CHAPTER XXIX SOMETHING OF A CONFESSION
“I want to get hold of that fellow with the flat nose!” cried Andy tohis chums. “I don’t care so much about the others.”
“We are with you, Andy,” answered the young major.
“We are bound to catch him sooner or later,” added Pepper.
The tramps had a start of at least a hundred yards and lost no time intrying to escape. The fellow called Flatnose made for a dense patch ofwoods behind the spring and was soon lost to sight. But the cadets heardhim as he crashed and plunged through brushwood and over rocks, andslowly but steadily they drew nearer to the rascal.
“You might as well stop!” cried Andy. “We are bound to catch you.”
“If you come any closer somebody will git hurt,” called back the tramproughly. “You ain’t goin’ to catch me, not much you ain’t!”
“Do you think he’ll dare to shoot at us?” asked one of the cadets.
“No,” answered Jack. “I believe they are all cowards.”
On and on plunged the tramp, with the boys after him. He was nowascending a small hill. Beyond, the cadets knew, was a cliff, fringedwith brushwood.
“Wonder if he knows about the cliff?” said Pepper.
“He must—since he has been in this neighborhood so long,” answered Jack.“But if he doesn’t he may take a nasty tumble.”
“Maybe he is hoping to make us take the tumble,” came from Andy.
This was a trick the tramp had in mind, and reaching the edge of thecliff, he darted to the right and crouched down under some thick bushes.
The cadets ran on at full speed until they neared the cliff and thenslowed up. They peered over the edge of the height into the littlevalley below but could see no one.
“He’s around here somewhere,” declared Jack, and just then saw a bushthat had been caught back switch itself into place. He leaped into thedirection.
“Here he is, fellows!”
“Where?” asked Andy and Pepper in a breath.
“Under a bush. Come out of that!” Jack added to the fugitive.
“I ain’t comin’ out,” whined the tramp. He was out of wind andcrestfallen.
“If you don’t come out, we’ll kick you out,” answered Andy, and then heshook his stick at the fellow. “Come out of that, and be quick aboutit.”
The tramp looked at the acrobatic youth and he gave a little gasp.Evidently he recognized Andy.
“I ain’t done nuthin,” he grumbled. “I’m an honest fellow, I am.”
“You certainly look it,” answered Jack. “Come, get up.” And he, too,raised his stick as if to hit the rascal over the head.
“Don’t—don’t strike me!” was the cry. “I’ll come out! But I ain’t donenuthin’.”
Very reluctantly the tramp crawled out from under the bushes and facedthe boys. When Andy looked at him his eyes fell.
“I guess you know me,” said Andy, sternly.
“You? I ain’t never seen you before.”
“Oh, yes, you have. We met in the jewelry store in Cedarville oneevening.”
“Not me. You’ve got the wrong man.”
“No, you are the fellow. And after we met at the jewelry store youattacked me on the road, threw me off my bicycle, and robbed me.”
“No, I didn’t!” cried the tramp, but his manner showed that he was muchdismayed by the accusation.
“What I want to know is, What did you do with the things you took fromme?” continued Andy.
“Didn’t I say you had the wrong man?”
“Will you give up the stuff or not?”
“Say, I ain’t——”
“Answer my question.” And Andy raised his stick as if to hit the fellowon the head.
“I—I ain’t got the stuff,” cried the tramp in alarm. “Don’t hit me. I—Iturned the stuff over to Levi, the fence.”
“Levi, the fence?” queried Andy.
“A fence, in criminals’ language, is a receiver of stolen goods,”explained Jack. “Where is this Levi?” he asked.
“Over in Albany. He was in Cedarville when I give him the goods. Hepromised me twenty dollars, but I only got five. He ought to bepinched,” went on the tramp, meaning by “pinched” he should be arrested.
“You come with us,” said Andy, and between them the cadets marched thetramp back to the camp in the hollow.
At the hangout they found that four of the tramps had been caught andmade prisoners. The others had escaped, and what became of them nobodyfound out.
“I have heard of that fellow Levi,” said the deputy sheriff. “He hasbeen wanted for some time. I think the Albany police are now after him.”
Seeing it would be useless to conceal matters longer, the tramp calledFlatnose made a full confession, in which he told of attacking Andy justas had been supposed. He had found the tree limb in the woods near theroad, and had thrust it out from the bushes just when the bicyclist waspassing.
