Tip Top Weekly No. 118: Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEKLY. | | 27 Frank started. So that was what Hicks He would force himself on The fireman of 33 had been running her out. He saw Merriwell knocked down before her fiose, and threw back the lever, although he realized it was too late to save the youth by his efforts. to stop the engine. A moment later, he saw Prank was safe from harm, and he sent her ahead again. Then, as the engine passed on, Frank leaped across the track: and sprang after a nian who was walking swiftly away. ‘‘Here!’? he cried, and his hand fell on old Joe Hicks’ shoulder. The engineer turned, uttering a snarl. is face was white and his eyes staring. It was plain enough that he was com- pletely unstrung at that moment. **So it was you who tried to kill me in that cowardly manner!’ cried Frank, his eyes blazing. ‘‘Well, that is even worse than I expected of you!” ‘What d’yer mean??? hoarsely de- manded the man. - “¥mean that you knocked me onto the track in front of 33, which was a deliberate and criminal attempt to kill mePr ~- Vou lie!” “Tt is true!” _ ¥ say you lie!’ . "And I say you lie, Hicks! growled a hoarse voice, and Old Slugs came up. “T saw the whole thing, an’ I’ll swear: you done it on purpose.’’. ‘Vou??? Hicks hissed. ‘*Why, you’re a fool! You ain’t got no reason to Iove this: youngster! You’d oughiter be glad ter see him knocked out.”’ “Mebbe I had, but I’m no murderer, an’ I don’t care ter ’sociate with mur- derers. Merriwell gave me a hammerin’, but he done it fair, an’ I ant doin’ him dirt in return.” ‘*Vou’re a fool!’’ Hicks aga'n hissed. “All ther same, I reckon my word will stand if I have ter tell what I jest saw you do. You’ll last mighty quick round this shop when the old man hears of that.’ | ‘“You hear?’ came from Frank. ‘I have the proof !?’ “All right?’ panted the desperate engineer.’ wee] can live. Ill take care of my nevvy and niece. If 1’m out of work, I can look arter them all the better.”’ WE WANT EVERY AER Tf HAVE A hal iaied be BADGE—-SEE PAGE 32. would do. the lame boy and the blind girl by right of relationship. He would take the money they made on the street, and he would spend it for drink. A sudden idea came to Merry. *‘Look here, Mr. Hicks,’ he said, 7 one condition I will agree not to make a charge against you.’ ‘What's that ?"? ““You are to Jet little Jack and his sis- ter quite alone. ‘You are not even to claim them as relation, or try to see them.”? ‘Think I'll do that?” “*Tf you don’t, P11 swear you tried to kill me to-day, and I have the proof. You were seen by Mr. Hall and by the fire- man on 33. You will lose your job on this road. You will be discharged 1n dis- grace, and it will not be easy for you to get a job anywhere else. When they ask you why you left the last place, you'll have to lie. Perhaps they will know why you left. You may be blacklisted.” Old Joe’s face turned almost green, while his lips seemed dry and parched. — He stood before Frank Merriwell, half cowering, half defiant, like a tiger driven. at bay. ._ 4 **Choose!”’ commanded Frank. TF don’t like the idea of letting you have your way with the kids,” ‘Choose? “Oh, well, you could fix me if vou went and told that stuff to the old man. It was al] an accident, but——’’ **Choose !?? - ) “JT don’t care a rap about the kids any way. Vou needn’t worry about me both- erin’ them.’? ‘““You give your word not to trouble them ?’? | ‘Ves ?? ‘ ‘Yon will not even : ity to see them? Promise thiat.”? **T promise.”’ *CAll right. plaint against you.”’ “But I may,’’ growled Old Slugs, who did not seem at all satished. ‘No! exclaimed Frank, quickly. You must not!” “TY ain’t makin’ any promises.” T will not make a com- CORMICOOO© (SO)