jenardo | 455 Denver Dan to the Rescue; ‘or, The Mountain- aev ee BY: {} Noname eer’s Stratazem,. ......... 456 Condemned; or, Number 100, sre reeset nae By Richard R. Montgomery 457 The Wolf-of the Whied A Tale of the Pi- rates. of Old...........By Alexander Armstrong 458 Billy Bangs’ Schooldays... By Captain, Will Dayton 459 The*Mad Doctor... -»s By Paul Braddon ghter.By R. T..Emmet 461 The ‘Shortys’ Trip Around the World—comic By Peter Pad 462 Locomotive Bill, the Giant Engineer. edie waht By Samuel.Keene 463 Buffalo Bill’s Chum... ..By Colonel Ralph Fenton 464 Denver Dan and His Chums.......By ‘‘Noname ? 465 The Old Magician.....By Corporal Morgan Rattler 466 The Unknown Scout...........4./.By Zeke Baxter 467 The Brother’s Orime.........By Percy B. St. John 468 Molly Bland; the Detective....By J. T. Brougham 469 The League ‘Of Blu@sswavees ede ate -by Paul Spry 470 Neal Tim; or, Traveling. With a ‘Circus— mic. «#4 +04 by. Peter Pad 471 Mat of the Mountain; ‘or, The Sirigele of Des- perate Men... ..seeeseeeeeesee- by Allyn Draper | 472 The'Picador of Ghapultepec. . «....by Don Jenardo 473 The Lost Island; or, The Cruise of the ‘‘Caro- (i wee SSOTeeE DY. Colonel J. M. Travers 474 S278 or, ‘The House of Many Doors, wash Heyes by Philip Murdock | 475 an Maxwell Brothers; or, The Chaseof a Sea- Jeo UevccevecsevessesDY Kit Clyde on. BEL EUS , | 476 stuttering Sdinecomick wevcciesveceeDy Peter Pad 477 The Mad Hunter; er, The eatery of the Bea- ver Dami..0e.i.05.0.00. by Captain Will Dayton 478 Persimyion ‘Bil; or, the Red Cross of the Oney +3080. dy Don Jenardo Ose eee ‘| 479 Youn yx! the-Amatetr Detective...ii... t=) by: Philip Murdock 480 Buck Bidwell, the Boy. Slayer of.the Pawnees. y Lieutenant B. A. Kellogg 481 Toby, the the Spy; or, The eee Conspirators of Besse eee eevevsteveses by a Parisian Detective 482 The Phantom of the. avons wevswudtinas eee ' by Alexander Armstrong 483 Denver Dan in New York. . ss by “Noname ’? 484 Tommy Bounce, Jr; or, A ip of the Ola Block—comii¢. 22.00. 022. wiv. ie. aby! Peter Pad 485 Washed pO or, Adventures in a Strange and. seeveeees by Harry Rockwood 486 Charlie Chubbs at ‘Gollége. by Captain Wili Dayton 487 The Irish Clarde Duyal,by Corporal Morgan Rattler 488 The Twin Boy Scouts........by Percy B. St. John 489° Fair- Ausra Jack; or, Life in the Arctic Re- +... by Albert J. Booth 490 Stinter’a ‘Aide. y Gapt. Geo. Granville (U. 8. A.) 491 Old Fox; or, The Mystery of the Trunk... 2... by a Parisian Detective 492 The Old Thirteen; or, The yes League of Charleston. .2......++++..---by Morris Redwing 493 Siivershot, the Sport from Sacrpmento....-. 0 y Kit Clyde 494 a Stent Slayer; or, The Terror of tite Chip- yt ET, a+...by J, G. Bradley 495, The Trish Claude Duval asa Reva” Se kid petite b by Corporal Morgan Rattier 496 Astray in the Clouds.:...-vy a Retired Aeronant 497 The Shortys Married and Settled Down—a sequel to all theShorty stories—comic..... _. by Peter Pad 498 The Tree of Death..........-.-.by an Old Trapper 499 The Twin Detectives; or, True to Hach Other. by Ralph Royal 500 William Tell, the Dead Shot of the West..-.... hy a U.S. Detective “by Harry — Enton : 601 Trapper Duke; or, The Female Avenger...... by James D. Montague 502. Leon t ‘the Outlaw; or, The Avenger ofthe Death wets Scnswcseeseverswuly ye ZICH EDs Montague 503 Oui, Bounce, Jr., in Gollegesconites: aE hy Peter Pad | 504 Around the World; or, Fighting to Win. Rist scr yy Harrigan & Hart 505 Out With ‘the ‘“Jeannette;” or, Two Years = Among Icebergs.....+....by a Werald Reporter . é
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_—— "THE BIVE CENT. WIDE. AWAKE. LIBRARY ---Continued. $06 Captain Tom Drake; or, “The pounk EES oo) by H. ©. Emmet 607 Fred Ford; or, Life at Boatding-School,.. SeES by Captain Will eee 508 Billy Bakkus, the Boy With the Big Mouth— COMIC Ns deceees by Commodore Ah-Look. 509 Bow and Arrow Jack, “the Indian SOT te pie by Kit Clyde 510 Arete Phil, the Bear-Slayer of the Northern see veesvocversevecsscses Dy Alex. Armstrong ‘sll Fred. Baxter: the Wild Horse Tamerivsecccsss By J. M. Travers 512 The rookfleld Bank Robbers....by D. W. Stevens 513 The order Bandits........by James D. Montague 514 The Young Sharpshooters of the Rebellion... by Col, Ralph Fenton 515 Fighting Joe; or, The Game Man of the be IT Ok ‘ t Clyde $16 Invincible Bill, A Wonderful- Story er Neva- da, California and ver of12 Years Ago.... by Alexander Armstrong 517 Skeleton Gulch; or, Captain Texas and His Band of Vultures........