CHAPTER XXIII

  THE WIRELESS MESSAGE

  FOR the rest of that day the ship had a measure of quiet, just for achange. The storm kept on with its former severity and there was more orless discomfort. Meals had to be eaten standing up, and life lines hadbeen run along the deck to support the one who ventured along the decksforward or aft. Marie was not allowed to leave her father's cabin againwhile the storm lasted. Considerable time had been lost, owing to thetrouble caused by the bear, so the ship was put to full speed.

  Of late the boys had taken the keenest sort of interest in the wirelessoutfit with which the ship was equipped. They spent much of theirleisure time with the wireless operator. Steve had learned part of theMorse alphabet and occasionally he tried to operate the key.

  Two days later, as they were sitting in the wireless room, where theoperator, with feet on his desk, was telling them a story of a wreckthat he had been in on the Atlantic when he was operator on a liner, aflash from the switchboard told them that they had picked up a wirelessfrom another ship or station.

  The operator quickly adjusted the receiver over his head, listened amoment then threw his key open. A few quick sentences were crashedforth, the aerials above the deck of the ship snapping out the messagein sundry vicious cracklings.

  Steve tried to catch the drift of what was being said, but it was toofast for him. He could not hear what the operator was receiving, butafter a while the operator picked up his pencil and began writingindustriously.

  Glancing over the man's shoulder Steve's eyes caught a few words thatcaused him to lean forward with renewed interest. Then he sat back,possessing himself in patience until the message should have beenfinished.

  "That's strange," said the operator, laying down his head piece.

  "What is it?" questioned Bob.

  "Nothing much. It is just a message I picked up about some fellow thatthe police want."

  "Well, it isn't I, that's sure," said Jarvis with a confident laugh.

  "It is--but here, read it for yourself."

  Steve read the message out loud.

  "'Wanted: One, Gus Collins, for complicity in a post-office robbery atElgin on the night of June third. Collins has been a sailor and is saidto be on one of the ships on the lakes. About five feet ten in height,gray eyes, blonde hair. Has a peculiar stoop to his shoulders, and ahabit of peering up suspiciously, but not meeting the eyes of the personhe is talking to. Five hundred dollars reward offered for his capture bythe post-office department.'"

  "I'd like to make that five hundred," laughed Jarvis.

  Steve did not reply at once. His face was serious. He was thinking.

  "Well, there is one thing certain, Mr. Gus Collins isn't on this ship,"announced the operator, hanging up his headstall. "Funny message to sendout. Skippers of these boats have something else to do besides huntingdown criminals for the post-office department."

  Rush nodded thoughtfully.

  Somehow, the description of the man seemed to strike a familiar chord inhim. He could not help feeling that he had seen some one who in ameasure answered that description.

  "Ever seen him, Bob?" questioned the lad.

  Jarvis shook his head.

  "Wouldn't have recognized him if I had seen him. Say!"

  "Well?"

  "Maybe the bear is Collins in disguise."

  There was a laugh at this. Rush read the message over again.

  "Shall I take it up to the captain?"

  "Yes, if you will."

  Steve did so. Captain Simms read the alarm message through twice.

  "Pshaw!" he grunted. "Let the government find its own criminals. Itdoesn't hire me to be a policeman. How's the bear?"

  "I haven't heard him complain any since we put him back," answered Stevewith a grin. "How did he get out, do you think?"

  "The cage tipped over in a roll of the ship. No more wild animal showson this ship. Are you going to try to earn that five hundred dollars?"demanded the skipper, changing the subject abruptly.

  "I had not thought of doing so. You do not think he is on your ship, doyou?"

  "If he was you'd catch him, even if you had to bait him with raw beef.Say, are you going to stay with me?"

  "Why, I am not thinking of leaving, Captain Simms."

  "I don't mean now. Of course, you wouldn't leave me in the middle of theseason. You're too square for that. I mean at the end of the season?"

  "Of course, we shall have to work during the winter. We can't afford tolie around in idleness."

  "Yes, of course. But what about next season?"

  "That is a long way off," smiled Rush.

  "Will you come back with me next year?"

  "I could not promise. Frankly, Captain, I wish I might stay with you. Ilike the life and I should be happy to spend the rest of my days on thewater, were it not for one fact."

