Frank Merriwell's Catch — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEKLY. ‘‘We know nothing of Mr. Joe Tweed. We never heard of him, sir.” ‘That's all right. You look asif you was honest, but perhaps you don’t know what this T'weed has done.”? ‘We do not.”? ‘Well, he’s robbed an eld miser over in North Newport of thirty thousand dol- lars and hit the old man a crack on the head that may kill him. Now if you’ve seen ‘I'weed, or know anything about him, the best thing you can do is to tell everything. You'll git m a bad scrape if you don’t, that’s all.”’ _ By this time Frank was thoroughly angry, but he held himself in check, ' seeming PeEtegHy cool, although he spoke firmly. Weare not robbers, Mr. Sheriff, and we do not associate with robbers. Such an insinuation is dectdedly unpleasant.” ‘‘Perhaps they've seen him,”? said the deputy. Bart strode to Frank’s side and said, in a low tome: “Who knows—this chap who calls himself Bunker may be the fellow they are looking after.” Frank gave a start. Then he asked: ‘“What does this Joe Tweed look hike, Mr. Bowers? Will you describe him, please.” ‘(He's a large man, dresses pretty well, stneath-faced, looks Itke an actor. Heis avery smooth talker. Has asmall blue sear under his left ear.*? Bart was disappointed. ‘‘Bonker’s not the man, he sat, regret- fully. ‘‘We have seen no such manas you describe,’? declared Merriwell. ‘‘He has not been here, ”’ “Its strange,’? declared the sheriff. ‘Proctor said he saw him around here yesterday afternvon. Proctor was coming over from Turner’s about the. middle of GOLD WATCHES FREE. 15 the afternoon, and, as he was running past this point, he said he saw Tweed come out of the woods. When Tweed saw Proctar’s boat, he turned round and made into the bushesina hurry. That looks as if he had some sort of hiding place round here.”’ ‘‘With the exception of Hans, we were all over to Camp Benson yesterday after- noon. Hans was here alone. Did you see anybody prowling around here yester~ day, Hans?” ‘“Shimminy Gristmas!’ gurgled Hans, turning pale. ‘‘You pet I didn’d seen no- podys! Uf I knew nopodys vos browling around here I vould been so scat dot you vould had heart-vailure! Und id vosa roppers? Py Chorch! you don’d got me. to staid here some more alli alone myseluf , by! 1? The Dutch lad’s fear and excitement" was genuine, and it impressed the men . more than anything Merriwell had said. ‘‘Well,’? observed the sheriff, “if you know nothing about him, you will not be. _able to help us in any way. it possible he had managed to get you to- _ take him in with you some way, even if | he was not one of your party originally, : There is . areward of five hundred dollars offered : for his capture already. If you could help. us nab him, it would be worth your. Keep your eyes open for him, while. That’s all. Sorry to have dis-_ turbed you. Must be going. Good- morning.” Then he turned and, followed by the: deputy, left the cottage. Merriwell was interested now, and he followed the officers out, asking them’ several questions about Joe Tweed and. the robber. He learned that Tweed: had been hanging around Newport for some’ time, but had not been’ seen there for several days. We thaught . He had made many ac: quaintances in the village at the foot of SEE THE HALF-HOLIDAY. oe Elo OO (SO)