+-...s-0+-by J. R. Scott 518 The Irish Claude Duval asa Privateer... -.... by Corporal Morgan Rattler 519 The Wolverine; or, The Count’s Treachery. ... by a Parisian Detective $20 Ben Bolt; or, the Young BIS pes OR iene by James D, Montague 521 From Drammer Boy to Generale VOUT wieaetesy by Richard R. Montgomery 522 Bob Rollick; or, What.Was He Born For— Comic. +.4 35.08 .-by Peter Pad 423 Northwoods Tom, ‘the Athlete Hunter.by Kit Clyde 624 Only a Cabin-Boy; or, Saved by Grit... ...... by Harry Rockwood 525 Astray in Africa................by Walter Fenton $26 Tiger Ted...............by Alexander Armstrong 27 Barnum’s Boy Ben......by Commodore Ah-Look 528 The Black Mask; or, The Vow ofSilence...... by T. W. Hanshew $29 Son’-west Fred. ...- eset seit ee esos ..by Kit Clyde $30 Bob Rollick, the Yankee Notion Drummer; a sequel to ‘Bob’ Rollick; or, What Was He .- Born For?’’—comic.............+.by. Peter Pad 631 The Drummer Boy Spy; or, ‘the Tels of the Wilderness..../...........by Ralph Morton 632 The Black Hercules......by Colonel J. M. Travers 538 Fireman Dick; or, The Pride of Number 9. by James D. Montague 534 The Shortys Out For Fun—comic....by Peter Pad 535 Red River Bill, the Prince. of Scouts. by J. R. Scott 536° estes Express Ned, the Prince of Boy En- gine: a aveecesseweevese- DY Horace Appleton 537 The Shortys? Christmas and New Years at Home—comic......./.0....4..24...by Peter Pad 638 Owlface, the River Scourge; or, The Guerril- la’s Captive. A Romance ofthe War in the South-West..... .by Captain Phil Jordon 589 The Spies of the Delaware... +os see Dy Kit Clyde 540 Denver Dan, Jr., and His Band of Deadshots.. y‘*Noname ?? 541 peur Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains; r, The Terror of the West....... by ‘“Noname”? 542 on Deck; or, The Boy Pilot of Lake Krie...... y Howard De Vere 643 From Pole to Pole; or, The Ballos Boy Avenger . y Horace Appleton 544 Dick Wright and His Band of ‘Cannibal Bovewe by J. R. Seott 545 The Boy Oaptain; or, The Search for a Missing vassecteceeseesebDy Alexander Armstrong $46 tickle and Tickle; or, Mishaps and Mischiefs— aig ore svedecetseees Dy Peter Pad 547 vort H Hayes: or, Black ‘Eagle, the EN ies ae bysDon Jenardo _ $48 Noiseless Nat; or, Always yaet Where, He’s Wanted. .....+, eee. ss-by James Ds Montague 649 The Secrets Under the Sea........- by Kit Clyde 550 Lazy Jake, the Boy Spy of the Rebellion... 0 Ot Gol. Ralph Fenton 551 Sam Sharpe at School... by Captain Will Dayton 552 Privateer. Tom—a sequel to ‘Captain Tom . Drake 2), .. by Allyn Draper — 706 The Wolf-Fighters; or, The Adventures of Two New York Boys in Minnesota. <e.+s++-<+-+. ae . $ - by Howard De Vere. q 707 Railroad Larry; or, Always in on Time.....50 = | 8s by Albert J. Booth © ; 708 Bound Together; or, The Young Fir Fire quadales rae of Springdale. .s.... +0000 «DY Robert Lennox 709 Two eek on’a Wreck; or, Abandoned in COEAN. +++ Picea pce vite: DY Hal Standis r, Around the World for. F CO cébcewssect DY. Peter Pad : 711 The Waianae Pioneer; or, Fighting for Texas y “-Noname” une 692 Jack Stowaway; or, Bound to t
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. THE FIVE CENT 712 leaves From a “Diary; « or, A Young Clerk’s DOW Nalledancccseccecerncees by H.K. Shackleford 7138 oon’ and the eh or, Life in Ken- Visscvccccces Yeser eee DeeKIt Clyde W4 Before the Mast; or, “A Sailor Boy’s Travels in Many Seas...... seeceeseeeee DY Jas, D. Montague 715 Monaco; the Jaguar Hunter..... by Hal Standish 716 From Page to Senator; or, worenig his Way Up teeeeeeeeee- DY H.K, Shackleford 717 adie Cleary’s “Country Court—comic..7....-. by Tom Teaser "18 Old Rough and Ready; or, The Heroine of Monterey = 0300.0... by ‘* Nonamé ”? 419 Fire Bell Dick; or, The Rival Hook and Ladders by Robert Lennox 720 Kidnapped; or, Forced on a Mart o” War.... y J. G. Bradley 721 Jack 0’ the Plains; or, The Hendleas Mazeppa by Paul Braddon ‘A Blow: for Jas. D. Montague 723 Muldoon, the Sport—comic. «-+-.