  "What is that?"

  "There isn't much of a future to the lake business."

  Captain Simms nodded.

  "Nothing beyond being a captain. That's the stone wall we butt againstsooner or later, if we are lucky enough to get that far. I don't blameyou, but I am sorry. I was in hopes you would stay with us anotherseason."

  "This season is young yet. Perhaps you may be glad to get rid of mebefore the end of it," laughed Rush.

  "No danger of that. But I am going to make it worth your while to stay,you see if I don't. Tell the operator to send back word, to the man thatsent out this message, that we haven't got any safe crackers on boardthe 'Richmond.'"

  "Very well, sir."

  Steve picked up the message and left the cabin. He walked thoughtfullyaft to his own state room, where he found Jarvis getting ready to go onduty. Rush sat down to study the description of the much-wantedcriminal.

  "I can't get it out of my mind that I know that man." he muttered. "Iknow I have seen him somewhere. But where? Pshaw! Why should I troublemyself about the matter? I'm no policeman, and I don't want to earn anymoney at the price of another man's liberty."

  "What's the matter--gone crazy?" demanded Jarvis, eyeing his companionsuspiciously. "They say it's a sure sign, when a fellow gets the habitof talking to himself."

  Rush laughed heartily.

  "Then both of us must be in the same boat, for I heard you mumbling toyourself this very day."

  "When?"

  "At the time the bear was chasing you."

  "Huh!"

  "Bob, listen."

  Steve read out the message, slowly, giving emphasis to that partdescribing the man wanted by the government.

  "Think hard, now. Isn't there some one whom you have seen that answersthat description, the stooping shoulders, the peculiar way of glancingup from under the half-closed eyelids----"

  "Nobody but Smith."

  "Smith!" Rush gazed at the other boy blankly.

  "That's so; he does rather answer the description."

  "Of course he isn't the man."

  "Perhaps not."

  All the rest of the day Steve thought over the contents of that messageand the suggestion made by Jarvis. He did not see the stoker, however,until the following morning, just as Steve was coming off duty.

  "Morning, Smith," greeted the lad, bending a scrutinizing gaze on thesurly fireman.

  "Morning," mumbled the other.

  "By the way, old chap; were you ever in Elgin?"

  Smith gave the lad a quick, sharp look.

  "What are you getting at?"

  "Do you know a man named Collins--Gus Collins?" persisted the Iron Boy.

  "Co--Co--Collins?"

  "Yes, a fellow who was interested in cracking a post-office safe out inElgin----"

  "It's a lie!" exploded the stoker, straightening up suddenly, his faceflushing and his features working convulsively.

  "Ah! Then you do know something about this man, Collins, eh?"

  "Ye--no, I don't know anything about him. I've heard of him, that'sall. Now you let me alone, or----"

  "Smith, you saved my life. I'm not su
ch a cur as to forget that. I thinkyou have something to say to----"

  "I ain't got anything to say to you."

  "Oh, yes, you have. Come with me to my cabin, where we can talk withoutinterruption. It may be worth your while."

  "I won't go!"

  Smith raised a hand as if he would strike the boy whose finger-tips wereresting on the stoker's shoulder.

  "You come with me!" commanded Steve, placing a firmer grip on theshoulder of the stoker. In that way, and without further resistance,Steve led him to his own stateroom.

  "Sit down! Now tell me all about it."

  The fireman's face was sullen and rebellious.

  "There--there ain't nothing to tell," answered the man in a low,half-angry voice.

  "You are Gus Collins! I know you, now. I was sure I had seen the manwhose description was sent out by the police and the governmentofficials."

  The stoker's face went ghastly.

  "Yes, I am. Now what are you going to do about it?" he demanded, risingto his full height, standing over Rush in a threatening attitude.

  "I am going to talk with you for the present. I think I have a right todo that, and see if there isn't something I can do for you after all youhave done for me. Sit down, Gus."

  With a bewildered look on his face, the stoker sank into the chair.

  "Tell me the whole story, Gus," urged Rush gently. "You need not beafraid of me. I am your friend, no matter what you have done."

  For a full five minutes Collins did not speak. It was plain to thekeen-eyed boy before him that the man was battling with himself and wastrying to decide what his course of action should be.

