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diff --git a/old/64635-0.txt b/old/64635-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d6730e1..0000000 --- a/old/64635-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8691 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Frank Merriwell's First Job, by Burt L. -Standish - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Frank Merriwell's First Job - At The Foot of the Ladder - -Author: Burt L. Standish - -Release Date: February 26, 2021 [eBook #64635] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David Edwards, Sue Clark, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S FIRST JOB *** - - - - - Frank Merriwell’s First Job - OR - AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER - - - - -CONTENTS - -CHAPTER - - I. A BLOW BY FATE 5 - - II. FAREWELL TO YALE 11 - - III. ON THE WAY HOME 16 - - IV. THE REWARD OF WRONGDOING 23 - - V. THE MAN WHO WORKED THE WIRES 28 - - VI. THE SETTING OF THE SUN 34 - - VII. PHANTOM FINGERS 40 - - VIII. UNWELCOME VISITORS 46 - - IX. CAPTURED BY WHITECAPS 52 - - X. COWARDLY WORK 57 - - XI. FRANK’S STRANGE FRIEND 63 - - XII. FOR HIS ENEMY 69 - - XIII. THE BULLY OF THE ROUNDHOUSE 75 - - XIV. THE BULLY MEETS HIS MATCH 80 - - XV. STRIKING A JOB 86 - - XVI. THE FIRST FORENOON 91 - - XVII. THE STREET MUSICIANS 97 - - XVIII. UPLIFTED HEARTS 103 - - XIX. AN ANGRY ENGINEER 109 - - XX. SOME POINTS ABOUT HICKS 115 - - XXI. FRANK DISCOVERS A BREAK 120 - - XXII. THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER 126 - - XXIII. AN UNWELCOME RELATION 132 - - XXIV. FRANK EXACTS A PROMISE 137 - - XXV. ON A SWITCH ENGINE 143 - - XXVI. CAPTURING A WILD ENGINE 148 - - XXVII. FRANK’S FRIENDS 154 - - XXVIII. FIRING A FREIGHT ENGINE 160 - - XXIX. THE FIGHT ON THE ENGINE 165 - - XXX. MERRIWELL’S GENEROSITY 171 - - XXXI. AN UNGRATEFUL MAN 177 - - XXXII. ON THE STAIRS 182 - - XXXIII. UNDER THE CRUST OF A HUMAN HEART 188 - - XXXIV. THE REVELATION OF A SECRET 193 - - XXXV. THE LITTLE PILOT 200 - - XXXVI. “ON TIME, AT LAST!” 206 - - - - - Frank Merriwell’s First Job - OR - AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER - - _By BURT L. STANDISH_ - - _Author of_ “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank - Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” - “Frank Merriwell’s Trip West,” etc. - - [Illustration] - - STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS - 238 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK CITY - - - - - Copyright, 1898 - By STREET & SMITH - - Frank Merriwell’s First Job - - - - -FRANK MERRIWELL’S FIRST JOB. - -CHAPTER I. - -A BLOW BY FATE. - - -Biff--thump! - -“Oh, what a soaker!” - -“Go at him, Rattleton!” - -“Don’t let him knock you up against the door like that.” - -Biff! biff!--thump! - -“There you go again!” - -“Oh, jose your claw--I mean close your jaw!” panted Harry Rattleton, as -he ducked and escaped a left-hand swing from Frank Merriwell, with whom -he was boxing in the room of the latter at Yale. “You fellows are not -in this!” - -“You’re not in it, either,” lazily laughed Bruce Browning, who was half -sitting, half reclining on the couch, watching the boxing bout and -smoking a pipe at the same time. - -“Well, you weren’t such a much when you got up against Merriwell that -time you tried to do him,” snapped Rattleton, backing out as Frank -slowly followed him up. - -“That’s ancient history,” declared the big fellow. “But Merriwell found -me a pretty warm baby!” - -“Get up and try him now!” cried Harry. “I’ll bet he’ll bang you all -over the room before you touch him.” - -“Thanks!” grinned Bruce. “I’ve quit the ring. I’m not looking for -pugilistic glory any more.” - -“Stand up to him, Rattleton,” advised Diamond. “You do too much running -away.” - -“Oh, you know!” flung back Rattleton. “You’ve had your turn, too, and -you wasn’t so good.” - -“You can’t do anything with him if you don’t try to hit him,” said Bart -Hodge, who was sitting astride a chair in the corner. - -“More thanks! If you’ll put the gloves on, I’ll guarantee you will -not hit him any oftener than I have. I believe he gave you a dose of -medicine once on a time. I’m the only fellow in the room who hasn’t -been punched in earnest by him. You chaps are good talkers, but---- No -you don’t.” - -Then he went under Frank’s arm like a cat, giving Merry a sharp jab in -the ribs. - -“Keep it up.” - -“Well, that wasn’t so worse!” yawned Browning. - -But Frank whirled swiftly and followed Harry, sparring for an opening, -which he quickly got. - -Biff! biff!--bang! - -“Oh, my!” gurgled Harry. “That last one was on the nose! She’s -beginning to bleed! I’m knocked out!” - -He flung off the boxing gloves and got out his handkerchief in a hurry, -for the blow on his nose had started the blood. - -“Didn’t mean to hit you hard enough for that, Rattles,” said Frank, -apologetically. - -“Don’t mention it,” grinned Rattleton. “It’s nothing much. I don’t mind -a little thing like that.” - -Frank took off his gloves and hung the set up, after which he quickly -set the room in order. - -Rattleton’s nose bled very little, and he soon recovered. - -“It seems to me you are worse than ever since your trip into Maine, -Merriwell,” said Harry. “You’ll be a swift one on the football team -this fall.” - -“I shall not give much time to football,” Frank declared. - -“No?” shouted Rattleton, Diamond and Hodge. - -“Is that so?” grunted Browning. “You talked like that last fall, and -you know what came of it. You had to get into gear in order to save Old -Eli from being thrown down.” - -Merriwell nodded. - -“I know all about that; but it seems to me that I have done my part in -the way of upholding the honor of Old Eli, and there should be somebody -to fill my place by this time.” - -“Why do you want anybody to fill your place?” asked Hodge. - -“The time has come for me to study. Fooling must be dropped.” - -“The time has come for you to ease up on your studies,” said Diamond. -“You know the first year or two are the hardest in college.” - -“Yes; but I have some ambitions for class honors. I have managed to -scrub right along so far, but I’ve got to make a change.” - -Browning straightened up a little. - -“I don’t think you can do it, Merriwell,” he said, seriously. “You have -made a record as an athlete, and you will be expected to stand by it. -Your attempt last year should convince you that you can’t make such a -rank change. You stand well with the professors, and you will pull out -near the head of your class, anyway. What’s the use to look for too -much?” - -“I am beginning to realize what is ahead of me, gentlemen,” came -soberly from Frank. “My mother is dead, my father is--I know not where. -Although I am generally supposed to be independently rich, I have but -a small fortune, which was left me by my uncle. I can’t live on that -and do nothing; I wouldn’t if I could. I must go out into the world -and hustle. Thus far I have not even decided what I will do when it -is necessary for me to go to work. Most fellows have this all settled -before they go to college. Thus far with me, for the most part, life -has been a holiday. Now I realize that it must be something different -in the future. I have not got a foolish notion in my head that as soon -as I leave college and go out into the world large city newspapers -will eagerly offer me editorial positions, bankers will be yearning to -take me into their banks, and large salaries for short hours will be -thrust at me on every side. In most things influence counts, and it is -a fact that the man with a pull and a fair stock of brains generally -gets ahead of the man with no pull and heavy brain power. I shall have -no pull; but in its place I hope to use considerable push. If I do not -land on top in time it will not be my fault.” - -“You’ve been struck with one of your serious spells, that’s what’s the -matter with you!” cried Rattleton. “Don’t get worried. You’ve had lots -of sport this summer. Wish I might have taken that trip into Maine. -Next summer----” - -“Who can tell what next summer may bring?” said Frank, in a manner that -added to the astonishment of his friends. “Before that time some great -change may alter all our plans.” - -There was a rap on the door. - -“Come,” called Frank. - -The door opened. - -“Lettah, sah,” said the colored man who thrust his head in at the door. - -Frank took it, and the colored man disappeared. - -“It’s from Prof. Scotch,” he said, and then he laid it on the table. - -Prof. Scotch was Frank’s old teacher and guardian. - -Three times Frank walked up and down the room. He paused and looked -around. It was a pleasant, well-furnished room. There were handsome -pictures on the walls, there were foils, boxing gloves, tennis rackets -and so forth. There also were strange curios from many lands, all -gathered by Frank himself. - -This room was like home to Frank. He loved it for its associations. -Some day he must leave it, but what pleasant memories of his college -days he would carry away. - -Watching him his friends saw the strange expression on his face, and -they knew not what to make of the change in him. He stopped by the -table and picked up the letter. - -“Excuse me while I read it, please,” he said. - -“Of course,” they cried. - -Then he tore it open and read it. They saw his face grow pale and his -hand tremble, while his breast heaved. He read to the end, and then he -lifted his eyes to his friends. - -“What is it?” cried Bart Hodge, in apprehension. “Bad news, Merry?” - -“Fellows,” said Frank, hoarsely, “my career at Yale is ended! I am -ruined!” - -They leaped to their feet. - -“Ruined?” gasped Diamond. “What do you mean?” - -“My fortune is lost! Prof. Scotch, my guardian, has speculated with my -money, and lost every dollar! I am a beggar!” - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -FAREWELL TO YALE. - - -Like wildfire spread the report that Frank Merriwell was going to -leave college. In an hour it seemed that all Yale knew it. There was -consternation in the dormitories and on the campus. Students gathered -in groups to talk of it. Everyone seemed to regard it as a great -calamity. - -Charlie Creighton was perched on the fence, looking as if he had just -buried his last friend. Paul Pierson came along. - -“Awful, isn’t it?” asked Pierson. - -“Terrible!” said Creighton. - -“Have you seen him?” - -“No; I’m waiting till I can do so without slopping over and making a -fool of myself.” - -“What will Old Eli do without him?” - -“Give it up. Why, the professors have heard of it, and they positively -refuse to believe it. Look at those chaps over there in that group. -There are Benson and some of the fellows who were supposed to be -Merriwell’s enemies. Just came by them, and every man is saying it’s a -thundering shame.” - -“I don’t believe Merriwell has a real enemy in the college.” - -Bink Stubbs came up. Usually Bink was grinning and cracking jokes. Now -he did not say a word, but leaned against the fence with his hands in -his pockets and kicked the ground with his toe. - -Lewis Little joined the group. Lewis was a mild sort of chap generally, -but when asked how he felt, he said he’d like to punch the stuffing out -of somebody. - -Halliday, Griswold and Puss Parker came up in a bunch. - -“I tell you it is a practical joke!” Parker was saying. “Somebody has -put up this job. I won’t believe Merriwell is going to leave college.” - -“He’s forced to leave,” said Halliday. “I saw the letter from his -guardian in which Scotch confesses that he has squandered every dollar -of Merry’s fortune.” - -“How did the old fool do it?” - -“In some kind of a wild-cat mining scheme. That is, the most of it was -sunk in that, although old Scotch confesses that he tried to retrieve -by plunging in stocks.” - -“Well, I’m sorry for Merriwell,” sighed Griswold. - -“Really, my deah boys, I don’t know that I am sorry, don’t yer ’now,” -broke in a voice, and Willis Paulding, a pronounced Anglomaniac, joined -the group. - -“Oh, you’re not?” snarled Lewis Little, who had the reputation of never -speaking an angry word or doing an angry act. - -“No, really, I am not,” said Paulding. “Mr. Merriwell flew altogether -too high, don’t yer ’now. This will take him down considerable.” - -“And this will take you down a trifle!” grated Little, as he struck -Paulding with all his strength, knocking him down instantly. - -The others immediately closed about the two, and Willis was quickly -lifted to his feet, where he stood trembling and pressing a snowy -handkerchief to the bruise between his eyes. - -“Sir,” he said, his voice trembling, “you are no gentleman! By Jawve! I -think I shall report that you assaulted me on the campus!” - -“Report and be--hanged!” retorted Little, contemptuously. “But take my -advice and close up about Frank Merriwell, or you will get your face -broken. No man can say anything against him in my presence!” - -Paulding was the only man rash enough to make a public statement of -satisfaction over the misfortune that had befallen Merriwell, and even -he did not repeat it. If there were any others who really rejoiced at -Frank’s bad luck, they kept still. - -Merry decided to leave as soon as possible, and he set about packing up -his goods without delay. In this work he was assisted by such friends -as Rattleton, Diamond and Hodge. Browning started to help, but he -stumbled like one dazed, and was so much in the way that he was asked -to sit down and keep still, which he did, looking thoroughly ill for -once in his life. - -The door was locked to keep out the friendly throng that kept coming -up to express regret. It was opened for one person, who knocked on the -door and called out till Frank recognized his voice. Prof. Such came -stumbling into the room and nearly fell over one of the chests. - -“Er--er--Mr. Merriwell,” said the near-sighted little professor, -looking from one to the other till he found Frank, “is it--can it be -true?” - -“Yes, Prof. Such,” said Frank, “I must leave at once. You see we are -packing my stuff!” - -“Oh, dear!” said the little man, his voice trembling. “I am very sorry! -I shall miss you, Mr. Merriwell--we’ll all miss you. Perhaps you will -not mind if I speak frankly now. I have thought a great deal of you, -sir. I have seen in you one of the brightest young men it has ever -been my fortune to deal with here. You were very promising. Never -before have I known a young man who was able to do the many things -you accomplished and still rank so remarkably well in his classes. I -believe you are phenomenal in that line. And now you are going to leave -us! What will you do?” - -“That is something I cannot tell, professor. If my guardian has told -the whole truth, I shall go to work to earn my living, and make my way -in the world.” - -“And you will succeed--I am sure you will, Mr. Merriwell!” declared the -little man. “You are built of the right stuff. You have succeeded in -everything to which you have turned your hand since coming to college, -and you will succeed in the battle of life. If your fortune is really -lost, you are now at the foot of the ladder. By your own efforts you -will mount upward a step at a time till the top is reached. If you -should slip, don’t give up the struggle, but cling and fight your way -upward.” - -“Prof. Such,” said Frank, “your illustration is a good one, and I shall -not forget your kindly advice. Hereafter I shall think of myself as -climbing upward on the ladder of life. I thank you, sir.” - -“No thanks, young man. Your hand.” - -Their hands met, and there was a strange quiver on the professor’s face -as he tried to look up at Frank. - -“Excuse me,” he said; “excuse me, but my eyes--my spectacles are -blurred. I’ll have to wipe them. I can’t see you very well, and I want -to take a good look at you before you go.” - -He wiped his spectacles and adjusted them, after which he stared at -Merry several seconds. Then he nodded his head, saying: - -“It’s all right. You have the right kind of chin, and your face shows -determination. There is a cast of firmness about your mouth. You will -not be easily daunted. I think you will reach the top of the ladder, -Mr. Merriwell. I wish you good fortune in every undertaking. Good-by, -my boy--good-by!” - -Then the little professor turned, as if fearful of remaining longer or -saying any more, and hurried from the room. - -Every one of the boys were profoundly affected by this scene. Frank the -most of them all. - -Later Merriwell appeared on the campus, and the students gathered about -him by hundreds at the fence, all eager to shake his hand and wish -him good luck. Never before had there been an impromptu demonstration -of this character that could compare with this. Some of the manly -young fellows actually wept, although they tried to hide it, and Frank -himself dashed moisture from his eyes more than once, while his voice -failed him many times. - -Lib Benson, a big, broad-shouldered freshman, who had been the leader -of Merry’s freshmen foes, forced his way to a spot where he could grasp -Frank’s hand. - -“Merriwell,” he said, huskily, “I hope you aren’t ashamed to shake -hands with me. I know I’ve been a mean cuss--I know it! I’ve tried to -hurt you when I had no reason for doing so, and you’ve always used me -white. I hope you won’t hold a grudge against me, Merriwell. I want -to say right here, before everybody, that I’ve always been in the -wrong, and you’ve always been right. You’re the whitest man I ever saw! -Good-by, Merriwell! Good luck go with----” - -Then Lib Benson choked, broke down completely, and made a rush to get -away, tears dropping from his eyes as he held his head down with shame. - -There were other scenes like this. - -Frank bade the professors good-by. - -That afternoon he was escorted to the train by five hundred students, -who marched in silence and looked as solemn as if they were going to a -funeral. - -It was over at last. Dear old Yale was left behind--forever! - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -ON THE WAY HOME. - - -It was a sad homeward journey for Frank Merriwell. After his trip -into Maine he had not found time to visit his home before returning -to college. In fact, he had seen very little of Bloomfield in recent -years. It had not been the home of his mother, but of his uncle. His -mother, however, was buried in the quiet little country cemetery at -Bloomfield, and he kept thinking of her as he drew nearer home and -wondering if her grave had always been cared for as he had directed. -Whenever he had visited it he had found it perfectly kept. - -Not many persons in Bloomfield were well acquainted with Frank. They -had known his crusty old uncle, who had few friends, and it was but -natural for them to fancy that the nephew must be somewhat like the -uncle, therefore they had not desired his acquaintance. Frank was glad -of this, as he approached the place he had called home, for he thought -there would not be so many persons to express condolence and ask -questions. - -He sat alone in the car as the train flew through the twilight and -night came down over the brown world. It was a beautiful world. He -realized that as he gazed sadly out of the window, but now he, who a -short time before had been surrounded by so many friends, felt like an -outcast and a wanderer on the face of the earth. - -In his bosom was a swelling homesickness for dear old Yale and the -friends he had left. He had been torn in one moment almost from those -friends and the associations that had become so dear to him. Just when -life was looking the fairest the blow had fallen. - -Some hearts might have been numbed, some spirits might have been -broken; not so with Frank Merriwell. For one moment the thought that -life really was not worth living forced itself in upon him, and then he -banished it in haste and shame. - -He looked up at the sky as the train sped along. High up the clouds had -a dull, leaden hue, and were somber and gloomy. Lower down they grew -lighter and tinged with color, till they lay bright and golden on the -western horizon. It seemed to Frank that the black clouds overshadowing -him now must give way to golden ones in the future. - -It is the stout heart that looks forward to a bright future that finds -real happiness in life. - -Merry realized that the time had come when he must fight his own way -in the world. It had come suddenly and unexpectedly, and had not found -him fully prepared for the emergency, but, nevertheless, he faced it -without flinching. - -Now he remembered how for some time he had been troubled by a -foreboding of impending calamity. It had made him moody and so much -unlike his usual gay self that his friends had wondered. - -When they had started to plan what they would do on the return of -another summer vacation, he had stopped them, saying the circle might -be broken before that time. - -He had been determined to study hard and fit himself for graduation on -his return to college, and not even the influence of his many friends -could have changed that determination had he remained in Yale to the -end of the course. - -Night shut down as the train sped on. The lamps within the cars were -lighted, but Frank sat with his face pressed against the window, -looking out toward the west where a faint streak of golden light -lingered in the sky. - -He was thinking of Prof. Scotch now. The professor’s letter had -indicated that the unfortunate man was nearly distracted, and Merriwell -dreaded the meeting between them. There was no bitterness in his heart -and no thought of making his speculating guardian suffer for the -criminal mismanagement of his fortune. - -Frank knew that Prof. Scotch had not been adapted for the position of -responsibility and trust imposed upon him by Asher Merriwell. During -active life Frank’s uncle had been regarded as unusually shrewd in all -his moves, but old age had brought failing abilities, and, happening to -take a strong fancy to Merry’s professor at Fardale Academy, where he -had studied, he appointed him Frank’s guardian. - -The professor had found it necessary to give much of his attention -to the management of Frank’s property. At first he had been cautious -enough, but in Bloomfield was a man, Darius Conrad, who was interested -in Western mining property, and Scotch became very friendly with this -Conrad. - -Darius Conrad was a rascal, but he had made money and escaped prison, -so he was regarded in Bloomfield as a smart business man. He was away -a great deal, and, when he became concerned in the Golden Peaks Mining -and Smelting Company, it was said that he was destined to become one of -the richest men in the country. - -Conrad did not find it difficult to convince Horace Scotch that there -was a mint of money awaiting every man who bought stock at an early -date in the concern. He said, as he was on the inside, he could let a -friend in “on the ground floor,” with a sure chance of doubling every -dollar invested in six months’ time. - -At first Scotch hesitated. He thought of writing to Frank all about -it, but he mentioned it to Conrad, who very quickly showed him that it -would be folly, as Merriwell really knew nothing of the true standing -of the company, and was not competent to judge as to the value of such -an investment. But it was certain that any young man would be very -grateful toward a guardian who had good sense and good luck enough to -double his fortune at one bold stroke. - -So Scotch was ensnared. Within six months the Golden Peaks Mining -and Smelting Company went into the air. Then it was hinted that the -whole scheme had been a fraud, there was talk of investigations and -prosecutions, and nothing at all was done. - -Driven desperate by his misfortune, and not daring to let Frank know -the truth, Prof. Scotch sought to retrieve by plunging in cotton, but -the market turned the wrong way, and he saw the last of Frank’s fortune -swept away. - -Then came the moment when the distracted professor stood before a -mirror with a loaded revolver in his hand and selected the spot against -which he would place the muzzle when he pressed the trigger. - -As he lifted the weapon he remembered that he had not written to Frank. -He sat down and wrote the letter that told Merry everything. The letter -was given to Toots to mail, and then the professor locked himself in -with the loaded revolver. - -He walked the floor till he chanced to look in the glass once more and -beheld his own reflection. Then he shook his head, saying: - -“That is not Horace Scotch! It is a stranger to me. What a terrible -thing it would have been if I had shot a stranger!” - -He felt relieved to think he had escaped committing murder. He laughed -softly, and then sat down on a rocking chair. As he rocked he hummed a -light song to himself. - -And thus he waited Frank’s appearance. - -That night Toots assisted him to undress and get into bed. - -“Yo’ mus’ be sick, p’ofessah,” said the colored boy, anxiously. - -“You are mistaken,” said Scotch, wearily; “I am not the professor. I am -an entire stranger. The professor is gone.” - -Then he closed his eyes and seemed to fall asleep almost immediately. - -Toots shook his head and retired from the room. - -Frank did not receive the letter till the following day, and then, as -soon as possible, he started for Bloomfield. - -It was ten in the evening when the train drew up at Bloomfield Station, -and Frank stepped off, grip in hand. - -There were few persons at the station. Some of them stared at him with -curiosity. - -Bloomfield was a sleepy town in the daytime, and now nearly all the -houses lay in darkness. - -Frank walked down the platform. - -“To the hotel, sir?” asked a boy. “Let me carry your grip.” - -Frank turned to look at the youngster and ran plump into another person. - -“Confound you!” snapped the individual Merry had encountered. “Haven’t -you any eyes?” - -“I beg your pardon,” said Frank. “I was not look----” - -He stopped short. A gleam of light from the station showed him the face -of the person to whom he was speaking. - -“Dyke Conrad!” muttered Merry. - -“Yes,” said the young man; “but I don’t know you, unless you are--you -are---- Why, you are Frank Merriwell!” - -“Yes.” - -They stood there looking at each other, the youth who had been ruined, -and the son of the man who had ruined him. - -Dyke had always disliked Merry, and now he grinned. - -“Well, I don’t know why you have come here to Bloomfield,” he said. -“There’s nothing here for you, and you might just as well stay away. In -the future you won’t fly quite so high as you have in the past.” - -With a sudden mad impulse, Frank half lifted his clinched fist, but he -quickly let it fall by his side, turned out, passed the fellow who had -taunted him, and walked on into the darkness. - -Self-control had always been a strong feature in Frank’s make-up, and -now he needed it more than ever. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE REWARD OF WRONGDOING. - - -Frank walked slowly through the village and along the road that led -toward what had been his home. As he approached he dreaded the meeting -with the professor, and he let his steps become slower and slower. - -The main part of the village soon lay behind. He took off his hat and -carried it in his hand, letting the evening breeze cool his brow. There -was a scent of fallen apples from the orchard he was passing. A bit of -silvery sheen was showing in the east, telling that the moon would soon -be up. Away in the distance a watchdog was barking, but that was the -only sound to disturb the perfect peace of the tranquil night. - -At last, through the trees, Frank saw a gleam of light that he knew -came from a window of the old mansion that had become his on the death -of his uncle. He wondered if the professor was sitting there by that -light waiting for him to appear. - -As he turned in upon the gravel walk somebody stepped out from beneath -a low tree and spoke: - -“Who am dat?” - -“Toots,” said Frank, “is it you?” - -“Bress de Lawd!” cried the colored boy. “It am Mistah Frank him -ownself! Oh, sah, I’s po’erful glad yo’ has come!” - -Then he embraced Frank. - -Frank knew that whatever might happen the colored boy would remain -faithful and true, and he appreciated Toots’ affection. - -“How are things, Toots?” - -“All done gone wrong--done gone wrong!” was the answer. “I dunno w’at’s -de mattah, sah, but I knows suffin’ hab happened.” - -“Why were you out here under this tree?” - -“Watchin’ fo’ yo’, sah. De p’ofessah sent a lettah to yo’, an’ I -s’pected yo’ was comin’.” - -“He did not say I was coming?” - -“No, sah. He’s been powerful strange, sah.” - -“Strange? How?” - -“He act queer, sah; an’ now he hab tooken his bed.” - -“Taken his bed? Is he ill?” - -“Think so, sah; but he won’t let me sen’ fo’ a doctah. Said he’d -shoot de fus’ doctah showed his haid roun’ yeah, sah, an’ he keeps de -revolvah undah his pillow.” - -Frank whistled. - -“I should say I have not arrived any too soon,” he muttered. “Can’t -tell what the professor might take a fancy to do if he is acting that -way.” - -“I hab been berry scat ob him, sah!” - -“I don’t wonder at that. Let me into the house without arousing -anybody.” - -“Dar am nobody to ’rouse ’cept de p’fessah an’ de cook. Yo’ can go -right in, sah. Come on, sah.” - -So Toots admitted Merry to the house, having taken the grip from him. -Frank decided to go directly to the room of the professor, and mounted -the stairs at once. The door of the chamber occupied by the professor -was standing slightly ajar, and a light was burning within. - -Frank pushed open the door and entered, stepping so lightly that he was -not heard by the man. - -The professor was in bed. He looked pale and careworn, and there were -great hollows in his cheeks. He was not asleep, but lay gazing steadily -up at the ceiling, his hands, which rested on the white spread, -clasping and unclasping nervously. - -There was no bitterness nor resentment in Frank’s heart, only pity as -he stood there looking at the unfortunate man, for he could see that -his guardian had been terribly shaken by all he had passed through. The -lips of the man moved at times, but he spoke no words that Frank could -hear. - -After a little, the professor slowly turned his head, and his eyes -rested on Frank. He did not start or show surprise. - -Now Merry advanced quickly, saying: - -“Professor, I have come! You are ill?” - -“Yes,” said the man, in a weak voice; “I see you have come, but you are -too late.” - -“Too late? Oh, no, professor. I came as soon as possible after -receiving your letter. I am so sorry to see this misfortune has -completely upset you.” - -“You are making a mistake.” - -“I? A mistake? How?” - -“You should not call me professor.” - -“Why not?” - -“The professor, Horace Scotch, is a rascal. Don’t interrupt me. I -have thought it all out lying here. That man is a rascal. He should be -properly punished. Any man that uses in speculation money held in trust -by him is a rascal. It is a criminal act. Horace Scotch must receive -his just deserts.” - -“My dear professor----” - -The man made a weak motion with one thin hand. - -“That is where you make the mistake. I am not the professor. He is -gone.” - -“Gone?” - -“Yes.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“Vanished.” - -“No, professor----” - -“He is a coward, or he would not have run away!” faintly but savagely -cried the man on the bed. “I did not know he had gone till I looked in -the mirror. Till that moment I was thinking myself the professor, but -when I looked in the mirror I saw I was quite another man. How he did -it--how he slipped away and left me in his place I cannot tell. But -here I am, and he is gone. He must be overtaken! He must be captured! -He must be punished! You will do it?” - -“No! no! I hold no bitterness, for I am sure he did not mean to -squander my fortune. Oh, professor, you need have no fear that I will -seek to punish you!” - -“I--fear? Ha! I see it now! Somehow he left me in his place, and I -am the one who is to suffer. Ha! ha! ha! Crafty rascal. Well, I know -something was holding me here--I knew there was a spell upon me, for my -strength was gone. He put a spell upon me that I might not get away, -did he? Ha! ha! ha! Crafty rascal!” - -Frank looked into the eyes of the man. They were bright and burning, -as if they reflected the fires that were consuming his soul. It was -not stimulation, Frank felt certain of that. The professor’s mind was -shaken--his reason was tottering on its throne. - -Instantly Frank decided to humor him and try to soothe his mind. - -“Let the rascal go,” he said, softly. “No one shall be punished. -Perhaps it is better for me that he should lose my small fortune than -that he should have doubled it. If he had succeeded in making me very -rich, I might have become a worthless fellow in the world, content to -live on what I possessed. Now I shall have to become a worker, and only -workers are worthy to live.” - -The professor clasped his fingers very tightly together and stared at -the ceiling for some seconds. - -“You are right about that,” he said, at last; “but that does not make -him any less a criminal. Why do you suppose that pain darts through my -head when I try to think? It goes through my eyes and up into the top -of my head like a knife.” - -“You should not think. What you need is rest--is sleep.” - -“I cannot sleep. I have tried. No matter. He left me here to suffer in -his place. Perhaps it is right that I should not sleep.” - -“No; it is wrong. Wait. I must wash off the dust. I will return in a -short time.” - -Then Frank went out, found Toots and sent him in haste for the village -doctor. - -The doctor came and made an examination. He talked with Scotch, asking -him many questions. The professor was rambling in his talk. The doctor -left some medicine and called Frank from the room. - -“His condition is very serious,” said the physician, sagely. “He -is threatened by a complete loss of his mental faculties. He must -have perfect rest, and light, nourishing food. Give him the medicine -according to the directions I have written, and I will call early in -the morning. Good-night.” - -Then he departed. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE MAN WHO WORKED THE WIRES. - - -All through the weary night Frank watched at the bedside of the -professor, scarcely closing his eyes to sleep for a moment. When the -gray light of morning came the sick man lay in a doze, for the medicine -had taken effect at last. - -Then Frank was relieved by Toots, and he sought rest. - -The doctor sent an experienced nurse, who arrived by nine o’clock that -forenoon. The doctor himself came shortly after, and Frank, who had -been unable to sleep long, had a talk with him after he had seen the -professor. - -The doctor was very grave. - -“The strain upon the man has been severe,” he said. “He may come round -all right in a day or two. I hope to avert brain fever.” - -“Do everything you can for him, doctor,” Merry urged. “You shall be -well paid, for there must be still something left to pay bills with.” - -The physician looked at Frank in a strange manner. - -“This man has squandered your fortune?” - -“No; he simply misapplied it.” - -“And you hold no hard feelings against him?” - -“No; I am sure he thought he was doing what was for the best. I pity -him.” - -“You are a strange young man.” - -“Why so?” - -“Few persons in your place would care to see him live, unless it were -to punish him.” - -“What good would it do me to punish him? That would not bring my -money back, and it would give me no satisfaction. I think he is being -punished now.” - -“You are generous.” - -“I fail to see the generosity. A person who could wish to harm that -poor, old man would be cruel.” - -“They say Darius Conrad led him into the first speculations. Have you -no feelings against him?” - -“Yes! He is the one who should be punished; but he is rich and -powerful, and I am poor now. How can I reach him? His money would save -him, as it has saved him from his other victims; but he will not -always triumph. The mills of the gods grind slowly, but his turn will -come!” - -Frank’s eyes were flashing now, and his face showed the fire that was -burning deep within his soul. Looking at him, the doctor suddenly awoke -to the fact that there was something besides forgiveness in his nature. -Frank would not forget the real cause of his ruin. - -“Be careful, young man,” he warned. “If you seek revenge on him, you -will find he is powerful, and he will crush you.” - -Frank smiled grimly. - -“I shall wait my time,” he said. “It will come, something tells me -that. It may not be for years, but it will come.” - -“What do you intend to do now that your fortune is gone?” - -“Work.” - -“At what?” - -“I do not know yet. At something--anything.” - -“But you are not accustomed to work; you were not brought up to work.” - -“The time has come for me to get accustomed to it. I have played, and -now I will work.” - -“Don’t you dread it?” - -“Dread it? No! I welcome it! When I leave Bloomfield it will be to go -out into the world and seek honest work of some kind.” - -“But you do not expect to become a common day laborer?” - -“I expect to become what I must. It is an old saying that beggars must -not be choosers.” - -“But think of the disgrace of it!” - -Frank drew himself up with dignity. - -“The disgrace, doctor? There is no disgrace in honest toil. I shall not -fear it.” - -“Your hand, young man!” cried the physician. “You will get on in the -world, I am sure of that. You have the right spirit, and you will make -a success in life.” - -“Thank you, sir; I hope you are right. I shall do my best.” - -“And that will be good enough. I wish you the best of luck, which you -will deserve.” - -And the physician left the house thinking that the calamity that had -befallen Frank Merriwell was not nearly as severe as he had at first -imagined. - -Frank ate a good breakfast, served by Toots, and then he went up and -saw the professor. Scotch awoke, but turned his face away, with a weary -sigh, and did not look at Frank again. - -There was business ahead of Merry, for it was necessary to learn just -how his affairs stood. He obtained the keys to the professor’s desk, -and to the little safe, and spent the forenoon in rummaging among -private papers and examining documents, but he could find very little -to satisfy him. - -After dinner he visited the lawyer who had done much of the business -for the estate. Two hours spent with the lawyer convinced Frank that -he would be fortunate to find a dollar that he could call his own when -everything was settled. Indeed, it looked as if he would be forced to -sell the old place in order to square all claims against him. - -The lawyer attempted to condole with him, but Frank cut him short with -the declaration that, although he appreciated the motive, he was not in -need of sympathy. He left the office with a firm step, his head erect, -his manner betraying no despondency. - -And just outside the door he met Darius Conrad. - -“Ah, Mr. Merriwell,” said the rascal, with an oily smile that was -followed immediately by a look of pretended sorrow; “this is a most -unfortunate affair. I assure you that you have my heartfelt sympathy in -your misfortune.” - -Frank stopped and surveyed the man from his head to his feet, and the -look on his face was crushing. Darius Conrad seemed to wither before -it, and he rubbed his hands together in a nervous manner. - -“Mr. Conrad,” said Merry, very slowly, “it is unnecessary for you to -play the hypocrite with me.” - -“Eh? What do you mean, sir?” - -“Just what I say. I know you for just what you are, and that is an -unprincipled scoundrel!” - -“Be careful! be careful!” blustered the man, growing red in the face -and making a threatening gesture. “I will not endure such insolence -from you!” - -“I am glad of this opportunity to tell you just what I think of you,” -said Frank, grimly. “If I had not met you here by accident, I should -have sought you. You lured my guardian into your robber scheme, and you -fleeced him easily, as you have many other men; but the time will come -when you will overstep the bounds, and the hand of the law will reach -you.” - -“You have no right to make such statements! Horace Scotch was eager to -invest money in the Golden Peaks Mining and Smelting Company. I did not -lure him into doing so, and I will not be accused of it. He did ask my -advice, and I gave it. I believed the concern solid and all right. I -was mistaken, that is all.” - -“It is known that the whole business was a fake, and you were one of -the chief movers in it. The greater portion of the money you obtained -through Horace Scotch went into your own pocket. It is not the first -time you have been implicated in fraudulent concerns. Once you were -a poor man; now you are rich. You have made your money by fraud and -crime!” - -“I will have you arrested for using such language. It is criminal -libel!” - -“You are at liberty to have me arrested, but you will not dare, for you -know I might be able to put you in a very bad box. I do not fear you.” - -“It is scandalous--scandalous! Why, I really sympathized with you. I -thought you would appreciate it.” - -“Sympathy from you? Now, I shall despise you even more than I did -before!” - -Dyke Conrad came up hastily at this moment. - -“What is he saying to you, governor?” he asked, glaring at Frank. “Is -he using insulting language? If he is, I will slap his face!” - -Frank smiled. - -“I wish you would do that,” he said, almost entreatingly. “I’d very -much enjoy the privilege of knocking you down.” - -Dyke hesitated. Something told him it would be very rash for him to -attempt to slap Frank, so he said: - -“Come away, governor. Don’t talk to the low fellow!” - -And he led his father away. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE SETTING OF THE SUN. - - -Toward evening Frank walked out to the village cemetery that lay on -the hillside. The sun was letting fall its slanting rays on the marble -shafts and white tombstones. Below the hill was a small, pretty lake. - -Hat in hand, Frank Merriwell stood beside his mother’s grave, which was -marked by a beautiful slender marble shaft, at the apex of which was a -pure white dove. - -The grave was well kept, as Frank had instructed that it should be. All -the grass had been neatly trimmed by a lawn-mower, and the flowers of -early autumn were growing there. - -A long, long time the young man stood with his head bowed by the grave. -His thoughts were of the tenderest and saddest nature. Once again he, -a little boy, was standing beside the chair of his dear, sweet-faced -mother, and he seemed to feel her arm about him, while he laid his head -against her shoulder. How plainly he saw her as she looked fondly -into his eyes and told him one of the many stories that he begged -her to tell over and over, day after day. Not one of these stories -but had a moral and taught a lesson, and yet they were so skillfully -constructed and so beautifully told that they were his delight. He -realized that with the aid of these little stories she had helped shape -his future character, for they had taught him patience, perseverance, -truthfulness, honesty, kindness and forgiveness. - -He thought it all over now as he stood there in the last rays of the -setting sun, and his heart swelled with gratitude and love for that -mother of whom he had been so proud and who had been so proud of him. -He knew that her whole life had been pure and tender and patient, and -her memory was an inspiration. - -The tears dimmed his eyes and ran down his cheeks, but on his face was -a look of mingled sadness and happiness. Oh, it was good to have such a -mother to remember. - -Down by the grave he knelt, and he prayed to his mother in heaven. He -felt that she was looking down on him and blessing him. He knew her -spirit would hover near him and guide him. She had been an angel on -earth, and it did not seem that she could be any purer now that she was -an angel in heaven. - -At last he rose. There had been a pain in his heart, but it was gone; -there had been a sadness in his soul, but it was gone. He felt calm and -at peace with all the world. From the grave he plucked a few sprigs, -and with them in his hand he turned away. - -The sun had set, and purple twilight lay in the valleys. Far across -the meadows cows were lowing, while the boy, driving them homeward, -whistled a merry strain. It seemed that there was nothing but peace and -tranquillity in all the world. - -Along the road came a horseman at a canter. Frank paid little notice to -him till he was near, and then, happening to look at the person, he saw -it was Dyke Conrad. - -The fellow recognized Frank at the same moment. There was no sidewalk -at this point, and Merry was walking along the road. With a muttered -exclamation, Dyke cut the horse with his whip, and the spirited animal -leaped straight at Frank. - -It was an attempt to run Merry down, and Frank did not leap out of the -way. Instead, with a swift movement and a grasp of iron, he caught the -animal by the bit and set it on its haunches, with a single wrench, -causing it to snort with terror and bringing Dyke tumbling into the -dust. - -Conrad sprang up, snarling forth angry words. - -“What do you mean, you dog!” he almost shouted. “Why, I’ll--I’ll----” - -“Be good enough to mount your horse and go on your way,” came quietly -from Frank. “I do not wish to lift my hand in anger against you--now.” - -“But you caught my horse by the bit and made me lose my seat.” - -“I was forced to do it to protect myself when you tried to run me -down.” - -“You might have got out of the way!” - -“There was little time for that. Come, do as I asked. I do not wish a -quarrel with you now.” - -Dyke took this as a symptom of fear. - -“Oh, no, you don’t want a quarrel! I know that! But I think I’ll cut -you across the face a few times with my whip, just so you will remember -me.” - -“Stop! Don’t force me to give you a drubbing now, for I have just come -from my mother’s grave, and--I----” - -“If your mother was like you----” The fellow got no further. - -Releasing the horse, Frank sprang like a tiger upon him, caught him by -the collar till Dyke choked and grew purple, then swiftly said: - -“Take it back! You may insult me, but your lips shall not breathe a -word about my mother! Take it back--quick!” - -There was a look in Merry’s eyes that frightened Dyke as he had never -been frightened before. Before he realized it, he was cowering and -whimpering: - -“I didn’t mean to say anything against your mother--honest, I didn’t. -I spoke before I thought. Of course I wouldn’t say anything against -anybody that is dead! Don’t! You choke!” - -“You are not worth thrashing!” said Frank, in contempt. “But have a -care! It is well you found me in my present mood, or I would not have -let you off so easy. Go!” - -He released the fellow and walked away, not once turning his head to -see what Conrad was doing. - -When Frank reached the house he found the place in confusion. The nurse -had been driven from the professor’s room by the raving man, and she -said he had a revolver, with which he said he was hunting for Horace -Scotch, whom he would shoot on sight. - -“He is crazy!” declared the excited woman. “He must be taken care of, -or he will murder somebody.” - -Frank unhesitatingly went up to the room, opened the door and entered. -The professor was standing before a long mirror in his nightdress, with -the revolver in his hand, talking wildly to himself. - -“Ha! ha! ha!” he laughed, shrilly. “So I have found you at last! You -thought you could get away, you robber! Ha! ha! ha! There is no escape -for such as you! You robbed the boy who trusted you! You deserve to -die, and now you shall!” - -Then he lifted the revolver and fired straight into the center of the -mirror. - -Frank reached him with a rush and grappled with him, attempting to hold -him still and wrest the revolver from his grasp. But the professor -developed the strength of a maniac for a time, and a terrible struggle -ensued, in which the revolver was twice discharged, although neither of -the bullets did any harm. - -At last Frank secured the revolver, but even then the maniac fought on, -screaming: - -“He deserves death! He shall not escape! Let me go! I will kill him! I -will kill him!” - -“Be quiet, professor!” commanded Frank, as he finally forced the man -down upon a chair and held him there. “Be still, I tell you! You know -me. I am Frank.” - -“Then why didn’t you let me kill him?” panted the man, giving up at -last. “You are the one he robbed. He should die, as he deserves! He was -a coward! Once he stood up to shoot himself with that very pistol, but -his nerve failed him, and he ran away, leaving me here in his place. -I have been watching for him to come back. Ha! ha! ha! Oh, he can’t -escape!” - -Frank talked soothingly to the man, and finally got him back into the -bed. The professor was deathly white, and his eyes fairly burned. His -hands were hot and cold by turns. - -Frank sat by the bedside till the doctor came and gave the sick man -something that put him to sleep. - -When the physician heard Frank’s story, he shook his head, saying: - -“I am afraid he is done for. There is every indication that his reason -is shattered. If he has another violent spell, you will be forced to -have him taken to a place where he can be properly cared for.” - -“As long as there is a ray of hope, doctor, he shall remain here, and I -will care for him myself.” - -That night Frank slept in a room near at hand, with the door standing -open, so that he could hear the nurse if she called. At intervals he -awoke and listened. Midnight passed, morning approached. Frank was -sleeping in the gray light of dawn when the nurse awoke him and said: - -“He is awake now and a great change has come over him. He is asking for -you.” - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -PHANTOM FINGERS. - - -Frank rose immediately, a feeling of sickening dread stabbing him to -the heart. - -When he entered the professor’s chamber, the sick man lay with his face -turned toward the door. Near the bed a lamp burned faintly, although -the pale light of morning sifted in at the windows. - -“Professor, you are better!” - -Frank uttered the exclamation gently, hurrying to the bedside and -clasping the thin hands that lay on the white spread. - -“Do you think so?” asked the man, with a voice that seemed to come from -a great distance. - -“Yes, yes! You will soon be well now!” - -“But you--you cannot wish to see me get well? You would not wish, even -though I have been false to my trust and ruined you, that I should -recover and spend the rest of my days in prison? I am an old, old man. -At best there could not be many years left for me. They would be made -shorter within prison walls.” - -“Don’t, professor--don’t talk about prisons!” - -“Ah! but I am a criminal! Were I to get well, it would be your duty to -send me to prison.” - -“Then, for once in my life, at least, I would shirk my duty!” cried -Frank. - -The thin, cold fingers tightened over the warm ones of the youth, and a -light of happiness and admiration showed in the failing eyes. - -“You are noble-hearted!” murmured the sick man. “Oh, heavens! how much -would I give could I undo the wrong I have done you!” - -“There, there, professor! Think no more of that. Perhaps you have done -me the greatest good that could happen to me, for I shall be compelled -to make my own way in the world, and I might have been a sluggard.” - -“No, not that! I am sure there is nothing of the sluggard in your -nature. A young man like you, with a small fortune to start on, has -great opportunities in life. I robbed you of those opportunities when I -lost your fortune.” - -“I will make other opportunities, professor.” - -“I believe it, my boy; but still I am guilty. I do not care to get -well. I am glad the end is near.” - -Again that feeling of sickening dread stabbed Frank to the heart. - -“You must not talk like that, professor. You are far better than you -were.” - -“I think I must have been deranged. It seems like a bad dream to me. -But that is past. Put out that light, please. It seems to stifle me.” - -The light was extinguished and the nurse carried it from the room, -leaving the man and youth alone together. - -“It is morning,” whispered the sick man; “but how thin and pale the -light is! I wonder if I shall see the sunlight shining in at that -window again?” - -“Of course you will! You must stop thinking and talking like that. I -can’t bear it, professor.” - -“Oh, you have a kind and noble heart! I have known it always. Frank, -I could not have loved you more had you been my own son. I was an old -fool and easily duped. I thought I would make a large fortune for you. -It was for you alone that I was thinking; not for myself. It seemed a -safe investment. Ah, but that man could make things look promising! And -then, when I had lost more than half of your fortune, I had not the -courage to confess. I was desperate. It seemed that my last hope was -to plunge again. I went into cotton, and was led on till I reached the -last ditch. The crash came at last, and everything was swept away. - -“My boy, this goes to show how one false step leads to another, and -to final ruin. Beware of the first step. There is seldom any turning -back for a person who once goes wrong. Honor is lost with the first -false move, and then the fine sensibilities become dulled so that -the descent, slow at first, becomes swift and sure after a time. The -black secret cannot be kept long. When it becomes known that the first -downward step has been taken, confidence in you is lost, and those -who know of your mistake are always expecting you to repeat it. You -discover this, and their lack of confidence in you causes you to doubt -yourself. As soon as you doubt yourself, the battle has turned against -you, and your defeat must follow.” - -The professor paused, quite out of breath. After some seconds, he -hastened to say: - -“I know you do not need this sermon, my boy, but something drew it from -me. You have learned the lesson well, and I am sure there is no cause -to fear for you. Your mother taught you all these things. I had hoped -to live to see you prosperous and successful, an honored man among men. -All those hopes are ended. I am weary now, and I shall soon be at rest.” - -The final words came like a sigh, and, looking into the face of the -sick man, Frank saw the seal of the Destroyer there. Then Merry knew -that the time had come for a mortal being to face the Great Creator. -Like the lamplight that faded in the day dawn the human flame was -growing dimmer in the dawn of Eternity. - -A breeze came up and moved the trees outside. Upon a window pane some -twigs were tapping like the ghostly fingers of death seeking admittance -to that chamber. The swaying of the branches made shifting blots and -blurs on the ceiling. They were shadowy hands that beckoned, beckoned, -beckoned. - -“I was lonely in the world,” said the sinking man, after a time; “I was -lonely till you came into my life. Others did not understand me. They -said I was erratic and cranky. You seemed to understand me, and there -was a bond of sympathy between us. Now, at the last, you are the only -one to be with me. It is well; I ask no more.” - -The dim eyes rested lovingly on Frank’s face, and the thin hands still -clung to those of the youth. Frank tried to speak, but he choked, and -then, despite his efforts, burst into tears, dropping his face upon the -bed. - -“Don’t!” entreated the professor, placing one hand on Frank’s head. “It -is not right that you should weep for me, the cause of your misfortune.” - -“Please don’t speak of that again!” sobbed Frank. “Do not make it any -harder for us both! You have been like a father to me, and it does not -seem that the time has come when we must part!” - -“It is better. As I said, I am an old man. I have squandered your -fortune, and I would be adrift in the world, a wrecked vessel--a -derelict on the ocean of life.” - -“Not that, professor, for I would stand by you.” - -“You? Why, you have your own way to make in the world. You must set a -course for yourself and keep to it. Many a good vessel has been sunk -by a worthless derelict. It is better that I should go down than, -worthless and helpless, I should remain afloat.” - -Again his voice failed him. Wiping away his tears, Frank saw the shadow -had deepened on the pale face, and the eyes were dimmer than before. - -Tap! tap! tap! It seemed that the knocking at the window was louder and -more insistent. The dying man heard it. - -“What is that?” he whispered, in a tone that filled Frank with awe. “Do -you hear that rapping?” - -“Yes.” - -“Let them enter.” - -“It is nothing--nothing but the branches that reach the window.” - -“No, no! They have come for me, the boatmen who are to take me over the -dark river. Let them enter!” - -The weary eyes closed, and Frank leaned forward, thinking the end had -come. After some minutes, however, there was a slight heaving of the -breast, and the eyes opened again, as if by some mighty effort the -dying man had dragged his soul back from the borders of the unknown. - -“Frank,” came the whisper like the wind amid the leaves, “are you -there?” - -“Yes, professor.” - -“I had forgotten something. I could not go till you forgave me for the -injury I have done you.” - -“I freely forgive everything.” - -A faint smile came to the life-weary face. - -“Now I can go.” - -Again the wind swept through the trees. - -“Do you hear them? They are rapping again! You have not opened the -window!” - -“No.” - -“Do so at once! Admit them!” - -An arm was lifted and a hand pointed toward the window. Frank crossed -the room and threw the casement wide. At that moment the morning -sunlight shone through the trees and reached the window. When Frank -turned about one bright ray was resting on the peaceful face of the -dead. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -UNWELCOME VISITORS. - - -It was all over at last. The funeral had been held, and Horace Scotch -was buried in the little village cemetery. - -Frank returned to the old mansion, which seemed so lonely and deserted -now. From room to room he strayed, and the memories that hung about the -old place crowded thick upon him. - -In one of the rooms was an old melodeon that had not been opened for -years. He opened it and sat down to it, letting his fingers stray over -the keys. It was marvelous how well it was in tune, considering the -fact that it had not been played upon for so long. - -Frank played many of the old tunes that he remembered. Toots crept -up and listened at the door, not making a sound to disturb the young -master he loved so well. - -At last Frank sang, and the song was one that thrills every heart, -“Home; Sweet Home.” - - “An exile from home splendor dazzles in vain; - Oh! give me my lowly thatched cottage again; - The birds singing gayly, that come at my call; - Give me them, sweet peace of mind, dearer than all. - Home, home, sweet, sweet home, - Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. - - “Farewell, peaceful cottage! farewell, happy home! - Forever I’m doomed a poor exile to roam; - This poor aching heart must be laid in the tomb, - Ere it cease to regret the endearments of home. - Home, home, sweet, sweet home, - Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.” - -As Frank stopped singing, he was surprised to hear a sobbing sound -behind him, and he turned to see Toots kneeling in the doorway, his -face buried in his hands. - -“Why, what is the matter with you, Toots?” asked Merry, rising and -going toward the colored boy. - -It was some moments before Toots could answer. Frank lifted him to his -feet. - -“Oh, Mistah Frank,” sobbed the colored lad, “I feel so bad!” - -“Everything will come out all right in the end, my boy.” - -“Dat song neah broke me all up, sah. Dis ole place hab been mah home so -long, an’ now--an’ now----” - -“And now we must bid it farewell. It is hard, but it is life.” - -“I dunno what’s gwan teh become ob me, sah.” - -“I will look out for you, Toots. I’ll see that you have a good position -somewhere. You are faithful and reliable. You love horses, and you -would make a first-class jockey. Don’t worry. I must go out and hustle -myself. It needs a stout heart to face the world.” - -“Dat’s right, sah, but when I think ob leabin’ dis ole place it clean -breaks mah heart.” - -Frank succeeded in comforting the colored boy after a time. He spoke to -Toots as gently as if the lad’s skin had been white, and the face of -the boy showed his love and admiration for his young master. - -It was not easy for Frank to throw off the cloud of sadness that bore -down upon him, but he made an effort to do so. There was work before -him ere he could leave Bloomfield. All the tangled affairs must be -straightened, and every account must be settled. - -It was some time before Frank could learn just how matters stood, but -he succeeded at last, and then he found, as he had feared, that the old -place must be sold. It was necessary, too, to dispose of it immediately. - -Thus it came about that soon the whole of Bloomfield knew the Merriwell -mansion was for sale. Darius Conrad had his eye on the place. Believing -it must be disposed of at a great sacrifice, he was eager to get -possession of it, and so, with small loss of time, he set out to look -the property over. - -Toots answered the ring at the door when Darius and his son Dyke -called. Young Conrad had been eager to accompany his father, thinking -he would find an opportunity to sneer at Frank and be quite safe with -his father near. - -Toots knew Darius Conrad, and he would have shut the door in the man’s -face, but Conrad forced his way in, followed by his worthy son. - -“I wish to see Frank Merriwell,” said the man. - -“Well, sah,” answered the colored boy, frankly, “I don’ believe he -wants teh see yo’, sah.” - -“None of your insolence!” growled Darius, shaking his cane. “This is a -matter of business.” - -“Then I am suah Mistah Frank don’ care teh see yo’. He don’ do business -in yoah style, sah.” - -“Haw!” snorted the man, growing red in the face. “Why, you black -rascal! I will----” - -“Bettah be careful how yo’ call names, sah! It don’ set well fo’ a man -ob youah class to call anybody a rascal.” - -“Shall I thump him, governor?” asked Dyke, aggressively. - -“Huah! Jes’ yo’ try hit!” shouted Toots, putting up his hands. “I’d -jes’ lak teh see yo’ try hit! Why, I’d smash yeh quicker dan a cat -could wink! Yes, sah--yes, indeed!” - -“Don’t get into a quarrel with a nigger, Dyke,” cautioned the father. - -“Niggah!” exploded Toots. “I’s a cullad gemman, sah, an’ yeh wants teh -’dress me wif respec’.” - -“Call your master immediately.” - -“Tell yeh he don’ want teh see yeh.” - -“I have come to look this place over in view of purchasing it. I -understand it is for sale.” - -“Mistah Frank won’t sell hit teh yo’, sah.” - -“I am not here to waste my breath with you.” - -“There is the doah. I guess yo’ hab beat Mistah Frank enough, an’ he’d -be silly if he let yo’ beat him some moah.” - -“If you do not call him at once, I’ll make you sorry for it! Such -insolence I never met before!” - -“What is the matter down there, Toots?” called the voice of Frank -Merriwell from the head of the stairs. - -“Sah, Mistah Conrad insists on seein’ yo’, sah.” - -“Mr. Conrad?” - -“Yes, sah.” - -“I do not care to see the man.” - -“I tole him so, sah.” - -“Tell him to go away.” - -“I tole him dat, sah.” - -“What then?” - -“He won’t go, sah. He forced his way into the house, an’ I can’t mek -him go out.” - -There was a sharp exclamation, and Frank came swiftly downstairs in -dressing gown and slippers. He halted near the foot of the stairs and -gave the two Conrads a withering look. - -“I must say that you have considerable crust to come here and force -yourselves into this house!” he exclaimed, scornfully. - -“Now, don’t talk like that--don’t talk like that, young man!” -spluttered Darius. “We didn’t come here to be insulted. We came here on -a matter of business.” - -“I do not care to transact any business with you.” - -“Dar!” shouted Toots, exultantly. “Didn’t I tole yeh! Dat am jes’ what -I said!” - -“I understand that this place is for sale,” said Conrad, ignoring -Frank’s words. “If the terms are satisfactory, and if it suits me, I -will buy it.” - -“No, you will not.” - -“Eh? what do you mean?” - -“I will not sell it to you.” - -“I knowed it!” nodded Toots, grinning triumphantly. - -“But I am ready to pay spot cash, young man--spot cash. Do you -understand? I have the money.” - -“I know you have it, and I know how you obtained it. No, Darius Conrad, -not one dollar of money will I accept from you. This place is for sale, -but you can’t buy it.” - -“I guess dat will hole yeh fo’ a while!” muttered Toots. - -“Well, I must say you are ridiculous!” stormed Conrad--“perfectly -ridiculous! If you will be reasonable----” - -“There is the door, sir,” said Frank, stepping from the stairs and -pointing to the door, which Toots held open. “This is still my house. -Will you leave it? or do you choose to be put out?” - -“He’s actually threatening us, governor!” cried Dyke. - -“Don’t dare threaten me, young man!” snarled Darius, shaking his cane -at Frank. “If you do, I’ll give you a good caning, and that is what you -deserve!” - -“Go!” - -“I will not be driven out in----” - -Frank grasped the man by the collar and marched him out in a hurry, -despite his endeavors to break away. - -“Here! here!” cried Dyke, springing on Frank. “Stop that!” - -Merry turned and grappled with the younger rascal. He laughed as he -swung Dyke off his feet, having grasped him by the collar and the seat -of the trousers. - -Wildly flourishing his cane, Darius Conrad was hurrying in at the door -just as his son came sailing out, having been hurled by the muscular -arms of Frank Merriwell. - -The young man struck his father fairly amidships, and over they went -together, rolling down the steps to the ground. - -For the first time in a week, Toots doubled up and shouted with -laughter. - -“Good-day, gentlemen,” said Frank, gently, as he closed the door. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -CAPTURED BY WHITECAPS. - - -Fuming with fury, the Conrads walked back into the village. - -“I think I will have him arrested!” grated Darius. “Assault and -battery--that’s the charge! He must be punished for what he has done, -the young ruffian!” - -“That’s right, governor,” whined Dyke, who walked with a limp, and had -a general shaken-up appearance. “If you don’t give it to him, I will!” - -“You? Haw! You are no match for him.” - -“Not alone.” - -“Nor with me to aid you. Why, the fellow has muscles of steel, and he -is quick as a cat!” - -“You wouldn’t be asked to help.” - -“Hum! No? What are you driving at?” - -“You remember how Eli Gibbons was used when he refused to leave town a -while ago?” - -“Yes. It was scandalous. He was nearly killed by a gang of masked -ruffians who carried him off into the woods somewhere, stripped him, -tied him to a tree and lashed him with withes till he fainted. Several -papers had articles in them about the outbreak of whitecaps right here -in our county.” - -“Well, I know the fellows who did that job,” grinned Dyke. - -“You do?” gasped the father, with a look of great consternation and -distress. “My son, I am astonished--I am pained! It cannot be that you -associate with such disreputable characters? I will not believe it!” - -“Perhaps, if it became necessary, they could be induced to give Mr. -Frank Merriwell some of the same medicine. But of course, if you are -going to have him arrested, it will not be necessary.” - -“Haw! No, of course not. On second thought, however, I am not sure that -the charge against him would stand. He might defeat us. He might show -that we were the aggressors. That colored boy would swear to anything.” - -“In that case----” - -“Really, I don’t see that anything can be done.” - -“Then the Bloomfield whitecaps will have to take a hand. Oh, he’ll be -fixed, governor!” - -“Hum! Don’t speak to me of such lawless acts. Really, I cannot -countenance anything of the kind. Of course he should receive some -punishment. If whitecaps were to take him out and give him such a -walloping as Gibbons received, it would be my duty as a peaceable, -law-abiding citizen to frown down upon such acts. However, in case it -were discovered that you were concerned in it, Dyke, as a parent, I -should be obliged to protect you. Money would do that, you know. It is -a most disgraceful state of affairs, I must confess, but money will do -almost anything in this country.” - -“Then we’d better go ahead and do him up, hadn’t we, governor?” - -“My son, my son!” cried the old hypocrite, with uplifted hands; “you -know I always set my face against such acts of unlawfulness. I am a -good citizen and a church member. However, you are too old for me to -control now, and I shall not hold myself responsible for your acts. The -proud in spirit should be humbled in the dust, even though it may be by -human agency, and Frank Merriwell needs humbling.” - -Dyke grinned. - -“He’ll get humbling enough,” the young rascal declared. “Wait till -the gang gets after him. But I’ll need some money to fix it with the -gang. There are seven of them, and they won’t do a thing less than ten -dollars each. About a hundred dollars will do the trick.” - -“I don’t see where the money is coming from.” - -“You’ll have to cough, governor.” - -“I? You forget! Why, I have told you plainly that I do not countenance -such things. The idea that I would give money to have anything of -the kind carried on! I am shocked! But I believe you need a new suit -of clothes, my son. I am pleased to see you well dressed. Here is a -hundred dollars to purchase a new suit.” - -Darius took out a roll of bills and stripped off a fifty, two twenties -and a ten, which he passed to Dyke. - -“That new suit of clothes will be a great deal warmer for Mr. Frank -Merriwell than for me,” grinned the worthy son of a worthy father. -“This is all right, governor. You’ll hear something drop some of these -dark nights.” - -“There, there! Don’t mention such disgraceful proceedings to me again. -I am pained at the mere thought. If you need any more money for that -suit let me know.” - -By this time they were in the village, and they separated, Darius going -to his office, while his son sought “the gang.” - -So it happened that one night as Frank was returning home from the -village, he was tripped by a rope stretched across the road about a -foot from the ground. Before he could recover, he was pounced upon by a -gang of masked ruffians. - -Frank made a savage fight, but he was overpowered by superior numbers, -and his hands were tied behind his back, while a gag was forced into -his mouth. In order to compel him to take the gag between his teeth, he -was choked till he was nearly dead. - -After this treatment, Frank was too weak to walk. The ruffians did -not dare remain in the road longer than absolutely necessary, so the -captive was picked up and carried across fields, over fences and into a -dark strip of woods. - -In the woods the gang rested. - -“Well, he made a hard fight fer it,” said one. - -“Come mighty near gettin’ away oncet,” observed another. - -“Get out!” exclaimed a third. “He made us hustle, that’s all. I -expected it. He’s an athlete.” - -“Where we goin’ to take him?” - -“To the old house.” - -“Let’s make him walk.” - -“Perhaps he will walk of his own willin’ness, but I don’t believe you -can make him. He can’t be drove much.” - -“Oh, he’ll be easy enough to handle before the night is over, if the -chap that hired us to do this trick carries out his plan.” - -Frank heard this talk. He was wondering what it all meant. Why had he -been set upon in such a manner and handled so roughly? Why had he been -made a captive and taken there into the woods? - -He had not been suspecting danger when he was set upon, and so was -quite unprepared. - -At last the gang was ready to start on again, and Frank was placed on -his feet and marched along in their midst. He made no resistance now, -feeling that it was folly to do so. - -There was a road through the woods, but it was rough and crooked, and -they all stumbled along in the darkness, some of them uttering language -of a savage nature. - -After some time they came to an opening. Frank heard the sound of a -waterfall, and then he was taken into a dark house that stood there in -the woods. - -The door closed behind him, and he was pushed through a hall. Then -another door opened, and a lighted room was entered. - -In that room a single person was waiting. He was roughly dressed, and -over his head was a cowl-like cap of white that fell to his shoulders. -In this were two slits for eyeholes. - -This person was standing when the other whitecaps forced Frank into the -room. He uttered an exclamation of satisfaction when he saw Merriwell. - -“Well done!” he cried, in a disguised voice. “I was beginning to fear -you had failed.” - -So this was the person who had ordered the capture. Frank looked at him -searchingly. - -“None of your insolent staring!” grated the leader, and, reaching Frank -with a single stride, he struck him on the cheek with the open hand. - -Quick as thought, Frank lifted a foot and kicked the fellow fairly -across the room! - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -COWARDLY WORK. - - -Bang! - -The fellow struck up against the wall and fell to the floor, where he -lay, groaning dismally. - -There were exclamations of astonishment from the other members of the -gang. - -“Well,” grunted one, a strapping six-footer, “he’s tied and gagged, but -he is still able to fight.” - -“He’s--half--killed--me!” gasped the fellow Frank had kicked. “But I’ll -make him suffer for it!” - -“Better see his feet are tied before you try any more tricks with him,” -half laughed the big whitecap, who seemed to admire Frank’s pluck. - -“Tie his legs!” grated the leader, sitting up, but still groaning. “Tie -them at the knees!” - -Frank made a sudden leap and placed his back against the wall, while -his eyes flashed the defiance and warning his lips could not utter. It -was plain enough that he meant to defend himself as long as possible, -bound though he was. - -“At him!” snarled the leader. “Jump on him!” - -“Why don’t you get in and do some of the jumping?” asked the big -fellow. “Here’s a nice chance for you.” - -“Oh, I will! I’ll----” - -He finished with a cry of pain and fell back to the floor, after trying -to rise. - -“My leg!” he gasped. “I believe it is broken!” - -A sound like mocking laughter came from behind the gag in Merry’s mouth. - -“He’s laughing!” muttered one of the gang, in astonishment. - -“Good grit!” nodded the big fellow. - -“I believe you are in sympathy with him!” snarled the leader. “Help me -up, somebody!” - -They aided him to rise, but it was with difficulty that he could stand -unassisted upon his feet. He leaned against the wall, glaring in a -deadly manner at the defiant captive. - -“Are you going to let him stand there and bluff you all?” he fumed. -“You can down him with a rush. Go at him now!” - -“We’re not paid for that,” said the big fellow. “We were paid to catch -him and bring