--Dy Tom Teaser 724 A Newsboy’s Trip Around the World......... by H. K. Shackleford 725 In Dixie; or, A War Correspondent’s Thrilling Adventures... svseeesees+s DY Col. Ralph Fenton 726 The Skeleton Sentinel....by Lieut. E. H. Kellogg 722 The Prisoners of the os ks 427 Muidoon’s Vacation—comic......by Tom Teaser, 728 The Valleydale Social Club; or Ruined by Wine by H. K. Shackleford 729 Davy Crockett’s Vow; or, His. Last Shot for Vengeance.,........ sesseees-Dy Kit Clyde 730 Keeping His Word; or,’ * Tucky | 1) Landy’s pe PLUCK coe «vig aieges Ee eee DY. Jas. D. Montague 731 Young Tom Drake; or, Bound. to be a Captain By. the Author of ‘Privateer Tom,” etc., etc. 732 the a Matis Maiden; or, Through Deadly Dan- ecsenecsersessDy Corp. Morgan Rattler 133 The Tailed Prince; or, Two Boy xplorers in AIASKA. 6c. c5 ccs sccsecccseesss-DY J. G, Bradley 734 Pilot Boat No. 7 and ItsAmerican Bow: Captain by Kit Clyde 735 In_ the Wild West; or, On The ;Plains, With Buffalo Bill.......-.. Laer ‘Robert Maynard 756 A Sailor Boy’s Kingdom; or, Loans America In the South Sea Islands.. hg H. K. Shackleford 737 The Forest Mystery..........by Jas. D. Montague 738 Beaver, Ben; or, Three Voyaere 1n the Yellow- STONE. ..en reese ee seescevceeeenDY Kit Clyde 739 A Walt from the Sea; or, “Flung from the Foam by Thomas P. Murray 740 The Book Agent's Luck—comic......... .by “Ed ? 441 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas............ by D. W. Stevens 742 ‘Near the Gallows; or, A young oat Peril by R.. T.. Emmet 943 Dick Daunt tne Diver; or, Down Kanone the Sponge-Cutters. . Senta aby J. G. Bradley 744 Across the Continent on Wings; or, Frank Reade, Jr.’s Greatest Flight......by ‘‘Noname” 745 Lost Inan Unknown Sea; or, Adventures Un- ~ der the Earth.... «++. by Jas. D. Montague 746 The Shorty apes ese of Three Old Bic by Peter Pad es, JT. 748 The Six Swordsmen; or, The pat Cavalier... by Richard R. Montgomery 749 The Matineers; or, Dick Walton ue he ait bs Ship..ts.. T5L The Fighting Twins; ery.. patatene <by Richard R. Fer eo ery 152 ive Dollars; or, & Cheap Revenge... by Perey B. i, “Jon 753 Mike McGuinness; or, Paha for Pleas- . ure—comic.. : by Tom Teaser 754 oe Gradge, the Scout; or, The Gastle on tke ee nerte -by ‘* Noname ”? 755 Fonhe Sam Patch, “the ‘Ohampion pe Jumper by Hi. K. Shackleford 756 Little Jack and His Twenty Boy Firemen...... by Robert Lennox 757 Dick Spray; or, A Stowaway’s Trp to. China... by J. G. Bradley 758 Barnum’s Hunters; or, Trapping Wild Ani- mals for the Greatest Show on Karth...... By Richard R. Montgomery 759 The Sever: Masks; or, The Quaker Gity League By Percy B. St. Joma 760 Muldoon’s Night School—comic....by Tom Teaser 761 The Unlucky Miner; or, The Rivals’ for Dead =~ Man’s Claime..eece cece +++...by Paul Braddon 762, cal the Cowboy; or, The Young King’ of Las- seeseress---DY D, W. Stevens 163 His F rst Drink; “ora Country Boy’s Life in W YOK. .iceesceceseeveaDY H. K. Shackleford 164 rhe “ozar’ 's Boy Mail- carers or, oune arte ica In Russia .2......... ta C. Little 765 arappes and Trailers; ‘or, Battles “With the a Men S oresasbieills idiuce citesby. *‘Noname ?? 766 On vine Queen’s Service...........by J. G. Bradley "67 Tick Tack, the Messenger Boy; or, Sharp ¥ ork for a Million........ ...by Robert Lennox 768 Sam Spry, the New York Drummer; or, Busi- ness Before Pleasure—comic...... ” by” Peter Pad 769 A Lost Boys or Homely Jack’s es WUHsseee ; Rider. A Story of th Marainte ae lack er. ory Of the Revolution, 770 The B) ; “by Ralph Morron xk Above the Clouds; or, Cast rift in ae a alloon STROSS wos pees by Hal Rett 7 7 Moon ter; or, An American Boy cic oe er Tasers Se ae By age tous 713 Pantin “Del, the Knight ofthe Knife; or, The ang) Father....sseeseeeevee DY Paul Braddon y ‘¢ Noname ?? The Cavaliers of Mys- 774 Little Matt, the Pilot; or, The Perils of the LAaK@..seseseeenesscsreseesee seers eesDY C. Litule WIDE AWAKE 775 The Irish Boy Monte PSE ea © a as by Corp, Morgan Rattler 776 A Cruise Among Pirates; or The Blue-beards of the S08 Sees PETC. Kit Clyde 777 The Little Joker—comic......... ..by Sam Smiley 778 The Two Runaways; or, The iiaraships ofa ORCUS DGS POS cece coon by Hal Standish 779 The School-boys’ League: or, Working His Way Against Odds......