Pluck And Luck (no. 719) (1912 03 13)
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‘“l I dove in. I had learned to swim in the old river in Ireland,and away I struck out after My cap. Then such a yelling fell on my Gare, as a lot of roguish boys and other people gathered abovo. : ro MATOLESEYV a Fy LS hd “ “Ts 2S ROE ST. a Se ns S Sage NEW YORK.
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_ PLUCK AND LucK- Stories of Adventure ‘ Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered ae Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post flee. > November 7, 1898. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1912, im the office of the Livrarian of” ‘ Congress, Washington, D. C., by Frank Tousey, Publisher. 168 West 23d St., New York ‘ New application fur second-class entry pending, » No. 719. NEW YORK, MARCH 13, 1912. Price 5 Cents. POOR IRISH BOY Bs _ FIGHTING HIS OWN WAY By ALLAN ARNOLD . ; x CHAPTER I. ; oo HAIL TO COLUMBIA. Can I ever forget that bright May morning when I stood on _ the deck of the emigrant ship, and caught a frst good glimpse of America? Ob, how light was my heart as we sailed up through the _ Narrows toward the city af New York, while I rout gazing on _ _ the green fields and pleasant-looking villages on Staten Island, as I said to mnyselt: <a “Sure, it is a fine country entirely, and I know there will no more vvation and misery for us all.” ‘How I did gaze in wonder on the countless masts above in the harbor, on the almost numberless buildings of the great . and on the steamboats plying to and fro on the rivers and the bay, while I again muttered to myself in rapture: “Surely this must be the greatest country in all the world, was is no wonder that the people in it should fight so bravely the English nts out.” Sitthonsn I was one & poor ignorant Irish greenhorn of en at the time, J had heard enough about the history of to know that the brave people had a long struggle for un, and the es of such great men as Washington, bn and Franklin were familiar enough even in the cabins and. of sound common sense, for one so ignorant, and he was not at all afraid of hard work. . I did hear that he was a very passionate man in his early days, and that he got into a bad scrape on account of his tem- per; but however that may have been he was always warning me — giving way to passion, and so was my good mother as well. ; That mother was one of the kindest and gentlest creatures that ever came from old Ireland, and my little sister Mary was just like her. : __ It.was said that I took after my father, as I would have been quick-tempered enough only for the warnings and the lectures 1 got, and they did serve to curb me a good deal. a ft Well, we were landed safely at the big Castle Garden, my wonder kept on increasing at the strange people | oda . there from other parts of the world, and they jabbering away | in such outlandish tongues. Uy As we had no friends or near relatives to go to we put, up| at a poor lodging house in Greenwich street, near the Battery, and I remember that my mother sold some blankets to pay for our first night’s supper and lodging. Poor as we were we were all happy enongh, as my father knew that he would soon get plenty of work and good pay, and I was hopeful of being able to find something to do also. : Early on the following morning I strolled out alone inte tite Battery, but I didn’t go far before I found a lot of little rascais running after me and crying: “Will you look at the little greenhorn, fellers? I say, Pad- dy, how many ships brought you over?” The little rogues said a great deal more to me bewiank, and they kept pelting me with old potatoes and mud, but | kept on my way as if not pretending to mind them, thinking of my | father’s and mother’s advice, and fearing to get into a row on my first morning in the fair land of America. : I suppose “greenhorn” must have been written on every fea-— ture of my face and in the ragged clothes 1 were. as every hoy and girl I met called me either “Paddy” or “Mick” as loud us they could, and they kept on pelting me until | was almost : bursting with passion. j 1 kept my temper. however, as well as I could, and strofled . down to the edge of the water to feast eyes on the great 3 ships and steamboats passing in end ont, while I said to iny- | ill scarcely be him when he tells | self: Resgrleed lveland except at oe peg 3 “I wonder what they ate making fun of me for at all, the ; bis fother and and mqther could the | little rogues, for they act to me as if | was some wild animal.’ ! " wo AS et The words bad scar passed in my mind whep au ugly» ar, | wou 4 trouble you about such things now ot black rogue, a good deal bigger than myself, with a small box : son to be proud and happy on} flung over bis shoulder, e sa at me and tore the old = t 2 F d as h 3 ; I was very ignorant and very green, indeed, as I could read very simple words of one or two syllables, and 1 ot attempted writing good or bad. father was only a poor laborer in Ireland, and goodness nows how he raised money enough to bring us to Amer- ami cer that he did not have a dollar in bis pocket Ape the eran Garden on that fine May day F dette and ed little sister Mary, who was a ir gia at ite mira as well as myself, and rong, rough een, with nothing that
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Td have you to know, bad cess to you, that my name isn’t Pat at all, for it is Dinnis.” _. fhe rogue before me and three or four others like him burst _ out laughing at this and then one of them cried: “Did you twig him, fellers? His name is Dinnis. Make him swim out, Jim.” _ ~ The big fellow who held my old cap then flung it out into the water, as be cried: _ “ff your name is Dinnis swim out after your hat.” When I saw my poor cap floating away out with the tide, every drop of blood in my body began to boil, and I sprang at _ ~ the big fellow with the box as I cried: x “You thief of the world, I'll send your caubeen after it in ~ @ jiffy.” I did manage to give the fellow a good box in the face with ~ ohne hand while I grabbed his hat with the other. » * -—He let fly back at me in fine style, and he sent me flat on the ground as he cried: , “Give me up my hat or I’ll knock the very life out of you.” I held the old hat tight in my hand, and as I sprang to my feet again 1 flung it out into the water as far as I could, as 1 cried: “Pt swim after my own hat, but may the mischief take me ff Tl bring yours back at all.” ; ‘The tide was in at the time, and the water was deep enough, old se in Ireland, and away I struck out after my old cap. -. Then such yelling fell on my ears, as a lot of roguish boys and other people gathered above on the side of the water, _, while one of the young rogues cried out louder than the rest: ay, “His name is Dinnis, and he is taking a swim after his old os Whether it was that the water was strange to me or that I was weak from not having anything to eat that morning, | couldn’ tell, but I do know that I was soon as faint as a dy- _ ing cat, and I gasped for breath before I sank into the deep 7 3 thing I knew I found myself lying at the bottom 7 2 rb and a big man over me holding a bottle of whisky tr is ta esac but bh d | have of i TAG: a ‘now, but he had a close shave it Thunder! will you Jook how he grabs the old hat so tight yet?” eA eH enough, I had my own old cap tight in my right hand, po hen I recovered my senses enough I clapped it on my head as I said to the man above me: ~. “Thank you, kindly, sir, for dragging me out of the water and for giving me the whiskey; but oh, it was very pleasant .. in there for all.” ‘I didn’t Know then that I was near drowning, and that the _ pleasant feeling that came over me was the sensation felt by people wlien dying in that manner. When the boat touched land again a big policeman caught ~ my shoulder and shook me in a very rough manner as he said Yh to me: pikes “What did you want to go in to swim there for, you thundering greenhorn?” |. “It was after my old I went,” said I, “but the mischief See 1h take me if I caught the ~~ Just then a bright litdle lady about my sister Mary’s age ran Up to me and put s0 ‘my hand as she said to the pollesman: spethinag: Spee “I saw it all, officer, and it wasn’t his fault. Those nasty Teal bootblacks abused him dreadfully, and one of them ‘fitng his hat over.” “Come here, you, Edna,” cried a shrill yoice, as a tall lady with a sallow face sprang at the little girl and dragged her ety { | Mie potceman then aked mie my and. where I lived te all about me, and of course 1 answ him, like the honest _ boy that l was. Boe aa ee He then took méto the lodsing house! where my father and '. mother and sister were waiting for me in great glee. “My father had Just hired himself to a co on a. some fifty miles from the « to Start up that very day. wees | ‘or to go to who put it into my hand when she t I wasn’t to blame for going into the 2 A POOR IRISH BOY. “Tt was a little angel who gave me that, and I only pray that I may live to see the day that I may be able to do her some service in return for it.” I don’t know how my father managed to get us all up to the village of Middleville, near where the railroad was being built, but I do know that in two or three days after we were settled there in a little eabin, and he was working away as happy as possible. : As I was a stout lad for my age at the time, and pretty tall as well, I looked around the village for something to do, but it wasn’t easy fora poor little greenhorn to get employment, as 1 was not able to take a man’s place on the railroad. My sister Mary soon went to a small school in the village, . while I turned to and worked at digging and cultivating a small patch of ground at the back of the cabin. My mother could read a little, and Mary was not long at school before she commenced to give me instructions in spell- ing and reading. After some time I became able to read books and news- papers, and then I discovered that I.had a great taste in that way, as I would devour everything in the shape of news, his- tory and poetry that came in my way. My father’s wages enabled us to live very comfortably in- deed for people who were not accustomed to the luxuries of life, and a year went by in our new home as happily as pos- didn’t trouble me, as I had learned to swim ‘in the} sible. During that time I managed to get some odd jobs from the people in the village and the farmers in the neighborhood, and I could have got a place to live out altogether only that I hated to leave my humble home and the dear ones who were so fond of me. In addition to being fond of history and. poetry, I also de- lighted in reading about the great men of America who had risen to wealth and fame from being poor boys like myself, and I often wondered if it would ever be my fortune to make a successful fight in the battle of life, and become like one of them. : I read about Franklin who was once only a poor printer’s boy, and who afterwards became honored by the great people of France when he went there as a representative from his own country. : I read about the poor Itish peddler who carried his pack around on his back for years, and who afterward worked his way up until he became the greatest dry goods merchant in New York city, and built stores on Broadway that were act- ually marble palaces in themselves. Then I thought about the presidents and statesmen who were only tailors, and rail-splitters and poor mechanics in their young days, and I would say to myself: “Sure we have ali the same chance in this fine country if we are only true, and honest, and steadfast, and why shouldn’t I fight my way up as well as they did? The great General Jackson,, who beat the English at New Orleans, was only the son of a,poor Irish emigrant like myself, and if I have patience and courage, I may make my mark in this great country also.” In all those bright dreams of youth, and even while passing through the desperate struggles of life thereafter, [ always blessed my stars for having found a refuge and a home in the land of freedom and plenty, and I must say that I never re- gretted the hour when I stood on the deck of the emigrant vessel and exclaimed: “Hail to Columbia, the land of the free!” CHAPTER I, MY FIRST OPENING. After living a year In the country, the brogue on my tengeue was as thick as the day I landed, and I didn’t attempt to hide it or improve it at all, as I had sense enough even then to know that I would only make myself more ridiculous by at- tempting to give it a Yankee polish too soon. Nothing has ever been more sickening to me than the at- tempts of [rish boys and girls at putting on the Yankee twang when they are only out here 4 short'time, and if they only knew how ridiculous ft appeared,-and how they were lnughed at by those they imitated, they Would take full time in get- ting rid of their accent. oie ean While the young people in the country village were not guite as impudent as the young rogues in New York ¢ity, the boys § in the village ridiculed me about my brogue often enourh, and I almost became ashamed of my nainé when they would — call out after me, crying: * “He's a Mick, but bis name is Dinnis.” Sys I did get out of temper once or twice, but 1 was very sorry for it afterward, — ote ; ee
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A POOR IRISH BOY. 3 seat as soon as possible, and drove the horse-on_to-defiver the load, while I could hear the boys crying: “Paddy is a regular muff!” “Wouldn't he make a good short-stop!” “His head is as hard as a nigger’s!” My head was aching hard enough, but | never once looked back at them, as I said to myself: “I suppose I would be just as bad as them if I was one of themselves, but I would like to have & crack or two at the rogue who struck me with the ball. As I was taking the things into the kitchen of the academy a nice little young lady came out to the wagon and said to me: “Did those ¢ruel boys hurt your head much?” T couldn't reply for the life of me, as it seemed to me that all the blood in my body rushed up to my head when | remem- bered the sweet face before me. It was the nice little lady who gave me the silver dollar on the Battery three years before, and she was taller and more lady-like and far prettier than she was when sbe first ap- peared to me like an angel. When I didn’t answer her at once the young lady stamped her foot impatiently as she said: “Why don’t you answer me, sir? Did that nasty ball hurt you much?’ »“Notrat all, miss, thank you,” I stammered, dropping a box of tea on the ground at the same moment. The box fell on a big flag, when it burst open and out went the tea in. every direction. The young girl laughed at my mishap, and ran into ‘the house, crying: “What a clumsy Irish fellow he is.” I stooped down to pick up the tea, when a sharp, shrill voice fell on my ears from the window, crying: “Put that tea back in the wagon again, you clumsy Irish fool, and tell Mr. Poole to send me up 2 fresh box by some one else. Tell him also that I will not trade with him any more if he sends you up here.” I don’t know bow I managed to drive back te the store that day, as the boys hooted and fired the ball at me again op my return, in addition to my being burning ali over with tnor- tification and apprehension, I did tell the groceryman tie truth, however, and he dis- charged me on the instant, saying: “Go home and get a job at digging pot@toes, Dennis, as 2 Once I had a fight with a chap about my own size, and while we were wrestling together he fell under me and broke his right arm, My father gave me an awful talking to that night, and the boy’s father was going to have me put in jail, but the brave lad himself swore that I wasn’t to blame at all, and he I had good reason to know and to love that lad thereafter, S he turned out to be the best male friend I ever had in my ‘ was about three years older than myself, although he Wasn’t much bigger than me when we iirst met, as he _ hadn't contmenced his full growth at that time. Well, I kept on working at what I could find for two years moré; and during that time I kept devouring all the books and papers I could lay my hands on. _ ‘Wheh I was sixteen years of age, I was a very poor scholar 80 far as school-books went, but I had a very good notion of - history, and of the news, and of the great men of the day, ae * while my ambition to become rich and famous was growing ‘stronger and stronger. ---E eouldn’t do a simple sum in division at that time, and I couldn't parse a single sentence in grammar, but I could ‘tell you all about the great battles fought in the revolution and in _ the war-of 1812; both on land and sea, and didn’t I glory in such American heroes as Washington, Putnam, Marion, Com-|t f -modore Perry, and Paul Jones. _. Yalso took great pleasure in reading about the great battle- bad “fields . of Europe, and of the victories of the great Napoleon; wien I thought of the wrongs of my own poor land I often that I might live to have a chance to strike a blow » English tyrants. ; ‘ ah aikce iistechgiack cb ais 1 i0k'o Joli ab oui : peony, boy 19. the leading stocery store of the village, and it - 4was it came home to me that I had wasted my time ‘In réading stories and histories, when I should have been prac- * ticing at writing and at figures. i When I was only a few days in the grocery store the boss zs pens tee tp.Ren ee gone Bitaple eneenata, and.L grew red with shame when I was compelled to admit that 1 didn’t know SF "enough about res to do it. _. He wasn’t a very harsh man, but he Was provoked at me “at the iss Bennie HONes ie Senay, SURE 108-9 eho rant hh fool,” and se on. _ When I went home that night the tears were in my ayes, and » I told my mother all about the trouble, and she consoled me “It isn’t too late to learn yet, Dennis, and Mary will teach Sgr taper ey gh commence with me that very night, and we went to bed, while my head was store any longer.” The pay wasn’t much in that store, but oh, how bitterly I did feel for all that, as I trudged home to the little cabin. We had very poor luck during the previous winter, as my father was taken with,the fever and he ceuld not work for tive months. He was at work again at the time, but we were heavily in debt at the grocery store, and I was helping to pay off that debt with my tabor. My good sister was only fourteen years old, yet she went out to work every day taking care of two children in the village, Tet to our humble home eyery night to give me instruc: tions in writing and figures. _. When I told my mother about the accident and my discharge she consoled me by saying: “Don't trouble yourself, my poor boy, as the summer is com-— ing now and there will be work for you on the farms about here, When winter comes again you ean study under Mary, and you will be a good scholar, with the help of goodness, be- fore you are many years older.” morning I was sent up to the acad- with a load of groceries. . s just here that my three years’ life in “didn’t put much polish on me and that I was still igh in my accent and in my manners as I was on is laos landed at Castle to ow 4 sewed have improved my mind and ins me ¢ hopes and worthy aspirations, yet “greeuhorn” d on my features, and it came out in almost aibhtinay was a L gteat institution In the} I started out to look for work on the following morning, but t “was not « by the richest! { didn’t meet with ; Success. ge, but Sie PRESS, SE BRET ie. wae ite Jn the. as I wasiroturning to the cabla al ; again, w : ht wagon drawn ‘ore the saw a lot of boys play- | door, ae ety az ae I sald to myself; Ssiuo nthe ma Bat nan ig ih i 4 scholar, and to live and Wise be that.” get} at all?” Bh Rgeeady coh yarn. when I beheld.a tall, atern-looking — and by that gentleman’s side, was the sweet little lady who tee saa tnd Se dat, og ag tage RR eA Retz glance at meas I entered the =, bes pape as she seire can’t afford to lose my best customer by keeping you im my » My heart was wbdas -euough as I walked iuto the little. gentloman seqted in.our little best room talking to my mother, /— 2 :
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4 VAT. oo. 2 the young girl was his only daughter. A POOR IRISH BOY. It then came out that the gentleman was Professor James, | by all the boys, and that he was a fearful task-master to those manager and proprietor of the Middleville Academy, and that] under him. He was a stern, overbearing, sullen man of very few words, Edna James had heard that afternoon that 1 was discharged | and no one could approach him on friendly terms except his from the grocery store on account of breaking the tea box, and | young daughter. she insisted on her father paying us a visit to offer me a very Mrs. James was a fit mate for her husband, as she was Se humble position at the dcademy. harsh-spoken, seyere, and even cruel also, in her treatment 5 _My mother had told them before my arrival about my taste|of those under her, and from the very first day I could feel 7" for reading. and she also informed them that I was very stupid | that she had taken a particular dislike to me. ‘: at writing and figures, Most of the boys treated me with great contempt and rude- . The professor, then said that ‘os wanted a strong boy to work} ness, and many were the tricks playea on me during the first around the academy and to take care of his two horses. Soon after I entered the room he‘turned to me, saying: six months spent in the institution. Professor James appeared to forget all about his promise of “I have just made your mother an offer, and it is to this ef-| giving me private instructions, as none of the assistants offered tect: board you will have a chance of learning something, or three evenings in the week. At the end of a year, if you _- one of the lower classes, providing you tend to the horses, split If you will come to me and work for a year for your] to assist me in that way, but I did not despair, and I man- as I will} aged to study a little, on retiring at night, in my little bed- get one of my assistants to give you private instructions two] room over the stable. Lightning was also attached to the big negro, who took him “prove yourself worthy, 1 will give you a chance as a pupil in| around with him wherever he went. One night Ajax went to the village to attend a negro dance, wood, and do errands before and after school hours. What do} taking the dog with him, and I was left alone in the room over __- You say to the offer, boy?” . [didn’t like the offer at all, and simply wetetne I didn't like gave me one oz ber sweetest smiles, while my mother said: the stable. The boys of the academy had never attempted to play any the man; but before I could make him an answer, Edna James} tricks on me during the night, as I was protected heretofore by Ajax and Lightning, and I did not apprehend any trouble _ “He'is yery anxious to iniproye himself, sir, and I know that] that night. - my Dennis wili be a great scholar yet if he has the chance.” stant, and I said: work from morning till night to get the chance.” * On the following morning 1 packed my scanty wardrobe in} an old carpet bag and trudged out to the Middleville Academy. Braced it eagerly, little dreaming of what I would really have to endure in the rugged road before me. Ajax always slept in the same room with me, and the big _ The words froim my kind mother, as well as the smile from| dog would be with us when he was not set loose about the ‘the sweet young girl, caused me to accept the offer on the in-| premises. On the night in question 1 was seated at the table studying “I do want to become a scholar, sir, and I.am willing to|an arithmetic by the light of a small lamp when I heard a knock at the door below, and then a voice called out: “Am you up dar, Dennis?’ “To be sure I am,” I cried, thinking that it was Susan, the The first real opening in life was presented to me, and I em-| big fat cook, who was calling me. “Missus wants you right off,” cried the voice again. Dropping my book, I hastened down-stairs, little dreaming - And yet, as I look back now on my early days, with all their| of any mischief, but I had scarcely gained the door when a big trials, and pains, and suff. _- path again under the same stances? S Mg . Twould, and eagerly at that. : CHAPTER UL. SWEETS AND BITTERS. hy firat opening in life did not present many pleasant limpse of home life and a few kind words : to cheer me now and again. 1 didn’t cox at the hurd work, and I don’t now, as it Ptaade me roggeaisha strong, and it helped to increase my good vs petite. tg il can't complain of the food 1 received at the academy, as it was good enough and there was’ plenty of it, while it would be nonsense for me to grumble about having to eat with the ; servants, for wasn't I a poor servant myself? sa te wheel many days in my new situation before I made two tri _ The first of et was a big, strong, lazy bigger, who acted as porter. woalied. hi and stableman. os ~The boys called him Ajax, and I couldn't tell to this day if 5, we 2 had any other name. ; Roe gat into the good graces of this big negro by doing more nb half his work in the stable, and by discovering the soft <_< his nature as well. ‘That soft side was a dusky damsel of thirty-five who was the head cook in the establishment, and yvho had hitherto regard- Rey Ajax with great scorn. bas Tei Although the big negro was wn on the “low Trish,” he soon declared that I w boy, and that he s ud knock the“head. off of an yo dare to in- a win cae ar a big 1 28 Epesou: 1 must ‘sive been tng yy aga regent a after chet |rashed te my | Well homer and would I not face the rough | bag was flung over my head and several rough hands were laid on me, while a voice hissed into my ear: “If you attempt to call out your name will be Dennis and no mistake.” Half stifled as I was and terrified as well, I recognized the volce on the instant, and I knew that I was set upon by Well Rogers and his gang. ‘The boarders in the school were divided into two factions, who were always at open war iu all their games and pastimes as well as in the mimic and real fights which took place be- tween them. The leader ofjone of the gangs was a big, strapping fellow whose name was Wellington Rogers, and who was called Well by his schoolmates. Well Rogers was the son of a big, blustering Englishman who owned a hat factory at the end of the village, who was hoted for running down everything American, and who was an intense hater of everything Irish as well. The son was very much like the father in his prejudices, and as he was a big, strong fellow, aiid very handy with his fists, he was looked upon as the bully of the school. ’ The big bully had often insulted and abused me, but as he was a head taller than me and a splendid boxer I didn’t dare turn on him, Besides, even it I was his match, my father and mother were ever preaching humility to me and I, knew myself that it would never do for me to get a bad name by fighting with the boarders in the institution, I knew that I was in for it that night, but I didn’t attempt to call out, as I was almost stifled by the way in which they the bag around my head as they dragged me away pressed from the stable. They then dragged me along down a path leading to a deep pond, and the next thing 1 knew I was flung into the muddy water, which was cold ge | to make me shiver to the bone on that chilly November night aguas tae Bo Led long ft was in when they dragged me out ut o know that I was near drowned and stifled with the bag on my head. tad I then heard the rush of several feet followed by cries of de- eee rage, and I contd realize that a fight was et ob around me. ;