him here. That’s what we’ve done.” - -“I’ll pay you! Down him! I’ll make it five dollars more all round.” - -“That goes!” was the cry, and the ruffians rushed upon Frank. - -Then Merry’s feet came into play. In France he had learned the art of -boxing with his feet, and he could handle them almost as nimbly as an -ordinary boxer could handle his fists. The first man to spring at him -received a kick in the stomach that doubled him up like a jack-knife, -the next was hurled to the floor, and the third got one on the side of -the head that sent him staggering away, bewildered and blinded. - -But there were too many of them, and Frank was not able to stand them -off more than a few seconds. They crushed him to the floor, and his -legs were bound at the knees, as the leader directed. - -In this assault the big fellow had taken no part. He stood aloof, -his arms folded over his broad breast, looking on with an air of -indifference. - -When Frank was subjugated and helpless, the leader turned on the big -fellow and expressed anger at his conduct. - -“That will do!” was the surly retort that was growled from beneath -the mask. “I won’t stand it from you! I did my part of this business -according to agreement. I did not agree to do anything more.” - -“You don’t get an extra V.” - -“I don’t want it, so don’t worry yourself.” - -The leader ordered a fire to be built in the old open fireplace, and -his directions were carried out. He could scarcely hobble round, and he -was in an ugly mood. - -With his own hands, he removed the gag from Frank Merriwell’s mouth. - -“That is better,” said Frank, coolly. “My jaws were aching.” - -“That will be nothing to what is coming!” declared the fellow. “I’ll -make you wish you never were born!” - -“Marvelous! You must be a perfect savage.” - -“Well, I am going to treat you the way savages sometimes treat their -captives.” - -“I’m sorry about that.” - -“You’ll be more so before I am done with you. Oh, I’ll make you whimper -and beg!” - -“Yes? Bright prospect for me; but it’s possible you had better think it -over before you go into it. It might not be healthy for you in the end. -There are other days coming--and other nights.” - -“Bah! You put up a good bluff, but it does not go. I’ll take some of -the nerve out of you!” - -“Your turn will come! Whatever you do will not be forgotten.” - -“Rot! You are welcome to remember it. Little good that will do you.” - -“Oh, I don’t know! I may make it decidedly uncomfortable for you.” - -“You can’t.” - -“Why not?” - -“You will not know whom to strike.” - -“Don’t fool yourself with that idea, Mr. Dyke Conrad!” - -The leader started and caught his breath. Then he forced a harsh laugh. - -“That will be all right,” he said, with attempted flippancy. “You are -welcome to think me Dyke Conrad.” - -“I do not think anything about it.” - -“Indeed.” - -“I know!” - -“How?” - -“By your voice, your manner, your gestures--everything about you.” - -“That won’t do. You are welcome to think what you like. I am not Dyke -Conrad, but I’m willing you should think so.” - -“Dyke Conrad is the only person in Bloomfield, with the exception of -his estimable father, who could wish me harm. Whatever happens to me -to-night, Dyke Conrad shall suffer for, and that is no bluff. You will -find that I can strike when I am aroused.” - -The leader of the ruffians ground his teeth together. - -“When I am done with you, you will not be in condition to bother -anybody for some time to come!” he hissed. - -“Oh, but I do not forget easily. I have a splendid memory. If you wish -to escape my vengeance for this night’s work, I advise you to kill me -outright--then you will hang for it.” - -“Oh, I’ll take chances! I am satisfied as long as you believe me Dyke -Conrad. I don’t care what you do to him.” - -The fellow looked toward the fire, which was beginning to blaze -brightly. He nodded his head, with a gesture of satisfaction. - -“It will soon be ready,” he muttered. - -“Are you going to fry me, or broil me?” asked Frank. - -“You will be well warmed,” was the answer. “Somebody sit on his legs -and keep him still while his shoes are removed.” - -This order was obeyed, and Frank’s feet were stripped till they were -bare. Then Merry realized the dastardly purpose of his captor, and, -despite himself, he turned faint. - -“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the leader. “Now you are guessing it, and -you’re getting pale. I knew you would lose your nerve. I’ll have the -satisfaction of hearing you whimper and whine.” - -“You cowardly cur!” came contemptuously from Frank’s lips. “You are -not a human being! You are a brute! You should associate with cowardly -savages. They would make fit companions for such a beast as you!” - -“Be careful!” snarled the fellow. “Every word will be charged up -against you, and you’ll not get off any the easier for them.” - -“It is not possible for me to express my contempt for you by words!” -said Frank, his voice clear and distinct. - -“You’ll be expressing something else in a short time. Oh, you sing high -now, you do; but your tune will change, and you will cry pretty soon.” - -The wretch selected a brand from the fire and laughed as he flashed the -blaze before Frank’s face. - -“Is it warm?” he asked. “Well, it will seem warmer when I apply it to -the tender skin on your feet.” - -“Go ahead!” grated Merry; “but do not forget what I have told you. My -turn will come!” - -The fellow prepared to apply the blaze to Frank’s feet, but, as he -stooped to do so, another voice was heard: - -“Stop!” - -It was the tall whitecap, and he was pointing straight at the leader. - -“Stop!” he roared. “This job doesn’t go!” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -FRANK’S STRANGE FRIEND. - - -There was no misunderstanding the big fellow’s meaning. It was plain -enough that he intended to interfere. - -“What’s that?” snarled the leader, glaring through the slits in the -hood, the blazing brand shaking in his hand. “What do you mean by -that?” - -“Just what I say,” retorted the other, standing over Frank and -returning the glare with interest. “This fellow’s all right. He’s got -nerve and sand. I’m not goin’ to stand here and see him roasted in that -style.” - -Angry imprecations burst from the hidden lips of Merriwell’s would-be -torturer. - -“Stand back!” he shouted, shrilly, flourishing the brand at Frank’s -defender. - -“Well, I guess not! I helped lace Eli Gibbons, for he was a thief, a -liar, a wife-beater, and everything mean; but this case is different.” - -“And I know you were in the Gibbons affair, so it’s not best for you to -interfere here. I could have a warrant out for your arrest to-morrow -morning, and, by the Eternal, if you meddle with me now, I will! This -is my business. You were paid for your part of the work, and you did -it.” - -“Why, blame your eyes!” roared the big fellow. “If you dared to blow on -me, I’d skin ye alive! Since I’ve seen what you mean to do with this -chap, whose little finger is more man than the whole of you, I’d like -the job of tying you up to a tree and giving you the same kind of a -dose Gibbons received!” - -“You wouldn’t dare!” - -“Wouldn’t I?” - -“No.” - -“Why not?” - -“Why, my father--my father would have you sent to prison!” - -The big fellow snapped his fingers and laughed. - -“That for your father! He wouldn’t touch me, for if he did, I would -land his son behind bars. Oh, you can’t make any bluffs with me, for -they will not go.” - -Dyke Conrad, for it was that worthless rascal, literally gnashed -his teeth. With the cruelty of a savage, he had planned to torture -Merriwell, whom he bitterly hated, and now he could not endure the -thought of being robbed of his fiendish enjoyment by one of his hired -tools. - -He appealed to the others. - -“Stand by me, fellows!” he cried. “I’ll double the amount paid you!” - -He turned to make this appeal, and, in that moment, the big fellow -reached down with one hand, grasped Frank and stood him on his feet. -Then, with remarkable swiftness, he retreated to the wall, bearing -Merry. - -“I’ll have you free in a minute,” he declared. - -“Thank you,” said Frank, quietly. “I’ll not forget it.” - -“Oh, I’m not doing this for any reward. I’m naturally a mean cuss, but -I couldn’t keep still and see a fellow with your grit roasted by that -miserable sneak.” - -He whipped out a jack-knife and opened it. - -Seeing the revolter was about to set Frank free, Dyke Conrad uttered a -howl of rage and rushed at him. There was a short struggle, and then, -with a scream, Dyke staggered backward. - -“I’m stabbed!” he gasped, and fell to the floor, blood spurting from a -wound in his side. - -“The fool ran right onto the knife!” panted the big fellow, hastily -cutting the ropes that held Frank. “I didn’t mean to hit him with the -knife. I could handle him with one hand.” - -“It’s unfortunate,” said Frank; “but he brought it on himself.” - -“You will testify to that if he dies?” - -“Yes.” - -“I can depend on you?” - -“You may.” - -The horrified whitecaps gathered about their fallen leader, who was -groaning and moaning on the floor, his blood-stained fingers pressed to -his side. - -“I’m dying, fellows!” whimpered Dyke. “I have been murdered! Oh, dear! -I can’t die now--I can’t die!” - -Frank Merriwell stepped forward, boldly, moving the helpless whitecaps -aside, and knelt beside the wounded youth. - -Dyke saw him and tried to move away. - -“Oh, don’t!” he whined. “Don’t hurt me now! I’m dying!” - -“I will not hurt you,” assured Frank. “I have no desire to harm you -now. I am here to help you--if I can.” - -“To help me?” repeated Dyke, in wonder. - -“Yes.” - -“How?” - -“Let me look at that wound. It may not be so bad, and I may be able to -check the flow of blood till it can be properly cared for.” - -“Would you do that--for me?” - -“Yes. I do not wish to see you die. As yet you have done me no great -injury. It is your father who has injured me.” - -Frank opened the fellow’s coat and vest, and then made a slit in his -shirt and under-garment, exposing the wound, which was bleeding freely. -The sight of the blood completely unmanned Dyke, who sobbed: - -“Oh, I know I shall die! I am not ready to die! It is a terrible thing -to have to die! Save me--save me somehow!” - -“Keep still,” ordered Frank, sharply. “It’s useless to get so excited. -From the looks, I do not believe this wound is serious, although it is -bleeding profusely. I want this hood.” - -He took it from Dyke’s head and tore it into strips. Then, with skill -that set those who watched him wondering, he bound up the wound, aided -by the big fellow. - -“There,” said Frank, “that will stop the bleeding in a measure; but you -must get to the nearest doctor as soon as you can, and have the cut -properly treated.” - -“Come,” said the big whitecap, touching Frank’s arm. - -But Merry waited till he had seen Dyke assisted to his feet. - -“I can’t walk!” whined the fellow. - -“It is walk or bleed to death, and you have your choice,” said Frank. - -It was wonderful how soon Dyke was able to walk. - -As Frank and the companion who had befriended him were leaving, one of -the other whitecaps spoke to their companion. - -“Look here,” he said, “you are not going to blow on us?” - -“Not on your life!” was the answer. “You need not be afraid of that. I -shall not blow on any of my pals.” - -“All right. We didn’t know.” - -“Don’t worry.” - -Then Frank and his strange friend set out through the woods and the -darkness, Merry following the lead of the other. - -They proceeded in silence till the edge of the woods was reached. There -the big fellow halted, saying: - -“We will part here.” - -“All right,” said Frank, holding out his hand. “I want to thank you for -your friendship.” - -“I don’t deserve it.” - -“I think you do. But for you, I might have walked on crutches for some -time to come, or been crippled for the remainder of my life. I was in a -bad box, and I could not help myself.” - -“That is true, but I helped put you in that box. Not till you showed -your nerve was I ready to stand by you. If you had been a coward, I -should not have had the least sympathy with you; but I couldn’t stand -by and see Conrad torture a chap with sand.” - -“Won’t you tell me your name? You may be sure of my friendship. You -need not fear to trust me.” - -“I do not fear to trust you, for I am sure that a fellow with your grit -is on the level; but I do not deserve your friendship, and I will not -tell you my name. It makes no difference who I am. You may be sure I -am of no account, or I would not be in with such a gang.” - -“Why don’t you cut clear from them? You have the making of a man in -you--you are a man! It is a mistake for you to be associating with such -a crowd.” - -“Perhaps you are right. I never thought much about that, but I shall -think of it in the future. You have made me ashamed of myself to-night, -Frank Merriwell; and I believe I shall turn over a new leaf.” - -“I hope you will. If you ever need a friend, come to me. All you will -have to do is to mention this time.” - -“I believe you. Good-by.” - -“Good-by.” - -Thus they parted. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -FOR HIS ENEMY. - - -“Fire!” - -Two nights after the events just related, Frank had taken his evening -walk and was returning to the old place, which he was leaving forever -on the morrow, as it was already sold, and the writings had been made. - -The cry reached his ears from a distance. - -The cry of fire at night has a weird, peculiar sound, once heard never -forgotten. - -Frank started from the spell that had been on him. He threw up his head -and listened. - -“Fire!” - -Again the cry reached his ears. It came from a distant part of the -village. - -Quick as thought he whirled about and ran in that direction. - -In the city the alarm is sometimes heard, but, more frequently, the -first knowledge of the fire comes from the sight of the engine as it -goes dashing to the rescue. - -In small country places the wild cry of fire is almost always the first -alarm. - -Frank knew this. He had lived in cities where the sound of the clanging -gong of a fire engine scarcely awakened passing notice; but now he was -in a small country town, and it was different. - -He had not exerted himself to the utmost for some time, and, with -something like a feeling of exultation at the opportunity, he sped -along the road. - -“Fire!” - -The cry sounded nearer. He was in the border of the village, and he -thought he saw a red glow ahead and to the right. He turned a corner -and sped onward. - -Soon he came upon others who were running in the same direction. And -then, after a little, he located the red glow beyond a doubt. - -Lights were flashing in the windows of the houses, showing that the -inhabitants had been awakened and were rising hastily. - -“Where is it?” asked a man who dashed out from one of the houses. - -“Don’t know,” Merry answered, and sped onward. - -“It must be Rufus Gray’s house!” shouted a man who was running and -puffing along the street. - -Frank said nothing, but passed him like the wind. - -The smell of smoke came to his nostrils as he turned another corner. -The fire had obtained a fine start before it was discovered. Through -the buildings and the trees the red glow was bursting forth with -greater brightness each moment. - -Another corner turned, and the burning house was before him, with the -fire bursting from its upper windows. - -“It’s Darius Conrad’s house!” cried somebody. - -“Retribution!” exclaimed Frank. “It is the hand of fate that strikes -the man!” - -For a moment a feeling like exultation ran all over him. He stopped -running, and walked forward slowly. Before the house a number of -persons could be seen huddled together, as if they were dazed, while -others were running about wildly in the red glare of the fire. - -Frank came up. - -“Are they all out of the house?” asked somebody. - -“They must be,” said another person. - -Just then the door burst open, and a man came out in a few scanty -garments, looking as if he plunged from a sea of fire, which glowed red -and yellow behind him. He ran out into the middle of the street, waving -his arms above his head and shouting. There he fell in the dust, and -the crowd gathered about him. - -“Oh, my son! my son!” groaned the man, as he writhed prostrate in the -dust. “I went back for him! I could not reach him! He is in there -somewhere--sick, wounded, helpless! My God! Can no one save him?” - -“Too late!” said a voice. “Is he in one of the chambers?” - -“Yes!” - -“The entire upper part of the house is in flames!” - -“He is lost!” - -“My God! My son--my own boy!” - -Such a cry of heart-breaking anguish! It stirred Frank Merriwell’s -heart. - -“I will try to find him and bring him out!” came in a tone of -determination from Frank’s lips. - -“God bless you!” gasped Darius Conrad. “If you will----” - -But the volunteer life-saver was gone. Hands were outstretched to stop -him, but he avoided them; voices called for him to come back, but he -heeded them not. In at the door he plunged. - -“He is gone!” screamed a woman. - -“Yes,” said a man; “and that is the last of him. He’ll never come out -of that!” - -Darius Conrad, wicked old sinner that he was, knelt down in the dust -and prayed. His wife found him kneeling there, and knelt at his side. -They prayed for their son--their only boy. - -The flames crackled with an exultant sound, and the yellow smoke rolled -upward. The moments seemed hours. In the distance the volunteer firemen -could be heard coming with the hand tub. By the time they reached the -spot there would be nothing for them to do but wet down some of the -nearer houses to keep them from catching, for then a city fire engine -would be unable to save the home of Darius Conrad. - -And still Frank Merriwell was somewhere within that burning building -searching for the helpless youth who had been his foe. Those who had -hoped at first that he, at least, might come forth began to give up in -despair. - -And then, out from the smoke and flame staggered a figure. It was a -human being, and on his shoulders he carried another human being. - -“There he is!” screamed a voice. - -“Hurrah!” roared a man. - -“And he has Dyke Conrad!” - -Forward to the street reeled Frank Merriwell, bearing his helpless foe. -Then he suddenly dropped to the ground, coughing violently. - -Darius Conrad was on hand, and he folded his son in his arms. Dyke’s -mother fainted in the arms of a strong man. - -But Frank was not forgotten. Scores of witnesses of his brave act -gathered about him. He was lifted by a young man who was six feet tall, -and very muscular. - -“If he’s hurt in the least, it’ll be a dear sacrifice for the life of -that worthless dog!” declared the young man, and Frank recognized the -voice. - -“I--am--not--hurt--my--friend,” he said, faintly. “My lungs are full of -smoke--that’s all.” - -He had felt those strong arms about him before; he had heard that voice -defying Dyke Conrad in the old house in the forest. - -But when Frank fully recovered, that strange friend was gone. - -Dyke Conrad had been saved, and Darius was asking for the rescuer of -his son. They took him to Frank. - -“You?” he cried, astounded, as the light of the conflagration showed -Merry’s features. - -“Yes,” was the quiet answer. - -“How can I ever pay you for saving my boy?” - -“You can’t!” - -Then Frank turned away, and he heeded not that the man called to him. - - * * * * * - -The time had come for Frank Merriwell to leave Bloomfield. The old home -was gone, and everything was settled at last. He had found a place for -Toots, and the colored boy had departed a day in advance. - -And now Frank must face the world--he must start on a new career as a -breadwinner. He did not hesitate; he was not afraid. Deep within his -heart was a confidence that he would win in the battle of life, even -though forced to start at the very bottom of the ladder and fight his -way upward. - -He turned and waved a farewell to his old home. The sun was shining, -and never had it seemed so beautiful and so dear before. - -“Some time,” he said, “some time I will return and buy the old place -back. It shall be mine again.” - -In Bloomfield now he was all too well known, and it seemed that nearly -all the citizens of the place turned out to bid him farewell at the -station. They shook hands with him, old men, young men and boys. Old -women cried over him, and some young women kissed him. - -Neither Darius Conrad nor his son was there. - -The train came and bore Frank away. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE BULLY OF THE ROUNDHOUSE. - - -“Will you please tell me where I can find the foreman?” asked Frank, -several days later, as he entered a roundhouse of the Blue Mountain -Railroad. - -“Hey? The foreman?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“What do ye want?” - -“I will explain my business to him, if you will be kind enough to tell -me where I may find him.” - -The greasy man in greasy overalls and jumper straightened up from his -position partly beneath the engine he had been wiping, and glared -contemptuously at the smooth-faced, clean, well-dressed youth who had -inquired for the roundhouse foreman. - -The place seemed dark and dusty, and smelled of smoke and grease. All -around were engines, many of them with wipers or machinists working on -them. One, with steam up, was standing ready to run out upon the track. -The engineer was in the cab, while the fireman, with a long brass -oiler in his hand, was making sure that every bearing was properly -lubricated. - -The well-dressed youth had found admission to the roundhouse in some -manner, but it was plain enough that he was unfamiliar there, or he -would not have asked a wiper where to find the foreman. - -The wiper was an ugly-looking fellow, with red hair and freckled face. -He had a brawny arm and thick shoulders, and he glared at the stranger -as if longing to eat him. - -“What’re ye in here for, anyhow?” he growled. - -“That is my business. I asked you a civil question, but you have not -seen fit to answer it civilly, so I see that I shall have to inquire -elsewhere.” - -“Wait!” said the wiper, as the youth turned away. “You’re puttin’ on -a heap of manners just because you can wear fine clothes and keep yer -hands clean. I’m just as good as you be.” - -“We will not argue about that at all, sir.” - -“Mebbe you’ll have to dirty yer hands some time.” - -To this the stranger made no retort, but, as he started away, the wiper -said: - -“Hold on. Stay here, an’ I’ll find the foreman.” - -“All right.” - -Then the man lounged away, growling to himself. He was gone nearly -fifteen minutes, and when he returned he was accompanied by four or -five other wipers, all looking just as dirty and greasy as he did. - -The well-dressed youth was standing by the engine, his eyes taking in -everything that was going on in the building. - -He had seen the waiting engine run out on the track and another one -back in off the turntable. In a brief space of time he had learned -something about the work that went on in the roundhouse. - -“Well,” growled the red-haired wiper, “ther foreman ain’t round. When -he’s out, I take his place. What dyer want?” - -“Never mind,” said the youth. “I was looking for a job, but----” - -“Hey? A job? What kind of a job?” - -The wiper was astonished, as he plainly showed. - -“Most any kind of a job,” was the quiet answer. “I will call when the -foreman is in.” - -“Well, dern my eyes!” shouted the red-headed man, bursting into a -roar of coarse laughter. “Mebbe you wanted to hire out as general -superintendent or president of the road, or something of that sort? -Haw! haw! haw!” - -“Haw! haw! haw!” roared the other wipers. - -Some of the machinists stopped work and came where they could watch and -listen; a crowd was collecting around the applicant for work, who began -to show embarrassment, his cheeks flushing. - -“Look at him, fellers!” cried the big wiper, pointing at the stranger. -“He’s lookin’ fer work--here! Haw! haw! haw!” - -“Well, sir,” said the youth, sharply, “will you tell me what there is -so very funny about that?” - -“Oh, it ain’t funny at all!” said the big man. “It’s just thunderin’ -ridiculous! I s’pose you’d be satisfied with a salary of ten thousand -dollars a year?” - -“Oh, I might be willing to accept that,” dryly answered the youth. - -“I s’pose likely. What d’yer know?” - -“About what?” - -“Runnin’ a railroad.” - -“Nothing. I am not here to run the railroad, but to work for the men -who do run it.” - -“Well, you’ve got ter know somethin’ in order ter be fit fer somethin’.” - -“I might be able to learn something in time.” - -“No; I’m afraid not. You’d have ter begin at the wrong end. You’ve made -a mistake. This ain’t no candy store. We don’t sell dry goods here, -either. You’d look pretty measurin’ off ribbon for ladies, an’ that’s -about all you’d be good for.” - -The stranger smiled in a cool manner, letting his eyes run over the -wiper from his feet to his head and then back again. - -“It strikes me that you must be a misfit at anything,” he said, -suavely. “About the only thing you can be real good for is to drink -beer. It’s plain that you are a tank!” - -“Yah!” snarled the man, ceasing to laugh in a moment and showing his -temper. “You don’t want to make any funny remarks!” - -“I don’t see anything funny about that. On the face of it, it is a -truthful statement, and you are a living, breathing witness. If you -can’t have your booze regularly, you do not consider life worth the -living. You would make a first-class advertisement for a cheap grog -shop.” - -The big wiper actually staggered. - -“What?” he faintly gasped. “What’s that? Why, I’ll eat him!” - -“If you try it, you will find that I digest hard,” came calmly from the -stranger, who was watching the man closely. “I can read your history in -short order. Numb, rum, bum. That’s enough.” - -For a few moments it seemed that the big wiper would hit the stranger, -but instead, he struck one of the men who had caught hold of his arm -and cautioned him. The force of the blow drove the man up against the -rear driving wheel of the engine and made a cut on his cheek, starting -the blood. The man put up a greasy hand to wipe away the blood, saying, -huskily: - -“That’s all right, Mart. I was doin’ it for your good. Knowed you’d be -fired if you struck him and he complained on ye. That’s all right.” - -And not one of the other men said a word. It was plain that every one -of them was afraid of the fellow called Mart, whom the visitor saw was -the bully among the wipers. - -The lips of the youth curled with scorn as he surveyed the bruiser. - -“So you are a brute as well as a drinking bummer!” he exclaimed. “It’s -a wonder to me how a man like you can hold any kind of a job.” - -“Ya-a-a-ah!” snarled the now thoroughly angered ruffian, showing his -yellow, tobacco-stained teeth. “You get out of here, or I’ll give you -some of the same!” - -“No, you won’t! I have dealt with brutes like you before.” - -This cool defiance of the stranger, scarcely more than a boy, with -smooth face and dainty hands, was something the big, greasy wiper could -not understand. - -“If it wasn’t for spilin’ yer fine clothes, I’d use ye fer a wiper ter -finish the job on this machine,” declared Mart. “I think you’re too -clean, anyhow.” - -Then he ejected into his hand the quid of tobacco that had been stowed -in his cheek, and, with a flirt of the hand, sent it full at the white -bosom of the shirt worn by the youth. - -Spat! it struck and stuck there. - -Smack! - -With a leap the youth had planted his fist fairly between the eyes of -the bully. - -Thud! the man dropped to the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE BULLY MEETS HIS MATCH. - - -It was a clean knockout blow, delivered with marvelous skill and -swiftness. The strange youth had not waited an instant before avenging -the insult bestowed upon him. - -The wipers gasped for breath and showed their excitement, while the -engineers came hurrying toward the scene of the trouble. - -“Now there’ll be blazes to pay!” whispered one man, his eyes betraying -his fear. - -“Mart’ll kill him!” - -“In a minute! Look out for Old Slugs! He’s gettin’ up!” - -The dazed and astounded wiper was sitting up. He looked at the youth -in bewilderment. The visitor was calmly removing the tobacco from his -shirt with a dainty white handkerchief. - -“Did--did he hit me?” asked the bruiser. - -“Yes; I hit you, you scum!” rang out the clear voice of the visitor. -“If you will get up, I’ll take great pleasure in hitting you again!” - -One of the machinists got hold of the arm of the youth, and found it -hard as iron. He whispered in the stranger’s ear: - -“You’d better get out! That’s Old Slugs, and he’ll kill you! He’s dead -nutty when he’s mad.” - -“Thank you,” said the visitor, quietly. “Don’t worry about me. That’ll -be all right.” - -“You took him by surprise before. Next time----” - -“Next time I shall hit him harder.” - -The wiper scrambled to his feet, snarling savagely. He leaped backward -as he got up, in order to be beyond the reach of the fearless youth, -who seemed ready to come at him. - -“Now,” he grated--“now I’ll smash ye!” - -Then he rushed at the other. - -With the grace of a fawn and the agility of a cat, the young man -avoided the rush, and he planted a swinging blow under the ear of the -wiper, sending the latter whirling and staggering away. - -But the infuriated man quickly recovered, and came at the stranger once -more. This time he did not make such a fierce rush, but closed in as if -he would prevent the youth from dodging. - -The stranger laughed in the face of “Old Slugs,” as the wiper was often -called. It was a peculiar laugh, and it added to the anger of the man. - -“Laugh, drat ye!” he snarled. “I’ll make ye laugh outer t’other side of -yer mouth pretty quick!” - -“Marvelous!” smiled the youth, as, with uplifted hands, he slipped to -one side and darted under the wiper’s arm like a flash. “You surprise -me, sir!” - -Still snarling, Slugs whirled about and let out with his left for -the head of the nimble visitor. The blow was neatly ducked, and the -stranger countered on the wiper’s wind. - -A grunting puff came from the lips of Old Slugs, but he managed to -avoid the youth’s straight drive for his jaw. At the same time he -realized that had he not escaped the blow must have been a knockout. - -Such pugilistic skill on the part of the boyish-looking visitor was -astounding, but still the wiper felt confident that he would be able to -end the fight with a single blow. - -Within a very few seconds he discovered that it was almost impossible -to get in that blow. Only once had he been able to hit the stranger, -and that was a glancing blow that simply seemed to put the youth on his -mettle. - -Old Slugs was a bulldog to fight, and, for that reason, the watchers -were confident that he would be the victor in the end. For all that the -stranger rained blow after blow upon the wiper’s face and body, Slugs -continued the fight as if he had not been hit. His face was cut by the -hard knuckles of the visitor, and blood was running, but that made no -difference. - -“I should think there was a flea pesterin’ me if I didn’t know,” said -the man, with a sneer. - -“How is this for a flea bite?” - -The laughing stranger struck Slugs a terrible blow on the chin, hurling -him backward into the arms of one of the spectators. - -For a second the ruffian was dazed. He lay limply in the arms of the -man, his eyes rolling, while he feebly lifted one hand to his chin. - -Then, with astonishing swiftness, he recovered, uttering a howl of fury -as he leaped out to confront the stranger once more. - -Now the wiper made several attempts to close with the visitor, but each -time he was avoided or beaten back with severe punishment. It was plain -that the youth did not intend to let Slugs get hold of him if he could -help it. - -“If Slugs ever gets a hand on him, he’ll tear him limb from limb,” said -one of the watching wipers. - -“Sure,” nodded the other. “And he’ll get him before long. All that -thumping don’t bother Mart.” - -“That one on the chin shook him up for a minute.” - -“Notice how quick he recovered?” - -“Yes; but the boy didn’t foller up his advantage.” - -“He couldn’t ’thout hittin’ Mart when he was in Dave’s arms.” - -“This ain’t no prize fight under rules. He’d oughter finished it up -when he had a chance. He won’t get another.” - -The spectators were greatly excited. They applauded the stranger as -much as they dared, but were universal in their belief that he must get -the worst of it in the end. - -But still the youth smiled and danced about the man, who was beginning -to rush less and fight more slowly. The roundhouse men began to realize -that Slugs’ efforts were telling on him, while the stranger seemed just -as fresh as at the beginning. - -“Oh, why don’t ye keep still a minute?” grated the battered wiper, in -disgust. - -“All right,” was the cool answer. “I will.” - -Then, to the amazement of all, the youth stood quite still, carelessly -dropping his hands at his sides. - -Slugs rushed, a cry of satisfaction breaking from his lips as he made a -clutch to gather the other into his grasp, but his arms closed on empty -air, and he felt something catch him about the knees, and he seemed to -spin over and over to strike the ground with an awful thud. - -The crafty stranger had ducked close to the ground, caught him low, -about the legs, and thrown him into the air. - -It was an amazing feat, and the witnesses could hardly believe the -evidence of their eyes. - -Slugs lay still on the ground, breathing heavily and staring straight -up toward the dirty, smoky roof. - -There were some moments of silence. - -“I believe he’s finished.” - -Somebody uttered the words, and they were heard by the fallen man. - -“Who says so?” he hissed, sitting up. “They lie--they lie!” - -To his feet he sprang, although he staggered in a manner that told he -was giddy. A torrent of fierce language poured from his lips. He looked -scarcely human, with his blood-stained face and tobacco-colored teeth. -Still the stranger did not appear in the least alarmed. - -Now, however, the youth took the offensive. It seemed that he decided -that the time had arrived to end the fight, and he went at Slugs like a -whirlwind. - -The ruffian tried to withstand the assault, but he was bewildered by it -and his defense was feeble. Backward he was forced. The knuckles of the -stranger played a tattoo on his face, while not one of his blows seemed -to reach. - -Smash! - -With one swinging hook the youth sent Old Slugs staggering across a -track to drop on his hands and knees. - -Up the man leaped, but his opponent followed closely. Another blow sent -the bully of the roundhouse to earth again. - -The excitement was intense, for the witnesses saw that the stranger was -determined to end the fight as soon as possible. - -Slugs got up, but he was in no condition to carry on the battle, and -he fell again almost instantly. Then the fighting youth stood over him -with clinched fists and flashing eyes, demanding: - -“Have you got enough?” - -“Yes,” gasped the whipped ruffian; “I give up!” - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -STRIKING A JOB. - - -A shout went up. For the first time since his entrance into the -roundhouse Old Slugs was whipped. He had browbeaten and bullied -everybody except the foreman, and now this clean, boyish-looking -stranger had defeated him in a square fight. - -Such a thing had seemed beyond the range of possibility, but it had -happened. - -“Here comes the foreman!” - -Some one uttered the words, and there was a scattering as a dark-faced -man was seen walking swiftly toward the group. - -Old Slugs started to get up, but he fell back limply, as if all the -strength had been beaten out of him. - -The victor calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off his -knuckles. He scarcely seemed to be breathing heavily after his recent -exertions. - -The foreman came up and looked the youth over. - -“I don’t know how you did it,” he said; “but it was a pretty job, young -man. I saw the whole thing from start to finish.” - -“I am sorry it occurred, sir,” was the calm retort; “but if you saw it -all you know I was not to blame.” - -The foreman nodded. - -“Hall attempted to bully you--I know. I’ll discharge him.” - -“Not on my account, sir. It strikes me that he has received punishment -enough. I am satisfied, and you may be sure I shall make no complaint.” - -The foreman looked the defeated wiper over. - -“Get up!” he growled. “Go wash the blood off your face and go to work -again, if you are able. I should have fired you if this gentleman had -requested it.” - -The wiper succeeded in getting upon his feet, but he staggered a bit as -he walked away. - -Something like a grim smile passed over the face of the foreman. - -“He has received a good lesson,” nodded the man. “It was what he -deserved, and I’m glad you were able to give it to him. You are a -wonder for a boy.” - -“I am hardly a boy, sir.” - -“Well, you are hardly more than that. Did I hear you say you were -looking for work?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“What kind of work?” - -“Any kind that I can get.” - -“Why, there is no work in here that you would do. You are not a -machinist?