%.... “by Robert Lennox 780 Lucky Lal, the Newsboy; or, Climbing the Ladder of Fame......... ..-by C. Little 781 Lost in the Land of Show; or, ee American Boys in the Arctic. ....... 20s... R.T. Emmet 782 Coal Mine Kit; or, The Mule Boy of Diamond Shales. veces. by Percy B, St. John 783 The Band of 12; or, The Knights of the Trail... by Paul Braddon 784 Muldoon the Fireman—comic.....by Tom Teaser 785 Diving for Gold........0s.<.......3..0y Kit Clyde 786 The 12 Owls; or, The Secret Band of Chicago * by Paul Braddon 787 The Fire King; or, The Yankee EOS Explorer by R. T. Emmet 788 The Boy Bank Messenger; or, Brave Bob Brad- shaw’s Secret Foe............ .. by ©. Little 789 His Last Cent; or, How Joe Dutton Made His FOrtune.......000++-s.s-.«- Dy H. K. Shackleford 790 Borh to be a Sailor; or, Bob Dare’s* Life on the Water........ eecceveeseeee DY Kit Clyde 791 The Electric Man; ‘or, “Frank Reade, Jr., in Australia..-... PR DY. ‘-Noname ” 792 Satan; or, The Mystery of Ten Years......... by Howard De Vere 793 Those Quiet Twins—comic.........iby Peter Pad 794 ae as Ong eE or, The Burning’ of eecteee y Ri T. Emmet 795 A Soldier: at 16; or, Figiung for the Union... by ©. Little |: 196 Teddy. of the Toll Gate; or, The Man With the Green Shades....-:....By Corp. Morgan Rattler 797 The Mayflower Boys; or, Life-in a Yankee Schoolers ie by Percy B. St. John 798 The Young Snow Trailers; or, Big Track) the Giant Moose Hunter...........by Paul Braddon 799 Denny the Clown.. A Story of Cirens. Life in Ireland. ............by Corporal Morgan Rattler 800 On the Rail; or, Perils in the Life cf a Young ngineer....-.......sseee...by Albert J. Booth 801 3,000 Miles ona Bicycle; or, A Race Across the Continent.........s.. seveceeeess dy C. Little 802 Fearless Phil; or, The Hero of Rugged Rift.. by Paul Braddon 803 The Shortys’ Christmas Rackets—comic...... by-Peter Pad 804 Claim 43 or, The Hunchback of Placer Pocket by **Noname 805 The Miser’s Son;. or, In Search of Hidden by H. K. Shackleford by N. S. Wood (The: ‘Young ‘American’ Actor). 807 Brian the Bear;.or, The Pranks of a Wild Irish Boy Segue ‘by Corporal Morgan Rattler 808 oe Haunted Bell Tower; or; The Hidden Mys- tery: 5 Fe30.22 BY Percy B. St. John 809 Two Years ‘om an Island of Ice..b 810 A Bootbiack’s Luck....-..... , Thousands by R. T. Emmet by’ Paul Braddon $13 Six Weeks Under Ground...........by Kit Clyde 814 The ena Boy; or, The Hero of the White SOL. Sees ed. by H. K. Shackleford 815 The: Blectric Horse; or, Frank. Reade, Jr., and His Father in Search ofthe Lost Treasure of the “Peruvians...................0y “* Noname”? 816 Lion Luké, the Boy Animal Tamér.:.....: by Percy B. St. John 817 Carillo; ‘the Corsair; or, ‘The MyateriOns Mon- arch of the Mediterranean... /.by. J. G. Bradley 818 Fearless Phil’s Chase......./.2..by Pan! Braddon $19 The Ghost of the School-Hounse........by C. Little 820 a Young Avenger;.or, The Knightot the Silk akties oF sole? $21 U rane Down: or, “The Life of anfElevator Oy * sopmieza B. St. John $22 Dick the Middy; or, A Boy’s Lie on'a Man-o’- War teeeeeoeese Dy J. G. Bradley $23 Footiigit Fred the Boy ‘Actor; or, Bound to be tar. y N.S. Wood 824 A Rolling Stone; ‘or, “Jack Ready’s Life of Fun --com een hts sesees~e by Peter Pad 825 The secre ‘of the Tattooed Map. iby. Ri T. Emmet 826 Custer’s Little Dead Shot; or, The Boy Scout of the Little Big Horn. Sa bys Noname?! 827 A Queer Race. The Story of a Strange People by William Westall 828 Kit Carson’s Boy Trapper..:.....by Paul Braddon 829 Slippery Ben; the Boy Spy of the Reyolution.. 830 Paddy Miles’ Luck; or, The Irish Boy Miner.. by Corp. Morgan Rattler 831 The Bey Fish; or, Little Dick the Diver...... by R. T. Emmet 832 Ben the Bowsman; or, Adventures in the Mon- tezuma Swamp,.....................by ©. Little 838 The Mastodon’s Cave; cr, Two Wide Awake Boys in the Far West. -...-by Percy B. St. 2 834 The. Boy Stage Driver; or, The Hero of Rocky Pass... ieee ce cee sce cececseseess DY Paul Bracdon 835’ From Newsboy Up; or, A New York Boy in Business... ----s+4.