All-Sports Library No. 5

Jack Lightfoot in the Woods; or, Taking the Hermit Trout of Simm's Hole, by Maurice Stevens

This issue of the All-Sports Library (March 11, 1905) features the beginning of a serial adventure centered on Jack Lightfoot, presented as an exemplary athlete and natural leader among Cranford boys. The narrative opens with mysterious noises emanating from the high-school athletic club's gymnasium housed above an old carriage shop. Jack and his companions—including his cousin Tom, impulsive Ned Skeen, jiu-jitsu enthusiast Nat Kimball, and perpetually hungry Lafe Lampton—investigate repeated crashing and thumping sounds. Despite thorough searches of the gymnasium, shed roof, and lower carriage shop, they discover no intruder, though the noises resume after the club meeting. The mystery deepens when strange groans emanate from the floor. One member, Kilfoyle, suspects supernatural haunting; others propose ventriloquism. The story promises outdoor adventure and sports-focused action, establishing Lightfoot as the resourceful protagonist solving puzzles while maintaining athletic prowess.