“I got scared when you didn’t come to your senses,” he said. “I didn’tmean to do nuthin’ but knock you into the road an’ take the things.”
“Well, that was enough,” said Andy, grimly. “But I must say I amthankful I wasn’t killed.”
“These men are all rascals,” said Rossmore Ford. “They are pettythieves, and they have terrorized the women and children for severalmiles around. We’ll see to it that they all get what they deserve.” Andit may be added here that every one of the tramps was sent, later on, tojail. At the camp were found ample proofs of how they had been robbingnot only henroosts and sheepfolds, but also houses and barns. Thebutcher and the farmers were glad to see the rascals rounded up, and thedeputy sheriff was proud of the part he had played in the affair.
“We’ll look out for your things,” said the deputy to Andy. “And as soonas we get them we’ll let you know.”
It was not deemed necessary for the cadets to help get the tramps to theCedarville lock-up and so, after bidding the men good-bye, the boysstarted off in the direction where the new camp of the school runawayswas to be located.
“I’ll wager Reff Ritter was mad when he found the horse and wagon andall those things gone,” said Pepper.
“He’ll do his best to find our new camp,” answered Jack. “Perhaps he’llwant to fight next.”
“If he does, I reckon we can give him all he wants,” said Andy.
The sky was much overcast and it looked as if it might rain at anymoment. This caused the cadets to increase their speed, and soon theywere past the spot where the first camp had been located.
“Hello, look there!” cried Pepper, presently, and pointed among thetrees.
“It’s Gus Coulter!” answered another cadet “What is he doing here?”
“They must be looking for us already,” exclaimed Jack.
All ran up to Coulter, to learn that he was alone—some others who hadbeen with him having scattered to look for the new camp of the crowdunder the young major.
“See here, Coulter, I want to talk to you!” cried Jack, grabbing thecadet by the arm. “Come here, boys!” he added, to his friends.
Thus caught alone, Coulter was much frightened and when the young majorbegan to talk to him he trembled in every limb.
“What do you want?” he faltered.
“I want to talk to you, Coulter.”
“What about?”
“About a certain talk you had with Reff Ritter.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Well, you will know before I am done with you.”
“You let me go,” said Coulter, uneasily. “You haven’t got any right todetain me in this fashion.”
“Well, I am taking the right,” answered the young major sturdily. “Iwant you to understand——”
Jack got no further, for with a sudden twist and a push Gus Coulterfreed himself, leaped through the crowd, and dashed away.
“After him!” yelled Pepper. “He mustn’t get away like this!?
??
“I reckon we can catch him,” put in Andy, and then all of the cadetsstarted in pursuit of the fleeing one.
Coulter was badly scared—why he could not exactly tell—and he ran like adeer. But the others kept on his track.
“There he goes!” cried Jack, as the running lad darted behind a heavyclump of bushes.
The next instant there arose on the air a wild cry of dismay and alarm.
“Oh, dear! Help me, somebody!”
“He’s in trouble!” said Andy.
“Go slow—or somebody else may get into trouble, too,” cautioned theyoung major.
Slackening their pace, the crowd approached the clump of bushes andpassed around to one side. They then saw what had caused Coulter to cryfor assistance.
On the other side of the bushes was a big swamp hole, filled with muck,dead leaves and water. In his anxiety to escape Gus Coulter had plungedinto the swamp hole and was now up to his waist and rapidly sinking.
“Ge—get m—me out, somebody!” he gasped. “Quick, or I’ll—I’ll go downan—and be smothered!”
The others saw that Coulter’s plight was serious and something must bedone to save him.
“I’ve got it!” cried Andy, as he looked around. “I reckon I can get himout.”
“How?” questioned Pepper.
“Wait—I’ll show you.”
The acrobatic youth ran to a big tree growing close to the edge of theswamp. He climbed up with marvellous rapidity, and then worked his wayout on a branch that grew over Coulter’s head.
“Good for Andy!” cried Jack.
“If only the limb will bend down far enough,” added Pepper.
Soon the acrobatic youth was close to the outer end of the limb. He bentdown, but his hand did not come within a foot of Gus Coulter’s reach.
