Pluck And Luck (no. 736) (1912 07 10)

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001 OR THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE AMD OTHER STORIES BILLY BIRD. By Howard. PINATOUSEY, PUBLISPIER, 168 MCAS LD. 5 NEW YORK,

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Stories of Issued Le oe | Subscription $2.50 November 7, 1898. Entered a, Congress, Washington, D. C., er year. Sine, et ta No. 736 Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, ing to Act of Congress, in the year 1912 in the office of the Titarign of by Frank Tousey, Publisher. 8 West 23d St., New York New application for second-class eniry pending, NEW YORK, JULY 10, 1912. PLUCK AND LUCK- Adventure Y., Post Office. Price 5 Cents. "> : = a ; CHAPTER I. a = , TIOW THE CANOE WENT OVER THE FALLS. sa 4 “Look out for Billy! Hey, boys, look out for Billy Bird!” ot _ Spy Pond and threw the boys of Dr. Whiteside’s Academy into : a state of »citement at once. Bt “He’ll upset!” shouted offe. “He'll go over the falls, sure pop!” cried another. “Head him off, boys! Head him off!” a dozen yelled, but . Joe Quigley, the school bully, who always rejoiced in other ___ people’s misfortunes and made a joke of them, sat back in his _—s ¢anoe and laughed. a ‘Raymond Whitcomb, commonly called Ray by his schoolfel- lows, was too far in the rear to help the boy, who, by bad management of his cance, had got himself into trouble and was now peing blown perilously near the falls, where the water of Spy Pond went tumbling over the only bed of rocks any- sf where to be found in the vicinity of Lyndon, Michigan, forming we | the Fox River, a stream not more than a mile in length, ‘na h in time of freshet went rushing into Lake Michigan B Bs ‘an energy which ought to have entitled it to a longer a “existence and was there lost. “But his ery of warning had been heard and this saved the boy from an accident which might have been serious. - The boys who were nearest to him changed their course and ran their canoes in front of Billy's, which brought him to a temporary standstill and enabled him to again get control of hig sail. Tt ‘was panties Say for the Canoe Club of Dr. Whiteside’s 4 Aeatomy; = Piers: regatta was in the wind and a few weeks later it proposed to sail a race with a Chicago club, which had ged the school. ce was $0, Sake place on the lake, but as this was too aeons the academy to make it possible to practice and often too dangerous—Spy Pond had been chosen, ej as an ee: Find aN aad a aera td Missing Krom School OR, : , | The Mysterious Disappearance of Billy Bird By HOWARD AUSTIN tically, when the canoes swung around and stood back up the pond. “You can't do anything with yorr old tub and there’s no use trying. Better go back to schoo! and help the girls play croquet.” Billy Bird made no answer. He was rather a sensitive boy Raymond Whitcomb gave a shout which was heard all over | and, though full of ambition to join bis schoolfellows in all their sports, his lack of physical strergth, combined with a certain “backhandedness," as Ray always called it, made it very hard for him to hold up his end. “Shut up, Joe! You're always picking at Billy,” called Ray, from his canoe, where he was making some changes in his sail, which was the reason he had not joined in the run. “That's what: he is!” cried Fred Fielding. “There isn’t a clumsier hand at cance sailing than Joe himeelf.” The bumptious Master Quigley was “on his ear” in an in- stant. ; Fact was, Joe was always muss. Because his father was a rich contractor and a prominent ward politician in Chicago, Joe labored under the delusion that he could “boss” the whole school, It was true that he did succeed in bullying the younger boys, but when it came to Ray and Fred and the older ones they simply would not stand it, which fact Ray had taken oc- casion to impress upon the bully’s rather limited understand- ing more than once. “Bet you I can sail close to the falls and not go over!” cried. Joe, boasting. “I done it twict last week when I was DER ticing here alone.” “You had better go and practice grammar,” “Done it twict.’ Ha! ha! ha!” “Shut up there, Fielding, or I'll break your head!” cried “rowing,” forever kicking up a sneered Fred. Quigley, but Ray put a stop to the quarrel by calling “time.” 2 This meant to get in line for another race. The goal was a certain big tree about a hundred feet from the falls. ® The object of this exercise was to determine which were | actually the best canoes in the fleet, as the selection at the coming race was to be ‘limited to four. Incidentally, also, was to be demonstrated which of the 4 PR eit 95 ta ee Moors, et Soe meet ene ~ Be

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. Al hiands 1 were ambitious te figure in the race, but as only four could have that honor the competition was naturally keen, <i It was a beautiful afternoon in the latter part of April, per- haps a little too windy, but otherwise a perfect day for this sort of work. Over on the shore near the tree the girls of Professor White- Let hee 4 ‘the eanoes. - Carrie James was there, so was Olive Moore and Mamie _ Sheldon and a dozen more or less popular with ‘the boys, who, under the circumstances, naturally wanted to make the best - display of their skill possible. 4y4 ‘And. while they are getting in line let us pause to say a : word about Dr. Whiteside’s famous academy for boys and girls, _ which was and still is one of the most thorough, as well as _ pepular, educational institutions in the neighborhood of Chicago. Situated just around the bend of the lake, near the Michigan _ shore, its location made it doubly attractive on account of ties ite nearness to the metropolis of the West. Hence, the school was well patronized and at the time of By which we write there were over seventy-five boys in attendance and fully fifty girls. Besides the canoe club there were many other clubs in con- nection with the school, but as our story principally .concerns _ the boys who were gathered on Spy Pond that April day, we _ will return to them at once. _ “Ready! Let her go!” shouted Ray, and this tine the start Was made in good shape. . , Ray and Fred kept pretty close together and had the lead frony the start. 4 _ Joe Quigley was third at first and then dropped back to the ann place, — _ Poor Billy Bird, who felt himself thoroughly called ,down what had occurred, made the start with the rest, but im- iately pulled out and sailed his canoe to the fleat, at the of ss school gronnds. - Tia at Ray! - Isn’t he sate splendid!” exclaimed Carrie '“Doesn’t he handle his canoe well?” halt as well as Fred,” replied Olive ete handsomest fellow in the school.” y r gpetiengh these remarks did not reach the ears of the young Oe they all know that the eyes of the girls were upon m and naturally let themselves out to do their best. | the tree half a length in advance of Fred, who j made a good second, The other came trailing after Rstetace is aan So. no; whey ai at once 360 Quisley, Maioet ey tees shot right across the course toward the Bas of that, Joe! Are you crazy?” shouted Ray, could’ do to Prevent a collision. — won't!” cried Joe. “I'll show you fellers how n to the falls, I'm out of the race anyhow and|- Syne | “a favorite saying among jae ot course, aole filled with jagged rocks, where we had it kihiacieg Katceg MISSING ne a SCHOOL _ side’s Academy were gathered, watching the movements of This was called the “Pot” by the boys, and while a canoe might ‘shoot the falls in safety—they were only twelve feet igh—it could never hope to survive the Pot and to avoid being dashed to pieces on the rocks. Ray knew the danger and he knew only too well that Joe Was but a clumsy hand at canoeing. : “He'll go over as sure as fate!” he shouted. “Some one must look after him or he’ll be drowned.” : He swung around and drove his canoe over to the shore, where the girls stood; the work of a moment only. “Oh, look at him! Joe will go over the falls!” screamed Mamie Sheldon, and a dozen other girls added their cries to hers, but instead of acting as a warning to the stupid brag- gart in the canoe, they only served to make him more deter- mined to try his risky experiment and make = turn at the very edge of the falls. As for Ray, he never doubted from the first what the result would be. “He’s in for it, girls,” he cried, and ran along the bank to the edge of the falls. He had scarcely reached it when Joe started to make his turn. Instantly the wind swept the canoe broadside on toward the falls and Joe ran up his true colors at last. “Oh, save me! save me!” he yelled, and then, like the fool that he was, stood up in the canoe. “Sit down!” cried Fred. “Sit down, you idiot! Sit down!” The girls on the shore screamed. Carrie James covered her face with her hands, calling out: “Oh, don’t, Ray! Don’t go!” Ray had thrown off his hat and coat and kicked the shoes . from his feet. “Hold on, Quigley! The end had come. Was swept out of sight. Quick as a flash Ray threw out his arms and took a header down into the Pot. Don't let go of the canoe!” he shouted. The cance toppled over the falls and CHAPTER II. THE GIANT WEO STOOD ON THE WHARF. Now, Ray Whitcomb had done a much braver thing tian one might naturally suppose. Of course, any gcod swimmer can jump in and save life if he knows how to handle himself, and Ray was as good a swimmer as there was in the school. Trouble was, if you once got into the Pot it was no easy job to get cut of it again, and if you did get out too suddenly you were liable to be swept among the rocks into Fox River and there the danger came. ' Most of the year Fox River was a mere creek, which any- body could jump across without the least risk of getting wet feet, but in April, after the break up of the ice it became a deep, swift stream, which ran its short course between two of those immense sand hills which are of frequent occurrente on the Michigan shore of the lake. These hills were forty feet high and no man living could possibly climb them, as the shifting sand of which they were ides tae offered no foothold. Thus if one was unfortunate enough to get into Fox River the only thing to do was to swim on until you came to its end and take big chances ot being able to land on the lake shore. Bez Haew alt the wen bé Delp med tothe reacun a aria ad Dae tga Eat ; Sin

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MISSING FROM SCHOOL. 8 Joe knew it, too, and his yell of despair as he went over the : swing him around, so he just let himself go and went fiying falls might have been heafd half a mile away. ' headfirst down the stream: ' The passage of the falls was made successfully enough, | “I must look alive for the lake,” he thought. “I don’t want so far as Joe was concerned, but the canoe was broken to to be swept out. I ought to be able to get ashore at the old © splinters. | foundry. It will only be a moment now.” When Ray came up to the surface of the Pot there was Joe! And while the river is carrying Ray along at fearful speed clinging to one of the sharp rocks, yelling for help like a good ‘let us pause for a moment more and explain about that same fellow, while Carrie James, Olive Moore andthe other girls | “old foundry,” on account of the bearing it has upon what hap- had run down the bank to the edge of the Pot and were, pened later on. screaming, too. ; | Many years before the mouth of Fox River was a scene of “Hold on, Quigley! Don’t make such a row!” cried Ray, bal- activity. ancing himself in the water. “I'll get you all right enough!”| A locomotive w “ad been established there, a latge “Help! help! Save me! I can’t swim but a little. I'll be iron foundry was b ud a machine shop and wharf, besides swept into Fox River! I can’t hold on here!” Joe yelled, full a large house for the superintendent and a number of small of words, as usual, but with few ideas. | ones for the operatives in the works. Ray swam to his side and flung his arm about him, just as he. For a long time business flourished there, but at last the slipped his hold on the rock. {concern failed and for some reason the expensive plant was “Stop that yelling! Be a man and I'll save you!” he shouted. never again operated. “No, don’t try to grab me; if you do I'll let you go! Ah, you; The longer it lay idle the worse it grew. The machinery : will, will you? Take that, you fool!” rusted, became antiquated and behind the times, the buildings S Ray just had to haul off and hit him or Joe would have; began falling into a ruinous condition, until at last everything oe dragsed them both down. | worth removing was taken away by a Chicago junk << : For this Joe never forgave him, though it brought the fool- and the plant entirely abandoned. 5a ish fellow to his senses at the time. | “The deserted village,” Dr. Whiteside’s pupils called It, and ; Meanwhile, the boys were running their canoes ashore with it certainly could not have had a better name. < the intention cf coming down the bank to see what was going! Right alongside these ruined buildings Fox River emptied on below the falls. ‘into the Jake and it was at the old wharf on the riverside that As they came down the hill they saw Ray treading water in Ray meent to make his landing, and did. the Pot, holding Joe by the legs, while Carrie James was bend- | He was all prepared for business when he shot out trom ing down over the water trying to seize the hands of the fright-| between the sand hills. x ened boy. | Turning over on his stomach, he struck out for the wharf “Catch him, Carrie!” cried Ray. * “I'll, hold ‘him up! Be! and managed to catch hold of one of the piles which held it careful now, Joe, that you don’t pull Carrie in, and on your life up, where he clung on desperately, for the current was run- us oe int <a don’t you kick me.” ning like a mill-race and his strength was almost gone. aa ‘It was the biggest risk Ray had taken yet, for Joe was a' But he was not saved yet by any means. To climb upon the ry chump if ever there was one. wharf was impossible,for the piles were fearfully slippery. ~ The instant he got hold of Carrie’s hand, instead of waiting On either side there was a wall of planks, which supported a second for Ray to push him forward, he kicked back vio-| the bank. This wall was six feet high and as slippery as glass. Ss ¢ Eo and the young life-saver got it in the head. Ray could no more climb it than he could fly. a, "'"Ok! oh! oh!” screamed the girls, in chorus. “Oh, if I only had some one to throw me a rope!” he “Save Ray!” shouted Fred Fielding. thought. “I can’t climb up and I can hold on but a moment. Bat ou idiot! I wish I had let you drown!” cried Carrie, as I had better let myself go and take my chances in the lake.” ; ee "she dragged Joe upon the shore. He was just about to give up when suddenly the last thing = But it was entirely too late to do anything for Ray now. that Ray expected to happen there in the deserted village oc- — - ‘Everything depended upon himself. : curred. ? res “With a sharp ery of pain the brave boy slipped beek into! A man suddenly looked down upon him from the wharf, 2% _. the Pet and disappeared under the water, “Hello, boy! What in thunder are you doing there?” ‘he _ ‘When the boys and girls next saw him an instant later he’ exclaimed, and Ray also gave an exclamation of astonishment; ; was lying on his back in the river, being whirled toward the ‘for never in his life, outside of a dime museum, had he seen sand hills. anything like this before. Hwa shy $ ‘Like a flash he passed between them and disappeared. . The man who stood looking down at him was Seven feet ad fs If Ray Whitcomb had been one'of the nervous,,scary sort he at the very least. : gage his finish in short order, but, as a matter of ry ipa was nothing of the kind. ~ od. cneecpna omega ing himself by i st danger was now in drowning himself by , vty F aS being swept out into the lake. CHAPTER III. Pe “He and the other boys of Dr. Whiteside’s Academy had shot Serr pan tess, Digi lepett ee BM t Fo: mb wn Fox River in their canoes many a time. — jo BREN SS a, ae Ae fo ae Seldon” +i iad!pon wank Safed Sp wet tl Curd” ante tin waka 2 ‘Onl ee ee VeMRERS Dets-Dape, ae Date Sey seme Here, Eagty, #:epoey Re Ps a t tween a scowl fi rg Z “Well, naturally,” replied “I don't want to stay here, Can't you raise a rope or something and give me a lift.” 2 Boy 3 ica cece replied the giant. “Il you a hand. ae roa he wat mt tts man te Ba 2 cae é r,

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| I gan who aonid ‘have done it, but ‘the giant on the wharf could, end did. He lay down and, bracing his feet, bent over so far that Ray on top of him, J But the giant knew’ his business better. ys He put out his tong, right arm and called to Ray to take hold. « Strength hardly expressed the power he exerted then, for| he just drew Rey right up out of the water without any ap-| parent exertion, wntil the boy was able to get hold of the | Pa a ae ¥ stood all dripping facing the giant on the wharf. He was certainly a queer-locking customer, being not only very tall, but very thin and very old, Ray thought, for his face was terribly wrinkled and his hair quite gray. _ His clothes were black and dreadfully shabby, his shoes were all broken and out at the toes; to make his appearance more _. absurd, he wore on his head a battered old plug bat which, ‘] made him look a foot taller than he really was. _ ‘*Ha! Well, boy, you are out. of that scrape all right,” he | q said, in a high-pitched, rasping voice. “ might have been worse. What’s your name?” _. “My name is Ray Whitcomb,” replied our hero, sure I am very much obliged to you, sir. I might have saved pingaeit in the lake, but I couldn’t have held on there a minute, “more.” 7, _ boy?” : Ray told his story, the giant screwing his face up into a “af gerbe knots while he was talking. “Don’t do a thing like that again,” he snapped. “No sense | ; = in sacrificing your own life to save that of a fool. So you are ‘one of Dr. Whiteside’s pupils, are you? Do you know a boy they call Billy Bird?” 7 “Very well, sir. Billy is one of my particular friends.” ; The giant screwed his face up again. His upper set of false teeth dropped down into his mouth at the same time and he - forced them back into place with a gobbling no!se which was very unpleasant, for Ray thought he was going to swallow - s of your particular friends, eh?” he repeated. “Just ‘Ray Whitcomb, I have done you a service. Will you do om, for me?” < _ “Certainly, sir,” replied Ray, putting his hand ‘into his I for he fancied he knew what was coming. F 0 ~.et, . oe no, not that! Put up your money!” interposed the “Kine , you to take this letter and deliver it to Billy Bird. Ay y fancied it must have remained a long while, and placed! n the] boy’s hand. — “Do that for me and you will oblige me,” he said. “You 1 also save me the necessity of delivering it myself, which, ; reasons, I don’t want to do.” x . y Bird. “Who shall I say gave it to me?” he asked. have to ‘say, " replied the giant. “The letter tells yorng man. Hope you don't get cold.” and Rent rapidly away, taking fearful strides, ater “You are all wet, but it “and I'm make friends easily. Old fellows like me know bet- | mt. “I am no tramp, although I may look like one to you. | first let me give you this,” Sad spoke the giant drew a sealed envelope from his ” replied Ray, wonderingly, for he could not | this strange character could ‘possibly have to; Matter here?” MISSING -FROM SCHOOL. When Ray turned the corner or the old foundry the giant was nowhere to be seen. Being in his stocking feet and dripping wet, Ray was cer- ‘fully expected to see him topple over and come tumbling down/| tainly in poor shape to start off giant hunting, and he came to the very sensible conclusion that as a mile lay between him | and the academy the best thing he could do was to cover it as quickly as possible, and with the letter in his hand he | started off on the run. The path was a lonely one—there was no regular road lead- ing his way—and Ray had not more than half covered the dis- tance when he heard loud shouts ahead of him and saw a great striagpiece with the other hand; then one quick jerk and Ray | | crowd of the “Whitesides,” as the academy boys called them- i selves, running down the path, with Fred Fielding in the lead. It was a joyful meeting; there was a lot said on both sides, but we pass it over as lightly as Ray did the compliments of | his friends. “Pshaw! It was nothing, boys; just nothing at all,” he de- clared. “I had a queer adventure at the end, though, which I must tell you about. Where’s Billy Bird? I’ve got a letter | for him.” Then came the story of the giant and the greatest curiosity was aroused, But it was not to be satisfied then, for Billy was not among the rest, nor was Joe Quigley, who had gone straight back to schoo] for dry clothes. “And will you believe it, Ray,” said Fred, who made this bax? | announcement, “Joe had the gall to say that you crowded him “Probably not,” replied the giant, “How-did you get there, over the dam? Never a word about your saving his life, | either. “He ‘said, though, if you hadn’t punched him there in the Pot he could have got out by himself.” It was just like Joe. . Of course, Ray had a good deal to say about it all, as he hur- ried back to the academy, a little more comfortable now, for Fred had brought his hat, coat and shoes along. It was nearly dark when the boys reached the academy and, as the supper-bell was about to ring, Ray had just time to change his clothes, The talk the last part of the way had all run to canoes, as _ usual, and Ray forgot the giant and the letter, too, for, as it , happened, he saw nothing of Billy Bird until the retiring bell rang and he met him in dormitory No. 10, which oe shared with Billy and Fred. “Oh, Ray, I never knew a thing about your accident until just a little while ago!” exclaimed Billy. “You see, I went up | in the woods alone and after supper I went right to studying, ‘rm glad you came out of it all right.” “Thank you, Billy. There never was any danger, though,” replied Ray, “I’ve got something to tell you, old man, but Ray went to his coat, which he had hung up for the night, and took out the letter. “For me, Ray?” demanded Billy, seeing his name written “Got it from a giant down at the- deserted village,” laughed Ray. “What!” “Oh, read it and find out. I'll tell you all about it then. Say, Fred, I think Ill have to lighten up my canoe. She car- ries too much weight altogether and—hello: What's the Billy Bird had uttered a sharp cry. “Oh, Ray! Oh, Ray! od he called out, clutching the letter in -}his hand. “What is it? What in the world is the matter with you, . him disappear around the corner of the| Billy?” cried Ray, turning to the boy, who seemed to be oe then he hurried after ast suffering from some terrible shock. F “Oh, gon’t ask me! I can’t tell you. I must go! I must go!" way Grew bis arm around bi and tried to take the letter