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: A POOR IRISH BOY. 5 At the same time I saw Professor James coming towards us from the academy, and I hastened away to the stable, feel- ing that I had no right to be out in the ball grounds at all at that time. I couldn’t tell you how bad I felt as I sat down inthe Stable and thought of the way in which I had been treated by Well- ington Rogers. The pain in the head was nothing to me, and it was going away very fast, but the load on my heart was heayy enough, and I groaned aloud: “Oh, can I bear it much longer, and must I always keep my temper down when imposed on by such rascals as that cow- ardly Rogers?” I was so indignant that the blood mounted to my face and 1 felt like suffocating, but I thought of my father and mother . and cooled down a little as I said to myself: “If I ever want to get along in the world I must curb my . temper, or maybe I would be tempted to kill one or two such Professor James, but I refused, fellows as that big bully; but don’t I hope that I will be his “I had rather not be a tale bearer, sles and whoever it was|equal and his match some day, and then won't 1 give it to who served me that trick I will be even with him some of | him.” ; ‘these days.” While I was thus ruminating and striving to curb my evil I didn’t even tell Ajax about the affair, as I feared that he | passions, Ajax, the big negro, came into the stable and looked would take summary vengeance on Well Rogers, who was far| at me with pitying eyes as he said to me in very gentle tones: m being a favorite with the big negro. “Did dat big loafer hurt you very much, Denny?” ‘Three or four days passed away and I didn’t say a word| “Not very much, as [ am all right now.” about the ducking I got, but I suppose Well Rogers could see} “Is you able to walk, sonny?” ‘by my black looks that I had it in for him, as he gave me to “To be sure I am, Ajax.” “You look mighty white about de gills, but yous better come an’ take a walk with dis chile.” As the kind-hearted negro spoke he seized me by the arm and raised me to my feet, while he continued: “Don’t feel bad, Denny, as you'll be all right ‘fore you is twice married.” I was compelled to sigh a little as i replied: “IT hope to be all right before morning. But where are you taking me to now?” - “Over to de kitchen first, and den down to the grove to see de mill.” I stared up at the big negro as he led me over toward the kitchen, and asked: “Sure, and are they building a mill dowa in the grove with- out me knowing it?’ The big negro laughed heartily before he replied, in merry tones: “In course dey be. When Susan gibs you something good we'll go right down and see dem putting up dat mill.” The negro laughed heartily again. “Susan, the fat cook, did give me something very nourishing in the shape of a glass of good wine, and it put new life in me for the time. I had become somewhat of a favorite with the cook also, and she wanted to insist on me taking a second glass, but Ajax took it out of her hands and drank it himself, chuckling mer- rily as he said: “Too much is no good for de lad, and I drinks to your good health, Susan.” Still holding me by the arm, Ajax led me down toward the grove, and I could perceive that several boys from the academy Were moving in the same direction in twos and threes. It was drawing to six o’clock in the evening when we reached the grove, and I was looking around for the new mill as I said to Ajax: | don’t see them putting up any: building about here now, _ _ erless to strike out, as the big bag was tied down over my - arms. When I did recover and open my eyes, I found myself lying in my little bed over the stable with Marcus Townsend and two or three other boys standing around me. Marcus Townsend was the boy whose arm I had broken two years before, and he had grown to be a fine fellow of over eighteen, and one of the best scholars in the academy. was the leader of the village boys attending the school, and he was also captain of the base ball club composed of his schoolmates who were only day scholars at the acad- os .. When I fully recovered my senses, my rescuers asked me if I knew who flung me into the pond, and I hesitated some mo- ments before I answered: : grate I tell when they made a blind man’s fool of me e they got me down-stairs.” Pararens Townsend then begged of me to report the affair to they played a Mp er exciting game against Marcus Townsend’s nine a few days after. k Although 1 had a lot of work to do, 1 managed to steal out among the spectators to watch the game which was very close and exciting to the end. Marcus Townsend was the last one to handle the bat on his side, and he made such a splendid run that it decided the game in his favor. A great shout went up from the spectators over the victory 2 <a d os The words were scarcely out of my mouth when I got a box __~ im the ear that sent me reeling sideways, while a rough voice _ “Get out of here, you Irish beggar! What right has such oa gale as you to come among young gentlemen?’ : Well Rogers who thus assailed me, and all the Irish my body boiled at the moment as I thought of how gue not be a gentleman like you, but if 1 was your match er your equal you wouldn't dare to bit me that way.” a _ “Take that, you infernal Irish Mick!” ‘The heavy bat caught me on the side of the head, while at r, erying , you great coward!” know any more after that, as the blow given Sud ipceked me senseless on the ground. CHAPTER IV. a . KO My BRAVE YOUNG CHAMPION. Tae cowardly blow with the bat given me by Wellington : of aye for some ne aap -, when I fn Se head. was. sore numb, boys | estate Stun the ground, and they * a with water as I stared around and mut- ee and it was a great coward who gave 3” guld one of the boys helping me, “as you The big negro grinned from ear to ear and pointed to a group of boys as he replied: “Dey are just agoin’ to lay de foundation stone, Denny, and we'll just draw in here and see how dey will do it.” He then drew me in under the trees, from whence we could see what the boys were doing without their being able to get a glimpse of us. I had scarcely taken my stand to watch the proceedings, when I turned to the big negro in great surprise, saying: ean ae pce tet to fight they are, as I see Marcus ‘and Wellington Rogers squaring off before each other.” The big negro chuckled and grinned and cast a patronizing glance at me, as he replied: Fi er hit it, ae Dat's the mill dey am agoin’ to put up, on the instant, as [ realized that Aap A pers and 1 et
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A POOR IRISH BOY. » Ing to fight for me, and I ought to be able to fight my own battles. Ill go out at once and stop it, and take the place be- fore the bully myself.” “Don't be a blame feol, Denny. Yous ain’t big enough for dat big chump, but you may be one of dese days. Just keep til and wateh dé mill.” -i did Keep still, but my heart was bursting thé while, as I “was afraid that Marcus Townsend was not 4 match for the big bully, and that the brave and generous boy would get a bad beating for taking up my quarrel. 1 couidn’t attempt to describe the fight, as every pulse in my body wes bounding as it went on, and I know full well that 1 felt the big bully’s blows more severely than Mareus Town- send did, The two boys were about equally matehed in height and ‘strength. but Weilington Rogers was the mischief at boxing, as his father had been giving him instructions in that science evet since he was a little fellow. ' Oh, how my heart ached and bow my blood did boil as I saw my brave champion getting knocked down over and over again, aud I would have sprung out several times only the big negro held mie fast, saying: “Keep ‘still, you blame fool, and Y’ll bee my boots dat Massa “Townsend will lick him yet.” ‘At that imoment I saw Wellington Rogers giving my brave friend an uwful blow that stretehed him on the ground again, and I couldn’t stand it any longer. Bursting away from the big negro 1 dashed out into the fighting ground before. Mareus Townsend could get up, and - Tevtood before young Rogers with my bands uplifted, as I cried out: **Pll haye at you, you. big Tutk, and ycu biti? kill Mr. Townsend while I am to the foré.” /“Buliy for Denny!” cried one, of the boys. "“ile’s no match for Rogers,” cricd unotber. ion big bully scowled at we for a moment or so, and then cr “Didn't I give you enough before, you fianncl-mouth Mick, _ or do you want me to knoek the hair off of your teeth now?’ _ ‘Twas xbout to spring at the big bully as a reply, when I felt _ myself caught from bebind and fiung back, while a voice cried: “fain not half licked yet, Rogers. Stand aside, Denny Dris- cell, ind Jet me fight this out,” ‘Tt avas.my own brave champion, Marcus ‘Townsend, who thus faced his big opponent again, aud at it they went, hammer -and tongs, while the big 6 Caught me in his arms and put me api on his shoulder, as erled: “You keep still now, Denny, or I filing you ober de will, Vl - bet my boots dat Massa Townsend kuccks de spots out ob him Be se f ‘fhe tide of the battle did change at the moment. I couldn't describe Low Mareus Townsend turned the tide, . oor of me, but 1 do know that he soon knocked the big Then I sprang dowa from the big negro’s shoulder, and 1 a ran to grab my charmpion’s ree se I kissed them over and -. over again as I gasped forth: hk Wide tins. aaa taal Bee end will be able to fight as “bravely for you, Marcus ‘To and may I never have a mx da;’s luck in this world if my heart or my hand fails me ‘The boys on the side of my ‘champion cheered ‘him to the no again ag ea aarngs emilee ge ax they. con rn te forget the look that Well Rogers gave me and as le turned away with his friends, as he Ay ny Mark Townsend, and as for that Irish ¥ it hot for him, you ean bet all you are worth.” i ie back to the stable, saying: Just look out fur dat rascal, Deuny, as he am a bad for suah.” ® was m sensible fellow, and be gave me some s was a big man in the nel bor- FRONEN fe aet bie fou. off even if he had injured me severdly. Ae sas a a large mort- could foreclose any day, and that or J. in was tego ut bis me He V'sald to ste tsebaty| the me; putting strugg! Sines nts gt alte eta friend rubbed his woolly head and grinned ere he re- plied: “I spects you will have to do dat, Denny, but bust my boots if I wouldn’t stick on an’ fight it ont if I was you.” “Then I will stick on and fight it out, Ajax, ds 1 have made up my mind to be a good scholar and make my way in the world.” The kindly fellow clapped me on the back heartily as he re- plied: *Dat's the talk, sonny.” I was doing a power cf thinking at the moment, and I abruptly said: : “] understand you are a great boxer entirely, me fine fel- low. ” Ajax was tickled at the compliment, and he chuckled with delight ere he replicd: “T guess dis chile is some wid de gloves, Denny, and no mis- take.” “Ul tell you what I will do with you then.” “What am dat, sonny?’ “Tf you will teach me how to box I'l! show you how to read and write, and I'll make love to Susan for ye in the bargain.” Ajax chuckled again and gave me a sly dig in the ribs as he cried ayy, ou’s & smart rogue, Denny, if you is Irish. What's your notion in being a boxer?” “To fight Well Rogers, of course, as 1 am. bound toe have ft ont with him some day as sure us I live and am half able.” The big negro grabbed my hand and shook it warily, as he replied: “Dat am a go, Denny. You just fix it wid Susan for dis chile, an’ I'll pést yous on de box, so dat - you ken knock the spots out of young Rogers fore you is six months or a year older.” The bargain was made then and there. I won’t say that i neglected. my other studies at the same time, as | had made up my mind to surprise some people in more ways than one. I afterword learned that dna James saw Well Rogers strik- ing me the wicked blow with the bat as she was watching us from the window, and that she wanted to have the cruel bully expelied from the academy, but she was kept in check by ber parents, ' In order to keep faith with Ajax, I commenced giving him instructions in reading end writing, but I must confess that I . Was not a good schoolmaster, as he did not make much prog- ress, I had better suceess with Susan, however, as I managed to put in so many gocd words for my big dusky friend that the fat cook consented to. become his wife at Christmas, and we had a great time at the wedding. You may be sure I didn’t forget my brave champion either, and though I didn’t have much chance to repay him, I was never tired of singing his praises at home and abroad. As the months rolled by my prospects didn’t improve very much, I won't trouble you by telling you all I endured until spring set in again, but it may be well to know that Professor James and his wife worked me like:a slave from day to day, and that Wellington Rogers sought every chance of insulting and abus- ing me. I didn’t make any complaints to my father and mother, as they had trouble enough at home. My poor father was taken sick again in the winter, and only that he had a little saved for a rainy day it would have gone fees with them. wae sister was out as a servant in the village, and she most every cent she earned to my mother. T hedhieg tp Mary’s ears that I poured all my sorrows, and she would always encourage me to persevere, saying to aa ties ko” DeROTie a. Soak pelea Ties ny, and then you can face world and fight your way to the top rank,” ‘My father was only two weeks out of his bed when be vent to carrying the hod for a bricklayer In the town, who was up the building for old Rogers. -He was weak enough, and unfit to do the work ot all, but be Abo sha oe Se tig Baglabose t around inspecting ut t et n went aro the work; my fsther hap’ to. be carrying a load near bim when cae stumbled we oat fe ae the ire all over. }
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. _A POOR IRISH BOY. e names, and declaring that he wouldn’t have such a clumsy Trish scoundrel employed on his building any longer. My poor father couldn't stand the abuse, and he gave back Some talk, when Rogers made at him and struck him a blow that knocked him down into the cellar, . The poor man was lifted out insensible and taken to his home, while the English bully marched off crying: “That's the way to settle with the infernal Micks who give - you impudence.” ‘ I didn’t hear about the bad business till some days after, and then it was young Wellington Rogers who ran across me _in the stable and taunted me about it, crying: “My old man knocked thunder out of your Mick of a father, Trish, and I'am able to do the same with twe such fellows as you are,” ‘Tf i had known the real truth Iam certain that I would have pitched into the fellow at the moment, but I kept my temper and I turned away as I only replied: “I suppose you could, but it is no credit to you or to your father either to be beating those who are not your match.”” I went home that might to find my father in bed with an ugly cut in his head, and then I learned the whole truth. ' Can any one blame me for making a yow that night, that I would have satisfaction on old Rogers and his son just as soon as I was able. As if to add to my rage, when I was on my way back to the ‘ ety that evening, I met my sister Mary in the street of village with the tears in her eyes. ry was a nice-looking girl of fifteen at the time, and she was: rulg womanly for her age. When I asked her what was the trouble With her, she wouldn't tell me at first, but I soon made her confess that a loafer had insulted her in the street. Then I found out that the loafer. was no other than young sure my blood was boiling when I went back to evening, and { would have gone in search of rascal at once only Ajax held me back, saying: still longer, Denny, and den I givs you de wi to let fly at de loafer.” ae did begin a peculiar course of training that very night, since learned that it was a very sensible ene, while wholesome as well. Although I was becoming confident in myself as I advanced << San I was as humblé€ as ever, and I bore ali the insults heaped on me by the boys of the academy with great oe held me fast, ‘however, and I kept on until 1 . at the academy. ‘Th Was my great regard and ambition fer Marcus ra nsend, who was a Becxelty aiding me in my lessons. Was wy ambition to become a scholar, and ) sur) | Rogers with my learning and with my Al 1 1 beca ‘ me somewhat intimate with Marcus Town- Sen hever told him about my practi with the gloves ; andthe big aeee alone was in that secret. len that drew me to the Middleville _ CHAPTER Vv. OF A CRIME. of Jane that something occurred which woke. tting some mysterious at the lime, and among the other n the that of old Rogers. fellow made a tremendous fuss ahout his the ‘had taken two thousand to pay his hands on the following day, and the robbers made off. ae lot of bonds | vad ds i hed ieee ia at pint ae at one in'th ele seme Ss a that it wouldn’t do me any good to hear of thetr-béeing beg- gared for life. I was also sorry about the people working in his hat factory, and the bricklayers on his building, as old Rogers made the robbery an excuse for not paying off his hands on the Satur- day evening following, when two weeks’ pay was due. The first thing old Rogers did was to go down to New York for a smart detective, and he then offered a good reward for the recovery of the bonds. In the meantime I want to tell you that young Wellington Rogers continued to make love to my sister Mary, and that he almost troubled the life out of her by forcing his company on her whenever he could. I didn’t hear about that until after, and I didn’t know that the yourlg rascal threatened to crush and ruin me if she didn’t consent to marry him on the sly. I did hear, however, that Mareus Townsend got into another row with the young bully about some young girl, and I strong- ly suspected that if was Mary they fought about. In any case, it pained me to hear that Well Rogers got the best of ny friend the second time. On the third day after the robbery at Rogers’ house the old man and his son came up to the academy with the New York detective. I didn’t pay much attention to them at first, as I was busy with Ajax in the stable, but when I saw them all coming over te.us I said to the negro: “Can it be that they suspect either of us about the robbery, Ajax, as young Rogers has mischief in his eye and no mis- take.” The negro looked out at those approaching him, and he grinned as he replied: “Ir dey spects dis chile fur a robber dey is mighty much mistaken.” Before we could say apy more the three of them were on us in the stable, and the detective fixed his eye on the big negro, as he asked: “Where do you live?’ “Right thar in de house, sah.” The negro had not been sleeping in the room over the stable with me since he married the cook, as himself and his wife occupied an apartment at the top of the academy building. The detective then turned his eyes ow me, aud usked: “Where do you live, young fellow?” I pointed eup-stairs ae I replied: “Up there, sir.” The wan looked very: sharply at me again, and he then tn- quired: “What is your name?” “Dennis Driscoll, sir.” “Have you a sister who lives out as a servant next Pre to Mr. Rogers here?” “T have, sir,” I promptly replied, little thinking to what his inquiries were tending. Cg you go down to see her Jast Friday night?’ he then asked. I reflected n few moments. and I did remember that I paid a visit to my sister on the night of the robbery, so I replied: “{ was down there that evening, sir.” “How late did you stay?” “Until after ten o'clock.” “Can you prove that you returned to the stable soon after ten o'clock?” “J suppose T can, sir.” “Who saw you then?’ I was puzzled to reply, as I could not remember that I haa ee any one in particular on my way back to the stable that night. Yousg Wellington Rogers then whispered some words to the See trre- und he nodded and looked up-stairs before he said alou : “I will tend to that. You stand bere by. the door, and your a und I will go up-stairs and. search the premises right Young Rogers teck his stand by the door and drew a re-. yolver and pointed it at me as he cried: “if you offer to escape, you Irish thief, I will lay you out on the instant.” Lt was-so dumbfounded that I didn’t Know what to say, but . my speek See bat ood highly indiguaat, and he spoke right _ shame to kuse Denny gs Oh Se at ee = x ob de rob ; mm er er 5
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eee ee Old Rogers turned his head as he was mounting the stairs, and cried, in his blustering tones: “Shut up, you black rascal, as you may be in the same bo boat with that Irish thief.” a I was so dumbfounded at the charge made against me that I couldn’t open my lips if one single word would have saved my life at the moment. gh pen Rogers kept sneering at me and pointed the pis- tol at my head, as if he would be only glad of a chance to _. shoot me at the moment. A I really think that he would have fired at me if I had-moved _ & step or raised my hand against him. I couldn’t tell how long the others were up-stairs, but when did come down again the detective held a gold watch in hand and looked at me with terrible eyes, as he cried out: “Where did you get this, Driscoll?’ I looked at the watch and a at old Rogers and his son as that I know of.” _* <A ery of exultation burst from ‘young Rogers, ae he sprang : grab me by the shoulder as he cried in savage tones: he was was the thief, and that his sister was in with game. wu that death awaited me the next instant, 1 at the moment, and I was near enough to “yn way forever, goodness knows. 4 I sprang at the young rascal and struck face with all the strength and fury that was f ; ae my sister and I never did wrong in our ciatate that it was you put the watch up- laid Wellington Rogers flat on the floor and the ff at the same moment. Hi " HH , however, as it struck me on the ' would haye no chance against old Rogers and his son, and that they would send me to prison for many years _ for a crime I never committed. Away I dashed down toward the grove where the fight had : | place, and after me ran the detective and old Rogers, the at him, sir, as I will soon run him down, you can n his prime and very active, but he did not had to deal with then, Sie a condition in every way, and fit to fight life, I made great time in reaching the grove, i s the young scene and bring him dowu before he had called on me several Paces to stop or he uld fire, ‘kept on for dear life, as I said to myself: am lost if they catch Ine, as” I know that I would stand mo chance against such rogues.” pert while I was thus pluugirg on in a great state of,ex- 1 began to realize that young Rogers had formed a for my destruction, and that it would be ulmost inipossi- for me to get out of the scrape if I were once caught. _ ‘Whatever chance I had at a!) against them would be by ren ing at liberty, I imagined, und away I went, even when io Se commenced 4 blaze away at me with his re- : fe open enough of a aounee to know that it was hard to tis Een, 1 ent on through the grove and then out on ve had I could hear by the shouts of the boys hurrying from one ball ground to sci me in » boys eould run like fury, as I knew ‘full well, Sains 4 that they wonldn't desire any other sport iting down a ‘Door wreteh like me who was apoeer of blame when ae cre wagpelt under hd sume see. uerniers were electug on ~ ri oe i the / boys, for. of course ‘they A POOR IRISH BOY. shone kept Bhd as he fell far behind the detec- they saw me flying. ind I sup- aoe and I noticed that Marcus Townsend was leading in the chase. Making a turn to the right. I started away again so that they couldn’t head me off, and when I looked vack soon after I still noticed that my brave champion of other days was still in the lead, with the detective second after him. Then I heard a voice crying out to me: “Hold on, there, Denny, and let me know what is the matter with you.” After measuring the distance between Marcus and the de- tective, I did hold up a little, and my friend was soon beside me, saying: “What are you running for, Denny?” *“T am accused of robbery, sir.” “But you are not guilty?” “T'll swear I am not.” “Then why do you run like a fool?” “Because the Rogers will clap me into prison forever.” “Nonsense, Denny. Just stand your ground, and I'll see that you get justice. Remeimber-that my father is a lawyer and he will defend you.” As the brave lad spoke he caught me and held me back until the detective came upon us, «rying: “Hang the fellow, but he 1:1ns like a race-horse, and no wis- take. You are my prisoner.” The man was about to cla; when Marcus Townsend int “Don’t degrade the boy in that he will go quietly with ; As he spoke he took my a: tective replied: ‘ Be right, young man. I Gon’t want to put them on if I can e p t ” A lot of the boys came up at that moment, and old Rogers was with them, puffing and biowing. Without waiting to draw breath the big bully rushed at me and struck me in the face with great force, as he yelled out: “Take that for daring to hit my son.” . I fell on the ground from the blow, and I could hear the de- tective crying: “That’s not right, Mr. Rogers, and you mustn’t do it again while I am here.” “Mr. Rogers,” cried Marcus Townsend, “I must tell you that you are a coward to strike a prisoner that way, and I will de- nounce you for it.” The big bully glared from the detective to the young mar as he blustered forth: “To the mischief with your denouncing, you young cur, and I'll get my son to drub you again.” Il sprang to my feet as soon,as 1 could, and my heart was bursting, as | cried:, “Mark my words, sir. I’ll make you and your son pay for this treatment before long.” I then turned to the boys, and the tears were in my eyes as 1 said to them: “Boys, boys, may I never live to see my father and mother again if I am not innocent of the charge they bring against me now, and the truth will soon come out.” The detective had seized my arm to take me along back, while the boys shouted: ; “We believe Denny is papone and he bas got to have fair play.” “He will have fair ply,” cried Marcus Townsend, bet my life that he will come out all right.” Young Wellington Rogers came pufling along at the mo- ment, and he was making for me, when the detective pushed him back, crying: t “No more of that! While the prisoner is in my charge L will see that he gets a chauce.” “Let him give up the houds,” will be light ou him, if I can.” : “I don’t know anything about your bonds, or anything else,” I cried, “and you can do your best now. ; I felt very desperate at the moment, and who wouldn't when treated as I was? As we were nearing the academy along came Professor James and his wife, with little Edna, and I must say that L never felt so bad in my life as when I saw her looking at ine, as she inquired: hat is*wrong with Denny?" eisa robber,” | replied old Rogers, “as he stole my money ‘The “good gir) sprang forward at once, seized wie by the” bands ~_ looked up e my face a ‘she cried; - i ead . £geis a pair of handcuffs on my wrists “fered, saying: ‘hat way, sir, and I'll guarantee ou. ” 7 a within his own, while the de- “and Tu eried the old man, “and “I ‘hak my bonds.”
