Tip Top Weekly No. 52: Frank Merriwell's Dash — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

FRANK MERRIWELL’S DASH. great mass of blue fluttered and swayed as if swept by a fitful tempest. It was Yale against the field, and Old Eli was acquitting herself nobly. One of the private boxes was occu- pied by the Hon. Andrew Flemming and hisfamily. His wife and his two daughters were there. Ina corner of the box sat two lads who were talking ear- nestly in guarded tones. They were Tom Thornton and Andy Emery. Thornton and Emery had been enter- taining Fred Flemming’s sisters, but now, for the moment, they had drawn aside and were earnestly discussing some point that seemed to interest them greatly. ‘*It must be that the matter is settled, and Yates has been substituted for the one who is missing,’’ said Thornton; “hut it seems rather astonishing that Flem should be so sure Merriwell would not appear.’’ “But he did seem sure,’? nodded Emery. ‘‘He told me over and over that Merriwell would not be here to run.”’ ‘‘And you must know enough of Frank Merriwell to be sure he would be here if he could get here, even if he had to crawl on his knees,’??> | ‘“That’s right.”? “Then what has happened to Merri- wel] ?”? ‘Vou tell !?? | “T can’t. I know Flemming would go to any extreme to carry out his desires. In fact, he is altogether too reckless and headstrong. I knew he did not mean it when he told Merriwell he was ready to bury the hatchet, and I have felt that he was not talking to hear his own voice when he told us Merriwell would not be ou hand to race to-night.”’ At this moment Fred Flemming en-| tered the box. His face was flushed, and there was a look of triumph in his eyes. He spoke to his mother, and then ad- dressed himself to the two boys, saying: “It's all right.” | Some event below attracted the full at- tention of all in the box save the trio in one corner, | ‘‘Vates will run??? asked Emery, ea- gerly. “You bet your filthy!’ nodded Fred. *“Itold you he would.”? | 25 ‘*But where is Merriwell ?”? Flemming smiled mysteriously. “It is evident,’? he said, ‘‘that Mr. Merriwell decided not to attend the tour- nament.”? “‘Yook here, Fred,’? said Thornton, nervously, ‘‘you haven’t done anything that will get you inte trouble, have you?’ Flemming snapped his fingers. “What isit te me if Mr. Merriwell sees fit to stay away??? he asked. ‘‘He may tell some sort of a wild story, but it seems that he was afraid to appear and tun. All I ask of you fellows 1s that vou keep your mouths closed on one point.’ ‘What is that?” . “TY don’t care to have you breathe to a living soul that I knew in advance that Merriwell would not be on hand.” ‘We'll not say a word about it.”” ‘‘Yates had no idea that he might be called on. I found it necessary to keep with him all the time and see that he did not get geared up. Then I had him where he could be found by the commit- tee in case he was needed.”’ CA ndG———? ‘And he was found.’’ | ‘‘He has gone to prepare for the race?” ‘Sure. ’? ) ‘“That settles it! to show up!”? A wild Yale cheer turned their atten- tion to the arena at this moment. Big Hickok was preparing to put the shit, and he had ‘been greeted in this manner by his admirers as he stepped out. — Hickok was a giant, and Yale had the utmost confidence in him. Thus far the best record made by any other man was forty-one feet and five inches. must do his very best to beat that. The cheers died away as the Yale Merriwell has failed Hickok Goliath poised himself for the effort. He crouched, and then the heavy iron sailed through the air and fell with a thud to the ground. | The tape was quickly drawn, and then the score went up. Forty-two feet and three inches! Once more Vale let herself loose, and it seemed that the roof must crack. Hickok quietly declined to take the two remaining trials open to him. He was the last man on the lift, and Vale had © EOMICLOOO G (GO)