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MISSING FROM SCHOOL. ” but Billy pulled away and thrust it into his pocket, saying, “No, no! No, no!” “Tell me what’s the matter?” demanded Ray. “No, no! I can’t! I can’t! I must go!” “Go whére?” “No matter! No matter! I can’t explain.” “But you can’t get out to-night; the gates are locked. Un- less you want to rout up Dr. Whiteside you can't get out of the school.” “Yes, I know! I must wait till morning. Then it will be too late. See, I am quiet now. Who gave you that letter, Ray?” Ray hastily told about the giant. Billy walked to the window while he was talking and stood looking out. Suddenly he gave a sharp cry and caught Ray by the,arm. “Look! Look!” he exclaimed. “Is that the man?” Fred rushed to the window as Ray hastily threw up the sash. There was a little hill back of the school, the top of which ‘rose above the wall, and there, standing upon it in the full moonlight, was a man seven feet tall at the least. It was the giant of the deserted village, as Ray saw at a glance. z “That's the man!” he cried. “Then I’m lost!” gasped Billy, and he threw himself on the bed, face downward, and sobbed as though his heart would

i = “Ray:—If I am not in to breakfast you will never,see me alive again, Look for my bedy in Lake Michigan; it is all You can do. Always your friend, Bitty Bir.” ____ _ THOSE quostix LicHrs. + ae ht Bin BIE astonished boys in Dr. a a= hyiaoe ail at i ge oy img “disappeared and, what was more, + od Sneglgpcarnetbnarsel od gd lemma septate a chance of coming up with him always. | hours good ahead of us before daylight and a lot can be done 5 “Let me see the note,” “Tt can’t be that you have read it straight.” “Oh, but I have,” said Ray. “Look at it for yourself if you don’t believe me.” “That’s surely what it says,” mused Fred, looking over the paper. “How in the world do you suppose he got away?” “There’s the window.” “Yes, but he couldn’t have jumped out. to the ground.” “You don’t seem to realize that the clothes have been stripped off that spare bed. Of course, he tied them together and dropped down as easy as rolling off a log—look here, I told you I was right.” The window stood wide open when Ray first got out of bed, but in the excitement of the moment he had not looked out until now. The condition of things outside the window told the story. There was the rope of bedclothes hanging to a big hook which had been screwed into the weather-boarding. This improvised rope reached almest to the ground and as the blankets, sheets and coverlet had been firmly knotted to- gether the boys saw that Billy had experienced no difggulty in reaching the schoo] yard, but there was the fence be scaled after that. “That’s the hook that was swiped out of the boat-house!” exclaimed Fred. “That's what it is,” replid@l Ray, examining it. doubt about it. time.” “Looks so. He must have had this very thing in mind.” “I agree with you. Billy has been in a bad state of mind this long while; nervcus as a cat, afraid of his own shadow. Remember how he used to watch when the mail-bag came in, said Fred. It’s forty feet down “Not a Billy must have had it in his pocket all. the He’s been expecting that letter, you may be sure. Oh, what a fool I was to take it from that man,” “Don’t say that, Ray. How could you know? Billy was a strange fellow, anyhow. Don’t you know that we never could find out who his folks were or just where he came from? I always supposed that Dr, Whiteside knew, but now I'd like to bet high that he doesn’t know any more about it than we do ourselves. Let’s get downstairs and rout him up and tell him what has happened. What do you say?” “I say no,” replied Ray, decidedly. “If Billy had wanted to take Dr. Whiteside into his confidence he would have done it, Don’t let’s kick up a row before morning, but I'll tell you: what I will do with you, Fred.” “What?” “Follow him,” Bi “I'm with you.” “We may be able to trace him. If we can, why, then there's» We've got five’ in that time.” No proposition could have pleased Fred Fielding better, for he was as full of the love of adventure as most boys of his age, — Following Ray's example, he hurriedly dressed and in a few moments the two boys were ready to act. Ray let himself down by the rope of bedclothes hand over all right. ; “Keep as quiet as possible,” whispered Ray. “There will be 3 trouble | if we are caught at, this game.” pe hand; Fred lost his grip and slid down, but reached the ward ¥ dial,

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: 6 MISSING FROM SCHOOL “~¢ oe SS rene. --—— SS eee | “Ray had hit it right. moving in one of those biiildings now. Upstairs in that long : There, leaning against the fence alongside the barn, was an shop just beyond the foundry—don’t you see?” . old stepladder. “Why, of course, I see. We've treed our game all right, I wg It was considerably broken and had been thrown out on the| guess. Come’ on!” _. ‘wood-pile to be converted into kindling, but it had evidently| “Wait a minute. Let’s watch the light and see where it aor served Billy’s purpose all right and it did the same for Ray | goes.” ‘ and Fred. “Come on! Come on!” Ray went up first and, throwing himself over the fence,| “No, wait! Say, it’s moving downstairs—don't you see it hung on and dropped to the ground below, Fred immediately passing the windows? There, now, it is gone altogether. Say, ' following his example. Ray, it can’t be a watchman? There’s no one taking charge % “How in the world are we ever going to get back again?”| of the old buildings now.” Wis he questioned, as he stood beside Ray, who was looking at} “No, no! Hasn’t been in my time.” the ground between the fence and the rise of the hill. “I Enow, but some concern may have bought the plant and + “We'll leave that to take care of itself, Fred; see, here’s| be getting ready to start up again.” where Billy Jumpsd down—see the mark of his feet?” “You can figure it that way if you want to, Fred, but I tell “I do. Which way do you suppose he went?” you it isn’t so. Your light has vanished, Now, will you come “If the ground were only a little softer we coulld easily | on?” tell, but I take it to be up the hill, anyhow.” Sav tld To have held back now would have been to write himself down a coward, so Fred ran on down the hill after Ray, who that’s the shortest way over to the path which |‘had already started, — down to the deserted village.” They bad covered about half the distance when suddenly a + u think he has gone there?” strange thing occurred which was so startling that it brought ~ “Well, it's the only thing I can think. Of course, I may be| the boys up with a round turn. el wrong, though.” All at once every window of the upper story of the old ma- “We'll try that way first,” said Fred, and they hurried up|}chine shop was ablaze with light and both boys distinctly _ the hill, passed down on the other side and struck the path,|*4W dark figures moving about the large room. “ Here it was soft cand and Ray had a hope that he might “Ghosts, by gravy!” gasped Fred. “The stories they tell ay strike something like a trail. about the deserted village are true after all.” © RSet at cy oe nr ee Pn hn ot drat bling on hee Ee a Mtonpine. PSOE: S TANS SAS ROE OY * had borne a most evil reputation. People said that they were haunted and that oftentimes about the midnight hour strange lights were seen flitting from room to room. “Nonsense! It can’t be so!” eried Ray, “but as true as you live there is some one in there, Fred.” ; wes “Some one! Why, there's twenty men at least. kk, P “The path fs sandy in a dozen places,” sald Fred. “We ought Wiki DA God ses thine Ais nein : to be able to trace them so.” “Indeed I do! Come on. I’m bound to know what all this . ae “We can only try it,” replied Ray. “They can’t be long| means,” 1 ‘We may eatch up with them. Run, Fred! Run for} put Fred was good and scar “your life! That long-legged anpviter ia:tpo olla: aut oss fais gn Bo eon wate sj ed and he held ‘pack while Ray ‘ground very fast.” Hem, Rar wees, fainone sprinter and: Pood. wea. but. Ute his inferior. _..They covered the ground in lively ini sticking. as closely _ tothe path as they could, which they found but little difficulty $n doing, since it was bright moonlight. ‘Little had Ray imagined when he came up from the de- village that afternoon that he was to find himself flying over the same ground — pation aden in such a as this. z_came to the ton af the hl whieh looked down on Bo dante hay at ee oc eben: of Billy Bird and tall man, although at. © ” i ei They were four in number, two very large. ones and two - ‘medium-sized ones. They led off in the direction of the de- CHAPTER V. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. Of course Fred could not stay behind after this. So he ran on down the hill after Ray, coming up with him just,as he reached the foundry yard. By this time the situation had completely altered. The lights in the windows of the upper story of the old ma- ‘ ; . | chine shop had now entirely disappeared and the deserted ¢ village had relapsed into its usual gloomy condition. : ica "AS topo the Ray cae to hal thoroughly winded AN was dark and “pokerish” and to think of making a by exertions. _ | closer investigation was anything but pleasant. Pea eta Sh ay cy Ray paused beside the old foundry and waited for Fred his way.” | pe to come up. igs the | footprints, WANA Pia “Say, one of us has got to tackle that machine shop,” he ad? Se mshret be i what ean 8 whispered, “and I'm going to be the one. You'll stand by me, Fred, in case trouble comes?” “Why, of course.” ? _ “No'holding back now. You'l do just what T do.* $5 Of 6 tes: cota raheg asl ea ene

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MISSING FROM SCHOOL. ? * —— ce S = : _ “Then come on,” said Ray, boldly. “We might as well take; giant, coving his teeth and gobbling them up aga’n. Here’s _ the bull by the horns as to muss around its tail. I’m going; my answer: Yes, Billy Bird is in here.” = straight upstairs into that room, ghosts or no ghosts, for I “Then we want to see him.” am satisfied that it’s the only way we will ever solve the mys- “Suppose I say you can’t?” tery about Billy Bird.” ; “Suppose I tell you that I don’t leave this place till 1 do?” Fred’s teeth were chattering. He thought then that Ray} “Don’t be. sassy, boy.” Whitcomb was just about as brave as “they make em,” and} “Then don’t you be aggravating. We are not here to in- he was not very far from the truth. terfere with Billy’s business. We want to speak to him— Ray walked boldly up to the steep fight of steps, which, on} that’s all.” the outside of the big frame building, led up to the second “Cheeky!” growled the giant. “Decidedly cheeky. Still, I _ story. This was a common way of building in factory archi-| suppose the cheapest way is to humor you. Wait a moment, _ tecture in old days out West. I'll see what he says.” s There wasn’t a sign of light in the windows now, nor a He slammed the door in their faces and left them standing _ sound to be heard except the dashing of the water of Lake| there in the moonlight. They could hear his footsteps re- - “Michigan against the bulkhead. treating along the passage and then all was still, Ray ran up the steps and knocked on the door with as} “Ray,” whispered Fred, “for heaven's sake let's get out of much assurance as if it had been broad daylight, but his} this. I don’t want you to think I'm afraid, but I don’t like heart was in his mouth and he was secretly glad when Fred} that man.” eaught hold of his coat-tail, for there was no denying that “You're not a bit more afraid than I am,” retorted. Ray, he was badly scared. “but I don’t go till I've seen Billy Bird and heard what _ There was no answer at first, so Ray knocked again and | he’s ‘got to say.” = again. : Fred made no further remark and the boys waited for a " Presently both the boys were startled by hearing the sound | 800d ten minutes, but there was not a sound behind the door. of heavy footsteps ‘behind the door. “He’s fooling us!” cried Ray, suddenly. “By Jove, Fred, I a don’t believe he means to come back at all.” ey ‘Bee d gttrs Sane a served poy “whoever if is he rte’ ready to believe any old thing about that dime museum don’t. ‘seem to be in a hurry to open up. Ah! Look there!” Freak, replied Fred, “but what do you propose to do?” me Bay pointed to the window, which opened on the platform ag os Be find out for ourselves how the case stands with at the top of the steps right alongside the door. ~ : Gel x don'tt® sg be There was a man’s face at the window. A hideously ugly eines hi Soper Suir I will, Let go my coat, Fred Fielding. I was born a ; “face, all twisted. up- ante Ryets. coward, but I’m going to make myself a brave man if I ale _ It was the giant, fast enough. He.held up a Jantern close t to the and stared out at the bo Ne siege ey oe pane stared out at the boys. Ray caught at the latch and, to his surprise, found that th _ “Great Scott! What a face!” gasped Fred. “Let's slope, ~ Peet ar inéest bean “4 giant had not fastened the door and, stranger still, there stcod the lantern on the floor inside. “Come on, Fred,” he cried, seizing it and running along the passage. “If Billy Bird is in this building I'l] blame soon find it out.” Inspired by Ray’s boldness, Fred hurried on. Reaching the end of the passage, Ray threw open another door, which opened upon a long room with many windows— . the room in which the lights had been seen. It was entirely vacant. Nothing to be seen but a number of old boxes and plenty of dust. It seemed simply incredible that only a short while before this very room had been alive with moving figures and eee. with light. - But Ray did not hesitate. Away over at the other end of the long room he could see the top of a staircase feading down to the floor below. “Come on, Fred!” he cried, and he hurried to the stairs and ran down to the lower floor, coming against a door which, upon being opened, brought them into the yard on the wees ¢ of the building toward the lake. es, “Gee! Look there!” shouted Fred, but Ray, without answer- ing, dashed on to the bulkhead. A good-sized sailboat was just putting off on the lake, ' F There, were two figures on board, one the giant, who was _ handling the sheet and tiller with no little skill. ah The other was Billy Bird himself, and he leaned far over the rail and, pulling off his hat, waved it at the boys. ol “Good-by, Fred!” he shouted. “Good-by, Ray! Say good-by. ; to all the fellows for me, for you wil] never see me again.” ur er ut I a The sail filled and the boat stood off shore. Pane aie om merugention Senter | - Billy Bird sat down beside the giant and never even looked — ay yee 5 eis es _| around nor paid the slightest heed to oe crlen at Sy o : ~ SS : : — Y. U4 see bere Sa “You bet I won't,” answered Ray. “I only wish I had a re- Tile volver—that’s all. Hush! He is going to open the door.” x. pe It was certainly very startling. Ph ‘The door of the upper story of the old machine shop had t been built to panes the giant, but there he was his head and shoulders out of the door, while his body long limbs remained inside. In this queer position, with his face close to Ray's, he held ) the » lantern, throwing the light full in the faces of the two : ed boys. ‘Well! What is it?” he demanded. “What do you want : at this time of night?” y, by a great effort of mind, managed to keep his wits ss a * he drawioa sarcastically. “What-a “Ri i In nr Be a rican citizen at this hour of| he night. Young men, go a gimerh ‘ei aise etic Lee Tes Do : , bu

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ic. ¥ era Se CHAPTER VI. f ; WHAT HAPPENED ON. THE LAK. Ray and Fred hardly knew how they got back to dormitory No. 10, for every instant of the way it was nothing but specu- ae lation about this mysterious affair in which they had played such a prominent part. Fred gave Ray a boost and he managed to climb on top = of thé fence and to pull his schoolfellow up after him. - _ There was little trouble in pulling ‘themselves up to the _ Window, for, truth told, the boys had done this before, for it is not always safe to assume that a schoolboy is snug in bed when there is a window and plenty of bedclothes handy. ) “Once in the room the two boys kept on talking about the __ niatter until morning, and then the very first thing they went ts to Dr. Whiteside’s apartments and made a clean breast of ; the affair and were roundly called down for not having done oe it before. - “You ought to have come to me, hava: no matter what the hour was,” said the doctor. “This is a very serious matter. I am astonished, Whitcomb, that a boy of your common sense sheuld not have better appreciated the situation. There was still time to rescue that unfortunate boy, but now it is quite too late. Still, I shall pass it over, for I have no doubt you thovght you were acting for the best.”. ‘“T assure you I did, sir,” replied Ray, penitently. “I feel terribly about it. I’m sure my father would be willing to employ a detective, and——” : “Never mind. [ll talk with you later. This is a strange business. Do you know anything about Billy Bird?” “Not a thing, sir. He would never tell us where he lived _ or who his folks were, but probably you know.” _ _ “hat’s just where you are mistaken,” replied the doctor. “I bp know nothing at all. Billy Bird came here himself and paid the money for two years’ tuition in cash. He told me that he ¢ was. an orphan and that for family reasons he could not tell ie me anything. about his past history. He begged me so hard _ to receive him that I did so, although it is entirely against my usual custom, and I must Say that he has proved himself a oho OEY excellent boy.” “Not a better fellow in the school, sir,” cried Ray, warmly, on “but there was always something peculiar about him. Doctor, ‘I'm half wild about it. “What shall we do?” . -. “Why, I shall think it over,” replied Dr. Whiteside, “but as a matter of fact, boys, I don’t see how I am justified in bairined anything. . Billy Bird came here of his own accord he has evidently gone away because he wanted to. I am t his keeper and cannot so constitute myself under the cir- Really, if I knew where he was at the present ent I question very gravely if I should be justified in forcing him to return to the academy. I see nothing to do —s write after his see in my roll-book, ‘Missing from | that was the way the matter rested for the time. Great was the excitement. among Dr. Whiteside’s pupils FeAl ai ven So oh Tots acy acl kne sd arto aly agreed to iin: ® 2 enue, or Yom ard he cnet MISSING FROM SCHOOL. had pretty much come to the conclusion that they must have been mistaken and that what they thought they saw was due to over-excitement. At least each said this to the other, but neither one believed it himself, and we will mention as a strict secret that Ray and _|-Fred let themselves out of the dormitory window the very next night and went down to the deserted village again in hopes that the ghostly exhibition might be repeated, but they only had their labor for their pains. So the days passed and the strange disappearance of Billy Bird still remained a mystery. Dr. Whiteside, at his own expense, put a private detective on the case, but with no better result than spending a consider- able sum of money to no purpose whatever, so at last the mat- ter was allowed to drop, and after Billy Bird’s name on the roll-book was written in great black letters: Missine From ScHoo.. The days came and went and the time for the great canoe race drew near. One Saturday early in May it was determined to put in a few hours’ practice on the lake, so the big wagon belonging to the schoo] was hitched up and four of the canoes, those be- longing to Ray, Fred and the two next best canoeists, who were Joe Tyler and Eddie Blake, went down fo the lake. Joe Quigley was now ruled out of the race, much to the dis- gust of the conceited fellow. But Joe had learned a lesson by his accident. He wanted to be popular, so he publicly thanked Ray for saving his life, and on this day he invited Carrie James, Olive Moore and Mamie Sheldon to go out with him on the Water Witch, a handsome new sailboat, which his father had recently bought him, and was now lying at Brown’s landing, a little below the deserted village... It was a beautiful day and the young canoeists soon got started in good shape. The run was to be for about a mile right out into the lake and then to beat back to Brown's Landing. The out run was performed successfully, but the beating back part did not work, for, as it happened, the wind shifted so that all they could do was to sail before it on the home Tun, ~ . Ray had been in the lead going out and Fred second, and the canoes soon assumed the same order going back. Ray’s dainty little craft went skimming over the water almost as fast as the wind itself. As he neared the shore he saw Joe Quigley just putting out in the Water Witch. As usual, Joe was a day behind the fair. He had had treuble getting started and he was in trouble now, for he had some wild notion in his head that he under- stood managing a boat and could sail against the wind with- out tacking, but he soon found ont his error and when Ray came flying up there was Joe with his sail flapping and three screaming girls on his hands. “Look out, Joe! You'll run me down!” shouted Ray. “Oh, save us, Ray! Save us! We shall be drowned!” Carrie James cried out. “Port your helm, Joe! "shouted Ray. “Port your helm, you fool!” ; _ Joe tried, but the trouble was he “ported” his helm the wrong way. Ray changed his course to avoid the collision, which would have been inevitable if he had maintained it. As he did so, to his utter amazement, he saw a boy close : beside him in the water, sonnet with all his clothes on

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fe. MISSING FROM SCHOOL. a “What boat is that, Ray?” shouted Fred, as the strange craft made her appearance. “T’ll never tell you,” replied Ray. “Don’t know her at all. There seem to be two or three fellows on her, though, ana they are all looking this way.” “Tl bet you what you like, Billy Bird came off that boat, if it is Billy.” “If it is? It must be, Fred.” “There they go. They are standing off up the lake. Skall I give them the call?” “No, don’t! We have got all we can do to save this fellow. We don’t want to muss with anything else.” So Fred remained silent. He saw one of the men put an ‘| opera glass to his eyes and survey the canoes. Then all but the one who was handling the boat crouched down as though they wanted to avoid being seen, and the boat, catching the breeze, stood away up the lake, as great speed. By this time Ray had made the float at the boat-house and Fred came spinning up after him. They sprang out and drew their canoes up out of the water. “Now then, boy,” cried Ray, “out with him. He’s alive, all right, but he needs attention or he may die on our hands yet.” They lifted the half-drowned boy between them and carried him into the boat-house. He groaned faintly, but did not speak. “T tell you, Ray, if it’s Billy how we can make sure!” ex- claimed Fred. “How?” “Billy has a big mole on his back. I’ve often noticed it when we were in swimming.” “You are right. I have thought of that. Say, it must be Billy. It’s exactly like him, but oh, he’s fallen away so! Looks as though he had been starved almost to death.” “We shall soon know,” replied Fred. “I guess you’re right, though. I guess it’s Billy, fast enough, now that I came to. look at him closer. We'll rip his clothes off and roll him in a blanket. There’s some whisky in the locker; you know you had it put there for just such a case as this. We'll give him a drink—do you think the water is all out of him, Ray?” “I think it is,” replied Ray. “You get the whisky, Yl un- dress him.” . d “Yes, and you had better undress yourself, too, or you'll have pneumonia sure,” replied Fred, as he hurried off after the bottle. a. aN Ray lost no time. Stripping off the boy's clothes, he rolled, him in a blanket and poured a small quantity of the whisky | down his throat. iA toe All doubt that it was their missing school-fellow was now banished from the boys’ minds, for there was the mole we: as they had expected to see it. “Billy! Say, Billy, wake up! Speak to us, old man!” The boy’s eyes were open now, and he was sitting up on the floor leaning back against the wall. Instead of making any answer, he only stared at the boys in a dull, half-witted sort of way. ; “Don’t you know me, Billy?” demanded Ray. . He shook his head. ; “No,” he said, faintly, “I don’t know you at all.” “Look close at me. You can’t help but know me, I'm Ray— don’t you know Ray. Here’s Fred, too,” “No, I don’t know you. For Cont Syma, was the reply. “Not Billy—no!” “Oh, good gracious, Ray!” screamed Olive Moore. “Look, | Ray! “Look!” “Ray!” yelled Fred, whose canoe was close behind him. “Oh, ‘Ray! It’s Billy Bird!” At the same instant the swimmer uttered a despairing cry, threw up his arms and sank out of sight. “Save him, Ray!” cried Mamie Sheldon and Carrie James _ in one breath. | Ray was ready. He needed no urging. _ Without an instant’s hesitation he tumbled overboard into the lake. CHAPTER VII. Is THIS BILLY BIRD? Ray Whitcomb was at his old tricks again—saving people from getting drowned. And Ray knew just how to do it, too. _In a moment he came up to the surface of the lake support- ing the drowning boy. There was no fear of being pulled down by this boy’s strug- gle, either, for he was entirely unconscious. His head sank down upon Ray’s shoulder and he hung to his supporting arm, a dead weight. - “Lend me a hand, Fred,” ‘called Ray. “We had better get him into my canoe.” Fred had caught Ray’s canoe and made it fast to his own, Joe Quigley meanwhile made a wild tack and was now _ heading for the point, which, of courses was Cray where he did not want to go. With Fred’s help Ray managed to get the boy into the canoe without upsetting it. . F ‘It was a ticklish job, though, and worse to get in himself afterward, but as Fred often found occasion to remark, Ray { : ’ : { | } i - - ' could do “any old thing with a canoe,” and at last he had ac- _ complished all this and took up the paddle again. fea “Going ashore, I suppose?” asked Fred. =a “ot course. Come on.” - ©You bet I won’t leave you to go atin: What do you think, --Ray, is he dead?” “No. He'll come out all ight. I see you looking at me, Pred, and I know you want my opinion. I can’t give it to - ‘you. T don’t know whether it’s Billy or not. If it is he is greatly changed.” Fred had grasped the situation. The rescued boy looked like ‘Billy Bird most certainly, but ae was very pale and thin his clothes were mere rags. ee ote Fd ary hee bi tortie miming not they were right. ‘ was, there he was to be saved, and Ray| Fred paddled for the boat landing for dear life. , Ray had taken care to place the half-drowned boy face down- eas oa ee ee \ & Rech tendigeiacdht ties cn tine tho Sede wings ort of doubt that he meant to come up to the} n¢| “What's that? cried Ray. “Aren't you Billy Bird?™ “Bird—yes! | Bird," muttered the boy, bo eae :