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a POOR TRISH BOY. /9 z' a Se ee a oe — —— “T don’t believe a word of it! Denny could never be a ' steppe d forward and grasped my hand yery—warnily, as he ext for I know him better.” eried: 7 “Heaven bless you, young lady.” was all I could say, “I don't believe it, Denny, and I am going to stick to you like 4 — And I will say that to my dying day. . a friend.” 3 : Seabvnd Old Rogers grumbled to himself, and then cast a significant - = lance at his son as he cried: CHAPTER VI. “He wants another drubbing, Wellington.” FRIENDS AND FOES. My brave young friend scowled back defiantly, as he replied: If t had been on trial with a serious crime charged az sninst | “Yos. and I'll take a dozen good lickings, if necessary, Mr. "me. and the judge and jury were to declare me innccent 1) Rogers. before you or your son can make me believe that Den- could not have been more overjoyed than 1 was when the, ny here is guilty’ I now tell you again that I will stand by , brighf little lady asserted her belief in my honesty. him, aud so will my father, and we will see that he gets jus- “ Edna had scarcely spoken a word, however, when her moth- tice.” er seized her by the arm and dragged her away from me, “He's sweet og the bog-trotter’s sister,” paee young Rogers, ; ee with a broad grin. “How dare you go near that wicked wretch, Edna, and 1 am Marens ‘Townsend's eyes gleamed with rage for a moment, = - sure he is guilty, as I always said that he had a horrid face.” | and I thought that he was going to strike the insulting young . “Certainly he is guilty, Mrs. James,” rejoined Wellington | Puppy, but he curbed himself, and replied in quiet tones: ~ Rogers. “We found my father’s gold watch np nnder his bed, | “You are not much of a gentleman, Rogers, or you wouldn’t and he tried to kili me when I went to arrest him, and i shot insult the helpless in that way.” the big negro by accident. It doesn’t amount to much, how- | was almost tempted to turn and hit the young rascal-also, aa ever, as here Comes Ajax hobbling along now.’ i but I curbed my temper nicely, and ground my teeth as I said ce “Ajax did come hobbling along to mect us as we drew near to myself: the stable, and he at once cried out: “Will my day ever come at all? Oh, if I was only over this ° ~2 “I swear to goodness. Massa James, dat dere ‘boy 2m inno-} charge, I feel able to surprise him and his father in a way they eent, un’ ft am alla put-up job on him, as sure as I be a black; very little dream of.” 5 man.” After the detective and old Rogers had consulted a little Old Rogers and his son grumbled at the big negro; and I for-} while, the officer turned to me and asked: got my own’ trouble for the moment as I asked: “Will you agree to give up the bonds and other things taken, “Are you much hurt, Ajax?” Dennis Driscoll?” ‘bery much, chile, as! ‘de bail only glanced on de fat of} I shook my head in a very decided manner, and then re- g. Itam well it didn’t go aeot yous heart, as | know| plied: Rogers meant it.” “I won't — to give anything up, sir, for the very good t up, you black scoundrel,” cried old Rogers. “I} reason that I didn’t take anything at all from Mr. Rogers’ ldn’t wonder at all if you are in with the young Irish} house, and I swear to goodness that I am as innocent as the 1d in the robbery, and you had better look out for ‘your- ehild unborn.” eons = A sneering laugh burst from old Rogers and his son, and the former cried: “Let us away-with him to jail, officer, and I want you to look after that nigger, Ajax, also.” Ajax had retreated into the house when threatened by Pro- fessor James, but he appeared again when his name was thus mentioned, and he at once cried: “Dis chile am ready to stand any charge, an’ he defies you right har, Massa Rogers.” They did not seem inclined to arrest Ajax at the time, how- ever, but young Rogers gave him one slap in the face as he “It did not suit my black friend to be, dismissed from the! said: - ites at the time, and he turned away ‘muttering: “All in good time, you black rascal. The Irish cur here will - big negro became terribly incensed on the moment, and me as he ee he drew back and held up his fist in a boxing attitude as he cried: ~ * _. “Come on har, an’ you just tries it on, you blamed blowing _— English puffer you. 1 is black, but my heart is whiter than : al a hundred times ober.” big Englishman laughed scornfully at Ajax, while Pro- ser das Sn aie clea” in, Ajax, or I will discharge you ; = ae instant.” » OA TT COMER ct a a Massa James; but I swar ef I don’t stick to}soon turn informer, and then we will go for you eS and any, an’ I'll. make Massa Rogers eat him words fore I is} heavy. you can bet.” . Be / I still kept my temper, but every insult ‘heaped on me only sey led into the stable by the detective, and old| added more and more to the mountain of rage forming against son stood guard over me, while the officer | my persecutors. sp sm tsa up to the loft to-search for more of the "The detective then led me away to the village, and Marcus nm property. Townsend and several of the other boys followed us to the’ To ownsend went up with him as he said to me: office of the justice of the peace. ; "uD Your ¢ courage, Denny, as I will see that you get} After I was examined I was sent to the little. jail. and Mar: : alti cus Townsend hastened away to look for his father, saying: cher Aahghter into the academy, but the}“Don’t be down-hearted, Denny, and I’ll bet you will be soon glance at me before she was fa gbt again, and that your enemies will shake in their St 1 was down-hearted enough when I found myself alone in oa oo prison, and who wouldn’t be under the eireup-. nees ‘My father was still sick in bed from the treatment he had received from old Rogers, and I knew that he couldn't do much | for me eyen if he was able to be around. My poor mother had her hands full of trouble and sorrow — before I got into the scrape, and I was praying she wouldn't: hear about my trouble at all, but she did. - Old Rogers and the detective went straight to our little cabin after putting me in the jail, and they tossed everything a as he said: 2 5 about looking for the things which had been stolen. hole in ‘the ae of the roomj My father never said a word while the search was going on, ate x but my mother told me afterward that he gave several awful “How ‘meh is\ looks at old Rogers as if he meant to say: ~ eh es “There is some more of your black work, and poor ‘and help- _less as Lam now I will be even with you yet.” wl | Marenus Townsend brought: my sister Mary to gee me that. night. te) 2 ; then she told me how-young Rogers had an- had also: eee: to crush me if nee me a ' - thronged around the stable, and crt kept heaping abuse on me while the ing in the loft above, pear a as I bit my lips to suppress at all, and now I'll fight them out - any justice in the land my inno- ‘be proved, "ta a rascal a got sy into this be punished 2 leserves before very long.” the ¢ “ga ‘Mareus Townsénd were up-stairs > they came down again, the officer holding some at) <a een om grin = siemens mend ene
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the Gurglary- next door; but she was a brave girl for her age, and she didn’t lose heart at all, as she said to me: '*As sure as there is a heayer above us, Benny, you will be _ Pighted soon, and those who are working against you will be; punished!” - Marcus Townsend's father came to see ine also, and he at! Once took my case in hand, - As he was the cleyerest lawyer in the neighborhood, and 2 goo man besides, 1 had great confidence in him. » After he had asked me several questions he pulled out his watch, saying: _ “Dam going right down to New York on the next train, and | “T -wiil bring some one up with me who will aid us in working | ot this case. You keep quiet, Driscoll, and don’ t say a word ; “nhout what 1 am doing.” i then knew that the good man was going down after a} Clever detective, and the game against my enemfes would soon tommefnce in earnest, with friends on my side who would show | me the best of fair play. “My enemies were very active also, as I learned next morning | that the Rogers were working tooth and nail to have me rail- rosded off to Sing Sing as soon as possible, - Lawyer Townsend managed to get me out on bail on the -. following day, or I would have been sent to the county jail, and two ot the richest men in the neighborhood went security ‘or me, _ Late in the afternoon young Marcus came to our cabin and meé to take a walk with him, as he bad something to say ; a " ar 3 walked out to a lonesome place behind the burying upd where we met a stout gentleman with a clean fat face, (1 who looked very like a preacher. : ‘That fat gentleman was Mr, Thomas Jones, the detective from New York, who had been engaged in my behalf. _ He asked me seyeral questions about my way of living, and my Sister and young Rogers, and of course 1 told him 4 that 1 had nothing to do with the robbery at all. i was very giad to notice that he believed me, for he said a4 ‘much, while he warned me to keep quiet for the present, and | not to tell any Obe that he was engaged for me. ‘The detective was stopping with the clergyman in the vil- lage with whom he was acquainted, and as he looked like a minister himself none of my enemies qnapectat that he was en- ye the case. ; n't think of going back to the academy while the oe hanetng over ie, I stopped at our little amy poor father as much as I could. . Powusend insisted on our taking a little money “and he also promised to get Mary another situation is a great thing to ha ore friends fn trouble, and I would an wi ful wretch, , if I ever could forget young nt go row and his father. tgo round much in the village for ‘the next two days, easy to see that most of the people believed that L sand I didn't. to meet the black looks and in- ; sure to get on all sides. ogers suspended payment two days” after I was ar- 1 ci he daa ag at the same ‘time that it was all on that the rogue had not been robbed akg basen “ a — to humbug hon- ir mouey, n became rumored ue svg very fast, aoe eat he le | a they thought . aes be ve A POOR IRISH BOY. Greatly to my surprise, Professor James sent after me that (night to go back to the academy, and after consulting with my paren jl agreed to do so. - As the summer vacation was soon to commence I wouidn’t | gee muck of the boys, and I would have more time for private studying. Ajax and his wife welcomed me warmly when I took up my abode over the stable, and they both assnred me that the tide was turning against the Rogers, and that Professor James | was very doubtful as to my guilt, even with all the proof against me. | Ajax hinted that favor, but he aiso ; against me as ever, A couple of weeks went by, the academy was closed for the | summer vacation, and there did not seem to be much progress. imade toward clearing the charge made against me. | I kept very ‘close to my work around: “the academy, and I studied harder than ever during the summer evenings, while |i sufferéd torments of agony over the dark cloud that was on me. Marcus ‘Townsend often came to see me, and advised me to have patience, as he said to me: “Mr. Jones is watching old Rogers in New York, and he feels certain that he will soon hit on a clew that will expose the whole plot against you.” The advice was well enough, but I was sick and tired of de- pending on others, and I determined to try my own hand in working ‘out the mystery. There is nothing like fighting your own’ battles in this life, and young and green as I was then, I made up my mind to try my own hand in that and all other battles of life thereafter. Through the influence of Mr. Townsend, my trial was put j oft until after the summer yacation was over, and I had plenty pee time for thought and action. I first set about watching young Rogers en the sly, and | soon found out that he was associating with some very bad young men in the neighboring town. Olid Rogers spent most of bis time in New York, as his busi- ness in the village had gone to the bad entirely. The old fellow hed taken to drinking in the great city, and- the son pretended that his father was trying to get into some smell business there, The young fellow. still lived in the house in the village; which bad been left to him by his mother, and his aunt kept house for him. The house could not be sold until he was twenty-one years of age, and it woulé then bring a very good figure. One of the first things I discovered in making private in- quiries was that Well Rogers was seen a good deal with a young fellow from the neighboring town who bore a very bad reputation, and who had been already arrested for robbery. _ That young fellow’s name was Dick Hill, and it was sus- pected that he had something to do with the burglaries com- Edna James influenced her father in my told me that Mrs. James was as bitter | mitted in the neighborhood at the time when I was first ac- . eused,. The detective from New York discovered that’old Rogers had really a lot of bonds and a large sum in cash about the time of the robbery, and I learned that Dick Hill was seen in the village with young Rogers on the very night of the trouble. Putting everything together, I made up my mind that young Rogers and his friends had robbed his own father, and it was hard to tell whether the old man was in the game or not. — Mr. Tom Jones made several visits to the village to consult + ttt the Townsends and myself, and we all agreed that I was on the right track, and that it was only necessary to trace the | rest of nigh stolen property to the real thieves in order to Clear ‘me of ‘the charge. * Then an idea occurred to, me that the robbers might have | hidden the rest of the property around the stable when "and f -|plaeed the money and the’ watch there to entrap me, commenced a thorough search for it. "Great was my joy,when I found it at last, but I was 80 care- ful about the discovery a nd the fresh trouble it might be on me that I didn’t tell Ga spie about it except Ajax. ‘We then agreed to keep the secret and to wait and if ecling assured that the thieves ‘would come a = poze oO naa at t back to the acs able to clear 1 t was a Tacky thi
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4 te +o Jn Wo CHAPTER YIt. MY FIRST REAL FIGHT. . Although the discovery I had made was a great point in my favor I had sense enough to know that I had still a ticklish job before me in bringing the guilt home to the right party. The Rogers were playing a very deep game, and I could see how they would work out the trouble even if we caught them in the act of taking away the stolen bonds. Father and son had both declared from the first that I had the articles in hiding somewhere, and what was more | natural than for them to seek for them in or around the stable, | where they had first found the watch and money? If Ajax and I did pounce out on them while they were re- moring the documents they could turn around and swear that | f€ was only natural for them to search for thelr own prop- _ etiy where they believed it to be, and then they could throw / the full blame on us. From the information I had received, however, I believed _ that the thieves would try to recover the bonds on the sly, and | then dispose of them secretly, so as to cheat their creditors still, more. --} would haye consulted with Marcus Townsend and his father on the subject at last, but they went away for a sum- Cae trip to California, and I did not know when they would m. Mr. Tom Jones, the detective, was busy In New York, and I didn’t care to trouble Lim, as he appeared to grow lukewarm in my case after the first week or so. Ajax had plenty of brains; he was honest and faithful to me, _ and I knew that I could depeid on him to the death if it came te a hand-to-hand struggle. ; _ After discussing the subject for some time, however, we both - agreed that we ought to have another witness fn our favor, and we pitched on the bright little lady who had declared her belief {n my innocence from the first. Edna James was then In her sixteenth year, and she was ’ sensible and brave, as well as highly Intelligent and beautiful. It was Ajax who told her our secret and the object he had ‘in doing so, and she at once entered heart aud soul into our ‘oject. f a "Sig ‘sister Mary got another situation In the village, and as _ she was able to tell us about the goings) and comings of the P rogue and his friend. : Mary was uot fully in my secret, put she knew that I was watching the father and son, and she was always ready to give Ine information. x to me and informed me that old Ajax and sta to James, and she was to be on the mention here that my father was around again #eS Bet be owas also as strong 5s ever. I had so arranged that we ,could hide ourselves watch those whe came after the bonds \ ves, ’ ; ; 2 -to give signals to the brave young ‘lafiy in the acader day or although we knew that ‘the rogues were.sure to come tn the-secrecy and’ shelter of the c Rye y= Pe wee to get rid of his made him give him away to a friend near Jersey © n of the pived a dark academy, and as it drew nearer urned to us again as soon as he could er, and it was very evident that he day, as he was very weary when he # that T should h me for the eBags ish my on tr ng all A POOR IRISH BOY. bedroom in the academy, as previously . come after the bonds, as we proposed to watch them after they | left with them, and then have them arrested with the stolen LAacipents in their possession. | About eleven o'clock that night I took up_a positiop-in the | grove from whence I could watch all the paths texding to the , academy building. | Ajax was keeping watch from his room at the top of the | principal building, and the good young lady was cn the look- | out in her bedroom ou the second floor. From the positions we then held we could all see any one approaching and entering the stable, and we were prepared to follow them when they returned to the village. After the dog had rested for some time, I took him out with me, as we feared that he would poupee on the strangers if we | Jeft him in the stable. While I was thus watching the big dog gave a low growl, and I turned to sec an old fat negro standing close behind me | in the grove, It was evident that the dog knew the old fellow as the ani- |} mal shook his tail as he approached nearer to me, saying: ‘Don’t you get excited, young fellow, as I am your friend-in | this affair.” | I looked at the chap in the dim Hght, but I couldn’t remem- ber that I ever saw him before, although his voice was a little familiar to me, and thinking that he might be Ajax’s frierid, [ said to him: “Did you come here to see Ajax?” “Not exactly, as 1 came to see you. I met that dog this evening 2s I was looking around the village, and 1 made friends with him, as I thought he belonged up here.” - | I kept looking at the old fellow, and for the life of me lI j conan’ make him out, although I was certain that I knew his voice. When he first spoke to me he used the negro dialect, but he eet it entirely as he continued to answer me, while I “What do you want with me, sir, and what are you doing on these private grounds?’ The old fellow patted the dog on the head, and chuckled to , himself before he replied: “Then you don’t know me?” “T can’t say that I do.” “It is just as well you didn’t, but you must know me now.” the honse in which she lived was nearly opposite Rogers’ place| ‘The disguised man scarcely uttered the words when I knew him to be Mr. Tom Jones, the detective from New York, who was working in my case. I had wronged the man when I thought he was neglecting me, as I had soon to learn that he was very active in the busl- ; ness all through. > Pe was a little surprised on finding who it was, and I said to \ him: “I know you now, sir, but I didn't expect to see you here and in such a trim.” |. The old gentleman chuckled again, and kept playing with | the dog’s head as he replied: “Why, I have been around the village here for several days, ‘and IT have been watching your friends, I think I can tell _ what you are doing out here now.” “Phen what am I doing, sir?’ I asked. “You are expecting 2 visit from the rascals who got you into | this serape.” 3 : H “That is very true, sir.” “What have you discovered since I spoke to you last?” I was just about to tell the detective what I had really dis- t covered, when. a loud cry of fright came from the direction of the academy, and the good dog bounded away in that direction , on the instant. - Several cries followed in quick suecession, and away IL | darted, as I said to the detective: were watching for them elsewhere.” The disguised detective bounded after me, and it was won- a wg tks doe ou are heared Sum cook did not, “The villains must have got into the main building whe we oh se Doe AL were watching for the | derful how he conld run, as be nearly kept up to me as we dashed along, while he asked me: “Have you a weapon abont you, Dennis?’ “Only this stick, sir,” I replied, as I drew a stont blackthorn | from under my coat. “That may do on a pinch. Keep close te me and follow the dog.” We could see the dog bounding away toward the main eu trance to the academy, while the eries and yelis in-the building grew stropger and stronger, ; ; burglars,” said the old detective to me, as We e front door. , oe pee - “
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| ‘a By A POOR IRISH BOY. At that moment the door was fiung open, and four men with | stood the detective disguised as an old negro, with the marks blackened faces dashed out against us. of the recent fight very apparent on his face and clothes. The dog made at one of them, but the animal was flung aside Professor James and his wife both stared at the intruder, and stretched on the ground. while the former demanded: I struck at another of the black chaps with my stick, and “What are you doing in here, sir, and who are you, I would down he went before me on the ground, as he growled out: like to know?” _ *“Seoot, all you fellows, as this game Is up here now; and no| The detective pulled back his coat a little and showed @ mistake.” bright shield as he replied in quiet tones: He then sprang up, and made a whack at me, but I warded} “I am an officer from New York, sir, and my name is Jones. off the blow. Did I not hear that lady say that she saw this young fellow The people tn the house screamed with terror, and a general! in her bedroom a short time ago?” hnbbub ensued all around. ; “T am certain of it,’ answered Mrs. James, as she bent a Ba Three of the robbers broke away from us and darted down | spiteful look on me. toward the village, with the detective and Ajax running after “and I am certain that you did not, madam, as the boy was them and yelling to raise the alarm, while the bell on the | with me out on the grounds when the alarm was given in here. bnilding rang out strong to give the warning also. I have been on the track of the people who attacked you since I kept strnggling with the fellow before me, and although ‘early this evening, and I am ready to prove that Dennis Dris- I got several sharp cracks about the body, I managed to down coll here had nothing to do with entering your house, or with ; him at last and to keep him there with my foot on his,breast , the other crime against him, either.” } as I cried: I could have kissed the detective at the moment, but my ae “T have got one of the rascals, anyway.” heart fell a little again when Mrs. James cried: I then looked down at the fellow’s black face, and 1 saw that| “My word is as good as yours, sir, and my eyes also, and I he was either stunned or pretended to be. . can swear that I saw Dennis Driscoll there in my room taking fr At that moment J heard footsteps behind me coming from’! my watch and jewels when I first raised the alarm and ‘ the direction of the stable, but before I could turn around to aroused my husband. The rascal then ran out of the room, i see who it was I got a welt in the back of the head that laid but not before I fully recognized him by the light of the lamp me sprawling on the grass in front of the academy, and I saw | on the bureau.” : 3 a million stars at the time if I saw one at all. ‘ . As the woman was thus speaking I felt that it was a lucky ‘a The next thing I felt was somebody dashing a lot of water ' thing for me that I met the detective In the grove that night, i over my face, and then two persons lifted me up from the and I also felt that one of the robbers had fixed himself up to grass and took me into the house. | look like me for the purpose of getting me into another bad One of them was Susan, the fat cook, and the other was Pro- ; §*rape. fessor James himself. T had recovered my senses somewhat when they took. me CHAPTER VIII. ___‘ {nto the front room, and there J saw Mrs. James on a rocking- is chair, going on at an awful rate about the loss of some money WOME QUEM RETA ATIONS. Mrs. James continued to rave about the loss of her jewels and jewels. . if The moment she saw nie she sprang up and made at me as if | and money, swearing the while that I was the robber, and Y she would tear my eyes out, as she cried: ealling on her husband to arrest me. The poor man did not seem to know what to do, as his daughter declared as strongly that I was innocent, and she faced her mother for the first time, crying: ~~ “here is the Irish wretch who robbed me, and I am ready” ‘ to swear it was him I saw @ the bedroom taking my things ' awhile ago.” i “Oh, mother, how could that be,” eried Edua, “when be was | SRE. he a wicked woman, and I am glad you are not my __ outside fighting the burglars?” mother. ite ee i I only knew then that Edna was not Mrs. James’ daughter, “I know what I am talking about, you saticy little wretch!” poe : / d I was very glad of it. id cried her mother, as she shook her fist in my face. “This a = hae thea Gert I in aft { e detective put a stop to all quarreling about me for the Mf : itithonéeed taterc mh Saas — se again after he time as he laid his hand on my shoulder and said to the pro- : co fessor: t I was stupefied enough at the charge, you may be sure, and ~~; E I look vat a 4 for the disguised detective or for Ajax, but | ia tyatge take charge of this boy, and I will be responsible for : neither of them was at hand. a" _I was getting all right as far as my head went, and I turned shased ok the doer ere ET eS . t 2 to the cook and asked her “] will,” answered a manly voice. “Where is your husband, Susan?” We, ae am gone away after de robbers, an’ I suppose he am oe ge eg at rooms walked Lawyer Townsead, for . now.” i , - ¢- es aay You may be sure I,was delighted to see my friend back from he Nb ae gate tanasy Fos “eine ann ov here with me?” | California at such @ time, and wasn’t I proud when Marcns is “Didn’t see no black man but de robbers, an’ dey wasn’t real came over and shook me by the hand, crying: - eullad folks.” “You will soon be all right now, Denny, but I see that you a OS have been in a row.” * The essor was staring from his wife to me ag if not Be sat, ape sper Be ee ee ae en ae ae See, wh aie el re yigned to get a bad scrape, unless the detective or “Yes, and he fought Iike a hero to-night for us. I am so J cae Mino a nie Se te'se swak td thu iviliage, net bt om mraet Pe are pares SF I know that you are the poor fel _ that there would be work for me there, but I was afraid «y am indeed,” said Marcus. % to make a move, fearing that Mrs. James would accuse me of| a lot of people of the village came along at the time, Wanting to run away and Insist on holding me. and among them were my father and my sister Mary. __, Af that moment the big black dog came into the room wag-| While they were all asking various questions about the rob- ing his tail, and he sprang toward me In‘the most friendly bery, oe detective drew Mr. Townsend and myself aside and Delldteh EblcckD ban werk ou the ale) tippers ant thio’ cincals eocauedT” my old handkerchief to bind the| 1 then went on to tell him of my adventure, in as few words ‘ . tas /poy= and I ended by saying: — “T am certain I knew the voice of the last chap I knocked down, but I couldn’t tell his face with the black stuff on it.” It then became apparent that all the robbers had escaped, so far as heard from, and on counting their number we came to ~ the conclusion that there must have been six of them in the we tried to catch the robbers, and ' for them.” : gang. When I tol the detective about seeing two of them come |anpe toward the stable to attack me at the end of the row, he ‘appeared to be puzzled, and remarked: you say, lady?’ cried a stern voice belind us. . t “What could they want over inthe stable?’ to the new-comer on the Pustapt, and there ) o aes i : 3 oa I. : 5 aE? t i 4 7 me . 53 AS SEP he ; Forsgay of