-.. abies $5 by N.S. Wood (The Young American ‘Actor) 836 Alone in the Wild West; or, A New York Boy’s Search for Buffalo Bill. «seeeeeeedDy R. T. Emmet 837 The Secret of the Sealed Gold Mines. by*t Noname ” 838 Little Blondin, the Tight-Rope Walker..by C. Little 839 zen New York to San Francisco ina Catama- .-..-by John Sherman wey Gonla or, A Boy Among the ings..............by H. K. Shackleford John feet et eee w we wew cee 840 A oui Money Ki LIBRARY---Continued. 841 ay: an Ermapd Boy; or, Getting. op in ine R. 'T. Emmet 842 Jack, Ready 13 School | Soripesceomnin ae Peter Pad 843 The Ice-Boat Boys; or, Cruising on Frozen Waters in the Northwest... ......by C. Little 844 Little Blind Joe; or, The Sharks of New York. by N.S. Wood (The Young American Actor) 845 Young fronclad, the Boy Gunner.by John Sherman 846 The Boy Gold” Hunters; or, SSL New York in California; : R. T: Emmet 847 The Shortys in the Wild WWeatccomnte. by Peter Pad 848 Billy the eee A Story of Govethor’s Island and New Work....ess...i00i..00-..s by O. Little 849 Frank Reade, Jr.’s Chase Through ihe Clouds. “by **Noname” 850 A Fucks Boy; or, The Mystery of an Jron NCStoceneg ances «+... By R. T. Emmet 851 My Friend Smith by Talbot Baines Reed 852 The Boy Crusoes; or, The Young Castaways ofthe Pacilic.... SSE by St. George Rathborne 853 Jerry tlié Tumbler; or, The Wonder of the— RING cceteces a .by Corporal Morgan Rattler 854 Ned. the Bonnd 3; or, Through 100 Miles of Foe! ..1---by C, Little 855 Frank Reade, “In, and His ilsonte Tena 856 The Shortys’ Christmas Stiaps—comic ‘ y 857 Two Waifs: cr. Afloat in New York... by N. S. Wood (The Young Ame y n Actor) 858 Lot Phil in Disguise; or, The Tiger’s Last lot ++ ssee+-bDy Paul Braddon 859 A Southern Boy w York; or, Bound to Make His Money.... -by H. K. Shackleford 860 Steamboat Billy; or, The State-Room Secret... 861 The Boy Lion Tamers; or, Adventures in Africa 862 Ont With Kit Carson. A Story of the Early Days of Kansas...s..<s+-+++.--- by R. T. Emmet 863 The Boy Samson; or, Taking Care of Bok ie ie 864 The Boy From New York; or, A Fight for'Five _ HONB.sseweedle eee ee t iby Percy B. St. John 865 Smart & Co. the Boy Peddiers—comic.......- by Peter Pad 866 A Chicago Boy; or, Up From the Lowest. .... By John Sherman 867 an soe Boy; or, Maloney After Education— Ce cee vecvecceccoecsscocccs + +DY LOM Teaser 868 The Boy Telegraph Operator; or, The Mystery of a Midnight Message... wby Col. Ralph Fenton 869 Dick Boldhero; or, The Strange Adventures of a Young Yankee Sailor......, Written by Himself $70 Garry the Greenhorn; or, From-Stowaway to Sen ALOT sveveseeeee «DY Corporal Morgan Rattler 871 From Errand Boy to bee vers or, ANS to be BUThE TOP... eeeeeecccsesseeee DY RT. Emmet ~ 872 Bob Allen’s Ranch; Or; A Cattle! King rere 17. car C. Little 873 Behind the Scenes; or, Out witha New York Combination—comic?.......s+s0s+ by Peter Pad 874 A Boy Among the White Caps; or, A Victim of tie Lash................-..by Paui Braddon 875 General Washington's Boy; or, The Youngest Soldier in the Revolution: ..--by Ralph Morton 876 Pawnee Bill and the Oklahoma Boomers..... by Geo. W. Goode 877 Frank Reade, Jr.'s Search for a Sunken Sitip; ‘or, Working for the Government.by *t Noname 878 Young Captain Tom Drake; or, In Search of the Pirate’s Home... .....0/.¢ ' © py the Author of'* Gaptain Tom Drake, ete. 879 A Bad Boy’s Note Book—comic...v..1. ~by “Ed! 880 The Young Railroad King; or, From Brake- man to President....42...py Col. Ralph Fenton 881 Joe Junk, the Whaler; Wy Anywhere for Fun HB cCOmibaseein lee! viesveseseesby Peter Pad 882 Lost on the Atlantic......+.. .by Howard De Vere 883 Monitor Matt; or, The Giantof the Waves. A --- Story of the Great Rebellion.. -by Ralph Morton 884 The Boy Rovers; 0r,-Tlie Adventures of Two PIUCKY ‘BOYS... 6.0 cecececcesecsceecessDY C. Little 885 His Own Boss; or, The Boy Captain of Cat- head Takes ie wseeeesssse. by Percy B. St. John 886 Braving the Flood; or, Msc Fight of Two Johnstown Boy8.e..0e- ...