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10 a ET | CR ORR ete *“Come, come, Billy! Brace up! Pull yourself together!” cried Fred. “It will be all right in a little while. ' “Not Billy—not Billy!” was the muttered answer. my name is Bird!” “Bird— CHAPTER VII, HOW THE GIANT LOOKED THROUGH THE WINDOW-PANE. Now all this that we have just described was the beginning of a strange state of affairs. _ For nearly half an hour Ray and Fred worked over the boy and the other boys of the canoe club came in and joined them, | but the mystery remained unsolved, ' Some were sure that the boy was Billy, others were equally sure that it wasn’t, although all admitted that he greatly _Tesembled the boy who was imissing from school. ‘As forthe boy himself, little or nothing could be got out of him, -When-they asked him his name he would answer “Bird,” : but when they tried to call him Billy he would not have it, but beyond this he would not say anything at all. ~ He just sat on the chair to which they’ lifted see staring at the boys stupidly. It ‘was no use to try to get anything more out of him. All the boys took a hand at ‘it, but in each case the® result was the ‘same. | “Ray searched his clothes, but the result did not help them a 4 bit, for the pockets contained nothing. - It was certain, however, that they were not the clothes ; Billy Bird had worn. _Ray stuck to it that the boy was not Billy Bird; Fred was in- a4 clined to think he might be and Joe Quigley was. sure of it. _ Fortunately, there were several old suits of clothes in the ane beat-house, so Ray dressed the boy in one and put on another _- biself and then the girls were called in to see what they : could make out of the mystery. ‘ - There. was the same difference of opiate ss Carrie James was sure that the mysterious;boy was Billy. _ Olive Moore was equally certain that it was not Billy, and as for Mamie Sheldon, she first declared that it was Billy and _ then switched around to the opposite opinion, _ At last everybody got so mixed up about the matter that no : Feige ‘knew what to think. The boy meanwhile just sat there staring. He got so at Yast that he would speak to no one but Ray; when the others ee = oe is “Better take him up to the school and let Dr, Whiteside de- e the question,” replied Ray, and this is Just what they did. ie boy somewhat recovered his, strength now, but ae Don't let them talk to’ me! I tn eplte of the very strong re- of it, Ray,” he’said; sir,” replied Ray, promptly: don’t fret ‘about me. MISSING FROM SCHOOL. very ‘strange about all this. It must be thoroughly investi- gated. You leave the boy to me. Get on your whee! and ride to the village and fetch Dr. Prout as quick as you can. You did just right to bring the boy here. I shall be able to maxe something out of him, you may be very sure.” That was Dr. Whiteside’s opinion; but he was mistaken. Neither he nor Dr. Prout succeeded in making anything out of the boy, although both worked over him for a long time. Of course, Ray and Fred could not intrude on Dr. Whiteside, and as they were not sent for they remained ignorant of what ‘| had taken place until just before bedtime, when Ray was sent for by the principal. When he entered the room he found the strange boy stretched out upon Dr. Whiteside’s lounge, sound asleep. “Well, Ray,” said the doctor, motioning our hero to a chair, “this mystery has been made still more mysterious by that boy you brought me. What do you think of him now?” “Why, he seems to be asleep, sir,” replied Ray, rather puz- zled at the question. “Just so,” said the doctor. “Well, Ray, for all I’ve been able to get out of him since you left this room he might as well have been asleep all the time.” “What does the doctor say?” “He says the fellow is suffering from the long-continued influence of a certain preparation of morphine, and that it will take a week at least to restore him to his right mind. In the meantime he leads us to infer that the boy can't be Billy Bird.” “Then, altogether, it is just as much of a mystery as ever.” “Just the same. He fell asleep before the doctor left and he has been sleeping ever since. I didn't want to disturb him, so I just let him lie where he was, and now, Ray, I have a job for you.” “Anything I can do I’m sure I shall be only too happy, “Want me to get him into bed?” “No; you needn't do that, but I do want to go to bed my- self. Stay here with him, Ray. Stay till morning, if neces- sary; you can be excused for to-morrow and can sleep all day if you like. You see, I don’t care to bring anybody else into this matter if it can be helped.” Ray consented readily, only asking that Fred might be al- lowed to watch with him, to which the doctor agreed. That was the way that Ray and Fred came to find themselves 48! playing dominoes on Dr. Whiteside’s study table at midnight. They played game after game; it came along between one ‘and two o'clock and they were still playing and all this time the sleeper had never moved. Meanwhile, it had begun to rain outside and the wind howled dismally. Fred grew sleepy and began to yawn so that at last he declared he could play no longer. “I'll just ie down across the lower end of the lounge for a few moments and take a snooze, Ray,” he said. “It will nei me up so that I shan’t feel sleepy again until morn- ing. Wake me in half an hour and then take your turn.” ' Ray made no objection and Fred was asleep In two minutes, 'S | stretched out at the feet of the mysterious boy, with his head. cushioned up against the back of the lounge. Ray let him sleep the half a out and then awoke him and lay down himself. “Are you sure you can keep awake, Fred?” he asked, as he threw himself down, letting his feet hang over the edge of ‘} the lounge. replied Fred.. “You go right to sleep now and ‘Tl wake you up in half an hour and “Sure I am,” then we will have another game; say, he didn't stir while I was lying down, did he?” “Never a stir. ip Sn cyst aimee pelea Ryan * Sce-sglanaoieaaiaie

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e . ; MISSING FROM SCHOOL. 1 ““Mighty strange. I have an idea that when he wakes up| sleepers in a puzzled sort of way and then turned and whis- he'll be all right and be able to give an account of himself.” | pered something to his companion, which brought an. answer “Let’s hope so,” replied Fred, yawning sleepily. in the same foreign tongue. Ray soon dropped off and Fred tried to keep awake by| Whatever was said it seemed to be quite satisfactory to the reading a book. man, for he immediately proceeded to act. -It was just about the worst thing he could have done. Bending down, he picked up Ray as easily as if he had been In a few moments his head fell forward and the ,book}a baby and passed him out of the window to the other man. _ dropped out of his hand. Ray groaned and slightly strvggied, but did not awake. He roused up and stared around, then, folding his arms upon It was not to be expected, for the man, before picking him the table, laid his head upon them. up off the lounge, pulled out a pocket handkerchief saturated _ Jn a second there were three sleepers in the room instead of |{t with some strong-smelling stuff from a small bottle end two. pressed it tightly over the boy’s nose and mouth. It was a pity Fred could ‘not have kept awake a second Ray was chloroformed. _ longer for, as always happens, he picked out just the wrong ‘fhe job was so skilfully done that he never fully awoke, but time for sleeping on his post. just struggled involuntarily. He had scarcely dropped off when a slight noise was heard} Tho man who received him carried him out of the gate and outside the window, which opened directly on the lawn in| then laid him down in the muddy road. front of the school that stretched down to the rcad. He did not seem to be so strong as the other man, nor able Of course, Fred did not hear it. If he had he probably|to bold Ray, so he waited for him to come up. would have turned and looked at the window and trouble} Now they began to talk in English. might have been saved. “Sure you have got the right boy?” asked the man with e" There, pressed against the pane, was a man’s face. the mustache. Perhaps Fred might have not recognized it even if he had “Yes,” growled the other, par it, but Ray would. “ “Bet there were two asleep on the lounge.” _ It was the face of the giant.. “Don’t care. I’ve got the lower one—that’s what he said.” _ As he peered into the room his false teeth tumbled down| “Don’t know whether he did or not,” growled the other, ; me he gobbled them up again. “You never remember—you never get anything straight.” _ Then the face drew away from the Vignes and disappeared. The man with the beard swore, and picked Ray up again. 4 “If you can’t carry him I can,” he said, and, making just nothing of the boy’s wefght, he hurricd down the road until ‘they came to the end of the academy fence, where a horse and covered wagon stood waiting for them. The man with the mustache lifted the curtain of the wagon. and the other put Ray in without ceremony. Both climbed upon the seat and the man with the mustache, picking up the reins, they drove off down the road in the direction of the deserted village. This was their destination. A little later they turned in among the old buildings, and stopped. There was a light upstairs over the machine shop, just as as|Ray and Fred had seen it the night Billy Bird disappeared. At the sound of ‘the wagon-whecls the door at the top of the outside steps opened and a head came out into the yan. “Hello!” called a voice. “That you, Taller?” “Yes, it is,” replied the man with the beard, “Got the boy?” “Yes. ” : “Good enough! The boss’ orders are for you to put him aboard the boat. “We are not through here yet. You can come up the stairs and knock on the door and I'll pass vege ‘money out to you after you are through,” “All right,” replied Taller. He got out, lifted Ray, who was still quite unconscious, out of the wagon and walked of, he _{him, taking his way down to the bulkhead. _ Here two large sailboats lay tied up to the simibee. The wind was blowing a et! gale and the boats were. ponndivg. F ‘heavily. dow was raisi It was impossible tor Taller to get aboard ‘eitber one with od by a great, shagey, blagh baad, lone a. | Ray in his arms, and he seemed to be doubtful moreover which low tone and in a foreign language, one to choose. Le orl ee | CHAPTER IX,. RAY IN TROUBLE. _ Ray slept on, so did Fred. As for the stranger, he slept, too. oer half hour crept by. The wind howled more dis- ly than ever. It was a nasty night upon the lake and to be _ was “not at all strange, for this was just what was] : g on outside. 3 , ij Suddenly there was a tap and a pane of glass, cut all the way oun: , Slipped down out of a place, a hand being quickly ‘through the opening at the same instant. . most skilfully done. The hand ast oe pane, é wh toe through the opening. — boat. , The unconsclous boy fell heavily and rolled along the deck een guards with meek ae that he went over into ng Doldy through the open window into the (ads rategecrny tol ogtliget pS gions bai iy ne oes and a g evidently addressed to some person outside, | sai iby tossing Ray upon the deck of the nearest ce!” gasped Taller, *T've drowned him! Well, let him : J Papas Tipe aa et ellen memat Ae thes

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Ww ; MISSING FROM SCHOOL. 2 SS [_)1_1_(0(0000—=00“Oheowaooee ee” =. = SS ————_—_—— } Without making the slightest attempt to find out what had The uext thing Ray knew he suddenly awoke, feeling quite become of Ray, Taller turned on his heel and hurried away,| himself, but with absolutely no recollection of anything that leaving the urfertenete bey to his fate. had occurred since he lay down upon the lounge in Dr. White- : side’s study at the foot of the mystcrious boy. He started up and stared around. The swinging lamp over the cabin table showed him where le was, and it was swinging for fair, for the sailboat was now plunging ahead acruss the lake at a fearful rate. “Great Scott! What is all this?” gasped Ray. “Why, I am on board the Swan! How in the world did I get here? Blest if she hasn’t gone adrift in the storm!” He was about to get out of the bunk and hurry up on deck to find out what it all meant when suddenly heavy footsteps were heard descending the cabin stairs and two rough-looking foreigners, dark and swarthy, with heavy black beards and deep-set eyes, came tumbling into the cabin. They were dressed in oilskins and dripping with the spray thrown upon them by the storm. They began rattling away to each other in some Satine lan- guage and the biggest of the two, opening Ray’s locker, took out a whisky bottle and helped himself without the aid of a glass; his example was followed by his companion and then both sat down at the table and lighted cigarettes. Ray -was pretty well frightened by this time and had wit enough to pretend to be asleep. What had happened to him he could only guess at, but he could not help connecting it all with the strange disappear- ance of Billy Bird. “They’ve stolen my boat and they seem to have stolen me, too,” he thought. “Who are those fellows? What in the world am I to do?” : He kept one eye open and listened. One of the men was hammering on the table emphasizing some remark when all at once the other sprang up and ran to the bunk, seized Ray by the collar of his coat and dragged him bodily out upon the floor. “What’s the matter with you?” cried the other in English. “What are you trying to do?” “What am I trying to do? Why, I’m trying to find out what all this means!” answered the man. “Burn me to ashes, this is the wrong boy!” CHAPTER X. “BURN ME TO ASHES, THIS IS THE WRONG BOY!” Ray had got himself into serious trouble. Although the man Taller did not intend to drown him, he came very near doing it, just the same. If Ray had gone overboard off the sailboat ten minutes sooner than he did he would have lost his life to a certainty, _ but as it was the chloroform was beginning to lose its hold -and the shock of being suddenly tumbled into cold water . brorght him back to consciousness at once. He did not realize at all what had happened to him, how- ever... _ All-he knew was that he was in the water and wanted to _ Bet out, so he grabbed the rocking boat and managed to pull _ himself on deck, where he sank down, half-unconscious again and without having the slightest idea where he was. ., He was cold, shivery, wet to the skin and his head was whirling like a top. Hoe had just sense enough to know that he was on a boat, _ but he thought it was his own and, as it happened, so it was. It was the Swan, a fair-sized sailboat, which ought to have been then at anchor off the school boat-house. Twice during the season boats had been stolen from the _, schooJhouse anchorage and here was a third case, but to Ray's muddled mind no such ideas came. __. . It was his boat and he was wet and Wanted dry clothes. He knew there was an old suit of his in a locker down in the _-_ eabin.and he had the key in his pocket. . _.. He staggered to his fect, stumbled into the cabin, lit a lamp, _ @pened the locker and took out the clothes.. Thon it began to seem rather odd that he should be on the » boat at all and he wondered what it meant, but to save his __~ life he could not remember where he had been last or why he 3 banal on board the Swan. a Pondering upon these mysteries, Ray pulled off his wet g5 aothies and rubbed himself down with a coarse jack towel. ts vei The oxercise_roused him up a bit and he was able to dress aS _ Mimself, but still his memory would not come back. ti “Why am I here? Why am I here?” he kept saying to him- a. ek wondered also why his head ached so and what it all cant, anyhow. bee time a dreadfully drowsy feeling seized him. elt as though he would have been willing to give his Ite tor a few moments’ sleep. . "Phere was the bunk—his own bunk, The result was just “what might have been expected under the circumstances, In "Siena Bio Mant tela de ie cle apd It @ rather surprised Taller if he had kapponed to cabin just then. neSeray thi'Clin tea oF bles bx WORE th-hin paciet, ons making for the neighboring town, not caring one rap whether Ms victim was alive or dead. An hour passed. > el pega ied apatite br ot have sale her serone Lake Michigan tha: : oa ca ice getianmatisar ae t CHAPTER XI. IN THE POWER OF THE GIANT. The two men stared at Ray, who, frightened though he was, kept perfectly quiet. “There has been some tersible mistake here,” he thought. “My only hope is to keep perfectly cool.” With his hand still clutching Ray's collar the man rattled away to the other in the same strange language. At last he pushed Ray roughly into a chair, saying, in English, “Sit down!” “I'll do as you say, gentlemen,” replied Ray, seating him- self. “I don’t know whether you are aware of it, but this happens to be my boat. I’d like to know how you came here?” . “Answer him, Slocovich,” said the man on the other side of the table; “my English was no good.” “I'll answer you; boy, by asking the same questing,” replied Slocovich. “I can't answer you, then, for I don't know,” said Ray. “Don't know?” | i “No. ” ai “Those your wet clothes in the corner there?” . :

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_ “Yes, but I don’t know how they got there.” “Do you belong to Dr. Whiteside’s Academy?” “Yes, I do.” “What’s your name?” “Ray Whitcomb.” “Ah, ha! Then you know Billy Bird?” 4 “Of course I do. Can you tell me anything about himy I'll see that you are well paid if——” “Ta-ta! Stop that! I’m not looking for money. I think I know you now, boy. You are the fellow who did the rescue _ act on the lake yesterday? Am I right or wrong?” “Why, I suppose——” “Don’t suppose!” cried the man, fiercely. Right or wrong?” “Right, then.” “Oh, yes, I thought so. Well, now, look here, young fellow, I see through this business. There has been a mistake made. _ The boy you rescued is the boy who ought to be here in your place now. I am sorry for you. e ters. “Answer me! MISSING FROM js HOOL. 13 “Counterfeiters!” thought Ray. earth shall I do?” He did the only thing he could have done under the cir- cumstances, and that was to lie perfectly still. When the boxes had all] been removed he heard the steamer pull away and then, after a moment, steps were heard on the cabin stairs again and suddenly the tarpaulin was pulled away from in front of the bunk. There stood Slocovich and the giant. The queer old man was drenched with the epray; his bat- tered plug hat lay back on’ his head and his big pop eyes | seemed to be darting forward as he stared at the bunk. “The wrong boy! Did you pay that fraud?" he snapped, Then his teeth dropped down and he gobbled them up with a fearful scowl at poor Ray. Shaking his long, dirty forefinger in the boy’s out, in his theatrical way: “So much for your meddling, Master Ray Whitcomb! “Tm in for it. What on face, he hissed You It is too late to change mat-| would not keep your hends off my business, so there is noth- We are away out on the lake and we can’t go back,/| ing Icft for me but to put my hand on yours. Get up out of _ but there may be a way of saving you yet when we meet/ that bunk—get up, I say!” r ~ Mr. Jacks.” “Who is Mr. Jacks? What am I to be saved from?” asked | got to obey you,” _ Ray. “I don’t want to get into trouble myself, nor to make | trouble for others. If you will explain what all this means | Bird. x oo “Hello have below! the deck. “Stay where you are till we come back!” said Slocovich, _ fiercely. “Remember, boy, your only chance lies in obeying} me. If you dare to show yourself on deck I'll shoot you dead. Do you understand?” * wu “In stay here,” said Ray, thoroughly frightened. y= . “Get back into your bunk,” added Slocovich. “Be quick “abiont it, Don’t you dare to move till I give the word.” _ Ray crawled back into the bunk. _ The instant he lay down, Slocovich seized a heavy tarpaulin, ahs Ray had already observed lying in one corner, and pulled it away from a pile of small wooden boxes which it - What was in the boxes Ray could only guess, and he was Up in front front of the bunk, nailing it to the woodwork above. This cut oF Ray's view entirely. She's a-coming!” shouted a voice from twist your “neck tor you,” hissed “Slocovich. “Burn me to ashes if I don’t!” ans those eieelicai with his brain all ina “Ah ia a ging then heavy footsteps were heard on iene breathe. <St6'aia ot dateibo inva the tar ut he had taken out his knife and quietly cut a nar-| , n it, By Keeping his eae iAtewe to this he was able arte Doxes—catrying them up out of the = at “Ycu seem to be master here on my boat, so I suppose I have replied Ray, rising; “look out for yourself, though. You may goa step too far. I'm not like poor Billy I've got friends, and my friends will spare no money | to— ” “Shut up!” roared the giant, seizing Ray by the throat and holding him with an iron hand. He hissed out some words in a foreign language. “Instantly Slocovich flung his arm about Ray from behind and, drawing the boy close up against him, held him as though he was in a vise. “I’ve got him, Mr. Jacks. '“That’s right.” snid the giant, answering to the name. him, Sloky. I'll be ready in a minute.” He drew from his pockct a small leather case like the case of a cigarette holder and also a bottle. Out of the case he took a hypodermic syringe and’ thrust the needle into the colorless liquid which the bottle containea. “What are you going to do to me?” panted Ray, Sick with the horror of his situation. : “This!” hissed Mr. Jacks, pushing back the boy’s head with his left hand, while with the right he drove the sensi into poor Ray’s neck. A strange thrill shot through Ray's whole. body, from: head to foot. Slocovich let go of him. Mr. Jacks stood hack, bit Ray remained staring into vacancy. “How do you feel?” demanded Jacks, with all the curiosity of a doctor questioning a patient. ar et 2 “How do I feel?” = Ray. “Why, I—I don't or how I feel.” He stared stupidly ‘at Mr. ark his tebe wearing the same He can't move now,” he said. ar | dazed expression that he himself had noticed upon the face, of the mysterious boy up at the school. “Feel well?” cried Mr. Jacks. : ; “I do feel well,” said Ray, stupidly. Be “Feel happy?” cried Mr. Jacks, raising his voice to a still higher key. “I do fee] happy! Oh, Pm so happy!” replied Ray; soe | sparkled and his face beamed all over. af _ “Laugh!” shouted Mr. Jacks. + es “Ha! mt ha! Ha! ha! ha” Ray burst” into Peale of 4 ta : -_ oa is