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A POOR IRISH BOY. a ce a RR 0 oc a a ~T then up and told the pair of them about my discovery of the bonds and other things in the stable. Both the detective and Mr. Townsend frowned at me on hearing what I had to say, and the former then said in angry tones: “You were very foolish, young fellow, to keep the fact from us. Now let us see if the bonds are over in the stable yet.” We then went over to the stable, taking Professor James and Edna with us, and I let the young lady point out where she had seen the bonds. They had been concealed under a board in the corner of the loft where I slept, and we were both certain that they were there that morning. And so was Ajax. - Great was our surprise. then, when we both lifted the board, im the presence of the witnesses, to find that the stolen articles had disappeared that very night. It then flashed on me that the two rascals I had seen coming from the stable had been securing the bonds and the money while the others were robbing the academy, and I told as much to those around me. The detective shook his head and frowned at me as he re- marked: ; “You may be right, young fellow, but it looks bad for you not telling us about it before.” “But he told me,” protested Edna James; ‘and we agreed to watch the robbers taking the things away secretly, and then to catch them with them in their possession, so that they could not say that it was Dennis here who gaye them to us.” The detective shook his head again and then remarked in Serious tones: : we t was n how much was taken... In the meantime the constables in the town and several of the brave citizens had started-out in search of the robbers. As we were returning back to the house I drew my sister bs oe and asked her: . a t about the Rogers? : “I didn’t see them stir out to-night, Denny, and I watched the house until I heard the alarm.” “Did you see any one going in there after the alarm was on ' en?” ‘ “I did not: but I was in such a fidget when I heard the bell - ring that I didn’t watch very well, and I came along out here _ with father when I saw him coming.” a cf e 5 s é : _ “¥ou are a gal ‘Phe detective did not pay much attention to the Rogers, as he addres rs. James, saying: VT wish would find out how much you have lost, Mrs. _ James, a - be prepared to recognize the articles stolen, if ct At that moment a commotion was heard outside the house, Bree ey on Ajax st: into ‘the hallway bearing something me ah one oe the robbers,” cried Edna, as Ajax flung the fel- “Save me, save me,” cried Mrs. James, as she drew back in terror also. - ; Phe fellow was helpless, however, as Ajax had bound his down at his captive with a triumphant smile, the ented) fae kM you won't come fooling around here no more, young i. ‘rogue is the dead ‘ 2 ; : ‘vand he bs vot bi lac + png cried my. sister, ce at Mrs. James, and was lying bound on the i ; : i g ! BSB eR 6 ck EG oe FORE mes?” c oy oe vr gate A _ Blame my eyes, how much like Denny Driscoll he sa wine? 13 his eyes at the moment, and I could see that she shuddered as she answered, in faint tones: “No, sir; that is not the person whom I saw in my bedroom to-night.” “Then he am de one I seed running down de stairs,” cried the big negro, “an’ I follered him clear away inter de wood, whar I laid him out after a hard tussle.” The prisoner, who had not yet spoken a word, then raised his head and stared around the room until his eyes fell on Mrs. James. 1 was watching the woman at the moment. and L could see , that she shuddered again and drew back as if to get out of the young fellow’s sight. The prisoner then spoke aloud with a decided brogue, say- ing: “Ye are all mistaken, good people, as I didn’t come here to rob at all, only to see Mrs. James there.” Erery one prasent who knew me stared at me when they heard the prisoner, as the young rogue imitated my yvolce to perfection. “What did you come to see Mrs. James for?” demanded the detective. “Recause she is an old friend of mine, to be sure. If she will only whisper here awhile, bad cess to me but she will clear me of being a robber at all.” Mrs. James groaned as the fellow was. speaking, but some of us had to smile at the droll way in which he continued to imitate me. I kept staring at him with open eyes and mouth, as I said to myself: “Who in the mischief can he be at all, ter between him and Mrs. James?’ I forgot to say that the chap’s face wasn’t blackened at all like the others we met_in the fight, and that he must have been about my own age and size, while the closer | looked at him I knew that he had on a suit of my clothes which I wore in the winter time. : The last time I saw them they were hanging up in the loft over the stable. : The detective then walked up to Mrs. James and placed his band on her shoulder as he said to her: “It is necessary, madam, that you take a good look at the prisoner there and see if you recognize him, as he pretends to know you.” The spiteful woman cast an angry glance at me, as if she still blamed me for all her trouble, and she then shook herself as if mustering up her courage to walk over and take a good look at the fellow. I could see that he winked up at her in a sly manner, as be said to her: “Won't you whisper to me, Mrs. James, as I have something to tell you?” The young rogue was sitting upon the floor at the time, and Mrs. James drew back with an angry frown as she cried out: “You impertinent scoundrel! I do not know you at all, and you must be a relative of that other young robber, Dennis Driscoll.” And then she gare me a Jook which meant to say: “T'll stick to what I have to say about you, no matter what happens.” “Then you do not know the young fellow, madam?” sald the detective, with a suspicious smile. : “Not from Adam,” was the stiff reply from Mrs. James as she drew back again. : “Do you know him, Driscoll?” asked the detective of me with another smile. ¢ “Not from a crow, sir,” L replied. He then turned to Professor James, who was also very much excited, and asked: “Do you know the prisoner, professor?’ The professor hesitated, and cast a timid glance at his wife, who shook her head and frowned at him as if she meant to and what is the mat- iG “I'll give it to you if you expose me.” : The detective and all of us saw the glances passing between them, and then Lawyer ownsend turned on the distressed man, crying: 4 “Professor James, | warn you that you must speak out and tell us if you know the prisoner, You see that Dennis Driscoll / here has been accused hy your wife, and we can all notice that the prisoner looks like him. It will make matters clearer if we know who the prisoner is. autl | demand that you tell us.” : , The professor groaned in agony, and his wife cried out to EP ;
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A POOR IRISH BOY. ia “ “I command you to keep silent, professor.” The detective appeared to be puzzled alse, as he hesitated to “a . ‘Phen Edna ran over and fupg her arms around her father’s ; drag the prisoner out, while he said to him in pleasant tones: . ‘Heck, as she cried: “Young fellow, if you are wise you will make a clean breast ah vAnd I call on you, father. to recognize the prisoner if you ‘of it, and tell us who were here with you to-night.” Can, and clear the poor lad who has been persecuted enough The prisoner looked at old Rogers with a sly smile as he _ Already." | inquired: ‘i We could all see that the miserable man was struggling be- Will you let np on me, Mr. Rogers, if I give you back your vias tween the fear of his wife and his inclination to do justice. | bonds?” : » Then the detective spoke in very stern tones, crying: “Where are the: bonds, you rascal?’ demanded old Rogers “Professor James, if you do not admit who the prisoner is, [ tin great excitement, will accuse you of conspiring with him ‘to rob your own “Promise him,” ‘whispered the detective to old Rogers, “as _ academy.” it ean’t do any harni, and we all want to get at the bottom of It must be remembered that the detective was still disguised the affair,” #s a big biack negro, and he looked funny enough as he I then saw that old Rogers was very anxious to recover the stood there threatening the professor. bonds, and he said to the prisoner; 4 ak “Then Mrs. James burst forth in full fury, and she made a} “if you, will give me up my bonds I will be as light on you _. ‘dash at the officer as if she would tear his eyes out, while she as I can. Boe: eriod: “Do you swear to it?” asked the young prisoner. ws sack What right have you, if you are an officer from New York, | Before old Rogers could reply, Mrs. James sprang toward bs to come here fixed up as an old nigger and threaten us as you her son and clapped ber hand on his mouth, as she cried out to oe do? If my husband had a spark of spirit in him he would him: is kick you and the others out ot here at once, you meddling; “Fool, fool, you do not know what you are about, and I com- ~ fools.” mand you to keep quiet.” And the furious woman looked at Marcus ie his father as’ The professor dragged his wife away, while the young fel- _ df she would like to wring their neeks for them at that very | low replied: moment. | “IT am bound to save my own neck, old woman, and I have The detective did not seem to pay any attention to her angry ‘made up my mind to show you the whole game now. Let us fit, but addressed us all in general, as he cried out in a loud get out of here and I will show you where the bonds are.” Yoiee: sisted _ "Js there any one clse here who can gee the prisoner _ on the fiscor? If there is I want them to know that they will CHAPTER IX. rh sat ay. be committing a crime by holding back.” A TURN IN THE TIDE. b _. - The fat cook wlio was married to Ajax then stepped forward} .The detective at once led the prisoner out of the academy as and. cast one timid glance at Mrs, James and another at the, if afraid to keep him in the presence of his mother. ' . prisoner, 2s she answered: A good many of us went with them to see the matter out, 3 “I knows the young feller.” , and Mrs. James was following us also when Lawyer Down- “Tien who Is he?” | send cried out in his stern tones; ‘.” “He is Missa James’ son.” “Pd advise you, Professor James, to make your wife retire __._- We all started on hearing the announcement, and then the | for the present.” oH prisoner cried, in his roguish tones: | a mapper pomenaee pig to give mes me ee the -. “Sure, and I co ve tould ye that long ago if asked | Professor a toward her as I never saw him act before. othe the question, “Good mother, os will ‘sea or one ta bartoe | | The poor man was aroused at last, and he sprang back and tet T eame here to-night on the sly to see you, and that Ij Seized her in his arms as he cried: Yt with the robbers at all, at all, good or bad.” “Kon ust net. disgrace so. any more.” x are enfistal womey ared to be dumfounded by the rey- Fe jp lifted her up the steps, while she yelled like fury, ion, and she conld only groan ; ' _ = “You miserable young wretch, I knew that you would expose PRES Soe, Pda mst net begtay me, -on-2, wil put am at last.” af et Moist sinile appeared on the Catadtblahs face, as he looked} The young wretch did not pay much attention to what his _ down at the prisoner, and asked: to the d said, as he led us over toward the stable while he said ay 4 ” 0 etective: Re hath les Shen obi ha lindas } “You only promise to let up on me, and I will make a clean fe answer ed Mrs. James, stirring up again. ' boast of the whole affair ‘tas, I swear that it was Dennis Driscoll ‘there 1 my in my The detective humored him by saying: “It will be the best game for you to play, as we are certain to grab the others, and some of them may turn against you.” Before we reached the stable we were joined by the justice of the peace {n the village, and he at once said to Mr. Town- “We just caught a fellow out on the plank road with his face all black, and ho turns out to be young Dick Hill of the next. “Then I ‘will tell all I know,” atte the prisoner, “as Dick is sure to give me away.” The detective and Mr. Townsend encouraged the fellow, aud so did old Rogers, indeed - The more I watehed old Rogers and his son the more I be- eame convinced that I had wronged them in thinking that they had robbed themselves, ‘When we reached the stable the prisoner led us to a closet *| and there, under a pile of rubbish, we found the bonds stolen from old Rogers. . He then confessed that he belonged: to a gang of young burglars led on by Dick Hill, and it was they who had stolen | to-night.” ae br what a fib,” cried Ajax, “when I seed Denny running to use from de grove when de fust ery was raised har in 1011se,” Santa moment she cougnt sight. i me at the Battery in n-| The prisoner, whose real i x was Rab Perris, was her son d|by a former husband. pS | The young rogue had been ‘up in the eity of New ae Seay wae si the a fics thes MW sek 2S blame on me, an e_wpptogsed that it was hin wieked mather., .
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A POOR IRISH BOY. — 15 After he had told a good deal the detective turned on him} From the information we received from the prisoner, and * and asked: led to by the detective from New York, we started out in “Were you down on this young fellow here?” search of the other robbers, and we had three more of them - “Not a bit.” in jail at daylight the following morning. ' “Then why did you try to throw all the blame on him?” Old Rogers was inclined to make friends with my father and “That was the old woman’s idea, as she had some spite|I, but we would not have any of bis patronage and we bluntly against the Irish fellow.” told him so. “How did you come to imitate his yoice and his looks so; Young Wellington came to me on the following morning, well, as we can see that you are fixed up lke him,” inquired | and he said to me: detective. “Do you think you are able to fight me?” e@ young rogue smiled proudly as he replied: “T am able to try,” I replied. “Oh, you must know that I have been on the stage, and I) “Well, then, you have got to try and we will have it out this ‘saw this young fellow here several times when I came here to} evening.” _ see my mother on the sly.” .. ~ f “T am ready.” : “Was it she planned the robbery in the academy to-night?” “And I want to tell you one thing,” continued the young “Yes, it was.” bully, “and thats that this place isn’t big enough to hold the The young rascal one went on to explain that his: mother | two of us. If I lick you, as I am bound to do, I am going to Was negotiating, through 4 party in New York, for the return | run you out of this village, and the towns around it as well.” of the bonds to old Rogers, and that she suggested to the gang; ‘You will have to lick me first,” 1 answered. the robbing of the academy while securing the bonds in the) We then settled about the fight, and it was agreed that we “stable at the same time. ; should haye a quiet affair of it. The detective then turned to old Rogers and asked: It would be folly for me to say that I wasn’t nervous during “Were you negotiating for the return of the bonds, sir?” the day about the fight, but you may be certain that I.made “I was that, and the man in New York promised me that 1| up my mind to do my very best and to surprise those who would get them in the morning, on the payment of a thousand | thought that the big bully had an easy victory over me. dollars. I am very glad I got them now without paying a dollar, as they will set me on my feet again.” Tha detective then looked suspiciously at young Rogers and his father as he inquired: } THE TIDE FLOWS ON, “Hew did you happen to come here after the robbery and! I had pietity to think about om the day after the attempted — accuse young Driscoll? | robbery at the academy. . ~ “Ve got information that he was in the scrapé through an| The confession of Bob Ferris and the exposure of the plot anonymous note,” answered the old man, against mé by his spiteful mother, together with her flight, ; The detective then looked ‘sharply at young Rogers as he} served to vindicate me to a great extent, and yet L was not ‘ thoroughly ¢ieared of the first charge against me. CHAPTER X. asked: : . “Flave you not been associating with Dick Hi?” The arrest of four others followed socn after, but Dick Hill, Yo Wellington did not flinch a Dit at the question, and | their clever leader, managed to escape. he promptly answered: Mrs. James could not be discovered during the following iL have, sir.’ ie | day, though many suspected that she was still concealed in the =e “Did you kuow that he was a thief for some time past?” —_| academy. =} did, sir, and that was the very reason I wanted to get in! Professor James was terribly crestfatien over the exposure, with him. I believed that he was in with Dennis here‘in the | and Edua felt the di: ce also, although the wicked woman robbery thet night, and I hoped fo pump him and get back the | was only her stdp-mether, bends One thing puzzied me very much, and that was the remark- 30 you believe that Dennis here was in with him now?’ | able resemblance that Bob Ferris bore to me. : asked ve. rr } I saw the young rogue again on the following day, before he 2 ow faltered a little, and cast an ugly frown at} was removed to the county jail, and I noticed that he still ied: | spoke with an accent fully as strong as My own, even when see that he has cleared himself yet.” speaking in the most serious tones. say a word to that, while the detective went on say-| My father and Mary, 2s well as my other friends, were also he ees s | very much surpriged at the resemblance, but vo one could ac- ow, that you threatened to crush | count for it. EaPMns sal Rage Sa On questioning my father I learned that he had an older “Phe : Ww gave me sauce, and 1 may have threat-! brother, who had been a very wild Iad in Ireland in his youth, ed to giv a good licking some day.” ; and whom he had not heard from for more than twenty years, “Do you think you are able to do it ‘now 2” inquired the de-| ‘hat uncle of mine hed enlisted in the English army, 9nd it .. tective. — : was reported that he deserted in Canada, but my father could ones like to have the ehance.” tery give me any definite information about him, ‘Speaking for the first fime as I felt like doing, 1 went up to! I then asked myself if that uncle of mine could haye been ea ind shook my fist in his face as 1 said to him:' the father of the young rogue who resembled me so much, and hound, you have been playing the tyrant I even put the question to my father, who shook his head as ince the first day I met you, he answered: ready and willing to “I don’t know what to say, son. My brother did look like , # ine, and so do you. He was a wild clip, and 1 hope you will * crfed the detective as) never take after him.” 4 When I told my father about the fight I pvas engaged in with | hal ep dine Rogers he became very angry with me at first, and } said: “It is the kelght of folly, sir, and 1 know that you are not able to do the big bully at all, You will get a fine beating for your trouble, and then he will impose en you more than ever afterward.” vi “But would you want me to keep on playing the coward, sir, and letting him impose on me?’ - I eould see that my poor father was very much troubled over the affair, as it was evident that he did not want me to play the cur, while he was afraid that the big bully would punish severely in the encounter. : ‘ os We talking over the affair in the stable of the academy in the afternoon, and Ajax came in at the moment.and clapped — me on the shoulder as he said to my father: te be , knocks the whole head
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—— Doe a Besa = 5 Me ex ae ae A POOR IRISH BOY. J Ms me some lessons in the manly art, and he called on my father] “Giye it to the Irish cur, my lad, and let him see that an : to feel my arm. Englishman can lick a Paddy any day.” it Was only natural that my father should feel anxious The old fellow spoke with a decided Cockney accent that L about me In the contest, and I know that he would willingly | will not attempt to imiwte, but | must say that from that day take a dozen beatings rather than witness it. to this the voice of a blustering Englishman has been hateful Yet ‘the old fire was burning strong in him still, and I was/ to me. f certain that he meditated tackling old Rogers himself at the My father did not say a word for some thine while | was get- 7 first fayorable opportunity. ting the worst of it, but he did give vent to his feelings at last Yet father had become a lever of peace and order, and|in some words spoken in the lrish tongue, and those words he knew that it would not redound to our credit for either | meant: - of us to engage in a@ fistic encounter with Rogers or his son, “Take it easy, my son, and aim at the Sassenach’s eyes every while he felt that we had both been imposed on, and that even | time.” the law-abiding citizens of the place could not blame us much Ajax gave me some very good advice at the same time, but L for retaliating on our persecutors. didn’t mind it at all, as the Irish words kept ringing in my About an hour before the appointed time for my fight with | ears, while my Celtic heart responded to them. _ Well Rogers, Edna James came to me with a very sad face, It seemed to me at the time that the whole history of my . saying: | country’s wrongs thronged to my mind, and [ felt like the : snnis, I hear that you are going to fight with Well | heroes of the Irish Brigade charging in a famous battle, when _- Rogers this evening, and I want to know if it is true?” the poet wrote of them: ; - As I looked in the face of the good young lady who had been “ my friend all through, I could not tell her a lie, and so I an- ee mene renee For wt t b swered: “You Know, Miss Edna, that he has been imposing on me| And maybe I didn’t fly at my opponent’s eyes after that. very much.” It was little I cared for the blows I received in turn, it was little I heeded the taunts and jeers heaped on me by eld Rogers, and I did not even mind the cheering words of en- couragement that fell from Ajax and Marcus Townsend. My whole heart and soul was in the fight, and when the tide once turned in my favor I kept at the big bully before me until I punished him to my heart’s content. Old Rogers was furious when he saw his son stretched help- less on the ground before me at last, and he danced and raved like a madman, as he cried: “I can whip the young cub and his father together, and I'll do it before I leaye the ground.” My father then went up to the old bully and said to him ina very quiet way: “You took advantage of me some time ago when I wasn't in good trim, but I warn you now to let him alone hereafter.” Old Rogers was in the act of throwing off his coat—and he blustered and foamed like a mad bull—when Professor James, Lawyer Townsend, and the justice of the peace appeared on the scene and put a stop to any more fighting. When old Rogers and his friends took away my opponent, L spoke to Professor James, saying: “I want to tell you, sir, that I am going to leave your place, as I don’t want to do you an injury by stopping here now.” Then Lawyer Townsend spoke up, saying: . “[ know he has, but you must promise me not to fight with him, or I'll never speak to you again. I know what you will Say as an excuse for fighting, and that is that you will be : = a coward, Dennis, but you must promise me for all - t at.” . ‘ he Tishook my head sadly, and looked down st the ground as 1 rep. : : “It would grieve me to the heart, Miss Edna, if I thought that you would never speak to me again, but don’t you think i Seeaee Gand ae artes ie toe it ban cals’ & poor istab, Wor. 1 have put up with his insults and his abuse too long already, fs and I would sooner be dead than bear them again without turning on him.” at The young girl sighed, and was turning away as she said § to me in her’ her sad tones: --——s*L. know it is very difficult to bear what you do, Dennis, but ' i 1 only ask you to do se for your own sake, as I know that it will make a great difference to you here if they continue your . enemtes.” we i Bow thst. Mies Boney” I asked, os I saw. that she was _.. keeping something bac i er anny Ta noniewlas' sco clomit “sail than cussed 10 .e " again. saying: 1 dee It is a secret, but I know that you will not betray it. My “You must not leave here, Dennis, but you must enter the et ‘poor father is now completely in the power of old Mr. Rogers, il I 7 = a. and he will persecute him hereafter more than you can think oa SF & pe, AOE Fm be eee he 190 all year bright little Indy said the last words she clasped her| And I would clasp the kindly colored man by the hand as | anes for a Mmement and then ran away as fast as she would reply: “I may thank you for beating him, Ajax, and I only hope ade up my mind that I would do my best to beat! to live to'see the day that I can do as good a turn for you,” and to throw up my chance in the academy if 1} On the following week I was installed as a day scholar in fed in conquering him, so that no blame could fall upon | the academy, and Lawyer Townsend and Marcus insisted that or re I should live with them in the meantime. — the secluded grove at the a hour, but you; [ agreed to the proposition on condition that 1 should be al- ae ask me te give you 2 regular on of the fight, ' lowed to assist the good lawyer in his office after school hours, ‘inchs soy tha! 1 yas not ac al rghtewed at the of hand, I was happy to — pacnt. a a aude Cp dg Seng as well. the academy had given. at he gave me an. eae! hope at font e there Was not the most at me AS Sa out to
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Old Rogers became a prominent man again on the recovery of his bonds, and he seemed to live with but one object in life. That object appeared to be to crush the poor Irish lad who had defeated his son and to persecute his family as well. Young Wellington soon recovered from the beating I had given him, and he returned to the academy with the declared intention of paying me back in time. In the meantime Bob Ferris and his associates were tried and convicted, and I was henorably acquitted of all blame in _ the robberies. If I surprised some of the boys by beating the bully of the school in a fir fight, 1 also astonished them by my educational - acquirements before I was long at the academy. , Many of them sympathized with the poor Irish boy, and en- - couraged me to greater effort, while others sided with Well _ Rogers and pretended to look down on me as an intruder among them. Mareus Townsend always stood by me in the most earnest manner, and he would often insist on sharing his pocket money with me, well knowing that it was difficult for me to xeop up an appearance with the other boys of my age. y father got a position as a foreman on the track soon ees after, my sister got a situation as a governess over two young " ehildren in the village, and 1 made myself so useful to the good lawyer that he gaye me to understand that I more than - repaid him for the expense I was under. The world went well with us all for about a year, and I am happy to say that I improved at the academy, not only in my learning, but in my manners and in my co versation as Well. _ It is very true that my name was still Dennis, and that 1 was looked down upon by many of my schoolmates, yet the : fata ones were very careful to cast slurs at me only behind — back, i “Aeting under the advice 6f my good mother and Mr. Town- send, I curbed my temper a good deal, and I did not get into ‘maany quarreis during that time, ‘JY was anxious to learn some useful trade or business, but _.. Mr. Townsend and Marcus prevailed on me to remain at the eae _Reademy, and the little loadstone was still there that was al- +3 ways destined to attract me through life. Sy oping the year mentioned Well Rogers did not attempt to : See me again, although I became bis rival in the baseball when Marcus Townsend went to New York city to college. I knew that he was keeping it in for me, however, and that ; father was also inciting him in yarious ways, while the old man often attempted to provoke a quarrel with my father. _ During the year we never heard a word about Mrs. James, Dut t-we s easy to see that the professor was a crushed man, 1 ial Se was hinted that his wife dragged a good deal of money out of him on the quiet. It was rumored that she was living in the city of New York. e I was over a year as a regular scholar at the academy ived information that Bob Ferris, Mrs. James’ wild son, had escaped from prison, and that he. was seen ing tn the direction of our village. zh nothing was proved against him I always had an that-young Well Rogers had something to do with the of burglars, and that he was better acquainted with Bob than he pretended to be. - I was a little troubled on hearing that the young rogue who resembled me so much was out on the world again, as I had presentiment that he would renew. his operations around ‘the village a village, and that eee get into another scrape on his ou rte “While T dreaded ‘meeting the rogue, F weak Title eager'to ; him a Jemrensitione about his father and mother, in order sat aay deh tnt as aout w was e iter m; uble = then 1 Cee: rahe J "-gHAPTER x1. 23 “IN ANOTHER BAD SCRAPE, bag nac— yet pee ee early A POOR IRISH BOY. ; he ‘s Fook back now, cats wit Pealine what a splendid thing boy helping 1? Although Mr. Townsend did give me a splendid push, as well as a lifi ont of the mire, he also taught me that 1 must rely on myself in the main, and he preached the same doctrine to his own son. Ife oftén told us that the greatest and most prosperous of the leading men of the nation were the sons of poor parents, that wealthy people often spoiled their children by too much indulgence, and that self-reliance was_the best safeguard and motto for young people. Therefore, while 1 was encouraged to persevere in my up- hill fight, | was also given to understand that | would only be upheid as I deserved, and that on my own exertions prineipal- ly depended my success in life. Winter was closing in again, and there was snow on the ground about the time that we heard of the escape of that young rogue, Bob Ferris. Although the rascal had entered into the plot against me with his wicked and spiteful mother, somehow or another | did not feel very bitter toward him, and a feeling of pity would come into my heart now and then as I thought of him. 1 ean’t say what put the young fellow into my head one evening as 1 was riding toward the village in Mr. Town- send’s buggy, but I did think of him, and I pictured the suf- ferings he must have endured while escaping from the strong prison, in crossing the broad North River, and then in making his way through a country where almost every hand would be raised against him. I’'rom what I had seen of Bob Ferris I judged that he was naturally a merry rogue, and I fancied that he might have peen : good young fellow if his early training had been dif- eren I was about three miles from Middlevillé, and the snow was falling pretty fast at the time, when I espied some one walking along the road ahead of me in the gloom of the evening. é No thought of danger occurred to me at the moment, al- though I had over five hundred dollars in my pocket belonging to Mr. Townsend, which I had collected in a neighboring town. Highway robbers were very scarce in the neighborhood since the breaking up of Dick Hill's gang, and I had a good heavy whip in case of necessity. I did grasp that whip a little tighter as I drew near the fel- low on the road, who looked back at me as he moved to the side of the highway. Then I saw that he was a negro, and that he carried a stout stick In his right hand. - As I was in the act of passing him, he suddenly cried out: “Say, boss, how far am it to Middleville?’ I pulled up a little as I answered: “Nearly three miles.” The black fellow increased his speed, and as I kept my eye on him I noticed that he was a rough-looking old custemer with a grayish beard, about my own size. 1 was urging on the horse again, when the fellow trotted on after me crying: “Say, boss, could you gib a poor black fellah a ride to de vil- lage, as I be ready to drop down I is dat played out.” I was always an impulsive kind of a fellow, and I took pity on the black man at once, as I pulled up crying: “Yes, get in, and.1 will take you to the village.” The man jumped into the wagon on the instant, and as he took a seat beside me I got a closer glimpse at his eyes. That glimpse told me at once with whom I had to deal on the lonely road, while at the same instant I made up my mind as to how I should act. Grasping the whip in the middle, I seized the fellow sud- denly by the throat, letting the reins fall at the same time, while I called on the well-trained horse to keep still. setenpt any of your tricks on me.” Tells eine tn-bs siepehet See & memest oe Wat