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Know anything about locomotives?” - -“No, sir.” - -“I’m sorry, but it’s no use to talk to you. The only work for an -inexperienced man in this place is that of wiper, and you would not -like that kind of work.” - -“I must do something. Can you give me a place as wiper?” - -The foreman lifted his eyebrows and again surveyed the youth critically. - -“It can’t be that you understand what wipers have to do. It is the -lowest and dirtiest work on a railroad.” - -“I presumed so.” - -“They have to wipe engines, turn the table, shovel ashes, wash out -boilers and tanks, help the machinists to lug and lift, and do a -hundred other things equally unpleasant.” - -“But there is a chance for promotion?” - -“Oh, yes, for good men; but it comes slow. A man must wipe long enough -to become familiar with every part of an engine, and know how one is -run before he can get anything better. Even then there may be two or -three others waiting ahead of him, and he is likely to lose his courage -before he gets an opportunity to fire.” - -“But engine wipers stand a show of becoming firemen?” - -“Yes.” - -“I wish you would give me a chance as wiper, sir.” - -“But you will not stand the work.” - -“Won’t I? I am strong, and I think I can stand it.” - -“I do not mean that way. You will become disgusted and quit before you -have worked a day.” - -“Try me.” - -“Are you in earnest?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“What is your name?” - -“Frank Merriwell.” - -“You have never done any hard work. Your hands show that.” - -“No, sir.” - -“I don’t understand why you want such a job.” - -“Because I must do something, and I think I would like to become a -locomotive engineer.” - -“Why are you forced to work, Mr. Merriwell? You look like a young man -of means.” - -“I have lost every dollar I had in the world. I was in college, but the -loss of my fortune forced me to leave. When I knew I must do something, -I resolved to try to get a job on a railroad. That is all, sir.” - -“Parents living?” - -“My mother is dead.” - -“And your father?” - -“I know not where he is.” - -“Hum! You’ve had hard luck. But you are not fit to become a wiper. Why, -the men would not give you any peace. They would regard you as a dude, -and worry you to death.” - -The youth smiled. - -“I think I can take care of myself, sir,” he said, with quiet -confidence. “Haven’t I proved that?” - -“By George! I really believe you can! And you seem to be in earnest. -I shouldn’t like to bother with you if you are going to get sick in -a few hours or a day or two and leave your work. Too many such chaps -start in here.” - -“I give you my word that you need not fear that I will leave within a -day, or a week--or a month.” - -“I hardly think you will. If you have the right sort of stuff in you -you will work up. I began as wiper, as did the master mechanic and -nearly all the engineers on this road. There are some good men among -them, too.” - -“I believe that.” - -“Have you any relatives to support--brothers, sisters, or anything like -that?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Drink?” - -“Not a drop.” - -“That’s good. You stand all the better chance. Drink is what keeps -many a good man down. Of course, if a man wants to take a little beer -occasionally, no one can really object to that. I suppose you take some -beer once in a while?” - -The face of the youth flushed. - -“I told you, sir, that I do not drink anything.” - -“All right, all right. I thought perhaps you would not consider that -drinking. Don’t usually ask men these questions, but I’m interested in -you.” - -The youth said nothing. - -The foreman seemed to hesitate, and it was plain that he was not yet -fully convinced that it was worth while to bother with this clean, -dainty-looking stripling. - -The applicant seemed to think that he had said quite enough, and he -did not urge his case at all, but stood there waiting. - -The sound of hammering was to be heard in the roundhouse. Another -engine ran in on the table outside, and some wipers swung it round. -Then the engine ran out again upon the tracks, instead of backing into -the house. - -Old Slugs, his face patched up with plaster, came back and went to work -on the engine he had been cleaning. He moved slowly, as if he felt sore -in every limb. - -The foreman smiled the least bit as he watched the man. He nodded his -head, and there was an expression of satisfaction on his dark face. -Then he turned to Frank Merriwell. - -“A fellow who could whip Martin Hall should have grit enough for -anything,” he said. “Come back to-morrow morning, prepared for work. -You shall have a job.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE FIRST FORENOON. - - -The following morning Frank Merriwell appeared at the roundhouse in -overalls and jumper, ready for work. His working clothes were new and -clean, in contrast to the clothes of the other wipers, who stared at -him, grinned and made comments on his “dudish” appearance. Although -Frank could hear nearly every word spoken, he paid not the slightest -attention to anything the men said. He was there to work, and he -waited for the foreman to appear and tell him what he was to do. - -“He’ll leave quick,” declared one of the wipers. - -“It’s two to one he’ll quit before noon,” said another. - -“You’d win,” chuckled a third. - -“Nivver a bit can yez tell about thot, me b’ys,” put in a young -Irishman with a pleasant face. “He had th’ grit to b’ate th’ shtuffin’ -oout av Ould Sloogs, an’ it’s a fair chance he’ll be afther havin’ th’ -grit to shtay and wor-ruk, no matther av he don’t loike it. Oi’ll bet -me money on him.” - -Frank gave the speaker a grateful look. He saw a begrimed but rather -comely youth of twenty, who looked as if he had a heart overflowing -with good nature. - -The wipers went to work, relieving those who were there, and the -machinists appeared and began their tasks of the day. - -After a little, Frank found himself left quite alone, and he began to -feel restless and long to be doing something. - -“Here, boy!” - -A man was beckoning to him, and he hastened toward him. - -“Workin’ here?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Get hold of this casting and help me lift it. I’ll carry the biggest -part of it, for it’s heavy.” - -Frank’s pride was touched. Immediately he stooped and picked up the -heavy casting without assistance. - -“Where will you have it, sir?” he asked. - -The machinist gasped. - -“Well--you’re--no--baby! Bring it over here.” - -Frank obeyed and put it down as directed. - -“That’s all right, young fellow,” said the machinist; “but I advise -you not to keep it up. If you do, you’ll find all the heavy lifts -shouldered onto you. I see you are new here. Don’t be too ambitious to -show what you can do.” - -“Thank you for the advice,” said Merry, quietly. - -Then he looked around to discover something else to do, and it was not -long before he found a task shoveling ashes. He was working steadily at -this when the foreman passed. - -Frank expected the foreman would stop and say something to him, but the -man did not seem to notice him at all. - -“All right,” thought Merry, grimly. “You told me to come prepared for -work, and I’m here. I’m going to work, too.” - -He found plenty to be done, and also discovered that the other wipers -took great satisfaction in giving him the very dirtiest jobs. Still he -did not complain, but, no matter what he was asked to do, he kept about -his work steadily and quietly. - -“How do you like it, dudie?” asked one of the wipers, mockingly. - -“Speaking to me, sir?” inquired Frank, placidly. - -“Yes.” - -“My name is Merriwell.” - -“Oh, it is?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Well, dudie is good enough, and that goes.” - -“Hey, Bill,” called another wiper, “you don’t know who you’re chinnin’ -there.” - -“Why, I’m chinnin’ the new superintendent of the road,” grinned the -taunting wiper. - -“You’re talkin’ to the chap that knocked the stuffin’ out of Old Slugs -yesterday.” - -“The blazes I am! What, that soft-looking guy?” - -“That’s the one.” - -“Well, may I be gosh-darned!” - -The man stared at Frank as if unable to believe such a thing possible. - -“Why, he’s a kid!” - -“If you think so, just get him after ye. Slugs gave you a thrashing, -and you wouldn’t last half as long with that kid.” - -After this the man did not call Frank “dudie” again, but there were -others who did. Whenever two or three wipers were together in Frank’s -vicinity, they did their best to jolly him. - -Merry did not get angry. He knew that would be the worst thing for him. -He said very little, but occasionally he made some retort, and in every -case it proved cutting for the one at whom it was aimed. The men began -to realize after a while that the soft-looking youth could use his -tongue quite as skillfully as his fists. - -What surprised everybody was the fact that Frank did not show -hesitation in taking hold of any kind of a job, no matter how dirty. He -was not squeamish, or, if he was, he did not betray it. - -Nearly half the forenoon had passed before Frank learned that Martin -Hall, or Old Slugs, as he was generally called, had not put in an -appearance that morning, but was reported to be ill in bed, unable to -work. - -Then some strange workmen came round to see the boy who had whipped Old -Slugs. They looked him over doubtfully, and were inclined to disbelieve -the story. - -“Slugs could chaw him up in a minute,” one declared. - -“That’s what everybody thought till they saw him try it,” said a -witness of the fight. - -“Well, it must have been an accident if that boy knocked Slugs out.” - -“It wasn’t no accident. It was the cleanest, smartest fightin’ I ever -saw. Why, look at him! He don’t bear a mark, and Slugs is in bed, with -his face all cut and plastered.” - -“All right, if you say so; but I don’t understand it.” - -All this was very embarrassing to Frank, who regretted the unfortunate -occurrence that had made him so conspicuous in the roundhouse. He -continued about his work, pretending that he did not hear the talk. - -Long before noon Frank was smeared with dirt and grease. It was a -strange experience to him, for all his life he had been immaculate -about his dress and his person. - -But he had started out to make his way in the world, and he had begun -at the very foot of the ladder. No one understood better than he that -there was no room at the top for shirkers. It was honest work, and he -hoped for something better in the future. - -He did not allow his mind to dwell on the pleasures that were past. He -knew the winner in the battle of life is the one who looks forward, not -backward. - -Frank felt confidence in himself. He believed he would be able to rise -in time, and he had entered the roundhouse with the determination to -keep his eyes and ears open and learn everything possible as fast as -possible. - -Along toward noon, when it happened that there was no worse work -for him to do, one of the wipers set him to aiding in cleaning up a -locomotive. - -It happened that the man was of a sociable turn, and he fell to talking -with Frank, asking him many questions, all of which Merry answered -truthfully. - -“It don’t seem to me that you was cut out for this kind of work,” said -the wiper. “But mebbe you may have luck and get somewhere. It’s mighty -hard, though. Now, I know every part of an engine, and I can handle one -as well as half the engineers, but I don’t get no show. I did think -there was a chance for me to get on firing till the strike over on the -P. B. & Y. That throwed lots of good men out of work, and some of them -came right over here and found jobs firing or running engines, which -knocked out us chaps who was waiting for an opening. No telling now -when my turn’ll come.” - -Frank did his best to cheer the man up, and then found his opportunity -to ask a number of questions about the names of the different parts of -the engine. Every explanation the wiper made to him he fixed in his -mind, and, when noon came, he was satisfied that he had not let his -first half day pass without learning something. - -The foreman came up to him. - -“I’ve had my eye on you this forenoon,” he said. - -Frank started. He had not fancied that the foreman was noticing him at -all. - -“Yes; I’ve had my eye on you,” said the foreman. “You’ve worked all -right, and you didn’t stand round with your hands in your pockets -waiting for somebody to tell you what to do. You found enough to do, -and you did it. That’s right. Keep on the same way. That’s all.” - -Then he walked away, without another word. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE STREET MUSICIANS. - - -That afternoon Frank had a chance to help a machinist who was making -some repairs on an engine. The work was difficult to reach, and the -machinist kept Frank to pass him his tools as he required them. Frank -watched to see how everything was done, and asked some questions. At -first the engineer growled his answers, but Frank had a pleasant way -of leading him on, so that, after a time, he became more agreeable. -He was an intelligent man, and he appreciated intelligence in others. -This being the case, it did not take him a great while to discover that -Merriwell was different from the ordinary wiper. - -When the machinist spoke of certain parts of the locomotive he found -that his assistant knew something about them, or, at least, quickly -caught onto his meaning. Then he was astonished to learn that Merry was -spending his first day in a roundhouse. - -“How have you picked up a knowledge of so many things about an engine, -young man?” he asked. - -“I have two books on locomotive engineering which I purchased,” -answered Frank, reddening somewhat. “It was a subject that interested -me, and I have read the books pretty thoroughly.” - -“That’s it, eh? Well, you can’t learn anything of real practical value -without experience; but those books may help you, my boy.” - -“I think they will, sir, for I have a good memory, and I do not easily -forget anything I study.” - -“Keep on studying. Anything you want to know you can find out by asking -me. They’ll tell you old Tom Bowers is sulky and surly, but don’t mind -that. It’s only my way. I rather like your appearance. I think you are -a young man with get-there in him, and get-there is what counts in this -world.” - -In this way Frank found another friend, much to the surprise of the -other wipers, none of whom had been able to get along with Tom Bowers. - -The work that afternoon was far more agreeable than it had been in the -forenoon, and Frank was well satisfied when night came. - -At the same time, he knew some of the wipers were already growing -jealous of him, seeing that he promised to be something of a favorite, -as he had been able to draw Tom Bowers into conversation. As a rule, -Bowers swore and snarled at his assistants, but he had treated Frank -in a different manner. - -As Frank left the roundhouse three of the wipers were talking together -near the door, and one of them said: - -“There goes the fellow now. I tell you, we don’t want such chaps here.” - -“We can’t help it,” said another. - -“Why not? We’ve driven men out.” - -“If you think you can drive him, try it. Old Slugs didn’t cut much of a -figure with him.” - -“Oh, I’m not going to try it alone; but the whole of us----” - -Frank passed on and heard no more of their talk. He was not disturbed, -for he knew there was certain to be rivalries and jealousies among -workmen, and he believed he could live down the dislike for him that -was being shown at the very beginning of his career. - -Frank had taken a room in a cheap quarter. He felt that he must live -according to his means, and his pay as wiper was sure to be poor. - -Merriwell’s former friends would not have believed it possible for -him to bring himself to one small square room, with bare floors and -undecorated walls. He smiled as he fancied some of them looking in on -him in his new quarters. - -But no one realized better than Frank Merriwell that the young man who -lives beyond his means forms habits that lead to certain ruin in the -end, and he was determined to start right. - -There is much in the right kind of a start in life. It is slow, -heart-breaking work climbing the ladder of fortune, but the patient -plodder wins in the end, for he makes sure of each step as he goes. - -Frank had arranged to take his meals at a cheap restaurant, but he -went home and washed up thoroughly before going out. He had bought -some curled hair, which he knew would, with the aid of good soap, be -very effective in removing the grime from his hands, and, after he -had washed, scarcely a trace of his work could be discovered by the -closest inspection. He knew that in time the dirt must wear beneath -his finger nails so it could not be removed, and so he had cut his -beautifully-shaped nails as short as possible, preferring to sacrifice -them rather than carry them about “in mourning.” - -He had been fortunate in finding a place to eat, for, although the -restaurant was cheap, everything looked clean, and he was able to eat -the food with relish. - -Somehow, as he sat there eating, he was not cast down or dejected. -Instead, a feeling of self-reliance and independence possessed him, and -his heart swelled with something like exultation. - -He had been cast upon his own resources, and he must make his way along -in the world and unaided. If there was any real ability in him, he -firmly believed he would succeed, and he welcomed the test. Not a fear -or a doubt concerning the future possessed him. - -Having eaten heartily, he went out for a stroll about the city. He felt -the need of a walk in the open air, after which he would go to his room -and get a good night’s rest. - -Gradually he walked toward a better section of the city. At last he was -attracted by the sound of music and of singing, and, in front of some -shops he saw a boy and girl standing, while a small crowd had gathered -near. - -The boy was playing on a guitar, while the girl was singing. They were -rather poorly clad, although their clothes were neat and clean. The boy -might have been seventeen years old, and he had one short, crooked leg, -making necessary the use of a crutch. The girl was not over fifteen, -and she had one of the sweetest faces Frank had ever looked upon. There -was something pathetic about her face--something that struck to Merry’s -heart with a pang. - -The boy joined in with her on the chorus of the song, and there was -something about it that brought a mist to Frank’s eyes. He stopped and -listened, feeling in his pocket for a piece of money. - -When the song was finished the boy passed around the hat. Few of the -listeners gave anything, but each one was thanked. Frank threw a dime -into the hat. It was more than he could afford, but he felt that it was -the only kind of extravagance in which he would indulge. - -The boy and girl looked alike, and Frank decided they were brother and -sister. The boy played again, and they sang. - -A crowd of roistering young chaps came along and stopped. When the song -was finished they made some comments about the girl, bringing the hot -blood to the cheeks of Frank Merriwell. - -“She’s good enough to hug,” said one. - -“That she is,” laughed another. “She’s a peach. What’ll you bet I don’t -hug her?” - -“She needs money. Perhaps she’d let you kiss her for a quarter, Ned.” - -“By Jove! I’d give it!” - -“You don’t dare, right here on the street.” - -“I’ll go you the drinks on it.” - -“Done.” - -Then Frank Merriwell moved a little nearer. - -The fellow called Ned walked up to the girl and chuckled her under the -chin, saying: - -“Ah, there, my little daisy! You’ll make a prima donna some day. Give -us a kiss, and I’ll give you a quarter.” - -The girl shrank away with a little cry of alarm, reaching out in a -vague way toward her brother. - -In an instant the latter was aroused. He uttered a cry of anger. - -“Go ’way!” he exclaimed, excitedly. “She’s my sister! How dare you -insult her?” - -“Oh, don’t get gay!” said the youth. “I’m not insulting her. I made her -an offer.” - -“Go ’way, or I’ll strike you with my crutch!” - -“You wouldn’t hurt anything. I’ve got a bet on this, and I must kiss -her or lose. Come, now, here’s half a dollar. That should be an object.” - -“Jack!” gasped the girl. - -“He shall not touch you!” exclaimed the boy, trying to push the fellow -away. - -“Get out!” ordered the aggressor, catching the boy by the collar and -giving him a swing that threw him down. - -“Shame! shame!” cried some of the spectators. - -They started to interfere, but the young bloods jumped in, ready for a -fight, and the witnesses hesitated. - -With one exception. - -Frank Merriwell’s blood was boiling. His lips parted slightly, showing -his white teeth, which were set together. - -Just as the fellow caught the shrinking, terrified girl by the -shoulder, Frank struck him a terrible blow. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -UPLIFTED HEARTS. - - -The fellow seemed to whirl end over end and strike out in the middle of -the street, where he lay in a stunned condition, not even appearing to -breathe. - -Quick as a flash, Frank whirled and faced the others, knowing the -fellow’s companions would be sure to attempt to avenge him. - -“Come on, you loafers!” he cried. - -“He struck Ned!” shouted one. “Give it to him!” - -They all jumped for Frank, but in doing so they bothered each other -more or less. - -Merry met them halfway, his arms working like piston rods, his hard -fists cracking on their heads. - -It was an astonishing spectacle, for he went into them like a tornado, -knocking them right and left. - -To Frank it seemed that never before had he felt so strong and able. -He was perfectly confident that he could clean out the entire crowd of -half-intoxicated young bloods, and he was doing a very satisfactory job -when somebody cried: - -“Police!” - -Instantly there was a scattering. Somebody had aided to his feet the -fellow Frank struck first, and in a few seconds every one of the gang -vanished. - -The policeman came up, followed closely by another, and demanded to -know what it was all about. - -The witnesses of this remarkable encounter quickly explained, while -Frank was reassuring the frightened boy and girl. - -The officer came and looked Merry over. - -“That was Bloodgood’s crowd,” said one of them. - -“And this chap fought the whole of them,” exclaimed the other. - -“He didn’t know what he was up against.” - -“It didn’t seem to make any difference, if what the crowd says is true. -He was getting the best of it.” - -“All the same, I reckon it’s a good thing for him that we came along.” - -“Young man, you got off easy. We’ll not arrest you, for the people who -saw it say you were in the right.” - -“I think I was, sir,” said Frank, quietly. - -“Oh, Mr. Policeman!” exclaimed the lame boy, “those fellows insulted my -sister and threw me down. Nobody else dared interfere with them, but -this gentleman fought them all. He knocked down the one who insulted -Nellie.” - -“If we’d got along in time, we’d gathered some of them in. You want to -look out for that gang, young fellow,” addressing Frank. “They are a -hard crowd, and they’ll try to get even with you.” - -Then the officers dispersed the crowd that had gathered, and moved -along themselves. - -“Oh, how can we thank you, sir?” cried the boy, getting hold of Frank’s -hand. “You were so good--and so brave!” - -The girl reached out in a strange, uncertain way, saying: - -“I must thank him, Jack! Where is his hand?” - -“She’s blind,” explained the boy. “She’s my sister, Nell, and we’re all -alone in the world.” - -“Blind?” gasped Frank, with a shock of horror. “Why, her eyes look all -right.” - -“Yes; but a doctor said once that the optic nerve was injured by a fall -she received.” - -“Blind?” whispered Frank, as he held both her hands and looked down -into her blue eyes. “My poor, little girl.” - -Her hands trembled in his, and a thrill of sympathy seemed to pass -between them. - -“Oh,” she said, gently, “I know you are good--so good! And I want to -thank you for defending me from that--that person.” - -“Don’t speak of that,” murmured Frank. “It was a great satisfaction. -You are looking straight at me now. Can’t you see me at all?” - -“No, sir.” - -“It is strange. Your eyes look all right save for an uncertain -expression in them. Some time your sight will be restored. I feel sure -of that.” - -A look of happiness came to her sweet face, and she almost panted as -she answered: - -“I am so glad to hear you say so! I don’t know why, but it seems that -you must be right. It is so strange, for I feel as if I had known you -always. What is your name?” - -“Frank Merriwell.” - -“My name is Nellie Norton. I wish I could see you, Mr. Merriwell.” - -“We are trying to get money enough together to have her eyes treated by -a great oculist,” explained the boy; “but times are hard, and people do -not have much money to spare.” - -“Well, we’ll see what can be done right here,” said Frank, observing -that a number of the original crowd had returned and were standing -about. - -Then he turned to them and said: - -“Gentlemen, this girl is blind. She was not born that way, but -sustained an injury by a fall that affected the optical nerve. She -has been told that her sight might be restored by an operation, and, -with her brother, she is trying to get together enough money to pay a -specialist to do the work. This she and her brother have just told me, -for I never saw either of them before this evening. Now, I am poor, -and can afford no luxuries, but I can afford to give a dollar to help -this girl recover her sight. I am going to put a dollar in my hat, and -then I will pass it round. I hope others will give as much as they can -afford.” - -He took off his hat and dropped a silver dollar into it. Then, talking -in his most pleasant and persuasive manner, he went round with the hat. - -Every person present gave something. One old Irishwoman threw in a -dime, saying: - -“Thot’s arl Oi have, an’ Oi wish it wur a hoondred dollars, so Oi do! -Me ould marn sint me out fer a can av beer, but it’s warther he’ll have -ter drink to-noight, an’ it’s jist as much good it’ll be afther doin’ -av him. God bliss th’ dear girrul’s swate hearrut! an’ it’s bloind she -is? An’ she can’t see th’ skoy an’ th’ birruds an’ th’ flowers? An’ -it’s me own litthle b’y as is dead now pwhat wur borrun thot way, an’ -he uster be afther axin’ me pwhat things looked loike, an’ now he’s -gone foriver where he can see. It’s ounly tin cints, a dhrop in th’ -bucket, but it will do th’ dear, swate girrul more good thot way than -it’ll do me ould marn roonin’ down his throat, bad cess to th’ lazy -dog!” - -Then she turned and hobbled away in a hurry. - -Her example led many of the others to give with the greatest -liberality, and when the money was counted and passed over to little -Nell, Frank announced that six dollars and eighteen cents had been -received. - -The blind girl held out her hands to the crowd, laughing even as the -tears streamed down her face, and brokenly said: - -“Oh! I thank you all so much--so much! You have been so kind to me! It -will be such a help!” - -“And I thank you, too!” said the boy, his voice trembling. “Why, it’s a -small fortune! Sometimes we have worked a whole week and not received -so much; but I believe luck has turned now, and Nellie will be able to -see very soon.” - -Frank was deeply touched. Then he regretted the loss of his fortune for -the first time, as it made it impossible for him to take charge of the -blind girl and see that she had the best medical attention, which he -would have done in other days. - -“Can’t we do something?” asked the boy, eagerly. “We will sing -something more for you.” - -He hastily adjusted the guitar, and strummed the strings a moment. - -“What shall we sing, Nellie?” he asked. - -“Oh, something lively--some happy song,” she answered, still laughing -through her tears. - -So they sang one of the late popular songs, but the voices of both were -uncertain, and it was pathetic to witness the affection and happiness -in the boy’s eyes when he looked at his sister. - -In the very middle of the song the girl broke down completely and -stopped. - -“Oh!” she exclaimed; “I can’t sing! Somehow my heart is so full that -the words will not come out. But I want to thank you again and again! I -want to thank Mr. Merriwell. Where is he?” - -But Frank Merriwell was gone. Stirred to the very depths of his soul, -he had hurried away while they were singing; and he walked along the -city’s streets, unmindful of his surroundings, uplifted, exalted, -strengthened for the battle of life. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -AN ANGRY ENGINEER. - - -That night, as Frank was reading in his room by the light of a kerosene -lamp, he heard voices from a room adjoining. There seemed something -familiar in the sound, and he laid down the book on engineering which -he had been studying. - -The voices ceased, but there was a sound of clattering dishes. - -The wall was thin, and up near the ceiling a crack showed a ray of -light. - -Frank began to study again, and again the voices interrupted him. This -time he was sure there was a familiar sound about them. - -“Is it possible?” he muttered, starting to his feet. “Can they have a -room so near?” - -His curiosity was aroused, and, with a desire to satisfy himself, he -drew a chair to the partition and stood upon it. This enabled him to -peer through the crack. - -He found himself looking into a room much like his own. In the middle -of the floor, directly in the range of his vision, was a table, on -which stood a lighted lamp. The table was spread for a meal, and at -that table sat the street musicians, the blind girl and her brother. It -was evident that they had just sat down, for, as Frank looked, the girl -bowed her head to ask a blessing. - -Hushing his breathing, Frank tried to hear her words. He could not -understand them all, but he heard her mention his name, and he knew he -was included in that blessing. - -Frank could study no more that night. He walked the floor for a time, -feeling that a new interest had come into his life, for somehow it -seemed there was a bond between himself and the young street musicians. - -His dreams that night were pleasant. - -Frank’s second day in the roundhouse was almost a repetition of the -first, save that he learned to assist in turning the engines upon the -table, and he listened to a discussion among the wipers about the -mysterious properties of the slide valve, which led him to read up on -the subject as far as possible. - -A week passed. By the end of that time Frank was able to clean certain -parts of the engine in a manner thoroughly satisfactory, and he could -see that he was making progress in knowledge. - -He had also found an opportunity to make known to the young musicians -that his room was next to theirs, and there was visiting back and forth. - -It really seemed to the brother and sister that their fortune had -turned with the meeting with Frank, for they were doing far better than -they had done before. - -“You must be a mascot, Mr. Merriwell,” laughed the lame boy, as they -all sat together one evening. - -“Please don’t call me Mr. Merriwell any more,” requested Merry. “You -know my first name. Call me by that.” - -“Oh, it doesn’t seem right!” - -“It will please me far better.” - -“Then we will try, eh, sister?” - -The girl smiled. - -“Yes,” she said. “Frank is a beautiful name, and it seems so well -suited to him. Yes, we will call him that if he really wishes us to.” - -“I do; and I will call you Nellie and Jack. I hope it is true that I am -your mascot, and there may be something in it, for my friends who have -stuck to me have all had good luck.” - -“Fortune has been against us a long time,” said the boy; “ever since -mother died.” - -“Tell me something of yourselves,” urged Frank. “How long have you been -alone in the world?” - -“Almost two years now. Father was an invalid the last of his life, -and so all the money he had saved was used in caring for him. Mother -did not live long after he went away. She loved him so! Her heart was -broken, and if it had not been for leaving us, I think she would have -been glad to go.” - -“But have you no relatives?” - -“No near relatives who care anything for us. Mother had a brother, but -we do not know where he is now.” - -“But we feel that we have found some one in you who is almost as near -and dear as a relative,” said the girl. - -The absolute loneliness of the brother and sister affected Frank, and -he resolved to do everything in his power to brighten their lives. -Thus it came about that he was so often with them. He took pleasure in -playing upon the guitar, and he regretted to discover that his work was -beginning to stiffen his fingers. Having made this discovery, he bought -a preparation to use on his hands to keep them from growing stiff. - -Among the engineers was one by the name of Joe Hicks, a man with a -coal-black mustache and a sullen face. Hicks drank a great deal, but he -was one of the best engineers on the road, and he managed to keep his -job. He was surly when he was not well filled with liquor, and brutal -when he had been drinking. - -The wipers, with the exception of Old Slugs, who was back at work, were -afraid of Hicks. Not one of them liked the job of cleaning his engine, -for a speck of dirt left anywhere brought a growl. - -And it happened before a week was out that Frank was put onto Hicks’ -engine. - -The engineer had not left the roundhouse when Merry began work. On his -way out he paused and stared at Frank. - -“Here!” he growled; “what are you doing?” - -“Cleaning this engine, sir.” - -“Who told ye to?” - -“Mr. Ganzell.” - -That was the name of the foreman. - -“Ganzell’s a fool! Get away from there!” - -Frank kept at work. - -“Get away from there, I tell ye!” snarled Hicks. “Don’t you hear what I -say?” - -“Yes.” - -“Well, why don’t ye mind?” - -“Because you are not the foreman.” - -“The foreman be--blowed. That’s my engine; I run her. I’m not going -to have a greenhorn plugging round her. Get away, now. If you don’t, -I’ll----” - -“What?” - -Frank turned and looked the man straight in the eyes, and he was -perfectly cool when he said: - -“What will you do?” - -“Why, blame your head! I’ll break your neck!” - -“I wouldn’t advise you to try it.” - -The coolness of the youth staggered Hicks, who was accustomed to seeing -the wipers start and cringe before him. He felt like collaring Frank, -but something caused him to stay his hand. - -Larry Logan, the young Irishman, came up and stood looking on, an -expression of satisfaction on his face. - -“Oi think ye’d betther foind out th’ b’y ye’re tacklin’, Mr. Hicks,” -chuckled Larry. - -“What in thunder do I care who he is! If he’s one of Ganzell’s -favorites, it won’t make any difference. If he don’t get away from that -engine, I’ll mop him all over the ground.” - -“It’s a roight swate job ye’d be afther takin’, sur,” grinned the young -Irishman. “This is th’ chap phwat knocked out Ould Sloogs widout -gettin’ a marruk on himself.” - -“Hey?” - -The engineer looked astonished. He had heard of the encounter between -the bully of the roundhouse and an applicant for work, but it did not -seem possible that this boy had whipped the ruffian. - -“Thot’s dead straight, sur,” asserted Larry. - -“Well, I don’t care who he is, I won’t have a slob clean old 33!” - -“Phwat are yez goin’ to do?” - -“See Ganzell about it.” - -“Thot’ll be aisier fer yez than av ye troied to take th’ b’y off th’ -job yersilf.” - -“Shut up! Don’t you get sassy, fer I’ll thump ye if ye do.” - -Then Hicks hurried away in search of the foreman. - -“It’s a roight foine toime ye’ll have wid him,” said Larry to Frank. -“He’s worse thin Ould Sloogs, fer he’ll be afther hittin’ yez in th’ -back.” - -“I am not afraid of him,” declared Frank, quietly. - -In a short time Hicks came round with the foreman. Stopping near the -engine, the angry man pointed to Frank, growling: - -“Look here, Mr. Ganzell, you know I take special pride in the way I -keep my engine. Now what d’yer mean by puttin’ a greenhorn on her to -clean her?” - -“It was necessary, Hicks,” said the foreman, with an expression of -anger. “I will have an old wiper go over her after Merriwell finishes, -so she will be all right.” - -“But I don’t want a greenie plugging at her. They’re sure to be tryin’ -to find out how things work, and they get things out of order.” - -“I don’t think there will be any trouble in that line.” - -“Then you don’t mean to take him off?” - -“No.” - -Hicks was boiling. - -“All right!” he snarled. “If anything happens, don’t blame me. You know -how particular I am with old 33, an’ I don’t think you are givin’ me a -square deal.” - -With that he left the roundhouse, muttering and growling as he went. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -SOME POINTS ABOUT HICKS. - - -Ganzell, the foreman, was not in the most pleasant frame of mind, for -he did not fancy being talked to in such a manner. - -“See what you can do on her, young man,” he said, scowling at Frank. -“Hicks will raise a howl if he finds the least little thing wrong.” - -“I’ll do my best, sir,” declared Frank, as he continued about his work. - -“Here, Logan,” called the foreman, “look 33 over after Merriwell -finishes.” - -“All roight, sur,” said the young Irishman, who was at work near by. -“Oi’ll do thot.” - -Then the foreman went away. - -After a little Larry Logan came over and watched Frank, making -suggestions now and then. - -“It’s a bad marn ye have agin’ yez, Mr. Merriwell,” said Larry. - -“Who, Hicks?” - -“Yis, sur.” - -“I have done nothing to get him against me!” - -“Oi know thot; but he’ll hate yez jist th’ soame, an’ it’s th’ divvil -he is at toimes.” - -“Well, I can’t help it if he does hate me. I was set to work on this -engine, and I propose to do the job.” - -Larry nodded approvingly. - -“Oi don’t belave yer afraid av th’ divvil hisself; but it’s well enough -to kape yer oie open.” - -“That’s right. How about Old Slugs?” - -“He’s been quiet as a lamb ivver since ye did him oop. Thot wur a foine -job, Mr. Merriwell, but it won’t be thot way wid Hicks.” - -“No?” - -“Nivver. He’ll not attimpt to foight yez on th’ square.” - -“Will he fight?” - -“He may be afther stroiking yez whin ye’re not lookin’.” - -“Such foes are the most dangerous.” - -“Thot they are, me b’y. An’ av all suspicions are thrue, ye’d not be -th’ firrust wan Joe Hicks has hit in th’ back.” - -“How is that?” - -“’Sh! It’s divvil a bit anybody loikes to say it around here, an’ ye -must kape shtill thot Oi said a wurrud.” - -“I’m dumb.” - -“Av old Joe wur not a foine ingineer, he’d not hold his job a day, fer -there do be times whin he st’ames op wid phwhisky, an’ they have to put -a marn in his place. Anybody ilse would lose his job. Old Joe is docked -or laid off, at th’ wurust. An’ whin he has pwhisky in, he’s th’ ould -imp an’ all.” - -Larry looked about, as if making sure there was no one near enough to -hear, and then taking a seat on the pilot, and biting off a huge chew -of tobacco from a black plug, he went on: - -“It wur a year ago old Joe got in his wurrust schrape. It wur thirty -days thot cost him, besides th’ toime he wur in jail.” - -“So he got into jail?” - -“Yis.” - -“What for?” - -“Th’ firrust charge wur fer bein’ droonk an’ disorderly, but thot came -near not bein’ th’ wurrust av it. It wur thought he did something -wurruse thin thot.” - -Again the young Irishman looked all around, and his manner showed that -he was fearful that other ears than those of Frank Merriwell should -hear his words. - -“There wur a murther in th’ case!” whispered Larry. - -“A murder?” repeated Frank, growing interested. - -“’Sh! Nivver a man spakes av it here in th’ place. Hicks were sane wid -a marn in a tough parrut av th’ city. Th’ nixt marnin’ th’ marn wur -found dead. He had been hit on th’ head wid a shtone, an’ his skull -wur not hard enough to shtand th’ crack at all, at all.” - -“And they suspected that Hicks did it?” - -“Be aisy! be aisy! Th’ charge wur made against him.” - -“But not proven?” - -“Nivver a bit. He got out av it wid th’ aid av an alibi, av yez know -what thoat is, divil a bit do Oi.” - -“Why, he must have proved that he was in another locality at the time -the murder was committed.” - -“Thot’s it! thot’s it! Thot’s th’ way he escaped.” - -“Well, if he proved that he was all right.” - -“Av he proved it? Well, he samed to prove it. Anyhow, it wur enough to -get him off.” - -“Of course it is pretty tough to be charged with murder, but many an -innocent man has been accused of the crime.” - -Larry nodded and turned the quid in his mouth. - -“An’ minny a marn thot wur not innocent has got off widout bein’ -poonished. It have been talked since thin thot old Joe’s alibi would -not hold warther.” - -“If that is true, why wasn’t it discovered in the first place?” - -“It wur fixed fer him thin, an’ th’ weak point not discovered till -aftherward. Even thin it wur not found by anybody thot cared to get -mixed in it at all, at all; but thim thot know say it’s more thin aven -old Joe tapped th’ unlucky devvil on th’ head. Oi warneted to tell yez, -so ye’d know th’ koind av a coostomer ye wur d’aling wid.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Logan.” - -“Now, don’t be afther callin’ me Misther Logan. Call me Larry. That is -good enough fer me.” - -“All right, Larry.” - -“Take me advice, an’ kape yer oies open fer Joe Hicks. He has been -known to stroike more thin one marn behoind his back. He’ll hate yez -now.” - -“I can’t help that.” - -“Nivver a bit. It’s particular he is wid his engine. Ye know some -av th’ engineers lave th’ woipers to look out fer breaks on th’ old -girruls.” - -“Yes; I find a great many of them do that.” - -“Joe Hicks is not wan av thim.” - -“He inspects his own engine.” - -“Yis. No woiper iver found a broken spring, leaver ur hanger on his -engine. He discovers all th’ cracked aquilizers an’ iccintric shtraps. -It’s really an aisy job cl’anin’ his engine, av ye take care to clane -it.” - -“Well, I am not liable to have the job again.” - -“Ye may. Ganzell is square, an’ he don’t loike to have any marn kick at -him. Av ye do it well this toime, he may kape ye roight here on this -engine ivery toime she comes in. Oi thought av thot, an’ it’s phwoy Oi -warnted to tell yez about Joe Hicks.” - -“I appreciate your kindness, Larry.” - -“Don’t mention it. Now, Oi’ll get to wurruk, an’ Oi’ll look 33 over -whin ye have finished.” - -Then the friendly young Irishman left Frank to his labor and his -thoughts. - -Merry worked slowly and carefully. He was determined to take plenty of -time on the job and make sure that everything was done as it should -be. When he thought he had finished, he went over everything again. -Then he called Larry. - -“It’s all roight, me b’y,” declared the young Irishman. “It’s loike the -wurruk av an ould hand, but it’s tin to wan thot Hicks will be afther -kickin’ about it.” - -“All right,” said Frank. “Let him kick. If you say the job is done all -right, I am satisfied.” - -The foreman came round, but he did not give either engine or Merriwell -a glance. He had set Larry to look after the matter, and he knew it -would be all right. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -FRANK DISCOVERS A BREAK. - - -Engine wipers are severe critics of engineers. They know whose engine -is always in first-class order, wedges never down, nuts and bolts in -place and tight, and other things as they should be. - -Frank rapidly became familiar with all the outward and visible parts of -a locomotive, for he had plenty of opportunities to see them taken to -pieces by the mechanics, with whom he soon became a favorite, because -of his pleasing manners and readiness to do anything. - -Manners have much to do with the success of a young man in the world. -The one who is polite, courteous and willing to make an effort to -please is certain to stand far better show of success than he who is -indifferent, thoughtless and rude. - -Many young men are taught self-reliance and aggressiveness, and they -pay too little attention to the forms and conventionalities of life. On -this account they are apt to value too lightly the little courtesies -which mark the man of real politeness. - -It is said that but for Washington’s courteous bearing and conciliatory -manners the War of the Revolution might not have been brought to a -successful close. A person entirely familiar with the history of this -country at that period, must appreciate the remarkable tact Washington -used in allaying sectional jealousies. But for his unselfishness and -polished manners he could not have succeeded in reconciling so many -conflicting interests and unharmonious elements. - -Napoleon well knew the value of courtesy. No great military commander -was ever more beloved by the officers and men who served under him, -and, while he felt it necessary to observe a certain degree of dignity -in his bearing, he often, however, put himself on a footing of perfect -equality with the common soldiers. He was known to share his rations -with a soldier and to drink from the canteen of a sentinel. - -Chesterfield declared that the art of pleasing is, in truth, the art of -rising and distinguishing oneself, and of making a fortune and figure -in the world. - -Frank Merriwell lost no opportunity to please those with whom he was -dealing, and, although he had been regarded as something of a dude when -he entered the roundhouse, his associates soon found he was ready and -willing to attempt any and all kinds of work. He never grumbled, and he -was always volunteering to do things. - -Thus it was not strange that some of the wipers quickly grew jealous of -him, thinking he was shown too many favors. - -Frank’s habitual association with well-bred people had done much for -him. The very air about him was different from that of the other -wipers, no matter if his clothes were as greasy and his hands as dirty. -At the same time he never made it apparent that he felt himself too -good for his work and associates. - -The foreman observed this, although he made no sign. He was watching -Frank with astonishment, but scarcely a word of approval did he speak. -He was not ready to express himself. - -Although he had familiarized himself with the mysterious properties -of the slide valve, Merry did not attempt to take part in the deeply -erudite discussions which frequently took place among wipers and -firemen. He listened and kept still. All the time he was learning, -feeling sure the time would come when he would be given an opportunity -to display his knowledge to advantage. - -To the surprise of everybody, and the disgust of Joe Hicks, Frank was -given time after time No. 33 to clean. Hicks growled and glared at -the youth, but Frank remained polite in his bearing toward the surly -engineer. - -To Merry’s surprise, Old Slugs came to him one day, and said: - -“I don’t know that I want to see you done up, even if you did give me -a thumping. I don’t hold a grudge, for you done it fair and square. But -I want to tell ye to look out--keep your eyes open all the time.” - -“I thank you for the warning, Mr. Hall; but I am afraid I do not -understand what you mean.” - -“You’ve got a bad man down on you.” - -“Do you mean Mr. Hicks?” - -“Just him. Now, I don’t want it known I made any talk, for I’m not -hankering to have Joe Hicks get after me when he is on a rampage, but I -say look out.” - -“I shall try to do so; but I see no real reason why Mr. Hicks should -wish to injure me.” - -“Mebbe he ain’t got no real reason. When old Joe gets down on a man, he -don’t have to have a reason. All he wants is a good chance to do him, -and he’ll do you, if you ain’t careful.” - -“What makes you so sure?” - -“Well, I heard him say last night that there was a young upstart here -who wouldn’t remain here another week.” - -“And you think he meant me?” - -“I am sure of it.” - -“And he means to do me bodily harm?” - -“That’s the way he fixes them he don’t like.” - -“All right, Mr. Hall. Thank you again. I shall watch out.” - -As Larry Logan had said, old Joe was one who always looked his own -engine over for breaks, never trusting the wipers to discover them. - -One day, however, Frank noticed that the center casting on No. 33 was -broken in such a way that but one bolt held it at all, and that very -slightly. - -He supposed, of course, that the engineer had reported it, and he -expected every minute to see the men come along with the jacks and jack -her up to put in a new one. - -Though there was a king pin down through both castings, it would be -suicidal for a man to trust that alone. In rounding a curve the engine -would be apt to sheer off and shoot off the track at a tangent. - -Frank was surprised as the time approached for old 33 to leave the -house and no attempt had been made to repair her. Then he hunted up Mr. -Ganzell and reported what he had discovered. - -Ganzell seemed doubtful. - -“Come with me,” he said, and together they went round the house to the -hook on which the machinists hung the engineer’s work reports after -jobs were finished. - -He looked the report over and found 33’s. - -“It’s O. K.’d,” he said. “Not a word about the center casting. You must -be mistaken, Mr. Merriwell.” - -“I am sure I am not, sir,” declared Frank. - -“Well, I will investigate. Come.” - -Away they went to inspect the engine. On the way they came face to face -with Joe Hicks. - -“Mr. Hicks,” said the foreman, “Merriwell reports that your truck -center casting is broken.” - -Old Joe’s face turned black, and he gave Frank an awful glare. - -“It’s a lie!” he growled. “What’s that kid know about an engine! He -makes me sick.” - -“I beg your pardon, Mr. Hicks,” said Frank, quietly; “I really thought -it better to report my discovery than to let you take the chance of -being killed and wrecking the train by going out with her in such a -condition.” - -“Bah! You are trying to play smart, but you’ve made a fool of yourself.” - -“Let’s see about it,” said Ganzell. - -“My report is O. K.” - -“I know it is, for I just looked it up.” - -“That’s enough.” - -“No! I shall look at your engine.” - -“All right. But, if it ain’t so, I want you to take this boy off my -engine and give me a man that knows something. I’ve stood it just as -long as I can!” - -Down to the engine they went, and the foreman soon satisfied himself -that Frank had told the truth. Then he was angry. - -“What do you mean, Hicks,” he demanded, “by reporting O. K. when your -engine is in such condition?” - -Old Joe tried to answer, but he could not do much of anything but swear. - -“Such carelessness is astonishing!” exclaimed Ganzell. “You do not -deserve an engine. You are incompetent!” - -That made the old man furious, and the look he gave Merriwell was -evidence of the deadly hatred seething in his heart. - -“You shall pay for this!” he muttered, in a deadly way. - -“No threats, sir!” exclaimed Ganzell. “Merriwell simply did his duty. -We shall not need you for the next week. You may go home!” - -So the engineer was laid off because of Frank’s discovery, and it made -him hate Merry more than ever. - -“He shall pay for it!” he vowed over and over. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER. - - -One evening the street musicians came home in a greatly disturbed state -of mind and hurried into Frank’s room, where they found Merry. - -“Oh, Mr. Merriwell!” cried Jack; “there is a man who has been following -us about everywhere!” - -“And--and he spoke to us!” fluttered the blind girl. - -“He’s such a bad-looking man!” said the boy. - -“He asked us where we lived,” said little Nell. - -“I refused to tell him, and then he got angry.” - -“And said we should be arrested as vagrants. Oh! I am so afraid of him!” - -“There! there!” said Frank; “don’t get so excited. Was the man -intoxicated?” - -“No! no! no!” answered the boy. “I am sure he was not, and still--and -still he might have been drinking.” - -“Well, you escaped from him all right, and it’s not likely you will see -him again.” - -“I’m afraid we shall, for I am sure the same man followed us last -evening, though I said nothing to Nellie about it, not wishing to -frighten her.” - -“I don’t see why he should follow you.” - -“All I know is that he did.” - -“Did he follow you here?” - -“Part way, but I guess we gave him the slip by coming through an alley.” - -“Well, I wouldn’t worry about it any more. If he makes any more trouble -for you, I’ll see him.” - -“Oh! you are so good!” said the girl, getting an arm about Frank’s -neck. “I feel safe when we are with you.” - -He kissed her tenderly and soothed her fears. Then they invited him in -to have supper with them. - -It happened that Frank had not eaten, having started in to study upon a -certain part of an engine immediately after reaching his room and taken -a sponge bath and changed his clothes, he finally agreed to take supper -with the little musicians. - -“You know what a good cook I am,” laughed the lame boy. - -“I should be the one to cook,” said the girl; “but I can’t see to do -that. I can help get supper ready, though.” - -They went into the room occupied by the brother and sister. There were -two small beds in opposite corners of the room, which was rather large, -one of them being curtained off with cheap cloth. - -At one side of the room was a cupboard and a bench. There was a small -cook stove in the room. - -“Now,” cried the boy, as he hopped about with his crutch, “I’ll show -you what coffee and what biscuits I can make.” - -“And I will set the table,” declared little Nell. - -“I have a plan,” said Frank. “We will take the table into my room, for -it will be hot in here after Jack gets his cooking done. We’ll eat in -there.” - -This was agreed upon, and Frank managed to move the table, with very -little aid from the lame boy. - -Jack built the fire and prepared for work. He took off his jacket, -rolled up his sleeves, washed face and hands, and then got out the cake -board. In a short time he was working in the flour, and the way he went -at it proclaimed his skill. - -“If you will bring the dishes, Frank, I’ll set the table,” said little -Nell. - -So Merry carried the dishes, what few there were, out through the short -passage and into his room, where the blind girl, after the cloth was -spread, stood by the table and arranged them. She seemed to do this -work by instinct, for she could not have done it better had she been -able to see. - -“Oh, we will have such a lovely supper!” she laughed, her sweet face -glowing with pleasure. “It seems to me that we have much better times -since we knew you, Frank. I am certain we are far happier. I am so glad -we found you!” - -“And I am glad, Nellie!” Merry declared. “It would have been lonely -living here, and you have brightened my life like sunshine bursting -through a cloud.” - -She came near him, her hands clasped, her sightless eyes turned upon -his face, as if she could see. - -“I love to hear you talk,” she murmured. “You have such a pleasant -voice, and you say such beautiful things. Anyone would know there was -nothing bad in your heart just to hear you speak.” - -“I hope there is nothing bad in my heart, Nellie,” he said, with deep -earnestness. “It is our duty to keep our hearts free from all evil, but -sometimes I find it necessary to fight to do so.” - -“But you fight so bravely I am sure you’ll never be conquered.” - -“Thank you, dear little Nell,” he said, taking both her hands and -looking down at her face. “Your confidence in me will help me in the -battle of life. I am at the foot of the ladder now, but some day I may -mount to the top. If I do, I shall not forget my little companions of -my days of misfortune.” - -“How good you are!” she murmured. “Oh, how I long to see your face!” - -“Some day, as true as it is possible, you shall!” he cried. “I cannot -believe you are fated to be blind forever. The money is coming in -slowly, but it is coming. Pretty soon you will have enough to travel to -New York, and have the great specialist treat you.” - -“Yes! yes!” she fluttered. “The money never came in so fast as it has -since we met you. Jack says each night that the time is growing shorter -and shorter. I can remember something about the way things look. I -remember the flowers, and I love them so much! They are like fairies, -decked out in all their fancy dresses. Sometimes Jack, who knows how -dearly I love them--sometimes he brings me home a few. Then I put -them in water, and I sit by them, and smell them, and touch them, and -whisper to them. It seems that they must hear and understand me.” - -Her face was bright as she was speaking, but, of a sudden, it became -shadowed and saddened. - -“But, for all I can do,” she went on, mournfully, “they wither and die -at last. And that hurts me so! I cry over them, and it makes brother -feel bad, and he says he will not bring me any more flowers. It doesn’t -seem right that beautiful things should fade and die. Oh, why is it so?” - -“It is the law of nature,” said Frank, gently. “All things must have an -end, but nothing perishes. The flower turns to dust, and from the dust -another flower springs perhaps. Something comes from it. There is a -constant and continual change, but nothing really perishes.” - -“Yes, yes; Jack and I have talked of that. Sometimes we speak of the -loss of our dear mother, for she seemed to fade like a flower, and he -says we shall find her again--some time.” - -“It is a beautiful belief,” said Frank. “But you are getting sad, -little Nell; and we are to be happy to-night, you know.” - -Then he cheered her up till soon she was laughing. - -Jack came to the door and cried: - -“Ready for the feast. The coffee is cooked, and the biscuits will be -done in four minutes.” - -“Wait,” said Frank. “I want to slip out to the street for something. I -will be back directly.” - -He seized his hat and went out. At the corner he passed a man who was -standing back in the deep shadow. He did not pay any attention to the -man. - -At a fruit store Frank purchased some oranges and bananas. With them he -hurried back. - -The man near the corner slunk deep into a doorway as he passed, and -then stepped out and followed him lightly. - -“Here we are!” cried Frank, gayly, as he deposited the fruit on the -table. “To-night we will have a treat.” - -Everything was ready, and they sat down. Little Nell folded her hands -and asked a blessing, while Frank and Jack bowed their heads. Jack -started to pour the coffee. All at once he stopped and stared at -his sister. - -“Gracious, Nellie!” he cried. “You never looked so much like mother -before! Why, somehow you look just like her as you sit there at that -end of the table. You should have seen her, Frank. She was a beautiful -woman.” - -“Get her picture,” said the girl--“get it and show it to him.” - -Jack sat down the coffee pot and hopped away into the other room. He -quickly returned with a photograph, which he gave to Frank. - -Merry looked at the picture, and, indeed, the blind girl showed a -strong resemblance to the sad-faced, beautiful woman. - -Rap! rap! rap!--a heavy knock on the door. - -Little Nell uttered a startled exclamation, and then the door was flung -open. - -Outside stood a dark-faced man, whom Frank recognized instantly. - -It was old Joe Hicks! - -“It’s the man who followed us!” cried the lame boy, in a flutter of -excitement. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -AN UNWELCOME RELATION. - - -Frank had risen to his feet and he took a step toward the door. - -From the lips of the blind girl came another cry, one of fear. - -Frank turned to her. - -“Don’t be afraid,” he said, reassuringly. “He shall not harm anyone -here.” - -Then he demanded to know what the man wanted. - -Hicks showed his teeth. - -“So this is where you stop?” he said. “Well, I’m glad I found that out, -but it was them others I came to see.” - -“What do you want of them?” - -The engineer stepped into the room, but Merry halted him with a sharp -word. - -“Stand where you are! You are an intruder here!” - -“Oh, don’t put on airs!” snarled old Joe, and Frank saw the man had -been drinking. “I know my business.” - -“State it.” - -“Well, a man gets queer notions in his head sometimes, and when I saw -the face of that gal I was hit by a queer one. I tried to talk with -her, but she got skeered. I want to know what her name is. Won’t you -tell me your name, little gal?” - -Nell hesitated, trembling slightly. Her brother had his arm about her -now, and was speaking reassuring words to her. - -“Why should she tell you her name?” demanded Frank, a strange feeling -of apprehension assailing him. - -“I’m not doin’ my business with you!” grated the man. “I’ll look after -you some other time.” - -“You may have to do some business with me now, for I am the friend and -protector of this boy and girl.” - -“Oh, you are? Well, who made ye so? You’re not old enough to be their -guardian.” - -“I am old enough to look out for them, and I shall see that they come -to no harm.” - -“You’re a pretty swift young chap for a common engine wiper. Soon as -you get out from work at night you swell round in good clothes, as if -you was the son of a millionaire. Where do ye get all your money to do -that?” - -“That is none of your business!” returned Merry, warmly. - -“Ain’t, eh? Well, I reckon I can tell ye. You sponge it out of this -boy and gal you are protectin’. They must pick up lots of money on the -street, and you get it.” - -“It’s not true!” cried the lame boy, his eyes flashing. “Mr. Merriwell -does not get one cent of it!” - -“No! no! no!” exclaimed the girl. “He helps us! He is so good to us!” - -“He’s playin’ his game pretty slick,” declared old Joe, “but he ain’t -your friend for nothin’.” - -Then the man obtained a fair view of the picture in Frank’s hand. With -remarkable swiftness he snatched it, and then, holding it in both -hands, he stood staring at it, his face working strangely. - -Merriwell had started to take the picture from the man, but he stopped, -astonished by the expression on the face of Hicks. - -The engineer looked from the picture to the face of the girl. He seemed -comparing the two. At last he hoarsely asked: - -“Is this the picture of your mother, gal?” - -“Yes, sir,” Nell faintly answered. - -“Then you are my niece, for it is the picture of my own sister!” - -Frank Merriwell started, as if he had been struck a blow. Both the boy -and girl uttered cries of astonishment. - -“It can’t be that you are our uncle!” said little Jack. - -“I am Joseph Hicks,” said the engineer, “and Mary Hicks, your mother, -was my sister.” - -“That was mother’s name before she married father,” confessed the boy. -“But it does not seem possible that you--are--her--brother. You are not -a bit like her.” - -“Well, I’m her brother. That’s why I follered ye. I saw in your -sister’s face the resemblance to Mary. It was so remarkable that I -could not help following you about. She is dead?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“And Dave Norton?” - -“He is dead, too.” - -“Good thing! Never liked him. He was too stuck up. He wouldn’t take a -drink, or do anything like other people. I’m glad he’s dead.” - -“Sir,” cried the boy, “he was my father!” - -“That’s no credit to you. But you’re orphans now--all alone in the -world.” - -“Not all alone.” - -“No? How’s that?” - -“We have Mr. Merriwell.” - -“Rot! I’m your uncle. It’s my duty to look after ye. I’ll take care of -ye, and of the money ye make, too. Ha! ha! ha!” - -The lame boy looked appealingly at Frank. - -“You may be their uncle,” said Merry, “but you are not yet their -guardian. There is the door.” - -“What of it?” snarled old Joe. “You can’t drive me out! I won’t go! I’m -goin’ to take charge of these orphans.” - -“Not yet.” - -“I will!” - -“Not till the law gives you the right. Go!” - -Then the man appealed to the children. - -“I’m your uncle. You must mind me. You can’t refuse.” - -“Oh, I am so afraid of him!” half sobbed little Nell, clinging to her -brother. - -“What do you say, Jack?” asked Frank. “Shall he go?” - -“Yes!” cried the boy, straightening up. “He looks like a bad man, and -he talks like one. Sister is afraid of him. He must go!” - -“You hear,” said Merry to Hicks. - -“Yes, I hear,” he snarled; “but I will not go! I stand on my rights. -You’re not going to have the money they make to blow for clothes! I’ll -take care of it.” - -“And squander it for liquor. You shall not do that. If you do not go at -once, I shall throw you out.” - -“Don’t you dare put a hand on me!” - -Old Joe looked dangerous then, but Frank advanced on him. The man flung -down the picture and reached toward a pocket. With a leap, Merry was on -him and had him by the neck. - -“You dog!” said Frank. “You deserve to be jailed! You are thoroughly -evil! Out you go!” - -There was a struggle, during which the man drew something bright from -his pocket. Little Jack uttered a shrill cry and leaped forward, -swinging his crutch. With that weapon, the boy knocked the knife from -the man’s hand, and it fell clattering to the floor. - -“Aha!” grated the engineer. “He saved ye that time!” - -When Frank realized that the man had attempted his life, he was -furious. With wonderful strength, he lifted old Joe, ran him out into -the passage, reached the head of the stairs, and threw him down. - -Bump! thump! bang! - -The man bounced down the stairs, and struck in the darkness at the -bottom. - -“Get out!” cried Frank. “I am coming down, and I’ll throw you out if -you are there when I reach the bottom!” - -The man gathered himself and made haste to get away before Frank could -reach him, but he retreated swearing vengeance. - -Frank turned and ascended the stairs. In the room, little Nell was -sobbing in the arms of her brother. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -FRANK EXACTS A PROMISE. - - -The very next day old Joe appeared at the roundhouse, although his week -was not up. He took care to keep out of Ganzell’s sight, but he hung -around. - -“Phwat th’ divvil is he up to?” asked Larry Logan. “He’s apt to git -another wake off av th’ ould marn sees him.” - -Some of the men spoke to old Joe, but he snarled at them in reply, so -they quickly decided to let him alone. - -Hicks was seen in the vicinity of 33, and Logan got a fancy that he -contemplated some trick with the engine. - -Frank Merriwell was busy at work, and he paid no attention to his enemy. - -Hicks showed he was still drinking, for he was in his shirt sleeves, -not even having worn a coat to the roundhouse. - -Frank’s work often took him outside the building, sometimes to turn the -table, sometimes to do other things. - -No. 33 was being run by a spare man, who appeared as the time -approached for her to go out. The fireman was on hand in advance, and -had steam up. - -It happened that Frank Merriwell was on his way to the roundhouse from -another building when the time came for old Joe’s engine to come out. -He was walking near the track just as 33 glided out of the door. - -There were several persons about, and Merry was paying very little -attention to any of them. He was attending strictly to his business, as -was his habit. - -As old 33 came along, Frank received a heavy jolt that threw him on the -track directly in front of her pilot! - -Had the engine been running a trifle faster, or had Frank been less -nimble, the life of the young wiper would have been crushed out beneath -the wheels then and there. As it was, the pilot brushed Merry as he -scrambled from the track. - -Frank leaped to his feet, quivering all over with anger. - -Whoever the man was, he was on the other side of the engine at that -moment, but Merry would know quickly. - -The fireman of 33 had been running her out. He saw Merriwell knocked -down before her nose, and threw back the lever, although he realized -it was too late to save the youth by his efforts to stop the engine. A -moment later, he saw Frank was safe from harm, and he sent her ahead -again. - -Then, as the engine passed on, Frank leaped across the track and sprang -after a man who was walking swiftly away. - -“Here!” he cried, and his hand fell on old Joe Hicks’ shoulder. - -The engineer turned, uttering a snarl. His face was white and his eyes -staring. It was plain enough that he was completely unstrung at that -moment. - -“So it was you who tried to kill me in that cowardly manner!” cried -Frank, his eyes blazing. “Well, that is even worse than I expected of -you!” - -“What d’yer mean?” hoarsely demanded the man. - -“I mean that you knocked me onto the track in front of 33, which was a -deliberate and criminal attempt to kill me!” - -“You lie!” - -“It is true!” - -“I say you lie!” - -“And I say you lie, Hicks!” growled a hoarse voice, and Old Slugs came -up. “I saw the whole thing, an’ I’ll swear you done it on purpose.” - -“You?” Hicks hissed. “Why, you’re a fool! You ain’t got no reason to -love this youngster! You’d oughter be glad ter see him knocked out.” - -“Mebbe I had, but I’m no murderer, an’ I don’t care ter ’sociate with -murderers. Merriwell gave me a hammerin’, but he done it fair, an’ I -ain’t doin’ him dirt in return.” - -“You’re a fool!” Hicks again hissed. - -“All ther same, I reckon my word will stand if I have ter tell what I -jest saw you do. You’ll git scarce mighty quick round this shop when -the old man hears of that.” - -“You hear!” came from Frank. “I have the proof!” - -“All right!” panted the desperate engineer. “I can live. I’ll take care -of my nevvy and niece. If I’m out of work, I can look arter them all -the better.” - -Frank started. So that was what Hicks would do. He would force himself -on the lame boy and the blind girl by right of relationship. He would -take the money they made on the street, and he would spend it for drink. - -A sudden idea came to Merry. - -“Look here, Mr. Hicks,” he said, “on one condition I will agree not to -make a charge against you.” - -“What’s that?” - -“You are to let little Jack and his sister quite alone. You are not -even to claim them as relations, or try to see them.” - -“Think I’ll do that?” - -“If you don’t, I’ll swear you tried to kill me to-day, and I have the -proof. You were seen by Mr. Hall and by the fireman on 33. You will -lose your job on this road. You will be discharged in disgrace, and it -will not be easy for you to get a job anywhere else. When they ask you -why you left the last place, you’ll have to lie. Perhaps they will know -why you left. You may be blacklisted.” - -Old Joe’s face turned almost green, while his lips seemed dry and -parched. He stood before Frank Merriwell, half cowering, half defiant, -like a tiger driven at bay. - -“Choose!” commanded Frank. - -“I don’t like the idea of letting you have your way with the kids.” - -“Choose!” - -“Oh, well, you could fix me if you went and told that stuff to the old -man. It was all an accident, but----” - -“Choose!” - -“I don’t care a rap about the kids anyway. You needn’t worry about me -botherin’ them.” - -“You give your word not to trouble them?” - -“Yes.” - -“You will not even try to see them? Promise that.” - -“I promise.” - -“All right. I will not make a complaint against you.” - -“But I may,” growled Old Slugs, who did not seem at all satisfied. - -“No!” exclaimed Frank, quickly. “You must not!” - -“I ain’t makin’ any promises.” - -“Why, blow ye!” grated Hicks. “You don’t dare!” - -“Yes, I do,” returned Old Slugs, sullenly. “I don’t like you none too -well, and I’d as lives see you get out of here as not. It’s my duty to -report what I saw, an’ I’m goin’ to do my duty.” - -“Ah--a--ah! You’re thunderin’ particular about your duty all to once! I -won’t forgit it. I’ll have a score to settle with you!” - -“I’ll keep watch for ye better than Merriwell did. You won’t get the -chance on me.” - -“But you shall not report this affair, Mr. Hall,” came firmly from -Frank’s lips. - -“Who says so?” - -“I do.” - -“But you ain’t got any right to say so.” - -“All the same, I do. If you report it, I’ll----” - -Frank hesitated, and Old Slugs quickly asked: - -“What’ll you do?” - -“I’ll give you another thrashing, and it will be worse than the first!” -flared Frank, looking as if he were ready to start in on the job at -that moment. “I’ll fix you so you will not work for more than one day!” - -It was plain enough that Frank meant exactly what he said. Old Slugs -could not doubt it. - -“Why,” said Hall, “I’m your friend now. I came here and stood by you in -this matter against Hicks.” - -“You are not my friend if you say a word about it to the old man. You -will be my enemy.” - -“You must be foolish! If Hicks stays here, he’ll get at you ag’in, and -he may do me, too. The only safe thing for us now is to report him, and -then he’ll be fired.” - -“I will take my chances. As for you, you can’t be afraid of him, for -you can handle him. Give him another show. Perhaps he will appreciate -it.” - -“All right, if you say so, but it seems like a fool trick.” - -“You’ll keep mum?” - -“If you say so.” - -“I do. I have your promise. Do not break it.” - -Old Slugs went away grumbling and growling, and Frank turned to the -engineer. - -“I have saved you from being discharged,” he said. “Of that there can -be no doubt. All I ask of you in return is that you let Jack and Nellie -entirely alone.” - -Hicks nodded. - -“If you do not,” cried Frank, his fine eyes flashing, “by the eternal -skies, I’ll make you regret the day you ever saw them! That is all.” - -Then he turned and walked into the roundhouse to go about his work. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -ON A SWITCH ENGINE. - - -Two days later Frank was working in the yard when Sam Hobson, a yard -engineer, came up behind him and addressed him. - -“Is your name Frank Merriwell?” he asked. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“I want you.” - -Frank went over to the grimy-looking man who had spoken to him. Engine -91, used for switching purposes, was ready to go out of the roundhouse. - -“Get inter the cab there,” said the man, motioning for Frank to climb -up. - -Merriwell was amazed, and he hesitated, saying: - -“Mr. Ganzell----” - -“Don’t you worry about Mr. Ganzell, but do as I told you. He sent me -for a man. Get inter the cab.” - -Frank hesitated no longer, although he was filled with wonder. - -Often when short of firemen the yard engineers would take one of the -wipers, but it did not seem possible to Frank that he had been selected -for such work. - -Merry swung up into the cab, and Hobson leisurely followed. Several -wipers stared in astonishment, not one of them regarding it as possible -that the boy who had been at work in the roundhouse but a short time -had been chosen to fire on 91. - -The engineer glanced at the gauge, and then looked to see that -everything was in place. - -“Ring,” he said, for he had received the signal to go ahead. - -Frank pulled the bell-rope, and Hobson opened her up a little and let -off the brake. Then 91 ran out of the roundhouse into the yard, and was -switched onto a certain track. - -“Keep the gauge about where she is now,” said the engineer. - -Then Frank knew he had been selected to fire on that engine for the -time being, at least. His heart gave a great leap of joy, but he simply -and calmly said: - -“All right, sir.” - -Frank was nervous. It was not the first time he had been on an engine, -for he had sought the friendship of the engineers, and had found -opportunities to ride about the switches and watch the work, but never -yet had he flung a shovel of coal in at a furnace door. He had watched -and studied, feeling sure that his time would come, and all his life it -had been his way to pick up all the knowledge he could obtain, knowing -that almost anything a man learns comes of practical use some time. - -Open came the furnace door and Merry gave a glance at the glowing heap -within. Then he seized the shovel, and, feeling stronger than ever -before in his life, began to fling in the coal, giving each shovelful -a dextrous flirt that scattered and distributed it evenly. When he -thought he had shoveled enough, he closed the door with a clang. - -Hobson said not a word, but just then, having received another signal, -he reversed, and 91 started backward along the track. Up to the leather -seat went Frank, and he rang the bell as the engine backed along the -track. - -In a very few minutes 91 was busy pushing and hauling cars about and -moving them from one track to another. - -For nearly an hour Hobson had nothing to say, and Frank made no talk, -for his mind was on the various tasks it was his duty to perform. He -seemed to know exactly what to do, and not once did the engineer have -to give him directions. - -Then came a few minutes of leisure when 91 was not busy. Hobson caught -up a black pipe and lighted it. As he was rolling great puffs of -blue-white smoke out of his mouth, he shut one eye in a queer way and -stared at his companion with the other. - -“Humph!” he grunted. “When did you fire before?” - -Frank flushed, for there seemed a trace of derision in the voice and -manner of the man. - -“I never fired before, sir.” - -“What!” - -“That is true. This is my first attempt.” - -“You’re pretty young. Ain’t twenty-one yet?” - -“No, sir.” - -“How long have you worked wiping?” - -“Almost four weeks.” - -“No longer than that?