“I—I can’t ma—make it!” gasped the boy below. His face was full ofabject fear.
“Wait a minute,” answered Andy.
He turned over, and the next moment was hanging from the limb by hisfeet, which he had crossed one over the other. Thus he was able to reachCoulter with ease.
“Look out, Andy, that you don’t go down, too,” cautioned Jack.
“And take care that the limb doesn’t break,” added Pepper.
Slowly but surely Andy began to draw poor Gus Coulter from the muck. Itwas a severe strain on the acrobatic youth, and his muscles stood outlike whipcords, while his face, from hanging down, became purple. Thetree limb bent low, until the outer leaves swept the swamp hole.
“I don’t think he’ll make it,” was the comment of one of the cadets, buteven as he spoke there was a sucking sound and up came Coulter, and thetree limb bounded several feet higher.
“Hurrah! He’s got him!” yelled Pepper, and his cheer was echoed by theothers.
Both boys in the tree were somewhat out of breath and they did notdescend at once. Finally Andy slid down and Coulter followed.
The lad who had the accident presented a most woebegone appearance. Hewas covered with black muck up to his armpits, and some of the muck wason his hands and face. Now that the danger was over the others had allthey could do to keep from laughing at the unfortunate one.
“Coulter, you can thank Andy for saving your life,” remarked Pepper.
“I—er—I wouldn’t have tumbled into the hole if you hadn’t chased me,”grumbled Coulter.
“And we wouldn’t have chased you if you hadn’t tried to run away,” camefrom the young major.
“You had no right to stop me.”
“As I said before, I am taking the right, Coulter. I want you to confesssomething.”
“Me? I haven’t done anything.”
“You know what Reff Ritter did. I heard you talk it over.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean just this,” answered Jack, and then spoke about the talk he hadheard between Reff Ritter and Coulter concerning the use of the Frenchheadache powders.
“Now I want you to tell the truth, Coulter,” said the young major,finally. “Who put those powders into my drinking water? Answer, or I’llgive you the biggest thrashing you ever had in your life!”
“Don’t—don’t hit me!” cried the cadet.
“Then answer—and tell the strict truth.”
“Reff Ritter. But if he learns I told on him he’ll hammer me to death,”added Coulter, with a very white face.
And then he told the particulars, just as Ritter had given them. All ofthe cadets present listened with interest. When Coulter had finishedJack caught him by the shoulder.
“Now get out!” he cried. “Go back to Ritter, and don’t you show yourface near our camp!” And Coulter lost no time in disappearing.
Five minutes later the cadets came in sight of the new camp. As theyentered the clearing Pepper gave a gasp.
“Look! There is Captain Putnam!”
“You are right,” answered Jack. “Now we’ve got to face the music!”
CHAPTER XXX BACK TO THE HALL—CONCLUSION
“Well, young gentlemen, it would seem that you have been taking mattersinto your own hands,” remarked Captain Putnam, as he faced those who hadjust arrived. He looked stern, yet not as angry as they had sometimesseen him.
“Captain Putnam, we felt it was absolutely necessary to do what we havedone,” answered Jack.
“Have the others told you how we were treated?” asked Pepper.
“In part, yes. But I wish to hear what you have to say also.”
“And I suppose you’d like to hear what Mr. Crabtree and Mr. Cuddle haveto say,” put in Andy.
“Never mind that just now,” said the master of the Hall. “Major Ruddy, Iwill listen to your story.”
In a plain, straightforward manner Jack told his story from beginning toend, very much as I have set it down here. He did not omit a singleimportant detail. He told of the throwing of the inkwell, the hotpotatoes and the bread, but mentioned no names. He also related theparticulars of the trouble in the classrooms, and of how Pluxton Cuddlehad endeavored to starve them into submission, aided in this work byJosiah Crabtree. When this was told the captain drew down the corners ofhis mouth and frowned.
“He won’t stand for that—I knew he wouldn’t,” whispered Dale to Stuffer.
“Nobody would stand for starving!” cried the lad who loved to eat.
After Jack had finished, several other cadets were interviewed. ThenCaptain Putnam wanted to know the whereabouts of Ritter and his crowd.
“We can take you to them,” said Dale.
“That will not be necessary, Blackmore. You may go to their camp andtell them that I want them to return to Putnam Hall at once.” Andsomewhat against his will, Dale departed on the errand.