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Xe r+ didn’ “aim to hurt the rascal much, a8 I only tried to yyerpower him or stun him for the time, so that he could not i re me, ’ » fighting at such close quarters we could not use the x stick very much, and I soon dropped my weapon while . mistake. | And I candidly admit that I believe that he would have if _Heked me if he had been in the same condition as I was. 4 As it happened, however, I got the best of him at last, and I siood over him as he lay In the snow, with my foot planted on _ his breast and the whip upraised as I cried: “ft have got you now, Bob Ferris.” The disguised wretch was gasping for breath as’ he glared | up at me and muttered: _-- “¥es, Dennis Driscoll, you have got the best of me, ted a ti gonner.” ‘Tbe poor fellow closed his eyes, and I could hear his breast | | _ heaving under me, as he moaned forth: S at “E am played out, and you can lag me to jail ‘es%bd0n as you like.” : titinyht he might be foxing at the time with ‘the view of “sive me a sly knock when o his stick and flung it away es far as I could, as I responded: “Of course I will have to take you to jail, but I'll break ee first if you attempt to turn on me again.” ; picked up my hind the moment I got the best ; oft nia and I aul held my foot on his breast I felt that he was becoming tf Ry and then I turned pale myself, as I gasped fell on my knees and rubbed his face with the snow. stuff thereon came off, while I kept groaning to! p me from having the life of the poor fellow tye he was, and I would give my right hand | and speak to me again,” eyes at the moment, giving a great | he gasped forth: hagee but if you have a heart in you at once and give me something to e spoke with the Irish. brogue as nat- he used the negro dialect before we ting to ina of the consequetices, I lifted the ee Reve’ in beside him, and drove | ve ‘you to die like a dog anyhow, whatever your | dat me as we rattled along through the snow, and u ion out when I asked for a goods 3 were wrong bad. cess. ee eats some dpahet hee the night and ioe as a fellow can be, as 1 Ripa nearly. eaeeate 4 days aud nig 1 betray your own mother the night you nic neg a ieictie< at his with one hand so as to keep him from hitting | i hought I was able for any young fellow of my size at the ‘but I tell you he gaye me enough of it at first, and no, and TY my guard, and so I picked up| | chance?” tn telling, You, now, as * ain't goihg to give | gloom, Sook ol borg ; bananas tar A POOR IRISH BOY, Not trusting the young rogue, I kept myself in readiness to pounce on him again, as I asked: “Did you ever know your father?’ ee merrier chuckle broke from the young fellow ere he re- plied: “Of course I know him; and you can bet that he is the right ‘sort, if li¢ is crooked.” “What is his name?” “T am called after him and I look just like him, only I am | not quite as much of a Mick.” “Was he married to Mrs. James, and do you think that she is your real mother?” “Why, I always thought so, as we all lived together down in York until he got into a bad scrape and was sent to prison. Then the old woman shook me and became respectable when ; She married Professor James.” “Were you born in Ireland?” I asked. “Not much, I was born and reared down in the Fourth Ward, New York, but the old man is Irish, and he has got the ; brogue on him yet as thick as mud.” “Ts he in prison now?’ “Not he, that I knows of. But what are you asking me j all ae questions about; and what are you going to do with me 1 pondered a moment or so before I replied by asking: “Do you eyer think of turning over a new leaf if you had a The rogue shrugged his shoulders and grinned before he re- plied: “I never got no chance, and it ain’t rege i will now, so hiro, and then he asked: “What are you giving me, Dennis Driscoll?” y - “I mean what I say,” I earnestly replied, as I pulled up out- side the yillage.. “If you wiil promise me to try and bea me! I hope in goodness I haven't killed the poor are boy, I will let you off, as 1 hate to be the one to send ou back to prison.” Tbe young rogue still stared at me, as if he believed that L was only humbugging him, and J could then see another angry | flash in his eyes, while he cried: “Look here, young fellow, don't be piling water on a drowned rat. You got the best of me to-night because I was played out, and you can do ft again, but I want you to know that I won't be In the stone jug forever, and Til lay you out as ; soon as I ever get out if you don’t drop that game now. Putting my hand in my pocket 1 drew out some little change IT had of my own and handed it to him, as I said: “tam not humbuggihg you, my poor fellow, as 1 pity you from my heart. Hf you have any friends in the village go to them for a shelter to-night, and I only wish that I could help you more, and that you will become a good boy hereafter.” he young rogue grabbed the money and sprang cut of the / wagon, a8 le replied: “May I never have a day's luck if I don’t remember this turn for you, Dennis ‘Driscoll. And now 1 want to give you one vice.” “What is that?” j “Look out for young Well Rogers, as he has sworn to lay you out somelow.” I looked earnestly at the chap, and I held my hand out to him as 1 asked: “Will you tell me if young Well Rogers belonged to your to me if! crowd?’ . He shook his head very seriously, and turned to walk away as he réplied: “i am not giving any one away just now, but 1 may sce you 1a & asked, thinking of inet adeeb Ye then sprang over the fence and soon disappeared in the while I drove on muttering to inyself: ow: that I was a fool to-night, but hang me if I could — help it. That poor fellow has some good jn bim, and IT would — never forgive myself if I was the meaus Of sending him back — to prison after he made such a brave effort to get away.” was troubled ‘goo that night over the meeting, and — fool that I was, I didn't tell a single soul about ft, ‘i I dreamed about Bob Ferris and his black face all night’ ‘ and. I thought — ons on the a Hy Ryeae fl reap mothe aca aes Le Oe
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A POOR IRISH BOY. 19 days. passed away and I didn’t see or hear anything Four or five others of the village had then entered the reap 7 Soke rogue, while I hoped that he went to New | hallway, and I turned to them, crying: erent life. “Gentlemen. I call on you to protect me from this man, as I nthe “third night after meeting with the escaped convict,’ feel that he will try to kill me if he gets the least chance. I Townsend went away to the city of New York, and I was am innocent, as I was before, and I believe that he knows it.” left alone in the house with his housekeeper and the servant | Lwo of the gentlemen who knew me well then stepped for- — girk i ward, and one of them said: _ . I spent the evening with my father and mother, and it was’ “See here, Rogers, I don’t think there is any occasion to be iften ten o'clock when I let myself in with a latch-key and }so rough on Driscoll, as I for one will be ‘responsible for lt + af quietly into bed. / “And so will!” cried the other. I had queer dreams that night, but I will not attempt to de-| Old Rogers giared at me in a strange manner as he Seribe them, as my adventures on awakening were stranger | grumbled forth: 4 ‘still, “All right, gentlemen. The cove got off before by tricks, _ Just at daylight I was aroused by a loud esos ing at the door but you can bet that he won't get off this time.” bell, and I hurried on with my clothes, thinking that it was; I turned away witb a look of disgust and took a seat in-the Mr. Townsend, who had returned unexpectedly on some im-} broad hallway to, wait until the search of the officers was orer. It was all I could do to keep my temper with old Rogers, and I got down-stairs the servant girl had just opened the [I felt that I would make a kick at bim or strike him with my _ door, and then two men pushed into the hallway, while one of | handcuffed hands if he said much more to me. _ them cried: As if to add to my mortification, young Well soon came into “Where is Dennis Driscoll?” the hallway and glared at me in triumph as he cried: “Here I am,” I answered. “They have got the old Irish robber, too, and we will send The two men sprang at me on the iustant, and each of them the two Micks up together.” grabbed me by the shoulder, as one of them cried: Forgetting myself, I sprang to my feet as I demanded: “We arrest you for highway robbery, Driscoll, and you will} “What do you mean?” come. noth us at once.” “The old Greek, your father, of course. How greet you pre- —— tend to be when you want to, but it won’t work this time.” ER XII And the young rascal laughed scornfully, while my heart 5 CHAPT yea rose to my mouth as I turned to one of the gentlemen present outs THE NEW CHARGE AGAINST ME. and asked: “Ts it possible that my father is accused also?” moment I heard the charge against me, I felt in my! “I believe it is,” replied the gentleman. ee inet: Bob Ferris was the cause of getting me into the} ‘What are we accused of, sir?” “Of robbing Mr. Dobson, the paymaster of the branch road, re “sity men who arrested me dgiedk the constables of the! as he was on his way home last night.” ; they both knew me right weil. } I gasped for breath, and my heart was beating violently as 1 le the first time that I was thus suddenly accused asked: I would have been terribly frightened.| “Who makes the charge against me?” oe x was; but I must say I was prepared for some} ‘Mr. Dobson himself. He recognized you both when the wind blew the masks off your faces after you thought you e meeting with Bob Ferris, my terrible dreams, and the had him knocked senseless. Did you find anything in his bed- that was banging over me, all served to prepare room, officers?” -& measure, yet bow could I avoid shuddering, for al The two constables came down at the moment, and one of replied: “must have taken’ the matter very coolly, however, as I beard “Not a thing.” les afterward remark that I was a sharp customer,| “Of course not,” cried Well Rogers. “He is not green they were disappointed in my conduct. enough, if he is a Mick, to bring the stuff home here to give ing where the mischief came ie I didn’t ask many | him away.” of the two men, but I turned to the servant girl, say-| The day was breaking as they led me away to the house of | the justice of the peace, ; ibe kind enough to bring me down my overcoat and’ There I found my poor father in the charge of three or four and then pieene telegraph to Mr. Townsend that I am in of the citizens of the village, and I'll never forget the expres- +i | | sion on his face as he looked at old Rogers, and cried: rt oF you tS ectty do it at all!” erfed Molly, who was a, ‘This is some more of your dirty work, I'll be bound, but it jis a Jong lane that has no turning, and you will suffer for it er and then ‘replied: all yet.” Don't tell my people any- a Old ye ae laughed scornfully, and so did the son, while the vit until Mr. Townsend co back.” * ‘ormer ¢) a | “Phe old Greek is bluffing it out like the young one, but it is ms And Mr. Townsend forced his way through the crowd that had assembied in the office. By ry ge a ou like,” cried old Rogers. “Order, ge " cried the justice of the peace, “I am pre- rhe pared to ps the prisoner.” ' can’t tell mueh about the examination, as it appeared to jae as if I was in a kind of a area all through it, while 8 hak Se gee in quiet i es erris me, I suspect that he and Le ot ‘and I replied : ih his father were the real criminals, and that they both re- are not much of 2 isan, or you would not !sembled us enough in looks and voices to have Mr. Dobson Were certain of my guilt, whieh 1, | Saeesae e Be + ree ; ‘he paymaster knew my father well, and he swore that he sesaieaee Bdegaticrge ep eto apt ne Aang Bes ala aaa tier aes sania kaae Gees ntnions oe you, ar Rogers, to} After they sense as they supposed, ; _.. }they proceeded to take the money from him, which was over ids together two thousand dollars in bills that he. had to pay the hands on ak Pesos - road on the following day. Nae . Dobson declared that he conlan't: have: been senseless. MS ‘a few moments, and when he did come to-he kept — eget the TeReere® would Bah ives yee Jet an ae a Breck «Fi 5 SONSR dita * iene fiow much will you bet?’ cried a manly voice. a ae =
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20 “ While the robbers were taking away the money a gust of wind swept along and blew the black crape from their faces. Then it was that he recognized the rascals, and he also swore positively that he knew our voices well, even before he saw our faces. The paymaster did not show the least spiteful feeling against either of us, as he gave his evidence just like any honest man would who was annty convinced that he was stat- the truth. Ss I heard that evidence haw | I did blame myself for not Raying a word to any one about meeting with Bob Ferris, and _ yet I can’t say that I upbraided myself mach for letiing that young rogue sel away. If 1 had only myself to suffer for it, I ‘Galas that IT would do the same over again, as it would go against my grain to hound down any poor wretch who was in such a sad plight as he was thet night. * We were both committed to the county jail, as no one offered to go hail for us. and we did not expect it. Mr. Townsend still stuck to us, however, and he soon got a Chance of having a confidential talk with me as our lawyer. | at once told the good man about my meeting with Bob Ferris and what followed after. He shook bis head in a yery serious manner when I told bim that [ believed the robbery bad been committed by Bob and his father, and he then said to me: "That story would never go down with a jury, Dennis, un- _._ Tes we can produce the father and son, and they resemble . your father and yourself very much. You certainly got out of the other trouble ali right, but the mere fact of your having been uceused before will weigh against you now.” - -VPshuddered as I heard the plain truth thus presented to me, - and J then said: “We ean certainly prove, sir, that we have Jed honest lives sinee we frst came to this village, and who can say a word to miy poor father?” : “If your father can prove that he was elsewhere at the time - the roiikery wes committed, he will be all right,” answered the hans “Did the folls in the house hear — getting in last ght _ “f don’t think they did, sir, as I went in very easily, so as not to disturb them.” He then turned to question my father; and we were poth dismayed when the old man confessed that he couldn’t prove that he was elsewhere at the time either. be The truth was’ my father left me the night before to go to _ awake on the ontskirts of the village. aL He admitted that he drank a little too much in a tavern near 2 "the wWake-house, 2nd that he started for home a little before M twelve o'clock. t ‘Not caring to let my mother see that he was under the in- x fluence. the old man walked around the village for over an . _ hour before going to the house. and it was just about that time that the robherr was committed. =) €o it can be readily seen that neither of us could prove an | =) alibi, avid our only hope of getting off was to produce the real _¢rim'nals with the money in theiz possession, so that the pay- master conld see how he had made the mistake. Mr. Townsend took up my idea of the affair at once, and he ; Dehieved that we were innocent; bt I must own that I couldn’t oon toad people under the circumstances, for believing us CS le I am talking in this strain | may just as well mention +5 Ce there was one other person who had faith in me still. BS _ “Phat person was Edna James, and she let me know before the day was over that she not only believed me innocent, but that she strengiy suspected wio the guilty parties were. _ - _ Mr. Tewnsend told the justice in confidence about my meet- ; en with Bol Ferris. and he called to iis mind the remarkable blauce between us, which had been noticed before on the 3 pike the xttempted robbery at the academy. aWnitted that the keness was remarkable, and ‘that it was possible for the escaped young convict to be one of ‘robbers. but ke couldn't conceive how the father of the could resemble my old man so much also. 4 sectet mensures were taken by Mr. Townsend to aud bis father, if possible, and Mr. sein York aaeive whe Sed ~~ me before, “J if t' aes) Neer SIGS an ‘idea act T wonid se aa 6 + A POOR IRISH BOY. “To find Bob Ferris and his father with some of the money on them and to show the people, and Mr. Dobson in particular, how they were mistaken.” I was so earnest in my request and in my belief that Mr. Townsend did succeed in getting me out on bail that after- noon; but my poor father was still kept in confinement at bis own request. I got back to the village that night so disguised that my own mother wouldn't know me. Taking a hint from Bob Fervis I fixed myself up as a black man, and I had been intimate with Ajax long enough to suit his way cf speaking. When I reached the village in the darkness of the night, I had no clear idea in my mind as to how I was to set about ac- ecomplishing my object, but something whispered to me that my double was still in the neighborhood, and that I could make him act a manly part if I once got my hands and my tongue on him. A The first person ~ called on in my disguise was Ajax, and didn’t [ take a “rise ont of him” before | let him know who ' was. The experiment thus tried with my negro friend proved to me that my disguise was excellent, and that there was little or no danger of my being recognized either by friends er foes in the village. Taking Ajax with me from the academy, we proceeded to- ward old Rogers’ house in the village, which was reported to = ae rendezvous for the wild young fellows in the neighbor- The reason of my going to the place that night was that I heard it rumored that young Well Rogers had been seen near there with two strangers, and I couldn't get it out of my head that he was plotting and planning against me in my present trouble. A strong feeling was on me also that I would soon meet with Bob Ferris again, and that he would aid me in getting out ~ of the serape. - Of course I didn’t expect that the young rogue would give himself up willingly to clear me, yet I had a feeling that there was. some manhood in him, although it might take some hard rubbing to draw it out. As we walked along together I told Ajax what my purpose was in visiting Rogers’ house, and we were both prepared with good weapons in case of need. Ajax was well acquainted with the colored cook working for Rogers, and he was often in the habit of paying her a visit in the kitchen of an evening. On going in the back way and knocking at the door, the eook, who was a stout old colored woman, invited us in at once and offered us seats. On casting my eyes around I soon saw a door leading into a back room, which had a glass opening at the top. and over which hung a reddish screen. At the moment when my eres fell on the door the screen was moved aside, and a face appeared there which I did not expect to see, It was the face of a hard-featured woman, and 1 at once recognized it as that of Mrs. James. Although apparently as quiet as possible, my heart thumped against my side at the moment, for [ felt that her son was not far off either. CHAPTER XIII PLAYING THE DETECTIVE. : Ajax did not make any attempt at disguising himself, and there was nothing unusual in his appearance at the house. As the big-negro was a leader of the colored sports in the village and their champion in all athletic games as well, he was very popular witb his friends, several of whom visited Lor nil house. soon introduced me as an old friend up from Bicske. rt deme looking for work, and I had all the appearance of a rough colored man of thirty years of age. Of course, I knew that Mrs. James would recognize Ajax, but I felt positive that it would take even keener eyes than she possessed to detect myself in the disguise I had assumed. — The colored cook was soon suramoned into the back room and then I knew that the s ae woman inside was about to )make manttion concerning ‘I was not at all alarmed at that, for the reasons already ex- fern uek as ae knew oe. ep cook would tell her that the ‘big ‘ia eok vas coming ont from the toc oe seat: =H
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7 : ‘A POOR IRISH BOY. the negro again. “Do you mean the young—feHow what worked up at de academy?’ “That am de young fellah what I does mean.” Bob Ferris clapped his hands on the negro’s shoulder and stared hard into his eyes, as he demanded: “What did you say he is up for?’ “For highway robbery.” “When did it happen?” “A couple of nights agone.” “Who did he rob?’ “Massa Dobson, the paymaster of de railroad what libs up of de hill.” A fierce glare appeared in Bob's eyes and he shook the big negro, as he demanded: ‘ “Who says Dennis Driscoll did that job, I would like to now?” Ajax then told him how and when I was accused with my father, and that we were both then in the county jail to await trial. When my negro friend had concluded, Bob Ferris staggered back to his chair and bent his head on his breast again as he exclaimed: “Well, I'll be hanged If this isn’t a queer gop and no mis- take.” I was watching the woman closely the while, and | was very much puzzled at the way in which she acted. She did not make the least effort to stop Ajax in telling the = — : = heard an uproarious voice inside, as if some drunken fellow was singing in a discordant voice, and I then said to myself: ‘That's Bob Ferris himself, as sure as death, and I'll wager my life that he is drunk, or making believe to be, for some When the cook came out again there was a broad smile on her face and she addressed Ajax with a grin as she said to “There is a lady inside there, old fellow, who wants to talk to you.” ; My colored friend has not seen the face at the glass door, and I had no chance to give him a hint, so he answered with some surprise: “All right, aunty. Does de lady wants us in there to take tea wid her? You see I am got an ole friend wid me.” “Bring your friend in with you,” answered the cook as she Moved back to the door again. _\ I nudged ‘Ajax to accept the offer, and we both followed the Woman into the back room. - : Was very much surprised when he saw Mrs. James, who arose to address him in friendly tones, saying: _ low are you, Ajax? I suppose you are surprised to see me ‘The big negro grinned and chuckled, and I saw that he was fearfully confused as he replied: “You bet I is, Missa James.” ' “Hush, hush, and don’t mention my name here,” protested the spiteful woman as she handed a bank bill to my colored | story, but, on the other hand, she appeared to encourage him. friend. “How are they all up in the academy, and how is; It was very evident to me that what Bob Ferris then heard Susan in particular?” > was all news to him, but I could see that the woman was well _“Pust rate, missa.” : posted in our affairs beforehand. The woman then went on to ask various questions In as cool| What could be her object, then, in introducing Ajax and my- Manner as if she had left the academy with flying colors, | Self, and allowing the big negro to tell her rogue of a son about I took a back seat and kept my eyes and ears open. our arrest. ; soon showed me a rough-looking fellow about my| ! would have given the world at the moment to be able to ‘seated in the corner with his head down on his} Question Bob myself, and to find out if he had really anything mumbling away to himself like a drunken man | to do with the robbery, been aroused from a sound sleep. While I was thus ruminating an inner door opened and out the fellow was stained with black stuff of some | Came a man muffled almost up to the eyes with the collar of his were his hands, while I could readily perceive | Overcoat, while a soft felt hat was drawn down over his fore- a false beard and a wig. head. id me that the voice was famillar to me, and I The stranger nodded to the woman in a surly manner with- tha up my mind that I was in the presence of Bob out saying a word, cast a suspicious glance at the big negro and myself, and he then bent his eyes on Bob Ferris as he what obje@t Mrs. James could have in mak- ob: grumbled forth: to the big negro, who had never been a fa- “Hasn't this chap sobéred up yet?’ , her when she was mistress at the academy, but I|__! started on hearing the voice, and it was well for me that _ Seon saw what she was aiming at. nm 7 ® F 73, if : Z Bee ae be Fa E ae 3 i i i A g the others were not ebserving me at the moment. ; : I even sprang up from my seat in surprise, and I would 5 oom woman speeered to at oot ood Pon apeniad po ay have advanced to speak to the stranger only that Ajax turned << + have been an abused woman,” she said, “and I came up — pon yn esas 4 eg: ink Se sd if Sans i Jakien-t0 ‘do. me justice,” ‘ " . ea cup 0) ee ‘fore we goes. now Professo: aah te’ at etme 2 and Ajax was playing his part better than I was, as he had also Faleas uttered. by his nidthar . he noticed the voice, as he afterward told me, and he conld have words thu v ; sworn that it was my father who was speaking to Bob Ferris. talk, old woman, and let us have another} Tt young rogue shook himself at the moment and glared ‘ up at the muffled stranger, saying: _A cigar was readily placed before the young rogue, and I “I say, old man, did you hear) anything about a job » ey bon perceive that it was the woman’s object to keep him |" wat sort of a job, Bob?” “Robbing a paymaster?” The stranger chuckled to himself q little, and then turned another suspicious glance at us before he replied, in surly tones: : “Why, of course I heard about it, and you would have heard about it also if you hadn’t been on a spree so long; but what have we got to do with that?’ } “Did you know that a young fellow named Dennis Driscoll has been jugged for the work, father?” “Well, what of that? I don’t know any ‘Dennis Driscoll - around here.” * ; Bob Ferris rubbed bis head, and he then took some water and dashed it in his own face as he grumbled forth: “The mischief take me if I don’t sober up now, and I want to have a talk with you, old man.” : The young fellow then rubbed his face with a soiled hand- kerchief. caught his father by the arm and drew him suddenly toward the back door as he said to him in somewhat agitated tones: oe “I want to have a square talk with you, old man.” 4 They then retired from the room, and I could hear them moving up the stairway, while 1 turned and watched Mrs. ifeth be beats it oon Nr: te ott, “I'll be hanged if I can make out the mystery at all.’ Bob Beare acta to ine oe If We' End nothing to do with the robbery, performed about here lately?’ good b The young rogue had perceived Ajax, however, and he at wae over toward him, sobering himself up a little - “Hello, lo old fellow, I think I have struck on you somewhere The 2 sprang up almost on the instant, and pushed her : son back into the chair, as she said to Ajax: a come eer that foolish fellow. He is a friend of mine in present poverty, and he has been taking a little too much u know a young fellow living around On I tell: you he’s a trump, if ever - ’ ~ wor. C e woman would interfere at the rae 5 = & EF for robbery.” aoe - ee = % is!” cried Bob Perris, as be strode toward fr - ay ol a
