Tip Top Weekly No. 52: Frank Merriwell's Dash — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

24 distance had been made over rough roads, and he had been several times. menaced in order to keep him quiet, and once choked into silence by two of the men, who sat upon him while they passed an- other team. | Frank was taken from the wagon, his feet were set at liberty, and he was marched into some sort of a building. ‘““There,’’ said the hoarse voice of the leader. ‘‘He’s safe and solid here.” Through the blindfold there was a glow of light, and then the cloth was re- moved froin his eyes. Frank found himself in a rough room, to which there seemed to be no windows and but one door. In the room there was a table, a broken chair, and a rude sort of bed. One of the two men who had brought him into the room coolly sat down astride the chair, and stared at Frank, his eves gleaming by the flaring light of the tal- Yow-dip that burned on the table. “Set down,’’ invited the man, making a motion toward the bed. ‘‘We offer our Visitors the upholstered furniture out of courtesy. Make yourself at home.”’ —— “Don’t care if I do,’’ returned the boy, with equal coolness, ‘but in order for me to be thoroughly comfortable, it]; will be necessary for me to have my hands free.’ “Sorry I can’t accommodate ye just now, but I want to have a talk with yer first. Sét down.”’ Frank obeyed. ‘tWell,’? he observed, “I suppose I might as well, as long as 3 do not seem to have much to say about it; but I’d like _ to know what this little game is.”’ - Thought you'd be kinder’ curious,’’ said the man, with a hoarse laugh. “Well, ye see it’s this way. . We’ve heard so much about you that wethought we'd kinder like the pleasure of your ‘company for a day or two, and so we brought you over here.’’ _ A day or two! Frank gasped for breath, asa sudden light dawned upon him. - If he were held there fora single day he would not appear at Madison Square Garden to take part in the tournament! _ *“Phis is the work of my enemies!’ he mentally cried. ‘“They have hired these FRANK MERRIWELL’S DASH. ruffians to kidnap and hold me till the tournament is over! Cesar’s ghost! I never dreamed such a thing could be done in this quiet part of the New Eng- land States !”? a) a a CHAPTER XI. THE TOURNAMENT. The interior of Madison Square Garden was decorated with the colors of a dozen collges, and was aglow with hundreds of bright lights. The rows of seats, tier upon tier, were packed with people. The private boxes were all taken. A band was playing a lively air, and the tournament was on. Down in the great cleared space young men from the Vari-. ous prominent colleges of the country were struggling for victory in the ath- letic feats on the programme, At times some well-known amateur contestant was greeted by cheers as he appeared or ac- coinplished a feat that was plainly re- markable. The favorites were greeted by the yells of the colleges which they represented, as they were seen preparing for some difficult attempt. It was ascene of the greatest excite- ment and enthusiasm. Pretty girls were there in large numbers, their faces glow- ing with admiration for the young men who were struggling like gladiators down in the modern arena. The swell set of New York occupied the boxes. Fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, cousins and aunts of the contestants were on hand, watching with eagerness for the ap- pearance of those in which their interest centred. In some instances the parents of the young men engaged in the contests were _ plainly from the country. Their man- ners, their dress, their language indicated this. It was a wonderful occasion for. them, and their hearts almost ceased beat-_ ing when the favorite for whom they were watching showed himself and made his brave effort in some trial of strength and skill. Happy were they if he ac- quitted himself nobly. - The blue of Old Yale dominated one great section of seats. And -when a Yale man won in some of the contests hundreds upon hundreds of strong-lunged young men arose to their feet and sent the col- lege slogan pealing forth, while th COMIC DOO iS (CO)