Tip Top Weekly No. 118: Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

‘TIP TOP WEEKLY. - ) = 85 “tried to talk with her, but she got skeered. I want to know what her name is. Won’t you tell me your name, little — gal: 39 Nell hesitated, trembling slightly. ’ Her brother had his arm about her. now, and was speaking reassuring words to her. ‘““Why should she tell you her name?”’ demanded Frank, a strange feeling of apprehension assailing him. ‘*Y’in not doin’ my business with you!’ grated the man. some other time.’ ‘“You may have to do some business with me now, for I am the friend and protector of this boy and girl.” ‘Oh, you are? Well, who made ye so? You're not old enough to be their guard- ian. Cy ain old enough to look out for them, and I shall see that they tome to no harm.”? ‘*You’re a pretty swift young chap for acommon engine wiper. Soon as you get out from work at night you swell round in good clothes, as if you was the son of a millionaire. Where do ye get all your money to do that?”’ ‘‘That is none of your business 1" re- turned Merry, warmly. — “Aint, eh? Well, I reckon I can- tell ye. You sponge it out of this bey and gal you are protectin’. They must pick up lots of money on the street, and you get it. ‘It’s not true!’ cried the lame boy, his eyes flashing. ‘‘Mr. Merriwell does not get one cent of it! — “No! no! no!’ exclaimed the girl. ‘“‘He helps us! He is so good to us!”? ‘‘Fle’s playin’ his game pretty slick,’’ declared old Joe, ‘‘but he ain’t your friend for nothin’.”’ Then the man obtained. a fair view of the picture in Frank’s hand. With re- markable swiftness, he snatched it, and then, holding it in both hands, he stood staring at it, “his face working strangely. Merriwell had started to take the pic- ture from the man, but he stopped, astonished by the expression on the face of Hicks. The engineer looked from the picture to the face of the girl, He seemed com- “ADMIRAL SAMPSON” BUTTON FREE—SEE PAGE 32. “Pll look after you paring the two. At last he hoarsely asked: "Is this the picture of your mother, | “Ves, sir,’’? Neil faintly answered. Then you are mly niece, for it is the | picture of nly own sister !”’ Frank Merriwell started, as it he had been struck a blow. girl uttered cries of astonisliment. “It can’t be that you are ourtuncle! 1" said Jittle Jack. *‘J am Joseph Hicks,” said the engin- eer, ‘‘and Mary Hicks, your mother, was my sister.’ ‘That-was mother’s name before she married father,’? confessed the boy. ‘‘But it does uot seem possible that you —are—her—brother. You are nota bit like her.” | ‘“Well, I’m her brother. That’s why I follered ye. I sawin your sister’s face the resemblance to Mary. It was so re- markable that I could not help following you about. She is dead ?”’ ‘*Ves, sir.”? “And Dave Norton?” ‘‘He is dead, too.’’ ‘“‘Good thing! Never liked him. He was too stuck up. He wouldn’t take a drink, or do anything like other ‘People, I’m glad he’s dead.” **Sir,’? cried the boy, father !?? ‘“That’s no credit to you. But you're orphans now—all alone in the world.’ ‘Not all alone.’ | : *‘No? How’s that?’?. “We have Mr. Merriwell.”” “Rot! I’m your uncle. It’s my duty to look after ye. Ili take care of ye, and of the money ye make, too. Ha! ha! ha! ¥> The lame boy looked appealingly at Frank. ‘Vou may be their uncle,’’ said Merry, “but you are not yet their puarcies. There is the door.” “What of it?’ snarled old Joe. "You can’t drive me out! I won’t go! I’m goin’ to take charge of these orphans.”’ ““Not yet.” “T will!” “Not till the law gives you the right. Go!” ‘the “was wy Both the boy and ECOMICLO© SS (C(O) an