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A POOR IRISH BOY. and that man, whoever he is, can’t be my father’s brother, or quieeda down more, and I want you all to know that I won't he wouldn't take it so cesy about us, if he had any nature in have any rowing bere.” him at all.” Giving Ajax a hint we both retreated out into the yard, Mrs. James did not seem to be at all troubled about the when Well Rogers was on the strect talking to some of the - affair I was so interested in, and she went on to coax Ajax into wild young fellows of the village. _ taking up a secret message to the professor. L was very much puzzled at the whole business, as I couldn't : When I saw that she took no interest in my affair I didn’t understand what my young enemy was up to, and I was f = much attention to her, but I did keep my ears on the alert equally at a loss how to account for the actions of the spiteful the return of the others. | woman. While we were thus engaged the door leading Into the) Then the words and acts of Bob Ferris puzzled me very ~ kitchen Was opened, and in came another man, who was also much also. muffled up to the eyes. While it was very evident that he wanted to save me, I had On seeing Ajax the new-comer started a little, and he then’ my doubts as to whether he had anything to do with the rob- advanced to speak to him, saying: | bing of the paymaster at all. Ts ag Ajax! Have you come around to see the cook | As Ajax had not attempted any disguise, young Rogers had ac ‘recognized him from the start, and I could not comprehend started again on hearing that voice, as I at once recognized why the young rascal treated my black friend as he did. the speaker as my old enemy, Well Rogers. i T knew right well that he was down on Ajax for having = The young rascal did not seem to be a bit abashed at Ajax backed me to beat him, and I didn't suppose that he would like _ - recognizing him, and he also addressed Mrs. James in friendly to be seen with the others in his own house. TAL tones, saying: H As I felt perfectly safe in my own disguise, I was anxious ‘ “How are you, Mrs, James? aimt you afraid of Ajax giving to remain and Jearn all I could, but I did not care to get my ‘you away?” jnegro friend into serious trouble, as I dreaded that Well ‘Before the woman could ety Ajax answered in angry Rogers would soon get some of his wild friends to attack ! him. y a ea that lay, Massa Rogers, and you can just gambie | When we reached the street, however, Well Rogers ap- - dat it am not a poor lady 1 would be de fust to turn on no- _progched Ajax and addressed him in the most friendly tones, how.” crying: : Before any more could be said, heavy steps were heard a “Come around to the tavern, old fellow, and have a drink, . the stairs, and then Bob Ferris burst Into the room followed and bring your friend with you.” : _ by his father, while the young fellow cried: : Receiving a nudge from me Ajax accepted the offer, althongh + "IT tell you i won't stand it. and I do know what I am about. - he also imagined that the treacherous young rascal was lay- *y “That young fellow was a friend to me when I wanted one ‘ing some kind of a trap for him. “ Tita, Some bust me if I am going to see him imposed on now.” | Then I thought that perhaps Well Rogers desired to be inn, eae rong fellow appeared to recognize Well Rogers for the friends with Ajax, and that he was sincere enough in bis first time -s the moment, and he made a sudden spring at him ; present offer. _. and caught him by the throat, as he cried, in furious tones: | The mere fact of Mrs. James and the strangers being pres- ent in the house, and that Well Rogers was there, too, with - dion't block your game if I have to go back to the them, was something in our favor, but it was not enough for me. ; a It was necessary to prove that 6thers had committed the ran ea robbery for which we were arrested, and I did hope to show i ea CHAPTER XIy. that Well Rogers was intimately acquainted with them at es Sates: dx MORE LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT. least. Bob Ferris had scarcely seized Well Rogers when the young: If we could only smuggle Bob Ferris aw: ay from his friends ‘Yogue’s father sptang at him and caught him very roughly fora time, a great deal could be accomplished through him I ie are back of the neck, as he cried: ‘ firmly believed. ang you for a fool, will you ever get sober again and act) So far as I could see the young fellow’s father, if the ken man?” | stranger was his father, would prove to be the most danger- old man then flung Bob back and forced him into the ous customer yet appearing on the scene, as it was evident with extraordinary strength, while he turned to Well, that cee) ee a vigorous and daring mind as well as a 2 | powe oly, get out of here for the present, and keep your mouth; After Ajax and I hed swallowed a harmless drink each at , le tayern, Well Rogers addressed my black friend, saying: : ! Rogers turned to the door as he grumbled forth: “I suppose you feel bad about your friend Dennis Driscoll, “T would like to know whet he has got against me, to treat | Ajax, but I want you to know that I don’t bear any grudge a that manner?” ! against you on his account.’ 't you see that he is on a spree,” replied the old man, | Ajax grinned and nudged me slightly as he replied In why don’t you let him alone until I manage him? Get friendly tones: of here, I say, until I am certain what he is driving at.” | “Why, see har, Massn Rogers, I did think as how yous was "Jam man __ cast. ms eyes on ou and then looked at} down on me “or backing Dennis in de fight, but that was all op ee, w angry wine, as he demanded, in surly | the squah.” “ i Clapping the big negro on the shoulder in the most _patron- are these black fellows doing here, and are they! izing manner, young Rogers responded, saying: riends of yours?” tite “That's all right, old ponem Be bes wen a worked together 8. James Hooked a frightened, neing at A. as ind you had a perfect right'to back him, but you can bet your she answered: sia ie ‘life that he couldn’t lick me again if we bad to try it over. Fg “ake a was employes A pag ‘academy, and he was Now that he is up for a bad job I don’t believe in throwing message there Leite a eat eauane baker meee a cual PEE “<é. we. Mees. wip ty ie A ees \j me Bienes he Nah - ty a ci uns su ike ice take a walk me, 9 Sad a as t, Laat . ad Siti seat echt Ree Ajax in f jet yy % . ex i
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“TI will see you again, old fellow.” _I would bave given a good deal to liave followed them at! he time and listened to what they bad to say, but it was more nee at Bob Ferris. % ih gave Ajax a hint or two, and he went back there again to see Mrs. James, as if forgetting the message she had given him to take up to the professor, appetite at not finding Bob Ferris there. i: Ajax was receiving a second message to the pro- re. noticed the woman more ¢losely, and I felt assured that she Was’ in an impoverished state. _ hen I reasoned that she could not have been implicated with those who had robbed the paymaster, and that her young | a ©-of a son was not in that business either, who could it have been that the paymaster had} _. While ' was pondering over the question Ajax was speaking 2 to Mrs. James about the robbery, and the spiteful woman said A POOR IRISH BOY. While _ féssor, which was merely a demand on him for some money, ! kept on his way in the direction of the depot, while his father and Well Rogers returned toward the house. 3 ae Ajax soon mét the latter, and Well Rogers addressed him, rtant that we should return to the house and get aj crying: “Going home, old fellow?’ “Yes, sar,” replied my black friend, as he passed on. I hastened along behind the fence, keeping Bob Ferris in sight, and I soon joined Ajax as he turned out of a street lead- I followed Ajax back to the house, but I was very much dis-' ing toward the depot. “What am you after dat old coon for?’ inquired Ajax, as L stepped on by his side. “Why, that is Bob Ferris,” I replied, “and I am going to ar- rest him and take him up to the stable until we grab the old man, also.” Ajax stared at me and grinned from ear to ear, as he re- joined: “You must be crazy. I just seed de young fellow talking to Mrs. James in de kitchen before I left, and he was having a “recognize as Sa me so much, both in voice and in ap-| row with her in de back room afore he came out.” i was startled by the words of the big negro, as I knew he was a keen fellow and not easily mistaken. As we hastened along after the man I took to be Bob Ferris, | I made up my mind as to what we should do, and Ajax agreed at Dennis Driscoll was a smart young fellow to get out! with me, scrape the other time and throw the blame on me, but | It was very evident that the fellow was hastening to the de- I knew that he would get found out in the long run, and per-! pot, and I knew that a train passed for New York in about ha the people around won't think so bad of me now as they : nodded his head and remarked: around here again just about dis time.” ce negro as she demanded: } <9 you mean by my son?” a, _ “Bob Es heart of course.” i t frown appeared on the woman’s face as she wretch is not my son, although I confess that Bok eee prison long ago, and I was divorced from him. . always hated that night at the academy.” negro grinned and nodded before he inquired: de old man now?” The young don’t know what they are doing up here, but friends of mine now, and I would be only too glad in prison again.” to hear the words muttered, but you may “that they affected ) me very much, and I said to my- “spitef cunning woman may be only humbugging La os iogthy may be in deadly earnest. If she ce Saeed be of great use to us, and we must ieasiiont { heard footsteps on the stairs again, and into to the room came Bob Ferris, wearing a good 't otherwise disguised as he appeared on the night amg on the high road. re oa passed out into the yard without taking ero ts I could see that Ajax did not ak bunckened face, and with the gray wig ie if aie door I could see Bob Ferris speak- one out on the gina end I could notice that he ‘Ajax to follow me as I passed out ‘young rogue walked along the few Ww to Ajax, I slipped out on the at pero ad him going in the di- SEER th nop wis me “= 7 a ein ‘of tronble. ning not be far be aes se Boh ‘icaly ase, woman started at the suggestion and stared at} | did not appear to entertain the least suspicion of our moye- I me, and you saw how quickly he de-| f Bob, Ferris” ‘in a carelets manner, ‘and L}on the way up. fifteen minutes, Pretending to be going in the same direction Ajax and I has- Ajax | tened om together, and as we neared the depot he started on a “That am so, missa; but it am mighty strange that yous son} run, as he cried back to me: “Wurry up, ole man, or you will-lose de train.” I did hurry up, and we were soon close on the stranger, who ments. As we were passing the fellow 1 suddenly put out my leg to trip him up, and Ajax gave him a shove from behind at the same moment. We then pounced on him together and proceeded to bind and His father was sent to! gag him, while I hissed into his ear, saying: “I am au officer from New York, and I am after you, Bob Ferris.” The fellow did struggle in the snow like a madman, but Ajax held him while I slipped on a gag and tied his arms be- i hind him, I then presented a revolver at his head as I said to him: ‘Come along quietly now, or it will be the worse for you, a short time ago, and you saw him keeping ; Bob. Ferris.” The fellow did not offer any resistance after that, and we dragged him along toward the academy, while I gave Ajax a few private orders, The big negro was positive that he had left Bob Ferris in the house, and I was equally as certain that we were dealing with the escaped convict who had fought with me three nights before the robbery. We reached the academy grounds without meeting any one, and the moment we got into the stable we secured our prisoner by tying him to one of the posts. Ajax then hastened out and brought in his wife, who was anxiously awaiting us in the kitchen. In their presence I drew the wig and the false beard from the fellow’s face, and we washed the black stuff from his fea- tures soon after. Then you should have seen Ajax and his wife stare at those features, while they. both exclaimed: “That he was the dead {mage of Dennis Driscoll!” CHAPTER XV. z SOME MORE SURPRISES. ‘tp to to that time-T had not betrayed myself in any way to the stranger, and my colored friends spoke of me as being still in prison. I then sent Ajax down to the village for Lawyer crane <5. and to bring the paymaster along at the same time, if possi -I pretended to the prisoner that I was a detective from York, and I posted Ajax as to what he should say to the others The prisoner was a little dumfounded when Ajax left us_ ( ar along the deserted | and I remoyed the gag from his mouth as I said to him: muified fat and} ned His ee | and you are certain to go back to Sing Sing.” “You see, Bob lerris, that we have got you in a tight’ place, a rogue gave a defiant laugh, and then replied in & sneering tones 5 PS tiaataraag eyesore -
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3 24 A POOR = things while Ajax was away thet puzzled me very much in- deed. _In the first plice, the real Bob Ferris was quite drunk half an hour before, and the fellow before me was as sober as a judge. The prisoner appeared to be on very friendly terms with Well Rogers. while the real Bob Ferris had attacked him in the room buck of the kitchen. Then. Ajax was still positive that he saw and heard Bob Ferris Just before leaving the kitchen, while I lad the prisoner in sight at the same moment out in the street of the village. I had noticed Bob Ferris wl) on the night when he was taken prisoner for the affair xt the academy, and thereafter | TRISH BOY. ; { I wasn’t sure on that point mysclf, as T thought of several | The words were scarcely uttered when the man spoken of entered the room from the back, and Well Rogers followed ; him. | The young rascal stared at Ajax for a moment in surprise ere he cried: | “I thought you went Lome, old fellow, but I suppose you | have some business here.” ; “He came back with a message for me,” rejoined Mrs. James, “and he brought me money that I couldn’t get else- where.” ; Ajax then informed Well Rogers that he heard about a | dance in the tavern on his way through the village, and that he wanted to see it. I kept my eye on the interesting stranger, who was still when he was on trial, and it was easy to see that the prisoner | mpfited up to the eyes, and I could see that he frowned at bore a strong resemblance to him. Both Ajax and his wife conld testify to the same resem- blance, and they were very well satisfied that the prisoner re- sembled me: I didn’t like to say much to the fellow until the lawyer ar- rived, and great was my joy when Ajax returned, bringing my good friend with him, and young Marcus and the paymas- ter as well. “Young fellow, you had better turn in for the night, as I don’t believe you are able to go to the dante.” “You can’t fool me, old man, and I am bound to go to the dance.” | Then we all moved out into the street. | Mareus Townsend came along at the moment, and Well | Rogers caught a glimpse of him, as he went up to him, say- Oey James before he turned to Bob Ferris, saying: Ajax had told them that I was a New York detective, and he ing: also informed them that we had not yet searched the prisoner. Mr. Dobson. the paymaster, was very much surprised when he took a careful look at the prisoner, and he at once declared that he did resemble me very much. te was still more surprised when we searched the rogue and found a gold watch and nearly a thousand dollars in bills in his possession, The paymaster recognized the watch as his own, and he felt certain that the money was a portion of the sum taken from him by the robbers. j _ After haying gained so much, I called Mr, Townsend outside and told him who I was. _ He praised me very highly for my success so far; but when I told him that I hoped to eapture the man who looked like my : father also, he grabbed me by both hands as he said: “Dennis, you will make a great criminal lawyer, or a good detective. If you Buecceed as you say, your father will be a ‘Tree man to-morrow, and I think Well Rogers will be in a bad ‘scrape as well.” _After consulting with the paymaster, it was agreed that two of us should take the prisoner down to the house of the justice of ne peace, and that Ajax and I should go in quest of the old robber. _ Young Mareus Townsend insisted on going with us down to Rogers’ house again, and the pa er promised to have | friends on hand who would help us in case of need. “Professor James was also called into consultation, and the poor man was deeply affected on hearing that his wife was around again. He was determined, however, that justice should be done, and he gave Ajax ten dollars in an envelope to take to her, That was our excuse for going to the place again that night, while young Marcus Townsend agreed to go with us as a wit- ness, : Ajax and I entered the kitchen, leaving Marcus Townsend back by saying that he had a message from the professor to Mrs. James. D- | bery Rl ie Marcus, and what in the thunder brings you out to- “night?” } “The same as what brought the other fellows.” Just then the muffied stranger caught the real Bob Pais by the shoulder and shook him roughly as he said to him: “I? you won't go to bed, young fellow, come along and take a walk with me and see if I can’t wake you up a little.” | The two then went along the street, and | gave a signal to | Ajex to follow them. Feeling it incumbent on me to take the lion’s share of the risk that night, and being anxious to settle matters as soon as | possible, I marched on boldly ahead of Ajax as I whispered to | him: “Hold back with Mr. Townsend until you see me set on the , old stranger.” | The old stranger and his son walked along arm in arm, and ; as I drew near them I could hear the old fellow saying in gruff tones: “You ought to be ashamed of yourself to go on this way, when you have such good reason for keeping straight, hang your eyes.” “Hang it all, old man, it ain’t right to let that young fel- low stuffer after he served me such a good turn that night.” I laid my hand on the old fellow’s shoulder at the moment } and presented a revolver in his face, as I said to him in gruf® , tones: “Mr. Ferris, you are my prisoner.” “My name ain’t Ferris. Who are you, and what in the mis- chief do you want with me?” “I am a detective from New York, and I want you for high- way robbery.” The man struck out at me on the instant, while Bob took to his heels, crying: ‘ “Look out for yourself, old man.” The blow aimed at me did not reach me, as Ajax stepped up at the moment and warded it off, and he then grabbed the old fellow by both hands, as he yelled: “In at him, fellows.” you, out, I suppose, and some of We were then led into the room by the cook where : ; ’ The moment we had him secured four of the men from the y ah aay roa mend: ogling Ae ais railroad came up, and Marcus Townsend addressed them, say- ing: s “Get this fellow away, friends, as I want to be after the other fellow with my friend.” I had already started out to run down Bob Ferris, who was making good time in the snow, I made better time still, however, and I was close on him when he stumbled and fell in a snow pile. ' Marcus and I then dragged him out and secured him, as he grumbled forth: p 4 “What in the thunder do you want me for?” ' “My name is Dennis Driscoll, and I want you for the rob- t I was arrested for.” . “Didn't I tell you to look out for Well Rogers?” ; “What has he got to do with it?” asked Marcus Townsend, — as we dragged the prisoner along. : At that moment the old prisoner cried out in a loud voice: ‘|. “Keep a stiff upper lip, Bob, and don’t give any ove away.” 1 We couldn't get another word out of either of the prisoners, — “until we reached the justice o¢ the peace’s house, and thep
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NS a aes A POOR IRISH BOY. 25 —_——_— eee ee - Se en ne maybe they were not both surprised to see that we also secured | “To be sure I heard that a man named Driscoll and his son the young fellow who was supposed to be on his way to New} were arrested on the charge, but how could I imagine that it York at the moment. was my own brother and his son, as I didn’t think that you _I was very eager to get a good look at the old prisoner, and, were in the laud of the living at all and under a false name.” Soon tore the hat and scarf from his head as I cried: “But you knew that we were innocent, sir,” I protested, “and- “Let me get a good look at you anyhow.” I know that Bob wanted you to spare me, at least, because 1 eh and all of us present did get a good look at him, and’ gave him a little lift the night I met him out on the road.” then the paymaster was the first to cry out: I then told my unfortunate uncle how old Rogers and_his “What a fool I have been to accuse honest Dennis Driscoll; son had persecuted us, and how } had retaliated by giving the /his father when this is the old man that robbed me the/ young rascal a good drubbing. her hight.” The prisoner reflected for some moments with an ugly scowl Daylight was breaking on the affair at last, more especially | on his brow before he spoke again in gentler tones, as he said hen it was found that the old prisoner bad a large sum of; to me: pney about him, as well as a breast-pin which the paymaster; ‘The scrape I first got into long ago in Ireland made me cognized as his own. what I am to-day; but I never turned on a comrade, and I never will. If I ever get out of this scrape I promise you to give the Rogers a dose, and they won't know that it was on 1 FS Ss per eee se your account, either.” Ee M TILL, “But won’t ise to be d man, sir, as my father _ I hastened to my father early on the following morning, and) asks you?” gd cape Bisa 7 T had a long talk with my mother before going to the jail. “I will, I will. Tell me about you all, and what you are go- When I told my father about the arrest of the man who re-! ing to do,” sembled him so much I saw that he became fearfully excited,| J] then told him that my father had made up his mind to go but he didn’t say a word to me by way of explanation until we/ out West, as he did not care to remain Ip a place where we had rere ol our way home. ‘been twice accused of robbery. Ly ed a biti on bail, the paymaster sere yl admitted that Mrs. James was his wife long.ago in New om : spelt Secceiived “by twe voiliéers ork, that they never lived happily together, and that she % nad eee ee criminals that clty, asl the ia python tg Ray coat > ag arrested for a burglary which she When my father and the old prisoner were brought face to] x. York city Reeea enw fiat they both turned pale as death, but neither | a ioe she had hated me when I went té oO! e. 4 Agee ee hes ee ae very depressed during al My uncle then promised to do all in his power toward clear- “whole evening, and I felt in my heart that he had recognized : ing us, and he kept his word to the very letter and beyond it. the prisoner as a near relation. |. He confessed on his trial that himself and his son James 2 “nm the neighbors had ail retired from our cabin, my , had robbed the paymaster, and that Bob had nothing to do fatuer pit on bis bat and cobt and asked me to take a walk) Wi the afair as be was on a bad spree at the te, which - obody The old fellow and his son were convicted, but Bob never hen we reached a spot where n See bear eh ST cae hechte Sing Sing again, as he managed to escape from could hear him sigh heavily before he said to me: - wartime! aes ats as prs beg . must keep; the county jail on the day after the trial. “My boy, I have something you, you P 2 = : Pim ’ b Well Rogers did not appear i It a secret forever, even from your mother and sister.’ oung Well Roge not appear in the village again after a : that night, and his father sold out his business and went to father nates again, and pressed my hand before he com- acs if New Fork weed attir. = sae es ara very young man, living with my father on a} Mrs. James was not seen in the village again either, and the ll farm im Ireland, I had a brother just one year older: professor declared that he would not give her any more as- myself, and that was the man you saw to-day. sistance. ra Edna James was delighted at my second triumph and vindi- + ont me on the road and tried to take me prisoner,} Let it not be supposed that my career thereafter was an easy scrape, as he was a smuggler Irom the very night when I had last seen Well Rogers in be at war with the coastguards. i | the village I felt assured that we would meet again at no dis- the world of that brother at the time, and as tant day. . CHAPTER XVU. SQUARING UP ACCOUNTS. My father succeeded admirably on a farm he purebased in there my sister bloomed into womanhood. ‘had traveled under several names. I then told him about my first meeting with Mrs. James in ; the West, not a great many miles from the city of Chicagu, nud -
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Mr, Townsend became anxious to join his son in the West, and Marcus urged me to go on also, offering to take me into partnership in his ever-increasing business. at accepted the generous offer, and I hastened out West with Mr. Townsend, who then made up his mind to retire from ‘ive business. and myself prospered very well at first, but we soon “met with some reverses by engaging in land speculations, and -- we had to commence the world over again, as we both de- ' elined to receive aid in money from the good old lawyer. ; In the meantime-I was informed that Marcus and my sister ~ had become deeply attached to each other, and when we were succeeding again Mary became the wife of my dear friend and er. After arriving in the West I often met Edna James at my father's house, as that young lady was Mary’s confidential ‘! friend. ; : Ednva was the same kind-hearted creature as ever, and she tae assisted in supporting ber cld father, who had become almost + a wreck. , When I saw my way clear toward making a business again, and when we had paid the debts which we had tormed by our failure in the land speculation, I asked Edna James to -- -beeome my wife, and she readily consented. By Some five years after Edna became my wife she came to the office one day in a very excited mannet and said to me: *My wicked step-mother has just been to the house, and she is troubling fatlier.” fhe old professor was living with us ever since our mar- riage, and he had a great terror of ever secing his former _ wife again. On the following day a handsome gentleman about my own . age, wearing a full dark beard, entered the office and requested a private interview with me. - L granted the request on the instant, as there was some- thing in the tones of the man’s voice that had attracted me to- ward cae, Mr. Dr Driscoll, do you not recognize me?’ Drawing back a little coldly, I replied: “think I do recognize you, sir, and I would like to know what you want with me?” _ A proud fiush overspread the stranger's. face, and he drew himself wp as he replied: _ “I would like you to understand, Mr. Driscoll, that I ain not the same kind of a person you knew when you were liying in oR om ar Ave you certain that you kuow ine without any mm ? eae, ant 5 la that you are the person I once knew as Bob 0 smiled again, and he then went on, saying !n anly tones: “No; 1 am the person you knew as Bob Yerris, but I weuld ; like you to understand that I have led an honest life ever since * - Lescaped from the county jail that night. I have been out in California, where I have made a great deal of money in the iene oe ge 1 am here_now on a little business.” Lam glad to hear that you have led an honest life,” I re- “*¥es,. I have,” be repeated, Sg I must thank you for put- f bi me in the way of doing it. 5 has become of your father and brother?” ee them thet I came to see,you, and I want to tell ‘you at once that they have got into trouble here in this city,” TL pai pone my shoulders a little, saying: i reed didn’t come to me to defend them.” My father and brother have been only out of the Ow ey prison three months. ‘They came out here to try i ee new lives, when they again fell in with some old sintex, who have got them into a bad scrape.” Somethi ih een me at the moment that Mrs. James was ‘ot te nds alluded to, and I inquired: r the people who got your fath and brother into it ee elke: ‘up the case of my father and galt ger and a svoman ee hss as Mrs. i. oy aa ‘in a eae Se te ; cena. that Lt — undertake the mney were both eneimies of’ yours, and I am cer-| den’t want to appear in this} Mae odt A POOR IRISH BOY. time before, where they were also associated with some notorious criminals. My uncle and his son James did strive to become honest men on arriving in the city, but they had a hard struggle of it, and they were very low down in pocket when they encountered Mrs. James and Well Rogers again. = Well Rogers induced my uncle and his son to undertake a desperate burglary, while he kept in the background himself. The enterprise was successful as far as Regers was con- cerned, as he received several thousand dollars which the others had secured. They were arrested, however, on suspicion, and they were then imprisoned, while my old enemy declined to aid them in any way. After questioning the young man still further, and getting the full particulars of the case from him, I said to him: “While I am not at all spiteful, I deem that it is my duty to bring Well Rogers to justice, and to settle my old account with him. I will undertake the. case, and I will go. to work at it with a heart and a half.” I did enter into the case with a will, as I was most anxious to have a last encounter with Well Rogers. I also learned from Bob Ferris that old Rogers had died in New. York a year before, and that the old fellow had never been connected with the criminal gang. On returning to my home that night I found Mrs. James there before me, and my wife was entertaining the spiteful woman in a civil manner. After supper was over I quietly summoned a detective of- ficer, and I then invited the spiteful creature into a private room to have a plain talk. She then made a thorough confession and implored. for merey in the most abject manner. By means of that confession we arrested Well Rogers that very night, and secured clear proofs of his! guilt at the same | Mrs. Jam s turned State's evidence against her former asso- | clates, and ell Rogers was convicted for crimes in which my uncle and bis sons had no connection. ivather and son soon left for California with the relative who had reformed in earnest, and I am glad to say that they lei honest lives, thereafter, I did not tell my father a word about my new adventure | with his relatives, or that I succeeded in punishing my own enemy, Well Rogers. Mrs. James died soon after, and my wife tended to her until she breathed her last. The old professor lingered on for some time, ard even to his dying day he was in terror of the woman who had gone before him, I continued to lead a happy and prosperous life, but I never could forget my early struggles and the kind friends who had helped me along in life. Marcus Townsend and myself continued fast friends in our declining years, and our wives and children have never chad reason to be ashamed of us. My father lived to a good old age, and he often declared that ‘he was proud of his only son, but he would never tell me our real name, although 1 often requested that he would do so. From iny experience in this great land of ours, I am certain with perseverance, industry, and honor, and thousands and thousands ean boast of the same experience as THE POOR IRISH BOY. Next week's issue will contain “BIG BONE ISLAND; OR, LOST IN THE WILDS OF SIBERIA.” Wilson. SEND POSTAL FOR OUR FREE oT, SPECIAL NOTICH.—A!! back numbers of this weekly the foliowing are in print: 45 to 41, 5% to 55, 57 to 60, nih G4 ae oo 75, 79, $4 to 43 88, oS A oy dig yds " ror ye by all mots F by return ma By ema 3 Thoms z- , 1 to 25, 27, 29 to. 36, 38 to 40, 42, 43, He “« that the read to fame and fortune is open to all who pursue it.
