Tip Top Weekly No. 80: Frank Merriwell as 'Anchor' — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

i6 | FRANK MERBIWELL AS ANCHOR. ‘‘Come in here,’’ said Matthews, taking Frank by the arm and walking him across the room. | When they were in the captain’s room, Matthews shut the door, motioned toa chair, and sat down opposite Frank. “Now, then,’”? he said, “whats got into Yale??? ‘‘Mr. Matthews,’’ Frank responded, “‘l hate to say that I’m sorry to see you, but a newspaper man isthe last man in this whole world that I would care to tell this story to.”’ “Well, but see here, Merriwell,’? re- sponded Matthews, earnestly, ‘‘a news- paper man isn’t a born fiend, you know; I’m not likely to. forget that I’m a grad- nate of Yale, and I certainly am not go- ing to hurry off with an item to my paper that will bring you into any disgrace. “Vale graduates are getting to think a good deal of you, Méerriwell, and I brought you in here to see if there might not be some way to help you, not to get a sensational item.”’ “TY beg your pardon, Mr. Matthews,” said Frank, ‘‘but I had an idea that when aman became a reporter he could think of nothing but news and things to write about.’’ | ‘‘That’s business,’? said Matthews, “sure enough, but I’m an old Yale man, at least I’m older than you, but I graduated only a couple of years ago, you know, so sing your song and let’s see if there isn’t something I can do.” Thereupon Frank told the reporter all about his difficulty. He explained how Mellor was hopelessly drunk in a cell, and how he had got arrested while mak-— ing an attempt to get Mellor away from his companions. | “UBy Jove !?? said Matthews under his breath at last, ‘I don’t blame you for doing what you did, Merriwell, but per-. haps it would have been better if you had avoided a row and simply induced Mellor to go out with you.”” the students go was the fact that the bar- ‘Tl don’t think I lose my head very often,’? Frank responded, “but I must confess I did then. It was just madden- ing to see him soaking there with three scoundrels who had undoubtedly set out _ to get him filled up. ‘‘Anyhow, there’s no use regretting what I did, for here I am, and next to having Yale win in the contest to-morrow night, I’d rather keep this thing from be- coming public.”’ ‘‘T can fix that easily enough,’’ said Matthews confidently. doesn’t know that you’re a Yale man, and even if he should, I'll prime all the other reporters who cover this district at night, and get them to say nothing about it. “Vou needn’t worry on that score, Merriwell, the only thing to do is to get you and Melior away from the station house, ’’ Frank then told how he had wanted to send for the judge referred to. ‘‘He’s known me since I was born,”’ he explained, ‘‘and was an intimate friend of my father. There’s no doubt that he would believe me, and I suppose his word would go with the police.” ‘Yes, it would, but it’s a long way to his house, and he may not be at home. The captain will be in two or three minutes, and we'll see if I haven't got influence with him.’ In less time than Matthews had sup- posed the captain camein. To Frank’s great astonishment the reporter easily persuaded the captain to release the two students. . It is not very often that a police cap- tain has an opportunity to do a favor toa newspaper man, and when a chance does occur, he’s quick to take it, for the re- porters of New York newspapers can. make or unmake a pomcentes' s reputa- tion. The only thing in the way of. letting “The sergeant ECOMICELOO® (C(O) an