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MISSING FROM SCHOOL, “Seems to,” replied Mr. Jacks. ~“Dance!” he shouted. And Ray began to caper about the room, throwing out his legs in the wildest. kind of way. “That will do all right, Sloky,” whispered Mr. Jacks, as they watched him. “He must never leave us alive. the other one, too, of course, get some work ont of him, although he don’t look very strong.” " “Stop him, for gracious sake,” said Slocovich, turning his head. “It always makes me sick to see them.” ; “Stop! shouted Mr. Jacks. Then it was, “Get into that bunk!” and ‘then, “Go to sleep.” ' And Ray obeyed each command in turn. “We'll go on deck and have a look at things, Sloky,” said “One trial more, though.” | We must get} I suppose we’ shall be able to! Fred pulled out and declined to have anything to to with it. Poor Fred was a changed boy now. Every spare moment of his time was spent in hovering around the deserted village, for he was firm in the belief that if a clew to the mystery was ever found it would be found there, Night after night Fred slipped out of the school, by Dr. Whiteside’s permission, and visited the ruinous old shops. Dr. Whiteside was a man of sense. He realized the state of the boy’s mind and did not refuse him. Twice he went with Fred and once they spent half the night together watch- ing the buildings from the hill, but with no result. One evening, between two and three weeks after Ray’s dis- Mr. Jacks. “It’s a bad storm, and I’m not sure about our being! appearance, as Fred was about starting out for the hill as able to get over to the island.” usual, he was surprised to meet Joe Quigley “laying for him” a _When they left the cabin a minute later Ray was sleeping] little way down the road. as peacefully as a little child. : hee N i CHAPTEK Au. Is THIS THE SWAN! ; There was great excitement in Dr. Whiteside’s Academy when it was found that Ray Whitcomb was missing. Poor Fred Fielding went almost crazy over the affair. In- deed, at one time Dr. Whiteside felt seriously alarmed about ar boy. It was an awful shock for Fred when he realized what had “hepwinee: ‘When he awoke and found the window open and Ray and is the mysterious stranger missing, for the boy was gone, too, +7 oF Fred thought that Ray must have gone out after their patient ; ot his own accord. But the missing pane of glass aroused Fred’s suspicions, and the wagon tracks confirmed them. Dr. Whiteside was aroused and then a search began, _ No need to tell all that nappenea. ‘Two weeks had now passed since that stormy night, and still 7 n came no tidings of Ray. It was a dreadful thing. When Fred was called upon to face Ray's father he broke down completely and that was the time Me = = 4 Dr. Whiteside thought the poor boy would surely go 4 ta stives were at once put on the case and no money ‘The missing boat was thought to be a clew and some of the _ detect advanced the theory that Ray had gone off with _ the stranger of his own accord. Of course, Mr. Whitcomb would listen to no such suggestion “the search continued. The old buildings at the deserted vill e were thoroughly ransacked, but without avail. Every iat tka eater, but all in vain, t las ar two weeks, although the search still continued, 's Academy settled down to business once more. Whitcomb. t his name in Dr. Whiteside’s roll-book was written : cae of and was won by Bale Blake, wh’ hook it to tel! you, Fred, and that’s ‘was tried to trace Ray, every clew exhausted, money s it had been in the case of Billy Bird, so it came to be| ’ Mee ae eS Joe was bursting with excitement. “Say, Fred,” he exclaimed, “I hope you will excuse me for interfering with your business, but, of course, all the fellows are on to your game and know where you go nights. Now, I haven’t got anything against Ray and I'd like to see this mystery cleared up, and——” “Stop it!” cried Fred. “Great Scott, come to the point, Joe Quigley. De you or do you not know anything about Ray?” “Well, now, you needn’t go on like that,” said Joe, “No, I don’t know anything about Ray, but I did see the Swan to- night on the lake.” “No!” cried Fred. “Oh, Joe, is it true?” “Of course it is or I wouldn’t say it,” replied Joe, “I was out alone in the Water Witch and the wind was against me. I’m sailing the boat better now, and——” “Oh, go on! Go on!” pleaded Fred. “If you don’t come to the point I shall go mad.” “Why, the point is that the Swan is lying at the bulkhead down there at the deserted village now!” cried Joe. “At least it was when I left. I’ve run just as tight as I could straight goods.” “I'm off!” shouted Fred, and away he dashed. “Not without me!” cried Joe Quigley. “Ray saved my life all right and even if I do get a little funny at times I don't forget it. I’m with you, old man!” “Run, then!” shouted Fred. “Run!” — And run the two boys did. There never was such sprinting between the school and the lake shore, Fred slackened speed as he drew near the hill, where he could look down upon the deserted village. “Is she still there?” panted Joe, as he came bounding up. Fred was so winded that he could scarcely speak, but he pointed down at a handsome sailboat which lay alongside the ‘bulkhead, whispering: “Oh, Joe! You were right! It’s the Swan!” CHAPTER XIII. FRED AND JOE SEE RAY. Fred Fielding and Joe Quigley had made a most important discovery. The boat lying at the bulkhead in front of the old buildings which passed under the name of the deserted village was most certainly the Swan. Of course, it was by no means certain that this had anything en les omy eee

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- ‘Nevertheless, a fact that the Swan was Ray’s boat and that it disappeared on the same night he did. : See MISSING FROM SCHOOL. 15 “All the better for us,” said Joe. “Now we can follow her without running the risk of being seen. How far in this thing ’ Fred was inclined to connect the two things together, but} are you willing to go, Fred?” whether he was right or wrong in this remained to be seen. “Joe, there is just one thing to do,” said Fred, earnestly. “We have got to go down there and find out what this means.” Joe laid his hand on Fred’s shoulder and held him back. “Don’t!” he said. “Don’t do it, Fred!” “What do you take me for, Quigley?” demanded Fred, an- ; ‘grily. “Do you think I’m a coward? I'll let you know——” _ “Hold on, now,” interrupted Joe, “Of course you can go _. on that way if you want to. That’s thé usual style with the _. fellows when they are dealing with me. I know I’m clumsy _ and a bit stupid, but I don’t think I’m quite a fool.” “te “Do you mean to say that I am, then?” demanded Fred, in _ & somewhat milder tone. | “No, no, no! I don’t mean to say anything of the sort,” said Joe. “It isn’t that at all. Now, try and understand me, __. Pred. I think a lot more of Ray than you fellows suppose I do. I really want to help and this time I think I’ve got an idea if you will only let me pull with you.” “Well, that’s all right,” said Fred, in a still! more friendly way. “Go ahead, Joe; tell me your idea.” “Why, it’s:just this way,” said Joe. “If we go piking down _ there we'll be seen and ten to one get into trouble and, anyhow, _ We'll put whoever brought the Swan over here on their guard. What I say let's do is to run to the boat-house as fast as ever we can go, get out my Water Witch—oh, I'll let you do sailing, so you needn't look at me—we'll come around here, for the Swan behind the point and follow her. Ten to we'll find out then where Ray is, and like enough Pilly too. In that way we may be able to do something, but the other way won't amount to anything at all.” Tt was a tremendously long speech for Joe Quigley to make, and it showed an amount of thought which Fred never sup- posed he possessed. ; “Good for you, Joe!” he exclaimed. “It’s a bully plan. We'll carry it out and I believe something will come of it; only one to the scheme that I see.” : peed that?” asked Joe. “That Ray may be down in the deserted village now.” | “And if he is we can’t get him,” said Joe. “You know that enough. We've got to be foxy and work our gards right, ‘I think you will find that he’ isn’t there.” “Come ahead,” said Fred. “It’s a case of follow my leader you are ‘the leader to-night, Joe.” Joe was immensely set up by this. “Come on! We'll show those stupid detectives what we Pees: Joe! Hurts ‘Fred icon saying. “If they are ‘ Efe on ot tok erste Ano et Tea pears and then suddenly they got the: hail: called ovt. — “Any length to save Ray.” ; “Suppose we have to stay cut all night?” “Then all night it is. I have the doctor’s permission and I'li make it all right with him about you.” “Settled,” said Joe. “Fire away. 1 don’t want to give any advice about sailing, Fred, for I know you consider me a regu- lar dunee at it, but I'd go to the other tack if I was you. My idea is they are going to lead up the lake in a minute. It will give us a chance to tack again and cut in pretty close behind them when they do.” “But suppose they don’t,” replied Fred. “Why, then we are left—that’s’ all.” “Well, all right. I said you were to be the le pater and Tul Stick to it. It's your scheme, anyhow, Joe, not mine.’ It was not a dark night at all, for the sky was cloudless and every star Was out, but there was no moon ard it was not pos- sible to see who was on board the Swan. Fred strained his eyes, but could not make out even the trace of a figure. Fol- lowing Joe’s suggestion, he tacked, and in a few moments knew that he had made no mistake, for the Swan changed her course and headed up the lake. “There!” cried Joe. “Now wait a minute and then strike in behind them.” “We had better take in sail, “badn't we, and stay as cad as we can?” “Yes. We might throw out a line, too, and pretend to be fishing.” “And let them pass us? They ought to go pretty near.” “That will be the correct scheme. We will let them go by, We won't tack at all.” : There was but little wind, though what there was blew steadily enough. , Tke Water Witch bobbed about after the sail was : down, but did not change her position much. : The boys got out their fishing lines and made a anna ines at being busy as the Swan drew near. “She’s going to run close to us,” said Fred. “Joe, your plan has worked first-rate. We ought to be able to see who sd on board now.” : “What if we should see Ray?” asked Joe, you do in that case?” “] don't know. I suppose it would be foolish to try to do anything, Best way would be just to keep still and mer on.” ’ “That's what I say,” replied Joe, emphatically, Then, atter a little, he exclaimed: “I can see a man in the saree ae “So can I.” : fs “There’s ancther one we on the lookout.” Pe “You're right. She's got a load of something on deck." ast _ “It’s boxes—that’s what it is.” wt “Yes, and there’s a third fellow sitting on the pile.” ~~ Matters were getting ee interesting, for the Swan was now very clear. , at ‘The ean on the ookoUt 4000 CALE slg of the Water Witch. The boys saw him adjust a big opera “What then?” “What would -Biass and look at them ps “Hello! hello! What are you telows sriep there” he 5 “Fishing!” shouted Fred.

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Mg er. a P x ‘past the boys, going by within twenty feet of them. Fred could not make out that he had seen either of the two men before. As for the one on the boxes, he sat with his head down, leaning on his hand and seemed to be asleep. But as the Swan shot past he suddenly raised his head and looked at the boys. “Great Scott!” gasped Fred. “It’s Ray!” i CHAPTER XIV. . 4 : THE WHITE SLAVES. ‘Was it actually Ray sitting there on the boxes on the deck of the Swan? Tt certainly was, and in order to explain how he came to be _ there we must return to the morning after his disappearance, for that was the next Ray knew anything from the moment Mr. Jacks, the giant, drove the hypodermic needle into his neck, _, Ray woke up then to find himself lying upon a dirty bed, with an old blanket thrown over him. _ He was sleepy and heavy that his first inclination was to _ turn over and close his eyes again, but just as he was about _ doing so some slight memory of what had occurred came e back to him in a dim sort of way. “Am I still on the Swan?” he thought. “No, no! f= ‘no bunk—it’s a bed. Let me see— let me see.” % . He sgt up, but his head swam so that for the moment he hy w could see nothing. ____ Then the mist seemed to clear away from before his eyes and Pak saw that he was lying ina rough reom with just boards for walls and ceiling, and no carpet on the floor. _ His clothes lay on a chair alongside the bed and in the Sa atoros were four other beds and on each one Scrat This 1s 1 was in one bed and Billy Bird in another, but who the 1 two boys were he could not make out. x pase? his hand before his eyes and sank back again off asleep before he knew it and the next thing he SD,” every one of you!” he called out. Pasiige! = No. one moved but Ray, and he only raised his head and “Up, you lazy _ It seemed tohim then that it would be just impossible for him to ge as Mr. Jacks had called him, soon Best that such was not the case, for he stripped the off of him and, catching hold of his feet, dragged roughly off the bed. ; “Ray had all he could do to save himself trom falling on the " Sloky caught him and stood him on his fect and then passed ee, enh shtog: eek slveper ie tute and serving ‘ way, Ray watching him, half dazed. _ os Segoe ataan oe ear orreememe MISSING FROM SCHOOL, were all boys, none of them being much older than] ~ The man made no answer and a moment later the Swan shot] life enough to speak to him, and somehow it did not seem at all] strange that he was there. All he could think of was: “This is really Billy and the other one wasn’t.” But at the same time this thought was passing through his mind he could not have told where he had seen the other boy or what it was all about. ‘As for Billy himself, he just stared at Ray and did not seem to recognize him at all. “Dress yourselves!” ordered Sloky. come in to breakfast—do you hear?” Nobody answered, but in a mechanical way all the boys began dressing. Ray did the same as the rest. Some mysterious power seemed to impel him to obey this man. He never questioned but what he had to. past events was very dim and seemed to be fading away gether, After he got his clothes on, Slky having left the room, he turned to Billy and said: “Say, don’t you know me?” “No,” replied Billy, shaking his head, “Ray! I’m Ray!” Billy stared stupidly. “TI don’t know you,” he said. “Don’t ask me to know you, It makes my head ache. -I don’t want to think.” It made Ray’s head ache to think, too. Where had he seen Billy? To save his life he could not remember then. In fact, he could not remember much about himself; even the recollection of the school had faded away from him, but whatever Sloky said was firmly impressed upon his mind. He was hungry and he was going to have breakfast—he could remember that. Pretty soon he got it. Sloky returned, and, in a stern voice commanding the boys to follow him, led the way into a larger room, where there was a table set. The boys took their places mechanically and sat staring at their plates. Breakfast was brought in by Sloky and placed before each one in turn. It was a good one, too, There was beefsteak, and eggs, and coffee, and good bread and butter. Ray noticed that the boys all made a dive for the coffee and drank down the whole cup, some of them at one gulp. When he tried his own coffee he found it very bitter, queer- tasting stuff, but as soon as he had drink it his head began to whirl and it was just as though he had experienced an electric shock, Every nerve in his body began to tingle. He felt elated. It seemed as though he wanted to sing and jump around. All the boys now began to talk, rattling away at a great rate, but in a foreign language, of which Ray could not “Dress yourselves and All memory of o- “I don’t.” understand a word. Ray talked, too, but without the faintest idea of what he was talking about. He addressed his conversation to Billy Bird and jabberea away about boats and canoes and school matters. Billy answered him in the foreign language if, indeed, it could be called answering, for it was certain that neither boy understood at all what the other was saying. It was a queer state of affairs all around. Suddenly Sloky appeared in the ee: “Get up!” he shouted. Every boy sprang to his feet. “Follow me!” was the next order. It seemed to Ray that he just had to obey—that some dread- : ee ee ee sl ah

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Tt must ‘have seemed the same to all the rest of the boys. oe followed Sloky out of the room like a flock of sheep. CHAPTER XV. Mt, CHASING THE SWAN. _ When Ray passed through the door he found himself in What seemed to be a workshop. _ He took in his surroundings in a dim sort of way and saw Several queer-looking machines and great strips of metal, white like Silver, and, in fact, it wags pure silver, as he afterward knew. | On one side of ‘the room was a big Furnace and a melting- Pot Stood on the floor beside it. _ Mr. Jacks, the giant, was bending over the pot, scraping _the inside with an iron tool. * _ “How does it work with the new one, Sloky?” he called out, : as the boys came trooping into the room. _.“Same as with all the rest of them,” was the reply. “The drug takes right hold.” _ “Ah, ha! Well, put him to work! he can’t run a stamper, I uppose, but he can pack.” Pretty soon the machines were all in motion, being con- trolled by power from a revolving shaft overhead. Each boy now ook his place. . _ They took up the long strips of silver and inserted them een the jaws of the machines, pulled a lever and down ey came. > a . PS om one dimes dropped down into a receiver below; from |- it was quarters and from another half-dollars. Bird worked at a second machine, which turned out a dim sort of way Ray understood that this was a coun- ‘ing shop and that they were making bad money. he did not know enough to realize then that this false was. actually silver. ; n pes ‘of the low price of that metal it was a very p veitnces to manufacture small ccin. The dies were | trom the genuine only by an expert. | ew next week Ray’s work was to pack them in boxes » became very skilful at it and was able to work very y ‘all that time he akitned in the same muddled con- ‘with: only a aioe memory creeping in upon him e drugged coffee that did it. a. a day tt was served to the boys and ther gulped hehe c. ~ eee | oka Sieigot an extra.cup:and ‘alt eclueal When he came bos on ‘board the sei gee So: ered another Sina ‘to the ‘airtel: ihage! find thay ind "6H! ep i the heavy boxes and oa epetaetiet of empty ter this was ya aeiy gees sailed ptev-eeein int: Roy the p ae on asleep and MISSING FROM SCHOOL. - — it and to like the sensation that followed | BK oe Sloky was shouting to some boys in a boat which they were just passing. It was Fred and Joe, of course. Ray recognized Fred’s voice when he called back the answer to Sloky. He tried to get up. ing overboard. “Sit down!” shouted Sloky. There was no help for it. The same terrible influence was over him and he just haa to obey. So poor Ray dropped back upon the boxes and stared at the boys as the Swan flew past the Water Witch. At the same moment Sloky tacked and Ray saw the boat no more. “It was Ray! It was surely Ray!” declared Fred. didn’t you see him?” ; “Yes, I saw him, of course,” replied Joe, “and he saw me, Why didn’t he holler? He looked so stupid. Just like that fellow he took out of the lake and who I say wasn’t Billy Bird.” “That's the mystery,” replied Fred, “but, look here, Joe Quigley, I know that Ray is on that boat and I propose to follow it till I seé where they land him if it takes us to the end of the lake.” “You bet I’m with you, boy,” said Joe, “and if there’s any fighting to be done you'll oe me right in it, and don’t you make any mistake.” In a muddled way he thought of jump- “Oh. Joe, CHAPTER XVI. TRACKED TO CRANE’S ISLAND, Practically there is no limit to what two determined boys ean do in such a case as Fred Fielding and Joe Quigley found themselves in now. There was the Swan ahead of them, and they knew that Ray Whitcomb was on board. “Do you suppose I am going to give up till I’ve got. Ray here on the Water Witch with us?” exclaimed Fred, as he threw the sailboat off on the other tack. “Not much.” “Say, if we have to fight for it, you'll find me all right there, Freddy,” answered Joe. “I may be clumsy and stupid and all the rest that you fellers say I am, but when it comeg to fighting I’m right in it—you'll see.” “That's right”’ said Fred. “We'll get there, Joe. don’t want to keep too near them, though.” “No; if they tumble to it thet we are following them they'll give us the slip, sure.” ' “Let's ‘stand off farther ovt into the lake. While it’s light like this we can watch ‘em. Once we catch on to their hang- out we are right in it, don’t you see?” It. was shrewdly plenned. ; The boys then stood well out into the lake. ~ Say, we Fred had a first-rate fieldglass, which he head taken care a) ‘bring along from the beat-house. The full moon made it almost as bright as day, and anak: really was little difficulty in following the Wes SB of the - boat. Fortunately for their purpose this apparent fetladeuail ." a