  "Did you have any part in the robbery of that post-office?" urged Steve.

  "_No!_" fairly shouted the stoker.

  "Then you have nothing to fear."

  "Yes, I have, too. I've got everything to fear. I'm a bad man, and----"

  "Perhaps you were, but you have wiped that all out by your heroic actin----"

  "Boy, I've served time in Joliet. I'm an ex-convict. I stole somethingonce when I didn't know what I was doing. They put me away for fiveyears for that little job. While I was in prison my temper got the bestof me one day, and I hurt a man, and----"

  "You don't mean you----"

  "No, I didn't kill him, but I was used worse than a little yellow dogafter that. What little good there was in me was beaten out of me,and--never let your temper get the best of you, boy. It's an awful thingto have a temper like mine."

  Steve nodded.

  "Well, I got out. My time was up."

  "When was that?"

  "This spring. I was dogged from the time I left the prison until one dayI managed to give them the slip, and----"

  "You mean the police were following you?"

  "Yes; spotting me."

  "What for?"

  "To see that I didn't get into any mischief. The last time they saw me Iwas in Elgin. I left on the six o'clock train, after throwing thespotters off. That night the post-office there was cracked. I read aboutit in the papers next day, and I knew they'd put it on me. I got clearof the place as soon as possible, shipped up the lakes from Chicago;then got in with this crowd. Now I'll be sent back to Joliet again."

  "Perhaps not; not if you are innocent."

  "I am as innocent as you are, Steve Rush. Help me, boy! Help me to getaway. They'll nail me this time, sure. They've got the line drawn on mefair and square. They sent out that alarm you've got in your handsthere. Help me to get away in the small boat to-night and I'll makeshore and disappear. I'll fool them. I did you a good turn. Do a greatone for me, now!"

  "Yes, Gus; I will do you a turn, but I won't help you to escape. Thatwould be a foolish thing to do. The police would get you sooner orlater, and your flight would be the very worst thing possible for youwhen they did get you."

  "You won't help me?"

  "No, not in that way."

  "How then?"

  "I shall have to think it over, but if you are innocent, have no fears,for you shall be freed of the accusation. I must talk with thecaptain----"

  Collins started to protest.

  "No one else on board shall know of it except my friend, Jarvis, and heis true-blue. When we have you freed I will see to it that you get aberth on this or some other boat, for life, if you want it."

  Collins shook his head.

  "No; they'll fire me when they find out I've done time. Nobody wants anex-convict. They drive a man to the dogs after once he's fallen----"

  "Here's one man who won't drive you, Gus Collins. Here's one man who'sgoing to stand right back of you and see that you get fair play. Thenyou're going to hold your head up and be a man with other men. You leaveit all to me, will you? Will you promise to do so?"

  Collins eyed the bronzed, manly face before him, for a full moment; thenhe stretched out an impulsive hand.

  "Put it there, little pard! I'll stand up, even if I do time for it, ifit'll please you any. You're the pluckiest, the squarest bunch of musclethat I've ever come up with!"

  CHAPTER XXIV

  CONCLUSION

  STEVE RUSH had told the whole story to Captain Simms, to all of whichthe captain listened in deep interest.

  "Well, what do you propose to do about it?" questioned the skipper, witha quizzical smile.

  "If you will give me a leave of absence, I think I should like to goback to Elgin with Collins and help to get him free," announced Steve.

  "Don't monkey with fire. A crook's a crook, and----"

  "This one _will_ be, if he is sent up again. I propose to get him out,even if it takes all the rest of the summer to do it."

  "All right. Go ahead, lad, but for goodness' sake wait until we get thebear out of this ship," laughed the captain.

  The result was that as soon as the "Richmond" reached its destination onLake Erie, Steve and the stoker, both dressed in their best, slippedashore and took a train for Chicago. Early the next forenoon theypresented themselves at the police station in the town where the robberyhad occurred, Steve acting as spokesman and stating that Collins hadheard he was wanted and had come to give himself up, prepared to provehis innocence.

  Of course the stoker was locked up. The man was sullen once more, andwhen the iron doors clanged behind him he gave up all hope.

  "They've got me! I was a fool!" he muttered.