“What are we to do?” asked Andy.
“Break camp and return to the school, now,” Captain Putnam turned toJack. “Major Ruddy, you will give the necessary orders.”
“Gladly, sir—now that you are back, Captain Putnam,” cried Jack.
“Are you really glad that I am back, Ruddy?”
“Yes, sir—and I know the others are glad, too. We didn’t run away justfor the fun of it,” he added, earnestly.
“It may give my school a black eye.”
“Not as much of a black eye as the teachers gave it by hiring those menfrom Cedarville to come down and play guard.”
“This is true—and I have already told Mr. Crabtree so.”
“Oh, then you’ve been to the school?”
“Yes.”
“Then—then——” The young major hesitated.
“We’ll thrash this whole thing out later, Ruddy. It is too serious amatter to decide now. A storm is coming and I want you to get back ifpossible before it breaks. Start for the school as soon as you can.”
In less than quarter of an hour the cadets were on the march. Andy drovethe wagon, which was piled high with the outfit. Captain Putnam walkedby the young major’s side, and the cadets kept step as i
f on dressparade. All wondered what would be the end of the affair. Would any ofthem be expelled?
At the entrance to the campus they were met by Peleg Snuggers, and hewas directed to take charge of the wagon and its contents. Then thecadets entered the Hall. All was silent within, and neither JosiahCrabtree nor Pluxton Cuddle showed himself. The boys were told to gostraight to the general assembly room.
It had begun to rain and soon it was pouring in torrents, while thelightning flashed and the thunder roared incessantly. In the midst ofthe storm Dale dashed in.
“I went to their old camp, but Ritter and his crowd had moved,” he said.“I couldn’t find them, and not wishing to get soaked I came to theschool.”
“It is too bad,” said Captain Putnam. “But it cannot be helped. I willsend for them again after the storm clears off.” Then the captain leftthe cadets in the assembly room, telling them to keep quiet until hisreturn.
“I guess he is going to have it out with Crabtree and Cuddle,” whisperedPepper. And he was right.
An hour passed, and then a side door opened and Captain Putnam entered,followed by Josiah Crabtree and Frank Barringer. The boys started onseeing the teacher for he seemed suddenly to have grown several yearsolder. The master of the Hall ascended the platform and made a speech.
“I have heard both sides of this controversy,” said he. “Mistakes havebeen made all around. It was a mistake for you cadets to becomedisorderly in the classrooms and in the mess hall—and it was a mistakeon the part of the teachers to attempt to starve you into submission.For trying to starve you I find Mr. Cuddle responsible, and he has thisday severed his connection with Putnam Hall.”
“Good!” whispered Andy. “Good-bye to Cuddle, and may we never see hislike again!”
“Mr. Crabtree is willing to let bygones be bygones,” went on CaptainPutnam. “He realizes his mistakes and regrets them. Supposing I amwilling to overlook what you have done, young gentlemen, are you willingto start in to-morrow morning as if nothing unusual had occurred? If so,stand up.”
One after another the cadets stood up until not one remained seated. Asmile spread over Captain Putnam’s face, and this was reflected on theface of Josiah Crabtree. The cadets did not know it, but their standingup saved for the teacher his position. Had they not been willing toforgive and forget Crabtree would have been discharged.
“Three cheers for Captain Putnam!” cried Pepper, and though the masterof the Hall raised his hand to protest the cheers were given with awill. A faint cheer followed for Crabtree and the teacher arose and veryawkwardly bowed his acknowledgement. Then the cadets were dismissed andthe bell rang for supper.
“I reckon we won’t see Pluxton Cuddle,” said Andy, and he was right,that unpopular teacher left early the next morning, before any of thecadets were around.
It was not until the next afternoon that Reff Ritter and his crowdshowed themselves, and they brought the mail taken from the post-office.They had heard of Captain Putnam’s return and had come in of their ownaccord. The storm had blown down their tents and they were wet to theskin and terribly hungry. There had been a bitter quarrel among thecrowd, and this was kept up after they got back. One of the boys hadheard Ritter speak about the exchanging of blank cartridges for thosecontaining bullets at the target practice and immediately upon hisreturn to Putnam Hall he sought out Captain Putnam.