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, _ °THE FATE OF THE WINDWARD. be sik John Sherman. Tt was a abesly ‘pen years ago, sat I never see the picture ~ of a shipwreck, or read an account of one, without having "my mind taken back to an episode of my own life in con- gta with three of my schoolmates. -'The four of us were what might be called sea-struck ; . © Dat is, we were desirous of being sailors, not only because _ We fancied the roving, care-free life, but because we wished Fi to see different parts of the world. . - Well, when we got through with school and were given our choice of business by our patrons, we all decided to go 0 sea, and although our families were tery much opposed to it, our minds were firmly made up, and nothing would 4 us. gee only consolation that our friends could find was the fact that we were all four going together. ei We parted with our friends and started for Boston, in- tending to ship from there to some part of the globe, In fact, we had no decided preference about where we should: Bo, so long as we could all keep together. _ Arriving at Boston, we made application to several ship- xe offices, but as business was dull, we found little or no en nent, and not one offer could we get which would " take us all on board of the same ship. _ After waiting and searching for nearly a week for such a Paliksice, ‘one of our number, Fred Wilson, was taken with a severe con which completely Prostrated him, and he was Sewed in the hands of a doctor.’ ~ his) was’ a severe blow to us, for we had made up our ds to keep together or not go at all. to his bedside im the hope of his speedy recov- ,, but the doctor told us that Fred would not be able to et up from his bed for a month at least, and then there : ee eee He idea of going and return- ling voyag pug Pacifie, on the bia Windward, and th sagen ines we were anxious for our friend’s maf the doer pt a endo our haps ‘the vessel was to sail within a week, im i onl, jn non a he pehiae etinaaions’s iota "pas wa 40h 2 | on the Windward, although with D en gg om Sea ae PLUCK AND LUCK. 23 before the mast, we were not long in finding out that all is Bae gold that glitters, and that a sailor ashore in his natty “shore clothes” is quite another thing when compared with the sailor on duty “board ship. A We had often read of doubling Cape Horn, but the actual doing of it was far different - from what we had ever dreamed. Head winds and a continuance of bad weather prolonged the passage, that is sometimes made in three or four days, to five weeks, during which we were exposed to the full rigors of that windy and frozen latitude, and were scarcely afforded time to eat or sleep. Dozens of times we would bring the ship up and with a favoring wind would appear to have a good send-off for getting around into the South Pacific, but a head wind would suddenly catch us and drive the vessel back again, perhaps a hundred miles, But finally we fetched in and stood bravely nothward. During the next month we had favoring winds and crossed the equator Zor the second time, blessed with as fine weathe- er as ever sailors need ask. A month later, after having called at the Sandwich Islands, we entered the frozen regions of the North, where the sperm leviathans of the deep disport in the awful sol- itude of vasty deep and broad expanse. Then the real work of a whaler’s life commenced, and real work we found it to be. The ship was anchored, and all the work was done by the different boat’s crews, who took turns in going for and capturing the whales who ven- tured within five miles of us. { And so six months passed, during which time we only changed our situation three times, and were fast filling up with oil, giving hopes of getting away before the bad weather s¢t in, and making a remarkably short cruise. During all this time we had heard nothing from home, of course. At the Sandwich Islands, where we called, we left letters for home and for Fred, informing him of the direction we had taken and. what stations we were most likely to-stop at. The three of us belonged to three different boats’ crews, for they would take only one green hand on each, and con- sequently we saw, but little of each other. This made us feel homesick, and the sooner the eruise came to an end the better it would please us all, for the hardships and the monotony of it took the romance all out of it, and if the secret heart of each had been told, the unanimous verdict would have been, “Wish we were home.” But what we had endured was play beside what fate had in store for us. During the last six weeks we did nothing at all. .The whales appeared to have forsaken the station entirely, and after vainly waiting for a long time, the captain decided to change stations and run further toward the land, in the direction of Kodak. “We had not progressed many miles before we saw every indication of bad weather. ‘The wind was squarely astern and increasing in violence every hour. In the hope of out- ne it, however, the captain decided to keep ahead | Be eesebt pecs SL phate Sa Sal eipoayand Ss pid “making what is ealled thick weather, during which it wes
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| 88 PLUCK AND LUCK. impossible to take an observation or to find out where we were. The captain’s face wore a look of anxiety, and he finally concluded to put about and head the vessel south by west, in the hope-of avoiding the land, which he felt could not be many miles away. But in spite of all we could do the wind proved too strong for the bark to hold her course, and headlong through the blinding storm we were driven, whither we Pe ere ease a were nearly northwest, forced on by the storm. decks were covered with snow and hail, and the run- ning rigging was covered with ice, and this added to our misery. It was winter now, the sun low down in the south, making day but little better than twilight, and all the while a strange fatality seemed to be urging us onward. On the third day of the storm we lost a man overboard and this seemed to dispirit the captain completely. “Tt’s no use now,” said he. “That is bad luck. I never kmew a man lost overboard in such a storm as this that dis- aster did not follow it,” and he appeared to resign himself to what he thought was fate. The sequel proved that he was right. That night we were convinced to our close proximity to land by occasionally hearing above the roar of the storm the dash and thunder of the breakers on a not far distant shore. Suddenly we were lifted high on the crest of a wave and dashed upon rocks. The Windward was crushed like an shall. 0 Of course all was confusion and alarm. Hardly a we gained our feet when another and even more tre- mendous wave swept the deck, carrying with it masts, rig- ging and every human being on board far inland among the rocks and icebergs. What followed that night may per- haps be imagined. It can never be described. I found my- ci alone upon a rock. All was darkness. Others besides might have been saved, but if so the darkness of the = would have prevented me from seeing them. ing my way, I managed to reach a higher position : ae With all the caution I possessed I sought for a se place of ehelter and was at length rewarded by find- _ ing a cavity in the rock which the storm did not reach, and here I nestled down the best I could and prayed earnestly for the of the morrow. Morning came creeping through the cold and gloom at length, and chilled to the marrow, almost frozen to death. I crept out of my cavern and gazed around me. Not very far from where I stood lay the wreck of the Windward, scattered along the shore. € ‘Carefully working my way down the cliff, I ran down tow- ard the shore. How the waves must have subsided since they threw me so far up upon the cliff! I shouted with all my voice and listendd. No reply came. Again I shouted Ry 3 siccen screamed in my frenzy—and finally I heard an . I shouted and above the roar of the, coming from somewhere among the so, Heaven blessed me with the sight of my dys tar tara P57 Cr oes i - coming me What a meeting that was! How we embraced each other —even wept like boys! Were there still others saved from the wreck. We began to look around us. The search of several hours convinced us that we were alone—that every one else had perished! We were alone—alone on a wild and barren shore! The first thing to do was to ascertain if there were any provisions saved from the wreck; that is to say, if any had been washed ashore. Examination showed that a large quantity had been thrown upon the shore, The next thing to do was to find a place of shelter, and this was no easy task, for where there existed caves and niches the snow had so blocked them up that we could not find them. But we eventually found a cave that was large enough to accommodate and shelter us quite well, and into this we carried enough of the provisions to last us at least six months. | Well, week after week rolled on, and finally the snow melted before the advancing sun, and our prospects bright- ened materially. As it disappeared, it revealed other traces and proportions of the wreck, and large quantities of pro- visions The winter passed, the spring came, and at length the summer dawned upon us, and still the only hope we had wes that some boat from the whalers that visited the sta- tions, which could not be far from where we were, would follow into this inlet in pursuit of the many whales that we saw disporting in the waters around us, But as month after month passed away, and the whales were still unmolested, hope began to die out in our breasts. Summer began to wear away and the grim evidences of 1 approaching winter were to be seen on every hand and felt in every blast of wind. One day we were gathered on the beach of our little cove, speculating upon our probable destiny—and you may depend upon it that the future looked blue enough—when ; we were surprised by the appearance of a rowboat filled | with men, just making around the corner of a cliff about . a mile distant. It was not a whaling boat, that we could |see. But in our excitement we were not sure what it was ! or who the persons were who were in it. As the boat approached, we could see that they were not savages, whatever else they might be, and almost breath- less we waited. Presently the boat touched the shore, and one of the crew leaped out and ran toward us. “Good heavens! It’s Fred!” said I, and we all leaped up and ran to meet him. The story was soon told. He had followed us in another ship, as per agreement; had Janded at Honolulu, where he received our letters, had followed upon our course, heard — of the wreck from some Indians and as the captain of the | Windward was an old friend of his captain, he had easily _ hope of finding some of the survivors And this is how we were found and rescued. But how fortunate it was that Fred had been taken sick and kept ~ behind. For had all four of us been on the bark together, the fate of the egouta would never have bseghes -sas. > p-| persuaded him to search along the rugged shores in =, ‘
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MAGIC MIRROR. Fat and lean funny faces. By looking in these mirrors upright your features become narrow and elongated. Look into it sidewise and your phiz broadens out in the most comical manner. Size ¥ 3%x2\% inches, In a handsome imi- A474); tation morocco case. = Price, 10c. each, postpaid. H. F, LANG, 215 Waiworth St., B’klyn, N. ¥, DSSS aa a el a ey SaaS ws O ELECTRIO MOTOR (Style E). One dry battery. will icone operate this machine. It bh east iron base and aluminum and gold bronze. Bize of base is 3 inches by 4 inches, height 6 inches. These machines develop more power from one Bat- tery than any motor on the market. The motors can be connected with a number of mechan- ical toys by means of small counter-shafts. Price, by express, 75c. each. L. Senarens, 347 Winthrop St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. MYSTERIOUS SKULL. Shines in the dark. The most frightful ag ever shown. A more startling effect could not be found. Not only will it afford tremendous amusement, but it is guaranteed to scare away bur- glars, bill collectors, and book agents. It cannot get out of order and can be used repeatedly, Price, 4x5 inches, 15e.; by mail. H. F. LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’klyn., N. ¥. alleen sealant et eae al ats Cette ROI RIES THE MAGIC DAGGER. A wonderful illusion. To all appearances it is an ordinary dagger which you can flourish around in your hand and suddenly state that you think you have Mved long enough and had better commit suicide, at the same time plunging the dagger up to the hilt so det breast or side, or you can pretend to stab a friend or acquaintance. Of course your friend or yourse!fare not in- jured in the least, but the deception is perfect and will startle all who see It. Price, 10c., or 3 for 25c. by mati, postpaid, J. KENNEDY, 303 West 127th St., N. ¥. GIANT SAW PUZZLE. This puzzle contains twenty-one pieces of wood nicely finished; take them apart and put together same ag illustrated. fascinating. Price, by mail, postpaid, each, H. F. LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’klyn, N. Y. strument, producing the sweetest dulcet tones of the ute. The upper art of the instrument & placed in the mouth, the lips covering the openings in the centre. Then by blowing gently it you can p 35e., by mail, postpaid. _ ad 4. A. WARFORD, 16 Hart St., Brooklyn, N. ¥, THE AUTOMATIC RUNNING MOUSE This mouse {!s so tation ot Rey at ar @ live ani- ae WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, i Se ae Se —~ _ THE FLUTOPHONE, A new musical in- Everybody would like | to try It, as it is very | _ minutes the smell will disappear. & J ee ie - Fi wy) Pi exhibit sample 1912 bicy- ‘7. with Coaster-Brakes Vall of best makes. allo makes... 760 ‘Secon - Hand All makes and models, ; good BORO se cccisecsstance $3 fo reat FACTORY CLEARING SALE Ve Ship on Approval without « ETA Bay's fi and allow £ retght, FREE TRIAL. ai cei do SS is, lamps, icyeles at Nickel-platey LIQUID PISTOL, ‘Wl stop the m ious dog (or man) with: Perfectly sate tocarrs; anger rfectly 6 tocarry wit of seeknes, Fires ‘and pechanins by - . the trigger. from any Liquid. No rtyidges required. Over shots in one loading, oe Seniors or by mail, Soc bit tol with rubber cov- j r, < Holsters separa’ order or U. 8. stamps. Nocoins, AG, 200 - Money PARKER, STEARNS & COQ., 273 GEORGIA AYE., BROOKLYN, H. Y, D. WATCH, RING F R e Ee Saas AND CHAIN vis lates: Ya fase cn. Be tat grade art post Almost anyone can learn it at home. Small —— Lame bas gy Fhe for particulars roof. " Bigelow St., Peoria, ML et 54 WEIRD & NORBY (Se ver fined; erg, fo nk ena Leoks well, wears more, Whelessle: 12 fer $1.00. a LPOT, Frenchtown, 4, J, dbe or 2 for 260; werth acles, W, E. HIL COTS OF FUN FOR A, Dime. Ventriloquists Double Threat savistvie; creacen wine pe Astonish and wystlfy your friends. Neigh like # her is: fest LOADS OF FUN, Wenteral larsticc, Theor 7 ‘ul tore le aude cull’ APs ely pak 25 eeats or Ta for Hwee COUGLE THROAT CO, DEPT. KE FPAINCATOWN,N.% BE A GUN MAN You can carry a Gun like the famous Gun fighters of the South- west, if it is one of our ati ractive Watch Fobs. A TEXAS GUN FOB % Holster made of good leather, neatly stitched. with metal gua * inserted, ready to be pulled. ‘ This is the greatest novelty \ any manly boy can wear ; lends an ' air of Western romance and contr age. Send 2c. today and receive a fob by return mail. $1.00 brings 5 fobs. Postage paid. ALAMO LEATHER & NOYELTY Co., Dept. F.T. San Antonio, Texas. ANARCHIST BOMES They are small glass vials, and con- tain a liquid chemical] that produces a horrible odor. When dropped in a room they will make every person present rush out, holding their noses. In a few Per- fectly harmless. No danger of any evil effect. The only risk is that your friend may make you smell one of the bombs yoursely, if they catch you. Price 10 cents a box, or 3 for 25 cents. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. 5 in, loug, rat gvuaran- eee | | | & Do You Want a Rifle / ; as accurate and reliable i ws the world-renowned ' Remingion- UMC ; big game rifle that the } famious hunters use? / The No. 6 single sbot has | tapered barrel, case-hardened frame, genuine walnut stock and fore-end, rifle butt plate, rear and tang peep sijht Shoots .22 short, .92 Jong and .22 long rifle cartridges, Also made to shoot .32 short rim-fire cartridges. You'll actually be surprised at its.moderate price. Ask your dealer. FREE—Set of targets. Write to-day Remington UMC —the perfect shooting combination REMINGTON ARMS$--UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO. tw BROADWAY New York City | The new.22 Our packeces are the best, a8 each contains at least 2 rare ones, worth the price of the whole lot. Start a collection. In time it will grow very val- vable. Every known variety of foreign and domestic stamps : in these packages. Fifty va- i rieties for 5 cents; one bundred }.10 cents; two hundred, 20 cents; three hun- | dred, 85 cents; five hundred, $1.25; one thou- sand, $3.25; two thousand, $18.00; 1,000 mixed lot, 25 cents. All in good condition and worth twice the amount we ask. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 20th St.. N. % CACHOO GF SNEEZING POWDER. ‘The preatest fun-maker of chem all. A small amount of this powder, when blown in a room, will cause everyone to sneeze without anyone knowing where it comes from. It is very light, will float in the air for some time, and penetrate every nook ; and corner of a room. it 1s perfecttly harme- j less. Cachoo fs put up in bottles, and one | bottle containg enough to be used from 10 to 15 times. Prices, by mail, 10c. each; $8 for 35a, ' WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. X, : | | |
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THE MAGIC CIGAR CASE, A beautiful and per- GOOD LUCK BANES. Ornamental as well as useful. Made of highly nickeled brass. fect cigar case, made dt holds just One Dollar. When of imitation alligator filled it opens itself, Remains and sealskin leather; locked until refilled, Can be used worth a quarter as a a8 2 witchcharm. Money refund- cigar case alone. It ed if not satisiicd. Price, 1c. ¢ain be shown full of by mall. elgars and instantly iL. SENARENS, lic, whee opening. 46 US ag 4 . n, Winthrop Brooklyn, “ * + finds on em 347 St., N.Y, cate. lie os bas m3 secret spring aud 4 7 a uble case, and can be operated only ofie ne Made ot 2 metal 'natts |1%,the secret. Full printed. Instructions sont Pats inked together. Keeps | With gach case. Every smoker should have folks guessing; one, Prica, 26c, by mail, postpaid; e@asy to take them apart when you know how. Directions with every one, Price, &¢., postpaid. WCLEF NOVELTY CG., 29 W. 26th 8t., N. Y. THE MAGIC NAIL. A common nail is given for examination, and then in- etantiy shown pivreed through the finger; and yet, when taken out, the finger is found to be perfectly uninjured, and the nail i¢ again given to be examined. Nicely finished. Price, 10c, by mall, mene ‘ J. KENNEDY, 203 West 127th St. N.Y. ‘eo re Bi dozen by 50. KENNEDY, BUS West 127th St, N.Y NORWEGIAN MOUSE. A very large x measuring $ in¢éhes from of nose to end of tail. ody of mouse js jace your first finger in his y, and then by moving your finger up and down, the mouse appears to be running up your sleeve, “Enter a room where there are. ladies, with the Mouse runn’ag up your sleeve, and you will see a rapid scat- tering of the fair sex. Many practical jokes can be perpe- ong mouse, tip nt > LUGk Po trated oe oer peas tpcewk att RR Goo ZZLY. rice, on or #5c. mailed, postp: - It consiats of three bikes: (26 #e G, 215 Walworth St, Brkdyn, N, ¥. shoes fastened together. Only @ very clever person can take off the 7m = Great fun for the mil- Mon! Wear it in your buttonhole and then press the bulb and watch the other fellow run. Price, MMe. 3, KENNEDY, 303 West 127th st., N. ¥- &@ moment when the secret is Price, by mail, Ife, each. H. F. LANG, 215 Walworth St., Bklyn, N. ¥. | | Se ees 7 | | | | THE ELK HEAD PUSLLE, ~ eardboard wi’ each Just out, and one of the fascinating puzzles on aeetanidn ny we aneh etoarkst” Saitek ts te aetarans the antlers and join them. It looks easy, but try it and you will admit that it is without exception the bést juzzle you have ever seen. You ¢an't leave it alone. Made of silvered metal. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th 8t.. N. Y. _ IMITATION GIANT DIAMONDS. Diamond rings or studs of half-inch “and inch in | Se im } the glance any etator. FS size, 25e. each one - Price, 12¢.; 3 for 30c., sent by. mail, postpaid. stories only. War neve the HM. ¥- LANG, £15 Walworth S86. Drkiyn, N.Y. imitated by prodigious rk j MARELE VASE. A clever and puzzling effect, easy to do; the apparatus can bé minutely examined. Effect: A marble can be made to pass from the hand into the closed vase, which @ moment before ling stones which will dee elye Price by iad stpaid, smal Z . > la size, 350. each, 1 Hi, F. LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’klyn., N. Y. MAGIC PUZZLE KE Was shown empty. ‘This is oa beautiful enameled turned Wood Vase. z x and k intesiocs- | Price. 