  Shortly after that Steve visited him, and when the boy left the manCollins was in a better frame of mind. Rush got to work at once. He mustfind some one who would remember to have seen Gus leaving town. Suddenlyan idea occurred to the boy. He visited the railroad station. From oneofficial to another he traveled, asking questions and getting scantcourtesy. Everyone's hand appeared to be against him when the ownerlearned the object of Rush's mission.

  It was not until the next day that he found the man for whom he waslooking. That was the conductor of the train on which Collins had takenpassage when he left the town the evening of the robbery, and severalhours before it occurred. He had obtained from Collins a description ofthe clothes the latter wore on that night, and where he sat in thetrain, establishing the fact that the man's soft hat, tipped up behind,was pulled well down over his face, and that he wore a red necktie.

  Armed with this description, Steve visited the conductor at the latter'shome. At first the conductor did not seem to remember, but when Stevementioned the felt hat, the red necktie and the stoop of the man'sshoulders in connection with the furtive glancing up from beneath theeyelids, the railroad man, slapped his thigh violently.

  "Of course I remember him. I'd know him if I saw him. He had a scar onhis right cheek----"

  "That's the man," cut in Rush triumphantly. "Come over to the stationwith me and identify him. You will prevent a grave injustice being doneif you will assist me in this matter."

  The conductor readily picked out Gus Collins as the man whom he had seenon his train proceeding the robbery. A few days later the conductor wassummoned before the Grand Jury, at Steve's instigation, where herepeated his story in de
tail. Steve gave evidence also as to what heknew about the man, repeating the interview he had had with the stokeron board the ship.

  The result was that Gus Collins stepped from his cell a free man thatevening. He said little, but he seemed unable to keep his eyes from theface of the boy who had saved him from prison. Collins knew that nothingcould have saved him had it not been for the Iron Boy, but somehow hecould not find it possible to express his thankfulness.

  "We will go back to Duluth," said the lad. "We shall not be able tocatch the ship down this way I guess. Anyhow, a few days' layoff willnot hurt us in the least."

  "What are you going to do with me now?" demanded the fireman, findinghis voice at last.

  "I shall take good care of you. Forget all that's past. You are a mannow, and you are going to be a man henceforth. Quit brooding over yourtroubles. You haven't any. They were all washed out of you in the lakethe day you went in after me. I have something in mind for you that Ithink will please you."

  Reaching Duluth, Steve sought Mr Carrhart at once and to the presidentthe lad told the whole story.

  "What do you want, my lad--what do you wish me to do for your friend?"asked the president kindly.

  Rush told him in a few words. The result was that Mr. Carrhart gave theboy a letter to the superintendent, telling Steve to return for aninterview after he had finished with the Collins' business.

  It was a proud and happy Steve who sought out Gus Collins an hour later,at the hotel where the man and the boy were stopping.

  "Well, what about it?" demanded the stoker, without the least trace ofhopefulness in his tone.

  "You are to report for duty on the 'Richmond' as soon as she gets in."

  "Oh!" Collins' face brightened.

  "Here's your appointment," added Steve, handing over a document with theimprint of the steamship company at its head.

  Collins read it through, changed color then stared at Steve.

  "Is this some kind of a joke you're playing on me?"

  "It is no joke, Gus. You are appointed foreman of the stoke-room of theore carrier 'Richmond,' and you'll save more coal for the company thanany other stoker who ever bossed a fire-room."

  Collins sat down heavily. The tears were blinding his eyes. Steve didnot try to stop them. He realized that they marked the turning point inwhat had been a hard life, a life that had bidden fair to be whollywrecked in the name of justice. But what Steve Rush in his unselfishnessdid not realize, was that he had saved a human soul.

  The interview with Mr. Carrhart took place that afternoon.

  "Yes, sir; I think I have a few suggestions to make," answered Steve inreply to a question from the president. "But first I should like to asksome questions of you."

  "Proceed."

  Steve asked the average cost of operating the ships of the fleet permonth; what the ships earned by carrying coal for other concerns on thereturn trips, together with a number of other shrewd and pointedquestions. All of these Mr. Carrhart answered freely, knowing that theboy's reasons for asking them were in the interest of hisinvestigations.

  Rush made some rapid calculations on a pad on the president's desk.