“Well, what do you want, Akers?” demanded the master of the school,sternly.
“I know I have done wrong, sir,” said Akers. “But, Captain Putnam, Icame to speak of something else.”
“What is it?”
“It concerns Bob Grenwood, our former quartermaster.”
“What of Grenwood?”
“I suppose you remember about those blank cartridges that were dealt outto some of us when we had target practice.”
“Perfectly.”
“Well, I want to tell you positively, sir, that Grenwood is notguilty—that he had nothing to do with handing them out.”
“How do you know this?”
“Because, when we were out camping, Reff Ritter got to boasting, and hetold how he and another fellow got the blanks and distributed them. Itwas done at the time of the snake scare. There was no snake—the scarewas gotten up merely to attract our attention, so that the blanks couldbe taken from the box.”
“Humph! You are sure of this?” demanded Captain Putnam.
“Yes, sir.”
“Tell me all the particulars.”
Thereupon Akers told his story in detail, to which the master of theHall listened with close attention. Then several other boys came in,among them Andy and Pepper.
“I want to speak to you about the time Major Jack Ruddy fell from theflying rings and came pretty close to being dangerously hurt,” saidAndy. “I guess you remember that, sir.”
“Indeed I do—since he was very sick at the time,” answered CaptainPutnam.
“We know just how he got sick.”
“What was the cause, Snow?”
“Reff Ritter put some French headache powders in his drinking water. Thepowders made him dizzy, and that is how he came to fall from the rings.”
“Can this be true?” And the captain’s face grew very stern.
“Yes, sir, it is—and we can prove it by several boys,” put in Pepper.
“It would seem that Ritter is responsible for many wrongdoings,” musedthe master of the school.
“He’s a bad egg,” said Andy. “My own opinion is that he ought to beexpelled.”
“We’ll see about that later. Now tell me all you know.”
Andy and Pepper related what they had heard, and then several other boyswere called in.
An hour later Captain Putnam sent for Reff Ritter. The moment the bullyentered the office he knew that something had gone wrong.
“I have had some very bad reports about you, Ritter,” said the mastersternly. “I have a mind to expel you on the spot.”
“What for?” asked Ritter. His voice shook as he spoke.
“For doing some very wicked and mean things.”
“I—I haven’t done anything, sir.”
“You have—and it is useless for you to deny it.”
“Wh—what—er—do you mean?”
“I am speaking of how you took those blank cartridges and used them, andof how you dosed Major Ruddy with those French headache powders.”
“Captain Putnam, I didn’t——”
“Stop, Ritter, don’t add falsehoods to your other faults. I am positivethat you are guilty. And as I said before, I have a good mind to expelyou here and now.”
“Don’t! Please don’t!” cried the bully, breaking down. “I—I didn’t meanany harm—it was only done in fun, sir! I—er—I’ll never do such thingsagain! Please don’t expel me!”
“You might have killed Ruddy!”
“I—er—I thought the powders would make him a little sick—so he—er—hewouldn’t want to compete with me—for I was afraid of being beaten. Andthe blanks——”
“Made me take Greenwood’s office away from him. But he shall berestored.”
“Please, please, Captain Putnam, don’t expel me!” groaned Ritter.
“Are you willing to apologize to Grenwood?”
“Yes, yes!”
“And to Ruddy?”
“Ye—yes.” It was like pulling teeth for Ritter to utter that last word.
“Ruddy’s folks may want to prosecute you criminally,” continued thecaptain.
“Oh! I—I hope not.” And now Ritter grew deadly pale.
After that Captain Putnam gave the misguided youth a stern lecture andthen sent him to his room. Then Jack was called in.
“I don’t think I’ll make a complaint,” said the young major. “Perhaps,after all, it was only a boyish prank. But I don’t want him to try sucha prank again.”
“It was a dastardly piece of business,” was Captain Putnam’s comment.
“I believe Ritter often acts before he thinks,” went on Jack.
“Then you want me to give him another chance?”
“Yes—as far as I am concerned.”
“This is generous of you, Ruddy.”
“I don’t want to be the means of casting Ritter out, sir. Maybe if hewas expelled, he’d go to the bad utterly.”
“That is true, too,—yet this school cannot afford to suffer from theactions of such a fellow. But I will give him one more chance,”concluded the master of Putnam Hall. And so the matter rested.