-by R. T. Emmet 887 Muldoon the solid Man—comic....by Tom Teaser 888 ane Boy Star; or, From the Footlights to For- Ps moe «e++e+sby N.S. Wood 839 The Young Commander; or, A New York Boy in the Southern War...........by Ralph Morton 890 Awol in ae Box; or, The Long and Short of MIC.cacceversceseerereeeseeDY TOM Teaser 891 The Se Soldiers Son; or, The Secret of the House of Eight Pines. "A Story of New York... by C. Little 892 Satin Sam the Young Western ae Wesevaue's by Paul Braddop 898 The Funny Four--comic..............by Peter Pad 894 The White Queen of the Aztecs; on Two Yan- : kee Boys in Mexico.............by R. T. Emmet 895 The Di age 's'Son; or, The Imp of the Village ES hice beanie ee HYTODY ‘easer 896 The Bi Bon Slave of the Galley; or, The Mystery of the Treasure Ship.......by Percy B. St. John 897 A Bad Egg; or, Hard to Crack—comic........ by Tom Teaser 898 Two Years With a Pirate; or, The Phantom Ship of the Gold Coast. ..2......by J. G. Bradley 809 Muldoon’s Boarding House-comic.by Tom ‘Teaser 900 The Boy Diamond King; or, The Young “Monte Christo of New York.........by C. Little 901 Ikey; or, He Never Got Left-comic. by Tom Teaser 902 The Armorer’s Son; or, The Mystery of the Tower of London...........2+..by Allyn Draper 903 Jimmy Grimes; or, Sharp Smart & Sassy— COMIC. sevseceeeecee sees e-eeseeDV TOM Teaser 904 Dick Getaway; or, Fighting for a Fortune..... by core Morgan Rattler 3
Page 48
S 242, The Boy Express Messengers or, eu : euger 946 Aarite inthe Antarctic; or, Two 958 Rob Rounds; the Young Firemans: .s.by: 0 ~ 960. Fair-Weatber, Frank, pete Dashing) Sailor Boys. 5 Dak us Ge aes {th Latest Issues of THE 5 GENT WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY, 905 Tom Quick, the Avenger of the. peinwares aris y KR. 't. Emmet 906 Sam Switch the Boy Engineer; or, Beara at the BOttOM....0ce-esseceeeess by Albert J. Booth 907 Daring Dave the Diver; or, The Prince of- SWIMMETS, coe deccvs sence veveseestaess by O, Little 908 Sam; or, The Troublesome. Foundling—comic. by Peter Pad 909 Velvet. Van; or, Deadly Grip and His Demon Band. teeceeeses DY Paul Braddon 910 A Smart New York Boy; or, From Poverty to MO ere poe kek ORE I by John Sherman Foretop Tom; or, A Yankee Sailor Boy Among the Malay’ Pirates...... by J. G. Bradley 912 Bulger Boom, the Inventor~ comic..by Peter Pad 913 Out in the Streets. A Story; of High and Low Life in New York.....:: . by N. S. Wood (The Young American. Actor). 914 The Swamp Demon; or, Lost For Two Years by R. T. Emmet 915 Denver Dan, Jr., the Stage Driver; or, The Mystery of Golden Gulch. . by oname ”? 916 Muldoon’s Brother. Danu—comi by ‘Tom, Teaser 917 Buifalo Bill’s Boy Broncho Breaker; or, The Youngest Hero on the Plains. .by Paul.Braddon 918 A Sailor at_ Fineen; or, From “Oabin Boy, to « Caplain .........6 vs. by. J. G. Bradley 919 Henpecked—coinic.. : -++.by Peter Pad 920 Homeless , Hal;.or, A Poor “Boy's Life-in a Great. Cltycess es eve ons ‘Captain IWill Dayton Wild Bill's, Boy Partner: or, The Redskins’ ‘Gold Secret... fe... 0... «by Paul Braddon 922 Mulddon’s Christmas—comic. ....by Tom Teaser 923 Captain Jack the Pirate’s Foe; or. The Devil- . fish of the Indies. cian oase Wey Roger Starbuck 924 A-Bad Boy at Schocl—comic.......-1...by ‘' Ed,’? 925 Mr. MeGinty—comic.;.. ett ods «oDY. ‘Tom. Teaser 926 ganeman Joe, aie Boy Telegraph otlmber. Peco , »by C. Little 927 “Shipped to China; or, The Life of e Ranaway BOY ee tah cee Rly she sites edy, J. G. Bradley 928 Searching for ‘Stanley: or. Tom ye Ad- - ventures in Afrioa...-.:«s.s..by R. T. Emmet 929 Boarding-School; or, Sam: Bowser at, Work and -Play—comic... ../.4.- «ives s by, Peter Pad 930 Young Magic; or, The Boy with: a Charmed Life inc. wesesse bande op eeeveenes os DY Pau} Braddon 931 Muldoon Out. West—comic, ) road in the Indian Country. . by John Ge ttle 959 Muldoon’s Base Ball Club—comic.bx, Tom Teaser, re the Mast.....by J. Gy Bradiey |) “1.961 Hagle Dan the Boy Hermit of the Rockies..... by Pau! Braddon 962 Captain Lewis, the Pirate..............by ©. Little 963 Mu!doon’s Base Ball Club in PLO ie CONS: ‘Yom ‘Teaser 964 epee Horton; or, From a Wait V8 @ Million- aire seseesee-seeD¥ Captain Will Dayton 965 The Prairie Post Boy; or, The. Scalp Hunters of Apache Land...... +s+ee+--by Paul Braddon 966 Chums to the Death; ‘or, The Adventures of a Boy Marine.........-.