  "You have some two hundred ships in the line, I believe, sir?"

  "Yes; two hundred and ten."

  "Would it be any saving if you could save an hour in the unloading ofthese ships--two hundred and ten hours, in other words, every time thewhole fleet made a trip down the lakes?"

  "Well, I should say it would."

  "That is easy."

  "Explain."

  "Simply put on an extra unloader for each dock, so that both may work atthe same time."

  Mr. Carrhart considered. He, too, made some calculations.

  "Yes, that is an excellent suggestion. It will mark a very great savingin the transportation cost. Candidly, the idea never occurred to me. Youhave earned your salary for one year at least," added the president withan indulgent smile. "I felt sure you would dig up something of value tous, to say nothing of the value the experience would be to you."

  "I'm not through yet," laughed the Iron Boy. "I'm going to show you howyou can save something like thirty thousand dollars a year more on thecarrying proposition."

  "Why, Rush, you amaze me. It cannot be possible, after figuring down alltransportations the way the experts of this company have done and beendoing for years."

  "The old saying is to the effect that figures never lie. Perhaps minedo. If so, you will be able to discover the untruth at once."

  "May I ask how you propose to work this great saving?" asked thepresident good-naturedly.

  "Send your boats back light."

  "Send them back light?"

  "Yes, sir; in water ballast."

  "But, my boy, don't you understand that it will mean the loss of a lotof money to do that? The ships earn a great many thousands of dollars ayear by carrying freight for pay on the return trips."

  "Yes, sir; I understand that. Their cargo is mostly coal, is it not?"

  "It is."

  "For ports all along the Great Lakes?"

  "Certainly."

  "And through carrying this coal your ships lose from a week to ten daysand some times two weeks' on every round trip."

  "How do you know this?" interrupted Mr. Carrhart.

  "I have asked questions," smiled Steve. "Call it a week's loss of timeon each trip. Do you know what that means?"

  "I begin to see," answered the president reflectively.

  "It means that every time your fleet makes a round trip, carrying coalback with them, the company loses their services to the enormous totalof two hundred and ten weeks, more than four years, Mr. Carrhart. If youwill glance over these figures of mine you will observe that, by thismethod, the company is losing about the figure stated by me a fewminutes ago, over and above what you get in freights for carrying thecoal."

  The president made a few brief calculations. He went over his figuresand Steve's several times, his forehead corrugated with deep wrinkles ashe did so. At last Mr. Carrhart glanced up, gazing steadily at theslightly flushed face of the Iron Boy.

  "Rush you are a very remarkable young man," he said. "Of course, I knewthat before, but what I did not know was that you had a head forfinance, such as you have just demonstrated. This is really a mostremarkable showing. I shall bring it before the board at the nextmeeting. There is no doubt about your suggestions being adopted. I thinkit will come in the nature of a revelation to the board. My boy, I amproud of you. I can't tell you how proud I am, especially so because Ipicked you out, feeling from the first that you would prove a winner."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "And, in this connection, I received a long letter from Captain Simmsfrom Cleveland yesterday. He made certain suggestions regarding yourselfand your friend Jarvis, which it gives me great pleasure to act upon.You have been appointed second mate of the steamer 'Richmond'; Jarvis,first wheelman. You will be called upon to pass a government examinationfor a license, which you will take to-morrow morning. You will have nodifficulty about it, if you are as good a navigator as Captain Simmssays you are, and I have no doubt you are. If you remain on the lakeswe'll be making a captain of you some of these days. However, I have anidea you do not intend to be a sailor."

  "No, sir, not permanently."

  * * * * *

  And so Steve Rush began as a watch officer on the Great Lakes. He provedthat the confidence of his superiors was not misplaced, and for the restof the season he remained on the "Richmond," distinguishing himself inmany ways. Gus Collins, with his fresh start in life, had dropped hishang-dog expression. When he talked to a man, now, he looked that mansquarely in the eye, and from the moment of his return to the ship hewas a daily worshipper at the shrine of Steve Rush.