Andy was anxious to hear from the authorities, and one day came wordthat the man named Levi had been caught. In his possession were themedal and the ring taken from the acrobatic youth, so Andy got back whatbelonged to Joe Nelson and himself, much to his satisfaction. Levifollowed the tramps to prison.
“Well, I am rather glad our running away is at an end,” said Jack, twodays after the return to Putnam Hall. “Although I did like the campingout.”
“We are to go camping soon, Captain Putnam said so,” returned Pepper.“We are to go out in true military style too,” he added. How the cadetswent out, and what sports and adventures they had, will be told inanother volume of this series, to be entitled “The Putnam HallEncampment; or, The Secret of the Old Mill.” In that book we shall meetall our old friends again, and likewise some of their enemies.
“I don’t think running away did us any harm,” said Dale.
“It was fun,” put in Bob Grenwood, who had been restored to his positionas quartermaster of the school battalion.
“Just what I say,” declared Pepper.
And then the drum rolled for the evening parade and the cadets rushedoff to get their guns and swords; and here we will leave them, wishingthem well.
THE END
Books by Arthur M. Winfield
THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES
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No stories for boys’ Reading ever published have attained the immensepopularity of this new and extremely favorite series. They are full offun, fancy, enterprise, and adventure, and each volume is hailed withdelight by boys and girls everywhere.
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THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM Or, The Last Days at Putnam Hall The latest and best of all the Rover Boy Books. THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS Or, The Deserted Steam Yacht A trip to the coast of Florida. THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS Or, The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch Relates adventures on the mighty Mississippi River. THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER Or, The Search for the Missing Houseboat The Ohio River is the theme of this spirited story. THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP Or, The Rivals of Pine Island At the annual school encampment. THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA Or, The Crusoes of Seven Islands Full of strange and surprising adventures. THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS Or, A Hunt for Fame and Fortune The boys in the Adirondacks at a Winter camp. THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES Or, The Secret of the Island Cave A story of a remarkable Summer outing; full of fun. THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST Or, The Search for a Lost Mine A graphic description of the mines of the great Rockies. THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE Or, Stirring Adventures in Africa The boys journey to the Dark Continent in search of their father. THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN Or, A Chase for a Fortune From school to the Atlantic Ocean. THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL Or, the Cadets of Putnam Hall The doings of Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover.
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Companion Stories to the Famous Rover Boys Series
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Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS Or, Bound to Win Out
In this new tale the Putnam Hall Cadets show what they can do in variouskeen rivalries on the athletic field and elsewhere. There is one victorywhich leads to a most unlooked-for discovery. The volume is full of funand good fellowship, calculated to make the Putnam Hall Series morepopular than ever.
THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS Or, Good Times in School and Out
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It is a lively, rattling, breezy story of school life in this country,written by one who knows all about its ways, its snowball fights, itsbaseball matches, its pleasures and its perplexities, its gloriousexcitements, its rivalries, and its chilling disappointments. It is acapitally written story which will interest boys vastly.
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THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT: Or, Frank Hardy’s Road to Success
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FROM FARM TO FORTUNE: Or, Nat Nason’s Strange Experience
Nat was a poor country lad. Work on the farm was hard, and after aquarrel with his uncle, with whom be resided, he struck out for himself.
OUT FOR BUSINESS: Or, Robert Frost’s Strange Career
Relates the adventures of a country boy who is compelled to leave homeand seek his fortune in the great world at large. How he wins success wemust leave to the reader to discover.
FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE: Or, The Experiences of a Young Secretary
This is a companion tale to “Out for Business,” but complete in itself,and tells of the further doings of Robert Frost as private secretary.
YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK: Or, The Son of a Soldier
The scene is laid in the South during the Civil War, and the hero is awaif who was cast up by the sea and adopted by a rich Southern planter.
NELSON THE NEWSBOY: Or, Afloat in New York
Mr. Alger is always at his best in the portrayal of life in New YorkCity, and this story is among the best he has given our young readers.
LOST AT SEA: Or, Robert Roscoe’s Strange Cruise
A sea story of uncommon interest.
The hero falls in with a strangederelict—a ship given over to the wild animals of a menagerie.
JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY: Or, The Parkhurst Treasure
Depicts life on a farm of New York State. The mystery of the treasurewill fascinate every boy. Jerry is a character well worth knowing.
RANDY OF THE RIVER: Or, The Adventures of a Young Deckhand
Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people mayimagine. There is hard work, and plenty of it, and the remuneration isnot of the best. But Randy Thompson wanted work and took what wasoffered. His success in the end was well deserved, and perhaps thelesson his doings teach will not be lost upon those who peruse thesepages.
The Flag of Freedom Series
By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL.
A favorite Line of American Stories for American Boys. Every volumecomplete in itself, and handsomely illustrated. 12mo. Bound in cloth.Stamped in Colors.
Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
WITH CUSTER IN THE BLACK HILLS Or, A Young Scout among the Indians.
Tells of the remarkable experiences of a youth who, with his parents,goes to the Black Hills in search of gold. Custer’s last battle is welldescribed. A volume every lad fond of Indian stories should possess.
BOYS OF THE FORT Or, A Young Captain’s Pluck.
This story of stirring doings at one of our well-known forts in the WildWest is of more than ordinary interest. The young captain had adifficult task to accomplish, but he had been drilled to do his duty,and does it thoroughly. Gives a good insight into army life of to-day.
THE YOUNG BANDMASTER Or, Concert, Stage, and Battlefield.
The hero is a youth with a passion for music, who becomes a cornetist inan orchestra, and works his way up to the leadership of a brass band. Heis carried off to sea and falls in with a secret service cutter boundfor Cuba, and while there joins a military band which accompanies oursoldiers in the never-to-be-forgotten attack on Santiago.
OFF FOR HAWAII Or, The Mystery of a Great Volcano.
Here we have fact and romance cleverly interwoven. Several boys start ona tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard that there is a treasurelocated in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest active volcano in theworld, and go in search of it. Their numerous adventures will befollowed with much interest.
A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY Or, Afloat in the Philippines.
The story of Dewey’s victory in Manila Bay will never grow old, but herewe have it told in a new form—as it appeared to a real, live Americanyouth who was in the navy at the time. Many adventures in Manila and inthe interior follow, give true-to-life scenes from this portion of theglobe.
WHEN SANTIAGO FELL Or, the War Adventures of Two Chums.
Two boys, an American and his Cuban chum, leave New York to join theirparents in the interior of Cuba. The war between Spain and the Cubans ison, and the boys are detained at Santiago, but escape by crossing thebay at night. Many adventures between the lines follow, and a goodpen-picture of General Garcia is given.
The Frontier Series Stories of Early American Exploration and Adventure for Boys.
By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL
The Historical Background Is Absolutely Correct.
12mo. Well printed and well illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth,stamped in Colors.
Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS: Or, The Nugget Hunters of ’49
A tale complete in itself, giving the particulars of the great rush ofthe gold seekers to California in 1849. In the party making its wayacross the continent are three boys, one from the country, another fromthe city, and a third just home from a long voyage on a whaling ship.They become chums, and share in no end of adventures.
PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST: Or, With Lewis and Clark Across the Rockies
A splendid story describing in detail the great expedition formed underthe leadership of Lewis and Clark, and telling what was done by thepioneer boys who were first to penetrate the wilderness of the northwestand push over the Rocky Mountains. The book possesses a permanenthistorical value and the story should be known by every bright Americanboy.
WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER Or, The Pioneer Boys of Old Kentucky
Relates the true-to-life adventures of two boys who, in company withtheir folks, move westward with Daniel Boone. Contains many thrillingscenes among the Indians and encounters with wild animals. It isexcellently told.
The Great Newspaper Series
By HOWARD R. GARIS
The incidents in these clever stories are taken from life. Beside beinga popular writer of books for boys’ reading, the author is a practisedjournalist, and these stories will convey an absolutely true picture ofthe workings of a great metropolitan newspaper in its entirety. Cheery,sensible, healthy stories, all finely illustrated.
FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER Or, The First Step in Journalism LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER Or, Strange Adventures in a Great City LARRY DEXTER’S GREAT SEARCH Or, The Hunt for a Missing Millionaire
12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated. Bound in cloth with decorativecover.
Price, 60 Cents per Volume.
