Tip Top Weekly No. 118: Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

8. ) TIP TOP WEEKLY. ““Y hardly think you will. If you have ‘the right sort of stuff in you, you will wotk up. J began as wiper, as did the master mechanic and nearly all the en- gineers on this road. There are some goed 1 men among them, too.” _ *T believe that.” ’ “Have you any relatives to support— brothers, sisters, or anything like that?” ““Wo, sir”? | Drink 2?” “‘Not a drop.”’ - “That's good. You stand all the better chance. Drink is what keeps many a good man down. Of course, 1f a man wants to take a little beer occasionally, no one can really object to that. I sup- pose .you take some beer once in a white?” The face of the youth flushed. * “IT told you, siz, that I do not drink auything.” | “Al right, all right. I thought per- haps you would not consider that drink- ‘ing. Don’t usually ask men these ques- tions, but I’m interested in you.’’ _ The youth said nothing. The foreman seemed to hesitate, and it was plain that he was not yet fully con- vinced that it was worth while to bother with this clean, dainty-looking stripling. The applicant seemed to think that he had said quite enough, and he did not. | urge his case at all, but stood there wait- ing. | : : The sound of hammering was to be heard in the roundhouse. Another engine ran in on the table outside, and some wipers swung it round, Then the engine _ran out again upon the tracks, instead of backing into the house. Old Slugs, his face patched up with plaster, came back and went to work on the engine he had been cleaning. He moved slowly, as if he. felt sore in every Timb. The foreman siniled the least bit as he 7 watched the man. He nodded his head, and there-was an expression of satisfac- tion on his dark face. Then he turned to Frank Merriwell. ‘CA fellow who could whip Martin Hall should have grit enough for anything,” | Come back to-morrow morn-_ ing, prepared for were: Mow. shall have © he said. a job.”’ CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST FORENOON. The following morning Frank Merri- well appeared at the roundhouse in over- alls and jumper, ready for work. His working clothes were new and clean, in contrast to the clothes of the other wipers, who stared at him, grinned and made — comments on his ‘‘dudish”’ appearance. : Although Frank could hear nearly every word spoken, he paid not the slightest attention to anything the men said. was there to work, and he waited for the : He foreman to appear and tell him what ° he was to do. “He'll last quick, a4 declared one of. the wipers. “Its two to one “he'll que before : noon,’? said another. ; “SVou’d win,”? chuckled a third. ‘“‘Nivver a bit can yez tell about thot, me b’ys,’’ put in a young Irishman with | a pleasant face. ‘“‘He had th’ grit to b’ate th’ shtuffin’ oout av Ould Sloogs, an’ it’s a fair chance he'll be .afther havin?.th’ grit to shtay and worruk, no matther av heedon’t loike it. Ou1'll bet me money on him.”? Frank gave the soothes a grateful look. © He saw a begrimed but rather comely | youth of twenty, who logked as if he had a heart overflowing with. good nature. The wipers went to work, relieving those who were there, and the machinists A BUTTON OR BADGE FREE—SEE LAST. PAGE. comieboo SS (C(O) An