  At the close of the season Steve found the foreman a place with amanufacturing firm, with the help of a letter from Captain Simms. Then,bidding good-bye to their friends, the lads gathered up their dunnageand went home for a few weeks' rest befor
e taking up the new life thatthey had about decided upon. What happened to them in their new callingwill be related in detail in a following volume entitled, "THE IRON BOYSIN THE STEEL MILLS; Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits." In the greatsteel mills the boys were to work among the roaring furnaces, theswiftly moving cranes and the moulding mills, where the metal that theyhad helped to mine ran in rivers that turned into gold. There the boyswere to be called upon to face death many times, and in many forms, asthey toiled among the rough men of the mills and laughed at the thousandand one perils of their new life.

  THE END.

  * * * * *

  Transcriber's Note

  Obvious spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected, missing words have been added.

  The Advertisement of The Boys of Steel Series contains the numbering as presented in the book.

  Differing spellings used throughtout the book for:

  life boat, lifeboat and life-boat light-house, lighthouse layoff, lay-off hatch cover, hatch-cover

  are retained as used by the author

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  The Boys of Steel Series

  By JAMES R. MEARS

  The author has made of these volumes a series of romances with sceneslaid in the iron and steel world. Each book presents a vivid picture ofsome phase of this great industry. The information given is exact andtruthful; above all, each story is full of adventure and fascination.

  1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the Shaft.

  2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift.

  THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the Great Lakes.

  THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  West Point Series

  By H. IRVING HANCOCK

  The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americanswhose doings will inspire all boy readers.

  1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet Gray.

  2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the Glory of the Soldier's Life.

  3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm for Flag and Honor.

&
nbsp; 4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  Annapolis Series

  By H. IRVING HANCOCK

  The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted inthese volumes.

  1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy.

  2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters."

  3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen.

  4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  The Young Engineers Series

  By H. IRVING HANCOCK

  The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School BoysSeries. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy ofall the traditions of Dick & Co.

  1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest.

  2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer" Quicksand.

  3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick.

  4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the Mine Swindlers.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  Boys of the Army Series

  By H. IRVING HANCOCK

  These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army ofto-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen.

  1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in the United States Army.

  2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons.

  3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their First Real Commands.

  4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following the Flag Against the Moros.

  (_Other volumes to follow rapidly._)

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  Battleship Boys Series

  By FRANK GEE PATCHIN

  These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's hugedrab Dreadnaughts.

  1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy.

  2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers.

  3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, Earning New Ratings in European Seas.

  4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding the American Flag in a Honduras Revolution.

  (_Other volumes to follow rapidly._)

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  The Meadow-Brook Girls Series

  By JANET ALDRIDGE

  Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life.

  1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS; Or, Fun and Frolic in the Summer Camp.

  2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY; Or, The Young Pathfinders on a Summer Hike.

  3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT; Or, The Stormy Cruise of the Red Rover.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  High School Boys Series

  By H. IRVING HANCOCK

  In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck.

  Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinatingvolumes.

  1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports.

  2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond.

  3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron.

  4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  Grammar School Boys Series

  By H. IRVING HANCOCK

  This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar schoolboys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy.

  1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick & Co. Start Things Moving.

  2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports.

  3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and Knowledge.

  4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or, Dick & Co. Make Their Fame Secure.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  High School Boys' Vacation Series

  By H. IRVING HANCOCK

  "Give us more Dick Prescott books!"

  This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the countryover. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers,making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, andthe other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys inthe land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading thesesplendid narratives.

  1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick & Co.'s Rivals on Lake Pleasant.

  2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The Dick Prescott Six Training for the Gridley Eleven.

  3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick & Co. in the Wilderness.

  4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick & Co. Making Themselves "Hard as Nails."

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  The Circus Boys Series

  By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON

  Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intenselyinteresting and exciting life.

  1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in the Sawdust Life.

  2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark.

  3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South.

  4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  The High School Girls Series

  By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.

  These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the readerfairly by storm.

  1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshman Girls.

  2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.

  3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends in the Sororities.

  4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of the Ways.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

  * * * * *

  The Automobile Girls Series

  By LAURA DENT CRANE

  No girl's library--no family book-case can be considered at all completeunless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books.

  1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer Parade.

  2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's Trail.

  3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, Fighting Fire in Sleepy Hollow.

  4 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy Odds.

  5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under Southern Skies.

  Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.

 
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