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s “There!” cried Fred. “I suspected it! I knew I was right.” | “Well, what is it?” asked Joe. “Let a fellow: know wha. you are driving at. The Swan has>vamoosed in behind that point all right. What do you know about things in there?” “Crane’s Island and the old powder mill,” said Fred, briefly. “They are in there.” *Never heard of them.” ‘ “No. We fellers haven’t been up there since you came to school, Joe; but the year before you joined us it used to be the regular thing to have our picnics on Crane’s Island. It’s something like the deserted village. There’s an old abandoned powder mil] there in the marsh. It is just about the most out-of-the-way spot you can imagine, and no large boat coula possikty get in there on account of the sand bar across the mouth of the channel. Just the spot for crooked work.” “Then it’s that spot we’ve got to tackle,” said Joe. “Any chance to get the Water Witch over the bar?” “Oh, yes; she’d go over easy enough; but it won’t do, Joe. | ‘Tf we are going to do the rescue act, we can’t sail right up to _.. the island and let everybody know we are there.” _. “What do you propose, tien?” “Why, my idea is to make a cove I know on this side of the -peint and leave the boat there. We can cross over the bluff 5 and -wim the creek. Then we shall be on the island without) i anybedy knowing it.” . “Which is just what we want. Pitch in, Freddy... Get us| 4 to the cove as quick as possible. I’m spoiling for a fight.” *“Shouldn’t. wonder a bit if you got one before. we vere _ through with it,” replied Fred, “Here we go for the cove.” _ It was working up against the wind to make the cove now, ‘ and it took time, but the boys reached it without adventure. It was a splendid place to hide the boat, for a thick growth of -alders and young swamp willows extended right out ito te. water. . _ By the help of the oars and ‘with a little dexterous handling os boys were able to run the boat in behind the outer line of _ willows, and when they tied up at last they were completely Sieccacmoreteae any craft which might happen to be passing os the lake, 1) eyrell, here we are, Joe,” Fr Peat fast and found themselves standing on the shore. Bs veady for business now?” — *¥ou bet I am! What’s the next move, Freddy?”. owe think we had better cut ourselves a couple of clubs bone we start over the hill.” — “A blame. good idea. Here's where we'll get ’em. I'd have ‘You understand that it's myself knows how to use a Shillaleh, said Fred, when they had made the “Are ret “Of course,” ‘Seststied Fred. “Pitch tn, Here’s a good, 2 stick for yon, Get it down and I'll look up one for l " A little later the boys, each armed with a stout club, started er the hill, and when they mee the top there lay Crane’s > of ‘ oe Soins leading right into the swamp, a its end, almost concealed by the tall rushes, were Qu ee er peste aid Fred.’ “iat tee we got on ee Aa a bay: MISSING FROM SCHOOL. up there, or can we walk through the swamp, or how ts it to be did?” “There's a path through the swamp on the other side of the creek, or at least there used to be,” replied Fred. “Then we go for the path. Ready?” “Yes.” “Come on, then. Here’s for a race down the hill.” Joe started on the run and, being in advance of Fred, got down to the water’s edge first. Fred heard him give a suppressed shout and saw a dark figure go plunging into the bushes, closely pursued by Joe. “Discovered!” he gasped. “Confound it, that’s too bad! Joe has run against the guard!” CHAPTER XVII. BOLD WORK, Fred did some lively sprinting down the hill. When he reached the bottom and came out upon the shore he met Joe coming back, swinging his club angrily. “Blame spy,” he said. “I ran right into him. could have got my hands onto him—that’s all.” “I suppose he is on guard here, looking out for just such fellows as we are,” replied Fred. “We're the spies, Joc.” “Never! Any man that calls Jce Quigiey a spy will get this club over the top of his head. We are in the soup, though, Freddy. That’s all there is to that.” “Don’t know as we are. What sort of a looking fellow was he, Joe?” — “Oh, about the size of Billy Bird.” “Well, it wasn’t the giant, anyhow. How did you come to lose him?” “He lost himself in the bushes beyond there. But what's to be did? Don’t say we have got to give it upon his ac- count.” “No; we will go right ahead and take our chances,” Fred replied, “But I think we had better wait a few minutes to see if that fellow shows himself again.” They put in ten minutes there on the shore waiting ana watching in perfect silence, “Now,” said Fred at last, “ready!” “All right, Freddy,” whispered Joe. “Strip and swim the creek.” “Can’t we wade across?” “No; it is too deep. Tie your clothes up in a bundle and fasten them to the club. That will keep them dry.” The boys were soon ready for the plunge. With as little noise as possible they swam the creek and silently dressed themselves on the other side. Of course they kept thelr eyes and etrs wide open for the guard all the while, but saw nothing of him. Fred began to hope that the fellow was only some tramp who had taken himself off in a hurry. Joe kept growling “What's the word?” Se i lhe Wisht 2 - a. because he had not had the chance to give him one whack Over the head with his club, i “Now for the old powder mill,” said Fred. “Here’s the path, Joe. It will take us right to it. I feel somehow that we are going to succeed.” f ‘The boys pushed on through the rushes, coming out at last _ Epon: Mente dein emp abe aane rep ae ae dup to a little pier.” vipa ee if

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Se ee ae eet et ya re " x * NET A MISSING FROM SCHOOL. 19 was, hard to believe that any one could oy inside, but there; “Hold on there! What in thunder!” _ | Was the boat to tell a different story. Bang! bang! bang! pl _ Fred could not for an instant doubt that Ray was near. Shouting with all the strength of a pretty powerful voice, But how fo get at him was the question. : Sloky sprang up from his cot, seized the rifle and blazed away “Joe,” he whispered, “don't speak a word. We'll first sneak /at the boys. up among the buildings and prowl around till we strike _ | Something. Now then, come on.” ; —— : There were four of the buildings altogether, and the first | that they came to was a long, low structure, one story high, ; | Sao which Fred had been more than once. CHAPTER XVUI. As he drew near he saw ata glance that things had changed . _ | Since his last visit. . “THE DOGS ARE DEAD, LOOK OUT FOR THE SWAN.” _ | The windows, which had been all open before were now Doarded up and a new door had been set in what before had “Out with him, Freddy! Out with him, quick! That’s the deen @ vacant space. talk! Take that, ye blaggard! Ah, ha! Put that in your _ It avas the same with the next building and the next. The} pipe and smoke it! Fire again at Joe Quigley if you dare!” tow ‘ lay farther over, in the swamp, somewhat isolated! jt was a tremendous relief to Joe to be able to speak once from the rest, and as Fred now led the way toward it the} more. en went. behind a cloud and a few drops of rain fell. As Sloky fired, Joe fired, too, and Joe’s shillaleh was better - _ “Say, there don’t seem to be any one here,” whispered Joe. gimkd than the’ cauaberteseie taille, Gigs ey must have taken Ray farther into the swamp.” It took the man acrogs the temple and must have stunned Hush!” said Fred. “Don’t you see the light?” him, fer he fell to the floor all in a heap. Sure enough a ray of light came stealing between the new] wits eng! you have killed him!” gasped Fred. “Ray, which covered: the nearest window. r m, Joe. — brace up! Do try and brace up! Help me out with him, Joe. crept noiselessly | ‘up and, putting his eye to the knot-| e, that’s the talk!” in, . Ray was a dead weight on their hands. He seemed to go you see?” whispered Joe. hese’ é ight to sleep as he walked across the floor, but at the same Half a ing in each. By|* dozen beds—some one sleeping ” | time he appeared to have a dim idea that he was with Fred, there’s Billy » No!” gasped Joe. stig too, for he put his arm around his old chum’s neck and let his head drop down on Fred’s shoulder, and when Joe took it is, an oy sobre See: too. si Joe, RRRRe.g0e:om, 40 hold of him and dragged him through the window esi niu tered: “That you, Quigley? Say, look out for poor Billy’ Bird,” and then, half naked as he was, he just sank down upon the ground and went. off to sleep again. The drug had a firm held on Ray, for he had been given his dose just before he went to bed, but with Billy Bird, who had been in bed all the evening, it was different. Billy was as near clear-headed as he ever was now, and he aa up his d clothes and staggered across the floor. He eae ae ee — rie He| “Faith, and we've got both of them. Come on, Billy! Come his knife and ran it under the boards end pushed the | °2!” Jee shouted. ide and the shutter swung open. | Billy stacgered up against the open window without spear- ™ breathed Joe. “There they are, both % them; but|ing and Joe pulled him out. t them out?” _ By this time Sloky had come to his senses and now sprang pped his hand over Joe's mouth, to his feet. if ‘Be quiet!” he breathed in his ear. “I’m going| He seized a revolver and made one rvsh for the window, at _ Now, — ies be me in Lara) that Beiow tries; the same time giving a loud-cry, and as he passed one of a row of posts which supported the roof he pulled a cord and waiting tor, ‘Joe's reply, Fred, clutched the window- a bell clanged sharply scmewhere in the distance, d his pater | into A room, It was cyer with trying to do the job on the quiet now, and’ : Ma t him | de of Ray and he ic steps Fred realized that he had all he could do to save himself and him, “harder, then harder still, until sud-| his schoolmates from a fate that might prove worse ca D Sannive iT vere confirmed what Fred had stated. ere the missing ones calmly sleeping on the cot a the long room, and°down at the end slept a large man, leaning against a table near his cot, and a big club "pate of revolvers on the table. All this the boys were 0 see by the dim light of a small lamp, which also stooa e table with the other things. death. He caught, hold of Ray's arm and jerked him to his feet. - “Run! run! Drag him along!” gasped Billy’ Bird, *t can help with you. Don’t let Ray fall down!” Fred started for the swamp, calling to Joe to follow, but. veh lay near a chair beside the cig sernagtie aeongt sisal poem: “What am I to It tcok downright courage to stand there facing the oe, nas Sloky came rushing up, firing the revolver. neat when a dismal} voise called ag you, féllows! Take me with you! tay y here!” 3 ene Joe had other business to attend to then, and he proved that Mis what he had said about fighting Was no idle boast, apt so~

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= ees as MISSING FROM SCHOOL. however, for he sprang right into Joe’s arms, and then the! It was rather slow work, for the wind did not amount to fun began. much, and shut in as they were by the tall rushes, what little ' Joe had possession of the revolver in just one second. Then,| wind there was did not reach the sail. instead of using it, he dropped it into the outside pocket of his Ray just sank down in the bottom of the boat and went to coat and gave Sloky the greatest old pummelling he had ever | sleep, but Billy Bird sat in the ‘stern seat blinking stupidly, _ received. He blacked both eyes and gave him one in the nose; and yet in spite of his appearance he was on the alert, and _ and another in the mouth, and a butt with his head in the pit | told Fred and Joe something of the truth. of the stomach, and then a good kick in the back when Sloky | “They are counterfeiters, that’s what they are,” he said, in ‘tried to run, which sent him tumbling down. ~ _ |answer to Joe’s eager questions, adding: Then was Joe’s time for sprinting. Fred and Billy Bird were; “What’s:the matter with Ray? Why, Ray has been drugged running between the buildings, making for the Swan. - with hasheesh, and so have I. I’ve been taking the blame Ray seemed to have -braced up a bit and to have found his! stuff for weeks. It makes us so stupid, fellows, but it will wear legs, for he was running, too. off if you only give it time.” “We'll take the Swan!” Joe cried. “I’ve knocked that feller; Fred listened, but did not go into any conversation with silly. If some one else don’t turn up it’s all plain sailing now. | Billy then. Here, Bird, you seem to be weak in your pegs. Give us your) His whole attention was taken up in watching Mr. Jacks, _-arm. Yll help! Sure you're the real Billy Bird this time!” | who had come down to the edge of the ereek and steod watch- ,... At the same instant the deep bay of a bloodhound was) ing the boat. There were two or three men with him, and heard behind them, instantly followed by a similar yelp a littie none of them made a move to do anything, which seemed to on. Fred rather strange. “Dogs!” gasped Fred. Saar Z J rs h , Billy?” he asked. “Hay .-. “They will tear us to pieces,” muttered Billy, looking back. 2 Shari fous svg = anette a ei “Yes, there they come!” - Ae ; i. “Yes,” replied Billy, “but it leaks. They are repairing it, whey, badya theitest of. the ‘buildings: now, ‘and -ttis' and they have sent for a new one, too. They expect it up “swan lay right ahead of them. Looking back, Fred saw the gigantic Mr. Jacks standing near | hig bartels ae deat arcten bachet "She: deokway: ® “Huh! if they wait for a new boat to come before they _. He was unloosing the collars on two huge blcodhounds, | ©2S¢ Us, I sucess we are safe enough,” exclaimed Joe. “It was “Sie ‘em! Sie ‘em, boy!” he shouted, and one bloodhound | 2°2¢ pretty slick, wasn't it, Fred? I wish Ray would wake up. a frantic rush toward the boys, to be followed by the I want to talk to him and find out more alent all this.” other a moment later. “Hold up! There’s something wrong!” said Fred. “Billy, _ Then Mr. Jacks seized a rifle from within the open door-| listen to me.” - way and fired three shots in quick succession, yelling at the} “I’m a-listening, Fred.” ~ same time: ; - “Why did that Mr. Jacks of yours call out to look out for the “Stop there, you Billy Bird! Stop, or you know what I’11' boat? Who was he speaking to? What did he mean?” 1. “I don't know, Fred, but he meant mischief. He's a fiend— _“You can’t do it!” roared Billy. “You've killed my brother,| @ perfect fiend!” replied Billy, who seemed to be growing but you shan’t kill me!” | brighter every instant, ' “You bet he won’t!” shouted Joe. “Into the boat with you,) “Bet you what you like it means some attack on the boat,” boys! -T'll settle with these dogs.” said Fred. “Say, Joe, let’s rouse Ray up and get out of this _ The plucky fellow turned and faced the bloodhounds, ‘which | boat. We'll strike across the swamp to the hill and then get ~. right upon them now, and using Slogy’s reyolver to bet- Over to the Water Witch. What do you say?” rpose than Mr. Jacks seemed to be using the rifle, shot! “Why, in ten minutes we will be out on the lake and can ont er crabs dead in their tracks. | sail right around to the Water Witch,” replied Joe. “We + “Bully for you, Joe!” shouted Fred, while Mr. Jacks, with a 40n’t want to lose the Swan.” | . “rear of rage, fired again, but to no effect. ) “I don’t know why I want to do it, but I do,” replied Fred, “Look out for yourselves, you boys!” he, yelled, throwing “and I want to do it right now. Billy, you know these fel- ene the rifle. “You had better surrender! You can never lows better than Joe or I can know them. We don’t want to ~s } 7 am - OB! Se ea et NAL E A, ae te A —_ y 4 -s from ‘the swamp alive!” ° | take any chances with them, do we?” _ 5 ts!” bawled Joe, helping Billy Bird into the Swan. “No, we don’t, Fred,” replied Billy. “I don’t know exactly ; F for and Ray were already in the boat, and as Joe jumpea| what you are driving at, but I say no, we don't.” “f ‘Fred cast off and ran up the sail. _ “I'm going ashore right here,” persisted Fred. “Let the cks atching them. ? ; _| Swan drift out into the lake. Perhaps we will have a chance to pick her up afterward, but I say let’s get out of here as 3 uilding, for at the same — a bell ; quick as ever we can.” the swamp. ~ Fred turned the boat in against the hank and sprang ashore. Jacks. —/ - are dees Look} Billy scrambled after him, and Joe, although he did have | something to say about it being foolish, helped Fred to lift — Ray out of the boat, following himself then, and allowing the - | a ; > agenkh ral ar Swan to drift down toward the mouth of the creek, whien Fae Jest of was only a short distance away. “s¥ ; ‘S ; = tome talk se sys, z wae Ue s race “de asim : It seemed almost like an inspiration on Fred’s part. ab i ee Hear how it turned out, and see what a lucky thing it was om SWAN maw UF ox TS BAB | that he made this move. - int ee Fit sah a: soy. SAME Sate Aha tag bak staahl es iS || arouse Ray, for he was in a deep sleep, and Fred was shaking creck rks conn Ga deo woman uk asta ering at once there was a tremendous explosion down the creek, an 2 yest Ore % ag ad a AG

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be MISSING FROM SCHOOL. Joe, who was watching the Swan, saw it fly into the air an& fall back into the water a shattered wreck. “By gracious, look at that!” he cried. “It’s the old man’s work!” exclaimed Billy Bird. the gang was down there laying for us!” “See now!” cried Fred. “That’s what he meant by holler- ing, ‘Look out for the boat!’ ” Just then the giant was heard calling again: “Got ’em?” he yelled. “Got ’em, boys?” ‘“No! no!” came the answer from down at the mouth of _ the creek. “There was nobody in the boat!” ‘ “Then they are in the swamp!” roared Jacks. “Sloky and ; I will start after them! You fellows strike in from the other : end.” 7 “We have got to hustle, boys!” said Fred. “Here, Joe, lay hold of Ray. We'll drag him along between us, if we can’t ‘Move him any other way.” - P It was high time to make a move, for already they could : hear at least two persons come rushing through the swamp from below, and a few moments later, allowing the giant and the man Slocovich just about time enough to get across the creek in the leaky boat, they could hear them pushing their Way through the rushes at the other end, : By this time Ray had roused up a bit. “Where are you taking me, to, fellows?” he murmured, adding: , F “Oh, I am so sleepy. Do let me lie down for a minute—just for a minute. I'll go with you then.” “No, no! Come on! Come on!” said Fred. “Brace up, Ray. _ Only for a few minutes. Billy, you are doing fine, keep close _ to us! We will give them the slip yet.” “Mighty lucky thing we got out of the boat,” said Joe. “Fred, you were dead right about that. What made you guess it?” “Can't tell you. Wasn't I right, though? Wouldn’t we all have been dead ducks if we had tried to pass out of the creek < in the Swan? I guess yes. Hello! Here they are close onto us! Joe, can we ever get over the hill? They will see us ‘sure, and that means shoot.” _ “You bet it does,” added Billy. “You want to keep out of * sight of Jacks if you want to live, He's a desperate scoundrel! - Oh, you don’t know him as I do. If you did——” “Hold up! Here we are at the hill!” broke in Fred. “Now, _ then, fellows, we'll strike in where those stunted cedars are, ‘ _ and craw! down as we run. I don’t believe they will get on to 8. It’s pretty well clouded over. Once we can get among the aN fe 1 believe we are safe.” d ; c: 3 2 : be SE in can wee n g to strike up the slope then and there. | Mr, Jack's voice was heard shouting : ys out for ‘them there, you fellows! They've taken 1o ‘Shoot "em down, every mother’s son of them! We move again if they escape!” ~~ “He, must have had a torpedo at the mouth of the creek, and one ot| CHAPTER XX. CHASED BY THE COUNTERFEITERS. Unquestionably the iour boys were in a very dangerous situs ation. If it had been daylight it is doubtful if they could have escaped, but as it was they were able to gain the top of the hill undiscovered, while the counterfeiters were still beating about among the cedars, trying to discover in which direction they had gone. Jacks insisted upon it that they were still in the swamp; Slocovich declared that they had gone up the hill, and the boys could hear them arguing about it. As for the other two, they could be heard beating about, here, there and every- where. In the confusion of it all the boys managed to get over the hill and down on the other side without being seen. But here a most unpleasant discovery awaited them. “Where's the Water Witch?” exclaimed Fred. “By gracious, I can’t see her at all.” “Was she here?” asked Ray, showing some interest in what was going on now for the first time. . “Hooray!” cried Fred. “Bully for you, Ray! You're brac- ing up all right. Yes, the Water Witch was here and she ought to be here now. How about it, Joe?” “We are below the place,” replied Joe. Come on! We'll find her all right.” “If we don’t I’m sure I don’t know what in the world we shall do,” said Billy Bird. “The old man will be sure to root us out, and he’ll kill us, too.” They hurried along the shore, Fred trying to locate the place where they had left the satlboat.. “It was right near that tree that the cove was, I’m sure of it,” he declared. “If we don’t strike it there I don’t know what in the world we are going to do.” They did not strike it there. When they reached the tree they found that the bend of the cove was right beyond it, just as Fred had said, but the boat was nowhere to be seen. “She’s gone adrift!” cried Fred. “See, here’s where we tied her, Joe!” “you are right,” replied Joe, hollowly. on the island, then, it seems.” “Boys, you might as well be dead,” said Ray. “It's dread- ful thing. When you know all you will understand.” “Here they come!” exclaimed Billy. “They are over the hill now. They are coming down to the shore. What in the world shall we do?” “We must hide somewhere,” said Ray. “How about those bushes up there on the side of the hill, Fred?” “Might as well try it there as anywhere else,” replid Fred. “I won’t say we are dead sure to be discovered, but I’m afraid that's what it is.” . They scrambled up the hill to the bushes, and all lay down flat on the ground. Ray and Billy soon dropped off to sleep again. Fred and Joe — did not disturb them. Breathlessly they waited, watching or - ee eee a ee ee ees ee eee : “Away below it. “We are prisoners

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MISSING FROM SCHOOL. Tacks haa a dark lantern, and he flashed to about every- where, gruinbling at Slocovich all the while. “It’s your fault,” he kept saying. “It’s all your fault. I wish that fellow had broken your head for you.” In answer to this Sloky growled out: ___. “It’s no more my fault than yours. What did you want to muss with these infernal schoolboys for, anyhow? What did you want to let Billy go, in the first place, for? If you hadn’t done that all would have been well.” “Mind your own business, I promised the boy’s father that he should have a year’s schooling, didn’t I? You know that.” “Rats! You have brought all this trouble upon us, that’s what you have done,” was the answer, and then the men moved on out of hearing, and, passing farther up the shore, did not return again. - Fred and Joe lay there for a long time waiting and watch- ing, but there was not a sound to break the stillness. The counterfeiters had evidently been thrown entirely off the scent. “What on earth are we going to do, Fred?” asked Joe, at last. “Wait till morning where we are,” replied Fred. “It’s al- most here. No use disturbing the boys now, If they can only sleep their sleep out I believe they will wake up all 0, K.” This mean patience for another hour, but before the dawn came Billy Bird suddenly awoke. 4 “Where are we?” he asked, sitting up and staring around. “Still on the side of the hill? Have old man Jacks and Sloky bes genet” . “Long ago,” vf sleep, Billy?” “I feel ever so much better,” replied Billy. replied Fred. “How do you feel after your “My head is SA as near clear as it has been since the night I ran away out 7; of, No. 10.” % “And what made you run away out of No. 10?” asked Fred. “Tell us now, Billy, for I think we have a right to know.” * be! “You have—there is no doubt about that, Fred Fielding. ‘2 eetarely have a right to know.” vw oe _*That's what I say,” replied Fred. “Come, now, Billy, out “i ft, old man. There mustn't be any more mystery. Was ft you that Ray pulled out of the lake? Did you come back _ to school, or—” me out of the lake. I haven't been back to school since the i ¢ “Then, by Jove, tt must have been your twin brother! * ex- f “Oh, he’s CHAPTER XXI. “Stop!” cried Billy, in great excitement. “Ray never pulled| “Tell me all about it!” exclaimed Billy. “Tell me all about it, Fred Fielding. They told me that Ben jumped off the boat and was drowned.” “Perhaps they believed it. He certainly would havé been drowned if it had not been for Ray, that’s one thing sure.” Then he went on and told Billy all that had happened after his disappearance from school... The unfortunate boy listened with close attention. “That was my twin brother Ben, all right,” he. declared, “but I don’t understand what has become of him. They lied to me. Of course, they knew he was there in the school; of course, it was he they were after, and Ray must have been taken by mistake. Poor Ray! No*doubt he would have told me all about it if he had ever been clear in his head, but they kept us drugged al] the time.” For, some minutes Billy was silent. It took a little en- couragement from Fred to make him take up his story again. “Yes, I’ll tell you all, boys,” he said at last. “Now listen, You think perhaps that I’m an American. Well, I’m not. My parents were English, but I was born out in India in the city of Bombay. My father was an engraver and printer, and —-well, I might as well cut all thet short. He was a counter- feiter; the leader of a bad gang of crooks. That man Jacks was his friend and helper. He’s a Frenchman; his real name ls Jacques; there were more of them then, but—oh, well, father was caught and sent to prison, and Jacques took care of us boys and brought us to this country, and when father got out he joined us here. Boys, I.come from bad stock, but I want you to understand that I have always tried to raise myself out of it—yes, I have.” “I believe you, Billy,” said Fred. “You don’t have to tell us all your business; cut it short. Just tell us why you went away that night.” “Oh, it’s the wind-up of a long story,” replied Billy. “Father is dead. The gang had been operating there at the deserted village for a long time. There was a secret room down under the old machine shop. We made bills sometimes, but when the price of silver got so low we made half and quarter dol- lars out of real silver—you couldn’t tell the difference. They were sent all over the country—there’s thousands of them in circulation now.” Billy paused again, the boys waiting with breathless Inter- est for him to resume, : “I wanted to go to school,” said Billy at last. “I wanted to get away. We were, all of us boys, kept drugged most of the time, It was Jacques’ scheme. As long as father lived Ben tand I were not allowed to touch the stuff, but when he died we also gradually got into the way of it. One day I asked Jacques to let me go to Dr. Whiteside’s school for a year, and, to my surprise, he consented, with the understanding that I should come back whenever he sent me word. I tried to get | leave for Ben to go, toa, but Hen was too good a workman, ‘|so he wouldn’t hear to thai, and I went alone. That's all _| there is to it, boys. 1 was called back again, but I wouldn't go. Then I was called a second time in the letter Ray brought 1° exclaimed Fred. “Well, Ray was right,| me. It was from Jacques. pas eet ss geet yu anit </AUK HAR Wo, ent $k sons, AS RE