«s+++6-by Roger Starbuck 967 Muldoon Abroad—comic.......+.: by. Tom Teaser 968 An Engineer at 18; or, The Boy Driver of the Lightning Express. poseeve.seeeebDy R,T. Emmet 969. Hardpan Harry, the Hunted ‘Boy; or, A Young New Yorker Among Western Outlaws... by C. Little 976 The: Property, Boy; or, Before the Footlignts 3 and Behind the Scenes.......... by N. S. Wood 971 abalgaen 8 Base Ball Club in: Philadelphia— IM Cos ide v otee'sapea se sues »+...-.by Tom Teaser 972 The. Mystery Of the Fire- Ship; or. A Brave Boy , , Salling Master,.........-.-.by Roger. Starbuck 9738 The |Boy Bicycle Scouts; or, On the Wheel: ~ Among the Redskins.....--..-by: Paul Braddon 974 Rob Rider, the Circus Equestrian; , or, ‘Two Years Under the Canvas......by Geo. W. Goode 975 “The Seay Minstrels} or, Working the Same Old Rackets—comic.......+«%..+2.by Peter Pad 976 The Tunnel Under the Sea; or, The ear eres of Two Drowned Boys, -.,.....by R.e'T. Emmet 977. Pawnee Kill Doomed; or, The Great Scout in No.Man’s Land. ...:.... ».+.-~by Paul Braddon 978 ‘The Buffalo Hunters; _ or, W alg Life: onthe Pialnsevccseeesd y Robert Maynard 979 Little Tommy Bounce; or, Baier Like His Dad —comie, vs. secs sue d> sveridee ws dy. Peter Pad 980 the ipeestice Trove; or, The SMOGAMDO ED ofthe cite les eens J. G. Bradley 981 shins ona AEeCKS or, r, The. My Ane ofa Scut- tled-‘Ship . Tesieslitane ¢ ~..by R.T. Emmet 982. Dan Darling’s or, Three Boys’ Lucky Vacation.., .-by. H. K. Shackleford -988 Muldoon's Pic. .-by Tom. Teaser 984 Luke Lines, .the wens Stage er;or, The Four-in-Hand of Keno Camp...by Paul Braddoz 985 Jockey Jim, the Daring Boy) Rider; or, Win-- ; ning His Fortune in the: Saddler oc sweses by Robert Maynard 986, The Lost Boy Captain; or, The Paxeree of the Hidden. Whirlpool. .-++.-- +.-by Roger Starbuck 987 Mopest Aa0k JatTett; or, Haw. He Made His Money...-..-+ .by H. KR. Shackleford 988 Rob Rivers,. the Raft Boy; ot eh Driving on the Missouri River.. sere DR. T. Emmet 989 Muldoon the Gop. Part 1.—comic,.by Tom Teaser 990 Muldoon the Cop, Part 1L—comic..by Tom Teaser 991 The Boy Wrecker; or, The Young Pilot of the Breakers....,...--¢.60.-5+-.by Roger Starbuck 992 Born to. be Rich; or, A Boy’s Adventures in= * Wall Street. +. by H. K. Shackleford 1298 Frank Reade, Jr,, and His Queen Clip er O} : the Clouds—Part I... 0... +2... by: Noname 994 Frank Reade, Jr., and His: ‘Queen ere of: the Clouds—Patt {13 ..5s-ss0leee yy. ** Noname 77 1995 Thee BOS HH Lawyer; or, Fighting or a Stolen si R. T. Emmet 996 Little Tommy Bounce on Bis’ ‘Travels—comic. by Peter Pad 997 The Little Biack Royer; or, The Mysterious Privateer or New York’ Bay. » by Corporal Morgan ‘Rattler 998. Pawnee Bilis. Oath; or, The Oklahoma Scout’s ; Lost Gold Cacne.......2.. . s+. by Paul Braddon 999 Jimmy. Grimes, Jr.;. ox, The Torment of the . Village—comic.....3. 1000: The Pirates .of the Black Cava; or,.The Mys- _ tery of the Hidden Lake: eee or, Our Boys atcosin Joi by. Barton Bertren 1002 Jack mad Jim; ‘or, Rackets and Scrapes at School—comic..+.:.+++s-++«.-.-by'Tom Teaser 1008 Littie Quick Shot; .or,. Buflalo . Rill's “Wild » Westin Bnropei.vss2.-3 «.....sby Paul Braddon 1004 The Mysterious Light-Ship;. or, The Smug- glers of the Death Coast.. ...by Roger Starbuck 1005 ‘Muldoon’ 's Grocery Store—comic. Parti Is%. & saerepn 4 by Tom Measer 1006: Muldoon’s Grocery, Store - comicn: Part TLs. + > by Tom Teaser and His Monitor of the « . Air; or, Helping a Friend ne Need.by ‘ Nondmey. 1008 Gerald ‘o’Grady's Grit;:2or,! The: Branded © Jrisb Lad......06...by oor Morgan Rattler. 1009 Denver Dan): Jr., the ‘Silver -Kitg;-or, The : tenn Richest, Lode in Nevada.. -by ‘“Noname??) 1010: Six Weeks in the Saddle; or, The Adventures © of a Boys’ Riding School. 2.is.eb VR. TD. Erm met | 1011 The Traveling Dude; or, The Comical |Adven- ¢ 875% vores of Clarence Fiz Roy Des acadtig : iy, Tom: Teaser ao12 ‘Black: Brow, the Pirates. or, The. ‘deuce of / the Dark Rivers. <4. seats adY Roger Starbuck |’ i 1013. ‘The Yankee. Yacht. Olub or, Around ‘the SUSE te NS é Cp Geo. & Small, patewaivtacbyi Tom Teaser || ais by Roger Starbuck | - 1001 ‘Through ccs and Thin; Abro 1014 Frank Reade, Jr., Exploring a River of Mys- tery. A Strange Story of Africa. by “‘ Noname” 1015 Muldoon’s Trip Around the World—comic. Part I.. «=see+seby Tom Feaser 1016 Muldoon’s Trip “Around” the World—comic. Parhllj cs qerevet «+«..06.