The Dick Hamilton Series
By HOWARD R. GARIS
A new series that is bound to become immensely popular. The author hasvivid powers of description and uses them to excellent effect. Will holdthe attention of the reader from start to finish.
DICK HAMILTON’S FORTUNE Or, The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire’s Son
Dick was left a fortune by his mother, but before he could obtainpossession of the wealth, he had to fulfil several conditions. If hefailed he had to go live with a miserly uncle whom he despised. A volumethat is full of snap and “ginger.”
12mo. Cloth, with decorative cover. Well illustrated.
Price, 60 Cents.
The Enterprise Books
Captivating Stories for Boys by Justly Popular Writers
The episodes are graphic, exciting, realistic—the tendency of the talesis to the formation of an honorable and manly character. They areunusually interesting, and convey lessons of pluck, perseverance andmanly independence.
12mo. Handsomely illustrated. Printed on excellent paper, andattractively bound in colored cloth, stamped in Colors.
Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
MOFFAT, WILLIAM D. THE CRIMSON BANNER. A Story of College Baseball
Books have been written about college baseball, but it remained for Mr.Moffat, a Princeton man, to come forward with a tale that grips one fromstart to finish. The students are almost flesh and blood, and thecontests become real as we read about them. The best all-around collegeand baseball tale yet presented.
GRAYDON, WILLIAM MURRAY CANOE BOYS AND CAMP FIRES. Or, Adventures in Winding Waters
Where is there a youth who does not love a gun, a fishing rod, a canoe,or a roaring camp-fire? In this book we have the doings of severalbright and lively boys, who go on a canoeing trip on a winding stream,and meet with many exciting happenings. The breath of the forest blowsthrough this tale, and every boy who reads it will be sorry that he wasnot a member of the canoe club that took that never-to-be-forgottenouting.
HARKNESS, PETER T. ANDY, THE ACROBAT. Or, With the Greatest Show on Earth
Andy is as bright as a silver dollar. In the book we can smell thesawdust, hear the flapping of the big white canvas and the roaring ofthe lions, and listen to the merry “hoop la!” of the clown.
FOSTER, W. BERT THE QUEST OF THE SILVER SWAN. A Tale of Ocean Adventure
A Youth’s story of the deep blue sea—of the search
for a derelictcarrying a fortune. Brandon Tarr is a manly lad, and all lads will beeager to learn whether he failed or succeeded in his mission.
WHITE, MATTHEW, Jr. TWO BOYS AND A FORTUNE. Or, The Tyler Will
If you had been poor and were suddenly left a half-million dollars, whatwould you do with it? Do you think the money would bring you happiness,or would it bring only increased cares? That was the problem thatconfronted the Pell family, and especially the twin brothers, Rex andRoy. A strong, helpful story, that should be read by every boy and everyyoung man in our land.
WINFIELD, ARTHUR M. BOB, THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Or, A Hero in Spite of Himself
Relates the experiences of a poor boy who falls in with a “camerafiend,” and develops a liking for photography. After a number ofstirring adventures Bob becomes photographer for a railroad, and whiletaking pictures along the line thwarts the plan of those who wouldinjure the railroad corporation and incidentally clears a mysterysurrounding his parentage.
ROCKWOOD, ROY JACK NORTH’S TREASURE HUNT. A Story of South American Adventure
Jack is sent to South America on a business trip, and while there hehears of the wonderful treasure of the Incas located in the Andes. Helearns also of a lake that appears and disappears. He resolves toinvestigate, and organizes an expedition for that purpose. The book is athriller.
BONEHILL, CAPTAIN RALPH LOST IN THE LAND OF ICE. Or, Daring Adventures Round the South Pole
An expedition is fitted out by a rich young man who loves the ocean, andwith him goes the hero of the tale, a lad who has some knowledge of atreasure ship said to be cast away in the land of ice. On the way theexpedition is stopped by enemies, and the heroes land among the wildIndians of Patagonia. When the ship approaches the South Pole it iscaught in a huge iceberg, and several of those on board become trulylost in the land of ice.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, - NEW YORK
Transcriber’s Notes
--Copyright notice provided as in the original printed text—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.
--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.
--Moved promotional material to the end of the text.
--In the text versions, included italics inside _underscores_ (the HTML version replicates the format of the original.)
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