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5 last thing I ever dreamed of was that it would sion Ray “I don’t believe it,” replied Fred. “I have ~eonfiderice in into trouble.” Billy Bird. I don’t believe he is that kind of a fellow = “Tt wasn’t your fault, Billy,” Ray’s voice said behind them,| all. What do you say about it, Ray?” “TI don’t hold you responsible for it, old man.” “I can’t say anything, because I don’t know anything,” Ray was awake at last and quite himself again, He was| replied Ray. “You must remember, fellows, that I have been - Most curious to know all about the coming of Fred and Joe} under the influence of that terrible stuff ever since they cap- S to the island, for he had only a dim recollection of what had| tured me. My head isn’t clear yet. I can’t think straight, but E occurred the night before. ; after what Billy Bird has told us I think if we can get off the - There the boys lay, talking matters over, until daylight) island and back to school we ought to do it, whether we find Game, eee him or not.” ~ ‘The only other point of any interest which Billy touched “Sure,” said Joe. “There’s no doubt about that.” “a upon was to explain that the gang of counterfeiters had moved| “Oh, I agree with you all right there,” declared Fred, “but from the deserted village to Crane’s Island, thinking it a| the trouble is, we can’t get off the island unless we can lay _ Safer place for their operations, and not because the Secret} our hands on a boat.” "Service detectives had discovered anything about their crooked “You will find that I am right, “added Joe. “Billy has been work. captured. They mean to have us go prowling about looking for 3 “They have never been caught, and I don’t believe they have| him, and then we will be nipped, too, that’s the game,” nae ever been suspected,” he added; “and I want to say——" “I den’t believe it,” repeated Fred. “Anyhow, if it's so, __ “Hush!” whispered Fred. “There’s some one moving about) how can we help it? We have got to go prowling about, as ! there on the beach!” you say, and the sooner we get down to it the sooner we'll _ It was almost morning now. Daylight was close at hand, and} now where We are at; anyhow, I believe in Billy Bird, and I as Fred pointed down to the beach, by the faint light of dawn | pelieve that this is a case for 2 detective, too.” the boys could see a solitary figure standing on the shore. ~ “Ig it one of the gang, Billy?” whispered Ray. “He keeps his back turned toward us. I can’t make him out at all.” B " Nor 1,” replied Billy. “Looks like a boy, though, but that can’t be—oh, fellows, it’s my brother! It's Ben!” Tt was with a wild shout that Billy said this, and he eA. “Thank you, Fred. Thank yor all, fellows, for your confi- dence in me,” said Billy’s voice right behind them. Of ccurse the boys faced to the right-about in a hurry, and there stood Billy just as though he had never disappeared. “Where in the world have you been?” cried Ray. “What did you give us such a scare for?” demanded Fred, “Didn't mean to,” replied Billy. “I couldn’t leave my brother, and when I came back and heard you talking about me I thought——” a ‘ » boy instantly turned and gave a shout, too. Fils ‘Hey, Billy! Oh, Come here!” he cried. “Come. on, ‘fellows! We are in this!” exclaimed Fred, springing up. “First thing you know they will both be dis- P ! We don’t want to take any chances on that!” Ray. and” Joe were close behind Fred as he ran. down the ll toward the shore. y, they’ve both disappeared already!” eried Joe. at’s what they have, echoed Ray. “Where in thunder hel ‘have gone?” rae It was more than Fred could do to answer this question then, ‘was just the same when they reached the shore. where the Water Witch had so” mysteriously vanished brothers had vanished, too, for look in whichever n they would the boye oaet see we sued of Master heap “You thought you would listen and hear what we thought of you,” broke in Fred. “Well, I don't know as I blame you. Where is, your brother, Billy?) Was it he that Joe and I ran up against coming down the hill?” “Yes, it was; he was afraid of you or he would have spoken then,” replied Billy. “Here, Ben!” he called. “Come here and see the boys. Don’t be afraid!” eae: Then out from behind a big rock that the boys had passed a dozen times in their search the very counterpart s Billy Bird stepped out into view. “That's the fellow!” cried Joe. “Hello!” said Ray. “Don’t you remember me, Ben?” Eh a Say ORE: RL AON GR gS ye APL RATT eas PsN ERAGE AEP APO Soha Pare ORR my life. You know now how I felt then, Ray Whiteomb, ‘You know what itis to be half drunk with hasheesh. 1 am ‘sorry to understand thet I have been working for you ever since I _| ran away from the school.” Nee we oN . ie! y PBX Ae carey ee ew sta 1 me cam “No,” replied Ben. “All I can tell you is I woke up and : out and Ray gone. b> sorte enced acittpan MISSING FROM SCHOOL, 23 _ “As though I could ever forget you!” sald Ben. “You saved % you got into all this trouble on my account, but 1 want you — “Hello!” said Fred. “Did you run away from school, too? Ke “ We thought you were carried off the same as Ray.2: 852 er| found myself alone in that room with the window-pane as

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24 ‘Istarted to do when I jumped overboard. I knew Billy and I could never get away from the gang unless something was done. Although I was half stupid with the drug, the idea eameé over me all at once to do something desperate, and I did it, and, by thunder, boys, it’s going to land the old man and his gang in State’s prison, and I am glad!” - Gradually Ben had worked himself up into a state of ex- eitement until he almost shouted these words. - Billy stood by looking at him admiringly. “Oh, he’s done it, fellows! He’s done it!” he exclaimed. “Don’t worry about the boat, It will be back in a little while tow, and then you will see!” “If it is just the same to you, Billy Bird, I’d like to know what all this means,” said Fred. “It may be all right, as you Say, but I wish the fellow who took our boat had left it alone, just the same.” _ “This way, boys,” said Billy. “Ben,was asleep when we came down on the shore or we would not have had to wait as we did. This way!” Billy then led the way in behind the rocks, and there, to the surprise of the boys, for on one would ever have dreamed it, was the entrance to a cave leading in under the hill. “By ginger! I never knew this place was here,” said Fred “Say, only had.” “That's right,” said Billy. “And,’ boys, we'll have the fun yet. Wait till we drive out the gang and land them behind _ the bars where they belong and we will have a jolly picnic here with Carrie James and Olive Moore and Mamie Sheldon and all the rest of the girls.” “Does it lead through the hill?” asked Ray, as Ben hurried - them on. * “That's what it does,” replied Ben. “The opening at the other end is closed to where I ran into you two fellows. I MISSING FROM SCHOOL. CHAPTER XXIII. RAY PROPOSES A PLAN. The two newcomers stopped short at the sight of the school- boys. It was evident enough that they had never thought of seeing so many persons in the cave. “Who are these fellows? How did they come here?’ one, a stout man with a smooth-shaven face, demanded of Ben, adding, at the same moment: “This one must be your brother. Bird.” “TI guess you have got the right side of it, spoke up Fred. “Don’t you know me?” The others saw then that these men were no strangers to Fred, as was indeed the case, for the large man was no less & personage than the noted detective, O’Connor, of Chicago, He is the missing Billy _ Mr. .O’Connor,” | who had been in charge of Ray’s case from the start, though | Ray himself had never met the man. Fred Fielding?” he exclaimed. “I didn’t Some one has got ahead Come on! “Hello! Is it you, know you at first in the dim light. of me here, I guess! Come on there, you fellows! “iP h k ft hands, all right, b Ray, what fun we could have had on our picnics if we; Shs OEE IT) DOE-RIGD GEO: SSSR OS HE, ER OG * there is a lot to do yet, and we want to get down to it rigtt now.” Seven more men came hurrying into the cave then, pretty well filling up the place. Of course, the boys were thrown into a high state of ex- citement, but before there was time to say much about it Detective O’Connor turned to Fred, saying: ‘ “Well, I suppose one of these fellows is Ray Whitcomb?” “That’s me,” replied Ray. “Yes, and a deuce of a scare you have given us all,” chuckled the detective. “I owe you one for this, young man. Aue: didn’t know who you were or you bet I would have spoken You have swindled me. I was working for the big reward that to you. Well, here we are!” “Heavens! it’s a regular arsenal!” cried Fred, looking The cave here was quite spacious and opened directly on the ee et _ Leaning against the wall were a dozen rifles, and lying near Gulia tes'tha Bal tu daca “Sbvckvees: Altogether, it was quite thnadelionpapege _ “What does it all mean, Billy?” demanded Fred. i “Business,” replied Billy. “You see——” eS Hush!” interrupted , suddenly holding up his right ‘= ; footsteps were heard behind them in the cave. _ one is coming!” crled Fred. “Is it all right, é 1 hee beuinonead ge ’ creek, for the swamp on this side of the waterway did not. is up for any detective who could find you, and here are a parcel of schoolboys who have taken it away from me just as I thought I had it safe in my hands.” “You will get paid all right if my father has put up a re- ward for me,” said Ray. “There’s work enough to be done here yet, and don’t you forget it. What about the boat, Fred? - Perhaps these gentlemen can tell.” “I expect we can,” replied the detective. “If the name of the boat is the Water Witch, I am the fellow that borrowed — it. You see, I wanted to bring these gentlemen up to the island and the boat I was running was not big enough to hold them all, so I just hitched yours on behind. now, and all ready to take back the Jacks gang if we are lucky enough to nip them, and that’s what we expect to do.” Of course, the boys had been worked up into a pretty good state of enthusiasm by the time all these explanations were | “There's halt a dozen of them;” echoed Joe. “By jolly, it) made. Matters were certainly closing in. All mystery had dis- 1 did not answer, and at the same moment two men | appeared from the case now, and as Fred very truly remarked, he polubonseanht a cxivisreces «Selle waged It’s in the cove ~

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att, Caine ie oe ‘< ae _-MISSING FROM SCHOOL. 25 ea) J i -Y _—y)-- “at pipe), +e a ns | They were the last to vacate the place. Bily Bird and his brother Ben were in the cove now on board the Water Witch, standing guard over Joe Quigley’s famous craft. Fred told all that had happened since he and Joe Tiutalon | _ landed on Crane’s island, the whole thing had now boiled itself - down into the question whether they could capture the queer coinmakers or not. “What I am afraid of,” said Mr. O’Connor, “is that they will take to the water on the other side of the island.” “And try to swim the channel over to the mainland!” ex- s claimed Ray. “They can never do it. Why, the distance is more than half a mile!” : “They have got a spare boat hidden in the swamp over there _ Teady for just this sort of thing,” replied the detective. “Isn't that so, Billy Bird?” Billy nodded. He had said but little since the arrival of the _ detectives. Ben had explained to him how he met Mr. O’Con- Ror on the night after Ray’s capture, and being afraid of him, gave the man the slip and ran away, but how, later on, he had hunted him up and told him all he knew. It was entirely _ through Ben that the detective had learned about the gang % being located on Crane’s island, and that the present plan _ to invade the queer-money factory had been arranged. “Well,” continued O’Connor, “what we don’t want to do is to let them escape by that boat, which some of them surely wih if wé"all make a rush for the old powder mill, and to ton the truth, boys, I'm blest if I know just how to fix it so| “Couldn't tell you,” replied Ray. “My head was too much that Rive eanaites dead sure of bagging the whole bunch of them} Muddled all the time to know much about it. I would listen to their talk, but I didn’t take in what they were saying. Oh, S Ab-diin tell you:* anld:-Iay: quietly: ‘ 2 it was a terrible experience. I wouldn't go through with it “How?” asked the bee ow e. Sais you know any way spit it Senin: for any ‘money, aud—” ; out.” Ma ey a2 £ “And you don’t have to,” broke in Fred. “That’s all over, . — “Let Billy and me vik the creek and show ourselves in| Come on, Ray. If they are going to shoot us let them try it ‘swamp. That will draw the gang down this way, and if/on.” _ 1 can't arrange to scoop them all in, why——” The boys now started boldly toward the low buildings of the Why, my name ought to be mud!” the. detective broke in.| old powder mill. s a great scheme, and if you wili believe me, it was in my They had not gone far before Fred saw the door of the head all along, but I didn’t like to propose it for fear——"| workshop suddenly come fiying open and Mr. Jacks himself “For fear I should be afraid!” broke in Ray, in his turn. popped out his head. . ‘as Ym not, I'll walk right into the workshop and give “Sloky! Sloky!” he yelled. “By thunder, here’s some ot up if it will. lead to the bringing of that scoundrel} tnoge boys coming back again!” 5 . 5 to i aback thas what I'm willing to do.” Immediately he pulled his long body through the door, sid 1 with you, Ray,” said Fred, quietly, “but Billy Bird) i42, al in an instant he came popping out again followed i suffered enough; he had better remain behind.” by the man Slocovich, who had his head all tied up in band- “Sure, and I'm with you, too!” cried Joe Quigley, dropping} j 0. Irish accent, as he always did when excited. “Bad|~ «1, the Whitcomb boy, but where is Billy Bird?” he nee ia ould villain, . who's always swallow- shouted. ‘Then putting his hand up against the house he ' touched an electric button and suddenly a bell rang out, ¥ This had exactly the effect that Ray anticipated. There were only six of the counterfeiters, altogether, beside the boys, who worked in the shop. 3 The remaining four came running out to join Sloky and Mr, Jacks, and all hands hurried forward into the swamp, each man drawing a revolver as he came on. “Hold on, Mr. Jacks!” called Ray. “There needn’t be any shooting. You have blown up the boat and we can't get off _ the island. We don’t want to starve to death, so we have come e| to give ourselves Rr 5 shes ieee have, have yout” sneered Mr. Jacks, making a As for Detective O’Connor and his men, where they were will perhaps develop later; at all events, nothing was to be seen of them when the three boys pulled off their clothes and: swam the creek, making no effort to conceal their movements from any one who might be watching them over at the old powder mill. “See anybody, Fred?” asked Ray, as they stood dressing themselves among the rushes upon the shore after the creek was crossed. ‘ “Can't say I do,” replied Fred. “They ought to be able to see us plain enough from the workshop, though.” “Which is the workshop, Ray?” Joe asked. “That jong building in the middle,” was Ray’s reply “There’s an awful lot of halfs and quarters in the boxes there now, boys. The load they took down to the deserted village was only a very small part.” “I suppose some steamer is going to stop for them there?” asked Fred. a rth hoop an a : ried Detective o'Connor, “With aint brave ie anes ta bein onthe ore ofthe, ans, sas 7 4 aie

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MISSING FROM SCHOOL, —_—_—— ——- horrible face, and letting his false teeth drop down as he| The unfortunate boys captured at the powder mill proved spoke. “Well, you are wise! Pity you weren’t all blown to| to be waifs without parents or friends. blazes, as I intended that you should be. Where's Billy They were kindly cared for by the Children’s Aid Society of Bird?” é Chicago, and taught Honest trades. + *“He’s not with us,” answered Fred. Great was the rejoicing when Ray and Billy Bird returned “Can’t I see that? Am I blind?” bawled Jacks, starting| to Dr. Whiteside’s school. _ __ forward: “Capture them, boys! We'll run all three into the) fred and Joe were the herces of the hour, and Ray’s father . ay and give them a dose and decide their fate later! paid Detective O'Connor $1,000 as a reward for the activity he Seay nad “Will you?” cried Ray. “Your fate is decided now, Mr. Jacks, No. 10!” a _ This was the cue. : _There were those crouching among the rushes on both sides cosh 2 il the advancing counterfeiters who knew perfectly well what it meant. _ Before Jacks had time to gobble up his false teeth again a dozen men armed with rifles rose up out of the swamp, + “You re truly John Jacks! My name is O’Connor!” cried the . ; “igtestixe, springing in front of the giant and planting a re- __-volver at his head. But quick as this was done, the detective was not quick “enough to stop Joe Quigley from springing: in front of him and dealing the giant one of his knockout blows under the ty? Joe Quigley has succeeded to his father’s contracting busi- St ay gece yelled ar. Fakes fot Hvar he: went deck, ness in Chicago, and is very rich and prominent in politics. wart, ieee aren eee: eats out of his mouth altogether as his) \;.41¢ Sheldon is Joe’s wife, and Fred married Olive Moore, ost pe -ypverd.yropelied tn Texection By foe's powers but Ray remains a bachelor still, as does Billy Bird. - ‘tal cad f - Last fall the boys all met at a little dinner in Chicago given eg hee’ At the same time Fred and Ray made a rush for Sloky ana | by Ray to his old schoolmates. ; Bs “got eevan ResOre SOs SUESwoRL. slow-moving’ individual Fred and Joe and the twins and others were presert, and mo. could understand what had really happened, and as for the the affair ‘wad w gredt’ succans, Fest, they were in the hands of the detective’s men in just ) had shown in the search for his son. Billy Bird took up his old place in the school, Dr. White- side putting him on the free list, and Mr. Whitcomb, at Ray’s earnest solicitation, paid for two terms for Ben. Billy was as bright as a button, and graduated the same year with Ray and Fred, and with high honors. Joe Quigley remained behind to keep Ben company, and both managed to get through in fairly satisfactory shape. But all these happenings occurred several years ago, and - the boys who led at the academy at that tine, are scattered now. ; Ray is a lawyer in South Dakota. Fred is in the lumber business up in Minnesota, and the Bird boys both work for him, Billy as a bookkeeper and Ben as a foreman in the saw mill. As might have been expected, the stirring adventures of the _ past were lived over again at the festive board, and the principal topic of conversation was about the time that Billy Bird was missing from school. Next week’s issue will contain “THE BOSS OF THE CAMP; or, THE BOY WHO WAS NEVER AFRAID.” By An Old Scout. — times in quick “succession, | was the signal agreed upon with the Bird aus, and ; a few minutes the Water Witch with a smaller craft in “tow ies ‘seen coming around the point, 3 the boats came up to the bulkhead in front. of the old mill, and the prisoners were run on board, followed _Whiteside’s dors, Ben Bird, Detective O'Connor and = POSTAL FOR OUR FREE CATALOGUE, SPECIAL NOTICE.—All back numbers of this weekly except the following are in print: 1 to 25, 27, 29 to 36, 38 to 40, 42, 43, _ 45 to 51, 53 to 55, 57 to 60, 62, 64 to 69, 71 to 73, 75, 79, 81, — 84 to 88, 88, 89, 91 to 94, 98 to 100, 102, 105, 107, 109 to 111, 116, 119, 122, 124 to 126, 182, 139, 140, 143, 163, 166, 171, 179 to 181, 186, 192, 212, 218, 215, 216, 233, 239, 247, 25 265, 268, 272, 277, 294. If you cannot obtain the ones you want = |from any newsdealer, send the price in money or ostag tn stamps by mail to FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 24 mn iy Onn eee ee ae eee AT Je hy return mail Pen eee of the detectives party stayed behind. to Witet sein: nate 34 tl ipeatyn,? ane, tos gs hacia Shon i eis "As Xe was & Government * aes