20c. 2 eS ee M. O'NEILL, 425 W. s6th St., N.Y. 4 re EFS Ve ed ae THE MAGNETIC TOP. easily done. A handsome metal, highly magnetized toy. A horseshoe and a spiral wire furnished with each top. hen un next to the wiras, they make the most surpris- ing movements. You can make wires of dif- ferent shapes and get the miost peculiar ef- fects. Price, bc.; post- paid, Winthrop St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St. N. Y, : THE JUMPING FROG, / This little novelty creates a world ot saneeen Its oT chief attractiveness is that it takes @ few seconds. be- - . fore leaping high in the air, ty al aaa" ja p forare ay A x inno- cen Ong | of an unsuspec rson, oOo te Seadiels” savaed be ee L. Senarens, 347 ; t won 1 |S getivity Of thie tres. 15¢, each by mai } ‘215 Walworth B’klyn, THE JUMPING BEAN. 5 bien i oI The funniest thing C) out! You place the in _a plate, and they sudd h into : eniy hop up 4 the alr with the most ‘ onishing agility. : here queer little fel- ‘ lows are guaranteed to mystify the smartest : f by their mysterious actions. Ngbody Bs account for thelr funny movements. ore than a circus! Get a few and watch their ; yas 47 jumps. Price, Ge, each, or 6 for M, O'NEILL, 425 W, 56th St., N. ¥. This : THE CROWN STYLO. : made of cay co ; : Made of aluminum, fo “nttach ft to the lapel of yout | TD esa a mone, ahi cha tak 1 the | f _ stylographic 9 twitch the emall, black | t cor- oft t 1 1 o sna ot ot fhe Ustpenet "on the makati avapieta be Pug: inate. ag to hold It yee ‘6 tis AN De be wey © re- | ire a a wae, ms wa LINK THE LINK PUZZLE. ~ The sensation of the day. ; Pronounced by all, the most baffling and scientific novelty ag i nas have worked a ° ri ¥: tering it, still it can be done I twp wae lee ee the eke ine Proper twist, but un- you know how, @ harder the tighter they grow. rf te; 9 ter te one dozen, 50c., by mail, postpaid, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, WINDOW SMASHERS. ; The greatest Sensation, just from Paris. A most. wonder- ful of a smashing, breaking, falling pane or t will electrify every- body. hen you come home, slam the door shut and et the same time throw the | disc$ to the floor. Every pans of giass in the | Rouse. will*at once seem to have been shat- | tered. Price, by mail, postpaid, SSe,, a set “ft six plates. H. F, ‘G, 215 Walworth &t., B’kiyo, N. ¥. THE FIGHTING ROOSTERS. A full blooded pair of fighting game cocks. These Iiliputian fighters have real feathers, yellow legs and fiery red combs, their movements when fighting ave perfectly nat- ural and lifelike, and the secrat of their movements is known only to the operator, who can cause them to battle with each other as often and as long as desired. Independent of their | fighting proclivities they make very pretty | mantel ornaments. Price for the pair in a ; trong box, 10c.; 8 pairs for 25c. by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY O0,, 29 W. c6th &t., NW. ¥. A very effective pocket. trick, easily to be performed by any one. A miniature | paddle is shown. Cen- ; tral holes are drilled through it. A wooden 6g ia inside of the upper hole. Showing now th sides of the paddle, the performer causes, | by simply breathing upon it, the peg to leave the upper hole, and appear in the middle one. | Then it Jurnps to the lower hole, back to the | middle one, end lastly to the upper hole, | Both sides of the paddle are repeated)y shown. i Price by matl, 15 J. KENNEDY, 203 West i27th s8t., N. ¥. DEAD SHOT SQUIRT PISTOL. If you shoot. a mas P. with this “gun he will be too mad to accept the ancient exctuse—‘I know t was Ss easily charge of water, and taking Sim, press the rubber bulb at the butt of the Pistol, when a smail stream of water is squirted into hig. face. The best thing to do then Is to pocket your sun and tun. There are “loads of fun" in this wicked littie joker, which looks Uke a real revolver, trigger, cock, chambers, barre! and all, ice only 9 4 for 25c.; one dozen 60e, by mail postpaid. . F, LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’Kiyn, N. ¥, THE HIDEOUS SPIDER. Fun for ¢very- body with one of these handsome brutes, His body is 3 inches long, | beautifully enamel- ed green, with white ridges, yel- low speckles, bulging eyes, and a big red mouth. He is armed with six legs and two ™m | upright feelers, made of flexible spiral springs, |A dark, Invisible thread attached to his (lets you shake him in the sir befers your | friends’ eyes, when the legs wiggle in a most body natural, lifelike manner. Guaranterd to make Gny lady howl and to scare the bravest hero ou earth out of his boots, i Price by mail, 10¢, each. ) WOLEF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, MINIATUBE COMPASS CHARM. A beautiful arm, to worn on sy water chain, perfect eee to which fs attach- ed, by @ pivot, a erful ™ tying glass. hen not in use the maeatiyin glass fite closely inside an nat seen, The
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PLUCK AND LUCK. eS PLUCK AND LUCK burned to death while rescuing horses from his burning = barn six years ago. A son, Albert W., and Mrs. Stivers : were the only children, The son put in a claim against | the estate for $37,000 for labor, board of father, care, med- icine, and so on, which was disallowed. The estate inven- toried only $36,000. Albert finally settled for $4,000, and took the homestead and best portion of the farm. Mrs. ET a ced Stivers took the rocky and supposed less valuable hundred a acres. Nearly two centuries ago a silver mine was operated nprenteeges | S288 on the Laddin Rock Farm, adjoining the Ferris property, now owned by William L. Marks, of New York. At that time people made door-knohs of the silver, Mrs. Stivers said to-day that she had read of the silver mine, but never thought of any valuable ore on her estate. It is reporied that she has refused an offer of $200,000 for her share, but that she is unwilling to sell it now at any price. Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 23d St., N. Y. ~ BRIEF, BUT POINTED. OUR COMIC COLUMN. Fifteen hundred fighting bulls under training for the a a arena at the bull breeding establishment at Villafranca,} yorchant—-What’s the matter with Sous ‘acing tie Portugal, ran amuck early this week after fire had de- morning—new Ma? Bobkkéspar No, sir... New ik?” _stroyed the ranch buildings. [hey dashed through the “No, sir. » “What then?” “Neuralgia.” country districts, trampling down everything that came in Logan path. Many persons were seriously injured. Finally : herd was driven toward the River Tagus, into which 7 oe bY paneiped aiid over one thousand of them were drowned. Laas to loafer who has asked for money-~You'll only ink it, I suppose, instead of taking it home to your wife. Loafer—I ain’t got a wife, lady, I’m earnin’ me own living. from an overheated oil burner in the hot houses he Joseph B. Coryell estate at Fair Oaks, Cal., resulted ‘the destruction of $10,000 worth of orchids, inclnding | ne of the rarest ‘on the Coast, last Friday, The collec- Of orchids has always been Mrs. Coryell’s hobby, and = = es news was sent to the family in Los aes = es oe rie oF sae: iayelystt Tos She was a modest and sedate schoolmistress, and abso- y hard | Jutely afraid of a man. No male lips had ever pressed hers. other orehi a dee Rena, Bains, piste 10st, variasiee aro ba But when one of her favorite scholars came slyly behind her and rubbed her cheek with the rough side of a fig leaf, she turned suddenly, and blushing, said: “Well, I declare, it felt like a man’s ‘beard of three days’ growth. ” You'll be a man like one of us some day,” said the patronizing sportsman to a lad who was throwing his line into the same stream. « “Yes, sir,” he answered. | “TI spose I will some day, but b’Heve I’d rather stay small and ketch a few fish.” a fecmen four miles west of Nash- » has caught forty-eight skunks, seventy-seven | thirteen coons in three months. “The furs about $138. Mr. Brumnett says fur bearing} “A lady saw a little lad entering a ‘eobbler’s with 2 small ai are plentiful in Brown county than ever be- package. “What have you there, sonny ?” she asked. “Ma's re. ayia cold and snowy weather recently, hun- slippers,” replied the lad, “'There’s a tack sticking out, have frozen hnd starved to death. In some and I want to have it put eer before ma notices it.” * Ab, eounty farmers haye been feeding and caring} What a considerate little boy! I spate are afraid the several places the birds flock to the barn-| tack might hurt your mother’s foot? Well, it isn’t ex- ly for their feed, Brown county farmers are actly like that. You see, there is a tack sticking out.on trict on shooters who kill quail than any the sole, and this is the: slipper ma spanks me with,” ev keep | a ploegy cwateh and prosecute any one Kees . At the courts a case concerning motor driving was; be- ing heard, when the chauffeur declared that while driving Biihohtconn js now OR, ex- vat ‘some boys, cousting-on the 100-acre ten or twelve feet, “Um!”'said the judge. Then the next of w. ‘Stivers vers Nave discovered some rocks witness—an expert-gave his evidence. Said his lordship: silver. "Phe specimens a are to he! “ff atriotor car.were traveling at forty miles an hour, and boliot lve? there is a sib on{ the brakes could be put on in.such a manner as to stop it mer ky fa .{within ten or twelve feet, where would the driver go?” at forty miles an hour he ‘could, if necessary, pull up-in . . “Depends very afuch on ‘the sort of life ve been fringe the ees rice
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wank: AND WIN” +676 Fred F Snag? and the Boy Drummer: or, vely mes ou the Ko _ 677 Fred Fearvot's Field Day; or, The Great Athletic Meet. gen Fred Fearnot's Long Kicks or, The Goal ‘ That Won the Gam 679 Fred Fearnot aud “Husky Jim ;” or, The ? Strongest Boy in Town. | %so Fred learnot and the Gypsy Boy; or, Under a Strange Spell 681 Fred Fearnot_and the Boys of White Lake; or, Great Sport on the Ice. “FAME & FORTUNE WEEKLY” 819 Charlie Crawford's Claim; or, From High School to ee Camp. (820 An Office Boy's Luck ; The Lad Who “Got the ‘Tips (A SWare of Wall Street.) 221 Out for His Rights; or, Starting a Busl- ness on His Nerve. 822 After the Last Dollar; _ Street Roy Who Saved H ; 823 Fresh from the West: or, The Lad Who t Made Good in New York. 824 Doss ef Wail Street: or, Taking baa ne - on the Curb. * pHE LIBERTY “Bors oF "716" ‘668 ‘the Liberty Boys Cag = Dare; or, Calling the Euemy's Bluff. 669 The Liberty Boys in Black Swamp; or, Fighting Uard tor Freedom. 570 ‘epa Liberty oss and ae Casey; , Lurasbing the Kenegades. 571 The "Liberty Boys in the Irozen Lands: Watching the Country's Foes. 572 rhe” Liberty Uoys ‘Tricking the Red- worge, or, The Gunsmith of Valley pts "ibe Boys in Distress; or, tens D cad Dangers. ; Peril. . Ball Cine: or, Held "Hotise 6! My: 4 - 672 THe Seedre and “Kid pane Work in isuttle Kow 673 The Bradys wad the Midnight Special; or, After tbe Post GOuive ibieves. 674 = Bradys wd the or, Hot Five God lullets; t , Lhe Boldest Vlot for Years. , y Wass WEEKLY’ oes Wild West “Lusting™ ibe Luckers,; a e The Cowbvy od lo" Poucbed youn Wild West Kescuing His Sweet- a heart; or, The Beat suo vi All 478 Young Wid West Corong che “walders; vor, Taéhsog au Lobg Cause. Lie Crecks; 479 You wad West eee Or, Arietia aud, the uses Round ou Wild West's Warnimg. or, The 480 ig Manes hese of the Quick. as kay we Latest Issues aa 827 A Born Salesman; or, A Young Money- maker on the Road. 828 ee Dalton, Young Banker ; or, Corner- ing the Wall Street “Sharks. -829 A Poor Boy's Luck; or, the Rise of a Young Builder. 330 A $50,000 Dea!; or, Hal Hardy, the Wall Street Wizard 831 Billly, the Blacksmith; or; From Anvil _ to Fortune. 574 The Liberty Boys and the Idiot Spy: or, Running Down the Skinners, 575 = Liberty Boys’ Fire Raft; or, Scorch- ing the Redcosts. 576 The Libert, Rover Cunni Trap; or, The Trajtor's Secret, x 577 The ec | Boys’ Girl Friend; or, Do- ing G Work. 578 The Liberty boys’ Desperate Fight; or, The Netreat From Hackensack. 679 The Liberty Boys and the Witch of Harle ; OF Beating the essiaus. 675 The Bradys After the Missing Aviator; or, Chasing a Curious Clew. ; 76 The Bradys and the Blind Boy; or, Solv- iug an East S.de Mystery. 677 The Bradys and Captaiu Candlestick; or, Showing Lp a Sitcex Swindier. G78 The Bradys aud the Chinese Queen, or, ‘The Case that Puzzicd Vell Street. 679 The ere Tt sag of Guild: er, Kounding Up the Mining Sbarks. 680 The Bradys aud tue itiver Rats; or, Out Ou a kevenue Case. 481 Young Wild West After Big Game; or, Arietta aug tae liducterg ‘Trap. 482 Young Wild . West's Cleun Sweep; or, ‘fhe Reformation of Keckless Cump. | 483 Young Wild West and the iivodoo Claim; or Arietta aud the hug vl Nuggets. 484 Young Wiid West ard “Cinnamon Hask;” or, Tue Grouse of the Gia Giaut, 485 Young Wild West's Scrimmage Sioux; or Afiella esd Lie tenwegade, For gale by ali newsdeaiers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in tioney or postage stamps, by \ FRAN TuUsEY, Publisher, beri EE ¥GU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS yap ‘Wosklios Apu canudt procure tuem from newsdealers, iiey cau ce cbuoued tron ine Cane alee. Cut out aud oul OrGer Benue auu seud it LO us Wiln the prave vi Lue Weesues yUu Wdiil GLU we wali StU : as tu you vy PUetAGe Soasits Lan iis Save AS WUNWY, With , los West 230 wi., itew Y¥ OTK. : | 682 Fred Fearnot's 5 Gey Nay ' ee ee ee ee i a ee ee * 4 4 4 PLUCK AND LUCK, OE Ra a A ee SM Otte tee ee eee ee eee ee er eT ; ECRET SERVICE, NOS. ceed eee ee eee eset cent eters eeteneees evar eeerseneeesseeseateeseem me te Bind Books, Pe eres gsae tree cate APE 5 SK des smelted ROS Ae SERRE dz eo Fst ceey asthe Pa ig eM 9 seeeeseees = rofilttec ir) paws
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5 7 Parnumsyille, Ma 33, isda —SMAR 2.0 1926 ia 4 * ' af é i Z % 4 . ~ * r 4 eunpeeaseseeeeen i ME NOVEL-EXCHANGE:|> 3 si
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" FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS PLUOoOCHE AND XI1.U Cr or, The Treasure Hunters of Robber’s Reef. ---LATEST ISSUES--- 705 Ca Loy enter 4 ae ‘a 08. son. 688 The Lost Sepocish ip ¢ or, Twenty Boys Afloat. By Capt. Thos.| 706 inc the Continent in a Wagon. Wilso Jas. A. Gordon. 689 wali chong Will; or, Winning a Fortune in a Week. By a] 707 Retired Banker. By Allan Arnold. 690 10,000 Miles from Home; or, The Boy Ivory Hunters of the] 708 Congo. B; ehard R. Montgomery. Capt. Thos. 691 Toney, the fi. Agen: or, Across the Continent with a Circus.| 709 The “+. By Berton Bertrew. 692 The White Nine; or, The Race for the Oakville Pennant. By/| 710 . para Austin. Jas. C. Merritt 693 : or, The Fireboys of Boylston. By Ex-Fire Chief| 711 Warden. A. Gordon, 694 The Star “Athletic Club; or, The Champions of the Rival Schools. | 712 a, By Richard R. Montgomery. Montgomery. 695 The Discarded Son; or, The Curse of Drink. By Jno. B. Dowd.| 718 In the 696 potty: the Moonlighter.; or, Out on the Hills of Ireland. By 7 we n Draper. an o 14 e 697 A Young Monté €risto; or, Back to the World for Vengeance. By Howard Austin. By Jas. C. Merritt. ~ 715 Little Red Cloud, the Bo 698 Wrecked in an Unknown ee or, Cast on a Mysterious Island. | 716 Nobody's Son; or, The By Capt. Thos. H. Wilso Berton Bertrew. 699 Hal Hart of Harvard; or, Cattle Life at Cambridge. By Howard} 717 Austin in War Times. By Jas, C. Merritt 700 Dauntless Young Douglas; or, The Prisoner of the Isle. By Allan| 718 rnold. Howard Austin. 701 His ‘Own Master ; or, In Business for Himself. Allan Draper.| 719 A Poor Irish Bo 702 The Expedition; or, The City of Skulls. By f Bertrew.| 720 Big Bone Islan ; or, 703 waiting E His Own; or, The Brave Fight of Bob Carter. Jas. C. ‘ie os. H, Wilson. 704 et Youn Mounted Policeman. A Story of New York City. Rich- Montgomery. ontgomery. 722 Sixteen Years in Siberia; or, 2,000 Miles In Search of a Name. The Slave on Se or, , ee the Despoiler of the Ocean. By Re. _ in the ies. Cobe : or, Which Was the Boy? By Berton wie Stanley on His Last Trip; or, Emin Pasha’s Rescue. By pepcteret to West Point; or, Fighting His Own Way, The Black Magician, and His Invisible Pupil. yhantom City; or, The Adventures of Dick Daunt. By ad Maroon; or, The Boy Castaways of the Malay Island. Shore Line Sam, the Young Southern Engineer; or, Railroading The Gold Queen; or, Two Yankee es in -jever Never Land. By ; or, Fighting His Own Way. Rolly Rock; or, Chasing the Mountain Bandits. By Richard BR. His Last Chance; or, Uncle Dick's Fortune. , For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by 3 168 West 23d St., New York. - » A Tale of Adventure, Gen’l By Gen'l ~ By Richard R. An Old Scout. a Smart Boy. Indian Chief. B trange Fortunes 0: By By Allan Arnold. Lost in the Wilds o Siberia. By Capt. By Allyn Draper. of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out and fill in your POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, . er and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. - 168 West 23d St., New York. ——— SS oUF TEN -CEN TT HAND Books . lo. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND BOOK.—Containing the great oracle also the true meaning of of dreams, together with curlous games 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.,—The great f magic and card tricks, containing full instruction on all the leading card tricks of day, also the met po} +A magica Re sions as perf y our ng magicians; every boy SHaall ebtaln & of this book. ° No. 3. bata .—The arts and wiles are full ‘explained by this Besides the Najous methods of fan, glove, window and ti it t mt ist of the eB have A cae ar is the title of st ™ contains full instructions cing. etiquette in the ball- ST pabtlon how to dress, and full _ calling ptt in all popular square ‘o. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A complete isttie book to love, cou few and ot marriage, giving le advice, “Toles ae to be ob- serv with iriany cu bu and interesting ings not general aoa No. OoW TO BECO A ETE. Giving full instruction for Dells, Indian clubs, parallel horizontal bars and various other m of developing f , healthy*muscle; con g over sixty ustrations. ‘ No. 8. w TO B —A useful and ictive Sy aetving a com- pee ts treatise chemistry; a experiments rmathemath chemis- , and by ge oe make reworks, colored fires, and Jloons. No. 9. HOW. TO mI A_VENTRILO- QUIST.—By Harry Kennedy. Every intelli- gent boy reading this book of instructions can master the art, and create any amount of fun for himself and friends. It is the greatest book ever published. No. 10. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self- @efense made easy. Containing over thirty illustrations of eer ows. sa the ditter- ent positions o Every boy should obtain one of These oa and instruc- tive books, as it will teach you how to box without an_ instructor. No. 11. HOW TO LOVE-LETTERS. most cemplete little book, containing full directions for writing love-letters, and when specimen letters for young For sale by all newsdealers, ee ee _ FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - eo No. 13. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.—It is a great life’ secret, and one that every young man desires to know all about. There’s happiness in it, No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY,—A com- lete hand-book for making all kinds of candy, etc., A GAR- DEN,—Containing full instructions for con- structing a window garden either in town or country, and the most approved methods for raising beautiful flowers at home. No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL.— One of the brightest and must valuable little books ever given to the world. Everybody wishes to know how to become beautiful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost costless, No, 20. mow TO ENTERTAIN AN EVEN- ING PARTY.—A complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, comic reci- tations, etc., suitable for parlor or drawing- room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any book published. No. 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever Published. It contains full instructions about ns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fish- ae together with description of game and No, 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.— ers second Bg explained by his former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the secret dialogues were carried on between the magician and the bey on the stage; also giving all the codes and signals. No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.— This little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and un- lucky days. No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.— Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Em- bracing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor Macdonald. ‘o. 26. HOW TO ROW. SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT — Fall iflustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with tn- structions on swimming and riding, companion BOOK OF ae onaner bee = dar¢ at Land leces, t er w many standa Tea vn - ee. : 28. HOW TO TELL FO © is desirous of knowing what his fature lite will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, ealth or or poverty. ‘ou can tell ed a glance this little book. Buy one ped be convin No, 29. HOW TO MP AN INVENTOR. —Every boy shoul how inventions origi- baie aes price, : a Lal ‘ Ov ate” tbbe ~~ in money or nated. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hydraulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc. No. 30. HOW TO COOK,—One of the most instructive books on cooking ever i vig contains recipes for ne ee ee and ah ge also Dies, puddings, cakes and na aii ee of ry, @ grand collection of rec No. $1. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER.— Containing fourtéen illustrations, giving the different positions uisite to become a good speaker, reader and elecutfonist. Also contain- ing gems from all the popular authors of prose and poetry. No. 33. HOW TO BEMAVE._Contate the rules and etiquette of good society and the easiest and most approved methods of appear- ing to good advantage at Easties, ball a the theatre. Trawing chan. and in the No. #4. HOW TO FENCE.—Containing full Saecruction for fencing and the use of the broadsword; also instruction im archery. De- scribed with twenty-one practical 11! giving the best positions in fencing. Lie No. 35. HOW TO PLAY Plete and useful little book, wa gos rules and regulations of ti ta 36, HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.— 0. . Containing all the leading conundrums of the z day, amusing riddles, cu: catches and witty sayings. a” To KEEP gee tains information for ev boys, giniae men and women; it will” = you how to make almost anything around the house, such as parlor Ornaments, brackets; cements, foe harps, and bird Mme for catching — 8, 4 No. 88. HOW TO ME YOUR OWN DOC’ —A wonderful k, containing use- ful practical information in the treatment = « of ordinary diseases and ailments common to every family. Abounding in castes and effec- o ee for general ue jaints. 39. Ww TO E DOGS, POULTRY, PIGEONS AND RA ITS k useful and in- eomely illustrated. No. 40. HOW TO E AND —Including hints on how to ca moles. weasels, otter, rat irrels and birds. a> e ne skins a me copious Ate ep MEN'S" SORE "BOOK. —<Containin a ae. riety of the latest =~ . ery kane eur famous end men. complete without this wv erful little Seeks SPEAKER. Peg me stump speech end men’s jokes. ‘ust t amusement and amateur ny