Tip Top Weekly No. 52: Frank Merriwell's Dash — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

16 FRANK MERRIWELL’S DASH. The rivals were drawing near the sta- tion, and still it seemed that they were keeping side by side. ‘“Now they are spurting!” © Yes, they were spurting for the finish, but, to the amazement of Yates’ friends, a single bound had seemed to carry Frank Merriwell two yards in advance of the other runner, and this advantage Merri- well maintained. In another moment the station would be reached, and the race must end. See- ing this, Andy Emery was bitterly grind- ing out an exclamation of rage and dis- gust. | Suddenly Yates seemed to trip and fall heavily. He tried to spring up, but seemed to be hurt, and he was struggling to rise when Flemming reached the spot and lifted him to his feet. ‘Are you hurt?’’ asked several, as they gathered around Duncan. ‘Not much,’? he answered, rather thickly; ‘but I lost the dash by that fall.”? **Rats!?’ muttered Harry Rattleton. **Fe had lost it before he fell.” ‘*T was ready to make the final spurt, which would have carried me ahead of Merriwell at the finish,’’ declared Yates. “Oh, it is a case of beastly luck!’ growled Andy Emery. ‘‘It is the way everything turns in Merriwell’s favor. He never wins except it is by cold luck.”?. “Oh, come off!”? chirped Danny Gris- wold. ‘*You’re sore, that’s. all ails you !?? . “Shut up, or PU wring your neck!’ “You can’t catch me, you know,”’ taunted the little fellow, as he skipped out of reach. On the station platform ‘Merriwell was quietly waiting the arrival of the others, fanning himself with his handkerchief. It happened that Bruce Browning was at the station, and he had seen the race between the rivals. In his ponderous manner, he hurried to Frank, **YVates was.a fool to try it!? declared Bruce, his round face seeming to expand into one broad grin. ‘‘He might have known what would happen. I see Crockett and Gibbs, two of the commit- tee, with the fellows. They witnessed congratulate: the whole business, and it must have set- tled matters in their minds.”? ‘‘T wish Yates had not fallen,’’ sai Frank, with regret. ‘Fe did not fall accidentally, ani you can bet your greasy coin on that! It was plain enough.”’ ‘Then you think—just what?’ “That he saw he was beaten, anc fell so that he might make a claim that youn outran him by accident.”’ **T had the lead.”’ “Ves, and he could not have recovered and overtaken you in a week! But that makes no difference. Allee same, | rather fancy Yates will not fool anybody very much.’ The knot of fellows now approzched the station, where there was a x2t:at throng of Yale lads who had seer. the race. * Yates was very pale, but there ws a burning light in his eyes. straight to Frank, and distinctly saic: — ‘‘Mr. Merriwell, you beat me this tise through an accident; but I will run vou again, and ]’ll win.”’ Frank bowed with tesy. : ‘Mr. Yates,’? he said, ‘‘you will find me willing and ready to run with you any time.”’ ‘*Whoopee!’? squealed Danny wold, turning a handspring. “Th business strai ight from headquarters !’’ ‘Here comes the train!’ was the cry. Then there was a scramble for tickets and for seats on the train. the utmost -otr- Chrige at's CHAPTER VII ENEMIES AT WORK. It happened that Merriwell and his friends entered the smoker. ‘They fcund Bink Stubbs curled up in a cornér, puffing away at a cigarette. ‘*You seem to be well fixed, Stubos, "7 said Frank. And the little fellow cheerfully Te- turned : “‘Oh, ve got a snap, as s the bear said when he stepped into the steel trap.”’ _ Then room was made for a jolly. little party in the corner, and all the fellows who smoked lighted up cigarettes or He advaiuced Ci gars. ECOMICLO© SS (CO)