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A LUCIFER’S WORK. By Col. Ralph Fenton. Arthur Wellington, entering the service of Vine & Drew at fifteen as cash-boy, by his industry and evident ability rapidly secured the confidence and esteem of his employers, and, when twenty-three, was made a member of the con- cern, whose name was then changed to Vine, Drew & Co. Though by far younger than either of the other two, he was really the most active and enterprising member of the firm, giving it a reputation for solidity such as it never had enjoyed until he had a personal interest in its affairs ; and his partners, having explicit confidence in his ability - and integrity, willingly intrusted the management of the ‘ea business to him, which he conducted in a manner entirely _ satisfactory to them and to all who had dealings with them. One morning he failed to make his appearance at the office at the usual hour—a thing that had not occurred pre- _. viously since his connection with the concern, save when he was absent from the city on business or enjoying his brief annual vacation; and, knowMhg that he was in the city, his _ partners were naturally surprised—indeed, alarmed—by the singular circumstance, for which they could in no wise account. * 4 oe ere ta ae ee ~ *T fear he may be ill,” said Mr. Vine, “and will go and]. ~ Tearn definitely with regard to it; though it seems as if he would send us word in such a case, especially as we have to _ decide this morning with reference to the purchase of the _ L, and B. stock, -a most important transaction, and which must be based upon his judgment almost entirely.” Going to Wellington’s boarding-house, Mr. Vine made inquiries concerning him of the landlady. J ea}led him to breakfast,” she replied, “and as he did come to the table, I called him a second time—which I ve never had to do before in the six years that he has been with me. I am afraid he is unwell, but hesitated to force an éntrance to his room, and the door is locked.” “Are you sure that he has not gone out without your kno > » . “se oT bly ‘think he could do it. Besides, when he goes out, he always leaves the room occupied by him open, that _ the servant may have easy access to it.” , conduct me to his room,” returned Mr. Vine. done, and, as repeated and mgt upon ed to elicit any response from the room, uced his shoulder against the door and gave it y the apartment, he saw Wellington lying on —cold in death, as he found when he went to him. > ee wees fi. 15 4% jine- as a slip of paper, on which Mr. Vine, picking ot Regt ee : embezzler of the funds of Vine, Drew & Co. to of nearly ten thousand dollars, lost in wild which I am confident I can never return, This ES PLUCK AND LUCK. a eee SSS eee e ag of Wellington, though it had| Charles French sat in his room, his feet on a table, a 27 Mr. Vine gave such information to the proper officials as was necessary to a post-mortem examination, and then re- turned to his office with the sad intelligence of Wellington’s death—doubly sad by reason of its cause. “TI won’t believe that he was guilty of embezzlement,, his own words to the contrary notwithstanding,” exclaimed Mr. Drew, his voice so tremulous that his words were hardly audible, while tears stood in his eyes. “T cannot understand why he should charge himself with a crime of which he was innocent,” replied Mr. Vine, whose feelings were less sensitive than his partner’s. “An exam- ination of the books that were wholly in his charge will reveal the truth of the matter.” “Last evening,” said the confidential clerk of the firm, Charles French—a young man of about Wellington’s age— “Mr. Wellington wished me to call upon him at his room, and I did so. He had no special matter to discuss—as I had supposed he would have—and his talk was rambling. He was painfully nervous, and hoping to partially quiet his unaccountable mental disturbance, I proposed a game of drafts—a game of which he was very fond. He procured a board, but after we had each made a few moves he remarked : “I don’t feel like playing this evening.’ “Then he spoke of various stocks, and said: “ Speculation is the road to destruction.’ “T left him a little before ten, and his last words to me were : ai “ “Always stick to a legitimate business. Good-by!’ - “Tt all seemed very strange to me—his manner, his gen- eral conversation, his parting words ; but now they are com- prehensible.” : ho “You think he was a defaulter?” inquired Mr. Drew. “With Mr. Vine, I cannot understand why he should con- fess to such a crime unless he is guilty. And as he said: ‘An examination of the books will reveal the truth of the matter.’ ” The books were placed in the hands of an expert, who, after long and patient examination, found a shortage in the accounts of Vine, Drew & Co. amounting to above ten thousand dollars, And an autopsy disclosed a large quantity of prussic acid in Wellington’s interior—“enough to kill twenty men.” There was no doubt that Wellington had been an em- bezzler, and taken his own life to escape the consequent disgrace. The affair was heralded by the papers throughout the country, made the subject of innumerable editorials of an admonitory character, and filed away in the mind of man with other similar events—soon to be forgotten. By the recreancy of its junior member the solvency of the firm, which at once tesumed its original name—“ Vine & Drew”—was in no wise affected; and frequently Mr. Drew observed : aa ae “To think that Wellington committeed suicide for so comparatively small a sum! I loved him asI should love a son, had Providence given me one, and would by far rather have made up the deficiency out of my own pocket.” ss 3 * : * * ‘ se t * @ 4 * ¥ bay ter

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rey em VS Se ne - unnounced, of a man somewhat past the inidale age, who apis: importance with you, which I Lsaiats to transact without an audience.” ; z “Please’be seated,” returned French, rising and extend- ing a chair to his unexpected visitor. _ “Thank you,” replied Mr. Blank, as he sat ate ch! understand ‘that you deal largely in stocks——” “1—deal—largely in stocks ?” repeated French. _ “Not in your own name,” observed Mr. French, with a smile. “In such operations it is often desirable to conceal one’s identity. I also understand that you have lost large sums in your ventures,” he continued. French grew pale, and for a m7ment was unable to speak. Then, his voice quivering, he asked: “To what end is all this talk?” “And that, hoping to retrieve your losses, you have re- sete to unworthy means, even to crime.” : ‘French reeled in his chair like a drunken man, and my reached out with both hands clutching at an invisible me a “Mr, Drew,” Mr. Blank went on, “has never ebuied . that Arthur Wellington was an embezzler or a self-mur- pers though there was every reason to believe him both. % ing nothing about it to any one else, he employed me— ; Hg ive—to investigate the case. I ‘will briefly state to]. you the r result of my investigations: aa “The note found beside Wellington's dead body would, j JS, save on a very careful examination, appear to have been a in his chirography. Subjected to crucial tests, it shows various peculiarities never met with in writing that is in- - separable from your own, particularly noticeable in the . formation of the ‘e’s.” You are an expert penman, and can go successfully imitate any one’s handwriting as to deceive him) whose writing you counterfeit. _ “If Wellington committed suicide, what became of the oe vessel in which he kept the fatal poison? None such could ‘be found in his room; and the poison used is so instan- taneous in its aetion as to afford no one chance to dispose the vessel containing it, after having swallowed any of it. “No certificates of stock have been discoverable among a nor can anything be found to indicate him a ‘in such commodities. No broker in this city has ever fine. ‘privilege,’ whether a ‘put’ or a ‘call.’ _. “By various devices, I have learned that you, as ‘Wal- st Evans’ ”—(hearing the name French shook like a leaf) —“have lost immense sums in speculation, that you have ved. to pay your ‘margins.’ How? Having no re- Sis Roem — do it by under- Sa iantopaanae coats | ad fr ceearer te: Hike winnie; Fou Pl Ba Se ie coat a NE a TES eS “Permit me to introduce saryel4 FUhiab Blank. ‘I am} ed to find you alone, as I have business of the utmost | Visiting his office—whose doors are always unlocked—in his 000,000,000 Se _) PLUCK, AND LUCK, reasonably feared they would be discovered, you resolved to get rid of Mr. Wellington—and did. How? “Among your intimate friends is one Dr. ‘Thomas. absence, you helped yourself to a portion of his prussic acid, ‘securing access to the case in which he keeps his poisons by means of a false key—I learned from him that you had a key that fitted the lock on the case; also that the quantity of his prussic acid had diminished in some inex- plicable way. “Tn Mr. Wellington’s fhtesior the autopsy revealed por- tions of peaches undigested, proving that they must have been eaten but a short time prior to his death. You are known to have a.remarkable liking for this fruit, to keep it near you constantly in its season. When you called upon Mr. Wellington, the evening of his death—whether or not at his solicitation, as you declared, I am unable to say— you took with you some peaches heavily dosed with prussic aeid, and gave them to him, knowing that he would not detect the presenee of the poison by any peculiar smell or taste. That is all.” For a few moments French remained silent, then: “It is as you surmise,” he gaid in a firm tone. “I mur- dered Wellington in the manner and for the reason that you have indicated.” Charles French was tried, found guilty of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to be hanged. He died from brain-fever before the sentence could be carried out. errr oe — Roeent statistics show that the total wealth of the United - States iz estimaied as seventeen times that of Japan, $130,- 060,000,000 to $7,500,000,000.. The total wealth of Great Britain and Ivelznd is sixty per cent. of that of the United States, viz., $80,000,000,000, Other nations follow on in this order: France, $65,000,000,600; Germany, $60,000,- 000,000; Russia, § $40,000,000,000 ; Austria- Hungary, $25,- Italy, $20,000,000,000; Belgium, 000,000; dapan, $7,500,000,000 ; Spain, $5,400,000,000 ; Netherlands, $5,°00,900,000; Portugal, $2,500,000,000 ; Switzerland, $2,400,000,000. The wealth of the United States exceeds by $23,200,000,009 the total wealth of the Leight nations named above having less than Great Britain, France and Germany. The per capita wealth is as follows: Great Britain, $1,777; France, $1,666; United i rege $1,429; Belgium, $1, 285; Germany, $939 ; Netherlands, © $833; Switzerland, $648; Italy, $625; Austria-Hungary, $500; Portugal, $462; Spain, $270; Russia, $250. The United States has sixty-nine times as much land under cultivation as Japan, 873,700,000 acres to 17,700,000; Com- menting on these statistics the Oriental Review says: “The: Japanese must go abroad or ultimately starve to death. — The Japanese must expand, Bohr Australia and ghee . Se ete eee ee $9,000,--

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wae . ae y | PUZZLE. This puzzle contains twenty-one pieces of wood nicely finished; take them apart and put them _ together same as illustrated. Everybody would like to try it, as it is very fascinating. Price, by mail, postpaid, 25c. c each. H. F. LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’klyn., N. Y. DELUSION TRICK. A magic little box in three parts that is very mystify- ing to those not in the trick. A coin placed on a piece of paper disappears by dropping a nickel ring around it from the magic box. Made of hard Wood two inches in diameter. Price, 12c. M. O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th St., N. ¥. ITCH POWDER. Gee whiz! What fun you can have with this stuff. Moisten the tip of your finger, tap it on the contents of the box, and a little bit will stick. Then shake hacds witb your friend, or drop a speck down his back. In a minute he will feel as if be bad the seven years’ itch. It will make him scratch, roar, squirm and Make faces But it is perfectly harmless, ag is made from cole of wild roses. The horrible itcu siops in a few minutes, or can checked immediately by rubbing the spot with a wet cloth. While it {s working, you will be apt to laugh vor suspender buttons off. The best joke of all. Price 10 cents a box, by mail, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 20 W, 26th St., N. ¥. COMICAL RUBBER STAMPS. ~ A complete pat of as tesque ttle peo hd 1a of indestructible rubber mounted on black walnut blocks. The fis- ures consist of Policeman, and other | laughable figures shown in pictures. e figure is mounted on a separate block, any : boy can set up a regular: arade or circus by print-/ ng the figures_in differ- each set of figures we! an Ink pad and , @nt positions. With @ bottle of colored ink, instructions. Children can stamp these, on their toys, picture books, writing and envelopes, and they are without bt the most amusing and entertaining Novelty gotten up in years. Price of the com- cet of "ubber Stamps, with ink and pad, only !6c., 3 sets for 25e., one dozen 90c., by mai! postpaid. . L. Senarens, 347 Winthrop St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. JUMPING TEI ESCOPE. . ¥j This is an oblong tube in exact imi- tation of a tele- scope. By looking through it, reveals one highly magni- fied picture of a dancer or other subject. It con- tains on the side a 5 button, which the victim is change of picture. ure appearing, the entire inside out, as shown in illustration. It harmless, but gives the victim a each; 2 for 26¢. by mall, postpal NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y¥. THE FLUTOPHONE. A new musical in- strument, producing the sweetest dulcet tones of the flute. The upper : pert of the instrument | placed in the mouth, the lips covering the openings in the centre. . Then 4 blowing wen | ; P upen you can play tune yg as eaally as whistling. But Practice is fred to become a finish Tt is made entirely of metal, and will full es isch cittrument, “Price, ibe, or GIANT SAW” | Accuracy Penetration ; The World’s Record Holders Remington- UMC .22 cal. cartridges have broken two records in two years. : S Se sateen = Tee omg a : Qe ian Lh The Remingion-UMC cubs make a find The present world’s 100-shot gall d, 2484 ex 2500, held b Arthur Hubalek was made with B yp Bary cin le ‘22's. ‘ They will help you, too, to break your best shooting records. _ Remington- UMC .22’s are made, too, with hollow point bullets. This increases their shocking and killing power. Remington- UMC—the perfect shooting combination REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO, Ventriloquists Double Throat taristvie; erestert sing yee las Nee ponnys sing ike e ands wht” Pes fo DOUBLE THROAT for 26 cents or 12 for 50 cone Co. barr. K FRENCHTOWN,N.4 GOOD LUCK CUN FOB The real western article, carried by the cowboys. It is made of fine leather, with a highly nickeled buckle. The holster con- tains a metal gun, of the same pattern as those used by all the most famous scouts, Any boy wearing one of these fobs will at- tract attention. It will give him apy air of western romance. The prettiest and most serviceable watch fob ever made. Send for one to-day. Price 20 cents each by mail postpaid. M. O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th St., N. ¥. Ayvad's Water-Wings Price 25 cents, Postpaid take up no more room thana pocket-bankerebief. They weigh 8 ounces and sup- port from 60 to. 260 pounds, With a palranyons can earn to swim or float. For use, you have on! them, blow them up. and press together eing-maorke nmier the mouthplece. Hi. F. LANG, 215 Walworth 8t., B’klyn., N. ¥. These water-wings to wet two RARE POSTAGE STAMPS Our packages are the best, as each contains at least 2 rare ous, worth the price of the whois jot. Start a collection. In time it will grow very vai- vable. Every known variety of foreigu and domestic stamps in these packages. Fifty va- rieties for 6 cents; one hundred 10 cents; two hundred, 20 cents; three hun- dred, 36 cents; five hundred 25; one thou- » $1.25; sand, a, $18.00; 1,000 mixed lot, condition and worth twice the amount we WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, OF FUN FOR A, DIME | } 289 Brosdway, New York City JAPANESE WATER FLOWERS Without exception, the ; most beautiful and in- teresting things on the Feu] market. They consist of a dozen dried-u sprigs, neatly an in handsomely decorat- ed envelopes, just as they ars tmported from Japan. Piace one sprig in a bowl of water, and it begins to exude various bright tints. Then !t slowly opens out into va:ious shapes of exquisite flowers. They are of all colors of the rainbow, It is very amusing to watch them take form. 1 bene peice es size, 10 cents a . m. Mm O'NEILL, 425 W. Séth St, N. ¥. JAPANESE TRICK KNIFE. You can show the knife and instantly draw it across your finger, apparently cutting dee into the flesh. The red. blo appears on the blade of the knife, giving a startling effect to the spectators. The knife t 4 is removed ae the ae ve ‘ound in good condition. te an offe illusion. Price 10c. each by mail, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥, to get both balls, one in each et. Price, 10c.; 3 for B50. by mall, postpaid, M. O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th 8t., N. Y¥. CACHOO OK SNEEZING POWDER. The greatest fun-maker ot 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 is perfecttly harm- lesa. Cachoo is put up in bottles, and one bottle contains enough to be used from 10 to 15 times. Price, by mail, 10c. each; 3 for t5e, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th &t., N. % TRICK FANT A lady’s fan made of colored silk cloth, The fan may be wine it in, when ns a it falls Rg erent whut and open again and it A great surprity for tedie or oe Price, 35c. by postpald. M O'NEILL, i25 56th . ‘break. mail, Bt. #

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% GOOD LUCK BANKS. Ornamental as well. as useful. of highly nickeled brass. Ties just One Doilar. When | lod 't opens itself. ase Money refund- | > if not satisfied, Price, 1c. | mall, ENARENS, MI Winthrop TL, Beockinn, N. ¥. } NAIL PUZZLE. Made of 2 meta! nails Unked together. Keeps foiks guessing;*« easy to take them: apart when you know _ how. Directions with every one. Price, 6¢., postpaid. WOLEYT NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. / ‘HE MAGIC NATL. A common nafl is given | for examination, and then in- : star tly shown pierced through the finger; and yet. when taken out, the finger is found to .be perfectly uninjured, : and the nail is again given to be examined, Nicely finished. 7 Price, 10e, by mail, postpaid. J. KENNEDY, 302 West 127th St., N. ¥. ee GOOD LUCK PUZZLE. It consists of three horse- fastened togethcr. Only a very clever perge. ean take off a closed horseshoe from the two! inked horseshoes. But it casa be done in a moment whén the secret is known. Price, by mail, 1@c, each. ? H. F. LANG, 215 Walworth 8t., P’kiyn, N.Y. | ROUGH RIDER DISC PISTOLs, Made of nicely col- o2red wood long. furnis' 6% Inches | The power is hed by rubber bands. Ten disce of cardboard with each pistol. Price, Gc. cack, postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥. IMITATION GIANT DIAMONDS. ond rings or st { halt-nch and ohe inch fe diameter are heard of in stories only. We have them imitated by prodigious spark- Mng stones which will deceive t ce of any spectator, + large size. 38r, eerh, 215 Walworth St., B’kiyn., N. ¥. “MAGIC PUZZLE KEYS. Two keys interlock- ed in such a manner it seems impossible to ‘ ere te them, i me ee easily done. aes ae ‘.. Price, Ce., postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. sod CUPS. ; These © Mittle ew ) doin saw, do use fea and } finished. When com-. san De garmied in the vest | ; * ners held a good quantity } = Of wary Mgnt, | *s) life, eu pald. - ch, post- THE MAGIC CIGAR CASE. A beautiful and per- fect cigar case, made of imitation alligator and sealskin leather; worth a quarter ag a cigar case alone. It ean be shown full of cigars and instantly handed to a person, who, upon opening it, finds only an empty case. ‘he box has a secret spring and a | double case, and can be operated only by one in the secret. -Full printed instructions sent with each case. Every smoker should have one. pkg Mage 2 for se be, mail, pustpaid; ng oR EOE wos Weet 127th st., N. ¥. NORWEGIAN MOUS A very large gray mouse, measuring § inches from tip of nose to end of tall. The be@y of mouse is hollow. Place your first finger in his body, 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 seat- tering of the fair sex. Many practical jokes can be perpe- trated with this smal! rodgent. Price, 10¢.; 3 for 25e. mailed, postpaid. H. F. LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’kiyp. N. Y¥. A NEW SQUIRT BADGE. Great fun for the mil- lion! Wear it in your buttonhole and then press the bulb and watch the other fellow run. Price, 14e. J. KENNEDY, 303 West 127th St., N. ¥. —$—$—$—$—$—$$——_——— THE ELK HEAD PUZZLe, r Just out, and one of the most fascinating puzzies on the market. The stunt is-to separate the antlers and re- join them. It looks easy, but try it and you will admit that it is without exception the best uzzie you have ever seen. You can’t leave t alone, Merde of silvered metal. y Price, 18c.; 8 for 30c.. sent by mail. postnaid, MM. F. LANG, 215 Walworth 8t., B’klyn, N. ¥. | MARBLE VASE. A clever and puzzling effect, easy to do; the apparatus can be minutely examined, Effect: A maerbie can be made to pass from the hand into the closed vese, which ao moment before was shown empty. This is a beautiful enaméled turned wood vase. Price, 20c. M. O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th 8t., N. ¥. —_—_——_-—-- THE MAGNETIC TOP. A handsome metal, highly magnetized toy. A horseshoe and a spiral wire furnished = with each top. When spun next to the wires, they make the most surpris- ing movements, You Z can muke wires of dit- : ferent shapes and get 4 the most peculiar ef- — SS fects. Price, 5e., post~- paid. L. Senarens, 347 Winthrop St., Brook'yn, N. ¥, OBER I 2 AA EE LEO A ECO ANARCHIST BOMES. They are small glass vials, and contain a odor, When dropp a roo , they will meke eve y person present rush oe | holding thelr Poses, n a few min- utes the smell will dis- appear. Perfectly harm- of any ev!! effect. The only less. No danger = is that your friends muy make you amell of the bombs you, F NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St. N.Y. THE CROWN STYLO. . : Made of aluminum, Yourself, if they catch rrice, fee a beN ur Aer oh WGOLE board it Ba i NFO HS | gatin finish, guaran- { y c cannot cor- | LINK THE LINK PUZZLE. The sensation of the day. Pronounced by all, the most baffling and scientific novelty » out. Thousands have worked at it for hours without mas- tering it, still it can be done in two seconds by giving the links the proper twist, but un- less you know how, the harder you twist them the tighter they grow. Price, 6c.; 3 for 15e.: 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 effect of a smashing, hea falling pane or siass. It will electrify every- When you come home, the door shut and at | the same time throw the dises to the floor, Every pane of glass In the house will at once seem to have been shat- tered. Price, by mail, postpaid, 35¢., a set “ft six plates. H. EF. LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’kiyn, N. ¥, THE FICUTING ROOSTERS. A full blooded pair of fighting game _ cocks. These liliputian fighters have real feathers, yellow legs and fiery red combs, their movements when fighting are perfectly nat- ural and lfelike, and the secret of thelr movements is known only to the operator, who can cause them to battle with each other as often and as lon® as desired, Independent of their fighting prociivities they make very pretty mantel ornaments. Price for the pair in a strong box, 10¢.; 3 pairs for %Sc. by mail, postpaid. WOLFY NOVELTY CO., 29 W. S6th St.. N. ¥. TITE PEG JUM?PER. A very effective pocket trick, easily to be performed by any one. -A miniature paddle - shown. be m4 tral holes are drilled through it. A wooden peg is inside of the upper hole. Showing now both 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 {t jumps to the lower hole, back to the | middte one, and a to the Bes 4 coy 2 @ are repeatedly Both sides of the p Ie ee conthoneat J. KENNEDY, 303 West 127th St., N. ¥. DEAD SHOT SQUIRT PisToOL. If you shoot @ man a with this “gun” he will be too mad to accept the ancient excuse—“I didn’t know it was loaded.” It londs easuy with a full charge of | water, and taking aim, press the rubber bulb at the butt of the Pistel, when a smal! stream of water is squirted into his face. The best thing to do then is to pocket your gun and 'tun, There are “loads of fun” in this wicked little jokey, which looks Hike a real revolver, trigger, cock, chambers, barrel and all. Price only 7e.; 4 for 25e.; one dozen 60c. by mail salen Liman iaa | il. F. LANG, 215 Walworth St., B’ktya, N. ¥. THE HIDEOUS SPIDER. ja 3 inches long, beautifully enamel- ed green, with white ridges, yel- low speckles, bulging eyes. and a big red Beith reals Sat of statis eshutemeies upright ers, made of fies @ spiral A dark, invisible thread attached to his body - lets you shake him in the air before your friends’ eyes, when the legs wiggle in a most natural, lifelike manner. Guaranteed to any lady how) and to scare the bravest on earth out of his boots. Price by mall, 10¢. sach. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 20th St.. N. ¥, - Oe MINIATURE COMPASS CHARM. oy and gi not scen. a 3s cryst sliver-nickal plated 9} “senting @ very attractive have a relied! : t is a