-Dy Tom? Teaser 1017 Flat Boat Fred: or, The. Young Swamp Hun- ter of Louisiana ..........by H, K. Shackleford 1918 Among the Sun Worshipers. or, Two New York Boys in Peru..........,by:Berton Bertrey 1019 Jack Magic, the Boy Wonder; or, The filers est on the Stage.......-- by O- Little 1020 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Plectric. Air Yacht: or, The Great Inventor Among the Aztecs ~ by *\Noname,?? 1021 Two Boy Wanderers; or, The Chums of the Lost Island,......:....e+-2+.by Roger Starbuck 1022 The Wonder of Wall Street; or, A Boy Among the Bulls ana Bears,.....-byH. K. Shackleford 1023 The Unknown.........s-.+- ----D¥ Paul Braddon 1024 are Comical Adventures of Two Dudes— 1 mic Js evevssesee DY) TOM Teaser 1 1026 Cast Adrift; cr, One Year on @ Rafts. ..sse00 by J. G. Bradley: » 1026 The Rival Boat Clubs; or, The’ Boss School at Beachwood.: +... by Howard De Vere 1027 The’ Demon Captai The Doomed Boys of the Gun-Ship... by Roger Starbuck 1028 Held by Sitting Buil; or; Tne ‘Siege of a Da- © kota School-House. ..') yaMaie ays ‘Paul Braddon 1029! Bob Bright; or, a Boy of Business and Fun “comic. Part 1 .. by Tom-Teaser 1930 Bob Bright; or, A ‘Boy bi iness and Fun —comic. Part II é 1031: Patynee ‘Bill’s' Sha © Girl Dead Shot.. 1032 Tom Topp; or, Fighting a ‘ by Allyn Draper 10338 Be eae Ship; or, Aarite on a Sea of do0..by Roger Starbuck 1034" Dick Darts ‘or, The Fiend Ofte Revenue Cut- BE Icky Uil.by: Berton Bertrew 1036 The Boy ‘Slave ‘ot New York; or, Sold to a Hunted Mani... Peele Aa by C. Little 1036 Around the World ina “Sail Ponts eerie by Harry” Kenneay 1037 Fred Fresh; or, AS Green as taeseveodine: as by Tom Teaser 1038 ole Buckskin, the Man’ With the Trained ety or, The Indian Scont’s Olty Man nt. . seseeesDY Pat Braddom 1039 “sport, os ihe New ‘York Bootblack.......... by N. S. Wood — 1040 Philadelphia Phil; or, From_ a Bootblack to a Merchant. ... sisvecss eeby C. Little 1041 A “ship on Wlieels; “or, The WoncGer of Hur- ricane Coast..»............,by Roger Starbuck | 1042 Truthful Jack; or, On Board the Nancy Jane. - A Story Fuil of Lies—comic. ",..by Tom Teaser 1043 The Gold Arrow; or,.The Demon of the Oas- z cade. A Thriliing’ Story of the Wild North- teceseeeeeee DY Paul Braddon 1044 The. Bor Lion King; or, ‘The Secret of the Diamond Caves...... sby R.T, Emmet Story of the Great South. .2.5..22 +... by. Gus Williams 1046 The Castaways of Icelan The Fiend of the Lava Uaves.., by Roger Starbuck. 1) 1047 ‘Billy Moss; or, Fro —comic......... 1048 An Engineer at" Bottom to the EE 1049 Chicago Carl; or, The F _ tun ng to Ancther . by van Teaser: ay C. mrithie y's For- "Boy King of. the Man- Raters, HEN Thrilling * Story of the South Pacifid.....by J. G. Bradiey : 1051 aerate Reade, Jr., in the Sea of Sand, and His Discovery ofa Lost Peeple. by “ Noname’” 1052 Pawnee Bill’s Double; or, The Great Scout’s Best Trail... .ss+sseeeseeseees-DY Paul Braddon 10538 Pacer Dane, the Senate Detective; or, Behind the Scenes in Washin ZlON,eoereee dy C. Little 1054 The Skeleton Island; or, A Cruise in an Un- deiground Rivet ...- «by Roger Starbuck 1055 xhes Pistol Prince; or, T Treasure of the | ache... . aes. -+-by Paul Braddon | 1056 Pecgmette Fre 1; ony na Railroad. Sie on ; _ by Howard De aay 1057 Danay Dan of Deadwood... Fedwield DY: “Noname” 1058 Twenty years on An Island; or, The ator ot » a Young Castaway......3..000. ...sby Kit Clyde 3060) Ble eb Boy, or, The Worst in ‘Town— dss bs.e D¥n Peter Pat 1060. whe Peiiantond LightHouse; or, The ‘Mystery » ofthe Storm- -COAStsvcessce «DY Roger Starbuck — 1061 Dandy Dan of Deadwooe, and the Fresh: PariseFrom Frisco. 2.7/2 sve a “Noname’?” acute de esbY { 1062 The Rival Rangers; or, The Sons of. Freedome- ooby d.:Gs Bradley” ; 1063 ‘Backbone Rob,’ the Boy of: Pluck, Makings” © His Own Way Through the World. ...by 0. Little. 1064: The Spectre of the Pueblo;.or, The Phantomo y OEE hoo seeteeetebY. ai Braddon “PRANK TOUSEY. Ph ree oe eS al and 46 Hoven Moare Street N. Y,