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Humph!” grunted Hobson again, pulling away at the black pipe with an -expression of deep satisfaction. - -It seemed that the engineer doubted Merry’s statements, which made -Frank feel rather resentful. - -After a brief silence, Hobson spoke again. - -“You’re the chap that thrashed Old Slugs?” - -“I had a fight with the man.” - -“Ya-as, I heard about it. Everybody was astonished. Said a boy licked -him, and he’s a tough nut. How’d you do it?” - -“With my fists, sir.” - -“Of course, but I don’t understand it. You’re a queer case. I wondered -why the old man told me to take you to fire to-day.” - -Frank started. - -“Then you were told to take me?” - -“Ya-as. Ganzell told me to find the youngest wiper in the house and -take him. Said his name was Frank Merriwell. I wouldn’t have picked you -if it hadn’t been for that.” - -Frank’s heart was filled with gratitude, for he realized that Ganzell -had given him this opportunity, which would not, in the natural order -of things, have come to him in a long time. - -Ganzell had seemed to pay very little attention to Merry, but, in -truth, he was watching him closely. It did not take him long to -discover that the youth was built of the right material, and, although -Frank did not know it, the foreman gave him all sorts of opportunities -for learning things. - -And now, before the first month was up, Frank had been selected to fire -on a switch engine! - -He knew the position might be simply temporary, and that there was a -chance for him to go back wiping engines, but the mere fact that he had -been chosen once, if he proved competent, was enough to pave the way to -a regular job as fireman. - -Hobson started in to find out how much Frank really knew. He asked -Merry a hundred questions about the different parts of a locomotive, -and about handling one, and, with very few exceptions, the youth -answered correctly. - -“Well,” said the engineer, “you know as much in certain ways about a -locomotive as some men who have been running ’em for years. How you -found out so much in a short time is what sticks me.” - -“I have been studying a book on locomotive engineering,” explained -Frank. - -“Oh, that’s it! Well, what you want to study now is an engine, and let -your book alone. We’ve got the signal to run out onto the main track. -Here, see if you can run her out.” - -Then he stepped away and gave up the lever to Frank. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -CAPTURING A WILD ENGINE. - - -Frank ran the engine out all right, although it startled him somewhat -to feel her go the instant he touched the throttle. He knew how she -ought to be handled, but found it rather confusing when he came to do -it himself. The throttle, reverse lever and brake seemed to be in each -other’s way, and he could not find them with his hands without looking -for them, something that is a dead giveaway for a greenhorn. - -Hobson talked to Frank, telling him just how everything should be done, -and he permitted Frank to handle the engine for some time, although -some of his criticisms were rather cutting. - -Occasionally Frank caught himself in the act of giving her steam when -he should have reversed her first, and the laughter of Hobson was not -calculated to make him any cooler. Still, after a time, he began to -grow more confident, and the engineer ceased laughing and criticising. - -At the end of an hour, Hobson said: - -“You’ll be a winner all right, young man; but you want to let booze -alone.” - -“I do not touch it, sir,” answered Frank. - -“That’s all right. By booze I mean everything--beer and all.” - -“I never drink beer.” - -“With your color? Not when you are thirsty?” - -“Never.” - -“Hum! Where did you work before you came here?” - -“I was in college, sir.” - -“College? And you never worked anywhere else?” - -“No, sir.” - -“What college?” - -“Yale.” - -“Then you used to drink?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Why, all them college chaps drink! They’re a wild crowd, and they -don’t do a thing but steam up at times. You must have had your little -toots with the boys.” - -“If by ‘little toots’ you mean drunks, you are mistaken. I suppose I -have had as much sport as anybody, but I never took a drink of beer or -liquor in my life!” - -“Well, you’re a wonder! But you’ll have to look out now. Railroad men -are worked pretty hard, especially firemen and engineers, and many of -them brace up by drinking, especially when they have not had a wink of -sleep for twenty-four hours, as sometimes happens. You’ll be tempted to -do that some time.” - -“I do not think so, sir; but, if I am tempted, I shall resist.” - -“That’s right,” nodded Hobson, gravely. “If you never take your first -drink, you’ll be all right. I would have been myself. I was a passenger -engineer once, and now I am on a switch engine. What put me here? -Rum! Couldn’t let booze alone. I don’t like to talk about it, for it -makes me feel ugly. I’ve sworn off a thousand times, but it’s no use. -I always break over. You see I know so many of the boys who take -something. After I have been without it a long time, I get a hankering -to do something. Then I run into some of the men. I think I won’t -drink, but the man who has done so once is always tempted. His friends -say that a little snifter will do him good. He ain’t lookin’ well, and -he thinks he ain’t feeling well. He says he’ll just take a small one as -medicine. Then it’s all off. That small one starts him in again, and -he’s just as bad off as he was before. Yes, if you never take the first -one, you’ll be all right, and you will get somewhere in the world. -Drink is what holds men down. It keeps them from rising. It wastes -their money and keeps them poor. It makes hard times for the laborer. -Oh, I know! I know all about the man who gets plumb full, loses his -job, and curses the hard times.” - -The man’s manner, as much as his words, showed how deeply he felt what -he was saying. - -It was not necessary to read Frank Merriwell a temperance lecture. -He fully realized the truth of Hobson’s words. Years before he had -promised his dying mother that he would not drink, and although he had -been greatly tempted, that promise had never been broken. - -Finally, when the work slackened somewhat, Hobson swung down from the -engine and went into the yardmaster’s office, saying he would be back -in a minute. - -The main track was clear, and Hobson had not been gone a minute when -Frank was directed to run up past the freight house and change onto -another switch. This was to be done on the main track, as no trains -were due. - -But just as 91 was running along the main track past the freight -house, the operator came jumping out of the little office, showing -great excitement. - -“Get off the track!” he cried. “Clear the track. There is a wild engine -coming, and she ought to be here now!” - -Frank’s heart gave a leap. A wild engine was coming, and he was on the -main track. - -“Which way is she coming?” he cried. - -“East.” - -She was behind him. - -“Here she comes!” - -The operator waved his arms and shouted. Looking over the tender Frank -saw the wild engine just rounding a curve in the distance. Then he -opened up, and 91 jumped ahead. - -Frank thought he might get down past the switch, and back onto the -first siding, thus letting the wild engine pass. He was going to make -the attempt. - -But, as he approached the switch, he saw that the tender was not on -hand, although he had whistled for the man. - -Another look back told Merry he had not a moment to spare if he would -get out of the way of the runaway engine. He thought he might be able -to stop 91, jump off, open the switch, get on again, and back out of -harm’s way. Then he saw that he might not be able to do the trick, and, -even if he did succeed, he could not leave the engine again in time to -throw the switch and save the runaway from being wrecked. - -In such a position it was necessary to think swiftly. There was one -thing he could do. - -He could run away from the wild engine if he could keep up steam. - -Now the engine was close upon him, and he hooked 91 up another notch. -Down past the first switch he ran, bidding farewell to the hope of -backing in and leaving a clear track. - -“I must stop the runaway!” - -He muttered the words and his jaws squared. Now that he was in a -position of peril, he never felt cooler in his life. Again he looked -back at the oncoming engine, calmly measuring the distance between them. - -He wondered why the operator had not received notice before of the -runaway, but there was little time then to speculate on that point. - -As he looked back, he became aware that the runaway was not making much -over twenty miles an hour. It was evident that her steam was running -down, and she was nearing the end of her wild trip. - -Then Frank became confident. He knew well enough that there was a -clear track ahead, but it would be necessary to whistle for crossings -whenever possible. Four miles away was a hard grade. - -“I’ll stop her there,” he decided. - -He set about regulating the speed of 91 so that he could keep clear of -the runaway, and still the wild engine was permitted to creep nearer -and nearer. - -It gave Frank a creepy feeling to see her coming up silently, without -sound of bell or whistle, and with no human being in her cab. - -When the stretch of woods at the foot of the grade was reached, the -runaway was not over four rods away. Then Frank permitted her to come -nearer and nearer till the nose of her pilot was right under the tender -of 91. - -Then Frank left the cab and scrambled back over the tender, swinging -down onto the pilot of the runaway. He worked swiftly, fearing the wild -engine might give out and let 91 get away, but this did not happen, and -he succeeded in coupling the two. - -“Hurrah!” he cried, with boyish enthusiasm. “I have her!” - -Back along the running board he went and soon was in the cab. He found -she was hooked up to within one short notch of the center. Her cylinder -cocks were open. - -It did not take Merry a moment to shut off steam, so that the runaway -was helpless, but in that moment he discovered the cause of the -runaway--a weak throttle latch-spring. - -Back to 91 Merry made his way, and soon both engines were at a -standstill. He had successfully captured the runaway. - -There was a crowd waiting when Frank backed to the yards with the wild -engine. Sam Hobson was there, looking pale but relieved, and a gang of -brakemen and switch-tenders welcomed the hero of the adventure with -cheer after cheer. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -FRANK’S FRIENDS. - - -“Well done, boy!” cried Hobson, as he swung into the cab. “No man could -have done better. But I’ll get it in the neck for being away from the -engine. I’ll have to lie about it.” - -“I beg your pardon, sir,” said Frank; “but I think that would be the -very worst thing you could do.” - -“Hey? Well, you don’t suppose I’m going to tell that I was off to get a -drink?” - -“Was that why you left the engine?” - -“Yes.” - -“And you were reading me a temperance lecture a short time before!” - -“I told ye what the cursed stuff does for a man. No one knows better -than I! Just talkin’ about it made me feel that I must have a swaller. -I knew where to get it, and I went after it. It was just my luck to -have something happen to show that I was gone.” - -Frank felt like preaching a sermon on luck then and there, but -refrained. - -Hobson wanted to know just how Frank succeeded in stopping the runaway, -and Merry told him the story briefly. - -“That is bound to fix you all right,” said the engineer. “I’ll bet -anything your days as wiper are over.” - -He was right. That night Frank was told to come the following morning -ready to take a regular job as fireman, while Hobson, who was unable -to satisfactorily account for his absence from 91, was laid off. - -The wipers were jealous and angry. Some of them sneered at Merry, but -the most of them kept still and contented themselves by giving him -black looks. - -The cause of the runaway was explained by the weak throttle -latch-spring, which had been reported over and over again, but had not -been replaced, as it should have been. However, somebody had to suffer -for it, and the man who had charge of her was the one. - -Frank was feeling light-hearted as he walked homeward that night, when, -of a sudden, he remembered that little Nell, the blind girl, was ill. -He stopped on his way and bought some fruit for her. - -The lame boy was sitting at the bedside of his sister when Frank came -in. There was an eager look on Nellie’s face, for she had heard and -recognized Frank’s step. - -“I’m so glad you have come!” she said, weakly, stretching her arms -toward him. - -He hurried to her, took both her delicate hands in his, and kissed her -tenderly. - -“How is my little girl to-night?” he asked. - -“Oh, I was so tired--so tired of lying here!” she answered. “But I am -better now that you have come. It seemed that you were away such a -long, long time. It is awfully tiresome to be ill in bed--and blind. -Oh, if I could see!” - -“You know you are going to be able to see again some time when we get -together enough money to have the great specialist treat you.” - -“Yes, I know; but this being ill is using up all the money we have -saved. Oh, it is such an awful setback!” - -“That is worrying her,” said the lame boy, anxiously. “I am afraid it -keeps her from getting well as fast as she should.” - -“Well, do not let it worry you any more, little girl,” said Frank. “I -have been given a new job to-day. I am to be a fireman after this, and -I shall get better pay. This money business is coming out all right. -All I want of you is to get well as soon as you can, and that for your -own sake.” - -“But we have no right to take your money--the money you have to work so -hard for. No, no; we can’t take that.” - -“No, no,” cried the lame boy. - -“You leave things to me,” laughed Frank. “It will be all right. Think -how lonely I should have been if I had not found you for companions. It -is the greatest pleasure I have in life to aid you.” - -“But we can’t take your money.” - -“No, no!” - -“I do not wish you to take it as a gift,” said Merry. “I will loan it -to you, you know. It will not be much, anyway. What did the doctor have -to say to-day?” - -“Oh, he said I was doing well,” answered little Nell. “He said I was -not strong, and I came very near having a fever, but I will be all -right very soon.” - -“Well, that is encouraging. He told me last night that I might bring -you some fruit, but you must eat sparingly of it. I bought some as I -came home.” - -“Oh, how good you are to us!” cried the girl, with a graceful sob. “You -have such a kind heart! Once it seemed that the world was full of bad, -cruel people; but, since we met you, I know it is not true.” - -“No, Nellie, there is far more good in the world than anything else. -Human beings are peculiar. Sometimes a person may seem very bad and -wicked when all it needs is the right influence to develop in him the -most surprisingly noble qualities. Never lose confidence in human -nature.” - -“That is the way you always talk, Frank, and it makes me feel so -hopeful and happy. Before I knew you I was often sad, but no one can be -sad where you are.” - -“I never permit myself to be sad for any length of time,” declared -Frank, “for sadness is one of the greatest causes of failure in the -world. The person who is always sad and mournful is shunned in business -as well as in society. He is anything but a pleasant companion, and men -do not care to deal with him. In almost every case, the real source of -sadness is feebleness of the soul, and it is the strong soul that wins -in the battle of life. But I am not going to preach.” - -“Oh, I love to hear you talk!” declared the girl, still clinging to his -hands. “There is always a lesson in what you say. I wonder how it is -that you know so much.” - -Frank laughed. - -“You fancy I know so much, that’s all.” - -“No. You never say foolish things.” - -Then Frank blushed, for he thought of his college days, and he knew -that a thousand foolish things had tripped lightly from his tongue in -the badinage that prevailed on many an occasion. - -“We are glad you have been promoted, Frank,” said the lame boy. “How -did it happen? I am sure you deserved it.” - -Then Frank told all about his capture of the wild engine, but he was -forced to make the account of the adventure as mild as possible, for -little Nell grew very excited over the thrilling parts. - -“Oh, I knew you would stop it!” she exclaimed. “It is just like you! -You always do such things.” - -“I might not if I had been able to get off the main line onto the -switch,” laughed Frank. - -“Oh, I believe you would--I believe you would have followed and -captured the engine.” - -Frank felt that it was an inspiration to know some one had such -confidence in him. The person who knows brave and noble things are -expected of him is more likely to be brave and noble than one who -realizes that no one has confidence in him. - -Little Jack hopped about getting supper ready, while Frank sat beside -the bed and talked to Nellie. While he was near her face bore an -expression of perfect contentment and happiness. To him she was just -a dear, frail, little child who had found a place in his heart by her -innocence and her gentleness. To her he was the one great hero of whom -she had dreamed, and she loved and revered him more than words could -express. - -Sometimes she had longed to ask him many questions about himself, but -she had been afraid to do so, and, for the most part, he had remained -silent. Now, however, she plucked up courage enough to ask some -questions, and Frank told her about his early school days, about his -mother who was dead, about his life at Fardale and Yale, and about the -two girls, Inza Burrage and Elsie Bellwood, who had been so dear to him. - -As he spoke of Inza and Elsie, her hands gripped his fingers a bit -tighter, and it seemed that her blind eyes were looking into his with a -wistful expression. She showed the deepest interest then, and, when he -ceased speaking, she asked him to describe both girls to her. - -He did so, telling of Inza first. She listened, seeming to hush her -breathing, so eager was she. When he had finished describing Inza’s -striking beauty and spirited ways, a sigh escaped the listener’s -lips--a sight of relief. - -“Ah!” she said, with a faint smile; “you cared for her because she was -so handsome.” - -“No, no!” cried Frank, quickly. “Inza is a splendid girl. She is a girl -of whom any fellow would be proud.” - -“I believe that, but still---- Tell me of Elsie.” - -Frank hesitated. - -“I don’t know how to describe her,” he declared. “She is so different -from Inza.” - -Then, faltering at first, but growing eloquent as he proceeded, he -described the blue-eyed, golden-haired girl who had been Inza’s rival. -His voice was full of music and tenderness, and, all unconscious to -himself, his words became poetic. As he proceeded, he felt little -Nell’s hands trembling in his grasp. - -At last he finished, and there was a little silence. - -“Frank,” said the blind girl, with something like a sob, “you love -Elsie!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -FIRING A FREIGHT ENGINE. - - -The next morning Frank came to the roundhouse at an early hour, for -he knew it was his duty to have his engine ready when the engineer -appeared. - -Old Slugs came up and said: - -“I’m glad for ye, boy, but the gang is mighty sore, and ye’ll have your -troubles. They don’t like to have a man push in over them the way you -have done.” - -“I have simply taken things that came my way,” declared Frank. - -“That’s all right, but it don’t make no difference. They hate ye just -as bad for havin’ the chance.” - -“Well, I can’t help that.” - -“Of course not. They think I ought to make a kick, but I ain’t sore, -and I think you got the place because you was smart, as well as lucky. -You and I ain’t never had no trouble since that first time, have we?” - -“No.” - -“Well, we won’t. I wish ye good luck.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Hall.” - -Old Slugs slouched away to his work, and, ten minutes later, Frank was -set to getting Engine 33 ready. - -Merry started when he was put onto that engine, for it was run by his -worst enemy on the road, old Joe Hicks, the uncle of the lame boy and -blind girl. - -Old Joe had tried in every way possible to injure Merry, but had failed -in every attempt. - -Not a word did Frank say, but climbed onto the engine and went to work -making her ready. He knew there would be a warm time when the engineer -appeared. - -Old Joe came hurrying in and climbed aboard the engine without noticing -Frank. When he saw Merry he stopped short, stared at him a moment, and -uttered a curse. - -“What’re you doin’ here?” he snarled, looking as if he longed to fly at -the youth. - -“Getting this engine ready to go out,” was the calm answer. - -“The deuce you are! What’s the matter with Bob?” - -“I don’t know. All I know is that I was put onto this engine to fire.” - -“Well, I’m blowed if I’ll have it! Get off!” - -“No, sir.” - -“This is my engine, and----” - -“You run her, but you don’t own her.” - -“I’ll never run her an inch with you on board.” - -“All right. But your chances of running her any more is mighty small if -you stick to that.” - -“You talk as if you owned the road.” - -Frank was silent, for he did not care to waste his breath on the man -unnecessarily, and he felt that he had said quite enough. Old Joe -snarled at him, and threatened him, but Frank remained unruffled. - -“You don’t know how to fire, anyway,” declared the man. “Why, you’ve -been at work less than a month. I need a good man on my engine, and -I’ll have one.” - -“Anyone would think you were running a passenger engine to hear you -talk,” said Frank. - -“It’s harder runnin’ a freight engine, as you’d know, if you knew -anything. You have to dodge all the passenger trains on the line, and -you get the devil if you don’t make time. I’m blowed if I’ll keep you -on this engine.” - -Frank decided that the time had come for him to assert himself, so he -straightened up and faced the engineer, looking him straight in the eye -as he said: - -“Look here, Mr. Hicks, I can fire this engine as well as anybody, and -I am going to fire her. You can’t frighten me with a lot of talk, and, -as far as you are concerned, I have heard enough from you. I have stood -too much from you in times past, and now I tell you what I’ll do. If -you work against me and get me dropped off this engine, I’ll thrash you -as I did Old Slugs every day for a year!” - -This talk was “square from the shoulder,” and it set the engineer to -gasping. - -“Well, I’ll be blowed!” he muttered. - -It took him some moments to recover, and then he grated: - -“I’ll take her out alone before I’ll have you!” - -Then he jumped down from the cab and made for the office. - -Frank kept about his work, and had 33 ready when old Joe came back, -looking sour enough. Without a word, he got on and pulled out for the -train shed. - -It was not till they were coupled on and ready to start that Joe spoke. -Then he growled: - -“You’ve got to keep her hot, and if you make me lose time for want of -steam, I’ll report you to the general manager.” - -“That will be all right,” came quietly from Frank. “If you are looking -for steam, you shall have all you want.” - -Then Frank started in to keep the firebox door and the shovel on the -swing, having resolved to give old Joe what he asked for. The engineer -sat on his seat and scowled blackly, but said not a word as Frank -“ladled in the lampblack.” - -To Merry’s surprise, he was unable to get up more steam; in fact, the -gauge dropped off a little, even though he worked like a slave. That -was something he could not understand, but he thought at first that the -fault was with him. - -Old Joe looked ugly and triumphant. - -“I told ye you didn’t know how to fire,” he said, after a while. -“You’re a slouch.” - -“And it is my opinion that you are a pounder,” returned Frank, a trifle -warmly. - -“Ya-ah!” snarled the engineer. “Mebbe you think you can run her better -than I can?” - -Up to this time Frank had paid no attention to the manner in which she -was being run, as all his time had been taken up in shoveling. Now, -however, he began to watch old Joe on the quiet. - -When the first coaling station was reached, it was necessary to stop -and take on coal and water, although Frank knew well enough that not -half as much coal should have been used. - -After this station was left, Frank resumed the task of keeping the -shovel swinging as regularly as the pendulum of a clock. All the while, -however, he was thinking. Something told him that he was being worked -too hard, but it was not easy for him, a green hand, to discover how it -was being done. - -At last Frank observed that there was a certain notch in the quadrant -that was worn smooth and bright, but old Joe was not running her there. -He had her hooked up to a different notch, and he was not cutting off -when he could help it, but was wasting every ounce of steam that he -could. - -When Merry realized this he began to grow warm. - -“Look here, Mr. Hicks,” he said, “I am getting tired of this.” - -Old Joe grinned in an ugly way. - -“Knew ye would,” he grunted. “You’re too tender.” - -“It’s not that. But you are making needless work for me just because -you do not like me. You are not running her right.” - -Then the old engineer was furious. - -“Drat ye!” he snarled. “Don’t ye talk to me in my own cab like that! I -won’t stand it!” - -Then he leaped on Merry so suddenly that Frank was flung from his feet. -They went down together, the man on top. He had a wrench in his hand, -and he swung it aloft. - -“Aha! I’ll fix ye now!” he howled. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -THE FIGHT ON THE ENGINE. - - -Frank had been taken by surprise at the sudden movement of the -infuriated engineer. He had not thought Hicks would dare attack him in -such a manner, and thus he was thrown down in the bottom of the cab, -with the train running at forty miles an hour. - -Old Joe had every advantage, for he had fastened one hand on Frank’s -throat, and he was strong. The glare in his eyes as he raised the -wrench was that of a maniac. - -Merriwell knew his life was in danger, and it was a good thing for him -that he was not stunned. Like a flash he squirmed aside, for all of the -weight of the man. - -Bang! the wrench struck the floor on the very spot where Frank’s head -had been a moment before. - -The blow would have crushed Frank’s skull like an eggshell had it -landed. - -“Drat ye!” shouted the engineer, again lifting the wrench. “I’ll do it -this time!” - -Frank could not speak, for the fingers of the man were crushing into -his throat. He could not breathe, and a blur was beginning to come over -his eyes. He knew that blur might prevent him from dodging the next -blow, and a desperate sensation seemed to burst through his heart. - -“Heaven help me!” - -He did not utter the words aloud, for he could not, but it was an -inward cry. - -Then, succeeding in getting one hand free, he reached upward and -clutched something. - -It was old Joe’s wrist. - -In a blind way he had stopped the second blow, and, realizing this -instantly, he held on for dear life. - -“No, ye don’t,” snarled the man, as he tried to wrench away. “I’ve got -ye, and I’ll fix ye!” - -Frank held on, although the pressure of those fingers on his throat was -awful to endure, and it seemed that colored fires were bursting in his -brain. Black shadows and bright lights flitted before him, and, through -a haze as of blood and smoke, he caught glimpses of the fiendish face -of the mad engineer. The eyes of the man seemed to pierce him like -knives. - -Then, with his other hand, Frank tore at the fingers which were -shutting off his wind and robbing him of strength and reason. He pulled -those fingers up till he could get one gasping breath, and then they -seemed to close down tighter than ever. - -The agony was awful, but through it all Frank tried to keep his wits, -and he succeeded. - -“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the engineer. - -That laugh sounded far away, but it was full of dreadful meaning. It -was the laugh of a murderous maniac. - -It seemed that old Joe had gone crazy in one instant, and surely he had -the strength of a madman. - -“I’ll kill ye!” grated the man, triumphantly. “I’ll tell them how ye -attacked me, and I was forced to do it.” - -Frank set his fingers around the wrist of the man, turned his head to -one side, and made a last desperate wrench. - -It seemed to Merry that his windpipe would be torn out by those iron -fingers, but he did not give up, for that meant certain death. He -dragged the hand away, and breathed again with a horrible gasping -sound, as if he were dying. - -But now he held both hands of the man for a moment, and, when Joe -wrenched one of them away, Frank fought to keep it from getting his -throat again. - -“I’ll do it! I’ll do it!” the man kept snarling. - -Then, with a sudden change, he tore free the hand that held the wrench. -A second later he struck again at Frank’s head. - -With his arm Frank warded off that blow. He gave a squirm and a twist -that threw the man partly off, but he was unable to get on top as he -desired. - -Around over the bottom of the cab squirmed the two, the man trying to -end it with one blow, while the boy fought for his life. - -Onward thundered the engine, dragging the long train of cars. There -was no warning whistle as a crossing was approached, and the bell -remained silent. - -An old farmer was about to drive over the crossing when the train -thundered down on him. - -“Whoa, Betsey!” he shouted, yanking his horse back on its haunches, -much to the surprise of the docile old creature. “Waal, gol darn that -train! Why didn’t it toot? There’s a law fer----” - -He stopped short as the locomotive thundered past, and then he rose up -in his wagon, his eyes as large as saucers, and his jaw dropping on his -breast. - -“Jee-roo-sa-lum!” he gasped. “They was fightin’ in there!” - -He had caught a glimpse of the terrible battle going on in the cab of -the locomotive, and it made his hair stand. - -Frank began to feel that he was getting some of his strength back, for -all that it was necessary to make such a furious struggle to keep his -enemy from accomplishing his mad purpose. - -Hicks was literally frothing at the mouth. He seemed to grow worse as -the struggle continued, and he was baffled repeatedly. - -Out of the cab they rolled, and were fairly on the coal in the tender. -Three times Frank almost succeeded in getting on top and pinning Hicks -down. - -“I’ll do it! I’ll do it!” the engineer panted. - -Not a word came from Frank. He was not wasting his breath in such a -manner. - -At last Merry got hold of the wrench, and then the struggle turned on -the possession of the weapon. Old Joe set his teeth in the back of the -youth’s hand, but Frank struck him a terrible blow between the eyes -with his clinched fist. - -That blow was a fortunate one, for it seemed to daze the crazy -engineer, although he still fought on. - -A moment later Frank succeeded in tearing the wrench away, and he gave -it a fling that sent it off the engine. - -Then Merry’s confidence came back to him. It had seemed that he might -fail and be killed, but now he was sure that he would conquer the man. - -Although he was swift as thought in all his movements, he was cool now, -and everything he did counted. - -He saw an opportunity to dash Hicks’ head back against the iron edge -of the tender, and he did it, cutting a gash in the man’s scalp. Blood -began to flow. - -Frank’s throat had been torn by the finger nails of his enemy, and the -two presented a grimy, gory appearance. - -“Oh, curse you!” gasped Hicks. “I’ll do it yet.” - -“I think not,” said Frank, as he gave the man a flip. - -Then he rose to the top for the first time since the encounter had -begun. - -But Hicks was hard to hold, and he came near getting out from under the -youth in a twinkling. - -Merry grasped the man’s ears, one with each hand, lifted his head from -the floor and banged it down with a thump. - -Old Joe screamed with pain and rage. - -They had rolled back into the cab, which was rocking and swaying as it -plunged along over an uneven bit of road. Around curves whizzed the -engine, with the long train reeling along behind. - -Frank wondered that some of the train hands had not noticed they -were passing crossings without whistling and did not come forward to -investigate. - -Merry did not wish to severely injure the crazy engineer, but the man -fought on so desperately that it became evident something must be done -to subdue him. - -Again Frank caught him by the ears and banged his head down on the -floor. Old Joe groaned and snapped at his antagonist’s wrists as a mad -dog snaps at everything within reach. - -Bang! bang! bang! - -Frank kept it up, having resolved to jar the senses out of the man. - -Hicks did not beg, but, after a time, he lay there stunned, so that -Merriwell was able to open the box seat and get out some stout pieces -of rope, with which he tied old Joe’s hands behind his back. Before -this was fully accomplished the man recovered and tried to resume the -fight, but Frank was able to handle him then. - -Merry did not stop till the engineer was tied so securely that there -was no danger of his being able to free himself. - -“There!” sighed Merry, with relief, “I think that’ll hold you for a -while.” - -Then he blew a signal that brought the conductor hurrying over the top -of the cars to see what was the matter. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -MERRIWELL’S GENEROSITY. - - -The conductor was astounded. He stared at the tied and bleeding -engineer, and then at Merry, who was at the throttle. Then he clambered -down over the coal in the tender, crying: - -“Well, what in thunder has happened here?” - -Old Joe groaned and opened his eyes. - -“I’ll kill him!” he muttered, thickly. - -“I’ve had a fight with Hicks,” said Frank. - -“A fight? What about?” - -“He jumped on me and tried to beat my brains out with a wrench.” - -“I’ll kill him!” grated the engineer again. - -“This beats all!” said the conductor, faintly. “He didn’t seem to -succeed very well.” - -“He came near succeeding. I thought he would one spell.” - -“Well, this is a fine scrape. This is Joe’s engine, and he’ll have to -take the train through.” - -“He isn’t able to take the train through now.” - -“What can we do?” - -“Send me a brakeman who can fire, and I’ll take her through.” - -“You?” - -“Yes.” - -“You’re no engineer.” - -“I am engineer enough to do that trick.” - -“Well, I’ll send you a man, and we’ll wait for instructions at the next -station. If this don’t beat thunder!” - -As the conductor scrambled back over the tender, Frank flung open the -firebox door and put the coal to her. During the struggle the fire had -not been tended, of course, and the steam was beginning to show the -effect of it. - -In a few minutes one of the brakemen came forward, and he fired her -to the next station, where the conductor held up and telegraphed for -instructions. - -By this time old Joe was begging to be released. - -“Look here, Merriwell,” he said, “you’re goin’ to do me out of my job, -and I can’t afford to lose the place.” - -“It’s not my fault,” said Frank. “You will be fortunate if you get off -by simply losing your job.” - -“Now, ye don’t mean to push me, do ye?” whined the thoroughly -subjugated man. “You wouldn’t do that?” - -“Why not?” - -“That would be tough! It can’t be you’d do it.” - -“You deserve it. You tried to kill me.” - -“Mebbe I did for a minute,” confessed the engineer; “but I was crazy -mad, and I didn’t know what I was doin’. I’ve had a heap of trouble -lately, and it’s broke me all up. You don’t want to ruin me entirely, -do ye?” - -“I do not want to ruin anyone. You brought it on yourself.” - -Old Joe had managed to sit up in an awkward position, and he raised his -eyes to Frank appealingly. He was a pitiful-looking object, with his -begrimed, blood-stained face. Frank could not help feeling sorry for -the man. - -“I kept my word when I promised you I wouldn’t trouble Jack and Nell,” -said the engineer; “and I never bothered you no more till you forced -yourself onter me.” - -“I did not force myself onto you. I was placed here by the manager. I -simply did what I was told to do.” - -“I know that’s right; but I didn’t like ye, and I had taken some drinks -to stiddy my nerves this morning. The stuff got inter my head.” - -“It’s a wonder the stuff has not lost you your job before this.” - -“You hadn’t oughter talked to me the way ye did.” - -“I told you the truth. You were trying to knock me on the first trip, -and you know it. I have not kept eyes and ears open since taking this -work without finding out something. I have listened to the talk in the -roundhouse, and I know that an engineer can knock out the best fireman -who ever swung a shovel.” - -Old Joe was silent, and his face showed that Frank had hit upon the -truth. - -“You were not cutting off short,” Frank went on, “and you were running -your pump wrong, besides having her hooked up different from usual. If -we had lost time, I should have been blamed for it, and it is likely I -should have been taken off. That was what you were counting on.” - -“Perhaps you’re right,” admitted old Joe; “but you got the best of me, -and it’s no use to kick a man when he’s down.” - -The old engineer was pitiful in his humbleness, and Frank began to feel -some misgivings about pushing him further, for he realized that it -meant the utter ruin of the man. - -Watching Merry’s face, old Joe fancied he saw a gleam of hope. - -“What can I do now?” Frank asked. “It is too late, for the conductor -has dispatched for instructions.” - -“Perhaps it ain’t too late,” eagerly said the engineer, “if another -dispatch is sent that I am all right. Perhaps you can fix it. I can -take the train through, if I have a chance. Won’t you do that for me, -Merriwell? Think--think what it means to me!” - -Frank swung down from the engine and went after the conductor. - -“I wish to speak with you a moment, Mr. Evans,” he said, when he found -the conductor in the little office of the station. - -He drew the man aside, and said: - -“Old Joe has come round, and seems to be all right now. He is begging -for a chance to take the train through.” - -“What?” - -The conductor was amazed. - -“That’s right,” nodded Frank. - -“Well, the jig is up with him. The old man won’t have a crazy engineer -running things.” - -“What did you wire?” - -“That Hicks was knocked out, and somebody must take the train through.” - -“You did not give particulars?” - -“Couldn’t.” - -“Then, as yet, but ourselves and the train hands know there was a fight -between us.” - -“And the dispatcher here.” - -“Well, you might send another message that Hicks had recovered and was -able to take the train through. This is a freight, and perhaps the old -man will let him go on with it, as there is no other regular engineer -to take it.” - -Evans stared at Frank in astonishment. - -“You are the queerest chap I ever struck,” he exclaimed. - -“Why?” - -“Most fellows in your place would be ready to hang Hicks.” - -“Perhaps so; but I feel as if he were hanging over a chasm, and I might -save him or push him down. If I do not give him a hand, my conscience -will trouble me.” - -“If you do, the chances are about ten to one that it will put you in a -bad scrape.” - -“How?” - -“It won’t be much trouble for him to make out that you were in the -wrong, and he’ll do it, too.” - -“I don’t believe that.” - -“I do.” - -“I think he will be so glad to get out of the scrape that he won’t try -anything dirty. He says he will take the train through, and run it -right. He will not dare tackle me again, and I shall watch him.” - -“But the old man will have to let you take us through if old Joe -doesn’t. Saunders can fire for you, and it will give you a great -chance to show what you can do. It will be a direct step upward for -you.” - -“Over the body of another man?” - -“That’s the way men get on in this world, my boy.” - -“It seems to be; but I do not feel like climbing the ladder by pushing -others down.” - -“Well, just as you say. If you are for giving old Joe such a chance, I -don’t kick. I’ll dispatch that he is all right now and able to take the -train through.” - -“Do it.” - -Evans did so, and in a short time received an answer: “All right; go -ahead.” - -That settled it. Frank went back to the engine in a hurry, and said: - -“I have fixed it.” - -“How?” asked Hicks, eagerly. - -For answer Frank set him free. - -“I ask no promises of you,” he said; “but Evans and the train men know -what has happened. If you try to knock me with the general manager, -they will have something to say.” - -“Oh, I won’t try any knocking. I promise that. You are usin’ me better -than I deserve, and I appreciate it. I won’t fergit it--I won’t fergit -it!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - -AN UNGRATEFUL MAN. - - -So old Joe took the train through, after all, and he ran the engine -right. It made a remarkable difference in Frank’s work, as Merry -quickly found out. It was not necessary to bend his back and shovel -coal all the time. - -The old engineer looked like a wreck when the end of the run was -reached, but he had stuck to his post. Scarcely a word had passed -between him and Frank after he took the engine the second time. Merry -watched him closely, but Hicks never let his eyes meet Frank’s. He paid -as little attention to his companion in the cab as possible. - -When they pulled back to the roundhouse that night an explanation of -the trouble was asked for by the “old man,” who summoned them to his -office. - -Frank permitted old Joe to tell his story, and the engineer claimed -that he had been seized by a fit. Merriwell had fought to handle him. - -The manager looked at Frank. - -“What have you to say about it, young man?” he asked. - -“Nothing,” said Merry. “You have heard Mr. Hicks’ story.” - -“Yes; and we can’t keep an engineer on this road who is liable to have -fits. You can come around for your time to-morrow morning, Hicks.” - -Old Joe staggered. - -“Then I’m discharged?” he said, huskily. - -“Yes.” - -The old engineer turned and went slowly out of the office, bent as with -a heavy burden. The sight of him going thus filled Frank’s heart with -pity, but he could do nothing for him. - -“There will be another man on 33 to-morrow, Merriwell,” said the -manager. “You’ll go with him. Good-night.” - -“Good-night, sir.” - -Larry Logan was waiting for Frank. - -“Pwhat’s this they do be afther tellin’ av me?” asked the young -Irishman. “Is it old Joe ye had a foight wid? An’ is he discharraged?” - -“Yes; old Joe has been discharged.” - -“Well, it’s a moighty good thing, fer it’s th’ divvil he wur at toimes.” - -“I am sorry for him.” - -“Ye are? G’wan! Fer whoy?” - -“He has been a good engineer.” - -“Thot’s roight, but his day is parrust, me b’y. He moight be roonin’ -a passenger engine now, but he’s killed himseluf wid dhrink. It’s a -wonder he has been afther holdin’ his place so long.” - -Frank knew that well enough. - -“Still, I did not want to have anything to do with his losing his -position. It’s not likely he will be able to strike another place very -soon.” - -“Nivver. It’s done fer he is.” - -“That is why I am sorry. He is an old man, and he has not saved a cent. -How will he live?” - -“That’s no consern av yours.” - -“Perhaps not; but it is a sad thing to see an old man like him, who -might be something, shut out with nothing.” - -“It’s tinder-hearruted ye are, me b’y; but it don’t pay to be to saft -in this worruld. Ye’re not thought a bit more av fer it. It’s more -loikely they will be afther thinkin’ yez too aisy, an’ dispise yez for -thot.” - -Frank realized that this was true. - -“Some day ye’ll be afther havin’ an engine av yer own,” said Larry; -“an’ Oi hope it’ll be me luck ter foire fer yez.” - -“I hope you may,” said Frank. “I think we’d be able to get along.” - -“Foriver, me b’y! Oi’d sthick ter yez loike glue. But it’s ould Joe yez -warnt to look out fer now. He’ll thry to do yez th’ firrust chance he -gets.” - -“Perhaps so; but I doubt it. I won his gratitude to-day by not pushing -him to the wall.” - -“Mebbe ye did fer th’ toime; but he’ll fergit it th’ firrust toime he -is dhrunk, an’ thin he’ll lay fer yez. Marruk my worrud, an’ watch out.” - -“All right, Larry, I’ll do so. Good-night.” - -As Frank was passing through the yard a man stepped out and confronted -him. It was old Joe. - -“Ye’ve done it at last!” huskily said the old engineer, raising one -shaking hand to his chin. “Ye’ve knocked the old man out for good!” - -“I am very sorry, Mr.----” - -“Bah! Little good that does. It’s all over.” - -“I don’t see how you can blame me.” - -“If ye’d never come to work on this railroad it would have been all -right.” - -“That may be true; but I did come here, and I had a right to do that, -as you very well know. If you had not become my enemy in the first -place and tried to injure me, you would have been all right.” - -“I always hated ye!” grated Hicks. “Something made me hate ye the first -time I saw ye. You was so independent, and so polite at the same time. -You never was afraid of me. If you’d been afraid it might have been -different.” - -“And you hated me because I was not afraid of you. That was -unreasonable.” - -“Mebbe so; but I couldn’t help it. An’ ye came between me an’ my nevvy -and niece.” - -“No; I kept you from taking advantage of them.” - -“Oh, is that the way ye put it? Well, ye won’t keep me no longer.” - -Frank started. - -“What do you mean?” - -“That I’m out of work here. You was goin’ to get me discharged if I -bothered Jack and Nell. You can’t keep me back that way now.” - -Merriwell stared hard at the man, and then asked: - -“Do you mean to make trouble for them?” - -“No; but I’m goin’ to take care of them.” - -“Take care of them? Why, how can you do that? You are not earning -anything.” - -There was a crafty look on old Joe’s face. - -“That’s why I’m goin’ to take care of them,” he said. - -“By that you mean that you are going to rob them of the money they -earn by playing and singing on the street? That is your game, you old -scoundrel! You shall not do it!” - -“Won’t I?” - -“No!” - -“Who’ll stop me?” - -“I will!” - -“How?” - -“I’ll find a way. You shall not be a burden to those poor children, if -there is any justice in the world.” - -“There ain’t. Justice is a mockery. The meaner rascal a man is the -better show he has.” - -“That may be your belief, but it is not mine.” - -“There is some law, an’ I reckon it’ll appoint me as guardeen of my -dear nevvy and niece, who need somebody to look out for them properly. -That’s what’ll happen.” - -“You may apply, but you’ll not succeed in getting appointed.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because I shall appear and show that you are thoroughly incompetent -and unable to take care of yourself, much less two other persons. I -have all the proof that is necessary. Your game is to rob them, which -can be made very apparent. The boy is lame and the girl is blind. They -are trying to save some money that her eyes may be treated, and you -would take that away from them. You are even worse than I thought you -could be!” - -Frank was highly indignant, and old Joe cowered a bit before his -flashing eyes. - -“Well,” he snarled, “if I don’t get appointed as guardeen, I’ll show -that you are beatin’ them, and they’ll be taken care of, that’s all.” - -Frank knew it was useless to appeal to the man’s generosity, and so he -said: - -“Go ahead! I have the proof that you tried to murder me by pushing me -onto the track in front of an engine, and, by the eternal skies! I’ll -do my best to jail you for it if you carry out your threat! Go ahead! -We’ll see who gets the worst of it!” - -Then he walked swiftly away. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - -ON THE STAIRS. - - -Frank went home with a heavy heart, for he saw the black shadow of -coming trouble hanging over Jack and Nellie. He was resolved to protect -them to the best of his ability, but he realized at last that there -was nothing like gratitude in the heart of old Joe, and there was no -foretelling what the man would do. - -The blind girl was sitting up on the bed, and Frank heard her singing -softly before he reached the door. He entered the room gently, but she -heard his step, stopped and stretched out her arms, with a glad cry. He -hurried to her, exclaiming: - -“You are better, Nellie?” - -“Oh, yes; so much better!” she smiled. “The doctor says he’ll not have -to come any more.” - -“That is fine,” cried Frank, as gayly as possible. “Oh, I told you it -would be all right, dear little girl.” - -“Yes; I’ll be out soon.” - -“Where is Jack?” - -“He went out to the store. He’ll be right back. He went out to-day and -played and sang all by himself, and he brought back eighty-seven cents, -though he wasn’t gone more than two hours. Wasn’t that just perfectly -splendid?” - -“It was very good. But did he leave you all alone? I told him not to do -that.” - -“Oh, he has been here so close. I wanted him to go, for we have not -been earning any money. I was all right by myself.” - -“And you were not lonesome?” - -“Well--not much. You see, I was thinking of you.” - -“Of me?” - -“Yes; and of Elsie you told me about. Oh, I have pictured her in my -mind. She must be a good girl, Frank.” - -“She is one of the sweetest, dearest girls in the whole, wide world!” - -There was a flitting shadow on Nellie’s face, but it was gone in a -moment. - -“I am sure you are right,” she said. “Some time you will marry Elsie?” - -Frank felt the blood rush to his cheeks and his heart gave a leap. - -“Perhaps so,” he said, softly. - -“I know you will,” came from her lips. “I hope you may always be happy, -Frank. I hope no shadows may come between you and Elsie.” - -“My dear little friend, why have you been thinking so much of this?” - -“Oh, I don’t know--I couldn’t help it. It was the way you described -Elsie. You told me how beautiful Inza was, but you told how much like -a dear little saint Elsie was, and then I knew you cared for her -the more. Perhaps, Frank--perhaps I may be able to see when you are -married, and perhaps I may be a bridesmaid at the wedding.” - -“You shall!” he exclaimed, laughing and kissing her forehead. “What a -dear little bridesmaid you will make!” - -There was a faint quivering of her chin, and he wondered what it meant. -He stared at her in surprise. - -“Why, you appear so strange!” he said. “At one moment you are happy, -and the next you look sad.” - -“Do I? Don’t notice that, Frank. I am not sad; I am very gay because I -think you should be. Elsie must have inspired you to be good and brave -and noble.” - -“I think she has many times. She has so much confidence in me, and it -is an inspiration to know some one believes you must do everything -right.” - -“I do not believe you could do anything wrong, Frank.” - -“And you are also an inspiration for me, Nellie. I think of you very, -very often.” - -“Did you think of me to-day?” - -“Many times.” - -“Tell me about it. How have you done to-day?” - -“The best I could.” - -“I know that; but has everything gone well?” - -“Not as well as it might.” - -“Tell me about it,” she urged again. - -But Frank had no desire to let her know what had occurred, and he was -glad when, at this moment, he heard the stumping sound of a crutch on -the stairs. - -“Here comes Jack,” he said. - -The lame boy came in, bringing a bundle. - -“There,” he said, with a laugh, “I made some money to-day, and I’m -going to help provide for this ranch. This thing is altogether too -one-sided, Frank Merriwell.” - -“You young rascal,” cried Frank, “do you dare play tyrant?” - -“On this occasion I do. If you try to boss me now, you’ll find I’m a -bad, bad man. Just get ready for supper, and I’ll have it on the table -pretty quick.” - -“Mutiny! mutiny!” exclaimed Merry, tragically. “I didn’t expect this. I -am quite unprepared, and I suppose I’ll have to surrender the ship.” - -“If you don’t, I’ll scuttle her.” - -“The jig is up. You’re in command to-night.” - -This pleased the lame boy, and he hopped off, giving orders like an old -sea captain, and speaking in such a deep voice that he soon began to -grow hoarse. - -“You’d better stop talking that way, captain,” laughed Merry, “or -you’ll ruin your voice. Don’t try to talk down in the hold all the -time. Come up on deck!” - -“Sir,” scowled little Jack, “you should address your superior officer -in a more respectful manner. I will not have it, sir.” - -“Ay! ay! sir.” - -“That’s the stuff! No, I mean that’s right. Shiver my timbers and dash -my toplights! I’m a rough old tar; but I am master of my own ship. Get -onto your job here, and help me jib up the sheet.” - -Frank aided Jack in spreading the tablecloth, assuring him at the same -time that “get onto your job” was not a thoroughly nautical expression. - -The coffee pot was set to simmering on the stove, and in a short time -supper was ready. - -Little Nell did not come to the table, but Frank took her food to her, -and aided her in eating it. All the while he talked to her in his jolly -way, and she declared that she had never eaten such a pleasant supper. - -“Here! here!” cried the lame boy, rapping on the table; “on this vessel -I will not permit such familiarity with my first officer and the man -before the mast. It is certain to result in poor discipline. Break -away, there!” - -“You’ll have to take another trip to sea, captain, before you get rid -all your landlubber expressions. ‘Break away’ is pretty bad.” - -When the meal was over, Frank took the lame boy’s guitar, put it in -tune, and strummed away on it for some time, while Jack and Nellie -listened. Frank played strange little bits of his own composing, some -of them lively, some soft and pathetic. He sang one or two of the old -college songs, and then turned to and helped Jack clear the table and -wash the dishes. - -Jack announced that he was going out to see if he could not pick up -some money that evening. Frank tried to dissuade him, but the lame boy -was determined, and he finally departed with the guitar. - -Being left with the blind girl, Merry told her stories for more than -an hour. She listened to them, holding onto one of his hands. Outside -the wind came up and rattled around the building, slamming a shutter at -intervals and moaning at the corners like a creature in pain. - -“Hear the wind!” Nellie whispered, after a time. “How it sobs and -cries! It seems as if some one with a broken heart were lost out there -in the night.” - -“Don’t think of such things, Nellie,” urged Frank. “You make yourself -nervous and sad, and you will not get well so quick. To-morrow the sun -will shine.” - -“I cannot see it.” - -“You shall soon.” - -There was a clattering sound on the stairs, and Frank sprang up -quickly, turning toward the door. - -“What is it?” asked the blind girl, still clinging to him. - -“It is Jack! Hear his crutch.” - -“Yes; but why is he stumbling upstairs so fast? Hark! Somebody is -following him! I hear heavy steps!” - -Frank released her hold and sprang toward the door. Before he reached -it, it burst open, and the lame boy staggered in, looking white and -scared. - -At that moment a heavy body was heard falling down the stairs. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. - -UNDER THE CRUST OF A HUMAN HEART. - - -“What’s the matter?” asked Frank. - -Little Jack dropped down on a chair, panting for breath. - -“He--he followed me!” gasped the lame boy. - -“He? Who?” - -“My uncle.” - -“Hicks?” - -“Yes.” - -“Oh! don’t let him come in here!” exclaimed little Nell. “Please keep -him out, Frank! I am so afraid of him!” - -“Don’t worry, little girl,” assured Merry. “He shall not harm you. I -will take care of him.” - -“He was drunk,” said Jack; “and he talked awfully to me! I was afraid. -He caught me by the shoulder once, and said I must go with him.” - -“It may be a good plan to turn him over to the police,” cried Frank, -who felt that he had already endured too much from the man. - -Then Frank went outside the door and listened. From the bottom of the -stairs came a low groan. - -“He has fallen down and hurt himself,” thought Merry. “He brought it on -himself, and no one else is to blame.” - -Then he descended the stairs. At the bottom a dark figure was lying. -Frank lighted a match, and saw old Joe curled there, with his head -doubled under him, as if his neck were broken. - -In a moment Frank again became very sorry for the man. He took hold of -the engineer and straightened him out into a more comfortable position. - -“I wonder how much he is hurt,” thought Frank. - -At the head of the stairs little Jack appeared, with a lighted lamp in -his hand. The lamp was shaking so that there was danger of losing the -chimney. - -“What is it?” asked the boy, in a faint tone. - -“He is hurt,” Merry answered. - -“How bad?” - -“I can’t tell; but he seems to be unconscious.” - -Then the blind girl, who had risen from the bed, found her way to the -door and took hold of her brother. - -“Oh, I hope he is not hurt much!” she half sobbed. “He made such a -noise when he was falling. It is terrible.” - -Frank went upstairs and got some water, with which he wet the head of -the unfortunate man. Old Joe remained silent, except for his heavy, -rasping breathing, and Frank began to fear that he was seriously -injured. - -“If I had some place to take him,” he muttered. - -His words were heard by the girl, and she quickly cried: - -“Bring him up here. If he is injured, we must take care of him, for he -is our uncle.” - -Merry hesitated. - -“Bring him up,” said little Jack, stoutly. “Wait, and I will come down. -Perhaps I can help you.” - -“No; you cannot help. Stay where you are, and hold the light.” - -Then, after considerable trouble, the young fireman lifted the man’s -limp body in his arms and carried him up the stairs. - -“Put him on my bed,” whispered Nellie. “Oh, it was such a hard fall, -and he is our uncle! We must do something for him.” - -“It is our duty,” said Jack. - -“If I can’t bring him round pretty soon, I’ll go for a doctor,” -declared Frank. “Perhaps he is dying.” - -But old Joe was not dying. After some minutes he groaned again and -slowly opened his eyes. He was completely bewildered, as his manner -showed. He stared at those near the bed, then closed his eyes again, -and his lips moved. - -“I’ve got ’em.” - -Little Nell shrank away, one hand lifted to her throbbing heart, while -her face bore an expression of fear. Frank put an arm about her, -whispering: - -“Don’t be afraid, little girl. Remember that I will protect you.” - -She clasped his hand and clung to it closely. - -“I will not be afraid now,” she said. “I know you can take care of us. -How is he? Can’t I do something for him?” - -“Perhaps so. Don’t let him see that you fear him. You may be able to -arouse a sense of shame and gratitude in his breast, for it can’t be -that all human instincts are crushed out.” - -Then the blind girl became very brave, and she sat down near the bed, -reaching out and touching the hand of the old engineer. - -“Dear uncle,” she said, gently, “I am so sorry you are hurt! It was -such an awful fall!” - -Again the man opened his blood-shotten eyes. He turned his head and lay -looking at her in a strange way. - -“Isn’t there something I can do for you, dear uncle?” asked little -Nell. “I will do anything I can. I am sorry for you.” - -“I’m dreamin’,” muttered the man. “An’ I ain’t had such a dream as this -for years. I thought I had the shakes, but it’s a dream. I don’t want -to wake up.” - -A thrill of satisfaction passed through Frank Merriwell, for those -words satisfied him that, indeed, the better side of the man’s nature -was not entirely dead. At last, old Joe had been touched by the -pathetic beauty of the blind girl and by her gentle ways. - -“Shan’t we get a doctor for you, uncle?” asked the boy. - -“Doctor? No! What does a man want of a doctor when he is dreamin’? Keep -still, or I shall wake up!” - -“Oh, dear uncle,” said Nellie, touching his iron-gray hair, “you have -had such a hard, hard time in the world!” - -“Angel!” whispered old Joe. “Never believed in ’em! Never took no stock -in ’em. But she’s one! ’Sh! Let me sleep.” - -He closed his eyes and was silent for some time. Little Jack looked at -Frank, who nodded his satisfaction. - -When the old engineer opened his eyes again, he said: - -“Go away! You mustn’t touch me like this! I’m not fit to be touched -by those white hands! I shall leave a stain upon them. Let me get up. -Where am I?” - -“You are here--here in our room, which we call home. You shall stay -here till you are well. I will nurse you. I have been ill myself, but -now I am well enough to nurse you.” - -“I don’t deserve it. It’s not a dream, after all. It’s true!” - -“Yes; it is true.” - -“And you have been ill? Why, ye show it. And ye want to nurse me? Well, -nobody ever cared enough about me to do that before. If you knew what a -miserable old sinner I am----” - -“There, there, uncle! Don’t talk like that! I will be so good to you! -You’ve never had anyone to be good to you, and that is all the trouble.” - -“Mebbe you’re right,” he muttered, huskily. “Nobody has ever cared -a rap about Joe Hicks. I’ve been alone, an’ I’ve never cared about -anybody else.” - -His voice choked, and he turned his head away, as if ashamed to betray -any emotion. - -“That is just it,” said the blind girl. “It makes us better when we -know somebody cares for us and we have somebody to care for.” - -“But you--you are afraid of me, Nellie? Ain’t you afraid now?” - -“No; somehow I do not feel afraid of you at all--only sorry for you. -And I want to help you somehow.” - -“Ye can’t! It’s too late! Old Joe’s done for.” - -“It is never too late, dear uncle. You were my mother’s brother, and -she was such a dear, good mother to us! We loved her so!” - -“Yes; she was a good gal--she always was. I didn’t treat her right -when she got married. Your dad was a dreamer--alwus expectin’ to do -something great. I was a worker, and I didn’t like him. But she was a -good gal, and you look like her. You have her face--and her eyes. But -you can’t see?” - -“Not now; some time----” - -“Some time you shall! I know that! I must think about it, but I can’t -think now. My head aches so bad.” - -Jack brought some cool water and a handkerchief. Then little Nell wet -the handkerchief and placed it upon the man’s forehead. Old Joe watched -everything in a wondering way, as if he could not understand why they -should do so much for him. - -Frank had drawn back out of sight. - -“There!” said the man, huskily; “now let me think. I’m a brute. Let me -sleep. When I wake up I’ll be able to think better. Sit here by me, -Nellie, till I fall asleep. You need not touch me, but it is good to -have an angel near!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. - -THE REVELATION OF A SECRET. - - -The old engineer fell into a sleep or a stupor in a short time, and -little Nell, exhausted, was taken to the bed in Frank’s room. Merry -carried her in his arms. - -“Now you must sleep and rest, dear little girl,” said Frank, as he -placed her gently on the bed. - -“I am afraid I can’t.” - -“Why not?” - -“Oh, I shall think, think, think; and you know it is hard to sleep when -you are thinking.” - -“You need the rest, Nellie. The excitement to-night might bring on a -relapse and make you ill again. You do not want to be ill any longer.” - -“No! no!” - -“Then keep still and count yourself to sleep. You can do it if you try.” - -“If uncle wakes up and calls for me----” - -“You shall know it. But I think he will sleep straight through till -morning. He has been drinking heavily since he was discharged to-day, -and that was why he fell downstairs.” - -“I know, for I could smell his breath. Oh, don’t you suppose we may be -able to get him to sign the pledge? Perhaps we can save him and make a -good man of him.” - -“You may be able to do it, Nellie; but it is not possible for me to do -anything. I have tried my best with him, and it has been a failure.” - -“I will try. Somehow I am not afraid of him the way I was. He seems so -ill and lonely in the world. It must be terrible to be all alone in the -world, with no one to work for, and no one to care about.” - -“Yes,” said Frank, a touch of sadness coming to his handsome face; “I -realized it, for I was all alone in the world till we met. I have had -more courage since.” - -“But--some time--we must be separated.” - -Something in the way she said the words smote Frank with a sensation of -pain. He had not thought of that. - -“I suppose so,” he said, slowly; “it always happens so. Our early -friendships are broken, and we are separated from those without whom we -often fancied we could not exist. In time we form other attachments, -which, in turn, may be broken.” - -“Oh, but I know--I know----” - -“What is it that you know, dear little girl?” - -“I know we can never care for anyone as we care for you. I know it, -Frank!” - -She reached up her slender arms as he bent down to kiss her, clasping -them about his neck and straining him close to her with all her -childish strength. He was surprised, for this was quite unlike her; she -usually demonstrated her affection by a gentle touch or a whispered -word. - -“You are overwrought, Nellie,” he said, gently. “Your nerves are all -unstrung. It is too bad that that man followed Jack here to-night.” - -“No; I am glad of it,” she declared, with her eyes upturned to his -face, as if she were trying to pierce the black veil between them. “I -do not think it will hurt me, and I shall have a chance to try to save -him from certain ruin. It is his last chance. If I fail----” - -“If you fail, dear little girl, an angel from heaven could not save -him!” - -Her lips quivered, and then a slow smile came and lingered on her pale -face. - -“You do care for me, don’t you, Frank?” she eagerly asked. - -“Care for you? Nellie, I love you as if you were my own--sister.” - -“And you never had a sister?” - -“No.” - -“You were the only child?” - -“Yes.” - -“How lonely it must have been! Just think what if I had not Jack. I -love him, and he loves me. But I love you just as much, dear Frank.” - -She reached up her hands and placed them on either side of his face, -holding them there. - -“There,” she softly breathed, “now I know I am looking straight at you, -and I fancy I can see you. You are so manly and so noble! Your eyes -are dark brown, and so is your hair. Your mouth is tender, but firm, -without a hard line about it. You have a high, wide forehead, which is -fair and unlined. You are young, and you will always remain young, for -your heart will not let you grow old.” - -“Why, Nellie, how do you know my eyes are brown--my hair is brown?” - -“Ah-a!” she laughed. “A little bird told me. And I have dreamed of you. -I saw you in my dream, and I am sure I saw you as you really are. When -I can really see again, I shall know you without having you pointed out -to me.” - -He began to realize how much she loved him--how much time she had spent -thinking and dreaming of him. - -Still he regarded her as a mere child, nothing more. - -“I know how you learned so much,” he laughed. “Jack told you.” - -“Yes,” she confessed; “I have had him describe you to me many times.” - -“Jack is a good boy.” - -“He has always been good to me, and I love him; but, oh, Frank! it does -not seem that I care for--anybody--else--as much as--I care--for you!” - -She seemed frightened when she had said this, and she half sat up, -clasping an arm about his neck. - -“Is it wrong?” she whispered--“is it wrong for me to care more for you -than I do for Jack? He is my own brother. It does not seem that I could -love him more than I do, and yet, somehow, I seem to care more for you, -Frank, than I do for Jack. Oh! I am afraid it is wrong. I am afraid I -am a wicked girl!” - -“There! there!” he exclaimed, smoothing back her hair and patting her -head. “Don’t get so excited over it, Nellie. You simply fancy now that -you care more for me--that’s all.” - -She shook her head, leaning away back as she did so. - -“No! no! no!” she whispered. “It is not fancy. I did not think I could -care more for anybody than I did for Jack; but, this very day, the -truth came to me, and I knew I loved you more. I don’t know what you -will think of me for telling you all this. I can’t help it, Frank! I -must tell somebody, and I can’t tell Jack. I couldn’t keep the secret -longer. I thought I would bury it deep in my heart, and never, never -let anybody know; but I could not keep it. If there had been some one -else for me to tell, I should not have told you; but there was no one -to whom I could talk about you, save Jack, and I could not tell him my -secret. He must not know it. It would break his heart.” - -Frank knew not what to say. For the first time he was confused. - -“Lie down and sleep, Nellie,” he finally murmured. “I know your nerves -are unstrung, for you are trembling all over.” - -“It is because I am happy,” she declared, and the color came to her -face that had been so pale. “I am happy because I told you my secret. -You must keep it for me. It will be a secret between us. Oh, I have not -had a secret for so long, and it is just lovely to have one now!” - -Again she appeared like a mere child, and the troubled look disappeared -from Frank Merriwell’s face. - -“Yes,” he returned; “if you say so, it shall be our secret, dear little -girl. But you must not care for me more than you do for your brother.” - -“Mustn’t I?” - -“No.” - -“Is it wrong?” - -“I fear it is.” - -She dropped back on the pillow, covering her face with her hands, and -lay there quietly. He bent over and spoke some gentle words to her. - -“Frank!” she breathed. - -“Yes, little one. What is it?” - -“What was your pet name for Elsie?” - -“My pet name? Why, sometimes I called her Sweetheart.” - -“Frank!” - -“Yes, Nellie.” - -“Just once--for to-night--just once--won’t you call me--that?” - -Frank Merriwell started and turned pale, and, for the first time, he -fully realized how much the blind girl cared for him. - -“Oh, is it wrong for you to call me that--just once?” she asked. “Won’t -you be true to Elsie just the same? If it is wrong, don’t do it, Frank. -But I’ll never ask it again--I’ll never expect it. Only once, and I -know Elsie would forgive you if she knew.” - -Remarkable were the emotions which thrilled Frank’s heart, for he -understood now what it all meant. Never again could he look on little -Nell as a mere child, and he was sorry. - -She knew he was hesitating, and she feared he would refuse. She turned -away, and it was wonderful how the blood rushed to her face and neck. - -Frank bent over her. - -“Only once!” he said to himself. “Elsie would not mind.” - -Then, with infinite tenderness, he murmured: - -“Sweetheart!” - -She thrilled all over, and something like a sob came from behind the -hands that were again clasped over her face. - -He waited, unable to say another word. After a little time she put out -one hand and he took it with his own. - -“Thank you, Frank,” she said, with as much calmness as she could -command. “It was foolish of me, and I am ashamed; but you were kind, -and I’ll not forget. You’ll never see me this way again--never! I -promise you that.” - -He was silent. - -“Go to bed and dream of Elsie,” she softly said. “Some day you and -Elsie will be so happy together! I will pray for her, Frank--and for -you! Good-night!” - -“Good-night.” - -He rose and started from the room. At the door he paused and looked -back. She was lying as he had left her, with her hands over her face. -He went out and closed the door. - -Then, without making a sound, she wept herself to sleep. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. - -THE LITTLE PILOT. - - -Frank and Jack slept on the bed of the latter. It was necessary for -Merry to rise early and get away, but little Jack was up ahead of him, -and had breakfast ready when the hour came for him to get out of bed. - -Old Joe had been sleeping. After rising and washing, Frank went over -and stood beside the man. - -The engineer opened his eyes and saw Merry. Instantly an ugly look -overspread his face. - -“You?” he grated, hoarsely. - -“Yes,” nodded Frank. - -“Where did you come from?” - -“It must be that you do not remember what happened last night.” - -“Last night?” - -“Yes.” - -“No. My head! Why, how strange I feel! Where am I? This is not my room. -Let me get up!” - -He tried to do so, but fell back limply, moaning a bit. - -“Why, my strength--my strength is gone! I don’t know why this is so! -What has happened to me?” - -“You fell downstairs.” - -“Fell? How?” - -“You were pursuing Jack Norton.” - -“Ha! And I struck on my head when I fell. But that should not make me -so weak. I can scarcely lift my hand. I’m afraid I’m going to die. -Afraid? No! What do I care? I’d as lief croak now as any time. I ain’t -got anything to live for.” - -“Oh, yes, you have, dear uncle!” said the blind girl, as she came into -the room and approached the bed. - -“Dear uncle!” gasped old Joe. “Did she call me that?” - -“She did,” nodded Frank. “Last night she cared for you.” - -The old man seemed bewildered. - -“Mebbe it’s all right,” he said; “but it don’t seem so. Nobody’s -called me ‘dear’ for a long time. Why, I’m an old wreck. It’s too much!” - -“You are my uncle,” said the girl. - -“Well, you’d be better off if I wasn’t. Help me up, somebody. I must -go. I can’t stay here. I must have a drink! Won’t you help me up?” - -“You had better keep still,” said Frank. - -“No; I must get up--I will!” - -He rolled off the bed and tried to stand on his feet, but would have -fallen sprawling had not Merry caught him. - -“All gone--strength all gone!” moaned the engineer, as he was restored -to the bed. “It’s sure I’m goin’ to die now!” - -“You shall stay here till you have recovered,” said little Nell. “I -will take care of you, dear uncle.” - -“Why is she so kind to me? Why is anybody so kind to me? I don’t -deserve anything.” - -“All I have to say,” observed Frank, “is that hanging will be too good -for you if you harm one of these children after this!” - -Then he turned away to eat his breakfast. - -When Frank left that morning the old engineer was sleeping, having -eaten some gruel which little Jack had prepared for him. - -Frank’s heart was not as light as it might have been when he went to -work, for he could not help thinking of the secret the blind girl had -revealed to him, and he pitied her. - -Frank was put on with an engineer by the name of Hank Slattery. It -happened that Slattery was almost the only friend old Joe Hicks had on -the road. He scowled blackly at Frank, but said nothing at first. When -they had hitched on and pulled out, Slattery observed: - -“So you’re the chap that kicked Joe Hicks out of a job, are ye?” - -“No, sir, I am not,” was the reply. - -“What? Why, your name’s Merriwell?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Then you’re the one. No use denyin’ it.” - -“I do deny it, for it isn’t true. I never kicked any man out of a job. -Old Joe had no one but himself to blame. If he had treated me right, it -would have been all right.” - -“Oh, so that’s the way ye talk! I s’pose you think you’re runnin’ the -road now?” - -“Nothing of the sort. I think I am attending to my business, and that’s -all. It’s plain you do not like me.” - -“No.” - -“Well, I can’t help that.” - -“You think you’re too smart.” - -“How do you know?” - -“Oh, you’ve got the swelled head. Poke in more coal there.” - -Frank soon found that he was forced to work quite as hard as he had -done when he started out with old Joe, and he was not at all satisfied. - -“See here,” he finally said, “what are you trying to do? Have you -started in to knock me on this trip?” - -“No; but this engine takes a heap of coal.” - -“Because you’re not running her right.” - -“Hey?” shouted Slattery; “I said you thought you knew too much! That -proves it. You’re trying to tell me how to run this engine.” - -“You are running her just as old Joe started to run her yesterday. -That’s what the row was over.” - -“And you’re goin’ to pick a row with me, are ye? Well, they’ll get -onter you after a while, if you keep it up.” - -“I am not going to pick a row with you, but I am going to tell you -this: On the return trip old Joe ran her right, and we got along well. -The quadrant shows his notch. You are not keeping her there.” - -“His notch? Where?” - -“Where it is worn smooth there.” - -“Did he run her there?” - -“After our trouble.” - -Slattery looked doubtful, but Frank gave him some straight talk then -and there, telling what Hicks had done on the return trip. - -“Joe’s one of the best engineers on the road,” said Slattery. “What he -don’t know ain’t worth knowin’. Just you show me how he ran her.” - -Frank was surprised, but he did as requested, and his surprise -increased when the engineer did his best to change his style of -handling the locomotive. As a result, Frank, the fireman, was the -instructor of his engineer during the greater part of the trip. When -the trip was almost over, Slattery said: - -“Young feller, I’m much obliged to you. You’re all right, and I’m -going to tell you something I’ve never told any living person before. -I’m not a regular engineer; I’m a machinist by trade. When this road -was opened, I had a pull, and I got a job. I’ve managed to hook along -all right, though my firemen would always growl. I said I didn’t like -you when we started out, but I lied. I did like your appearance, and, -somehow, I was willin’ to have you show me how old Joe ran his engine. -I think I’ve learned something to-day, and I kinder reckon we’ll git -along all right. Yes; I’m much obliged.” - -Frank felt satisfied with the result of that day. - -When he arrived home that night, little Nell was telling old Joe some -Bible stories which she had learned from the lips of her mother and -Sabbath-school teacher. The old man was on the bed, listening in a -wondering way. Without letting them know it, Merry paused and watched -them. - -“I never read the book any,” confessed the man. “Never seemed to care -for it, for I thought it was full of foolish things; but them stories -you have been tellin’ me have made me feel a heap better. If them’s the -things what’s in the Bible, I don’t wonder people read it. It must do -’em good.” - -“It is our guide,” said the girl; “all the guide we have in this life. -If it were not for the Bible, all humanity would be adrift.” - -“Yep, I reckon you’re right. I’ve been adrift myself, an’ I ’lowed -there was no port open for me, but now----” - -“Now you see a light.” - -“Yes; it seems so. It seems that I’m goin’ into port at last, and -I’ll drop anchor where no storms can reach me. You must be my pilot, -Nellie.” - -He held out his hand, and she took it. - -“I will!” she exclaimed. “And I will ask the aid of the Great Pilot -above.” - -She knelt down beside the bed and began to pray. - -Frank Merriwell turned and stole softly away. - -“God bless her!” he whispered, tears in his eyes. “She is, indeed, an -angel! She has done for that wretched man what no other living being -could have done.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI. - -“ON TIME, AT LAST!” - - -It was two nights later that Frank came home and found little Jack in a -fairly frantic condition. - -“What?--what is the matter?” asked Merry, stopping in the door and -staring at the lame boy in astonishment. - -Jack gave a great cry. - -“Here!” he screamed, hobbling toward Frank, and holding out a slip of -paper. “Read that!” - -Frank took it, and read: - - “I can forgive all my enemies but one, and that is Frank Merriwell. I - have stayed near him as long as I can, but I can’t leave Nellie, so I - take her with me. - “OLD JOE.” - -That was enough to set Frank’s blood on fire. - -“Are they gone?” he cried. - -“Yes! yes!” sobbed the lame lad, wringing his hands. - -“You went out and left them?” - -“Yes; I went to see if I could not earn some money. Nellie said she -was not afraid of him, and I left them together. When I came back they -were gone, and that note was here. Oh, Frank, it is terrible! My poor -little, blind sister!” - -“We will find her,” said Frank, growing calm. - -“How?” - -“Somehow. Don’t cry, Jack. Trust me. I will bring her back to you!” - -“Oh! I believe you will!” cried the lame boy; “but do so as soon as you -can. Think how frightened she must be, and how she must suffer. She -will be ill again. Can’t I help you search?” - -“Come,” said Merry. - -Taking the note, he went to police headquarters, and reported what -had happened. He was asked many questions, and the officer in charge -promised that an immediate search for the abducted girl should be made. - -Then Frank and Jack started out to search for the missing girl, -asking questions everywhere. Till after midnight they wandered about -the streets, but found no clew. The lame boy was ready to drop from -exhaustion, and Frank literally carried him home on his back. - -“Oh, Frank!” sobbed little Jack; “I’ll never see my sister any more. I -know I shall not!” - -“Yes, you will,” assured Merry. “She will be found.” - -“He has taken her away--away out of the city. I feel sure of that, -Frank.” - -“I do not think he has.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because he had not the money to do anything of the sort. He used his -money as fast as he received it, and I do not believe he had a dollar -left to his name five hours after he was discharged from his job on the -railroad.” - -“But he might put her on a train some way. He might put her into a box -car, and carry her off that way.” - -“He might,” admitted Frank; “but I do not believe he has. It is likely -that by morning the police will have found them both.” - -It was difficult to reassure and quiet the boy, and Frank himself -feared there might be some truth in Jack’s fancy that old Joe had -carried Nellie off in a box car. The old engineer knew the ropes about -the railroad so well that he might do such a thing with very little -trouble. - -Still carrying Jack, Frank mounted the stairs to the rooms they called -home. - -“Oh, it don’t seem that I can go in there!” moaned the lame boy. “It -will be so bare and lonely without her!” - -“Hark!” whispered Frank, stopping. - -They heard a voice singing softly and sweetly, “Nearer, My God, to -Thee!” - -Little Jack almost shrieked aloud. - -“It’s her--it’s sister!” - -Frank bounded up the stairs and flung open the door. Beside the bed -sat Nellie. She heard them and turned, with a finger uplifted, still -singing. - -On the bed lay the old engineer, and there was an ashen grayness to -his face. One glance revealed to Frank that the man was facing the last -mystery of life--death! - -Merry lowered little Jack and gave him his crutch. Then they slowly and -softly approached the bed. - -“Twenty-three minutes late!” muttered the old engineer. “We’ve got ter -make her up somehow. We must be at Roaring Run bridge in an hour and -three minutes. More coal, man--more coal!” - -“He is making his last run,” whispered Frank. “And the end of the trip -is near.” - -Little Jack crept up and kissed his sister’s cheek. - -“How do you happen to be here now?” he asked. - -“He brought me back,” said Nellie. “I begged him to and he did so. -Before you came he was asking for Frank.” - -“Frank!” exclaimed the dying man, catching the whispered word. “Where -is Frank Merriwell? I’ve got to see him.” - -“I am here, Mr. Hicks,” said Merry, stepping close to the bed. - -“Yes; I hear you, but I can’t see you very well. Bend lower. Yes; it is -you. I did hate you, but I was wrong. I ask you to fergive me. Will ye?” - -“With all my heart!” - -“I am glad. You are a fine young man, and I want to leave them in your -care--Nellie and Jack. You will take care of them?” - -“I will.” - -“I believe it, and they will be safe with you. Oh! she is such an -angel! She has put me onto a new trip, and--and I am making the run. -The steam is getting low. More coal! more coal!” - -He seemed peering ahead, as he had peered out from the window of an -engine cab many times. - -“This is the straightest strip of road I ever struck,” he muttered. -“Not a curve nor a grade as fur as you kin see. It’s wonderful! But the -steam is low, and we are behind time. We must be at Roaring Run bridge -on time. We must get there somehow. More coal!” - -Then, after another period of silence, he began again: - -“I’m runnin’ her in the right notch now, and we’re gaining. We will -make it. Hear her sing over the rails. Oh, she is humming now! Ah, we -are beginning to make up lost time.” - -“Sing, Nellie,” whispered Frank. - -The girl did so, although her cheeks were wet with tears. For a long -time the dying engineer lay still and listened. - -“’Sh!” he whispered, now and then. “Somebody is singing. It is such -sweet singing! Don’t make a noise, for she may stop.” - -Finally he began to peer before him again. All at once he cried: - -“It’s getting dark on the track! Light the headlight! We’re -gaining--we’re gaining. Only ten minutes late! We--will--make it!” - -His hands gripped and relaxed. With his left he reached out, as if -feeling for the throttle. - -“A little more does it,” he muttered, weakly. “There--that’s it. We’ll -be--there--soon. It’s just--just--ahead. Ha! Here we are on time--on -time, at last!” - -The end of the trip was reached. - - * * * * * - -And so passed away the principal enemy that Frank Merriwell had. As for -Frank himself, he had already won a place and respect on the railroad. -He was in a position to help the blind girl and her crippled brother, -and there was no one who could hinder him now. He was recognized -already as one of the best firemen on the road, and eligible for -promotion to the post of engineer at any time. He had taken the first -step upward in the struggle through life, and the first step in this -struggle is always the hardest one. After this, it would be plainer -sailing, and although Frank Merriwell was destined to pass through many -more adventures on the railroad, he had overcome the chief difficulties -in the way of success, and made a good start. He had started at the -foot of the ladder with his first job, but already he had surmounted -the lowest rung and was in a fair way to climb, up and up, to ultimate -success. - - -THE END. - - - - -THE MEDAL LIBRARY - -FAMOUS COPYRIGHTED STORIES FOR BOYS, BY FAMOUS AUTHORS - -This is an ideal line for boys of all ages. It contains juvenile -masterpieces by the most popular writers of interesting fiction for -boys. Among these may be mentioned the works of Burt L. Standish, -detailing the adventures of Frank Merriwell, the hero, of whom every -American boy has read with admiration. Frank is a truly representative -American lad, full of character and a strong determination to do right -at any cost. Then, there are the works of Horatio Alger, Jr., whose -keen insight into the minds of the boys of our country has enabled him -to write a series of the most interesting tales ever published. This -line also contains some of the best works of Oliver Optic, another -author whose entire life was devoted to writing books that would tend -to interest and elevate our boys. - -PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK - - * * * * * - -To be Published During December - - 339--In School and Out By Oliver Optic - 338--A Cousin’s Conspiracy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 337--Jack Harkaway After Schooldays By Bracebridge Hemyng - 336--Frank Merriwell’s Great Scheme By Burt L. Standish - -To be Published During November - - 335--The Haunted Hunter By Edward S. Ellis - 334--Tony, the Tramp By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 333--Rich and Humble By Oliver Optic - 332--Frank Merriwell’s Stage Hit By Burt L. Standish - - * * * * * - - 331--The Hidden City By Walter MacDougall - 330--Bob Burton By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 329--Masterman Ready By Capt. Marryat - 328--Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity By Burt L. Standish - 327--Jack Harkaway’s Friends By Bracebridge Hemyng - 326--The Tin Box By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 325--The Young Franc-Tireurs By G. A. Henty - 324--Frank Merriwell’s New Comedian By Burt L. Standish - 323--The Sheik’s White Slave By Raymond Raife - 322--Helping Himself By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 321--Snarleyyow, The Dog Fiend By Capt. Marryat - 320--Frank Merriwell’s Fortune By Burt L. Standish - 319--By Right of Conquest By G. A. Henty - 318--Jed, the Poorhouse Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 317--Jack Harkaway’s Schooldays By Bracebridge Hemyng - 316--Frank Merriwell’s Problem By Burt L. Standish - 315--The Diamond Seeker of Brazil By Leon Lewis - 314--Andy Gordon By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 313--The Phantom Ship By Capt. Marryat - 312--Frank Merriwell’s College Chums By Burt L. Standish - 311--Whistler By Walter Aimwell - 310--Making His Way By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 309--Three Years at Wolverton By A Wolvertonian - 308--Frank Merriwell’s Fame By Burt L. Standish - 307--The Boy Crusoes By Jeffreys Taylor - 306--Chester Rand By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 305--Japhet in Search of a Father By Capt. Marryat - 304--Frank Merriwell’s Own Company By Burt L. Standish - 303--The Prairie By J. Fenimore Cooper - 302--The Young Salesman By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 301--A Battle and a Boy By Blanche Willis Howard - 300--Frank Merriwell on the Road By Burt L. Standish - 299--Mart Satterlee Among the Indians By William O. Stoddard - 298--Andy Grant’s Pluck By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 297--Newton Forster By Capt. Marryat - 296--Frank Merriwell’s Protege By Burt L. Standish - 295--Cris Rock By Capt. Mayne Reid - 294--Sam’s Chance By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 293--My Plucky Boy Tom By Edward S. Ellis - 292--Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck By Burt L. Standish - 291--By Pike and Dyke By G. A. Henty - 290--Shifting For Himself By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 289--The Pirate and the Three Cutters By Capt. Marryat - 288--Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity By Burt L. Standish - 287--Kit Carson’s Last Trail By Leon Lewis - 286--Jack’s Ward By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 285--Jack Darcy, the All Around Athlete By Edward S. Ellis - 284--Frank Merriwell’s First Job By Burt L. Standish - 283--Wild Adventures Round the Pole By Gordon Stables - 282--Herbert Carter’s Legacy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 281--Rattlin, the Reefer By Capt. Marryat - 280--Frank Merriwell’s Struggle By Burt L. Standish - 279--Mark Dale’s Stage Venture By Arthur M. Winfield - 278--In Times of Peril By G. A. Henty - 277--In a New World By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 276--Frank Merriwell in Maine By Burt L. Standish - 275--The King of the Island By Henry Harrison Lewis - 274--Beach Boy Joe By Lieut. James K. Orton - 273--Jacob Faithful By Capt. Marryat - 272--Facing the World By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 271--Frank Merriwell’s Chase By Burt L. Standish - 270--Wing and Wing By J. Fenimore Cooper - 269--The Young Bank Clerk By Arthur M. Winfield - 268--Do and Dare By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 267--Frank Merriwell’s Cruise By Burt L. Standish - 266--The Young Castaways By Leon Lewis - 265--The Lion of St. Mark By G. A. Henty - 264--Hector’s Inheritance By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 263--Mr. Midshipman Easy By Captain Marryat - 262--Frank Merriwell’s Vacation By Burt L. Standish - 261--The Pilot By J. Fenimore Cooper - 260--Driven From Home By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 259--Sword and Pen By Henry Harrison Lewis - 258--Frank Merriwell In Camp By Burt L. Standish - 257--Jerry By Walter Aimwell - 256--The Young Ranchman By Lieut. Lounsberry - 255--Captain Bayley’s Heir By G. A. Henty - 254--Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty By Burt L. Standish - 253--The Water Witch By J. Fenimore Cooper - 252--Luke Walton By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 251--Frank Merriwell’s Danger By Burt L. Standish - 250--Neka, the Boy Conjurer By Capt. Ralph Bonehill - 249--The Young Bridge Tender By Arthur M. Winfield - 248--The West Point Rivals By Lieut. Frederick - Garrison, U. S. A. - 247--Frank Merriwell’s Secret By Burt L. Standish - 246--Rob Ranger’s Cowboy Days By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry - 245--The Red Rover By J. Fenimore Cooper - 244--Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale By Burt L. Standish - 243--Adrift in New York By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 242--The Rival Canoe Boys By St. George Rathborne - 241--The Tour of the Zero Club By Capt. R. Bonehill - 240--Frank Merriwell’s Champions By Burt L. Standish - 239--The Two Admirals By J. Fenimore Cooper - 238--A Cadet’s Honor By Lieut. Fred’k Garrison, U. S. A. - 237--Frank Merriwell’s Skill By Burt L. Standish - 236--Rob Ranger’s Mine By Lieut. Lounsberry - 235--The Young Carthaginian By G. A. Henty - 234--The Store Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 233--Frank Merriwell’s Athletes By Burt L. Standish - 232--The Valley of Mystery By Henry Harrison Lewis - 231--Paddling Under Palmettos By St. George Rathborne - 230--Off for West Point By Lieut. Fred’k Garrison, U. S. A. - 229--Frank Merriwell’s Daring By Burt L. Standish - 228--The Cash Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 227--In Freedom’s Cause By G. A. Henty - 226--Tom Havens With the White Squadron By Lieut. James K. Orton - 225--Frank Merriwell’s Courage By Burt L. Standish - 224--Yankee Boys in Japan By Henry Harrison Lewis - 223--In Fort and Prison By William Murray Graydon - 222--A West Point Treasure By Lieut. Fred’k Garrison, U. S. A. - 221--The Young Outlaw By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 220--The Gulf Cruisers By St. George Rathborne - 219--Tom Truxton’s Ocean Trip By Lieut. Lounsberry - 218--Tom Truxton’s School Days By Lieut. Lounsberry - 217--Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour By Burt L. Standish - 216--Campaigning With Braddock By Wm. Murray Graydon - 215--With Clive in India By G. A. Henty - 214--On Guard By Lieut. Fred’k Garrison, U. S. A. - 213--Frank Merriwell’s Races By Burt L. Standish - 212--Julius, the Street Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 211--Buck Badger’s Ranch By Russell Williams - 210--Sturdy and Strong By G. A. Henty - 209--Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield By Burt L. Standish - 208--The Treasure of the Golden Crater - By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry - 207--Shifting Winds By St. George Rathborne - 206--Jungles and Traitors By Wm. Murray Graydon - 205--Frank Merriwell at Yale By Burt L. Standish - 204--Under Drake’s Flag By G. A. Henty - 203--Last Chance Mine By Lieut. James K. Orton - 202--Risen From the Ranks By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 201--Frank Merriwell in Europe By Burt L. Standish - 200--The Fight for a Pennant By Frank Merriwell - 199--The Golden Cañon By G. A. Henty - 198--Only an Irish Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 197--Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour By Burt L. Standish - 196--Zip, the Acrobat By Victor St. Clair - 195--The Lion of the North By G. A. Henty - 194--The White Mustang By Edward S. Ellis - 193--Frank Merriwell’s Bravery By Burt L. Standish - 192--Tom, the Bootblack By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 191--The Rivals of the Diamond By Russell Williams - 190--The Cat of Bubastes By G. A. Henty - 189--Frank Merriwell Down South By Burt L. Standish - 188--From Street to Mansion By Frank H. Stauffer - 187--Bound to Rise By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 186--On the Trail of Geronimo By Edward S. Ellis - 185--For the Temple By G. A. Henty - 184--Frank Merriwell’s Trip West By Burt L. Standish - 183--The Diamond Hunters By James Grant - 182--The Camp in the Snow By William Murray Graydon - 181--Brave and Bold By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 180--One of the 28th By G. A. Henty - 178--Frank Merriwell’s Foes By Burt L. Standish - 177--The White Elephant By William Dalton - 176--By England’s Aid By G. A. Henty - 175--Strive and Succeed By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 173--Life at Sea By Gordon Stables - 172--The Young Midshipman By G. A. Henty - 171--Erling the Bold By R. M. Ballantyne - 170--Strong and Steady By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 169--Peter, the Whaler By W. H. G. Kingston - 168--Among Malay Pirates By G. A. Henty - 167--Frank Merriwell’s Chums By Burt L. Standish - 166--Try and Trust By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 165--The Secret Chart By Lieut. James K. Orton - 164--The Cornet of Horse By G. A. Henty - 163--Slow and Sure By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 162--The Pioneers By J. F. Cooper - 161--Reuben Green’s Adventures at Yale By James Otis - 160--Little by Little By Oliver Optic - 159--Phil, the Fiddler By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 158--With Lee in Virginia By G. A. Henty - 157--Randy, the Pilot By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry - 156--The Pathfinder By J. F. Cooper - 155--The Young Voyagers By Capt. Mayne Reid - 154--Paul, the Peddler By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 153--Bonnie Prince Charlie By G. A. Henty - 152--The Last of the Mohicans By J. Fenimore Cooper - 151--The Flag of Distress By Capt. Mayne Reid - 150--Frank Merriwell’s School Days By Burt L. Standish - 149--With Wolfe in Canada By G. A. Henty - 148--The Deerslayer By J. F. Cooper - 147--The Cliff Climbers By Capt. Mayne Reid - 146--Uncle Nat By A. Oldfellow - 145--Friends Though Divided By G. A. Henty - 144--The Boy Tar By Capt. Mayne Reid - 143--Hendricks, the Hunter By W. H. G. Kingston - 142--The Young Explorer By Gordon Stables - 141--The Ocean Waifs By Capt. Mayne Reid - 140--The Young Buglers By G. A. Henty - 139--Shore and Ocean By W. H. G. Kingston - 138--Striving for Fortune By Horatio Alger. Jr. - 137--The Bush Boys By Capt. Mayne Reid - 136--From Pole to Pole By Gordon Stables - 135--Dick Cheveley By W. H. G. Kingston - 134--Orange and Green By G. A. Henty - 133--The Young Yagers By Capt. Mayne Reid - 132--The Adventures of Rob Roy By James Grant - 131--The Boy Slaves By Capt. Mayne Reid - 130--From Canal Boy to President By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 129--Ran Away to Sea By Capt. Mayne Reid - 128--For Name and Fame By G. A. Henty - 127--The Forest Exiles By Capt. Mayne Reid - 126--From Powder Monkey to Admiral By W. H. G. Kingston - 125--The Plant Hunters By Capt. Mayne Reid - 124--St. George for England By G. A. Henty - 123--The Giraffe Hunters By Capt. Mayne Reid - 122--Tom Brace By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 121--Peter Trawl By W. H. G. Kingston - 120--In the Wilds of New Mexico By G. Manville Fenn - 119--A Final Reckoning By G. A. Henty - 118--Ned Newton By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 117--James Braithwaite, The Supercargo By W. H. G. Kingston - 116--Happy-Go-Lucky Jack By Frank H. Converse - 115--Adventures of a Young Athlete By Matthew White, Jr. - 114--The Old Man of the Mountains By George H. Coomer - 113--The Bravest of the Brave By G. A. Henty - 112--20,000 Leagues Under the Sea By Jules Verne - 111--The Midshipman, Marmaduke Merry By W. H. G. Kingston - 110--Around the World in Eighty Days By Jules Verne - 109--A Dash to the Pole By Herbert D. Ward - 108--Texar’s Revenge By Jules Verne - 107--Van; or, In Search of an Unknown Race - By Frank H. Converse - 106--The Boy Knight By George A. Henty - 105--The Young Actor By Gayle Winterton - 104--Heir to a Million By Frank H. Converse - 103--The Adventures of Rex Staunton By Mary A. Denison - 102--Clearing His Name By Matthew White, Jr. - 101--The Lone Ranch By Capt. Mayne Reid - 100--Maori and Settler By George A. Henty - 99--The Cruise of the Restless; or, On Inland Waterways - By James Otis - 98--The Grand Chaco By George Manville Fenn - 97--The Giant Islanders By Brooks McCormick - 96--An Unprovoked Mutiny By James Otis - 95--By Sheer Pluck By G. A. Henty - 94--Oscar; or, The Boy Who Had His Own Way By Walter Aimwell - 93--A New York Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 92--Spectre Gold By Headon Hill - 91--The Crusoes of Guiana By Louis Boussenard - 90--Out on the Pampas By G. A. Henty - 89--Clinton; or, Boy Life in the Country By Walter Aimwell - 88--My Mysterious Fortune By Matthew White, Jr. - 87--The Five Hundred Dollar Check By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 86--Catmur’s Cave By Richard Dowling - 85--Facing Death By G. A. Henty - 84--The Butcher of Cawnpore By William Murray Graydon - 83--The Tiger Prince By William Dalton - 82--The Young Editor By Matthew White, Jr. - 81--Arthur Helmuth, of the H. & N. C. Railway - By Edward S. Ellis - 80--Afloat in the Forest By Capt. Mayne Reid - 79--The Rival Battalions By Brooks McCormick - 78--Both Sides of the Continent By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 77--Perils of the Jungle By Edward S. Ellis - 76--The War Tiger; or, The Conquest of China - By William Dalton - 75--Boys in the Forecastle By George H. Coomer - 74--The Dingo Boys By George Manville Fenn - 73--The Wolf Boy of China By William Dalton - 72--The Way to Success; or, Tom Randall By Alfred Oldfellow - 71--Mark Seaworth’s Voyage on the Indian Ocean - By William H. G. Kingston - 70--The New and Amusing History of Sandford and Merton - By F. C. Burnand - 69--Pirate Island By Harry Collingwood - 68--Smuggler’s Cave By Annie Ashmore - 67--Tom Brown’s School Days By Thomas Hughes - 66--A Young Vagabond By Z. R. Bennett - 65--That Treasure By Frank H. Converse - 64--The Tour of a Private Car By Matthew White, Jr. - 63--In the Sunk Lands By Walter F. Bruns - 62--How He Won By Brooks McCormick - 61--The Erie Train Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 60--The Mountain Cave By George H. Coomer - 59--The Rajah’s Fortress By William Murray Graydon - 58--Gilbert, The Trapper By Capt. C. R. Ashley - 57--The Gold of Flat Top Mountain By Frank H. Converse - 56--Nature’s Young Noblemen By Brooks McCormick - 55--A Voyage to the Gold Coast By Frank H. Converse - 54--Joe Nichols; or, Difficulties Overcome By Alfred Oldfellow - 53--The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy - By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 52--From Farm Boy to Senator By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 51--Tom Tracy By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 50--Dean Dunham By Horatio Alger, Jr. - 49--The Mystery of a Diamond By Frank H. Converse - 48--Luke Bennett’s Hide-Out By Capt. C. B. Ashley, U.S. Scout - 47--Eric Dane By Matthew White, Jr. - - - - -TALES OF VICTORIES - -Gained in the Pre-Revolutionary wars by lads of pluck and intelligence. -Every true boy will be fascinated with these stories of the exciting -adventures of boys who gladly gave their lives to freedom’s cause. - -_BOYS OF LIBERTY LIBRARY_ - - 3.--The Young Ambassador. By John De Morgan - 7.--The Young Guardsman. By John De Morgan - 11.--Fighting Hal. By John De Morgan - 15.--By Order of the Colonel. By Lieut. Lounsberry - 19.--A Call to Duty. By Lieut. Lounsberry - 23.--The Young Patriot. By Lieut. Lounsberry - 26.--The Trader’s Captive. By Lieut. Lounsberry - - Only Ten Cents Per Copy - At All Newsdealers - - _If ordered by mail, add four cents to - cover postage._ - - STREET & SMITH, Publishers - NEW YORK - - - - -CIRCUS LIFE - -Is admirably described in Stanley Norris’ great series of books for -boys, published in the BOUND TO WIN LIBRARY. The hero has strange -adventures while fighting his way to the top of his chosen profession. -Every boy will thrill to the finger tips to read of his many narrow -escapes. - -_PRICE, 10 CENTS PER COPY AT ALL NEWSDEALERS_ - -STANLEY NORRIS - - 29 Phil, the Showman - 31 The Young Showman’s Rivals - 33 The Young Showman’s Pluck - 35 The Young Showman’s Triumph - 82 The Young Showman’s Foes - -If ordered by mail, add four cents to cover postage. - -STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York - - - - -WEST POINT STORIES - -One of the most interesting series of stories for boys is that which -details the adventures of Mark Malloy at West Point. No boy who likes -good, exciting tales of adventure should miss reading them. Published -only in THE MEDAL LIBRARY. - -PRICE, 10 CENTS PER COPY - -LIEUT. FREDERICK GARRISON, U. S. A. - - _214 On Guard_ - _222 A West Point Treasure_ - _230 Off for West Point_ - _238 A Cadet’s Honor_ - _248 The West Point Rivals_ - -For Sale By All Newsdealers. If ordered by mail, add four cents to -cover postage. - -Street & Smith, Publishers, New York - - - - -Ho! For Annapolis - -The enchanted city of every boy’s dreams. All cannot enter its gates, -but all may read of the adventures of a crowd of jolly fellows who -were fortunate enough to do so. Clif Farraday’s dare-devil plots and -pranks are of intense interest. Published only in the _BOUND TO WIN -SERIES_. - -ONLY 10c. PER COPY - -By Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N. - - 3. Bound for Annapolis - 8. Clif, the Naval Cadet - 13. A Strange Cruise - 18. The Cruise of the Training Ship - 23. From Port to Port - -If these books are ordered by mail four cents per copy must be added to -cover postage. - -STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York. - - - - -Battles on Sea and Land - -We heartily recommend our _Boys of Liberty Library_ to boys who -have good, red blood coursing through their veins--who like really good -tales of adventure. - -The books listed below detail the adventures of brave lads who took an -active part in the Revolutionary War, who, in many cases, saved the -day to the Patriot army when all seemed lost. Read this series boys, -nothing you can buy for the money will please you half so well. - - 1. Paul Revere and the Boys of Liberty - By John De Morgan - - 5. The first Shot for Liberty - By John De Morgan - - 9. The Hero of Ticonderoga - By John De Morgan - - 13. On the Quebec - By John De Morgan - - 17. Fooling the Enemy - By John De Morgan - - 21. Into the Jaws of Death - By John De Morgan - - 25. The Tory Plot - By T. C. Harbaugh - - 27. In Buff and Blue - By T. C. Harbaugh - -For sale by all newsdealers at 10c. per copy. If ordered by mail, add -four cents to cover postage. - -Street & Smith, Publishers, New York - - - - -_HORATIO ALGER, JR._ - -The greatest and most famous writer of rattling good tales of adventure -for boys, was Horatio Alger, Jr. He is the Dickens of juvenile -literature. His best works are published in the Medal library at ten -cents per copy. For sale by all newsdealers. - -ALGER, HORATIO, JR. - - 42. Young Acrobat, The. - 50. Dean Dunham. - 52. From Farm Boy to Senator. - 61. Erie Train Boy, The. - 87. Five Hundred Dollar Check, The. - 118. Ned Newton; or, The Adventures of a New York Bootblack. - 122. Tom Brace. - 130. From Canal Boy to President. - 138. Striving for Fortune. - 154. Paul, the Peddler. - 159. Phil, the Fiddler. - 163. Slow and Sure. - 166. Try and Trust. - 170. Strong and Steady. - 175. Strive and Succeed. - 181. Brave and Bold. - 187. Bound to Rise. - 192. Tom, the Bootblack. - 198. Only an Irish Boy. - 202. Risen From the Ranks. - 212. Julius, the Street Boy. - 221. Young Outlaw, The. - 228. Cash Boy, The. - 234. Store Boy, The. - 243. Adrift in New York. - 252. Luke Walton. - 260. Driven From Home. - 264. Hector’s Inheritance. - 268. Do and Dare. - 272. Facing the World. - 277. In a New World. - 282. Herbert Carter’s Legacy. - -If these books are ordered by mail, add four cents per copy to cover -postage. - -STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -A New Novel by - -[Illustration] - -Charles Garvice - -The publication of a new copyrighted story by the celebrated Charles -Garvice is an event eagerly looked forward to by all lovers of -good fiction. We are glad, therefore, to be in a position to offer -“=Edna’s Secret Marriage=.” This story has never been published in -book form before and will make its appearance as Eagle Series No. 440. - -As the authorized American publishers of Charles Garvice, we take this -opportunity to warn the public against purchasing spurious Garvice -books. The early novels of Garvice, written before International -Copyright, have been published on this side of the water in pirated -editions under all sorts of titles to the great confusion of the -reading public. In some cases, books bearing the name of Charles -Garvice as author, but which Mr. Garvice never wrote, have been forced -on the unsuspecting public. We are now preparing to prosecute the -offenders in all such cases in behalf of Mr. Garvice. - -STREET & SMITH, Publishers - - - - -MEDAL LIBRARY - -A weekly publication devoted to good literature. - -November 12, 1904. NO. 284 - -The HARKAWAY LIBRARY - -[Illustration: Jack Harkaways Return] - -Detailing the Complete Adventures of Jack Harkaway - -Every boy will rejoice to know that at last the adventures of the -famous Jack Harkaway are published in cheap paper edition. - -Bracebridge Hemyng, the author of these tales, has established an -enviable reputation as a writer of stories for boys. No better tales -of thrilling adventures, in school and out, on land and sea, have ever -been written. The boy reader at once feels a most lively interest in -Jack’s welfare and will not miss following him through all the ups and -downs of his interesting life. - - STREET & SMITH, Publishers - 238 William Street, NEW YORK - - - - -Transcriber’s Note - -The Contents has been added by the transcriber. - -Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been -retained as in the orignal publication except as follows: - - Page 12 - did the old food do it _changed to_ - did the old fool do it - - Page 101 - cheeks of Frank Merrriwell _changed to_ - cheeks of Frank Merriwell - - Page 131 - Jack started to pour the tea _changed to_ - Jack started to pour the coffee - - Page 195 - the black vail between them _changed to_ - the black veil between them - - Page 201 - an ugly look overpread his face _changed to_ - an ugly look overspread his face - - Catalogue of books page v - Hunting Tour, Burt L. Standish _changed to_ - Hunting Tour, By Burt L. Standish - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S FIRST JOB *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. 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