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PLUCK AND LUCK NEW YORK. JULY 10, 1912. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS : pe Vrite your name and aS Frank Tank Publisher | SEE Brntsan, secretary 168 West 23d St., N. Y. ___ BRIEF, BUT POINTED. ; ‘While excavating he ruins of St. Piran’s Oratory, Corn- wall, many skeletons have been dug up, several of them ¥ human eS: seven feet in height. 5 Arizona his a Seance of 250,000, of which fully ee-fourths are American born. The Indians number ut 25,000, the Navajos leading with 15,000. od ‘eeagull was seen struggling i in the air near the River - When it fell to the ground an oyster was closed m-the bill of the aay: The seagull was suffocated. D ecnrd herring catch for this season is 110,000, landed Scarborough by the Golden Hope, Seotch herring fleet. fishermen received forty cents a thousand for the her- nd took in about #450 ae the wares fishing. The Russians are Sao area a fabric from. the fiber f a filamentous stone from the Siberian mines which is io be of so durable a nature that it is practically inde- Je. The material is soft to the touch and pliable extreme, and when soiled has only to be placed in be made absolutely clean. ty years ago ‘the telephone list of New York City printed on a small card, and contained the names of The latest city directory has 630 pages, dof the small card, is a book about a foot square ing two and a half pounds. ‘The city edition { one book on. eae aoe make a tower more eg reais : Mexico finds 4 dni a very costly He is ted to buy the trousseau, and he y if he ean satisfy the. Ca ae i and prompted by ardent passion. Young men are ‘said to be often seen in the City of all sorts of finery for the ladies of their pec it as. they consult the So Tea abe aaa plied Slangey. ‘displayed on his chest.. He rose to speak. PLUCK AND LUCK. The total: output of crude petroleum in 1910 for the world was 327,472,256 barrels of 42 gallons each, against 298,326,073 barrels in 1909. Of this amount the United States. alone produced 209,556,048 barrels, passing the 200,000,000 mark for the urst time. In 1900 its produc- tion was 183,170,874 barrels. Seven or eight years ago a plant was established near Lyons, France, for the manuufacture of paving glass. Nu- merous descriptions of the new paving material were pub- lished and a brilliant future was predicted for it. The city authorities of Lyons permitted the manufacturer to lay a specimen section of glass pavement in the Place de la République; a center for heavy traffic. The glass bricks failed to stand the test of wear. The edges of them were soon broken and splintered and many of the blocks split in _two, so that within two years it became necessary to remove ‘the widely heralded innovation and substitute stone or wood. The city officials are agreed that glass pavement can be used, under favorable circumstances for sidewalks, but not for the middle of streets. OUR COMIC COLUMN. Mrs. Gadd—That new minister ain’t much in visitin’, is he? Mrs. Gabb—No, I guess maybe his wife is a purty good cook herself. “Tommy, if you'll saw some wood I'll tell you what I'll do.” “What's that, dad?” “T’ll let you have the sawdust to play circus with.” Little Willie—I say, pa, what is an empty title? Pa— An empty title, my son, is your mother’s way of referring to me as the head of the house when there are visitors present. Oletimer—Is your married life one grand, sweet song? Newlywed—Well, since our baby’s been born it’s. been like an opera, full of grand marches, with loud calls for the author every night. “TI tell you our horse doctor knows his business! I called him to see my nag yesterday, and he gave him a powder and said, ‘If that don’t help him nothing will!’ And, sure enough, this morning the horse i is dead !” C “Gracious! John,” exclaimed Mrs. Slangey, “you surely haven’t brought any one home to dinner!” “Sure!” re- “Haven’t you got any grub for them?” “Why, no. You told me this morning you’d bring home a couple of lobsters for dinner, and——” “Well, that’s ee in the pen # ieckes Song, of the navy, has a good many medals of various kinds, awarded him for his notable services, There was @ dinner in San Francisco one night and Lucien attended in full-dress uniform, wearing his medals proudly After the ap er ee ier *: shouted : checked baat +

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, —492-¥ eae “WORK AND WIN” 691 Fred Fearnot and the Switch Boy: or, Downing a Railroad Gang. 692 Fred Kearnot at Black Bayou; or, Lost in the Great Swamp. 693 Fred Fearnot and the forger;: or, Saving a Wayward Youth. 694 prea Fearnot After the Kiver Roughs; or, The Water front Mystery. 695 Fred Fearnot and the Dwarf; or, Stand- ing Up for the Weak. G¥6 Fred Fearnot and “Little Nell’; or, The Wait of the Bowery. 697 Pred Fearnot's Young Nine; or, The Opening Game of Baseball. 698 Fred Fearnot and the River Pilot; or, Downing the Mississippi Blacklegs 699 Fred Fearnot in the Box; or, ‘The Throw that Won the Game 700 Fred Fearnot as Fire Chief; or, Saving a Town from the Flames. 701 Fred learnot Behind the Bat; Bringing Home the Runs. or, 702 Fred Fearnot at the Throctie; or, Beat- ing the Train Robbers. 703 Fred Fearnot Striking it Rich; or, The New Find at Coppertown. “FAME & FORTUNE WEEKLY” 837 A Sharp Boy; or, Making His Mark in Business. 838. Tom Swift of Wal! Street; or, The Boy Who Was on the Job. 839 ae the Auctioueer; or, Bidding in a yortune, 840 Doubling Their Dollars; or, PE in Wali Street. 341 Dick Darling's Money; or, The Rise of an Oliice Bey. 842 Reating the Market; or, A Boy Broker's Deal. (A Wall Street Story.) 843 Lost in the Jungle; or, The Secret of the Hindoo Temple. 344 Bound To Get the Cash; or, Out For a Million in Wall Street. 845 A act? Errand Boy; or, Working His Way to Fortune. 846 Little Pikone Brown; or, How a Boy oa) Money. (A Wall stu 347 we: oy “Fortune; or, The Mystery of he old Beil Tower. 848 On the Stock Market; or, The Lucky Ventures of a Wall Street Messenger. Smart street “THE LIBERTY BOYS OF lping the Ninth ‘avairy: or, Ar'tta as a Sharp- shooter. 502 You Wild West and the Miner's “Kid: or, Fighting For a Gold Claim. : es Latest Issues om ee SS 704 Fred Fearnot and the Cattlemen; or, Hot. Times at Canyon Castle. 705 Fred Wearnot’s Curious Curvé; or, Get- ting Onto New Tricke. 706 Fred Fearnot’s Sure Shot; or, The Aim That Saved a Life 70OT Fred Fearnot’s Hard Hitting; or, Bat- ting Out a Victory. 708 Fred fearnot’s Canoe Race; or, Six Days at a Summer Camp. 709 Fred Wearnot's Daring Swim; or, The Mystery of Whirlpool Rapids. 710 Fred Fearnot’s Bas® Running; or, Fast Ww ork on the Diamond. Three Copper _ r ‘Cents; and How They Made a Waif's Fortune. The Old Trader's rae & ; and What His Office Boy Did With I A Million in Diamonds: x The Treasure of the Hidden Valley. 849 350 351 Playing the 852 Sam, the Speculator; or, Wall Street Market. a 353 A Born Showman; or, The Boy Who Ran a Circus. . 854 After a Golden Stake; or, Breaking a “Bucket-Shop” Combine. (A Wail Street Story.) 596 The Liberty Boys’ Hard Luck; or, Dick Slater’s Despair. 597 The Liberty Boys Storming the Re- doubts; or, A Week of Danger. 598 The Liberty Boys After a Traitor; or, Arnold's Narrow Escape. Youngest Boy in the ‘Troop. or, Holding Back Simon Girty. The Liberty Boys and “Wild Nell’; The Gypsy Girl's Piot. The Liberty Boys’ Greatest Battie; or, Poiling the: Redcoats. or, od 697 The Bradys and the Queen “of. “Hearts; or, The Mystery of the Masked Ball. 698 The Bradys’ Chinese Trap; or, Opium Smugglers Revenge. 699 The Bradys and Captain Beewiks or, Ex- posing An Army Mystery. 700 The Bradys’ Singular Search ; or, The Mystery of a Mississippi Steamer. 701 The ‘Grease and th: >keletum Club or. The Secreis vf the silent six. 702 The Bradys After the poaas Burners; or, Working for a Railroad. 708 “a Brad. pd Cyclone Raid; or, After the King of the Moonshiners, oo ne ————. 503 Young. “Wild West and the edskin Remters; or, Arietta Saving the Cat- 504 Young Wild West's If or, Surrounded by 505 Young Wild West Leading Arietta and the Bars of Gold. 506 ae 2 ‘ourth of July on the Border. 507 oe) Wild West Cornered by Apaches; | Arietta and the Poisoned Arrow. 508 Topsy Wild West and “Innocent Ike”; or, Trapping a Tricky Rustler. igh on the Mesa; reasers. es by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage Stamps, by seen YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS poe slept aud CaunoL procure them from newsdealers, tley cuu be obtained frow this vitice direct. $08 Dicchstidel dua Bt, baci York _ Cut out and ot ing Oider Biaus aud send it Lo us with the price ol Lue weeklies you Want aud we will send tuem to you by POSTAGE Stamps TAXEN THE SAME AS MONEY, acim TOUSEY, Publisher, 168 West 23d St., New York. ies of WORK wt eee Dgar selon find......cemts for which please send me: eee ee PTT KT OPP ELAS E SF OEE S AAEY 2 OE SCR MEM 6 ee 78 0 Ai te Re The Liberty Boys’ Little friend; or, The The Liberty Boys at the Block House; a Raid; or, Wild West at Yankee Camp; or, — ND WLN, SPC alana, egeeun me emoraegeeS FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, Nos WILD WEST WEEKLY, EE i an sh toes ich nn S's ase Bhd nama a owk Kan otto v9 v'bacie Auk eae LA RE ONO AO AMR. 8 ind Gone bua eas sea'svau'boknd os nebcaal PLUCK AND LUCK, MRM crack Lilet e.g hoecccn 4 cases ake ches, oc RR re SERVICE, so" apie lg PRBS ae Facsig RT SRA DPR MMNRE RS Re ee " CeCe P Ree Oe Ce Ue e eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee aCe tatin bi btach adil adil dhl Rede Behe nth Ladi cd Rede inated dentine’ Dada oon tudo ee

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pe Se ae ae Reon = . OS Die i ges tS ye Aey we Povels Bought and Sold | cats ne ROBERT H. SMELTZER FEA ee: 3432 N- BODINE St. to POICADELPHIA, ©. py a J ’ g assy, x ~ 7h i" ae 4 ant Ce eee piss, +

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PLUCK AND LUCE a ---LATEST iSsUé&S--- aaa His Last Chance: or, Oncle Dick's Fortune. ay roy Draper. 2 706 se yg hine = aces ip a Wagon. A Tale of Adventure. Gen’ Wiles . the Boy «ckude Runner. y Cap 707 eye ag Years in Siberia; or. 2,000 Miles in Search of a Name. | ?24 se gi gna ~ The Boy Champions of the Reds and Grays > All : . C. Merritt. : a 708 Tne’ Slave King?” vr, Figbting the Despoiler of the Ucean. ty | 725 fee ane ce ORES ees ae are Fence ee Te Wiig: Wear apt. Thos. H. Wit y An Scout ‘ 4 709 The Man in the Iron Cauae or, Which Was the Buy? By Berton | 726 oe Binugplers of the Shannon:,or, The Irish Meg Merrifes. thy Bertrew. erton rtrew . kod 710 With Stanley on His Last Trip: or, Emin Pashas Kescue iy |727 A Haunted Boy. or, The Madhouse Mystery. By Allap Arpoid Py ; Jas. C. Merritt. . 728 = o’ the ls pe or. The Bravest in the Revolution By Gea? 11 Appointed to West voint: or, Fighbti is U Ww sen’! as. A. Gordon. %. 712 nts A Gordon. eg ee we eae. OF ee 729 py Bob; or, The Smartest Boy i» Town By Richard & y e Biack Magician, and His Invisible Pupil. By Richard R. Montgomery. : : ia , Montgomery.” caer) pi — = 730 Jack Jordon of New York; or, A Nervy Young American ly i. TE2 im the Phantoms City: or, The Adventures of Vick Daunt. By Howard Austin 5 raper. Al, the Boy Acrobat; or, Flip-Flopping Into Fame and Fortune : & 714 The Mad Maroon. or, The Boy Castaways of the Malay Island. 1 By aie Braver. a aoe eee . By Howard Austin. 732 The Nine in Blue; or, The Boy Champions of the Diamond Fiera — 715 Little Red Cloud, the Boy Indian Chief. By An Old Scout. By Berton Bertrew. a 5 716 ay A poe or, The Strange Fortunes of a Swart Buoy By | 733 = open Steady: or, The Boy Engineer's First Job. By Jas an oO Trew. Merritt. -717 Shore Line Sam, the Young Southern Engineer; or, Railroading | 734 One Thousand Miles from Land; or, Lost in the Guif Stream. iy a 718 te Al Times. By Jas. C Merritt e . Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. : Fran greet or, Two Yankee Boys in Never Never Land. By 735 The Midnight Alarm; or, The Boys of Old No. 9. By &x-Kire % Chie Yarden. 719 A Poor Irish Boy; or, Fighting His Own Way. By Allan Arnold | 7s fr School ; The Mysteri Di rance of [tilt 720 Big Bone Island: or, Lost in the Wilds of Siberia. By Capt. Ot tit as oes dente 7 os. =. son. 737 t 3 or, Who Was N Afraid b&b | #21 Rolly Rock ; or, Chasing the Mountain Bandits By Richard Rj?) ME, ?Oi§ Beout UP’ OF The Boy Who Was Never Afra % Montgomery. ' 738 “833"; or, The Boy Without a Name. By Allan Arnvid 4 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 FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - : . 168 West 23d St.. New York. | IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out and fill in your Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. PME TOUSEW, Publisher, - - - - - - - 168 West 23d St., New York. ; oOovuUR TrEN-CENT HAND Boo KS No. 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN. No. 59. HOW TO MAKE A MAGIC LAN- No. 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH NUM- _ —Containing the grandest assortment of mag- | TERN.—Containing a description of the lan- BERS.—Showing many curious tricks with ical illusions ever placed before the public. Also tricks with cards. incantations, etc. — No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW VORK MIN- STREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK.—Some- thing new and very instructive. Every boy should obtain this book, as it cortains full instructions for organizing an amateur min- strel troupe. No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.—A handy book for boys, containing full directions for constructing canoes and the most ponniar manner of salling them. Fully ilvstrated. Ne. 49 HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for eonductinge debates, outlines for debates, westions for discussion, and the best sources fer procuring information on the questions given. _ Ne. 50, W TO STUFF BIRDS AND ™MAL valuable book. giving !nstruc- ns in “ting. preparing, mounting and reserving birds. animals and insects. oe. =. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS,—Centaining explanations of the gen- eral principles of sleight-of-hand applicable to card tricks; of card tricks with ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of tric} s invo'ving sleight-of-hand. or the use of speriali} preparéd cards. Illustrated. No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.—Giving the rules and full directions for playing chre. Cribbage, Casino, Forty-five, Rounce, Pedro Sancho. Draw, Poker, Auction Pitch, All Fours. and other popular games of cards. No. *3. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS.—A wonderful little book, telling you how to write 'o your sweetheart, your father, mother, sister brother, employer; and, in fact. every- tern, together with its history and invention. Also full directions for its use and for paint- ing slides. Handsomely fllustrated. No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRA- PHER.—Containing useful information re- garding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsomely illustrated. No. 62 HOW TO BECOME a WEST POINT MILITARY CADET.—Explains how to gain admittance. course of Study, Examinations. Duties. Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Police Regulations, Fire Department, and al! a bev should know to be a cadet. By Lu Senarens, No, 68. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET.—Complete instructions of how to gain adinission to the Annapolis Naval Acad- emy. Also containing the course of instruc- tion, description of grounds and _ buildings, historical sketch, and everything a boy should know to become an officer in the United States Navy. Sy Lu Senarens. No. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES.—Containing full directions for making electrical machines, induction coils, dynamos and many novel toys to be worked by electricity. Fully fllustrated. No. 65. MULDOON'S JOKES.—The most original joke book ever published, and it Is brimful of wit and humor. It contains a large collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, ete., of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, hu- morist, and practical joker of the day. No. 66 HOW TO DO PUZZLES.--Contain- ing over three hundred interesting puzzles and conundrums, with key to same. A complete book. Fully illustrated. No. 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS.—Containing a large collection of in- figures and the magic of numbers. By A. An- derson. Fully filustrated. No. 74. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS COR- RFCTLY.—Containing full instructions for writing letters on almost any subject; also rules for punctuation and composition. with specimen letters. d No. 75 HOW TO BECOME A CONJURER. —Containing tricks with Dominoes. Dice. Cups and Balls. Hats. ete. Embracing thirty- six illustrations. Ry A, Andersen. No 76. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND.—Containine rules for telling fortunes by the aid of lines of the hand. or the secret of palmistry. Also the secret of telling future events by aid of mole. marks. scars, ete. ITlinstrated. No. 77. HOW TO DO LORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed by leading coniurers and magicians, Fully illustrated. No, 78. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART.— Containing a complete description of the mys- terles of Magic and Sleight-of-Hand. together with many wonderful experiments. By A. Anderson. i[ilustrated. No, 79 HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR Containing complete instructions how to ma up for various characters on the stage: to-- gether with the duties of the Stage Manager. Prompter. Scenic Artist and Property Man. No. 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK.— Containing the latest jokes. anecdotes and funny stories of this world-renowned German comedian. j No. 81. HOW TO MESMERIZE.—contain- ing the most approved methods of smerism. also how to cure all kinds of diseases by animal magnetism, or magnetic healing. By Prof. Leo Huge Koch, A.C.S.. author of “How to Hypnotize.” ete. « igh! structive and highly amusing electrical tricks, No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY. : Anderson. body and anybody vou wish to write to. 34. HOW TO K AND MANAGE | ‘° sani 4 Vee TO Do CHEMICAL TRICKS. | taining the most approved methods of read- _ —Giving complete information as to the | _Containing over one hundred highly amus- | !9& the lines on the hand. toxether with a full a mamier and method of raising. a ng, tam~ | ing and instructive tricks with chemicals. By | ¢XPlanation of their meaning. Also explain- ing, breeding, ne managing all kinds of pets; | °° snderson. Handsomely Illustrated. ing phrenology, and the key for telling char- - also giving full instructions for making cages, No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT-OF-HAND, | &cter by the bumps on the head. By Leo etc. Fully explained by 28 illustrations. —Containing over fifty of the latest and best | Hugo Koch. A.C.S. Fully fllustrated. -_ _ __No. 55. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND | tricks used by magicians. Fully illustrated. No, 83. HOW TO HYPNOTIZE.—Containing — COINS.— ning valuable information re- No. 70 HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.— | valuable and instructive information re "4 _ xarding the collecting and arranging of | Containing full directions for making Magic | ing the science of hypnotism. Also ul stamps and coins. Handsomely illustrated. | Toys and devices of many kinds. Fully illus- | ing the most approved methods w are. AN trated. . - employe¢ by the leading hypnotists of the No. 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL world By Hugo Koch, A.c.8. me TRICKS.—Containing complete instructions for No, 34. HOW TO BECOME AN AUTH rforming over sixty Mechanical Tricks. —Containing information regarding poten BE A DETECTIVE.—xy lly thlustrated. subjects, the use of words and the manner of — the well-known detective. No. 72. ow | DO SIXTY TRICKS preparing and submitting manuscript. Also some valuable rules | WITH CARDS.—Embracing all of the latest containing valuable information as to the and most deceptive card tricks, with illus- neatness, legibilitv and general composition « ae trations. manuscript. * ite - of a * s sale by all newsdealers, or Will be sent to any address on recelpt of price, 10 cts. per copy, or 3 for 25 cts.,in money or postage stamps, ae “TOUSEY, Publisher, - - - - + -:- - - - - 168 West 23 St. New Yor.